Kim Minjeong
Two Hours before meeting the SME director
At Asan Medical Center's Parking Lot
"Mwo?! You turned down YG's proposal?!" Ning almost shouted right on my face.
We stopped, halfway from her car just so she could properly react.
Overreact, I corrected in my head.
I furrowed my brows. "Wae? Is it such a big deal?" I walked past her.
"Seriously? Yeji's going to be furious. I thought you wanted to work for her company?" She jogged towards her car and opened the door.
I shrugged as I slid into the passenger seat.
"And now, you're about to meet with SM's director?" Ning asked, closing her side.
I nodded.
As I was getting myself comfortable, I heard her sigh, deeply.
"What's wrong? Is your car broken?" I asked innocently.
"Min...you should be more careful." I glaced at her. "I don't like going in and out of this damn hospital." her voice laced with genuine concern.
I look away," Well yeah, who cares, anyway? Besides, I'm parentless, no one will mourn if I just vanish. I-"
"Take that back."
My head abruptly turned towards her, the calm demeanor faded as I look at her glassy eyes.
The same eyes she had years ago-when we were fifteen, back at the orphanage where we grew up. Or rather, where I grew up.
That day, she was adopted by a wealthy Chinese couple-the Yizhuo.
She didn't want to leave.
Didn't want to leave me behind.
But I told her, it's for the better. For her own future.
She listened.
But she promised me she'd never forget.
Because we are family.
"I-I'm part of you, how can you say that?!" her voice cracked.
"Ning I was just-"
"Don't you dare say that when you stayed at that hospital bed for two days straight, without waking up! Not after you lost so much blood cause someone wanted to slice you open-" Her light sobs turned heavy.
Silence settled between us.
I breathe out.
"I'm s-sorry Min...I d-didn't mean to..." I unbuckled my seatbelt, leaned over, and hug her.
"Don't be sorry Ning...I should be the one apologizing, I'm sorry..." I held her tightly, knowing how scared she truly was.
That day.
Last year.
When someone stabbed me. An unknown guy.
There was this person, who'd constantly messaging me for the past three years.
I didn't know who he-or- she was.
However, something happened, last year.
(FLASHBACK)
I stepped out of the brightly lit convenience store, the night air hitting me like a cold wave.
The street was quiet-
too peaceful but I like it.
I pulled my jacket tighter and started down the sidewalk toward the park nearby.
As I passed under a flickering streetlamp, I felt a sudden presence making me turned sharply-
but no one was there.
Just as relief settled inside of me, my phone suddenly buzzed.
A message appeared:
"Saw you today. You look beautiful."
My pulse quickened.
I didn't know the number, but the words felt too personal, too deliberate.
Not again...
I thought, panicking inside.
Turning to the opposite direction, my steps quickened.
My phone kept vibrating, notifying that someone's still messaging.
Then it stopped.
Curious and uneasy, I lift my phone up, reading the last message:
"You can't runaway from me... honey."
Before I could react...I saw a hooded man, rushing towards me.
I ran too, heart racing, lungs burning from the adrenaline and exhaustion.
I didn't know what happen next.
But the things is,
He caught me.
Eyes widened in shock and fear I saw him raise his hand-
and then I felt a stinging pain on my side.
He shoved me,
Hard.
On the ground.
I struggled to stand, trying to run for my life. While still clutching the knife I used to stop the bleeding and save myself.
The next thing I knew, I was already in the hospital.
(END OF FLASHBACK)
I gently pulled away from Ning, facing her as I brushed away the tears on her cheeks.
"I promise. I'll be careful, okay?"
She nodded slowly.
"Can we go now? I'm pretty sure Lee Soo Man will fire me on the spot if I show up late."
A light chuckle escaped her, and relief washed over me.
~
Present
Same day
At Kim Minjeong's House
"So...how was your first day?" I put my phone on loudspeaker, set it on the dining table, as I open the fridge for some ice cream.
"Fine." I heard Ning's I-don't-believe-you sigh on the speaker.
"Okay, the team gave me a warm welcome, I also met a lot of trainees and idols." I added, finally spotting the dessert. Grabbing a spoon and my phone, I made my way to the living room.
"That's it? How about your new boss?" I noticed her change of tone, seems excited.
What did I expect? She was a huge fan of the one and only Karina Yu.
"You know! Karina! How lucky, you gotta see her every freaking day." I could already picture her pouting face on the other end.
I slumped myself onto the soft couch.
"I think she doesn't like me." I admitted.
Her laughter exploded through the phone, way too energetic.
"M-Mwo? She doesn't like you? " she teased, continuing her laugh.
I sat up straight and set the ice cream down on the table.
"What I mean is...she seemed nice. She greeted me politely but I caught the way she looked at me-almost glaring."
There she goes again with her piercing laugh.
"Nǐ de mèilì duì tā bù qǐ zuòyòng!"
(Your charm doesn't work on her!)
I snorted.
"You do realize I understand you, Ning? And please, I'm not hitting on her."
"Sureeee Min. Anyways goodnight. Good luck tomorrow. Ciao!"
And just like that, the day ended.
~•~
Yu Karina
SM ENTERTAINMENT BUILDING
At her own practice room
This is torture!
Kim Minjeong...the Kim Minjeong, working here.
The same company.
As my personal photographer?!
No, the company photographer but she chose me, exactly me!
"Karina?" I heard Tiffany unnie called.
"W-wae-yo?" I blurted, looking at her confused.
I mentally facepalmed myself, remembering we were in the middle of a dance practice and I had completely zoned out.
"Are you sure you're feeling okay today?"
I nodded, forcing a reassuring smile.
Yesterday, after I met Minjeong, closely, I...
I panicked.
I freaked out.
But only on the inside.
Still, the nerves rattled me enough to mess up the recording. My manager noticed and decided to send me home earlier than usual.
Tiffany unnie sighed. " We can take a break. Karina-ya you don't have to push yourself, the company understand you, you know."
Unnie motioned for me to sit with her on the bench.
My manager Yoona handed me a bottle of water.
"Are you still feeling unwell, Rina? You can go home- I'll call the driver."
I shook my head.
"I'm fine...maybe I'm just hungry."
Yoona unnie stood up.
"Then let's go, I heard the cafeteria menu's special today."
I grabbed my water bottle and followed them out of the practice room, my mind still swirling.
The thought of Minjeong being so close yet somehow so unreachable made my chest tighten.
As we walked down the hallway, Tiffany unnie chatted softly about choreography tweaks, but I barely heard her. My eyes kept drifting toward the photographers' area, wondering if Minjeong would be there today.
Of course she was there!
At the cafeteria, scents of freshly cooked food was filling the air.
I took a deep breath, trying to brush away the growing knot of anxiety in the pit of my stomach.
"Rina, you've been distracted lately," Yoona unnie said gently as we found a table.
Again, I forced a smile. "Just tired, I guess."
Tiffany unnie gave me a knowing look but said nothing, letting me slip into momentary silence.
Gosh. This was definitely torture.
Just as I was about to forgot about that certain someone, a group of trainees settled accross from our table and their subject of discussion pique my interest.
"Yes! I saw her earlier, and goodness gracious - I almost bumped into a wall. She's so hot!" One girl squealed.
" I want her to be my personal photographer too" the other pouted.
"She greeted me when we accidentally ride the same lift! and that smile! Oh..I could die on the spot!"
My brows arched involuntarily.
"Too bad she chose the best." the girl beside her commented.
Didn't they notice me earlier?
"If she were single, I'd definitely try my chance." said a guy with glasses, grinning confidently.
They all burst into laughter.
"Don't push your luck, I bet she have a boyfriend already -or she's not even interested to us, males." the smarty-pants pointed.
"Even her name sounds freaking hot
-Kim Minjeong."
I felt my heart skip a beat at the mention of her name, but not in a good way.
Not when someone say it like that.
I clenched my jaw, fighting the flush creeping up my neck.
How could they talk about Minjeong so casually, like she was some distant figure they could swoon over?
It was maddening.
I took a slow, steadying breath, trying to push down the jealousy threatening to boil over.
"Damn unnie what's with the face?" Glancing to my side and saw Aeri, my only friend here. Flashing me a teasing grin.
"Here, for the company's favorite," she said casually, handing me a tray loaded with food. She pulled out a chair and sat beside me.
The usual: a bottle of green tea, a steaming bowl of rice, a bowl of soup, several side dishes, and-surprisingly-a container of blue Pringles.
The company always took good care of me, so this hardly came as a surprise.
-From LMS
It was always the note the company will include.
"Told you, Rina. The company understands you," Tiffany unnie said with a playful pout.
I took a slow sip of the green tea, letting the familiar warmth ground me a little.
Atleast the company knows my favorite.
Aeri nudged my arm lightly. "I heard a rumor that a hottie will be part of your team?"
I raised an eyebrow, feigning casual curiosity but my heart do a continuous somersault.
"Yeah, I heard about her too," Tiffany unnie chimed in with a playful smirk. "Apparently, she's not just a pretty face-she's the company photographer."
"You mean Kim Minjeong?" I asked quietly, trying to keep my voice steady.
Aeri nodded. "That's the one. Everyone's been buzzing about her."
"Lucky you, having her on your team," Tiffany unnie teased lightly.
I strained smile plastered on my lips.
Last night, I made up my mind.
I wasn't going to get easy on Minjeong.
No.
I wanted her to feel the pressure, to struggle just enough so she'd think about quitting.
Only then could I be free to watch her-from the outside.
Without the flashing lights, without the public eyes.
"Yeah," I murmured, "lucky me."