They're alive, and they're coming back....

Hobi's birthday live was expected. Him being funny and cool was expected. Hearing Jimin and JK's voices...was not. Cue the tears.

HAPPY HOPEDAY.

It was wee wee hours in the AM when the Weverse notification popped on my phone, which was sitting on the nightstand. I knew what that meant: Hobi was going live for his birthday. He’s now 31, but as we have learned in Bangtan math, that could mean he is 35 like RM, 41 like Yoongi or even pushing 50 like Jin. Hell, JK’s entered the time portal and has himself pushing 30, ahead of Tae. (More on that later.) They’re all possible under Korean + international age + Bangtan dynamic math.

I was thrilled just to get a Weverse notification, as they can be as hit or miss as getting Ticketmaster to work on a leap year. But on this day, for Jwe-Hope’s birthday, the mikrokosmos aligned.

I woke up, got the live up on my phone, and smiled sleepily just seeing him. He looks good. Healthy, happy and as we know, up to much secret squirrel business for the new music and world tour. I am lucky enough to go see him in Chicago, night 2, and I will be bringing my little purple pouches of trinkets for the masses.

There is something special about the tradition of spending a bit of their birthdays with us. It was always a gift before, as I am sure they have a ton of stuff to do. But now, thanks to the damned Army hiatus, where we are celebrating their birthdays and milestones without them/for them, it feels more right than ever to have them with us again - in all the danger and silliness that a BTS live can bring. (Although, the silliness factors are lower when it is just one Tannie. UNLESS, it is RM spinning in an office chair with a lit cake. That still is a moment.)

Or, Jin choosing to karate chop his cake in half since he didn’t have a knife handy. Only Jin would pull that off, with the poor staff as witnesses to the cake murder.

The 2025 Hobi celebration was pretty chill. Usual cute balloons, the usual cute cake, and Hobi being dancey-squirmy in his chair.

But the moment that ended me, as in whoa, was the call from the Baby 1 and 3 in the Army. Jimin and JK, on the phone, in full chaos like time has not passed for them or us. Jimin, who we have not heard in speaking voice since the enlistment in Dec. 2023, said he was embarrassed because he hasn’t done a live in a long time. His smooth, low timbre sounded as soothing as ever. Then he called his military mate over, JK, and he went HAM with the cute Busan satoori. My Korean progress is SLOW, damn it, but I now can really pick up when JK is hitting the satoori. I almost got the vibes that he was imitating Yoongi’s dad. WHICH I DO APPROVE OF. JK has been less of a stranger, as he did his norebang on Dec. 18, 2024 from his swanky mancave lounge in his new house.

Hobi was clearly touched hearing from the guys. And the JK/Jimin show sounds as hilarious as ever. Apparently, according to Jimin, there are many many military stories to share, even if they worry we can’t take it. Jimin-shi, we all endured your gastric pains on Are You Sure?, episodes 1 and 2, so at this point, I feel like we are family and can take whatever. TMI of the day is always in effect. He says he has gained 8 or 9 kilos in the military and is 150 pounds. Which, as an adult male who is around 5-10ish, my God, you are totally good. My post-military wish is for no more skeletal BTS, I want healthy, eat your meat and veggies and be strong BTS. I think Jin and Hobi look great right now. And per Jimin, JK is “huge”. Well, we know Tae has hulked up, so let’s go. Big boy Bangtan.

When they got into talking about how old they are, and JK delved into almost being 30, for the love of Cooky, why? Dude, you are 27. Repeat after me, you are the maknae, and you are 27. Jimin, you are 29 - you get to claim rights to the 30 freak out. They all giggled and loved being together in this moment of normalcy.

I honestly wanted to hold the phone like Hobi (sorry, Min Yoongi, I still have an iPhone, please forgive me), and squeal and laugh at hearing this conversation. It was healing, right and authentic. They signed off by saying “I love you”, as is BTS’ style, an affirming moment of positive male emotional realness.

The light is at the end of the tunnel. I see it. They see it. A few more months and the Lives are going to get more chaotic, and I will be praying my Weverse notifications ding at 4 a.m. They are worth it.

Borahae. What was your favorite part of the live?