Page 90 of K-Pop Double Life

There were a few more tepid questions about the concert, and then Camila said we were done.

Back in New York, Sun-hee-noona accepted that Jin and I could share a room, and I was relieved when the press conference was finally over and we could escape upstairs together.

Jin kicked off his shoes the moment the door closed behind us. “I think I’ve answered the same five questions in four different languages today.”

I laughed softly. “You only answered in two.”

“It felt like four.”

He disappeared into the bathroom, returning a few minutes later wearing a T-shirt and sweatpants. Then I took a shower and changed out of my sweaty clothes.

The room overlooked the city. Far below, São Paulo stretched to the horizon, a maze of towers disappearing into the late-afternoon haze. Somewhere in that vastness stood Allianz Parque, waiting for tomorrow night’s concert.

Jin settled beside me on the sofa, our shoulders touching. Neither of us spoke for a while.

“You’re doing it again,” he said at last.

“Doing what?”

“Listening.”

I hadn’t realized I was. Elevators chimed in the hallway. A housekeeping cart rattled over the carpet outside. Somewhere down the corridor, someone laughed.

“Occupational hazard,” I said.

“It shouldn’t have to be your occupation,” he said. He reached over and laced his fingers through mine. “Aidan’s downstairs with Liam reviewing tomorrow’s security plan. Jason’s outside pretending to read while he watches the hallway. Sun-hee-noona is coordinating with the promoter. Everybody’s doing their job. Your job should just be to be my stylist.” He smiled. “And my boyfriend.”

Jin rested his head against my shoulder. I squeezed his hand and forced myself to look away from the hotel room door. The city glowed beyond the window as dusk settled over São Paulo, beautiful and impossibly ordinary. For a few precious minutes, I let myself pretend tomorrow was just another concert. Even then, part of me kept counting footsteps in the hall.

“Do you want to have sex?” I asked, though I didn’t really feel like it.

“Not now,” he said. “I’m tired, and we have dinner soon. Can we take a nap? Together?”

I settled into bed next to him, his head on my shoulder and my arm behind him, and I set an alarm on my watch for an hour later. Then we dozed.

The Tivoli Mofarrej had converted one of its private meeting rooms into a dining room for the tour. Round tables had been replaced by a single long one covered in crisp white linen. Along one wall, silver chafing dishes kept dinner warm while hotel staff moved quietly in and out, refilling platters almost before anyone noticed.

The smell made my stomach growl for the first time all day.

“Now this is how you welcome people,” Jason said, reaching for one of the small golden rolls.

Camila Kim laughed. “Pão de queijo. Cheese bread. Every visitor falls in love with it.”

Jason bit into one and closed his eyes dramatically. “We’re canceling the rest of the tour and staying in Brazil.”

The room erupted in laughter. Sun-hee-noona shook her head. “One roll each.”

“That’s cruel,” Jason protested, already reaching for a second.

While everyone filled their plates, I hung back for a moment, watching the servers. Three hotel employees. One catering supervisor. Two security officers outside the door. Credential badges on everyone.

Satisfied, I finally picked up a plate.

The buffet offered grilled chicken, sliced beef, salmon, roasted vegetables, fragrant rice, black beans, and salads built around unfamiliar tropical ingredients. A bowl of sliced mango and pineapple glowed like jewels beneath the lights.

Jin nudged my shoulder. “You checked them all, didn’t you?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”