Shadows of the Spotlight

Chapter 21

The morning light peeked through a gap in the curtains, making me squint as I shuffled to the door, still half-asleep. I opened it to find Jessica, wide awake and radiating energy that felt almost unnatural after our grueling night. She greeted me with a cheerful, "Good morning! We're heading to the venue soon; thought I'd check if you're up."

I rubbed my eyes, offering her a sleepy smile. "Thanks for the wake-up call," I mumbled. "Just give me ten minutes."

After closing the door, I forced myself into motion, knowing I wouldn't get another chance to rest for a while. I quickly hopped into the shower, letting the warm water wash away the exhaustion that clung to me. By the time I got dressed in a comfortable sky-blue T-shirt and gray jeans, I was at least halfway awake.

As I packed my essentials and took a quick glance in the mirror, memories of last night came rushing back. The shoot had wrapped up around 4 a.m., but while Arc had gone off to change, I stayed behind with the audio team. We combed through the subtitles, correcting errors from the auto-dictation machine, making sure everything would flow perfectly on screen. By the time we'd had returned to the hotel, it was nearly 7 a.m. We'd barely mumbled goodbyes to each other before collapsing into our rooms, each of us too exhausted for more than a quick wave.

With a deep breath, I grabbed my bag and headed down to the hotel's parking lot, where the van was already idling. I could see the team waiting inside, their faces alert despite the late night we'd had. I quickly climbed into the van, offering a sheepish smile, and took a seat in the back row beside Arc. He looked up from his phone, wearing a hoodie and cap, and gave a tired smile.

"Sorry, I overslept," I murmured, feeling a twinge of embarrassment.

Jihoon, who was seated in the middle, glanced back and shrugged. "You're not the only one. We all crashed pretty hard."

The van began moving, pulling out of the hotel parking lot and onto the road. The streets were still quiet, and the soft hum of the engine was oddly calming. Arc, his eyes half-closed, leaned back in his seat, clearly trying to catch a few more minutes of rest. I envied his ability to sleep anywhere.

As we continued on our way, Jihoon spoke up from the front, his voice steady despite the exhaustion. "Today's the rehearsal at Madison Square Garden. We're just going over the stage setup, sound checks, and a few run-throughs for the performance tonight. It's a big day, so we need to be ready for whatever comes up. We will open the venue for 200 people for the soundcheck at 5 p.m."

I nodded, the weight of his words settling in as the excitement from the others began to rub off on me. Madison Square Garden was iconic. To think that Arc would be performing there for the next three nights—it made the reality of it all sink in. Today was crucial, a step toward something bigger.

We reached the venue, and the buzzing energy of Madison Square Garden was immediately palpable even from the parking lot. We parked directly in the underground garage to avoid attracting the attention of any early fans who might have already gathered. As we made our way into the venue, the large halls echoed with the sound of hurried footsteps and the hum of activity.

Inside, it was a whirlwind of motion. Staff members in black shirts and headsets moved swiftly around the stage, setting up sound equipment, adjusting lights, and testing cables. The stage itself was massive—an expanse of space that seemed to stretch endlessly. Workers scurried about, making sure everything was in place. Large speakers were being adjusted on either side, while technicians meticulously checked the soundboard, ensuring the acoustics would be perfect for the performance. Overhead, spotlights were being aligned, and some stagehands focused on props and backdrops, preparing for tonight's performance. The sense of organized chaos filled the air, with everyone working with a quiet but palpable sense of urgency.