Blog

Fiona, Keanna, and their mother had arrived the night before in Gwangju.  This morning Fiona stood in their hotel room staring out at the beautiful landscape of Hobi’s hometown.  Was it a crazy dream to believe that by some beautiful twist of fate, Fiona would meet Hobi today?  Or was it just some impossible birthday wish?  

She sighed and turned towards the door into the hallway.  Her mom and sister were taking her out to eat a special birthday breakfast this morning!  

Keanna called out to her from the bathroom, “Wait for me, Fiona!”

Together they walked out to meet their mother in the hotel lobby before wandering down the street to a little cafe.  They ordered breakfast, and a few moments later, Fiona was enjoying her eggs and bacon.

She was so excited to be here, sitting in the birthplace of her favorite BTS member!   She stared out the window and began to daydream about j-hope…

All her life Fiona had enjoyed a special friendship.  With Hobi.  She and Hobi had been born on the same day in the same hospital.  Their mothers had even shared the same recovery room after the birth of their children, one a beautiful baby girl, the other a bouncing baby boy.  Their mothers had become fast friends in the hours that followed their births.  And so it was that Fiona had grown up in Hobi’s home, and he had grown up in hers.  She had, in fact, taken her first step in his living room, and he had performed his first dance in her mother’s kitchen, a wooden spoon held tightly in his hand as he sang a song while his feet danced to their own beat.  Fiona had been the first to applaud him, a toothy grin splitting her adorable, three-year-old face, her tiny palms slapping together enthusiastically.

Hobi had faced everything with her, including the rigors of school.  He’d held her hand the first day of school, when she’d been sick to her stomach from worrying over the transition from her mother’s home to the classroom.  Would the other kids like her?  Or would the girls make fun of her?  Would she be able to understand all the things the teacher would say?  Would she be smart enough to complete the calculations and master the languages?  Those questions wouldn’t go away for years.  Each new year brought new questions.  But Hobi was always there, constant as the sun rising in the morning.  He was as faithful as the stars shining upon her each night.  How she loved him!

The year she was stressing over a science experiment, Hobi stayed up late with her night after night researching the scientific method that would eventually help her solve the problem and ace the project.  She still remembered the night they’d both fallen asleep sitting at the kitchen table, writing out the details of the report.  Her mother had woken her up to head to bed around midnight.  Hobi had slept on the couch.  

Then in middle school when Fiona was nervous about performing in the school play, Hobi had tried out for the other lead role just to support her.  Ironically, he had landed the male lead while Fiona had ended up as the understudy to the female lead.  Fiona felt conflicted.  She was disappointed to not be starring opposite Hobi, yet she was relieved that she didn’t have to be the center of attention.  That took a lot of pressure off her.  Poor Hobi.  He was working so hard because he had been attempting to help her.  Instead, he spent most of his time assisting another girl.  But he and Fiona had still practiced their lines together outside of school hours.  In the privacy of their homes.  While eating snacks and laughing over lines that tickled their funny bones.  

Then on opening night, the unexpected happened.  The lead actress got laryngitis and was unable to perform.  So Fiona ended up starring opposite Hobi after all.  For the entire weekend.  All three performances.  She didn’t even have time to be nervous the first night.  She didn’t find out she’d be playing the lead that evening until five minutes before the performance began.  A quick costume change followed this shocking news.  Then an even faster makeup session.  Finally, Fiona was standing next to Hobi on a stage in front of the entire school and their parents.  

She was performing with Hobi, just like all the times they’d played together at home since they were tiny tots performing songs and dances and skits for their parents’ enjoyment.  In the opening minute standing on that school stage, Fiona had taken a deep breath and glanced over at Hobi for courage.  Which he always supplied in boatloads.  Just one look at his sweet smile and Fiona found the strength she needed to speak her lines loudly and clearly, her voice echoing throughout the auditorium.   As Hobi continued to lend her his comforting presence, she had begun to relax and ended up having the time of her life, performing with Hobi on a stage in front of so many people.  It had, in fact, been so much fun that she had looked forward to the next two nights with something approximating anticipation.  She felt like she could do anything with him by her side.

Hobi had always been there for Fiona.  Her faithful friend.  Her playful companion.  Her fun-loving buddy.  Her strong defender.  She remembered the time a boy at school had begun to pick on her.  He’d shoved her up against the wall and then blocked her body with his own.  She’d been pinned against the wall, terrified.  Suddenly, a hand had come to rest on the boy’s shoulder before gripping him and yanking him backwards.  

Then a cool voice had spoken, “You were hurting my friend.  That will be the last time you will ever hurt my friend.  Do you understand?” Hobi’s normally easygoing eyes were steely that day as he gazed down at the shorter boy.  Who wisely nodded his agreement before fleeing to the other side of the school building.  He had never touched her again.  What would she have done without Hobi?  He was her very best friend…

As Fiona lost herself in her daydream, her eyes didn’t even notice the thriving city surrounding her.  Or the customers entering the little cafe.  A few moments later, Keanna was bumping her on the shoulder.  

“Fiona!” she hissed urgently.  

“What?”  Fiona turned towards Keanna, but she caught a bright movement out of the corner of her eye, so instead of looking at Keanna, her eyes locked on the tall man standing in line preparing to order breakfast.  Even from the back she recognized him.  She’d spent hours studying him.  Now it was finally paying off!

“Is that—?” Keanna whispered fiercely in her ear.

Fiona nodded her head vigorously before hissing back, “Yes!”

Just then Hobi turned around and locked eyes with Fiona.  His brown locks flopped down into his eye, causing him to blink and reach up to push his hair back away from his forehead.  Her heart began to gallop.  He was so adorable.  Then he grinned, his eyes meeting her own again, his face splitting into a brilliant smile that lit up the entire restaurant.  

Fiona had forgotten that she was wearing her J-HOPE shirt, but Hobi had seen it.  It was crying out to him like a “Welcome home” sign.  He was feeling a little down today.  And lonely.  He’d had an argument with an old friend who he hadn’t seen in a long time.  He had always believed they’d be friends forever.  But for some reason, upon arriving in his hometown last night, Hobi had discovered that his old buddy had changed and was no longer interested in being friendly.  Hobi was feeling quite sad until he saw the young woman’s sweet face lighten in a breathtaking grin.  She reminded him that he had friends all over the world.  Friends he rarely got to meet.  But today could be different.

He waved at her.  Stunned, Fiona waved back.  Then Hobi turned towards the clerk to order his food.

Hobi had noticed the two cute girls the instant he’d entered the cafe.  They both had long, brown-black hair and big, dark eyes.  He had watched them enjoying their breakfast for a moment before either of them had noticed him.  The older one was wearing her pink J-HOPE shirt.  She looked good wearing his name.  And her presence was a healing balm to his wounded soul.

Fiona’s eggs and bacon were forgotten.  Her appetite had fled.  She was overcome with shock.  It had been her pipe dream to meet Hobi.  A ridiculous fantasy, right?  Yet!  Here he was!  He had chosen the same restaurant as her.  Were they fated to be friends?

Hobi collected his tray and turned to walk towards her.  “Excuse me.  Can I join you?” he asked sweetly.

Fiona just stared up at him in wonder.  This world famous and amazingly talented dancer was asking to sit with her!  She thought briefly of Apollo, the Greek god of music and dance.  As Hobi grinned down at her, the sun seemed to be rising behind him making him shine like some divine creature.

“Sure!” Keanna came to her rescue and answered for her.  For some reason, Fiona couldn’t seem to find her tongue.  Interestingly, Keanna didn’t seem to dislike Hobi in person.  She had never before been a fan of his.

Hobi took the seat next to Fiona.  He looked at her and again smiled that sweet smile that made mothers want to adopt him.  And girls want to marry him.  Fiona nearly slid under the table because she was so happy!  

I can’t faint!  I have to stay conscious for every single second I get to be with Hobi.  This is all so unbelievable!

She found the strength to smile at him.  

“I’m Hobi,” he offered, putting his hand out towards her.

He wanted to take her hand?!!  Fiona reached out and slid her fingers along Hobi’s as she responded quietly, “Hi.  I’m Fiona.  It’s nice to meet you, Hobi.”

He continued to hold onto her hand as he introduced himself to her mother and sister.  After retrieving his hand, he questioned her, “So…you’re ARMY?”

She nodded.

He leaned towards her, a confidential smile on his face as he quirked an eyebrow and whispered, “Am I your bias?”

She blushed.  Then she nodded.

“Good!  Can we be friends then?  I could really use a friend today.”

Fiona noticed the sadness in j-hope’s eyes.  Without thinking, she reached out and put her hand over the top of his where it was resting on the table.  “Hobi, we’re already friends.  And we will be friends forever.”

Hobi looked down at the slender hand covering his own and felt his heart warm with affection for this sweet girl.  

Then he noticed the earbud in her ear.  “What are you listening to?”

She smiled.  “What else?  Just Dance!”

Hobi’s face split into a delighted grin.  “That’s one of my favorite songs!”

She laughed.  “Mine too!”  Then she handed him the other earbud.  “Want to listen with me?”

He gazed down at her, delight in her kindness evident in his brown eyes.  He reached for the earbud and stuck it into his ear.  “Thanks.”

They sat there silently eating their breakfast while they both swayed back and forth to the same beat.

This was amazing!  Fiona was sitting next to Hobi, bopping out with him to her favorite song of his.  Just like they really were best friends.  She thought of the wish she’d made just that morning.  It was like it had come true, at least for a few minutes.

She was struck dumb.  She couldn’t even think of anything to ask him.  Now was her chance, but she was speechless.  She shrugged her shoulders.  She would just enjoy the moment, breathing the same air, listening to the same song.  Her friends, Ima and Ysabelle, were going to find this hard to believe!  Too bad they weren’t here with her!

Hobi glanced over at her, “Thank you.  You really comforted me today.”

Bewildered, she stared at him.  SHE had comforted j-hope?!  After all the times she had fantasized about him comforting her?

“How?” she whispered.

His eyes looked sad as he answered, “An old friend rejected me last night.  But you reminded me that I have friends all over the world.”

Fiona stared into those chocolate eyes of his as she spoke earnestly, straight into Hobi’s heart.  “I will always be your friend, j-hope.  No matter what anyone else does.”

He smiled.  

Then Keanna leaned over the table towards him and informed him, “Today is Fiona’s thirteenth birthday.”

Hobi’s eyes grew nearly as wide as his grin.  He turned towards Fiona and exclaimed, “Happy Birthday, Fiona!  Are you doing anything special today to celebrate?”

Sitting here with you.  

Fiona smiled, still a little dazed by the reality of meeting Hobi on her thirteenth birthday.  “Yes.  Making a new friend.”

Hobi beamed at her.  He really was her sunshine.  Once again, he reminded her of Apollo, whom the Greeks had considered to be the god of the sun.  But Hobi was better than Apollo.  J-hope was her living, breathing friend.  He’d held her hand today.  He’d smiled sweetly at her.  He’d locked eyes with her.  And he’d given her his words.  Hobi was the best birthday present she’d ever received, a bright sun lighting up her life with his love.