I maneuvered through the dark parking garage, my car running smoothly despite its lack of use. At the soft purr of the engine, my lips lifted in a small smile. After driving up two levels, a spot of light appeared up ahead. I slowed to a stop as I came closer to it, the outside world coming into view. Waiting for an opportunity to merge into traffic, I tried to ignore the glances my car was getting from passersby. Tapping my fingers quietly on the touch screen, I chose my next song to play. A small black sedan passed us, clearing up the road for us to pull out. Gravel crunched under my tires as I pulled out onto the empty street.

My chosen song starts to play, the beat filling the car around us. Jimin gasps, turning in his seat to look at me as excitement gleams in his eyes.

"I love Havana!"

He dances in his seat, singing along to the song. Peeking out of the corner of my eyes, I could barely contain my laughter. Jimin didn't notice, too engrossed in his one-man concert. Soon my entertainment turned to awe as I became enthralled with the sound of Jimin's voice, perfectly in harmony with Camilla's.

He clapped along to the beat, shimmying in his seat, completely oblivious to the looks he was getting from the people we passed on the street. What they probably saw as strange, I saw as amazing. In this moment, Jimin was freer than anyone else I had ever met, more carefree than I think I could ever be. Glancing at him, I felt myself being pulled into his infectious mood. Pretty soon I was singing along with him, Jimin cracking up at my poor rendition of the song. I wasn't the best singer, definitely not as good as Jimin, but there was something I could do, and lucky for me this song had just the part.

The beat changed, signalling it was Young Thug's part of the song. I took a deep breath, waiting. When his deep voice started to flow from the speaker's, I rapped along with him, letting myself get lost in the song as the world blurred passed us. I finished the rap, never once stopping for breath. A grin spread across my face as glee filled me.

"Wow," Jimin breathed, barely audible over the music blaring around us.

My gaze wandered over to him, awe evident on his face. I turn the music down a few clicks, letting it become background noise as Jimin speaks to me.

"I- I didn't know you could rap like that…" he trailed off, bringing his hand up to cradle his chin, "I feel like it's kind of familiar, though. Why is that?"

My grin slowly disappeared at his question, my previous elation going with it.

"I don't know what you mean," I say, trying to dismiss his curiosity.

"Have you ever done any musical work?"

"Nope. Never," I say quickly. My grip tightens on the steering wheel, the knuckles turning white, as I wait for him to call out how suspicious I was acting.

"Huh, oh well then. Maybe you should."

"No way, too much movement involved."

He laughed, "Got that right."

Jimin turns to look out the window, watching as the scenery passes us by. A comfortable silence fills the space between us, the quiet beats of a song being the only noise. We stay like that for a while, Jimin quietly singing along with the radio as I follow the instructions of our GPS. I get so used to the silence that I jump slightly when Jimin speaks to me, finally breaking the silence between us.

"So how'd you get this car anyway? Why this one?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see him turn to look at me.

"Honestly? I wasn't even really involved in the choosing process. Namjoon and Seokjin basically dragged me along as they bickered among themselves." I laughed, recounting the events of that day to Jimin. "I had been up all night working-"

"I'm not even surprised," he interrupts.

Laughing, I reach out to hit him lightly on the arm. "No comments from the peanut gallery. Anywayyyy," I draw out the word and Jimin rolls his eyes at me, "I was exhausted when they picked me up. I told them to just choose a car, the price didn't matter. I just wanted to get it over quickly so I could go home and sleep."

"Did it work?"

"Of course not! Like the married couple they are, or soon will be, they bickered the whole way through it." Jimin laughed, the happy sound filling the air around us. "When we arrived Namjoon went straight to a convertible. Sleek, black, beautiful. He loved it, but when he suggested it to me, do you know what Seok-jin said to him?"

"What?"

" 'Kim Namjoon! No way will Yoongi be driving that. How are you supposed to fit kids in there? There's no car seat anchors! And that top? How will it protect him from an accident? And just think of the work it'll take to keep it nice! No way.' " I say, Jimin laughing at my failed attempt to copy Jin's voice.

"He's such a mom!" He says, chuckling.

"Exactly. So Seok-jin wanted to get an SUV. Third row seating, all that jazz, but Namjoon disagreed with that. Claimed I needed something with more "swag". So they compromised and ended up choosing this one. It has all the room and safety specs that Jin wanted, while still being sleek and modern enough for Namjoon to approve. And I love the color. So we got it."

"It sounds like it was quite the day," Jimin observes.

"You have no idea. But enough about me, I want to know some things about you too. It's only fair after all."

"Ask away," he says, a smile gracing his lips.

I think, running through possible questions in my head before I decide on one.

"What did you do before you became a trainee?"

Jimin nods, his smile growing wider.

"Before all this, I was in school for dance. Ballet, to be exact."

I let that statement sink in, an image of Jimin in a leotard popping into my head.

"Did you enjoy it?"

"Loved it."

"Then why choose to do this? I mean you're in a hip-hop group. That's in a whole different world than ballet."

I slow down to stop at a red light, glancing over at the man next to me. I could see the gears working behind his eyes as he thought how to answer my question.

"I guess most people would see it that way. But honestly, I think they compliment each other. Where ballet is graceful and quiet, hip-hop is rough and loud."

"I've never thought of it that way," I admitted, pressing on the gas as the light switches to green.

"Most people don't." He shrugs. "And it's not like I have a favorite kind of dance. I love all dance. It's such a great way to express yourself. Dance and singing, not everyone can do it. So if you can, why not take advantage of it." He turns to look at me. "I'm not sure if that makes sense."

I shake my head, "No, I get it."

Nodding, his eyes stray to the speedometer, widening when he reads the number displayed there.

"35 mph? In a 40?" He laughs, throwing his hands up. "Why have a car that can go super fast if you're gonna go below the speed limit?"

I roll my eyes at him, "Safety first, Jimin."

"Mhm. Whatever you say, Grandpa," he teases.

"Ha ha. You're so funny," I say, sarcasm lacing my words.

"I know, it's both a blessing and a curse."

Tapping along to the beat of the song streaming through the speakers, I ask my next question.

"So your group, you seem to be close. How did you guys get together?"

"Taehyung and Jungkook? Yeah we are," he states. I take a peek at him, his eyes distant as he recalls a memory. "I met Taehyung in high school. We were in different classes, but we were both kind of loners, you know? Taehyung has always been attractive but people avoided him because his personality is a bit…. peculiar. And me?" He lets out a small laugh, bitterness filling the usually happy sound. "Let's just say that I was not the most attractive. I was a bit chubby, and way too shy to try and make friends. So I kind of faded into the background in my class, no one really noticed me." A smile lifts his cheeks, his eyes crinkling. "Until he did."

"I was just walking down the hallway one day, when he passes me. He stops, turns around to walk beside me. Then he just leans in and asks me: 'Do you think pigeons have feelings?' What kind of question is that to ask a stranger?"

"What a weird kid," I say, chuckling.

"That was my exact thought! I thought he was a weirdo, avoided him every chance I had. But then he started sitting with me at lunch. I ignored him as he rambled on at first, but then we found out that we both really liked music. Taehyung was really into the saxophone then and I was already taking dance, so we bonded. And the rest of the story is history," he finishes, shrugging his shoulders.

"And Jungkook? How did he come into the picture?"

"Kookie just kinda migrated in. He entered high school 2 years after we did and we had no interest in the younger classes. Then one day, Jungkook passes us in the hall and just up and interrupts our conversation to introduce himself to Taehyung. And it was like he had always been there. We all got along right away, especially him and Taehyung." He shrugs. "What can you do? Love at first sight and all that," he says dismissively.

"SO they've been friends for years, but just now decided to be a couple?" He nods. "Wow, that must've been annoying. Namjoon and Seokjin have known each other for only 3 years, I couldn't imagine double that."

"Yeah, it was rough. Everyone knew they were a thing though. Girls stopped confessing to them, ship names were created. Everyone knew except them. It's was almost painful to watch them tiptoe around it for so long." His mouth opens wide, a yawn escaping. "How much time is left?"

"About 2 hours."

"Do you mind if I take a nap?"

"No, go ahead."

He leans his head against the window, closing his eyes.

"Goodnight, Yoongi-hyung."

"Goodnight, Jimin."

I focus my eyes on the road, my thoughts keeping me company as Jimin's breaths even out, sleep taking him.


After over an hour of listening to Jimin's quiet breathing, I was starting to feel a little sleepy. I turn the music up a few clicks, listening for a second to make sure Jimin was still asleep. As a familiar beat fills the car, I glance over to Jimin. Seeing that he was still sound asleep, I let myself rap along to the song. Following the beat, my fingers tap on the smooth leather of the steering wheel.

"Gi-Give it to me!"

The song comes to a close, the last beats fading out as I pant. I hadn't intended to get so into the song, but I always get carried away when I hear my music.

"Hyung-"

I freeze at the voice, panic overtaking me.

"Oh, Jimin. I, uh, I didn't know you were awake," I say, avoiding looking at him.

"Hyung, you sound just like Agust D."

"What, no way. He's way better than me," I feign, hoping he'd leave it alone.

"The rapping skills, the super expensive car." His eyes grow wide, his lips parting slightly. "I should've noticed it sooner. Music producers make a lot of money, but not enough to afford this kind of car." He sits forward, his jeans sliding across the black leather seats. "Yoongi-hyung, are you Agust D? No one knows what he looks like. He doesn't do concerts or anything. Oh my god, I'm in the presence of a super-star."

"Woah, slow down there. I'm hardly a super-star."

"So you really are him? Really?"

"Even if I said no, would you believe me?"

He's silent for a second, pondering the question. "No."

"Well then, I guess that's your answer isn't it?"

"Oh my god!" He exclaims. "We all love your music. Why don't you come out into the open? Why not let people know what you look like, do concerts, all the basic star stuff?"

I sigh, "Because I don't want that. I want to live as normal a life as possible. I didn't even want to release a mixtape. Namjoon overheard it and suggested that I produce it myself and put it out there. I refused. I didn't want the fame, but the money would be nice. So he suggested that I just don't reveal my face. So I've lived comfortably, with only Namjoon knowing the truth. At least," I shoot him a sideways glance, "until now. You can't tell anyone, you know that right? Not even your friends."

He gasps, his hand shooting to his chest. "I'm kind of hurt that you would think that I would share your secret. I won't tell a soul, I swear."

Unusually willing to believe him, I nod my head.

Jimin bounces in his seat, excitement filling him.

"I can't believe this. I'm sorry, I know I'm fanboying super hard right now, but I just love your music so much. It's real, relatable. Most people don't talk about the things that you do."

"You're right, that's why I write my songs. I think the best songs are the realest ones, the ones that can reach and touch a lot of people."

"I wish I was as cool as you," Jimin sighs.

"You're plenty cool, Jimin," I placate, patting his knee.

"You really think so?"

"Mhm."

We sink back into silence. As our trip reaches its last stretch, I feel my body start to grow tense. With every mile that brings us closer to our destination, I worry more and more.

Was it wrong to bring Jimin with me? Should I have just left him at home?

We enter Daegu, familiar streets surrounding me as I take the turns to my old home. Jimin's looking at the window, in awe of the town around him.

"You've never been to Daegu?" I ask, trying to relieve the tension I feel.

"No, I grew up in Busan then came right to Seoul. I've never really traveled…" he trails off, too engrossed in sightseeing.

"Well don't worry. There's not much in Daegu, anyway."

He doesn't respond to me, just continues to watch as the buildings become fewer and farther in between as we travel to the outskirts of town where my parents reside. Within a few minutes, we pull up in front of a quaint two-story house. I put the car in park, staring at the light blue exterior. The color should've been cheerful, but I knew disappointment lurked inside its walls.

I open my door and Jimin follows suit, both of us stepping onto the sidewalk as the front door opens. A figure emerges, rushing towards us. Arms reach up to wrap my neck as I am embraced by my mother.

"Yoongi! It's so good to see you!" She steps back, looking up at me as she rests her hands on my cheeks. "You look like a dumpling! So cute!"

She pinches my cheeks lightly, smiling at me. I pull her hands away from my face, saving my cheeks from any further torture.

"Hi, mom." I step to the side, gesturing to the man hiding behind me. "This is Jimin."

Her eyes light up as they rake over him, taking in every detail. A grin spreads across her face, "Ah, so this is Jimin! I've heard so much about you!"

Jimin looks panicked for a second, but then bows, his ever-present manners winning over his panic. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Min."

"Yoongi, I asked you if he was cute. You didn't tell me he was so adorable!"

I roll my eyes at her, quickly growing embarrassed.

"I have dinner prepared, why don't you guys come in?" She reaches out, grabbing Jimin by the sleeve before giving me a pointed look. Her mouth smiling, but her eyes showing me how absolutely serious she is. "We have so many things to talk about." She leads Jimin towards the door. I trail behind, my steps slow as I walk towards a conversation that could change everything.