the last word
𐙚 𐙚 𐙚 was listening to “Take Me There” by Rascal Flatts (a fav from my youth) and this idea just popped into my lil brain 𐙚 𐙚 𐙚
// A place in your heart that nobody’s been- take me there //
genre: pretty much just silly sweet fluff !!
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A mini-van slowly moves forward, away from the curb, and you maneuver your small sedan into the now vacant space. Your mid-sized local airport … Even this late in the autumn, dust lingers in the air like fine, muted confetti, signaling the end of harvest. The car will need a wash at some point, even though it’s only been a week or so. However, a sudsy bath for your vehicle is currently low on the priority list.
Opening your messaging app, you review the most recent thread.
“Ready when you are! Text me a door number - I’ll come find you. I can’t wait to see you, baby.”
Your fingers blur as you type back. “2nd to last exit, should be door 5! My trunk is open- your getaway driver awaits, Sir. 🫡”
The trunk snaps open with a satisfying “pop” when you pull the lever, then step outside the car. Business men in suits, college kids wearing atheisure and chunky headphones, and even a few families with bundled children move through the sliding doors. You wonder how many of them are here visiting, and which ones call this place home. What stories do they bring with them from the skies?
A figure, dressed subtly in tennis shoes, dark joggers, a long black coat and beanie appears. A large suitcase wearing a few “SUPREME” stickers rolls along next to him. Eyes connecting to yours, his pace quickens and you can tell he’s smiling now, even with a mask obscuring all but his dark, crinkling eyes.
“Hihihihi” you quietly squeal, stepping up and down in fast succession. It’s a mix of jumping and almost a jig, your excitement too much to keep held fast any longer. You know timing means everything right now, every moment is a calculated risk.
“Here, you can put your bag in the trunk.” You motion to the cleaned out space, and he deftly lifts the large bag inside. He maintains eye contact with you, reaching for your gloved hand with his left one, while deftly shutting the trunk lid with his right. Butterflies bubble up from your belly towards your heart, his long lashes lowering his gaze to yours.
“I missed you so much, jagi,” he says quietly. About to answer, the automated loudspeaker reminds all vehicles that this not a parking zone and to move forward as quickly as possible. You roll your eyes, letting out a laugh. His eyes crinkle again while firmly squeezing your hand. After the third quick compression, he lets it go and moves towards the passenger door.
You want more contact- a hug, a kiss hello, even a side squeeze!!! but this place is too public. Even on a Tuesday at 9:30am, in a pretty unknown city, anyone could see you two. It’s a risk, one that has been calculated and planned for.
Heat rushes out as you open the door and slide into the drivers seat. Clicking your seatbelt into place, you grin over at the man to your side.
“Hoseok, welcome to my world.”
His heart-shaped smile reflects back at you. “I can’t wait to see more, jagi.”
—————
Dating a celebrity was never in your life plan. Obviously, it wasn’t NOT an option for you- you’re doing it, aren’t you? But it definitely has changed even the simple aspects of life.
Like bringing your boyfriend home to your parents’ for Thanksgiving.
It took a lot of convincing and strategic planning with his team. Multiple plans (A through D), each with their own contingencies. At every step of the way, you knew that things could change within moments.
Trust goes hand in hand with love in any heathy relationship. Over time, Hoseok and you had worked to build and strengthen that trust. This stage of your relationship, solid and steadfast, but still private and without the eyes of the public, was precious. You knew that this could be the only time a trip like this might happen. So, the plans moved forward.
It feels surreal. Sitting at the airport that you spend most of your adult life flying out from on adventures, about to drive to your hometown and childhood home, with your current partner and love of your life. Today feels like a mountaintop view- seeing the winding path of life, bumps and curves and stunning rest points, finally culminating in the here and now.
Mentally shaking yourself back to the present moment, you adjust your sunglasses. Driving around another human - let alone 1/7 of the pride of South Korea - is not an activity to be taken lightly. Focus, woman!
“The drive to my parents will take us about 2 hours. Want to get a coffee for the road?” you ask. The upcoming light turns red, and you stop the car, taking full advantage of the moment to gaze at the man finally next to you.
Pulling off the mask hiding his handsome face, Hoseok groans a sigh of relief. “Yes, absolutely. Show me to the best Iced Americano, please.” He grins, reaching over the console for you, and you give him a quick kiss.
“I can’t believe you’re really here,” you murmur. “It doesn’t feel real yet.”
“It feels real to me,” Hobi laughs. “Even flying first class, 16 hours of airtime is still exhausting. I can’t wait to shower and sleep in a real bed tonight.” He rakes a hand through his dark hair, the shaggy cut framing his delicate ears.
“Yeah, I’m sure it was a struggle sipping that free champagne in your lay-flat seat,” you tease back. Eyes soft as you glance over, merging into the next lane, he can tell that you still empathize with his exhaustion. You’ve made the trip to Asia more than once and know just how tiring the long flights get. Not that you’re accustomed to luxurious seating, by any means, but his point lands: long distance travel wears on all who dare it. “Tell me everything, though? Things went smoothly?”
While you focus on driving through the familiar city streets, Hobi recounts his past 24 hours. All the planning paid off, and he had been able to leave Seoul discreetly. With only one connection after his long haul flight, and the added “bonus” of his arrival being early morning, with no entourage surrounding him to draw attention, he made it to your home state with ease. Living in a flyover state, instead of a major city, where your neighbors care more about college football and the upcoming weather forecast than Korean music, has its advantages. Most people here have likely barely heard of BTS, let alone could recognize a single member.
Turning onto a side street, you parallel park in front of your favorite local coffee spot.
“We’re here!” Ignition off, you hop out and put a few quarters in the meter. Leaves rustle by on the sidewalk in the wind, swirling around your feet.
Hobi steps out of the vehicle, stretching long and tall. His eyes roam over the brick buildings, past the cafe to the restaurants and shops. “Yeppeuda,” he comments in Korean. You glance up, impossible to keep a smile from your face. “It is a pretty town, isn’t it?” you agree. “Yah, it is…” he responds. “But I was talking about you.”
You blush but keep your eyes locked with his. Shoving your shoulder into his broad chest, you laugh. “Oh, hush up.”
Hoseok wraps his arms around you and pulls you in for a hug. “C’mere. I haven’t had a proper hug hello yet.” More than willing to oblige, you face him fully and squeeze hard around his chest.
Long distance is difficult. You’re thankful for the growth you’ve seen in yourself, and in the communication you have with Hobi. Video calls help merge the distance, but nothing, nothing, can fill the space of being physically next to this man. And his hugs? The best in the world. Thoughts of coffee postponed, you relax into his arms, thankful for his presence in your life.
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Two hours of driving can feel like just a moment…. or an eternity. Especially when most of the scenery is farmland and fields. (Which, to be fair, carries a beauty all its own!)
Two hours in the car with Hoseok?
Well, you’d take 20 hours, easily and happily.
Over the past ten months, your comfort level with each other has grown and deepened. Little inside jokes and resolved miscommunications add a sweet history to this budding relationship. Hoseok’s persona as j-hope may be known by many, but you love getting to know the real him.
His brain never stops, always working over a troublesome dance move, fashion concept for the next stage, or a new melody, bubbling out from his thoughts to his lips. Sometimes, the deep well of thoughts turns him quiet, and you have learned that occasionally it takes external forces to drag him out of those ruminating patterns and back into the moment.
This moment, however, is comfortable. You rarely drive the both of you around, but here, on your home turf? It’s the only way. Plus, Hoseok makes a great DJ. A playlist of his choosing weaves music through the car, chill beats a perfect backdrop to your conversation.
Time in the car has passed quickly, each of you filling in the other on your recent schedules. Hoseok updates you on the guys’ activities, while you occasionally interrupting with a question or comment.
“….and Namjoon-ah said to tell you hello from him. He still really wants to experience an American Thanksgiving, you know.”
Giggling, you imagine Namjoon trying to carve out a pumpkin and the disaster scene that could unleash. “Do you think that we should host one next year for everyone? I’d love to see Seokjin and Junggook’s versions of classic Thanksgiving foods.”
Seemingly in sync with you, Hobi grins. “Just keep Namjoon out of the kitchen. He can provide entertainment elsewhere.”
“Exactly! No pumpkin carving or pie preparing for him. Remember that Run episode?” You shudder. “Pumpkin pie needs to be sweet. Too much salt would be catastrophic.”
Seeing your exit approaching ahead, you point out the slightly foggy car window. “Oh! Look, we’re almost here. Do you want to go straight to my parents’ or drive around town a little bit?”
Lighting up, Hoseok leans forward to take in the surroundings, more buildings and fewer fields passing by the side of the road.
“Show me around! Maybe we can park somewhere and walk some? I would love to move.” He stretches exaggeratedly, wiggling his eyebrows at you.
That dang smile on your face - your cheeks will be sore if this keeps up!!- only seems to grow.
“I know just the spot.”
———————
One gloved palm wrapped around a fresh cup of hot coffee, the other encased in Hoseok’s own gloved hand, you think that life can’t get any better. Traveling, the fashion industry, exploring other cultures, a dinner more beautiful than anything you’d ever be able to plate- all things you’ve experienced with the tall man beside you. But this — little, quiet moments together? This brings you such contentment. Especially, here, in your hometown.
Carefully gesturing with your mugged hand, you motion across the street. “That used to be the best ice cream shop in town. My parents took me there after my first- and only- ballet recital.” You close your eyes, breathing dramatically. “The couple who ran the place were so sweet, like everyone’s collective grandparents. And I still don’t think I’ve ever had better ice cream.”
Hoseok squints, reading the sign. “Fleet…Feet. A shoe store?”
You shrug, replying. “Ironic that it’s now a store for people trying to escape calories instead of enjoy them.”
Your boyfriend chuckles. “Well, good thing it’s too cold for ice cream. If it was there still, I would say we have to get some.”
You bump your arm into his. “It’s never too cold for ice cream, silly. But my mom would kill me if I spoiled her cooking by letting you start off with dessert that she didn’t make. Soooo…I guess you get a pass on ice cream.” You glare, mockingly, “For now.”
Turning down a street to your right, the pair of you maneuver towards a large park. The aged oak trees have lost some, but not all, of their leaves. If Gilmore Girls had been set NOT on the east coast, this would be the perfect setting, you think to yourself. The fallen pieces of nature crunch underneath your black boots in a satisfying sound. Hoseok guides you to a metal park bench, and you both sit, taking in the quiet park. The white bandshell is shuttered and silent, the banner strung across it boasting, “See You Next Summer!” A few passerbys wander the paved paths; couples holding hands, a mom pushing a stroller, a college student walking their dog.
“This is where I had my first kiss, you know,” you mention, a sly look on your face as you peek over your drink at Hoseok.
“Oh, really?” He supplies back, an arched brow teasing you.
“Mmmhm,” you respond. “This park is where our town celebration happens. Every summer, there’s a parade, and lots of food, and live music. I guess, it’s kinda like our own little holiday. And, one summer in college, I came home and ran into some old friends here, and the guy I always thought was cute in class was there- and after a drink or two, he kissed me. There was a cover band playing “Billie Jean” and I’ll never be able to hear that song the same way now.” You chuckle at the memory.
“Well, he may have gotten your first kiss here, but he doesn’t get the last word,” Hoseok says after a moment. His face is set seriously, jawline sharp, but his eyes give away his emotions, a twinkle reflecting in their deep inky pools.
“Oh, is that so?” You query.
“It is,” he responds, and setting down his coffee, he places mittened hands on you cheeks and pulls your lips towards his own.
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would love any feedback! I've barely edited it (oops) but 'tis better to post imperfectly than never.
also, I know I teased a totally different story- that's a bit bigger piece so will take me some time to get that ready to post. but I wanted to keep working my way back into writing, so here is a very late thanksgiving drabble (happy- end of January??) EDIT: Part Two HERE
