Just A Few Numbers Away

Chapter 66

Bittersweet Celebrations

Hoseok's birthday arrived and everyone he loved was present, which made him radiate with his signature sunshine energy.

He thanked everyone for coming and for all the thoughtful gifts he had received.

He opened them one by one, his reactions as expressive and energetic as ever.

Hoseok was ecstatic and deeply grateful for the love surrounding him.

​But afterward, the mood shifted as he announced suddenly that he would be enlisting in the military soon after the release of his solo album.

​Everyone was caught off guard.

It seemed Hoseok had kept the specific timing a secret until this very moment.

He told everyone not to worry and that he would be okay; after all, it was his duty as a citizen of South Korea.

​Everyone understood, though a heavy silence briefly settled over the room.

Hoseok gave everyone a big, reassuring smile.

"Don't miss me too much, everyone, okay? And take care of yourselves while I'm gone."

​Sensing a lingering sadness in the air following his announcement, he decided to play one of his new, unreleased songs just to cheer everyone up.

With that, the members immediately gathered around him and hyped him up, turning the living room into a small dance floor.

​Everyone complimented him; it was an incredible track that perfectly captured his growth as an artist.

Aen took lots of pictures of the boys laughing and leaning on one another.

Later on, she posted them on the bird app after asking for Hoseok's consent.

As she hit 'post,' she looked at the photos of the boys dancing.

She wanted to share these special, raw moments she had captured with all the ARMYs.

After all, even if she was Yoongi's girlfriend, she was still an ARMY herself at heart.

Even with the enlistment news hanging in the air, the numbers on Yoongi's wrist was glowing a steady, defiant gold as he laughed with his brothers.

It was a reminder that some bonds were stronger than any government order.

***

​Days passed by like a blur.

Yoongi and Aen had grown accustomed to how their relationship was picked apart under the public's intense gaze.

They had learned to tune out the noise, focusing only on the world they had built together.

​Lately, however, Yoongi had come across some articles about Aen.

Another baseless issue had been created by insecure people, claiming that Aen was a gold digger and that she had been leeching off Yoongi.

​He had chuckled at that, though the sound was cold.

People would really do stupid things just to try and tear their relationship down.

But none of that was going to happen anytime soon.

Not now, not tomorrow, and not in this lifetime.

He wasn't going to let her go again.

He truly couldn't imagine his life without her anymore.