A Year to Change Your Lives

Chapter 49

Reader's rehearsal with Blackpink, the last they would have other than the dress, had run on a little late and so Reader was bussed over to the photo location separately. She still had a natural fear of arriving anywhere without any of the boys; an inevitable imposter syndrome, even at this late stage of the game. But when she hopped down from the car, the location was so breath taking that she was distracted from shyness.

They were being photographed at a large house which seemed to be built on stilts of bricks. It overlooked the greener end of the Han River and Reader knew that by the time the first of them were in their outfits and makeup, the sun would be about to set overhead. They weren't expected to leave her until close to midnight which would allow for all of Readers changes and resets.

She saw round the corner that some of the boys were sat around a large table under a marquee the crew must have set up. They hadn't noticed her and she was hurried away in side by the shoot assistant who'd met her at the door. Inside the house was beautiful, immaculately furnished and with a thoughtful architecture that suited the concept so well. What is this life I'm living, Reader thought wistfully as she travelled the length of the house, her hand sweeping over the floor to ceiling glazing.

The boys had said they wanted somewhere which they might like to end up in one day, and although it didn't completely suit all of their styles, she knew it was her job to play her part in that.

"Oh! Reader!" Called Jimin, coming towards her from down the corridor, trailing his own camera and assistant.

"Annyeong haseyo!" She greeted, more for the camera's benefit than for Jimin's. She saw as he got closer that he was already in makeup. "Is this what you're wearing?" She asked fingering his mint green cardigan.

"Yes, you are to dressing too now." He replied, moving past her along with his crew and someone with a makeup brush who all turned left out of her sight. Reader was led through to a room which had been repurposed for dressing and styling.

She'd said she didn't want to see the outfits the boys had worked on, with the combined styling teams at Dispatch and HYBE. Better if they were a surprise. Having seen Jimin, she had an inkling that the first setting would be one of the most relaxed. She was cheered to be handed a pair of faded blue jeans, ripped at the knees, some high tops and a fluffy blue jumper which billowed out at the sleeves. When her light makeup was done, Jimin came and found her again, slinging his arm around her shoulder.

"It's going to be very fun today. We are going to fight with pillows."

Reader laughed at him in the mirror. "I look very soft. I hope you like it."

Jimin grinned and boldly kissed her on the cheek. "YesI like it. I made it!"

Reader followed him out into the first room set which was one of the bedrooms. Some of the other boys were already there, waiting no doubt to pounce on the photos as they appeared on the monitors.

"Ah, it's the 'Boy With Luv' look." Said Namjoon while Jungkook came towards her smiling.

"You are going to look very strange today. Very different. You look cute now."

"Hopefully not too different in yours." Reader told him, leaning forward to let him pick some of the malting jumper out of her hair.

"What would you dress me in? If you were deciding?" He asked, walking her over to the bed where Jimin was already taking instructions from the director.

"The police uniform, Kook, always the police uniform." Reader answered, leaning into him for the quickest of kisses. Although they were still conscious of Korean modesty amongst company, they had no need to be discreet, even in this room full of photographers and reporters. In return for an exclusive feature printed after the concert and these scandalous photographs released by them days earlier, Dispatch had agreed to embargo any further stories about BTS until that point. Besides, they'd already been at the spearhead of coverage of the REKOOK narrative. All that was left now was for the couple to confirm it.