For the Love of Joon

Chapter 5-Sick

Once soundcheck is over, I try to make myself scarce. The words Namjoon said are swirling in my head.

"Sejin, I am going to head back to the hotel and check in on Joon. I won't be gone long."

"No problem, Mel."

I grab my stuff from the dressing room as I order an Uber. Once it has arrived, I take off toward the hotel. Back in my room, Eunji and Joon are sitting on the bed in a heated game of UNO.

"MOMMY," Joon yells, her card forgotten.

She ran over to me, and I picked her up, giving her a big hug.

"Have you and Eunji been having fun?"

"Yes, so much. Did everyone come back?"

"Not this time bug. They are relaxing at the venue before the concert."

"Can I stay up until they get back tonight?"

"I think that will be too late for you to be up."

She pouts, "But Joon said he would read me a story."

"It if isn't too late tonight, then he can tomorrow."

"Fine," She says, resigned.

I put her down and changed clothes for the concert tonight. Since it is my first one as their official event manager, I decided to dress a little more stylish. I pull on a pair of black skinny jeans with ripped knees, and underneath, I wear a pair of fishnet tights so they are seen through the knees. I pull on a black tank top, and over that, I add a purple button-up. I roll the sleeves up and leave the top three buttons undone. I glam my makeup up a bit by doing a smokey eye and then curling my hair and letting it fall to my shoulders.

Satisfied, I spritz on some perfume and put on my jewelry, a pair of black diamond studs in my second hole and some dangly black metal earrings. I am wearing the necklace I always wear, a sterling disk with Joon's birthstone embedded and her name and date of birth. After donning my Apple watch, I leave my fingers bare because I don't really own a lot of rings.

"Alright, ladies, how do I look?" I ask, stepping out of the bathroom.

Joon starts clapping. "You look awesome mommy. Maybe someone will like it a lot."

"And who might that be?"

"I don't know, but maybe it will catch a boyfriend."

For the last six months, she has been obsessed with finding me a boyfriend for some reason. I think it is all those Disney princess movies showing every woman with a man. I mean, how unrealistic.

"Don't hold your breath, baby."

After giving her a kiss, I open the door and come face to face with Hwan who doesn't look happy to see me.

"Miss West, you didn't tell me you were leaving."

"I'm sorry, Hwan. I am not used to having to tell someone when I am going somewhere. How did you even know?"

"Mr. Kim asked Mr. Sejin where you were, and he told him you came to the hotel. Then he saw me and got...let's say he was not happy that I was not with you."

"I will talk to him. It wasn't your fault. I am sorry if I got you in trouble."

"Are we headed back?"

"Yes."

When we arrived back at the venue, I saw Sejin almost the second I returned.

"Sejin, it was not Hwan's fault. I am not used to this, and it is going to take time to get used to it."