Autumn Angel | JHS ✔

.thirty-nine.

Hoseok and I dance onto the set disguised as a classroom and we laugh at each other. Was it genuine laughter? I don't know. But I do know that pondering over questions like that won't help our current situation. 

"J-hope!" the seven hosts call out. Hoseok spins and bows dramatically and I laugh. 

We stand behind the front desk of the classroom set and an arm wraps around my shoulder. Was that genuine? Was it for the camera? I force my smile to remain and try to push the thoughts away. 

"Why don't you introduce us right away?" 

I clap my hands, an idea coming to mind. Hoseok looks down at me and I just smirk up at him. "What are you doing? What's going on?" He suddenly looks scared and I just pat his shoulder. 

"I can introduce Hoseok for you," I say, turning to the hosts dressed up in their own school uniforms. My hands lift, pretending to quiet everyone down. An imaginary mic lifts to my mouth. "I'm your hope." I close my eyes and dramatically pause. "You're my hope." A palm lifts as if asking the small audience to wait. "I'm J-..." The mic extends outward, waiting for someone to finish the phrase, and I'm not disappointed. Some of the men laugh at my accurate impression, while others shout out the final syllable. Hoseok and I laugh together, clapping our hands. 

"Honestly, that was sufficient enough, so I don't think I'm going to need to introduce myself," Hoseok says. "That means it's your turn, Angel." 

I tilt my head. "I may seem small but I'm scarier than him. Hey! Call me Autumn." The cheesy introduction Hoseok had helped me plan out is met with applause. 

"I'm taller than her and more terrifying as well. Here to bring hope into your life, I'm J-hope." 

I hide my face behind my hands, embarrassed of our cringey, matching introductions. 

"I can't believe another idol couple is on this show," one of the hosts comments. 

Everyone nods, their eyes looking at us with fascination and wonder. I step to the side, closer to Hoseok, knowing that in this unfamiliar environment, he would comfort me. Hoseok's arm wraps around my shoulders again and pulls me close. 

"Although I did notice that you guys aren't wearing traditional school uniforms." 

Hoseok and I had stepped onto the set with casual street outfits, not falling in line with the usual school uniforms most guests of this show would wear. "We're actually transferring from an American public school. In America, all students attending public schools can wear whatever they want to when going to school." 

The seven hosts sound their understanding. "Then does that mean you lived in America, Autumn?" 

I nod. "I moved to Korea when I was ten. My dad is Korean and my mom has genetic roots in Africa." 

The whole purpose of going on this show today was to finally explain to the public my relationship with Hoseok, as well as show the world what kind of person I was. Today, I needed to truly show the best version of myself. This meant I needed to put aside any doubts and forget about the fight I had just had with Hoseok less than five minutes ago. 

"It's crazy how you're here with us today," one of the men says. "I remember how the public went crazy when they found out about you guys." 

My eyes widen and I nod, still remembering all of the events like it had happened yesterday. "It still hasn't registered in my mind," I add on. "I feel like I still haven't realized just how much my life has changed, and that this is the new lifestyle I have to grow used to now. Everything still feels surreal."