Starting Over •JJK• ✔️

Seven

I set my camera bag down by the wall of the large white room and greeted the production team. Everyone was moving about, setting up equipment and lighting to prepare for today's taping of a Run BTS episode. It would be a little while before the boys were scheduled to arrive.

I looked around to assess my surroundings. There was a large tarp laid out on the floor with seven easels propped up in a circle, and a card with one of the guys' names was taped to each canvas. An apron was draped over each stool in front of the individual work spaces and a small table stood between the easels to hold various paints and brushes.

This was going to be a magnificent mess.

It had been a week since I'd had my talk with Joon. He made a lot of valid points, which is kind of his thing, and our conversation has been in the back of my mind ever since. If Yoongi was the little brother I never asked for, Joon was the older brother that I'd always wished I had. Thankfully, I got inundated with work so I didn't have to think about it too much.

But every now and then, the vision of those flannel pants would come creeping back into my brain...

I didn't see the boys much in the past week. It was mostly in passing. I'd run into one or two of them while either leaving our building or coming home. But our group text was still as active as ever. We'd send each other silly photos throughout the day and check in to see how everything was going.

Their schedule was quickly ramping up as they were starting their comeback preparations. Once that would be officially announced, things were going to shift into high gear. They were all excited to get back to work as usual and head out to see their fans again.

I couldn't wait to see them today. Sure, it was still work, but you don't realize how much you miss just being in the same room with certain people until you can't. I missed hearing them laugh and pick on each other and randomly burst into song.

I was in the middle of getting my camera ready when I heard them enter the room. I smiled at the sight of them.

Hobi was the first one in with his ever-present infectious laugh and the rest followed behind, filing in. They greeted everyone as they looked around at the set up, asking questions about what they would be doing. Of course, no one told them anything. The reveal was always saved for the taping to capture their reactions.

Jimin trotted over to me and pressed his chest against my arm with a side hug, his arms giving my shoulders a squeeze. "My favorite Maddie! I've missed you!"

"But I'm your only Maddie." I smiled and set my camera down to turn and give him a proper hug. "Just like you're my only Jimin. And I've missed you too, sweetheart."

I can't think of a better word to describe Jimin. He is just this pure soul who has a magical way of lifting my spirits without even trying. He could always tell when I'd be stressed to the max and needed a break from work, even through a simple text message. To snap me out of it, he would invite me upstairs, make some tea, and we would sit at the island counter in the kitchen with a couple of coloring books. He'd make me talk about anything that doesn't involve work and would snap his fingers at me if I veered off topic. He has definitely saved me from myself on many occasions.

"Are you coming to rehearsals later?" Jimin folded his hands on my shoulder and rested his chin on his fingers. "We want to show you what we've been working on."

They had just started the early stages of planning their upcoming tour when I started working with them a year ago. It still wouldn't kick off for quite some time, but scheduled dates had been locked in a month ago. And with the album being complete, they've been hard at work putting choreography together. Everything that they've shown me so far has been incredible.

"Please come." Jimin's voice was playfully whiny. "We might be busy working on our stuff but it would be nice to have you there." He lightly shook my shoulder. "Please?"

He still had his chin resting on my shoulder, so I tilted my head to rest my temple against his forehead. I slid an arm around him and pinched his side, causing him to squirm.

I looked around the room and my eyes fell on JK. He was talking to a producer but was looking in my direction. My heart stopped for a moment when our eyes met for the first time in nearly a week.

"Of course, sweetheart." I turned and smiled at Jimin. "I wouldn't miss it."