It’s one of those days again.

I wake up, drag my feet across the floor, bang open the door from the bathroom and step in the cold flip-flops that have been waiting there all night. And then, resting my arms on both sides of the sink, I sigh in front of the reflection that shows nothing else but a tired face, with deep, purple circles dug under the balls of my eyes.

“BB Crème my !” I muttered before splashing some cold water on my face. Maybe that way I’d get away from the Sandman that was still trying to get me under his spell.

And then the morning ritual followed, just like yesterday and the day before yesterday and the day before the day before yesterday: fingers applying the BB miracle-potion, a little bit of dark eyeliner to make the look seem more intimidating, a little touch of balm lip to hid the cracks of the feverish lips.

“Yah, wake up, Mir!” I used my foot to push the maknae awake. But he just crawled further away in his bunk bed, making me growl in annoyance. “G.O., get up and make this fools get up before I return!” I nudged Byung Hee who looked me with half closed eyes. “I should get the car started,” I shook my head to myself, disapproving their spoiled behaviour. I was tired as well, alright? I performed on the same stage as them last night, haven’t I? And yet I was up. “Oh, you damn thing!” I cursed under my breath as the engine refused to start at the twisting of the key. “I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS! I HATE YOU! HATE YOU! HATE YOU!” I slammed my fists against the steering-wheel, making the honk echo in the early morning and probably waking up some of my neighbors.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” I heard G.O.’s voice coming from above as I got out from the van.

“Nothing. Just not starting. We’ll have to take the subway I guess,” I shrugged and locked the car. “Hurry and get the others ready. I don’t want to be late today!”

And surprisingly, as I entered back in MBLAQ’s dorm, I saw the members bumping into each other, trying to get their clothes on right without opening their eyes. And yet they moved pretty fast, ‘cause fifteen minutes later we were getting out from the apartment, leaving behind a mess of dirty pajamas and beds that bore the scent of sleep.

“Wow…”

The subway station was so crowded that we barely made our way to the only place from where we could get out tickets.

“I surely do hate Mondays!” I mumbled as I handed each a ticket. “Guys, just stick close and be careful. If we’re recognized here…” And I swallowed down, feeling shivers going down my spine at the thought of being discovered.

But being professionals, the guys just nodded and remained behind me as the doors to the subway opened in front of us. We got pushed and pulled and soon we were all facing the windows, without even getting the chance to take a look at the seats that were empty. Not that any of us could ever think of sitting down when there were so many elders in there as well!

“Are you alright, Seung Ho?” I heard Thunder’s voice close to me and I had to look a little up to meet his eyes. And surprise! -  there was a pair of sunglasses shading them!

“Yes. Why are you asking?”

“You look tired,” Joon butted in.

“I’m good,” I held on tight as the subway stopped in the first station.

And more people came in, pushing us forward. I was so close to the window that I could feel the smell of the cheap detergent that was used to wash the glass in the early morning. Not nice; not nice at all!

But as I crinkled my nose, something caught my attention. Reflected in the glass, a young girl’s image was staring at me with a smile on her face. Her lips were full and naturally twirled into a soft smile as her fingers were tapping against the bar, in the rhythm of an unknown beat that was playing in her headsets. And since she wasn’t paying any attention to us, I took the liberty to stare more at her, discovering her body with my eyes, touching here and there with the eyes. She had a suave figure: tall, with thick legs and well developed s, she was all dressed in denim clothes, keeping her long, caramel coloured hair tied up in a pony-tail. And she was magical with the fingertips continuously moving against the metal bar, making me want to approach her and ask for her name.

But the doors opened and the crowd went out, leaving me confused and looking around me. She could have been gone, I could have lost her…

“Jenny,” a slightly amused voice spoke close by, making me turn around only to discover the mysterious girl tapping on her phone, an arm away from where we five were. “And I don’t speak Korean at all,” she added in English, her British accent sticking out.

“I-I…”

I could feel the members’ looks burning on my back.

But she raised her head and looked straight into my eyes, her smile reflecting itself into her sapphire-like eyes. That was it. I was smitten, I swear!

“Ugh… S-Seung Ho’s my name,” I racked my brains for the correct English words.

“Nice to meet you, Seung Ho!”

And she shook my hand.

It was one of those moments we all get to live at least once in our entire life: a moment when you realize how empty your life had been without having that person around.