The Long Game | JHS x Reader

Ch 5 | Baby Steps

Y/N's POV:

"You're such a bad bitch!" Mia exclaims, slapping the breakfast table. Ji-eun shrugs like she's bored but you can see the hint of intrigue in her big brown eyes.

After your interaction with Hoseok, you ended up getting drunk and somehow making it back home with Mia (Ji-eun went home with Seokjin, surprise surprise). But now the three of you are at brunch before heading to work and you were finally able to tell them everything that happened, including your little dance session with Yoongi.

The cafe Mia chose is a cute little place north of the studio. It's got green vines that line the walls in columns with antique light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. The three of you come here so often that the owners already know your coffee orders right when you walk in.

"That's amazing," Mia continues. "Who knew our little [Y/N] had it in her?"

It's true that all that confidence was very out of character for you. Maybe it was the champagne or maybe it was the adrenaline. But usually you only exude confidence when you dance. Normally you're very quiet and introverted.

You groan and place your face into your hands. "I can't believe I said all that."

"I know you were lying, but I've always kind of felt that way about Hoseok," Ji-eun says. "Not necessarily that he's fake, but it is unusual to smile that often, especially for someone like him."

"What do you mean?" you ask.

"Well, he had it rough in the beginning," Ji-eun says, fiddling with her mug. "He always wore a mask because he thought he was ugly. And he statistically was the least popular BTS member while they were together. Someone who received so much hate for so long doesn't usually smile that often."

"Things are different now though," Mia says before taking a bite of her toast. All three of you are a hungover mess, dressed in sweats with unruly hair tied up on top of your heads. "Hoseok is incredibly successful and loved by millions."

Ji-eun nods. "Oh I completely agree. But that doesn't mean ten years of trauma just disappears. Even Yoongi, one of the strongest members mentally, has spoken about how hard it was back then. But Jhope always had a smile on his face no matter what. I just wonder how much of that was forced?"

Your stomach sinks at the thought. Is Hoseok's smile not what it seems? Does he fake it? I mean, everyone fakes it sometimes. Like happily greeting a customer when you really don't want to be at work.

But has Hobi been masking his pain with a smile? Is that bright and cheery face a facade sometimes? A mask to hide pain?

The idea of Jhope ever feeling down makes your chest ache. "Maybe I just misunderstood him," you mumble. "He's not fake."

"I promise I'm not saying he's fake," Ji-eun clarifies. "But maybe what you said struck a chord with him. Maybe his smile has more meanings than one."

You try to imagine what Jhope's life was like as a BTS member but it's hard to get past all the glory. Of course, on paper, BTS is incredibly successful and live very comfortably doing their own solo works now.

But that doesn't mean every negative experience they lived through is gone now.

Maybe Hoseok isn't as happy as he seems.

"I wish I could get to know him better," you sigh, poking around at your eggs with your chopsticks. "But now there's no way since he thinks I hate him."

"There's still a chance," Mia chimes in, squeezing your shoulder. She's sitting to your left while Ji-eun sits across the table. "You said he seemed intrigued by you. Like you gave him a challenge. Maybe he'll take the bait?"