Bucket Hat

Phone Call

11:39pm.

Kayla is pacing back and forth in our hotel room chewing on her fingers. She looks as nervous as I feel right now. "It's almost midnight El. You have to call that number." I'm sitting on my bed staring down at the writing inside the hat. This is how I've been sitting for the past hour since we arrived back to our room. "I don't know. I mean, what does he want to talk about? I don't know Korean either, so how will we talk? What could he possibly want to talk about?" I keep fidgeting with my fingers and the hat, not looking up. "Ella Renee, are you fucking serious?! Do you hear yourself? A super famous, super hot idol gave you his fucking phone number secretly! Your ultimate bias might I add. This is beyond anyones dreams! There's no 'I don't know' about it. You call the damn number at midnight and talk to him. And you know as well as I do he knows English well enough to hold a basic conversation. Who knows what he wants, maybe a hook-up. And if you don't, I'll kill you by the way. Now quit making excuses because you're scared. You are always doing things so safely. Well, this is a chance to take a risk El, so take it! Live a little! If nothing more than a one time conversation comes from this, then you can live the rest of your life, every time you see Jungkook on tv, saying 'hey I know that guy,' and really mean it! Any other person, including myself, would kill for this opportunity and you have it. So don't waste it because you're too scared to live a little in your boring ass life!" She's got a point, as always, but it doesn't help my anxiety right now. " I like my life" I mumble. Kayla sighs and sits down next to me, putting her arm around me. "I know you do Ella. You have a very nice comfortable, predictable, boring life. But there's nothing wrong with a little unpredictability to seize a once in a lifetime opportunity." I look up at her and sigh, my stomach in knots. I know she's right. My life is so neat, so planned...so predictable day to day. With one last huge sigh I say, "Ok, I'll call the number." Squealing, Kayla engulfs me in a mammoth sized hug. "Yay sissy! I'm so proud of you. This is going to be something amazing, I can feel it." I look at her face radiating happiness and can't help but smile. "Stop. And get me my phone and charger, will you?" "Sure thing sis!" She jumps off my bed and grabs my phone from the table, along with my charger. I plug it in, seeing I'm at 21% power, and sit there staring at my phone screen. It's got Jungkooks picture on it as my lock-screen. "It's 11:59 Ella. Just dial the number." Kayla scoots the hat toward me and I look down at the number. With trembling fingers I punch the digits into my phone. Then I sit. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Here goes....I'm an idiot. I push the green button to activate the call.

*Ring*......I can hear my heart pounding in my chest......*Ring*.......my palms are so sweaty I have to wipe them on my pants.....*Ring*......I'm going to vomit......mid 4th ring I hear it......"Yeobosayo?" I freeze. I panic. I can't speak. My voice is gone. I hear it again...."Hello?" I then feel a slap on my arm. "Ella, answer him!" Kayla whisper yells to me. I look at her, wide eyed, and nod stupidly. "Ahhem, uh, yeah, h-hello? Is this, J-Jungkook?" I stammer so badly I'm sure I sound like an imbecile. "Is this bucket hat?" I hear the voice answer. I smile at that and take a deep breath again. "Y-yeah, it's bucket hat. Er, I mean, my name is Ella." I hear a deep breath taken on the line, along with a small chuckle. "Ah, Ella, yes. Much better than bucket hat." He says laughing. His laugh was like music and it calmed my shaking nerves immensely, although not completely of course. I laugh in return. "Haha, yeah. Umm, you did very well tonight at your concert. And thank you for the hat too." I again hear him chuckle. "Thank you and you're welcome. I'm glad you used the number I put inside. I hoped the security guard gave you my message." I can't get the smile off my face. " Yes, he did. Um, I'm glad I used the number too. Aren't you tired though? I-I don't want to keep you from resting." He was quick to shoot back, "No no! I'm not ready for sleep. I can't sleep right away after a big performance. I have to let my energy calm down." His energy, that's so cute. "Oh ok. But I don't want to keep you from resting." He replies, "I'm not ready for rest, I want to talk to you. I would like to know you more. If that's ok." Oh my heart! Even his perfect grammar English, with his Korean accent, sounds so adorable and perfect. I lightly laugh and say, "Ok. I'd like to get to know you better too then. But I don't know what to talk about." "Hmmm, I don't know what to talk about too." He laughs. I hear someone in the background shout "Ask her what she's doing right now? Maybe ask where she's staying, if she's coming to day 2!" "O-oh! Who was that?" I ask, surprised and nervous to hear that he's not alone. "Ahh, that's my hyung, Jimin. He knows how to talk to women better." He then laughs which makes me laugh. Kayla hugs me and mouths that she's going to soak in the tub for a bit to give me privacy. I blow her a kiss and get back to my call.