Tangerine (MYG)

Chapter - Neon Anxiety

I twisted the rusty doorknob and open the door to the newest bar in town. It was called 'Uptown.' New bars always appear in New York City, but this one caught my eye. And to be upfront, I don't even like bars. But I was having a bad day and I wanted to do something spontaneous to prove I still had control over my life.

The inside of the bar is lit up in pink and green neon lights, a mist of blueberry floats around the air. I notice a man sitting at the far-right end of the bar smoking away on his vape pen. I was drawn over to the bar by its lightshow. The lights behind the rack of liquor, whiskey, wine and other alcohols were strobing a slow rainbow of colors. I didn't make eye contact with anyone and immediately hurled myself up on a stool. Me being short makes tall barstools an unnecessary obstacle. The bartender was an older man, with slicked back white hair and some two-day old scruff.

Pulling out the drink menu from a nearby caddy, I looked it over. 'NY Sunset sounds delicious,' I said to myself. It consisted of vodka, orange juice, mashed strawberries, sprite and topped with an orange peel. When the white-haired bartender approached me, I gave him the order. I pulled out my phone and mindlessly scrolled through it, an anxious habit. Bars made me nervous, I didn't really look at anyone, heck I wasn't even dressed that nicely. I wasn't here to be picked up. I was just wearing destroyed skinny jeans, some classic Vans, and this black top that had cut outs on the shoulders. The print was cheetah print, but it was a dark gray and the print was mostly unnoticeable.

After receiving my drink, I put my phone down on the counter and took a sip. I smiled. It was delicious, thankfully. I hate alcohol. A few sips later I began to get some liquid courage and was looking around the bar at people. Hoping I didn't know or work with anyone here, I noticed a gentleman to the far left wearing a black wide brimmed hat. He was sporting a leather jacket and plain white tee underneath. He seemed to be zoning out. I stared at him. 'Why does this guy look so familiar?' I wondered to myself.

I found myself feeling creepy because I kept gawking at him wondering where I knew him from. Then he took out his phone and looked at it, the screen lit his face up more clearly. My heart stopped. I instantly snapped my eyes down at the counter. How. That can't be him. An internal struggle to breathe and urge to scream filled my lungs. I shakily picked up my phone and opened Google. I typed in 'Min Yoongi.' I don't know why I needed a picture; I knew that zoned out stare, that cold expression. This man was a singer/rapper from BTS. Images popped up and it was confirmed. Confirmation I did not need. I swallowed heavily and began huge draws at my drink to finish it off, and possibly calm myself down.

I had to talk to him. I loved that band more than anything. And him especially. Their music had changed my life. Made it better, and I had to inform him.

The bartender revisited me and asked if I wanted another round. "N-no thank you. But." My voice was shaking at this point. "That man in the black wide brimmed hat over there, will you give him another of the same thing he's drinking on me, and ask him if I can approach him?" The white-haired man raised an awkward eyebrow at me but followed my request. After a moment that seemed like a decade, I mustered the courage to watch him as he received his new drink. He gave a weird, astonished face to the bartender, then immediately locked eyes with me. He gave me a subtle nod.

My heart was racing. If I didn't calm down, I might have a coronary. But how often do you get to approach your favorite idol in a local bar? What were the astronomical chances? 'Fate.' I thought and then shook the silly idea from my head. BTS was probably here performing, and he needed to take a break. Absolutely nothing more. Luck was just on my side tonight.

I slid down from my giant's barstool and my legs almost buckled underneath me. I took several deep breaths and walked over to him. I'm just some girl who lives in New York and is having a bad day. But I bent my body into a deep bow as soon as I was in front of him. He was Korean and this was a sign of respect, and I had nothing but respect for this man. He returned the bow and looked at me. Those beautiful mono-lid eyes with dark chocolate-colored centers.

"You are Min Yoongi, right?" I asked, trying my best not to sound absolutely nuts. He nodded. My heart went into another heart-attack mode. My anxiety kicked in too, what the heck did I say next? I held out my hand for him to shake, he shook it. "This is truly an honor; I am an enormous fan. I just wanted to meet you and tell you that ever since I started listening to BTS and your raps my life has dramatically improved. I have a newfound love for music that I thought I had lost. I don't speak Korean, and I need the lyrics translated, but music transcends language. What I feel from the music you write, compose, sing, and produce speaks to my soul and enhances my quality of life. I smile so much more now. My current favorite songs are 'Seesaw' and 'Euphoria,' but honestly, it changes as soon as I find a new song to listen to."

I was rambling, he was just staring at me, with an emotionless face. As if he had heard these lines a thousand times. I panicked. I was disturbing this wonderful human being. I bowed again, not entirely sure why. "I'm very sorry for interrupting your peaceful evening, please continue it. I just wanted to let you know that your music has changed my life. I wish you the best health." I turned quickly and took a step to leave but he said something. "Wait." I turned again to face him. His earlier cold expression seemed to melt a small amount. "What's your name?" He asked me. Expressionless again. This was obviously a man you could not read.

I answered him, stuttering it of course. This turn of events caught me off guard. Min Yoongi half smiled and then asked me a question that made my heart not race, but halt, entirely. "Would you like to take a walk?"