Friendships Desires and Secrets

TGIF?

Alex checked her Kakao app again to make sure the bus she was taking was going to get her to the restaurant on time. It was dependable as always. She noted though that if they ran late, she would have to call a taxi. And oh, how she hoped the night would run late. Her heart rate never slowed and when she thought it might, her overactive imagination made sure that wasn't the case. 

A few miles away, Tara was getting on her own bus and trying to get her racing heart under control. There was no way that this was real. Not only was she basically going on a date with Min Yoongi, but there was a good chance that all the other members would be there as well. She was also excited to see if Alex and Joon hit it off. They were so similar in all the right ways.

Taras's bus pulled up and she scanned her pass and boarded. The whole way, her foot bounced. She worried at her lip. She tucked and untucked her hair. She shifted in her seat and took several deep breaths trying to calm herself to no avail. The butterflies in her stomach mixed with the doubting voices in her head, had her nearly in tears by the time the bus got to its stop. On shaking legs, she exited and rapidly walked the two blocks to the restaurant. 

Alex was about to overload from the cold and excitement as she came around the block from where the bus had let her off. She was shivering, but when she rounded the corner, a blast of fridged air hit her and she shuddered violently as her teeth started to chatter. She saw Tara walking up to the restaurant from the opposite direction and picked up her pace. 

"Are you ready for this?" Tara said, her face pale and terrified.

"Yes, for years now." Alex answered through clenched teeth, and without hesitation, she flung open the door to Cheybol. The warm air surrounded them both and the amazing smells drew them inside. The place was sectioned off in four parts and they stood and waited for an attendant. They both glanced around, not seeing the members, and Tara glanced at her watch.

"We aren't really early."

"No?" she rubbed her hands together, the feeling beginning to return to them.

The attendant was suddenly in front of them and was very poised and graceful as she explained the menu and lack of availability on Fridays. "We are meeting a group of friends." Alex responded softly and the attendant's face lit up. 

"Bangtan Sonyeondan?" She mouthed in silence.

Tara and Alex both nodded. Tara swallowed hard and Alex glanced around, worried still because she wasn't seeing them. The attendant waved them forward and walked down a bright hallway and into a room off to itself. There was no one there, and the room was completely empty except for a door to the right. The attendant knocked on the door and a large man opened it and looked her up and down before seeing Alex and Tara behind her. He made a slight bow and opened the door the rest of the way. The guard and the attendant both motioned for them to go in. The attendant took their coats as they did so.

The room smelled of beer and champagne mingled with roasting meat and gochujang. The moment the women entered the room, all seven members of BTS stood and bowed. Tara and Alex returned the bow deeply.  Taras's throat went completely dry again and she fidgeted with her sleeves, making sure they were pulled down over her tattoos. Alex managed an overloud "Annyeonghaseyo." and blushed. Yoongi pulled the empty seat next to him, out for Tara and she excitedly accepted.

Jeon Jungkook was sitting closest to the women when they walked in and remarked on the tattoos Alex had on her wrist. She quickly turned her wrists over, flashing them for the room to see. He giggled and repeated what he saw written.

"My universe, my breath, my compass, my happiness, my love, Kim Namjoon. Aaawww! Hyung!" He winked at her, before cupping his hand next to his mouth, almost poking himself with his chopsticks and whispered, "I know the feeling." He was tipsy and was actually quite loud.