Rewrite the Rules

United We Stand: Part 79

Toronto wrapped its arms around us, a warm embrace of unexpected anonymity. Gone were the screaming fans, the constant cameras, the relentless pressure to perform. For four beautiful days and three blissful nights, BTS wasn't BTS – they were just them.

The city stretched out before us like an unexplored map. Freed from the usual fanfare, we walked the streets, their laughter a melody in the cool Canadian air. Jimin, the charmer, shared a hilarious story.

A young woman, her eyes flickering with recognition, stopped him. "Hey, you're Jimin from BTS, eh?" she asked hesitantly. He just smiled, a friendly nod in return. The girl, seemingly satisfied with his non-response, wished him well and walked away, photoless and unfazed. Jimin said he's moving there.

We rented bikes, our laughter echoing as we pedaled through the city. Local food fueled our explorations – steaming plates shared over stories and dreams at bustling restaurants. One night, the "Jimin, Tae, and Jungkook – even snuck into a club, their incognito status letting them melt into the pulsing music.

For Namjoon and me, though, Toronto held a different kind of magic. We spent hours lost in the Ontario Art Gallery and the McMichael Canadian Collection, his fingers entwined in mine as we admired masterpieces.

One perfect afternoon, we embarked on a bike ride, weaving through the city's vibrant tapestry until we stumbled upon a hidden gem: a cozy Korean restaurant tucked away on a quiet side street.

The aroma of kimchi and bibimbap, a familiar comfort from home, filled the air as we shared an instant of normalcy, a taste of the life we both yearned for.

These stolen days in Toronto were a balm to our souls. We were reminded of the simple joys that often slipped through our fingers amidst the ride of fame. It was a time of rediscovery – of rediscovering them, of rediscovering myself, and of rediscovering a shared hope for a future where our dreams could coexist with the extraordinary reality they had created.

It was time for the members to return to New York.

The private jet touched down with a gentle thud, pulling us back from the blissful cocoon we'd built in Toronto. The second we stepped through immigration into the New Jersey airport, a wall of sound slammed into us. Screams, cheers, the frantic clicks of cameras – the familiar chaos of fame had returned.

"Woah, security must be swamped," J-Hope muttered, his voice barely audible over the din. We stood alone, no burly guards to shield us from the adoring crowd.

"How'd they even know we were here?" Jimin shrieked, his eyes wide with a mix of excitement and apprehension.

"Do you need cops?" Taehyung suggested, his voice barely a squeak.

Jin, however, broke the rising panic with a sly grin. "They're already here, Tae."

"Here? Did you know about this, Jin?" I asked, bewildered.

Yoongi, ever the stoic one, simply shrugged. "Yeah, we arranged it."

The other members whipped their heads around, eyes ping-ponging between Jin and Yoongi like malfunctioning ping pong balls.

"Arranged it? What do you mean arranged it?" Namjoon demanded, his voice laced with frustration.

"We figured you and Emma deserved a proper welcome," Jin said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Besides," Yoongi chimed in, "we heard some not-so-great gossip from Big Hit about your little public relationship."

Dread coiled in my stomach as I echoed, "Gossip?"

Jin nudged Yoongi with a smirk. "Yeah," he said. "There is no way they would allow it. So, we hatched a little plan of our own."