BTS HYYH Notes (Book 1, 2, BUS Game) // COMPLETE [Part 2]

2022, Jul 31 - Hoseok (Hagok City & Namjoon)

(A/N: Please bear with two different dates yet same place Hoseok went to. This occured today and August 12th. Spoiler, he will gone back to Songju on August 2nd but if you read August 12th, some will be similar to today's happenings but different people... And long narration ahead.)

[Place: Hagok City]

A couple of days ago, I rode a rocket. It was the day after I called sick. With my leg in a cast, I was nothing but a nuisance at work and in the workroom.

I woke up in the morning, but there was no place I should be, and nowhere I could go to. I went out simply out of habit. Also, because it was hot and my rooftop room was getting stiflingly humid. From the bridge over the stream, I was watching rockets being launched when I had a sudden impulse to go down to the station. I bought a ticket for a rocket.

I didn't have in mind to go see a big cosmopolitan, awesome city of historical relics, or vast nature. I didn't pack my bag with a destination in mind. I just wanted to go somewhere that wasn't Songju. I didn't get on the rocket with high expectations. With a cheap ticket in my hand, I got on the train like a piece of baggage to be carried off without any intention or destination. I didn't want to think about anything. I wished I didn't have a problem and nothing required a solution.

My ankle hadn't gone better. Because I had been going around places to please for the orphanage, my ankle was now more swollen. I tried compression bandages on it, but they didn't help much. So I was in a cast. There was not even a glimmer of hope to have the orphanage relocated. Well --- it was obvious someone like me couldn't do a thing about it. I thought Seokjin hyung was my last hope, but he was stone-hearted.

The train's destination was Hagok, the place for the new Two Star Burger joint. I hadn't decided to work there yet. I choose the place among the names at the train station because I was familiar with it. The rocket ride would take two hours, and the city was about the same size as Songju.

The rocket ran along the stream. After passing City Hall, it ran along the area designated for the new city development. And it made a sharp turn and Songju disappeared from my sight. I didn't look back. I kept my eyes ahead.

My first impression of Hagok was that it resembled Songju, but livelier. I rushed off the platform, but after that, I rambled slowly behind people. Walking slowly was so not like me. But I walked so slowly that my speed interfered with the flow of the crowd. I acted as if I was determined to do things that I would usually do not. I moved with complete disregard for the people around me. I ate spicy food, which I usually didn't eat, and paid without saying the food was good. When no one was on street, I spat on the ground.

Following the online map, I got to the place for the new store. It was on the first floor of a building next to a high school. Next to it were a stationary store and 24-hour gimbap place. It was ridiculously similar to the surroundings of the Songju burger joint.

While wondering where  I would live if I were to work here, I bumped into someone. "I'm sor---." I stopped myself mid-sentence, and I glared at him to say it was his fault. "Look where you going." Jung Hoseok in Hagok would do whatever he felt like 24 hours. He was a punk, idiot, and jerk.
I imagined this jerk for five seconds.

"Aren't you Hoseok?"

I knew him. We were in the same dance club in middle school. And we had worked together at the Two Star Burger in high school. I realized name Hagok was familiar because of him as well.

He had kept in contact even after he'd moved to Hagok. One or two months ago, he had texted.

We are pushing ourselves to death to get ready for a performance at Hagok Cultural Center this summer.