Abroad with Jimin

3

I fling open the door and throw my bag, along with Jimin's jacket, onto my bed. Kara is here, hanging up Kpop posters. It's dark. She's hanging up a big one. It says "GOT7" in the center and there are 7 very good looking guys around it. "Can you help me with this next one?"

"Ugh, fine."

"This one is going right above my bed."

"Whatever." The next one, the biggest poster, says BTS and there's a group of guys at the bottom. I smile to myself. "My friend says BTS isn't very good."

"Your friend sounds like the worst."

"He likes their one song, Serendipity? I like that one too."

"Well, that's not really a group song, per se. Hold this. That's one of Jimin's solos."

Did she say Jimin? "I'm sorry, what?" I drop the poster.

"Skylar!"

"Sorry, sorry, but what did you say again?"

She sighs and opens the blinds. "I said, the song you like is a Jimin solo. There, he's that one." She points to one of the guys in the poster. I feel all the color leave my body. It's him. The Jimin I know. The Jimin from BTS.

"I mean, I'm more of a Suga girl myself, but you know, they're all pretty hot. This one is Jungkook, this one is Jin, this one–"

"Jungkook" I whisper to myself. And check the picture again. Jimin's friend from yesterday. "Kara" I cut her off "do you have any more of these? Like, a smaller one?"

She pulls a stack of coasters out of her bag. "Um, I have this, but–"

I snatch them out of her hand. "Perfect thank you." I dart out the door with them, grabbing my - Jimin's - jacket on the way out. I ignore Kara's shouting and make my way downstairs. I have no idea where Rachel is, but I have to find her. She said she was going to be with Sheila today. I know Sheila was doing some kind of social interaction study. They could be anywhere.

I decide to take one of the dorm bikes around the city. Then, I have a genius idea. The snap map. It tells me that Rachel is a few streets away. I follow her, trying not to snap and bike at the same time. It takes me to a little fashion boutique. I throw the bike against the front of the building and storm inside.

"Rachel!" I shout, hoping she'll answer.

"Sky?" I hear from a distance. "I'm in the dressing room, give me a second."

I follow her voice to the dressing room and pound on the door. "Racheelllllll"

"Calm down, jeez–"

I climb under the stall.

"Skylar, what the–"

"It's him." I hand her the stack of coasters. She throws a shirt on.

"Um, a stack of BTS coasters?"

I groan and undo the packaging. The top coaster is a picture of all the boys. It's not clear. Luckily, there are 7 more with each of the boys faces and names. I shuffle through.

"Look" I hand her the two with Jimin and Jungkook. Her eyes widen.

"Sky, holy crap. We met pop stars."

"It's not just that." I pull up his contact.

"You–how did you–what?" Rachel's eyes look like they're about to pop out of her head.

"I went to return his jacket today and he was there. We started talking and I think he asked me out and now I've gone and ruined it because I won't be able to look at him again without knowing that I'm in the presence of one of the most famous people on the planet."

"I'm sorry, did you say he asked you out?"

"Yeah. He said he'd love to show me around Busan."

"I thought I was gonna show you around Busan."

"You've never been to Busan."

"True. Welp." She slaps a hand on my shoulder. "Hope you're ready for the famous life, bud."

My phone dings. It's Jimin. He's sent me a text in Korean along with a link to some kind of text translator for messages. I install it and see that he texted: hey ^o^ did you get home ok?

"Rachel, he's texting me. What do I do?"

"Hey, lemme see those coasters." I hand them to her.

"Rachel, what do I do?"

"Ooooh, this one's cute. They have descriptions on the back. 'Kim Seokjin, or 'Jin,' is the oldest of BTS. He is part of the vocal line and refers to himself as worldwide handsome.'" She translates. She flips it back over. "Well he got that right."

"What's it say about Jimin?" I ask.

"Jimin is a main dancer and lead vocalist of BTS. He is known to be very supportive and caring with his members."

"He dances?"

"That's all you got from that? Did you text him back yet?"

"Oh, shoot."

S: I did, but now I'm out with Rachel. She's my friend from yesterday.
J: tell her I say hello. When can I take you Busan?

"He says hi." I tell Rachel.

"Can you like get out so I can change and we can leave?"

"Fine." I leave the dressing room and sit on the waiting bench.

S: When are you free?
J: This weekend? :)

I smile at his American emoticon.

S: Definitely
J: see you then ^.~

The winky face makes my heart flutter. Crap, I didn't tell him that I know. He has to know that I would've found out eventually, if not before the weekend, even. Why did he trust me with his number? Rachel emerges from the dressing room.

"Hey, where's Sheila?" I ask.

"Oh, she's outside counting the number of people walking with children for the next 20 minutes."

"Why?"

"Don't ask. So what are you doing about the Jimin situation?"

"I think he's taking me to Busan this weekend. Rachel?"

"Yeah?" She adjusts her hair.

"Do I tell him that I know?"

"That's up to you, bud. If I were me, I wouldn't know what to do in the slightest."

"You are you."

"Exactly." She pats me twice on the arm and goes to the register to go buy a black shirt.

"What a big help." I stare at my phone. I really spent a good chunk of the day talking to a Kpop idol without knowing it. Heck, I flirted with a Kpop idol without knowing it. I don't know whether to be proud of myself or embarrassed. A shrill voice interrupts my thoughts.

"Skylar Beaumont, I'm going to KILL YOU!"