“OF ALL THE STARS
ONE IS LOOKING DOWN AT ME.
OF ALL THE PEOPLE
I'M LOOKING UP AT THAT STAR
WHEN, WHERE, IN WHAT FORM
SHALL WE EVER MEET?”

The moment he closed his eyes, the memories played, and he was back in the beginning.

Surrounding him were strangers. All seemed so unknown and distanced when actually, they were a part of his life once. An important part. Cameras were focused on them, a few flashes sometimes caught his attention though he knew hardly anyone was taking his photos. After all, he was invisible, forgotten, unforgiven.

It hurts a lot when you become a nobody to everyone who ever valued you.

Many ARMYs were talking, smiling, also staring. Right beside him, were those people he once thought were his own family. His own 6 brothers. The ones who were with him during the most memorable moments of his beautiful life. The ones who wouldn't even spare him a single glance now. Who were they?

The room was filled with an odd silence, a type of muteness like he was the reason behind it. But the silent whispers and murmurings reminded him of those hazardous rumours. He could hear them spitting out venomous words in that very room.

"Daebak, it's him?"

"I thought he left the group."

"I heard HYBE is to reportedly let him appear in the next comeback. How are they letting a bastard rejoin the group?"

"Oh my god, what do I do? I can't talk to him! I don't want to. He's pathetic!"

"I hate him so much!"

"He cannot stay in the group! The agency should kick him out!"

"I hope he dies."

It was a BTS fan-sign event with complete 7 members after a long time. The past had foreseen the world would be glad to see their eldest member again after so many years. But even the future can change at the last second. The fans raged, disappointed with the decision. They were happy and satisfied with the 6 members. The rejoining of another member didn't appeal to them, unfortunately.

ARMYs once again created a moment written in history; this time it was mean and heartless. They all, one by one, skipped the eldest and went to the next member. Unfair, right?

A moment arrives in our lives where we are left alone by everyone we know; where we are lonely by ourselves. It doesn't seem that obvious but it happens eventually. To some, that moment in life lasts for a short time. While some endure that moment for a long while.

Because he was no longer the person they loved.

Because he was no longer BTS Jin.

He was going through that moment in life too. It's been a long time. A once-popular idol was now a mere traitor to all. He once had everything; fame, love, respect, and wealth. Gradually, life decided to play with him too. This time, it took away everything from him mercilessly, leaving him with a broken heart. He had seen the most beautiful moments of his life. Turning back, he now thought of them as nothing but memories that made him happy beyond everything.

Seokjin lifted his head for the third time in the past hour. Again, he saw many eyes glaring at him with disgust and hate. Unable to bear this insult, he released a long, exasperated sigh and lowered his head. All these years, he was ignored, and hated by everyone. Even now when he slightly thought maybe his fans would be happy to see him; he was just wrong. He was still the dead idol to them.

The crew team and staff members were all worried and panicked. Each of them was thinking of every possible way to do something. They had trusted the fans to talk to him and make him smile. Who knew they would act like this? Who knew their deep hatred was still burning alive? They thought ARMYs would accept him again. They thought they would support him even after what happened.

Especially, Manager Yu Beom who regretted it the most.

He was the one who insisted the CEO of the agency give the idol another chance. He said that Seokjin would feel less isolated if he met his fans again. He knew what the idol was going through. He tried every possible way to mend his heart and bring the confidence back in him. That's the honest reason behind his request to the CEO, to let him make a comeback with the others after almost 3 years. He didn't have a single idea ARMYs would behave like this.

He only tried to help. But he ended up causing the worst.

"Yu Beom-ssi, shouldn't we do something? Let's just bring him backstage." A staff reminded the concerned manager.

He didn't say anything. He didn't know his actions would receive this result. He hurt Seokjin unintentionally when the idol had already gone through a lot. "I-I don't know..." he murmured, watching the idol being neglected by everyone. "It's all my fault."

That's when a fan bowed goodbye to Jungkook and stood nowhere but in front of him. Fans around her were shocked by her action. They were so surprised that words didn't come out of their mouth. But some did manage to let out,

"Is she crazy?"

"Attention seeker!"

"Ignore her, she's trying to show off."

The girl heard every little profanity against her patiently and waited for things to cool down. She was glad nothing happened after her big step so she silently patted herself and cleared her throat to get his attention.

She gently called his name. "Jin-ssi?"

Seokjin jolted his head up at lightning speed. For several seconds, he stared at her with wide, puzzled eyes, his plump lips parted away in shock. His brain was trying to load the whole situation because certainly, it was a dream if a person was standing in front of him, waiting for his signature.

He saw her giving her broadest smile and handing him an album. Still in a dilemma, he wondered if he was daydreaming. Before he could process more with his never-ending thoughts, she exclaimed with a bright face. "Annyeong!"

He was still clueless as he felt his heart increasing its pace in seconds. He became nervous and scared because he was starting to understand it was not a dream, but his reality. A living girl was standing in front of him. He was too overwhelmed and shocked to say anything. Though he should be rambling about how grateful he was right now, he just stared at her with eyes that hadn't seen someone so happy to see him in a while.

The girl placed the album on the table before fully turning her attention to him. "I know I look like Scooby Doo but it's rude of you to stare at me like this."

He couldn't help but let out a small laugh at her sudden joke and pressed his lips to cover it. His little sound of laugh caught the attention of everyone backstage as they widened their eyes to find the idol with a fan.

The girl was taken aback by his laugh. She blinked confusedly with a faint smile. "It wasn't that funny though."

Seokjin decided not to feel too overwhelmed and just act quickly. He took her album and picked up the pen to sign it. He glanced at her and asked softly, "Your name?"

"Song Yoon Min."

He nodded and was about to write down. But he tugged on his bottom lip, curiosity poking at the back of his head strangely. He glanced at her bright face, hoping she wouldn't mind. "But you don't look Korean."

Yoon Min certainly didn't look happy with the question but she was clever enough not to show it. She just casually replied, "Yeah, it's my Korean name. My real name sounds like shit."

He smiled, this time he didn't show it.

While he focused on writing down his signature, she smiled adorably before leaning closer to the table. "You're still handsome."

He had forgotten how good-looking he was from birth. He also forgot how he used to praise and worship himself for being too handsome. Daily habits that were part of his regular life were thrown away from his memories as more traumatic moments filled his head. He even forgot how he liked it when someone praised his looks.

"What is it? You look shocked," She asked politely in her calm voice. That's when he realized he was staring at her blankly.

She decided to inform him. "Jin-ssi, about 6% ARMYs are still with you. They believe in your words, not the evidence."

He had no idea people still liked him. He's been away from social media so he didn't know what was going on currently. He was hesitant to speak as he hadn't spoken to a person for a long time. It's as if his voice had faded away.

Yoon Min wore a mischievous smile. "Want to know a secret?"

She leaned closer, her elbows resting on the table and whispered, "Some girls in this room are dying to meet you."

He blinked at her, confused. "You are bluffing."

She let out a soft chuckle before shaking her head. "Trust me. I heard them."

"Then why aren't they coming to me?"

She sighed. "Courage is what they're lacking. When I was among them, I heard many of them wanting to talk to you. But they are scared of being criticized. Or they thought you might feel uncomfortable. They are just afraid if they will do the right thing by still trusting you."

Seokjin heard her every word and truthfully, she sounded honest. As if she was pouring out her emotions for him to realize he wasn't alone like he thought. But was it true? He thought the whole world left him.

"People need courage. And they find their courage when they see someone else taking a step forward. I took that step for everyone. Now, I hope the others will also follow me. At least one fan will come to you after me," she ended with a faint smile.

He stared at her in silence. As much as he wanted to believe he was wrong, she had a point. He didn't even guess there might be a few people who still liked him. What confounded him more was how Yoon Min could see through his soul and speak as if she was consoling him. He could only nod with a tiny smile that escaped her eyes.

She pursued her lips together before letting out a soft exhale as she whispered, "I still believe in you."

That was all his heart needed right then, right that moment to skip a beat and melt. It's been a while since someone said that to him.

Unfortunately, Yoon Min had to go to the next member so she picked up her bag and shoved the album inside. While arranging herself, she told him, "Jin-ssi, you shouldn't give up like this. One bad chapter doesn't mean the end of a book."

He stared at her in wonder and all unexplainable feelings together. What was she? Since when did someone talk to his soul? Seeing her preparing to leave, his heart softened for some reason as unfamiliar desires rushed inside his mind.

He didn't want her to leave.

She glanced at his eyes and smiled warmly. Showing a thumbs up, she encouraged him. "Trust your heart even if the seas catch fire. Live by love though the stars walk backwards."

Seokjin didn't understand what exactly she meant but he assumed it meant something positive.

"Scooby Doo is taking off then!" she smiled the brightest before moving to Yoongi who greeted her first.

His lips curved a small smile as his eyes still didn't leave her presence, her heavenly voice and angelic personality still lingering over his mind. Maybe she's one of those people who liked to hope and dream even when the world was breaking down and meeting its end. It would be better if he had someone like her as a friend. Maybe he wouldn't feel so lifeless.

"Oppa!

A voice pulled him out of his daze and he glanced at the spot in front of him. Another ARMY was standing, soft tears visible in her eyes.

"I missed you! How have you been?!"

His mind instantly drifted to the conversation he had with her minutes ago. At least, one fan will come to you after me.

As much as he was in bewilderment by her strange spell on him, he smiled again, thinking of that unknown girl who somehow was added to his memories. Turning back to this girl, he let out a gentle smile.

"I missed you too."

"Assistant Eun, bring me that girl," Yu Beom suddenly let out in a serious expression after observing everything from backstage.

The brunette asked him the reason.

"I have a feeling she's the exact person we need."

☆ THE FAULT IN OUR STARS ☆

THANK YOU FOR READING
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A/N: I wrote the beginning chapters back in 2020 so please forgive my immature style.