Aespa X Manager

Karina

You still remember the first day when SM staff introduced her to you, it was even before their debut. You were a young manager but you could clearly see Karina trying her best to act cool when she was clearly a nervous mess. Thankfully luck was on her side and you were not an harsh manager. Over the years she thanked you countless time for being there, you are the reason why she is considered one of the best leader in the industry. It's funny because you remember her being awfully shy around you in the past, to a point where she couldn't even look at your face when talking, making you chuckle at the scene. For some reasons she would get red in face when you put an hand on her shoulder or pat her head. However over time she got comfortable over physical touch and skinship, she actually is the one starting most of the times now.

"Wake up, manager-nim, it's morning already", a bright side voice made you jump over the mattress.

"What's that? An earthquake? A tsunami? A...Karina?", you asked, still confused and sleepy, looking at the girl with raven hair that was smiling like an idiot in front of your bed.

"Jimin...it's 9 am...of my free day...why did you wake me up so early?", you complained, looking at the digital clock on your wall, holding a curse.

"But manager-nim, a single free day is too short to be spent in bed, it would be better to have fun with us", she explained as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. You blinked once, then twice, then you laughed, before turning your head on the opposite to sleep again.

"YAH!", she screamed, punching your shoulder, but you didn't even react. She had no choice: she got inside the sheets, trying to make you get up with the tickle, but you had no intention to surrender. You fought back, trying to stop her hands and moving around as two crazy individuals. In the end both of you were breathless.

"It's a draw...ah...I didn't lose", Karina said, refusing to admit her defeat.

"Whatever makes you live happier, Jimin", you replied, playfully rolling your eyes back.

"Well, at least now you're awake now", she told you, smirking in a cute and annoying way, "See you in the kitchen...we're hungry so hurry up", she added, before quickly kissing your cheek and running out of the room.

Giselle

Enemies: this is how your story with Giselle started, well, at least on her end. She didn't like you for some reasons and she didn't even try to hide that. Scoffs, rolls of eyes, side eyes, all these bothered behaviours were daily events. You wondered why she had a problem with you, you even asked to the girls, but they were as confused as you. Eventually the reason came out: she had not a problem with you, but with the entire staff of the group. She would get often get mistrated by them and you felt so guilty for not noticing before; so, at the first chance you had, with the stylist trying to give her a weird outift, you jumped in her defense, almost causing a scene. From that moment something changed in her, her gaze softened and a kind smile appeared on her usual tough face.

"Tough day?", the voce of the half-japanese girl asked from your right side. You didn't even notice her coming closer: you were on the couch of the training room, watching the four girls preparing the choreo for the upcoming comeback, when the fatigue of the day hit you; you spaced out, your eyes getting heavy before the appearance of Giselle.

"Oh, Aeri, it's you. Yeah, it's been a long day, preparing per the promotion is always the hardest part", you sighed, massaging your own stiff neck.

"You should go home and rest, we can manage ourself for a couple of hours, we are not that clumsy...maybe", she added the last word, looking at Ning who was tripping over her own shoeslaces.

"And letting you girls get tired on your own? Not on my watch", you refused, shaking your head with a firm expression. That reply made a sweet smile appear on Giselle face.

"Aigoo, what a caring manager we have, we're so lucky", she cooed, while sneakily wrapping her arms around your body, pulling you against her torso. You didn't even notice that, nor the way Giselle hands were starting to play with your hair in such a relaxing way.

It was like a spell, a spell hard to contrast, you really tried to keep your focus, but in a couple of minutes you were gone; Aeri's voice was the last thing you heard, "Rest well, my lovely manager".

Winter

Two eyes full of curiosity: your first memory about Minjeong. "A robot, a cyborg, a puppet with no soul", these are between the names Minjeong has received at her debut, because of her plain face, but you didn't believe them not even for a second. Winter, behind the public courtains, was the most bright girl; she was polite, respectful and never questioned your words. She would stare at you, then melt in a silly smile, followed by a quick nod. She took very few time to get attached to you, always asking to link arms or to be carried on your back, and honestly it was hard to tell no to that cute face. Cute and yet naughty, you lost the counts of how many jokes and pranks she reserved to you in those years; but you were also the first person she would run to when scared after watching an horror movie with the girls.

You were in kitchen of the dorm, midnight past, crunching on cereals soaked in milk. Not the most healthy night snack, but sometimes your craving on sugar was hard to resist. You would have asked the girls to join you but they were busy watching a movie in the living room and they seemed glued to the screen.

However, suddendly you felt a weak cry from the other room. You sighed, already knowing the source, but your body moved automatically. Few steps later you found the girls around Winter, trying to calm her.

"What is happening here?", you asked, lightly concerned, getting closer.

"Ah, manager-nim, we were watching the movie when-", Jimin was trying to explain when Winter cry got even louder.

"There was a jumpscare! The girls didn't tell me it was so scary!", Minjeong said, basically running between your arms, hiding her face in your neck.

"We didn't know, we thought it was just a thriller...", Giselle added, looking uncomfortable, and maybe, guilty, but you were not mad at them; it was not the first time an accident like this would happed out of nowhere.

"It's alright, don't worry. Just keep watching it on your own, okay? I'm taking this crybaby with me", you chuckled. That night Winter slept with you, not letting your body go till the first lights of the morning.

Ningning

Ning was weird, but, like, a lot. She made you wonder thousands of time if your work was manager of a girl group or pet sitter; and when the result was leaning towards the second option, you would ask yourself what type of pet. Yes, because sometimes Ning would act like this hyperactive golden retriever who just wanted attentions, cuddles and to play with you and the members, others she would be the most cold black cat, coming to you only when you were not minding her. Despite her frequently changes in mood, there is no day where Ning doesn't show you her affection. She is also kinda jealous of your attention towards the other members, not in a toxic way, but just like a cute little sister.

"Ning, do you have seen my phone by any chance?", you asked to girl facing the window of the living room, while searching between the cushions of the big couch.

"I don't know, I don't care, go away", she replied, giving you cold shoulders. That reply told you more than you needed to know.

"Ning, are you maybe mad at me?", you walked towards her with an amused smirk on your face.

"No, you don't exist in my life, why should I be mad?", she answered, refusing to face you when you sat next to her on the floor. You barely held back a laughter at her cute behaviour, her words were actually harmless.

"I see. So, that item that you have between your hands is not my phone, right?", you asked, grinning, while leaning towards her.

"N-no, it's not, go away, you stink!", she tried to run away but you read her moves, grabbing softly her wrist and pulling her on your lap.

"Now, before I eat your pouting cheeks, do you want to give me my phone back and explain to me?", you asked her kindly, while playfully pulling her soft cheek.

"Ouch! Mhh, fine, I'll tell you: when you came back before, you said hi to everyone expect me", she explained, crossing her arms like an angry kid.

"Didn't I? Wait...were you not napping?", you asked, almost doubting your own memory.

"I was...but you should have came to wake me up with cuddles", she replied, giving you puppy eyes. You proceeded to spoil her with cuddles for the next hour.