“There you are sweetie! I’m sorry I am so late- there was traffic coming over the bridge,” I exclaimed, grabbing his hand and kissing him gently on the cheek. I then hugged him, whispering in his ear, “I saw them following you, so pretend I’m your girlfriend and we will get them to leave.”
He hugged me back, nodding, then answered, “It’s ok, we have time together now.”
I smirked at the three girls who were hovering nearby, then pulled him into the closest little shop, pretending to need a new hat for the summer. It was clear they were annoyed with me, but left after a few minutes, abandoning their previous mission.
When I saw them leave, I turned to face him, explaining, “JK, I’m sorry for kissing you without permission, but when I saw those girls following you and teasing you, I knew you needed to be rescued.”
He grinned down at me, hugging me and saying thanks, then I asked, “Where are the other members or your manager or any staff members? How are you alone in a big city like this?”
He shrugged his giant shoulders and answered, “I don’t know. We were in a group, then I was alone. I am lost I think.” I blinked up at him, taking a second to process his words, then asked, “Do you have your phone?” He patted his pockets, then shook his head, saying, “I have nothing. No money and no phone. I am lost.”
I saw his face begin to panic, so I got my phone out and handed it to him, telling him to call anyone he knew, so I could help him get to safety. He stared at my phone, then back at me, before saying, “I don’t know any numbers. Can I follow you around today and you can keep me safe?”
I sighed, closed my eyes for a second, then smiled up at him, offering, “Yes, that would be fun. I am going to do a tour of the Statue of Liberty though, so you will need to take the ferry with me, if it’s ok.” He nodded in excitement, then said, “I want to see that statue. This is such great news. I can be with you for fun today and stay safe.”
I took a second to weigh the options, but decided the best choice was to keep him with me and away from other stalkers, even if it meant altering my original plans. We picked out a hat for him, hoping to help hide his face a little, I paid, then we exited the shop, heading towards the ferry that goes across the water.
He was holding my hand and swinging it, humming a happy tune, clearly pleased with the outcome, while I spent every second trying to figure out a way to contact his friends or staff to let them know where he was. We crossed the water safely, then got to Ellis Island, where the statue is located. The ticket lady mentioned a tour was just about to start, so we hurried to join the group of tourists at the base, just as the guide welcomed everyone. We continued to stick with the group, me having JK take photos for my class, never asking him to be involved, and I didn’t realize how upset it made him until we were up in one of the rooms they used for inspections, when he said, “I want to be in a picture with you to remember today. How come you don’t like my face with yours?”
I stopped walking immediately, pulling him to the side, and whispered, “JK, this has nothing to do with me liking you or your face right now. I am taking photos to show my students, so I do not want you to be involved, otherwise, it might turn into a problem if someone recognizes you. I will take photos with you after the tour is done, just for us, if you promise to not get upset with me about it.”
He nodded, then followed me back to the group, a smug grin on his face, knowing he had won the battle. The tour ended shortly after, so JK and I took some photos together, him being super silly, and me just agreeing with whatever he said, wanting him to be happy and not worry about being lost in the big city.
When the tour ended, we took the ferry back across the water, then I found a small restaurant off the main street that served Italian food, which he clapped about and started skipping to the doorway once I pointed it out. I laughed, his joy contagious, then followed him inside through the door he held open for me.
Luckily, there were only older customers inside, so I knew the chances of him being recognized were slim but still asked for a booth in the back. The owner/chef was super nice, answering all of our questions, then making special smaller portions of the food because JK wanted to try almost everything on the menu- I forgot how much he loves to try new foods!
Pasta is always a good choice, so we started with that, then he moved onto other meat and seafood items, while I just laughed at the amount of food he could actually inhale. One of the dishes looked absolutely disgusting to me, something super spicy with a slimy sea creature in it, but JK happily chomped into it, making his cheerful eating noises, while I looked away, thankful to be full already.
They brought us a dessert sampler, and I swear JK was going to explode, but he literally clapped his hands and tried each item like he had not eaten in days, making me laugh so hard I almost choked on the cheesecake bite he had just put into my mouth. Once he was finally full, he literally rubbed his belly and asked if he could take a nap now, which caused me to slightly panic- I was afraid to bring him to my hotel room and get him into trouble for being alone with a girl, but then I realized I didn’t have a choice, unless I was going to involved the police, which I was slightly tempted to do…
He got up to use the bathroom, so I paid and thanked them so much for allowing us to have a taste of all their delicious food- they were surprised he could eat as much as he did, but I laughed, telling them he burns a lot of calories for his job, so he was just refueling. I did not ask them for any extra special treatment, but they gave us a discount, perhaps because they loved seeing how happy the food made him, I’m not sure, but I was thankful either way!
When he returned, he thanked them and grabbed my hand, pulling me out of the front door, now in a hurry to get a nap, apparently. I laughed as I tried to keep up with him, then he stopped at the corner of the sidewalk, glancing both ways, turned to me, and asked, “Where do we go to nap now?”
I was already laughing, so now I couldn’t breathe, just pointed to the right, and when the crosswalk lit up, he continued to pull me along. My hotel was only five blocks away, luckily, so we reached it quickly, him marching right into the lobby, then going where I pointed to the elevators. Once we were inside, I had to catch my breath because he had been going so fast and he was so much taller than me I felt like I had been running the entire time. We got to my floor, then I got out the hotel key, which he swiped, pushed open the door, held it open for me, and closed it behind me.
He immediately kicked his shoes off, then ran into the main area and threw himself on the only bed in the room, causing me to laugh once more, so loudly that I actually had to lean against the wall because I was unable to stand anymore. I asked if he needed anything, but he was so sleepy and happy he just mumbled something and ignored me, so I went into the bathroom for my chance to be alone finally.
After I was done and washed my hands, I came out to find him snoring, but I didn’t want to wake him so I grabbed my phone and plugged it into the charger, while I tried to figure out how to contact someone who would get him back to where he needed to go. About half an hour later, he started moaning and holding his stomach, so I rushed over, asking, “JK, are you ok? What’s wrong?”
He said something about his stomach hurting, then ran into the bathroom, where I heard him vomiting soon after. I rushed in to help, since it didn’t bother me, giving him a wet washcloth to wipe his face and then giving him some mouthwash to use after he was done. He sat on the bathroom floor, leaning on me, looking confused, while I said, “JK, I don’t think your stomach liked all that food you ate a while ago. I am sorry you don’t feel good. I wish I could call someone to help get you back to where you belong. I wish you knew someone’s number.”
He agreed, then pointed to the bathtub, saying he wanted a bubble bath. Ok, I could help with that and stood up to get the bubble bath I had packed in my toiletries bag. I swear that man gave me a heart attack by stripping all of his clothes off in two seconds, so when I turned around, I got the shock of my life and screamed, then handed him a towel, exclaiming, “JK! What are you doing?! You can’t just get naked in front of strangers! You need privacy! Oh my gosh JK! Are you trying to give me a heart attack! At least warn me next time!” He was laughing, then said, “It doesn’t matter because I trust you. You don’t even care.”
I put my hand on my forehead, then answered, “Yes, that is true, but you need to be careful JK! Some people are not like me, and I don’t want you to get in trouble!” I turned to get the water started, making sure it was warm enough, then added the bubbles and put the stopper in the bottom, then stood up to tell him to get in, but literally didn’t have a moment’s notice before he grabbed my shoulder for balance and jumped right into that tub.
I took a deep breath and told him, “Ok, now that you are safe and happy and feeling better, we really need to find someone who can help get you to the other members. Can you please try to think of any phone number you might know that I can call?” He closed his eyes for a second, then looked right at me and grinned. “Oh, I know Tae’s phone number. I just forgot earlier.” If he had not been sick from all the food he had inhaled, or completely naked in the bubble bath I definitely would have pinched him or something…
I ran to get my phone, then made him tell me the numbers. Of course it went to voicemail, since my number is a random American number while Tae’s was Korean. I left a message asking him to call me back because I needed to help JK get back to them and hoped Tae would listen and take me seriously.
Meanwhile, JK was having the time of his life, singing random songs in his warm bubble bath, shouting questions at me, since I refused to go back into the bathroom until he agreed to start warning me before he got naked. Half an hour later, JK was still in the tub, asking me to empty the cold water and refill it with hot water again and even though I really wanted to tell him no, when I peeked around the corner, he was begging me with his hands and his big black boba eyes, so I could not refuse.
I made him stand up and wrap the shower curtain around himself, then I emptied the water and got the new, hot water started, along with more bubbles. He clapped and tried to hug me, but I stepped back just in time to yell, “No way are you hugging me when you are soaking wet and naked! Sit back down in that tub and behave this time!”
He laughed, but obeyed, so I was thankful for a moment of peace. I had forgotten about my phone, so I rushed out to check it, and found a reply from Tae, asking if I was real or fake. I called the number again, spoke to him, held the phone up for him to talk to JK, which convinced him I was actually telling the truth, and gave him the hotel name, floor, and room number.
JK was not in a hurry and seemed perfectly content to stay in the bath all day if he could. I was not prepared to have that argument with him yet, so I just waited for Tae to arrive, anxiously worried about reuniting them and making sure they knew I did not have any bad intentions with JK. Within fifteen minutes, there was a knock on the door and when I opened it, Tae was there, along with Joon, their leader, which I had not expected. They kicked their shoes off, then followed me to the bathroom finding JK happily singing again, covered in bubbles, having the time of his life. Tae stayed with him in the bathroom, speaking rapidly in Korean, while Joon pulled me into the main area and asked me to explain what had happened.
I told him the whole story, from beginning to now, leaving nothing out, my voice unsteady at times, wanting him to trust me and believe that I truly did have good intentions, and would never harm anyone who needed help. I also explained that JK didn’t have his phone or wallet, so that’s why it took so long to contact them. Joon laughed when I told him how JK had conveniently remembered Tae’s number when we were back here, doing what he wanted, after he had gotten the fun day. I also found that amusing, but was extremely anxious, watching Joon’s face as I explained, pacing back and forth across the floor, wanting to make sure I was proving I could be trusted.
He asked a few questions, but mostly listened, then when I finished, he wanted to know what I would have done if Tae had not answered. I stopped pacing, stared up at him, then replied, “Taken him to the concert myself, of course. I was looking up train schedules earlier, just in case.”
He nodded, then crossed the room quickly, startling me, wrapping me in a hug, then said, “Thank you for keeping JK safe and taking care of him. I know how worried you have been and I am sorry for the stress he caused you. I can see you shaking because you have been so anxious the whole time. You don’t need to worry anymore because I believe your story and know you have a good heart. You are a genuine person who cares for others in need and for that, I am grateful.”
I gripped the back of his shirt like my life depended on it, still shaking from the stress of thinking he might not believe me, then replied, “I just wanted to do the right thing, and I was so worried about his safety. He needs to be protected.” Joon squeezed me, then whispered, “He is very lucky you were there to save him, and I will make sure he understands how different things could have been if you hadn’t stepped in. I will never forget your kindness to him. You are truly a rare gem in this world.”
He let go, then went into the bathroom, and began lecturing JK, but it didn’t work because five minutes later, Tae came out and ran over to hug me, then exclaimed, “JK won’t leave the tub now and we need to leave. Can you help because he listens to you?!”
I smiled up at him, then allowed him to pull me back into the bathroom, where JK was happily enjoying his bath still, Joon sitting on the toilet seat, his head in his hands, frustration all over his face. JK smiled when he saw me and Tae, then said he was never leaving the tub because he wanted to stay with me forever. I laughed, told him how sweet that was, then knelt down, right next to the tub and whispered, “If you get out now, I promise to go exploring with you again tomorrow, so you can eat more delicious food.”
His eyes got wide as he asked, “Really?! You promise?!” I nodded. I was ready this time, so I had his towel held out in front of me, my eyes firmly closed, when he jumped out of the tub, which caused Joon and Tae to exclaim several things in Korean, sounding like he was being scolded, but I couldn’t be sure. JK laughed, took the towel and wrapped it around his lower half, which meant I could leave, so I quickly exited the bathroom, happy to escape for once.
After his clothes were back on, he came running out and swooped me into a giant hug, trying to rub his wet hair onto my face, while I tried to get away, giggling and wiggling because he had pinned my arms to my side. Tae had to step in, laughing at the whole thing, while Joon told JK to stop from a safe distance. After I was free, JK apologized for getting me wet and thanked me for taking care of him. He said he would spend his whole life making it up to me, but I assured him that wouldn’t be necessary, until I saw Joon’s serious face- then I accepted JK’s offer and kept my mouth shut.
JK asked if I wanted to come with him to the concert, so I had to tell him I had already planned to attend- that’s why I was in town in the first place. He swung me around again, exclaiming how excited he was to have me now and telling me about how fun it was going to be with me backstage. I froze, looked at Tae and Joon, then told JK, “I don’t think that’s how it works JK. I cannot be backstage with you because I’m not a staff member and I won’t be allowed.”
He frowned, which is when Joon stepped in, commenting, “I am sure there is a way for us to find a solution. You did save him, after all.” I stared up at him, completely shocked, which caused him to smile right at me, freezing time for a second, until Tae mentioned the time and we all realized they needed to get to the stadium soon. JK grabbed both my hands and asked if he could travel with me instead, but I shook my head, already knowing what Joon was going to say.
“JK, it’s not safe for you in the big city right now. Can I travel with you instead, so you can be safe and we can reunite you with the other members?” I asked. He nodded, pulling me into a giant hug, then squished my cheeks as he said, “I just love how cute you are near me.”
I did not know how to respond once he let go and turned to get my concert outfit from my suitcase, since I guess I would be changing somewhere else now. Tae asked if I had clothes to bring, so I held up the Ziploc I was holding and he clapped with JK, acting like my outfit was somehow amazing, even though they had not even seen it yet. I asked Joon if it was ok for me to travel with them and he nodded, then said, “I think it’s the least we can do, given how much special treatment JK received from you today. If you gather up your outfit, you can change backstage with us before the concert.”
I quickly packed everything I needed into my Eevee backpack, grabbed my clear concert bag, and told Joon I was ready. His face seemed surprised about something, but I couldn’t figure out what, so I shrugged and allowed JK and Tae to pull me from the room, Joon falling behind, shaking his head, and grinning about something.
One of their drivers was waiting in the hotel lobby, so we were able to quickly get into their black SUV, then drove straight to the concert. Tae and JK talked the entire time, while Joon would ask a question, wait for my response, ponder it, then stare at me, sometimes grinning, sometimes clenching his jaw, sometimes trying to hide his shyness by distracting me with random facts. I was so confused by the time we reached the stadium that I had no clue if I was just some random stranger JK had met or something more significant.
I followed them inside, Tae and JK holding my hands like I was their sister, which was honestly rather sweet, so I didn’t have a problem with it. We made it to one of their changing rooms, where Jin was arguing loudly with someone I couldn’t see, but stopped the moment he saw me- shock all over his face, clearly not expecting a random girl to be with Joon, JK, and Tae.
JK decided he wanted to tell the story, and soon Hobi, Jimin, and Yoongi were also listening, while I wanted to melt into the floor and disappear. Every time JK said something dramatic, they would all look at me and exclaim something like “wow” or “no way” or “crazy” and I was super embarrassed. I couldn’t understand all the details he was telling, but I could tell he was making it seem way more dramatic than it had actually been by the way he was using his body language to act out the scenes.
I rolled my eyes a few times, catching Joon watching me, then we both silently laughed when we made eye contact, me covering my mouth to hide my face from JK. After he was done with his story, they all stared at me, waiting for me to speak (I guess), but I didn’t have anything to add, so I just looked at JK, who clapped and grinned, having a great time.
Yoongi then said, “Thank you so much for taking such good care of JK for us. It seems like he caused some stress for you, and we are grateful for your patience and kindness with him today. It could have been a lot worse if you had not been there in time.” Hobi and Jimin agreed, then Jin said, “Yes, JK is the wild one and we are happy he found you today.” I smiled, then told them, “I would have helped anyone who needed it. The world needs more kindness.”
Joon then mentioned the time, and everyone scattered, heading to change into their outfits, but he stayed behind, telling me, “I know JK had a great time with you today, but I wanted to make sure you know how much I truly appreciate you taking care of him. You made sure he was safe, and bought him food, then took care of him when he wasn’t feeling well. That is not something I will overlook lightly.”
I looked across the room at him, shrugged my shoulders, and answered, “You know I would have done the same thing for any one of you Joon. It’s no big deal.” He clearly disagreed and crossed the room quickly, standing in front of me, then took my hands and repeated, “I will not overlook your kindness to JK.”
I was so overwhelmed that all I could do was nod and try not to be intimidated by his intense eyes, which felt like they were looking into my soul. I asked where I should change, which caused him to drop his hands and reply, “I am sorry I forgot about that. If you bring your belongings, I will show you a good place.” I followed him out of the room, into a different room across the hall, with many smaller cubicles inside, clearly for changing. I thanked him, then waved to the female staff member who was standing nearby, working on Hobi’s hair. JK suddenly appeared from one of the cubicles, wearing only his pants, so I pointed back inside and shouted, “JK, go put your clothes on right now or you know what will happen.”
He laughed, then disappeared back inside his area. I quickly went to the empty cubicle on the end, then started putting on my other outfit. I knew JK would find a way to interrupt me, so I only changed the bottom half, my black stockings, then a pair of small black shorts, and my lacy mini skirt over the top, then I waited and I’m so happy I did because not ten seconds later, his giant eyes peaked into the cubicle, around the curtain, asking me if I was ok. I put my hands on my hips, then stepped right in front of him, pretending to be as tall as him, standing on my tippy toes, then scolded him, “JK, I am perfectly capable of changing my clothes by myself, thank you very much. I appreciate your concern, but I promise I am fine. Now leave me alone for a few minutes, so I can finish my outfit and look cute for the concert please.”
He squished my cheeks again and kissed my forehead, then ran away laughing. I closed the curtain all the way and quickly changed my top half, not knowing how much time I would have before he decided to check on me again. I just added my black glitter tank top, with a dark red see-through long-sleeved shirt on top-to show the glitter tank top but still keep me warm at night.
I put my previous outfit into the Ziploc, then walked out of the cubicle, expecting to be attacked by JK at any moment, but when it didn’t happen right away, I was then paranoid about every single cubicle I passed, assuming he would jump out unexpectedly and scare me. It didn’t happen until I reached the very first cubicle, closest to the girl who was still working on Hobi, now joined by Jimin in the next area, so I smiled, thinking I was safe, but I should have known better.
Jimin’s face told me before I felt JK reach his arms around me from behind and spin me around, then set me down again, laughing as he did. I was just about to scold him, but Jin appeared and did it for me, which I was thankful for, since I was not nearly as tall as either one of them. It was funny to observe, I’m sure, but since I was living in that moment, I did not find it as funny as I would have earlier. When Jin was done, he winked at me and walked away, which did make me laugh, and once Jimin heard me, he started giggling, then Hobi joined in, and the whole area was filled with our loud laughing. Tae soon found us and joined in, making it even more fun.
