Addicted To You

2 - Happy To Die

Monbebes went nuts when they announced the tour dates and a new album. The fandom had been waiting for this moment since they all came out of the military. They had done a mini tour when they reunited and before they enlisted, but it was just Korea and Japan. This would be the first time they had come to the US in a very long time. All the members had been practicing their English to be able to better communicate with their fans. That was good because my Korean sucked.

Over the next four months, I tried to learn some basic conversational phrases. I practiced every chance I got. I went to Koreatown and tried talking to some girls I ended up befriending in a Korean cosmetics store. I explained I was trying to learn the language for my job and they were more than willing to help me. I watched my K-dramas without the subs. I had picked up more than I realized, but I was nowhere near fluent. Not even marginally so.

When I wasn't practicing Korean, I was shopping for new clothes and luggage. I made sure Jinki was up to date on all of her shots and got her pet passport. I got her some new toys to take with us because most of hers were well-loved and ratty-looking. She turned her nose up at them and played with the old ones, naturally.

Changkyun told me that he was looking forward to having her along. I think she was looking forward to it too. She would sit on the desk while he spoke. She would purr while she watched him. I would do the same. If I could purr. It was like she found his voice to be soothing. I know I sure did.

I talked to the guys quite a bit over those few weeks. They even added me to a group chat. I am sure it wasn't their private chat, but that was perfectly fine with me. We got to know each other a little bit and I had a better idea of what to expect. I was very thankful for that because I was completely out of my element.

I didn't need as much luggage as they did, but considering we were going for four months and I had Jinki, I had two large suitcases for my things, and a third that we shared. I also had my tote and her bubble carrier backpack which would fit in the third suitcase. Traveling with a cat was definitely going to be interesting, but I wasn't worried. She had flown with me before and did great. I have had to go on extended assignments a couple of times, and I took her. She was a little nervous at first, but then she relaxed and napped.

Since I got her as a kitten, I have "socialized" her by walking her on a harness and leash or taking her with me in her special backpack carrier. She can see the world through it and she loves to ride in it. She had a soft-sided one that we flew with, but we never used it after I got the backpack one. I donated it, so I would need a new one that would fit under the airplane seat.

I had spent a lot of money on getting us both ready, but it had been a while since I had treated myself. It was long overdue. I now had a new wardrobe of jeans, shorts, and a couple of summer dresses. I got some cute tops and new tees to go with the jeans and shorts, a new bathing suit with a cover-up, and some sandals. It would be summer while we were on tour. I needed appropriate clothing.

I was beginning to get pre-tour jitters. I was scared I was going to screw something up for them. I worried that Jinki would get hurt. I worried that the guys would not like me once they got to know me. I wasn't typically a worrier, but I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with it right then.

I told Changkyun how I was feeling when he called to touch base with me one night. He told me to just relax.

"Rileigh-shi, it will be fine. If anything does happen, we will deal with it. I even have a list of veterinarians that we can call for each city, just in case."

"Wow, that is unexpected but much appreciated. It does make me feel a little better."

"And I can assure you that we are all crazy about you. Some of us more than we probably should be."