Unexpected

Part 49

My race was okay, but not great. The resurfaced track was slippery and I (along with other drivers) received time penalties for exceeding track limits. Add to that the red and blue squiggly lines that outline the track, and I almost have a headache by the end of the race. Whose brilliant idea was that? I prefer the grass and gravel pits. Easier on the eyes, if not the car.

The circuit is near Marseille, but the four of us are flying to Paris this evening. Yes, the four of us. Besides Sangil and I, Suhyun joined us along with an idol friend of mine, Fujiwara Mika. Marseille is great, but when most people think of a vacation in France they think Paris.

Thankfully I don't have many media obligations, and after debriefing with the team I'm allowed to go. I had introduced Suhyun and Mika in the morning before the race, and hopefully they've had a chance to get to know one another off camera. Off WGM camera that is, other cameras are inside the paddock all the time. But they don't have microphones and are usually not that interested in my guests.

We thought ahead, and have our bags ready to go in the car. My brother Kira recently obtained his commercial pilot's license (he's had a private license for five years already), and takes us to Paris in a smaller plane. Snuper's manager was freaking out at first, but calmed down when Kira told him how many thousands of flying hours he had under his belt. I've flown with him before and trust him completely. There's no waiting time, and we're off.

"Now this is the way to fly," says Suhyun. "After security you just stroll to your waiting plane and leave."

"Less time for fans to take pictures and videos," adds Sangil.

"Sangil!" chides Suhyun. "That's not nice. We love our fans."

"Relax, hyung. There are no cameras around."

"Sometimes I do wish we had more privacy," Suhyun admits, "But you know that we've never had fans that buy a ticket and are also with us past security."

Sangil nods. "True. We're lucky."

"So, Mika," says Suhyun, turning to her. "Tell me about yourself. It was so noisy at the race we couldn't really talk. You're an idol?"

"Yes. We just debuted this January."

"Kind of late, wasn't it?" he asks gently.

"Yes, we all were older. We had trained for years, and hadn't been chosen to be in a group. So we went to our current entertainment company and asked if we could debut. They're known for re-debuting groups, so we thought we had a chance. All of us were twenty-five or older when we debuted."

"That is unusual, but I believe Irene from Red Velvet was twenty-three  when she debuted, so you're in good company. Did the age have anything to do with your hair?"

"During our first song? Yes," she laughs. "The gray with pastel was a nod to our being older."

"And you guys being older is why you do sexy concepts?"

"Not only because of that. All five of us enjoy acting sexy on stage. It's a nice kind of sexy."

"As opposed to...?"

Mika laughs. "I guess I'm trying to say that I don't find it a sexy that I'm uncomfortable with. Not raunchy sexy, for instance. More understated. Seductive and alluring."

"And your first comeback was two months ago. The outfits are familiar, but I don't know how to describe it."

"Steampunk."

"Not really sexy, but you guys made it work."

"Corsets, leather, and chains aren't sexy?" Mika laughs.

"The skirt part was unexpected. And the leather and chains were tiny accessories, not like BDSM." Sangil and I stare at him. "What? You think I don't know what that is?"

"I'm surprised you said it in the correct order, that's all," I say.

"And it was a breakup song?" he continues.

"Did you google us?" Mika demands.

Suhyun nods sheepishly.

"Then it's my turn to ask you questions. How old were you when you debuted?"

"Twenty-three."

"So you were up there in years, too."

"Yeah, I guess so. But we haven't done a sexy concept, unless you count It's Raining."

"Those plunging necklines were sexy."

"Ah-ha! So you googled us, too."

"Maybe. But I don't think you guys had sexy dance moves."

"Taewoong does three hip thrusts in Where."

Sangil laughs. "And don't forget we all do in this new song, Come Over."

"I'll look forward to that," I say.

"But we probably won't do that onstage," he hastily adds. "Just for the music video."

"Sebin will," says Suhyun. "He loves sexy dances." Then he adds something in Korean that neither Mika not I understand, but makes Sangil snort.

I raise my eyebrows at him. "It's more like a crotch grab," he whispers in halting Japanese into my ear.

"Then I think you'll like where we're going tonight. Moulin Rouge."

"Suhyun will like that," smirks Sangil. "Although last time he went to something similar someone took a photo and put it up on social media."

"But our fans are mature and didn't care," responds Suhyun. "Even though some people tried to make it into a scandal."

"And blamed you for taking Sebin along and corrupting him."

"Please," snorts Suhyun. "He begged to go. And he was twenty-two years old, for goodness sake's."

Because of time constraints, Mika does my makeup on the plane, followed by hers, and we land soon after. We go to the hotel just to drop off our bags and quickly change.

"You look good," Suhyun compliments me. "Different than you usually do."

"Thanks," I grin.

Not to be outdone, Sangil pays me pretty compliments, too. I return the sentiments, since he looks dashing himself.

The show is amazing, even if I don't understand a word of what they sing. The outfits would be outrageous if they had been on anyone else, anywhere else, but they fit so well. I enjoy myself tremendously, but I believe Suhyun and Sangil enjoy themselves more.

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Does anyone remember when Suhyun got caught visiting a strip club? Truly, the fans didn't care.

Here is a fun Japanese Snuper song.