In America, small concerts were never really small. No matter what, they will try to fit 200 people in a space where the capacity is only 150 people. When I was in college, I had went to a small concert with a bunch of my college friends in the city and got caught in the middle of a mosh pit. Let’s just say my mother was livid when I came back home with random bruises on my arms and legs since my father was due to come visit the following morning. It was fun, though.
In Korea, it looks like they take their events seriously. It was nice knowing that no matter what, I was guaranteed my seat and that the atmosphere was a lot calmer than what I was used to. I looked around the venue, watching everyone take their seats and engage in small talk. Before I could take my phone out, I hear my name being called.
“Grace!” I looked up and saw Summer waving her hand at me. I smiled and began to walk towards her. I’m grateful that even being in another country, I still have family here to visit.
“Hey Summer,” I greeted as I gave her a hug. “Thanks for inviting me out tonight.”
“As someone who is appreciative of the arts, it was only right to invite you,” Summer said as we walked to our seats. “How’s the production been going for you?”
“It’s been so good,” I happily said, smiling as I answered. “I can’t believe it’s already been a month since we first opened. Before I know it, the year would have gone by.”
“Evan always tells me the same thing,” Summer agreed. “He’ll go on tour with this band mates for a couple of months and before you know it, he’s back home.” I couldn’t help but smile whenever Summer spoke about Evan; she was always so giddy whenever she spoke about him. I had met him only once back in America when Summer went to visit her parents. It was nice to see Summer in her element like this.
“He’s definitely not wrong,” I chimed in, looking toward the stage as the lights dimmed. The first couple of bands were really good. Most assume Korea is just a nation that produces cutesy K-Pop music; I definitely did when I first heard about it. I learned a lot about the music through– through Jamie— and to my surprise I enjoyed a lot of the different genres. Some of the bands were jazz-like and others resembled R&B. Evan’s band was K-Rock, which reminds me a lot of my love for rock music back in high-school.
Watching Summer smitten as Evan played on stage was cute. She would bob her head to the music and jump up and down in place, cheering him on. It was sweet to see how a relationship like this looked like. It makes me think if something like this could’ve ever happened for me. It would’ve been nice to have Willow and my family here, cheering me on show after show.
By the end of the show, Summer had took me backstage with her to meet up with Evan. It was weird to be backstage at a show I personally wasn’t performing in, but it was a nice change to the usual madness I experience in a backstage setting.
“Evan!” Summer said excitedly, running towards Evan as soon as she seems him. His smile immediately covers his entire face as he opens his arms wide. Summer runs in for a hug, softly kissing Evan on the cheek. “You did great, tonight.”
“Thank you, gongjunim,” Evan said, still holding his arm around Summer. It’s cute how he calls her ‘princess’. Evan looks at me and greets me by bowing. I return the gesture out of politeness.
“Hi, Grace,” Evan said. “Thanks for coming out tonight, and I’m sorry for not making it to your show with Summer last month.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “You were legit on a tour, which by the way you killed it out there.” Evan nods and faces Summer. She looks back up at him to look at him too. “I wish I could stay and talk, but the guys and I have a meet and greet with the rest of the artists.”
“It’s cool,” Summer said, now looking at me. “Grace and I can go back to our place and hang out. Is that alright with you?”
“Yeah,” I answered. “We finally have more than just a one day rest day between shows.” Summer smiles, which makes me smile in return.
…
“Would you ever permanently move to Korea?” Summer randomly asked me as she opened a kimbap from the convenience store. “Like if there was work out here for you, would you take it?”
“If I was younger, maybe,” I said, eating a bag of chips. “But I truly think this production is the last big gig I get at my age. I’m not what your typical dancer looks like.”
“That’s very ageist,” Summer said, looking at me. I shrugged, knowing it was the truth.
“Tell that to the industry,” I simply said. Summer rolls her eyes, getting up from her seat. “I also have my daughter back in America; I can’t just leave her there for a job.”
“But you kind of already did that,” Summer pointed out. I looked at Summer, a bit annoyed she would say something so vial and rude.
“With all due respect, Summer, you don’t know my life outside of what I tell you,” I snapped back, readjusting in my seat. “Just because I’m here for work, doesn’t mean I’m making this my lifestyle.”
“I didn’t mean for it to come off like that,” Summer said. “I meant that the hard part is already over. Willow is getting older, and if she’s doing okay with you being across the world, then imagine actually doing it as a job. Isn’t this something you always wanted to do?” Before Summer moved to Korea, we spent a lot of time hanging out at her parent’s place. My mom and her dad are lifelong best friends; family even after my aunt married my uncle. When I moved to New York for college, Summer was the one that would show me around the city on the days I didn’t have classes. Even though she was a couple of years older than me, we got along like friends. She moved way before I graduated though, and she was already in Korea by the time I had Willow. She knew what she knew about my life after college, but sometimes I felt like she still saw me as this young, carefree girl with big dreams of taking on the world.
“It is,” I finally answered back. “But things are different now. I’m different now.” Summer looked at me and shook her head before finally sitting down next to me.
“If I didn’t make the move here from America, I don’t think I’d be the person I am today. Just how if you never moved to New York, you wouldn’t have had the life you have now.” Summer was right; I know my life would’ve been completely different if I stayed in Virginia. I know that I probably would’ve been a lawyer in some small firm in Woodbridge, and my life would’ve consisted of weekends at my dad’s, being around other FBI agents, DAs, and lawyers talking about absolutely nothing. But I made that huge move once already, but to do it in a different country? I don’t think I could do it again. “Grace?”
“Huh?” I said, snapping back to reality.
“You are just as bad as when you were younger,” Summer teased, getting up and walking toward the kitchen.
“What? Did I say something?” I shouted so she could hear me. Shortly after, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I took it out and to my surprise, it was Sahim.
Sahim: Hey, tiny dancer – how was the show? Thinking about trying a new place in the city and would love to go with my favorite company.
Grace: I’d love to go. See you at 5?
I looked up from my phone as Summer walked back into the room.
“I’m just saying, Grace,” Summer continued to make her point. ” I think you’re selling yourself short and playing it safe. We both know you’re destined to be great.”
“I guess,” I simply said, looking at my phone once it vibrated again.
Sahim: Put something formal on.
I can’t get any more spontaneous than this.
Letters From Liz. 