5 September 2015

A stage somewhere in Seoul

"I don't think you should perform today," I looked at the text from Jeongguk.

"Jagi, I promised that we'd meet after, even though I would be tired," our manager was approaching us so I texted quickly.

"I got this feeling that something bad will happen today," he replied, adding a frown emoji.

"Your bunny sense is tingling?" I teased, trying to shrug off his warning.

"Be extra careful today," my boyfriend knew of my schedule so he said goodbye.

It was sunny just a minute ago, I observed clouds gathering above the outdoor arena. Hoping they were just there to protect us from UV rays, we continued our rehearsal, ignoring the crew saying that they should postpone the performance.

The downpour started as we finished the songs from the Season of Glass EP. 25 seconds into Me Gustas Tu, I saw Yuju fall. I wanted to quit the choreo and rush to assist her but the gazes of a hundred people stopped me. They expected perfection so I watched helplessly as she picked herself up and continued from where we had left off.

Insects trying to find their way underground appeared on the stage. As I sang, I turned to Sowon eonnie. She was terribly afraid of bugs but she continued dancing, despite being attacked by them from all sides. On top of that, was the added pressure of leadership so I did my best to not make her worry about me.

Yuju had fallen again and again, and it didn't take an MMA analyst to figure out she was bruised black all over that slender frame of hers. I worried when SinB faceplanted the stage, hoping that we'd at least stop the performance now to check if she had concussed. The upbeat music now seemed to be the tune of the Pied Piper, demanding that we continue dancing despite being led to a terrible fate.

It was only at the end of the song, Yuju having fallen down EIGHT times and getting back up as if she were a rubber ball and not a glass bead, when the MC announced that the event was over.

"Jeongguk, I'm sorry but I won't make it today," my fingers trembled from the cold but I continued texting.

"Baby, I wouldn't expect it of you after that rain. Have a hot meal and bath, then dream of me while you're sleeping. We can celebrate my birthday some other day," he added a smiley emoji.

What did I do to deserve a caring boyfriend like him? I smiled as I was finally handed a towel to remove the icy droplets of rain from my skin.