CHAPTER FIFTEEN
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NARRATOR’s PERSPECTIVES
Y/N set up a camera. The girls were going to record a video message for BTS and for global fans. It was already August. The day when BTS is going to come visit I-LAND.
ALL: Hi! Annyeonghaseyo!
Y/N: We are…
GALWAY LONDONERS: Galway Londoners!!
HINATA: And we are…
AO3: AO3!!
MAEVE: We are here today to announce that Galway Londoners and AO3 will be making a comeback to I-LAND for the second part.
KEIRA: And we will be meeting BTS very soon!
LEILA: It’s a special episode you do not want to miss!
LIVIA: And for global fans, check your WEVERSE and start voting on us now. And don’t forget some of the male applicants too!
JAX: We will begin filming for our next episode in very shortly. Thank you!
Y/N: And we finally thank BTS for receiving our letters and fans letters all around the world. We will see everyone soon!
ERIKA: We hope you enjoy it!
ALL: Bye!!
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Y/N woke up one morning. The cameras were back on. It was time for the show to begin again. She then got up and went down the stairs to get a cup of coffee.
But then, she realized she had forgotten her phone. Last night was when she had charged it, but in the living room. As she went closer to the door, she heard familiar voices. They sounded like seven men. She then slowly opened the door. And BTS was sitting in front of a camera, as if they were sending a message to all of the I-LANDers and the global fans around the world.
She then grabbed her phone, but Kim Namjoon looked back at her and Y/N yelped in fright.
“Oh, my god!” she shouted, “Oh, my god! I am so sorry! I didn’t know you guys were going to be here. Oh, my god. I am so sorry!”
“It’s okay,” said Namjoon, “Wait…aren’t you the female I-LANDer? Or one of them?”
“Yeah.” Y/N said, nodding her shaking head.
“Then that means you have used your card to let back a few people to I-LAND. Well, to tell you the truth, if three people come back, then that means, three more are chosen to come back along with them.”
“Really?” asked Y/N.
“It’s true.” said Namjoon, “Now, we will let you get back to what you were doing, and we hope to see you again!”
“Thank you!”
Later in the day, the portal opened. At first Y/N thought she was going to see BTS again. But no…it was Jake and the other boys she had vouched for.
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Y/N’s PERSPECTIVES
When I saw Jake, staring right at me, I was overcome with joy and happiness. I ran toward him, pushing everyone else aside and out of my way. He held me tight on the waist and I wrapped my arms around and he spun me all around.
He put me down and I cupped his face.
“I…missed…you!” I whispered.
My face was blurred with tears. But I still smiled. I was more than happy to be back with him. It had been a few months since we were apart. But I didn’t know…that something was different about him.
It was while everyone was cheerful and rapt in conversation, when I noticed that Jake didn’t sit with me as always. And he was always playing with other boys.
Another thing I noticed was that he wouldn’t let me do the things they did with my girl groups, which basically means to not copy what he did. It was really strange.
But the saddest thing of all was when he kicked me out of his bed. I mean…I know that it was his bed in the first place. But it totally beats sleeping on an uncomfortable couch. And after every one of the boys argued about who was going to turn off the lights, I had to do it myself. I felt like a housewife, cleaning the house and feeding annoying children who haven’t reached puberty yet.
I looked up at the ceiling and I began to sniffle. I couldn’t believe that my own boyfriend would betray me like this. I then got up and went downstairs.
Following away to the private lounge, I then found some papers that were for BTS to read tomorrow. I realized I hadn’t written anything for BTS.
“Maybe I should tell them about what has been happening the past three days. It is the second part already and…I have been wanting to tell them how I feel.”
I sat down and wrote them my letter. It was a pretty long one. Luckily, there was an envelope. I saw the other girls’ letters too. And they were all in different colors. But mine was simple and plain white. I stuck it in where the other girl’s letters were and sadly went back to bed.
The next day, me, my girl groups and the I-LANDers all gathered around and there was a video message. And the boys and girls were all elated that BTS was on the screen.
But that got me thinking. What if they didn’t edit the part where I accidentally came in on them? Slowly and quietly, I tried to sneak out. Yet it was so tempting to see everyone’s reactions. So I stayed anyway.
When they saw the part I accidentally came in, the boys laughed so hard. However, Jake looked at me with a scowl. His adorable face was now scrunched up and he looked as though he didn’t want anything to do with me anymore. It shook me, that expression on his face.
After I left the scene, I then walked away. But in another few minutes, I saw the rest of the girls walk in by mistake and they were trying not to squeal when they saw BTS. However, I wasn’t there, so they lost a lot of control. Again, laughter. And Jake looked pretty much *ed off by the way things were going in the video. Once their video message ended with their concluding greeting, we made a run for it.
We made it back to the practice room.
“Y/N,” said Holly, “I think your little boyfriend looked a bit cross with us.”
“He’s jealous of us.” I said, “I know it.”
“But how?” asked Hinata.
“He’s from Australia. And he looked a lot comfortable there. He’s probably jealous of me in particular.”
“But you’re so likable, there is no freaking way any of the boys would be envious of you. This is what doesn’t make sense. If you could try to explain that.”
“Maybe it’s because I’m better, maybe it’s because I see a lot of things before him. Maybe it’s because I have a lot of more friends, maybe it’s because I happen to pass the tests and he doesn’t. But he won’t stay this way forever. I know someday he will confess it to me.”
But that’s the problem. He didn’t want to talk to me at all. In fact, leading up to the day we showed the video messages we made previously for the boys and the boys showed theirs to each of us, he still wouldn’t talk to me. It was as if…he didn’t want to be my friend anymore.
We weren’t “allowed” in this, so I then secretly watched the boys gather around the outdoor big screen.
I overheard Jake’s message to Sunghoon, one of the members that Jake suddenly began hanging out with during the break from the show. I saw that Sunghoon was beginning to cry. It must have been something emotional that Jake had said. And Sunoo was also bursting into tears too. But this made me think. I made a video message to Jake too.
I then overheard my voice from when I made this message to Jake. I wrote everything that I might say down in my notebook.
"Hi Jake…um…I thought that I might send you a little something-something, since we are here and all.
From the day I first met you, when I was still training at Dream Life Entertainment, I thought I felt lost…lonely…vulnerable. But when you ran up to me…my world was lit up by a thousand suns. And one of them…was you.
We have very similar personalities. That was what I first realized during our first days in I-LAND. But I saw a few boys that were about your age. And I thought that it would be better to see you off with others your own age. Instead of seeing someone that was only sixteen. Yet, when I saw your face…whatever negative thoughts I once had…it all dissolved into thin air.
Um…and I loved the fact that I had become close with you beforehand.
When I had a hard time, you looked after me. When I felt happy…you cherished it. And I still remember that one time when I got my period…you were there to recognize the signs. And trust me, no other boy would do that back in Ireland, so you are the first one to do it.
Hopefully…my sweet puppy…if we someday transition this relationship…then I will make sure to always be there for you. I’ll always be there…whenever you have a hard time. My arms will always have room for your arms to interlock with mine.
I…I love you, Jake. And you are my best friend."
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The next day, BTS came back with another video message. And they were reading our letters that we had sent them. Take it as a counseling session, basically.
LEILA’s LETTER
Hi, BTS! I am really excited for you all to be here on the show I-LAND. I know me and my little sisters are excited too.
You guys are so down-to-earth and so kind, sweet, funny, serious, soft, and happy. Even when you feel sad for just one day, you make it better with your words and friendship. I was really pumped up for your debut.
I’ll miss you if we don’t debut.
- Leila.
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MAEVE’s LETTER
To my dearest Joonie!
From the first day I met you, I was seventeen. I was about to graduate. And now, seeing you again in I-LAND is the best thing to ever happen for me. I hope we can go out again like we used to. And I hope to see you again soon. Thank you!
- Maeve.
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ERIKA’s LETTER
Kookie-baby!! I miss you so much, Kookie!
I hope you are doing so well. I miss you to bits! And I’m sure we will be seeing you again soon in the next concert! Loved the song “Boy with Luv”!
- Erika.
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LARA’s LETTER
HAI!!!
Luv u all! Luv u 2 bits!!! And I am hoping to see you guys again in the next music video/song/reality show episode/concert! BAI-BAI!!!!
- Lara.
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HOLLY’s LETTER
I love you guys so much! I can’t believe that I got to meet you with my best girl friends.
You guys are so cute and I want to see you at your next concert. Maybe we could collaborate together if you do!
It was really great to see you!
- Holly.
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ISABELLE’s LETTER
I’ll still wear BT21 all day long.
*insert a drawing of TATA*
Sorry, this is all I can write to you about. I’ll meet you again soon!
- Isabelle.
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KEIRA’s LETTER
Hi, guys!
I’m Keira! Nice to meet you!
I hope you mind me asking this but…will you go out with all of us…?? That would be a great deal!
Thank you!
- Keira.
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JULIET’s LETTER
OMG!! SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU!!!
I am elated to see that you are here in I-LAND.
Could I ask for advice? What could we do if we don’t debut? Will you help us find a bigger, better agency? Something more like HYBE or JYP?
We appreciate your help, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
- Juliet.
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AO3’s LETTER
We are so happy to see you BTS!! We hope this letter finds you well and that you read the message happily. Don’t ever end it with tears.
Y/N has been looking forward to seeing you, and hearing the reaction from her running into you guys was funny! LOL!
We will continue to listen to your songs, watch the latest Bangtan Bombs, and keep up with the latest news about you and all of the other K-Pop bands we have listened to previously. Thank you!!!
- Hinata, Livia, and Jax.
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My letter came last, since I wrote it a bit later than everyone else’s. I put a lot of thought into it. And every thought counts, they say. And mine do.
Y/N’s LETTER
Dear BTS,
I am so happy, not only because you are here, but I am relieved that I have written this letter. I hope this finds you well as the other ones have.
I have a matter to report. It’s about my friend Jake Shim. We met during the time when I was training at the agency Dream Life Entertainment. And we got along so well.
But nowadays, he is always giving me a cold look, scowls at me when me and my girl groups try to do something, and then he would sometimes order me to get off his bed at bedtime. I know that he is a bit dominant. But I have a sniggering feeling that he is jealous of me. I think it’s because we all dance a bit better than him and the other boys.
But come to think of it…I actually confess…I really love him to bits. Even if he is so jealous of me. Yet, when I think of it that way…it makes me want to cry. If you find it in your hearts, at least give the time to speak to him…and make sure he knows that he shouldn’t be so jealous. Thank you.
- Y/N.
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After they read my letter, the girls and the boys looked at Jake and Jake himself looked at me with a teary-eyed expression. For me, I looked down in shame and then walked away.
I went outside alone. I felt quite sad that I actually wrote such a letter to BTS and my best friend was there to hear it. At first I didn’t notice, but Namjoon actually walked up and sat down right beside me.
“We got your letter,” he said, “And to be honest…we spoke to Jake before we got a chance to read it. It was a bit sad. But really we understood where you were coming from.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Yup! And I’m sure Jake will understand how you felt when he started to feel this jealousy.”
I then nodded my head and softly smiled.
It was bedtime. As I got ready for bed, I saw a little piece of paper that was lying on my side of Jake and Sunghoon’s bed. But I knew he was going to kick me out again, so I then sat down on me and Jungwon’s bed.
JAKE’s LETTER
Hi, Y/N.
I have something I must tell you. After speaking with BTS, I then realized I hadn’t been treating you the same as I used to. But I eventually knew that I was jealous. But only a little bit. And the reason being is that you have a lot of friends. And I left mine in Australia.
You are the best dancer and I am the weakest. And yet, for me, I still look to improve.
And you have talent. I know I do, too. But…I feel as though I don’t live up to your standards. I want you to know…that I really like you. And not just as a friend. But together…we are always the best of friends.
- Yours, truly, Jake.
Suddenly, I saw Jake coming back from taking a shower and I hid the note under the pillow.
I pretended to sleep, but overheard Sunghoon and Jake happily talking to each other. But then, Sunghoon began to talk to Geonu. I turned to the other side and saw how sad he was. I then turned and looked down, as if he was going to cry.
I couldn’t let him be alone like that. So…I cuddled up right beside him, looking at Geonu and Sunghoon, who were still happily rapt in conversation.
“Don’t worry,” I said, “You have me.”
Jake then kissed my forehead and then said, “I know I do. And I am so sorry.”