Chapter Text
Everything was ready. The dressing room were filled with all what the girls needed. All of their favorite snacks, refreshments, some sweets, and a couch. Nari nodded to herself as she patted herself on the back. She knew a hundred percent sure the girls would like their dressing room being upgraded. Nari walked out of the dressing room, and took out her tablet. She checked marked everything she was assigned to do.
-Food and refreshments prepared for the girls in between songs. Check
-All tech and special effects were going well. Check
-Making sure the resort in Korea was prepared for the girls' arrival. Check
-The resort being private with no disturbance from anything. Check.
Of course there were other things Nari had to do like making sure the exists were wide enough for the fans to go in and out, the concessions being full with food vendors so no one won't go hungry in between songs, and making sure the night goes smoothly.
There was already a list of things Nari had to do when Golden gets promoted, but Nari knew that it was too soon for the girls to promote their new single. It wouldn't be the first time that it happened and it was common for idols to promote a new song after their concert, but Nari hoped that Rumi, Mira, and Zoey would take the time to relax after the concert and promote later.
As Nari looked around, she saw many of the staff were running around, frantically. Nari was about to ask what was going on, but she stopped and realized that something was wrong. Where were Rumi, Mira, and Zoey? Frowning, Nari looked at her phone and her eyes widened. They should've been here by now! They were thirty minutes late for their concert and there were like over fifty thousand fans who wanted to see them. Last time Nari checked they were on their private plane and she made sure their plane would make it here on time.
"Did something happened?" Nari muttered.
Nari knew she shouldn't go into conclusion. There were a lot of things that could happen. Like if there was a delay of technical difficulties, the girls got to the plane late, or both. That has to be it.
"Nari!" a voice called.
Nari looked up and saw Bobby - her uncle, was running over to her. He too was frantic. Nari watched her uncle let out a breath and held his phone up at her. Right there, she saw the private plane was leaving the concert.
"The plane!" Bobby gasped. "Nari, why is the plane turning around?"
"I don't know, Uncle Bobby," Nari fixed her glasses. "but I assured you that I contacted the pilot to have the girls arrive on time. Don't panic! You call the girls and I'll call the pilot."
Nari took out her phone and called the plane, but all she heard was ringing from the other side and no one bothered to pick up. With a sigh, Nari looked over to her uncle and saw his phone being passed around by the fans and the Huntrix were talking to them. One fan even had a tattoo of them on his arm. After that Bobby hung up the phone and gave her a thumbs up. Then Nari felt her phone vibrated and she looked at it. There was a text from Mira and Zoey.
Mira: Get the couch ready.
Zoey: Couch! Couch!
Nari made a small smile. She knew what that meant. The girls wanted a break and relax on the couch with a bunch of food. She knew the concert would be around two to three hours, which would give her enough time to cook everything. However, she did hoped the girls would accept her uncle's offer to go to the resort. They deserved it. The girls worked hard for their songs.
Suddenly, smoke appeared on stage and there were...three people on stage in monster customs. Then the girls jumped out and killed the monsters, turning them into red smoke, even the one that the fans were interacting with, but Zoey threw something which caused it to turn into smoke. Nari had to admit, that was really good special effects, but she was sure she didn't order those kinds of special effects. In the corner of her eyes, Nari watched her uncle let out a sigh of relief and he even danced a bit too.
Nari adjusted her glasses and watched the girls performed "How's it done" as their beautiful voices touched everyone. She couldn't help and admired her bosses. They had such beauty and grace as they performed. At one point Nari did wanted to become an idol because Uncle Bobby used to be in a kpop group, but after hearing the horror story her uncle went through, she decided not to.
"Uncle Bobby, I'll be heading back," Nari said.
Bobby looked at her with shock. "What? You're not going to stay for the after party?! Sweetie, when was the last time you had fun?"
Nari chuckled. "It's fine! I'll see you tomorrow."
Bobby made a soft sigh and placed both hands on her shoulder. "Nari, you're my favorite niece - "
"I'm your only niece."
Bobby laughed. "You're still my favorite and I want you to relax for three weeks, okay? Paid too. Besides, the girls will be at their resort and don't stress over taking care of their penthouse, okay?"
Nari nodded. "Okay."
Bobby smiled. "That's my girl! Remember, relax!"
"I will."
Her uncle gave her a peck on the head and Nari waved to him as she walked away. As she walked to the parking lot, got into her car, and drove. She couldn't help and hear her uncle's words echoed in her head. He was right. When was the last time she had fun? Ever since she moved from America to South Korea after high school, Nari started working right away. Nari never got to look at the sights and everything or even go out to make friends. The closest thing she did was to go to the night markets for a little break and visiting family back at the U.S during holidays, but those were short too. It was single after single and making sure the girls were taken care of.
Besides, she only had a working relationship with the Huntrix. Yes, they were kind to her, but it was more of a boss and employee relationship. The girls would always stick together and they are their own little group. Even though Nari was around their age, she didn't want to disturb their dynamic. They're like the popular girls in high school where they're highly respected and how they protect others from other mean girls.
Nari was sure that they only agreed to hire her was because of her uncle and how they trust him. She knew her relationship with the Huntrix would never be like her uncle, but Nari was fine with it. She likes her job anyway. Even though it gets a little crazy at times, but a job is a job and maybe this time she'll get a chance to relax.
Did she wanted to become their friend? Yes, deep down she did. She really admired them and how hard working they are. However, every time she did offer to hang out with them, they suddenly disappeared and came back because the studio was calling them. Nari always gave them a benefit of doubt when that came up, although she had noticed they got some bruises on their bodies, but she always assumed it was from practicing their cerography.
It was like that for the last three years. Nari knew she should've just spoke up and say something, but the Huntrix were always busy and Nari didn't want to cause any trouble just to have them hang out with her. Besides, maybe it was for the best. They're nice to her and she had a good working relationship with the girls. She didn't want to be selfish about it.
When Nari got to the Huntrix's penthouse, she tired her dark brown hair into a low ponytail, and headed upstairs. The first thing she did was to clean and fluff up the couch. She made sure it was nice and fluffy for them to sit. After that, Nari went over to the kitchen and started cooking. She had cooked all of the food the Huntrix likes. Kimbap, kimchi stew, corn dogs, cold noodles, boba tea, bingsu, homemade choco pies, pepero, hotteok, and yakgwa. After Nari finished cooking, she set everything on a giant plate each for Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. She even prepare some movies, tv shows, and documentaries for the girls. After that she washed the dishes and put everything back where it was.
While she was putting the dishes away, her phone buzzed. Nari looked at her phone and saw her uncle texted her. Right away, Nari put the last dish in the cabinets and took her phone as she looked at the text.
Uncle B: The girls didn't want to go to the resort I booked for them, so they had me go instead. Want to join? It's been a while we had an uncle-niece time.
Nari: It's okay, Uncle Bobby. You go without me. You deserved a vacation too.
Nari knew it was true. Her uncle worked so hard to make sure that he wasn't like his old managers from his kpop years and made sure the girls ate well and everything. He was so committed to them and everything. Even though Nari did wanted to spend time with her uncle, but he deserved a long break from everything. Besides, Nari knew there will be other times for her to hang out with her uncle.
Uncle B: You're so sweet! Okay, but after I come back, you and I are going to eat barbeque, marinated crabs, and karaoke!
Nari: Deal.
Uncle B: I'll see you in a few weeks!
Nari: Yeah, I'll see you later!
Then the doors opened, Mira and Zoey walked out first and Rumi was last. The girls were wearing fluffy white bath robes over their concert outfits. Rumi went to the direction of their closet, while Zoey and Mira changed out of their clothed, put their bath robes over them and walked over to the kitchen. Their eyes widened as they saw all of the food Nari cooked for them.
"I made all of your favorites," Nari gestured to the tray of food.
Zoey cried and hugged her. "Nari, you're the best!"
"You even made homemade choco pie?!" Mira gasped.
Nari nodded and rubbed her neck. "Yeah, I did."
Mira bit into the choco pie and moaned. "This is so good! Thank you, Nari!"
"Yeah, thank you!" Zoey said.
"Get some sleep!" Mira patted her shoulder. "We all deserved a three week break!"
Zoey pumped her fist in the air. "To the couch!"
"Couch! Couch! Couch!" The two cheered.
Nari shook her head as she went over to the direction of the girls' concert closet. The lights were already on and Nari peered through the open door. Nari blinked as she saw Rumi staring at her Golden outfit. She had a look of determination in her eyes. Like she was on a mission. Now Nari thought about it, ever time the girls release a new single, it was like a mission.
"Rumi, your snacks are ready," Nari called.
Rumi turned and smiled. "Thank you, Nari. I'll eat later."
"Good job on the concert, by the way," Nari said.
"Thank you, Nari."
Then Nari left Rumi alone in her closet. She passed the living room, while Mira and Zoey were chanting "couch" with the trays of food. As they sat down on the couch, Nari took a deep breath and walked over to them. She felt like she was approaching to a territory that she shouldn't be bothering with.
"Hey guys," Nari stood near the couch. "I was thinking since we all have a three week break, why not we go to a cafe tomorrow? There's this cute cat cafe everyone's talking about."
"That does sounds nice, but we all planned to have couch time for three weeks," Zoey said.
Mira nodded. "Yeah, couch time is the best!"
"I even have tons of turtle documentaries to watch."
"And dramas too."
"Maybe next time, Nari."
Nari nodded. "Okay. Well, have fun on your couch."
With that, Nari turned around and walked away. She wasn't really surprised by that. The girls obviously had their own plans and Nari knew she shouldn't pushed it. She suggested an activity together, they said no, and that was it. She was fine with that.
As Nari got into her room, she opened the door, closed it, and collapsed onto her bed. She let out a soft sigh and held her cat plush. She didn't realized how tired she was. Now she has a three week vacation, maybe she could go to a spa or a bath house. She could even finally go and see the sites too. There was even places she wanted to go too, and since the girls didn't want to go to the cat cafe with her, she could go. Sure it would be by herself, but it was fine.
"Time to go promo!" her uncle's voice cheered.
Frowning, Nari got up and walked out of her room. As she walked into the living room, she saw her uncle spinning around and the girls cheering. Nari took out her phone and saw their new single, Golden was just launch. That meant Nari would have to help her uncle and the girls promote their new song. Not the first time the girls had done this concert after concert. Besides, Nari knew what to expect, interviews, concerts, and rewards shows. Although, the International Idol Awards was many months away. Nari thought that the girls would promote the song after their vacation.
"Nari!" Bobby hugged her. "We're going to promote Golden! I'll give you a list of things what needs to be done, but most importantly, I need you to drive the girls to the studio tomorrow morning."
Nari nodded. "Okay."
With that, Bobby hugged her again, then hugged the girls as he walked away, spinning. Nari chuckled. Her uncle was always the silly type. Then Nari's phone rang. Her eyes lit up as she saw an image of her best friend from America wanted to video chat with her.
"I'll make sure everything is ready for tomorrow," Nari said. "See you guys in the morning, I need to take this call. Night guys!"
"Night Nari!" the girls said.
Hurriedly, Nari ran into her room and closed the door. As she sat on her bed, Nari answered the call. The first thing she saw was her best friend, Gwen who had dark skin, hazel eyes, and braids that was tied in a bun.
"Hey, Gwen," Nari greeted.
"Hey girly," Gwen giggled. "I saw the whole Huntrix concert online and that was so cool! They're really going all out on those special effects."
Nari nodded. "They were and some of them I didn't know was installed."
"So watcha doin'?"
"I just getting ready for bed. I even made some food for Zoey, Mira, and Rumi."
Gwen groaned. "Damn, I really miss your cooking! You always make the best food for parties!"
Nari chuckled and smirked. "So, how are you and Seong-Min? Doing anything...fun?"
Gwen squealed, burying her face in the pillow. "Ah, Ri-Ri you're embarrassing me! First my folks and now you! I felt like all y'all like to tease me!"
"Hey, you're on your honeymoon while calling me. I just wanted to know the details."
"We're doing good. The hotel Minnie surprised me was really nice. I'm glad he didn't go overboard like he did when he proposed."
Nari laughed. "It's hard not to forget he proposed to you in a fancy restaurant with a choir, orchestra, and traditional Korean dancers in the background."
"You'll understand when you get a boyfriend," then Gwen pursed her lips. "Are the Huntrix's treating you right?"
Nari knew that look right away. It wasn't the first time Gwen was concern about her. Gwen was always like a mother hen to her and was concern about her moving to South Korea after Bobby gave her a job opportunity after high school, but Nari did kept in contact with Gwen after that. Nari would tell Gwen what she was doing, even by text too. It was normal for Nari to tell Gwen what her job was like and what the Huntrix were like. Nothing in her contract told her that she couldn't say anything.
Nari nodded. "They are. Rumi, Mira, and Zoey are so nice to me and that all it matters. Also they always get excited about my cooking."
Gwen sighed. "Look, it's been three years and I know you want to keep your relationship with the Huntrix professional, but they literally know nothing about you, except your their manager's niece and being their housekeeper. They should've know at least something about you by now. You should at least say something."
"I know, but it's fine. Really. I don't want to ruin anything. Four might be a crowd anyway."
"It's just that I don't want them to take you for granted."
"They're not, I promise!" Nari looked at the time. "Anyway, I have to go. We're promoting tomorrow. Have fun at your honeymoon!"
Gwen nodded. "I will."
"Tell, Seong-Min I said hi!"
"Will do!"
"Try not to be too freaky in the bedroom."
"Ri-Ri!"
Nari laughed and Gwen rolled her eyes as she made a smile. The two waved at each other and Nari turned off the call. Nari turned off the lights and laid on her bed, pulling the covers over herself. She sighed and turned to her side. As Nari closed her eyes, she fell asleep in a deep slumber.