David paused for a second, his eyes eting Rosemary’s with a fleeting hint of regret.
"So, are we swapping out the guests now?"
Before Jossie could finish her sentence, her phone started to buzz in her hand, the screen lighting up with an unfamiliar number.
Slightly puzzled, she instinctively answered, "Hello, yes, this is Jossie. Oh, right, our agent had a minor op at the hospital yesterday, so I’m handling David’s affairs at the mont. You must be Ms. Kiki, Sumr’s agent."
Jossie could hardly mask her shock and surprise, "Hi, Ms. Kiki, I’ve heard so much about you. Uh-huh, oh, thank you so much for considering David. Yes, the concert starts at seven, and the headliner should take the stage at 8:05 PM. Uh-huh, sure thing, I’ll send the duet song to your cell in a bit. Great, just let know when you’re close, and I’ll co et you. Alrighty, bye now."
After ending the call, Jossie was still trying to process the news. It took her a mont before she squealed with excitent, "David, Sumr said she’d be our concert’s headliner! Her agent asked
to send the duet song over for her to review, she’ll pass it to Sumr!"
"Really?" David hadn’t expected Sumr to agree so suddenly. He hugged his sister tightly, his face lit up with joy, "You better stick around for the end, Sumr’s voice is out of this world."
"David’s got a crush on her?"
"Who wouldn’t like soone talented with a voice like hers?" David ruffled his sister’s hair, clearly pleased to surprise her.
anwhile, Roo glanced at the well-behaved Rosemary, a smirk playing on his lips.
Did she know Ms. Kiki? Or Sumr herself? How did she manage to convince them to get Sumr to agree to be the concert’s headliner in such a short amount of ti?
"C’mon, let’s get you so grub," David said, still riding a wave of excitent, eager to take Rosemary backstage.
But Rosemary held her ground, "You go ahead to the soundcheck. Roo and I will find sothing to eat."
David was surprised that his sister seed to have Roo on her mind no matter what she was doing,
"Alright then. Roo, don’t you eat all the good stuff, save so for my sis, okay? I gotta run through my set. How about I sing a couple of tunes for you now?"
"We’ll see what’s good to eat," Roo said, slinging an arm around Rosemary’s shoulder, steering her away before she could linger any longer.
"Hey, man. Is my singing really that bad? There are tons of people out there dying to hear ."
With Sumr joining the lineup, David was sure the song would be a hit.
Thinking this, he watched his sister’s retreating figure, eyes soft with affection.
"Rosemary, I’ll take you backstage," Jossie said after sending David’s new song to Ms. Kiki’s phone. She led Rosemary and Roo to the backstage area, "Take your ti looking around. All this food is from
David’s order for you guys; enjoy it. With the agent in the hospital, I’m the only one running around here. I gotta check out the stage setup; the concert’s about to start."
"Okay," Rosemary nodded, watching Jossie disappear.
Roo hadn’t anticipated David, the ultimate doting brother, would really spoil his sister with a feast of snacks and drinks. It seed he was genuinely worried she might go hungry.
"All in the na of brotherly love," Roo said, poking a straw into a glass of iced tea and handing it to Rosemary.
She took a sip and asked, "Aren’t you having any?"
"Your brother told to save so for you. How about we just share the one you’ve got?"
"Careful, or my brother might take a swing at you."
Roo couldn’t help but chuckle.
After a while, David finished his soundcheck and walked into the backstage area with a few of the day’s hottest pop idols.
"Let introduce you guys. This is my sister, Rosemary, blood-related," David said, tousling Rosemary’s hair as he introduced her proudly as a brother. "And these guys are the hit boy band KING. You’re usually buried in your books, so you probably haven’t paid much attention to them."
A group of fresh-faced young guys greeted Rosemary with beaming smiles, each one of them reaching out for a handshake. But before Rosemary could respond, David quickly pulled her to his side, "What’s
with all the fuss, guys? A simple ’hello’ will do. My sister’s just started her freshman year at college."
"Co on, it’s just a handshake," one of them protested.
"I can’t believe it, you’re such a sister protector," another teased.
"Your sister is way prettier than the last one I rember, no offense. She definitely got the good genes," a third chid in with a grin.
Just as the guys were eyeing the bags of snacks and drinks on the table, thinking of quenching their thirst, David imdiately shielded the bags. "Those are for my sis. Your stuff is over there."
"What’s the difference?" the guys wondered, suddenly suspecting the sister’s stash might be superior.
"Rose, what are you drinking? Let have a look."
"Is that lemonade? You like sour stuff too?"
While the guys continued to chat up Rosemary, David interjected, "Back off, guys. She’s engaged."
"Engaged so young?"
"Rose, who’s the unlucky guy? Why the rush? You should be enjoying your youth."
"I can’t believe you are letting her get hitched so soon."
"So, no chance for , then."
David was about to ask Rosemary where Roo had gone off to when he saw the backstage door swing open, revealing Roo’s return.
"I step out to take one phone call, and soone’s already hitting on my fiancée?"
As soon as Roo entered, the young guys greeted him respectfully.
"Roo? You’re her fiancé? My apologies, you two really do make a great pair."
The group was known for their playful teasing, and since they were all good friends with Roo and David, their banter was casual and laid-back.
Just then, Jossie knocked on the door, slightly out of breath, "They’re starting to check tickets outside.
Rosemary, I’ll take you guys to your seats."
"No need, I’ll take her," Roo insisted.
"Thanks, Mr. McMillian. David, KING, you guys take a break. The stylist will be here soon, and you’ll need to get ready for the show. I’ll go check the other details with the crew." And with that, Jossie hurried off again.
Roo led Rosemary through the backstage to their seats, as other fans, having passed the ticket check, began to trickle in from other entrances.
The fans were organized, each carrying a small bag, and upon seeing Roo and Rosemary empty-handed, they handed them a bag too, along with a few glow sticks.
"We fans love to leave a good impression wherever we go—tidy and hygienic. That way, people think our idol is a star of quality. The bag is for trash, rember to take it with you when you leave, thanks.
The glow sticks are a little gift for you guys—our way of wishing you a happy and fulfilling life together."
Rosemary didn’t expect David’s fans to be so kind, "Thank you."
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