The company drops the axe on Chuu — and you drop everything to reach her. What happens next was never supposed to happen at all.
“What the fuck is happening?!”
The conference room went silent. Not quiet—silent, like someone had sucked all the sound out. Heejin’s hand froze halfway to her mouth. Yeojin just stared at the HR rep like she was speaking another language. You watched the words “contract termination” hang in the air, impossible and real at the same time.
“Oppa, this can’t be true, can it?” Yeojin’s voice cracked on the first syllable, her eyes already red-rimmed.
“Holy shit, this can’t be real,” Heejin said, her voice tight with barely contained fury.
You’d seen this coming. From the moment you were hired as the personal manager for all twelve members, you knew this company was a shitshow. What kind of company operation assigns one person to handle twelve idols? But knowing it was coming didn’t make it any easier.
And Chuu wasn’t even here to hear it…
“I need to find her,” you muttered, already heading for the door. You pulled out your phone, typing out a quick message asking for her location, asking if she’d heard.
The responses from the other members started flooding in immediately, but you were already out the building, half-jogging to where you’d parked the company car.
Chuu’s apartment was several blocks away—no parking, naturally—so you ended up abandoning the car and running the last three blocks. By the time you hit her buzzer, you were panting and covered in sweat.
“Come in.” Her voice through the intercom sounded raw.
You took the stairs two at a time.
When you pushed open her door, you found her pacing her living room like a caged animal. Her eyes were red and puffy, mascara tracked down to her jawline, but she wasn’t crying anymore. Now she just looked furious.
“Those fucking bastards,” she was muttering. “Holy shit, I’ll end—”
“Chuu.”
She spun around. For a moment, her expression crumpled, then she set her jaw. “You heard.”
“Everyone heard.” You closed the door behind you. “Are you okay?”
“Do I look okay?” She laughed, but it came out bitter. “They tried to control everything. Everything. What I say, where I go, who I talk to. And now they just—” Her voice broke.
You moved on instinct, going to her kitchen. Her fridge was surprisingly well-stocked for someone who was never home. You found ginseng tea, prepared it carefully, brought it to her.
“Here. Drink this.”
She took it with shaking hands, sank onto her couch. You sat beside her, close but not touching, and just waited.
The KKT group chat was blowing up. You typed out a quick message:
You
She’s with me. I’ve got her.
Read: 2:40PM
The responses came fast—relieved, worried, angry at the company. Slowly, the chat quieted as the members headed home to process in private.
Chuu finished her tea. Set the cup down. Stared at nothing.
“How are the others?” she finally asked.
“Devastated. Yeojin was crying. Heejin looked ready to fight someone.” You paused. “They’re worried about you.”
She nodded slowly, then drew her knees up to her chest. “I should call them.”
“You should rest first.”
She looked at you then—really looked at you. Something shifted in her expression.
“Oppa,” she said quietly. “Thank you. For coming here. For…” She gestured vaguely. “Everything.”
“It’s my job to take care of you all.”
“Not anymore. Technically.” Her mouth twisted. “I’m not one of your twelve anymore.”
The words hung between you.
“Fuck that,” you said. “Fuck that company. Whatever you all decide to do, I’m with you.”
Her eyes went bright again, but not with tears this time. She shifted closer.
“You know what?” Her voice dropped. “They tried to control everything about me. But this—” She gestured between you both. “This is mine. My choice. They can’t touch this.”
Your pulse kicked up. “Chuu—”
“You know we talk about you, right?” She was looking up at you through her lashes now. “The members. We talk about… things.”
“Things?” Your mouth had gone dry.
“The kind of things twelve girls talk about when they’re bored and stressed and their manager is—” She bit her lip. “Well. You.”
Jesus Christ.
“I didn’t know that,” you managed.
“We’ve been good about hiding it.” She shifted even closer. You could smell her shampoo—something floral, sweet. “But I don’t have to hide anymore, do I? I’m not part of LOONA anymore. I can do whatever I want.”
Her hand landed on your chest. Light at first, then pressing flat. She had to feel your heart hammering.
“Chuu, what are you—”
“I want this.” Her eyes locked on yours. “Do you want this?”
This was insane. You could lose your job. Lose their trust if this went sideways. The professional boundary you’d maintained for months was about to shatter. But her hand was sliding down your stomach and your body had already made the decision.
“Yes,” you heard yourself say.
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