Unexpected (13 page)

“I don’t care
Jahgi
and neither
should you. Besides, the fans will find out about us sooner or later. I’d
rather it be on my terms.”

Noel shook her head. “Not yet okay?”

“Is there a problem with us being
together?” He tried to keep the apprehension from his voice, but Noel soothed
him with a hand on his arm.

“No. I just care about your career. I’m
trying to be a supportive girlfriend.”

Kai bent down and kissed her full on the
mouth. “Don’t you worry about my career, and you are supportive just by being
with me. But I am going to wear the baseball cap at least.”

Noel had no idea what nightlife in Seoul
consisted of but it was a whirlwind of lights, sounds and being treated like
royalty. Unlike the karaoke bars she knew of in the states, karaoke in Korea
was big business.

The modern three-story building housed
not just the karaoke stages, but a full restaurant and bar. There were also the
individual soundproofed booths with comfortably furnished plush velvet couches.
Even though the group was supposed to be incognito, the bouncers at the karaoke
club were trained to recognize celebrities and treat them accordingly. A few
raised eyebrows at Noel’s presence in their midst, but they would not gossip.
The manager himself quickly escorted his esteemed guests to a very elaborate
private room with a low table for dining, a state-of-the-art karaoke machine
and a flatscreen television that appeared to take up an entire wall. For his
discretion, the band signed autographs for the man’s daughters, who were huge
fans of T4L. Noel plopped down on one of the couches and picked up the menu.

The door hadn’t been closed for seconds
when Kibum and Young began mock-fighting as to which one of them would go
first. Kai and G.K. ordered what looked like a full-course dinner but which
they all called appetizers.

“How are you going to sing with all this
food,” Noel asked when the servers brought in several heavily-laden plates. She
took a little of each, but the guys had no problem scarfing down their portions
and ordering more.

Noel wasn’t much of a karaoke fan, but
the guys’ sheer enthusiasm and silliness turned it into one of the most
enjoyable experiences she had ever had. She ate more than she’d planned to
while laughing herself insensate. There was just nothing funnier than Boom and
Kwan’s rendition of ‘Stop in the Name of Love’, complete with Supremes-style
choreography until Kai, G.K. and Young chimed in.

“Okay
Jahgi
,” Kai fell back on
the couch, his head landing square in her lap, “It’s your turn now.”

“Oh no,” Noel refused. “I only sing in
the shower.”

He waggled his eyebrows. “Well, maybe
this place has a shower room though there are more fun things I could do with
you in the shower besides sing.”

She lightly popped him in the head. “You
are such a horn dog.”

“Come on, Noel. I bet you sound great,”
Kibum prodded. She shook her head but the guys weren’t about to let up.

“Aw, you heard us sing,” Young wheedled,
“Now it’s your turn.”

Noel wasn’t budging. “No way guys. You
do this for a living. I just work at a diner and no one there asks me to sing.”

“Oh I bet I’ll get you to change your
mind,” Kai warned as he threatened to tickle her. “I’ll let you off if you
agree.”

After a little more cajoling, and a lot
more whining, Noel finally agreed, and the two of them decided on “You’re All I
Need to Get By”, since it seemed the group was on a Motown kick.

Even though she would never end up on
American Idol, Noel’s smoky alto was perfectly matched with Kai’s sultry
baritone and with the refrain, their eyes met as if making a promise. Before
the song ended, the two of them were met with raucous applause, hoots and
cheers.

“Wow Noel, we didn’t know you could sing
like
that
,” Young gushed effusively. “You are really good.”

Noel shook her head, embarrassed at
their praise. “Thanks guys but it’s not all that. You’re the professionals.”

Kai put his arms around her, his lips
nestled at her neck. “You were wonderful
Jahgi
. I just might have to
write a song for the two of us to sing.”

Noel shivered deliciously, her back pressed
against his chest. “I’d rather sing for you privately.”

Kai growled hungrily and whispered, “I
cannot wait.”

It was three in the morning when Noel
and Kai made their way into the apartment. She was tired but happy and a little
tipsy, a fact that her lover playfully tried to take advantage of.

She teasingly pushed him away. “Trying
to take advantage of me, you bad boy.”

He pulled her into his arms, settled the
top of her thighs against his hardness. “You promised to sing for me
Jahgi
.
I want to hear you bay-bee.”

They kissed eagerly as they walked back
towards Kai’s bedroom, shedding clothes as they went. Once in his bedroom he
kicked the door shut behind him. Noel stepped away and gave him her sexiest
pose. He leaned against the door, eyes drinking in her curves.

“Damn
Jahgi
, you are so
beautiful.” Kai inched closer, eyes darkened with desire. “I may never let you
go back home.”

Noel ran her tongue over her lips. “Well
show your
Jahgi
what you’re working with.”

Once more they awoke in each other’s
arms, exhausted from the early morning workout. Unfortunately seven o’clock
came far too soon and both groaned at the unfairness of it all. They showered
together, managing to squeeze in a quick but delicious bout of lovemaking
before the water got cold.

Noel yawned at the breakfast nook where
she and Kai enjoyed a quick breakfast of his famous ham and egg breakfast
sandwiches which were quite good.

“So tell me about this fan conference
and why is it so early in the morning?”

Kai took a swallow of orange juice. “It
is for the members of our fan club as a way to thank them. We not only sign
autographs, take pictures and answer their questions, but we play all kinds of
games with them as well.”

Noel looked at him quizzically. “Games?”

“Yes. There’s a Wii tournament which is
G.K. and Kwan’s specialty.” Kai winked mischievously at her. “Don’t tell Kwan I
told you, but he’s really good at The Michael Jackson Experience.” Noel
laughed, easily imagining Kwan dancing to Thriller.

“And what game will you play,” Noel
asked him.

His eyes twinkled. “Zelda.”

A steaming cup of Starbucks courtesy of
James the security guard helped to dispel the last of Noel’s weariness, but the
energy of the guys around her seemed infectious. The spacious van cruised
through downtown Seoul.

“How can you guys be so awake at this
time of the morning?”

Kai sat next to her, his arm around her
shoulder. She leaned against his comforting heat.

Kwan stretched his lean legs out. “We’re
very used to it. Sometimes we have to be up even earlier.”

“I could never get used to this,” she
said with a sip of her coffee. Noel sent a conspicuous glance in Kwan’s
direction before whispering, “So I hear you’re good at The Michael Jackson
Experience.”

Kwan immediately shot daggers at Kai who
couldn’t keep the look of false innocence from his face.

Once at the venue, Kai introduced her to
an eager young backstage manager named Minwoo who was going to serve as an
interpreter and guide since the entire conference would be in Korean.

Kai gave Noel a quick kiss. “Have a good
time
Jahgi.
I’ll be thinking of you.” He and the band headed towards the
dressing room.

Minwoo bowed politely, seemingly
nonplussed by her appearance or being kissed by Kai. “I am under orders to take
good care of you,” he said in perfect English with no discernible accent. “Is
there anything I can get for you, Miss Wright?”

“I’m good thanks.” She smiled warmly at
him. “And please call me Noel.”

Minwoo nodded. “Then please follow me,
Noel.”

The place was packed with screaming
fans, mostly female. Some held banners proclaiming their love and devotion to
their favorite member of T4L. She saw quite a few for Kai and she couldn’t help
feeling smug that he’d chosen her. Others held pictures of the band, stuffed
animals or stuffed chibi figures of the band. Everyone had a camera phone. A
few of the attendees stared quizzically at Noel, being one of the few people of
color in the audience. Several rows down she noticed a young black girl who
resembled Kami’s friend whom she’d met at the Las Vegas show.

T4L came onto the stage and performed a
twenty-minute set. The excitement around her had Noel joining in and screaming
at the top of her lungs. She would never get tired of seeing her boyfriend
onstage. He was so gorgeous and the man could really dance. She even snapped a
few pictures on her own camera.

After a ten minute intermission, the
fans were treated to a lively question and answer segment. The questions had
been previously submitted by fans on the band’s website and ranged from each
member’s favorite foods and favorite colors to more personal ones like where
and when they had had their first kiss or if any of them were involved.

When it was Kai’s turn to answer, Noel
held her breath. A part of her wanted him to acknowledge her, but a larger part
wanted to remain anonymous.

“I am seeing someone,” he responded to a
wave of surprise from the audience. “She is very beautiful and kind and
generous and she loves me for me. Not because I am Kai of T4L.” Noel felt his
eyes on her and she wondered as if anyone else saw him staring in her
direction. “In fact, she didn’t even know who I was when we met and she knew
nothing about K-Pop.” Surprisingly his sincere answer was met with cheers and
even sighs from many of the fans who wondered who the lucky woman might have
been.

Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad after
all, Noel thought happily as her escort ushered her to the game room.

The Wii competition was a lot of fun.
Five ecstatic fans chosen by their seat numbers were partnered with a member of
the band. Kai’s partner was a perky teenage girl with a T4L t-shirt and
dimples. She blushed every time he spoke to her.

Minwoo lent a running commentary as the
five teams engaged in a friendly and rather silly bowling match.

“Young and his partner have the most
strikes and are calling the rest of the guys wimps,” he said with a chuckle.
When Kwan’s partner knocked all the pins down, he struck a Michael Jackson pose
and even did the famous yell. The crowd shouted and clapped while Noel nearly
burst a gut laughing at his antics.

There was nothing serious about the game
as each team mock-sabotaged the other, sent the ball rolling down the
electronic lanes in funny ways and basically clowned around. Minwoo was an
engaging host and made her laugh even harder. In the end, Young and his partner
emerged victorious, but all the participants received an autographed poster, a
limited-edition T4L t-shirt, and probably the most important for the five
girls, a hug from each member and a picture to commemorate the moment.

Noel couldn’t imagine too many American
pop stars willing to laugh at themselves for their fans. It made T4L accessible
and she found herself once again wishing her favorite artists held fan
conferences such as this.

It was another late night when the exhausted
but very happy group returned to the apartment building. They all went their
separate ways with Kai warning them not to annoy him and Noel until a decent
hour.

Upon reaching Kai’s bedroom, she was in
his arms again, her mouth crushed against his. He walked her back towards the
bed as his warm palms gently slipped beneath the hem of her t-shirt.

“I thought you were tired,” Noel
giggled, his touch light yet arousing. Fingers splayed across her stomach.

Kai’s lips trailed along her cheeks and
chin. “I wanted them to think that so they wouldn’t want to hang out. I want to
be with you.”

The shirt slowly went upwards, baring
her and she shivered. He cupped her lace-clad breasts in his hands, savored
their weight and fullness as the nipples pebbled under his thumbs. Noel moaned
wantonly and arched her body into his.

Kai pressed his mouth to hers, tracing
along the seam of her lips. “You know
Jahgi
, you don’t know much of my
language.”

It was hard to think or respond to his words
while Kai was removing her clothes. She was lust-dazzled, watching him strip in
front of her. He slid his arms around her waist and lowered her tenderly onto
the still-rumpled bed.

“But that’s okay, I’ll teach you,” he
murmured seductively as he nipped lightly on her ear.

He entwined their fingers then raised
her hands above her head. “
Son
means hands.”

“
Son
,” Noel repeated drowsily.
His fingers trailed slowly down her arm and she shuddered.