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Jihyo wraps the blanket tighter around her shoulders. It's already March but the weather's still nippy. That, and the fact that Jihyo gets cold too easily, makes her walk faster to the arena, five inch heels be damned.
Her arm's linked with Jeongyeon's, sharing the blanket as they rush inside the building, waving to the fans and photographers behind the barricade.
Once they're in, they hand the blankets to their managers and straighten out their clothes. It's significantly warmer inside, but the mini-dress she has on does the bare minimum in keeping her warm. She bears with it, sliding closer to Sana who's in front of her as they line up for the red carpet.
Maybe if I had my jacket, Jihyo remembers and finds herself pouting. She's probably never going to get that back, which sucks because she just bought that last week with Nayeon.
Still, she can care less if she never gets the jacket back. What she needs is the ring— the same ring that's currently missing from her index finger.
It's finally their turn on the red carpet. They each carefully climb the steps and stand in front of the backdrop.
Jihyo turns to the cameras and puts on a smile she's countlessly practiced in front of the mirror.
*
The next day, the manager tells Yoongi three things that unnerve him.
First, the person who owns the jacket is an idol.
Second, she's from a popular girl group.
And when his manager finally tells him the name of the group, Yoongi's convinced he's just messing with him.
Yoongi stares at him blankly before breaking into a low chuckle. "Be serious, hyung."
His manager just stares him dead in the eye, expression unchanging.
Yoongi's laugh wavers. He sputters out a loud, "What the fuck?" as he realizes with damning clarity that the mystery girl he's looking for isn't so mysterious after all. They're in the same award show; he might have walked past her just now, for all he knows.
"Which one is she?" he clarifies, trying to connect the voice to a face.
"My friend doesn't know her name so he couldn't say," the manager answers, sighing. "Listen, I was fine with this when I didn't know who this girl was, but now that we do, I don't think I can allow you to do this. It's too risky."
Yoongi's quick to make up a lie. "I won't. I won't find her anymore. I'll just keep the jacket."
His manager watches his impassive face before acquiescing. "Okay. Good."
He leaves to round up the other members, and when Yoongi's certain he's off his back, he blows a breath.
He doesn't have any expectations about the girl, but it's not what his manager just told him. He's only had a big question mark of her in his head but now he knows that she's an idol and everything gets a million times more complicated.
Still, he'd be lying if he said he weren't even more curious now.
It's risky to find her, there's no denying that, but that's never stopped him before. This wouldn't be the first time Yoongi didn't listen to his managers and it definitely wouldn't be the last.
Jimin walks up to him, stare inquisitive. "What was that about?"
Yoongi wonders if he should tell him, but Jimin might stop him, so he decides he'll tell the boys once he finds out who she is. "Just something about tomorrow's schedule."
*
Yoongi taps his feet rapidly against the linoleum, a habit that comes out when he's nervous. From the corner of his eye, he sees the group—the group that the jacket owner's apparently in—being called by the staff to go backstage, probably to change their outfits.
He tells Jin he's gonna use the restroom but goes to the waiting room instead, grabbing the paper bag that he inconspicuously left there. It has the jacket inside.
His spontaneous plan is to wait for one of the members to pop out, and then confront them about the jacket.
The plan sounded solid in Yoongi's head, but now he's silently panicking when no one seems to be coming to the waiting room.
He's close to giving up as his watch tells him ten minutes already passed. The mission's a failure, and he needs to go before their fans start suspecting something strange.
He moves to leave when a tall girl walks by.
Yoongi carefully eyes her, recognizing her features. She's in the group the manager told him about. Her name's Tzuyu, if he remembers correctly.
Yoongi remembers the words he practiced. It's now or never.
"Um," Yoongi clears his throat and taps the girl's shoulder. "Excuse me."
She turns around in surprise and bows immediately. He bows back in return, cringing internally. What the hell is he doing? "Uh, hi, I think someone from your group lent this to me. Do you know who owns it?"
He stiffly passes her the paper bag.
"Um–" She looks inside, inspects the clothing, and looks back at him. "I think this is Nayeon unnie's."
So that's her name. He repeats the name in his head, and a face comes to mind but he isn't all too familiar.
Before he can psych himself out, he goes for the kill. "Can you tell her that I'd like talk to her here after your performance?" The girl looks hesitant, so Yoongi quickly adds, "It'll just be a second. I wanted to thank her in person."
At that, she nods. "Okay, I'll tell her to meet you here later, sunbae."
They bow to each other again and separate ways. Yoongi goes back to his seat, grin on his face.
Namjoon leans in his ear. "Where the hell did you go?"
"I'll tell you later." Yoongi promises, turning to the screen and clapping at a performer. Namjoon watches him warily but leaves him be.
Things are turning out unexpectedly well. Now, Yoongi just needs to prepare what he'll say to the mystery girl, and hope to god he doesn't embarrass himself.
