The shirt felt too tight around his chest and squeezing his arms into the suit jacket that followed it was a task of nightmares. And it made sense it didn't fit, given that he had borrowed it from Taeil. Borrowed or begged for, what's the difference?
Johnny anxiously adjusted his cuffs, pulling the black sleeves down to cover the flat-ironed cuffs of the white shirt underneath. He couldn't complain that the suit was too short though. Taeil was kind enough to lend it to him at a very short-term notice. He just hoped no one there would comment on the ill fit.
If Taeil had noticed Johnny's nerves as he busted into his room and frantically asked if he could borrow a suit, he didn't mention it, which Johnny was very thankful for. He didn't know how he would explain anything to anyone he knew if they asked about this.
He frantically checked his watch as the hands ticked closer and closer to 10pm. He strongly exhaled and leaned his head back against the hard seats of the taxi. He shut his eyes before opening them and accidentally making eye contact with the driver who was eyeing him through the mirror.
The driver quickly averted his eyes and Johnny released a small breath of air that could be heard as a chuckle. Johnny supposed he did look ridiculous. Barely put together, hair hanging wildly around his face, small suit paired with all-black trainers that he could've sworn were dress shoes when he grabbed them as he was rushing out the door.
Glancing out the window, all that greeted him was more traffic. He sighed and, as if summoned, drops of rain started hitting the glass panes. He once again adjusted his view forward and was met with the sight of the back of another car, altered by the many streaks of water running down the windshield.
The traffic then finally started moving and, as the taxi turned a corner, a brightly lit theatre came into view. Individual lightbulbs giving off more yellow than white light lined a board that hung over the entrance and ticket booth. The individual letters slotted into the board read, in all caps, "WORLD-FAMOUS SINGER SWEET-HEART PERFORMS 10PM SATURDAY".
Johnny felt his breath catch in his throat as the taxi eventually slowed to a halt just outside the entrance. He quickly paid the driver and opened the door. The rain pelted him on the head as he gazed up at the signage.
"Sir? Are you here for the show?" Johnny's head snapped to the ticket booth. He quickly walked over and searched for his ticket in his pockets. He grabbed it and presented it to the teenager working the stand.
"You're lucky to get a ticket, I heard they sold out within 2 minutes." The cashier chuckled as they scanned his ticket. Johnny contemplated this as he remembered the envelope Mark had slipped him earlier today, saying that he needed to see this.
He hadn't understood his insistence until google had aided him in his search of 'who is Sweet-Heart?'. How Mark had heard of you but he didn't, he'll never know. Johnny also made a mental reminder to pay back Mark with dinner or something, depending on how the night turned out.
"Well you're all set. Enjoy the show!" The teen handed back the ticket and gestured Johnny inside the venue.
The inside was completely different from what Johnny expected. He knew it was a black suit event but the extravagant high ceilings with draped red and gold curtains and the eggshell white walls, covered in carving after carving, really put it into perspective.
The room was practically deserted apart from the clerk sitting lazily at the end behind a lecturn who straightened up after he saw him, obviously thinking everyone had entered the large oak doors behind him. Johnny followed the red carpet along the hardwood floors finally making it to the clerk, who awkwardly turned around and opened the doors.
