Before you disappear

Chapter 85

He'd been watching her on stage, first a bit timid but after ten minutes or so, she'd been dancing the steps like a pro and singing her heart at with perfect pronunciation.

It had helped that a lot of the members had been pushing her to come out of her shell.

Jimin had wrapped his arm around her neck, pulling her along the stage during Mic Drop, Tae had pushed him to the center of the stage when they started their welcoming words to ARMY and Jin had made a dad joke to try and get her to respond.

When she only smiled and didn't start her turn in welcoming ARMY, Hobi had taken charge.

"Kookie's a little shy today," he said in his microphones. He turned towards the crowd. "What can we do to make him feel better?"

The crowd started cheering Jungkook's name and holding up signs which where shown on the screen behind them. Namjoon took her by her shoulders and turned her, pointing up at the screen.

"We all know it's been a tough couple of weeks for you," he said, "but we are so glad you're here with us."

Jungkook could see her glazy eyes, and remembered how easily he'd shed tears on stage whenever Namjoon had taken the mic. This was no different for her. The only difference was that this was her first time on stage and showing emotions, and he remembered how he had felt embarrassed and he could see the same embarrassment happening to her now.

Luckily, she'd found her strength and confidence just by allowing the cheers and chants to encourage her to speak up.

"Thank you guys," she said in the microphone, holding her hands up. "It's been a wild couple of weeks and I know you guys must have been worried about me. But I'm fine. And I want to show you that but I might need to take it a little slow tonight. So, please bare with me, okay? I love you!"

Of course, that had set the crowd going wild again, and when the next song started, she'd been on point with every beat and every lyric.

Jungkook noticed straight away she'd been given an easier routine, probably advised by the medical team but he could also see that she was giving everything. More than once he felt his heart race as he saw her panting on the side of the stage, waiting for the next part of a song he was supposed to sing or dance to.

Please take it easy.

It was a thought that constantly roamed his mind during the concert, and it made him aware that he wasn't able to enjoy the concert as much as he wanted.

Just before the closing words started, Sehun showed up. "We need to go," he said. "Leave before the crowd does."

Of course Jungkook knew of this procedure, but still his heart ached that he wasn't able to see her initial reaction when they'd come off stage. He remembered how he'd felt after that first performance. The elation, the sheer joy and positivity, and the many hugs he'd shared with the other members.

He hoped she would experience the same connection.

Back at the hotel, Sehun had brought him up to her room where he said goodbye before going back to the venue.

Jungkook had waited about ten minutes in her room, before sneaking into his own room of which she'd given him the room card to.

And then the waiting for her to come back had started. Experience told him it would take about an hour, including the ride back to the hotel, so he'd been on his phone aimlessly scrolling through his social media. He made sure not to like or post anything; the real Jungkook couldn't be online at this moment after all.

At one point he must've closed his eyes and dozed off, because the next thing he remembered was waking up to a soft tingling against his cheek.

Jungkook opened his eyes.