The One With The Concert

"Funny how when you have friends, even the saddest moment can become a fond memory..."

Lee Sung-Hoon

"Is Song Jun-Seo here?" Jun-Seo scrambled to his feet upon hearing his name. The doctor recognized him and walked towards the young man. He had a melancholic expression on his face, and Jun-Seo knew.

"Your mother," The doctor paused and patted his shoulder. Jun-Seo tried his best to hold back his tears. But a drop or two betrayed him and rolled down his cheek. He didn't speak a word as he feared he'd break down right there and then. Lee Sung-Hoon observed the two. There was a certain chill in the atmosphere.

Sung-Hoon sprang to his feet and took hold of Jun-Seo's shoulders.

"Say no more, doctor. I'll take care of the rest," Sung-Hoon gave him a sad smile, to which the doctor nodded. Once he walked away, Jun-Seo collapsed on his chair. The tears raced down his cheeks, and within a few seconds, he was bawling, paired with ragged breathing. The doors opened wide, and his mother was taken on a stretcher. Jun-Seo looked away, unable to watch his mother's lifeless body being taken away.

Sung-Hoon crouched down and took his cousin's hand. "Right now, there is increased activity in the right occipital lobe, the left insula, the left thalamus, the amygdala, and the hippocampus. Did you know that?"

Jun-Seo chuckled, scrunching his face. "A-Are you trying to m-make me feel better?"

"Oh, no. I was solely stating a scientific fact about sadness that should take your mind off your sadness. Does that make sense to you?"

"Well, it doesn't entirely take my mind off it, but I appreciate the effort, hyung." Jun-Seo flashed him a small smile. "Now, would you mind getting up? People are staring."

"There are no people here."

"It's making me uncomfortable. Get up."

Sung-Hoon scrambled to his feet. Just then Hwan-Woo ran to where they were seated, Ha-Jun hot on his tail. Jun-Seo looked up at the man with a frown and bloodshot eyes while Sung-Hoon played on his phone. The tear trails were still much visible on Jun-Seo's face. Hwan-Woo pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. Jun-Seo broke down again.

"Sorry, man," Hwan-Woo hugged him tight. Jun-Seo rested his head on the crook of his neck. "I am so, so sorry."

Ha-Jun sighed at the sight in front of him. Sung-Hoon was busy playing on his phone rather than comforting the young man who had just lost his mother.

"You really need a new brain," commented Ha-Jun. Sung-Hoon made a hmph sound before focusing on the game. Once Jun-Seo calmed down again, the men broke the hug. Hwan-Woo noticed Sung-Hoon.

"I am not surprised," said Hwan-Woo.

"I-I bet we can leave, and he won't notice," giggled Jun-Seo.

"You might wanna whisper, people. I may not be looking at you, but I do have a well-functioning auditory system."

"Do you think we should walk away now?" mouthed Jun-Seo as he pointed toward the hallway. Hwan-Woo and Ha-Jun nodded in unison and tiptoed on their way out.

After a moment of silence, Sung-Hoon smirked.

"No replies, huh? Too bad."

When no replies could be heard, Sung-Hoon furrowed his eyebrows. Pausing the game, he looked up.

"Shi-bal!"

~

Two days later, a funeral was held at Jun-Seo's family home. The friends and cousin traveled to Busan for the funeral. Unlike the last couple of days, it was pouring. The streets were flooded, and cars were stuck in traffic for hours. The cousins stared at the cars ahead while the other two watched the rain from their windows.

"This sucks," commented Jun-Seo after a long silence. "I'm supposed to reach early for the funeral, but I'm stuck here in this bloody traffic!"

"I believe the weather is mourning with us," said Hwan-Woo.

"How can weather mourn, Hwan-Woo? It's not human," Lee Sung-Hoon pointed out. He turned off the ignition and pulled a bag of chips from the glove compartment.

Hwan-Woo sighed. "You just had to."

Sung-Hoon shrugged. "What? I just pointed out the personification here. You're humanizing the weather by giving it a human characteristic, such as mourning. We all know the weather is not human."

"Can we play a game instead of listening to you ramble?" Ha-Jun piped in.

"Yes, please." Hwan-Woo and Jun-Seo unanimously agreed. Sung-Hoon rolled his eyes and munched on his chips.

This was going to be a long ride.

~

"She was a loving and caring woman," Jun-Seo looked up at the sky and raised his wine glass. "Here's to you, Mother. Have an amazing afterlife."

The audience clapped while Jun-Seo stepped down from the podium. It was a beautiful service. The rain stopped once they pulled over at the family house, so everyone had a chance to gather in the open field. After the service, everyone moved inside the house for the afternoon meal. The 27-year-olds and the 24-year-old, on the other hand, decided to have lunch under the open skies.

"You doing okay, Jun-Seo?" Hwan-Woo asked as he took a bite from his bread.

"I'm trying to be okay," said Jun-Seo. "Thanks, guys, and my unemotional cousin who makes an effort to be thoughtful. I don't know what I would've done if you weren't here."

"You would lock yourself in your room and only drink beer."

Everyone looked at Sung-Hoon, whose entire focus was on the loaf of bread. Jun-Seo chuckled. Despite Sung-Hoon having difficulty being empathetic toward people, he did know how to lighten the mood. With everything going on, Jun-Seo was going through a rough time. The loss of his mother left a deep scar in his heart that wasn't healing anytime soon. If he were honest, at that moment, being alone was the last thing he'd want. So much so that the thought alone terrified him down to his core. He was nothing but grateful to his friends for being there for him.

"I don't know if I should bring this up now," started Hwan-Woo as he pulled out tickets from his blazer's pocket. "I have tickets to Baekhyun's concert."

Jun-Seo's eyes lit up. "You definitely chose the right moment! It gives me the thrill I need after a depressing two days."

"Ha-Jun?"

"Ah, gee, I don't know," Hwan-Woo's face fell a little.

"Oh, come on, Ha-Jun!" Hwan-Woo urged. "It's Baekhyun's concert! You can't miss out on this."

"I know, but my relative's coming over that night."

Without missing a beat, Hwan-Woo went. "Sung-Hoon can take care of it. Right, Sung-Hoon?"

Sung-Hoon looked up. "What? No. I'm not going to entertain his relative."

"Oh, yes, we don't want the relative to get bored to death." Hwan-Woo gave him a side look.

"Seriously, guys." This time Jun-Seo tried to persuade. "Do it for me. My mother just died."

"Dude, don't you dare-" Ha-Jun was cut off by a grinning Jun-Seo.

"I already did," Jun-Seo evilly grinned.

"Don't count me in. I have important business that night."

Hwan-Woo raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms against his chest. "What business? I checked in with your secretary and she said you have nothing important that night."

Ha-Jun piped in. "Come on, bro. It won't be the same without you."

"Yes, we cannot wait to hear more annoying trivia facts about concerts and idols," Jun-Seo sarcastically remarked.

Sung-Hoon sighed and rubbed his temple. "You guys are giving me a headache."

"Is that a yes?" Ha-Jun grinned while expectantly staring at his best friend.

"Well, it's not a no."

Hwan-Woo and Jun-Seo cheered while Ha-Jun took this opportunity to leap and embrace his best friend in a bear hug. Sung-Hoon frowned at the proximity of his friend and tried to push him off, but Ha-Jun didn't budge.

"If you try to push me, I will drown you in the river," threatened Ha-Jun.

"Aish."

~

"Tell me again," began Sung-Hoon as he brushed his hair. "Why is Baekhyun such a big deal?"

Jun-Seo stared at him like he had something unbelievable. Baekyun was one of the most popular South Korean soloists of their era. At 17, the man was scouted by STARWORKS for his good looks and singing talent. Since then, he has been making music and touring the world. He received the Artist of the Year award four times in a row. He moved to the US at 19, and now that he was 23, he decided to return to South Korea. This was his first concert in four years.

"Have you been living under a rock?"

"Metaphorically, I suppose so," giggled Hwan-Woo ashe put on his overcoat.

Sung-Hoon rolled his eyes at the comment. "I know who Baekyun is; I just don't see the reason behind all this craze."

Jun-Seo jumped up and down on the bed like a five-year-old high on sugar. "HE. IS. COMING. BACK. AFTER. YEARS! This man singlehandedly rules the music industry. He's exceptionally talented, loving, and the kindest soul on Earth. People around the world respect him as both a person and an artist. He made a comeback every year and worked around the clock for us. He's-"

"If you don't stop him, we're going to get late," Hwan-Woo said, cutting the man's monologue off.

Jun-Seo dramatically threw a pillow at him as if to say, "Stop, you're ruining my moment here!"

Hwan-Woo turned to face Jun-Seo. With a stern expression, he said. "And you. Get down from my bed."

Jun-Seo pouted but obeyed his cousin's friend.

"Is everyone ready? If we leave in five minutes, we can reach on time." Sung-Hoon flicked his watch.

"I'm ready." The bathroom door swung open and revealed an over-the-top-dressed Ha-Jun.

The three shared a look.

"Damn," they said. "We're underdressed."