Behind The Scenes: Book Two || Jihope

XV: Thoughts and Proposals

Being a Kpop Idol is not exactly easy. J Hope could not completely remember just how many times he thought of quitting in the past. It always seemed like a dream job and in many ways it was, but as he walked with his face down through a hall of screaming fans and security trying to keep the fans away from them, Hoseok couldn't help but to feel extremely nervous. BTS: First Kpop group to perform at the American Music Awards. The pressure was gigantic. Was he excited? Of course! How could he not be? But he was also anxious.

American public was really different from the Korean public they have gotten used to, and despite him knowing that there were thousands of fans supporting them in the western hemisphere, he couldn't help but to feel tickles in his stomach. The practice for this stage had been extremely intense. Day in and day out, they had repeated DNA so many times, Hoseok was starting to get tired of his own song. Not to mention that they had also needed to practice for a short concert they'd be presenting at a TV show, the MIC Drop choreo they would be dancing for the newest remix and practicing English so that they could take away some of the weight off Namjoon's shoulders. The past weeks have been unbelievably tired.

"Represent us well!" He heard a fan screaming as he handed his passport to the security lady. This only made everything more real for Hoseok. The fan was right. If they were the first to debut at an American music show, they would be the ones representing Korea, representing Kpop as a genre and representing the idol industry that was probably still unknown for the american people. That was a lot! Was BTS even ready to do that? Would their presentation lead to new people getting into Kpop or would they try to be molded into a western boy band that resembled what was known by the public a little better? Hoseok was not sure and honestly he feared that answer.

Coming from different cultures, they already had had some inconvenients with american people. When they went to the US for the Billboard Music Awards, they had been like fish taken out of the sea, it was a little strange. Not to mention that they had some people interviewing them without any sort of knowledge on how Kpop worked. That's why they had kept getting questions like how they met and how they signed under BigHit.

Hoseok and the rest of the band knew those people expected to hear that they were a group of friends who started to make music together while living in the country side, got discovered by an Entertainment company and made it big...that wasn't even close to being true. They had not met each other until the executives carefully and strategically picked them one by one to be a part of a new boy group. Apart from Suga and Namjoon, they hadn't even taken lessons together until after they were selected. Not to mention that Namjoon was the only member left from the original BTS line up. The rest of them came into the group as the executives and production team thought necessary and they were not the only ones. There had been other trainees in the run for debuting but got cut in the way, leaving only six of them standing with Jimin joining them when they were already really close to debut.

It had not been the way the people there were expecting. However, it was good that Joon was such a master with words because he could always answer those kind of questions without saying much about their trainee days or how they came into the group, sometimes replacing other trainees that were cut simply because the production team wanted it that way. That is really how all Kpop groups assemble. The members of a band always get hand picked based on their looks and the abilities they learn while they are training. That's what some people sometimes referred to as the Idol Factory. Every single member of every single Kpop group had gone through it. But the interviewers seemed to ignore that fact and many others, so they asked questions they would normally ask a western band without taking into consideration how the Korean music industry worked.

"Hobi- hyung!" A call suddenly snapped him out of his busy thoughts. He smiled as he turned to see Jimin looking at him with loving eyes. "I called you like seven times. What were you thinking about?" The younger asked innocently, really how could he be this cute! "Were you thinking of me?" Jimin spoke with a little pout. "Always" Hobi answered setting a hand around the younger's waist. He had been so lost in thought, he hadn't even noticed when they had been taken into the airport's VIP room to wait for their flight. Looking around, he saw the managers relaxing next to Bang PD while Kookie and Tae devoured the food set for them. Joonie seemed to be watching something on his phone, Jin was texting and Suga was asleep. They all seemed so peaceful, why was he this scared? Even Yoongi who had just been given an ultimatum seemed relaxed. Fact that reminded him that he still needed to tell Yoongi about his new relationship with Jimin.

He was also curious about Jisung. Not that he was trying to show off but he hardly remembered the guy. The trainees who acted as their back up dancers rarely ever were allowed some time to interact with BTS. If they were needed, they traveled for presentations only and usually went back to Korea on the same day. During rehearsals, the group was taken into the practice room by their teachers and taken out of it when the songs who needed back up dancers were over. Sometimes, they weren't even the same people and most of the times they were instructed to cover their faces with masks while practicing.

Some other times, they were allowed to stay a little longer after rehearsal, that's how Hoseok had gottten to know a few of them. They were hard working guys and Hobi hoped that they would all debut and become a famous group. However that thought was as beautiful as it was unreal.

Due to the little time they got to spend with the trainees, Hoseok always wondered how Jimin and Jisung had become such close friends. Sure they had trained together for some time but Hobi still found it strange. That's why he wanted to find out as much as possible about that guy. "Cmon guys, we are boarding now" one of the managers said happily. They quickly stood up and followed behind. "When we return from this trip, we would've made history!" Bang PD stated. Hoseok saw as the others happily cheered with smiles in their faces. Smiles that hid just how nervous they all really were.

°°°

Arriving to the US had been very different this time. Their fans had certainly increased. The amount of love they were receiving was amazing. J Hope was really grateful. Right after exiting the airport, they were taken to the house the company had rented for their stay in the US. It was really an amazing place. With a really big pool, big bedrooms, two living rooms and three bathrooms, the house resembled their dorm back in Korea. It was great!

They had not taken long to divide the bedrooms. Of course, he'd share with Jimin, Kookie with Tae, Namjoon with Yoongi and Jin had gotten the single room. One would think that they would have the day to rest, but truth was that they had their first show scheduled that same day. *A mini concert in Los Angeles that had sold out tickets in less than five hours. They had little time to wash up, eat and get some sleep before being taken to soundcheck and rehearsals.

After a shower and a quick meal, Hobi fell asleep hugging Jimin. However, he could tell the younger was not resting at all. Even submerged in his dreams, Hobi was able to listen as Jimin practiced the his lines to some of their songs. When he heard Jiminie starting to get frustrated, he woke up and urged Jimin to sleep a little but Jimin was having none of it. "I don't want to sleep" the younger answered with a little pout. "What do you want to do then?" Hobi asked pressing his lips against Jimin's forehead. Jiminie just shrugged and instantly landed his lips on Hoseok's.

Hobi was more than happy to follow. Loving the sensation of Jimin's plump lips in between his own. It was almost magical. He couldn't help but to bring his right hand up to Jimin's cheek. Gently pressing his fingers against the younger's cheek and playing a little with his earlobe, action that made Jimin chuckle during their kiss. It was amazing for Hoseok to feel his boyfriend smiling when their lips were still connected. He pressed some small kisses on Jimin's lips and was a little surprised when the younger pulled his head forward, now delivering a deeper and more passionate kiss.

It didn't take long for Jimin to willingly part his lips for his hyung. Hoseok quickly invaded the younger's mouth despite the fact that he had not really teased for Jimin to allow him entrance. He was not complaining though. He teased Jimin's tongue with his own, twirling around the muscle and delivering strong licks. It was then that he felt Jimin's leg curling up and setting around his waist. Jimin was always like this, really passionate and amazingly ethereal. Hoseok loved it. "Jiminie" he mumbled out in between their kiss. His voice whispery and breathy. "Hobi" Jimin answered not letting go of the older's lips. The scene was starting to get hotter than it should. Specially because they were to head out in about an hour.

Hoseok knew that if he kept going, he soon wouldn't be able to stop at all. That's why he cut the kiss and took a deep breath, smiling as he saw Jimin doing the same. "So...when will we?" Jimin inquired with his finger twirling around Hoseok's shirt. Drawing circles around the older's belly button. Hoseok couldn't help but to blush. "N- not now" he replied feeling a little flustered but incredibly turned on. "Before we return home then" Jimin proposed not stopping the motion of his fingers that were so nicely teasing Hoseok. "That sounds perfect to me" the older answered landing a new peck on Jimin's lips.

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Reference

• Mini Concert: BTS Exclusive. Off Air Performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. November 15, 2017.