Daydreaming

Chapter 7

After getting back to the dorms, Hoseok laid down on his bed and — simultaneously — blew out some air.

His body told him only one thing and that was to rest. He wasn't able to handle the heaviness, so he closed his eyes. Today was a rough day, but he had fun helping his juniors. He remembered the days he was a junior, but no-one was there to help him like he was helping TXT.

Their concepts and visuals back then were edgy, he had to admit. If he had the chance, he'd like to recreate that concept with his own songs. It would be fun. He would wear weird make-up and add a bit of rock into it.

Yeah, that's an idea. Hoseok thought as he stretched his limbs. His feet were getting cold, so he reached for his blankets.

It was pretty cold outside the restaurant.

Hoseok slowly opened his eyes and blinked. He recalled that woman was wearing a thin coat and she didn't appear to be dressed for the cold. She was a bit weird. She recognized he was an idol yet momentarily forgot about him due to food.

Hoseok smiled. Well, food is important.

He was sure that was something she would say — that weird friend of his. He wondered how she was. It would be funny if they had met in a place like that and ate in silence.

It would have been like old times, albeit it wouldn't exactly be the same as stargazing in the countryside.

He imagined it. They were sitting next to each other as adults. Her face was stuffed with ramyeon, too focused on her food to notice him staring at her.

"You're eating so enthusiastically," he said.

"It's delicious," she replied sassily. "You have to eat well to enjoy the food!"

He couldn't hear her properly, but he understood what she was trying to say. He merely shook his head at her statement; she was truly a food fanatic.

"But, you know," Hoseok stopped leaning on his hand and pouted in a purposefully silly way, "They don't feed me there. I always have to watch what I eat. Poor Jin, a manager called him a pig once. So rude."

"Really? How dare they deprive a human of the only joy of life!" She exclaimed, while waving her spoon around, "and 'pig', that's too harsh!"

He chuckled, watching her with softened eyes. "I know, right?"

And like that, they shared how their days went without a care in the world. No fans staring him down, making up conspiracy theories; no nagging feeling that he couldn't just relax and talk to his friend.

Except that never happened and would never happen.

➵

The next day, Hoseok left earlier to Big Hit Entertainment — they would soon be named HYBE Entertainment. Due to his imagination running wild for a period of time and he had failed to stop himself from thinking about 'what if's before bed, he didn't sleep well. His body refused to get up without mental struggle and so he did, struggle — a lot.

Luckily, he fully woke up and put an easily conjured smile on his face by the time he greeted the rest of his group. Once he consumed something nutritious but not too filling, manager's orders, he had all the energy he needed to start the day.

He greeted everyone and met with their road-manager outside with the engine on. There weren't any cameras today, he had informed him on their way and proceeded to tell him where to go to meet up with the rest of BTS after he was done. 

And in no time, Jung Hoseok eventually stood in front of one of the entertainment company's dance studio doors. He adjusted his hold on the paper gift bags in his hands so he could open the door.

"You brought them something again?" The road-manager asked him, coming over to him after finishing a call with their other manager. Hoseok thought he was nice; he didn't need to follow him here. He had to pick up the rest in less than an hour, but he insisted on helping him out with the bags. 

"It's part of the job description. Plus, I have time," he said when Hoseok had protested.

Hoseok smiled. "It's something to eat after they're finished training."

He laughed in response. "You're spoiling them?"

"Just a little." Hoseok opened the door and was greeted warmly by the five boys. They bowed more than necessary and thanked him with appropriate words and more bows. They said humble things too, as per usual like:

"You didn't need to but thank you so much, Seonbae."

"Of course, I would get you something if I visited," he said after everyone finished talking, "Think of it as a reward for going through training with me today."

They sheepishly laughed again — they were not oblivious to what people say about Hoseok as a teacher online — and Soobin, the leader, decided to speak. "Yes, thank you for the meal. We will be sure to eat it."

"Train well, and eat well," Hoseok lightly instructed and laughed shortly. Briefly he was reminded of her, who said the same to him when he ranted to her about trainee struggles.

He mentally swatted the thought away; his eyes scanning the room. "Your manager isn't here, again?" He asked. She must be busy. I've never seen her once since she started working here.

"Oh, she's in the other room to talk to another manager on the phone. She said something about schedules being switched," Yeonjun explained. "She said it wouldn't take too long."

Hosoek glanced at the door. Then I will be able to meet this famous manager that everyone is talking about soon. He turned his attention back towards the younger boys. 

"Alright, let's start!"