Being an ARMY, being interested in BTS altogether means there is no shortage of news, of things to talk about, especially in the month of June. This June 2022 particularly is a special one since BTS month also contains the much awaited comeback. 500 days without an album, we were treated with the much awaited anthology album “Proof” containing all their amazing songs, and a look back on their brilliant discography as well as a peek on their demos before the final cut of specific songs. Indeed a proof of the amazing projects that BTS has done.
As it is BTS month, there is also no shortage of surprises, but as ARMYs even though we do anticipate these surprises we can never guess them until they’ve been delivered.
June 14, 2022, what a surprise indeed. BTS themselves sat down and talked to us through their annual FESTA company dinner about their plans. Which includes focusing on their individual projects more compared to their group activities. They are taking a break from a bulk of their group activities to grow individually, both in their musicality, and as members of one team in order to come back together stronger.
Pain and happiness are two feelings that can coexist
The initial reaction would have been to feel pain. I know, because I did. I felt this pain and fear because of all the uncertainties that this decision entails. But at the same time, there is relief and there is happiness in knowing that the people who have helped me through such dark times are also taking steps to help themselves, to find themselves once again.
It’s okay to feel pain over the news, over the fact that we may not see all seven of them together in one frame for a while. It’s valid, why? Because we have all been used to seeing the seven of them together in everything that seeing them individually might need some getting used to.
To be completely honest, this image is something that I still need to get a complete grasp on as well. I’ve always seen them as seven. Seven people who have always been together on and off screen. The prospect of the image being pushed aside for a bit is a scary thought — but it is necessary for them, for their growth.
During this dinner party, as I was getting a complete understanding of the words that were being said, I thought that maybe I’ll be able to get out of it with my eyes dry. But to see them, see BTS also feel the pain of maybe disappointing us with their decision, and coming into terms with their burn out, I did not in fact get out of that one-hour dinner party with my eyes dry.
To see the people who have been so strong for you acknowledge that perhaps they need to realign themselves again, to acknowledge that they may be losing sight of who they were when they started hurts. Especially because they are the ones who took you on the journey to see yourself in the light once again. I hurt for them. Because it takes a lot of strength, a lot of courage not only to make that decision, but also to keep all those feelings for a while. To believe that it will pass on its own.
So if you cried during those minutes, I’m proud of you, the same way I’m proud of BTS for being so raw with their emotions with us. There are certain things, certain situations that tears can be held, but not this one.
If we must, we should allow this pain to be felt. Whether its because of the uncertainties and the scenarios that ran through our minds because of those minutes or the heartfelt confession from the boys themselves about what they are feeling that led to this decision. Allow this pain to be felt. Because BTS — Bangtan, has taught us to be true to ourselves, even with our feelings and acknowledging them.
Feel that pain, feel it for them, for the people who made you feel loved and listened to. Feel it for them, and then run again. Like they plan to do.
But we can be proud of them as well for taking this step. In a time where entertainment is consumed at a fast pace rarely do you artists so immersed in their craft and their artistry that losing sight of it is scary for them. It gives us what kind of artists BTS truly are, as a team, and as individuals.
I would rather they take this step for themselves, something that may give them their peace of mind in knowing that after this break they would have found that who they were when they started and who they wanted to be are the same people that they are after this break rather than have them go on and slowly lose themselves in the process of going on.
This is a choice that for me, is putting themselves first as they have always put us first. In the magic shop, it has always been them who served us. Now, the staff of the magic shop are on break, but the shop isn’t closed yet. Not for a long time. And us? We will wait eagerly for them, we will until the magic shop has been fully restocked.
And maybe as we wait, we can work on ourselves together with them. So when that time comes, we can be proud of ourselves too that we grew with BTS the same way we are proud and happy for them for choosing themselves this time around.
So what’s next? The best.
If the lead single for “Proof” hasn’t emphasized it enough, let me do it for you. In this new chapter, the best is yet to come. BTS have talked about how this anthology album will close out the first chapter of their journey, and after doing so, as always we can expect that the boys will give us something more to look forward to.
We will see the BTS that we know thriving in their own styles, we will see the BTS that we know shine in their own genres that will amaze us even more how these seven people with different tastes became the team that we love the most.
The best is indeed yet to come. They’ll be opening this new chapter with their individual projects, exploring who they are furthermore.
In the dinner party they emphasized that they are taking this step in order to grow, and who are we to not feel proud of them? The people who have always helped us, who became the rays of light for us in the dark tunnel are taking steps to become their own light.
It’s a new chapter for BTS, and we will do best what we have always done: support.
We all know that BTS have not reached their peak yet, and with this opportunity to hone themselves individually, we will see what they can contribute furthermore to their team. How amazing and exciting would that be, seeing their different facets?
The time where winter melts into spring
This news, this decision cannot be described as something as black and white or like distinguishing winter from spring. There are no definite parameters, except that this is the start of their second chapter. This is Bangtan reclaiming their sense of self and retracing their steps.
Likewise, this is them diving into themselves to make sure that the team stays afloat. There is no definitive answer of when will we see them performing as seven again, but we know that they will stay together. This is just a step for them to achieve that goal of longevity. And as it happens, this is the opening act to a much grander, much more fulfilled BTS.
This break, is not winter, we’ve known what winter looks and feels like. This is not spring either, we have a clear grasp of what that looks like. But this break is like the shift between winter melting into spring. The time where there is a thin layer of frost covering the ground starting to melt, and the flowers slowly starting to bud. This break will be like the dawn before the new day, balancing out from the night. A necessary stage to reach the clear day and the spring day.
So do not get discouraged. Trust in BTS and BTS only, the same way they trust us. BTS and ARMY have always trusted each other. Now more than ever should we make them feel that their trust in us can be something fruitful. That we the loyal customers of the magic shop will wait outside even in long queues until the break from the shop is over.
In this trust, we must keep in mind of their reassurances to us, that the seven of them will stay together. That they will be RM, Jin, SUGA, jhope, JIMIN, V, and Jungkook of BTS. And throughout this journey, we’ll be with them.
Indeed BTS, what a relief that you are seven, what a relief that as much as you have each other, I know that I — that we have you, and for as long as I and we can, you have us.
