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For this part of the concert, technically the encore, the members get to choose what they wear. Gone are the coordinated outfits carefully curated by stylists, replaced by what one could imagine as their street clothes of choice.
Jimin usually opts for jeans, Chelsea boots (surprising no one), and one of the shirts from the tour merch stands. This show is no exception, with him choosing a white long sleeved tee and some straight cut dark wash jeans, and black leather boots with a low heel.
Hobi is wearing a brightly colored designer ensemble that would cost more than the average ARMY’s rent for a year if purchased retail.
Yoongi and Jin are both dressed similarly to Jimin, opting for sneakers rather than boots or dress shoes, and Jin dons some ridiculous piece of headgear, a headband with two RJs, one on either side, reminding one of the ears people wear in a Disney park.
Taehyung wears a pair of pleated dress slacks which make his legs look even longer than they are, with a wide brimmed felt fedora hat over his long wavy hair, managing to look casual, comfortable, and elegant simultaneously as only he can.
Namjoon looks effortlessly relaxed and comfortable, a bit like a goofball, a little like an grandpa, like he just stood up from his most cushy easy chair after a long read of his favorite book.
Jungkook is sporting his best baggy ‘fit, a bright orange floral patterned loose button up shirt, big very baggy jeans, and a bucket hat, with yellow tinted large sunglasses as the finishing touch. His choice would remind anyone familiar with the source material of Hunter S. Thompson in “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” It’s astounding that he can pull this combination off and still look devastatingly handsome rather than ridiculous.
The members fan out along the thrust of the stage (the part that extends out into the audience), allowing them to get close enough to ARMY to read their signs. It is clear that as usual, ARMYs have put a lot of thought and effort into creating these signs, and reading them is always great fun for the members. As they peer into the crowd, the members start pointing and calling out different signs, looking behind them to the big screen to ensure that the camera operators are expertly capturing the signs they are reading for transmission to the screen. They try to identify the flags of many nations, always giving a thumbs up when they see the South Korean flag so far from home.
They start reading the signs they see:
“Oh look! Someone knows that I am World Wide Handsome’! You’re smart!” Jin shouts to the crowd, pointing right at the ARMY holding the sign and using two fingers to blow a kiss, causing the expected swoon from the crowd, especially the young woman holding the sign.
“Rap Monster is my President!” reads Hobi, pointing at another sign. “Yeah I WISH! Who could argue with that?” He smiles his hundred watt smile and gives an enthusiastic thumbs up to the ARMY holding the sign followed by a finger heart to the audience at large.
“‘BTS is my therapy’?” reads Yoongi quizzically. He gives a gummy smile. “Really? Is that such a good idea?” he jokes. “That is very kind, but actual professional help is also good! You might want to consider it - but thanks!”
“Ah there they are!” Jimin says, slipping his arm around Suga’s waist, “Yoongi Marry Me! It wouldn’t be ARMY without a few hundred of those!”
Behind his back, he can’t see Jungkook, Tae, and Namjoon exchanging furtive glances. Jungkook walks to the edge of the stage, squinting his eyes. “Oh look,” he says, “That’s a new one, it says ‘Marry Me Jimin.’”
Jimin giggles, covering his mouth. He runs over to stand beside Jungkook, trying to look where he is looking to see that particular sign. “No it doesn’t! Kookie, it says ‘Lesbians love Jimin,’ can’t you read the English?”
Jungkook squints and pulls Tae over, pointing into the crowd. The crowd is beginning to look for the sign too at this point. Jungkook gives Taehyung his spot next to Jimin as he turns back to the stage. “Tae, you see it don’t you? Help Jiminshiii find it,” as he turns and walks a few paces behind, leaving Tae to stand searching the crowd with his arm around Jimin, standing hip to hip.
“Yeah, there it is! Right there! Can’t you see it Jimin-ah?” Tae confirms, as Jimin keeps scouring the crowd, trying to find the sign they are talking about.
A few feet behind them on stage, as Jin and Namjoon make a human shield, Jungkook ducks down low and begins to surreptitiously take off his clothes. He removes his big orange baggy shirt to reveal a sheer pure white perfectly fitted collarless linen shirt as the crowd who can see him begins to gasp and scream, just slightly louder than the rest of the crowd is already screaming. He then quickly removes his baggy dark jeans to reveal form fitting white skinny jeans underneath. He throws his baggy clothes into a small pile in front of Hobi, and tops the pile with his bucket hat into which he tosses the sunglasses.
He quickly and nervously runs his fingers through his long, sweaty hair. This whole transformation process takes about ten seconds, during which Jimin and Tae are still looking for the sign Jungkook described. Jungkook turns to Namjoon, puts his hand over his heart and pats his chest three times, indicating he is out of breath or nervous, or something. Jungkook walks towards him and out of the view of the crowd Namjoon hands him something small and solid which Jungkook hides it in his big hands. Namjoon gives him an encouraging pat on the shoulder.
Jungkook goes back to the edge of the stage, standing on the other side of Tae from Jimin in an attempt to not be immediately seen. Tae deftly steps backwards, leaving Jimin and Jungkook side by side, staring together into the crowd. Jimin is focused on the crowd, hell bent on finding that sign. The crowd is beginning to stir, unsure of what caused the costume change. Jungkook is a vision in white, resembling an angel, quite a change from his usual black clothes and the outrageous outfit he has just taken off.
Jungkook leans forward, squinting toward the crowd and pointing. “Don’t you see it, Jiminshii? ‘Marry me Jimin’?”
“Kook, what are you talking about? I do not see it. Where?”
Jungkook takes his hand with the box in it, reaches behind Jimin’s back, and pulls him closer to him. He then takes his empty hand and gently turns Jimin’s face by the jaw to face him. Jimin sees that he has changed clothes and looks at him, cocks his head, and is clearly incredibly confused.
“Oh yeah, right. It’s not there. It’s here.” Jungkook says, as he drops to one knee in front of Jimin. Jimin’s eyes go wide and his face loses all color. His jaw drops and the crowd loses their shit, in a deafening scream. Jungkook bows his head, and takes a deep breath, gathering his courage. He raises his face to look at Jimin, a tear starting to trickle from his eyes but with an incredibly wide and beaming smile. He opens the box and shows it to Jimin. The camera zooms in close enough for the contents to be shown on the screen: an eternity band of half carat square cut diamonds set in gleaming platinum.
He looks up, looking earnestly into Jimin’s eyes. “Jimin . . . will you marry me?”
There is a collective gasp of 70,000 people for a full second before the crowd erupts into one collective scream.
Somehow one knee doesn’t feel reverent enough to Jungkook, so as the crowd gets increasingly louder, shrieks and screams rising as they wait for Jimin’s response, Jungkook gets down on both knees, starting to lower his head in a deep bow before him, prepared to bring his forehead all the way to the floor if necessary. He starts to panic slightly, knowing that Jimin is a more private person than many people realize and that such a public proposal may not be his first choice.
Jimin shakes his head in disbelief. He covers his enormous smile with his tiny hand as he reaches down with the other to pull Jungkook up to his feet.
“Oh my god, get UP.” He says, causing Jungkook to panic, thinking Jimin is furious about being put on the spot like this. “I want to see your face.”
Jungkook complies, standing up to face Jimin. He lowers his chin humbly and raises his eyes to meet Jimin’s.
Jimin takes out his in-ear and motions for Jungkook to do the same, which he does. Jimin then speaks quietly enough for only Jungkook to hear, quite a feat over the din of the crowd. He looks earnestly into his eyes.
“Do you mean this? Do you really want this?”
“Yes. More than anything.”
“And you want 70,000 ARMY witnesses to this?”
“Yes. Without them I wouldn’t have you.”
“Ask me again. So only I can hear you.”
Jungkook looks deeply into Jimin’s eyes, taking both of Jimin’s tiny hands in one of his big ones, as the ring box is still in his other hand. The crowd is going absolutely bonkers. The screams are deafening.
“Park Jimin. Will you make me the happiest human on this earth and marry me?”
Jimin looks at Jungkook, tears starting to swell in his eyes. His smile fills his whole face and his eyes form tiny crescents. The crowd, the members, the camera crew, even security are all on the edge of their proverbial seats waiting for Jimin’s response. But to Jimin and Jungkook they all fade away. To them the room is silent and all they can hear is their own breathing, their own heartbeats. All they can see is each other.
Jimin looks down at his feet, with a shy blush. Then he boldly looks up into Jungkook’s eyes. He suddenly remembers where he is, raises his microphone in his tiny shaking hand and brings it to his lips.
“Yes, my Jungkookie. Of course I will marry you.”
The crowd goes absolutely wild in deafening cheers as Jungkook slams into Jimin, wrapping his arms around his waist and sweeping him off his feet, spinning him around, a huge smile filling his whole face, his smiling face filling the big screen behind them.
The remaining five members are in one big circular group hug slightly upstage, clutching onto each other, jumping up and down in unison and screaming for joy.
Jungkook looks over to the other five members, scanning until he can make eye contact with Namjoon, while still holding onto Jimin. He tilts his head like a puppy, asking something with his eyes. Namjoon closes his eyes gently, smiles widely, and gives one single nod.
Jungkook smiles even wider.
Jungkook puts Jimin on his feet right in front of him. He takes the ring from the box, slips it on Jimin’s finger, and before Jimin can even admire it, he takes Jimin’s face gently in his hands, one hand on each side of his jaw. Jimin’s eyes look wide in - Jungkook doesn’t know what - shock? horror? surprise? - but Jungkook doesn’t hesitate as he plants a sweet kiss on Jimin’s lips. One kiss. And then he pulls back to assess Jimin’s reaction. The crowd gets inexplicably louder.
Jimin’s expression morphs from shock to warm delight to slightly naughty, all in the span of half a second, all captured on the big screen.
He looks Jungkook in the eye with intention, wraps his arms around Jungkook’s neck and pulls him in for a long, slow, passionate, open mouth kiss. When he pulls back a few seconds later, Jungkook’s eyes are still closed, his mouth is still open and he’s reaching for Jimin like he didn’t realize they had stopped, still lost in the kiss.
Jimin pats his face gently and smiles. When Jungkook opens his eyes, Jimin mouths “I love you” silently.
Jimin puts his in-ear back in and Jungkook follows suit. He takes Jungkook’s hand in his, swinging their arms like two school kids, as they face the audience. ARMYs are screaming, some are crying - weeping - holding each other, jumping up and down, waving ARMY bombs. Every single ARMY looks either overjoyed, shocked, or - like the vast majority - a combination of both. Every single ARMY in that arena knows they are witness to an important moment, one they are not likely to forget.
“Thank you ARMY!” Jimin shouts. The crowd cheers. “Really. REALLY. Without you we would not have this - we would not have ever found each other.” He turns back to the members, smiling. They have all joined arms, standing shoulder to shoulder forming a line, leaning against each other. Jin is smiling widely, Hobi and Tae are leaning into each other and crying, Yoongi is trying to act cool and like he’s not incredibly moved and happy even though his gummy smile betrays him, and Namjoon is beaming as if he was actually the father of the grooms. “None of us would have. Thank you ARMY. THANK YOU ARMY FOR GIVING ME MY FAMILY!!!”
The crowd roars, ARMY bombs are lit up and waving.
Jimin looks over at Jungkook who is a mess of tears. He gently removes Jimin’s in-ear and whispers into his ear, “I’m so relieved, baby. You have no idea how much lighter I feel. I love you so much.” Jungkook then grabs Jimin’s mic, yelling “I love you ARMY!” and then turning to his fiance, “I LOVE YOU JIMIN!”
As if it were possible, the crowd gets even louder.
Jungkook looks sheepishly at the crowd, dipping his head. He speaks into the mic. “Can you guys give us a minute? I just want a moment alone with my fiance.” And he makes a face with his mouth gaping open in disbelief as he pulls Jimin up stage by the hand. He motions to the other five members as if to say “Hey, do something to entertain these people!” Jimin and Jungkook run toward the big screen at the back of the stage and duck backstage, holding hands the whole way, as they hear Tae beginning his ladies versus gentlemen screaming competition with “Wow, there are a lot of gentlemen here tonight . . . “
Once backstage, Jungkook wraps his arms around Jimin again, lifting him off his feet, swinging him in circles, burying his face in Jimin’s neck.
“Oh my god Kookie! What was that??? What the fuck was that??? Is this even real? I feel like I must be dreaming.”
“I love you, Jimin. I want a life with you. I want to see the world with you, just with you. I want to see it all over again, just the two of us with no schedules. I want to make love to you every night and fall asleep in your arms, and I want to kiss you awake and see your beautiful face every morning. I want to have kids with you, dogs with you, jeez I’ll even have cats with you.”
“Wow, you must really love me,” he says, giggling and blushing hard.
Jungkook is now giggling uncontrollably, peppering Jimin’s face with kisses.
“It’s out. It’s all out in the open now. I can love you and kiss you and marry you and I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hide! I’m so happy. You have no idea how relieved I am. Please tell me you’re happy too. Please . . . “
“Jungkookie, I am incredibly happy. I don’t think I have ever been this happy in my life.” He pauses. “Hey, how did you do this? Who was in on this with you? There’s no way you could have done this alone.”
“Well, Namjoon-hyung was in on it - I mean he held the ring for me. And of course the other members knew . . . I mean how mad would they have been to think Joonie knew but not them. Especially Tae, I mean, he would have lost his shit if he wasn’t part of the plan, just like Hobi-hyung. Hobi-hyung helped me pick the ring, ‘cuz he has the best taste and he knows what you would like . . . ”
“Yeah, but . . . “ Jimin pauses to ask the question that is really on his mind, “How much shit are we in with the company for doing this?”
“I told Bang PD before I did it. Told him I was going to. That I couldn’t stand it any more. That you deserved it. And that I needed to do what was right, what was honest, regardless of being an idol. That I couldn’t lie any more.”
“He gave permission?”
“I told him, Jimin-ah, I didn’t ask him.”
“Oh . . . wow . . . okay . . . “
“And he gave me - gave us - his blessing.”
Jimin smiles. That was more important to him than he realized. He always had been a rule follower . . .
“Oh my god, what will we tell our parents???? How will we tell them we did this without them???”
“Our parents? Our brothers? When we go back on stage, Jimin-ah, look up to the VIP box seats. They are all here tonight. I flew them out and snuck them in.” He smiles like the cat who swallowed the canary.
“Aish, this baby.” Jimin reaches up and runs his hands through Jungkook’s hair and pulls him in for a sweet deep kiss. “How did you know all the things that would be important to me?”
“Jimin-ah, I am you, you are me. We grew up together, we are who we are because of each other, there is no one I know better than you and no one knows me better than you do. I don’t even know anymore where I end and you begin. Of course I knew what would be important to you while I was planning one of the most memorable days of our lives.”
“‘One of’?”
“Jimin, we have been so incredibly lucky in our lives, our lives are literally a dream. We have had so many incredible memories and experiences and will have so many more. And even though we’ve spoken at the UN and met presidents, these are the days that are the most special. This day for sure, AND I’m also guessing that the days our kids are born will probably be pretty important days. At least that’s what I hear from people who have kids . . . “
“Okay, okay I get, I get it. I’ve got to tell you though, Kookie, it will have to be quite a day to top this one. This day, this proposal, it was perfect. Absolutely perfect. I love you so much, I don’t even have words to tell you.”
Jungkook wraps Jimin up in his arms again and kisses him sweetly and slowly. “You can feel free to show me without words later tonight, when we get back to the hotel room.” He grins naughtily.
“You can count on it.” They kiss again. “We should get back out there or ARMYs are gonna assume that’s what we’re doing right now,” he smiles sweetly and chuckles.
“Whether or not ARMYs think that, the members sure will. Let’s get back out there, future Mr. Park-Jeon.”
“That’s Jeon-Park. And don’t you forget it.”
“Ooh boy. Sounds like we’re gonna have our first fight . . . “
Jimin smiles and pulls him in for one last kiss before heading back out to the stage. “Not our first, we will always have that rainy day . . . “