X-LIGHT Chapter 2(Luck of the draw)

It was late November and I had just finished cleaning up after my kiddos. The wind was cold, it nipped at my nose as I left the school wrapped in a red scarf, red knitted hat, and black wool coat. I always walked to work as I lived a block away I remember passing a cute little café, I wish I had stopped in at least once. However my path was set and clear to break from my routine would of made me late. That night I had a dinner with my dad and Stella. I made it to my apartment and fumbled with my keys before finally unlocking the door and making my way inside. First thing I did was throw off my winter coat, scarf, and hat. "so much better it feels so good to be home." I sighed happily as I flopped down onto my sofa rolling myself into my favorite fluffy blanket. Just as I was warm and cozy my phone rang out with my dad's favorite song Livin' on a prayer. Reluctantly I picked up the phone groaning as he spoke "come on darling chin up I'm just calling to see when you wanna head over, Stella said she's making your favorite homemade tortellini". "dad I'll be there soon I promise but I wanna warm up a little maybe take a shower so you and Stell get on without me I'll call when I'm on my way". Just like that the call ended, prompting me to hesitantly get up and go to shower.

The one reason I loved that apartment was the bathroom it was large and so classy, the shower was open in the middle of the room it was a rain fall shower head. I really did love that bathroom, after my shower I dried off and got dressed putting on a casual sweater and jeans. As my hair dried I did some simple makeup and got ready to go throwing my hair towel on the coffee table just as I shut the front door locking it. "might as well call a cab or I'm gonna be late." I got on the elevator made my way out to the sidewalk and hailed a cab. "Where too sweetie?" the sweet older woman asked "325 spooner drive please". The old woman nodded and began to drive turning on the radio the announcer was talking about some new boy band and how they were the next X-LIGHT. Giving a chuckle I said " X-LIGHT was my world as a kid it's funny how popular they still seem to be it's a shame they broke up." the old woman laughed "I remember when they broke up it was three years ago my grand daughter was devastated". I smiled and watched the trees pass while the old lady continued on "ya know I hear they're doing a raffle and they say the winner get's a private meet up with the band I don't know maybe I'll enter my grand daughter as an early Christmas gift". The car came to a stop as we hit rush hour traffic, getting caught at a red light I picked up my phone and texted my dad that I was gonna be late.

As the light turned green I watched the world around me blur into itself. I've always loved the view from a car window, everything felt like one when it flashed by. While lost in thought the radio played the end of an X-LIGHT song. Slowly it faded out and the host spoke "And that was bumblebee by X-LIGHT, now I'm here with the boys to let them talk about their new last chance contest". Joon spoke up softly "We all know it's been a while since the boys and I have been together but here we are" Nick interrupted "Me and the band want all you fans out there to compete to see us together one last time so come on don't be shy show us what you've got"! I laughed I couldn't help it, Nick used to interrupt everyone back when they were all together. Still it seemed as if he hadn't changed. Out of nowhere Jack with his deep raspy voice cut in "Nick sit down and stop being so loud, do I need to remind you that this is for all of us to talk with the fans not just you." "sorry JJ" said Nick using Jack's nickname. The driver smiled in her rear view mirror and turned up the radio as Ken spoke "As you can see we still fight like brothers hehe we maybe broken up but we still are close friends and we want you to be our close friends too so send in a video of you singing a cover of any song of ours the winner will be decided by us as a group". "The winner will be given a special meet and greet with us we'll play games, get to know each other, and eat good food so enter now contest ends November 31th winner will be announced the day after on the 1st of December" said Joon. All the boys then signed off "Jack, Nick, Joon, and Ken we wish you all luck and can't wait to meet you"!!!!! As the radio host announced the next song the car pulled up to my dad's house. "This is it thank you for the ride." I got out and before walking to the door I looked back at the old woman "Tell your granddaughter how to enter she could win, who knows".

Leaving the taxi I walked up to the door, opening it I saw my dad's face happy to see me Stella soon was behind him smiling from ear to ear. "V!" screamed Stella as she came forward and hugged me "Stell!!" hugging back we both laughed as I shuffled inside. Dad finished setting up the table as I got my coat off and Stella closed the door behind us. "How are you honey it's been too long you should visit more often we miss you." I looked up at her with an eyebrow raised "fine I missed you". Giggling together we made our way to the dinning room and sat down, before we ate we all took part in our prayers. Stella is a Buddhist and thanked Buddha for the gift of nourishment. Dad was always very upfront about his beliefs and about how he prayed to Apollo, he set aside a small portion of everything on his plate and placed it on his alter before making his way back. I never felt I believed in one god, I felt as long as you are kind and loving in the name of your god and you do no harm to others by believing in your god then why should I have an opinion. I thanked Stella for the food and we all ate.

Stella laughed as my dad played with his pasta building it into a tower till it fell. "Dad stop doing that and eat it geez." he laughed and rolled his eyes I couldn't help but smile. Stella gave her food to him when she was full and I did the same. "So Vivi what is new in your life sweetie? Do you have a special friend yet?" my father was relentless he had dreams of walking me down the isle before I was even born. Mom used to say that no matter what gender I was he would of walked me down the isle. I never loved dad as much as I did when he talked about his thoughts for my wedding. His smile always got brighter when he thought of me marrying. I never thought I could laugh again after mom died, but somehow dad always proved me wrong he had a knack for that.

"Dad for the billion million thousand hundredth time no I'm not dating. However there is something cool I just learned about wanna know what it is"? Nodding vigorously he smiled "ok well on the way here I found out on the radio that X-LIGHT are having a contest and the winner gets one whole day together with the band members". Stella perked up in her seat clearly interested "If I may who in the world is X-LIGHT"? Dad and I both stared in disbelief at her then Dad over dramatically gasped "You mean to tell me my love, my darling, light of my life that you were not plagued for years on end with knowing the every move of a boy band member who didn't know you existed." I retorted "HEY he knows I exist and I was not thaaat obsessed". "yes you were sweetie pie." Dad then got up and turned on the tv to set up the karaoke. In our house it was tradition that if their was a family dinner there was also family karaoke, our friends and family knew all about it as Dad and Stella always posted videos of our singing to Facebook. "Stell if you want to know about X-LIGHT I'm the one to ask, so to start they first formed as a band when I was sixteen. The group consists of four members Joon the cute one, Nick the bad boy jock, Jack the leader and group big brother, last but not least Ken the kind hearted hottie". Stella nodded and looked on for me to continue "So when they first debuted they were an instant hit. Girls everywhere started to scream the name X-LIGHT, that's why they started spelling it with all caps. In the end they made history with their bold style, open attitude, outspoken opinions, and outright defiance of authority that looked to keep them in a box. Legend has it that their original record label wouldn't let them write their own music and forced them to make typical boy band music. So they dropped the label found one that would give them what they wanted and told the guy that used to manage them to go fuck himself on live tv when asked why they left the label".