Before you disappear

Chapter 50

My jaw had dropped and as I turned to Jungkook, seeing his bulged eyes, I knew he felt the same about the question that Sehun had just asked.

I was speaking in Korean?

How did I not notice I was speaking in a different language than my own? Was this a side effect from being Jungkook for ten days? I had started speaking the language when I woke up in his body and just assumed that ability was linked to being him. I never expected that ability to stay once I came back into my own body.

I looked at Jungkook, wondering if he was still able to speak my language as well. But I didn't know how to ask him now that Sehun was watching us intently and waiting for me to respond to his question.

"I... I..."

"We met online," Jungkook answered hastily. "I helped her learn the language and, well, I guess she's a natural."

I turned to look at him, wondering what the heck he was doing lying about this. Granted, I knew that telling the truth was out of the question, but a flat out lie like that only caused more harm than good.

Besides, me learning Korean from Jungkook? Who would believe that a busy Kpop idol like JK would have time for that?

"You guys met online?"

I shook my head. "No. I mean... we met at one of the concerts and, well..." I was searching for words to try and find a lie that would be as close to the truth as possible. "We kept in touch after that. Our connection sure made it easier for me to learn the language," I went on, "but I had already been studying Korean for quite a while before I met him."

Sehun's right eyebrow was raised as I looked up to face him. Then he turned to Jungkook. "You said you guys met online?"

"Well," JK started. "I mean, we kinda got to know each other after the concert."

Sehun pouted his lips and then shrugged, before looking back at me. "Either way, my compliments for getting the language down. It can't have been easy for a western woman. Just as it's not easy for these guys-" He tapped on Jungkook's knee. "-to learn English, right, JK?"

"Hey, I'm doing the best I can!"

Sehun laughed and it was clear to me that this was some inside joke between the two of them. Though I couldn't get myself to ask for details. I had this weird sensation in the pit of my stomach that all of this didn't feel like it was real.

How much my life had changed from being a BTS fan not even two weeks ago to sitting next to Jungkook in their van, going to their hotel where I was offered a room on their floor. A floor that was sealed off for the general public and yet, I was invited to stay there.

This doesn't even sound real to me.

I took a deep breath to try and calm my rising nerves. For a split second I let myself think of what could happen once I got into my room – on the same floor as BTS. The chance of seeing the other guys was, well, 100% real.

Of course, I'd seen the guys plenty in the last week and a half, but they hadn't seen me as me. How could I act all normal around them, as if this would be the first time meeting them, when in fact I'd been around them this whole time?

The noise of a phone ringing, pulled me out of my thoughts.

Sehun held the phone to his left ear. "Wait, I can't hear you." He blocked out the sound by placing his hand over his other ear and turned away from us.

Realization hit that this might be my only shot to talk to Jungkook privately before we got to the hotel. So, I turned to face him. "Jungkook?"

He looked at me questioningly, his eyes warm and calming.

"What are we doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"How are you going to explain my presence to the other guys, to your staff and management? I mean, they never even saw me before and now I'm close enough to their maknae that I traveled to Oslo and even stay at the same hotel, at the same floor?"

Jungkook waited a moment before answering. "To be honest, I haven't thought it through."

"Then how-?"

He shook his head, silencing me with the piercing look he gave me. "But I did decide not to tell the guys about you being at the hotel. For now, it's my intention to keep you all to myself."

Okay. Why did Jungkook make that sound super hot?

My heart rate spiked and the fan girl in me was squealing. I had to keep myself calm and collected because I wasn't yet clear on exactly how he was going to keep me hidden. From what I knew, BTS would be in Oslo for 2 concerts on consecutive days. So, they wouldn't say here more than 3, maybe 4 days.

Was I to just follow them to the next destination?

I shook my head. You are getting ahead of yourself. Let's first get through this day.

Just as I planned to ask Jungkook exactly how he was planning to keep me hidden on their floor and imagining being cooped up in my hotel room, unable to leave in fear of being seen as an intruder, Sehun ended his phone call.

Jungkook leaned forward, tapping Sehun on his knee. "Sehun, there is something important I need you to do."

The bodyguard looked up from his phone. "What?"

Jungkook pointed at me. "You have to keep her presence hidden from the other guys and staff."

Sehun frowned. "What do you mean, keep her hidden?"

Jungkook opened his mouth, but I placed my hand on his arm. "I'm shy," I said quickly, seeing Sehun tilt his head in confusion. "Extremely shy around a lot of people. Especially when they all know each other and I'm the new girl."

I glanced at Jungkook, seeing him raise his eyebrows at me and his lips twitched into a small smile. Of course, that sent me into full blushing mode which was – at that precise moment – exactly what I needed to get my point across to Sehun.

"Oh." Sehun nodded. "Not to worry. I get it."

"You do?"

"Of course. I grew up with a younger sister who was terribly shy and awkward around people. You should've seen her in groups, as if she tried to merge into the wallpaper. It was painful to see. I can imagine, especially given the size of our staff and the energy bombs that are BTS, soothing into that is essential."

Jungkook chuckled and I looked at him. "He gets it."

"I'll make sure you'll have your privacy and only a few will know of your presence," Sehun continued. "Though we do need to lay down some ground rules to make sure that you will be under the radar for the duration of our stay."

Rules. I hated rules. But in this case, rules would be a life saver for my nerves. 

***

Author's note

Another chapter for you! I had a busy week, celebrating my birthday so no time to update another chapter. But I'm set on finishing this story and will try to update twice a week from now on! So look forward to that!

Meanwhile, tell me what you like about this story if you can. I'd love to hear from you!