Chapter 20: Burgers
Min-soo followed after Jung-kook as he carried his guitar slung across his back, a pose straight out of a K-drama. It got him thinking about the fact that no members of BTS had ever acted, unlike a fair few other idols in the industry. Well except for that one supporting role that Tae-hyung was cast in.
Min-soo stopped and looked up to see a fast food burger restaurant before him. Jung-kook had already gone inside and was waiting in line. He hurried on in and stood behind Jung-kook and asked, "So, what would you recommend from here?"
"You should get the special beef burgers they have here. It's really good."
Jung-kook ordered and then Min-soo jumped in, ordered the same and paid before Jung-kook could refuse.
"Hyung…thanks." Jung-kook droned in a dead voice.
"Oh, right, my name is Min-soo, Lee Min-soo. Thanks for accompanying me."
"Oh, hyung where are you from? Seoul?" Jung-kook inquired in curiosity.
"Yeah, from Seoul and taking from your accent, you're from Busan?"
Jung-kook laughed and before he responded, their order number was called out, they both walked up and collected the tray with their food and found a seat. Jung-kook picked up his burger and with bright eyes unwrapped it and took a large bite.
Min-soo was not a step slower and bit into his own. The succulent and juicy beef paddy melted in his mouth. For fast food it was pretty good. Min-soo nodded in appreciation and savoured the taste.
Making quick work of his burger, he then moved onto the fries whilst taking sips from his bottle of Coke. Before too long, with a satisfied expression he looked over at Jung-kook and could not help but ask, "Not going to eat your fries?"
"Nah, you can have 'em." He pushed them over and not wanting to waste food, Min-soo finished them off.
Jung-kook then suddenly asked, "Hyung, do you think I can make it big here in America?"
Min-soo was taken aback for a moment and was surprised he would ask something like that to a stranger he had only met a couple hours ago, at most. But he decided to answer it seriously.
"Perhaps. After all, America is the land of opportunity, or they like to say as much. But it is difficult for those like us. Just look at Hollywood, how many of those like us are able to make it big? Let alone a homogenised industry like music is here."
Jung-kook sighed, "I figured as much, you know my family moved here partly because of me. I wanted to learn here and feel the life here and I had hoped to create something but perhaps you're right. I'm not cut out for it. Maybe I should go back to sports."
Min-soo shook his head and felt a little sad that someone so young could already have such thoughts, "Jung-kook, what if I told you there is another way. Why give up your dream? Don't you love to sing and dance? What if I can help you realise it?"
"Hyung. It's okay. I've been thinking it over for a few weeks now, I just don't really see how it could be possible."
"No. Jung-kook, hear me out. I am actually looking to create a boy group in Korea. Just because things might not work out here, does not mean it won't work anywhere else. Let me help you. I promise you that you will be able to perform before crowds of thousands, no tens of thousands of adoring fans. There will come a day where no matter where you go on this planet of ours, someone will know your name."
Jung-kook immersed himself in the fantastic picture Min-soo painted, but he then shook his head and asked, "Even if I were to believe your words, how long? How long would that take? I cannot live a life with my heads in the clouds."
Min-soo hurriedly interjected, "At most five years. If you trust me this one time, in five years' time we will be back in America and you will be performing before crowds of tens of thousands. I promise you."
"But you don't even know who I am, why are you promising me this?"
Min-soo smiled, of course he knew who he was. "Intuition." Is all he said in response.
Jung-kook grimaced, "Well even if I were to accept, what do you expect from me?"
"Well like I said earlier, I am going to create a boy group, should be seven of you. I just need you to persuade your parents to let you come back with me to Korea. I want to sign you to my company."
Jung-kook then asked with a little apprehension, "What's your company's name?"
"Magic Shop Entertainment, not a lot of people know yet, but the government's pushing the Hallyu Wave Project again, so it's the perfect time to get into the industry."
"Oh." Jung-kook responded listlessly. "Well, hyung, I am going to need to talk to my parents about this." At that point in time, Jung-kook's phone suddenly started vibrating. He looked at the caller ID and quickly apologised to Min-soo, "Ah, it's my dad, I'm going to have to take this, please excuse me."
Jung-kook then stepped outside and took the call, barely a minute later, he came running back in with his eyes wide open, looking back and forth between his phone and Min-soo's face.
"You… " he said with his finger pointed at Min-soo.
"Yes?" he asked a little confused.
"Lee Min-soo. Aigo. Why am I so stupid?" he asked rhetorically. He then sat down, "Ah, did you have a Korean taxi driver earlier today? From Busan, short cut hair, wears glasses, also surnamed Jeon?"
"Yeah, I did." As realisation started to dawn on Min-soo, he began to laugh and Jung-kook joined in before too long. In a fast food restaurant in Los Angeles, Min-soo and Jung-kook laughed for a good while, some of the other customers gave them a few glares but a few were blown away by their levels of handsomeness.
"That's your dad, right?" Min-soo asked in amusement.
"Yeah. What a coincidence." He answered brightly in seeming disbelief.
"So, what do you think? Care to take a gamble with me?"
"Fine. Fine. Let's do it. I think the universe is trying to tell us something. When do you go back?"
"Good. Thanks. You definitely won't regret it. Hm… I still have a few things I need to do here in America, but I am planning to go back in about two weeks. When do you think is the earliest you can leave?"
"Well, I have my graduation coming up in a few weeks' time, so I would like to go to that. If that's okay with you?"
"Yeah sure, I'm in no rush. Just let me know when you want to come, I will get someone to arrange your flights. Oh, here is my number if you want to contact me." Min-soo took out his notepad and wrote down his details before ripping it out and handing it over to Jung-kook.
Jung-kook took a photo of it, before pocketing it.
The two of them chatted for a little longer, before seeing the not so subtle stares from the staff gently reminding them to move on. They then parted ways, Jung-kook headed over to a bus stop while Min-soo walked back to his hotel.
Just as Min-soo reached the hotel lobby, his phone vibrated. It was a text message from an unknown number, he opened it and smiled. "Hyung. Thanks for taking a chance on me. Even if I can perform before just a thousand people, I will be happy. See you soon. Jung-kook."
Golden maknae indeed. With a gentle smile on his face, Min-soo made his way back up to his room and unbeknownst to him, this smile caused many of the women in the lobby, both staff and customers to fall into a daze.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
toomb
toomb Another one down. Who will be next?
As usual thanks for the support.
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