Addicted To You

1 - Addicted

Disclaimer- This story is a work of FICTION. I do not know them personally and their reactions and dialogue are completely made up.

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It was early January in the suburbs of Atlanta, GA and the normally mild winter weather had taken a sudden turn to nasty and cold. The forecast had called for rain in the afternoon, but it came in the form of sleet after dark instead. The icy pellets made a clickity sound as they bounced off my windows and laid a blanket of crystal that sparkled in the moonlight.

The temperature had been hovering around 32 degrees most of the day then dropped dramatically when the sun went down. The last time I checked, it was 19 degrees. The slush would freeze overnight bringing down tree limbs on power lines and making it dangerous on the roads the next morning. Thankfully, I didn't have to leave the house.

The roaring fireplace cast a soft glow over the room as the flames danced and crackled, offering their warmth. I was snuggled under a blanket on the sofa with a steaming cup of chamomile tea in my hands. I was nice and cozy in my fleece hoodie, sweatpants, and fuzzy socks. Jinki, my Siamese kitty, was curled up on my lap, snoozing without a care in the world.

My long day had been filled with researching an article I was writing and meetings with my publisher. I just wanted to unwind, relax, and stay warm. I was done with my computer for the day and my phone was face down on the coffee table. I didn't want to pick it back up, but an email alert got my attention. I only get notifications when I receive emails from my family, my publisher, and a handful of other people I consider important enough for that honor.

I sighed and picked it up to check. The email was in Korean Hangul, which is not unusual in itself because of my shopping habits, but what got me was the sender. It was from Monsta X's manager, with whom I had spoken before. I considered him to be important enough for a notification. It had been a long time since I had heard from and his email was completely unexpected.

Now, keep in mind that I do not really speak or read the Korean language. Like most K-pop and K-drama fans, I have picked up a decent vocabulary of words and phrases just from listening to the music and watching the shows. I can sound out the Hangul characters, but I have not seriously studied the language. I want to. It is on my list. But I just haven't had the motivation or the time to dedicate to it.

Anyway, back to that email. It included the English translation below the Hangul text. I read it twice, to make sure I understood it correctly. Then sat in disbelief for probably five minutes.

Monsta X had requested an audience with Yours Truly.

Once it soaked in, I sat up quickly which disturbed Miss Jinki, and we all know this is breaking the cat law. Of course, I was verbally chastised and received a rather rude flick off with her tail as she removed herself from my lap.

I moved closer to the screen as if that would help me grasp the content better. The email was vague and all I could really be sure of was that it involved writing.

I carefully crafted my response then used Papago to translate it into Korean, then back to English. This is my test to make sure it is translated properly. Following his format, I included the original English as well, then hit send and sat there watching the screen as if I expected an immediate answer. I decided to go to bed instead of playing the waiting game.

Recently, the group left SSE and started their own label, Velocity Entertainment. They fired Eshy for their US promotions. They had kept their dancers, managers, and stylists. Otherwise, they were basically on their own, handling the day-to-day business themselves.

As a freelance writer with a popular blog called My MonDiction, I landed on their radar when some months ago I released an in-depth series in a national magazine on the 'cancel culture' in South Korea and how it has adversely affected idols' lives, or in some cases ruined their careers. I focused on how different the reaction is internationally versus on their home soil. I used MX heavily as an example as they were one of the few to actually come out intact on the other side of a scandal. Intact, not unscathed.