Autumn Angel | JHS ✔

.sixteen.

For the third time that day, I walk down the hallway and towards Hoseok's studio. Only this time, my hand is in his and that fact alone makes it seem like an entirely new experience. 

"What were you doing here so early? I thought I told you to come at five." 

I tilt my head and take out my phone to check his text. "I swear you said four." My eyes widen when I realize that he's right. "I'm so sorry. It won't happen again." 

Hoseok chuckles and opens the door to his studio. "Don't worry about it. The only privacy that might be affected would be yours, although I don't think they got a good look at your face. I'm sure you'll be fine." 

I follow him into the space. Hoseok kicks off his slippers and walks over barefoot to a black couch, bending one leg underneath him to sit on his foot. It's a unique habit I've noticed recently and I smile at it before turning my attention to the rest of his studio. 

A large desk takes up the entire back wall with a large monitor and small dolls surrounding it. A mic and speaker are off to the side, as well as different notebooks and papers. A colorful painting is right next to the door and next to that is a floor-to-ceiling red and white display of a brand name. A black couch stands parallel to the wall next to that with a small coffee table to compliment it. On the fourth wall is a shelf with various, miscellaneous things. 

His studio is the perfect mix of being colorful and dark, an accurate representation of his own personality. It's also a great example of being the messiest notch of neatness and organization. Everything needed is still within view, but is randomly scattered throughout his desk and bookshelf. I take a seat on the brown chair and turn to face Hoseok. 

"I'm so glad you came right now. Today's been a rough day." 

I stand up and walk over to him. "Tell me about it," I say as I stop in front of him and play with his hair. 

He closes his eyes and bends his neck down so I have easier access. "Just one of those days, I guess. I've been working on the same beat for hours and I feel like I've hit a wall. I'm sure it'll come to me tomorrow but it's frustrating when this kind of stuff happens." 

"Is that why you did the live?" 

"Yeah, just wanted a brain break. Although that in and of itself is also mentally draining so I don't think it really helped. You're my only escape at this point." Hoseok looks at me and I tilt my head down at him. 

"What do you mean?" 

He sighs and bends his head again, silently urging me to continue playing with his hair. "I don't know, it's just exhausting to act all happy in front of millions of people when all you want to do is scream. You said you grew a reputation of being happy. For me, that's my role in the group as well. I'm known within the fandom to always be loud, energetic, happy, positive. I would say that I am all of those things a majority of the time, but when I'm not and still have to act like I am just for the camera, it can grow frustrating. As more and more of my life is getting exposed to the world, I feel like I'm only allowed to be real in front of the people I truly trust, which of course includes my members, and now includes you." 

I smile. "You should be honored." 

Hoseok chuckles. "Shouldn't it be the other way around?" 

I shake my head and him and click my tongue. "Not a lot of people on this Earth are worthy of having me on their list. You should be proud of yourself." 

Hoseok laughs and looks up at me. "You're so real. I think that's one of the reasons why I grew so attracted to you. In a world of fake affection and over-exaggerated interest, a genuine person is like a hidden gem." 

I beam down at him. "That's me. Your hidden gem." 

Arms snake around my waist and I yelp as Hoseok pulls me down. My legs bend onto the couch and I fall into Hoseok's side, my small frame fitting right into the crook of his arm. 

He just tightens his arms around me and inhales. "Mmm. My hidden gem. What are your thoughts on changing your nickname to that?" 

I laugh out loud and wiggle my arms around his own torso, making myself comfortable. I rest my cheek on his shoulder, enjoying his warmth. "That's an awfully long nickname. I think we need to change it to something worse. Your nicknames for me are not helping at all with my pride. I need to be humbled." 

"I can be the humble one for you. Every relationship needs balance, so you can be the one with pride." 

I laugh. "Always the gentleman. Thanks, Hobi. Really appreciate that." 

His arm is wrapped around my shoulders and the hand attached starts to rub up and down my arm. I close my eyes, almost falling asleep from the comforting, familiar gesture. 

"I love this outfit on you, by the way. You look stunning today." 

I was wearing a casual dress over a white shirt. Dresses were always more comfortable for me and my go-to. "Thank you. Although I always look stunning." 

Both of us laugh. 

"What do you want for dinner? I'm starting to get a little hungry." 

I smile. "We should go back to my apartment and try making carbonara. What's the worst that could happen?" 

Hoseok chuckles. "I was thinking about more of a convenient dish." 

"Hmmm I can make a mad kimchi-bokkeumbap. It's my signature dish." With my ear pressed against him, I can hear his laugh vibrate from inside of him and a warm feeling blossoms in my gut. 

"That's actually one of my favorite foods. I really like more of the traditional Korean dishes." 

My eyes are still closed and Hoseok's hand is still moving back and forth across my skin. I was silently praying that this moment would never end. "What else?" I ask. 

"What do you mean?" 

My arms tighten around Hoseok's torso. "What else is there about you? I want to know everything." 

Another chuckles radiates off of him and the sensation is transferred from his body to mine, traveling throughout every nerve underneath my skin. 

"You know pretty much everything. You know that I'm a lot quieter and less energetic than how I seem on camera. You know that I tend to be a lot more serious in real life. You know that I hate heights and I get scared easily. I'm sure there's more about you that I am yet to figure out and the same goes for me. I trust that everything will come to be revealed naturally, just like they already have. I learned through my career that expectations can be the downfall for a lot of things." 

"Oh, I know one more thing that you refuse to admit." 

"What's that, Angel?" 

Both of our voices are soft and quiet, afraid to disturb the underlying peace and stillness hanging in the room. 

"You're amazing at singing," I whisper. 

Hoseok's laugh is breathy and low. "Is that so?" 

I just nod and curl my knees into my chest, snuggling closer into the man I had grown so comfortable with. As if I sent a telepathic message, Hoseok starts to quietly sing. I focus on how every note smoothly transitions into the next and I feel myself lifting up into heaven as the arms of sleep gently embrace me.