Destined

Freedom

Taehyung's PoV

"Hyung! Hyuuuuung! Hyuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuung"

There is only one person who calls me hyung in this apartment. And something's really wrong with him. Or not.

"Hyung, hyung, hyung, hyung! My dear darling lovely beautiful sweet Taeeeeeehyuuuung"

Arms snake around my waist, chin on my shoulder. Someone is really very excited about something.

"Yes?"

"Hussssssssssssh. What kind of a reaction is that?"

"Baby, I'm all ears, tell me!"

"You're lucky I love you and I am too excited right now. So I'm letting the dry response go"

"How sweet of you"

"Taeeee! Our Sofi stadium concert dates are fixed!"

"What??"

"Yes!"

"Oh wow. Ohmygod I can't believe this"

"I know right!"

"Are you two going to kiss because concert dates are fixed?"

Jimin. I want to wipe that smirk off his face. Of course, we were going to kiss. Not that we need a reason, but having a reason, any reason, is a good thing.

"You have a problem with that Jimin-ssi?"

There we go again.

"Yes I do. I'm tired of you eating my best friend's face all the fucking time"

"He is my partner"

"That doesn't mean you make out 24/7"

"None of your business Jiminah. Go bother someone else"

Yoongi hyung joins the conversation.

Just like Jimin likes to irritate Kook, Yoongi hyung loves to tease Jimin. It's probably his favourite thing to do after music and sleeping. And that says a lot about their bond. It's normal when there's a group of people staying together all the time. Some gravitate towards each other, there are always small clusters that form at different times. We are an amazing team together. But all duos and trios are special in their own way. The maknae line and the hyung line, for instance. Jiminah's bond with Yoongi hyung, Yoongi hyung's friendship with Hobi hyung. Hobi hyung's softness for the maknae line. How Jin hyung grounds Joonie hyung and Joonie hyung seeks guidance from him. How Jin hyung and Kookie are like bickering siblings and parent and child all rolled into one. And of course, Jimin and me. I can go on and on about each combination. Our individual bonds are as special as the bonding of the group. There's no complication there. I think that's what's helped us survive all these years. Any of us can reach out to any of the other six without the fear of being judged, or misunderstood. Our freedom lies in being a shelter for each other.

Another place where we all feel really free is in the USA, especially Kook and I. Just the fact that we don't have to be so cautious all the time when we're here makes us feel quite liberated. Not that we can throw all caution to the wind, no. But the pressure is much less. Kookie and I can share a room and no one would know. We can be outrageously close on stage and people will cheer louder. We can go on dates outside the room! Most of our outside dates have been in the US, and they have been the most memorable moments of our lives.

"You thinking about our dates in the US?"

"Are we reading minds now?"

"Come on. I know you're as excited as I am about going on a date as you are about performing live"

"I really am. It's been so long baby"

"It has"

"Not that I mind a lot. Can be anywhere with you, and it will be special"

"But being able to wine and dine with my boyfriend is a different kind of special too"

"This is why I love you"

"Only this?"

"Hold on, let me get my laptop. I have a list"

"Funny"

"I have a million reasons Kook-ah. I don't need any one of them to love you though. You are reason enough"

"Sap"

"Says the one with tears in his eyes"

"Shut up!"

If I HAD to choose among the many moments we managed to create together, my top three memories with Kookie from this year would be the three-day break at home, the date he arranged for us at Atomix, and the date I took him out for at Harry Styles concert. Never in my life had I imagined that Kook would be able to keep a secret from me for so many days when he booked the entire restaurant for our date on their day off! Yes, he kept his feelings from me for years, but we weren't glued to the hip 24/7 at that time. That night wasn't so much about the amazing food, or the exclusivity of the restaurant, or the beautiful ambience. It was about the amount of effort my boyfriend put into our date, how he looked at me during the entire time that we were there, and how we were able to do couply things like taking selfies in front of the famous mirror. Made us feel like a regular couple. It's hard to find moments like these.

When Hobi hyung asked Kookie on Instagram about our Atomix date, I realised he'd kept it a secret from everyone. It blew me away. I remember him telling the other five that we'd want some alone time on that day, so they didn't disturb us. But he hadn't even told them where we were going. So he'd done everything by himself. There are times like these when I suddenly realise my little Jungkookie is now a grown-up man. There are other moments too (ahem!)... but let's not go there.

I wasn't trying to compete with him for who plans the best dates when I took him to Harry's concert. (Of course, it wasn't just the two of us. But it was just the two of us, you know?). I honestly just wanted to see him smile like that. I wanted to hold his hand in public while singing our favourite songs together. And he loved it. That's all that matters.