“Why do I have to go to such a stupid radio show?” Kibum asks, nose scrunched up and eyebrows knitted together.
His manager for the day purses his lips– and it’s right there, the same gesture of impatience he does whenever Kibum is concerned; as if he was the grown up dealing with the whims of a child.
“Beggars can’t be choosers, Kibum,” the man says, tone patronizing and all too accusing.
Kibum’s eyebrows knit even tighter. The manager is right.
“It’s still a stupid radio show. What does a novelist have to do with someone like me? How would a talk go between people who are so different?” Kibum spats while his hands are busy stuffing his cellphone, earphones, and other gadgets into his bag. It’s a lost battle. “What are we supposed to have in common?”
The manager rolls his eyes as discreetly as he can, but it doesn’t go unnoticed. Kibum is lying. He knew about this show since a while ago. The first thing he did after knowing about the upcoming activity was to buy the best selling novel written by the costar of the radio show. He hadn’t finished it in one go. Instead of rushing, he had savored each line, had stayed up for a good time thinking about the meaning of many sentences, situations, dreams patched together in the minds of the characters of the book. Kibum is intrigued.
The ride to the radio show is one filled with impatience and eagerness. Kibum has questions, wishes he had the time to talk to the novelist in private and get the answers he’s looking for. Feline-like eyes have green contacts hiding the natural hazel color of his eyes. His attire is just as fashionable as always, every piece of the fabric meshing well with a casual aura. But his attention is elsewhere. He doesn’t take much time to greet the fans outside and while he’s polite to the staff, clear eyes look for someone who stands out, the bearer of wisdom, the one who, in Kibum’s imagination, must be just someone else entirely.
When his eyes continue to search between all the non-familiar faces, they finally land on a man already inside the cabin he’s supposed to go in now. It’s him, the realization hits him.
“Ah, I’m so glad you had the time to arrive early today, Kibummie,” Haneul, the host for the night, says behind him. Her small hand gives him a few pats on the back with the enough force to send him a few steps forwards. “Let me introduce you with our other guest for the show, come on in.”
Haneul has a large cup of hazelnut coffee ready in her hand. The smell is rich and comforting. It also has some effect on Kibum’s excitement, it sobers him up, grounds him to the present. With some horror, he realizes he’s acting like a child indeed.
“Jonghyun-ssi, allow me to introduce you to Kim Kibum. Kibum, he’s the famous best seller author Kim Jonghyun.” Haneul says as she leaves her coffee mug on the table while taking a seat.
Kibum looks directly at the novelist for a few long seconds. “Nice to meet you,” he murmurs as well, the polite words followed by a tilt of his head in acknowledgment. Then he takes a seat as well beside the novelist. Haneul is before them both, delicate fingers taking the headphones in hand to put them over her head.
“Don’t worry over anything, okay? Pretend we are in a coffee at some relaxing park and let yourselves be free. I will throw some topics and questions in the table, mostly things the audience will be interested about. I will start with Kibum first and then I will pass to you, Jonghyun-ssi, afterwards we can just keep talking, If you have any doubts, we will have enough breaks to talk them over.”
Haneul explains more things in the remaining minutes, but Kibum doesn’t pay much attention to her. She says something about him singing, but it also doesn’t register his ears. He is busy trying to figure out the best way to give rest to his curiosity without seeming too eager.
“Okay everyone, ten seconds before we go live,” the producer’s voice resounds in the cabin.
Kibum takes his headphones and slowly puts them on his head. The music of the intro plays and Haneul begins the show. Kibum is aware he introduces himself at some point and then he remains quiet.
“Okay so Kibum-ssi, you recently released a new single, ‘Josephine’,” Haneul begins. “A member of the audience asked us to please convince you to sing a bit of the song in here, would you do us the honor?”
I knew I had tasted love
The first sip always makes you choke
Sweetest sound I ever spoke
So bitter and so beautiful