unfinished

chapter 62

Everyone said their hellos and turned away from the scene that seemed inevitable. 

Roni was trying to pull Jimin toward the bar and the men gathered there, but he firmly took her hand and led her to one of the seats in the back.  Hobi turned away, wanting to give his friend privacy. 

Jimin had talked for a week about his excitement over Roni finally coming home.  He had planned and looked forward to them joining all his friends tonight. 

Now Hobi hoped that something like a dress would not ruin their
evening.  At least Jimin's lover was here with him.

Hobi cursed at that thought and went to check on Mrs. Kim.

Later he noticed Jimin had moved backstage and placed a stool next to the curtain ropes. He was looking at a sheet JK held in his hands.

Jimin looked up to see Hobi approaching and answered his questions before they were asked.

“ JK switched places with me, “he explained,”I am working the curtains and he is greeting the guests.”

JungKook winked and disappeared, a cocky grin plastered on his face.

“ He thinks he’ll get to sit with Lyra this way,” Jimin explained.

“ Ahh,” Hobi responded.

“ Hobi, I’m sorry,” Jimin said softly, “ I would never….”

 Hobi held up his hand, stopping him.

“Don’t apologize, “ he said, “ and try not to be angry.  She just got here and time together is precious.”

Jimin looked at his friend and saw the deeper truth behind his words. 

Hobi was right.  He should remind himself of all the things he loved and missed about Roni and let his anger cool before the night was through.

Jimin reached for Hobi and gave his arm a squeeze.  He could see the loneliness beneath the surface of the calm. 

He hated that for him. He wished he could make it better.  Instead of putting any of those feelings into words he gave Hobi a brief hug and whispered “Break a leg.”

Hobi held onto to the hug for just a fraction of a moment longer than usual. 

His friend’s embrace made him realize his need for someone to lift him up and hold him together tonight.  That was exactly what his friends were doing, gladly tackling jobs they probably thought were ridiculous so that his first recital went well.

He knew that they would do everything in their power to make tonight a success for him. 

That was the blessing in his life.  They were the reasons he could do this and not dwell on what was missing tonight.

“ Thank you,” he whispered in return. There was no need to spell it out.  Jimin knew exactly what he was saying.

As Hobi stepped away, a blur of pink and bouncing curls buzzed past him, a harried mother following behind, trying to gather the coat and other things the child was shedding as she ran.

The two men exchanged a laugh, a real one, and Hobi said, “ I guess it’s time to get ready.”

He stepped into the backstage area, leaving everything in the front of house behind.

The sights and sounds of backstage soon had him in performance mode.  Maybe this time the giggles were higher pitched and the tears more frequent than he was used to, but the adrenaline and the rush were ancient. 

He stood in the circle of dancers from age three to the ageless Mrs. Kim. 

They all held hands and felt the surge of fear and joy run from one to another.  They prayed for a safe performance and ended with a studio cheer the teen dancers had created.  Then there was only the dance.

The loft had quickly filled with families, proud moms and dads, squirmy little brothers and sisters, beaming grandparents.  The ushers did their job well and as predicted were very well received.

Finally, it appeared everyone was seated and the men sat back satisfied their work was over.

They only truly relaxed once the ladies slipped away from the backstage and joined them.

They were all polite and welcoming to Roni, too polite to comment on her appearance. Their tasteful dresses and Dae’s on trend pant suit did it for them.  Roni took it in stride, greeting each one of them warmly. 

The lights went down and the show was ready to begin.

Dae leaned to catch Sky’s face as the curtains opened and Tae took center stage. 

As the soft spotlight lit Taehyung's face and his deep voice welcomed the crowd an appreciative mummer ran throughout the room. 

The men in the back snorted and the women laughed at them and Sky positively glowed!

But then the music began and the first tiny group took the stage.  The little ladybugs waited, carefully listening for their cue to start and the entire room was enchanted.

 No one noticed when Sky stepped away to greet a late arrival, welcoming them into a comfortable seat in the back on one of Lyra’s soft cushioned chairs.

Then the ladybugs began to dance.