Bucket Hat

Hidden Message

"LET'S GOOOO!" SUGA screams when they finally appear on stage. We had successfully stayed in the same spot, trying to hold off on the restroom but ultimately having to each go solo. It's scary trying to find the restroom in that big of a place, but we managed. They begin with ON, one of my favorite songs and choreography. After the MOTS tour was canceled, I never thought I'd get to see this song performed live and they did not disappoint. "AHHH EL! HERE WE GO SIS! HOLD ON BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE A NIGHT WE'LL NEVER FORGET!" Kayla is next to me vibing and not giving two shits what anyone thinks of her dancing. I'm so much more reserved than her. I need to cut loose tonight and not care like she does, I thought to myself watching her jumping around and dancing. I laughed and followed suit. Who cares, I'll never see anyone here ever again in my life. You only live once, right?

After the guys sang Fire and DNA, they finally came up the catwalk to talk a little before their first set change. We were standing on the right side of the top of the catwalk at the small stage. When the guys were running up, I noticed Jungkook and Jimin jogging behind the rest talking a bit. As they ran by us, they both abruptly stopped. Jungkook then looked over at me and we locked eyes, again. He smiled and waved. My breath caught at what was happening. I smiled and looked down at my ARMY bomb in my hands, fidgeting with it. When I looked back up, Jimin was also looking at me and laughing as he got behind Jungkook, shoving him forward toward the other members. "I TOLD YOU BITCH! I KNEW WE HAD TO STAY RIGHT HERE!" Kayla nudged my side while screaming. I smiled and shook my head shyly. I leaned to talk closer to her ear as to not scream and said, "Stop yelling for everyone to hear. He just remembers me because I had his hat." Here comes the eye roll, "hat or not El, he stopped running just to look at YOU and wave at YOU. I bet he thinks you're hot. Enjoy this moment sis." I chuckled, "I highly doubt Jeon Jungkook thinks I am hot. I'm like 5 years older than him too for Christ's sake. He's just being polite because I wasn't some crazy fan who tried to keep his hat." Kayla pats my back and says, "Ok El, whatever. You know you're hot. Even for a 30 year old grandma." I playfully smack her while laughing. "Shut up! I'm not old. And I'm not in my thirties just yet." She hugged me and planted a sloppy sweaty kiss on my cheek. "You were boring when you were 27, like I am now, and you're still boring at ALMOST thirty. But I love you anyway and I'm glad I'm the one that gets to have these rare adventures with you. I introduced you to kpop so, you're welcome for the Y/N moment you're having." I couldn't help but smile and hug her back because she was right. "Thank you for introducing me to this world and I love you for making me have fun sometimes." With that we got back to watching the amazing concert.

"I'm not going to have a voice in the morning and will be fucked for day two at this rate" Kayla said while the noise was down some due to a set change. "Then chill a bit and save your voice, because this night isn't over and we have another full day of this in 2 days." "Ahhhh, I knooooow! But it's so much fun, isn't it? Even if you didn't have the maknae crushing on you it would be fun" she said while wiggling her eyebrows at me. I busted out laughing, bent over, and almost fell over. "You're so much fun Kay, I love you. I think I'm dehydrated though. Got a little dizzy there" I chuckled as I rested my head on her shoulder. "We're almost done for today grandma, hang in there a little longer and we'll get you something to drink" my sister mockingly said. I slapped her while laughing. "Hey! I am not a grandma! At least not tonight. You have to admit that much. Huh? Huh?" I was pointing my finger up to her face while she tried to bite it. "You've been such a trip this whole trip! No one else I'd rather be with El." "Me neither Kay."

The lights on the stage came back up and the guys emerged from under the stage. "Here they come again. This is their last set. Look at Yoongi, panties are wet sis." "OH MY GOD KAYLA! Gross!" I said while slapping her arm and cringing. She just chuckled, "Truth's the truth sis. JK has already gotten your panties wet. I'd bet my right boob on it." I looked at her in humorous disgust. "Ok, enough of that. Let's just watch them." They came out to the catwalk while singing Dis-Ease and, when they ran by, Jungkook came down those stairs again and ran right to me. The security didn't know what to do and rushed to him. I stood there wide eyed, I couldn't breathe, as he waved a security guard over and said something to him. He then waved them all back and looked at me smiling. He fingered for me to come closer and, when I did, he took the bucket hat off he was wearing and put it on my head. When he did, he subtly traced my cheeks with his fingers before smiling one last time and running back up the stairs to join his members. I couldn't move. I touched the hat on my head, but stared blankly at a set of lights that was directly in front of me, completely in a daze from the shock of what just happened. "HO.LY.SHIT EL!! HOLY SHIT!!! JK GAVE YOU HIS HAT! I'M GONNA DIE!" Kayla screamed as she shook me. I just let her as I held the hat and stared at the ground, smiling. "Ma'am....Ma'am!" A voice called out. Kayla smacked me, leaned in and said in my ear, "oh shit El, that security guard is talking to you." I looked up at the guard who was signaling me over to the railing to the left. I instantly got nervous. Was I going to get in trouble? I slowly walked toward the oversized man. Kayla walked up with me and blurted with sass, "Listen, if you're gonna take that hat, then hell no! I won't let you! Jungkook GAVE that hat to her specifically. I'm not afraid to throw punches at a dude for my sister!" The guard just stood there looking at her with a shut-the-fuck-up look, and then looked at me. He waved me closer, and when I leaned in he said, quietly in my ear, "Jungkook asked me to tell you to look in the hat. But to wait until you've left the stadium." I popped my head up at him and stared at him in shock. He just turned around and walked back to where he was stationed, not giving me a second glance. What the hell?? Why would he say that to me? What's in the hat? So many thoughts ran through my head as it took everything in me not to pull the hat off right now and look. Jungkook asked that I wait until I left the stadium before looking, so I would honor that, no matter how hard it was. "What the hell did he say to you El?" Kayla asked curiously. I just shook my head while I held onto the ends of the hat smiling. "El! Ella! Earth to Ella, what did that prick say?" She nagged, waving her hand in front of my face. "No-nothing. I'll tell you after the concert. It's no big deal. Nothing bad. I promise." She looked at me with concern. "You promise promise El?" and held her pinky out. I chuckled and grabbed her pinky with mine. "I promise promise." She was satisfied and turned her attention back to the stage. We finished the concert, watching them sing We Are Bulletproof:The Eternal, while throwing our arms over each other while swaying and singing along. As the guys walked back up the catwalk to exit the stage, Jungkook spared me one last look. He smiled at me and he looked so....genuine. It felt like such a surreal moment with all the confetti flying around. He looked like an angel. I smiled back, and that was it. He ran up the stage with the other members, waved while saying I love you and goodbye to everyone, and then they disappeared down into the stage.

"What an amazing night El! It was like a dream. Like seriously....a fucking dream." Kayla sang while twirling in circles as we exited the stadium. "And you know what the best part is? We get to live this dream again in two days! We get a day to recoup, my voice is fucked by the way, and then see those fine ass men one more time. El? Are you even listening to me?" I was, but I wasn't. Not really. My mind was still occupied with Jungkook and our encounters. All those looks and smiles I got throughout the night. Not to mention the bucket hat he placed on my head himself. I'm sure there's a video that will be on Tiktok showing it. It's like a dream. I feel a slap on my back. "Ella!!" This wakes me up. "Hmm? Oh, sorry. Yes, I'm excited to do this again in two days too." I said while looking ahead. "You really need to tell me what has you out in La-La Land. Are you reliving your moment with JK? Hmm? You lucky bitch." She asked while nudging my side smirking.  Before I could come back with a counter to her, she cuts me off. "Shit, I almost forgot....you said you'd tell me what that prick security guard said to you after you got the hat." I just smiled....which made Kayla smile. "What is it El? What did he say?" I looked around, making sure no one was too close, then leaned and told her quietly. "He told me that Jungkook asked if I would look in the hat, but to wait until I left the stadium." Kayla leaned back and I swear her eyes looked like they were going to pop out of her head. "W-w-what?? Are you fucking serious?" I smiled, looking down while I touched the hat still on my head, nodding. "Mmhmm." "Well look in the hat then! We're outside of the fucking stadium!" She tried to rip the hat off my head, but I held it tight. "Stop Kayla! I'm nervous to look." With a raised eyebrow she asked, "why? He wouldn't have given you the hat and then told the security prick to tell you to look in it if it was something bad El. Quit being a chicken shit and just look." I sighed as the butterflies in my stomach threatened to explode out. "Ok. It's probably like his autograph or something."

With shaky hands I pull the hat from my head. I take a deep breath and close my eyes while I turn the hat over. I open my eyes to see white writing against the black fabric. Kayla peeks and gasps, putting her hands over her mouth. "Tell me it says what I think it does El? Please tell me I read right, because that shit is written in English." I glance at her dumbfounded and then back to the hat again. "It says, 'please call at 12:00 tonight. I want to talk more. JK." Kayla and I just stand there staring at the hat, not believing this. She speaks first, almost in a whisper. "Oh my God Ellla!"