Chapter Text
Jin was the first member to finish his enlistment. He was also the first member Corrie met.
Corrie had been in Seoul for about two weeks by the time she officially met him.
Seyeon, the current Lead Translator for BTS—the role Corrie would soon fully take over—had already told her he was back, though he was taking some time off to be with his loved ones before jumping back into work.
Still, he was already gearing up for his second solo release, something Corrie had been working on well before ever meeting him in person.
It felt like any other day. Corrie wasn’t even thinking about meeting him until it was actually time.
It was the first official meeting to talk about his comeback.
She was already in the room, seated beside Seyeon, when Jin walked in—everyone immediately standing to applaud him.
Corrie was confused for a second, caught off guard by the reaction, but she stood and joined in anyway.
He greeted everyone politely, and when he reached her, Seyeon introduced them.
“This is Corrie,” Seyeon said, gesturing between the two. “She’ll be taking over as your translator when I leave.”
Jin bowed slightly. “Nice to meet you, Corrie,” he said, taking his time with her name, making sure he pronounced it correctly. “We’re happy to have you here.”
Corrie bowed back. “Thank you, Seokjin-ssi,” she replied. “I’m happy to be here.”
Even with how professional Corrie always was, she couldn’t deny the quiet disbelief sitting in her chest. She couldn’t quite wrap her head around the fact that she was meeting him—let alone that she would be working with him at times.
Corrie would be lying if she said she wasn’t a fan of BTS. Finding them had played a small part in her ending up in the career she had now.
She had always loved learning about different cultures and new languages. Growing up, she spent hours watching anime and reading manga, which eventually led to international shows and a deeper curiosity about the world beyond Austin—where she grew up. Japanese was the first language she seriously studied. Korean came next after she fell into K-pop and K-dramas, and Spanish came later, when she realized how many people around her spoke the language.
BTS was one of the groups that pushed her interest in Korean culture even further, planting the idea of visiting South Korea one day. Still, she never imagined she would actually be living there—working under the same label as BTS, and soon becoming their translator.
“Ah, so you’re really leaving us, Seyeon-ssi?” Jin asked, his tone light even as he glanced between the two of them.
Seyeon nodded. She was older than Corrie, somewhere in her forties, and from what Corrie understood, the move was something she had chosen for herself.
Jin let out an exaggerated sigh. “I guess that means we have to behave now,” he said, lips twitching before he smiled. “We won’t have you around to keep us in line anymore.”
Then his attention shifted to Corrie. “But it looks like we’re in good hands,” he added easily. “Don’t worry—we’re not that difficult to work with.”
Corrie smiled. “Seyeon-ssi has been teaching me a lot,” she said lightly, then added, “but please go easy on me.”
Jin laughed. “Don’t worry, we will. Besides, it’s not me you have to worry about.”
He tilted his head slightly, amusement clear on his face. “I have a feeling a couple of my dongsaengs might take a liking to you.”
Corrie raised an eyebrow at that. Okay. She wasn’t even sure what to make of it.
And from the looks of things, Jin had no intention of clarifying. He simply moved the conversation along.
They continued talking until the meeting officially started, Jin returning to the front of the room as the discussion shifted to his upcoming projects.
Corrie stayed seated beside Seyeon, taking notes and quietly grateful that she hadn’t made an ass of herself by turning into a fangirl.
One meeting down, six to go.
Corrie settled back into her role, unaware of how different the next one would be.
By the time the next member came home, Corrie and Jin had grown familiar with each other.
Jin was wrapping up his solo activities, including his own tour, and Corrie had officially stepped into her role as Lead Translator.
She’d learned a lot from Seyeon and felt confident in herself—and in her place—once she left.
It had been about five months since Corrie moved to Seoul, and besides the obvious she thought she was fitting in well.
She’d even made a friend at work, someone she’d started spending time with outside of the office.
She missed her family, of course—but not enough to give up her job and move back to Austin, or even to LA, where she’d transferred from the HYBE branch there.
Seoul was agreeing with her, enough that she’d finally picked her camera back up and started making videos again.
Corrie had started a YouTube channel when she first moved to LA. It began with her love of books before slowly evolving into a cozy lifestyle vlog.
She still talked about books and other things she loved.
But she also wanted it to feel like a visual diary for herself, so she started sharing more of her life as well.
She was careful not to include anything about work—even before moving to Seoul—wanting to keep her job completely separate from her online presence.
That morning, Corrie decided to film herself starting her day and getting ready for work.
She took her goldendoodle, Cookie, out for a walk before heading back up to her apartment to get ready.
She didn’t go all out for work, but she liked to look professional in a casual way.
Corrie was kind of a tomboy—outside of work her style leaned toward cozy streetwear, favoring relaxed silhouettes, baggy fits, and comfort first, though she always found a way to make it feel intentional… and cute.
Her mom would always tease her, saying if she had a body like Corrie’s, she’d show it off every chance she got—her stepdad always gave her mom a look when she said it.
It wasn’t that Corrie hated her body—she actually liked the way she looked and felt comfortable in her skin.
Playing volleyball in high school and college had transformed her body enough to where she just hit up the gym a few times a week to stay in shape.
This was simply her style, the way she liked to dress.
She might not dress up often, but she had no problem doing it when she wanted to, and she knew she cleaned up nicely.
She’d retwisted her locs the night before, so her hair was freshly done, falling past her shoulders. She wasn’t a pro with makeup, but she knew how to enhance what she already had, blending everything smoothly against her deep skin without going overboard.
October in Seoul was that in-between season—cool mornings that turned warmer by the afternoon, depending on the day.
She settled on a light gray sweatshirt layered over a white tee, light blue jeans that weren’t too tight but still fit her just right, subtly showing off her curves, and her black-and-white Adidas Sambas. She finished the look with a few understated pieces of jewelry and chose her clear glasses over contacts for the day.
Taking herself in, Corrie thought she looked both cute and professional.
Good enough for work.
She talked to her camera a bit while she finished getting ready and ate a quick breakfast, recording small moments on her way to work. But once the HYBE building came into view, she ended the recording.
Work mode activated.
It took about three hours into her shift before Jung Hoseok made himself a distraction.
Corrie heard him before she saw him.
She’d been sitting in her office, debating whether to eat from the food court or what she bought, when she heard loud laughter echo down the hall.
She’d met most of the people on her floor and couldn’t place who it might be, only that the sound was getting closer—louder, unmistakably headed toward her door.
Voices followed, just outside, before a knock finally came.
Around this time of day, there was usually only one person who stopped by her office—her new friend, Jiwon.
Corrie assumed she was coming to see if they were eating here today or out.
Still… she didn’t recognize the other voice.
“Come in,” Corrie said.
She smiled when Jiwon poked her head into the office. “Busy?” she asked.
Corrie and Jiwon had first met during one of Jin’s interviews. Corrie had been prepping him beforehand while Jiwon, the assistant stylist, handled the finishing touches on his outfit. They’d talked quietly from the sidelines, watching Jin between takes, and afterward they kept running into each other—mostly in the food court.
Casual conversations turned into sitting together at lunch, which eventually turned into hanging out outside of work. Somewhere along the way, they’d realized they had more in common than they expected.
Corrie was glad she’d made a real friend here. She’d assumed it would take longer, but it hadn’t—and it made being away from her family and friends a little easier.
She’d been expecting to see Jiwon’s face.
She just hadn’t been expecting to see who was standing with her.
“I came to see if you wanted to go to the food court,” Jiwon said, stepping aside to make room for the extra person with her, “and meet Hobi-oppa.”
Corrie was caught off guard. She hadn’t been expecting the next member she met to show up at her office—at least not like this.
Like Jin, Hoseok had worked on music before leaving, and he was already preparing to release more, with a tour eventually following. She knew she would meet him soon. Just… not today. Not here.
Corrie stood from her chair, reminding herself to act normal.
“J-Hope-ssi, it’s nice to meet you,” she said as she stepped around the table and bowed.
Hoseok smiled and bowed back. “You can call me Hoseok,” he said easily. “It’s nice to meet you too. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Corrie was caught off guard again. A lot?
She assumed it had to be work-related—there was no other reason someone was talking about her to him.
Jiwon says you’ve become her food-run buddy,” he said, smiling, “and since she used to be mine, I thought I’d tag along—if that’s okay with you?”
Corrie could tell he meant it, the question sincere rather than polite.
And it wasn’t like she was going to say no, even if she wanted to how could she tell J-Hope no.
“Oh, that’s fine,” she said, reaching for her badge.
They stepped out into the hallway together, Jiwon already a few steps ahead of them, talking about something she needed to grab after lunch.
Hoseok lingered just long enough to hold the door open, one hand steady on the handle as Corrie passed.
“After you,” he said easily.
Corrie nodded her thanks and kept walking, reminding herself—again—to stay normal.
He fell into step beside her, not crowding her space, matching her pace without trying. It was small, but noticeable.
“So,” he said, glancing over at her, “you’re the reason Jiwon actually leaves her desk to eat now.”
Jiwon scoffed from ahead of them. “I always ate.”
“Coffee doesn’t count,” Hoseok replied calmly.
Corrie smiled despite herself. “I just don’t like eating alone,” she said. “And she forgets when she’s busy.”
“That’s true,” Jiwon admitted.
Hoseok hummed in acknowledgment, like he was filing the information away rather than responding just to respond.
“You’ve been here a while now, right?”
“About five months,” Corrie said.
“Five months,” he repeated, thoughtful. “Long enough to stop feeling new… but not long enough to feel like home.”
Corrie glanced up at him then, surprised by how accurate it was.
“…Yeah,” she said. “That’s exactly how it feels.”
He smiled, not wide or flashy—just warm. Like he was pleased he’d gotten it right.
They walked the rest of the way in comfortable quiet, the sounds of the building filling in the space. Corrie found herself noticing how calm he was. Not the bright, larger-than-life energy she’d always associated with him from afar, but something quieter. Grounded.
She also noticed how good he smelled—but what did she expect from someone who clearly took fashion seriously? He was the kind of man who could make something borderline ridiculous work, like the lime green sweatsuit he was wearing that day. Somehow, Hoseok made it look good.
When they reached the food court entrance, Hoseok stepped ahead again, holding the door open for both of them without breaking stride.
“Do you like it here?” he asked, once they were inside.
She considered the question before answering. “I do,” she said. “More than I expected.”
“Mm,” he said, nodding. “That’s good.”
Corrie wasn’t sure why, but the way he said it made it sound like he actually cared about the answer.
As they joined the line, she realized she felt… comfortable. Not nervous. Not hyper-aware. Just present.
She wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting when she thought about meeting him, but she had to admit she’d imagined him being louder.
Maybe once the newness wore off, she’d see more of that side of him.
The three of them decided on bibimbap, all of them in the mood for something easy and familiar.
Hoseok let Corrie and Jiwon step into line ahead of him. As they moved through the food court, Corrie noticed how he greeted everyone they passed—small nods, quiet hellos, easy smiles—right up until they found a place to sit.
So, where are you from?” he asked, switching to English this time, which she appreciated.
“Texas,” she said, glancing across the table at him, “but I moved here from LA.”
“LA is nice,” he said, nodding. “I think I could live there.”
“You think you could live anywhere,” Jiwon teased from beside her. “You say that about every place you’ve been.”
“I think I could find a way to like anywhere I go,” he said, then paused, looking at Corrie. “What’s that saying? A home something…”
“Make a home out of anywhere?” she offered.
“Yes,” he said, nodding at her.
“Even Alaska?” she asked, a small smirk tugging at her lips.
He frowned. “That’s the really cold place?” he asked in Korean.
She nodded.
“Absolutely not,” he said, shivering dramatically like the thought alone had chilled him.
Corrie laughed, and Jiwon laughed with her.
They continued to talk and eat their lunch until Jiwon’s phone buzzed.
“I need to take this,” she said, already standing. “Don’t scare her off Hobi-ssi.” She playfully scolded while Hoseok narrowed his eyes at her.
She stepped away, leaving them at the table, the space between them suddenly quieter but not awkward.
Hoseok took a sip of his drink before speaking again.
“You usually come down for lunch around now?” he asked casually.
“Most days,” Corrie said. “It’s kind of become a habit.”
He nodded, like he was filing that away.
“Okay,” he said, then hesitated just a beat. “If I’m here and I see you… would you mind if I joined you?”
Corrie blinked, surprised more by how normal it sounded than by the question itself.
“I wouldn’t mind,” she said. “That’s fine.”
His smile came easy after that. “Good.”
He took another sip of his drink, not breaking eye contact.
Corrie wasn’t sure if she should look away or not—but she didn’t.
And just from that alone, she was starting to think that maybe ARMY didn’t have him quite figured out.
And that was how it started—Corrie and Hoseok eating lunch together.
Jiwon joined them sometimes, but she was often busy with Jin's project, so Corrie found herself either eating in her office or sitting across from him more often than not.
Today, she ran into him on her way to the food court. She was coming out of a meeting, later than she usually took lunch, while he was walking down the hall with one of the choreographers.
“Corrie,” he said, holding one of his arms out as his smile brightened, “just the person I wanted to see.”
When he reached her, he pulled her into a quick side hug. Corrie couldn’t remember exactly when the hugs had started—but now, it was just what he did when he saw her.
“Hoseok-ssi,” she said, smiling up at him. “You’re in a good mood, as usual.”
“I’m in a better mood now,” he replied easily, holding the door open for her.
He was always saying little things like that—never heavy, never over the top. Just small, warm comments that made people feel seen. Corrie liked that about him.
Still, she couldn’t help but be a little surprised by how comfortable he was with her already. It had only been a few weeks, after all.
They grabbed their lunch and sat at one of the tables in the corner.
Corrie didn’t like sitting out in the open. Sometimes she felt like people were watching her—especially when Hoseok joined her.
He didn’t seem to mind where they sat. She guessed he was used to the attention by now, with the way he ignored it.
She didn’t think she could ever handle that much attention.
“Do you miss American food?” he asked randomly.
“A little,” Corrie admitted. “I cook a lot at home, but I miss some of my favorite restaurants. And the seasonings we have there.”
Hoseok laughed. “Our food is too plain for you?”
“I wouldn’t say plain,” she said with a small smile. “Just… different. Some things don’t taste the way I’m used to.”
“Yeah,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “I notice that when I travel too. But I like trying new things.”
“What’s your favorite American dish?” she asked, genuinely curious.
“Hmm.” He rubbed his chin. “In-N-Out. Cheeseburger, animal-style fries… and a vanilla milkshake.”
She laughed. “That milkshake would destroy my stomach. But In-N-Out is good. A little overrated, though.”
“Really?” He grinned. “What’s your favorite food?”
“American or Korean?”
“Both.”
“American,” she said after a moment, “chicken and rice cooked together. My mom makes it best. And Korean food…” She thought for a second. “Beef bulgogi stir-fry.”
“Mm,” he hummed, nodding. “You don’t eat much fast food, do you?”
He leaned closer to the table as he asked, casual but attentive.
“I try not to,” she said. “I like knowing what I’m putting in my body. But sometimes I just don’t feel like cooking.”
“Same,” he said easily. “I try to eat well, but I’m not great at cooking. And I’m always out doing something, so I eat out a lot. Or we have a chef.”
He smiled, a little sheepish. “I should probably do better. Cook more… like you.”
Corrie shrugged. “I mean, you can, but you seem to be doing alright,” she said, gesturing toward him. “Unless that’s just all the dancing and being busy.”
“What, not the gym?” he teased, pushing up his hoodie sleeve. “You see these?”
“Well,” she smiled, “that too.”
“Dancing definitely helps,” he said. “But I still try to work out when I can. Gotta stay in shape.”
He glanced at her. “Do you go to the gym a lot?”
Corrie nodded her head. “I try to go weekly, at least two days out the week. But I haven't been since I moved here. I just started jogging in the mornings though.”
She hesitated. “Trying to lose a little weight.”
He looked at her like that idea made no sense to him.
“You don’t need to,” he said simply. “You look good.”
She blinked, caught off guard. “Thanks. I still want to work out more, though.”
He nodded, easy and accepting. “Nothing wrong with that.”
His tone softened just a bit. “Just don’t feel like you have to change anything.”
“Thank you.”
Corrie wasn’t sure why that made her feel nervous. It was just a compliment. Nothing more than that.
They finished up their lunch and left the food court. Hoseok didn’t seem in any hurry to end the conversation, walking with her all the way back toward her office.
“So,” he said, hands clasped behind his back as he matched her pace, “any plans this weekend?”
“Not really,” Corrie admitted. “I’m trying to find something to do. I don’t want to stay in all weekend.”
“Yeah,” he nodded. “I get that. Staying in is nice sometimes, but too much of it feels…”
He searched for the word.
“Lazy?” she offered.
He glanced at her, surprised — then smiled. “Exactly.”
They walked a few steps in comfortable silence.
“There are a few places I’ve been meaning to check out,” he said carefully. “Cafés, little art spots. I’m bad at actually going unless someone reminds me.”
He looked over at her again. “If you don’t have any plans… we could hang out this weekend. No pressure.”
Corrie slowed just slightly, processing how easily he said it.
Was he really asking her to hang out?
“Yeah,” she said after a beat. “I’d like that.”
He smiled. “Alright. Um… we should exchange numbers and make plans.”
“Yeah,” she said, still not quite believing what she was hearing.
He handed her his phone so she could put her number in. When she gave it back, he sent her a text so she could save his contact.
“Alright,” he said, sliding his phone back into his hoodie pocket as they reached the elevator that would take her back to her office. “I’ll text you tomorrow, and we can go from there.”
“Okay,” she replied, unsure what else to say.
Hoseok smiled as she stepped into the elevator, waiting until the doors closed.
Once they did, she let out a breath.
Did she really just exchange numbers with J-Hope?
And were they actually going to hang out this weekend?
She had to be dreaming.