Page 80 of Teach Me K-Pop

While RyoTang and ChitaLux had taken the apartments on the floor above ours, I was allowed to live in the extra one on the same level as Nikko and Lalo’s “for convenience.” The lease that I signed literally contains the words “to maintain ease of access to educational resources at times that are most convenient to the artists and trainees, day or night.” I had nearly choked to death trying not to laugh when I signed the paperwork, but it let me be with Nikko, so I wasn’t going to let that ridiculous detail get in the way.

What would have been Nikko’s bedroom in the shared apartment has been converted to a home studio for Iseul to create and produce, while the spare bedroom in ours is a work space that Nikko and I share. Sometimes it’s for making music with Iseul or one of the other members, and sometimes it’s for practicing English grammar with a trainee who desperately wants to debut.

“Are you still good to record on Tuesday or Wednesday?” Iseul asks, once the initial snarfing of food has calmed down.

Nikko nods. “Yes. Jase will be out of town, so I’m all yours.”

“Ah, that’s right,” Iseul chuckles. “Your big trip with Baebidol.”

“I don’t know that a few days in London counts as a big trip, but it’s definitely a long flight,” I say before grabbing more tteokbokki. “Fifteen hours on a plane with nine teenage girls is basically what all those years in the library prepared me for.”

They both laugh, but it’s really kind of true. I miss my students all the time, but several of the members of Baebidol very much remind me of Harper, Alita, and Savannah.

During the month I had gone back to the States to quit my life there and pack up, I’d managed to find the girls on social media and reach out. I wanted to let them know I was leaving, as well as ask for a way to send them something, which I had done almost as soon as I’d arrived in Seoul. The video they’d made for me of unboxing their package of autographed, just-for-them RYSING goodies was one of the best things I’ve ever seen.

“Are you just working with them during interviews, or are you supposed to follow them around everywhere they go?” Iseul asks, refilling his own glass, as well as mine.

I shrug. “I have no idea. I’m not sure anyone knows yet since this is my first official translator-on-a-press-tour outing. I guess I’ll be prepared for anything.”

“I’m not sure you could prepare for something like what happened with Chokollit,” Nikko comments.

“I’ve watched that whole interview, like, eight times, and I still can’t figure out how it went so wrong, so fast,” I say. The now infamous Chokollit interview is both the whole reason they are no longer an active idol group and why I am being sent on a press tour as the only translator allowed to work with Baebidol. Task Force is not about to let another one of their groups implode on late night television thanks to terrible interpretation. “It’s job security, though, so I think it works out for me.”

Nikko puts down his chopsticks, pouting in my direction. “But it also takes you away from home. Noel and I need you here. It’s not our fault that other idols did not bother to practice their English!”

I snicker at his indignation, because it is adorable and pretty accurate. We speak English at home more often than not, including when Iseul is around. It helps Iseul to keep his skills sharp and allows Nikko to feel more comfortable in spontaneous conversation, smoothing out his sentence structure and figuring out things like when to use contractions and casual slang. It’s just another way of preparing him for his next steps, when he will be the one doing a press tour on his own, without the safety net of his fluent leader and the other members.

“Helping them practice English is what lets me stay here with you,” I remind him.

Grumbling, Nikko turns his attention back to the noodles in his bowl.

Iseul laughs at Nikko’s sudden renewed interest in his food. “Now he’s quiet because he knows he can’t argue with you.”

“You can go home at any time,” Nikko tells him.

“One of these days I’m going to go to Iseul’s and you two can stay here,” I tease them, even though they both know it’s a completely empty threat.

Nikko shrugs. “As long as you leave Noel with us.”

??? ??

“I need to pack,” I mumble against Nikko’s neck. I’m not motivated to get up at all. He’s so warm underneath me, and he smells like sweat and sex and the cologne that makes me want to eat him alive. I practically had when he’d returned from a meeting with Iseul and another one of the producers at Task Force earlier. I didn’t even bother to ask how it went before I pulled his shirt over his head and chased him into the bedroom.

“No, you need to stay here,” he says, wrapping his arms around my waist and holding on tight. “I won’t let you leave.”

“It’s only four days.” I press kisses along his collarbone. “You can be waiting here in bed for me when I get back. Naked, of course.”

He giggles. “Maybe I’ll wait on the couch. It is closer to the front door.”

“Still naked?” I ask, looking up at him with a smirk.

“Obviously.”

I push myself up off of him, because if I don’t move, I know I’ll stay there long enough to miss my flight. I glance in the direction of the massive walk-in closet that is 85% Nikko’s clothes and 15% mine. “What should I take with me?”

“Call Lux and ask him. You know he’s decided he is your personal stylist. He would probably be very excited to dress you for your big work trip,” Nikko says with a smile, even though I know he’s serious and Lux would be, too.

“I think I’m good.” I slip out of bed, searching for any of my clothes that got scattered prior to our frisky romp.

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