Risk is the Spice of Life

Chapter 2

Rap Monster stooped to pick up my bag at the same time I did and our heads crashed together. I squinted in pain and clutched my head; a small squeal of pain escaped my lips. I'd like to say that it was the sweetest pain I'd had up to that point, my head colliding with the head of my idol and all, but it was just pain and that pain had me hunched over and immobile. I straightened up and soon the stars had dissipated. I prepared myself to attempt to retrieve the bag again, but it was already waiting for me in Rap Monster's hand.

"I think you dropped this" he said with a grin.

"Ahh, yes. Thank you, I'm sorry.......are you ok?" I replied as I met his eyes. He was still grinning as I took the bag from him and I felt my cheeks go pink. Drat.

"Rap Mon, where is Fernando?" asked BTS's representative as if he were talking to a child who knew he'd done something wrong. Rap Monster put a hand behind his head and chuckled nervously.

"Wellllll......ahhhhh, you see, I was concerned that you'd miss her", he nodded his head toward me, "and I wanted to make sure that you were able to make her the offer."

"Does Fernando even know you decided to take a stroll unprotected?"

Rap Monster shrugged. "Maybe." BTS's representative began grumbling in his native language.

"No one even knows we're here yet, so as long as we make it back to the booth before then, we'll be fine" Rap Monster consoled, patting the rep on his shoulder. The rep heaved a huge sigh and ran a hand down his face in a dramatic gesture.

"Fine. Finefinefinefinefinefine. Just don't go anywhere else until I can get Fernando over here to escort us back." The rep excused himself and turned his back to make a phone call. Rap Monster grinned at me again.

"Soooo.....you wanted to invite me to be part of your new project........but why?" I asked.

"As I said, the way you maneuvered through the crowd caught my attention."

"You think I'd be good, fresh talent for your project because I was pretending to be an Airbender." I confirmed disbelievingly.

"Yes. Well no. Kind of. Your movements are graceful and natural, and the aesthetic you create with that is something I've been looking for."

Despite the fact that my heart was still pounding as my idol spoke to me, I couldn't stop the disbelief from creeping in. It must have showed on my face because he continued,

"Look, we don't want highly trained, well-polished professionals for this project. We were given full creative liberty with this and we want real people because we are real people. There'll be some tough work to do and you'd still have to go through some preliminary rounds before being selected.......but like I said, I like your aesthetic. I think you'd make a great fit in our project. Just give it a try." Rap Monster reached into his pocket, pulled out a business card, and held it out to me. "Preliminaries start next week. If you decide you want to try, give me a call."

I was still apprehensive, but I took the card anyway. At least I'd have time to think about it. I almost imploded at the thought that I had gotten Rap Monster's number, but my logic threw water on that fire by suggesting that it was most likely a corporate number for approved contestants.

"And here I thought the respectful, responsible leader wasn't as sneaky as Jungkook." Said a man from behind Rap Monster. How I didn't see him approach floored me. Oh wait, I was wearing blinders. The man behind Rap Monster was exactly how I thought a bodyguard would look. He was about as tall as Rap Monster and dressed in loose, comfortable clothing, all black. I could barely make out the clear earpiece that started in his left ear and was connected by a curly wire to the receiver I knew had to be hidden in his waistband. Rap Monster smiled at his bodyguard. Damn that smile.

"As a leader, it is my duty to ---"Rap Monster was cut off by a scream on level with a dog whistle in pitch and a foghorn in volume. We processed too late that the scream actually formed words: "Oh my god! It's Rap Monster!" A fangirl. Well, this was about to get exciting...

There was a brief, yet agonizing silence as heads turned in our direction, eyes searching feverishly for the idol. I was instantly reminded of the seagulls in Finding Nemo and I imagined many of the fans screaming "mine" in their heads.

Fernando reached for BTS's Rep, who had rushed over at the sound of the scream, and grabbed him by the arm while pushing Rap Monster in the direction of their booth. Rap Monster waved at me and something, but his words were drowned by the tidal wave of fans screaming.