54 Don't Call Me Hyung

"Iris-ah! Are you okay?"

The familiar voice jostled Iris out of her thoughts. Looking up, she saw Jin just a couple steps away with plastic bags in tow. He laid them on the bench as he sat down next to Iris.

"I'm okay, thanks! Just…thinking," replied Iris with a small smile that was somewhat forced due to her worries.

"Hmm. It was a busy first day for you. I'm sure you have a lot on your mind."

"Yeah, haha. I'm just trying to figure out what to do next." Iris tipped her head back slightly, looking up at the ceiling with her legs straight out and hands propping herself up in the back.

Jin peered at the girl with concern and warmly assured her, "Don't worry. You'll be able to decide what to do. And I know you'll be successful either way. You always have us if you ever need help too."

Iris turned her head toward Jin with a grateful, genuine smile. "Yes, I really appreciate you guys supporting me all these years at Big Hit." She straightened up and shook her head. "No, even before that. From the first time I heard your music, you've always been helping me in more ways than I can count. Thank you."

Jin chuckled. "You're welcome, but no need to thank us. You've also helped us many times too. I'm glad that we'll be able to break past…some of what's happened in the past and move on and grow."

Iris knew that Jin was speaking of Big Hit's failure at producing a stable girl group. Indeed, without Iris, it was likely that the company wouldn't have debuted a girl, much less a whole group until well past the current 2020 year. Maybe even never in the worst case scenario.

"Yes, I'll do my best." That was the only thing that Iris could say in response. She didn't know the future to confidently state that she helped Big Hit move past that blemish in their history.

"By the way, you're up early." Iris changed the subject and looked down at Jin's bags.

Understanding her silent question, Jin answered her curiosity. "Yup, I went to get some food for the kids," he joked, referring to his group mates and making Iris laugh.

"That's nice of you. After all these years, you still take care of BTS so diligently." She beamed up at Jin, making him blink for a passing moment before he responded.

"Yeah, haha. You'd think they'll learn to take better care of themselves after all these years. I'm kidding, they actually are better now. I just felt like doing this because—"

Jin's bright expression dimmed as he suddenly halted in his words. "It's important to cherish our times together."

Iris furrowed her brows a little at his serious expression that was tinged with sadness. She wracked her mind for what could be the cause, but BTS's relationships between the members and the company was solid along with their success.

'No wait. Success… Is that actually the core problem along with his members? It's been in the news about the eventuality of military service breaking up BTS temporarily and whether they'll be able to recoup after it.

'For comparison, it's like going through what EXO is experiencing right now. Although the fanbase is large, you hardly hear of them since some of the members went into the military. Now it's just all solo songs that haven't been making it big like when Taeyeon of Girl's Generation went solo.

'Then again, that was back when the group was still together during her solo promotions, and they're girls who don't have to serve in the military…. Argh, this is such a difficult situation. No group is the same, and I can't compare BTS to predecessors to get an idea of the future which is ever-changing.'

"Iris?"

She jerked her head up at Jin's voice. "Ah! Sorry! I just spaced out, er lost in thought for a moment there."

Iris gave a sheepish laugh, making the corner of Jin's mouth quirk up in a smile. He stretched out a hand and ruffled the top of Iris's head lightly.

"Didn't I just go through telling you not to worry so much?" His tone was playful, the melancholic trace from before now gone.

"Ah hyung!" Iris protested while trying to smooth her hair from his fingers.

Jin frowned a little and let his hand drop slowly until it rested a few inches behind Iris on the bench. "Didn't I tell you before to not call me hyung? I know you like to with the other guys, but now it's been almost two years since I last saw you."

Iris's eyes widened, her chocolate brown orbs catching the light. "Huh?" She fidgeted in her seat, blinked and looked away nervously. "My bad, I just got so used to it, I guess. And it's an easy term to call everybody with too, haha."

Seeing her reaction, Jin felt a little regretful. "Sorry, did I make you comfortable?"

Iris immediately waved her hands furiously. "No, no, not at all! It's probably weird to call your sunbaes 'hyung' when you're a girl, right?" She twiddled her thumbs as her voice lowered to pitch a little softer than normal.

"I've been living in Korea for this long and know the language well enough, so there's no reason for me continuing to call you guys that just because I liked the sound of the word previously…"

However, the unspoken words between them was understood. While it was true that Iris liked the word along with others commonly known from watching kdramas or following k-pop, the biggest reason was to not make it obvious that she was the sole girl at Big Hit.

Now, for reasons beyond time and familiarity with Korean culture, Iris didn't need to blur the distinction between genders anymore. She was no longer the only girl trainee in the company, and she would have to face the inevitable.

Of course, that didn't mean everything would come to light. Some would remain hidden, perhaps repressed until they extinguished completely.

Jin reassured her. "It's not weird. I just want you to call me Jin regularly again. Like the first time we met and spoke."

"Oh… I see." Iris broke out into a warm smile. "Okay, Jin."

Jin… The sound of his name made him feel strange. Was it because it really had been a long time?

"There you go!" he laughed while getting up. "I'm going to deliver these to the guys, do you want to come with me?"

He picked up his bags and awaited her answer. Iris popped up from the bench eagerly.

"Sure! I didn't really get to speak that much with them all yesterday when I was with the girls. We have a lot to catch up on! Here, can I take one?"

Iris leaned forward to grab one of the bags of out Jin's hands.

"Hm? You don't have to carry anything, it's okay!"

She retracted a little and looked up. "Oh, it's just that I'd feel better carrying something, I guess." She coughed softly and flicked her eyes to the side.

Jin tipped his head slightly to the side in mild perplexity, but he handed a bag over nevertheless. Upon receiving the bag, Iris's steps seemed to bounce in her small joy, making him chuckle.

For whatever reason, it was satisfying to meet friends while holding something to give them. Of course, she wouldn't claim it as hers. Iris decided she'd have to do something later for them, too.