Rewrite the Rules

Cards and Connections: : Part 58

The night bloomed with youthful energy in the secluded hotel room. Here, the BTS members, usually a whirlwind on stage, shed their demanding schedules for a taste of normalcy. Samina, Daisy, and I were thrilled to host this escape, the air crackling with the promise of fun and connection.

I fanned out a deck of cards on the coffee table. Jin, ever the foodie, ordered a feast from room service – a smorgasbord of delectable bites. The anticipation was palpable as the guys gathered around, settling into a makeshift circle.

"Card games, anyone?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper amidst the excited chatter.

"Perfect! What's the play?" J-Hope chimed in, his eyes gleaming at the cards.

Jimin, a playful look in his own eyes, suggested, "Poker? For high stakes?"

A chorus of laughter erupted as Taehyung, ever the enthusiast, declared, "Poker it is!" The shuffling of cards became a rhythmic prelude to the friendly competition brewing.

Throughout the game, laughter echoed in the room. We traded playful banter about poker faces and questionable strategies, the relaxed atmosphere fostering a sense of camaraderie.

V, his English growing more fluid with each sip (or so we thought!), regaled us with childhood card game stories.

Jin, in turn, reminisced about epic poker nights during their early days as BTS. The air thrummed with a nostalgic energy, a shared history adding a layer of warmth to the evening.

As the night wore on, room service arrived bearing a bounty of mouthwatering food and refreshing drinks. We devoured the treats, the deliciousness fueling the competitive spirit. Each round of poker brought its share of surprises and friendly jabs.

Even Yoongi, usually reserved, found himself swept up in the excitement, his stoicism occasionally cracking with a well-timed bluff.

The night was a delightful dance between lighthearted competition and genuine connection, a stolen moment of respite for these larger-than-life personalities.

The clock blinked mercilessly towards 3 am, the playful energy of the night waning slightly. Suddenly, a jarring rap on the door shattered the carefree mood. It wasn't a light knock, but a forceful intrusion, like a police raid.

Abandoning my hand in the half-played game, I exchanged nervous glances with Samina and Daisy before approaching the door. Curiosity battled apprehension as I threw it open.

Two security guards stood in the hallway, their expressions stern. "Miss Rowan?" one began, his voice firm. "We've received a noise complaint from this room."

A wave of annoyance washed over me.

"That's correct, ma'am," the other guard confirmed. "We'd appreciate it if you kept the noise down."

Stepping out into the hallway and pulling the door almost shut, I caught a glimpse of Hoon, BTS's manager, lingering near the elevator. It clicked instantly.

"Was this gentleman the one who complained about the noise?" I inquired, my voice laced with suspicion as I gestured down the hall.

The guard shook his head, following my gaze. "He's a guest on the floor above. Claims the music is disrupting his sleep."

"Because he's aware who's staying here, right?" I pressed, my voice barely above a whisper.

The guard remained impassive. "Ma'am, we can't comment on other guests."

"But I can," I countered, a spark of defiance igniting within me. "If BTS isn't staying on the top floor, then he's the only one above us who could be complaining."

"We simply ask that you keep it down for the comfort of other guests," the guard insisted. "We wouldn't want to have to ask you to leave the hotel."

"Or," I suggested, pushing the door open a crack to reveal the room bathed in warm light, the guys sprawled on the floor, chairs and sofa with a game of cards, "we could offer an alternative."

Namjoon, ever perceptive, appeared at my side. "Is there a problem?" he asked calmly, his gaze flitting between me and the security guards.

"Not anymore," I replied, my voice regaining its composure. "We'll definitely tone things down a bit, but honestly, it wasn't that loud. Perhaps a little less reliance on guest complaints and a little more investigation would be helpful."

With that, I shut the door, leaving the security guards staring at the peaceful scene within. The message, hopefully, was clear.

"Was that Hoon who complained?" Namjoon asked me. As I stood on my tippy toes and gave him a kiss.

"He's down the hall. I don't think he's very happy that you're here," I replied.

"I don't care if he's happy. We're all happy, and that's all that matters. We're having a great night. Thanks for letting us come down here," he said.

"Hey, why don't you two sub in for Emma?" he suggested to J-Hope and Samina.

As he took my places, we stepped out onto the balcony. Namjoon wrapped his arms around me from behind as we admired the city lights.

"I wanted to ask if you would come along with us to Fort Worth and then LA when preform the 9 concerts there for the 3 weeks?"

"Um, did you and Hoon just get into a big fight I'm guess, well maybe it was because of this afternoon and backstage passes and such." I said.

"It was nothing. You won't let me get away with that will you?" He said with a sad smile. "I'm going over his head tomorrow. This is senseless."

"Yes, absolutely. But Namjoon, are you sure we should be doing this? Maybe if we wait a bit," I hesitated.

"Do you know how many rules I've followed in my life? How many times I was told no, or even worse, later. There is no later anymore. You asked me a question earlier, and it's really weighing on my mind. What is my vision of my life? I've been doing nothing but thinking about it. And I've been wondering, is it possible to balance a personal life and being a member of BTS? It is truly time to rewrite the rules," he shared.

"Taylor Swift? She seems to have a balance," I suggested.

"But she's not Korean. It's different back home. There's an expectation of sacrifice. There aren't a lot of role models," he explained. "I feel like I have to be the role model," he said. "Someone has to do it, and it looks like it's going to be me. I am the leader."

"First and foremost, I don't want you to get in trouble. Second of all, the truth is we've only been together for a really short while," I said. "Right now, what would make management happy?" I asked.

"For you to be gone," he said, laughing. "Sorry, but you asked."

"Would less time together be better?" I asked.

"I know you're looking for some sort of resolution. Some give-and-take. The problem is, the two of us are the only ones wanting to do that. With them, it's their way or the highway," he explained.

We looked out over the city lights, and he pondered. "I wonder if I took the highway, what would happen?"

He spun me around in his arms, facing him, and went up on my tiptoes to give him a kiss.

"I'm just trying to find a way that doesn't involve constant push and pull. Not sure if that makes sense," I said to him.

"It makes complete sense. They used to push, and I never pushed back. Years of it. But I know what you mean. If there was another way to resolve this," he replied.

"I wonder what's going on with them." He pointed at Yoongi and J-Hope.

"And after tomorrow night's concert, Samina and Daisy are going home. They're leaving on Sunday. It's interesting how they just clicked," I said.

"I think all of us had a tough time going into the military. I know they thought they had people waiting for them, and then they didn't," he explained.

"Are you telling me they're both single?" I asked.

"Listen, I'm trying to stay out of their business. I wouldn't want them in mine. But if your friends were at risk, I would intervene," he said as we made our way back into the hotel room.