Rain seemed to get over what happened pretty quickly. This was a relief to me who didn’t know if he had really been joking or dead serious.

But now I was watching him and the rest of the crew with their last minute performance preparations. In about half an hour a crowd of people would arrive to dance and then would see him it was going to be one of the most crowded nights we’ve had.

I wonder if any of his crazed fans would be there.

“Oh it’s so exciting,” Bunny told me as she wiped the tables down, ready for those people who will be watching while eating, “you must be so proud of seeing him up on stage doing what he does best.” I nodded.

“He will do great,” I agreed as he turned towards our direction. He saw us and waved Bunny and I waved back.

“I should finish cleaning,” Bunny waved as she walked off. I returned the wave as I finished my job of counting the knives and forks.

***

Half an hour later the area started to fill with people who danced on the floor or sat at the tables, drinking or eating.

I was helping Tony with the bar tending by running drinks to the people who were on the farthest end of the bar.

“So are you nervous for your man?” I stared at Tony.

“What are you talking about?” He winked.

“It’s ok Bunny said she only told me,” I rolled my eyes.

“Why aren’t I surprised?”

“Hey she’s just happy for you, like I am.” Tony watched with me as Rain got his microphone ready.

“Yeah but still,” I watched out for Keyonce, “you know what would happen if a particular person heard it.” Tony nodded.

“Hey I haven’t said anything to anyone so you’re safe Slots.” I sighed in relief.

“I’d better get back to it,” Tony nodded.

“Sure.”

***

The music played for about an hour and a half while I served the guests. I watched as people came and left the building. I stopped as I saw Curtis Patrick with a group of men, they didn’t seem to pay much attention to anything else but their conversation. I watched them stand up and start to leave. I automatically began to follow when Mr. Francisco’s voice boomed over the sound system.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. As you may know the movie Ninja Assassin was released in the movies a few weeks ago. As part of his promoting for the film we have the actual main lead and singer to come and give us a number from one of his songs. So please give a round of applause for Bi Rain as he does a song from one of his tracks called Rainism.” The crowd applauded while some cheered loudly. Curtis Patrick was getting away with his friends.

I glanced around as the spotlights started to appear on the stage, Rain stood with his head bowed before he did a nice trick with his hat.

“I’m sorry,” I mouthed towards him as I started to go towards where the men were leaving. I kept my distance as they left through a back door, I came to that spot and peered around, no one seemed to be paying attention anymore as Rain was singing and dancing to a rather provocative part in the lyrics.

“Wow I didn’t think he sang about being bad,” I said before I went through the door.

It lead to the back of the building which was on an alleyway on a back street of Vegas. I took a deep breath and closed the door before jogging down the alley to the end. I came and stopped.

Damn I lost…..A fist came at my face hitting me hard in the nose. I toppled backwards from the blow, hitting my head against the pavement. I lay there dazed while a group of men stood over me, their faces destabilizing in my vision.

“What do we do with her?” One man asked.

“Just leave her,” a voice I recognized told him; Curtis Patrick. I tried to move but I was still dizzy.

“She won’t be able to do much harm for us,” Curtis Patrick added, “she’s terrified of me as she is.”

That jerk!I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to recover while the men disappeared from my vision.

***

I was still dazed but I had to get moving in case they changed their mind. I forced my arms against the pavement, slowly sitting up. I held my head which was not throbbing anymore, another part of my face did, my nose. I touched it with the end of my finger and cried out in pain.

“Damn,” I said breathing out as I got to my feet. I nearly lost my balance but was able to stand firmly. I dared not imagine the bruise that had formed or even that my nose was broken.

I walked back in through the same door and came over to the bar. Bunny was wiping it down; Tony was serving some men their beers.

“Oh there you are… Holy crap what happened?” I felt something trickle down my face and put my hand up to it. I was now officially bleeding.

“Umm… I don’t know… I was following them…”

“Following who?” Bunny asked bending down to the fridge behind the bar and grabbing an ice pack. She wrapped a tea towel around it before placing it in my hand.

“Umm… I don’t know who they were…” I admitted pressing it against my nose, the cold biting my skin, “but I think Curtis Patrick was with them.”

“I never trusted that guy,” Bunny agreed giving me a tissue to scrunch up my bleeding nose, “after what happened with your mum I’m mad he didn’t get booked.”

“There isn’t anything I can do,” I told her feeling reluctant. Bunny looked over and I looked too, Rain was talking to a man in a suit next to his translator, whose name I already forgot. Rain’s attention went to where we were. He waved and then said something to the translator.

“Oh I think he’s coming this way,” Bunny said clapping. I stared at her in horror.

“No! That isn’t good,” I lowered my face, “I have to go…”

“Oh too late he’s just about here,” I released a breath, standing in silence as I heard his footsteps come to us.

“Hello,” he said I didn’t know if he meant at just me or both of us.

“Hi, you did great out there,” Bunny told him, “you’re rather good with English.” I heard him chuckle.

“Thank you, I practiced hard,” I felt his shadow move over me.

“Hello,” now it was obvious he saw me.

“Hi,” I said in a bit of a muffled voice.

“Why are you hiding?” He asked, his hand went on my shoulder. I turned the other way.

“I’m not hiding.”

“Yes you are,” his shadow travelled to my other shoulder, his hand touching that one too. “Why are you hiding? What is wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong,” he kept his hand on that shoulder and came around the front. I didn’t even notice when he tilted my chin to him. I froze; he raised his eyebrows as he examined my face. Giving up I removed the ice to show my noise. His eyebrows came in at the centre now.

“What happened?” It almost sounded as if he was demanding it.

“Oh I just fell…”

“She was punched,” I glared at Bunny who then took my hint.

“Who would do that?”

“I don’t know, my head was spinning so I couldn’t really see who they were,” I thought for a bit, “but I think I may know some of them.”

“Well anyway you can worry about that later,” Bunny told me, “but you need to get some rest.”

“No I am fine to work….”

“Nah-uh you are going to bed missy! I don’t want to see you til the morning,” Bunny shook her hand at me, “go on.”

“But… What about Keyonce?” Bunny scoffed.

“I can take care of her, you just do what I told you to.”

“I will help you,” this set off alarm bells in my head when Rain said this.

“Umm… Rain,” I saw his eyebrows rise.

“JiHoon I don’t think that is a good idea.” He shook his head.

“No, you’ve done a lot for me in the past few weeks it’s about time I did something for you.” I opened my mouth and then shut it again, my nose starting to ache.

“Ok,” I said resigning. Rain gave me a goofy smile to cheer me up and told Bunny he would take care of me giving her thumbs up.