Kuwentong Bangtan: Dear Seokjin

Dear Seokjin,

In two weeks’ time, you have fulfilled your military duties. We can’t wait to welcome you back. A lot of things have changed in the fandom. This has been really tough for me. My ARMY daughter, along with friends in Titas of BTS try our best to become better ARMYs for BTS through the #ARMYGlowUp2025 campaign. Whew. It’s not easy. But, we soldier on. And in the difficulties, we discover new things about ourselves and the importance of sisterhood, friendship and community.

You know what, while you’re on military service, we have projects big and small.

Last May 4, our small tribe of Southietas spent a weekend of rest and recreation at Tita Mona’s farm in Cavite. We called it our AGU Weekend of Rest and Recreation. It is inspired by you and Namjoon. It was a “me” time with ARMY Friends in a place where a river flows through a deep ravine and trees grow in abundance. We had a bonfire just like what you and your brothers did in episodes of Run BTS and ITS. We wrote letters to our biases and roasted hotdogs and made smores. We shared one soju as our night cap and left the empty bottle on the shelf of used up wine bottles. Just like what Yoongi and his guest would do in Suchwita.

What’s more, we sat through a talk and mini-workshop on Tetramap with Tita Lynnette as lead facilitator. Our aim was to better  understand ourselves, our goals and where we want to take them. For some of us who have gained confidence and covered enough ground on our AGUs, making the Tetramap is a tool to check in on our AGU journey.

But really, thinking about it now, that session has healed me of a consistent sense of unease and frustration.  It made me strengthen my resolve to persist. It made me understand that each person has a nature we cannot change. And we must not. We can only accept and love them as they are. If this becomes too difficult and compromising, then letting go is an inevitable reality. What remains are the good things one can take away from loving. Live life with no regrets. Life goes on.

We left the farm more relaxed and light hearted. And yes, I speak for the group (like my bias). In time, each Southieta who was there shall speak too, in her own unique and natural way. Like water that holds the community together. Like earth that is firm and dependable. Like air that is sure and logical. Like fire that lights and ignites our passions.

We will speak ourselves the way we know how because, we are slowly but surely learning to love ourselves. Kahit mahirap 💜

Salamat, Seokjin! Hinihintay ka namin!

#ARMYGlowUp2025 #AGU_Recreation #AGU_Relations