The Truth Untold

3

Jin stumbled out of the van as Hoseok pulled him by his wrist.

Jimin, Sejin, and their driver followed close behind.

The party walked a short distance from the van before turning the corner, coming upon a wondrous sight that made Jin gasp and his eyes light up with pleasure.

It was a pocha, and the smell coming from it was heavenly.

It made Jin's mouth water.

As they entered the pocha, Jin was glad that they had all changed into regular clothes before leaving the arena to go to their vehicle.

Because the kind of clientele that frequented pochas were not the kind that wore flashy costumes or expensive suits.

They were normal hardworking folks.

Regular people.

And Jin missed being around them.

Being an idol was great, and it had many fantastic perks.

But being a regular person going about his day-to-day without fearing being mobbed by fans, stalked by sasaengs, and photographed at embarrassing moments?

Jin missed those days.

"Are you happy we're here, hyung?" Jimin asked.

"Yes. Yes, I am."

Jin's eyes shone with joy, and it made his companions glad.

They had all noticed his struggle tonight.

The way he kept his smile on his face, the way he acted silly for the cameras, the way he kept blowing kisses to ARMY.

Jin normally did all that naturally because that was the kind of person he was – one that always put others at ease even though he was actually an introvert – but tonight he had had to work hard to make his actions believable.

That was why when they had all noticed how his boyfriend ignored him and behaved like an ass, they had rallied around him.

"You can thank Yoongi-hyung later," Hoseok said.

"Yoongi? Why?" Jin asked, puzzled.

"He suggested it," Sejin explained.

Two hours later, Sejin carried a sleeping Jin on his back into the apartment building.

They, except for their driver, had all gotten a little carried away at the pocha, and consumed more soju than they had originally intended, and stayed longer than they had originally planned.

The alcohol had loosened Seokjin's tongue and his inhibitions, and it had led to him crying on Sejin's shoulder over his boyfriend's behaviour at the awards show earlier in the evening.

Hoseok had tried to temper Jin's melancholy by ordering more soju and eomuk guk but his good intentions had backfired spectacularly.

Not only did Jin finish his bowl of the delicious fish cake soup, but he had polished off Hoseok's and Jimin's bowls too.

Then he drank two bottles of soju all by himself.

When Jin realised that he had eaten his members' soups, he had sobered up a little, contrite at what he'd done, and tried to make amends by clinging and snuggling with both of them.

Fortunately, his full belly and sotted head soon made him sleepy and lethargic, and they were all able to leave the pocha without much incident to go home.

Back at the apartment, Jimin hurried before Sejin and Jin so he could open the door.

Hoseok who was following close behind, helped to remove Jin's shoes as Sejin toed his own shoes off before donning a pair of soft slippers.

The trio then made their way quietly through the dimly lit living room to the hallway that led to the bedrooms.

Jimin entered Jin's room, but instead of turning on the light overhead, he clicked on the bedside lamp.

He reared back in shock when he saw someone was already in Jin's bed.

~~~~~~~~~

From the Author: Pocha is short for pojangmacha. It is a food stall covered with tarp that sells affordable street food and soju. It is a popular place to destress after work, or hang out with friends. [Photo Credit: seoulvivor.com]