Must Be Nice
Pairing/s: Bambam x Reader
Word Count: 2,632 words
Not really based but inspired from Bambam's song 'Must be Nice'
“Bam! Come on! There’s so much food, get over here already.”
Her voice was like a balm, soothing the tension buzzing in his nerves. Just hearing her made him feel lighter, like the weight on his chest had been lifted, even if just a little. He was relieved she came.
Bambam sat back, watching as she unpacked the food she brought. He should help, he knew that, but right now, he just wanted to admire his best friend. The one person who always made things feel a little easier. His own little ray of sunshine.
“Are you just gonna stare at me the whole time?” She glanced at him with raised brows. “You’ve got a performance in, what? Two hours? You need to eat unless you wanna pass out mid-stage.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. Sometimes he wondered what kind of good deed he must have done in a past life to deserve someone like her.
“Yeah, yeah, I was just about to help.”
She shot him a knowing look, clearly not buying it, but let it slide. Instead, she focused on setting up their meal, and soon enough, Bambam was happily devouring everything she placed on his plate.
----------------------------------
“You look like absolute shit.”
“I know,” Bambam groaned, head throbbing, face swollen from a mix of oversleeping and last night’s questionable life choices. He and Yugyeom had completely lost track of their drinks, and getting home had been a mission.
“Sit your ass down. I’ll make you something.”
He didn’t argue. Instead, he slumped into his seat, watching as she moved around his kitchen like she owned the place. She always did this—showing up exactly when he needed her, as if she had a sixth sense for his suffering.
He leaned his chin on his hand, just observing. There was something oddly therapeutic about watching her do the most mundane things. She didn’t even have to try, and yet, just by being here, she made everything feel a little less miserable.
By the time she placed a bowl of something warm and comforting in front of him, the hangover still sucked, but at least he wasn’t suffering alone.
---
“Oh my god! Look at this! We literally looked like chickens!”
Her excited voice pulled him out of his food coma. He turned to see her holding up a childhood photo she’d found in one of his old albums, her eyes practically sparkling with amusement.
Bambam groaned. “Please put that away.”
“Absolutely not.” She grinned, shoving the picture in his face. “You were so tiny, Bam! Look at those little cheeks!”
He sighed dramatically, flopping back onto the couch. “I swear, if any of these ever make it online, I’m suing.”
She laughed, flipping through the album. “Oh, come on. You were adorable. Though…” she held up a more recent picture of him for comparison. “What the hell happened? How did this tiny noodle turn into this?”
Bambam smirked, stretching his arms behind his head. “Puberty, baby. And the gym. Lots of gym.”
She huffed playfully. “I kinda miss your flannel-and-skinny-jeans era, though. That was peak fashion.”
He shot her a mischievous grin. “Oh? Should I bring it back? Just for you?”
She rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. No matter how much he changed, he was still the same Bambam. Her Bambam.
---
“Bam! Come on! For someone who hits the gym and performs for hours, your stamina is seriously weak.”
Bambam hunched over, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. Y/N, on the other hand, looked like she had just downed an entire can of energy drink. They had been on nearly every ride, braved multiple horror booths, and yet, she was still darting around like an overexcited kid at a carnival.
His breath hitched slightly as he watched her. She looked radiant, her eyes lighting up at every cute plushie and every spark of magic around them. The way she clutched that oversized Stitch bear he won for her made his chest feel… warm. They had come here to heal their inner child, and judging by the pure joy on her face, it was working. He felt it too like a part of him that had been weighed down was suddenly lighter.
Eventually, he gave up trying to chase after her, instead opting to watch from a short distance like a tired older brother keeping an eye on his hyper little sister. As long as she was happy, that was enough.
But then, she suddenly stopped, letting out a dramatic sigh. “Okay… I’m actually tired now.” She pouted, looking up at him with big, exhausted eyes.
Bambam scanned the area and spotted a vacant bench near the fountains. “Come on, let’s sit for a bit.” He took her hand, guiding her toward the bench. She plopped down beside him, placing the stuffed toy on her other side like it was a person.
Just as he was about to tease her, she leaned against his shoulder.
Bambam froze for a second. He could feel her breathing heavy and uneven. His playful smirk faded into concern.
“Hey… you okay?” He turned slightly to look at her, noticing how pale she looked.
She hummed tiredly but didn’t answer. That’s when he spotted the faint bruise on her arm. His brows furrowed.
“Wait—did you hit yourself earlier?” He reached out, gently tracing the mark with his fingers.
Y/N barely opened her eyes but managed a small smile. “I think so… Maybe in one of the horror booths?”
Bambam sighed, shaking his head. “You’re running around like a lunatic, and now you’re all banged up. Seriously, do I need to put you on a leash?”
She chuckled weakly, nudging him with her shoulder. “That sounds weird, Bam.”
He snorted. “Yeah, okay, fair. But still.” He hesitated for a second before softly patting her head. “Just rest for a bit. We’re in no rush.”
“Yeah… I kinda missed you.”
Bambam’s brow furrowed. She was acting like they hadn’t just seen each other last week. She was always around grabbing meals with him, showing up at his rehearsals, teasing him about his outfits.
“You’re getting clingy,” he teased, shooting her a playful smirk.
But Y/N only gave him a small, almost wistful smile.
“I’d make the most of it if I were you.”
His chest tightened. Something about the way she said it made him uneasy.
“Why?” He tried to keep his voice casual, but there was a flicker of nervousness. “Are you going somewhere?”
She shook her head. “No… but once I finish my master’s, I’ll have a real job. I won’t have all this free time anymore.”
Bambam nodded, though it didn’t make him feel any better. If anything, it was the opposite. He had gotten so used to having her around that the thought of her being too busy, of her drifting away, unsettled him in a way he couldn’t quite name.
“No one will be around to annoy me,” he joked, trying to keep the mood light.
She chuckled, but his heart ached when she didn’t tease him back like she usually would.
“But yeah…” He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “It’ll feel different if I don’t see you in the crowd at my shows.”
Y/N smiled softly. “I will always watch you, Bam.”
For some reason, that didn’t feel reassuring. It felt… final. Like she was saying goodbye. Or maybe he was just tired. Maybe he was overthinking.
Shaking the thought away, he cleared his throat. “Let’s go on a vacation. After my tour in Thailand, we’ll go to Bali with the boys.”
Originally, he had planned it just for the two of them, but knowing how much Y/N missed Yugyeom and Mark, he figured they should all go together. It would be fun. And maybe, just maybe, it would make this strange feeling in his chest go away.
She laughed. “You always make plans where I can’t say no.”
“But you love it.”
She rolled her eyes but nodded. “Fine. After all, I can’t miss your sold-out show in Thailand. I’m so proud of you, Double B.”
She looked at him, then really looked at him, with eyes full of admiration. And for some reason, it caught him off guard. His chest tightened, and he couldn’t put a name to the feeling that settled there.
“You’re the brightest star, and you always will be, my bestie.”
And just like that, the moment passed. Y/N playfully pinched his cheek, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Come on! Time for dinner.”
Bambam followed her, but the uneasy feeling lingered. Like something was changing between them. He just didn’t know what.
---------
The humid air of Thailand clung to his skin as he adjusted his in-ear monitors, hiding behind his shades during soundcheck. His hands wouldn’t stop shaking. It was ridiculous, he had been performing for years, but today felt different.
Maybe because this was the biggest stadium in Thailand he had ever sold out.
Maybe because tonight, the crowd was bigger than he had ever imagined.
Or maybe because of the surprise he had planned for his best friend.
Y/N hadn’t been able to visit him backstage. Her flight had arrived late last night, and he figured she was still asleep. No texts, no updates. He’d leave her to rest.
But as the concert kicked off, adrenaline took over. The roar of the crowd, the synchronized ocean of lightsticks, the GOT7 banners waving high, it was overwhelming. Even after all these years, the love from the fans never faded. If anything, it felt stronger.
After their Hard Carry performance, Bambam stood at the edge of the stage, breathing heavily. His gaze instinctively flickered toward the VIP section, searching for her.
But the flashing lights, the glowing sea of green, the sheer energy of the crowd, it was all too much. He kept getting distracted by the way his fans had organized surprises for him, changing lightstick colors, holding up banners that spelled his name, the Ahgabong lightstick drone. His throat tightened. Y/N had always told him he’d make it. And looking at the sold-out stadium tonight, he finally believed it.
Still, he scanned the crowd again, hoping for a glimpse of her. But the lights were too bright, making it nearly impossible to see.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward.
“Before anything else…”
The cheers erupted, but he waited for them to settle.
“I just wanna thank everyone for coming tonight. You guys are amazing. None of this would be possible without you.”
He removed his earpiece, letting the deafening chants fill his ears for a moment before continuing.
“I also wanna thank my mom, my family, thank you for everything. I love you all.”
His eyes found his mother in the audience, and for a second, he let himself soak in the warmth of her proud smile.
“And to my special someone…”
The crowd hushed slightly, curiosity buzzing among them.
“I can’t see you because of these damn lights,” he joked, earning a wave of laughter. “But Y/N, if you’re here, if you’re watching, thank you. For believing in me since day one.”
The audience let out a collective aww, but Bambam wasn’t finished.
“She’s my best friend, everyone. And I have a little surprise for her.”
He turned toward the massive screen behind him, waiting as the footage played.
A video montage, years in the making.
Clips of him and Y/N as kids, laughing, playing, growing up together. Home videos, school memories, moments that had been buried in old tapes and camera rolls. It had taken months to restore, and he owed it to their moms for helping him dig up the past.
The stadium filled with applause as the video ended.
“I hope she doesn’t kill me for that,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “Don’t worry, she had a glow-up.”
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
“I just wanted to make a little tribute to our friendship. Y/N, thanks for coming tonight. And… see you soon.”
With that, he turned back to the stage, ready to continue the concert, completely unaware of what was about to happen next.
------------
Bambam kept his head down, hiding behind his shades and hoodie as he walked through the airport like a New Yorker late for work. The paparazzi swarmed, cameras flashing, bombarding him with questions about his sudden flight home.
He ignored them.
His swollen eyes burned from exhaustion and tears. His PR team had begged him to issue a statement, but he refused. He didn’t want the world to know—not yet. Not when he was still struggling to believe it himself.
Last night, the moment his concert ended, his mother had met him in the dressing room.
And then, she said the words that shattered his world.
"Y/N’s dead."
For a second, everything went silent.
The cheers from the crowd outside, the congratulatory chatter of the staff, all of it faded into nothing.
“What?” He forced out a laugh, shaking his head. “That’s not a funny prank, Mom.”
But the way she looked at him the sadness in her eyes, the way her lips trembled made his stomach drop.
“She never made it to the concert, Bam.” His mother’s voice was gentle but firm. “She never even made it to the airport.”
His fingers felt numb as he scrambled for his phone, nearly dropping it in his panic. He checked his messages, desperate for proof that this was all some cruel mistake.
But there was nothing.
The last message from her was yesterday, telling him what time her flight would arrive.
“H-how…” His voice cracked as his breath came in short gasps. “No… She told me she couldn’t miss this concert. We were supposed to go to Bali. We—we just talked yesterday, and—”
He couldn’t finish. His brain refused to process it.
His mother’s next words were a knife to the chest.
“Bam… She had cancer.”
He felt the air leave his lungs.
“She had it for quite a while now.”
His knees buckled. He reached for the couch behind him, gripping the armrest as if it would hold him together.
“Leukemia.”
Bambam clenched his jaw, shaking his head. No. That didn’t make sense. Y/N wasn’t sick. She was fine.
But then it all came rushing back.
The exhaustion in her face.
The way she brushed off his teasing.
The bruises. The heavy breathing.
The way she kept saying she’d miss him.
"I will always watch you, Bam."
A choked sob escaped him.
She was saying goodbye.
And he hadn’t even realized it. He had laughed it off, brushed away the unease in his chest. And now… now she was gone.
The weight of it crushed him.
---
That was why he was here now, flying home with barely anything packed. He hadn’t slept. He spent the entire flight staring at his phone, scrolling through old messages, old photos, old videos his only pieces of her left.
When he landed, the airport was packed with reporters, fans, people curious about why he left so suddenly. But he didn’t care.
At the arrival gate, JayB and Youngjae stood waiting for him, their expressions grave.
The moment Bambam saw them, he fell apart.
His breath hitched, and the tears he had tried to hold back came crashing down.
"Hyung..." His voice broke as he turned to JayB, barely able to stand under the weight of grief.
JayB pulled him into a tight hug, his hand gripping the back of Bambam’s head. "I know." His voice was low, pained.
Bambam clenched his fists. "I'm too late…"
And then, he wept no longer caring about the cameras, his image, or the curious eyes watching.
Because the only person he wanted to see and was supposed to be with him now is gone.
