International Cliques and Collabs

"So, how's Jungkook?" Yugyeom and BamBam asked Cindy after the groups of idols reformed into smaller conversational groups.

"Oh, and V too," added Mark Tuan who was close with Taehyung.

"They're good! Although, I think Iris could better tell you." Cindy smiled amiably and sent a message for help to Iris through her eyes.

While Cindy had spent more time training physically at Big Hit than Iris, her cousin actually had a closer connection with BTS than her despite being away for almost two years. It was likely due to them still conversing over chats and Cindy training diligently with Jiyeon and Ahreum most of the time.

Funny enough, Cindy felt that she was closer to the TXT members. Maybe it was due to them still being rookies and not yet reaching the level of fame and activity level that kept BTS busy.

"They're enjoying their time off! And still planning for their next album, especially RM that workaholic." Iris chuckled fondly as she held her frothy fruit drink ordered from the cafe counter.

"Those guys are crazy!" BamBam joked affectionately.

"Hard workers, just like you!" smoothly complimented Iris. "What've you all been up to lately? I feel like y'all been quiet and hiding something big." As GOT7 neared the final year of their contract, it had been hush-hush whether they all re-signed and prepared something special for their longtime fans.

"Well it wouldn't be a surprise anymore if we told you, huh?" Yugyeom teasingly smiled and looked over at Cindy who knowingly smiled in return.

"Yeah, and we won't be saying a word either about us too." She shot back playfully. The GOT7 members had been constantly prodding at each of the Big Hit trainees in order for one of them to slip and spoil their debut and company plans.

"I'm going to bother V until he confesses," suddenly said Mark, whipping out his phone.

Startled, Cindy almost jumped from her seat. Anything that was even barely connected to Taehyung freaked her out. She didn't want him to think that she was trying to catch his attention through his friend.

However, that was just her mild paranoia springing up. Another term for it was called a little 'crush,' where someone would try to be subtle and hide it, but every little mention of the so-called crush would make the admirer skitter away in a panicked fright.

After realizing that her actions were out of place and somewhat suspicious, Cindy swiftly sat down and pretended that she hadn't gotten up. But everyone nearby caught her reaction and looked at Cindy with curious gazes.

"I was just teasing you, haha." Mark flashed a good natured smile followed by a mischievous one. "Why? Do you have something to hide from V?"

Cindy jerked in her seat. "Huh? No, I just realized it was probably a joke, and I overreacted, ahahaha…"

Mark raised an eyebrow at her nervous laugh. "Riiight~"

Iris slapped Cindy's back lightly. "So!" Cindy inwardly released a sigh of relief as Iris switched to another topic. "JYP had a great last year, and I can only see them growing again this year! I'd love to see a collaboration between the company artists!"

"Between us? How about with you?" Jackson suavely entered the conversation and placed a hand on Iris's chair. "Big Hit x JYP. The fans would love it." His lips curved up into his classic, roguish Jackson smile. The sight of it nearly caught Iris off guard. It always amazed her how much more handsome k-pop idols looked in person. Especially up close.

"Ahem," Iris coughed lightly, inconspicuously covering her slight flush at Jackson's proximity. She really couldn't get used to having so many good looking people around her. It made her feel like a squid in comparison. "One day. Do a cypher with the BTS rap line. I bet it'd be epic." She grinned.

"Yeah, that would be cool." Jackson lifted his head up in a slight nod of agreement. "But not with you?" He leaned down and continued to tease.

'UGH!' Iris cried inwardly. 'What's it with GOT7?! They like to tease even more than BTS, omg!'

She smiled politely at Jackson with an evil glint. "Oh? You think you're up to the challenge, sir?"

'Hah! I won't let you win this one, Chinese buddy!' Iris thought to herself and smirked.

Jackson released a hearty chuckle. "Challenge accepted! I better get a call after your time with IZ*ONE ends, okay!" He brought his right hand to his ear and gestured in a phone motion.

"Hey! You can't just collab with Jackson, no fair!" Mark protested.

"Yeah, stop stealing everybody, dude!" BamBam huffed and dragged one of Jackson's arms over. Then, turning to Iris with a wink and bright grin, he suggested, "How about we form a Thai line collab instead? Ditch this guy."

At BamBam's mischievous suggestion, Iris couldn't help bursting out into laughter. Like Jackson, this guy was great with people in any social setting. They truly were the two social butterflies of GOT7 whom anyone would want to be friends with—they were just too cool and funny!

"Right! Let's do that instead! Maybe we can also grab NCT Ten and CLC Sorn!"

"Oh! Good idea!" shouted BamBam enthusiastically, pointing at Iris. "Gather all the Thai idols together for a big party!"

"Hey! I can do that too!" whined Jackson. "I'll get Tzuyu, and uh…"

"Hahahaha you can't even think of who else!" BamBam chortled and held his stomach.

"And Yixing!! Jieqiong!!" exclaimed Jackson forcefully, not wanting to lose in the conversation. He was referring to Zhang Yixing, known more commonly as Lay of EXO, and Zhou Jieqiong, known as Kyulkyung of now-disbanded girl group PRISTIN, and formerly known as "Pinky" back in her Produce 101 days. He had worked with both of them on the Chinese show "Idol Producer" which was inspired by Produce 101.

Everyone laughed at Jackson's jumping, excited stance. He was quite the mood maker of the group. Iris felt at ease, much like when she was with BTS. It was no wonder that the two groups were close.

"It's at times like these I wished I was multilingual too." Cindy chuckled regretfully after taking a small bite of her yogurt smoothie. Alas, she was only bilingual.

Iris poked the side of Cindy's head gently. "What're you saying? You ARE multilingual silly. Otherwise, what language are you speaking now?"

Cindy's eyes widened in realization and then closed as she face-palmed. "That's right, I can also speak Korean now, even if still rather poorly. I totally forgot, haha!" Since she had been seriously learning for only just more than a year, it slipped her mind that she could consider Korean to be a language she knew.

"Wait, what other languages can you speak besides English?" Mark leaned forward and placed his forearms above his knees in an eager yet relaxed seating position.

"French! Since my father is French." Cindy cheerfully replied with some pride. It felt kinda special to know a European language unlike many other k-pop idols.

"Whoa! So cool!" The others complimented, now understanding why Cindy looked mixed race. They were genuinely impressed because to Asia, the western world felt exotic, much like how Americans and Europeans felt about the eastern world. With every passing year, the two cultures and worlds collided more often and integrated with one another. It was an exciting and novel time when both came into contact, just like now.

"Huff, but don't ever ask her to teach you French, she's atrocious, I can attest!" Iris playfully scorned her cousin with a cute pout.

Cindy hugged her cousin closely with a loud laugh. "I'd like to refute it in jesting, but it's true, I'm a terrible teacher, haha!"

"Oh, that's too bad, I wanted to add another language to my list," chuckled Jackson.

"So then you know both Chinese and Thai, Iris?" Mark wanted to confirm.

Iris nodded lightly. "Yes, but I'm not as super fluent as I ought to be since I only speak both a little around the house at home. I've been away for so long, so…." She trailed off remembering her parents in America. They had contacted her after being silent during most of her time on Produce 101.

While they had shocked and moved her with a video recording during the classic Produce 101 session where trainees' parent sent words of encouragement, Iris rarely spoke to them. And she hadn't seen them since she left America.

Unknowingly, she sighed softly, concerning the company around her.

"It's okay, I understand. You haven't seen them in a while, huh?" Jackson placed a comforting hand on Iris's shoulder. He along with Mark and BamBam knew exactly how it felt to be in a country that wasn't their home country, far away from their family.

Although many k-pop idols hadn't gone home or seen their family in years due to the rigor and demands of the industry, it felt especially lonely and isolating for international idols.

"Thanks," murmured Iris appreciatively. She had so much to be grateful for, but one day, she vowed to make it back home. It just didn't sit well in her heart to be so distant to those who had lovingly raised her.

Being with everyone here chased away the clouds in her heart. It also made her aware that Big Hit only recently branched out with their inclusion of foreign idols. Only Huening Kai was Korean-American with a father who was Brazilian. He was also the only one who was multilingual from his childhood.

Now that Iris and Cindy joined the mix, BTS was slowly becoming international in not just their musical venues and fame. She wondered if someday, Big Hit would break into the western music industry with American and not just Korean artists. That thought was thrilling for Iris. Surely, Big Hit was the one company who was in the best position to accomplish that difficult, seemingly impossible feat.