The Top Floor Summit

By the time the elevator chimed, the Top Floor had never looked cleaner. Which was impressively suspicious. Because six emotionally compromised adults had tried to prepare a luxury floor for the arrival of nine senior idols, one exhausted manager, and whatever psychological weapon Park Jihyo had decided to bring with her.

The result was less “prepared” and more “crime scene sanitized by guilty people.” Ryujin had hidden anything she personally considered embarrassing. Unfortunately, Ryujin’s definition of embarrassing was deeply unreliable. Yuna had spent twenty minutes asking if certain things counted as evidence. Lia had told her that if she had to ask, the answer was yes. Chaeryeong had focused on food, because apparently she was the only person here with survival instincts. Yeji had tried to keep everyone calm. I had tried to help, nobody believed me.

“You are pacing,” Lia said from the kitchen island.
“I am assessing the room.”
“You have assessed the room nine times.”
“Then the room should feel grateful.”

Ryujin leaned against the counter with a bottle of water in hand “You know, for someone who owns this entire floor, you look like a man waiting for his landlord to inspect the apartment.”

“TWICE is coming here.”
“Yes.”
“All of TWICE.”
“Yes.”
“And you think that is normal.”

Ryujin took a sip of water “No. I think it is funny.” Yuna appeared from the hallway holding a throw pillow “Where do we put this?” I looked at it “On the couch.” She looked down, then back at me “But what if Sana unnie touches it and somehow knows?”

“Knows what?”
“I don’t know. That’s the danger.”

Lia closed her eyes “Please put the pillow down.” Yuna placed it on the couch very carefully, as if the fabric had legal consequences. Chaeryeong walked in with another tray of snacks “Do you think this is enough?” I looked at the table. There were already enough snacks to sustain a small diplomatic summit “Yes.” Chaeryeong frowned “But Momo sunbaenim is coming.” I paused “Good point, get double— no triple the amount.” Chaeryeong immediately turned back toward the kitchen. Ryujin pointed after her “See? That’s leadership.” Yeji looked toward the elevator doors “She’s not wrong.” I rubbed my forehead “Outstanding. We are preparing for TWICE like a siege.”

The elevator chimed again. This time, the doors opened and the siege arrived.

Jihyo stepped out first. She entered like a person who had already read the room, judged the room, and decided she could manage the room before her second foot crossed the threshold.

John followed behind her carrying a folder, looking like a man who had been warned about danger and still walked into it for love, employment, or stupidity. Possibly all three.

Mina came next. Calm. Elegant. Quiet. Her eyes moved across the Top Floor once, then again. Not like someone admiring luxury. Like someone evaluating asset value, security lines, privacy vulnerabilities, and whether the lighting choices were tasteful enough to survive wealth. That honestly made me uncomfortable.

Then came Nayeon. Smiling. Which meant one thing… incoming damage.

Sana appeared behind her, already looking around with delighted curiosity.

Jeongyeon followed with the dry expression of someone expecting nonsense and being disappointed only by how quickly it began.

Momo entered and immediately looked toward the food.

Chaeyoung’s eyes widened as she took in the lounge.

Dahyun looked like she was already preparing commentary.

Tzuyu stepped in last, quiet and composed, then looked through the glass wall toward the city view.

For a moment, everyone simply stood there TWICE looking at the Top Floor. ITZY looking at TWICE. John looking like he wanted hazard pay. Me looking for exits in a floor I owned. Then Nayeon smiled wider “So this is where you’ve been hiding them.” I sighed “Good afternoon to you too.”

Sana moved past her with sparkling eyes “This is so pretty.” Dahyun looked around slowly “Pretty? This is not pretty. This is expensive with emotional intent.” Ryujin pointed at her.

“I like her.”
“I like me too,” Dahyun replied immediately.
Yuna leaned toward Lia and whispered, “I fear her.”
“You should,” Lia whispered back.

Jihyo looked at the lounge, then the kitchen, then the hallway “The entire place is bigger than I expected.” John snorted. “You expected modesty from Ben? I looked at him “You live with TWICE.”

“That is unrelated.” Mina finally spoke “It’s well-designed.” Everyone turned toward her. Her tone was calm, almost neutral but somehow, it felt like passing an exam. I nodded once “Thank you.”

Ryujin leaned toward Yuna “Rich people just communicated in furniture language.” Yuna whispered back, “I think that was intimacy.”

“It was not,” I said. Mina sipped from the bottled water Chaeryeong had handed her without anyone noticing “It was not.” Ryujin pointed between us “That’s what rich people would say.” John rubbed both hands over his face “We have been here for THIRTY seconds.” Momo, meanwhile, had reached the snacks. Chaeryeong appeared beside her almost instantly “I made more, just in case.” Momo looked at her. Then at the food. Then back at her “You are very thoughtful.” Chaeryeong turned pink.

Ryujin whispered, “Chaeryeong has secured Momo.”
“Good,” Lia said. “That may save us later.”
Yeji stepped forward, leader smile firmly in place “Welcome to the Top Floor.”

Jihyo smiled at her “Thank you for having us.” Nayeon’s eyes moved from Yeji to me. Then back to Yeji. Then to my hand, which Yeji was not holding. Her smile sharpened “So this is a wellness space?”

“Yes,” Yeji said carefully. Nayeon looked around “With private rooms?” Yeji’s expression did not change. Ryujin choked on her water. Yuna immediately stared at the ceiling. Lia closed her eyes. I looked at John. John looked at me. We both understood that the first shot had been fired. Jihyo turned toward Nayeon.

“Nayeon.”
“What? I’m asking about the facilities.”
Jeongyeon crossed her arms “You are asking about the facilities like a criminal.”
Dahyun lifted one finger “For accuracy, some criminals have more subtlety.”
Nayeon looked delighted “I missed this.”
“You were with them this morning,” John muttered.
“And I missed this version.”
Sana looped an arm through Nayeon’s “Can we have a tour?”

The question sounded innocent. It was not. But refusing would be worse so I glanced at Yeji. Yeji looked back at me.

Her expression said, You caused this.
Mine said, I know.

So we gave TWICE the tour. The lounge went first. Then the kitchen. Then the gym. Then the recovery room. Then the massage room, which Ryujin tried very hard to walk past too quickly. Unfortunately, Sana noticed “Oh?” she said. Ryujin froze. Yuna made a tiny delighted sound. Lia muttered, “Here we go.” Sana looked from Ryujin to me. Then smiled “Useful room?” Ryujin turned toward her with impressive speed “For recovery.”

“Of course.”
“Physical recovery.”
“Of course.”
Nayeon leaned in from behind Sana “Why are we saying of course like that?”
“Because Ryujin is lying badly,” Dahyun said.
Ryujin pointed at her “You are dangerous.”
Dahyun smiled “So I have been told.”

Yeji cleared her throat “This room is mainly for stretching, therapy, and post-practice recovery.” Jihyo looked at the equipment “Actually, this is impressive.”

“Thank you,” I said.

Mina looked at the room. Then at me. “Imported?”

“Mostly.”
“Custom?”
“Some.”
“Hmm, you have good taste.”

Ryujin whispered to Yuna, “They’re doing it again.”
Yuna nodded solemnly “Furniture language.”

Mina glanced at both of them. They immediately stopped whispering.

John leaned toward me “I enjoy when other people experience Mina’s quiet intimidation.”
“It is not intimidation,” Mina said from across the room.
John closed his eyes “See?”

The tour continued. The more TWICE saw, the more the jokes sharpened. The private dining area became “Ben’s idol bunker”. The lounge became “the world’s most expensive emotional support room”. The city-facing balcony became “where rich people stare dramatically after making bad decisions” I did not deny that one.

Then Nayeon saw the private suite hallway. She stopped. Looked at the hallway. Looked at Yeji, then at me. Her entire face lit up.

“Oh.”
“No,” I said immediately.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”

She turned to Jihyo “He built Yeji a honeymoon suite.”

Yeji’s face went red instantly “I— That’s not—”
Ryujin appeared behind her “It is emotionally a honeymoon suite.”
Yuna nodded “With witnesses.”
Lia sighed “Why are we adding witnesses?”
Dahyun placed a hand over her heart “For the documentary.”
“No documentary,” Jihyo said.

Chaeyoung looked around “Honestly, this whole place does feel like a secret married-life set.” Yeji made a small helpless sound. I stared at the wall. John patted my shoulder “Congratulations.”

“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”

Mina looked toward Yeji, then me. Her expression remained unreadable. But her voice was soft “It suits you.” That quieted the hallway more than the jokes had. Yeji looked at Mina. Then nodded “Thank you.”

For half a second, the room breathed. Then Sana smiled “Still honeymoon suite.” Yeji covered her face. The tour ended in the main lounge. Everyone settled into scattered seats across couches, armchairs, and stools. TWICE took over the space with a kind of terrifying ease. ITZY looked both overwhelmed and fascinated. Jihyo waited until everyone had drinks. Then she placed her cup down.

The sound was soft. But it changed the room. I noticed first. Then Yeji, John, and Mina. Jihyo looked across the room “This visit is not only social.” There it was. I leaned back slightly. John avoided my eyes. Ryujin looked between us “Oh no.” Yuna straightened, Lia’s expression sharpened, Chaeryeong went still. Jihyo continued “If TWICE and ITZY are going to be involved in the retreat Ben proposed, then everyone in this room needs to understand the risk of being honest.”

I frowned “Jihyo.” she looked at me “You called me.”

“I called for advice.”
“And received structure.”
“That is not the same thing.”
“It is better.”
John muttered, “She has you there.”

I glared at him, the Jihyo lifted the folder John had been holding. My blood went cold.

“No…”
Ryujin’s eyes widened “What is that?”
“Paperwork,” John said gravely.
Yuna gasped “Ben predicted her.”
“I feared her,” I corrected.
Jihyo opened the folder “These are NDAs.”

The air shifted. Not badly, but seriously. ITZY looked at the papers. Then at TWICE. Then at me. Yeji’s posture went still. She knew enough to understand why.

Lia was already watching the wording from where she sat. Chaeryeong’s hands folded in her lap. Yuna’s playfulness dimmed. Ryujin leaned forward, quieter now. Jihyo noticed the change and softened her voice “This is not to silence you.” She looked at each of them “It is so everyone can speak honestly without endangering anyone else”. That mattered and the room held onto it.

Jihyo continued “TWICE knows the general shape of what has been happening with Ben and ITZY. Ben and Yeji know the general shape of what has been happening with John and TWICE. But general shapes are not enough if both groups are about to share space privately for a week or more.” Yuna glanced at me. Lia glanced at Yeji. Chaeryeong looked down at the papers.

Ryujin exhaled “So this is mutual.”
“Yes,” Jihyo said.
Nayeon leaned back, less teasing now “We are not here to expose you.”
Sana nodded “Or judge you.”
Jeongyeon added, “We are here because secrets are dangerous when people keep tripping over them.”
Dahyun lifted her hand slightly “And because Jihyo said we were coming.”
Jihyo looked at her. Dahyun smiled “Respectfully.”
Mina spoke quietly from her chair “Protection first. Explanation after.”

That settled the room more than anything else. Yeji reached for the first copy. She did not rush. She’s already done this before to understand, then signed. Simple. Steady, leader first.

Ryujin watched her. Then picked up a pen “This covers emotional crimes too?” John looked at her “What?”

“Just asking.”
Jihyo did not blink “Unfortunately, no.”
“Shame.” Ryujin signed.

Yuna took hers next. She scanned the page, lips pressed together in concentration. Then signed with more care than her jokes would have suggested.

Lia read hers fully. Twice. Then she looked up. “This protects both sides equally?” Jihyo nodded “It does.” Lia signed.

Chaeryeong held hers the longest. Not because she was resisting, but because she was careful. She looked at Jihyo. “If someone becomes uncomfortable later?” Jihyo’s face softened “Then they can say so. The NDA protects information. It does not force participation.” Chaeryeong nodded. Then signed.

The pens sounded louder than it should have when everyone finally set them down.

Jihyo gathered the papers. John placed them back in the folder and suddenly, the room felt different. Not safer exactly. Just more honest. Jihyo looked toward me briefly. I did not like that look. It was the look of a woman about to push the next domino. She turned back to ITZY “Now we can speak properly.”

Nayeon sat up. Sana’s hand found Jihyo’s arm for a second.
Jeongyeon leaned back, watching ITZY carefully.
Momo stopped eating.
Dahyun’s expression settled.
Chaeyoung looked thoughtful.
Tzuyu’s gaze moved toward John.
Mina held her tea with both hands.
Jihyo spoke first.

“TWICE has an arrangement with John.” No one interrupted. That alone said everything. Jihyo continued. “It started messy. Not because anyone wanted to hurt each other, but because care became complicated before any of us had language for it.”

My eyes shifted toward Yeji. She was listening closely. So were the others. Jihyo glanced at John. He did not look away “There are boundaries,” she said. “There is consent. There is rotation. There are rules we built because without them, someone would eventually feel forgotten, or guilty, or responsible for too much.”

Ryujin’s eyebrows lifted “Rotation?”
Nayeon smiled faintly “There it is.”
Ryujin looked at her “So you have a schedule?”
John closed his eyes.
Ryujin leaned forward “Like an actual romantic calendar?”
Dahyun coughed into her hand.
Yuna whispered, “She means horny calendar, we told her to be polite.”
“Yuna,” Yeji said weakly.
“What? She did.”

Jihyo sighed, but her mouth twitched “In less… Ryujin terms, yes. We have a system.” Lia’s question came quietly “And everyone agreed?”

“Yes,” Jihyo said with no hesitation “That is the only reason it works.” Chaeryeong looked toward John “How do you handle it?” John exhaled “Badly at first.” Nayeon snorted “Still badly sometimes.” John pointed at her “Thank you for the support.”

“You’re welcome.” Jihyo continued before they could spiral “John does not belong to a schedule. The schedule exists so none of us hurt each other by accident.” That landed. Especially with Yeji and me. Yuna leaned forward “So nobody feels left out?” The question was too soft to be a joke. Nayeon’s smile gentled “Sometimes feelings still happen.” Sana nodded “But it helps when nobody has to guess where they stand.” Tzuyu spoke quietly. “And when no one is punished for needing reassurance.”

The room went still. Yuna looked down. Ryujin stopped moving. Lia’s fingers tightened around her cup. Chaeryeong looked at the floor. Yeji’s hand shifted beside mine. Jihyo looked at ITZY with the calm of someone who knew exactly where the sentence had landed “That is why I wanted this conversation before the retreat,” she said. “Not because you need to copy us.” Her eyes moved to Ryujin. Then to Yuna. Then to Lia. Then to Chaeryeong. Then to Yeji. And finally, to me “Do not copy us just because we survived our version.”

“Build what fits you.”
“But build it honestly.”

That sentence settled into the room like a rule nobody had to write down. Ryujin leaned back. “So TWICE built rules first,” she looked at all of us “And we built emotional chaos first.” Dahyun nodded. “That is a very accurate meeting summary.” Lia sighed “Unfortunately.”

Yuna glanced to both me and Yeji “So we are not broken.” The sentence was almost too quiet. Jihyo looked at her “No. God no.” Mina spoke next “You are unfinished.”

Yuna blinked. Mina’s expression remained calm. “There is a difference.”

For some reason, that hit harder. Yuna nodded slowly. Chaeryeong looked at Mina too. So did Lia. Ben and Mina communicating in wealth language had been strange. But Mina communicating in quiet precision was worse. It landed cleanly.

Jihyo let the silence stay for a while. Then John, because he was John, ruined it with mercy. “For the record, the rotation system also prevents Nayeon from starting coups.” Nayeon gasped “Excuse you?” Jeongyeon looked at ITZY “He’s not wrong.” Sana nodded “Sometimes coups are romantic.” Dahyun lifted a hand “Depends on the branding.” Tzuyu nodded seriously “Some coups need better scheduling.” John stared at all of them “This is exactly why we needed rules.”

Ryujin smiled “I respect this group deeply.”
“I fear them,” Lia said.
“Both,” Chaeryeong whispered.

The room laughed. Not because everything was simple now. Because for the first time, the impossible thing had been said out loud and nobody had shattered. That mattered. Then Jihyo turned the conversation toward the retreat “We still need to make this approvable.” Everyone groaned at the same time. Jihyo ignored it. “Publicly, this becomes a senior-junior wellness retreat. TWICE and ITZY. Recovery, mentorship, bonding, privacy.” Dahyun lifted a hand “Can the official name be less boring?”

“No.”
“Cruel.”

John leaned forward “It gives JYP a clean reason to approve schedule movement.”
“And it prevents speculation,” Lia said.
“Exactly,” Jihyo replied.

I nodded “I’ll cover the retreat.” The room went silent. Not because they were surprised. Because everyone had been waiting for me to say something financially irresponsible. Jihyo looked at me like she had expected it. John looked tired because he had expected it too. Yeji looked like she wanted to argue but knew the argument would be pointless. Mina, however, simply lifted her tea “Half…” I looked at her “Excuse me?”

“Half,” Mina repeated calmly. “You cover ITZY. I cover TWICE.”
“That is unnecessary.”
“So is most of what you do.”

The room went quiet. Ryujin slowly leaned toward Yuna.
“Are rich people allowed to talk to each other like that?”
Yuna whispered back, “I think this is flirting in tax brackets.”
“It is not flirting,” I said.
Mina sipped her tea “It is accounting and logistics.”
John rubbed both hands over his face “I hate when wealthy people argue. It sounds like two countries negotiating borders.”
Nayeon leaned forward with interest “Wait. Is this how rich people fight?”
Dahyun nodded thoughtfully “It’s quieter than expected.”
“Usually we pay people to fight to the death for us as we watch” I added in as a joke.
Mina cut me off “Shush, we don’t discuss that outside the walls, Ben.”

And honestly, I don’t know what scares me more, Mina making a joke or if that wasn’t a joke at all. I wasn’t going to poke that bear ever again, though.  Chaeyoung looked at me, then Mina.

“Are we witnessing the beginning of a secret takeover of JYPE?”
Mina blinked “Secret?”
I frowned “Takeover?”
John pointed at both of us “That response was somehow worse.”
Ryujin slowly sat up “Hold on. You both objected to different parts.”
Yuna’s eyes widened “Oh my God.”
Lia closed her eyes “Please do not encourage this.”
Ryujin ignored her completely “Mina unnie objected to it being secret. Ben objected to it being called a takeover.”
Dahyun gasped softly “That means they’ve considered a non-secret non-takeover.”

I stared at her.

“That is not what that means.”
Mina took a calm sip of tea “A takeover implies disruption.”

The room went silent. John’s head slowly turned toward her. Mina continued, serene. “Poor management creates disruption. Good management creates continuity.” I looked at her. “That is true.” John stood halfway from his seat “No.” I frowned “What?”

“You agreed too fast.”
“Because she is correct.”

Mina nodded once “Under better management, costs would be cleaner, staff retention would improve, artist wellness would have actual infrastructure, and food quality would apparently become a measurable morale factor.” Momo nodded seriously “It would.” Chaeryeong whispered, “It really would.” I leaned back, considering it despite myself “Scheduling inefficiencies would need work too.” Jihyo slowly turned toward me “Ben.”

“What?”

Mina looked at me. “Security structure as well.”
“Obviously.”
“Privacy leaks.”
“First quarter priority.”
“Artist recovery spaces.”
“Non-negotiable.”

The room went so quiet that even Ryujin looked concerned. John pointed between us with both hands “This is what I mean. This is terrifying. You two are planning corporate reform like normal people discuss lunch.” Yuna leaned toward Ryujin “This is flirting in tax brackets again.”

“It is not flirting,” I said.
Mina said, “It is governance.”
John looked physically unwell “That is worse.”

Nayeon raised her hand “As a future beneficiary of improved snack policy, I support the polite coup.”
“It is not a coup,” Mina said.
I added, “It would be an acquisition of operational influence.”
Jihyo closed her eyes “You are both making it worse.”
Dahyun looked delighted “Can the documentary be called Hostile Wellness?”
“No documentary,” Jihyo and I said at the same time.
Chaeyoung pointed at us “That sounded like management alignment.”

John stood fully “Nope. Private meeting. Now. Before the two economic superpowers draft a five-year plan on a napkin.” The room exploded. Jihyo stood as well, already composed “Ben. Yeji. John. Mina. With me.” Ryujin raised her hand “Why not me?” Mina looked at her “Because this part involves money.” Ryujin lowered her hand immediately “Valid.” Yuna raised her hand “What about me?” Jihyo smiled “You would make it worse.” Yuna nodded “Also valid.”

Lia leaned back “I will stay here and monitor the damage.” Dahyun smiled at her “That implies you can stop it.” Lia looked at TWICE. Then at ITZY. Then sighed “I cannot.” Yeji squeezed my hand once before standing. Her touch said what her face did not… survive.

We moved into the smaller conference room near the back of the Top Floor. The door closed behind us. The private meeting was exactly as exhausting as I expected, maybe worse. Jihyo laid out the cover story. John handled scheduling optics. Mina handled privacy logistics with terrifying calm. Yeji explained why ITZY needed the space in a way that made the whole room go quiet. Not because she dramatized it. Because she did not “They can keep working,” Yeji said. “We all can. That doesn’t mean we’re okay.” That one sentence made Jihyo stop writing. John looked down. Mina’s expression softened by half a degree. I looked at Yeji. And for a moment, I remembered again why she was the one I came home to. Then the meeting became numbers.

Schedule movement. Staff compensation. Security shifts. Media cover. Travel routes. Possible venues. Medical access. Emergency exits. Vehicle swaps. Privacy clauses. JYP objections. JYP counter-objections. JYP emotional grievance fees.

That last one was John’s idea. Jihyo told him not to call it that. Mina suggested “disruption compensation.” John said that sounded less fun. I agreed with Mina. John called me a traitor. It was productive. Unfortunately. By the time the private meeting ended, my brain felt like it had been folded into a spreadsheet.

Vacation logistics. JYP approval. Schedule compensation. Security rotation. Privacy clauses. Mina and I politely arguing over money while John looked like he wanted to walk into the sea.

It should have been the dangerous part of the afternoon. It was not.

The dangerous part was the silence that greeted us when we stepped back into the main lounge. Not true silence. Way worse. The kind of silence that followed laughter too quickly. John stopped beside me. His eyes moved across the room. Nayeon was smiling. Ryujin was smiling. Yuna was sitting with her knees pulled up on the sofa, looking entirely too proud of herself. Sana looked delighted. Dahyun looked like she had just witnessed the greatest variety show segment of her career. Lia was staring into the middle distance like she had survived information she did not ask for. Chaeryeong looked like someone had gently handed her a grenade and called it friendship.

John inhaled slowly “They talked.”
“Obviously.”
“About us?”

I looked at Ryujin. Ryujin smiled wider. I looked at Nayeon. Nayeon smiled wider than that. “We’re dead,” I said. John nodded “Historically, yes.”

Jihyo stepped in behind us, took one look at the room, and immediately closed her eyes “What did you do?” Nayeon pointed at herself innocently “Why are you looking at me?”

“Because I know you.”
“That is profiling.”
“That is experience.”

Ryujin leaned back on the couch, arms folded behind her head “In our defense, nobody told us we were not allowed to compare notes.” Lia turned toward her “We absolutely did not need to compare notes. Sana lifted a hand “I disagree. This was very educational.” Chaeryeong’s voice came faintly from the edge of the sofa “I learned things I did not know could be discussed during daylight.” Yuna nodded solemnly “I also learned things.” I looked at her “You contributed things.” Yuna blinked at me with perfect innocence “It only happened yesterday. I still have fresh perspective.” Yeji made a small sound beside me. Mina, calm as ever, looked from Yuna to Ryujin to Nayeon. Then she took one careful sip of tea “I see we left the wrong people unsupervised.” John pointed at her “Thank you.” Nayeon gasped “Excuse me. We were bonding.”

“You were exchanging classified trauma,” John said.
“Classified?” Ryujin repeated. “We signed the NDA.”
Yuna immediately pointed at her “She’s right.”
Dahyun nodded with frightening seriousness “Legally, the gossip was protected.”
I stared at the ceiling “Fantastic. Wonderful. The law betrayed us.”

Nayeon crossed one leg over the other, looking far too pleased “Honestly, Ben, you should be proud. ITZY speaks very highly of your dedication.” Ryujin nodded “Very dedicated.” Yuna nodded too “Extremely committed.” Lia covered her face. Chaeryeong whispered, “Why are we like this?” Sana leaned toward her. “You get used to it.”

“No, she won’t,” Mina said quietly.
John looked at Nayeon “What did you tell them?”
Nayeon smiled “Only what was relevant.”
“That means everything.”
“Not everything.”
Jihyo opened one eye “Nayeon.”
Nayeon sighed dramatically “Fine. Some highlights.”
John took one step back “No.”
Ryujin’s eyes lit up “Oh, highlights is a good word.”

That was when I noticed the couch cushions. One had been flipped forward. Another had been pushed against the armrest. A third was somehow on the floor. I looked at Ryujin. She smiled.

“No.”
“What?” she asked sweetly.
“You demonstrated.”
Ryujin’s smile widened “I clarified.”
Lia made a pained sound “She clarified too much.”
Chaeryeong nodded faintly, still staring at the floor “I understand angles now.”
I closed my eyes “Outstanding.”
Yuna lifted one hand “For the record, my contribution was tasteful.”
Yeji turned toward her “Yuna.”
“It was! I told it like a story.”
Ryujin snorted “She narrated it like a coming-of-age drama with suspiciously detailed pacing.”
Yuna looked offended “It was my first time. I’m allowed to have narrative structure.”

Sana clasped her hands together “It was actually very moving.” Dahyun nodded “And then immediately not moving.” Nayeon leaned toward John “TWICE also provided balance.” John stared at her “What does that mean?”

“It means we shared too.”
His face went blank “All of you?”
Jeongyeon shrugged “It seemed fair.”
Momo nodded “They had questions.”
Tzuyu added calmly, “Some of them were practical.”
John looked at Jihyo.
Jihyo did not meet his eyes.
John’s jaw dropped “You too?”
Jihyo cleared her throat “I couldn’t control damage I wasn’t there for.”
Nayeon nodded solemnly “Leader duties.”

John looked like he had just been betrayed by democracy.

Ryujin’s eyes sparkled “Oh, highlights is definitely the right word.”
I pointed at her “You.”
Ryujin pointed at herself.
“Me?”
“You are so doing aegyo TikToks with JYP.”

The room exploded. Ryujin’s mouth dropped open, Yuna screamed into a pillow, Dahyun slapped the arm of the couch, Sana nearly fell sideways into Momo, Lia looked horrified and amused at the same time, Chaeryeong covered her mouth with both hands, Yeji turned to me with wide eyes “Ben.”

“What? She knew the risk.” Ryujin stood halfway from the couch. “That is a cruel and unjust punishment.”
“It is character development.”
“It is psychological warfare.”
“It is content.”

John, however, did not laugh. He turned toward me slowly, horror spreading across his face like I had just introduced a new category of violence into the world “Wait.” I looked at him “What?”

“You can assign idol punishment content?”

“No”. Ryujin pointed at me “He absolutely can.” John’s eyes widened “Jihyo.” Jihyo did not look at him “Do not drag me into this.” John turned to Nayeon “Nayeon.” Nayeon smiled sweetly “Yes, manager-nim?”

“You are not getting ideas.” Her smile changed. Not brighter. Worse, it was sharper “Oh?” she said, tilting her head. “Does that mean you’ll punish me later tonight for being a bad girl?” The room froze.

I felt my soul leave my body in solidarity with John’s. John stopped breathing. Jihyo’s eyes snapped open. Mina looked into her tea like it had personally disappointed her. Chaeryeong made a tiny sound. Lia whispered, “Oh my God.” Ryujin slowly sat back down, reverent. Yuna looked like she had just found a new religion. Nayeon only shrugged, perfectly shameless “What?” she said. “They signed the NDAs. I don’t have to perform anymore.”

John covered his face with both hands “I miss five minutes ago.”
“No, you don’t,” Nayeon said.
“I do.”
“You love me.”
“That is unrelated to my suffering.”
Jihyo pointed at Nayeon without looking at her “You are why we need paperwork.”
Nayeon smiled “And yet everyone always thanks me later.”
Dahyun raised a finger “She has a point.”
“No, she does not,” John and I said at the same time.

That made the room laugh harder. The laughter should have made everything lighter. It did. For a while. But as the room kept moving around me, as TWICE and ITZY laughed together like the impossible had somehow become social, I felt something quiet inside me tighten.

First it was my space. Then it was ITZY’s shelter. Then it became Yeji’s sanctuary. Then Ryujin’s trouble. Then Lia’s waiting room. Then Yuna’s doorway. Then Chaeryeong’s quiet truth.

Now TWICE was here. John was here. Jihyo had paperwork. Mina had the audacity to match my money. Nayeon had no shame. And everyone was laughing like this was survivable. Maybe it was and maybe that was the problem. I stepped away before I realized I had moved. Not dramatically. Not enough for the room to stop. Just one step after the other. Past the lounge. Past the hallway. Toward the open balcony where the city air came colder through the glass door.

The noise faded behind me. For the first time all day, no one followed immediately. Good. I needed the silence. I stepped outside and closed the door behind me. The air hit my face sharp enough to feel real. For a while, I only stood there. Then I reached into my pocket. The cigarette was not supposed to be there. Which was a lie. Old habits did not disappear just because life became expensive and complicated. They waited like bad friends.

I lit it with my back to the city and took one slow drag. The smoke burned in a way I had not missed and missed anyway. I exhaled toward the skyline.

“Didn’t know you still did that.”

I did not turn around.
John closed the balcony door behind him. He stood beside me, hands in his pockets, looking out at the city. For a while, he said nothing. That was how I knew he was worried.

John made jokes when he was annoyed. He made insults when he was scared. Silence meant he was trying to be careful.

“I don’t,” I said.
He glanced at the cigarette “Convincing.”
I looked down at it “Today is an exception.”
“Today has been an exception since you slept with Yeji.”
I snorted “Don’t get meta with me, jackass.”
“I am emotionally exhausted. I’ll get whatever the hell I want.”

We stood in the cold for a few seconds. Behind the glass, the room glowed warm. The girls moved like silhouettes through the light. TWICE and ITZY. Two impossible systems orbiting two very tired men. John followed my gaze.

“Do you regret it?”

I knew what he meant. Not the cigarette. Not the money. Not the vacation. All of it.

Me and ITZY, Yeji, Ryujin, Yuna, Lia’s careful truth, Chaeryeong’s quiet waiting, Waterbomb, The Top Floor, The phone call, The door I had opened.

I took another drag, slower this time “No.”
John looked at me.
I exhaled “It is insane.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
“It is complicated.”
“Still not the question.”
“It might ruin me.”
“That one is closer.”

I smiled faintly. Then looked back through the glass. Yeji was laughing at something Sana had said. Yuna was leaning toward Dahyun. Ryujin and Nayeon looked like a national security threat. Lia was speaking quietly with Jeongyeon. Chaeryeong was offering Momo more food. Mina sat near Jihyo, calmer than a meditating monk.

And somehow, in the middle of all of it, the Top Floor looked less like containment. More like proof.

“No,” I said finally. “I don’t regret it.”
John’s shoulder relaxed by half an inch.
I noticed. Of course I noticed. He always hated that.
“Crazy as it is,” I continued, “I’m thankful.”
John immediately grimaced “Disgusting.”
I looked at him “What?”
“Male emotional honesty in private. Horrible. Vile. We need to move on.”
I laughed once “There he is.”
John cleared his throat “Speaking of moving on, I’ve been thinking about something important.”
“If this is another emotional grievance fee—”
“TWICE recreational fund.”

I stared at him. The cigarette paused halfway to my mouth “What?”
“TWICE recreational fund.”
“No.”
“You didn’t even let me finish.”
“I heard enough.”
“ITZY has one.”
“ITZY has one because it’s out my own pocket.”
“Exactly. Precedent.”
“You are literally the manager of Mina— she’s wealthier than me.”
“For now.”
My eyes narrowed, his instinct was always on point. “There it is.”
I looked away.
“What?”
“That little rich-person prophecy you have.”
“I do not have a prophecy.”
“You absolutely do. Every time someone mentions Mina being richer, you sound like a villain waiting for compound interest.”
“That is unfair.”
“Because it is accurate.”
I sighed “It would take time.”
John stared at me “Oh my God.”
“What?”
“You’ve calculated it.”
“I have not.”
“You absolutely have.”
“It’s a rough estimate.”

John threw both hands up.

“I knew it.”
I took another drag, trying not to smile “It would take longer now.”
“Because of market conditions?”
“Because Ryujin and Yuna have apparently made it their personal mission to financially ruin me.”

John looked through the glass at them. Ryujin was laughing so hard she had fallen sideways into the couch. Yuna looked far too pleased about something. John nodded slowly.

“They’ll do it.”
“They can try.”
“Proud of them.”
“Traitor.”

He grinned. The city stretched below us. The cigarette burned shorter between my fingers. John’s smile faded slightly “You know Yeji will notice.”

“I know.”
“You going to lie?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Are you going to tell Jihyo about Nayeon?”

John’s face immediately tightened “That is unrelated.”
“She asked to be punished.”
He closed his eyes “I heard.”
“In front of everyone.”
“I was there.”

I laughed under my breath. For a moment, the balcony was just cold air, smoke, city lights, and the strange relief of standing next to the only person who had known me before all of this became impossible.

Then the door slid open. Yeji stepped outside. Her eyes moved from John to me. Then to the cigarette. She did not scold me. That was worse. John immediately straightened.

“I was supervising.”
Yeji looked at him.
“Were you?”
“No.”
“Thank you for your honesty.”
John nodded once.
“I will go be useless inside.”

He opened the door, slipped past her, then paused just long enough to mutter to me “Good luck, emotionally married man.” I flipped him off without looking and he vanished inside.

Yeji closed the door behind him. For a moment, she only stood there with me. The city wind moved softly through her hair. Her expression was not angry. Not disappointed. Just quiet.

That was harder. I looked at the cigarette. Then put it out against the ashtray near the railing before she said anything. Yeji watched the motion.

“Was it that bad?”
I leaned against the balcony rail “No.”
She stepped closer “That means yes.”
“It means crowded.”
Her gaze softened “Too much?”
I looked through the glass again.
At everyone inside.
At the impossible warmth of the room.
“Not bad too much,” I said. “Just… real too much.”

Yeji followed my gaze. She understood. Of course she did. Her hand found mine. Cold fingers sliding between mine without hesitation. In full view of the room “Come back inside,” she said. I looked down at her hand. Then at her.

“You know they can see.”
Yeji’s cheeks colored faintly. But she did not let go.
“I know.”
That answer did something to me.
“Yeji.”

She stepped closer. Not hiding behind the balcony wall. Not looking over her shoulder. Not checking if ITZY could see. Or TWICE or John or Jihyo.

She only looked at me “I said I’m not pretending anymore.” The warmth in my chest hurt. Behind the glass, I saw movement. People noticing. Heads turning. The room becoming still. Yeji noticed too. She still did not let go.

Then, with the entire impossible room watching, she rose slightly on her toes and kissed me. Not sudden. Not accidental. Not stolen in the middle of chaos.

Deliberate, soft, and certain. The kind of kiss that did not ask the room for permission. The kind that made a private truth public without turning it into a performance. When she pulled back, her face was red. But her hand stayed in mine.

I smiled “Public now?”
She looked embarrassed.
Then stubborn “Public enough.”

I laughed quietly and that made her smile. Then her eyes moved toward the ashtray. The smile faded by half an inch. Not gone, just sharpened.

“Also,” she said softly, “that is the last time I kiss you after you smoke.”
I blinked. Behind the glass, I could feel the entire room watching us fail to be subtle.
“You waited until after the kiss to say that?”
“Yes.”
“That feels strategically unfair.”
“It was.”

I looked at her. Yeji did not look angry. That was what made it land harder. She looked worried. Steady. Mine.

“You don’t have to pretend it doesn’t scare me,” she said. The city wind moved between us. I looked toward the ashtray. Then back at her “I’ll try.”

Her fingers tightened around mine “Try how?” I exhaled slowly “I’ll try to quit.” Her eyes searched my face. I added, quieter, “At least… not around you. Not around ITZY. Not where any of you have to watch me use it to survive the room.”

Yeji studied me for a long moment. Long enough that I felt fourteen different versions of myself being judged. Then she nodded once.

“For now.”
“For now?”
“For now,” she repeated. “Because eventually I’m going to ask for more.”
I smiled faintly.
“Of course you are.”
Her cheeks colored again, but her voice stayed firm.
“Be a good boy.”
I closed my eyes.
“You cannot weaponize that after an anti-smoking ultimatum.”
“I just did.”

Behind the glass, Ryujin visibly reacted despite not hearing a word. That somehow made it worse. I squeezed Yeji’s hand.

“I’ll try,” I said again. “Promise.”

This time, she accepted it. Not because it was enough forever. Because it was honest enough for now. We stepped back inside together. The room was silent. Not shocked like before. Not scandalized. Just caught.

Like everyone had witnessed something they already knew, but had never seen that clearly. Jihyo looked at Yeji first, then at me. Something in her expression softened “There it is,” she said quietly. Nobody asked what she meant.

Nayeon, unfortunately, recovered first. She turned slowly toward John. “See?” John froze “No.” Nayeon pointed toward Yeji and me “That was romantic.” John stared at her “I was gone for five minutes.”

Sana leaned forward “Manager-nim, where is our dramatic eye contact?”
John looked betrayed “Sana.”
Dahyun lifted an imaginary microphone “Breaking news: TWICE files formal complaint regarding lack of cinematic boyfriend moments.”
John pointed at her “You are supposed to be on my side.”
“I am reporting fairly.”
Momo tilted her head “John-oppa is romantic sometimes.”
John looked relieved “Thank you.”
Momo continued “When he remembers.”

The room exploded. John turned slowly toward her. “Momo.” Jeongyeon crossed her arms “He shows love through damage control and panic.” Chaeyoung nodded “And snacks.” Mina, still calm, added “And calendar reminders.”
John stared at her. “Mina.”
She blinked “What? It is true.”
Tzuyu looked at me and Yeji, then at John “Ben looks like a romance drama.”
John’s eyes narrowed.
Tzuyu continued calmly “John looks like a man surviving a group project.”

I made the mistake of laughing.

John turned toward me “This is your fault.”
I lifted my free hand “I said nothing.”
“You stood there romantically.”
“I was being emotionally supported.”
“Exactly. Publicly. Recklessly. With eye contact.”
Nayeon pointed at John “So learn from him.”
“I refuse to be mentored by a man who just smoked outside because eleven women compared bedroom notes.”
I nodded “Fair.”

Yeji’s hand tightened around mine. Not warning. Laughing silently. Jihyo looked at John “You could still be more romantic.” John’s face fell “You too?” Jihyo smiled “Especially me.”

Nayeon clapped once “Leader has spoken.”
Sana nodded “We need cinematic boyfriend moments.”
Dahyun raised her hand “I would like mine under the rain.”
Chaeyoung added, “And better lighting.”
Momo said, “And food.”
Jeongyeon looked at her “That’s just dinner.”
Momo nodded “Romantic dinner.”
Mina looked at John “I would accept quiet submissiveness.”
John stared at her “That sounds attainable.”

Nayeon leaned in “Did you just say 'yes' to dominatrix?” John’s mouth opened then closed. Then he pointed at Ben “You see what you caused?”

I looked at him. Then at Yeji. Then at the room full of women now laughing across two impossible worlds. TWICE and ITZY. John and Ben. Jihyo with her paperwork. Mina with her half of the world. Yeji holding my hand where everyone could see. I exhaled slowly. For once, I did not feel like running from the noise. “Well,” I said, “at least now we know the retreat will be peaceful.”

Everyone looked at me. Then they all started laughing. Not because it was true. Because it absolutely was not.

Dinner happened because Chaeryeong and Momo had formed an alliance. No one said it out loud. No one needed to. By the time the sun lowered behind the city, the Top Floor no longer looked like a secret meeting space. It looked like a private dining room that had somehow been conquered by fourteen female idols, two managers, and then one financial superpower currently helping Chaeryeong decide whether the plating looked balanced.

Mina was very serious about symmetry. Chaeryeong was very serious about feeding people. Momo was very serious about the food. Together, they were terrifying. The rest of the room had slowly loosened. TWICE had stopped acting like guests. ITZY had stopped acting like hosts. John had stopped pretending he had any authority left.

I had given up on dignity somewhere between Nayeon asking if the retreat had honeymoon packages and Ryujin explaining that all wellness retreats should include “stress relief benefits.” Jihyo had told both of them to stop. Neither stopped.

Then I made the mistake of leaving the room to change. It should not have mattered. Formal managerial attire had started to feel suffocating after the meeting, the note-comparison disaster, the balcony cigarette, Yeji’s kiss, and the fact that Park Jihyo had essentially turned my recovery plan into a multinational idol event. So I changed into something simple.

Black fitted shirt. Dark trousers. Watch. No jacket. Comfortable enough to breathe. Presentable enough that JYP could appear on the elevator without me looking like I had completely abandoned professional standards.

Apparently, that was not the effect it had.

When I stepped back into the lounge, conversations died in waves. First ITZY. Then TWICE. Then John. Even Momo paused mid-bite. I stopped walking “What?” Ryujin slowly lowered her chopsticks “Oh.”

“No.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
Yuna leaned forward with wide eyes “Manager-nim.”
“That tone is now illegal.”
“You look like you’re here to collect protection money.”
Lia covered her mouth.
Chaeryeong blinked at me from beside the dining table, eyes dropping briefly to the tattooed lines visible along my arms. Then back up “Respectfully,” she said, “Yuna is not completely wrong.”

Nayeon tilted her head. “I thought he was a secretly insane rich manager.”
Dahyun lifted a hand “Correction. Without the formal clothes, he is giving secretly insane rich mafia manager.”
Sana smiled brightly “But handsome.”
Jeongyeon crossed her arms “That does not make it better.”
Chaeyoung squinted at my arms “How many tattoos do you have?”
“Enough.”
“That is a suspicious number.”
Tzuyu looked at me calmly “You look like someone parents warn their children about.”
John pointed at her “That one is accurate.”
Mina, from the table, only looked at me once “The shirt is well-fitted.”

Everyone turned toward her. Mina blinked “What?”

Ryujin whispered, “Furniture language evolved into shirt language.”
Yuna nodded “Rich people are escalating.”

I looked at Jihyo. She was studying the exposed ink around my wrists and forearms with a thoughtful frown “I only saw some of the ones on the wrist last time.”

“That was the point of sleeves.”
Nayeon leaned toward Jihyo “He hides his tattoos at work?”
Jihyo looked at her “He is a manager.”
Nayeon looked back at me “He looks like a final boss.”
Dahyun nodded “Final Boss: Wellness Retreat Funding Phase.”
John sighed “I hate that I can visualize the title card.”

Yeji had not said anything. That was the problem. She was staring at my arm. Not the old ink. Not the ones she already knew. One specific spot near my inner forearm, still fresh enough that the edges had not fully settled. Her expression changed. Small. Dangerous.

My body immediately recognized the threat. Not fear… worse. Girlfriend hostility.

“Benjie.”
The room went silent.
Ryujin’s head snapped toward me.
Yuna’s eyes widened.
Lia whispered, “Oh no.”
John leaned back “She used the cute name. You’re dead.”

I looked at Yeji carefully “Yes, babe?”
Her eyes lifted to mine “When did you get that?”
I looked down at the tattoo. Then back at her “Recently.”
“That is not a date.”
“It is a category.”
“Benjie.”

I closed my eyes. The second answer was worse.

“After Waterbomb.”

The room went still again. Not comedic this time. Not yet.

Yeji’s jaw tightened “You got a tattoo after Waterbomb and didn’t tell me?”
“It was impulsive.”
“That is not helping.”
“I know.”

“First, you threaten that fan like a mafia boss. Then you scare everyone in ITZY half to death. Then you financially flashbang our company’s founder with a cheque worth more than most executives see in a year. Then I find out you started smoking again.”

Her voice rose with every sentence. Not loud enough to be screaming. It was worse. Controlled. Precise. Full of unyielding fury.

“And now,” she said, pointing at my arm, “I find out you got another tattoo without telling me?”

Ryujin whispered, “Wife voice.”
John nodded “Oh, absolutely a wife voice.”
Yeji immediately turned pink “I am not—”
Nayeon pointed at her “That was a wife voice.”
Sana nodded “Very wife.”
Jeongyeon added, “Concerned wife.”
Dahyun lifted an imaginary microphone “Breaking news: Hwang Yeji discovers husband has poor impulse control.”
“I am not his wife,” Yeji said, face burning.
Yuna smiled “Not yet.”

The room detonated.

Yeji looked like she wanted to throw a napkin at her I cleared my throat “In my defense—” Yeji turned back to me “You do not have one.”

“Correct, I do not.”
Lia nodded “Growth.”
I looked at Yeji and tried the only strategy I had left. A terrible one “I can make it up to you.”
Her eyes narrowed “How?”
“I’ll get your portrait tattooed next.”

Silence. Immediate. Catastrophic.
John slowly turned toward me “Why would you say that?”
Ryujin looked like she had seen heaven open.
Yuna gasped.
Lia closed her eyes.
Chaeryeong made a tiny sound.
Nayeon slapped the table “Oh, he’s insane-insane.”
Sana clasped her hands “That is romantic.”
Jeongyeon looked at her “That is not romantic. That is evidence.”
Dahyun nodded “Depending on the artist, it is either love or a future court exhibit.”
Chaeyoung leaned forward “Portrait tattoos are risky long term.”
Tzuyu nodded calmly “They can age strangely on skin.”
Momo looked thoughtful “Maybe not the face.”

Yeji stared at me. Then slowly pointed one finger “No.”

“It was a suggestion.”
“It was a bad suggestion.”
“You haven’t seen the design.”
“I don’t need to see the design.”
Ryujin leaned forward, delighted “You have discussed this before?”
Yeji looked betrayed by the universe “Unfortunately.”
I smiled faintly “In my defense, it was romantic then too.”
“It was a bad pitch after we slept together for the first time,” Yeji said, voice dangerously controlled. “It is a bad pitch now. And it will still be a bad pitch after the wedding.”

The room died. Completely. Even John stopped breathing. Yeji realized what she had said one second too late. Her face changed “Oh.”

Nayeon whispered, “AFTER?”
Sana whispered, “She mentioned a wedding.”
Dahyun slowly raised her imaginary microphone.
Jihyo grabbed her wrist without looking “No.”
Ryujin looked like she had just discovered a sacred text “Unnie.”
Yuna clasped both hands over her mouth “She said after the wedding.”
Lia looked at Yeji with gentle devastation “That was very specific.”
Chaeryeong nodded faintly “Very specific.”
Yeji covered her face “I meant hypothetically.”
John pointed at her “No, you said wedding with continuity.”
“I did not say continuity.”
“You referenced the first time.”

Everyone turned to him.

John paused “I mean emotionally.”
I stared at him “That was suspiciously meta.”
“I am under stress.”
Mina took a sip of water “Regardless, a portrait remains impractical.”
“Thank you,” Yeji said through her hands.
Mina continued, “A name would age better.”

I stared at her “Mina.”
“What? It is true.”
Ryujin sat up like a demon had possessed her “Property of Hwang Yeji.”
Yeji made a strangled sound.
Yuna nearly fell out of her chair laughing.
Lia whispered, “Please don’t.”
Dahyun snapped her fingers “Yeji’s Dog.”

The room exploded again.
I looked at her “Absolutely not.”
Ryujin pointed at me “Don’t lie. You would enjoy it.”
“That is defamatory.”
Yuna grinned “You literally admitted you might bark if treats are involved.”

TWICE froze. Nayeon turned slowly toward John “You never told us that.”

John looked at me “I hate learning things with them.”

Jihyo put a hand over her face “Why is there always more?”

Sana smiled at Yeji “So the leash is real?”

Yeji turned even redder “It is a joke.”

Lia sipped her drink “It began as a joke.”

Chaeryeong, very quietly, added “It has evidence now.”

Yeji looked at her “Chaer.”

Chaeryeong immediately looked down “Sorry.” But she was smiling.

Ryujin leaned back triumphantly “Property of Hwang Yeji is the best option.”

“No,” Yeji said.

“Yeji’s Dog?”

“No.”

“Princess’s Dog?”

“No.”

“Good Boy?”

I looked at Ryujin. “Do not test me. I will make you solo debut and have JYP feature in your title track. I don't care how much it will cost me to make it happen.”

The room froze. Completely.
Ryujin stared at me “...You wouldn't.”
“I would.”
“Ben,” Lia said softly, horrified, “that's not a threat. That's psychological warfare.”
Yuna folded in half laughing.
Chaeryeong covered her mouth.
Nayeon slapped the table again. “Oh my god.”
Sana looked genuinely concerned. “Can he do that?”
“No,” Jihyo said immediately, then paused “Probably.”
“Unnie,” Ryujin whispered, looking betrayed, “whose side are you on?”
“Not yours.”
John pointed at me. “That is the most specific threat I have ever heard.”
Mina nodded thoughtfully “The JYP feature is what makes it cruel.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“That was not a compliment.”
Ryujin narrowed her eyes at me “You are a villain.”
“You started this.”
“She did,” Yeji said without hesitation.
Ryujin gasped. “Unnie!”
“You know what you did.”

The room laughed again.

Yeji pinched the bridge of her nose. “Can we please return to the tattoo conversation before he starts funding music videos out of spite?”
Ryujin immediately pointed at her. “See? Even she thinks you'd do it.”
“I wasn’t bluffing,” I said.
“Terrifying.”
Yuna grinned. “Anyway, back to the important issue. Good Boy?”
“No,” Yeji said immediately.
Nayeon tapped her chin, far too invested now. “What about something elegant? Like ‘Belongs to Yeji.’”
Yuna pointed at me. “That sounded like you were considering it.”
“It did not sound like that.”
John crossed his arms “You made your wife mad.”
Yeji whipped toward him “John.”
“What? You did wife voice.”
Nayeon nodded “He did make his wife mad.”
Sana looked at me “You should apologize to your wife.”
Jeongyeon added, “Before she finds out about another tattoo.”
Momo nodded “Wives notice things.”
Chaeyoung looked at Yeji “Your wife instincts are strong.”
Dahyun lifted her imaginary microphone again. “Domestic dispute resolved through tattoo governance.”
Tzuyu looked at me calmly “You should listen to your wife.”
Yeji buried her face in both hands “I am not his wife.”
Ryujin leaned toward Yuna “Yet.”
Yuna nodded “Yet.”

I looked at Yeji. She was embarrassed. Annoyed. Worried. Trying not to smile. Trying not to be touched by any of it. Trying not to show that everyone calling her my wife had landed somewhere she was not ready to admit out loud.

So I walked to her. The room quieted by instinct. Yeji lowered her hands just enough to look at me. I leaned down and kissed her. When I pulled back, I kept my voice low. “I love you.”

Her anger did not vanish. That would have been too easy. But it softened. Her shoulders dropped. Her eyes warmed.

“You are not kissing your way out of this.”
“I know.”
“The ‘I love you’ won’t help.”
“I know,” I gave her another peck in the lips regardless “I love you”

“—John, take notes” Tzuyu was giving commentary from behind.

“I love you too,” Yeji finally calmed down a bit “but you are not getting my portrait tattooed. Not now. Not after the wedding. Not after three weddings.”

The room erupted. I smiled “Three weddings?” Yeji froze. Her face went red again. “I meant—” Ryujin slapped the table “She’s negotiating ceremonies now.” Yuna pointed at her “She said three.” Nayeon looked delighted “That is legally and emotionally significant.” Lia closed her eyes “We are never escaping the paperwork theme.”

John leaned toward me “Congratulations. Your wife is negotiating wedding volume.”

Yeji turned toward him “Stop calling me that.”

John smiled “No.”

Before anyone could make it worse, my phone buzzed on the table. Once. Then again. A voice message. I looked down at the screen. Tattoo artist. The timing was so bad that it became impossible.

Ryujin noticed first “What is that?”
“Nothing.”
Yuna leaned over “It says Frankie the Tattoo Artist.”

The room went silent. Yeji slowly turned toward me
“Benjie.”
I stared at the phone “I can explain.”
John laughed once “No, you cannot.”

Ryujin grabbed the phone before I could stop her.
“Ryujin, don’t you dare.”
She hit play.

A man’s voice filled the room.

“Ben, confirming your next schedule. Still got you down for the chest piece. Just making sure you’re really serious about that corny-ass couple tattoo. You really want ‘Ben + Yeji’ on your chest? I mean, it’s your money, boss, but I’m asking one more time before we stencil that disaster.”

The voice message ended.

No one moved. No one breathed. Yeji stared at me. TWICE stared at me. ITZY stared at me. John looked like he had just watched me step willingly into traffic.

Then Ryujin screamed. Yuna followed. Nayeon stood from her chair. Sana grabbed Jihyo’s arm. Dahyun dropped her imaginary microphone.

Chaeyoung whispered, “Chest piece?”
Momo said, “That is very committed.”
Tzuyu looked at Yeji “He is serious.”
Mina took a sip of water “Corny, but serious.”
Jihyo stared at me “You planned this before tonight?”

I looked at the phone. Then at Yeji. Then at the room. There was no path out. So I stopped looking for one “Yes.”

Yeji’s voice came out small “Ben”. I stepped closer to her and slid one arm around her waist. In front of everyone. Because apparently subtlety had died several minutes ago and I had finally decided to stop attending the funeral “I’m not cancelling it.”

The room exploded again.

Yeji’s hands went to my chest like she meant to push me away, but she did not. She only stared at me, stunned.
“You are insane.”
“Probably.”
“Ben.”
“It’s temporary.”

The room froze again.

Yeji blinked “Temporary?”
“For now.”

The silence became dangerous. Ryujin slowly turned toward me “Oh, he’s worse than insane.” Yuna’s eyes widened “He planned the emotional damage.” Lia closed her eyes “Of course he did.” John pointed at me “That is not clarification. That is psychological warfare.”

I ignored all of them and kept looking at Yeji “I wanted to see how it looked first.”

Yeji stared “First?”
“Before it becomes permanent.”
“Permanent?”
“Eventually.”
“Eventually?”

I nodded, completely committed now because retreat had stopped being an option three sentences ago. “Next to the wedding date.”

The room died. Completely. Even Nayeon stopped breathing. Yeji’s face went blank. Then red. Then blank again.

I continued, because apparently I had chosen death “And the other couple tattoos.”
John whispered, “No.”
Sana whispered, “Yes.”
Dahyun slowly raised her imaginary microphone again.
Jihyo caught her wrist without looking “No.”
Yeji’s fingers tightened against my shirt “Wedding date?”
“Hypothetically.”

“That did not sound hypothetical.”
“It sounded planned,” Lia said softly.
“It sounded scheduled,” Ryujin added.
Yuna pointed at me “He absolutely has a folder.”
Mina looked at me “Do you?”

I hesitated.
John screamed “THIS FUCKING PSYCHOPATH HAS AN ACTUAL FOLDER.”
“I have concepts.”
“That is a folder,” Mina said calmly.
Nayeon pointed at John “Take notes.”
John recoiled “No.”
Sana nodded quickly “Take notes.”
Jeongyeon crossed her arms “You could at least have concepts.”
John looked betrayed “Not you too.”
Momo tilted her head “Would all nine of us fit?”
John’s soul left his body.
Tzuyu looked thoughtful “It depends on placement.”
Mina added, “Spacing would be difficult.”
John stared at her “Mina.”
“What? It would.”

Ryujin raised both hands “If John gets nine names, Ben has to get all five ITZY names too.”
I looked at her “Absolutely not.”
“For equality.”
Yuna nodded “And symmetry.”
Mina looked thoughtful “Symmetry matters.”
Ryujin was still staring at me like I had personally invented a new disease.
“So let me understand this,” she said slowly  “You were not actually getting it permanently.”
“Not yet.”
“But you were going to let everyone think you were.”
“For context.”
Lia looked at me “That is not what context means.”
“It was emotional research.”
Chaeryeong blinked “On Yeji unnie?”

I looked at her. Then at Yeji. Then back at Chaeryeong.
“Not my best wording.”
“No,” Jihyo said. “It was not.”
Dahyun lifted her imaginary microphone again.
“Breaking news: local man conducts unauthorized wife study. Results catastrophic.”
Yeji turned red “I am not his wife.”
Nayeon pointed at her immediately “You keep saying that like a woman who wants the title officially formatted.”

Yeji’s mouth opened. No sound came out, she looked at me like she wanted to melt into the floor and drag me with her.

“You are unbelievable.”
“I was aiming for memorable.”
“It would have been memorable for the wrong reasons.”

John pointed at Yeji “That means she imagined it.”
Yeji turned on him “Do not involve yourself.”
“I am already involved. Your boyfriend is ruining expectations for all of us.”

Nayeon nodded gravely “He is.”
Sana looked at John “Where is our playlist?”
John stared at her “Our what?”
“Our romantic reveal playlist.”
“I am not revealing anything.”
Dahyun raised her hand “Technically, that is part of the complaint.”

The room made a collective sound of approval.
John pointed at her “That was personal.”

“You could benefit from a strategy deck, best buddy”
I looked at John “You want help with that?”
He turned on me “You stay out of this, Chest Tattoo Romeo.”
Ryujin gasped “That is his new title.”
Yuna nodded “Final Boss: Chest Tattoo Romeo.”

Chaeryeong, who had been quiet for a while, looked at me with genuine curiosity. “Would the temporary tattoo actually say Ben plus Yeji?” I nodded. “That was the draft.” She frowned. “Wouldn’t Yeji plus Ben look better?”

The room went still.

I looked at her. Yeji looked at her. Mina’s eyes sharpened with immediate interest. Chaeryeong froze “What?”
Mina set her cup down “She is right.”
John threw his head back “No.”
Mina continued. “Visually, Yeji’s name first balances better depending on placement.”
I looked down, considering it “That depends on the font weight.”
Mina nodded “And spacing.”

Nayeon leaned back, enjoying herself far too much. “Honestly, I respect the insanity. A temporary couple tattoo before the real one after marriage? That is commitment with a trial period.” Sana nodded “Romantic beta testing.” Jeongyeon looked pained “Please don’t call love that.” Dahyun smiled “Too late. Love 2.0 launches after wedding.”

“Metaphorically.” Ryujin smiled. “Ben didn’t say no any of it.” Yeji lowered her hands just enough to glare at her “Ryujin.”
“What? I am supporting your household.”
“Our what?”

The room inhaled. Yeji realized too late that she had said our.

Yeji tried to glare at me. Failed. Then looked away, cheeks burning. And because I had apparently developed a severe allergy to self-preservation, I leaned closer and murmured “For the record, I would put your name first.” Yeji froze.

The room went silent again.

Ryujin whispered, “Fatality.”
Yuna whispered, “That was so smooth I hate him.”
Nayeon turned to John “Write that down.”
John snapped “I am not writing down tattoo flirting.”
Mina looked at him “You should. It was effective.”

Yeji’s fingers tightened against my shirt. She looked up at me, still embarrassed, still mad, still very much losing the fight against her own smile.

“You are not getting anything permanent before we talk about it.”
“Agreed.”
“And no portrait.”
“Ever?”
“Ever.”
“Even after the wedding?”
“Especially after the wedding.”

The room made a noise.

Yeji looked at me, helpless and red and smiling despite herself “You are impossible.” I smiled back “And yet.” She looked away. But she leaned into me a little more. Just enough to lose. Just enough to consider it a win.

By the time dinner finally began to dissolve into goodbyes, the Top Floor looked less like a luxury residence and more like a battlefield that had been won through food, gossip, paperwork, and emotional blackmail. Plates had been cleared.

Momo had praised Chaeryeong’s cooking enough times that Chaeryeong looked like she was trying not to float.

Ryujin and Nayeon had formed a partnership that worried every manager in the room.

Yuna had somehow gotten Sana and Dahyun to promise they would help her “professionally evaluate” the retreat once it happened.

Lia looked tired, but steadier.

Chaeryeong looked overwhelmed, but not unhappy.

TWICE gathered near the elevator in clusters, still talking over one another as if leaving was merely a suggestion. Jihyo checked the folder one more time.

John looked at it like it had personally ruined his day.

Then Nayeon turned back toward me “So.” I immediately disliked her tone “No.”
“You don’t know what I’m asking.”
“I know the category.”
“That is becoming your favorite sentence,” Lia murmured.
Nayeon smiled “Are you really going through with the temporary tattoo?”

The room froze.

Not because anyone had forgotten. Because apparently everyone had been waiting for someone brave or shameless enough to bring it back. Yeji’s hand tightened around mine.

I looked at her. She looked back. Still red, pretending she was not invested. “Yes,” I said. The room erupted. Ryujin shouted first “I knew it. He’s committed to the emotional damage.”

Dahyun lifted her imaginary microphone. “Breaking news: temporary tattoo confirmed; wife still denying wife status.”

“I am not his wife,” Yeji said automatically. “Yet,” Sana said sweetly. Yeji’s face went red again. I squeezed her hand once “And Yeji’s coming with me.”

That somehow made it worse.

Nayeon gasped “She’s choosing placement?” Yeji turned toward me. “I am?”
“You said you were.”
“I said several things under emotional distress.”

Yeji looked at me, cheeks still pink “I am not choosing anything ridiculous.”
“Agreed, and no portrait.”
“Agreed.”

John suddenly pointed at me “Wait. No.” I looked at him. “What now?”

“You are not taking Yeji to some random tattoo artist after all of this.”
“It’s not random.”
“You are bringing an idol to a tattoo appointment.”
“A temporary tattoo appointment.”
“That does not make the identity issue disappear.”

Jihyo looked at me “He has a point.” Nayeon leaned toward Sana “John said something responsible.” Sana nodded “We should document it.” John ignored them “How do you know this guy won’t leak anything?”

The room quieted slightly. Not from fear. From curiosity. I shrugged “He’s loyal.” John stared at me “That is not an explanation.”

“It is the most important part.”
“Ben.”
I sighed “He knows better.”
Ryujin’s eyes lit up.
“Oh, that sounds threatening.”
“It is not threatening.”
Yuna smiled “It sounded expensive.”
“That is closer,” Mina said quietly.
Mina looked at me “You paid him well?”
“Yes.”
John exhaled “Okay. Fine. That is better.”
“And I ruined someone who did not.”

The room stopped. John slowly turned his head back toward me “What?” I looked around.

“In his old shop, he had an investment broker client who refused to pay him properly after a full sleeve. Tried to use status and connections to make the bill disappear.” No one spoke. I continued “The artist complained about it while finishing one of mine. I asked for the name.”

John closed his eyes “Ben.”

“I had pocket change.” Mina’s gaze sharpened slightly. Jihyo lowered the folder. Nayeon whispered, “Pocket change?” I shrugged “So I bought the company.”

Silence. Absolute. Then everyone spoke at once.

“You what?” Yeji said.
“Oh my God,” Lia whispered.
Ryujin stood up halfway “Boss behavior.”
Yuna’s mouth dropped open “You bought a company because someone didn’t pay for a tattoo?”
Chaeryeong looked horrified “That is… very intense customer service.”

Sana clasped her hands “That is scary but loyal.”
Jeongyeon stared at me “That is not normal loyalty.”
Momo frowned “Did the artist get paid?”
“Yes.”
Momo nodded “Good.”
Tzuyu looked at me calmly “Did you fire the person?”
“It was the first thing I did.”
Tzuyu nodded once “Then he learned.”

John pointed both hands at me “You bought the biggest investment bank in Korea and called it pocket change?” I looked at him. “I did not say biggest.”

“You implied something horrifying.”
“I said company.”
“You said investment broker.”
“That does not mean biggest.”
Mina took a slow sip of water “It was one of the bigger ones.”
John turned toward her “You knew?”
Mina looked at him calmly “Ben is not the only one with resources.”

The room paused. It was the first remotely smug thing Mina had said all night. John stared at Mina “Was that a flex?” Mina blinked once “No.” Mina took another sip of water “If it helps, I only checked because it was unusual.”

Jihyo looked at me with the expression of someone adding five more clauses to the JYP pitch in her head “You bought an investment firm to fire one man?”

“I also restructured it.”
John threw his hands up “There it is.”
I looked at him “What?”
“You cannot say ‘also restructured it’ like you rearranged furniture.”
Mina tilted her head “Was it poorly managed?”
“Yes.”
“Then restructuring was appropriate.”
John pointed at her without looking away from me “You are not helping.”
Ryujin slowly turned to Yeji “Unnie, your boyfriend is terrifying.”
Yeji was still staring at me. “I know.”
Yuna leaned closer “And you love him.”
Yeji did not deny it fast enough.
Nayeon smiled “She really does.”
Yeji covered her face “I am trying to be angry.”
Lia looked at me “Was the tattoo artist at least grateful?”
“He has never leaked anything.”
“That is not the same as grateful.”
“He sends me holiday discounts.”
Chaeyoung blinked “You buy companies for him and he gives you discounts?”
“I told him not to.”
Dahyun nodded solemnly “That is friendship.”
John stared at the ceiling “I am going to develop a medical condition from knowing you.”

Jihyo finally exhaled and tucked the folder under her arm “We are going before I start thinking of more clauses.” TWICE finally began moving toward the elevator for real this time. There were more hugs. More warnings. More jokes about the tattoo. More comments about Yeji being the only person capable of keeping me from accidentally buying another company before breakfast.

“Actually,” Yeji said, pointing at me before anyone could step into the elevator, “stop buying companies, restaurants, buildings, or entire establishments because someone inconveniences you.” I looked offended. “I do not do that.” The entire room stared at me.

“You absolutely do,” Jihyo said.
“Frequently,” Mina added.
“Historically,” John said.
Yeji folded her arms “No more buying things out of spite.”
“Out of loyalty,” I corrected.
“Out of spite.”
“Sometimes both.”
“Benjie.”
I sighed dramatically “Fine.”
She narrowed her eyes “That sounded fake.”
“It was a little fake.”
“Ben.”
I looked at her “What am I supposed to do if a restaurant makes you wait forty-five minutes for your food?”

The room immediately erupted.

“No,” John shouted.
“Absolutely not,” Jihyo added.
Ryujin doubled over laughing.
“He already has a contingency plan.”
Yuna pointed at me.
“He’s thought about this before.”
“I have not.”
“You answered too fast,” Lia said.
Yeji stared at me “You are not buying a restaurant because my food is late.”
“What if you're hungry?”
“Ben.”
“What if you're sad?”
“Ben.”
“What if they forget your order twice?”
“BEN.”
I held up both hands “Okay, okay.”

Nayeon was laughing so hard she had to lean against the elevator wall “This is the most billionaire boyfriend conversation I've ever heard.” Sana clasped her hands “He just wants her fed.”

“That is somehow sweet and terrifying,” Chaeryeong said. Momo nodded “As long as the food arrives eventually.” Tzuyu looked at me thoughtfully “If they forget three times?”

“Do not encourage him,” Yeji said immediately.
“I was curious.”

John pointed at Yeji “See? This is why you're the only safeguard we have.” Yeji groaned. “I should not have this responsibility.”

“You accepted it when you started dating him,” Ryujin said.
“I did not sign anything.”
Mina tilted her head “There may be paperwork somewhere.”
“Mina,” John said weakly.

Nayeon pointed at Yeji one last time. “Good luck preventing hostile restaurant acquisitions.” Yeji covered her face “I hate all of you.”

“You love us,” Sana sang. Then the elevator doors began to close. Nayeon stuck her hand out suddenly, stopping them “Wait.” Everyone froze. Yeji looked up warily “What?” Nayeon smiled “Make him put your name first.”

Yeji covered her face, I smiled, John pointed at me from inside the elevator “Do not smile. You are the problem.”

“I am aware.”
“You are not aware enough.”

The elevator doors began to close again. Sana waved “Good luck, almost-wife.” Yeji made a strangled sound. Dahyun’s voice slipped through before the doors shut “Breaking news: tomorrow’s JYP pitch now includes tattoo liability.” Then they were gone.

The Top Floor fell quiet. Not empty. Never empty anymore. Just quieter. Yeji stood beside me, arms folded, cheeks still pink “You are exhausting.”

“I love you too.”
“That was not what I said.”
“It was implied.”

She tried to glare. Failed. Then reached for my hand anyway. I looked at her. She looked back. Still mad. Still mine in the ways she allowed herself to be.

“Temporary,” she said.
“Temporary.”
“And I choose placement.”
“You choose placement.”
“And font.”
“And font.”

Chaeryeong’s voice came softer, amused despite herself “Do we still need more food tomorrow?” I looked around the Top Floor. I looked at Yeji. She narrowed her eyes. “Do not look excited.” I smiled.

Too late.