- chapter three : bang chan -

Great Rapids decided it was a good time to get a bunch of food, because the Four Seasons Café has been busy ever since I walked through the doors and clocked in (an hour earlier than I was scheduled). The day was exhausting. Order after order and working with co-workers who didn't really help me out in the Deli. I was dead beat and I needed an escape of sorts after I finished closing up with Anne (my newest co-worker). As we were finishing up putting away the dishes, Anne mentioned there was a small concert going on in a park that was 15 minutes away from Great Rapids. "Maybe I'll check it out," I said tiredly. "And get some food." Anne nodded as she put the shot glasses on top of the espresso machine. I smile lightly and open the app on the iPad to clock out. I put in my number and pressed clock out as did Anne, and the two of us made our way out of the shop.

"Adios!" I called to her, unlocking my 2016 golden Chevrolet Malibu. "Bye," she said back. I hopped in my car and quickly put it into reverse and pulling out of my parking spot. I made it home in only a couple minutes, as I lived in a small town and hardly 5 blocks away from my work. I greeted my apartment mate/best friend, Madison, before heading to my room. I took a quick shower and dressed in casual clothes consisting of jeans and a white, graphic tee with a few yellow flowers in front. I pulled on my blue denim washed looking converse just as Madie came up to me. "Hey! Where you going?" she asked. "To this small concert in Lake Town. Wanna come?" I questioned her. She nodded, "Let me go throw on something a little better." She quickly went to her room and I heard her rummaging around until she found what she wanted. She came out with a pair of black boots, black shorts, and a dark red cropped sweater with a cutout close to the neck. "Cute," I commented. She grinned and grabbed her purse and the two of us headed out to my car, Bane.

It only took 20 minutes and quick stop at Taco Bell for us to arrive at Spearlake Park. We had already finished our food and were holding our cups of Baja Blast as we got out of the car that was pretty close to the outdoor stage set up. I grabbed a couple hoodies and a blanket from my trunk and offered one of the hoodies to her. She took it but didn't pull it on. I finished off my Baja Blast and threw it in the trash that stunk like something I didn't want to know.

We headed towards the front of the stage where a few metal bleachers stood. We climbed to the very top just as the musicians took to the stage. "They must've just got here too," I commented as the band starting tuning their instruments. And judging by the still basically empty bleachers, I was right. Madie nodded as she finished drinking her pop. "I'm gonna throw this away and run to the bathrooms if they're open," she said. I nodded to her in affirmation and turned my gaze away from her as she walked down and away. A few more people arrived and sat at the bottom of the middle bleachers, which is where we were sitting. After a few minutes the bleachers were beginning to fill a little more. But not too much as to where I was getting social anxiety and claustrophobia. I sighed and glanced at my phone for the millionth time. Still no reply from my boss.

I had texted my boss, Danny, about working less hours as it was starting to stress me out and I still had schoolwork to do. But she still hadn't texted me yet. It said she read it, but it's been half an hour. Get it together Danny.

I put my phone back in my hoodie's pocket and leaned against the back of the metal siding for the bleachers. A few boys with black hoodies on approached from the side of the bleachers and began to make their way up. I immediately noticed they were Asian and as they got closer I gave them a small smile and polite bow. "Hello," I greeted. "Hi!" they all greeted back. I recognized their voices almost immediately. Bang Chan, Hyunjin, and Han from Stray Kids. But I said nothing about that and nodded to the empty seats next to me. "You guys can sit here next to me and my friend if you want," I offered. "Sure, thanks," Chan replied, sitting near me. Han sat in the middle and Hyunjin on the end. As they were sitting to the left of us, I spotted Madie making her way back towards me from the bathroom. "I'll be right back," I said so they weren't confused why I was leaving. "Okay. Be careful going down!" Chan said cheerfully. I smiled and felt the heat rise to my cheeks, but nodded. I was too easily flustered. I made my way down the bleachers to my best friend and stopped her. "What's up?" she asked. "Sooooo.... Stray Kids kind of just sat next to me," I replied knowing she was going to freak out. And she did. "No way. No friking way. Yo what??!!" I quieted her. "I think they're just here to enjoy the concert so can you please not say anything about it?" She sighed but nodded reluctantly.

We walked back up the bleachers and I sat back down next to Chan while Madie sat to the right of me in her original spot. "So who's playing?" Chan asked to no one in particular. I shrugged and pulled the blanket around my legs to keep them warm. The wind was blowing of course and was a bit chilly, even though I had on two layers. "I don't know," I responded. "I only came here to get away a little bit." "Yeah?" he confirmed. I nod and wrap my arms around myself. He chuckles lightly and says something the Han and Hyunjin in Korean. I looked to Madison and noticed she was shaking from the cold. "Why don't you put on the hoo-" she stopped me with a hand over my mouth. "This is how you get them," she whispers grinning. I rolled my eyes and pulled her hand away.

The band came onto the stage and tapped their mics to make sure they were working. "Hello everyone! We're 24K Restless and we're here to perform here tonight for you all. Are you ready?!!" the lead singer shouted. Everyone except us in the back screamed "Yes". As they began to perform their first song I shivered and pulled the hood over my head and pulled the strings tighter. "Are you cold?" I heard Chan ask. I turned my head to look at him and shook my head. He rolled his eyes and laughed. "Your teeth are chattering," he stated. He starting pulling off his leather jacket but I stopped him. "I'm fine, really," I said. That didn't stop him and he took it off and reached over, wrapping it around me. I blushed and thanked him, sticking my arms through the sleeves. It smelled of his familiar cologne and was warm and cozy. My teeth stopped chattering and I continued listening to the concert, silently enjoying it all.

- Jean M. -