"I WHISPERED PRAYERS TO YOU UNDER THE DARK SKY
AND YOUR NAME WAS ENOUGH TO LIGHT UP
HUNDREDS OF STARS IN IT."

#call Hoseok and talk for 10 mins

When Seokjin saw this task, he had to beg Yoon Min to cancel it. He was prepared to kneel and clasp his hands together, but she didn't seem willing to change her mind. However, after his whining and complaining, she considered herself the world's kindest person, by reducing the time to 5 minutes.

This was no simple task. How could she seriously expect him to call Hoseok? He hadn't done that in the past 3 years. They grew apart eventually after that incident, and nobody could be blamed. They were forced to cut off contact with him. In a deranged situation like this, calling him sounded like a bad idea.

In defence, she advised him to talk about their upcoming comeback, show some interest and ask about the others. She also said this was the most crucial task and he must do this no matter what. Easy for her to say!

He had his phone in his hand, the contact of Hoseok displaying on the screen like an exam sheet. A whirlwind of doubts swirled in his mind. What if Hoseok didn't answer? What if their conversation turned sour? What if he changed his number? What if he would say something mean? What if, what if, what if...

"If you feel scared, just close your eyes and think of the nicest memory you have with him."

It was Yoon Min's advice. Sighing, he closed his eyes and began to think. There wasn't any particular good memory of Hoseok. All of the moments they shared together were pure and beautiful. He was the only one he could call any time of the day. Sometimes he used to call just to annoy him, but Hoseok never complained. He always played along and laughed at his jokes.

The fans called him sunshine, a ball of happiness. That's true, if happiness was the form of a human, it was Hoseok. His laugh and positivity were contagious and healing. He was a realy good friend.

Unbeknownst to him, Seokjin pressed the call button, and it took a while before someone answered. That's when he realized that he had actually dialled him.

"Hello?"

It was the same voice. It didn't sound any less different. Just the perfect Hobi voice.

For a minute, he grew extremely nervous and he couldn't muster up the courage to say something. Yoon Min taught him what to do if he felt scared, and what to talk about during the call, but she didn't teach him how to start the conversation.

While he was struggling to think of a way, he heard the other speaking.

"Jin hyung?"

Seokjin wasn't sure if he recognised him by his number or awkward silence, but it made him very happy. He remembered him, he recognised him.

"Yes, it's me," he shortly replied.

"Oh. I wasn't expecting you." Hoseok sounded uncomfortable. Who wouldn't be?

He took a deep breath and straightened his back. "I know. I just wanted to check up on you guys. Are you and the others doing okay?"

There was a silence from the other side. It almost made him think he asked the wrong question.

"No, Hyung."

Seokjin closed his eyes worriedly.

"Why would we be okay when you are not here?"

It took him a minute to process what he said. Once his brain processed the answer, his heart danced on the spot in joy. He couldn't help but chuckle lightly. That was all he needed to hear from him, that was all.

He felt tears pricking his eyes. "I'm sorry, Jwehope," He used to call him by this nickname.

Hoseok was almost crying. "No, sorry won't work. You take years to make a single phone call-"

"Well none of you called me either so-"

That night, what was meant to be a 5-minute call stretched into an hour of catching up, laughter, and apologies. The conversation that followed was heartfelt and long overdue. They picked up right where they left off, and the weight of their unresolved past seemed to lift with each shared word. Despite the years that had passed, their conversation flowed effortlessly, and it felt as though no time had elapsed since their last interaction.

✦✧✧ - ✧✧✦

Talking to Hoseok was the best thing he did in the past 3 years.

As they said their goodbyes, Seokjin couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and joy. What had started as a daunting task had turned into a rekindling of a cherished friendship, reminding him of the enduring bond they shared once.

He couldn't wait to tell Yoon Min about this. She would be so proud. But to do that, he needed to finish the remaining tasks quickly.

#eat cereal for dinner

That was totally easy. After talking with Hoseok, it felt like he could do anything he was told. He took a packet of cereal out of his cupboard, mixed it with milk and added sugar before eating.

#count the stars from your room

He knew she would come up with something that would include the stars. He scoffed at the task and strolled out to the balcony of his bedroom to gaze at the night sky. Luckily, there were not as many stars visible as usual. God was on his side today.

He raised his finger and attempted to count them. He struggled to keep track and almost gave up three times. Then he adopted a pattern that eventually led to success.

"Twelve! Twelve stars...perfect."

Grabbing his phone, he quickly sent a text to Yoon Min about the number. His excitement was evident from the wide smile on his face, anticipating her reaction.

A few seconds later, she replied, "Count again."

He was taken aback by her response. He typed quickly. "Why?"

"You forgot one."

If he really did forget one, it was an easy mistake. But how did she know?

"How do you know?"

"You didn't count yourself ;)"

Seokjin stared at the screen before bursting into a fit of chuckles. His heart fluttered and warmed at the thought of her. She even sent a wink. This girl was really something else. He could imagine her wink vividly in his mind.

Counting the stars turned out to be fun. A bit childish but entertaining. And her playful response was something he wouldn't trade for anything. This had been her plan all along; to make his heart and he appreciated the effort she put into it.

#dress up nicely and pose for a photo

This was one of the odd ones. Did he really have to do that? Since that incident, he hadn't felt like capturing his photos as he shielded away from cameras. But he used to love taking pictures of himself. He used to look handsome all the time so he took selfies almost anytime.

This was going to be tough.

He rummaged through his wardrobe for a nice outfit which was also something he hadn't done in a long time. Having a debate with himself for half an hour about picking the right ones, he just gave up and chose a white t-shirt, red puffer jacket and jeans.

After getting dressed, he picked up his phone, switched to camera and held it up for a photo. God, he looked ridiculous! Did anyone notice his fat cheeks? He hoped they didn't. Why were his eyes shaking? His hair was a mess. There was no way he could take a photo right now.

"Aish, whatever..." He took the photo anyway and didn't even bother to smile.

He sent the photo to Yoon Min and waited for her reply.

Her reply didn't come before 5 mins. It read, "You can do better."

Of course, he could. But he didn't want to.

"That's all I can do."

A reply came soon. "Jin-ssi, I have hundreds of your selfies to prove how good you are. Don't think like that. How about you try again?"

Was she serious? No way he was gonna try again.

"Can't."

"I'll help you. How about you dress up for a boyfriend look?" She sent a heart-eye emoji.

Scoffing with a smile, he typed, "If only I had a girlfriend..."

"Fine! How about a hot, rich CEO look? You're just the perfect fit."

That didn't sound bad. A lot of people used to compare him to handsome billionaire guys or kdrama CEOs. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Her unwavering faith in him warmed his heart. She had always been his pillar of support, encouraging him even when he couldn't find the strength to believe in himself. He knew he was not alone in this struggle.

Liking the idea, he quickly sent her an OK before running to his wardrobe. He just grabbed a suit. The colour wasn't entirely black, maybe blackish. He put on a white shirt before putting on the suit. He combed his hair nicely and for finishing touches, he put on a tie, a watch and a pen in his chest pocket.

When he checked in the mirror, he was surprised by how he looked. So much better than earlier. Much more hotter and handsome. Looking at his reflection, a surge of confidence washed over him. This was the transformation he needed.

He captured several selfies with different smiles and facial expressions. When the photos didn't come out satisfying, he took a mirror selfie which came out the best. Choosing three photos, he hit SEND to Yoon Min and released a victorious exhale. A sense of accomplishment washed over him. He started to take more photos of himself, experimenting with different angles and expressions. The process felt surprisingly liberating, and he found himself enjoying the experience.

It wasn't long before his phone pinged. Seokjin rushed to see her messages and instantly smiled at her reply.

"That's a perfect CEO's pic!"

He didn't know he was blushing until he glanced at the mirror to find his ears red. To his surprise, his phone pinged with her fan-girling spam.

"You look so dashing. I'm gonna cry-"

"Why can't I get my eyes off this photo? Seriously, hail to you, CEO Kim!"

"I am so proud of you."

He read her texts with a smile, her effusive praise and adoration poured in through the messages, overwhelming him with a mix of emotions. Her genuine words of affirmation were like a balm to his soul, erasing his doubts and insecurities. It helped him see himself in a new light, and it was truly heartwarming to witness his own transformation in a matter of a few minutes.

In that moment, he realized this task highlighted the power of self-acceptance and how positive encouragement could make a significant impact on someone's self-esteem. It was more than just a selfie. It was a testament to his resilience and the unwavering support of a true friend.

☆THE FAULT IN OUR STARS☆

THANK YOU FOR READING
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