Page 68 of A World Apart
Just then, I had to stifle a yawn.
“You should go to bed, it’s late for you.” And though I wanted to argue the point, I was tired.
“Ok, speak later?”
“Yes. Goodnight, Kaiya.”
June
Jihoon yawned and I frowned but kept my comments to myself. He’d asked me to call him later than normal today because they were still in the dance studio. So, while it was only 09:00am for me, for him it was one in the morning. But he said they had today − Sunday, for him − off, so he didn’t mind staying up a little bit.
“Did you get the choreo nailed down, at least?” I asked, noticing the way his eyes were drooping slightly.
“Yes. We know the moves, we just need to perfect it so we can filmthe practices.”
Due to a “leak,” it was now widely known that GVibes were working on a new single for their comeback. Jihoon had explained that leaking information to the media was a common tactic to build hype − it required little effort or expense, and both sides benefited.
“When are you recording the song?”
“Next week,” Jihoon sighed. He never complained, but I knew from what I’d read online the comebacks were a busy period of time, and they occurred often enough that I wondered when they ever rested for longer than one day in seven.
“Will it take you long? You were only in the studio a week when you came over in April.” I folded my legs underneath me in bed.
“That was just some solo projects,” he said. “This will take a little longer because we are going to record the remix tracks at the same time.”
“Wow, that sounds like some long days.”
“Yes, but then we’ll have a few days before we start to do the music video.”
“Well, if your studio ever needs someone to rearrange their cables and tune their guitars, you know who to ask.” I pointed both thumbs at myself and flashed my best, winning smile.
Jihoon chuckled, “I wish.”
It was my turn to sigh as I said, “Yeah, me too.”
“Hi, Mum!” I waved at the screen, grinning.
“Hi, baby! Golly, you look so tanned. Doesn’t she look tanned, Ernie?” The phone jostled as she handed it to my dad. He held it at arm's length, peering down his nose at me through the screen.
“Your glasses are on top of your head, Dad,” I said, laughing.
“Oh yeah, that’s where they went.” He chuckled, pulling his glasses down from his forehead and bringing the phone closer. “Oh, you’re right, Val,” he nodded, looking off-screen. “She does look tanned.”
The phone jostled again until my mum came back into view. “Have you been sunbathing, love?”
“No, Mum, it’s just really sunny over here.”
“Yeah, alright, just you mind that skin of yours. I didn’t spend nine months making it just for you to get skin cancer."
"I rolled my eyes but murmured a, “Yes, Mum,” allthe same.
“How’re you getting on, love? Your last email made it sound like that studio isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. You doing alright?” Her forehead creased as she peered at me through the screen.
I sighed. “I’m alright, Mum. The studio is great. It’s just… because I’m only an intern, I don’t get to do anything exciting.” Telling my parents I was no longer sure I wanted to work in music production felt a little too much like making it real. Too much like manifesting the end of a career I’d thought I wanted. I didn’t want to worry them, and, if I was honest, I wasn’t ready to face a future that felt more uncertain than ever.
“Hmm.” My mum pursed her lips, clearly gearing up for a whole speech, so I went in with a derailment.
“Did you get your hair done?”
