Chapter Text
He was just Jung Hoseok back then. He had nothing except his passion for dance. A perky boy from Gwangju, he completed everything to stir his passion even attending the local academy and joining a dance group. Yet he knew he was nothing. His passion was burning yet he could not do anything for this all-consuming fire.
Except to burn… to ashes or to light, he is keen on finding out.
Looking at the river in front of him, he felt a sudden urge to voice out his overwhelming emotions.
He began to shout: “What should I do? I want to be more! I want to achieve my dreams! What should I do?” he couldn’t care less of who’s listening, he was sure that specific area was deserted anyway.
His breathe puffed in the cold air, his cheeks all red from the emotions his bottling up inside.
“Then go ahead, what are you waiting for?” a soft and curious voice suddenly spoke up.
He turned so suddenly that he lost his balance, making a high pitch “eeep!” sound. I almost had a heart attack!
He grabbed his chest while trying to calm down. “W-who are you?” he asked taking in the girl in front of him.
The girl looked younger than he is. She was thin and lanky, high cheekbones, cute button nose and pale pink lips. But maybe her most descriptive feature is her curly, rugged, hair. It was short and reached just on top her shoulders.
She looked at him with unchanging eyes: curious light brown. “I’m nobody. But I know you, you’re also a nobody,” she told him in calm almost monotone voice.
With that Hoseok guarded his expression. I know already that I’m a nobody, he silently fumed inside.
“And I know your name, Jung Hoseok. I’ve seen you dance too. Though I must admit, at first I didn’t know the reason why my ballet teacher told me to watch you perform. Ballet is so different from hip-hop after all,” she rambled on as his expression turned into an apparent surprise.
So she’s also a dancer too. “But I eventually got why she did, Jung Hoseok,” she finished.
Is she complimenting me? his cheeks start to color at the thought.
“You are an open-book. Maybe that’s why you dance so well. But still you’re just a nobody,” she continued.
He wanted to say something but hearing her say that word the second time suddenly saddened him, Will I stay this way forever?
“You won’t stay that way forever,” she replied as if reading his mind. “You will be somebody in the future. You are not meant to stay here in Gwangju, Jung Hoseok,” she said almost cryptically.
He gulped trying to swallow that lump on his throat. That’s what I’ve been feeling all this time too.
He had the most embarrassing urge to cry, just to let out all the emotions he’s been feeling. He took a shaky breath instead, finally looking at her again straight in the eye.
“How do you know all this? You are just a stranger,” he replied to her, trying to gather his wits.
“Because I just know,” she said almost impatiently.
“Hmm give me your number,” she took her phone from her pocket.
“Why—what..? are you trying to hit on me? Are you a stalker?,” he said almost horrified. He didn’t know he had stalkers!
She raised her eyebrows at him then shook her head at his reaction. At that he was relieved.
“Listen. Give me your number so that you can repay me for predicting your future. You will give me one favor, whatever, whenever,” she said.
She sounded ridiculous but she spoke so surely.
Does this girl really think he can achieve more? Jung Hoseok did not believe in fate or destiny. He viewed life positively with faith, expressing himself through his artwork. But it was just that. He wasn’t mysterious in any sense and equally not a fan of mysteries or supernatural. But there was just something amazing about this girl, saying these words to him at the exact moment of his raging self-doubt. He was surprisingly assured at her words.
As if moved by an unseen force, he took his phone out and mechanically recited the digits to her.
“Thank you. Remember our deal, Jung Hoseok. One favor, whatever, whenever,” she repeated to him.
“Hey, how will I know it’s you? What’s your name?,” he asked her.
“I will introduce myself as Cheonsa. Lee Cheonsa,” and with that she smiled at him.
Heart beat.
Eight years have passed. He is not only known as Jung Hoseok anymore. He is now JHope, member of the world-wide phenomenon Bangtan Sonyeondan or BTS.