CHAPTER 2

You couldn't react any other else but to express your utter shock.

Standing in front of you was THE Yoo Jeongyeon herself.

A K-Pop idol.

Member of one of the most successful girl groups in the history of K-Pop industry known as TWICE.

Your ultimate bias.

That wasn't the only part that left you too stunned to speak, let's add also the fact of what you just heard from Sadness who was beside you declaring something you never thought that this fate would arrive in your life.

You are her new personal manager. YOO JEONGYEON HERSELF IS YOUR CLIENT AND YOUR IDOL PLACED UNDER YOUE PROTECTION AND GUIDANCE.

You want to ask to yourself whether you heard it wrong, dreaming or hallucinating... but it doesn't seem like all of it anyways, because you and her silence and serious stare through each other got interrupted by Sadness doing a fake cough thrice.

"Uhh anyways, yeah hello too Jeongyeon.", Sadness said after clearing her throat after those streak of coughs. Both you and Jeongyeon snapped out of trance as senses were quickly reactivated by Sadness' voice.

Yup, Jeongyeon halted too when her pair of precious brown eyes landed at your towering figure looking very presentable and innocent standing in front of the door.

"You can now have your turn, YN.", Sadness nudged you in the shoulder causing you to look at her first before returning your gaze back shyly at Jeongyeon.

"H-hi... M-Ms. Yoo. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm LN/YN, your newly employed worker of JYPE and member of the management team under your group and also assigned as your new personal manager. H-hope we can get along p-pretty well.", you gulped hard out of your batch of stutters due to the intense shyness and nervousness you're feeling.

I mean, you're freaking talking personally in front of your bias you never thought would finally happen once in a blue moon in your entire life.
Who wouldn't feel the same way in your situation?

"H-hello too, YN-oppa. Pleasure to meet you too, please take care of me well manager-nim.", Jeongyeon bowed in reply to your greetings.

She lend you her free hand leaving it hanging into the gap between you and her. Your eyes widen and body shook a little as you felt the tensiness curse through your blood.

You slowly accepted it and felt her firm grip around your hand while both were shaking their hands in acknowledgement.

You blew some little air to atleast freshen up yourself and try not to panic out from your bias' touch. After seconds of handshake, both released each hands and exchanged smiles through one another; although yours was mixed with a bit of awkwardness as what you're thinking of how your appearance is to her so far.

Sadness noticed all your uncomfiness while talking to Jeongyeon. Since she knew what caused you to act like that, she chuckled before helping you to loosen up your nervousness by grabbing your shoulder and shook it gently.

"You can do it.",  she whispered to your ear which made you flustered and blush slightly knowing what she meant about that. Jeongyeon was also starting to find how hilarious you look right now, as she probably guessed it that you were being teased by Sadness because of the possibility that you seem to be a fan of their group... especially to her.

"The girls are there inside?", Sadness asked Jeongyeon, pointing towards the space beside Jeongyeon as she refers to the other occupants living with her in the dorm.

"Yes, unnie. They're at the living room.", Jeongyeon said, looking sideways to get a quick peek at the two other members behind her.

"Can we enter for a while? YN can introduce himself already also to them then let's save the rest for later.", Sadness suggested. Jeongyeon followed right away as she stepped aside more to provide more space for you and Sadness to walk and enter the dorm.

You followed Sadness behind while you're still stiffened as you can sense Jeongyeon's presence behind you.

Reaching the living room, all three of you stood aligned at each other as you observed together with them these two girls sitting in the couch. One was watching a K-Drama on the TV while the other was building a what it seems to be a Harry Potter LEGO set.

Jeongyeon called the attention of her two busy friends respectfully. "Girls, Sadness unnie and my new manager is here."

They twirled their head right away, pointing their sight at Jeongyeon but it was replaced instead through you which garnered their curiosity.

"Hey, girls. How's the day doing so far?", Sadness asked.

"Kinda bored but thankfully the series was making me attached more on my seat."

"Doing fine, noona."

"Alright, so you heard Jeongyeon mentioning who's with us today.", Sadness pointed her hand at you as if she's presenting you to them. You took it as the cue to repeat again your introduction which you did minutes ago to Jeongyeon.

"A pleasant morning to both of you, Ms. P-Park and Ms. Myoui, I am LN/YN your new manager in D-division 3 Management Team under TWICE settled more as a personal one for Ms. Y-Yoo here. I hope we can get along well.", you bowed and cleared up your throat once again as you composed yourself to get rid of the unnerving feeling that's distracting you.

Jihyo and Mina both noticed how uncomfortable you look in your position and being the leader who gets to always speak first to let know the rest if there's any concerns or troubles, she unhesistantly figured something based from her observation on your movements.

"YN oppa are you okay? You look kind of very flushed and uncontrollably moving your body.", Jihyo concerningly asked you whilst keeping her laughter at the same time at how she finds it kinda funny seeing you like this.

Luckily, she and Mina were two birds in one stone. "You're a fan aren't you?", Mina teasingly asked you. Jihyo nodded and smirked as they waited for your answer.

Jeongyeon looked at you with a smile and you sweared that you're forcing yourself not to look at her direction cause if you do, you'll melt in an instant at her tender expression.

Sadness, Jeongyeon, Mina and Jihyo. All four are now looking at you as you sighed first before cackling a bit at how noticeable you are when you're being like this.

"Y-yes I am, Mina sunbaenim.", you shyly answered.

"Aha! Knew it.", Jeongyeon snapped her fingers in victory. You blinked rapidly as you heard from her that she can observe it from you since earlier and she was keeping it to herself.

You became even more embarassed at how weird you looked near at your bias.
"So we got a ONCE also in our place. Great! We'll definitely get along very easily.", Jihyo enthusiastically remarked. Mina nodded and giggled at the fact.

"Nice to meet you by the way, YN.", Mina  respectfully bowed her head for you which you did the same and to Jihyo who returned to you the favor.

"Don't be shy to interact with us okay? We are family here and ofcourse you're now part with us, everyone should build strong connections to each other, right?", Jihyo reminded.

"You look very fascinating also that you can be such good friend too, oppa. So yeah, I agree with Jihyo unnie here. We are always open for you to talk with.", Mina followed.

You smiled warmly at them. Their great personality didn't shocked you anymore. They are like this anyways whether they are in front of the cameras or away from it. Since the beginning they are just being real to themselves and that's one of the reason why you stanned them.

You can relate to every single one of the members but there's one of them who turned out more as your ideal woman.

Jeongyeon looked at you and gestured a nod of assurance as she also believed to what Mina and Jihyo said. You smiled back in appreciation too for her.

"Oh, the schedule is less than an hour left.", Sadness looked up to her phone. "You can continue talking soon but for now we have some duty to do. YN and Jeongyeon, we have to go now for a while okay?"

"Got it." "Alright, unnie."

Sadness went first exiting the dorm after saying goodbye and receiving take care messages from Mina and Jihyo which both sent the same for you and Jeongyeon.

Now reaching the parking lot where the driver was vibing through his playlist inside the van while waiting for the three of you, he went his focus back on the steering wheel when Sadness alarmed him by opening the slide door whereas Jeongyeon got prioritized first on entering.

Now in the middle of the ride, you are sitting beside Sadness while Jeongyeon was using her phone. You can't help but to take a peek many times at Jeongyeon's side profile. It returned you back to disbelief again that you do have a job now and what's even more better is that it made got stuck beside with your bias throughout important times.

Too clouded with your thoughts as you watched the surroundings around the streets of Seoul being passed by the van you're sitting in currently, you didn't even picked up right away Jeongyeon's signal to you as she poked your thigh for the 3rd time.

You looked to her and "hmm"-ed in curiousity as to why she's calling your attention. Jeongyeon pointed at the vacant seat beside her where her bag was neatly placed atop, requesting you to sit beside her which you cautiously accepted.

Now sitting altogether from your own sides, Jeongyeon dropped her phone in her lap and looked at you who's getting quiet and awkward again in this situation.

"I'm bored, so... can we talk instead?", Jeongyeon said. Great, now you have to participate in a 1 on 1 conversation with your celebrity crush.

"Go ahead, Jeongyeon sunba-"

"Enough with the honorifics, just call me Jeongyeon normally because I want us to be friends okay?"

"U-understood."

"Okay, so hmmm... lemme think of questions first.  Wait, you confirmed that you are a ONCE right?"

"Yep."

"How long have you been stanning us?"

"Since SIXTEEN.", Jeongyeon got amazed at your loyality and determination to stay with them throughout these years of being an idol.

"Woah. That's impressive. Thank you for supporting us since from the beginning, YN. I really meant it a lot amd for sure so do the others too."

"No problem, you guys were the reason why I got interested in K-Pop genre after all, so I can't just leave the one who introduced me into this whole new world of music."

"Makes sense. Okay, well you're a longtime ONCE I see... now can I ask, who's your bias then?", Jeongyeon crossed her arms in anticipation while wearing that snigger as if she's teasing you on your expose.

You gulped heavily as the day has finally come to reveal it.

"I-It's you, Jeongyeon.", you admitted. You quickly leaned away from looking at her gorgeous face which the latter blushed hardly at the mention of her name being your main pick.

To be honest, she kinda know it already where back from the door of the dorm and after she fist saw you along with Sadness, Jeongyeon can tell that something is troubling you whenever your eye contacts within her.

"Woah, really?!", she acted. "I'm honored to be your bias then.", she laughed wihich urged you to go the flow of her mood too.

"You chose the right member properly. I won't have you get disappointed on me.", she joked.

"Well, you never did Jeong.", Jeongyeon was touched at your serious response to her supposed to be a humorous statement.

"How about you, want to ask me some couple of questions?", Jeongyeon urged.

"Oh o-okay...", you went silent for a moment before switching your vision back from the ceiling of the van to her as you ended your thinking process.

"Well... how are you doing these days? Is there a problem that's been bothering you that affects your daily routine like example... during work, at home, something?", you asked to her. Jeongyeon was astounded. Out of all the questions you had to ask, she didn't expected that the first thing you would chose is to check up on her.

"I'm doing well these days. I feel like I've gotten stronger, more happier and confident around with my members and with our ONCEs too."

"That's great to hear then. I mean... I- I don't know, when you got into your anxiety and i just 2 years ago I became very worried about your health state at that time. And as a fan, all ever wanted was for you to get your recovery smoothly. It did, and I was very happy to see you appeared surprisingly in the 2021 SMA if i'm not mistaken.", Jeongyeon listened to you more focusedly as you continue to speak.

I know you suffered and went through a lot during your recovery phase and I felt bad for you so much that you keep on apologizing to us ONCEs just because you have to take a break after attempting to pour your whole hardwork just to catch up with after after not being in the ICSM promotions. You didn't have to do that, Jeong. No one was here to be blamed.

And we didn't care about it. I... I just wanted you to be okay, Jeongyeon.", you finished your words as Jeongyeon stared at you, completely speechless at everything you just said. But that wasn't the only thing that made her tongue stuck on the back of her throat.

You didn't even realized you had a teardrop fell in your eye at the last words you said.

Jeongyeon smiled wholeheartedly and grabbed your hand laying on top of your lap. She leaned in front of you which took you aback.

Pursing her hand near at your face, you felt the tip of her finger and her knuckles swiped the teardrop and the wet stain across your cheek.

"I-i'm sorry... I didn't know I c-"

"Shhh. It's fine. I get it. Emotions took you a lot. You were being very sincere at your concern towards me after everything I went through during my hiatus.", Jeongyeon smiled.

"Thank you very much for your kind words, I truly felt overwhelmed. And with that, you just earned my motivation to get to know you more and much better... I want to have a friend with someone like you, YN.", Jeongyeon maintained her adorable smile looking straight at you as she offered to you an invitation regarding her available friendship you can have with her.

"I would be very happy to be your friend too, Jeongyeon."

"Nice!", Jeongyeon exclaimed. "I assure you that you'll get the same treatment as what you do to me, YN. I can't be the only one especially when you're being kind to me."

"Sure. I don't mind at all anyway, all I got to do is to fulfill my responsibility being your manager and a friend at the same time. When it comes to you, only you is more than enough, Jeongyeon."

Jeongyeon grinned widely after hearing that. "Let's talk more while the ride is still on, cmon... wanna hear my Spotify playlist. Maybe you have some artists here that you like."

"Oh, sure. I'll show you mine too after."

Meanwhile, Sadness was secretly watching the two of you finally starting to build up closeness to one another especially with the reason you just spilled to Jeongyeon for immediately prioritizing her well-being first made it very understandable and glad for her that they did picked an amazing manager already for Jeongyeon.

10 minutes of discussing your preferred genres and artists with Jeongyeon as both presented each other's Spotify playlist to entertain each other while waiting, the van finally made its stop in front of a building.

You assisted Jeongyeon on hopping down the van before you and Sadness placed her in between while walking through the entranceway.

Meeting and greeting all the production team including the director for today's photoshoot which you figured out right away after seeing the cameras and the set, the three of you entered the make-up room.

Sadness started to supervise your actions as you began to help as much as you can for the stylists to prepare Jeongyeon before sitting at the couch too as you think that they can manage it already by theirselves.

While using your phone, you can't help but to catch a glimpse of Jeongyeon's face reflected in the mirror. She looks so freaking more beautiful if you see in with your own eyes than in the screen, you thought.

Standing outside the room, Jeongyeon emerged with her first outfit which perfectly suits her so much. It made you jaw-dropped at her accentuating etheral beauty not only with her look but also by the sculpture of her body being traced and supported by the outline of her dress.

She may not be the same as what she looked in 2020 but the truth of her being attractably beautiful never changed withing your perspective.

"Do I look good, YN?", Jeongyeon asked fof your opinion as she stood beside you.

"When did you weren't?", you simply answered. Jeongyeon threw a playful cruch on her face as she slapped you softly at your arm before heading to the set.

During the photoshoot, you watched how Jeongyeon easily followed everything what the director was suggesting her to do on the poses and she would ended up slaying all of it.

She changed through different attires too throughout the filming which were all made from the same brand and you are running out of words to compliment her already because she's already the personification of every words that is synonym to the word "glamorous".

Taking one last shot, the director proclaimed the end of the shooting as it  finally wrapped up successfully. Everyone including you clapped at Jeongyeon's hardwork which the humble idol returned the same.

Changing back through her casual Taylor Swift Reputation album designed black T-Shirt and sweatpants, she went beside you who's checking out some hot topic in Twitter.

"Psst, join me for a dinner tonight."

"E-eh... only us?"

"Yup, because I will head my way out now you two. I still have some more tasks to complete for tonight.", Sadness spoke as she overheard your conversation which she knew already it already because Jeongyeon and her talked about her being unable to join them tonight on the way home.

You and Jeongyeon bid goodbye to Sadness before leaving both of you alone again. "What do you say? My treat."

"Yours? J-jeongyeon, you don't have to. I can pay-"

"Just leave it to me, I can spend anytime and how many I want only with the help of this black card here with me.
And you don't have to pay me back. Treat this as a way to... you know, celebrate our friendship?"

You sighed as you already can tell that you have no match for this woman here. "Okay. I'm in."

"There you go! Cmon, let's go to the van now. I have this recommended restaurant gave to me by Momo that I want to try."

You and her did ate at this Japanese restaurant for dinner and proceeded with a very energizing conversation about every random topic both can relate with. It's as if with the way both of you speak through one another was very comfortable and with full freedom to do so.

The mood kinda shifted when Jeongyeon brought what happened earlier during the shooting as she asked you something about it again.

"YN, what you said earlier when I asked you how do I look at my outfit. Was that true?"

"Ofcourse it is. You nailed it as usual when it comes for photoshoots. That's why everyone thinks you could be very successful if you enter the modeling industry."

"Is that so? Well... I... I thought...", you noticed that Jeongyeon lowered her head after halting in her words as she kept on spinning the chopstick in her sushi on the plate.

"What is it, Jeongyeon?"

"I just have these thoughts that I won't do well anymore at these sort of things.", that caught your attention. "I still have these doubts with myself and confusion as to why was I got picked to be the endorser for this brand knowing that I don't look as beautiful anymore compared before when I got placed into hiatus. My entire body changed.

I was aware of the hate i'm getting in the social medias after the press revealed my newer look through the photos ever since I returned back in active. Even some ONCEs probably doesn't like how I look today I guess and it's my-"

"NO.Jeongyeon. NO.  We are not going through that again. Please.", your voice became stern and sharp as you had enough of the negativity coming out from her mouth.

"Jeongyeon, you don't have to overthink about it. Those are just haters being nonsensical, ruthless, toxic and even worse, being a bunch of bodyshamers. Who the hell cares if you gained more weight than before?

Everybody knows including most of the ONCEs and me know you didn't wanted it to happen but you have to do it for the sake of providing the recovery you're taking into for your health.

If you only know how much of us were very amazed and proud of you that you could manage to fight through all of the hardship and rebuild yourself even better than before by looking healthier.

Jeongyeon, you don't need to lower down the way you see yourself. You are still beautiful to my eyes. To everyone's eyes. That's why the brand chose you.
Through this, you could even change the standards when it comes to beauty in K-Pop industry. Even better, you can inspire other too behind the story of what led you into this.

So please, don't tell yourself that you lost that charm you once have before just because your figure changed. IT NEVER LEFT YOU, Jeongyeon. Until now, you're bringing it with you because you were born with it already. If only they could just leave you alone and learn to accept who you are.

Don't let those negative feedbacks bring you down. Always remember that ONCEs including me always believe and support you no matter what happens. WE love you with just the way you are. Your happiness will always be our happiness too."

Jeongyeon just listened and watched you pour out the frustration with teary eyes. It's been only your first day and yet she can see at how obvious you are as such a down to earth person.

"Thank you... thank you so much, YN. That meant a lot to me", she smiled gratefully to you.

You stood from your seat and walked near at her.

"May I?"

She nodded and you began to comfort her with some gentle pats on her head and a side hug that she found very relaxing and motivating.

Now reaching the dorm as the driver sent you two home safely, thanking him for that too; you halted when Jeongyeon finally stood in front of the door.

"Thank you so much, YN. What a way to start our friendship, right? I really had a lot of fun today."

"Me too, Jeongyeon, and I agree with what you said too."

"I gotta enter now, goodnight and bye YN!"

"Bye Jeongyeon. Goodnight!", she gave you a high-five as she giggled before she finally entered her sweet abode.

After seeing the door got closed in front of you, you heaved a huge huff of air at how unbelievable this first day you had in your new job.

You walked back to your dorm while rewinding all the moments you had with Jeongyeon today that puts a huge smile on your face thinking about it.