I greeted the dancers and choreographers before turning around and heading towards Min Hyuk for our daily meeting. And suddenly I realized that my personal phone number was gone. And I don’t know where he is. I hope my father will return it to me as soon as possible. Now I was not ready to initiate our communication with him.
IВ ordered lunch at one ofВ the nearby restaurants, after which, on behalf ofВ stylist Sung Joon, IВ went on my own toВ get the costumes that local brands provided for him. InВ them, he will participate inВ the upcoming filming toВ promote the new song, which is scheduled for release inВ two weeks. IВ took the outfits, after which IВ drove into the restaurant and proceeded toВ implement my plan.
«It’s good that your practice is over! I’ve brought water and lunch. Dismantle the containers and bottles,» I announced as I entered the dance practice room.
«Oh, Min Hee, it looks like you took Mr. Sung Joon’s words seriously,» one of the dancers called out to me, a young, thin guy named Lee Hyun, who could light a fire on the dance floor with his energy, «thank you anyway for food!» He bowed in gratitude, and I gave him a polite smile.
IВ took water for myself and aВ kimbap wrapped inВ aВ transparent wrapper and went toВ the mirror, where Sung Joon was sitting on the floor with his legs stretched out inВ front ofВ me and leaning his head against the mirror. As IВ knelt down next toВ him, he looked at me inВ surprise, and then looked suspiciously at the food inВ my hands.
В«What is it?В» He twisted his nose contemptuously.
«My lunch,» I answered with a sigh of satisfaction and took a bite, «I’m sorry, I don’t offer you. I know that you will definitely refuse. Therefore, having learned well everything that you told me on my first visit here, I decided to feed all these people that make up you. Let’s consider that you are full when they feel full, «I said, and exhaled in relief, feeling full, after which I unscrewed the cap from the bottle of water and took a greedy sip, and when I wanted to bring the bottle back to lips, Sung Joon snatched it from my hands and drained the rest of the water in an instant.
IВ raised my eyebrows inВ surprise, but decided toВ refrain from commenting, noting how greedily he drinks water. Even at that moment, he looked like he was on theВ set.
В«Get another bottle?В» IВ asked, barely suppressing aВ smile, secretly glad that he had accepted something from me for the first time ever.
В«No. What do we have next on the plan?В» Sung Joon asked, wiping his face with aВ towel that hung on his shoulder.
«Studio work. And filming. Your work day should end at eight o’clock in the evening. Now you have an hour break,» I said, stifling a yawn.
«Then let’s go,» he said, and nimbly got to his feet, after which he strode confidently out of the hall, tossing the empty bottle into the bin along the way.
I hurried to get up and was able to catch up with him only in the middle of the corridor. I didn’t ask any questions as I followed him, as I wasn’t sure he would answer them (silence was his style). Sung Joon ended up taking us to the agency cafeteria, which was located on the third floor. His appearance did not go unnoticed by the other employees, but everyone only greeted him modestly as he walked past them to the distribution.
В«Find us aВ place,В» commanded Sung Joon, giving me aВ quick glance over his shoulder.
IВ sat down at the first table IВ came across and began toВ look around (despite the fact that the room was occupied byВ aВ large number ofВ people). The dining room was designed for several hundred people and right now, byВ my conservative estimate, was ninety percent full. Everywhere there were small tables designed for three, four and five people. Everything was decorated inВ white and green, which was diluted with fresh flowers and soft bean bags.
Sung Joon placed two trays ofВ the same set ofВ food inВ front ofВ me and then sat across fromВ me.
«I can’t eat it all by myself,» I glared at him indignantly.
В«Only half for you,В» he chuckled, and began toВ watch closely as IВ proceeded toВ the chicken soup with rice noodles.
"M…delicious!“ I remarked delightedly and in the next moment my plate was in front of Sung Joon, and to my surprise, he began to eat, „this is the first time I see you eating something. You didn’t even touch the food that my father prepared last night. «This morning doesn’t count. You cooked for yourself,» I chuckled and grabbed a second bowl of soup, hoping it wouldn’t be taken away from me, «but why, I feel like I’ve been taken advantage of?»
В«So it is,В» he answered inВ an indifferent tone, not looking atВ me.
«Even so, I’m still glad I could be of use to you. I don’t understand how you have the strength to do everything,» I shook my head indignantly.
«I don’t focus on myself. I don’t need to think about it. Others do it for me,» he replied again, as if he didn’t care about everything that happened not only around him, but with his direct participation.
В«Are you saying that you position yourself inВ this world as aВ shell?В» IВ asked inВ surprise, and only after that IВ realized what IВ had said. But it was too late toВ take back his words.
Sung Joon returned his spoon toВ the table and lost himself inВ his thoughts for aВ moment, obviously thinking about my question.
В«IВ have aВ soul, but it belongs toВ your father, and is locked inВ the walls ofВ this building. My heart belongs toВ the fans, each ofВ whom sees me the way they want toВ see. There are millions ofВ Song Joons inВ the world and the only thing that unites them is my face.В»
IВ swallowed nervously and was horrified at the calmness with which he said everything IВ heard fromВ him.
«Among all these Sung Joons, there is one. The real Sung Joon,» I tried to cheer him up, «I think your desire to leave the agency is due to the fact that you want to find the one – the real you,» I said with a wistful smile and noticed, how Sung Joon looks at me with undisguised fear on his face and pain in his eyes, «I’m sorry, I think I said something wrong,» I said regretfully, noting that his mood changed so often, so I didn’t know what expect from him in the next moment.
В«We need toВ go,В» Sung Joon said instead ofВ answering and got toВ his feet.
IВ carried the trays onto the conveyor belt, along which they went toВ the shop where they washed the dishes, and hurried after my ward.
В«Did you seriously talk about training?В» IВ asked as we rode the elevator toВ the floor where his studioВ was.
«Yes. We’ll train at night, so come up with something to say to your father,» announced Sung Joon.
В«InВ aВ month, IВ will move into my apartment. IВ will live separately from my parents. Therefore, it will be better if we start training after IВ move.В» IВ reasoned out loud, toВ which Sung Joon nodded his head inВ agreement.
Later that evening IВ ran into my father again inВ the kitchen. He was drinking wine and browsing the news on his tablet computer.
«You’re early today,» he stated as I walked to my room without even looking at him, «shall we talk?» he suggested and I stopped where I was, then slowly turned my head in his direction.
В«About what?В» IВ asked, getting ready toВ defend myself.
«Sit down, Min Hee,» he motioned me to an empty seat separated from him by a kitchen island. I walked over to the high bar stool, but sat down not on the seat my father offered me, but on the one next to him, which made my father chuckle, «you never do what you’re told.»
«No one said I’d be easy,» I breathed back tiredly.
В«IВ did not hope for it. Otherwise it would not be you. You do not have my blood, but there is aВ lot ofВ everything that you adopted from me. Persistence. Purposefulness. Judgment,В» father stated proudly.
В«So you only wanted toВ talk about that?В» IВ asked impatiently, not sharing his philosophical attitude.
В«Decided toВ give you back your phone,В» he replied and took my smartphone out ofВ the inside pocket ofВ his jacket, В«Alex has been trying toВ reach you all day. IВ said you left the phone with me. He asked me toВ call him. Are you dating him?В» he suddenly asked, while carefully watching my reaction toВ his question.
«No,» I chuckled and shook my head, «this is the son of my mother’s friend. You know yourself. He lives in America.»
В«Distance is not aВ problem. It dissolves under the influence ofВ feelings. Are you sure that there is nothing between you? Perhaps you want toВ move toВ America because ofВ him?В» His father asked inВ aВ calm but suspicious tone.
В«The only person IВ want toВ go for is myself. There is no need toВ look for any catch. IВ just want toВ follow my dream. Like you once followed your dream. Like my mother, who still tries find your ownВ В«I.В»
«A dream,» his father chuckled sadly, «is such an abstract concept that it is not in our minds, but the thought of it makes us move forward, forgetting about what everything was started for from the very beginning. You have a goal. This is commendable. But consider if it’s worth it. And if this is really your dream,» he smiled and reached across the table to pat my hand, «Mom said hello to you. She promised to be back soon.»
«Uh-huh,» I said indifferently and got to my feet, then went to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of cold coffee, which I didn’t really like.
В«Today IВ heard interesting rumors,В» his father said with aВ heavy sigh, В«for the first time since Sung Joon has been working at our agency, he appeared inВ the dining room with his assistant. And the most interesting thing was that he shared his lunch with her.В»
В«That came as aВ surprise toВ me too,В» IВ replied as if IВ was trying toВ justify my indecent behavior, В«Song Joon refused toВ eat all the time, and today he decided toВ go there himself.
«Well, it’s commendable that you’ve become friends, but don’t let it get out of hand. Take control of yourself, your feelings, emotions, and Sung Joon’s mind. You might make a good team after all.»
В«Thanks for the advice and guidance. IВ have toВ go. Tomorrow morning, we have aВ shoot for aВ youth clothing brand,В» IВ breathed tiredly, drained the contents ofВ the bottle and trudged toВ my room, where after forty minutes ofВ explaining and retelling the events ofВ my life toВ Alex, IВ was able toВ fall into aВ deep sleep.
CHAPTERВ 5
«The key to your motorcycle, and the key to your apartment. You will only pay for utilities. Do not break furniture, do not throw parties at night. Be a good girl. Eat on time, and… do not forget about us,» my father instructed me.
«You sound like I’m leaving for the other side of town. I’ll be living just a few floors below,» I laughed, looking at the code numbers for my new apartment, written in my father’s even handwriting on a small piece of paper, «thank you for keeping your promise! "I kissed him on the cheek, took the key to my «horse» from the table and hurried to the parking lot, «I’ll transfer my things to a new apartment in the evening!» I called out before leaving my parents’ apartment.
For the first time inВ several endless working weeks, IВ felt the currents ofВ the wind with my skin and how speed is subject toВ me. My father said that my В«iron horseВ» had passed technical care and now he thanked for it with his smooth roar ofВ the engine and smooth movement on busy city roads.
When I pulled into the agency’s underground parking lot, I occupied a vacant spot, and while taking off my helmet, I noticed Sung Joon rapidly approaching me, just after leaving his minibus.
В«What it is?В» He asked furiously, kicking the front wheel ofВ my vehicle.
В«This is my iron horse,В» IВ answered without hiding my pride.
«You do realize it’s dangerous, don’t you?» he asked, shocked by his discovery.
«I try not to think about it. And I don’t advise you. It’s also dangerous to breathe nowadays, so my hobby is no different from your daily habits. In general, you don’t need to worry. If something happens to me, without an assistant they won’t leave you,» I smiled, sliding off my iron friend.
В«How can you talk about it so easily?В» He asked indignantly.
«Relax you!» I laughed as I headed for the elevator, «just a month ago you didn’t even want to look at me, and now you’re worried about my safety. Besides, isn’t it me who tastes food for you?» I continued to laugh, «and never complained about it. I almost forgot! We can start training. Today I’m moving into a separate apartment,» I announced smugly, feeling that I was on the threshold of my new life.
«I hope you don’t stop coming to work on time now. What area are you moving to?» As if casually, he asked.
«My new neighborhood is closer than you think,» I chuckled, «I’ll live a floor lower than you live.»
Sung Joon raised his eyebrows inВ surprise and thought for aВ moment.
«Then you don’t have to ride that motorcycle and put your life in danger?» He asked hopefully.
В«You should be so worried about your little one, not about me. He drives even faster than me,В» IВ chuckled.
«He rode a motorcycle? Where did you see him?» He shook his head in annoyance, and I realized that I created a problem for Cho Hee in the face of his older brother, «I have a job in the studio right now. I need to finish the song, so you can hang around the office for a couple of hours. If I need anything, then I’ll let you know,» he suddenly changed the subject, arriving in thought.
«Okay,» I agreed and exited the elevator on the floor where Sung Joon’s manager’s office was. Even though it was early morning now, I’m sure he was already here.
В«Oh, Min Hee! Come on in. IВ was just compiling aВ list ofВ addresses that Sung Joon received gifts from last month,В» Min Hyuk smiled as if he was sincerely glad toВ seeВ me.
IВ looked around and found hundreds ofВ boxes, letters and gift bags that filled his office.
В«Wow! Is this all from fans?В» IВ asked admiringly as IВ sat down on the sofa, where IВ could barely find an empty seat.
В«These are just the ones that have come down toВ us. InВ general, we try toВ accept everything and respond toВ fan letters fairly quickly. Feedback is important. Both for us and for the people who send all these gifts,В» Min Hyuk breathed out and threw on me aВ sympathetic look. В«Today, Sung Joon will be at the agency all day, so your job for the day will be sorting out the letters and sorting out the presents. You need toВ do it inВ two days at most, as Sung Joon has toВ sign letters that will then be sent toВ his fans. But this will be taken care ofВ byВ the deportation ofВ public relations. InВ addition, select ten letters that Sung Joon will personally answer. Arrange the letters byВ topic: thanks, requests, wishes, and soВ on.В»
В«Okay,В» IВ replied and tried toВ smile, not imagining how IВ could deal with this on my own. IВ would rather be running errands for Sung Joon.
For a month of working with Sung Joon, we were able to find a common language and coexist peacefully without violating each other’s personal space. Sung Joon is a complex, I would say closed person who has certain characteristics. For all the time we did not discuss anything other than work, but the more I was in his environment, the more I was imbued with sympathy for him and understood why he was stingy with the manifestation of emotions. With his pace of life, it’s hard to remain polite and courteous, but he somehow manages to do not only this, but also maintain energy and generate ideas.
I decided to start with the most difficult, so I started with paper letters, of which there were hundreds. Written by both girls and boys of all ages. They mostly wrote about how they love and admire Sung Joon. They ask him not to stop there. In the initial stages, I came across a couple of letters in which the fans threatened to hurt themselves if they found out that Sung Joon was in a relationship, and wrote that he was their life and they would not let him love anyone other than them. The tone of the letters was so persuasive that it took me a moment to digest what I read. I pushed them aside to show Min Hyuk. I’m sure the agency should respond to this in some way.
I grabbed a bottle of water and a biscuit dessert from the vending machine, then went up to the roof of the building, feeling a little tired from having plunged into Sung Joon’s life. He was responsible for all the people who called themselves his fans. And I could hardly imagine how much strength he needed for this.
Watching the noisy city from above, IВ thought about the fact that success is an unbearable burden for aВ person, and they need toВ share with others so as not toВ go crazy and drown inВ the madness that is happening around. IВ felt really sorry for Sung Joon and hoped that he could find aВ source ofВ energy because IВ would have toВ force him toВ stay at the agency.
Back in the manager’s office, I continued sorting the letters. At some point, someone sat down on the sofa next to me and, looking up, I found Sung Joon in front of me.
«Hey!» He waved his hand at me and smiled tiredly. «I hope you haven’t been here all day. Looks like you did. Aren’t you going home?» He chuckled, leaning forward slightly to look at the contents of one of the stacks of letters, while I tried to discreetly push the stack of threatening letters under the table.
В«No. IВ want toВ finish today with at least these letters from fans.В» IВ smiled tiredly and glanced around the office, as if showing that IВ still have aВ lot ofВ work toВ do. В«What are you doing with all these gifts?В»
В«IВ know that toys are sent toВ shelters, hospitals and other institutions. Something goes toВ the museum, which is located on the first floor ofВ the agency, and something is sorted out byВ the employees themselves.В»
«You don’t take anything for yourself?» I asked surprised.
В«No,В» he answered quickly, and pretended that all his attention was focused on the letter inВ his hands. В«IВ look at the list ofВ gifts and thank the fans on social media, noting the most interesting and unusual ones.В»
В«Interesting system,В» IВ breathed out, feeling dryness inВ my eyes.
«I don’t have any system. I just don’t like gifts,» he stated.
«It’s usually the other way around. People love gifts.»
«Who said I’m an ordinary person?» Through weak laughter he asked.
«I didn’t even think about it,» I laughed, but then I looked at him, deciding that I should share my thoughts with him. «On the contrary, every day I get more and more confused about who you are, what you are, and most importantly, until today I could not understand why you work so hard.»
В«And what prompted you toВ think like that?В» He asked, looking at me point-blank with genuine interest inВ his eyes.
«In all these letters…» I glanced at the piles of sorted envelopes, "…sincere words of gratitude and love for you and an expression of admiration. You give hope, heal souls and help people overcome difficulties, surviving in endless problems. Your departure from agencies will be a personal tragedy for many. But at the same time, I realized how hard it is for you. You bear the burden of responsibility for all these people.»
«If that’s how you tried to convince me to renew the contract, then it turned out exactly the opposite for you,» he laughed, leaning back against the arm of the chair. «Why did they make you do this? Normally, the PR department handles sorting.»
«I’m not complaining. It was an interesting experience. Only my back was a little stiff,» I answered, unable to suppress a yawn, and straightened my back, hoping that my fatigue would go away.
«Leave everything and let’s go home,» Sung Joon commanded. «Looks like you were going to move into a new apartment today.»
«I have to finish so I don’t have to come back here tomorrow. Minhyuk gave me two days for everything.»
«He went on a business trip with your father. They won’t be back until Wednesday evening. Tomorrow I have a free afternoon, so I can help you,» Sung Joon promised and covered his mouth with his hand to cover his yawning.
В«Why are you so friendly?В» IВ asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
«I never touched on this part of the work. Therefore, I will help you with pleasure, but… on the condition that you go home with us, and not on your own, so to speak, transport.» Curving his face in a grimace of disgust, he put forward his condition, to which I rose to my feet and stretched blissfully.
«I don’t see any reason to refuse,» I smiled weakly and followed Sung Joon to the door, and then remembered that I had left my things on one of the nightstands, so I returned and suddenly heard something falling, and when I turned around in fright, found Sung Joon lying unconscious on the floor.
