The time of debut come after 3 years of training and building a group of seven members.
The stage smelled like metal and electricity. Sweating was not new in this world but they smelled like a new legends who just has taken a first step into this kpop world.
they have just released their first album 'youth'.
They were backstage. The sharp tang of wires warming under pressure, the faint burn of smoke machines, the way the air itself seemed to vibrate. The lights were too bright to look at directly, bleaching the crowd into a single, shifting blur. Somewhere beyond that brightness were faces, thousands of them, but Jungkook couldn't see any clearly.
His hands were shaking. he was nervous for there first stage performance.
"Breathe,slowly" Namjoon murmured beside him, voice low but steady. The leader's presence was grounding, like a hand on the spine of the group, keeping them upright. "We've practiced this a lot and this the best we can now."
Jungkook nodded, swallowing hard the nervousness. He could hear his heartbeat louder than the music in his ears.
Jin stood two places away, adjusting his in-ear monitor, his expression calm, too calm. Jungkook watched him, anchoring himself there. Jin looked the same as always, shoulders squared, posture relaxed, like this stage wasn't massive and terrifying and full of consequence. he was a ace of the group.
That steadiness was everything he needed right now.
They were called to perform on stage. And When the music started, Jungkook body moved on instinct.
His body remembered what his mind tried to forget, the steps drilled into muscle memory, the timing, the breath control by practicing day and night for the day. The crowd's roar washed over him in waves his in ear drummed with music, overwhelming but intoxicating. Lights swept across the stage, heat blooming against his skin and sweat rolling down the neck. they sang. they danced. He didn't fall.
When it ended, when the final note faded and the lights dimmed, Jungkook realized his hands had stopped shaking and he was breathing heavily but heart was calm.
They got Backstage and it was chaos, staff moving quickly, members talking over each other, adrenaline buzzing loud and sharp.
"We did it," Jimin said breathlessly, eyes shining. "Hyungs , we actually did it i cant believe it we did that performance it was nerve wrecking."
Taehyung laughed, wide and unrestrained. "Did you hear them? They were so loud i think we made some fans."
Hoseok pulled Jungkook into a quick hug, warm and grounding. "You were amazing out there."
Yoongi nodded from where he leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "You didn't mess up."
From Yoongi, it was the highest praise. because he dont show much affection.
Jungkook smiled, but his gaze searched instinctively, for Jin.
He found him near the water table, sipping water quietly, cheeks flushed from the stage lights. to jungkook he looks so beautiful Jungkook hesitated only a second before walking over to him, heart pounding again, this time for a different reason.
"jin Hyung," Jungkook said.
Jin looked up and smiled. "Hey. are You okay?"
Jungkook nodded, then blurted out, "Was I cool there?"
The question hung between them, fragile.
Jin studied him for a moment, eyes thoughtful. Then he reached out and patted Jungkook's shoulder, firm and reassuring. and smiled the most charming smile ever.
"You did good, kid," Jin said warmly. "Really good."
Kid....
The word wasn't unkind. Jin meant it affectionately, Jungkook knew that. But something inside Jungkook twisted anyway, sharp and quiet. He wanted something else something more.
"Oh," Jungkook said, smiling automatically. "Okay you were so flawless there hyung." that made jin blush a litlle "it was not the best"
Jin squeezed his shoulder once more before turning to answer something Namjoon was saying.
Jungkook stood there for a moment, the noise around him fading into a dull hum.
You did good, kid.
That night, in the dorm, Jungkook lay awake long after the others had fallen asleep hie eyes not wanting to shut because of what thougths going inside his head. The room was dark except for the faint glow of streetlights slipping through the curtains. Jin's breathing from the other bed was slow, even.
Jungkook stared at the ceiling.
He replayed the performance in his head. The lights. The cheers. Jin's calm expression.
He wasn't a kid anymore. he have become something else. he will prove it.
At least, he didn't want to be kid.
he decided then and there he was going to become something to jin not just a little kid.
The gym smelled like rubber mats and iron. he joined the gym.
Jungkook started going early in the mornings, before schedules, before anyone else woke up. At first, he didn't know what he was doing. He lifted wrong, strained too hard, ignored the soreness. but didnt give up.
Yoongi noticed.
"You'll wreck your body like that," Yoongi said one morning, tossing Jungkook a towel. "Slow down and take it step by step."
Jungkook nodded, breathing hard. "I'm fine."
"You're stubborn."
"Yes," Jungkook agreed quietly.
Namjoon helped him build a routine. Hoseok reminded him to stretch. Jimin worried aloud. Taehyung watched with thoughtful eyes, saying nothing.
Jin noticed last.
Or maybe he noticed and didn't comment.
"You're getting stronger, kookie" Jin said one evening, handing Jungkook a bowl of soup after practice. "Eat more you will grow steadily."
Jungkook accepted it, fingers brushing Jin's. "Hyung," he said suddenly.
"Yes?"
"Can you rely on me and trust me?"
Jin blinked, surprised. Then he smiled, soft and sincere. "Of course I can."
The answer should have been enough.
But Jungkook nodded anyway, jaw set, something resolute settling deep in his chest.
He would be someone Jin could rely on. Not a kid. Not someone to be taken care of.
Someone solid. Someone strong.
Someone who could stand beside Jin, under the lights, behind the scenes, anywhere the world tried to pull them apart. And make him mine.
The stage had changed everything.
And Jungkook was just beginning to understand how far he was willing to go.