So I decided to get a summer job just for fun and ended up being assigned to the stadium near Boston. I flew over to Boston on the night flight and landed around 7am. I took the airport shuttle to my hotel and checked in, then went to the elevator, which was empty. Just before the doors closed, a random guy ran over and jumped on, then nodded in my direction, but didn’t speak. He had clearly been in the gym area at the hotel and was focused on getting back to his room to shower and change clothes. The elevator began moving up, then screeched and dropped a few inches, stopping suddenly. I tried to select the floor numbers closest to the lobby, 2 or 3, but nothing would light up anymore. I knew we would need help, so I used my phone to call the hotel lobby and let them know we were stuck inside the elevator and needed help. They called the elevator company and said they would get help quickly.

I was so focused on staying calm to solve our problem, that I didn’t notice the guy staring at me, in disbelief, as I made decisions and ensured our safety. Once I was off the phone, he sat down, motioning for me to sit next to him, which I did, since we were clearly not going anywhere anytime soon. He introduced himself as Jimin, then asked for my name, which I told him was Zen. He laughed, so I explained how I had to choose a different name while at work because there were too many employees with my first name all working together and I didn’t want to be confused with them-I wanted to be unique.

After half an hour, it became clear that we were not going to be rescued any time soon, and he complained of being hungry. I gave him my cookies from the flight I had just been on, which he happily accepted, and while he was crunching happily on them, he explained how most people don’t treat him like a regular guy and so he’s never actually had a fun elevator friend encounter like this one. I laughed this time, mentioning that even though I am a regular girl, I have also never been trapped inside an elevator with someone, so we both thought that was funny and soon realized we had the same sense of humor and ended up giggling over the dumbest stuff for quite a while.

While we waited, he asked me lots of questions, so then I asked him about his life, since it was only fair. Turns out, he’s actually Jimin from BTS and they were staying at the same hotel I had just checked into, on the same exact floor. I was shocked- I thought all famous people have a special floor or section where regular people can’t get to, but he told me they just book enough rooms for all the members and staff, then whatever is left over is for anyone else and usually it’s not an issue because the hotel leaves those specific rooms empty until the last second, which must have been how I got mine.

We talked for another half hour, then the front desk called to say the elevator workers were there and we were somehow stuck between floors 2 and 3, so not very high at all and they thought it would be an easy fix. I rolled my eyes and Jimin asked me about it when I had hung up. I told him that whenever someone says it’ll be an “easy fix” that usually means they don’t know what to do and it’ll actually be a lot longer than planned.

He got a little worried because the other members might be worried about him, but of course this was the one time he didn’t have his phone. I offered to let him use mine, but we both laughed as we attempted to figure out how to text or call a Korean number from my American phone. We gave up about ten minutes later and just waited to be let out.

Finally, after another 45 minutes, we felt the elevator move down, then the doors opened and the workers greeted us happily. They asked us to step out of that one, so they could do more repairs/tests and pointed us to one of the other open elevators. I would have gladly walked up the 8 flights of stairs if I didn’t have my luggage with me, so instead, I told the worker we would only trust another elevator if he rode with us, which surprised him, but he agreed, so we all 3 entered the elevator. Jimin and I were nervous, so we held hands and closed our eyes the whole way, but I guess the worker was good luck because we made it all the way to the 8^th floor safely and he made sure we got off before waving and telling us to have a great day.

Jimin was so happy he knelt down and bowed to the floor, which made me giggle again and it was a whole giant giggle-fest once more. After several deep breaths, he asked if I wanted to come eat with them, but I obviously didn’t want to intrude, so I said I should let him go without me, but he insisted it wouldn’t be bad at all, so I told him to just come knock on my door when he was ready. I showed him my room number, which was three doors down from his, he hugged me, then ran to shower, clearly excited about breakfast.

I entered my room, set down my luggage, and freshened up quicky, making sure I didn’t have wild hair and that I smelled good at least. I was just setting out my work clothes for later when there was a knock on the door, making me jump and reminding me where I was. I opened the door to see Jimin’s grinning face, so of course I smiled back and grabbed my phone and hotel key, then followed him down the hall, past his door, to another door, where he knocked and entered once it was opened. I kicked off my shoes like him and was instantly picked up and spun around while someone very large sniffed my hair. He set me down and exclaimed several things in Korean, then looked at me and said, “You are Jimin’s new elevator friend and I like you.” I smiled, knowing JK is super sweet and therefore it was a very good thing for him to like me right away. He grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hall to a main living area, then right over to another gigantic guy, said something to him in Korean, and suddenly this guy was also hugging me.

“I can tell we are going to be great friends!” he exclaimed, smiling at me, so of course I had to believe Tae. Jimin came over and grabbed my other hand just then, pulling me down the hall to a different living area with a table, where there was food already laid out and another, much calmer, member sitting quietly. Jimin pointed to the chair next to him, so I introduced myself by saying, “Hello, I am Zen. It’s so nice to meet you. I just met Jimin in the elevator when we got stuck and he invited me to eat with you guys, so I hope it’s ok.”

This member looked up at me, nodded, then began asking Jimin several questions in Korean, clearly wanting details before forming an opinion of me. Whatever Jimin said, whatever details he provided, must have been epic because suddenly JK and Tae were clapping, while Yoongi nodded in my direction and began speaking to me in English, as if we had been friends for a long time. We ate the food they had, with them explaining what most of it was and me just enjoying their company- they are all actually really funny and sweet, so when I suddenly noticed it was already noon, I had to politely excuse myself- I needed to leave for work.

Once they understood I was actually in Boston to work at their concert, they were surprised, but also excited because they would see me at the stadium later-I didn’t know what my job was going to be yet, but I had promised to let Jimin know when I found out. I thanked them again and grabbed my shoes, then ran out the door to my room, changed quickly, brushed my teeth, packed my purse/backpack with my essentials, and ran to the elevator. Just as I was pushing the down button, Hobi, Jin, and Joon stepped off the elevator, obviously returning from their own outing, so I shouted, “The other guys have food for you in Yoongi’s room. I’ll see you guys later. Ask Jimin about our adventure today!”

All three of them must have been confused, but I did not stop to see their reactions because I was in such a hurry. When I got to the lobby, my employee shuttle was waiting and I barely made it! Phew!

It took an hour to reach the stadium, but once we arrived, we were shown where the employee lockers were, then given our assignments and forced to do a final walk through of the entire floor section, since ticket holders were already lined up outside and would be entering at 3pm. As we walked, our supervisor explained how to keep the BTS members safe, while still allowing the fans to enjoy the show. Once we had made it all the way around the stadium, our supervisor began dropping us off in our designated areas to familiarize ourselves with the things nearby- bathrooms, water stations, emergency exits, stairs/elevators, etc. I was assigned to the area just in front of the giant black curtain where BTS enters and exits, so I was super excited! I would be able to see them and keep them safe all night!!

I forgot that I wasn’t allowed to have my phone on me while working at the concert, so I could not tell Jimin ahead of time- I only had my walkie-talkie until the concert was over. Turns out, I didn’t need my phone- Jimin had convinced them to leave for the stadium a bit earlier than planned and once he arrived, he snuck to the black curtain to attempt to search for me but didn’t have to look long when he spotted me only a few feet away! I did not see him, so when the black curtain suddenly hugged me from behind, I jumped and screamed, which made him laugh, and once I knew it was him, I laughed as well. He was so happy that I would be near him most of the night without actually getting into trouble.

It wasn’t 3pm yet, so no ticket holders had been let in, so I was allowed to go behind the black curtain with Jimin for a while. He grabbed my hand and led me to a room where the others were waiting. JK and Tae ran up and hugged/spun me as usual, Yoongi waved, while the other three stared, unsure of who I even was. Jimin led me straight to them, then explained something, and pointed to me. I guess I was expected to speak because everyone was silently staring at me, so I said, “Hello, I am Zen. I met Jimin earlier today on the elevator and then JK, Tae, and Yoongi when we had lunch together. I haven’t gotten to officially meet you three yet because you were just arriving back at the hotel when I had to leave for work. It’s nice to meet you.”

Joon came over and smiled, then thanked me for being so kind to Jimin while we were stuck in the elevator. He appreciated my ability to stay calm and solve the problem while in a dangerous situation. I nodded, accepting his kind words. Hobi asked if I would hang out with them after the concert when I was done working and I shrugged my shoulders- I had not thought that far ahead. Cue JK, Tae, and Jimin rushing up to hug me all at once, shouting wildly to the others that I was now their best friend and needed to go everywhere they went. I had no idea what they were saying, but I could hear the tone of their voices, so I gently pushed them away and stepped over to Hobi, then spoke directly to him as I answered, “Hobi, I am not sure what the plan is for later, but I am sure we can find a way to make everyone happy.” He smiled and gave me a careful hug, then whispered something to Joon and raised his eyebrows.

Jin was still standing across the room, which did not surprise me, so I just waved and smiled, knowing he would approach me when he felt comfortable enough to do so. Suddenly, my walkie talkie starting making noise- the fans were entering and I had to get back outside the curtain- it was my job to make sure nobody random entered the backstage area. Jimin was incredibly upset, while JK and Tae were annoyed, but Yoongi shared his brilliant idea and suddenly they were satisfied. I had to be outside the black curtain, which had to remain closed. BTS had to remain hidden behind the curtain. That didn’t mean we couldn’t talk through the curtain though, since it wasn’t soundproof and nobody would know who I was actually talking to.

I laughed, knowing I was about to be the craziest person ever just standing on duty, talking to myself, appearing to be nutso, but I honestly didn’t care what anyone else thought. If BTS wanted to talk to me and be friends, I would agree to try my best to make it happen. Jimin and JK grabbed my hands, then led me out to the giant hallway, forcing me to shout goodbye to the others without waving, which Yoongi found amusing. Once we reached the black curtain, they all hugged me and let me sneak out through the break in the center, then I positioned myself on the right side, sticking my hand through the edge to wave at them and let them know it was me. They thought this was a game, so they took turns holding/squeezing my fingers until I finally said I needed both hands to do my job and they pretended to be super sad. I laughed.

For the next hour they constantly asked me questions or told me random things or just made noises and I spent most of the time laughing or pretending to be focused on keeping the area secure. If I couldn’t breathe from laughing too much, I would pace back and forth in front of the curtain until I was calm enough to return. I had no idea, but there was a camera in the room that showed that area of the tunnel, so the other four were watching me and after they had seen me be bothered for over an hour, they stepped in and called Jimin, JK, and Tae away from the curtain. It was almost time for their sound check, so I assumed they needed to get ready, but then I heard a calm voice asking me if I was ok and I knew Yoongi was just checking up on me, which was super sweet. I assured him that the three guys couldn’t annoy me for long and that I was fine, I just worried about them being discovered and somehow not being safe anymore. Yoongi liked that I was always thinking of others before myself and mentioned it to the other members, which I was not aware of at the time. I wasn’t sure if I would be left alone after that or not, but then a new voice began asking me questions and I got confused. It wasn’t Hobi and it wasn’t Joon, so it must be Jin, but why would he speak to me now, when he did not want to before?

I shrugged my shoulders and figured I should just enjoy the moment, so I did the best I could, but I was super distracted as more and more fans arrived and I had to be extra careful to make sure they didn’t sneak past me. Hobi did eventually replace Jin, but I suspect he could sense my emotions because after realizing how anxious and stressed I was at that time, he asked for my hand and gave it a squeeze, reminding me that I was doing my best and I would never let them down, which they knew! I said I owed him a hug later for reminding me of my purpose, which made him laugh and he ran away. Within a minute, Joon began speaking to me, but I was so focused on what the walkie-talkie had been blasting, I only heard half of what he had said and apologized for ignoring him. He chuckled and said he understood but also asked for my hand to reassure me before their sound check. I was not paying attention, or I would have noticed the difference in the way he squeezed my hand vs the others.

Soon, they had to go into the stadium for their soundcheck, so I was allowed to open the curtain and as I did, they all high fived me as they walked past, Jin winking at me and Joon raising his eyebrows. I was laughing so hard I could not lower the curtain for several minutes after that. Once it was over, they quickly went backstage, so I lowered the curtain behind them and made sure there were no visible spots for anyone to sneak into. We also moved the portable barricade fences in front of me, so I was sandwiched in between the curtain and the metal fences, which was fine by me. I knew I was protecting the members and that’s all that mattered. Well, since there was still a lot of time before the actual concert started, we all had to start taking our breaks, since this 2 hours would be the only time to do so and once I had someone to replace me, I went to my locker, used my stuff to freshen up, used the bathroom, then went back to find out what the guys were up to.

As soon as Jimin realized I was on break, he had been eagerly waiting by the curtain for me to return, starting a contest to see who could hug me first… I had no idea what they were planning, or I definitely would have avoided it, but instead, I walked into a trap, where Jimin, JK, and Tae all ran at me with their arms open wide, screaming my name loudly. I closed my eyes and waited for the crushing impact of their enthusiasm, but after a few seconds, it never came, so I opened my eyes and looked up to find Yoongi standing behind me, looking like he was going to scold anyone who came near me violently. Instead, each of them hugged me gently, one by one, then Yoongi took my hand and led me down the hallway to their rooms. I was so thankful I told him I owed him big time, but he just smiled and said it was his job to protect me from them, since I was protecting all of them from the fans- it was a fair trade off in his mind. I hugged him and thanked him again- his smile told me I had made the right choice. As soon as I entered the room, Hobi approached me and I had to give him the hug I owed him as well, so I guess now that was my main purpose- hugging the members of BTS randomly…

Anyway, they found out I only got 30 minutes to stay with them, so they quickly began making a plan for after the concert ended. Jin was very vocal about wanting me to eat with them, which surprised me, but then what shocked me even more was when he came to sit right next to me and patted my leg several times when I nodded my head or shook my head, as if I had any clue what he was arguing about. Meanwhile, Jimin, JK, and Tae all took turns sitting on my other side, holding my hand, rubbing my cheek, smelling my hair, patting my head, or just staring at me in general. If I had been aware of this, I definitely would have been laughing, but I was so intrigued by the Jin-Joon-Hobi-Yoongi discussion I literally could not look away.

I had set the alarm on my phone, so I knew when to leave and start working again, so when my phone began making noise, everyone, me included, made very annoyed sounds- we did not want to stop hanging out. I reluctantly got up and started walking to the employee area to return my phone to the locker and get my walkie-talkie back, when I realized I was being followed. It was Yoongi and he said, “I know it seems like we might not want to be friends with you because we are a loud group, but I just wanted to promise you that we really do.” He hugged me when I reached the curtain and disappeared when I left the hallway.

I appreciated his honesty but had to focus on getting back to work. When I returned to my post, everyone for the main show was arriving and I became too busy to do anything except help the fans get to their seats, which forced all the members to ignore me, much to their displeasure. Finally, when it was 8pm and the show was about to start, I was able to sneak behind the curtain (my job involved opening it for their entrances and exits). The entire hallway was filled with the dancers and the members, all in their first outfits, making me feel VERY small and insignificant in that moment… I thought I could just wave and smile to give them encouragement, but I should have known better. JK, Jimin, and Tae all spotted me at the same moment, rushing over to smother me in a giant group hug. With their heavy boots and leather clothes on, I felt like I was being compressed into a small space, barely enough room to breathe, while they all laughed and pinched my cheeks, patted my head, etc.

Suddenly, they stopped and let go, which caused me to stumble, heading right for the floor, but of course Jin caught me just in time. He scolded them, then checked me to see if I was ok, concern on his face where his usual smile would have been. I assured him that I was actually just clumsy and dizzy, so he hugged me and promised to keep the other three a little calmer when we met up after the concert. I had completely forgotten about that, which he clearly saw when my face changed to panic… He hugged me again, then walked away, winked right at me, and laughed… I was now very worried about whatever they had planned but did not have a second to process it because Hobi and Joon were right next to me now, so of course I hyped them up before their big entrance!

I was looking for Yoongi, but I should have known he would appear when least expected, as I was leaning against the wall, taking deep breaths because I couldn’t handle how crowded the tunnel currently was. He came to stand beside me, took my hand, then stated, “It’s ok to take a break when the world is overwhelming. I do it all the time and it helps me stay calm. I can help you too, if you want.” I looked up into his kind eyes, then nodded, focusing on my breathing, since I needed to help with the curtain in just a few minutes. He stood in front of me, took my other hand, and began asking me to count dancer/member headbands, find the shortest dancer, find the dancer with red hair, etc. Within two minutes I was MUCH calmer and focused on doing my best at work, which he saw when my smile appeared again.

I threw my arms around him as I exclaimed, “Thank you so much Yoongi! I wish everyone knew how sweet you really are!” He pretended not to hear me, but I saw his secret smile, so when he stepped back to send me to do my job, I gave him a squeeze with my hand and ran back to my spot. 30 seconds later the cue came up and we opened the curtain. They waved/high fived me/winked at me on their way back out, which made me grin even more than before, so the rest of my shift was fantastic. For both of their outfit changes, we had to be fast, so the curtain went up, the members/dancers came in, curtain lowered. Eight minutes later, repeat process in reverse. The second outfit change is longer, but still the same process, giving them only 12 minutes, so I thought I wouldn’t see them again until it was over and I was done working. I was wrong.

JK finished changing super-fast and ran to the tunnel to chat with me, which surprised me, so when he first called my name from behind the curtain I was confused, then I stepped behind it and sure enough, there was JK- waiting with his open arms and a huge grin on his face. Tae appeared seconds later, me now in the middle of their squishy hug, which I actually didn’t mind. They didn’t spin me this time and were actually very gentle, even asking me if I was ok, which I really appreciated. I told them I had to go back and finish my job, but then Jimin and Hobi came running out, begging me to stay just another minute, which I thought was hilarious. I reminded them that we were going to hang out after the concert was done, but evidently that was not good enough. Jimin was being silly and blowing kisses everywhere, which Hobi definitely gave him the side-eye for, I could not stop laughing, and by the time Jin showed up to see what all the noise was about, it was their cue and I had to disappear again.

I felt like the final part went super-fast this time, probably because I knew it was going to take me at least two hours to finish my job and join the members for whatever they had planned. I sighed as they did their final walk through the curtain, waving, but knowing I would be alone for the next part. Thousands of people began walking past me to exit, many asking if my area was for leaving as well, so I had to have another coworker bring an extra barricade to place in front of me- I was not able to stop enough people and I had to protect the members at all costs. Once I was in between the curtain and the barricade again, I felt much safer guiding fans to the correct exits and answering any questions they had. It actually took less time than I thought for everyone to exit the floor area and once it was empty, security blocked the stairs, so we could start cleaning/organizing. I did not get to use one of the leaf blowers for the confetti and I was kind of bummed because it looked fun, but apparently it was my coworker’s favorite thing, so I had to let them have their joy! I began picking up trash and leftover items. Once my section had been cleaned, I moved over to help a friend, then another friend, until I had helped almost the entire floor section.

I had no idea the members were watching on the screens in the back- I was just helping because it was the right thing to do and since the upper levels took longer to empty, therefore holding back those employees from doing their final job tasks, I figured I could at least be helpful to my fellow employees on the floor. We had our sections cleaned and all the items labeled for the lost and found long before the last fan had left the upper levels, so the manager said we could bring them to the lost and found, then be done for the night. I volunteered to take the bag, since there was only one giant garbage bag full of items and it wasn’t heavy, just bulky. I was carrying it towards the exit where the elevator was, since lost and found is on the third level, when the bag was suddenly lifted from my arms and held by a very happy person who was laughing and calling my name over and over again, like a mimic. I knew it was JK before I saw his face, but I was immediately worried and asked, “JK, are you allowed to be here with me? You know there are fans upstairs where I have to take this? What if they see you? I don’t think you should be near crowds right now.”

He does not take warnings very seriously and shrugged his shoulders, then replied, “Zen, you worry too much. I am safe with you. Just another worker. Nobody will care.” He held up the bag to block his face and I have to admit, from far away there’s no chance anyone would recognize him. I sighed, admitting defeat, then stepped into the elevator, just as JK carried the bag, then set it gently on the floor. The door almost closed before I saw a hand appear and another body literally jumped into the elevator, crushing me against the back wall. Tae apologized profusely, but since I didn’t notice any injuries right away, I shrugged it off and continued on our journey to the third floor. When we arrived, all my fears were gone- the hallway located near lost and found had been cleared and blocked off, so we were literally alone, giving me a sense of relief. I pointed JK and Tae to the lost and found office, then followed them out of the elevator, accidentally tripping on the edge of the floor where the door was. Tae noticed and caught me, so I just said I was clumsy and thanked him, but I should have paid better attention to how many times I was “clumsy” following my head being slammed against the elevator wall.

We sorted the items into the correct areas, cell phones, light sticks, wallets, purses, etc. and left the empty bag next to a trash can so they could reuse it tomorrow. As we walked back to the elevator, I noticed my head was hurting, but I figured it was because I hadn’t eaten and even though I had definitely used my concert earplugs, the music/bass had been loud enough during the concert to literally vibrate my body. This time, Tae and JK gently entered the elevator and made sure I was ok as we rode back down to the floor level. I tripped again on the door jam, JK catching me this time, then I think he caught a glimpse of me frowning because he whispered something to Tae, who then refused to leave my side and insisted they both hold my hands as we cross the floor level. It’s a good thing they did because I tripped on every single possible thing in my way, the plastic floor covers they used for the cords, the edge of a barricade wall, and even the actual flooring itself where the corner had popped up. Both JK and Tae were no longer laughing as they guided me right back to the curtain area, practically pulling me along, my legs barely keeping up.

Once we reached the barricade, I stopped, just staring at it like it was a ten-story castle wall, while JK easily vaulted over it, then gave Tae an idea, so I was then lifted up and placed on the other side, right into JK’s waiting arms. I must have been a mixture of confusion and astonishment because both of them burst into laughter when they saw my face. I looked back and forth a couple times, not knowing what they were laughing about, but then gave up because JK swooped me right behind the curtain without a backwards glance. He set me down halfway to the back rooms, watched me walk a few feet, saw me trip on absolutely nothing, then clearly decided his original plan was better and swooped me right up again. I really had a bad headache now, so I rested my head on his shoulder, squeezing my eyes shut, as his walking was making me nauseous from all his happy bouncing steps. Tae was very concerned, but JK assured him that I was just tired from work and would be fine once we left the stadium.

JK set me down on the couch, then left to find the other members to tell them he had gotten me, while Tae sat with me, frowning and just watching my pale face trying to breathe slowly and not vomit in front of them. Very quickly the rest of the members appeared, JK happily bouncing with Jimin, Hobi, and Jin, Yoongi and Joon calmly walking in behind the rest, having a separate quiet conversation.

I truly wish this next moment was not my reality, but unfortunately, it happened, so here’s how it went down. JK rushed over to grab me, swung me right off the couch, gave me several spins in his arms, then sat me down in a chair to the right of the couch. I was now so sick there was no going back, and I proceeded to vomit all over the floor, luckily not hitting any members or their shoes, but absolutely shocking everyone, including myself, as I truly thought I would be able to hold it in a bit longer. I fell out of the chair and collapsed on the floor, springing everyone into action. JK, Tae, Jimin, and Hobi ran from the room, not being able to stand the smell/sight of vomiting from anyone. I was not upset, nor could I blame them. Yoongi and Joon grabbed some random towels from the tables in the room and covered up the floor to make sure nobody stepped in it. Jin rushed to my side, asking me if I knew what happened to make me sick, giving me a water bottle to rinse my mouth out with, and then scooting me back several feet, so I was away from the vomit, and he could actually check me out.

I was now a pale, shaky noodle, so dizzy and embarrassed I could not speak, which is when Jin called JK back into the room and demanded he explain what had made me so sick. JK refused to enter the room, but I could not walk, so Joon solved the problem by gently picking me up and carrying me to the room across the hall, letting the staff know they needed help cleaning up vomit and asking that the medical team come take a look at me. Once I was laying down on the clean floor, all seven members then sat/knelt around me as JK and Tae told Jin (and the others) exactly what had happened. They truly could not think of what might have caused me to be so sick, since Tae’s energy was not new or different to them. Jin continued to ask very specific questions, while Yoongi asked for details outside the lost and found area, hoping to get information that might lead them backwards to the truth. Once Jin and Yoongi realized it all started with Tae slamming me into the elevator wall with his body, they understood and called the medical staff over to check me out.

The medical staff were used to the members being hurt/sick, so for me to be sick was nothing new to them. They saw how pale I was and worried I might have a head injury, which is impossible to check for with their limited equipment and lack of actual medical facility, which caused the members to have a heated discussion about what to do. Jin wanted to take me straight to the hospital, but JK said I would be fine now, I just needed one of their vitamin IVs and some food, then I’d feel better. I had no idea what was happening, since I was still too dizzy to actually speak, which Yoongi also noticed and quietly whispered to Joon, who stopped the arguing quickly by mentioning how pale I was and how head injuries need to be checked no matter what because it could be something really serious. Once it was agreed upon, JK instantly jumped up to carry me, but Jin put a stop to that right away, pointing out that they would use the golf cart to get to their SUVs to get to the hospital, so nobody would need to carry me. He accepted that answer, not truly thinking it through, which is what Jin was counting on.

Before anyone could notice or argue, Joon picked me up and walked from the room, straight to the golf cart, then set me next to him, supporting my entire body so I didn’t fall. In all the mayhem and chaos, Yoongi was the only one who had thought of getting my employee belongings from my locker, with my phone and purse, so he brought that and sat on my other side, quietly assuring me that he would make sure everything was taken care of properly. I looked right up and him and half-smiled, then patted his leg, which was all I could manage at that time. He smiled and put his hand on top of mine, giving me a gentle squeeze.

As soon as we arrived at the SUVs, there was another argument about who would ride with whom, since not all seven of them could fit with me and the driver (who actually knew where to go). A loud discussion started echoing down the cement hallway, adding to the pounding my head was already experiencing, and I let a few silent tears slip out accidentally.

I thought nobody saw, but then the talking ended abruptly and I suddenly had seven sets of eyes staring at me, which I thought meant I was in trouble, so I looked from one to the next until they had all seen my sadness/pain and if Yoongi had not acted like my bodyguard, I swear Jimin would have pulled me straight from that golf cart and into his arms- he was clearly the one who felt my emotions the deepest and just wanted to comfort me in some way, which I appreciated, but could not articulate at the time.

Instead, Jin began quietly pointing and giving directions, much calmer this time, JK, Tae, and Hobi were going to go back to the hotel with Joon, while Jimin, Yoongi, and Jin would bring me to the hospital, then bring me back with them when I was feeling better. JK was NOT happy about this, but one look from Jin and a quick reminder from Yoongi about my safety, and JK settled on giving me a goodbye kiss on the head, promising he would be my best protector when he saw me again. I only followed half the conversation but was shocked when Jin lifted me into the SUV, then sat me in the middle seat, buckling me before moving himself to the front passenger seat to speak with the driver. Yoongi then sat on my right, Jimin on my left, and two bodyguards, including Mr. Lee, were in the third row of seats. I leaned on Jimin’s shoulder, missing his happy/smug smile as we rode to the nearest hospital, which wasn’t too far, thankfully. My head was still pounding, and Yoongi could tell I was still really nauseous, so they had all the windows down and he was forcing me to drink tiny sips of water the entire time, making me super annoyed, which he found amusing, I found out later.

Once we reached the hospital, it must have looked hilarious to an outsider: a giant black SUV pulls up to the emergency room doors, one giant guy in a black suit walks in, come back out with a nurse and a wheelchair, then three normal-looking guys hop out, one of them lifts a girl out and sets her gently into the wheelchair, while another tall black suit guy joins the crew and the SUV drives away to find parking/somewhere to safely wait for instructions. Part of the amusing sight would also have been Yoongi, who was now wearing my pink Eevee Pokémon backpack (purse) with several little mini Pokémon keychains hanging off, jingling as he walked, not caring about what anyone thought at that moment.

Inside, between all five of them and the very friendly nurses, they got my info entered into the system and sent us straight to a room, bypassing the waiting area thankfully. I was then lifted by someone (not sure who that time, as I was trying not to vomit again after the car ride, onto a bed and a nurse attempted to take my blood pressure/check my temperature… I say attempted because as soon as she tried to have me lay down flat, I pointed to the trash can in the room and hallelujah Jimin is so intuitive because he was there and back in a flash, allowing me to vomit into the trash can this time, making everything much cleaner. When I finished, the nurse took it from me, then I collapsed onto the bed, while Jin used a tissue to wipe my face, feeling so bad for me and wishing he could do more. I seemed “healthy” when all the nurse’s basic checks were done, then she asked what had caused them to be concerned about my health, which is when Yoongi stepped up and told the story of Tae’s excitement and me getting slammed into the wall. The nurse then understood I was there for a suspected head injury, which meant a whole different set of tests. She disappeared for a few minutes, which gave Jin time to sneak me some water and Jimin time to hold my hand and assure me that he would do whatever it took to help me feel better. Yoongi stood guard silently, just watching, still wearing my backpack like a proud symbol of his importance.

The nurse came back with a doctor, who explained why head injuries are hard to diagnose, but of course they would try. Vomiting, dizziness, and headaches were the main symptoms and since I was exhibiting all three, she felt confident they had done the right thing to bring me in. I would need a couple of tests outside of the ER, so the doctor explained how they would need to wait there, while I was taken away, then returned with results/answers to make me feel better. The two bodyguards were assured they could wait in the patient room safely, not being exposed to any threats that may appear in the main waiting area- even the doctor knew how popular BTS is and didn’t want to risk their safety while treating me.

Jin came over and tapped my forehead with his finger, then winked and whispered, “I will be right here when you return.” I tried to smile up at him, which I think he appreciated. Jimin came right over and kissed my cheek, saying, “Don’t worry, I will make sure you are safe from now on.” I gave him a half-smile as well, then looked at Yoongi, who was standing silently near the door. When I passed by him, he reached over, squeezed my hand, and whispered in my ear, “I will guard Eevee with my heart and keep the others calm while you are away. Don’t worry about us- we want you to be healthy most of all.” I felt my eyes tear up as I saw the care in his eyes, hidden from the others for now, but then I was taken from the room without another word.

I was returned only 45 minutes later, with an IV in each hand, which Jin immediately got upset about, but the nurse promised him it was absolutely necessary. I did have a concussion, which is why I had reacted so severely. The nurse wanted to keep me overnight, but Jimin and Jin insisted they needed to bring me home, which must have been entertaining to watch. Jin and Jimin, very loud/dramatic Korean speakers having to speak calmly, in English, while arguing against medical advice. The nurse tried not to laugh, and thanked Yoongi when he began asking clarifying questions. He wondered what care I would receive here, that they could not provide at their hotel. He mentioned to the nurse that they have a full-time medical staff who are very capable of putting IVs in/taking them out, so that would not be an issue.

He also asked about me being monitored all night, which they would absolutely be able to do with at least 15 adults in the rooms at their hotel. After multiple questions, the nurse truly could not find a good reason to tell Yoongi no, which made him smirk a little, so he translated what he had done to the others, causing Jimin and Jin to cheer and jump in the air, then immediately stand still, like it had never happened. The nurse laughed, then said the doctor would need to come in to speak with them while my two current IVs finished, before I could be released at all. He nodded, accepting the next step. Soon after, the doctor appeared again, then reviewed the scan they had done of my brain, showing swelling that is consistent with a head injury or concussion and Jin and Jimin both pretended to study the scan thoroughly- Yoongi simply took a photo to show the others while he listened to the doctor intensely. He asked a few more questions, getting answers to all of them, including the one asking why the care here would be better than the care I would receive from them and their medical staff. The doctor was fully supportive of his plan and therefore gave a list of instructions to Yoongi, including a list of symptoms, how to manage them, and when to bring me back if things got too severe to treat at home.

The doctor checked my IV levels and was satisfied with the amount of medication I had received, which they had also included in my notes, then took out the tubes so I could leave with the members and their bodyguards. Once I had a band aid on each of my hands, a nurse appeared with a wheelchair and I was carefully placed in it, this time by Jimin, who is much stronger than he looks. He happily pushed me to the hallway, proud as punch, while the other four followed. Yoongi thanked the doctor once more and said how much they appreciated their time. We made our way back down to the ER, where the SUV was magically waiting outside, where it had dropped us off before. I was no longer nauseous, just extremely loopy from the medicine I had been given, so I honestly could not tell you how I got back into the SUV, who sat next to me, or who continued to prop my head up every single time I began to fall, since my neck was no longer able to do so. I can tell you, however, that I did get carried into the hotel room by someone who was overly cautious and walking sideways, to avoid bumping my legs on anything, so the whole process was incredibly slow, causing Jin to erupt in a dramatic fit, Jimin to join, and then I heard laughter from somewhere beyond what I could see, assuming others were laughing at them, trying to be so cautious with me.

I was eventually set down on a bed in the middle of a giant room, but the only thing I could see was the giant ceiling fan, which was spinning directly above my head. Once whoever had set me down, I was alone, or so I thought, unable to move, but also unable to call for help. I soon realized I was actually not alone when Joon appeared and knelt down beside me, asking me if I needed anything. I nodded, then pointed to the spinning fan, and whispered, “It makes me dizzy.” He scrambled to the wall and turned it off, returning to me as the blades slowed, then stopped, giving me relief finally. He said I needed to eat some food before I fell asleep, so they were going to get the food ready now, to share with me, then they would help me get ready for bed.

I nodded, not really understanding what he was saying, so when he carefully picked me up and brought me to the dining room, then sat me down in a chair, I was confused and surprised. I looked around to see who was near me, and luckily Tae was next to me because within a minute I fell to the left and would have landed on the floor if he had not caught me in time. Tae solved the problem by scooting his chair until he was literally touching mine, then he made Jin do the same on the other side and I was very safely sandwiched between them, unable to move. Yoongi was across from me, along with Joon and Jimin, while Hobi and JK were to the left and the bodyguards to the right. Everyone started passing food or eating, but Yoongi realized right away I could not do either of those things alone, so he mentioned it to Jin who decided it was his personal mission to make sure I had an adequate dinner. He began putting food into my mouth, watching me chew, then carefully choosing another bite and repeating the same process over and over. I do not have the same level of appetite as them, since I did not perform on stage for three hours, plus I didn’t want a full stomach to accidentally throw up again, so after the tenth bite, I shook my head and refused to open my mouth.

Jin pretended to throw a fit, then gave up when Joon told him to let my food settle first. I was just leaning on Tae’s shoulder, barely able to keep my eyes open, when Joon announced that he would be taking me to the bathroom to help me prepare for bed. He stood up and as he did, JK asked how, since I had nothing except my purse with me- no clothing, or even a toothbrush. I was suddenly panicking, agreeing with JK, until Yoongi replied, “She will borrow my clothes and I’m sure we can all lend some toothpaste.” They agreed and before I could thank Yoongi, Joon had lifted me from the table and whisked me down the hall. He helped me stand up in front of the bathroom counter, then paused, unsure of how to proceed, since this was all new territory for him. Yoongi appeared behind him, saving the day, by holding out two items of clothing: a T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. He placed them on the counter, then asked if I needed help, but I didn’t know if I did or not, so I just stared up at Joon, then at Yoongi, unable to decide what I needed.

They exchanged glances and a few whispers, then Yoongi disappeared, reappearing a few moments later with a sleep mask. He said he was going to wear it, but that would allow me to use his arms for support while also respecting my privacy. I was so grateful I could only nod in response. Joon left, Yoongi closed the door behind him, pulled the mask down, and held out his hands for me. It was a very slow process, since I could not unbutton the work shirt on my own and Yoongi had to help me, then replace the mask so I could remove the work shirt and my long-sleeved black shirt underneath, then put on his t-shirt. The pants were much easier, so I didn’t have any issues with those, except they were too long, but that was a minor issue. After that, he handed me a toothbrush with toothpaste on it and I brushed as best as I could, feeling like the toothbrush weighed a hundred pounds.

I told Yoongi I needed to actually use the bathroom, so he disappeared for a few moments, giving me privacy and once I was done and had flushed, he reappeared and helped me wash my hands, careful of the spots where the band aids were. He took my hand and gently led me from the bathroom, pausing several times while I leaned on the wall, then gave up and just picked me up at some point. I remember being carefully set down on a different bed, then not understanding why I felt like I was facing the sun- the fan above me was off, but the overhead light was on, shining directly into my face. Yoongi quickly turned it off, then came over to sit next to me on the edge of the bed. He began explaining what the doctor had said about making sure I got better out of the hospital, but by the time he was on the fifth or sixth item, he noticed my eyes were closed, I was shivering, and I was holding his hand. He chuckled to himself, then gently helped me put on his hoodie, which was a few sizes too big, but I didn’t care. I turned on my right side, facing him, found his hand again, and went right back to sleep, not really caring about anything. He sighed and waited for Joon to enter the room from the shadows- he had been just outside waiting for the right moment to interrupt. They discussed how to best keep me safe and avoid any further issues, then Jin entered the room and the conversation continued.

I have no idea how it happened, but at some point in the middle of the night I felt super nauseous again, stumbled to the bathroom, and threw up the little I had eaten at dinner, rinsed my mouth out with water from the sink, then collapsed on the floor, unable to call for help or move because I was shaking too badly. I don’t know if it’s a sixth sense, or if he was just so aware of me that he sensed I was in trouble, but within a few seconds, Yoongi appeared, saw me, and knew exactly what to do. I was now crying, so upset at being sick again, not being a good friend to them, etc. and suddenly everything I had been holding back before, everything I had been worried about came pouring out in a jumbled mess. He quietly listened, never getting upset, just offering me a few encouraging words every now and then. I looked up at some point and noticed his eyes were wet too, so I thought I had hurt him, and began patting his face, looking for his injury. He quickly assured me I had not hurt him physically, but he could sense the distress I was in, and it broke his heart. I stared up at him, unsure of what to say- this had never happened to me before.

He rested his forehead on mine and whispered, “I promise we will both be ok once we get your health back.” I could only nod, trusting him seemed like the only possible solution at that time. He gently wiped my tears, I wiped his, then he helped me stand up and brush my teeth again, took my hand and led me back to the room, but now there were suddenly two mattresses on the floor and I was very confused. He pointed to the actual bed, then mouthed, “Jin and Jimin.” Pointed to the mattress furthest away, “Tae and JK.” Then pointed over the bed, “Hobi and Joon.” I started, amazed that they all cared so much about me they wanted to be in the same room as me. He guided me to the closest mattress, helped me carefully fall onto his, then quickly pulled me into a cuddle, as I asked sleepily, “Why do you guys all care so much about me?”

He chuckled to himself quietly and did not answer- I was already asleep and he knew I wouldn’t care anyway. When morning came, I found myself surrounded by other members, which surprised me, but didn’t alarm me. Jimin was on my left, while JK was on my right, snoring loudly.

I just looked around for a minute, trying to remember how I had gotten here in the first place, as the details were fuzzy because of the medication I had been given at the hospital. I stretched my arms above my head and yawned, then realized I was also wearing a hoodie I did not remember putting on that also didn’t belong to me. I was staring up at the ceiling when a set of eyes appeared above my head, upside down, grinning at me and then I heard, “Can I wake you up and hug you?” I smiled, then nodded, and held my arms out for them to pull me out from the cuddle I was currently stuck in. Joon is very strong, so I was instantly removed from the mattress and once I was on the floor, he made sure I was ok, then lifted me up and wrapped me in a giant hug. I felt safe in his arms, so I didn’t mind that he was so much taller than me.

He kissed the top of my head and asked if I was feeling better. I told him I definitely was but felt nauseous again because I had woken up in the night to vomit and therefore had an empty stomach currently. He frowned and led me out of the bedroom, then left me at the bathroom and continued on his way to the kitchen without saying another word. I went to the bathroom and washed my hands, yanking off the band aids- I was annoyed at how sticky they had become. I stumbled to the hallway, unsure of which way to turn, took a few steps to the right, then leaned on the wall, too dizzy to continue. I slowly slid down until I was laying sideways on the cold tile floor, which actually felt good on my burning head at the moment.

I hadn’t been there long when I heard footsteps and someone kneeling down to check on me. I saw Jin’s concerned face and knew I was in trouble- he saw my flushed face and touched my forehead, then cheeks, before shouting something. I was then picked up and brought straight to a couch in the living area, gently set down, and surrounded by Joon, Yoongi, and Hobi, who were the only other ones awake at that time. Joon called the medical staff and Yoongi knelt down beside me, worry all over his face, since I hadn’t had a fever just a few hours earlier when he had been cuddling me. Hobi tried to cheer me up/distract me by telling me random things and I appreciated it. The medical staff arrived shortly after Joon’s call, then once they had checked me, told the members I had a fever of 102 degrees, but there was no obvious cause. They asked what the best treatment would be and the medical staff agreed that medicine from an IV would have to work, otherwise, I needed the hospital again.

One of the medical staff members held my left hand to find a good vein for the IV, but then commented on something she noticed, reached for my other hand, compared them, and made a very unhappy sound. I had no idea what was happening but knew they were not pleased with my hands for some reason. Finally, they settled on the right one, and of course I had to look away- I cannot stand anything involving needles. After the IV was placed and the medicine was in the fluids, I asked Hobi what the medics had said about my hands, but he refused to tell me, not wanting to make me upset, which was actually really sweet. Joon, however, had no problem telling me that the medics did not like the look of my bruised hands and had been upset with the hospital staff for doing such a poor job at inserting the IVs the night before. Now I understood the sound and why she had made it.

I fell back asleep shortly after that, finally getting relief from my aches and pains, curled up on the couch, my legs tucked inside the hoodie I was still wearing. As soon as Yoongi saw me, he knew I must be cold, so he found a blanket and covered me, then sat near my feet, warming them with his hands until I finally relaxed.

I didn’t sleep long enough for anyone’s liking, but I was having an issue breathing, so I asked Hobi to help me take off the hoodie, thinking I was just too hot. He carefully began to lift it up but immediately noticed the angry rash covering my entire stomach and screamed, causing the other three to rush over. I was then inspected from multiple angles where it soon became clear that I was having an allergic reaction to something and now had hives all over my body. The medics were still nearby, so once they realized what had happened, they quickly stopped the medicine in the IV and used an EpiPen to help me breathe better, avoiding a trip to the hospital. I was not fully aware of the events, just the inability to breathe, a sharp pain in my right thigh, and then something that felt like cool water being spread throughout my body, which was really the effects of the allergy meds saving my life.

Jin was literally pacing back and forth, randomly commenting angrily about how I couldn’t even be left alone for five seconds without disaster striking, which Hobi agreed with, while Joon tried to calm him down, reminding him that I wasn’t ever actually alone, I had been surrounded by people since last night. Yoongi ignored everyone, just watching, waiting, and making sure I was actually going to be ok. He was afraid to touch me at the moment because he thought he had somehow caused the fever and rash, which isn’t rational at all, I know, but that’s how it was in that moment. He silently snuck down the hall to escape the loudness and seek peace elsewhere for a little while.

Right about this time is when JK, Tae, and Jimin came wandering out, half-asleep, but still very much searching for me, ready to pounce. Luckily, Jin was my self-proclaimed protector at the moment and had stationed himself directly in front of me, refusing to let anyone touch me until the rash was gone. About every minute, he would sneak the tiniest peak at the very edge of the hoodie to see if my side was still red/pink and bumpy, then do a loud, dramatic sigh, and continue glaring at everyone around him. JK found this highly amusing and tested his boundaries multiple times, reaching over the back of the couch, coming at me from my feet, and finally climbing over the edge near my face. All three times Jin acted like a crazy lunatic and chased JK away, both of them screaming and laughing, while shouting random words in Korean. I would have thought this was hilarious if I had been awake to witness it.

An hour and a half later, I woke up, glanced around, saw Jin, then smiled and asked, “What happened?” He kissed my hair and replied, “You had bad medicine, so the medics gave you a shot and now you can breathe with no pink skin.” I frowned, unsure of what he was talking about, but Hobi was right there to help me understand, with Joon filling in the final details after that. I searched the room for Yoongi, wanting to see his happy face, but did not find him. Before I could ask, JK returned and came right up to my face, leaned down, then whispered, “I will be your best safe spot today.”

I gave a little giggle, which made Jin giggle, and soon half the room was giggling with me. Jimin waited for his turn to calmly approach me, then held my hand, touched my cheek, and asked if I needed anything- he would get whatever I wanted. I told him that was very sweet, but I was just so tired I didn’t think I needed anything at the moment. I guess they all heard my answer and decided the best thing to do was go about their morning as usual, taking turns to check on me while I rested on the couch, near everyone. Jin went into the kitchen to help cook, so Joon took his place and he began telling me about all the fun ideas they had planned for when I was feeling better. They wanted to explore the area with me, since I had never been here either- we could experience things for the first time, together. I loved that idea and told Joon so, then squeezed his hand, so he knew I appreciated his efforts to include me even though I was sick at the time.

When the food was ready, Jimin took Joon’s place, preferring to drink his coffee leaning his head on my arm, just peacefully enjoying my company without any extra effort. He was so sweet when he finished his coffee- he asked if I needed anything, then said he would send someone over to sit with me, so I wouldn’t feel left out. He wanted me to try eating something, but I was too afraid of vomiting again, so I flat out refused, causing him to laugh a little, but not argue.

I searched the room again for Yoongi, but he was still missing, so I decided it would be a good idea to walk myself down the hall to find him. Well, I sat up, attempted to stand, realized right away it would not work, then fell right down again, about three feet away from the couch. Tae had noticed what I was trying to do and luckily made it in time to catch me before I hit the coffee table. He scolded me for not asking for help, then hugged me tightly and asked where I was trying to go- he would just take me himself. I lied and said I needed the bathroom, so he grabbed me, and the IV pole, then walked straight down the hallway and plopped me in front of the sink, closing the door behind him. I looked around, made sure it was actually empty, then actually did use the bathroom, wash my hands (as best I could), and used some of the mouthwash that was on the counter. I felt so much better that I opened the door and tried walking out a bit too fast…

The pole was with me, but the IV tube caught on the door handle, yanking me back, the pole crashing to the ground, me following it moments later, my head hitting something on the way down. My loudness caused everyone in the kitchen to rush down the hall to see what happened, found me on the floor, blood now near my head, and the medics had to be called again. Jin was so upset with himself because he had promised to protect me, but clearly, I couldn’t be trusted to do anything alone anymore. JK tried to move me, but the medics had to assess my injury first, so he appeased himself with just holding me while they searched my hair for the cause of the blood. My hair was still in a French braid from work the night before, so it was much easier to see where I had been cut. I only needed three stitches, but by the time they finished, I was crying again and JK was ready to hand me off to someone else- Joon took over for a bit, then Jimin, then Jin, all trying their best to comfort me, but I was in so much pain and feeling super embarrassed at myself I didn’t want any of them.

The medical staff soon realized I needed help getting calm, so they put a shot of something in my IV and within a minute I was out- Jin had to carry me to one of the mattresses on the floor from earlier. They finished their food; I slept. They decided what they would do on their days off (planning to include me); I slept. They got dressed for the day; I slept. Whatever the medical staff had given me, it was very effective because Hobi, Tae, and Joon left to go exploring, Jin, JK, and Jimin started their gaming, but Yoongi stayed in another room, pretending to sleep, constantly spying on me, making sure I had not moved. After two hours I began to wake up, but everything was super fuzzy, which I didn’t understand. The guys were so focused on their game that they had no idea I was awake, especially since I wasn’t making any noise at the time.

Yoongi worried about my safety and tried to resist the temptation to go check on me, but when he saw me attempting to sit up by myself, he had to step in, so I didn’t get any more injuries. I was trying to use momentum to sit up, then crawl on the floor, but when I finally reached my goal, I found myself staring right back at Yoongi, who was kneeling right in front of me, now holding both of my upper arms, keeping me steady so I didn’t fall. I blinked a couple times, not believing it was really him, then I asked, “Why do you hate me now? Did I do something wrong?”

He was planning to run away as soon as he made sure I was safe, but seeing me look so sad, hearing my voice sound so desperate, he knew he could not abandon me just then. He sighed, then carefully leaned his forehead on mine, as he replied, “I do not hate you. You have done nothing wrong. I am sorry for making you believe that.” I was still staring right at him, so when my tears overflowed, he was caught off guard and let go of my hands, sending me crashing backwards onto the mattress.

He instantly realized his mistake and made sure I was ok, then came to rest beside me, wiping my tears off as he explained, “I thought I had caused your fever and rash, so if I stayed away from you, nothing else could happen. This is obviously not true because as soon as you were alone, you fell and got hurt again, even with me being far away. I won’t make that mistake again. Can you ever forgive me?”

I just stared up at his cloudy eyes, worry written all over his face, unable to speak yet, which I think made things worse because he placed his head against mine and whispered something random, which I thought were angry words, but looking back I’m now guessing it was more like compliments he didn’t want me to hear at the moment, expressing what was hidden in his heart.