Unrequited Love | MYG ✅

Chapter Sixty-One

Hobi yells "Thank you, Lily!" over Yoongi's shoulder. A flurry of funny thanks comes from my guys, and I crumble. 

Everything we worked and sacrificed for has led them to where they need to be, and at the end of the day, that was our end goal all along. I sip my wine and think about Yoongi's words. Wiping away a few tears that have escaped down my cheek, I'm shocked Yoongi mentioned me, but then again, somewhere deep inside, I'm not. We are connected even when we're miles apart.

Message to Yoongi: Congratulations! You deserve it.

Hours later, I find a text from Yoongi: You earned this also. Miss you desperately.

Lily: I'll never stop missing you!

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I'm watching as Jungkook is singing in my soundbooth, and he sounds amazing as usual. I press a button and speak into it so he can hear me, "JK, that was fantastic! Can we run through it again? I will play the track, and I'd like you to layer in on the chorus an octave higher so we can start building the sound there." He nods happily as we start again on my signal.

Tae reaches over and taps me on the arm, mouthing, "It's good!" and I smile warmly at him. He has come along to see my little studio space and to support Jungkook.

It was a long year of the boys being on tour. I messaged with some of them here and there, and of course, Hobi and I always stayed in touch an unhealthy amount, but we were all so busy we just had to go on with our lives.

After Yoongi thanked me on the Grammy stage, it was a tornado effect, and Ha-Kun's phone was blowing up with offers to work with us. We went from having a moderate number of artists asking to work with me to huge demand. People were ready to outbid each other for contracts, which shocked me.

I thought my reputation for speaking up for LGBTQIA+ rights would cause most companies to be scared to work with me, but it wasn't a deterrent. The chase for more groups to break into western culture in search of their own recognition won out over the fear of being associated with me. Part of me really doesn't understand why so many of these groups want to gain a western audience when they clearly don't need them, but if there is a desire for my services, who am I to judge?

Ha-Kun has been wonderful to partner with. We are being cautious with our investment into our new business and have leased a small studio space outside the center of Seoul. Even though plenty of contracts are being pitched to us, we have been careful in what we choose and our timelines, making sure to build the business with a great deal of thoughtful intention. I'm so happy to be doing what I love with a business partner who doesn't care how much personal trouble I always manage to get myself into.

After the boys ended their world tour, Yoongi and Jin enlisted into their military service but what myself and the rest of ARMY didn't see coming was Joonie went too. I know that military service is required, and it's an honor to serve their country. I admired them for going, but it still felt like a big blow.

Admittedly, Joon and I's friendship slowed down to a snail's pace after our encounter in the states. The boys opened their Instagram accounts, and I couldn't help but be a little saddened that Joon stopped messaging me and sending me pictures as much, and instead, he posted items to his new Instagram account. I completely understood the situation, but it still was bittersweet.

What was more devastating was when I received a handwritten letter from Joon that arrived after he enlisted.

Lily,

I'm so sorry you are receiving this after I've already left. I just couldn't say goodbye in person. I've decided to enlist and take some time away. I can't continue to watch you broken over one of my best friends when I've always felt like I would have taken such good care of you. I guess I've been suffering from my own case of unrequited love for you all this time. Please don't be sad, you didn't do anything wrong. I know you can't control who you love, but neither can I.