It was only a short-term rental because I’d spent so long procrastinating that I’d been left with mere days to sort out some where to live before I was kicked out by the university. I was too indecisive. I’d kept looking at flat shares in different areas of thecity, but I couldn’t make up my mind about where I’d wanted to live, or if I even wanted flatmates.
In the end, the decision had been taken out of my hands, and I’d been forced to pull the trigger on a studio that was immediately available because it was short-term only. It was more expensive, so I’d need to figure out my future plans sooner, rather than later.
In the busy few days between graduation, and moving, I’d completely forgotten to think about how to respond to the message from Ace, because surely I did need to at least respond. Now, an awkward amount of time had passed, and I didn’t know how to get past it.
In the end, responding to him was pushed to the back of my mind after a particularly eventful day at work, which had started like any other.
It was Wednesday, and we were sitting in one of the meeting rooms to discuss the agenda for the weekend, and first half of next week’s schedule, as we always did, when my name was unexpectedly called, shaking me out of the slight stupor I’d fallen into from the combination of the overly warm room, and the bad night’s sleep in my new, unfamiliar flat.
“Kaiya, got a bit of a good one for you.” Noor, the events editor said, looking my way with a grin on her face.
I sat up straighter, trying to appear as though I’d been fully present, and not slumped in my seat, wondering if I had enough milk in the fridge, or if I needed to swing past Aldi on the way home.
“Hmm?” was the best I could manage on such short notice, but Noor didn’t seem to register it, leafing through a small stack of papers on the table in front of her.
“A notice was sent out this morning to all the outlets announcing the line up for the Music Choice Awards in November.”
I perked up slightly. The MCAs were being held in LA at the Mayan Theatre. Becka and I had been joking for weeks about it, but surely not–
“Derrick and I decided you’d be a good one to cover it,” she said casually, referring to the editor-in-chief.
I gaped. Mouth open, eyes unblinking, looking for any hint that I was being wound up.
“But… I mean, yes, of course,” I spluttered, “but… why me?”
Noor frowned. “Unless you think someone else might be better suited to the job?”
The others seated at the table fidgeted. Some outright sniggered.
“No,” I said quickly, “I can absolutely do it.”
“Good,” Noor nodded. “Because the reason we’re sending you is becauseFrequencyhas been invited to be present at a concert and press junket two days before the awards show, and we want you to cover the event. The MCAs just happen to be in the same city, at the same time, so you might as well cover those too, save us the air-fare instead of sending anyone else.” She winked at me to soften the joke.
I nodded. This made more sense. I was being sent to LA to cover a concert and conference for a band, which was way more in my wheelhouse. Even if my wheelhouse was generally in this part of the world.
LA. Becka. A fleeting burst of excitement made my lips tug up, and I had to tamp down my glee enough to ask-
“Which band am I’m covering?”
Noor looked down at her notes briefly before looking up.
“That’s why we want you, specifically,” she said. “This one is a throwback to your time in Korea. GVibes? The K-Pop group. Know them?”
The world tilted.
Chapter 41
Isomehow managed to make it through the rest of the meeting, but only because at no further point was I required to contribute anything, which was convenient, as I was too busy mentally spiralling to be able to structure a single coherent thought.
I felt like the pendulum inside some grand, old clock, swinging from side to side in ponderous waves from emotional highs to utter despair, and my stomach seemed to follow every swing.
I was going to cover the MCAs! My journalistic star had never shined so bright!
I was going to a press junket for my ex-boyfriend's group, and I vacillated between quiet determination and wanting to throw up.
I was going to be on the red carpet doing drive-by interviews with some of the biggest names in the industry!
I didn’t know if I could keep it together if I made eye contact with Jihoon.
