Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Woo Seulgi, 26 years old, seven years in the k-cinema industry and was already acknowledged for her acting skills. Endless awards, endless projects, endless fame. Seulgi was the actress of the moment, a rising star that everyone wanted to get in their company. The mere mention of her name made the media tremble. Pretty ironic, since Seulgi wasn't someone who loved attention. She hated being analyzed and praised (or criticized) for every move she made. Sometimes, she even hated how fast her career had risen, how she'd needed to adapt to her new life so quickly. She couldn't go out without hiding herself, couldn't eat in some restaurants alone without being recognized , couldn't even travel in peace. She found it suffocating, but still managed to enjoy every moment of success. After all, she has chosen that path — she should've anticipated the day she would become famous.

Seulgi sighed and shook hands with the men in front of her. "Having you here was one of my best decisions ever. I wish you the best for your future, Woo Seulgi! You're truly talented. Really sad we couldn't agree on a new contract." said the man with a sincere smile. Seulgi returned a polite one and thanked him for believing in her when nobody else wanted to sign her. She would always be grateful to this man who had given her a chance to prove everyone she was a good actress. She took her things and walked through the hallway, taking one last look at everything before leaving the building. After all, she had spent seven years here — it had been like a second home.

The actress stayed several minutes in front of the agency, gazing at the blue sky as she took a deep breath. For her, this was a new beginning, a new breath of fresh air waiting to be inhaled, and she kinda expected a lot. She smiled as she watched some birds flying across in the sky before heading straight to her home.

"Woo Seulgi didn't renew her contract with her agency.""Woo Seulgi left her agency after her seven year contract ended". News flooded since Seulgi's former agency announced that she didn't renew her contract, and someone, in one of the most expensive apartments in Seoul, read the news with great interest. The Woo Seulgi is now free and in search of  a new agency... The woman put down her phone on the table and smiled a little. What a wonderful new.  But her thoughts was cut short when she heard a high-pitched voice calling for her. She jumped up from the sofa and ran to her bedroom where she found a little girl playing with her makeup. She let out the breath she had been holding without knowing it and frowned.

"Heeyoung! You scared me! What are you doing with my makeup? Oh, my god..." she said looking at the little girl and biting her lip out of frustration. Heeyoung looked at the woman with a big smile. "But auntie I just wanted to try this! Do I look good?"

The woman looked at her for a moment and then laughed a little. "Well I guess you need some training but it's still cute. You're just like your mom" she said softly, "Let's clean everything up okay? And then, we are going to watch a movie. Is that alright?" Heeyoung looked at her with a bigger smile and nodded. The woman grabbed her niece's wrist and went to the bathroom to clean her face. They both tidied the makeup while the woman explained to her niece what each product is used for. After that, they both sat on the sofa in the living room and started a new movie. The room was filled only with the sound of the television, Heeyoung's head resting on her auntie thigh. And then, a woman appeared in the movie that made Heeyoung speak first "Oh my god! Isn't it Seulgi, auntie?". Her auntie nodded with a smile. "Yes it's her! I think it's her last movie. She just left her agency apparently. She is now looking for a new one. So I guess we won't see her on the screen for at least a year." she answered softly. Heeyoung listened to her words and hummed in response. "Does that mean mom has a chance to have Seulgi in her company?". The woman chuckled and stroked Heeyoung's hair. "Well, yes. Actually, it might be a perfect idea that your mom tries to sign her."

The movie had just ended when someone knocked on the door. The woman got up and opened it. A woman stood there, wearing a suit. "Jena!" she hugged her as if it had been months since she last saw her. "Jaeyi! Oh, my god, you are strangling me right now. Slow down. We just met this afternoon, gosh." Jaeyi stepped back and smiled at her. "Sorry. I just needed a hug. Where is Heeyoung?" Jena looked at her younger sister and smiled. "She is on the sofa. Don't stay here!" She grabbed Jaeyi's wrist and pulled her in the apartment, closing the door behind her. Jaeyi giggled and let herself be dragged into the living room. "Where is my favorite daughter?" Jaeyi asked softly. Heeyoung jumped from the sofa and ran to her mom. "Mom, you're finally here!" she hugged her as tightly as possible, as if she was afraid her mom would run away. Jaeyi laughed quietly and gave a kiss on her forehead. After that, Heeyoung went back to the sofa watching some cartoon on the television while the sister was in the kitchen talking.

"Thank you for taking care of Heeyoung. Her father couldn't manage to free his time for her... again." the youngest said with some annoyance at the end of her sentence. Jena sighed and nodded, understanding her sister's feeling. "It's okay. I love taking care of Heeyoung, she is my favorite kid ever. So, no need to thank me. I guess Heeyoung's father ditched you at the last minute, didn't he?" Jaeyi gaze went directly to her daughter with sadness. "I told him two weeks ago that I had something important today, to make time so he could spend time with his daughter." she turning her eyes back to her sister, her fingers tapping rapidly on the kitchen counter. "He told me he would free his time for today, that I don't have to worry about it. This is disappointing... you should see Heeyoung's face when I told her the plan changed. She was so excited to see her father." Jaeyi's voice was mixed with anger, frustration and disappointment. Jena frowned and cursed under her breath. "This man is so useless. Anyway, if you need someone to take care of Heeyoung just contact me, ok? Don't stress yourself about it that much." she stroked her little sister's back in reassurance. Jaeyi smiled at her and thanked her to be here for her.

"Heeyoung! Take your things, we are going home!" called out Jaeyi, Heeyoung stood up and took her bag. She hugged her aunt, Jaeyi thanked her sister again and left the apartment.

Jaeyi and her daughter were in the car, driving back to their home. Jaeyi looked up to her daughter through the interior rear-view mirror and smiled. Her daughter was sitting by the window looking at the cityscape passing by quickly, head against the window. She looked a little tired but seemed in a good mood.

"So Heeyoung, tell me what you did with auntie." asked Jaeyi with a soft voice. Her daughter looked at her mom with a big smile. "I tried some makeup even though auntie didn't seem happy about it at first but then, she taught me what each makeup product is used for! Also, she told me I'm just like you!" began Heeyoung, her voice rising higher when she mentioned the resemblances with her mother. Jaeyi giggled but didn't cut her off, letting her continue. "When we finished cleaning up everything, we watched a movie! And guess what mom? Seulgi was in that movie!" Jaeyi rolled her eyes at the mention of the actress name but still let her daughter talk. "She was so pretty in that movie! Auntie told me she left her agency! Mom, you should sign her up to your agency! Please mom!" her voice was full of joy and excitement. She even jumped lightly several times as she pleaded, making Jaeyi sighed a little. "Love, calm down, it's not that easy to bring talented people, you know. It's depends on what they want-" Heeyoung didn't let her finish her sentence "But mom please try! Please!" Jaeyi rolled her eyes and her hand tightened on the steering wheel.

The car stopped at the red light and Jaeyi looked back at her daughter with a serious face. "Heeyoung don't cut me off when I speak to you. It's disrespectful." her daughter apologized while looking at her with sad eyes. Jaeyi's heart melted because of the view but didn't show it. "I will see what I can do for Seulgi but don't expect to see her in the agency Heeyoung. I know what's in your mind." she said softly making Heeyoung happy with the news.

The light went green and so the car moved. They continued to talk about their day, Jaeyi shared what she could about her day, not too deep in the detail, just what she can said to an eight-years-old kid, while her daughter explained her day in detail. Jaeyi parked the car and they both entered their penthouse. They talked a little before Jaeyi put her daughter in bed. She closed the door of her daughter's bedroom and went to the living room where her computer was set on the table. She sat on the sofa and placed the computer on her lap. She bit her lip with some anxiety and doubt, her fingers tapping for long minutes on the edge of her computer before sending an email to someone from her agency.

"Hello Mr. Kim

Please find a way to contact the actress Woo Seulgi and propose her a contract. She can meet me if she wants to discuss about it. It's an emergency. Be quick.

Thanks.

Yoo Jaeyi."

The sky was blue and the sun shone like it's already the summer. The noise of kids playing in a nearby park could be heard by now. Seulgi  had just opened her eyes and looked at  her clock on the desk: 2 PM. The woman groaned, scolding herself for sleeping too much again. Since she left her agency, she found herself doing nothing but sleeping.

She stayed in her bed for ten more minutes and then stood up, beginning her "morning" routine. She stood in the middle of her living room with a cup of tea looking out the window. After several minutes of contemplation, she sat down on her sofa and opened her computer. Email was the first thing she checked, especially these days since she was in search of a new agency. She scrolled through her emails unbothered as always until something caught her attention. "JY Entertainment" written in all capitals.

Seulgi stopped short, her heart almost stopped beating. She frowned in confusion. Why would JY entertainment send me an email?   She opened it and found out an invitation to speak about a contract with them. "CEO Yoo Jaeyi is at your disposal". This sentence made Seulgi feel weird. She had a lot of agencies proposing to join them, and in every emails there was that same sentence but for this one, it felt different. This wasn't just any agency— this was one of the biggest. Have really made it?

It's not like she doubted her popularity, but she had never knew how far she made it. She has been in the same agency since her debut and people around her had always told her she'd understand her worth the day she will leave. She hadn't truly understood why they would think like that, until now. She felt important and wanted— even coveted by top agencies. She had never thought one day it's will happen. The actress found herself smiling at the email, but that smile was cut off by her ringing phone.

She sighed and took her phone finding the name of Byeong writing on it. She picked up the call. "Woo Seulgi! Don't tell me you just woke up? It's almost 3 PM! That's so not you." his mocking tone, clear as the water, making the actress sigh. "Well hello to you too mister the singer. Why did you call me?"

"I wanted to know if you are free? Oh wait— it's true you are now more than free since miss still haven't found a job." his voice now sounding annoying to Seulgi's ear. "You're so annoying right now. You are just jealous cause your agency makes you comeback every two businesses." Byeong laughed. "Maybe! Who knows! But seriously, are you free? I want to meet up, I need someone to gossip with".

"Yes Byeong, I'm free. We can meet up today. Before you go, I got a mail from your company... I'm kinda speechless." said the actress, excitement tinging  her voice.  Silence. Then, in a dramatic voice "Run away Seulgi... I will be there in 30 minutes! Be ready." and he hung up. Seulgi stared at the email again before getting ready to meet her friend.

"I'm telling you, Seulgi, you should think twice before meeting that woman." said calmly Byeong. The two stars were in a restaurant. The singer had reserved a private room to be more comfortable with his friend. Seulgi loved how cautious he was, always making sure they were both comfortable. No cameras, no people, no hiding. Just two people meeting normally, well almost normally, they still needed to reserve a private room.

"Why? You talk about her like she is the devil himself." countered Seulgi, sipping her soda. Her friend looked at her with a serious face. "Look, Seulgi— I've been in that company for 5 years now, I think? I've met her a couple of times. She is cold as hell, judgmental as hell and so closed off. She won't make things easy— you'll feel awkward just being near her. It's a weird feeling. Last time, her daughter bumped into me, she seemed lost so I babysat her, praying her mom or any relatives would find her. Guess what? Her mom found her— Jaeyi. She, at first, just spoke to her kid, telling her to never do that ever again. She was genuinely scared for her kid. It's the first time I saw some facial expression from her. The most emotion I've seen from here. Then she looked up at me, thanked me with the coldest voice ever and then told me to stay away from her daughter! I did NOTHING?!" He flung his arms up dramatically, making Seulgi laugh.

"I can't blame her— you are still a man." Byeong frowned at the comment but said nothing back. "I think I will still meet her and see what she proposes. It's such a big thing, you know. Singers and actors aren't the same. I don't mind if she is cold or whatever— I just want respect," said Seulgi calmly. Her friend sighed but still nodded. "If that's what you want. Still weird you got an email. I thought they stopped signing new actors. I will ask Kyung about it— maybe." The actress shrugged and started eating the food.  "So— the idol gossip?" the question made Byeong laugh loudly.

The two friends just kept talking about their lives and gossip. Seulgi cherished these moments with Byeong— she felt normal and happy. The singer was a safe place she never knew she needed. His presence was always reassuring and made things easier. She never told him and would probably never tell him. Not because she didn't want to tell him, but because she wasn't good with words. She found it awkward. But, she was grateful to have him in her life. He was the only friend that had been there for her since her childhood.

After dinner, the singer drove Seulgi back to her home. "Thank you for today, Byeong! Next time, it's me who will pay!" Byeong laughed and nodded "Thank you, Seulgi! And we will see next time... after all, you are still jobless" He laughed at his own silly remark, making Seulgi shake her head slightly in disapproval. "If you're meeting Jaeyi, tell me so we can meet up at the agency. I'll be there for sure." Seulgi nodded and left the car. She waved  goodbye to Byeong and went to her house.

At least I won't be alone.

The car stopped just in front of a big modern building. The driver left the car to open the door, letting the woman get out of the car. She bowed politely and entered the building. Her presence was impressive, everyone looking at her with a little fear and a lot of respect. They all bowed at her with a small smile. She entered the elevator and clicked on the last floor where her office was. The elevator arrived at the final floor and she entered into her office. Nobody was waiting for her this morning which made her exhale in happiness. She wasn't in the mood to deal with someone right now. She sat in her chair, turning on her computer and checking her emails.

After some minutes, a knock was heard, making the woman looked up. The door opened and a man entered. He stopped in front of her desk and bowed with a smile on his face. "Good morning Miss Yoo! I have a good news for you today." he began calmly waiting for Jaeyi to answer. "Good morning to you too Mr. Kim. You have all my attention."

"Woo Seulgi responded to our email. She wants to meet you to discuss the contract. I think you can get her easily. From what I heard, she just wants some freedom. You know how agencies can be controlling." explained the man to Jaeyi who looked at him with a smile. "That's a good news. Well, my sister still doesn't know I decided to sign an actress, but I think she won't mind. Thank you Mr. Kim. Tell Woo Seulgi I can meet her tomorrow at 10 AM if that's alright with her." Mr. Kim nodded and bowed. "Alright, I will let you announce it to your sister." and he left, leaving Jaeyi alone in her room.

She stood up from her chair and went to stand in front of the big window. Her room was big, with a modern desk where her computer was set. In front of the desk, two sofas faced each other, separated by a low modern table where a beautiful green plant in a vase standing in the middle. Of course, there was a coffee maker and all the necessary storage furniture. Everything was modern with muted colors.

Jaeyi looked through the window, the city before her. She stood there thinking deeply about some of her problems, but another knock interrupted her thought. She turned to her door and found Kyung with Yeri. "Hey? Did we disturb you?" asked Kyung with some hesitation in her voice. Jaeyi sighed and shook her head.

"I was just thinking about something. Nothing important. What do both of you want? Don't even ask me about renovation or whatever, It's a no." Both girls laughed and shook their heads. "No we aren't here for that. Just to ask you some news about you. You have ignored us these past few days." answered Kyung with a bit of worry in her voice. "Yeah, we just wanted to check on you. You know to see if our CEO isn't missing. I need my paycheck." added Yeri which made Kyung hit her shoulder and frowned. Jaeyi laughed at her friends' behavior.

"I'm alright. Thank you for your concern. Just had a crazy week with family and stuff, anyway. Did you see Jena somewhere? I need to talk to her. I may have done something crazy." The two girls looked at Jaeyi with apprehension. They both decided to sit in one of the sofas. "Define 'crazy' please? What have you done?" asked carefully Kyung. Jaeyi sighed and sat on the opposite sofa, facing the two girls now. "Well, I sent an email to the actress Woo Seulgi. She responded, so she may sign a contract with me." A silence followed this statement. "But didn't Jena tell you to stop recruiting actors?" Kyung voice broke the silence.

"Well yes. But my daughter begged me to try to get her under this agency. She is apparently a big fan." A second silence. Yeri and Kyung looked at each other quickly and then laughed. "You mean you're going to sign one of the biggest actresses not because of her talent and recognition, but because of your DAUGHTER?!" Yeri said between laughs. Jaeyi looked at her friends with a stoic face, waiting for them to stop laughing.

"Well... I do know she is popular and she has won a lot of notable awards, but I may admit I never watched a k-drama starring her. To be honest, I don't even know how she looks like..." Jaeyi last sentence made the two girls freeze. They looked at Jaeyi with shocked eyes. "Girl? I have played in a movie with her? What do you mean you never watched any project featuring her or even saw her? She is everywhere?" stated Yeri still surprised by Jaeyi confession.

"I don't have time to always watch everything Yeri... I guess that was the only project I didn't watch of yours. Is it that shocking I know nothing from that girl?" Kyung coughed and Yeri still looked at her in disbelief. "Well do some research about her before the meeting or let your sister handle it. Watch at least one movie. You are unbelievable Jaeyi. Every day you go through Seoul and pass by that big billboard where Seulgi is  featuring for the brand Prada, I think. Crazy, Jaeyi, CRAZY!" said Yeri, still in disbelief. "Isn't it for Calvin Klein?" asked Kyung.

"If it was for Calvin Klein Jaeyi would have noticed, Kyung." mocked Yeri. "Yah! What does that mean!" said Jaeyi annoyed by her friend. Yeri said nothing more, only sticking out her tongue in a childish way. "Stop acting like a child. Even my daughter stopped doing that" Jaeyi said while rolling her eyes. The three girls spoke a little more about their lives before leaving Jaeyi alone again.

It was only morning, and Jaeyi was already tired. She sighed and went back to work.

A knock resounded in the room. Jaeyi looked up, annoyed by the new unknown comer. The door opened and closed after the person entered. "Miss. Yoo, I heard from a very nosy actress slash idol that you did something crazy." Jaeyi got up and hugged her sister. "Jena! You should've told me you were here." Jena hugged back her sister and laughed. "What's the fun doing that. So...?" The oldest sat on the sofa looking at her younger sister, who did the same thing but on the opposite sofa.

"Well..." Jaeyi started, her hand moving back to her neck and scratching it. "I asked Mr. Kim to contact the actress Woo Seulgi to discuss signing a contract with us. She responded positively, and we will meet tomorrow." The sister maintained the eye contact. Jena blinked slowly. "Woo Seulgi? Hmm... I can't go against it. I still told you to slow down with the recruiting Jaeyi." The youngest sighed. "I know but Heeyoung begged me to try and it's because of YOU. Mind you, since you watch movies and k-dramas with her she is obsessed with some actors and Woo Seulgi is one of them if not THE one." she crossed her arm against her breast and lifted one of her legs onto the other. Jena laughed at her defensive body language.

"My bad, it's not my fault if Seulgi is that good... and pretty too." added Jena with a smirk. "I don't know, I never watched her projects and never saw her too." admitted Jaeyi. Her sister looked at her in disbelief making Jaeyi looking down. "You're joking right? She is literally everywhere and she is the face of Prada. Oh gosh Jaeyi, what am I going to do with you huh?" Jaeyi shook her head.

"Anyway, you are the CEO, you know what the best. Well, kinda doubt it now cause apparently you don't even know one of the most popular actresses. Good luck for tomorrow, I heard that Seulgi has a strong personality, she doesn't get intimidated easily and can be cold if she isn't comfortable. She may seem all softy in public with her fan, but behind the camera she can be really, really cold. Also, don't scare her... may I also say don't be scared of her." Jena clapped her hands in excitement, sensing something funny or unpredictable would happen between the two cold women. Jaeyi groaned and threw her head back.

Today's weather wasn't as sunny and hot as the other days. The rain had just came back making Seoul look grey and sad. Seulgi stood in front of her apartment building waiting for her friend to pick her up. She looked at the grey sky and sighed. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on the sound of the rain. For some reason, Seulgi hated the rain but still loved the sound of it. It was comfortable when you had nobody to support you. At least, the sound always accompanied her through hard times. Always there when something bad happened to her.

She still found it strange how the rain made her comfortable but also made her remember her endless trauma. It was something hard to explain out loud for Seulgi. She stayed there for some minutes, enjoying the peaceful sound before hearing a car horn. She opened her eyes and found Byeong in his car, looking at her. She got into the car. "Hello; Miss Philosopher! How are you feeling? Not too stressed to meet your worst nightmare?" Seulgi rolled her eyes.

"Hello, Mr. Nosy. Don't be dramatic; I'm sure she isn't that evil. And I'm feeling well! What about you?" Byeong started to drive. "Well, good, just a little tired. I heard a rumor about you yesterday." Seulgi's curiosity peaked. Her eyes went directly to him. "About me?" she asked, pointing to herself.

"Yes. I heard that if Jaeyi wants to recruit you, it's only because her daughter and sister are big fans of you. I don't know if it's true, but if it's the case, maybe she wouldn't be that cold with you," said Byeong with a smile on his face. "That's huge, Seulgi! Jaeyi's sister is a big fan of cinema; if she is a fan of you, oh my god... you've made it, Seulgi!" A subtle pride could be heard from the singer's voice. Seulgi forced a smile.  "If you say so. Jaeyi isn't into cinema?"

"From what I heard, not really. She prefers music... but she does support her actors' projects! When she has time." Seulgi hummed in response. "That explains why you always comeback. How does she sign actors if she doesn't even know anything?" Byeong stopped the car at the traffic light. "It's rarely her who proposes a contract. It's always Mr. Kim who's aware of the rising actors. She meets them afterward to discuss the contract, and that's it. According to other actors, she is cold, but the contract is always so good." The traffic light went green.

Seulgi stayed silent through the rest of the drive, looking out the window. She wasn't anxious, but she still had a fear somewhere in her. She wasn't someone who loved to admit this kind of thing; she preferred to swallow it and hide it. She needed to control her emotions and face, no matter what. The car suddenly stopped, cutting off Seulgi's thoughts. "Here we are!" The actress swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

They both got out of the car. Seulgi looked at the modern building and hugged herself a little. Byeong, sensing her discomfort, gently caressed her arm to comfort her. "Don't worry too much! I'm sure you'll leave this building with a contract signed in your hand." Seulgi gave him a small smile, thankful for his presence and comfort. They both entered the building, and the actress observed her surroundings. Everything was modern with muted colors and some plants here and there. Of course, Seulgi couldn't help but notice all the eyes were on them— specifically, on her.

"Is that Woo Seulgi?" "Oh my god... Woo Seulgi here? That's crazy" whispered people as the actress and the singer passed by them. Seulgi could feel a pressure settle on her chest from the whispering. She always forgot how popular she could be. Byeong felt Seulgi's discomfort and slowed down. "Are you okay?" asked the singer with concern. Seulgi simply nodded, but her body was still tense. They arrived at the elevator, and Byeong pressed the highest button. "I think I'm anxious..." admitted Seulgi, her voice trembling.

Byeong looked at her and laughed. "No shit, Sherlock? I think it's the people who've made you anxious... you really should see a therapist about it." Seulgi slapped Byeong's shoulder lightly. The elevator door finally opened, and they were startled by the person in front of them— more specifically, a woman. "Oops, I didn't mean to scare you two! Hey, Byeong, what are you doing here?" the woman asked. "Oh, hey, Ms. Yoo! It's been a while since I last saw you. I'm just accompanying my friend to see your sister." explained Byeong, a shy smile on his face as he pointed at Seulgi. Jena turned to Seulgi, then to Byeong, and smirked. "Oh yeah! My sister told me about it. Well, good luck, Woo Seulgi. I hope she won't be too cold." she said with a little laugh at the end.

The two friends left the elevator, letting Jena enter. They all bowed to each other before the elevator door closed. Byeong exhaled and looked at Seulgi. "She is definitely a fan of you." Seulgi  gazed at him quizzically. "She didn't even say hello." Byeong nodded dramatically, his fist tapping the palm of his other hand. "Exactly!"

"Ms. Woo?" called the deep voice of a man. Both of them turned to him and bowed. "Hello, I'm Mr. Kim, the one who contacted you through email. Ms. Yoo is ready to welcome you." the man's voice was surprisingly calm and comforting to Seulgi's ears. She smiled at him, feeling the pressure on her chest lift. "I'm going; wait for me in the hall." she whispered to Byeong. "Ok! Don't take forever, please. I have a schedule."

Mr. Kim knocked and let Woo Seulgi enter first.  "Ms. Yoo, the actress Woo Seulgi is here!" he said, a little louder, and then disappeared, closing the door behind him. Seulgi could feel her heartbeat quickening. She observed the room. Everything was clean, modern, and minimalist. She looked at the desk, finally meeting Jaeyi's eyes. She now understood what Byeong had tried to warn her about. Her eyes were dark, and her face as cold as Antarctica. The thing Byeong had never mentioned was how pretty she was. With this awareness, her heartbeat raced even faster, which alarmed Seulgi. She took a deep breath before bowing to Jaeyi.

Jaeyi, on the other side of the room, looked at Seulgi for a few seconds. She stood up from her chair and bowed back to Seulgi. The room felt small for both of them, and the tension was something they hadn't planned. Jaeyi invited Seulgi to sit on the sofa and asked her if she wanted something to drink. Seulgi shook her head and thanked her. Jaeyi sat on the opposite sofa, looking at Seulgi directly, not taking her eyes off Seulgi.

"So, Woo Seulgi, I heard that you are looking for some freedom" began Jaeyi without wasting time. Seulgi, still maintaining eye contact, frowned. She knew the company researched information from artists, but this information seemed too personal. She had never mentioned in any interview that she didn't have freedom. "Well, yeah. My old agency was controlling." answered Seulgi calmly. "Yeah, that's what I also heard." The atmosphere in the room was now heavy with how cold Jaeyi sounded to the actress's ears. Seulgi's body straightened, and her finger tapped the sofa slowly. She was clearly not enjoying how the other woman knew all this. She also hated how the room felt small and how she felt the heat.

It's raining today; why I suddenly feel hot.

Jaeyi, still looking at her, coughed a little. "I don't want to waste more time. You are a well-known actress and have already won a lot of awards, such as Best Actress. I'm not against a little freedom. I'm just not a fan of big scandals. You can manage your social media; you can do anything, but just be cautious about it. Also, I want at least a project per year. More will be nicer, the perfect number would be three." Jaeyi's eyes remained on Seulgi, not missing any movements and reactions. Seulgi felt the intensity of her gaze, which made her feel smaller. She couldn't help but break the eye contact, looking at the plant.

"Three is really ambitious, but I don't mind. If I can choose the project, then yeah." answered Seulgi. Jaeyi stood making Seulgi's eyes snap back to her. Against her own will, Seulgi looked Jaeyi up and down and bit her lip before looking away. Her heart continued to beat fast. The CEO took a paper on her desk and placed it on the low table. "This is the contract. Read it, and if you want to add something or change anything, tell me." Jaeyi's presence was now too close to Seulgi. The actress looked up at Jaeyi who was already watching her with an intensity that Seulgi couldn't bear. She broke the eye contact as quickly as the lightning, feeling heat rise to her face. "Thank you" Jaeyi smiled at her, but Seulgi was too busy reading to see it. Jaeyi returned to the sofa, and the actress could feel the CEO's eyes on her. She tried her best to ignore everything, even the fluttering feeling in her chest.

Jaeyi didn't expect to see such a pretty woman in front of her. She couldn't explain it, but the moment she met her eyes, she felt a connection. She felt like something pulled her to Seulgi— or maybe a string that tied them, and Jaeyi could feel it. She sounded like a cliché right now, but she had never had this gut feeling before— not even her with ex-husband. She stared at the girl like she was trying to imprint her image in her brain. She suddenly felt a little weird, something she couldn't name yet nor describe. Jaeyi's hand moved to her knees, her body straight. She still maintained her cold, professional stance. Seulgi looked up to her, her lip moving, but no sound reached the CEO— too deep in her thoughts.

"Ms. Yoo?" hearing her last name broke her trance.

"My apologies. What did you say?"

"I said the contract is perfect. I want to sign it." she said softly. Jaeyi, still not taking her eyes off Seulgi, tried to hide her smile by biting her cheek. "What wonderful news, Ms. Woo! Let me lend you a pen." She stood up again and took the first pen on her desk. She handed it to Seulgi, whose fingers brushed Jaeyi's. The light skin contact made the CEO freeze for a few seconds. The actress, unaware of her impact on the other woman, signed the contract and handed back the pen.

"Here. I signed it." Seulgi said with a wide smile, her dimple showing. Jaeyi continued staring at her like she was trying to remember something. After a second of silence, Jaeyi finally snapped out of her second trance.

"Welcome to JY Entertainment! I'm glad to have you here, Woo Seulgi. We'll send you all the necessary information tonight— if I can organize things quickly. You'll start work as soon as we assemble a new team for you. There will be a meeting to introduce you to your team." Stated Jaeyi. She offered her hand, which the actress took and shook it.

"I'm also glad to be here, Ms. Yoo."  Seulgi replied, still a smile drawing on her face. Jaeyi led Seulgi to the door and opened it.

"See you around, Woo Seulgi."

Seulgi walked through the hall, looking for Byeong, who was sitting like a lost kid on a sofa close to the big window. Seulgi sat beside him and let out a deep breath. Byeong jumped slightly, startled by Seulgi's sudden appearance. "Yah! You could've made some noise! You scared me," said Byeong loudly, annoyed. Seulgi rolled her eyes but smiled. "So, how was the meeting with the devil?" Seulgi sighed.

"The tension was something else, Byeong. I've met a lot of CEO, but this one? Gosh— not even a smile? The only thing she did was staring at me like I was a freak or an art from The Louvre. I don't know to be honest. She is weird and so... cold, but pretty cold." said Seulgi rapidly, clearly annoyed by the meeting. Byeong laughed.

"I told you she is cold, but the staring part is unusual. She never stares at me, and nobody's complained about Jaeyi staring. You are the first one." carefully said Byeong. "Well, I don't know and I don't want to know... plus, why would she stare at you?" mocked Seulgi.

"Yah! Don't be rude! I'm also really handsome! My fans say so!" her friend said in a defensively, making Seulgi laugh.

"Anyway! Congratulation! Signing with JYE isn't something easy, if we're being honest. Be careful— the CEO's daughter is often here, and she loves talking to everyone."

"I love kids! I don't mind, and it's not like I will be here every day anyway. Thank you, Byeong, for being here with me. It mean a lot."

Byeong smiled at her and took her in his arm. They both left the agency, the singer dropping Seulgi back to her home before going back to work. "Good luck for your next day of work! I will probably be at the company anyway... preparing for my comeback." said Byeong, waving at Seulgi. The actress smiled and thanked him again.

She entered in her apartment and let herself fall on the sofa. She took a deep breath, enjoying the silence of her living room. After a few seconds, her brain reminded her of the meeting with Yoo Jaeyi, highlighting details she might have missed out. How Jaeyi had looked at her like she was a prey, or how Jaeyi had taken time to answer, as if she was in a trance. Seulgi couldn't stop thinking how weird Jaeyi was. Her thoughts didn't stop flooding with questions and self-criticism about her own behavior. She remembered how anxious she was, how her face might have hinted about it, how her voice had sounded.

Gosh, enough — I did what I should've done.

But one question still haunted her: Why had Jaeyi looked at her like this?

She shook her head and got up from the sofa. She sighed and went to her kitchen to make some tea. She came back to her sofa with her cup of tea and turned on her computer. She saw she had a new email from JYE and opened it. The timing didn't shock her, but the person who directly sent it was something she hadn't expected. "Yoo Jaeyi." The email wasn't from Mr. Kim, but directly from the CEO. Seulgi furrowed her brows in confusion. She turned off the screen and let herself drown in her thoughts.

Why am I feeling weird about this?

The first day of work came too fast for Seulgi's liking. She woke up with the sound of her alarm, no sound of kids playing in the nearby park. She groaned and stood up quickly. She did her morning routine, grabbed a cup of tea, and left her apartment. For the first day of work, she found herself driving her own car. She didn't complain— she even felt happy about it. She loved the alone time she could have while driving to work. No voice, no music, just Seulgi and her thoughts. She found herself in the company in a blink of an eye. She cursed under her breath to not have enjoyed her drive enough. It's not like she wasn't happy to be here, but she wasn't in a mood to be surrounded by new people. She leaned back into her seat and stared at the steering wheel, preparing herself to socialize.

Mr. Kim was waiting for her in the hall. When he saw her, he bowed with a polite smile. "Hello Ms. Woo! Welcome back to the company. I will guide you today so you won't get lost. Everyone is waiting for you." his voice, still calm to Seulgi's ear, made her body relax. She followed Mr. Kim, who gave her a guide tour of the building before landing to the meeting room. A lot of people were already here, waiting for her. She took a deep breath,  sensing her hand trembling.

When Seulgi entered into the room, everyone stood up and bowed to her with big smiles. The actress gave back the energy and sat on the chair she was assigned. Mr. Kim stayed up and began to present the goal of today's meeting. Everyone seems enthusiast to meet Seulgi and to organize everything with her. After some time, a woman with a square haircut spoke.

"So, my name is Kyung, and I will be your temporary manager. Ms. Yoo has not found, yet, a new one, so I will be in charge of it. She said for a maximum of two months, but who knows." Seulgi nodded,  but couldn't shake the feeling that she knew the woman. "I feel like I know you..." she finally said, making Kyung smile.

"You remember me? I'm Yeri's manager!" Seulgi's eyes widened at the mention of Yeri, and clapped her hands once. "Oh my god! Yes, I remember! I forgot Yeri is under this company."

"Yeah. You will meet her soon, I think. She is nosy." stated Kyung, making everyone laugh. The meeting continued without any difficulties. Everyone loved Seulgi and her energy. The actress felt relieved after the reunion. Everything went smoothly— new makeup artist, new hairdresser, new stylist, new manager and new project already in discussion. She almost couldn't believe how fast thing moved, how efficient this company was. Everyone seemed so sweet to Seulgi, and she couldn't have felt more grateful.

She left the room and bumped into someone. "Oh my god, I'm sorry!" she bowed without looking at the person. "Oh my god! Is that you, Seulgi?" Seulgi's gaze met the person and found herself face-to-face with Yeri, who was smiling like she'd just won a million dollars. "Yeri? Why are you here?"

"Well— I work here, duh?" Seulgi rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean, Yeri." The other actress laughed.

"Kyung told me about the meeting, and I got curious, that's it. So, you really signed here? No wonder Jaeyi was in a good mood yesterday." answered Yeri, amused by the situation. Seulgi blinked twice after Yeri's last sentence. "What?" Seulgi said, brow frowned in confusion.

"What? Did I say something?" Yeri mimicking Seulgi's expression. "You said 'No wonder Jaeyi was in a good mood yesterday' "Seulgi imitated Yeri's voice,  which Yeri found hilarious.

"First of all, I don't sound like that! And no, I never said that! You're starting to hallucinate, Seulgi... are you okay?" she said, placing her hand on Seulgi's forehead. The actress rolled her eyes and moved Yeri's wrist out of her head. "You are so funny, Yeri"

Kyung was the last person to leave the meeting room with Mr. Kim. She found Seulgi and Yeri talking and rolled her eyes, anticipating the chaos she might need to stop. "Girls, please don't start mocking each other— walls have ears. I bet neither of you wants a scandal saying 'according to insider, Seulgi and Yeri hate each other to death'," her voice went acute. "Right? And Yeri, what are you doing here? Jaeyi gave you a week without any schedule!" Seulgi and Yeri glanced at each other briefly and laughed a little.

"Yeah, she gave me a week off, but I was too curious about the new actress who signed here! I'm glad I came. Let's grab coffee together. I have a lot of things to say to Seulgi. It's been a while." Yeri said excitedly. She didn't wait them to agree, as she grabbed Seulgi's wrist and dragged her to the company café. Of course, Kyung followed them after a silent prayer.

"The company has a fucking café?" Seulgi sat at a table, still shocked about the place. "Yeah. Jaeyi's sister is a coffee fanatic... well— that's what Jaeyi said, who knows the truth."  replied Yeri calmly as Kyung set down the cups of coffee and sat beside Yeri.

"You seem close to Jaeyi." remarked Seulgi.

"Yeah, kind of? I just love disturbing her peace time to time." grinned Yeri.

"Yeah, well, mostly asking her to add random things to the company," added Kyung with a resting face. Yeri lightly slapped Kyung's shoulder and muffled. Seulgi, across the table, raised a brow in suspicious. After some talk about random things, a silence fell around them for a few minutes. It wasn't awkward, just a moment for the three of them to breath. Seulgi looked down into her half-empty cup. Her thought took all her attention, one of her finger tapping her cup absently in a slow rhythmic. Then, she mustered the courage to ask a question, breaking the silence.

"You said you're close to Jaeyi, right?" Yeri and Kyung looked up and nodded.

"You know, when I met her, she was kinda weird."

"Jaeyi is always weird." argued Kyung.

"Yeah, I heard that before, from Byeong. But when I met her, she wouldn't stop staring at me, and time to time she seemed lost in thought. Like, she'd stare at me while I was speaking but she wouldn't answer— I had to repeat myself at least four times." explained Seulgi, finger tapping on the cup more frantically, clearly annoyed by the fact she needed to repeat herself a lot. Kyung and Yeri looked at her surprised. Yeri smiled widely while Kyung frowned in confusion.

"Well, this is, in fact— weird." Yeri admitted, smirking. "The first part isn't that shocking but to the point she losing her tongue? Crazy. What's your secret? I need it." Seulgi only rolled her eyes and glanced at Kyung, hoping for a better answer. Unfortunately, Kyung only shrugged.

"I don't know. Maybe you are just overthinking. She might've just been unprepared for that much beauty." Kyung said unsure. The woman beside her only nodded "She's must be right. Don't think too much about it! Jaeyi doesn't really discuss business with us, so we don't know what she was thinking."

Seulgi only nodded and sipped her coffee. They chatted a little more before parting away. Seulgi decided to stay in the company a little longer to familiarize herself with it. She ended up on some random floor where sofas were arranged in an open space. She sat down there and stared at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts — again.

It's been now two weeks since Seulgi started working at JYE. She found herself really comfortable here, she had already made some acquaintances, and people here loved her for her kindness. She followed her new schedule and even signed up for a new project. The news of her joining JYE made people talk about her on social media for more than a week. Most of her fans were happy about her choice, which made Seulgi feel relieved. Her PR team was also aware of her popularity and hadn't even waited  for the internet to cool down before announcing Seulgi's new project. The media went crazy for a few more days.

Seulgi walked into the same place she had found on her first day of work. She let her body fall onto the sofa and stared at the ceiling. This place had became one of her favorites. The silence made it special to her since she was always in noisy spaces. Nobody came to this floor— just the sound of silence— and Seulgi felt her body relax because of that. She exhaled slowly, thinking about the media, her name used everywhere. She had gained more attention and, in turn, people recognized her more easily. She now always felt followed and watched. She hated the feeling of always being exposed. She hadn't felt protected, even in her most intimate sphere. Her company decided to send her a private van, and she always had a bodyguard glued to her when she had an official event. But she hadn't felt like it was enough. In these moments, she hated being alone, even in her own apartment. It was almost schizophrenic. So, for most of her day, she was at the agency, enjoying the little safety she sensed there .

Her thoughts were cut off when she heard someone running toward her position. She sat up on the sofa, body straight and tense. Her eyes looked everywhere— left, right, even at the ceiling. Then, a second look to the right, and she found a kid trying to hide herself behind the wall. The building wasn't complex; each floor had a large open space that connected hallways. Just like in a college building, where you can sit with friends and rest. Seulgi looked at the kid and smiled at her. The actress's body started to lose its stiffness.

"Hey! How are you?" Seulgi said softly, waving slightly. The kid still gazed at her with some disbelief but ended up walking toward her.

"Oh, my god! I know you— I saw you on TV sometimes!" the little girl said, jumping slightly. Seulgi's smile grew bigger. "Yeah, you must have seen me in some movies. What's your name?" The little girl came closer to Seulgi, smiling widely.

"I'm Heeyoung! You are Seulgi, right?" her voice pitched higher slightly. Seulgi laughed and nodded. The actress tapped on the sofa beside her to invite the young girl to sit. Heeyoung understood the gesture and rushed to sit on the sofa.

"I can't believe I saw you in real in life! My aunt and me are really big fans of you!" she said rapidly, making Seulgi giggle. "Really? That's so cute. What's your favorite movie from me?" The little girl hummed, pondering.

"Oh— I know! When you played that cold high school student who wanted to be a doctor." she said while nodding firmly. Seulgi's brows raised for a second but hummed in response with a grin. The actress paid more attention to Heeyoung's facial features and found some similarities with someone she had seen.

"Where are your mother or father?" Heeyoung shrugged, her gaze dropping to the ground.

"I don't know. Mom must be in her office, too focused on her work to notice me, and dad isn't here." Seulgi noticed how Heeyoung's voice grew quieter and sadder. The actress stood up and knelt in front of the little girl to be at the same level as her. "Do you want to drink a hot chocolate? I heard the café here makes a high quality chocolate milk." Heeyoung looked at Seulgi with bright eyes.

"Really?" Seulgi nodded. "Yes!" shouted Heeyoung. Seulgi laughed, and they went to the company's café. The actress's smile never left her face, as she loved the energy of the little girl.

Jaeyi's office was silent— too silent for Jaeyi's taste. Her attention was not longer onto her computer, she looked around her office in search of her daughter— no sound of her, no sign of her presence. Jaeyi groaned in annoyance and stood up, leaving her office in a hurry. "Mr. Kim! Have you seen my daughter?" Mr. Kim shook his head with an apologetic look. Jaeyi thanked him and started to look everywhere in the company.

She entered the café section with rapid breathing and looked around. In a second, like a radar, she found her daughter drinking something with someone she couldn't see. Jaeyi frowned and bit her tongue. She hated when someone other than Jena, Yeri and Kyung, did things with her daughter— especially giving her drinks. She walked hurriedly toward her daughter.

"Yoo Heeyoung! What are you doing here? I told you to stay near my office!" Jaeyi said, voice cold and authoritative. Heeyoung looked at her mother with fear and put away her drink quickly. The little girl's arms went under the table, and her body stiffened.

"She just got bored. Relax." a familiar voice rang in Jaeyi's ears. The CEO finally looked up at the person and saw Seulgi.

"Seulgi?!" the actress only raised her hand as a 'hello' sign. Jaeyi frowned even more.

"Heeyoung, stand up. We are leaving." She ordered, leaving no room for negotiation. Heeyoung looked at her half-finished drink for a long second and sighed. Seulgi gazed at Heeyoung with sad eyes.

"She hasn't finish her drink. Let her finish it." Heeyoung's eyes widened as she looked at Seulgi. The actress just pushed Heeyoung's drink toward the girl and winked. Jaeyi stopped her movement by placing her hand over the cup and glared at Seulgi with cold eyes, her jaw tight.

"Listen, I said we are leaving. She shouldn't drink what a stranger gives her. Mind your business, Woo Seulgi." The actress rolled her eyes, unfazed by her authority.

"That's how you treat your artist? A stranger? I'm not a creepy man you know? I understand your fear, but maybe if you paid more attention to your kid, she wouldn't be here right now." Seulgi stared back, her eyes cold and provoking.

Jaeyi's jaw dropped after hearing Seulgi's words and stared at her in disbelief for a second. She couldn't believe someone had the audacity to argue back— especially using her parenting against her. She regained her composure quickly an coughed a little. She looked away and bit her lip. She didn't know if she bit it out of frustration or to suppress the growing smirk. After a moment of heavy silence, she withdrew her hand from the cup.

"Heeyoung, move slightly so I can sit." Heeyoung's face brightened and made some space beside her. "Thank you, mom!" she took a sip of her drink.

"You want something Ms. Yoo? Black coffee? Tea? My treat!" asked Seulgi with a small smile that screamed victory. Jaeyi rolled her eyes and crossed her arm against her chest. "No, thank you. I will just wait for my daughter to finish her drink." Seulgi shrugged, still grinning.

"Well, now I see where I'd seen all the similarities." Seulgi began, not letting a second of silence between them. She looked at Heeyoung,then at Jaeyi— she nodded to herself as if  she confirmed some theory. "Yep, exactly the same." Heeyoung looked at Seulgi and bounced in her seat.

"You think I look like my mom?!" Seulgi nodded and smiled at Heeyoung's happiness.

"Did you hear that, mom? Did you?" She took her mother's arm and shook it with all her strength. Jaeyi rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. The CEO, feeling a pair of eyes on her, glanced back to Seulgi. For the first time, Jaeyi caught her staring. She smirked, feeling a thrill from this new attention.

"I'm gonna be just like mom when I grow up!" declared Heeyoung proudly.

"If that's what you want, just try to smile more" Seulgi said, pulling the corner of her own lips into an exaggerated smile. Heeyoung laughed and nodded. Jaeyi watched at the interaction and huffed. "I do smile!" she said, understanding the shade.

"I never said you don't. It's just rare. At least when it's comes to work." stated Seulgi.

"How do you know? It's the second time we've seen each other"

"Second time YOU'VE seen me. You are everywhere,  Ms. Yoo.  And people talk too, you know," The actress took a sip of her coffee. Seulgi's eyes met Jaeyi's and found her staring with a smirk. "What?"

"Nothing Ms. Woo, nothing." Jaeyi leaned back on her seat, gaze lingering.

"Seul, can I get an autograph? No, wait— two!" The little girl asked, flashing a peace sign to Seulgi.  Heeyoung's voice forced Jaeyi to look away. "Two, Heeyoung, really?"

"But mom, auntie loves Seulgi too! I'm sure she would be happy!" Jaeyi looked at Seulgi waiting her to speak. She found herself watching the actress smiling widely because of her daughter's behavior. "I can even do a thousand autographs for you. You are so cute." Seulgi put her hand on Heeyoung's head and move it as if she petting her. The little girl took her mother's arm and shook it roughly. At this moment, Jaeyi felt something inside her. Something she still couldn't name. Not yet.

Jaeyi took out a marker from her bag and gave it to Seulgi. The actress took it and touched, this time, Jaeyi's hand. The CEO froze at the contact— again. Seulgi, unaware of her effect, signed where Heeyoung wanted her to. Jaeyi finally watched the scene before her and bit her cheek, trying to prevent any facial reaction.

Seulgi and Heeyoung talked a lot— well, the actress mostly answered to Heeyoung's questions. Jaeyi just listened and intervened to calm down Heeyoung. When her daughter finished her drink, they all stood up.

"Well, thank you, Woo Seulgi, for taking care of my daughter. I hope you won't have to do that again. Heeyoung, say thank you!" they both bowed, Heeyoung a little lower than her mother. Seulgi did the same. "It's okay! Heeyoung is cute, she is so sweet." Heeyoung walked toward Seulgi and hugged her. The actress giggled and hugged her back. Jaeyi watched the scene and felt her heart clench a little. She shook her head and took her daughter's hand. They both left the café, leaving Seulgi behind.

Jaeyi took a sip of her red wine and looked out the window, enjoying the city view. Well, almost enjoying. She still played on repeat her interaction with Seulgi. Heeyoung was now asleep, making the penthouse silent. Jaeyi sighed and drank her wine straight, grimacing afterward. She hated feeling confused or when she couldn't understand her feelings.

She remembered how she hadn't argued back when Seulgi provoked her. She also remembered how she felt something weird in her chest, something she hadn't felt for age. She remembered how her heart ached watching Heeyoung hugged Seulgi. The worst part for Jaeyi was how she had felt an enjoyment when Seulgi gave her an ounce of attention. This wasn't her usual self; this was too out of character. Maybe she needed to meet new people, maybe she needed to go out with her friend more. She bit her cheek hardly, still not understanding her behavior around Seulgi.

Maybe I'm just tired... or crazy.

Chapter Text

“Ms. Yoo, I’m calling you cause your daughter was involved in a fight. Mr. Kang told me he would be here in five minutes.” a serious voice came through Jaeyi’s phone. The CEO gasped and stood up suddenly from her chair.

“What? What do you mean a fight? Is she alright? Is she hurt?” Jaeyi asked, voice trembling a little. She snatched her jacket and bag, almost running out of her office.

“Well, it’s better if you see her. But no panic, she can still breathe and speak.” the man tried to be humorous. Jaeyi groaned in annoyance, not having his jokes. “I will be here in five minutes” she said coldly before hanging up the call.

“Mr. Kim, I’m out for a moment. My daughter has a problem at school. Move all my meetings.” She ordered in a hurry. Her face grimaced from worry. She didn’t wait for her assistant to answer, she just ran into the elevator, not wasting any time. She clicked the button a hundred times, as if the elevator would close its door faster.

She got into her car, driving without thinking about the highway code. She even thought she had seen a flash behind her. She arrived at the school as fast as a helicopter would, and rushed to the teachers’ room. She bowed to everyone and a man who seemed to be in his late fifties gave her a polite smile.

“Hello Ms. Yoo, you got here really fast. Should we wait for Mr. Ka-” Jaeyi cut the man off, her face stoic “No. Where is Heeyoung?”

The man’s smile disappeared from his face after hearing Jaeyi’s cold voice. He motioned for her to follow him. They both entered to a private room where only a table stood in the middle. Heeyoung was there waiting beside another woman. Jaeyi held her breath and walked closer to her daughter, sensing her leg trembling with each step. “Heeyoung!” she said softly.

Her daughter looked back at her mother and hugged her. Jaeyi hugged her back tightly. “I’m sorry mom.” she said, voice trembling and muffled against her shoulder. Jaeyi leaned back a little and took her daughter face between her hands, observing her. Heeyoung’s face wasn’t deeply injured, just a red mark on her left cheek, a messy hair and a lot of tears running down her angelic face. Jaeyi frowned her brow in worry and touched her daughter’s left cheek, making Heeyoung grimace from pain. Jaeyi let out her breath she has been holding and hugged her daughter again before standing up. She looked at the teacher, her face returning to a cold expression.

“What happened?” She asked, her hand on Heeyoung’s head. The man invited her to sit down, which she did, waiting for them to speak. The woman cleared her throat.

“So, your daughter got into a fight with a boy. From what she told us, the boy started to annoy her with inappropriate remarks. She asked him to stop, but he didn’t listen to her and she pulled his hair.” Jaeyi’s brow rose, and she stared at the teacher with a fake smile.

“So you are telling me, a boy said things he shouldn’t have to my daughter, she asked him politely to stop but he didn’t listen. In consequence, my daughter only found violence for him to stop.. And where were you when this boy started saying bad words? I’m sure it’s not the first time he has done that.” Jaeyi could feel her anger eating her little by little. Her arms were crossed over her chest, finger tapping her arm in a slow rhythmic and her foot tapping rapidly on the floor. The teachers glanced at each other briefly and coughed a little.

“Well, yes. We tried to speak about it with their parents but they didn’t seem to take it seriously.” Jaeyi let out a deep breath and opened her mouth in disbelief. “Well, maybe, a legal case will wake them up?” The teacher sighed a little but said nothing more. The meeting didn’t last long, after Jaeyi threatened to take legal action she just left the school with Heeyoung.

As she stepped out of the school, she exhaled and looked at Heeyoung with a smile. “You did well. Don’t worry too much, ok? Never say sorry when you aren’t in fault.” She said softly, stroking her daughter’s hair. Heeyoung only nodded, her hand passing through her eyes cleaning her last tears. Jaeyi was about to open her car door when she heard her name.

“Jaeyi! Wait!” The two girls turned back and saw a man, his face showing some worried featuring. “Heeyoung! My daughter, how are you? What happened?” He asked rapidly, kneeling in front of Heeyoung. Jaeyi rolled her eyes, her foot starting to tap against the floor. Jaeyi’s eyes darkened, full of rage while looking at the man. Her lips trembling. The man stood after speaking to her daughter and looked at Jaeyi, his eyes expressing something completely opposite from Jaeyi’s eyes. They were soft and his pupils slightly dilated.

“I’m sorry for being this late— the traffic was awful. You could’ve waited, you know.” He said, voice calm and deep. Just how Jaeyi loved it. She turned her face to the left, no wanting to face him. “I was too worried about Heeyoung to wait. Don’t even bring your stupid excuses.” Jaeyi felt her daughter’s hand squeeze hers, as if urging her to calm down. The man in front of them only scratched the back of his neck.

“Let’s drink something together? It’s on me. I’m sure Heeyoung missed this!” He said, trying to bring some joyful mood in the air. Heeyoung jumped slightly, loving the idea. Jaeyi’s arm, which had been crossed against her chest unconsciously, dropped against her body. The man only smiled in victory, knowing he just won by Jaeyi’s body language. He grabbed his daughter’s hand and started joking with her. Jaeyi just followed them in silence, eyes never leaving her ex-husband.

They decided to take out their drinks and sat down in a nearby park. Heeyoung found a swing and left her parents alone. The man chuckled a little as he watched his daughter having fun. Jaeyi stared at him with the same eyes as before, full of rage and mistrust. “So, Youngmin. I guess you want to know what happened to your daughter?” Youngmin gazed at her, nodding. “Well, a boy said inappropriate shit to our daughter. She tried to be kind and told him to stop… but you know men. They have a hard time with the word ‘stop’ and ‘no’. So, she only found violence. Teachers confirmed me it’s not the first time he said bullshit. They tried to discuss it with their parents but they don’t give a shit. Maybe we should just file a complain— after all, you are the best lawyer in South Korea. Time to use your power.” She took a sip of her coffee still looking at her ex-husband.

Youngmin said nothing for some seconds, his facial expression showing nothing. At least, for people who don’t know him which wasn’t the case for Jaeyi. She knew he was thinking about what to do. He was a smart man, someone who wasn’t scared and knew every legal loophole. Jaeyi had fallen for his amazing brain more than anything else. Her heart ached a little by that thought and looked away.

“Well, I will ask the school for their name and see what I can do. I just need more information but you can trust me.” He said, his voice low and sounding like honey to Jaeyi’s ear. She closed her eyes briefly and hummed. She could feel his eyes on her, but her heart didn’t race like it used to. “That’s the only thing I can trust about you.” She replied, her voice barely audible.

Jaeyi and Heeyoung walked out of the elevator. Mr. Kim welcomed them with a grin, but his face changed rapidly when he noticed Heeyoung’s face. He frowned, his gaze full of questions on Jaeyi. The CEO only briefly closed her eyes and sighed. Heeyoung bowed to the man and waved at him.

“Well, welcome back Ms. Yoo! The investors weren’t happy when I announced to them you were busy with another problem. I tried my best to dampen the damage.” Mr. Kim began, his voice calm. Jaeyi only nodded, too tired.

“Thank you Mr. Kim. I’m going to call them today to explain a little about my sudden cancellation. Please, can you take care of Heeyoung? Her cheek is bruised, they need a wound.” She asked. The assistant only nodded, his hand reaching out to Heeyoung. Jaeyi knelt in front of her daughter and stroked her hair.

“I’m sorry, mom can’t take care of you now. You will stay with Mr. Kim until I finish my work. Don’t make his job complicated and stay around my office, Heeyoung. Did you hear me?” Jaeyi said softy with a small smile. Jaeyi always felt sad when she couldn’t take care of her daughter herself. She felt like she wasn’t that present for her, like she wasn’t a good mom. Her daughter only nodded, seeming to understand her mom. Jaeyi closed her eyes and whispered an apology before standing up. She turned her back and entered her office leaving Mr. Kim with her daughter.

She locked her door and sat on her chair. Jaeyi let out a big breath, realizing how worried she was for her daughter. She closed her eyes and let herself take some minutes of rest. She wasn’t worried for Heeyoung now, she always trusted Mr. Kim in his work. He was an old, strict man. He had 4 daughters and he had been here since Heeyoung’s birth. He even told to Jaeyi he considered Heeyoung like a granddaughter while Jaeyi like his fifth daughter. This thought made Jaeyi smile, knowing she wasn’t really alone today. Her lips went down rapidly as the thought of not being present enough for her daughter came back haunting her.

Jaeyi knew what it felt like to not have a present mother. After all, Jaeyi’s mother was half present in her life. Half because she wasn’t there to protect Jaeyi from her husband. Jaeyi didn’t want to be this kind of mother to Heeyoung. She didn’t want to be half present, she wanted to be fully present— to protect, to listen, to understand, and above all, to be healthy for her. She didn’t want Heeyoung to get the same pressure as her, the same expectations. And because she wanted to be different from her own mother, she had decided to divorce with her husband against her father’s disagreement.

Jaeyi felt like a rock had dropped on her chest as the view of her father started to draw in front of her. His face stoic like usual, but his eyes full of disappointment and anger. Jaeyi’s heart started to race as the solid pressure on her chest gained weight. Jaeyi suddenly opened her eyes, sweat dropping on her face. Her breathing was irregular and heavy. Her hands touched her desk, trembling slightly. She felt dizzy, eyes wet but no tears dropped, view blurry and body heavy. She stayed like this for minutes, trying to regain control of her body. She shook her head a little and stood up, the rock no longer on her chest. She took her phone ready to call all the investors.

After two hours fighting with the investors, she decided to leave her office to breathe a little. She also wanted to see her daughter and how she was doing. She saw Mr. Kim on his desk doing his job like always. His body straight but relaxing while his face was concentrated on his computer. Jaeyi smiled at the view. She loved how her assistant was a hard-working person but still in the most relaxing way, like the work wasn’t that serious. She walked closer to him and bowed her head.

“Mr. Kim! You should go, you have worked hard today.” She said with a big smile. Mr. Kim attention went to his boss and smiled back. “ Thank you Ms. Yoo. I will just finish this and you won’t see me.” Jaeyi only nodded. She looked around the floor but couldn’t sense her daughter’s presence. She came back to Mr. Kim with a serious face.

“Where is Heeyoung?” Her cold voice made Mr. Kim jump slightly, not expecting Jaeyi to be here. He looked at her for a few seconds and his eyes began to open wide as he realized what Jaeyi had asked him. “Ah— yes. She told me she knew a spot in the building. She wanted to go there because it’s calm and there are a lot of sofas. I think it’s just 3 floors down from here? Not sure.” He said calmly. Jaeyi sighed and only nodded.

She said nothing more and took the elevator. Please God, may she not have bumped into someone.

Jaeyi walked through the hallways until she heard voices. She got closer to the sound and hid herself behind a wall. She didn’t know why she did this but she just followed her gut. At first, she only heard a feminine voice that she knew, Seulgi, and then her daughter’s voice. Jaeyi rolled her eyes and cursed under her breath. God didn’t hear her silent prayer.

“So you fought a boy because of that? Wow, that’s impressive. Your parents said nothing?” asked Seulgi. Jaeyi couldn’t watch the scene, afraid to be found. So, she just leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes, waiting for her daughter to answer.

“Mom told me I did good! Dad said nothing. My dad doesn’t like to speak. He just asked me if I wasn’t hurt. But it’s alright! Mom wasn’t angry so everything is fine.” Jaeyi heard Seulgi hum. She let out a small breath. She wanted to interfere but her gut told her to wait a little longer. This was something she couldn’t explain, even to herself. It’s like someone whispered in her ear to be quiet and listen. So she just listened to it.

“You were courageous to stand up for yourself. Not everyone would do it. Especially at your age.” Seulgi’s voice echoed through the open space. Jaeyi sensed her daughter smiling even though she couldn’t see it.

“Really? I just did what auntie told me.” Then a silence. Not a heavy one, but a silence that screamed hesitation. Jaeyi hated that kind of silence, she wanted to speak out— to tell her daughter to just ask, to not be afraid. Suddenly, like she heard her mother’s thoughts, Heeyoung spoke. “Seulgi, when you were little— what kind of person were you?”

A silence.

Five seconds.

Ten seconds.

Jaeyi bit her lip and leaned forward, ready to interfere. But, she stopped after hearing Seulgi giggle. Jaeyi stepped back and waited— again.

“Well, when I was your age I was just a shy person, you know. I only had one friend and you know him.” Seulgi said softly. “Byeong, the worldwide singer.” continued Seulgi with pride in her voice. Jaeyi heard her daughter exclaiming out of surprise.

“You are friend with uncle Byeong? I love his songs!” the CEO heard Heeyoung feet clapping against the floor and then lowered her voice a little. “Don’t tell mom I told you this.” She heard Seulgi hum seriously. Jaeyi only grinned, waiting impatiently to hear what her daughter was going to expose. “She hates to say it out loud but she is a big fan of Byeong. She always sings the lyrics when she thinks I’m sleeping.” Heeyoung said between some laughs.

Jaeyi froze in her place. She felt her pride being touched. It wasn’t like she didn’t show her support to her artist but she had her own way to do it. Since she has a reputation to maintain, she tried to avoid being too loud. Just enough for the media to know she supported them but not too much so people don’t mistaken her as someone friendly with her artists or employees. People perceived her as someone serious, complicated to approach and, well, scary. She wanted to keep it as it is. Her thoughts were cut off when she heard Seulgi laugh out loud.

“I didn’t except it. I understand now why he’s always busy.” Seulgi said, still laughing with Heeyoung.

Jaeyi’s body relaxed at the sound of their laughs. She even found herself laughing, a low laugh as she was afraid to be caught. She exhaled and decided it was the time to show herself. She made three steps and all the laughs stopped. Jaeyi knew Seulgi felt her presence already.

“Yoo Heeyoung! What are you doing here?” Jaeyi said, her eyes finally meeting both of them. Heeyoung was on Seulgi’s lap, big smile and relaxed. Seulgi’s arm was around Heeyoung as if she was hugging her. When Jaeyi and Seulgi’s eyes met, Seulgi let her arm go down to the sofa. Heeyoung jumped from Seulgi’s lap to the floor and walked toward her mother.

“Mom! Look I’ve met Seulgi again! If it’s not destiny!” Heeyoung said all excited. Jaeyi only rolled her eyes knowing it wasn’t a coincidence. Seulgi only laughed watching Heeyoung talking to her mother. Jaeyi peered at Seulgi as she tried to put her cold face back.

“What are you doing here, Woo Seulgi? Don’t you have a schedule?” Jaeyi asked. The three of them hadn’t moved from their place. Jaeyi and Seulgi were distant as if being too close would break something fragile. Jaeyi couldn’t help but notice how the tension from their first meeting started to get into the room. Maybe she started imagining things but she didn’t like how heavy the air felt at this moment.

“Well, we are starting the filming in a month. The only schedule I have right now is preparing my character.” The actress answered with a little smile that seemed forced to Jaeyi’s perception. The CEO only smirked. She felt a rise of joy in her chest. She bit her cheek to contain her smile.

“And you’re preparing your character by being here and babysitting my daughter? Funny way to work.” Her voice hinted at mockery. She observed Seulgi reaction closely and saw a switch in her eyes. She smirked, feeling her pride screaming at her in victory. She felt like she just succeeded in completing her lust for revenge she wasn’t even aware she had in her. Seulgi only let out a forced giggle. Jaeyi felt something on her hand and looked down, gaze meeting her daughter’s. The actress stood abruptly

“Sorry to take a rest, I guess. I will go then. See you around Heeyoung!” She said, waving at Heeyoung and avoiding Jaeyi’s gaze. When Seulgi was out of the Yoo family’s sight, Jaeyi put her hand on her lips, hiding her amused smile.

“Mom! You made her run away!” Heeyoung complained. Jaeyi rolled her eyes and lowered herself to Heeyoung’s level. “Listen Heeyoung, I know you are a big fan of Seulgi but you can’t just speak to her casually like this. And before you come with excuses, I know you went here cause you knew Seulgi was here. Let the artist work peacefully, okay?” Jaeyi told to her daughter softly but authoritatively. Heeyoung pouted.

“But mom, Seulgi is really kind and loves to speak with me. She told me if I felt too bored up there I can find her here— well, if she isn’t busy. Please mom, can I, at least, still speak to Seulgi! Please mom! And I won’t walk around the agency! Promise!” Her daughter pleaded, eyes almost watery. Jaeyi, surprised by her daughter’s behavior, stroked her hair calmly. She maintained the eyes contact, hesitating to give it up or not.

Technically, there was nothing wrong with her daughter speaking to artists. Jaeyi just didn’t trust people in general and always felt like they tried to do something bad. Nobody could resent her, she knew the industry as if she was herself a celebrity. She had ears and eyes, she saw and heard things she wished to never be aware of— especially among men. But, Seulgi isn’t a man, right? She seemed to love Heeyoung too. She saw it in her eyes when they drank coffee at the café. There was nothing in Seulgi’s body language or her way of speaking that could make Jaeyi doubt her kindness. Jaeyi grimaced at Heeyoung. Her daughter seemed to understand her and only smiled, knowing she won.

“Okay, but you promise me to leave others alone! If I see you with someone else, you won’t leave my office. You can only be with Mr. Kim, Kyung, Yeri and, I guess, Seulgi.” Jaeyi finally gave up on her daughter’s manipulation. Heeyoung jumped happily and hugged her mother while saying nonstop thank you.

For some reason, Jaeyi felt weird about it.

A week had passed since Jaeyi and Seulgi had last met. They saw each other from times to times in random hallways. The actress only bowed to Jaeyi without even looking at her, which always made Jaeyi smirk or grin. If the avoidance of Seulgi made Jaeyi react this way, it wasn’t because she found her interesting or challenging to get even eye contact. No, she smiled because she knew Seulgi had taken her shady remark a week ago badly. She had left all of a sudden the building without even looking at her and only waved to her daughter. Now she just stopped looking at her. For Jaeyi, it was clear— she had an effect on Seulgi and she smirked specifically because of this.

Jaeyi smiled to herself and leaned back in her chair. She was in her office, alone. Maybe it was weird that Jaeyi was thinking about Seulgi out of nowhere; it even should have alarmed her, but for Jaeyi, it felt normal— as if Seulgi’s place was supposed to be in her thoughts. After all, Seulgi had attacked her first. The sound of the wood being struck interrupted Jaeyi’s thoughts. She stood up, watching the door open and her sister coming in with a big smile.

“Hey Jaeyi! I’m here to speak with you about the investors. I heard you had some meetings today.” She said and mouthed the word ‘dad’, knowing her sister’s question in advance. Jaeyi only giggled and sat down on one of the sofas.

“Well, everything is alright. To be honest, if Seulgi hadn’t signed here, half of the investors wouldn’t even have agreed to give money.” Jaeyi started, half relieved and half annoyed. Jena sat on the opposite sofa and smiled.

“Seulgi is one of the biggest actresses. The agency needed someone like her. No shade to the others of course, but the actors’ section has been kind of slow for these past two years. Thank God, you have the music section. Or else, you would have had a hard time. Big agency, my ass.” Jena mocked, provoking her sister.

“Yah! The music was my idea! And mind you, it’s because of, you know who, who had one of the biggest scandals I have ever seen in my life! My agency’s reputation took a hit. Investors are just afraid of scandals like this.” Jaeyi defended herself as much as she could. It was true— two years ago one of her actors got involved in, not only drug scandal, but also a criminal one. Jaeyi had one of the worst years of her life trying to defend her agency’s reputation.

“I know. At least, now you have Woo Seulgi. Use her name wisely. Heeyoung doesn’t stop speaking about her— how kind she is and cool and passionate. She also mentioned the deal.” Jena smirked at her sister. Jaeyi rolled her eyes.

“You should stop teaching her about psychology, cause what the fuck was that, Jena? She is eight and she already masters blackmail!” Jaeyi complained, making Jena laugh out loud. “Mind you, I never taught her that. So, it’s either you or her wonderful, not manipulative slash psychotic father.” Jaeyi sighed and closed her eyes.

“Yeah, she begged me to let her speak to Seulgi. I couldn’t find any reason to say no. Plus, Seulgi doesn’t seem to mind even though she probably hates me right now.” Jaeyi heard Jena gasp and gave her a dead look.

“Since when do you need a reason to say no? You’re weird Jaeyi. And why would the Woo Seulgi, who kindly babysitting your cute daughter, hate you?” asked Jena, a brow raised. Jaeyi took a deep breath.

“I just got my revenge. Last time, she kind of criticized me for not paying enough attention to my daughter. So when I had the wonderful chance to meet her again, I bit back.” Jaeyi said, head nodding happily. “What do you mean you bit back?” Jaeyi told her about the meeting and everything, skipping the part where her daughter said to Seulgi she is a Byeong’s fan.

“You said what?!” screamed Jena, completely in disbelief. Jaeyi slightly startled when she heard Jena’s voice.

“You scream for this but not her saying I’m a bad mom? Are you sure you are my sister, Jena?” asked Jaeyi, her turn to be in disbelief.

“Technically, she didn’t say you were a bad mother! Stop saying nonsense. You should apologize. It wasn’t professional of you” Jena said, hoping her sister would listen to her. Jaeyi only shrugged her shoulders.

“Where the fun in it? I will just let it sink. Not like we are close anyway,” answered Jaeyi with her straight face. Jena looked at her and smirked. Her sister wasn’t dumb, far from that, and Jaeyi knew it. The smirk from Jena indicated she knew something but would rather keep it quiet than say it out loud. Jaeyi knew well her sister had picked up something she, even herself, didn’t know yet. She looked at her older sister confusedly but Jena only laughed.

“Well, we will see. It’s just interesting. I’m leaving.” Like a final note, Jena stood up, not giving her sister the time to speak and left the room as fast as she had entered. Jaeyi who was standing in front of the sofa, allowed herself to fall on the soft couch. She exhaled and closed her eyes.

Jaeyi allowed herself to drown in her thoughts— still feeling weird about the Seulgi case.

Jaeyi learned something new about Seulgi through the next week— she was resentful. They’ve met endless times in the agency, sometimes Jaeyi found herself laughing at the stupidity of Seulgi’s presence. Since her talk with her sister, Seulgi was everywhere— cafeteria, hall, hallways, open space, even outside. Jaeyi, at some point, thought Seulgi was following her— or worse, she was following her unconsciously. Even though they saw each other a lot, they never talked. Worse, Seulgi never looked at her and with each ‘meeting’ Jaeyi’s smirk started slowly to fade.

She was smirking because she knew she had an effect, but right now she wasn’t that sure. She even felt a guilt building in her. Generally, people around her always spoke to her even if it was just some basic greeting, but Seulgi never spoke to her. She only bowed and walked past her quickly. This fact alone made Jaeyi feel something she couldn’t quite explain. It wasn’t the craving of attention— or maybe it was. Or maybe, she wanted specifically Seulgi’s attention. Just a word, a hello. Maybe, it was deeper, more psychological. Maybe, it was how Jaeyi knew nothing about Seulgi while the actress knew things about Jaeyi. Even though Seulgi knew just a little, the fact she had met her daughter more often made Jaeyi feel weird. As if she was in danger— this kind of weird feeling.

What felt more weird for Jaeyi was how her daughter had met Seulgi without her realizing it. She always found out when Heeyoung came to her office all smiling and never left it until she finished her work. She tried to know what they both spoke about but her daughter always gave her vague explanations. She almost regretted having accepted her daughter’s deal.

So in the end, Jaeyi concluded she was just curious— curious of Seulgi’s personality. But, it wasn’t serious. Jaeyi told herself it was just the lack of interactions and Seulgi’s avoidance that made her curious. Nothing more. With this awareness, she carefully prepared a plan to meet Seulgi when she was with her daughter.

She desperately needed to talk with Seulgi and she would do it no matter what.

Everything took place on a Wednesday evening. Jaeyi left her office. That day, Mr. Kim wasn’t here, leaving Jaeyi all alone. She walked in the elevator and clicked on the button 17. She made a silent prayer, asking God to find them in their usual spot. This time God heard her prayer. The elevator’s door just opened and she could already hear loud laughs. Jaeyi smiled to herself and thanked God. She didn’t wait this time, she just walked until she saw them, laughing while drawing something on some papers. Jaeyi only stood there, arms crossed on her chest with a straight face.

“Really? Drawing?” Both of the girls startled by Jaeyi’s cold voice echoing in the space. Heeyoung gazed at Seulgi briefly and pouted.

“What? Drawing is cool and your daughter has a talent in this” Seulgi answered. Her voice was more cold than usual and her face strict, it almost scared Jaeyi. Almost. Heeyoung nodded rapidly and showed one of her drawings to her mother. “Look mom! Well, it’s not as good as Seulgi’s one but Seulgi said for my age it’s good! One day I will get on her level.” Heeyoung said, bringing some heat to the cold. Seulgi smiled but her body tensed when she noticed Jaeyi walking closer to them.

“Well, I didn’t imagine to find both of you drawing in some random open space.” Jaeyi began, voice softer. She tried to break the cold as much as possible. She looked at the drawing and sat on the sofa. Not too close to Seulgi but also not too far. Jaeyi sensed Seulgi’s gaze on her and felt a smile threatening to appear on her face. She tried to play it cool and took one drawing from her daughter and smiled. “Seulgi is actually right. It’s pretty.” And then, looked at Seulgi’s one. “Oh wow, it’s so beautiful. I didn’t know you had a talent in drawing”

“Thank you. I guess you don’t know I graduated in art.” Seulgi answered, her voice still cold but somewhere soft. Jaeyi gulped and grimaced. “For your information, art is a lot of things.” Jaeyi defended herself and Seulgi only laughed. The cold air disappeared and something soft replaced it. Seulgi and Jaeyi’s eyes met and Jaeyi froze on her seat. Seulgi’s eyes weren’t cold, they were so welcoming— so soft. Seulgi’s presence was welcoming in general. She carried something so rare with her, so kind and genuine. Jaeyi felt it when she was around her. Maybe, it was one of the reasons of her curiosity. Jaeyi broke the eyes contact first, looking back at her daughter who was observing them confusedly. “What?” Jaeyi asked her. Heeyoung only shrugged her shoulders.

“Are we already going home? I thought I could stay with Seulgi a little longer.” Heeyoung said, gazing at her mother. Jaeyi exhaled and looked away. She could feel Heeyoung sitting between her and Seulgi. Her lips just formed a grin before she could control it. She turned her head toward her daughter and Seulgi.

“Let grab something to drink. I didn’t drink coffee today.” She met Seulgi’s eyes and smiled at her “It’s on me this time. So?” She asked, waiting for Seulgi to answer. Heeyoung bounced from the sofa happily.

“Yeah! Drink! Please say yes, Seulgi!” her daughter looked at Seulgi with her sad puppy eyes. Jaeyi couldn’t believe her daughter knew all these manipulative techniques. Seulgi sighed loudly, her body relaxed completely.

“Okay. Who would say no to a free drink.” Seulgi said. Heeyoung jumped excitedly, taking her mother’s hand to hurry her up. Jaeyi laughed but stood up.

“We aren’t going to drink coffee in the agency. I know a good coffee around here. There is a park nearby, we will just take it out and sit there. It’s preferable with Heeyoung, she is kinda hyperactive.” suggested Jaeyi. She wanted to be sure Seulgi was comfortable with the plan. She saw a brief hesitation in her eyes but she just nodded.

“If there aren’t a lot of people. Why not.” Jaeyi smiled and reassured her. Jaeyi wasn’t dumb, she knew Seulgi was famous and Jaeyi wasn’t really an exception. Everyone knew JY’s CEO, she had done a lot of public appearances, just their popularity wasn’t on the same level. Seulgi, being convinced enough, just followed Jaeyi, with Heeyoung taking her hand.

The park was almost empty, only three or four people were walking or sitting on benches talking. The park was immense and green with a little bit of color from flowers. The girls stopped in front of a child area where there was a swing. Heeyoung loved swings just like the other kids. Seulgi and Jaeyi only sat on a bench while Heeyoung ran to the swing, giving her drink to her mother before. Jaeyi giggled watching her daughter screaming in happiness because she had the swing for herself. Seulgi only sipped on her drink.

“You have such a joyful daughter, Ms. Yoo” began Seulgi. Her voice seemed to be hesitant as if she wasn’t sure what to say. Jaeyi hummed, still watching her daughter.

“Yeah. It’s such a blessing to have her in my life. She always finds a way to make people smile. You can call me Jaeyi, by the way.” answered the CEO, still avoiding looking at Seulgi. “You want me to call you by your name?” Jaeyi could feel the actress’s eyes on her. She turned her head toward her, meeting her gaze. Her heart started to race a little too much to Jaeyi’s taste.

“What? You take care of my daughter, I don’t see why you couldn’t call me by my name.” She answered. She tried to play it cool but Seulgi’s stare did intimidate her somehow. She decided to just break the eyes contact and look back at her daughter playing with the swing. A second of silence and then a laugh from Seulgi.

“I didn’t expect that. You literally insulted me two weeks ago.” Seulgi’s voice turned cold. The CEO only froze on her seat, body tense, clearly not knowing what to say. The guilt wasn’t building, it was now settled in her. However, Jaeyi didn’t want to apologize for this. She looked back at Seulgi and sneered.

“Have you forgotten the day you almost called me a bad mom? You reap what you sow, Seulgi.” Quite unexpectedly, Seulgi only laughed. Jaeyi’s sneer faded and she frowned as if Seulgi insulted her. “Well, I didn’t mean like that but Heeyoung told me you were too focused on your work to notice her. In the end, you still sat beside your kid waiting for her to finish. But fair enough.” Seulgi replied, her voice softer and lighter as if she just felt comfortable to be around Jaeyi. The CEO stared at the actress, her face showing nothing, not even a smile. She just stared as if she was lost in her thoughts.

She found Seulgi really pretty and attractive. She would never say it out loud but she was aware of this attraction. She told herself it wasn’t in a romantic way. It just happened that Seulgi had something Jaeyi loved but still didn’t know what. Maybe how easy-going she was or how it was easy to speak to her. She didn’t know but it didn’t matter to her. Jaeyi’s eyes went down to Seulgi’s body and then to her daughter rapidly.

“I didn’t know Heeyoung told you that. She seems to enjoy her time with you.” Seulgi hummed in response. “Glad to know she loves me. She is a cute girl.” Jaeyi smiled while looking at her daughter who was waving at her.

“So you were really mad at me because of my shady remark? Insane how you were the only person who ignored me for a whole two weeks.” Jaeyi broke the silence with a teasing voice and looked at Seulgi with a smirk. Seulgi rolled her eyes.

“Yes. I didn’t even want to see you but the universe hated me so much it put you everywhere. I also needed to tell Heeyoung to leave earlier than usual so we didn’t have to meet until today.” Seulgi said in sincerity, her gaze still on Jaeyi as if she waited for her reaction. Jaeyi’s smirk faded for the hundredth time.

“At this point? You acted like I killed someone. Now I understand why Heeyoung came to my office so early.” Seulgi only giggled and shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t like when someone who has zero knowledge about movie criticizes my way to work. Write it down, Jaeyi. In case you want to renew my contract.” Jaeyi’s brow rose in surprise and she snorted.

“How you know I don’t like cinema? I don’t like how you know things about me when it’s like our third talk.” Jaeyi’s voice was more serious than she expected. Seulgi didn’t react, her body still relaxed. “I know people.” She only answered this and shrugged her shoulders.

Jaeyi found Seulgi really bold. She understood the actress wasn’t intimidated by her rank. CEO or not, she seemed to treat people in the same way. This was what Jaeyi found attractive: how Seulgi didn’t care who was who or what they were doing in their lives. She just spoke to everyone as her equal. Just the way she treated Heeyoung or how she had proposed to pay something to Jaeyi was already enough to understand it. Heeyoung came back to them and sat between the two women. She took her drink back. Seulgi smiled at Heeyoung and stroked her hair while speaking. Jaeyi wasn’t paying attention to their talk, too focused on Seulgi and her way of taking care of Heeyoung.

Jaeyi closed the car’s door and turned around to face Seulgi. Heeyoung felt too tired and decided to just go into the car to take a ‘nap’. So the two women were alone in the parking spot, face to face. The silence wasn’t awkward surprisingly— just a silence of two people who seemed to find a comfortable space with each other.

“Thank you for today, Seulgi. I just hope my daughter didn’t disturb too much of your time.” Jaeyi broke the silence first. She was really thankful that Seulgi had accepted to drink something with her to discuss about their small beef— if we can call it that. Seulgi smiled, a sincere smile.

“No, thank to you. I didn’t expect you would invite me to drink something just to talk about your shady remark. Weird way to apologize.” replied Seulgi, a teasing smirk on her face. Jaeyi knew it was a provocation, but she couldn’t help but correct her.

“I didn’t apologize. I didn’t feel sorry nor guilty about it. I still don’t.” Seulgi only laughed and nodded. “Yes, of course Ms. Yoo. Don’t worry about my precious time. Heeyoung always makes my day.” Seulgi said softly. Jaeyi’s heart raced a little bit and a warm feeling filled her chest. She avoided Seulgi eyes.

“Well, have a good night, Seulgi.” Jaeyi said gently. Seulgi bowed and turned around to walk toward her own car. The CEO stayed in place for a second, hesitating to ask something. She wasn’t someone easily bewildered, no. She was always sure and knew how to react in any situation. But with Seulgi, it felt different. She hesitated a lot— too much. She shook her head, hating her confusing mind, and just moved.

“Wait, Seulgi!” Jaeyi shouted out, making Seulgi stop short. The actress turned, and Jaeyi was already in front of her. She got startled and looked confused. “Can I have your phone number?” asked Jaeyi, kind of proud of herself. A silence. Seulgi still looked confused. “Heeyoung, you know, since now she is around you a lot and you taking care of her. It’s normal to as-” Jaeyi explained rapidly as if the panic had taken over her. Seulgi cut her off with her laugh.

“Slow down. You didn’t have to explain me. Of course you can have my phone number.” the actress said, between some laughs. She took her phone out of her pocket and gave it to Jaeyi so she could type her phone number. Jaeyi took it, saved her number and called it right away, making her own phone ring. She hung up and gave back Seulgi’s phone. “Thank you.” Jaeyi said.

“Alright. Have a good night, Jaeyi!” Seulgi said like a final note. She walked away from Jaeyi, who just watched her. Jaeyi tilted her head slightly and went back to her car. She saved Seulgi’s number and turned to see her daughter. She jumped out of her seat when she saw her daughter sitting on her seat and looking at her with dead eyes. She put her hand on her chest and breathed rapidly.

“Heeyoung, you scared me. Never do that again.” Jaeyi complained, but her daughter didn’t laugh and just gazed her coldly. Her daughter’s look made her feel uncomfortable. “You scaring me. What’s going on?”

“Don’t tell me you used me to get closer to Seulgi.” Heeyoung said, voice serious. Jaeyi sighed and started the car. “Are you eight or thirty, Heeyoung.” she joked around, but her daughter didn’t budge.

“I’m educated, just like you and dad want me to be.” She replied, still serious. “So? You and Seulgi are friends now?” Jaeyi said nothing for a few seconds. “No.” she finally answered. It was true, they weren’t friends— yet.

The drive went without any noise.

The next few days, Jaeyi still saw Seulgi everywhere at the company, but this time Seulgi didn’t ignore her. In fact, she greeted her and sometimes she even spoke to her. Jaeyi found it weird at first but she felt happy at the sudden change of behavior from Seulgi. She even felt somehow closer to her. For example, she learned that Seulgi’s next drama was an action one and she needed to exercise more than usual. She also learned she wasn’t a fan of alcohol nor cigarettes, which made Jaeyi relieved about this fact.

Their talks always came naturally, sometimes because Kyung was there, sometimes just because they were alone in the elevator or hallways. Jaeyi noticed that Seulgi never let the silence take up the space as if she was afraid of awkwardness. She found it cute and she even started to expect her presence so they could talk. She thought talking with Seulgi would kill her curiosity for the woman but it did the opposite.

Seulgi never talked about her life, every time she said something it always was linked to her career or basic information. Nothing deep, nothing private. Jaeyi felt like she was speaking to her celebrity side, not her real side, as if she maintained a boundary. The CEO never complained, quite the opposite. She took anything the woman gave her. The lack of information fed her curiosity and a start of something close to obsession.

Between curiosity and obsession there is only a small line to be crossed. Obsession comes with curiosity, curiosity comes with the lack of information and the lack of information feeds more and more the obsession as if the information would solve an impossible irritated puzzle. You are curious cause you are obsessed, you are obsessed cause you are curious: a never ending circle. We call obsessed people crazy, but the real question is: who has never felt obsessed about something? It doesn’t exist. It wasn’t always about love, sometimes it was about education or even just friendship. Due to that, Jaeyi wasn’t alarmed about the fact she might have started to be obsessed with Seulgi. For her, it wasn’t the love-obsessive way but more like a fan way. Jaeyi was the obsessive type when it came to her life, education, friends, reputation— everything was an obsession. Everything needed to be controlled and perfect, as she planned it to. So naturally, the fire would have been lit at some point.

Jaeyi’s daughter also continued to meet Seulgi from time to time. Less than before because Seulgi was busier, but they still managed to see each other. Heeyoung still refused to tell in detail her talk with Seulgi to her mother. To the point, Jaeyi started to think her daughter had spoke about her to Seulgi and shared some secret or embarrassing memories. She hoped it wasn’t the case, but knowing her daughter— she doubted it. Sometimes, the three of them bumped into each other and it always ended in a ten minutes fan-meeting between Heeyoung and the actress. Jaeyi never complained, it was the only moment she could observe Seulgi’s behavior with her daughter. She still had a hard time trusting Seulgi, even though she seemed kind and trustful. Yet, she was still a celebrity who gave the celebrity side to Jaeyi. How could she trust her if she doesn’t even know her true face? People hide their ugly face easily and smoothly. Pretending was something easy, everyone was pretending in public. Only a few people do show their true side, true thought, and true intention.

On a Saturday evening, Seulgi came to Jaeyi’s office, surprising the CEO. Jaeyi didn’t like when an artist knocked on her door. They always came for two reasons: complaining or scandal. Since Seulgi didn’t have a scandal, it only meant she was here to complain about something. Woo Seulgi was the most important actress in the company at this moment, and Jaeyi knew well if she wanted something the company didn’t have a choice but to listen. Jaeyi hated it cause she couldn’t control or be authoritative like she was with Yeri. She took a deep breath and sat on the sofa, Seulgi on the opposite.

“You seem stressed.” Seulgi began, her gaze somewhere down to Jaeyi. The CEO followed her gaze and looked at her own hand. Her fingers were tapping rapidly on the sofa, slightly trembling. She moved her hand quickly and crossed her arms on her chest.

“No, I’m not. Why are you here?” Jaeyi asked calmly. Seulgi only smirked, and Jaeyi wasn’t really a fan of the situation. The actress looked around the room and back to Jaeyi with a confused eyes.

“Heeyoung isn’t here?” The question made Jaeyi frown. “You came here just to ask about my daughter?” The CEO said in confused tone. The tension in the room started to drift into something heavy but still soft to Jaeyi’s perception.

“ Why? You expected me to come here for you?” Seulgi said with a teasing grin. Jaeyi almost choked on her own saliva. She felt a heat going up behind her neck.

“What?! No! I thought you were going to complain about something!” She said, a little too fast, making Seulgi laugh. “Well, I still don’t have a new manager. Even though I like Kyung, but managing two actresses must be tiring— especially with someone like Yeri.” She complained with a humorous tone. Jaeyi snorted and gripped the sofa.

“You will get one soon. No worries.” She replied, lying because she totally forgot about this detail. Seulgi only smiled. “Make sure it’s a woman, please,” she asked. “I’m not comfortable around men.” added Seulgi as if she had an urge to give a reason for that demand. Jaeyi only nodded. “Alright. I will try my best.”

“So Heeyoung isn’t here?” asked a second time the actress. Jaeyi shook her head and sighed. “No, she is with her father for the weekend. Why?” Jaeyi wanted to know why Seulgi wanted to see Heeyoung. It was the first time the actress had come to this floor looking for her daughter.

“Oh. I forgot about that. I just wanted to have a last talk with her before I start filming. I start Monday so I may be less present.” the actress said, crossing her arms on her chest. Jaeyi looked at her and hummed in response. She put her finger on her lip to play with it as if she was thinking about something. Seulgi didn’t move and the two women just looked at each other. The room felt suddenly hot and small. It wasn’t uncomfortable like their first meeting, more like a recognition of the tension between them. Jaeyi was aware of her attraction and she was wondering if the woman in front of her felt the same. The actress was the one who broke the eye contact and cleared her throat.

“Well, I’m leaving.” She broke the silence and stood. Jaeyi did the same, her gaze always on Seulgi. “You said ‘I forgot about that’, did Heeyoung speak about her father?” She asked, her tone cold. Seulgi seemed to freeze in her place and looked surprised. She sat on the sofa again, knowing it would’t be a small talk.

“Yes, of course. She didn’t tell you?” Jaeyi felt an annoyance building inside her. Of course she talked about it to Seulgi. She moved closer to Seulgi and sat beside her, making Seulgi’s body tense and straighten. She smiled a little and looked at the actress, hand on the sofa’s back.

“No. Heeyoung refused to tell me about all your little talk. It’s really frustrating. So, what did she tell you about her father?” She tried her best to maintain a neutral tone, but her annoyance might have taken over. She saw Seulgi gulp and looked a little hesitant.

“I don’t want to break the trust she gives me. If she didn’t tell you, it must be for a reason.” Seulgi replied, her eyes looking straight at Jaeyi’s ones. The CEO only sighed and moved closer to Seulgi. Their knees touched and Jaeyi’s arm got closer and closer to Seulgi. The light contact made Jaeyi’s heart beat faster but she tried to stay focused, not wanting to show any sign of how Seulgi’s presence could affect her.

“I promise I will shut up. Just tell me. I only want to know what she said about her father. Whatever she said about me doesn’t matter.” She said, her voice went lower, between seduction and danger. Seulgi’s hand went to her knees and started to play with her fingers. She looked away and bit her lip. Jaeyi hated herself for how she found it hot.

“Okay. But I swear if you tell to Heeyoung I will always speak badly about your agency in the media and believe me, I have no problem with lies.” threatened the actress, making Jaeyi smile dumbly. She finally saw one of Seulgi’s true sides. She nodded but didn’t move from her place, wanting to be close to Seulgi.

“She told me her father was the best lawyer and she loved how hardworking he is. But, she hates to be around him because he always puts pressure on her when it comes to education or sport. He always wants her to be first and the best, so she can take over his law firm. She only loves being around him when you are around,” Seulgi began, avoiding Jaeyi’s gaze. The CEO still stared at Seulgi, listening to her carefully. “She said he is different when he is alone with her and when you are with them. Apparently, he seems to be afraid of you. I asked her what he does when she fails to be first at something, she only said he goes into an anger crisis. She didn’t say more. She seems to have a lot on her heart and she is only eight.” the actress finally looked back at Jaeyi. The CEO only exhaled and tilted her head. She was angry and lost at the same time.

“You know, she is only eight. In this age, kids have the tendency to follow what the other expect them to be. They want to be approved by their surrounding and if they don’t feel like that, the kid could be sad. In this case, it’s almost traumatic.” added Seulgi. Jaeyi bit her lips, still thinking. A silence fell into the room. A comfortable one.

“Heeyoung must trust you a lot to tell you this.” She said, her voice cold. A mocked giggle blurted out of her mouth. Jaeyi was mad, annoyed and angry. Mad at herself because she felt like her daughter didn’t trust her enough to speak about it. Annoyed because she heard it from an actress who has spoken to her daughter for now a month. Angry because her ex-husband was destroying something she tried to build. She felt her eyes sting and her chest tighten. She felt an hesitant contact on her thigh.

“Are you okay?” A soft voice echoed in the room. Her voice was deeper than usual, it carried something soft and light. It sounded something peacefully, something almost out of heaven to Jaeyi’s ear. Sweeter than honey, calmer than a river. Jaeyi felt her chest breathe from the pressure. She looked at Seulgi, meeting her worried eyes. Jaeyi didn’t smile. She only stood and went on her chair, breaking all contact. The sweetness being replaced by the coldness.

“You said you start filming Monday and you won’t be that present. For how long?” The question may be ambiguous but she only asked for her daughter. Seulgi’s body still turned back to Jaeyi, took a few seconds before turning around to face Jaeyi. The CEO could tell she was confused.

“Well, I don’t know. For months? like four? Something like that. Of course, I will be here time to time, like twice a week, maybe? Just when I have time. I won’t disappear.” Seulgi said, seeming to understand the question concerned Heeyoung. Jaeyi only nodded.

“Well, thank you for telling me what my daughter told you. If she said something alarming don’t hesitate to tell me, since she seems to trust you more.” the last part of the sentence seemed too much, even for Jaeyi. But she didn’t want to apologize nor take it back. The room was now cold and awkward. “Good luck for your new project. Have a goodnight, Ms. Woo.” Seulgi seemed confused but didn’t respond. She only stood, bowed to Jaeyi and left, thieving a last gaze at Jaeyi before going out completely.

Jaeyi leaned on her chair and looked at the ceiling. Her hands grasped her chair tightly.

I hate everyone so much.

Jaeyi kept her words and stayed silent about the situation with her daughter and Youngmin. She didn’t speak about it not because she wanted to keep her words, but mostly because she still didn’t know how to manage it. She didn’t know what to do nor how to accept it. She hated everything about the situation. How Heeyoung found it easier to talk to Seulgi about her struggle and her father’s behavior. How her ex-husband was as psychotic as her own father. How she needed to stay calm even after hearing Seulgi’s words. She hated it so much.

She had a hard time falling asleep as she overthought. She felt somehow betrayed. She should have asked Seulgi if her daughter told her why she didn’t voice it to her. She felt a guilt building in her, remembering how coldly she had acted after the talk. The poor woman even tried to comfort her and seemed genuinely worried. It wasn’t Seulgi’s fault if Heeyoung trusted her. In fact, she should probably be happy that Heeyoung found someone with whom to speak without shame.

Jaeyi bit her lip. She now felt a little alarmed by how much she thought about Seulgi. She didn’t pass a day without thinking about the actress. She still knew nothing about the girl and her curiosity started to consume her. She wanted to know Seulgi’s life, to get a little closer. Her attraction started to feel more and more serious— just like her obsession. The actress’s absence from the agency didn’t even help Jaeyi; it made it worse.

The CEO noticed how she saw less and less of Seulgi’s presence. She started to miss their little interactions and how Heeyoung came to her office all smiling. With the lack of interaction, Jaeyi started to think about the actress more than she wanted. She also found out how she felt less excited to go work, knowing in advance she wouldn’t meet her. She was aware of how much Seulgi’s presence mattered even though she wasn’t always around. Jaeyi even laughed at her own stupidity. She couldn’t believe she became that obsessed of someone she didn’t even speak much with.

The worst part for Jaeyi was how she craved to text her. Since she had asked her phone number, she never had a reason to text her or call her. Now, she just thought about texting her just to know if she was alright— just to have an ounce of attention. Jaeyi laughed out loud. For the first time of her life, she craved to get the attention of someone.

I must be crazy.

Chapter Text

“CUT” shouted out the director. Two women rushed toward Seulgi to fix her makeup and hair. The actress smiled at them, a little tired because of her schedule. One woman smiled back and gave her a bottle of water.

“You were cool, Seulgi!” complimented her hairdresser, who seemed genuinely impressed by Seulgi’s skill. The actress’ smile got bigger. “Thank you. I was so worried about this scene.” she replied, a relieved feeling went through her body. The director appeared suddenly, his face showing satisfaction.

“You did good, Seulgi. We don’t need to retake this scene. I’m really impressed by your martial skill. I was worried that one month wasn’t enough, but seeing you— I had nothing to worry about.” laughed the director, complimenting Seulgi’s acting skill. The actress only smiled, thankful for his recognition.

They both talked a little about the next scene and moved immediately to it. The first weeks of filming went really fast for Seulgi. She enjoyed every moment and felt happy, to the point she forgot about her personal life as if the character she played was her. She met other actors, made a lot of contacts and got closer to some of them. The end of the day, Seulgi joined her manager in the parking lot.

“Took you time. You should pay attention to the lead actor, Seulgi.” began Kyung with a serious tone. Seulgi looked at her in confusion.

“Well, I was talking to him. You left first, I thought you were waiting for me. And why would I be cautious about him? He seems kind.” She asked, frowning her brows. Kyung breathed and put her hand on Seulgi’s shoulder. “I left because he made me uncomfortable with all his blatant flirt. He is weird. I thought you weren’t comfortable with men?” She answered with a disgusting face. Seulgi crossed her arms on her chest.

“Yes, but he is the lead actor, I don’t have the choice but to socialize. By the way, he didn’t flirt with me. But— I will be cautious.” Seulgi said before hopping into the car. Kyung rolled her eyes and mimicked her in a childish way. She got into the driver seat and started the car.

“He flirted with you! Everyone could tell! You are just oblivious. He asked for your phone number, called you princess THREE times for literally no reason, and then bought you coffee or whatever. He didn’t stop looking at you since the start of the filming. I don’t even want to know what he sent you by message. He flirts like crazy.” Kyung explained, very serious about all her arguments. Seulgi, who was behind, rolled her eyes and smirked.

“I prefer to say he doesn’t flirt. Don’t try to make me aware of that fact, it will destroy my concentration while acting with him.” she said, feeling something heavy on her chest. Seulgi wasn’t dumb, it wasn’t the first time an actor tried to get close to her in a romantic way and probably wouldn’t be the last. She always tried to put a boundary as fast as she could before they thought they had a chance. Sometimes it worked, sometimes she needed to be more rude or even block their numbers. She found it tiring. It added her a weight on her shoulder and made feel her the worst type of feeling.

“You have a break for two days. You should go to the agency, some people missed you.” Kyung said with a teasing smirk. Seulgi jumped slightly from her seat and looked at Kyung, eyes full of questions.

“What do you mean ‘some people missed you’. Some? Plural? I don’t see who would miss me but Heeyoung.” Seulgi said, her voice went deeper as if she was thinking. Kyung smiled widely and Seulgi could feel her manager was enjoying this for some reason.

“Yes. Heeyoung but also someone else.” She replied but still let the suspense go on a little bit more. Seulgi’s face darkened and frowned hardly. “Kyung just spill before I tell Jaeyi how badly you treat me.” threatened Seulgi. Kyung looked at the rear-view mirror, her eyes showing some fear.

“I treat you well? You’re ready to lie for this? Seriously, Seulgi?” She said in disbelief. “I thought I was your friend?” Seulgi only smiled, looking at her like a good little kid. Her hand on her knees and her body straightened. “Just spill.” voice cold.

“The one who is responsible of Heeyoung.” She finally said, her hand gripping the wheel tighter.

“Jaeyi? Why would she miss me? We just had small talks.” Seulgi said, her body froze in place. She couldn’t believe what her ears were hearing. Kyung’s sentence was on repeat in her head, sensing a heat going up to her ears. “Stop smiling like that!” Her manager’s voice broke her thoughts and her smile.

“Yes you both only talked a little but I guess she liked these small talks. You should have seen her— how each days she looked less and less happy to go to work. Even Mr. Kim noticed it. Maybe ‘miss’ is a big word, I would just say she is curious about you. You don’t tell her I said this! It’s between me and you. You hear me, Woo Seulgi?” Kyung said in panic. Seulgi only hummed and a teasing smirk was already on her face.

Interesting…

Seulgi wasn’t thinking much about Jaeyi as a person until the day she made that shady remark. She didn’t enjoy it, especially coming from someone with zero experience in acting or cinema. She did something she had never done before— ignoring a CEO. In her former agency, she never had that idea of ignoring the CEO, even though he always got on her nerves. If she never did that, it wasn’t because she didn’t have the courage, but more because everything was new to her, and since the man had given her a chance to build her acting career, she would have felt kind of ungrateful to just ignore him.

But, now with Jaeyi, it was different. She wasn’t new in the industry. If tomorrow she got kicked out of the agency, she knew she would find a new one rapidly. Seulgi was aware of her value in the industry and knew deep inside that the agency would do anything for her. She knew JY entertainment didn’t have a lot of popular actors— to the point she was their principal actor. She wasn’t the type to throw flowers to herself, but Kyung and Yeri made sure Seulgi was aware of her importance there.

She still found it weird how the two of them pushed the fact she was the biggest actor in the agency, but she felt kind of grateful. Because of all that, she didn’t find any difficulty in ignoring Jaeyi for two weeks. Everyone noticed how Seulgi only bowed and then walked faster to not be in the same room as Jaeyi, but nobody said anything— only some whispering. The situation made Byeong, Kyung and Yeri laugh. She didn’t know how Jaeyi took her behavior, but she hadn’t planned to stop ignoring her until she apologized. After all, she didn’t care about Jaeyi’s coldness or authoritative side; she cared about respect. For Seulgi, she felt insulted when Jaeyi mocked her.

However, she never expected Jaeyi to make a move after only two weeks. She felt a relief when she was invited to drink something with Jaeyi and her daughter. If she was honest with herself, it was weird to take care of Heeyoung and avoid her mother like she had the plague. Even Heeyoung noticed how Seulgi ignored her mother but said nothing, seeming to understand a little the reason.

She would be lying if she said she didn’t feel a little happy when Jaeyi asked for her phone number. She even found herself enjoying the small talk with Jaeyi and felt comfortable around her. She still was afraid of awkward silence with Jaeyi. She tried her best to fill the silence by saying any little fact about her career or herself. Never deep, never private. After all, she was still her CEO no matter what— even if she took care of her daughter, even if her daughter only spoke about her mother habits.

She always felt weird about it— how she knew a lot about Jaeyi but at the same time, nothing. Maybe it was the reason why she tried to fill the silence with some random facts about her— to make it a little bit fair play. However, she liked to have the power over the relationship. She knew things about Jaeyi she probably wasn’t even aware of, while Jaeyi knew nothing about her. It put her in a powerful position, and thanks only to Heeyoung.

She knew. She knew well Jaeyi was aware of it. The way she looked at Seulgi while she spoke about some aspect of her career, the way the air felt playful— as if they were playing a kind of game they weren’t aware of. The kind of tension that said, ‘what kind of information I deserve today?’. Seulgi noticed Jaeyi’s smiles and smirks, how she had all her attention and ears for herself. Seulgi would be lying if she said she didn’t like the attention. She felt powerful and special.

Well, that was the case until their last meeting. Seulgi found herself surprised by her own boldness, how she even managed to blurt a flirtatious sentence. Jaeyi’s reaction made her happy, but the shift in the room when they spoke about her ex-husband never left her mind since then. She saw something in Jaeyi’s eyes that genuinely scared her. It was true; Jaeyi was a cold person; Seulgi had seen her coldness more than she could count. But the person she was in the room at that precise moment wasn’t cold— no. It was danger, anger, madness and resentment. Her eyes screamed vengeance and made Seulgi freeze. She had never met someone who carried that much negative energy. She knew she shouldn’t argue back even when Jaeyi was shady again, clearly hurt by the fact her daughter preferred to speak about her problems to Seulgi instead of her mother.

Seulgi only let it pass. She understood Jaeyi’s feeling, she tried to be in her shoes. She knew she would herself feel awful if she heard something like that from someone not even that close. Seulgi only spoke to Heeyoung for a month. Well, it was enough for a kid to open up, especially if you saw them multiple times in the week. But, she was still not a family member— she was just an actress. She also knew Jaeyi didn’t fully trust her, and she completely understood her fear. She even herself didn’t know what to feel about Jaeyi.

Seulgi always felt something in the air, something subtle. She still couldn’t name it— or, maybe just wasn’t ready to name it. Jaeyi affected her for sure, and she was conscious about this fact. But she refused to tell herself she felt an attraction. It came to her mind once, but she directly destroyed that thought. Jaeyi was her CEO, and it was completely normal for her to be affected by her words. She was her boss, and she was the one who controlled everything in the agency. Such an important person would affect anybody. So, in conclusion, she just shook that thought from her mind. She kept telling herself she wasn’t attracted to Jaeyi and would never be.

Seulgi let herself fall on her bed and sighed loudly. She couldn’t stop thinking about Kyung’s words. ‘Miss is a big word, I would just say she is curious about you.’, Jaeyi is curious about me, huh. Seulgi didn’t know how to take that new information. She tried to list all the reasons of why Jaeyi would feel curious about her, and the only one that came to her mind was Heeyoung. After all, she let Seulgi take care of her daughter without even trying to get to know her. She never thought about it deeply, but with everything that had happened, she felt more weird about it.

The truth was that Seulgi didn’t understand Jaeyi. How could someone who seemed so close off not even try to know her before letting her daughter around her. It didn’t make sense to Seulgi. She didn’t even feel closer to the CEO, even with all these little talks. She knew Jaeyi tried to get closer to her, but at the same time, Seulgi felt Jaeyi was distant, as if she was afraid of being too fast or breaking a boundary. Well, Jaeyi would definitely break the professional boundary but Seulgi did, somehow, already broke that boundary. If Heeyoung wasn’t a Seulgi’s fan, maybe she wouldn’t even be here thinking about Jaeyi.

Seulgi sank her head into her pillow and groaned loudly. She hated to overthink about ridiculous thing and for her, Jaeyi wasn’t something worthy in some way. She was just a CEO like other and she didn’t understand why her mind always ended up with Jaeyi. She took her phone and messaged Byeong to inform her presence tomorrow at the agency. She put her phone back to the nightstand and let herself fall asleep.

Without expecting her phone to wake her up tomorrow morning.

Seulgi woke up in the middle of the morning with the sound of her neighbor tapping loudly on the floor. She groaned and got up from her bed. She did her morning routine and went directly to her living room. She tried to relax since it was one of her rare days off. She turned her television on and watched a series while eating her breakfast. After some hours doing nothing, she decided to just go out. She drove to the agency in hopes to meet Byeong. She arrived there at 1 PM and knew she would be alone for at least two hours before Byeong finished his work.

So, to kill her time, she walked directly to the café. Of course, as if the universe loved to play around, she bumped into someone and their drink fell on the floor. Seulgi gasped and bowed with apologies. She heard a chuckle and recognized Jaeyi’s voice. She looked up and met Jaeyi’s eyes. The CEO had a small smile on her face and for some reason, Seulgi found something brighter in her expression.

“Well, the apology will only be accepted if you invite me to drink something,” Jaeyi said, looking down at her drink on the floor. “And because it’s you, Woo Seulgi, you don’t have to worry about that mess. Someone will clean it up.” she continued while looking at a staff member with her authoritative eyes. Seulgi wanted to argue back and clean it up herself but the staff member was faster. She only apologized to the staff feeling bad about it.

“Stop apologizing, he paid for this Seulgi.” Jaeyi said, voice between cold and soft. Seulgi only frowned at that remark but said nothing more. She sighed, feeling like she got tricked into something and just went to order the drinks. Jaeyi, of course, followed her, a little too close to Seulgi’s taste but she didn’t comment on it. “I will take an Americano and she will take—” Seulgi started but got cut off by Jaeyi. “Like always.” The girl in front of them only nodded, a little confused to see them together. Their order didn’t take long and both girls sat at a table. The café wasn’t filled with people making Seulgi feel a little safer. Her gaze went to Jaeyi, thinking of what to say.

“So, why did you want to drink something with me?” she started, hoping for Jaeyi to start a conversation. Jaeyi, who took a sip of her drink, put her cup on the table and looked at Seulgi in the eyes. Then she looked away and hummed a little.

“Since our last meeting, I kind of felt bad about my behavior with you when we spoke about Heeyoung’s father. I mean, I wasn’t happy to hear it from you. I felt like my daughter didn’t trust me enough.” Jaeyi’s gaze went down to her cup and her finger circled the edge of it. “Never mind, you wouldn’t understand. I just wanted to apologize. You took care of my daughter and she found someone with whom to open her heart. I can’t be mad at that, right?” Seulgi stared at her and bit her lip out of habit. She was stunned that Jaeyi did apologize for her behavior.

“I didn’t expect that. You must have thought about it a lot to come here and apologize. I think I can understand the feeling a little, but I don’t think your daughter trusts me more than you. She might have her reasons to not tell you some details.” Seulgi replied. She didn’t lie, Heeyoung didn’t stop speaking about how her mother was important to her. But, she couldn’t tell it to Jaeyi. It would break the trust of Heeyoung and also her power. “Heeyoung isn’t with you?” She asked. Jaeyi only shook her head.

“No, she has school you know. She felt a little sad these days cause she doesn’t see you.” Jaeyi answered with a little smile. Seulgi only smiled widely, liking the information. She really adored Jaeyi’s daughter, she almost felt like being an aunt.

“Really? I missed her too. But, the filming really takes all my energy.” she said, pouting a little. Jaeyi only giggled. “Don’t pressure yourself too much. You told me it was an action drama right?” Seulgi looked at her with confusion. She thought Jaeyi wasn’t interested in the movie industry. She took a sip of her drink and nodded.

“Yeah. I needed to master martial arts and do like all kinds of acrobatics.” Jaeyi’s brow only rose in surprise. “I didn’t know you knew how to fight.” The actress only laughed. “And what do you know about me Yoo Jaeyi.” she put her elbows on the table and connected her hands so she could put her chin on them. She tilted her head and looked at Jaeyi as if she was challenging her. Jaeyi seemed to be caught off guard but shifted her expression briefly.

“Well, nothing if we’re being honest. But, I wouldn’t mind getting to know more about you.” Jaeyi said boldly. It was Seulgi’s turn to be caught off guard. She froze at the sudden confession. She saw Jaeyi’s lips going into a smirk clearly enjoying Seulgi’s reaction. “What? I asked for your phone number, I don’t see what’s so shocking. Plus, you are around Heeyoung.” Seulgi rolled her eyes, quite annoyed by the argument.

“Of course, Heeyoung.” Seulgi said while taking a sip of her drink. “Well, if it’s just to make sure I’m someone good I also don’t mind you getting closer to me, I guess. You still never texted me.” remarked Seulgi. The CEO only smirked and stared at Seulgi for some seconds. “Why? You were waiting for me to text you?” Seulgi was surprised by Jaeyi’s boldness. It was something new for her and didn’t know how to take it nor how to analyze it.

“No. Not really.” she only said, half confessed half denied. She felt her face heating and avoided Jaeyi as much as possible. She couldn’t let Jaeyi see how she affected her. She heard the CEO hum like she was thinking. “If I knew you were waiting for my text, I would have texted you. But, anyway.” Seulgi almost choked on her own saliva. She felt her face getting hotter and hotter. The tension between them felt suffocating and somehow still sweet. She couldn’t quite explain it.

“So, since now I know you don’t mind me being closer to you. May I ask your age? Before you say anything, I never looked up the age of the actors. I let Mr. Kim be in charge of that.” Seulgi only laughed, her body relaxed and her face returning to her normal temperature. “26, and you?” Jaeyi smirked in amusement and Seulgi knew she was older by that. “30, don’t call me old or I will make sure you have the most horrifying schedule ever.” Seulgi swallowed hard and tried to hide her smile.

“You look younger though, but your age doesn’t shock me. So it means you are older.” Seulgi’s last sentence was said slowly as if she processed the information. “Yes. You can call me unnie.” Jaeyi said without missing a beat and winked at her. Seulgi grabbed her drink and shook her head. “Slow down. We still aren’t even friends.” Jaeyi only chuckled.

“Yet. It’s just a question of time. I’m sure in two weeks you will treat me like a friend.” bet Jaeyi making Seulgi laugh. “With my crazy schedule? You are too full of yourself. I bet months.” Jaeyi’s mouth opened a little in disbelief.

“Months?! Are we in the seventeenth century?” Seulgi laughed out loud at the joke. “What? We are betting so we will see who was right.”

They talked a little more. Jaeyi kept asking questions about the actress which Seulgi happily answered to all of them. They both learned new things about each other, and to Seulgi’s surprise she enjoyed this moment with Jaeyi. She felt safe around her, she wasn’t like how the other described her. She was welcoming, open and soft. She even found her funny. The actress didn’t know if Jaeyi was like this with everyone, but she felt lucky to have this version of the CEO fro herself. She also felt thankful for Heeyoung because if she wasn’t there, Jaeyi would’ve treated her differently.

Jaeyi was the first one to leave. Mr. Kim came in person to drag Jaeyi back to work. The scene was funny to Seulgi because for the first time Jaeyi wasn’t the authoritative one. She said goodbye to the actress and told her she would text her. When Jaeyi was out of Seulgi’s sight, the actress took a deep breath and smiled to herself. She never imagined Jaeyi wanted to be this close to her. After only one second of solitude, she felt someone sitting beside her. She turned to see who it was and she found herself face-to-face with Byeong looking at her in disbelief.

“Why was Jaeyi with you? What did she tell you? Why was she smiling like that to you? Are you both friends or what? What did I miss? Spill!” He attacked her with questions making Seulgi roll her eyes. “Well hello to you too Byeong. It has been weeks since we’ve last met. I missed you too.” She replied in a sarcastic tone.

“I don’t care, just spill!” Byeong took Seulgi’s cup and drank it but nothing came out from the cup. Seulgi only laughed. “Go buy yourself a new one. Jaeyi just wanted to be closer to me— as a friend, don’t misunderstand it.” She added in the end when she saw Byeong’s teasing face. He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

“Friend my ass! The way she looked at you? That girl is definitely interested in you. My radar never fails me.” He said, shaking his head slightly. “What’s going on with all? Every time I speak to someone, you are telling me they are interested in me. Can’t people just talk to me because they want to be friends?” asked Seulgi annoyed.

“What do you mean?” Seulgi could tell he was confused by how his eyebrows went down. “I’m filming a movie and the male lead, according to Kyung, is flirting with me.” She saw Byeong’s jaw tighten. “I trust her.” The actress hit her head on the table, startling Byeong. “You are crazy!”

They both stayed together for hours speaking about everything and nothing. But, Seulgi’s mind was somewhere else.

She couldn’t stop thinking about Jaeyi.

Seulgi walked to the elevator. It started to get dark and Byeong jut left her because he needed to practice for his concert. She clicked the button and after ten seconds, the elevator’s door opened. Seulgi was looking at the floor so she didn’t notice at first the two persons in the small space until she heard her name.

“Seulgi?!” The actress’ eyes went to the sound and found Heeyoung, eyes full of stars. The little girl hugged Seulgi tightly. The actress hugged her back and heard a low giggle. She looked up and saw Jaeyi smiling at them. “I guess you are also going home?” Jaeyi said, smile still on her face. Seulgi only nodded and stroked Heeyoung’s hair before joining Jaeyi in the elevator. The CEO clicked on the close door button. Seulgi thought a silence will fall on them but Heeyoung had another plan.

The little girl only talked to Seulgi, asked her how she doing and if her filming was complicated. The actress loved the attention she got from the little girl. She was genuinely interested to know about the actress’ life style and also in cinema. But Seulgi only had a short time to answer her questions correctly. They walked together while Seulgi and Heeyoung talked, they stopped in front of Jaeyi’s car and Heeyoung pouted.

“Already?” Jaeyi rolled her eyes. “Say goodbye to Seulgi and get in the car, Heeyoung.” Heeyoung executed her mother’s order without complaining. When Heeyoung went to the car, Jaeyi and Seulgi were alone— again.

“Heeyoung is really lucky. She was complaining how she didn’t see you today. Thank you for still being so kind with her.” began Jaeyi. Seulgi acknowledged Jaeyi’s gratitude and smiled. “She is indeed really lucky. If she wants to see me even just because she wants to talk, just tell me. If I have some free time, I could spend it with her. Anything for my fan.” Jaeyi laughed but nodded.

“Okay. I’ll note it down. Thank you again for today. Have a nice night, Seulgi.” Jaeyi said with a softness that Seulgi never heard from her before. She liked the sound of it, the voice sounded peaceful to Seulgi’s ears. She felt her ears burning. “You too, Jaeyi.” She said and turned around rapidly not wanting Jaeyi to notice her ears being red. She thought she heard Jaeyi laughing a little but she decided to just ignore it. She hopped into her car and went home, feeling happy about her day.

Seulgi closed the door behind her and fell on her sofa. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths. She felt tired but happy. Her mind went back to Jaeyi and the new side she got to see. How her voice felt more welcoming and caring. How she didn’t feel like she was talking to her CEO. She loved this aspect, she felt like they were on the same line. Her thoughts got interrupted by the vibration of her phone. She sat up on her sofa and took her phone.

Best CEO : Did you get home safely?

She frowned at the name contact but still tapped on the notification.

Yes and you?

Why the contact name is “best CEO”?

Seulgi smiled to herself, already imagining Jaeyi’s reaction to the message. She turned her phone off and went to the kitchen. She couldn’t really believe Jaeyi did in fact text her. Seulgi started to feel something weird in her chest that made her uncomfortable. She shook her head as if the thought would disappear and continued to cook something, so her mind wouldn’t overthink about stupid things. She went back to her sofa with her food and saw her phone screen on with notifications.

Best CEO: Yes, Heeyoung was a pain in ass tonight. She didn’t want to sleep.

Best CEO: What? That a wonderful name! You think I’m a bad CEO?

Best CEO: If you hate it, replace it with ‘Best unnie’.

No emoji which made her text even funnier to Seulgi. She smiled but decided to answer it after. She wanted some time alone with her food and television. After one long episode of her series, she took her phone and answered to Jaeyi.

She should read a book, it might bore her to sleep.

NEVER?! I will change it to ‘cold CEO’ to honor everyone who works in JY entertainment.

Seulgi smiled to herself and turned off her television. She went to her bed to rest a little and to stalk her fans on her social media. It was her plan but Jaeyi answered to her messages faster than she excepted, and they ended up talking to each other until Seulgi fell asleep.

And maybe Jaeyi wasn’t wrong…

Seulgi was woken up by a muffled sound from her living room. She, at first, didn’t mind it thinking it was just her fridge or something like that. But then she heard a louder sound which startled her. She left her bed and went toward her living room. She stopped short when she saw a man sitting on her sofa. She tried her best to not make any noise and went back to her bedroom. She breathed really fast, sensing the fear eating her. She sat down behind the door and tried to regulate her breathing. She tried to think about a plan. She knew in some minutes, he would probably enter her bedroom.

She took her phone and clicked on Kyung’s contact. She decided to only send a text, afraid to call and have her voice be heard by the stranger in her living room. Kyung answered her rapidly and told her she was on the way. Seulgi’s hands trembled a lot from fear. She took two deep breaths and stood up. She gathered all her courage and decided to face the man. She went toward the living room and got herself face to face with the stranger eating the food she made yesterday. The man jumped up and bowed while Seulgi froze in her place, feeling the fear go through all her body again.

“Who are you?” She asked, her voice trembling and her fingers gripping a bit of her t-shirt. The man put his palm in front of him as if he was trying to say he wasn’t here to harm her. Seulgi felt her body trembling from fear.

“I’m not here to harm you. I just wanted to talk to you. I’m a big fan.” the man said. He tried to walk a little toward her but Seulgi immediately stepped back, maintaining a big distance.

“How did you even manage to enter here? You should leave.” she said, hoping the man would leave. Of course, the man only shook his head and smiled at her. Seulgi’s gut screamed at her that she was in danger. The man stepped forward and the actress stepped back.

“I just knew the number of your door. It wasn’t that complicated to know the door’s code.” he said, stepping a little closer. “You are really prettier than the picture.” A step. Seulgi prayed as much as she could for Kyung to appear in any second. The universe seemed to be on her side when she heard someone open the door and Kyung ran straight to the man. She punched him in his face and a man who accompanied Kyung tackled the man and restrained him on the floor.

Seulgi breathed deeply, feeling a relief passing through her body. Kyung ran to her with worried eyes. “Seulgi! Are you okay? What happened?” she asked quickly. Seulgi only went down on her knees, trying to calm the adrenaline. Kyung only stroked her hair calmly and waited for her to calm down. Her manager stayed silent as the stranger man screamed at them. After a few minutes, the police came and took the man. An officer stayed to question Seulgi about what happened, which the actress explained in detail. After everyone left, except Kyung, Seulgi fell on her sofa.

“Gosh. That was one of my scariest days of my life. He couldn’t just wait at night?” the actress said, playing with her fingers. Kyung only looked at Seulgi in disbelief. “What would it change? Morning, afternoon or night, it’s the same shit. Thank god he was slow! Gosh.”

“Well, I would have fought his ass. I’m just slow in the morning.” replied Seulgi, still a little trembling from her emotions. Kyung rolled her eyes and slapped slightly the actress’s shoulder. “Thank God your first reflex was contacting me. I need to tell this to Jaeyi. Lord she is going to be mad as hell.” The manager groaned loudly, making Seulgi laugh.

“I can tell her, you know.” proposed Seulgi. Kyung looked at her suspiciously but after consideration, she accepted the proposal of Seulgi. “You will accompany me, that’s for sure.” Seulgi giggled, feeling her body relax.

Kyung drove Seulgi and herself to the agency and they both went directly to the CEO’s floor. Mr. Kim was at his desk, too concentrated on his computer. Kyung smirked and looked at Seulgi mischievously. She whispered something to Seulgi, something about scaring Mr. Kim. The actress wasn’t fond of the idea but her manager was already working on it by appearing magically. Kyung didn’t make any noise and suddenly said in a low voice, close to his ear, a ‘bou’. Mr. Kim jumped from his chair and let out a small scream. His gaze went on Kyung and exhaled.

“Kyung! What the fuck? You think it’s funny?” he complained. Kyung only laughed out loud but got back to her serious side rapidly. “No. Actually there is an emergency. Is Jaeyi here? Like you can see, Woo Seulgi is here.” Kyung pointed out Seulgi who bowed to Mr. Kim. The assistant bowed back and gave her a smile. He turned his head back to Kyung.

“No, Ms. Yoo is late today.” He said firmly. “I will contact her if it is that important.” the manager only opened her mouth then closed it and then opened it. “Jaeyi is never late, Mr. Kim.” the assistant nodded and shrugged his shoulders.

“She didn’t inform me more about the reason of her lateness but I’m sure she will be here soon.” he said calmly and sure of himself. Kyung let out a groan and stared at the assistant. “Please tell her it’s an emergency, like ‘you almost lost one of your biggest actresses of your company’ type emergency.” Mr. Kim’s gaze went between Kyung and Seulgi but before he could speak, the elevator’s door opened. Seulgi turned around and faced Jaeyi directly who looked confused. Jaeyi’s eyes scanned the environment and saw Kyung with Mr. Kim.

“What’s going on?” The CEO simply asked, her gaze only on Seulgi. The question seemed general but Seulgi felt like she was asking that question to her. Kyung walked toward them and bowed to Jaeyi. “We have a big problem, Jaeyi. You almost lost one of your biggest actresses.” she said as she pointed to Seulgi who was rolling her eyes. Jaeyi’s eyes showed concern, according to Seulgi’s observation. She opened the door of her office and invited them to enter. The actress and her manager sat on a sofa while Jaeyi made a coffee. She asked the girls if they wanted to drink something. They both asked for a coffee, making Jaeyi groan out loud.

“You both didn’t have breakfast?” asked Jaeyi, her gaze on them. She put down the cups of coffee on the table and sat on the opposite sofa, facing them. Kyung and Seulgi shook their heads. “I said you almost lost one of your actresses. Of course, I didn’t get a breakfast. I should be sleeping right now, it’s my day off.” complained Kyung. Seulgi only rolled her eyes and leaned back on the sofa. Jaeyi stared at them, she seemed to try to understand Kyung’s words.

“I’m listening. What happened?” she finally asked. Kyung slapped softly Seulgi’s shoulder, motioning her to speak. The actress avoided Jaeyi’s eyes for a moment and then looked back at her back.

“Someone broke into my apartment this morning. He was eating my food on my sofa and when he saw I was awake, he tried to get close to me.” she said. She felt a shift in Jaeyi’s eyes and body. She seemed more serious, tense and cold. “Kyung punched him and a man tackled him on the floor. Then the police came to arrest him.” Jaeyi groaned and closed her eyes forcefully.

“What a shitty morning.” the CEO blurted out. Kyung only nodded and took a sip from her coffee. Jaeyi looked at Seulgi and the actress saw something really soft in them, softer than yesterday. “Are you okay? He didn’t touch you, right?” Jaeyi asked, her voice a little deeper than usual. Seulgi shook her head.

“No and I’m alright. More fear than pain” she answered and Jaeyi only nodded. “He must have followed you these days. We will reinforce security, we can’t let it happen a second time. I will also file a complaint.” the CEO said while staring at Seulgi. The actress could feel she was genuinely worried for her. She only nodded.

“Perfect! If you don’t feel safe enough, Seulgi, you can come to my home for a time.” proposed Kyung and Seulgi smiled at her. She was grateful to have such a wonderful surrounding. “Thank you Kyung. But don’t worry, I will just change the code and maybe start to search for a new apartment.” Her manager only nodded and stood up. She bowed to Jaeyi and Seulgi and started to walk toward the door.

“Well, goodbye girls! I’ve done my job.” The door opened and then closed, leaving the two women alone. The silence invited itself to accompany the room. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence nor a cold one. Completely different from their first meeting, showing the relationship’s progress between them. Seulgi felt safer and didn’t have the urge to fill that silence. Jaeyi stared at her like always, something Seulgi got used to by now. She even stopped questioning it, in fact she kind of liked it. The actress’s eyes met the CEO’s one and she saw how her eyes were full of worries.

“It must be traumatizing to wake up with a stranger in your most personal space. Are you sure it’s ok for you to go back to your house?” Jaeyi said, breaking the silence first. Her voice was as soft as their last conversation and Seulgi felt her ears burn again. She thanked the universe that her hair was down and covered her ears well.

“Yes, it’s ok. I will just change the code like I said. You don’t need to worry too much, Jaeyi.” she answered, trying to be the most persuasive possible. Jaeyi didn’t seem convinced but still nodded. “Ok, if you say so. Be careful, Seulgi.” The actress only smiled at her, loving how Jaeyi seemed to care about her. She stood up and bowed.

“I will leave then. You must have a lot to do.” Seulgi said and she walked toward the exit. “Have a great day, Seulgi. And I really enjoyed talking to you yesterday night.” The CEO’s voice echoed in the room. Seulgi froze in her place as she absorbed Jaeyi’s words. She turned around and found Jaeyi looking at her with a smirk. She shook her head a little and left the room, not giving any answer.

As she closed the door, she felt her ears burn and something close to happiness settled in her.

Seulgi stayed in the agency, not wanting to be at home. She sat down on a random sofa from the hall floor and read her script again. After hours, she decided to contact Byeong to know if he could drive her back home which he accepted immediately. She smiled at the message and decided to walk toward the principal hall. She wanted to wait for him closer to the exit, so he didn’t have to search for her. As she walked, almost close to the exit, she bumped into someone. The impact was strong, making Seulgi almost fall to the floor. A deep voice immediately apologized. Seulgi blinked twice and looked at the person. It was a man— and a little girl by his side looked worried.

“Seulgi unnie!!” said the little girl in a high-pitched voice. The man looked at the girl with authoritative eyes and turned back to Seulgi with a small smile. “I’m sorry for my daughter’s behavior and I’m sorry for bumping into you.” Seulgi’s gaze was on the man, he was wearing a black suit and seemed to be someone really important in the society.

“It’s alright. You don’t need to apologize for Heeyoung’s behavior. It’s me who told her to call me like that.” Seulgi answered, making the man giggle. The actress understood it was Jaeyi’s ex-husband and by his looks, she didn’t understand how he ended up with someone like Jaeyi. She wasn’t the type to judge but the thought came before she could control it.

“Oh— you are the girl who took care of Heeyoung? Jaeyi told me about you. Do you mind keeping her just the time I speak to her mother?” asked the man softly. “You see, it’s me who was supposed to take care of Heeyoung today but a problem came up. I will be fast.” Seulgi only sighed but when she looked at Heeyoung, her heart fawned by the cuteness of the girl and just gave in.

“Thank you so much! By the way, my name is Youngmin. Kang Youngmin.” He said. He reached out his hand. Seulgi hesitated but took it. “Woo Seul-” before she could finish her sentence, Byeong’s voice resonated in the hall.

“Woo Seulgi! I’m here, we can go!” He stopped behind Seulgi. The actress turned around and faced him with apologetic eyes. Byeong looked at Seulgi with confusion then at the man and at Heeyoung. “What’s going on?” he asked Seulgi. The woman only scratched the back of her neck and grimaced. “Sorry Byeong, the plan just changed.”

“Oh but if you both had a date it’s okay! I don’t want to break any plan.” The man said rapidly. Byeong gasped while Seulgi turned quickly toward the man with a shocked expression. “What?!”

“Sir, we aren’t dating! Oh lord.” The singer said in desperation. “What’s the new plan then?” he then asked. “Babysitting Heeyoung.” Seulgi answered and Byeong only nodded.

“Ok, You can go sir! Your kid will be safe with us. Well, I won’t stay long but with Seulgi, safe for sure!” He said while nodding his head confidently, making Heeyoung laugh. The man thanked the duo and left Heeyoung with them. When Youngmin was out of their sight, Byeong sighed loudly and looked at Seulgi in shock.

“You have a lot to tell me.” He only said before taking Heeyoung in his arms to show her how strong he was. Heeyoung only laughed while Seulgi watched them with worried eyes, not trusting Byeong at all. “Byeong, for lord’s love, put that girl down.” The singer stuck out his tongue and ran through the agency with Heeyoung still in his arms. Seulgi ran after them, screaming at Byeong. Heeyoung’s laughter echoing in the building.

After a few minutes, the two girls sat down on a random sofa speaking about random things. Byeong came back two minutes later with ice-creams in his hands. He gave one to everyone and sat beside Heeyoung. “I hope nobody heard us. If so, I hope they won’t report us to Jaeyi. Please Lord, if you exist out there, please may all the people keep it secret.” he prayed while looking at the ceiling. Heeyoung only laughed at Byeong.

“You are so stupid, Byeong. Never do that ever again.” Seulgi said, her voice between seriousness and humor. The singer only shrugged his shoulders and winked at Heeyoung. Seulgi rolled her eyes but smiled, enjoying this wonderful time. She even forgot how this morning she got scared by a stranger. “Anyway, I should go. I wish I could stay longer but I have a lot of things to do. I hope you will find someone to drive you back home Seul.”

“Yeah, don’t worry Byeong. I will just call my manager. It was her who drove me here and abandoned me.” Seulgi simply said. Byeong nodded and said goodbye to both girls. Seulgi and Heeyoung were now alone. The actress looked at the girl and stroked her hair. “So Heeyoung, what have you done these past few weeks?” her question made Heeyoung’s face brighten and a wide smile appeared.

“Yoo Heeyoung and Woo Seulgi” the cold feminine voice made the two girls jump out of the sofa. Seulgi looked at the woman and found her CEO standing at a distant. Jaeyi laughed at their reaction, her face expressing satisfaction. Heeyoung ran to her mother and hugged her. Then, they both walked toward Seulgi.

“Thank you for taking care of Heeyoung again. Youngmin told me you both had met.” She said, her voice no longer cold. Seulgi only nodded and sat back on the sofa. “Yeah. He told me he needed to speak to you cause he had an emergency or whatever. I couldn’t say no when he asked me to babysit Heeyoung.” Jaeyi only hummed and sat beside her, their body close to each other. Heeyoung sat beside her mother and Seulgi thought she saw a disappointed expression on her face.

“You could have said no, you know. Mr. Kim is still here. Especially with what happened this morning.” Jaeyi said, her voice dropping a little deeper than usual. Seulgi hated herself for how she loved it. She almost thought Jaeyi was seducing her with that tone. With that thought, her ears went red— again. She scratched the back of her neck and smiled at Jaeyi.

“It’s alright. I told you, I love taking care of Heeyoung.” her statement made Heeyoung jump from the sofa and run to hug Seulgi. The actress laughed at Heeyoung’s sudden reaction while she hugged her back. Her eyes went to Jaeyi, who looked at her with a blank expression. It wasn’t a face that expressed nothing— no. Seulgi felt like Jaeyi was deep in thought, and from her eyes, she knew it wasn’t something bad. Seulgi broke the eye contact and stroked Heeyoung’s hair.

“Where is Byeong?” Jaeyi asked. “He went home already. He was supposed to drive me back home but you and Youngmin took too much time. He has a busy schedule.” The actress explained, still not looking at Jaeyi. Heeyoung was still on her lap, hugging her and face resting on her shoulder. “So, you have nobody to drive you home right now?” Seulgi shook her head after hearing Jaeyi’s question. A silence fell for a few seconds.

“Well, let me drive you home. I can’t leave you behind alone after what happened this morning.” Jaeyi finally said, her voice soft and slow. Seulgi’s gaze met Jaeyi’s again. “You don’t have to. I will just call Kyung.” For some reason, the air grew heavy.

“No. I will drive you home.” Jaeyi stood up and started walking away, leaving no choice for Seulgi but to follow her. She sighed. Heeyoung stood up too and looked at Seulgi, shrugging her shoulders. “More time to be with you!” Seulgi laughed and stood, walking toward the elevator. Jaeyi was just in front of it, waiting for them. The actress stood beside Jaeyi.

“You stayed in the agency all day?” Jaeyi asked and Seulgi only hummed with a hint of tiredness. The elevator door opened and Heeyoung walked in first. The two adults followed just after and Jaeyi clicked on the parking button. Heeyoung spoke to her mother until the elevator door opened and walked out first, running toward the car. “Yoo Heeyoung, slow down, you are going to fall.” and as if Jaeyi saw it coming, Heeyoung tripped and fell on the ground. Seulgi and Jaeyi gasped and ran toward the little girl. Jaeyi knelt and looked at Heeyoung brow frowned. Seulgi stood just beside her.

“Are you okay? I told you to slow down, gosh.” Jaeyi examined her daughter and breathed from relief when she saw no bruise on her. “Sorry mom, I guess I was just too much in a hurry. But, I’m alright!” Heeyoung stood up and jumped to show there was nothing wrong. Jaeyi closed her eyes for a brief moment and stood. Seulgi only giggled which earned her a mean look from Jaeyi.

“What’s funny?” Jaeyi asked, one brow raised. “Nothing.” Seulgi answered and walked faster toward the car. The CEO unlocked her car and Heeyoung immediately hopped in. Jaeyi was taken aback by her daughter’s behavior and looked at Seulgi, confused. The actress only shrugged her shoulders and got in the front seat. She buckled her seat-belt and looked back to Heeyoung, only to find her sleeping already. She smiled but turned her head when she heard Jaeyi close the door indicating she was going to start the car. “She slept? Already?” The CEO asked, her voice full of confusion. “What did you and Byeong do with her?”

“Oh— we ran through the whole building.” Seulgi said, half-thinking if that was a good move of her to confess this. “You what?” Seulgi turned her head to see Jaeyi and she saw her looking with dead eyes. She bit her lips, already regretting it.

“It’s nothing. She laughed and had fun. No man died— nor woman” she defended herself, moving her hand randomly. To Seulgi’s surprise, Jaeyi simply laughed and started to drive. “Where do you live?” Jaeyi handed her phone to Seulgi so she could type her address into the GPS. The actress took it and typed it before putting it on the phone holder.

“You don’t live far from here.” Jaeyi commented, and Seulgi only hummed. “I never moved since my college life. I guess I got lucky to not live that far from the agency.” explained Seulgi. “And you weren’t afraid of neighborhood? With your sudden rise in your debut. I mean, you live in a popular zone.” Jaeyi looked at Seulgi quickly before concentrating on the road. Seulgi smiled at that small eye contact, and also the fact that Jaeyi knew she had a sudden rise in her debut career. She rested her head on the window, thinking for a few seconds.

“Well, yes. I think everyone would be scared. At first I couldn’t believe my popularity until the day I just walked around my apartment building and everyone recognized me, even children. Even my neighbors who never looked at me in the eyes. It felt weird, but I got used to it. I got crazy fan cases, but nothing too dramatic.” Seulgi explained, opening a little about her debut. Jaeyi hummed, and Seulgi felt the CEO’s hand on her thigh. Her body tensed and slowly looked at Jaeyi, who was focused on the road. She had one hand on the wheel and her face peacefully neutral. Seulgi couldn’t help but bite her lip. She found Jaeyi attractive like this and turned her head rapidly. She let Jaeyi’s hand on her thigh and made zero comment about it.

In fact, she liked the heat her hand brought to her thigh. Her ears burned again as she was aware of her thoughts and sensations. There was a silence for a few seconds, but Jaeyi broke it by speaking about random things, and for the rest of the drive, they both talked, enjoying each other’s company. When they arrived in front of her building, Jaeyi stopped the car and, without Seulgi even noticing it, they talked for minutes until someone knocked on the window, startling both of the women. Seulgi rolled down her window and saw an aged woman.

“Sorry to disturb you, but you can’t park here.” Seulgi formed a “o” with her mouth closed and bowed to the woman. “Sorry!” When the old woman wasn’t in sight, both women laughed. “Well, not everyone does know you.” Seulgi slapped Jaeyi slightly on the shoulder. “Thank God.” She answered as her smile reached her eyes.

“Well, I will go. I have a shooting tomorrow morning.” Seulgi said, a little sad to leave the car. Jaeyi only hummed. “Stay safe and don’t overwork yourself! Goodnight, Seulgi.” She said, calling the actress name with a soft and deep voice. Seulgi only nodded and left the car. She walked without turning around until she went home, but she heard the car leaving.

She closed her home’s door and breathed deeply. She collapsed on her sofa and smiled widely, feeling a happiness settle on her chest.

Seulgi felt weird about her closeness with Jaeyi. It wasn’t like she hated it, but she felt too brutal about it. How Jaeyi openly cared about her or how she said she enjoyed speaking to her by messages. It felt too brutal. She didn’t know how Jaeyi reacted with other people, she never really saw her with other artists or employees expected Mr. Kim and Kyung. She explained everything to Byeong who was surprised by Jaeyi’s sudden change.

Her friend told her Jaeyi wasn’t someone who tried to be close to her artist. She, in fact, always drew a line. She supported everyone but nobody saw her alone with an artist in a dinner or something. Everything she did with her artists was always calculated and in public. When it was about singers, she tried to attend their concert and always showed support on social media if they won something. When it was about actors, she tried to support them by attending their premiere and of course supported them on social media if they won important awards. She sometimes proposed a dinner but it was always in a group, she invited every staff that worked with the artist. Never alone with the artist, never hidden.

Byeong was direct, for him Jaeyi acted weirdly and Seulgi should be careful about her. Jaeyi didn’t have a good reputation and was known to take advantage of people if needed. With all the new information, Seulgi didn’t know what to think anymore. She enjoyed being around Jaeyi, that was a fact she couldn’t deny anymore. She even knew, now, they weren’t just acquaintances. They acted more friendly than before and she felt it in the air. She was comfortable around Jaeyi, almost ready to share more than she wanted.

Seulgi found it scary and funny at the same time, how this relationship moved rapidly. Two months ago, they weren’t that close, Jaeyi still looked at her with such cold eyes. It needed a shade from Jaeyi, little talks, texts and Heeyoung for a radical change. She didn’t want to complain about it, of course not. Everything was better than a cold Jaeyi. She knew their professional boundary was broken the day she met Heeyoung and took care of her. Maybe this was why she let Jaeyi get closer to her.

After all, she hadn’t found any reason to reject her, expect she was her CEO. Maybe, it was reason enough, if she thought about it deeply they both were popular. If someone saw them together, with Jaeyi’s reputation for not being close to her artists, it could be a big scandal. And even, why her? Through all the artists in the agency, why did Jaeyi want to be close to her specifically? Because of Heeyoung? Really? Was that really the case or was she taking her daughter as a shield? I mean, she wasn’t the first artist who took care of Heeyoung. Byeong did the same thing and Jaeyi was only cold to him.

Seulgi shook her head, not liking to think about Jaeyi. She didn’t want to analyze things with Jaeyi nor overthink about it. She hated when her peaceful mind got disturbed. She looked at her apartment door and frowned. She felt something heavy on her chest while she remembered about this morning. Of course, Jaeyi made her forget about her fear. She avoided all day her apartment because she knew she wouldn’t feel safe there.

Now that she was in the living room, sitting where the stranger sat this morning, made Seulgi’s body shiver. She knew she wouldn’t sleep correctly this night. She bit her nails and stood. She tried to think about something else, trying to calm herself down— telling herself it was just a bad luck and nobody else knew where she lived. She took multiple deep breaths and a medicine for stress. It’s been a while since Seulgi took one of these medicine, she tried to live without it afraid to be too dependent to it.

She closed her eyes for a few moments, her hand trembling. She opened her eyes when she heard her phone ringing for a second. She breathed again and went to her bed. She saw a notification from Jaeyi. She sent her a picture of Heeyoung with a caption saying she had faked her sleep. Seulgi laughed at the message, her anxiety forgotten.

Even if Jaeyi wasn’t sincere,

Seulgi loved how she made her forget her fear.

Even if in the end, she would be in tear.

Chapter Text

Jaeyi was sitting on a chair, resting face and body straight. Her daughter was on her right, also sitting and playing with her fingers. She took her glass of wine and drank a little. After a few seconds, someone came to her and touched her shoulder slightly. Jaeyi looked up and saw her older sister wearing a white dress.

“How my wonderful sister doing? It’s been a while. And hey, Heeyoung! How are you, my princess?” Jena said softly with a smile. Heeyoung hugged her aunt and went back to her chair.

“I’m doing well. Mom and Dad aren’t here yet. I came a little earlier.” Jaeyi answered. Her sister hummed and looked around. “You know… They invited Youngmin and his family.” Jena slowly said, staring at her younger sister. Jaeyi’s gaze went toward her with a frowning eyebrow.

“What? He didn’t tell me, and Dad also said nothing. Why did they invite them?” She asked, still confused. Jena looked sorry for her sister and only caressed her shoulder. “You know, Dad. He still thinks you should let him have a second chance. He never accepted your divorce.” Jaeyi only scoffed at her sister’s words and drank the rest of her wine.

She never liked how her father, since her divorce, tried to put her with Youngmin. He never agreed to the divorce, and he always made some remark about it. How Jaeyi never thought about her daughter. How selfish she was. How dumb she was. Jaeyi always ended up sick after each dinner with him. She looked to her right and stroked her daughter’s hair. She knew Heeyoung hated these family gathered. She always felt bored since she was the only kid in the family and so had nobody with whom to play. Jena sometimes stayed with her and joked around, but with their father around, she couldn’t always be here for Heeyoung. Jaeyi talked a little with her daughter until Heeyoung saw her father and jumped from her seat to hug him.

“Heeyoung, my princess. How are you? Dad misses you a lot! Here, go see uncle and grandparent hum.” Youngmin said with a smile. Heeyoung nodded and went directly to her uncle. Youngmin sat beside Jaeyi and put his hand on her thigh. Jaeyi looked up at Youngmin and snatched his hand away from her leg.

“What are you doing? I already told you to stop touching me like I’m still your wife.” She said, her voice cold. The man beside her only laughed, and this time he touched her hair to move it away from her face. Jaeyi frowned and grabbed his wrist. “I told you to stop.” her voice trembled a little, not from fear but from anger. The man only smirked.

“Calm down, sweetheart. Your father invited me, and he told me to try to seduce you. He even told me I have a chance to have you back. I don’t want your father to be mad at me.” Youngmin said, his voice low and calm just how Jaeyi loved it. He knew all the tricks and he never stopped using it since he knew her. Jaeyi closed her eyes forcefully and closed her hand into a tight fist.

“Don’t call me like that. My father is still not here. You have no reason to do all that. Just respect the boundary, Kang Youngmin.” But his smirk was still on his face, showing how amused he was. He said nothing more and took his glass of wine. After a few minutes, the Kang and Yoo family were all gathered around the table. Heeyoung was on Youngmin’s lap while Jena took Heeyoung’s seat to be closer to her sister. Jaeyi knew that Jena didn’t trust Youngmin and tried to be the closest when he was around.

Jaeyi’s parent talked a lot with Youngmin’s parent. They talked about business and laws. Jaeyi found it boring and useless. She hated this deeply and tried to speak only with Jena and her daughter. Of course, when her family was around, her plans rarely came alive. After just a few minutes, Mr. Kang spoke to Jaeyi for the first time since her divorce with his son.

“So, Jaeyi, I heard not long ago you signed a contract with Woo Seulgi. Is this true?” He asked with a sincere curiosity. Jaeyi hadn’t found an ounce of mockery, and if she was honest with herself, she always preferred Youngmin’s father to her own father. She smiled at him and nodded.

“Yes. I signed her more than two months ago. A contract of five years,” she said calmly and, for the first time since the beginning of the dinner, relaxed. Mr. Kang smiled brightly at her and clapped his hands.

“Congratulations. It’s a big deal! I loved her acting a lot. I’m sure she will bring a lot of good luck to your company! I also heard she had a crazy fan who invited himself to her apartment. Is this true?” Jaeyi tilted her head and looked at Youngmin in confusion. He only shrugged his shoulders and continued to give food to her daughter.

“Well, yes. It happened last week, but I did everything I could to protect her privacy.” She answered as if she were being questioned for a job. Youngmin’s father gasped and looked at her with serious eyes. “If you or Woo Seulgi need a lawyer or anything, don’t hesitate to contact our law firm! I don’t want your divorce with Youngmin to impact our relationship in business,” he said with a small reassuring smile. One thing she loved from Youngmin’s family was how they accepted the divorce easily, compared to her own family. She smiled back at him and thanked him sincerely for his help.

The rest of the night was chill. Youngmin never tried to seduce Jaeyi and only took care of Heeyoung. Jaeyi stayed close to her sister, talking about everything and trying to catch the time they missed. The only thing that disturbed her was her father’s gaze. He stared at her all through the dinner, never leaving her daughter out of his sight. Jaeyi hated it so much, she felt a pressure on her like she needed to do something, but she didn’t know what. She sometimes met her father’s eyes and only found darkness, something closer to a black hole. His face showed nothing, all neutral. Just his dark, piercing eyes. Jaeyi gulped but tried to ignore her father as much as she could.

After staying too long on her seat, Jaeyi excused herself and went to the mansion terrace to get some fresh air. She needed a time to be alone, far from Youngmin, far from her responsibility, far from her father’s eyes— just her and the sky. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, enjoying the moment. A few seconds passed, and she felt a presence on her side. She opened one of her eyes slowly and looked at the person. She closed it immediately, feeling relieved when she found Youngmin’s little brother, Jungsu.

“I thought you took a smoking break. I guess I lost a smoking buddy,” he began. Jaeyi laughed and opened her eyes completely to look at him. “I stopped when I got pregnant, I don’t want Heeyoung to see me smoking,” she replied while Jungsu lit his cigarette.

“Understandable. If only Youngmin could take note. Quite hard to explain to an eight-year-old kid what a cigarette is and its consequences.” Jaeyi’s mouth opened in disbelief, but she closed it rapidly. She brought one hand to her forehead and massaged it slowly. “Since when has he smoked? Gosh, I hate him so much.” Jungsu only laughed and nodded. “I do too. At least you had the chance to divorce him,” he joked in a low voice. Jaeyi tapped his shoulder lightly.

“Sorry for you,” the man laughed and looked at the sky.

“He started smoking after your divorce. You know, I don’t say this to pity him or whatever, but he took the divorce really badly. He was like a lost puppy, and he didn’t stop feeling sorry. He even started to see a therapist.” Jaeyi said nothing and closed her eyes. She absorbed all his words, trying to understand what all that meant. “He really felt sorry, you know. He loves you deeply and regrets a lot of things. I know he can be sometimes weird, but he tried his best to protect you and Heeyoung. His love for you was always sincere and still is sincere.” Jaeyi only scoffed.

“This is why he always took care of Heeyoung when I needed him to,” she began, her voice full of sarcasm. “The court, at first, separates the child custody with each week for one parent. Youngmin was happy with it, and I was also happy with it since it was free time to travel for my company. Then, he found out he can’t take care of Heeyoung the whole week, saying it’s too complicated. So what did he do? He asked me to take Heeyoung the week and him the weekend. I agreed with it, saying it ok.” Jaeyi said, her voice full of anger. Jungsu only watched her, his eyes wide.

“Everything went okay. Until it wasn’t. Ohh— now Mr. Kang can’t take care of her daughter over the weekend.” Her sarcasm began to be more pronounced while she threw her hand randomly out of frustration. “He always called me, telling me he had a lot to do and he was sorry. Do you know how it feels when your daughter’s excited face turned out to a full disappointment one because she couldn’t spend her weekend with her father? It’s awful.” Jaeyi took a breath, her eyes almost watery. “Don’t come at me saying all that about Youngmin when he can’t even take care of his own daughter. If he felt that sorry, maybe he could start by freeing his time for Heeyoung. And don’t even bring up the work excuse. If I can free my time while being a CEO, I don’t see any excuses for him.” She was ready to leave Jungsu, but the man took her wrist and made her turn to his side.

“I’m sorry, okay. I didn’t know he doesn’t see Heeyoung that much. I don’t see him a lot these months, and when I do, he is always with Heeyoung. I thought everything was ok with him since you didn’t seem that tense around him. I misjudged, I’m sorry,” he said, calmly with an apologetic tone. Jaeyi breathed, trying to calm herself. After a few seconds, she stepped back and apologized to Jungsu.

“I’m sorry, I lost control of my emotions. I will go now,” she bowed and went directly to the dinner table without looking back. When she joined the table, her sister looked at her with worried eyes, and Jaeyi only nodded in reassurance to her. She gazed at Youngmin, who was alone, drinking his wine. He sensed Jaeyi staring and looked at her with a smirk.

“What? You like what you see?” he said flirtatiously. Jaeyi grimaced at him and shook her head. “No. Where is Heeyoung?” she said, her voice cold and still full of anger. Youngmin seemed to catch her mood and only told her that she went with Mr. Kang to the kitchen. Jaeyi stood and went directly to where her daughter was. It didn’t take long before she saw her and smiled. But the smile didn’t last long when she saw her father taking Heeyoung’s hand. She walked toward them and bowed to both men. Her father smiled at her.

“Jaeyi! You came here for Heeyoung? I wanted to show her the kitchen, and Mr. Kang gave her chocolate,” he said, and Jaeyi knew he didn’t like that Mr. Kang gave her chocolate. Jaeyi nodded and took Heeyoung’s hand. “Yeah. I’m going home, Dad. It starts to get late, and Heeyoung needs to sleep. I don’t want her to sleep too late,” she said with a strong argument, so her father won’t say anything. Taejoon nodded with a proud smile.

“You see, Mr. Kang. My education even influences my daughter’s way. Sleep schedule is important. You should go, Jaeyi. See you soon,” he said. Jaeyi bowed, and her daughter did the same, and gave a hug to Mr. Kang. They went back to the table and told everyone goodbye before leaving the mansion.

A man opened the car’s door, and Heeyoung went in first. The moment Jaeyi was getting in the car, someone stopped her by grabbing her wrist.

“Wait! What did my brother tell you?” Jaeyi looked up at Youngmin and laughed. “Why do you care? Nothing too important if that can make you sleep at night,” she said, her voice full of venom. She didn’t let him argue and got into the car, closing the door hard. She stroked her daughter’s hair and kissed her cheek.

“I hope this night wasn’t that boring for you. Next time, I will make sure you stay with someone for the night.” Jaeyi said softly to her daughter. Heeyoung looked at her, eyes bright and hopeful.

“Seulgi unnie could babysit me for an evening!” Jaeyi frowned her brown and shook her head. “Heeyoung, don’t you think you are abusing Seulgi’s kindness? She has a life, you know.” Heeyoung only pouted and rested her head on her mother’s shoulder.

Jaeyi put her head on the car’s window, her thoughts landing on the same person since their last talk: Woo Seulgi.

Since the family dinner, Jaeyi hadn’t found time for herself. She had a lot of meetings for her company, a lot of organization to do, especially in the music section. Jaeyi wanted to be present at comeback meetings and always listened to every album before giving her approval. She fully had control of the music section and loved it so much, even if it meant a busy schedule. Especially when the agency wanted to debut a new group, Jaeyi needed to be present at each final performance from the trainees to give her opinion on their performances. She took everything by heart, and people enjoyed how efficient she was. The music’s popularity was made by Jaeyi’s genuineness.

Not only did her company drain her time, but also her daughter’s. She tried to be as present as she could, still dropped off and picked her up from school, attended Heeyoung’s activities, and tried her best to have her Sunday off to do something with her daughter. She tried her best for everything, but she started to feel the tiredness in her. Her nights felt shorter and her days longer. She tried to ask Youngmin to pick up Heeyoung and take care of her for just two or three days, but the man told her he can’t. It made Jaeyi angry for the rest of her day; her employees had taken all her frustration.

Mr. Kim tried to tell her to take a week off before doing a burnout, but Jaeyi didn’t listen to him. She couldn’t just let the company run for a week without her. She needed to supervise everything. She told herself it was just for a month, like every year, and everything would be back on track, but with each day passing, her argument started to drown. She leaned on her chair and groaned loudly, feeling nauseous. She heard a knock and saw Mr. Kim enter her room with a disapproving face.

“Don’t look at me like that. I won’t change my mind,” she said, sure of herself. “I know. You are always stubborn, but please be cautious. Even your daughter saw how tired you are. You really should slow down with work. If you want, I can supervise some meetings and write a detailed report,” he proposed, eyes full of hope. Jaeyi shook her head. “Thank you, Mr. Kim, but I will attend all my meetings. Why are you here?”

“Oh— it’s only to remind you, tomorrow night you have Byeong’s concert to attend. You wanted to go to his first concert in Seoul, but we can cancel it and move to his final concert,” he proposed again, trying to lightweight her schedule. Jaeyi shook her head for the second time. “I will attend it with Heeyoung. I already told her we will see Byeong.” Mr. Kim sighed in defeat and bowed before leaving the room. Jaeyi closed her eyes for a few seconds and went back to work directly.

The night of the concert came faster than Jaeyi thought. Mr. Kim didn’t listen to her and did some reorganization of her schedule, making her day less busy. She didn’t comment on it, knowing it won’t change anything, and went home earlier. Since it was Saturday, Heeyoung was stuck with her all day. When they were at home, Jaeyi chose her daughter’s outfit to match Byeong’s concert color and changed herself into a green suit. They got into the car, Heeyoung all excited to see Byeong sing, and Jaeyi smiled at her daughter’s enthusiasm. Arriving at the concert venues, she went directly backstage and encouraged Byeong. The singer smiled at her and bowed, seeming happy to have Jaeyi’s support. He even talked with Heeyoung a little before they left the backstage area to go sit in her VIP seat.

Jaeyi had her mask on her face, not wanting to be seen right now. The venue filled rapidly, and the concert started fluidly. Heeyoung screamed the lyrics like she had never screamed before while Jaeyi only moved her head slightly. Her pride screamed at her not to show how she loved his songs. In the middle of the concert, Byeong chatted with his fan, and then he asked the camera to show some of his friends. At first, it was his other male idol friends, and then he started to speak about one of his childhood friends.

“Also, today, there is someone special here. My childhood friend who supported me before my debut. I really wanted to thank her, camera, please do your job,” he said while joking around. The screen showed a girl with a mask, all shy, trying to cover her face. “Yah! Don’t hide your face! You agreed to this!” Byeong screamed. Jaeyi knew who it was but still patiently waited to be sure.

The girl seemed to laugh and decided to just drop off her mask. Jaeyi held her breath when she saw Seulgi all smiling. The public went all crazy as they recognized her. She danced to one of Byeong’s songs, and everyone cheered her. Jaeyi stayed on her seat, immersed by the sight on the screen. Heeyoung also screamed and tapped her mother’s shoulder. “Seulgi is here, Mom! We should go see her after the concert.” Jaeyi only rolled her eyes, but her gaze went to the screen, still watching Seulgi. When the camera went back to Byeong, Jaeyi felt a disappointment in her.

“Yeah, yeah. But this is my concert. There is also someone else who came tonight. My CEO, Ms. Yoo Jaeyi, with her daughter.” The camera went directly to her, and she was taken aback to see herself on the screen. Her daughter waved to the cameraman, and the public cheered at her cuteness, making Jaeyi laugh. “My CEO always said it was her daughter who loved my song, but I’m sure she is also a big fan of me, too!” he joked around. Jaeyi shook her head and pointed her finger at the camera, disapproving his statement. The public and Byeong laughed.

The concert continued normally after that. Heeyoung never loses her energy since the start, unlike her mother, who felt her eyes were heavier with each minute that passed. The concert ended safely, and Jaeyi took Heeyoung’s hand to follow her. She went directly backstage and saw Seulgi talking with some staff, probably waiting for Byeong to congratulate him. Heeyoung let go of her mother’s hand and ran toward Seulgi. The actress heard her steps and turned to Heeyoung. She took Heeyoung in her arms and hugged her. Jaeyi walked slowly toward them, feeling a little dizzy. Seulgi looked at her with worried eyes, at least to Jaeyi’s perception. The CEO only smiled at her.

“Are you okay? You seem tired, Jaeyi.” Seulgi asked, frowning slightly. Jaeyi only nodded.

“Yes, I’m okay. Just a little tired. Nothing too preoccupying. How are you? It’s been a while.” Seulgi opened her mouth to speak, but Byeong appeared behind her with a grin. He, at first, knelt to Heeyoung, asking her how the concert was. Heeyoung told her opinion enthusiastically, and the singer smiled. He, then, stood and looked at the two women with a smirk.

“Well, well, well! Do you need alone time? I can show Heeyoung the surroundings and everything about the backstage,” he proposed. Heeyoung bounced and looked at her mom with hope. Jaeyi sighed and nodded.

“I will be outside, Byeong,” Jaeyi said. “And be cautious too,” Seulgi added with a dead look. Byeong whistled and waved at them. “Yes, yes, Moms!” he then ran with Heeyoung as if he was afraid of hearing Seulgi and Jaeyi’s voices. The oldest stared at Seulgi, not believing what she had just heard from both of them. The actress, speaking like Heeyoung was her kid, and the singer acknowledged it. Seulgi’s eyes met Jaeyi’s one and mouthed a ‘what’. The CEO shook her head and walked toward the exit. Of course, she felt Seulgi following her and smiled at that. The actress didn’t take long before joining her side and even opened the door for Jaeyi.

The oldest bowed her head a little and walked out of the room. She felt the fresh air hitting her face and took a deep breath. She sat on one of the benches and closed her eyes, waiting for Seulgi to sit beside her. But the presence never came, and she immediately opened her eyes. The actress was a little distant but still around Jaeyi as if she was afraid to break Jaeyi’s moment. The CEO tapped the place beside her, inviting Seulgi to sit, which she executed quickly. Their body were close to each other, knees touching, and their hands were near each other, but none of them had the guts to touch the hand of the other, leaving a bitter feeling.

“So, you suddenly stopped texting me. What happened?” the actress broke the silence first, more rapidly than the other time. Jaeyi felt like Seulgi was getting afraid of the silence again. “I’m sorry. I just had too many things to do, and I just stopped texting everyone.” A silence. Not heavy, not soft, just a silence you could only find at night with anybody you knew. “To be fair, you also stopped texting me,” Jaeyi added, her eyes went to Seulgi without moving her head.

“Well, I did text you, but since you never answered, I stopped. I understood you must have been busy, and I didn’t want to sound desperate.” Seulgi answered calmly. Jaeyi observed her for a moment, loving the sight, and smiled.

“You liked texting me, don’t you, Woo Seulgi?” she asked with a teasing smile. The actress turned her head away from Jaeyi and mumbled something. The oldest noticed how the bit of Seulgi’s ear uncovered was red. Jaeyi put the strand of hair behind Seulgi’s ear to have a better view of the redness. She smiled at herself, knowing Seulgi was embarrassed. “I didn’t hear you, Seulgi.”

“I said, you always texted me about Heeyoung.” The oldest only laughed. “Not always! You can say you liked speaking to me!” Jaeyi said, and couldn’t help but notice how Seulgi still refused to face her. “If that can make you happy,” they both laughed.

“I’m sorry. After a dinner with my family, my morale wasn’t that good, and the agency started to get more and more demanding. I tried to keep in touch, but this week was awful.”Seulgi hummed in acknowledgement and turned her face to Jaeyi. “I understand. Do you also take care of Heeyoung at the same time?” Seulgi grimaced after her question, but Jaeyi only giggled.

“There is nobody else. Her father is too busy. Jena isn’t in South Korea. So Heeyoung stays with me in the agency when she doesn’t have school. I won’t lie, I feel more tired than usual these days,” confessed Jaeyi. She felt Seulgi’s judgmental gaze on her without even looking at her eyes. “Yeah, I know that. Your face doesn’t help you a lot.” Jaeyi frowned.

“I look that tired?” Seulgi nodded and touched her bags under her eyes. Jaeyi shivered at the contact and felt a heat behind her neck. “You have big bags under her eyes, even with makeup, we can see it.” She suddenly took her finger away from Jaeyi’s face and looked away.

“You know, if you want someone to take care of Heeyoung, just contact me. I can pick her up from school or, I don’t know, babysit her for a day. If that can make you breathe for a second, cause you really seem like you are going to faint at any moment.” Seulgi proposed, her hand back to her neck. Jaeyi looked at her and felt something warm in her chest. The way Seulgi never hesitated to propose herself for taking care of Heeyoung made Jaeyi feel something sweet, as if she was eating honey when her throat hurt. Sweet and healing.

“You are too kind, Seulgi. Don’t you have a shooting?” Seulgi hummed but didn’t seem to care about it. “Yeah, but the hardest part was already shot. Plus, I don’t mind if Heeyoung came with me. She has an interest in cinema and wants to see behind the scenes.” Jaeyi looked at the sky and thought about the idea. She crunched her nose and heard Seulgi laugh.

“Just tell me what’s on your mind, Jaeyi.” Her voice was deeper than usual, making Jaeyi look at her. The feeling she had right now, the warmth in her chest and the almost missing heartbeat, was the same feeling she had with her ex-husband. Jaeyi frowned at her thought and avoided Seulgi.

“I don’t trust people from the industry. Woman or man, for me it’s the same. Even though men a little more but that doesn’t change the fact that I can’t trust them. I know their dark secret, how perverted they can be, how they all put on a good angel costume, but in reality, they are evil. I don’t mind if you take care of Heeyoung, but her being around other celebrities or staff, especially men? I’m not fond of that idea, Seulgi. I don’t even like when she is around Byeong.” Jaeyi finished and looked at Seulgi, who had a deadpan expression. She, for the first time, felt like it was an error to tell this. She let the silence fall on them.

“I understand,” simply said Seulgi. Her voice didn’t have venom in it or mockery. In fact, it was sincere and emphatic, but for a reason, Jaeyi felt bitter by her answer and said nothing. “I mean, it’s true there are a lot of bastards in the industry. I’ve met a lot in my career, and some of them even won awards. It always felt like a punch in the face when you see an actor who did an awful thing, and won the best actor of the year. I always felt powerless when it happened, especially when everyone applauded.” Seulgi let out a painful giggle. “People talk a lot in the industry, it’s so easy to know what the other do in their private life. If they dated a minor or even went through a weird website. It’s such a common thing. Women, on the other hand, can be mean, but to be honest, I never had a bad experience with them. The only thing other people can reproach us for is how silent we stay. We applaud when someone apologizes or still applaud when we are all aware they did a bad thing, like nothing happened.” She continued, slowly in the end.

“But, I will still be with Heeyoung. I will look after her and never take my eyes off her. I treat her like a niece, to be honest. I always stood for myself, even if I ended up in a scandal. I prefer to fight for my honor and against injustice rather than stay silent for my public image. And for Byeong, you can trust him. He isn’t weird or bad. I knew him since I was, what, 4 years old? He’s like a big brother to me. So no need to worry.” Jaeyi stared at Seulgi, enjoying the actress’s voice. She smiled at her and sighed a little.

“I do trust you. I don’t trust others. But, I won’t mind if you take Heeyoung to a shooting. Just be careful, like I’m serious. If I ever heard something from my daughter, you are dead, Woo Seulgi,” threatened Jaeyi with a smile she couldn’t control. Seulgi nodded intensely, making Jaeyi laugh. A silence fell on them, and they both enjoyed it.

Jaeyi felt safe around the actress, and the talk they had made her happy. She felt like they got closer now, like they were friends. For the CEO, it didn’t sound good in her mind. She knew— knew well what she was feeling around the younger wasn’t only friendship. There was something more, something she preferred not to name or question. Jaeyi was the type to let things come naturally, so she shut her thoughts down and just enjoyed the safety Seulgi offered her. She found it ironic how a celebrity she had known for only three months now made her feel what her husband had taken years to.

Did I even feel safe with him?

Her gaze went to Seulgi, who was looking at the sky, eyes closed. Jaeyi saw on her face a calm and peaceful expression. It was like watching a painting in an empty room without any sound. Just you and the painting. Seulgi would probably be a painting of an angel who tries to survive hell. A beautiful angel, one who would make the earth tremble if they showed themselves. Seulgi’s eyes opened and turned slowly toward Jaeyi. They both stared at each other without saying anything, only their eyes were speaking, and the air passing through them, trying to break the heavy tension. A sound coming afar made Seulgi break eye contact to look who was coming, but Jaeyi’s eyes, as if they were stuck to Seulgi, didn’t move an inch. Until she felt her daughter jump on her lap, and she groaned from pain.

“Oh my god! Sorry, Mom!” she said in a high-pitched voice. Jaeyi snorted but didn’t get angry. “It’s okay, Heeyoung. Just be cautious next time. Well, we will go. Thank you, Byeong,” she said. She knew she didn’t have to thank Seulgi. The singer bowed at them, and Seulgi stood to do the same. Jaeyi took Heeyoung’s hand and went directly to her car. When they arrived at their home, Jaeyi put Heeyoung in bed and went to her bedroom.

That night, she stayed awake.

Her mind only repeated the early scene.

Not about the talk they shared.

But, about how she felt in that moment, how she felt serene.

For the first time, she was scared.

“Finally! Took you time. To be honest, can we switch up? I love to be Seulgi’s manager. Going back to Yeri after that? I can’t,” the bob-haired girl said, shaking her head slightly. Jaeyi breathed deeply and looked at her with disapproval.

“No, Kyung. It took me months to find a new manager for Seulgi. You go back with Yeri and let Ara be the new manager.” Kyung let out a small breath and nodded. “Well, my life was always miserable anyway. Congratulations on your new job, Ara! You will see, Seulgi is so sweet,” the former manager said with a little smile. Ara only bowed her head a little and smiled back.

“Thank you. When will I meet Seulgi?” she asked.

“Tomorrow, Kyung will do all the presenting. Seulgi should’ve been here, but she had an important thing to do. Hopefully, she will be happy with my choice.” Jaeyi said, whispering in the end. Kyung looked at her in disbelief but said nothing.

“Well, we will go. Have a good day, Ms. Yoo,” said Kyung as she stood abruptly and bowed. Ara followed her movement, and they both left Jaeyi alone. The silence filled the room in a second, and Jaeyi took this moment to rest. She knew this silence, at least this peaceful silence, wasn’t here to stay.

Since the morning, her gut screamed at her to be careful. She still didn’t know what would happen or with whom, but the feeling suffocated her. She stood and went to her desk. She tried to get back to work, but the feeling of her chest tightening distracted her a lot. The more minutes passed, the worse the feeling got. She even felt like she barely breathed with how her chest was tightened. Finally, a knock resonated in the office. The person entered the room and went directly to the sofa. Jaeyi understood her gut now and breathed before joining the man. She purposely didn’t sit on the same sofa, and she felt his annoyance in that.

“I hate how you always face me. You can sit beside me, Jaeyi. I’m not going to hit you or eat you,” he said, joking around with a little smile. Jaeyi shook her head and waited for him to continue. The man said nothing and stared at the CEO with a smirk on his face. She rolled her eyes, and each of her hands was on the sofa, gripping it forcefully.

“Youngmin just said what you want to say. I have a lot of work to do and I need it to be done before 3 PM to pick up Heeyoung,” she said with a cold voice, holding eye contact like it was nothing important. Youngmin snorted and looked away for a second.

“I have a lot to say. I will start with the work. Your complaint was well received, and a judgment will take place in three months, I think. You don’t need to worry about Seulgi’s case. We will win,” he started calmly with confidence. Jaeyi felt relieved by the news and thanked him for his work. “Now, let’s talk about Heeyoung. I didn’t file a complaint for the fight she got into with a boy. I settled it amicably with the boy’s parent. You don’t need to worry too much about it.” Jaeyi frowned and gripped firmly the cloth of the sofa.

“It’s been months, and you are telling me this only now? I told you I wanted to file a complaint, not to bury it!” she said, her voice tinged with anger. Youngmin put his hand in front of him, motioning for her to calm down.

“Listen. I don’t think that for this little thing we should go this far. I spoke to their family, and they are rich and polite. They apologized to me and they promised me their boy would never get close to Heeyoung. You don’t need to know in detail about the deal. You can sleep at night, Heeyoung is safe now,” he defended himself using his deep and seductive voice. He knew how to convince people, even Jaeyi’s father. The CEO wasn’t happy about the situation at all. She hated it when he didn’t listen to her and pretended he knew better than her. She looked at him with rage, still gripping the sofa hard, but said nothing more. She knew it was useless and just a waste of energy. She closed her eyes for a few seconds and opened them again, his face appearing slowly in her vision.

“Also, I wanted to talk about another thing. I know I’m not really here for you and Heeyoung, work really takes all my time. I don’t say this as an excuse, okay? It’s just complicated these days. I also know you are busier than ever, and you had a hard time. You are courageous to do everything, Jaeyi. So, I was thinking how I could lift some weight off your shoulders. We could employ someone to take care of Heeyoung. I will send you all the women I found, and you choose the one you think you could trust enough. I will pay everything, no worries,” he proposed with a smile. Jaeyi hated it. She hated how he tried to give the best image of himself. How he tried to make Jaeyi understand that he still thought about her and her health. She hated him so much in a way she wanted him to disappear forever.

“No need. I already have someone that I trust enough,” she answered coldly, almost insulting. Youngmin straightened his body and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. “Who?”

“Woo Seulgi. She proposed herself not long ago. Heeyoung already loves her and trusts her. I think that’s enough. No need to pay, leave it to me,” she replied as coldly as before. Youngmin dropped her head for a second and then looked at her ex-wife.

“Woo Seulgi, huh? I didn’t know you were close to her. Isn’t she one of your artists?” he said, leaning back on the sofa and dropping his head backward. Jaeyi never had taken her eyes off him, but after she saw he was looking at the ceiling, she avoided his presence as much as possible from her vision.

“Not close. Just a friend, I guess. Artist or not, Heeyoung is always around her when she can.” Her voice was calmer and less cold. She stopped gripping the sofa, preferring to cross her arms on her chest. Youngmin hummed, but from his voice, he didn’t seem convinced by the answer.

“You guess? That’s weird. I thought you weren’t close to your artist or staff? Excepted Yeri and Kyung cause they were your friends before joining the agency.” A silence. Jaeyi knew what he tried to say, but she refused to speak more, afraid to betray herself. “Your silence said a lot, Jaeyi. Pretending I don’t know you. We are childhood friends, if you’ve forgotten. I know you are also attracted to women. I’m not dumb.” Jaeyi let out a mocking laugh.

“I think there is a misunderstanding there. I don’t love Seulgi that way, Youngmin. I got closer only because Heeyoung always finds a way to bump into her. I can’t ignore an artist who takes care of my daughter because her father can’t even find time.” Jaeyi gritted her teeth and gripped her arms strongly than she expected, feeling a small pain. Youngmin’s gaze went to her, and he sat correctly. His eyes weren’t soft and calm. They were dark. Dark from anger, dark from possessiveness, dark from impatience. He laughed loudly and put his hand on his forehead.

“To be honest, I don’t trust you for this one. Lucky you, Seulgi has a boyfriend. Byeong or whatever his name is. I’ve seen them multiple times together.” Jaeyi’s body straightened, and she tried to avoid his eyes. She ignored the weird feeling she felt in her stomach as her anger consumed her body. “Aren’t they just childhood friends? And how do you know that?” She asked with a hurried tone.

“Yeah, and we were also childhood friends. Don’t be ridiculous, a man and a woman can’t be friends. You know this. To answer the second question, he stood and sat beside Jaeyi. His mouth went closer to her ear. “Wall has ears and eyes, Jaeyi. I know all the secrets from here. So be careful, hum?” he whispered. Jaeyi shivered with each word from her ex-husband’s mouth. She turned her head slowly to look at him. Her body froze from fear, and her eyes opened wide. He smiled at her and put a strand of hair behind her ear. “I agree for Seulgi to take care of Heeyoung. I accept it only for you.” He stood and left the office.

Jaeyi stayed on her sofa, trying to comprehend what had just happened. She understood that there was someone in the agency, probably close to her, who told everything to her ex-husband. Her gut didn’t fail her again, and she now felt in danger. More than ever.

She let out a bitter laugh.

The next four days following the talk with Youngmin, Jaeyi was more tired than ever. She wasn’t only feeling tired, but also anxious, impatient, frustrated, and quite paranoid. Mr. Kim noticed how she acted unusually, how she was more observant, more strict, and more commanding. He found it almost unbearable. He was running everywhere, and when he tried to light her schedule, she ended up angry at him, almost insulting. He knew something was wrong, but preferred to stay silent. Jaeyi seemed more in a hurry, more irrational.

In the middle of the afternoon, Jaeyi sat on a sofa that was outside her office. She was close to Mr. Kim’s desk, but a wall separated them. She heard all the calls he made and the clicks from his computer keyboard. Mr. Kim saw her going there, but with all the work, he seemed to forget her presence. She then heard a feminine voice speaking to Mr. Kim.

“Hello, Mr. Kim! Is Ms. Yoo here?” Jaeyi recognized the voice rapidly and smiled. She looked in front of her, eyes empty.

“Woo Seulgi! Yes, Ms. Yoo is here. I don’t know if it’s a good idea to see her these days. She acts a little too unusually since her talk with her ex-husband,” he said shamelessly. Jaeyi frowned at how her assistant easily snitched on her.

“Oh? Something bad happened?” Seulgi asked. Her voice sounded a little worried and curious. For a reason, Jaeyi felt a warmth in her chest. “I think so. Mr. Kang isn’t a good person. Jaeyi told me nothing; she is quite aggressive. So, if you have bad news for her, I advise you to come back in a few more days. I said that for you, Ms. Woo,” he said calmly, and Seulgi hummed.

“That sounds bad for you, Mr. Kim. But that doesn’t scare me. Is she in her office?” she said confidently. Jaeyi smiled, appreciating how the woman thought she could stand up to her. She stood and walked just a few steps. She stopped in front of them and smiled.

“Well, I’m here.” She opened her office door and took Seulgi’s hand, dragging her into the room. She motioned for Seulgi to sit on the sofa. “You want to drink something? Coffee? Tea? Water?” She asked while staring at her with a big smile. Seulgi gazed at her confusedly.

“Water, please. Your assistant told me you weren’t in your best form. You seem in a good mood right now.” Seulgi said with a wary look. Jaeyi giggled and filled the glass with water. She gave it to Seulgi and sat beside her. Their body were close, knees almost touching. Jaeyi brought her hand to her lap and stared at Seulgi with a smile.

“I heard everything. My assistant can’t watch his mouth. Why are you here?” Jaeyi asked. Seulgi drank the water and looked at her as if she were analyzing her. The CEO didn’t have the patience for this, and her annoyance started to come back. “What? There is something?” she asked, her voice sounding more aggressive than she wanted to. The actress frowned and snorted.

“He is right, you are more defensive and aggressive,” she answered calmly. She put the glass on the low table and gazed at Jaeyi. “You look worse than the last time I saw you. Are you okay? You know, my proposition still stands, Jaeyi.” Her voice came out softly, almost like a whisper. Jaeyi closed her eyes for a second and brought her hand to her face.

“I look that tired? Gosh.” Seulgi nodded aggressively, and Jaeyi groaned. “I just can’t sleep at night these days. I can’t stop thinking about something. But, now you mentioned the proposition…” She stopped herself for a moment, still hesitating about it. She trusted Seulgi; she knew she would take care of Heeyoung, but still. Wouldn’t it be weird? Someone else than her picked up Heeyoung. Would even Heeyoung be happy about it? She felt something on her shoulder and looked at Seulgi.

“You are thinking too much, Jaeyi. Just trust me, Heeyoung won’t hate you because someone else picked her up at school.” She reassured her as if she had heard all her thoughts. Jaeyi puffed but didn’t move Seulgi’s hand off her shoulder.

“I have an important thing to do tomorrow. I don’t think I can pick Heeyoung up from school or even take care of her for the evening. Can you-” Seulgi cut her off. “Yes, of course, I have nothing to do tomorrow. Just send me the school address, and when you finish your work.” Seulgi moved her hand from Jaeyi’s shoulder and smiled at her. The older smiled back and looked away.

“Thank you. I will probably finish around 10 PM. I will try to be as fast as possible,” she said, feeling relieved, and also noticed how the room was starting to get hotter. Maybe it was just her body; she wasn’t sure. “Don’t thank me. It’s a pleasure to help.” Jaeyi started to play with her finger after Seulgi’s words.

“Also, I came here just to tell you thank you.” The older looked at the actress confusedly. “Thank me for what? I did nothing,” she questioned. Seulgi laughed quietly, and Jaeyi stared at her dumpling. “For the new manager! You listened to my request, so thank you. She is kind and serious. Less annoying than Kyung but more nosy,” she explained with a small laugh in the end. The CEO only watched her and nodded with a smile.

“It’s my job, Seulgi. Glad to know you are happy to work with Ara. Let me know if there is something,” she replied with a smile. Jaeyi was happy, actually, Seulgi made her day. She felt calmer, less defensive, and even let her guard off. She enjoyed the little moment of safety with Seulgi. The actress made the space more comfortable for Jaeyi, more peaceful. Her mind was less chaotic and rested. She won’t say the actress made her brain stop working, but she made her brain less worried.

“Okay, Ms. CEO. I do have a peaceful life, I don’t think I would ever come here to complain about something or come here because of a scandal.” The youngest said confidently, as if some weeks before, someone hadn’t broken into her home. Jaeyi laughed. “Have you forgotten about that man who broke into your home or what?” Seulgi looked at her, eyes wide open.

“Well, it wasn’t a scandal nor a complaint. It was for my security purpose, it doesn’t count, Jaeyi!” The CEO put her elbow on the back of the sofa and rested her head on her hand. She stared at the actress with a big smile. “You don’t date?” blurted out Jaeyi without thinking twice. Seulgi positioned herself like Jaeyi and looked at her with an amused face.

“Date? My last relationship dated back to, whoa, I think three years ago. I don’t have luck in that, so I don’t think you will ever see me here for this. I focus more on my career,” she replied, holding eye contact with Jaeyi. The older felt something in the air. She wasn’t sure if she was tripping or if Seulgi also felt it. Seeing the actress look at her with such seductive eyes didn’t help her much. She felt trapped.

“You and Byeong aren’t a thing?” she said without thinking for the second time. Her voice didn’t come out coldly or aggressively; she sounded genuinely curious. Seulgi stayed silent for a moment and frowned her eyes in disgust. “EW! I prefer to die than being with him! He is my brother, I already told you. Why would you think that?” Jaeyi laughed and covered her mouth with her other hand. She ignored the relieved feeling that settled in her chest.

“I’m just asking. You both are really close and always together,” she replied. Seulgi shook her head. “Okay, and? Woman and man can’t be friends?” she asked, one eyebrow raised.

“I didn’t say that! I think women and men can be friends. I was just wondering.” Jaeyi said, avoiding eye contact. She felt her heart race and a debut of what looked like panic. She heard Seulgi humming. “I didn’t expect to speak about these matters,” the actress admitted. “Well, send me the school location tonight. I need to go. It was nice to speak to you!” she said and stood. She bowed and left the room without waiting for Jaeyi to answer. The CEO stayed dumbfounded on the sofa, staring at the door that Seulgi just passed through.

She chuckled and lay down on the sofa. She closed her eyes and thought about the talk she had just had. She couldn’t help but find the woman cute and quite seductive. She didn’t know if she had just entered her delusional phase, but she saw how her eyes looked at her. They were perceiving her, amused and seductive, as if she were flirting. She pinched her lips together in a fine line. She hated herself for not analyzing Seulgi’s reaction. If her ears went red or if her body straightened. She breathed and got back to her work, more relaxed.

Jaeyi was invited to an important reunion and dinner with the biggest company in the country. Since JY Entertainment had a lot of important awards and reputation, especially in the music industry, Jaeyi was an important person to be there. Not only Jaeyi but also her father and sister. She got lucky, for the evening she will be alone. Her father couldn’t free his time, and her sister was still in Europe.

She has been in the meeting for now two hours, talking to an important person who proposed to her a business plan. Jaeyi didn’t hate these things, quite the opposite, but with all the stress she went through these past weeks, she wasn’t in her best form. She sat on her chair and sipped her glass of wine. She felt her phone buzz and looked at it. She saw a message from Seulgi. She opened it and saw a picture of her daughter eating something.

Cute actress: She looked a little too happy when she saw me.

Cute actress: Here is a picture, so you won’t be bothered about your daughter.

Cute actress: Heeyoung said “take your time”.

“Who makes you smile like that, Ms. Yoo? You found a new man?” Jaeyi startled when she heard the voice behind her. She looked up and saw Mr. Kang. She breathed and shook her head. “No, just a picture of Heeyoung. How are you, appa?” The old man laughed and sat beside her. “Yeah, of course, a picture of Heeyoung. I know that smile, not with me, Jaeyi. I’m doing well! You seem tired but in a good mood. Don’t hesitate to take a day off, you know!” Her gaze dropped to her glass of wine.

“It will pass. Someone help with Heeyoung, so I felt less of a weight on my shoulder. And no, I have nobody!” she said quickly. The man said nothing more and just smiled at her. She didn’t reply back to Seulgi, trying her best to maintain her professional face. She couldn’t even believed she was smiling like a dumbass behind her phone.

The rest of the evening went well and quickly for Jaeyi. She made new important contacts, new collaborations were in talks, and a lot of people congratulated her for signing Seulgi. She felt happy and satisfied about the meeting, and Mr. Kang even complimented her. It was really rare for the old man to say something positive; he was supportive but used compliments rarely. Jaeyi left the building as soon as she saw some people leaving. She didn’t want to disturb Seulgi much more.

She arrived at Seulgi’s building rapidly and directly went to her apartment door. She knocked three times, and after some seconds the door opened, showing Seulgi all smiling. The actress bowed and opened the door widely, motioning for her to enter.

“You came a little earlier than I expected,” began Seulgi. The CEO entered Seulgi’s living room and found the apartment quite cute and welcoming. It screamed Seulgi so much, a lot of books and a lot of art-related decoration. “Yeah, I came as soon as I saw some people leaving. I didn’t want to disturb you more,” replied Jaeyi. She wasn’t yet comfortable to sit on the sofa.

“Relax, Jaeyi, you can sit down, you know. Just make yourself at home,” she said softly. Jaeyi looked at her in disbelief. She couldn’t believe this was the second time the actress reassured her as if she were in her mind, and she didn’t know if she liked it or not. She listened to Seulgi and sat down on the sofa. “Where is Heeyoung?” Seulgi smiled at her.

“She is sleeping. You want to drink something? Not alcohol, I don’t have it.” She asked. Jaeyi asked for a soda, needing sugar. “Heeyoung is already sleeping? How have you done that?” The mother couldn’t believe her ears. Her daughter was sleeping at 9 PM in a stranger’s house. Well, not really a stranger, but still. Seulgi only shrugged her shoulders.

“I guess I’m just good with kids.” Jaeyi looked at her and bit her lip. She admitted that she felt something really strong in her. “Why are you staring at me like that? Did you just fall in love with me or what?” the actress said as she handed the can of soda to Jaeyi. The older frowned and snatched the can from Seulgi’s hand.

“What?! No! Stop saying nonsense.” She replied fast, a little too fast. She opened the can and drank a little. She felt a heat on her face and needed to cool down. She heard Seulgi laughing. “Yeah sure, then why is your face red?” teased Seulgi a little bit more. Jaeyi choked on her drink and coughed loudly. Seulgi tapped a little on her back while laughing. When Jaeyi regained her calm, she looked at the younger with dead eyes.

“You aren’t funny, Woo Seulgi,” she said seriously, making Seulgi’s smile disappear. After a few seconds of silence, Jaeyi started a discussion. “So, how many relationships have you been in?” She wanted to continue the discussion from yesterday. She was genuinely curious about Seulgi’s past. The other woman looked at her with no expression. She at first said nothing as if she were debating with herself whether she should speak about it or not. But then.

“Three. One in high school. Two after debuting. I only dated one celebrity, the other weren’t famous. My longest relationship was 3 years. My shortest was one year,” she replied.

“Oh, all your relationships were really serious.” Seulgi only nodded.

“What’s the point of dating if neither of the person aren’t serious about it? It’s just a waste of time.”

“You are right. Why did it end? You must have had a lot of hard time.” Jaeyi observed Seulgi. The actress was playing with her finger and avoided Jaeyi’s gaze as much as possible.

“Well, to resume. The first one was just a teen experience, you know. We were really in love, we dated for 2 years, but then I decided to be an actress. I signed a contract with an agency, and yeah. The person wasn’t ready for the public side. We broke up for that. The second one was kinda crazy. We did a lot of things, we were both celebrities, and the timing wasn’t on our side. Plus, I didn’t have the maturity to make the relationship work. Lastly, the third one was the hardest to move on from. The person was so patient and sweet with me. We dated for 3 years and 4 months. I fucked up because I was just focusing on my career. I still feel bad about it.” Seulgi said. She wasn’t emotional, quite the opposite. She said all this with such detachment.

“You moved on from all of them?” Her curiosity took control of her. Seulgi nodded with a big smile. “Of course! My last relationship was three years ago, Jaeyi. I’m well like this. The hardest one was still the last one.”

“Must be an awesome man.” A sudden silence fell on them. It wasn’t a comfortable one; Jaeyi felt like she had said something wrong. She watched Seulgi closely and remarked how hesitant she was. She played with her fingers, gaze dropping on them, and lips biting out of what seemed to be frustration.

“I never dated a man, Jaeyi. Only women,” she finally let out. Jaeyi raised her eyebrows and formed an ‘o’ with her closed mouth. Seulgi looked back at her, eyes full of worry. The older understood her silence may be taken wrongly.

“Man or woman that changes nothing, Seulgi. I just didn’t expect it.” She felt Seulgi’s body relax after she spoke.

“Did you just fucking called me straight?” Jaeyi scratched the back of her neck and stayed silent. Seulgi tapped her shoulder playfully. “What about you? You only had Youngmin?” asked Seulgi. The CEO felt joy in her chest knowing the actress was also curious about her.

“No. I had a relationship with a woman in high school, and then just little things. I started dating Youngmin when I was like twenty years old. We got married the next year and got Heeyoung one year after the wedding. We divorced officially two years ago. I just didn’t feel safe around him. He has two faces. I really loved him, though, but I can’t stand some actions, especially lies.” Seulgi frowned her eyebrow and drank her soda.

“So, you aren’t straight.” The older rolled her eyes. “With all I said, you only remembered this stupid detail.” Seulgi tapped Jaeyi’s shoulder again. “It’s not stupid! I just don’t like your ex-husband, and with everything I learn from your daughter, I’m not that shocked!” They both laughed.

“You got married so early. I could never.” Jaeyi only shrugged her shoulders. “When you love someone really deeply, early or late, it doesn’t matter.”

“My apologies, Ms. Romantic,” joked around Seulgi as she bowed her head. Jaeyi snorted, and instead of tapping her, she stroked her hair. The actress’s eyes went wide, probably not expecting the CEO’s sudden action. Jaeyi took advantage of the situation and brought her mouth closer to Seulgi’s ear. “You are beautiful, Woo Seulgi,” she whispered before leaning back enough to see her face. Seulgi’s face was red and completely in disbelief. Jaeyi smiled to herself and created a gap between them.

“What the fuck was that?” Seulgi said. The CEO noticed how her voice was trembling and giggled. “You call me Ms. Romantic, no? Plus, it’s my revenge for earlier.” Seulgi shook her head slightly and drank the rest of her soda. Jaeyi noticed how the actress was still flustered and felt her heart race. The awareness of her heartbeat made her smile disappear. She knew she needed to put a name on it soon.

They both talked longer without paying attention to time. They joked around, sometimes their finger touching each other, sometimes their leg or feet. Jaeyi noticed how they both tilted toward each other when they laughed. She even rested her head on Seulgi’s shoulder as she laughed. She felt happy and safe, something she hadn’t felt with someone since forever. She loved this moment, how she got closer to Seulgi naturally, how she learned Seulgi’s past relationship, how Seulgi trusted her enough to come out. She loved each second around the woman. She even felt disappointed when she decided to go home. She wanted to keep speaking to Seulgi, joke with her, and feel like living again.

She knew deep inside that she had started to fall in love with Seulgi.

And this night, the moment she saw how Seulgi was good at taking care of Heeyoung, the flame started to light.

And it was already growing stronger each time she spoke to Seulgi or saw her with Heeyoung.

Chapter Text

After that night, Jaeyi felt that she and Seulgi got much closer. The atmosphere between them never ended cold or awkward, even when both stayed silent. They learned to enjoy each other’s presence and just being comfortable, like two old friends who met after years. Jaeyi felt safe and calm around the other woman; she even noticed how she felt less anxious and frustrated around Seulgi. She was aware of the actress’s effect on her, and she tried to get used to it. She still didn’t know how to take this new information or even what to do with it. She hesitated to be distant from the actress, but after some deep reflection, she concluded it was not a good idea.

After all, the actress trusted her enough to come out and speak about her last relationships. Jaeyi has also done one of the stupidest moves that could easily be understood as a flirt. Well, technically, she was flirting, but she preferred to ignore that fact. She just couldn’t be distant after everything. Plus, Heeyoung wasn’t helping her mother; she still wanted to see Seulgi as much as she could. She even ended up begging her mother to stop picking her up and asking Seulgi to do it instead. Jaeyi found the situation ironic; she who had been worried about her daughter taking it badly if she stopped picking her up from school.

In the end, Heeyoung got what she wanted, not because her mother gave in, but mostly because Jaeyi didn’t have enough time anymore. She almost collapsed once, and since then, she has tried to be more careful, not wanting to end up in her father’s hospital. At first, Jena was the one who took care of Heeyoung, but her sister wasn’t always available since she traveled a lot for her job. Jaeyi tried to convince Youngmin, but of course without any success. So, she didn’t have a choice but to ask Seulgi again.

The actress didn’t say no and took care of Heeyoung like it was the most natural thing for her to do. It was for an evening, then two, then a day, then two, and then Seulgi took care of Heeyoung by force of habit. Jaeyi just needed to text her, and the actress replied with a ‘yes’ before she even asked her. She felt bad at first, she even apologized once, but with time, she just accepted the situation. Seulgi was to Heeyoung a second aunt, something close to it. Jaeyi didn’t know if she liked it or not. It wasn’t about trust, or jealousy, or how close Heeyoung was to Seulgi.

No.

It was something else. Something she knew from that night, but still had a hard time swallowing the information. She knew deep inside her the truth, her subconscious was screaming at her, but her conscious refused to accept it. Not this fast, not like this. This was too easy, too childish, too natural. She always found herself, late at night, thinking about the same thing, the same person, and the same problem. Sometimes her thoughts interrupted her in the middle of her work, just to think about her. Her work got impacted because of it, and she always felt like throwing herself out of the window. She didn’t even need to cut her nails anymore; she did it with her mouth without even being aware of it. When she thought she had liberated herself from one of her fatigues, she ended up with something worse.

She didn’t think only about that night, of course not. Since Seulgi took care of Heeyoung, Jaeyi ended up at Seulgi’s apartment more often. It started to be like a ritual. If Heeyoung was awake, Jaeyi picked her up and went home directly. But, if Heeyoung was asleep, Jaeyi stayed drinking and speaking with Seulgi. It even happened that they both stayed until 1 AM talking. Jaeyi noticed how the time always flew faster when she was around her, and she knew it because she felt safe. If only it were just times to times the night talks, but Seulgi hadn’t lied when she said she was good with kids. Most of the time, Heeyoung was sleeping in Seulgi’s bed. She tried to unravel Seulgi’s secret, but the actress only shrugged her shoulders every time, saying she had some secret tricks.

They always talked about everything and anything, nothing too serious, nothing too deep. They learned basic things about each other, what they liked or hated, some funny childhood memories, just like two news people trying to know each other on a surface level. Jaeyi found Seulgi funny, kind, hard working, smart, generous… a little too much for Jaeyi. They, eventually, ended up flirting subtly. Jaeyi started it, without thinking much; she just did it, and Seulgi flirted back. The first time, it caught Jaeyi off guard, but with time, it was the most natural thing between the two women.

Jaeyi didn’t know if Seulgi took it like a game or something for fun. She didn’t even know if she, herself, took it seriously or not. Every time Seulgi flirted, it affected Jaeyi without any doubt, but not to the point she would tell herself she was in love or something close to it. But every word the actress told her never left her mind; she just constantly repeated the moment. She couldn’t even complain, after all, she was the one who started it. If she only thought about Seulgi or her flirty side, it was only her fault.

She was still thankful to have Seulgi in her life; she made her life more interesting and entertaining, even for her daughter, who always spoke about the actress. Her daughter once had the wonderful chance to accompany Seulgi to her shooting. She didn’t stop talking about that day for a week, how wonderful it was, how Seulgi was cool, how she wanted to be an actress just like Seulgi. Jaeyi almost regretted giving the actress her green light. But, she felt relieved when she didn’t hear any complaints from Heeyoung about the other staff member or actors. In the end, she was right to trust Seulgi.

Funny, how now, in her office, she still thought about her when she had a lot of work to do.

A knock woke Jaeyi up from her thoughts. She looked toward the door and saw Kyung with Yeri. They both bowed and dropped onto the sofa.

“What a horrible day! Please, Jaeyi, I want to switch up with Ara! Let me be Seulgi’s manager again, I beg you!” complained Kyung, hands joined in a prayer position. Yeri scoffed and looked at Kyung, offended. “This is a joke? You did nothing today! You didn’t even bring me my usual coffee!” complained Yeri, punching her manager slightly. Jaeyi rolled her eyes and laughed. She sat on the opposite sofa to face them.

“Just kiss already! You both are annoying me so much.” She began, looking at them deadpan. Yeri crossed her arms against her chest and smirked.

“You speak a lot for someone who is always deep in thought because of a certain actress.” She fought back, winking at her confidently. Jaeyi opened her mouth, ready to fight back, then closed it, not knowing what to say. “Oh, so Seulgi is really living in your head? I told you, Kyung! She was acting weird since Seulgi took care of Heeyoung more often!” Clapping sounds were resonating in the room. Yeri was smiling as she had just found a chest full of gold, and Kyung looked at Jaeyi in disbelief.

“Seriously, Jaeyi? What did she do for you to be that distracted?” Asked Kyung, curious as ever. Jaeyi snorted, knowing she was in trouble. She hesitated for a second, wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to open up about the situation, but she needed an opinion about the situation, even a solution. She looked at the two women in front of her and breathed in defeat.

“Promise me you won’t say a word to Seulgi. If I know you snitched on me, you are both dead!” Jaeyi threatened them. The two women gulped and nodded rapidly. “You can trust us, Jaeyi! We knew you before knowing her, anyway. What’s going on?” Kyung said softly. Jaeyi inhaled and closed her eyes, preparing herself and her pride.

“Well, you see, Heeyoung is a big fan of Seulgi, and she ended up seeing her a lot when Seulgi signed up here. We talked, like what, twice or three times? It was never deep, only small talk. We talked only because Heeyoung was with her when I searched for her. Once I told Seulgi something that she didn’t like, and she ignored me. Everyone knows that. Then I invited her to drink something just to make it up about it. I hated how she ignored me. After that, we had small talks, but you both know that.” Kyung and Yeri nodded and stayed quiet, waiting for Jaeyi to continue.

“After the weeks of her absence, when she came back, she bumped into me and we drank something together. I told her I wanted to be close to her. After that, we started to talk more via messages, and I even dropped her off at her house. Then, I got too many things to do, so I stopped texting her. We saw each other at Byeong’s concert. He proposed himself to take care of Heeyoung so that Seulgi and I could be alone.” Yeri opened her eyes wide and clapped her hands once loudly.

“Byeong did that? Like he said ‘Need time alone?’ when Seulgi was around?” Jaeyi nodded slowly, not quite understanding the reaction. “Girl? That’s weird!” Kyung rolled her eyes and motioned for Yeri to calm down.

“Ignore her. Just continue, Jaeyi.” Said Kyung calmly.

“So, we talked and she told me if I needed help with Heeyoung, she could take care of her. I thanked her, but you know I didn’t think about it much cause, you know, Seulgi is too kind. Oh, she also indirectly said she liked to text me. Ok. So, then, it happened that I needed someone to pick Heeyoung up from school and take care of her for an evening. Seulgi accepted it, and then, when I wanted to pick up Heeyoung, I ended up staying in Seulgi’s apartment because Heeyoung was sleeping. We talked, we spoke about our relationships, and you know, just talking. I may have flirted with her at some point.” Yeri cut her off for the second time.

“You mean what by flirt?” Yeri looked at her with anticipation. “Like whispering to her ear, she is beautiful? I don’t know, to be honest.” Kyung and Yeri looked at her, their jaws dropped. The manager motioned for her to continue.

“Well, after that night, Seulgi became the second aunt to Heeyoung. My daughter is always in Seulgi’s apartment now. So, when Heeyoung is sleeping, I just stay with Seulgi talking and drinking, not alcohol! I precise. We spoke about everything and anything, nothing too deep, just like trying to know each other on the surface. But then, we started to flirt and I don’t know.” The two women looked briefly at each other and giggled.

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Asked Kyung. “Tell us more. You don’t know what? If you love her? In what stage are you both? Be more precise.” Jaeyi swore she could see a pen and a note in Kyung’s hands.

“Yes. I don’t think I love her. I mean, yeah sure, she takes care of Heeyoung really well, she is kind, smart, talented, and generous. I love talking to her, I feel safe, and I don’t know. It’s weird. It’s ridiculous! Just because she’s taking care of my daughter, I’m asking myself dumb questions.” Jaeyi frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. She even felt a small pain because of how hard she furrowed her eyebrows. Kyung and Yeri looked at her, a little worried but amused by the sight.

“Oh Jaeyi… you’re just in love with Seulgi. It’s alright, you know.” Jaeyi gave a dead look to Yeri. “I’m not in love with her!” Yeri shrugged.

“Jaeyi, be serious. Why are you flirting with her if you aren’t at least interested? It’s confusing, and you might give the wrong signal to Seulgi.” Yeri nodded aggressively to her manager’s words. Jaeyi let out a deep exhale and looked at them both. “Perhaps, you are just scared?” A silence. Jaeyi only stared at them without saying a word.

Maybe she was, in fact, scared.

“Well, your silence said a lot. If you aren’t sure about your feelings, why don’t you just invite Seulgi on an outing with your daughter? I don’t know, go to an amusement park, something like this, and see. I’m sure Seulgi won’t say no.” Kyung proposed a plan. Yeri put her thumbs up to show her agreement.

“Going to an amusement park with Seulgi and Heeyoung… I don’t know.” She answered. In that moment, she understood she was scared.

“Just do it, Jaeyi! At least, you will stop thinking about it and will accept that you and Seulgi are in the flirting stage or whatever.” Yeri said in desperation. “If Seulgi flirted back, it means you have a chance with her!” Jaeyi’s body straightened. “A chance? You think?” The two women laughed.

“Oh Jaeyi…”

Jaeyi walked around her sofa in the middle of her living room. Her finger on her lip, biting her nails, while the other hand tapped in a fast motion on her arm. Her eyebrows were furrowing, and her eyes were looking everywhere and nowhere. She stopped short in front of the low table where her phone was set. She stared at it for what looked like minutes to Jaeyi. She sighed loudly and bit her lips out of frustration and hesitation. She was lost, she wasn’t sure of herself, and she was scared. Her heart didn’t stop beating fast since she had that idea. Her chest was tight, and something in her throat threatened to throw up. She passed her hand on her hair and turned to the city view. She hated how unsure she was; it wasn’t like her. She closed her eyes and took multiple deep breaths, losing herself to her concentration on regaining control of the anxiety that had settled in her.

“Mom, what are you doing?” The little voice startled her, and she turned to her daughter, who was looking at her curiously. Jaeyi smiled softly at her daughter and sat on the couch. She motioned for Heeyoung to sit beside her, which the girl did without any hesitation. Heeyoung found herself hugging her mother, forehead on her neck. Jaeyi stroked her daughter’s hair, feeling her anxiety vanish. “Why aren’t you sleeping?” she asked softly, almost whispering. Heeyoung leaned back slightly to look at her mother and pouted.

“I can’t sleep.” Jaeyi frowned but let out a laugh. “You can’t sleep? What Seulgi do so you sleep early?” Heeyoung looked at her and pouted more. “I already tried everything, I just can’t sleep. Maybe I didn’t run enough today.” Jaeyi giggled. “And you, Mom?” She hummed for a second and smiled at her daughter.

“I was just thinking about what we should do for your next outing.” Heeyoung bounced and looked at her mother with hopeful eyes. “Mom, I know! What about an aquarium? These days, a lot of people talk about this. I also want to see sharks! Please!” Heeyoung brought her hands together and begged her mother. Jaeyi rolled her eyes and nodded. “If that’s what you want, of course we can.” Her daughter screamed and jumped out of the sofa.

“Thank you, Mom! Can Seulgi come?” Jaeyi froze and looked at her daughter deadpan. “Heeyoung, leave that poor woman alone. Don’t you think you see her enough?” the little girl shook her head.

“No! Seulgi said she also wanted to visit an aquarium. Aren’t you friends with her? You should ask her, please?” she begged with a big smile. Jaeyi sighed in exhaustion. “I will ask her.” Heeyoung thanked her mother and then went to her bedroom.

Jaeyi looked at her phone, and the feeling in her chest slowly came back. She, now, didn’t have a choice but to contact her. She picked up her phone and started to write something. She read it once, then deleted it. She wrote something for a second time, but found herself deleting everything. She felt the sweat on her hand and how her throat contained something at the back of her mouth. She hated the feeling. She wrote something without thinking much and clicked to send. She reread it and regretted instantly the move. She turned off her phone and threw it on the table.

“I need alcohol,” she whispered as she felt herself going into insanity with each passing minute in this life. She stood and went to her bar. She took one bottle of white wine and poured it into her glass. She went back to the living room with the bottle of wine and her glass. She stood in front of the window and sipped her drink. She watched Seoul glowing with the night’s life and let herself be lost in her thoughts. Seoul was pretty at night, dangerous if you walked in the street, but beautiful if you looked at it from afar. The view always reminded her how a pretty thing could be a trick, a trap, something that could hide a lot of hideous aspects. The privilege to see such a city from afar, in height, also reminded her of how powerful she was. Being far from details, from the disgusting aspect of living too close to danger, insecurity, and the fast life, but still being aware of it, reminded her how being out of the herd of sheep made her more controlling, more powerful.

The sound from her phone brought her back to her surroundings. She snorted and dropped onto the sofa. She picked up her phone, lay on the sofa, and when she turned the screen on, she saw a notification from Seulgi. Her lips formed a smile before her brain could even authorize it.

Cute actress: Omg, she really thought of me for this? Of course I’m in! I want to see sharks!

Cute actress: Just tell me when and where. I finished my shooting, so technically I don’t have a heavy schedule.

Jaeyi let her phone hit her head and groaned. She stayed like this for a few seconds, then took her phone, ready to answer Seulgi. A call came in the moment she wanted to write the first letter.

Jungsu.

Jaeyi jumped from the couch and picked up the call fast. “Jungsu?” she spoke first. After two seconds of silence, the man’s voice came out calmly.

“Hey, Jaeyi! How are you? I hope I don’t disturb you right now?” he asked.

“No, I’m doing well. What about you?” Jaeyi was well aware of why Jungsu was calling her, but didn’t want to sound impatient.

“I don’t know. You know, my family are as shitty as your. Anyway, it will be for another day. I’m calling you about Youngmin.” Jaeyi held her breath at the mention of her ex-husband. “I tried to speak with him about you and your agency. I didn’t have a lot of information, but he seems to know what he is doing. He, how to say this…” a silence.

“Just say it like it is, Jungsu,” she answered, her patience nowhere to be found.

“I saw some interesting photos. He not only knows what’s going on, he also has proof of it. Most pictures aren’t of you, though,” he said calmly, seeming to be careful with each word used.

“What do you mean?” She felt her heart beating faster and an uncomfortable feeling settling in her rib cage.

“Seulgi. He has pictures of Seulgi, from her shooting, in the agency, with Heeyoung, and also, with you.” Jaeyi let out the breath she was holding and closed her eyes. A silence took place for a few seconds. “Jaeyi, what kind of relationship do you have with Seulgi? Not to be nosy, but you seem close to her, and I thought you don’t do that with the artist you sign up.” She stayed silent, not knowing what to say. “If you don’t want to tell me, it’s okay. Just know I’m here for you if you need anything!” She smiled at his reassuring tone.

“I didn’t plan to be this close to Seulgi, it’s happened naturally because of Heeyoung. She took care of my daughter, so you know, I made sure she was trustworthy enough. She is just-” She stopped short as she bit her lips hardly. “friend,” she said almost in a whisper. It felt so wrong for Jaeyi to call Seulgi a friend. So, so wrong.

“Friend, huh?” she heard him laugh. “You know, Father told me you found a new man! I guess he was just wrong about the gender, huh!” A laugh followed his sentence. Jaeyi stared at her knees, completely dumbfounded. “I don’t judge! I support you no matter what! Now I understand Youngmin’s insecurity.”

“Jungsu… Seulgi and I are just friends. Nothing more, don’t say to people nonsense!” she heard Jungsu giggle. “Yeah, of course, Jaeyi. Don’t worry, it will be our secret.” Jaeyi wanted to slap him so hard, before she could fight back, the man continued to speak.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t find out the person who provided him all the information. Be careful with your surroundings, except Seulgi!” Jaeyi groaned.

“Okay. Thank you for everything, Jungsu. You know where to find me if you need anything.”

“Anything for my favorite sister! Bye, Jaeyi. Take care and rest well, too!” She thanked him and hung up the call. She took one deep breath and threw her head back. She didn’t know what to think about everything. She only felt bad that Seulgi was observed closely by Youngmin. She didn’t even know what her ex-husband wanted from the actress.

Is he jealous of her? Felt a little threatened?

She shook her head and opened the message app to answer Seulgi. She reread the messages, and she instantly felt better. A smile formed on her face the second she saw the contact’s name. She wrote something simple and sent it without thinking too much.

Saturday, around 1 PM. I will pick you up.

Saturday day came too slowly for Jaeyi’s taste. She won’t lie, she was excited for this day and anxious as hell. She wasn’t feeling like this because she was going to pass an afternoon with Seulgi, no. She was anxious because she knew she wouldn’t have a choice but to accept what her subconscious was screaming. She didn’t know if she was ready for this. She even thought about cancelling the plan, but she quickly threw the idea. She knew she would call herself a coward if she did this. Jaeyi wasn’t the type to run away from an uncomfortable situation.

She was driving the car to Seulgi’s apartment with Heeyoung behind. Her daughter was enthusiastic and didn’t stop speaking about fish facts for hours. Jaeyi was quite impressed by her daughter’s random facts. Arriving at Seulgi’s building, she texted her and waited for two minutes before Seulgi sat in the passenger seat.

“Hey! How are you both?” she said happily. She looked at Jaeyi and then turned back to Heeyoung.

“Seulgi unnie! I’m doing well, and you?!” Heeyoung asked all excited. Seulgi giggled and buckled her seat belt. “I’m doing good. Can’t wait to see the sharks.” Jaeyi stared at Seulgi, feeling her heart racing a bit faster. She turned her gaze to the road and started to drive.

“What about you, Jaeyi?” Seulgi asked. The CEO briefly looked at Seulgi and smiled slightly.

“I’m good, and to be honest, not that excited to see fish being captured in some aquarium for human entertainment.” She felt Seulgi’s gaze on her and heard a soft chuckle.

“Mom! Stop killing the joy! Plus, aquariums are useful to maintain species that are about to disappear forever!” Heeyoung fought back, making her mother roll her eyes. The actress only laughed.

“She is quite right,” added Seulgi with a smirk. Jaeyi only groaned and stayed focused on the road. Through the drive, the actress and Heeyoung spoke without stopping for a second. Jaeyi found it fascinating to see them speaking that much. It was the first time she saw them interacting fully, not only ten minutes of what mostly looked like a fan meeting. Now, they seem closer, speaking about anything and everything, even about school. Seulgi knew all of Heeyoung’s friends’ names and seemed to know more than Jaeyi. The CEO wasn’t feeling jealous about it or took it badly, quite the opposite. She enjoyed their interaction, how Heeyoung felt comfortable speaking about her week in school and the gossip. She even wondered what they were saying when she wasn’t around them.

Jaeyi parked the car and got out of it. The two other girls did the same, and Heeyoung, with all her excitement, ran toward the entrance door. Jaeyi groaned, knowing in advance that her daughter would be annoying. She turned her head toward Seulgi as she heard her laugh.

“What?” she asked.

“You looked already exhausted. Your eyebrows looked like they would stay frowned forever.” Seulgi joked. Jaeyi relaxed her eyebrows and gave a gentle smile to Seulgi.

“My daughter can be a pain in ass when she wants to. Watch her being one today. I already feel it from one hundred kilometers.” Seulgi laughed out loud and walked toward the entrance where Heeyoung was waiting for them.

“Heeyoung, stay close to us!” screamed Seulgi as she walked with an ounce of authority that Jaeyi had never heard before. She joined them but decided to be a little distant, watching Seulgi with Heeyoung. She finally noticed what Seulgi was wearing, a black top with a dark purple flannel and a dark jeans that were a little large. She also had a cap and a mask in her hands. She knew the actress tried to be as discreet as possible. She forgot about that detail. Seulgi was popular, and she took her to a public place. She started to bite her fingernails as the guilt settled on her chest. The moment they entered the aquarium, Seulgi took Jaeyi’s wrist and moved it out of her face.

“Stop eating your nails. I didn’t know that going to see fish captured would make you that anxious.” The actress said while laughing. Jaeyi rolled her eyes and walked faster until she was beside her daughter. Seulgi quickly joined them, taking Heeyoung’s hand.

The walk through the aquarium was surprisingly calm. Seulgi knew how to contain Heeyoung’s excitement without any problem. They both spoke and criticized the fish they were seeing. Sometimes, Heeyoung said some facts about some fish, sometimes it was Seulgi. Jaeyi couldn’t believe that Seulgi also has some knowledge about fish. They were both laughing, enjoying the sight of the water and all types of water animals.

Jaeyi always stayed behind, not because she didn’t want to join their talk or moment, but mostly because she preferred the sight of them. She loved how Seulgi was soft to her daughter, patient, and gave her all her attention. She loved how Heeyoung spoke with excitement to Seulgi, how she listened to her, and how she was comfortable enough to hug Seulgi when she wanted. It was a pleasant sight to Jaeyi. She always prayed to see something like this one day, even if it wasn’t with Youngmin. Seeing Seulgi taking care of Heeyoung, almost like it was her kid, made Jaeyi’s heart skip a beat.

She opened the camera app on her phone and took a few pictures of them. They all enjoyed the moment on their own. Heeyoung stopped in front of a particular fish and pulled Seulgi’s arms.

“Seulgi unnie, look! Mom! Look! The fish is so beautiful, so elegant!” She pointed to the fish by touching the pane. The actress immediately took down her arm. “Heeyoung, I told you not to touch the pane.” Heeyoung apologized without a second, making her mom proud. Jaeyi looked at the fish, and she found it pretty.

“It’s a Siamese fighting fish, also known as Betta splendens. It’s very pretty,” said Seulgi. Jaeyi looked at the fish more closely. The fish was big, blue, and had a half-moon fin. The fish swam elegantly.

“It’s gorgeous, just like you.” Jaeyi startled at Seulgi’s voice and turned around just to see the actress an inch from her. Her gaze went down to her left, but didn’t see Heeyoung. “No worries, she is just behind watching the angelfish.” Jaeyi felt her heart race suddenly as if she had just understood the situation. She felt a heat on her face and prayed god she wasn’t blushing.

“You are cute when you are all fluttered.” Crushing her prayer in the void. Seulgi smiled and walked toward Heeyoung, leaving Jaeyi alone. She blinked multiple times, her face felt hotter, and she knew she was doomed. She passed her hand through her hair and joined them after she had cooled down.

“Mom, there are penguins too!” Heeyoung pulled her mother to the penguin section, and Seulgi followed them just behind. “Look! They are so adorable, oh my god.” Jaeyi looked at the penguin and then smiled at her daughter. “Indeed, they are cute.” Heeyoung pointed out two penguins that were close to each other, and someone from the staff spoke to her.

“You love penguins?” Jaeyi’s gaze went to the staff person who was smiling at Heeyoung. It was a woman who seemed to be the same age as Jaeyi. The little girl nodded and started to ask questions. Jaeyi turned her head as she felt a presence beside her. Her eyes met Seulgi’s, and she grinned at her. “This is a couple! It’s a particular one, though.” The voice of the staff brought Jaeyi’s attention.

“What do you mean by particular?” asked Seulgi with a curious tone. The staff’s gaze fell on Seulgi and seemed to freeze for a moment. She then looked at Jaeyi and let out an anxious giggle as if she was just aware of who she was talking to. “They are both girls. I said particular because usually what comes first to people’s minds is a heterosexual relationship. You know, what they call nature. But with penguins, it’s not rare, they aren’t the first homosexual couple,” the staff said carefully with a small smile. Jaeyi’s attention went to Heeyoung, who seemed to try understanding what the staff was saying.

“Is that possible?” she asked innocently. The woman only nodded and pointed to the couple as a reference. “Yes, look at them! It’s nothing bad.” The little girl watched them and smiled. “If they are happy, then yes, it’s not bad!” she said with a big smile on her face. Jaeyi let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding and felt relieved. She felt a little punch on her arm and looked at Seulgi.

“You educate your daughter well,” she simply said with a smile before joining the conversation about penguins. Jaeyi stayed in her place, brain frozen, and her gaze fell on the floor. A smile slowly appeared on her face as she repeated what Seulgi told her.

“Can I get an autograph?” The question brought Jaeyi into the present, and she watched Seulgi interacting with the other woman. Seulgi smiled at her and nodded.

“Yes, sure!” The woman brought a pen and asked Seulgi to sign her autograph on her cap. “Are you sure?” The woman only nodded. While Seulgi signed her fan’s cap, the woman didn’t stop complimenting her about her skill and how much she loved her. Jaeyi paid close attention to everything, and with each word said by the fan, Jaeyi felt an uneasy feeling settle in her. She felt someone taking her hand and saw Heeyoung.

“You look like you want to kill the woman.” She said nonchalantly, making Jaeyi breathe hard through her nose. When the fan said goodbye, Seulgi joined them with a smile.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have taken my mask off. I thought my cap would be enough.” Seulgi said in an apologetic tone. Jaeyi shook her head slightly. “It’s okay. We are in public, so it would have happened anyway, Ms. Popular,” she answered with a teasing smirk, making Seulgi roll her eyes.

The rest of their visit went calmly without any disturbance. Seulgi and Heeyoung were the ones who controlled the pace of the visit. One moment they stopped for minutes in front of a specific species, one moment they just looked for a second, and then they walked. Jaeyi stayed behind, observing the two girls interacting and speaking. She was trying to find an answer, something that would make the storm in her head stop. Sometimes Seulgi slowed down her track and stayed beside Jaeyi, speaking a little. Their hands brushed each other from time to time. She loved how Seulgi paid attention to her, making sure the outing wasn’t only about Heeyoung.

They finally went to the last section where the sharks were. Heeyoung’s excitement suddenly burst, and she started running through the room. Jaeyi crossed her arms and groaned loudly, making Seulgi laugh.

“Stop laughing!” Jaeyi complained. The actress walked faster and lifted Heeyoung. The little girl laughed loudly, and when her feet landed on the floor, she suddenly calmed down. Jaeyi stayed still, jaw dropped at how easily Seulgi calmed Heeyoung. She joined them and looked at a medium-sized shark that swam in front of them. She heard Seulgi laugh.

“They look like Byeong. Dumb.” Jaeyi frowned but let out a small laugh. Heeyoung gasped. “If I said this to Uncle Byeong, would he be happy?” Seulgi turned her head fast toward Heeyoung and shook her head.

“You won’t say this to him, okay? I trust you!” The little girl only laughed and walked toward the exit without waiting for the two women. Jaeyi sighed, and Seulgi chuckled.

“You didn’t lie when you told me she was hyperactive.” The actress said with a calm tone. She took Jaeyi’s hand and pulled her toward the exit. The CEO’s gaze dropped to their hands linked, and she heard her heart beating impossibly fast through her ears. Heeyoung was waiting for them. When Seulgi was beside Heeyoung, she shook her head.

“Heeyoung, I told you to stay close to us.” She said in an authoritative tone. Jaeyi didn’t pay attention to what was happening, her gaze and mind still on their hands. When she heard finger clapping, her attention came back to them. “Your daughter is thirsty .” Jaeyi let out a short hum and looked at Heeyoung, who was frowning confusedly. She cleared her throat.

“Yes. We can go to a café. I know a spot.” She dropped Seulgi’s hand and walked toward her car. She didn’t wait for them; she knew they would follow. She got in her car and breathed deeply, taking the two seconds of loneliness to get a grip on herself. Seulgi and Heeyoung didn’t take long to join her, and she immediately started the car.

When they arrived at Jaeyi’s spot, they all commanded a drink and Jaeyi paid, of course. The oldest proposed going to the park beside, so Heeyoung could play and run as much as she wanted. Of course, it was an excuse. She wanted to stay with Seulgi alone without her daughter listening to everything. Seulgi gladly accepted, and they were now sitting on a bench while Heeyoung was playing with some random kids.

“Thank you for today.” Seulgi began with a soft tone. Jaeyi looked at her and bit her lip.

“No, I should be the one to thank you. You always take care of Heeyoung even in your free time. You could have said no to this outing.” She replied calmly, avoiding Seulgi’s gaze.

“It’s nothing. I have nothing to do, anyway. I wanted to go out with both of you.” Jaeyi slowly repeated her sentence in her mind, and she slowly felt an anxious feeling settle on her chest. She looked at Seulgi, who was already staring at her. Jaeyi felt her heart beat fast for a second.

“Both of us? I didn’t know you wanted to spend some time with me,” she said with a teasing smirk, trying to play cool. Seulgi seemed to understand what she had just said and avoided the CEO’s gaze. Jaeyi’s elbow was on her knees, and she rested her head on her palm, her body tilted forward.

“And now you’re all shy?” She teased even more. Her gaze went to Seulgi’s ears and noticed how red they were. She positioned herself closer to the actress and passed her finger on Seulgi’s ear. “It’s cute how your ears go red when you’re all flustered.” She said with her seductive tone. Seulgi grabbed Jaeyi’s wrist and put it down, close to her thigh.

“Don’t touch there,” She replied in a whisper.

“Sensitive?” Jaeyi asked. The actress only nodded shyly, avoiding Jaeyi. The CEO stared at Seulgi’s profile and smiled. “You know, if you wanted to spend time with me, you could have told me. I would have prepared something just for you and me.” Seulgi turned fast toward Jaeyi with wide eyes.

“What?!” Jaeyi laughed at her reaction.

“What? You don’t want that?” She asked, elbow on the back of the bench and her head resting on her hand. Seulgi was flustered by the question and cleared her throat.

“Is it your way to propose a date?” Jaeyi hummed and nodded. She watched Seulgi carefully and observed an ounce of hesitation.

“You are hesitating. There is something?” Seulgi snorted while her gaze dropped to the floor.

“Isn’t it weird?” Jaeyi looked confusedly at Seulgi as she suddenly felt regret and a little lost. “What do you mean?” She asked with a trembling voice. The actress still refused to look at Jaeyi.

“You never go out with other artists. I’m the only one you meet alone without any other staff. You are also my CEO, and it felt a little wrong, like something is off.” Seulgi finally looked at Jaeyi. “It’s not like I didn’t want to have a date with you, it’s just felt weird.” Jaeyi swallowed all the words and sighed. She understood what she tried to say.

“Then why are you flirting with me?” She asked with a serious tone. She saw Seulgi being startled by her tone and avoided her.

“I don’t know.” A silence followed her voice. Jaeyi felt her heart stop for a second, and her face went cold. “You don’t know?” she repeated slowly in a whisper. Seulgi suddenly took Jaeyi’s hand and squeezed it.

“I mean, I still don’t know. I don’t take it as a game, it’s just,” the actress stopped short. “Just what, Seulgi? Because you sound like it’s just a funny game to you.” Seulgi shook her head.

“No! It’s not. It’s just scary, Jaeyi. I love speaking to you and flirting with you. But we never spoke about the boundaries or what we were. So for me, nothing was that serious, at least not in my mind.” She said in a hurry as if she was afraid that Jaeyi would take it the wrong way. The CEO furrowed, completely lost.

“I don’t think I understand you, right now. You’re confusing me.” Jaeyi honestly said. She hated how the conversation was going. She felt like she was being mocked from the start. “Yeah, indeed, I don’t go out with artists, but others don’t take care of Heeyoung as you do. If I let you from the start with Heeyoung is only because she asked me. She is a fan of you, remember. You seemed kind. I had no reason to tell her no. If you are afraid of people finding out, it won’t happen. I do care about you and your career.” Seulgi breathed hard and stared at Jaeyi. “Please, don’t stop yourself just because I’m your CEO. At least, let’s just do one date, and then we will see.” A silence fell on them. After a second of hesitation, Seulgi spoke.

“Okay. Just one date. A private place would be better, please.” Jaeyi hummed. “I can rent an arcade, or a cinema, or anything for a day.” Seulgi punched lightly Jaeyi’s shoulder.

“Don’t do that! Are you crazy?!” she replied with a smile on her face. “Yes, crazy for you!” Jaeyi said without missing a beat. Seulgi groaned and shook her head. The older saw Seulgi’s ears turning red and smirked.

“For the first date, I will just invite you to my house. It’s safer,” she gently said, thinking carefully about a date plan. “I like that.” Seulgi agreed, her smile never left her face. A silence sat between them, a comfortable one.

Seulgi dropped her head back, eyes closing. Jaeyi was just lost in her thoughts. She sometimes briefly looked at Seulgi, paying attention to her facial features. She summarized the day and how she felt. She loved how Seulgi knew how to calm down Heeyoung, speaking to her like she was her daughter. She was happy, safe, and got easily distracted by Seulgi’s move. She couldn’t stop thinking about their hand linked, or Seulgi calling her gorgeous. Not beautiful, but gorgeous. She knew tonight she would just think about it. She bit her lip and stared at Seulgi.

She knew what she was feeling; it was dangerous, but with a woman like this, it was complicated not to fall. Seulgi was beautiful, her wolf cut was embracing her perfect face, her cat eyes made her intimidating and cute. Jaeyi’s gaze dropped on Seulgi’s lip. She bit her lip harder and looked away. She was doomed; she had her answer. She was falling in love with Woo Seulgi. She took advantage of Seulgi closing her eyes to stare at her a little more and even got lost in the view.

“You like what you see, Ms. Yoo?” Seulgi opened her eyes and met Jaeyi’s directly. The CEO didn’t look away and just hummed. “You are beautiful, so yes.” The actress rolled her eyes but giggled, and a faint blush appeared on her face.

“You are impossible, Jaeyi.” The older only laughed, enjoying the moment.

After an hour of talking, Heeyoung came back to them too tired. When Jaeyi saw Heeyoung’s face, she immediately said they should head home, which Seulgi agreed to. While driving back to Seulgi’s home, Heeyoung fell asleep first, making the two women laugh. Jaeyi’s hands rested on Seulgi’s thigh. Sometimes Seulgi held her hand and played with it. After a moment, Jaeyi stopped feeling the actress playing with her finger and gazed at her briefly, just to find her sleeping. She smiled at herself, happiness taking control of her chest.

Arriving at Seulgi’s building, Jaeyi woke the actress up gently. The younger was, at first, lost and then understood where she was.

“Well, welcome back to us, Woo Seulgi.” Jaeyi joked. The younger furrowed her eyebrows and passed her finger through her eyes. “I can’t believe I fell asleep.” Jaeyi found Seulgi very cute like this. She looked like a lost puppy, and she laughed at her thought.

“You should go to sleep in your comfortable bed. Thank you for today, Woo Seulgi. Have a nice night dreaming about me!” Seulgi scoffed and slapped Jaeyi’s shoulder. “Be serious, Jaeyi!” and they both laughed.

“Well, drive safely. Text me when you arrive home. Have a good night, Jaeyi.” She replied softly, still half sleeping. She got out of the car, and Jaeyi only started to drive when Seulgi’s silhouette was out of her sight.

Jaeyi snorted as she just noticed how much she cared about Seulgi.

She was falling in love, and hard.

Jaeyi handed the cup to her sister and sat down on the sofa beside her, but with a gap between them. Jena thanked her for the drink and looked at her sister with a suspicious gaze. Jaeyi knew she was trying to guess why she was summoned. The CEO hawked her throat and stared at her sister as if she was going to announce bad news.

“Don’t look at me like this. You’re scaring me right now. What did you do again?” Jena said, her sister could sense in her voice how she didn’t trust her at all.

“Can you do me a favor, please? It’s urgent.” Jaeyi began, her tone soft in the limit of desperation. Jena raised one of her eyebrows. “Urgent? Like what? Just tell me, you know I won’t say no anyway.”

“I need to have my apartment for myself this Wednesday.” Jena looked at her confusedly.

“For what? You want to prepare a party or what?” Jaeyi shook her head.

“A date.” The sisters looked at each other for a few seconds. Jena gazed at her sister with the most neutral face ever. “What do you mean by date? With whom? What did I miss? Since when did you stop telling me in detail about your life?” The older said fast, completely in disbelief. “Who’s the man? Or a woman? Or whatever!” She continued as she threw her arms randomly.

“Don’t panic,” Jaeyi warned her while putting her hands in front of her. Jena nodded rapidly and told her to answer faster. “It’s Seulgi.” She finally said with a small smile. She watched her sister’s reaction, who stayed quiet for a minute. Jena pronounced the actress’s name multiple times slowly as if she tried to understand the sentence.

“Woo Seulgi?! Are you insane? What the fuck!” Jena started as she jumped from the sofa and walked around it. “How did that even happen? The last time we talked about her, you threw a shade remark at her? And since when have you dated artists? Most important question, since when have you been into younger people?” Jaeyi felt her head hurt with all the questions.

“Well, I don’t know, it’s just happened. She said yes, though.” She answered with a surprised tone as if she also didn’t believe her situation. She heard her sister scoff.

“Seriously, Jaeyi? That’s the only thing you have to tell me? I want to know everything! We are talking about Woo Seulgi for god’s sake!” Jaeyi rolled her eyes as she noticed the voice of her sister went higher over time. Jena sat beside her sister closely while Jaeyi explained to her everything. When she finished, her sister looked at her in disbelief, but she smiled.

“Gosh, Jaeyi. You are falling hard, huh?” The youngest exhaled hardly and gazed at her sister in desperation. “I didn’t plan this. But she took care of Heeyoung so well, and she is super my type too.” Jena placed her hand on Jaeyi’s forehead and started to pray. “May God help you.” The CEO grabbed her sister’s hand and moved it while they both laughed.

“You are annoying, Jena!” Her sister only smiled.

“I saw this coming, anyway. Of course, I will take care of Heeyoung that day, don’t worry. I will just ask for a detailed report!” Jaeyi laughed but nodded at her sister. “But, on a serious note. Are you sure about this? She is your artist, a pretty famous one. Dad won’t accept it, nor will Mother. Plus, what about Heeyoung, too? And Youngmin? This seems a little complicated.” Jena said, sharing her worries about the situation. Jaeyi sighed and closed her eyes.

“I prefer not to think about it, right now. I mean, nothing is official between us. Seulgi is also scared about this relationship.” Her sister tapped slightly on Jaeyi’s shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile. “But, no matter what, I will protect her,” Jaeyi said as a final note.

“I don’t doubt it. Well, you better tell me everything!” Jena said with a smile. The sister stayed together, talking about their life. Jaeyi missed her sister a lot; Jena wasn’t that present these months since she worked outside of South Korea. After an hour, Jena left her sister alone. Jaeyi stayed on the sofa for at least twenty minutes, thinking about what her sister had asked her. She had the same fear, but she didn’t want it to stop her from loving someone. It would make her feel like she was living in a prison.

Jaeyi sat on her chair, ready to continue her work, but suddenly the door of her office opened and a man went in, slamming the door behind him. The CEO bounced from her chair and looked at the man, furrowing her eyebrows. The man pushed her against the wall, making Jaeyi whine from the back pain.

“What the fuck!” Jaeyi said in shock, trying to push the man away from her.

“It should be me saying this! The fuck you’re doing?!” He replied, not even hiding his anger. He pushed her with more strength.

“Youngmin, please, move!” She heard a chuckle.

“No, no, no. You always broke my plan. Can’t you even educate our daughter normally?” Jaeyi laughed and gazed at him coldly. “What are you even saying? You are the one who pressures our daughter.” She answered, feeling the anger eating her chest.

“Heeyoung needs to be the best of the best! Your father agreed with me, and you should too! Isn’t that how your father educated you and your sister? This is because of him you are where you are!” Jaeyi tried to push him, but Youngmin only got closer. One of his arms was around Jaeyi's waist, and the other hand was resting on the wall, close to her shoulder. His body was practically against her, and Jaeyi could almost feel his weight on her.

“What are you trying to do? Stay here, I didn’t finish.” His face came closer to Jaeyi’s face, and he looked at her lips. A smile appeared on his face. “Now, why on earth would you go on a date with Seulgi, hum? Heeyoung didn’t have to see both of you being weird.” Jaeyi’s eyes reflected fear. Her brain went blank at his words.

“W-what?” She managed to say. Youngmin laughed and brought his hand that was on the wall to Jaeyi’s face. He brushed the hair away from her face and smiled.

“You are so pretty like this, Jaeyi.” He said into her ear. “You look so scared, so powerless. It suits you.” Jaeyi couldn’t believe what she just heard. “Let me help your beautiful brain to remember. Aquarium.” He whispered. “Teaching Heeyoung about homosexuality at her age. What have you become, Jaeyi?” He brought his face close to her neck. Jaeyi could sense his breath.

“I-I think there i-is a misunderstanding t-there,” she replied, hating herself for stuttering that much. She heard a snort. “I-It wasn’t a date. H-Heeyoung wanted j-just to visit an a-aquarium with S-Seulgi. Nothing more.” Youngmin kissed her neck softly and then looked at Jaeyi.

“Is that so?” Jaeyi nodded rapidly, hoping he would leave soon. Unlucky, he came back to her neck and suck it leaving a red mark. “I don’t want Heeyoung to be around Seulgi.” He said as a final note. He moved away from Jaeyi, looked at her for the last time, and left the office like nothing had happened. Jaeyi let out the breath she was holding and slid down the wall to the floor. Her hands and body were shaking. She closed her eyes and did a breathing exercise.

She had a hard time swallowing what had just happened. She didn’t see this coming, and the fear of being always watched gripped her. She stood up slowly and grabbed her desk to find a balance. She managed to walk outside her office. She almost fell multiple times. She put her hand on the wall, her gaze on the floor. She suddenly heard footsteps coming closer fast and a hand on her shoulder. She shivered from the touch and, before she could control it, rejected the touch violently.

“Ms. Yoo? You seem disoriented. What happened?” She looked at the person and found Mr. Kim, his eyes full of worry for her. She didn’t waste any time and threw herself into his arms. The assistant understood her need, hugged her tightly. She didn’t cry; her body was still trembling from the fear and the intensity of the moment. She just needed a comfort, something to hold her for a moment. Mr. Kim didn’t speak. He let the silence take the space it needed. After a few minutes, Jaeyi cleared her throat.

“He was so strong.” She whispering. “It was so scary, it reminded me of my dad.” Mr. Kim sighed and stroked her hair.

“You are strong, Jaeyi. Don’t let him intimidate you. You proved to him more than once that you aren’t scared of him.” He said calmly.

Jaeyi let herself be consoled by her assistant. She didn’t believe all his words, but it made her feel a little better.

The only thing she knew was that she would never forget this moment of her life.

Jaeyi was in her living room, gazing at the city view, but her mind didn’t recognize the city, too deep in her thoughts. She was still repeating the moment with Youngmin. She couldn’t forget his face, his touch, his words, his voice, and his disgusting kiss. She touched her neck, exactly where he left a bruise. She won’t call it a hickey. She felt violated, humiliated to call it like that. She was angry at herself for letting him do this, to be this weak.

“I don’t want Heeyoung to be around Seulgi.”

Jaeyi gulped and closed her eyes. She knew he was threatening her. She also knew Youngmin had a close eye on Seulgi.

Is it safe for her to come here? Is it even safe for her to be close to me in any way?

She didn’t like her thoughts right now. She felt trapped and observed. She didn’t know what Youngmin expected her to do. She only wished to run away from this country, far away from her company, her ex-husband, her family. She just wanted peace with her daughter. Maybe Jena was right, maybe it’s too complicated, too dangerous. She should, perhaps, cancel their date. Jaeyi shook her head and sighed. She heard some footsteps getting closer to her, and she turned around to find her daughter.

“Mom, I can’t sleep.” Jaeyi tapped beside her on the sofa, inviting her to sit there. Heeyoung didn’t waste time and hugged her mother. “I’m sorry.” The little girl said, her voice trembling. Jaeyi furrowed her eyebrows confusedly. She started to stroke her daughter’s hair.

“For what, my love? You did nothing.” She felt her daughter moving a little.

“Dad asked me about my Saturday yesterday, and he was angry.” She explained, her voice lower than usual. “He was angry? At what exactly?” Jaeyi waited patiently for her daughter to open up.

“I spoke about the penguins.” A silence. Jaeyi felt her chest tighten. “What did he tell you about it?” Her heart beat faster with anticipation. “That it was contrary to nature and I shouldn’t support this.” Jaeyi started to bite her thumbs.

“He then asked me weird questions about you and Seulgi unnie.” Her heart almost stopped at her daughter’s words. She stopped stroking her daughter’s hair and leaned backward to see Heeyoung’s face.

“What do you mean?” She asked with an ounce of authority. Heeyoung’s gaze dropped down. “I don’t remember.” She whispered, and she looked like she regretted bringing the subject to the table. Jaeyi knew her daughter was lying and let out a laugh.

“Yoo Heeyoung. Just let it out.” Her tone was cold and authoritative. She knew it wasn’t the best move to do with a kid, but she had a hard to controlling her emotions. Heeyoung’s eyes went wide as she met her mother’s. Jaeyi saw fear, and guilt started to grow in her chest.

“He wanted to know how c-close you and Seulgi unnie were. If you k-kissed, or I didn’t really u-understand all his questions.” The little girl answered sincerely. Jaeyi raised her eyebrows in surprise. “He asked you that?” Heeyoung nodded slowly. Then, a silence. The girl refused to look at her mother until she felt Jaeyi’s hand on her cheek.

“Heeyoung, please, if your father does anything to you, even if it’s just words, tell me. Don’t let everything in you. I’m here to protect you; It’s not a betrayal if you tell me what your father is doing. Do you understand me, Heeyoung?” She caressed her daughter’s cheek gently to reassure her. Heeyoung nodded, her eyes watering.

“Yes, Mom. But, Dad, without you, he is scary.” Confessed Heeyoung. Jaeyi only hummed and hugged her. After a moment of silence, Heeyoung opened her mouth. “Is it true?” The CEO frowned, not understanding her daughter’s question.

“What?” She asked.

“You and Seulgi.”

“Heeyoung, I don’t understand what you are asking. What about me and Seulgi?” Her heart was beating slightly faster.

“That you are dating her,” Heeyoung said slowly as if she was afraid of saying something bad. Jaeyi was taken aback by the question and stayed silent. She felt Heeyoung looking at her, and when she met her eyes, they were wide. “YOU ARE DATING HER FOR REAL?!” Jaeyi put her hand on her daughter’s mouth and shook her head.

“NO!” She replied with the same tone. Her daughter crossed her arms against her chest, and Jaeyi understood she didn’t believe her.

“Then why did you take the time to answer the question?” Jaeyi opened her mouth, then closed it.

“I was taken aback by the question! I’m not dating her.” Heeyoung pouted. “What with this reaction?”

“Is Seulgi and Byeong dating?” Jaeyi closed her eyes and laughed. “I didn’t know I had a nosy daughter.” Heeyoung only smiled. “No, she isn’t dating Byeong.”

“I guess I’m not the only one nosy!” Her daughter replied and stood up. “Do you love Seulgi? Like the penguins we saw?” Jaeyi laughed at the comparison, but she then stayed for a moment in silence, not sure of what to say.

“I will take that as a yes. Goodnight, Mom! I support you!” She kissed her mother and ran to her bedroom without even looking back. She froze in her seat, her brain having a hard time understanding the scene that had just happened. She felt her cheek burn and shook her head.

This is going to make me go insane.

“You wanted to see me, Ms. Yoo Jaeyi?” A man said with a bit of irony. Jaeyi rolled her eyes. “Screw that Jungsu. I’m here to talk about something important.” Jaeyi saw him straighten his body.

“This is about my brother, I suppose?” She nodded her head slowly.

“He fucking assaulted me, yesterday!” Jungsu’s jaw dropped. “He did WHAT?!” A silence in the café took place, and Jaeyi felt all the eyes on them. She slapped Jungsu’s hand and told him to speak less loudly. When the attention dropped off them, the waiter came with their order. After he left, both of them looked at each other.

“So, what do you mean he assaulted you?” Jaeyi explained to him in detail. “Well, Youngmin was always homophobic. He only accepted it when you were younger because he thought it was a ‘phase’,” Jaeyi sighed in tiredness.

“I can’t believe I trusted someone like this. Sometimes I feel like he never loved me.” The man in front of her shrugged his shoulders.

“He loved you and still does. He is just a very religious man, I guess.” Jaeyi laughed out loud.

“Oh, please, when we were together, I was the one who obligated him to go to church. Religious man, my ass.” She said, voice full of venom.

“That doesn’t shock me. So, what do you want from me? I really couldn’t find the person who told him all the information.” Jaeyi sighed. “Who knew about your aquarium date?”

“It wasn’t a date for god’s sake!” She said, her hand passing through her head. “Yeri, Kyung knew about it, they were the ones who proposed me. Well, they suggested an amusement park, but after I told them the change. Other than that? Mr. Kim. I don’t know if Seulgi told someone. Maybe Byeong and her manager? But Byeong is safe, I think. He is like a big brother to Seulgi. He only wants the best for her.” Jungsu listened to her carefully.

“Byeong? Nam Byeongjin?” Jaeyi nodded. “I didn’t know they were friends.”

“They are childhood friend” Corrected Jaeyi.

“Childhood friend, hum?” She didn’t like how Jungsu reacted to this; it felt like he knew something.

“What with this reaction?” She asked, her curious side taking control again.

“Well, Byeong was an orphan. He always lived in the orphanage. He is known to donate a lot of his money to this cause. Woo Seulgi is also an orphan?” Jaeyi stayed silent, absorbing the news information.

“I don’t know, we never really spoke about family. She never told me when she met Byeong or how they got close.” Jungsu brought his hand to his chin and hummed.

“Who is Seulgi’s manager?” He asked. “Ara. She is new.” He nodded.

“Maybe she is the one. I mean, she is always with Seulgi, right?” Jaeyi shook her head.

“No. Seulgi doesn’t like to always be followed by someone. Ara is with her when she has a schedule.” Jungsu dropped his face on the table and mumbled something. “I don’t understand you, Jungsu.” He sat down more correctly.

“I said, the situation is so complicated. Just be distant from Seulgi. Youngmin can be so scary when he wants to. Stay safe, you and Seulgi. She has more to lose than you. Jae.” He finished his drink and left the café after paying for everything. Jaeyi stayed there for a while, letting his last sentence sink in.

It’s true, she could lose everything by being with me. I totally forgot.

Jaeyi felt her throat tightening and left the café to take some fresh air. She passed in front of a shop that sells cigarettes. She stopped and looked at it. She was hesitating between her need to smoke and her brain, which reminded her promise she had made to herself. She felt her phone buzz and checked it out. Her lip grew into a smile fast.

Cute actress: What did you plan for tomorrow?

Cute actress: Just to know what to wear.

She looked back at the convenience store and shook her head.

Dress like you’re coming to a luxury event ;)

She smiled at herself, forgetting all her problems. A few seconds later, she received an answer from Seulgi.

Cute actress: Gosh… maybe I should have made you rent an arcade for the day.

Jaeyi laughed at the message and went directly to her car, forgetting her want to smoke a cigarette.

After all, why would she want to smoke when Seulgi was in her life.

Chapter Text

Seulgi was a shy person. She always had a hard time speaking with people or being close to them. She loved being alone, with her thoughts and imagination. So, when it was play time, Seulgi was the only kid in that house to stay alone, in some corner of the room or playground. It was worse when the institution wanted to do an outing with all the kids, Seulgi refused to go with them. Sometimes the adults forced her, saying it would be a great opportunity to be friends with others, to socialize. But Seulgi always ended up behind everyone, even behind her legal guardian. People who took care of children like Seulgi felt hopeless with her case; they didn’t know what to do to break her wall.

With Seulgi’s struggle to socialize, other kids weren’t the nicest to her; quite the opposite, they made Seulgi’s life a little harder than it already was. It’s not like Seulgi cared about this. At first, she ignored all the weird looks and whispering, but with time, the whispering turned into a loud voice and the looks into physical contact. Seulgi had a hard time ignoring the news sounds. The other kid’s voice was loud, high-pitched, venomous, and suffocating to Seulgi’s ears. The sounds of slap, spit, and the brutal step mixed up with their high-pitched mockery laugh made Seulgi forget about the pain of each violence she endured. She hated how her cough, whine, and sob sounded in her ears. Although in the circumstances, Seulgi didn’t develop a fear of others. No. They only made her hate herself, and even as an adult, she didn’t know what was worse.

Until that day. It was the start of spring, the sun started to come back, and so did the playground. Seulgi wasn’t a fan of it; the adults forced her to take some fresh air, and it always ended with a ‘playful’ hit from others. She sometimes tried to beg her legal guardian to let her stay alone in the dorm, not because she feared the pain, but the sound. She hated how her ears were sensitive in every way possible. The adults never listened to her, saying she was dramatic or not doing enough to integrate with people. Seulgi felt helpless in these moments, hating herself more.

She was on the bench, trying to hide from the rays of sunshine by being under a tree. She was alone, like always, and her gaze was on the floor. She swung her legs, trying to pass the time faster. She was bored, but she enjoyed the weather. After a moment, she sensed it. She heard a step, then a lot of steps. She turned her head and saw five little girls. Seulgi knew, by their breathing way, they weren’t here to be friendly with her. She sensed and heard the slight malice. They all smiled at her, a fake one, a hypocritical one, a venomous one.

“Why are you alone?” One of them said. Seulgi didn’t know their name and didn’t even pay attention to their physical features. She only knew this one had an acute voice mixed with a fake kindness tone. She also heard a laugh after the sentence. She stayed silent.

“See. Why don’t you talk? Weird.” The same person said. Seulgi’s gaze dropped to the floor, ignoring them. Maybe it wasn’t the best behavior to have in that moment, but what could she have done? Nothing. Their breaths changed into a rage one. Seulgi understood they didn’t like being ignored like they meant nothing.

“Yah! Don’t ignore us!” The girl grabbed Seulgi’s hair and pulled her out of the bench. Seulgi felt something on her knees but made no sound. All the girls started to be a little violent with Seulgi, and with a mocking tone, they insulted her. Seulgi couldn’t hear what they were saying; her ears were too taken up with the violent hit sound and the laugh. Seulgi felt a headache, an intense one, and got up suddenly, pushing everyone. She ran as fast as possible, away from the girls and the headache.

Naive she was. She thought they wouldn’t follow her; they would get too surprised to even know how to react. Not even a minute, and she already heard fast stepping behind her. For the first time, she was afraid. She ran into the building and tried to find somewhere to hide. She continued her run in the hallway until she bumped into someone. The impact was too strong for Seulgi, and she fell on the floor. The moment her back touched the floor, a violent rage settled in her. Her chest burned her, and a violent feeling ate her body until her head. She hated how weak and helpless she felt. She didn’t even look at the person she bumped, too preoccupied to get ready to feel a hit or an insult. After a few seconds, nothing came on Seulgi. Only silence. Well, almost, she still could hear the girl’s steps getting closer and closer.

“Hey? Are you okay? I didn’t see you. I’m sorry.” She heard a little, shy voice, it sounded like a boy’s. His tone was soft, almost comforting. She looked up and saw a boy who seemed a little bit older. She found him cute. When the steps got louder, the little boy looked at the end of the hallway and found a group of girls. “You know them?” he asked. Seulgi shook her head, and the boy seemed to understand quickly the situation. When the girls were just in front of them, they laughed at the sight of Seulgi on the floor.

“Poor her, she is even hated by the boys?” Seulgi saw the boy frown, and his hand gathered into a fist. “Yah! Leave that girl alone! She just bumped into me! Go away before I call a tutor! You aren’t supposed to be here!” The girls’ faces crumpled, and they ran away immediately. The boy handed his hand to Seulgi, and she took it. She stood up and thanked him in a whisper.

“Sorry, I didn’t hear you? What did you say?” Seulgi’s gaze dropped to the floor, and she repeated the two words she said before louder. The boy smiled.

“My pleasure! If they disturb you again, just come to me! My name is Byeongjin! Nam Byeongjin! But you can just call me Byeong, I’m seven years old,” he said with enthusiasm. Seulgi was taken aback by his sudden introduction, but for the first time since she came here, she felt safe enough to speak.

“I’m Seulgi. I’m five years old.” Byeong smiled. “You have a beautiful name, Seulgi! You are now my little sister!”

For the first time, Seulgi laughed.

It was also the first time someone had apologized to her, even though the person had done nothing bad. Seulgi never told Byeong, but that day, when they met for the first time, he healed a part of her.

“I told you, she never looked at you like a friend! Say it! Say I was right!” Seulgi rolled her eyes and handed him a can of soda. “You are annoying, Byeong. But ok. Yes, you were right, Mr. Nam,” she replied with a fake, annoying tone. The singer nodded and smiled like he had won the best singer of the year.

“I can’t believe it. Woo Seulgi, the most serious person I have ever met, who never crosses the professional line boundaries, made her CEO fall in love with her and have a date. Crazy work! It’s insane. Should I say ‘I’m proud’ or do a moral discourse?” He said fast with an ounce of excitement. Seulgi sighed deeply, regretting inviting him.

“Man, I called you to help me with my outfit!” Byeong mumbled something under his breath and stood up, walking to Seulgi’s bedroom. The actress followed him and sat on her bed, watching him look deeply into her dressing. “She said luxury, right?” She hummed affirmatively. “Rich people…”

“Byeong, you are also rich.” She replied, gazing at him with a dead look. The singer turned to Seulgi and gave an arrogant expression. “We became rich. Jaeyi was ALWAYS rich. We aren’t the same.” She rolled her eyes, but laughed quietly. After a few minutes, Byeong came back to her with two black dresses. “Did she send you the time? You need a driver?” He asked while he set the dress properly on the bed.

“She said 7 PM, and no. She will pick me up.” She replied while observing Byeong’s outfit choice. She heard a stupefaction sound from him. “Isn’t it risky?” Seulgi shrugged her shoulders.

“She told me not to worry. I trust her.” Byeong hummed and pointed to the first dress. “Try this one. It’s my favorite, and I’m sure Jaeyi would love it!” Seulgi listened to him and tried on the first dress. Byeong was waiting for her in the living room, scrolling on his phone until he felt Seulgi’s presence.

“ Here we go. What do you think? I don’t know if I like it or not.” Seulgi spun around to show the outfit completely. When she met Byeong’s face, she saw his mouth open slightly, and she rolled her eyes. “Byeong! Focus!” She said out loud. The singer was startled by her voice and apologized.

“You look good! The open back. Oh wow! Jaeyi is going to be speechless! I already can imagine her reaction.” He clapped his hands excitedly, hyping Seulgi up. “You think so?” She wasn’t quite sure about Byeong’s opinion. The singer nodded fast and gave her a thumbs-up.

“Believe me! She is going to eat you up with her eyes.” Seulgi snorted at his remark. “Still can’t believe you have a date after three years. Gosh, she must be special, huh?” She gave him a dead look and breathed deeply. She didn’t want to admit out loud that Jaeyi was, in fact, special. Her pride didn’t let her.

“I don’t know. She seemed to want it badly.” She gazed at Byeong, who had his eyebrows furrowed. “What?” She asked, feeling like she had said something wrong.

“You sounded like you forced yourself. Seulgi, if you aren’t ready for a relationship, or you don’t feel anything for Jaeyi, despite her loving you, please, stop everything. You are just giving fake hope to someone who is literally throwing up her reputation. Think deeply before doing anything, Seulgi. I may be your best friend, I may treat you as a sister, but if you do something I judge as bad, don’t expect me to be on your side.” He said with a serious tone. Seulgi felt bad, a guilt started to form in her chest.

“I don’t force myself, I just don’t know yet what I really feel or want with her. It’s scary, you know.” Byeong crossed his arms and stayed silent, waiting for Seulgi to continue. “She is my CEO, like you said, I don’t like breaking some boundaries, and it’s weird. Imagine if people see us together? I don’t even want to imagine what people would say about me.” Her childhood friend sighed loudly.

“Seul. You are overthinking again. You just don’t want to admit your feelings, and it’s okay. Jaeyi, being your CEO isn’t a problem if you think about it. I know she will protect you and your image. Just enjoy your night with her and be honest with yourself.” He said with a gentle tone. Seulgi knew her best friend had caught something she herself didn’t want to say out loud. She smiled at him and looked at the mirror.

“I will wear this dress, I just need some makeup and to do my hair.” She heard the singer hum.

“Don’t do too much, or else she will faint,” he joked, making Seulgi laugh.

After hours getting ready and joking with Byeong, they heard a knock on the door. Seulgi looked at Byeong confusedly. The man mouthed ‘Jaeyi’ and walked toward the door to open it. Without any surprise, he met Jaeyi in front of him and smiled.

“Ms. Yoo! You look fabulous tonight! Seulgi is ready, I will leave.” he came closer to Jaeyi and whispered something to her. “I’m going, Seul! See you tomorrow!” he screamed and left the apartment. Seulgi shook her head slightly and let out a small laugh. She went directly to the door and saw Jaeyi in a black suit. She found her hot like that and bit her lips discreetly.

“Hey, Jaeyi. Sorry for Byeong, he was supposed to leave before the time, but I guess we didn’t see the time passing.” She chuckled, but she heard no reaction from Jaeyi and gazed at her. The CEO was staring at her, mouth slightly open, and her body seemed to be frozen in place. Seulgi tilted her head and smiled. “Ms. Yoo, are you still with me, or do I need to contact the emergency?” At the mention of her last name, Jaeyi suddenly brought her hand behind her back and laughed nervously. She cleared her throat.

“Sorry. It’s okay. Byeong wasn’t lying when he said you look ‘gorgeous’, I would even say fabulous.” The actress rolled her eyes but felt a heat rising in her ears, and her heart racing faster. “We should go,” Jaeyi said, proposing her hand to Seulgi. The actress intertwined their hands with a smile. She closed the door of her apartment and followed Jaeyi to her car.

“Mr. Kim is our driver. I preferred that we be in the back of the car since the windows are tinted.” Seulgi’s heart melted at Jaeyi’s attention. She made sure everything was safe and private. The actress squeezed Jaeyi’s hand. “Thank you,” she whispered with a small smile. Jaeyi nodded in apprehension and opened the car’s door.

“Lady first!” Seulgi rolled her eyes and got in the car without missing the opportunities to tease Jaeyi by calling her a gentlewoman. The drive was comfortable, and the two women laughed a lot, making no place for awkwardness or heavy silence. Seulgi felt safe already, and the fear she had evaporated. Arrived at Jaeyi’s building, Mr. Kim opened the door for them.

“Have a good night, Ms. Yoo and Ms. Woo,” he bowed at them and left like he had never been here.

“Let’s go,” Jaeyi said while taking Seulgi’s hand and pulling her to the penthouse without breaking skin contact from their hands. Jaeyi opened the door and motioned to the actress to come in. Seulgi went in and looked around. She expected Jaeyi to have a big house, but she didn’t expect it to be this luxurious. The living room had clearly been rearranged for the occasion. There were a lot of candles, red flowers, and jazzy music in the background that filled the space. Seulgi walked toward the big window and was astonished by the view.

“The view is so pretty,” she commented out loud. She felt Jaeyi walking toward her and stayed beside, silent, wrapping them. “Indeed, I’m lucky,” Seulgi turned around after feeling a weight on her and met Jaeyi’s eyes. She couldn’t help but think how hot Jaeyi was in that costume. She suddenly felt shy and turned around.

“So, what did you plan for tonight, Ms. Romantic?” She asked, still giving her back to Jaeyi. She heard her humming.

“Well, a dinner and a lot of talk,” she said calmly. “The date would be better if you turned around and looked at me.” Seulgi rolled her eyes, but listened to Jaeyi and turned around. She tried to look annoyed, but as she met Jaeyi’s eyes, she failed miserably. “Do you want to eat now, or would you prefer to talk a little first?” Seulgi didn’t answer the question and sat on the sofa, throwing her head backward. The CEO understood her answer and sat beside her, close, knees touching.

“So, Ms. Woo, can we finally have a deep talk?” Jaeyi asked with a careful tone. Seulgi’s gaze went on her without any particular emotion. “It depends. What do you want to know?” She sat more correctly and stared at the older woman with anticipation. Jaeyi hummed and smiled.

“Why did you choose to be an actress?” She began. Seulgi sensed she wanted to go step by step and loved this aspect. Jaeyi only showed care and kind attention. Seulgi tilted her head. “Why did I choose to be an actress? You clearly don’t watch my interview.” Jaeyi raised one of her eyebrows.

“Why should I believe your speech in the interview? We all know all artists lie when needed for their reputation. To be fair, you are kind of a private person, Seulgi. I found nothing about your life.” Admitted Jaeyi as she brought one of her fingers to her mouth, almost biting it.

“Oh, so you did some research?” The older woman rolled her eyes and nodded. “Of course, what kind of CEO would I be if I don’t even know my artist?” Seulgi gave her a deadpan stare, and they both laughed.

“I never wanted to be an actress. It’s just happened like this, to be honest. I wanted to be a doctor at first, but then I met someone and she convinced me to choose art. I liked theater, so I just ended up as an actress.” She explained with a nostalgic tone.

“You wanted to be a doctor? It kinda suits you.” Jaeyi said. The actress looked at her with a neutral face. “You sincere, or is it your way to flirt?” Jaeyi shrugged her shoulders and smirked.

“Both?” Seulgi playfully slapped Jaeyi’s shoulder and laughed. “You are impossible, Jaeyi,” and this comment made the CEO smile. “And you?” The actress asked. Jaeyi rested one of her hands on Seulgi’s thigh.

“My dad wanted me to be a doctor, a surgeon, to be more exact, so I could take over his hospital when he dies. But I didn’t want that and kinda had a long fight with my father. Youngmin helped me a lot during this period, and because of that, I could study what I wanted. I always loved the K-industry, especially music. So, I started with K-cinema and then music. My dad was happy when he saw how my company is doing.” Jaeyi explained with a small smile at the end, and the actress only nodded slightly. Seulgi felt Jaeyi squeezing her thigh and decided to raise her leg to put them on Jaeyi’s knees.

“So you were supposed to be a doctor, too. It’s funny,” she said with a chuckle.

“Maybe we are soulmates, who knows?” Seulgi rolled her eyes and giggled. She sensed Jaeyi caressing her leg, which surprisingly made her relax. Jaeyi rested her elbow on the sofa’s back, her eyes not leaving Seulgi, while the actress rested her shoulder on the back of the sofa, maintaining eye contact with Jaeyi. Their position made Seulgi shiver and feel her heart race a bit faster. Jaeyi’s hand on her leg didn’t help at all. She even thought of sitting more correctly.

“How did you meet Byeong?” Jaeyi asked, voice and eyes full of curiosity. Seulgi froze for a moment. She didn’t know if she wanted to tell her about her past fully, and sharing how she met Byeong meant sharing where she came from. She wasn’t ashamed of it, but she always had a hard time sharing this kind of information. She cleared her throat, thinking of a way to tell her how she met her childhood friend without saying too much.

“Some girls bullied me because I was too quiet, and one day I bumped into him. He saved me, and since then, he has stayed close. He is my safe place, someone whom I can count on, no matter what. He isn’t the type to be a traitor or forget where he came from.” Seulgi felt Jaeyi’s hand going up to her thigh and doing a circular motion.

“I know that he still donates a lot to the orphanage.” The actress felt her heart stop for a second and looked at Jaeyi, surprised. Then, her gaze went down, avoiding Jaeyi as much as she could.

“How do you know that?” She said nervously. Her heart beat faster, and she started to feel a fear growing in her. Jaeyi’s finger stopped doing the circular motion, and she just rested her hand on her thigh.

“I know a lot about my musician,” Jaeyi answered calmly. The actress wasn’t feeling well, and an urge to run away started to take over. She looked at Jaeyi, dumbfounded, not knowing if she should open up or not. “You don’t have to talk about it. I guess it’s too early for a deep talk, and it’s okay.” Seulgi stayed silent for a minute, swallowing Jaeyi’s words. There was something soft about Jaeyi taking her time with her; she felt seen in some way. She felt that Jaeyi sensed her swinging mood and respected the boundaries that she set down. And because of that, Seulgi wanted to open up just a little, to taste the water.

“I was an orphan, yeah.” She stated, making Jaeyi’s body straighten, and her attention was fully on Seulgi. “I wasn’t really an orphan, I just ended up in an orphanage, and when I was like sixteen, someone adopted me. She is my stepmother right now. I prefer to call her 'mom' in the interview because, in reality, she was almost always a part of my life. I sometimes felt bad when I was a teenager or even in my debut slash college era. I was such a hard kid, and I know I made her suffer because of my behavior.” A silence. Jaeyi’s attention was still on her and didn’t cut her speech or react to it. “Despite it, she stayed with me and she even did all she could to adopt me.” She said as a final note. She felt her throat tighten, but Jaeyi’s hand caressed her cheek, consoling her.

“You must love your mother a lot to feel ashamed about your behavior, and I’m sure your mother understands that you are sorry. Life isn’t easy, and you didn’t get lucky from the beginning. I’m sure she knew this fact, and this is why she never gave up. Humans aren’t an easy species, you know. Our brain works in such a weird way.” Jaeyi said softly with some hesitation in her tone as if she made sure to use the right words.

The actress felt a weight being lifted from her and smiled slowly. Not only did Jaeyi reassure her, but she also found the right words, and Seulgi felt something close to peace in her chest. Free from anxiety, fear, and insecurity. She could almost open up completely to Jaeyi without feeling an ounce of regret. She liked how she didn’t use the term ‘stepmother’ but ‘mother’. It’s the first time someone didn’t remind her that she didn’t have a biological one. She felt weird about it, but in a good way.

“Thank you.” She whispered, getting closer to Jaeyi, and rested her head on her shoulder. She didn’t know why she made this move, but that was how much she felt comfortable around Jaeyi, and the CEO didn’t seem to care much, quite the opposite. She wrapped her arms around Seulgi’s waist and stroked her hair.

“Thank you for sharing this with me,” Jaeyi said in a low tone, almost seductive. The actress felt her ears burn and buried her head deeper on her neck. “I love your voice.” She whispered mostly to herself rather than complimenting Jaeyi.

“You love my voice?” Seulgi hummed, not moving from her place. “Yeah, it’s sometimes deep and peaceful. It’s like hearing the ocean or a wave, it’s the same feeling.” Even though Seulgi couldn’t see her face, she knew Jaeyi smiled at her remark.

“It’s the most romantic compliment that someone ever gave me.” She replied with an ounce of amusement. Seulgi moved her head slightly just to look at her date.

“oh wow, your ex-husband must suck in flirt.” After these words, she heard a beautiful, loud laugh from Jaeyi and joined her a second after. They joked around a lot until Seulgi’s stomach made a weird sound. Jaeyi stopped speaking and gazed at Seulgi with a small laugh.

“We should eat. You are lucky, you are the fourth person to ever taste my cooking!” Seulgi gave her a suspicious look. “Fourth? Should I be concerned?” Jaeyi rolled her eyes and tickled her until she begged her to stop.

“Mind you, the other three people are Heeyoung, my sister, and my ex-husband! I just don’t cook for random people!” Seulgi laughed.

“Since when did you start cooking?” She asked curiously. Jaeyi took a reflexive pose and hummed. “Since I gave birth to Heeyoung, it’s been eight years, soon nine. Is this enough? Are you reassured about my skill?” The actress shook her head. “I will be reassured only after eating it. I’m so hungry right now.” Jaeyi opened her mouth in disbelief.

“You are the one who is delaying the dinner!” The older crossed her arms and stared at Seulgi, who was just pouting like a sad puppy. “This is how you treat your date? I, who was already thinking about the second one, I guess I was too in a hurry.” She looked at Jaeyi to see her reaction and saw her smirking. “Glad to know we will get a second date.”

“You stopped listening just after hearing ‘second date’, right?” Seulgi said with a playful tone. The older woman shrugged her shoulders and motioned for her to sit on a chair where a table was already prepared. Seulgi loved the atmosphere; it felt intimate. Jaeyi came back with food and sat at the opposite end of the table.

“You tell me what you think about my cooking skills!” Seulgi didn’t waste any time and tasted it. She hummed in surprise and nodded while furrowing her eyebrows. “I guess it’s good.” Jaeyi chuckled. The actress gazed back at Jaeyi and smiled.

“It’s even excellent. It’s so tasty.” She complimented, continuing to eat. She heard Jaeyi laugh.

“Glad to know you love it. I can cook anything for you, if you want.” She said with a tone that hinted she was smiling, and her feet touched Seulgi’s ankle. Seulgi choked on her food, surprised by Jaeyi’s bold flirtatiousness.

“Jaeyi, please, not when we are eating.” She begged, but knew it was useless since Jaeyi had that malicious smirk on her face.

“Where’s the fun? I love seeing you all flustered.” And the whole dinner continued like this, Jaeyi teasing and flirting while Seulgi kept complaining and felt her entire face burn. The actress enjoyed this moment, how Jaeyi complimented her, gave her attention, and the soft touch, whether it was their hands or their legs. It was intimate, maybe too intimate.

After the dinner, they both just sat on the sofa in the same position as before and spoke about everything and anything. Even though it wasn’t a grand date, Seulgi loved how simple and comfortable it was. She enjoyed every minute and second with the older woman, almost forgetting she was with her CEO. She saw Jaeyi as a woman like any other and, most importantly, as her date. She even forgot that she, herself, was an actress. This was how much Seulgi loved the date.

“And you ran away like this? The school didn’t call your legal guardian?” Jaeyi asked.

“They did. At that period, it was my stepmother who took care of me at the orphanage. It was horrible, she was so angry that I ran away from school, she told me I would never be a doctor if I continued like this. So, after that, I never skipped school.” She laughed while telling her story, and Jaeyi hummed.

“Why is she your stepmother? If you are in an orphanage, you’re supposed to not have a father.” After a moment of silence, Jaeyi talked again. “Sorry, if it’s too private, we can speak about another thing.”

“She married my father before. I told you, I ended up in an orphanage, but I wasn’t always in there. I was just lucky that she found me, but even if she knew I was the daughter of her ex-husband now, she preferred to stay quiet for some reason.” Seulgi explained. “It’s only when I grew up, after adopting me, that she told me. I always thought she felt a kind of obligatory to educate me, out of love for my father.” Jaeyi caressed her thigh.

“But now it’s because she loves you, right?” The actress nodded but felt like she was oversharing and decided to stay quiet for a while. She enjoyed the heat of Jaeyi’s hand and the intimate atmosphere between them. Jaeyi didn’t speak, letting the jazzy music embrace them. After a moment, Seulgi felt an urge to ask private questions to Jaeyi. She shared a lot about her life, but Jaeyi hadn’t opened up to her about her life, just slightly with her ex-husband. Jaeyi mostly spoke about random stories when she was in school or at family dinners. It was always a funny one, never too serious.

“What about you and Youngmin? How did you first meet him?” She stared at the older woman who was thinking deeply while humming.

“Youngmin and me?” Jaeyi brought her hand to her chin, her face expressing nostalgia. “Our parents are super close. Youngmin’s parent was always our lawyer; they were the best ones and still are. They were always in our house or at dinner, so Youngmin was also here. The first time we met, we were like two years old? To be honest, I don’t even remember. I felt like he was always in my life to the point I told people he was my brother. Even his little brother, Jungsu, I have known since he was a baby, and even now I treat him like my little brother.” There was a pause for a few seconds.

“Youngmin is my childhood friend. I was close to him, just like you are with Byeong. He was my confidante, and I told him everything. Family issues, my love life, my vision, my dream. Everything. He was always supportive, no matter what. I don’t know when he started to have feelings for me, and, to be honest, I never noticed it. It happened so suddenly. After graduating from high school, he tried to make me understand he didn’t see me as a friend or sister. It took me a year before falling in love with him. Maybe I was always in love with him, but since I preferred to put him in the brother category, I just ignored all signs. I don’t know, I just know we moved fast after dating officially. My father was so happy to have Youngmin as a son-in-law.” Seulgi couldn’t help but notice how her tone switched to something soft, almost close to love. She furrowed her eyebrows.

“You must have loved him a lot.” She commented, her tone neutral. Jaeyi looked at her and smiled.

“Yes, but you know what we said, the line between love and hate is thin. Even though I hate him a lot, I can’t just ignore him. Whether I like it or not, he will always be in my life.” Jaeyi said with a sad tone. The actress understood it was a complex topic for Jaeyi to speak of, but her curiosity got the best of her.

“You dated him for a year and got married to him for seven years. It must have been hard to move on from it, especially if you still see him.” Something in Jaeyi’s eyes changed; it was darker, dangerous, the same eyes she saw the day she spoke about Heeyoung’s issues with Youngmin.

“Funny way to ask if I moved on.” Seulgi wanted to refute her words, but Jaeyi beat her and continued to speak. “I moved on. Seven years, ten years, even fifty years, with what he has done, in a second, I passed from love to hate. I even regretted having been with a man like him. Now, let’s move on, I said too much.” The CEO moved the actress’s leg and stood up. “I want to show you something, but it’s not here. Follow me.” Before Seulgi could even overthink what Jaeyi just told her, she followed the older woman.

Jaeyi took her hand and smiled at her. The actress was confused by the turn of the date, but walked silently, trusting Jaeyi. They climbed up some stairs and arrived on the rooftop. Seulgi observed the surroundings and found the rooftop quite chill. There were hanging lights, sofas, a skateboard, and a lot of green plants. She took a big inhale and felt Jaeyi pulling her closer to the edge.

“Look! When I don’t feel well and I’m alone, which is rare, I come here. I like to watch the night sky.” Jaeyi said softly. Seulgi hummed and gazed at the sky. She saw stars and felt the fresh air stroking her face.

“It’s so relaxing and beautiful.” She whispered.

“I agree.” Seulgi turned her head and met Jaeyi’s eyes. They looked at each other without saying anything, and Seulgi, for some reason, liked it.

“The date was basic. You deserve better, Seul. Even your broke ex did better.” Byeong’s voice resonated in the living room. Seulgi sighed and gave him a dead look.

“I told her I wanted something private and safe. She wanted to rent an arcade or restaurant for our date, but I was the one who said no. Don’t even bring back my exes in this! Don’t compare the incomparable.” She replied with an annoyed tone. “Plus, I enjoyed it. It was intimate, and I felt safe.” The singer crossed his arms and threw his head backward with his mouth open.

“We can tell. You literally told her you were an orphan! Can’t wait for the day you will tell her your biggest secret.” The actress rolled her eyes, not enjoying Byeong’s threat. “Don’t be ridiculous.” She heard her friend snort.

“You know Jaeyi seems open-minded, but don’t fall for it. She isn’t. I don’t say this to scare you or whatever, but be cautious with what you tell her.” Seulgi only nodded. They both spoke for another hour, and then he left.

She closed the door and threw herself on the sofa. It has been a day since the date, and Seulgi couldn’t think about anything else. She still wasn’t sure what she wanted or if she was ready for anything, but she wanted a second date with Jaeyi. She felt safe, understood, and special. She knew the older woman affected her, but she wasn’t ready to put a name on it. She just enjoyed her time with Jaeyi. She heard her phone buzz and took it. She didn’t check who the person was and picked it up.

“Seulgi, I’m calling you just to tell you that tomorrow you have a schedule. A magazine photo shoot. I will pick you up at 1 PM.” A feminine voice came out of the phone.

“Well, hello to you, too, Ara.” She replied sarcastically. “I’m sorry, I had a rough day. How are you?” Her manager finally asked.

“So well. What happened today?” Seulgi asked with an ounce of curiosity.

“Family stuff. Babysitting kids is awful, Seulgi! They run everywhere, said the most horrible thing, gosh, they are small monsters.” The actress laughed out loud, making Ara complain more. “Right, mock me! I really want to see you babysitting a kid!”

“I’m already doing it, Ara! Mind you, I’m pretty good at this.” She heard her manager scoff. “You have nieces? I didn’t know.” The actress hummed.

“No, I sometimes take care of Ms. Yoo’s daughter.” A minute of silence. “WHAT?! The CEO’s daughter? How? What the fuck? What?!” Seulgi rolled her eyes and brought her hand to her eyes, obstructing her view.

“Stop being dramatic. It’s nothing.” She replied, trying to sound confident. “So the rumors are true,” Ara whispered, but loud enough for the actress to catch the words. “What rumor, Ara?” She sat on her sofa, her body becoming more rigid.

“Well, you know,” her manager made a nervous laugh. “People noticed how close you and Jaeyi are, and they find it weird.” She tightened her phone with more strength. “Some people even think you both have an affair,” Ara said slowly in a low voice. Seulgi giggled and said nothing for a few seconds.

“People are saying this?” Ara hummed positively. “Byeong told me nothing about this.”

“Oh, well, one day he fought someone because of it. I guess he didn’t want to, you know, worry you. I also sometimes defend you. I didn’t know you and Jaeyi were that close.” Seulgi took a deep breath.

“Well, yes, but we are only friends. I don’t see why people make it like it’s something scandalous.”

“Apparently, it’s not usual that Jaeyi is close to her artists. I guess it just awakened some suspicions. Don’t worry too much about it! It’s just between colleagues at the agency, so no worries!” Ara said, trying to reassure her. Seulgi smiled slightly and thanked her. She hung up after telling her she would be ready for tomorrow’s schedule.

She looked at nothing, her eyes fill up of emptiness, and her brain filled with a lot of thoughts, but she heard none of them.

“Seulgi!”

“Seulgi, look over here!”

“Seulgi, a smile, please!”

“Seulgi!” “Seulgi!” “Seulgi!”

Her name was calling out from everywhere. Seulgi gave them a small smile, and someone with a mic motioned for her to walk off the red carpet. The actress bowed to the photograph and didn’t waste any time walking as far as possible from the attention. Her manager was waiting for her behind the scenes and gave her a bottle of water.

“You were fantastic, Seul! Let’s move, I’m sure you will win an award tonight! The other crew members are waiting for you.” The actress smiled at him. She felt already exhausted by the attention, but out of no choice, she joined the casting members of the movie she played in. She bowed to everyone and spoke to them. They were all sitting on chairs in front of a stage, waiting for each award to be called and some performances to take place. Seulgi wasn’t a big fan of events like this, even if she ended up winning something. She hated the attention and how she felt judged for everything she did or said.

After a moment, she felt like someone was looking at her with persistence and searched the pair of eyes that were on her. It only took her ten seconds before meeting the eyes of an actress, more precisely, her girlfriend, who was staring at her with such lovely eyes. Seulgi smiled at her before turning around, ignoring her as much as possible. In that awards show, they shared two moments with intense eye contact. The first moment was when her girlfriend won the popularity awards, and in her thankful speech, she stared at Seulgi as if she were speaking to her. The second one was when Seulgi won the Best Actress of the Year; she tried to ignore her, really, but in the end, she did the same thing as her girlfriend. She stared at her for too long to not be noticed.

People noticed it, of course, they did, but they only spoke about friendship. Seulgi found it funny. She tried all night not to interact with her, afraid to make one wrong move when people actually don’t even suspect anything more than friendship. Her girlfriend didn’t like how Seulgi was cautious in this situation; she wanted to be seen more publicly with her. So, when they met at Seulgi’s apartment after the award, she didn’t let it pass.

“You ignored me all night, Seul. I told you we can interact! People won’t even notice it, anyway! They will just say ‘powerful friendship’ and that’s it! Stop overthinking!” Seulgi noticed the desperation in her voice, but the fear was still here. She just felt sorry.

“I’m sorry, love. I just can’t risk everything, and I’m not ready to even hear a rumor.” She replied, voice full of anxiety. She was afraid of getting caught. It was even worse; she was afraid of people knowing her sexuality. She felt like a teenager who still has a hard time admitting their identity. Her gaze went to her girlfriend, who seemed frustrated.

“I liked the secret thing at first, but now I don’t. I want people to know we have each other, even if it’s only friendship! We don’t need to be all lovely dovely!” She felt her girlfriend’s hand on her cheek and her gaze on her lips. She thought for a second, reviewed all the risks, whether it was worth it or not, and nodded.

“Okay, if that can make you happy. I won’t do what I don’t want, though!” Her girlfriend smiled and kissed her lips. “Thank you, babe! I won’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable!”

Seulgi trusted her a lot, and they became more public. People loved their ‘friendship’, how close they are, and how often people saw them together on some random dates. Seulgi found everything surprisingly enjoyable. People suspected nothing.

Well, this is what she thought until the day she went to her agency and people gave her a lot of judgmental looks.

The first time she heard the rumor was when she walked in front of an open door and three staff members spoke to each other. Seulgi stopped in front of it, making sure nobody saw her, and listened to them.

“I heard Seulgi is a lesbian and she is even dating the actress Yejun. I always found it weird; they were always together.” The man beside gasped. “Seulgi is a lesbian?! Oh wow. It’s disgusting.” Seulgi’s heart stopped for a moment. It wasn’t the first time she heard this remark, but it always did something. She heard a slap and brought her hand to her mouth in shock.

“Don’t say things like that!” The third person agreed with the defender. “The rumor is getting bigger and bigger, and the CEO already knows about it. I just hope the media won’t get this precious information.” The two other persons hummed, and they changed the subject quickly. Seulgi’s hand went to her chest, feeling her heart racing fast. She took a breath and left the agency without presenting herself for her meeting. She wasn’t feeling well, the conversation between the staff member was eating her brain little by little.

After that day, Seulgi found herself more distant from Yejun. She did that unconsciously. She was afraid, not only about the media, but also about facing her girlfriend. She knew she would disappoint her, and to be honest, they couldn’t even stop being seen together in public. It would only be more suspicious. They saw each other at least once a week, less than before, but enough for Yejun not to complain. Then a month passed, and Seulgi got more distant. This time, her girlfriend wasn’t enjoying it.

“Babe, you’ve been distant this few days. What’s going on? Did I do something?” Seulgi heard the worry and anxious feeling in her voice, and she suddenly felt bad about everything. They were cuddling on her sofa, Seulgi’s head on her girlfriend’s shoulder, giving the safety she needed. She hummed and took her hand to intertwine it.

“You did nothing, Yejun. I just have less time to give, and I’m sorry. The new shooting took me too much time.” She moved her head to see her girlfriend’s face, who was pouting. She smiled and kissed her lips. “I’m sorry, hum,” Yejun reassured her and kissed her cheek.

After this conversation, she saw Yejun only a few times. It felt more like a distance relationship. Seulgi didn’t mind; she felt even better. The rumor in her agency was now nonexistent, making the actress feel less anxious. Yes, she, again, prioritized her career over love. She missed her girlfriend a lot; she tried to message her anytime she could, but she felt Yejun was becoming colder each day. She started to worry about her relationship now.

Yejun wanted to speak to her, saying she had something important to say. Seulgi knew and felt deeply inside her what she was going to do. She wasn’t feeling well since she woke up, waiting for her lover to come. She tried to find any excuse or imagine a speech of apology. She knew it was useless, but better to try than to let go of something that easily. Her girlfriend came at the end of the afternoon.

Yejun was in front of her, face tired, and her eyes were full of pain. Seulgi wasn’t aware of the impact of her action; she didn’t calculate the pain she could provide to her girlfriend, who, since the start, was trying her best to be patient with her. Yejun kept a distance, a big one, no kiss, no hug, not even a touch.

“I don’t want to do a speech, I don’t think it necessary. Let’s break up.” Even though Seulgi knew she would say that, hearing it felt different from her imagination. She wanted to speak, but something was blocking her, and a silence filled up the air. Yejun let out a laugh, a painful one mixed with disappointment. “You aren’t going to say something?” Seulgi’s lips stayed glued together. “I see. Can I, at least, know why you were distant from me?” Seulgi avoided her gaze, and shame started to settle in her.

“I’m sorry, I just heard things about us, about me and my sexuality. I panicked and thought putting a distance would be a wise path.” She explained, her voice trembling from her anxiety, and the tear she tried to contain. She heard Yejun scoff and looked at her.

“Are you fucking kidding me, right now? Why did you stay silent? Why are you always silent?! How can I be there for you if you don’t even communicate? You chose something for both of us without even asking my opinion! You know what? I don’t care! To be honest, I don’t deserve to be put in the second plan. I deserve someone who isn’t ashamed of me or their identity! I really loved you, Seul. I even put you before my career, I guess it was a mistake.” Yejun’s face was full of tears, and Seulgi only avoided her. She heard her step resonate in the room and a slap from the door. She let out the breath she was holding and fell on the floor.

Seulgi cried a lot. She felt ashamed, not understood, and a shitty person to have put her career before her lover. She replayed her last speech over and over and over until she got tired. Seulgi was someone who hated herself, and that day wasn’t different.

The flash sound resonated in the silent room. Everyone was focused on their job, and only a few times did the photographer compliment Seulgi’s visuals. The actress wasn’t in her best mood to speak with people; she tried to wear her best mask for the photo shoot, not showing any negative emotion. She still has a reputation to maintain. After the schedule was done, she was in a car with Ara as the driver.

“So, how was your week?” asked her manager. Seulgi rested her head on the window and sighed. “Good, I guess.” The actress wasn’t paying attention to her manager’s reaction.

“You guess? What did you do?” Seulgi noticed the curiosity in Ara’s voice and hesitated to tell her. She knew Ara was a nosy person since the first time they met, but Seulgi tried to be careful with what she said. Ara was her manager for a month, maybe, and Seulgi started to trust her. She might be nosy, but she knew how to shut up.

“I got a date with someone.” The car stopped abruptly, and the actress furrowed her eyebrows. “With who?! Wait, no, don’t tell me now. We are going to drink something!” Seulgi didn’t get the time to protest that Ara drove a little faster than before. After only a few minutes, they were both in a café, drinking their order.

“So, I’m listening! Who is the lucky girl?” Seulgi swallowed crookedly and coughed out of shock. Ara stood up in panic and sat beside her to tap slightly on her back. “Oh my god, was I too direct? I’m sorry!” Seulgi suddenly laughed.

“I wasn’t expecting you to know.” She heard her manager chuckle. “Girl, you can trick the whole Asia continent, but not me! I do recognize my people. So, who was it?” Seulgi felt relieved knowing she had her manager by her side, someone who would understand her, and she suddenly felt the need to open up.

“Jaeyi.” She admitted in a whisper. Ara slapped her two hands on the table, her mouth opened in shock. “What. The. fuck.” Seulgi scratched the back of her neck, feeling a heat going up to her ears.

“It just happened, and with what you told me yesterday, I felt a little bad since then. I couldn’t stop thinking about my past relationship and how I could run from something good just to preserve my reputation. I don’t know if I’m ready to, you know.” Seulgi told her the details about her date and her fear. Ara listened to her fully without cutting her off.

“She paid a lot of attention to you and made sure you felt safe. I do understand your fear, and we don’t speak about any person. It’s Yoo Jaeyi, our CEO. I think you should be honest with yourself first and communicate with her about it. It’s okay if you love her, I mean, you took care of her daughter and had a lot of night talks. It’s such a special relationship.” Ara began, making sure to use the right words. “I’m sure Jaeyi also has some fear, relationships like this aren’t easy, you need to communicate more and walk together in this. Jaeyi has a lot of power, and I’m sure she would protect you if she loves you sincerely. If I were you, I would open up about my feelings and fears to her. Don’t let your fear control you, Seulgi.” The actress let out a shaky breath. Her brain tried to comprehend the words.

“Thank you for telling me this, Seulgi. I hope you will see me as a good support. My job quality depends on your mental state.” Her manager joked. “I hope you will see me as a friend, too.” Seulgi smiled at her and opened her arms, inviting her for a hug. Ara didn’t hesitate and hugged her tightly.

Seulgi didn’t know at this moment, but Ara would become someone as close as Byeong was for her.

Seulgi had one day off without anything planned: no Heeyoung, no Jaeyi, no friends, no schedule, just her and the rare free time. She decided to go outside and enjoy the cold weather. It was now almost the start of spring, and it was Seulgi’s favorite season. She sat at her usual café and ordered a hot drink. She opened her computer and read some script that her company sent her. Maybe it was her day off, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the next project or schedule. After thirty minutes, in the corner of her eyes, she saw a figure sitting at the other end of her table. She frowned, not quite in the mood to speak with someone, let with a fan.

“Hello, Ms. Woo. I don’t know if you recognize me.” Seulgi’s eyes detached from her computer to look at the person in front of her. It was a familiar man, someone she had met months before. She squinted her eyes, not to have a better look, but more in a thinking way. The man laughed at her reaction. “I’m Youngmin. Kang Youngmin.” He presented himself for the second time, and it hit Seulgi.

“Oh yeah! Now I remember. Heeyoung’s father, right?” The man giggled and nodded. “Yeah. I didn’t expect to meet you here. What a coincidence.” Seulgi’s fingers twitched, and a weight dropped on her chest. His voice had something weird, something too subtle to put a name to it, but the tone made Seulgi’s body shiver.

“Yeah, what a wonderful coincidence,” she replied with a fake smile. She tried to control her facial expression as much as possible. Seulgi heard enough about this man to know he was a danger. His presence in that type of place wasn’t normal. He was here for a specific reason, and her gut was never wrong. “So, what do you want to talk about, Mr. Kang?” She asked without wasting any time. The man smirked and put his hand on his chin. A long silence fell on them, making Seulgi sip the rest of her drink with a trembling hand.

“Well, you don’t like decorum at all.” He commented, dropping his eyes on Seulgi’s hand, and smiled. “Well, since you want me to be direct,” he brought his hand into his blazer and took out an envelope. He put it on the table and slid it to Seulgi. The actress knew something wasn’t right. With her still trembling hand, she took the envelope. Before she could even open it, the man spoke, his gaze on Seulgi.

“I won’t do anything yet.” The venom in his voice couldn’t be ignored by Seulgi. She opened the envelope and her eyes fell on printed pictures. A lot of them. She took them out and observed the first ones. A picture of her and Heeyoung playing in a park, her with Heeyoung and Jaeyi leaving the aquarium, but it was the third one who caught Seulgi’s attention. Her hand tightened the picture in her hand, almost ripping it. The picture depicted Seulgi in her apartment. She couldn’t observe the picture correctly, her view being blurred by a liquid that threatened to fall from her eyes. She looked at Youngmin, her lips thin.

“What do you want?” Seulgi said with a trembling voice. She wasn’t afraid of the picture. What frightened her was the picture of her in her apartment. This man was following her, no, worse, he was watching her every second. It hit her; this definitely wasn’t a coincidence, and Seulgi’s body froze. The man smiled widely. He understood the situation.

“I want you to stop being around Heeyoung and Jaeyi. Don’t even try to tell Jaeyi about this, or I will expose things you even forget about, Woo Seulgi.” He stood up and came closer to her ear. Seulgi didn’t move an inch, her body glued to her chair and her gaze to the table. “I know a lot about your past, a disgusting one, starting with your father.” He whispered. Seulgi felt a cold taking over her body. Her lips were locked together, and her hands gripped the table strongly. She felt her pulse pounding fast.

“I trust you. After all, you were good at sabotaging your relationships.” He said softly before walking off. Seulgi stayed on her chair, holding her breath until she felt her lungs taking up too much space in her chest. She gripped the envelope tightly and closed her eyes. Her thoughts were a mess, and she didn’t know what to do. She took her belongings and left the café. She went directly to her apartment, but the moment she put a foot in there, she wasn’t feeling safe; worse, she started to feel watched.

She, then, let herself sink into her bed. Gaze at the ceiling.

“Starting with your father,” Seulgi shivered. It had been years since she heard someone mention her father. She even forgot his existence, his face, his voice, everything about him. She thought she was done with this individual. The more she thought about him, the more her memories came back.

It was a summer day, and Seulgi had just gotten home after a day with her friend. She removed her shoes and walked directly to the living room, hoping to see her stepmother. The house was quiet, too quiet for Seulgi’s taste. The living room was empty, which wasn’t normal. She took out her phone to see if she had missed a message from her mother, but nothing. She scratched her head and scrunched her nose. Then, she heard a masculine voice, a familiar sound, and then her mother’s voice. She walked toward the sound and stayed behind the wall. The door was open, and Seulgi tried her best to stay discreet.

“I don’t understand why you adopted her! You hid from me the fact that you knew her in that orphanage! You knew well how much I wanted to see her. Why have you done that?!” His voice went higher with each word pronounced. Seulgi felt the pain and the betrayal in his voice. She heard her mother laugh.

“You really asking me this? You should feel ashamed! How could you come here, into this house, after all the things you had done? You speak to me like I was the one who broke everything, and now you reproach me for adopting your daughter? Should I remind you of your disgusting behavior?” Her mother was angry, and Seulgi felt it. She didn’t know the full story between them, and her mother was still protective when it came to it. She tried multiple times to bring the subject to the table, but she switched the subject quickly. The man laughed. Seulgi hated it; she knew this voice, and she hated it so much.

“And? Seulgi is my daughter, and I have the right to see her! The court never prohibited me to see her or speak to her. She went to that orphanage only because of her irresponsible mother! I did nothing,” by now he was screaming. The other woman let a moment of silence pass between them.

“How can you call her mother irresponsible when you are the one who groomed her? You should leave, and I’d better not see you. I will support the student in court. I decided that I shouldn’t stay quiet. I should have done this the day I knew you were seeing the student out of the high school. A divorce paper will be sent too. I hope you will rot in jail.” Seulgi didn’t move even though she heard steps coming closer to her position. She heard a small gasp, and she looked at her mother, who had her eyes wide.

“Seulgi…” At the mention of her name, the man showed himself behind her mother. Seulgi finally saw the face she didn’t want to see. The person who was supposed to be her father. She looked at him with intensity. The man wanted to speak, but the moment he opened his mouth, Seulgi ran away. She closed the door of her bedroom with an unconscious strength and slid to the floor.

It was the first time she heard about it. Seulgi remembered her biological mother; she couldn’t forget about her even if she only lived with her for three years, almost four. Now that she thought about it, it was true that her mother seemed quite young. She felt something strong in her chest, something bigger than anger. She wanted to destroy everything in her room. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on her breathing. She tried to calm down, but her mind was too chaotic. She needed something to make her forget what she just heard, even for a second.

Her need to smoke started to grow strongly.

Chapter Text

After the date, Jaeyi was satisfied with everything and confident that a second date would take place. It seemed the feeling was mutual, and the goal of the night was fulfilled. She even started to think about ideas for dates that they could do without being too public. In the following days, the two women kept in touch via messages, making the relationship as alive as possible. The CEO found herself smiling all day, just a text from the actress, and it was enough to make her day better. People around her noticed how their CEO became less cold or authoritative, making the workplace more pleasant for everyone. Miserably, the happiness only lasted for four days. Seulgi’s behavior changed abruptly to coldness and absence, leaving Jaeyi confounded. What’s made everything more strange was the day the actress showed herself to the CEO’s office and shared her ambition to accept more projects, starting with two dramas in the following months. Jaeyi couldn’t refuse her, even though she wanted to argue, because the company relied a lot on her project. She accepted reluctantly, knowing the actress would have less time, even worse, no time at all.

Of course, Jaeyi felt the distance between them, and the second date naturally never took place. She tried to ask her occasionally, but got the same excuse about time. Even though she knew it was a lie, she let it go, thinking that the actress needed just some time alone, or wasn’t ready. Yet, the thought of having done something wrong followed her every day and night, even at work. The actress left her completely lost, and the lack of communication slowly killed her. She should have asked her for an explanation, demanding to know if she had done something wrong, but for some unknown reason, she never did.

No, saying she didn’t know why she had a hard time communicating with Seulgi was false. She knew the reason well. She was afraid of her answer, fearful of rejection, or worse, being played. The days went by, and the distance was worse. Jaeyi tried to keep in touch, texting her to ask about her day, but the exchange was mostly unilateral. The sudden change in Seulgi’s behavior made Jaeyi less efficient at work. Everyone could tell, Mr. Kim being the first one. Two months of distance and two weeks since she last saw Seulgi bothered her.

Jaeyi was in her office, her gaze fixed on her computer and her hand on the keyboard. Her eyes weren’t recognizing the text on the screen, and her hands were paralyzed. She didn’t even hear the knock or the door opening. Jaeyi’s body was here, on the chair, but her brain wasn’t. A loud slap on her desk made her jump out of fear, and she furrowed her eyebrows. She looked up and saw Kyung with Yeri.

“Oh wow! We needed to almost break your desk for you to land on earth.” Kyung said with a neutral tone. Yeri smirked beside her, and Jaeyi only rolled her eyes, knowing in advance her question.

“Who is making our wonderful CEO lose her mind?” Jaeyi stood and lay on the sofa. Her face was sinking into the couch, and one of her arms was swinging in the void. She heard the girls sitting and some whispering.

“Just tell us the problem already. Mr. Kim seems to suffer from your inefficiency. Is it about Seulgi?” Kyung asked with a soft voice. At the mention of the girl, Jaeyi sat on the sofa more correctly and looked at the girls with desperate eyes.

“I don’t know what went wrong. It has been two months since our last date, and she has kept being cold to me. She even stopped texting me first or asking about Heeyoung. Every time I asked her for a second date, she said the same thing. ‘I really want to have a second date with you, Jaeyi, but I don’t have time. I’m sorry.’ even when she has time. I don’t understand, and it’s killing me.” She said in a hurry. She bit her nails, and her eyebrows were furrowed out of worry. She avoided the look of the girls, too scared to see their reactions.

“This is weird. What’s her problem, seriously?” Kyung said with an ounce of anger in her tone.

“The only thing that shocks me is that she stopped asking about Heeyoung. Seulgi seemed to care about her a lot. It’s not normal.” Yeri commented, her tone was unsure as she was thinking as she spoke. Jaeyi’s gaze went to Yeri with wide eyes.

“Right! It doesn’t make any sense!” She lay her back on the couch dramatically, and she covered her face with her hands.

“Why don’t you ask her? If you see her being distant, just ask her the reason, even if her answer won’t make you happy. At least you will know,” said Kyung while winding up her glasses. The woman beside her brought her hand to her chin, and her low lips went up.

“You still can ask Ara. I’m sure she knows things, she is way nosier than me.” Jaeyi clapped her hands and ran to hug Yeri.

“Oh my god! I totally forgot about her. You can be such a genius, Yeri!” The CEO said while tightening her embrace. Yeri tapped slightly on her back and faked a cough. Jaeyi understood the signal and backup.

“Where is Heeyoung? It’s Saturday, isn’t she supposed to be with you?” Kyung asked while looking around the office. Jaeyi shook her head and laughed. “No, she is with her father. Actually, it’s weird. He takes care of Heeyoung more than before, like too much.” She replied, but the two women only shrugged.

“He finally understands he is the father. So, it means you have more time for yourself.” Jaeyi nodded to the actress’ statement and sighed.

“This is why I’m kinda sad that Seulgi is distant from me. Not having Heeyoung around me is so rare, and we could have a lot of dates.” Kyung and Yeri looked at Jaeyi with compassion.

“I hope you will find your answer, Jae! We are with you, so if that Seulgi hurts you, don’t mind the rumor that will follow!” The actress exclaimed, and her manager brought her hand to her forehead. “Yeri!” But the CEO laughed, finding them funny and cute at the same time.

The girls stayed for a few minutes, catching up on some gossip, and then left. Jaeyi was now alone in a completely silent office. It only stayed for a second, the required time for her thoughts to start being loud again. Jaeyi was still on her sofa, body rigid and frozen. She made no movement, no sound, to the point that she could hear her heartbeat in her ears. Her face made no expression, not even a slight emotion. One thing was speaking, only one; her eyes. She looked in front of her, but at the same time at nothing. Her view was blurred, not from tears, but from looking at nothing in particular. Jaeyi wasn’t the type to feel nothing, no, she was never numb. She was the type to feel everything vividly.

She learned to identify her emotions since her teenage years, even more so after she decided to see a therapist. It was never a pleasant thing for her, especially when she needed to admit her negative emotions like jealousy, possessiveness, or even sadness. She hated it when something affected her in the wrong way, perturbing her daily life and her work. Right now, she not only felt lost but also sad. She found it funny how a woman could bring something so intense in such a short time. She had known Seulgi for eight months, yet it felt like she had known her for years.

The room suddenly seemed dark, and Jaeyi finally moved. She went to the window and watched the city start to light up. The sun wasn’t in the sky. Jaeyi stayed all day thinking about the same person without doing anything at work. She closed her eyes and let out a tired laugh. She didn’t want to admit it, but now, out of nowhere, she heard one of her thoughts more clearly than the others.

I do miss her.

“Woo Seulgi’s hard work was praised a lot, but recently, a lot of her fans are complaining about overworking. Seulgi seemed not to support her schedule. She looked exhausted yesterday, and it didn’t go unnoticed. Other than that, everything is well! Byeong’s new single is a hit, and our new girl group is doing well! We announced Yeri’s next project, and people reacted to it greatly. Oh! And a director wanted Seulgi and Chanwoo for a romance drama.” Mr. Kim summarized the news about JY Entertainment to Jaeyi. The CEO side-eyed her assistant as she heard the director’s wish.

“Seulgi and Chanwoo as a pair for a romance drama? What the fuck is that pairing?” Mr. Kim shrugged his shoulders and laughed slightly.

“I don’t think it’s a bad pairing, plus it will be a good push for Chanwoo. He is our rising star. Putting Seulgi and him together is an excellent idea!” Jaeyi frowned all along of her assistant’s reply. “Don’t frown like this, Jaeyi, you’re starting to be more obvious. Don’t let your jealous side ruin our company business.” He said calmly, too calmly to Jaeyi’s taste. She sighed and nodded.

“Send the script to them. For Seulgi’s overworking issues, I don’t know what to do with that. She did that to herself, and I don’t know how to stop her.” She said with a small desperation. Mr. Kim’s gaze was on her, and he seemed confused.

“Now I’m thinking about it. It had been three weeks since I last saw Ms. Woo here. I was saying to myself that maybe she was busy, but the last time she had a shooting for four months, she still managed to come here. I mean, didn’t she have meetings here, too?” Jaeyi snorted and leaned on her chair.

“It had been three weeks and four days since I saw her in my office. The last time she came here, she asked me for my permission for two projects and an ambassador deal from a luxury brand. She became more and more busy, and she stopped messaging me.” The CEO noticed her assistant’s body straighten, but his face was emotionless.

“Jaeyi, this is not normal. You should speak to her, especially about her schedule. Convoke her and speak to her, immediately! You know what. I know you very well. I will call her, so be ready! In two hours.” Jaeyi wanted to protest, to put him in his place, but the older man stopped her by bringing his palm in front of him and turned away. He slapped the door behind him, and Jaeyi cursed under her breath.

She immediately felt a weight on her chest, her guts screaming at her to run away, and her thoughts imagining the worst possible case ever. Her stomach suddenly tightened strongly, and she felt something going up to her throat. She stood up and ran to drink water, but it only made her feel more nauseous. She rested her hand on the desk, leaning her weight on it. She was doomed, and she didn’t know how to react to this. A little part of her was still happy, after three weeks and four days, she would finally see Seulgi.

The next two hours were too slow for Jaeyi. She was still sitting on her chair, gaze on her computer, and her hand under the desk. She still felt nauseous. She almost threw up multiple times, but her brain never let it happen. She always swallowed back before it came to her mouth. One of her legs was tapping fast on the floor while her hands were gripping each other strongly to the point her fingers were white and red, and an uncomfortable warmth was wrapping her hand. Suddenly, a knock and Jaeyi stood up fast, too fast. Her assistant came first, but Jaeyi saw Seulgi behind him first.

“Ms. Yoo, Woo Seulgi is here. You have thirty minutes, though.” Mr. Kim said with a neutral tone. He smiled at Seulgi slightly and left the room, leaving the two women alone. The moment the door clicked, the atmosphere changed. It wasn’t the safe and comfortable one. No, it was awkward, scary, and Jaeyi could feel the unspoken words hanging between them. It was heavy, and she already felt like drowning in the deep ocean.

Seulgi bowed, and when she looked at her, Jaeyi noticed the tiredness in her face and eyes, but to her, she was still the most gorgeous woman she knew. Her heart did something painful, but she managed to stay calm and composed. Oh, she wished she could hug her and touch her, even just her finger. She didn’t bow back; she directly sat on the sofa and motioned for her to sit beside her with a small smile. Without any surprise, Seulgi ignored her and sat on the opposite sofa, facing Jaeyi completely. The CEO’s smile faded, and she sighed quietly. She observed the actress; her body was straightened, her hands were resting calmly on her knees, and her face was neutral. She showed nothing, not even a smile, not even a trembling finger. Jaeyi imagined the scene thousand and thousand times, but this was worse than anything.

“So, why did you want to see me? Mr. Kim refused to tell me.” Her voice was cold, too cold for Jaeyi’s taste. She felt her heart tighten for a second, and she almost thought she was going to throw up. She didn’t move; she let the heavy air weigh on them. “If you have nothing to tell me, don’t waste my time, Ms. Yoo.” A silence. Then a small laugh.

“Ms. Yoo? Seriously?” Seulgi didn’t bulge; she just looked at her with no emotion at all, not even pity. Jaeyi felt it, the break. She nodded, for what, she didn’t know; she just needed to move. “I called you to speak about your schedule. Your fans were complaining about overwork. You seemed to be tired, and still are. Let’s find a solution.” Seulgi’s gaze went down, and she moved her feet.

“I don’t care what my fans think about my schedule. I don’t even see how we could change my schedule. I like it this way, and I’m doing well, no worries at all.” The actress responded nonchalantly. Jaeyi crossed her arms on her chest and stared at Seulgi. She didn’t like how the younger spoke; her tone was too controlled, too cold. The atmosphere didn’t change; it was still awkward, and Jaeyi couldn’t stand it.

“I can’t do it. Tell me what’s going on. Why did you suddenly become distant? Did I do something wrong? It had been almost three months since our date, and for some reason, I felt like it broke something between us when it should be the opposite.” Jaeyi said, her voice almost breaking in the end. She noticed Seulgi’s jaw clenched, and she found herself happy with the small reaction. The actress didn’t speak for a few seconds; she was looking at the desk and then at Jaeyi, but this time, her eyes expressed something profound. Seulgi breathed loudly as if she was getting ready to tell something complicated.

“I thought about us since our date, and I think we should maintain the professional boundaries. It was a mistake to get too close to you or your daughter. I know Heeyoung was a fan of mine and she wanted to be around me as much as possible, but as your artist, it’s kinda weird, you know. Plus, let’s be realistic, the relationship will go nowhere anyway. I have too many issues, I’m too famous, and it’s too dangerous for both of us. We should be reasonable and just pretend like nothing happened, hum?” Each word Seulgi pronounced was a punch. Jaeyi looked at her, trying to understand the meaning of it, and let out a laugh.

“Pretend like nothing happened? Who do you think I am? I’m not an actress, Seulgi. I don’t understand you right now. Nothing makes sense, are you aware of that? You told me you wanted a second date with me, and you said this to me repeatedly!” At this point, Jaeyi wasn’t speaking; she was almost screaming. She couldn’t control the sudden boil in her and stood up. “You started to open up about your past, taking care of my daughter like it’s yours, flirting with me, and now you are asking me to pretend like nothing happened?” Jaeyi stopped herself and sat back on the sofa. She breathed multiple times, trying to control the intense feeling in her chest. She didn’t look at Seulgi, she couldn’t. She rested her elbow on the edge of the sofa and put her hand on her eyes.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have flirted with you when I didn’t even know what I wanted.” Seulgi whispered loudly enough for Jaeyi to hear. The older woman let out a painful breath. It was too much.

“Leave.” The CEO said, using her authoritative tone. She didn’t hear Seulgi move, and bit her lips strongly, tasting a bite of her blood. “I said leave!” She wanted to sound more menacing, but her voice broke. She heard Seulgi’s steps, after a moment of silence, the door opened and closed.

Jaeyi stayed on the sofa, replaying Seulgi’s words. She felt too much, too much to describe what’s going on in her. She couldn’t even recognize her emotions. After what seemed like hours, Jaeyi stood up and went back to work with a heavy heart. She ignored everyone that day, even her sister. She went home without saying goodbye to her assistant, and when she was at her home, for the second time in her life, she didn’t touch alcohol. She just lay on her bed, head sinking into her pillow, and her thoughts filled the silence of her bedroom. She didn’t cry, she couldn’t.

Her heart was still heavy.

But for the first time, she felt numb.

Jaeyi got out of her car and entered Kang’s house. Today was a special day, and for the first time since the divorce, Youngmin insisted on celebrating Heeyoung’s birthday at his parents’ house. Jaeyi hadn’t found any reason to be against the idea and let him organize the event. She walked directly to the garden, where everything was arranged. The decorating was pretty; they had chosen purple for this year, and the family was already gathered together. Jaeyi noticed her parent talking to her sister, but decided to avoid them for today. She wasn’t in the mood, to be honest, since her discussion with Seulgi, her morale wasn’t the best. She searched for her daughter among all the kids who were here, and saw her running toward her.

“MOM! YOU HERE!” Before she could even react, her daughter jumped on her and hugged her. Jaeyi laughed, the first sincere smile, and hugged her daughter back tightly.

“Hey, love. Happy birthday, you’re becoming a big girl now, huh?” She said softly with a smile and stroked her hair. She looked at Heeyoung with loving eyes and hugged her again. Youngmin was taking care of Heeyoung almost every day, leaving Jaeyi almost always alone, and she didn’t like it. She got too used to Heeyoung’s presence in her house, and not having her around always felt strange. Worse, she always worried about her, especially when Youngmin was in charge of her daughter’s education. She tightened her embrace and whispered to her daughter how much she missed her. Then she let her go and told her to enjoy the day with her cousins. She watched her running toward the other kids and smiled when Heeyoung laughed with the other.

“You missed her, hum?” The sudden familiar male voice made Jaeyi jump a bit. She brought her hand to her chest and closed her eyes for a second. She turned toward the man and slapped his shoulder slightly.

“Youngmin, don’t do that! You scared me.” He laughed and bowed his head. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but it’s always fun to scare you,” he said with his teasing tone. Jaeyi observed him and noticed that he seemed happier and less tired than usual; he was smiling widely, his voice was calm and soft with a hint of joy, and he was wearing a white ensemble with sunglasses. “What? You like what you see?” She frowned and side-eyed him.

“You finally made an effort in your outfit. Last year, it was horrible, close to humiliation.” Youngmin’s jaw dropped for a second, but he managed to smirk in the end. “My life without you as my wife is hard, Jaeyi. You know well I have no sense in fashion, that was your job.” Jaeyi rolled her eyes and walked away. She sat on the garden swing seat and looked at the sky, sometimes at her daughter. She tried to think about the birthday, not to get distracted by her thoughts, but the brain has a wonderful way to work, and like the other days, her thought drifted back to the same woman. She felt guilty weighing her, and she stared at her daughter, whose attention was on the other kids.

“What are you thinking of?” She didn’t look at the man; she already knew it was Youngmin. He never left her alone, no matter what, a childhood habit. He sat beside her, too close for Jaeyi’s taste, but she said nothing. “Personal things,” she answered coldly. She heard him humming and felt his arm behind her shoulder.

“I see, if you don’t want to tell me, I understand. Let’s talk about other things, and maybe you will forget about your problems.” His voice was still calm, a little deeper as if he tried to be more seductive. Jaeyi wasn’t feeling awkward around him, quite the opposite. She still hated to have him around; she always ended up drained after each talk they had. Yet, she needed something to entertain her brain, and nodded to him. Youngmin smiled and stroked her hair. “Good, Heeyoung seemed so happy with me. I’m going to free my time, so if you don’t have time or you need to travel somewhere, just tell me.” Jaeyi stared at him strangely. Her body didn’t move an inch, and her face stayed neutral.

“Really? What made you change so suddenly?” She couldn’t control her dry tone, and her ex-husband seemed to notice her weird behavior. His body straightened, and he moved his hands to his knees. He breathed loudly. “Do I need a reason to change? The most important thing is that I wake up, right? Plus, we don’t need someone else to take care of Heeyoung.” Jaeyi laughed. She wasn’t dumb; she knew why he suddenly changed.

“Just say you were jealous of Seulgi.” Even when she was supposed to stop thinking about her, she ended up speaking about her. Jaeyi looked at Youngmin, but the man said nothing; he only chuckled. She suddenly felt her eyes becoming heavier each second. She rested her head on her ex-husband’s shoulder and closed her eyes. “You always had a talent to make me sad, Youngmin.” She whispered, but enough for him to hear.

“I did nothing,” Jaeyi laughed, but stayed in her position. The silence finally embraced them, and Jaeyi’s heart was heavier than before. Her chest was too uncomfortable, to the point that Jaeyi wanted to stab it. She felt Youngmin’s hand on her thigh, and her body froze. The feeling wasn’t warm; worse, his hand felt cold on her thigh. Her heart hadn’t skipped a beat or gone faster. She didn’t even feel safe under his touch. She opened her eyes and looked at nothing. Her thoughts became loud, and out of nowhere, she started to compare the feeling she had now with her ex-husband to Seulgi, and her throat started to hurt as it blocked an emotion from rising.

She felt a pair of eyes on her and looked toward her father. Of course, he was the one who observed them. He was smiling, enjoying the sight before him. Jaeyi’s gaze went down, and she suddenly felt a wind of anger in her going up to her chest. Her emotions became too chaotic for her. She raised her head and put a small distance from Youngmin. The man looked at her confusedly, but she ignored him. She looked up at her daughter, who was running toward them with a big smile. Jaeyi felt everything disappear in her when she saw her.

“Mom! Dad! Look what grandpa gave me!” She stopped in front of them, breathing fast as she tried to catch her breath, and showed her golden bracelet on her wrist. Jaeyi smiled and stood up to look up more closely at the gift.

“Oh wow! It’s so pretty! Did you say to him Thank you?” Heeyoung nodded her head fast, happily. Youngmin joined them and lifted her daughter around. Jaeyi watched them, but she couldn’t manage to smile sincerely. The scene was too familiar. “Be careful!” She shouted out, but her ex-husband only chuckled. He put her daughter down and both of them laughed. He took her hand, and Heeyoung offered her other hand to her mother. Jaeyi took it, and the family joined the other. They looked almost like a perfect family, almost.

It was seven in the evening, and the birthday finally ended. Heeyoung was sleeping on the couch in the living room while the remains family member helped the Kang to clean up. When everything was done, Jaeyi decided to go to one of the balconies. She took deep breaths and got a cigarette out of her bag. Yeah, she promised herself not to smoke ever again since she was pregnant, but she never felt such intense emotions in her life, and her want to smoke grew each day. She put it to her lips and still debated with herself whether she should light it up or not. After a moment, she heard footsteps behind her and turned around to find Jungsu. He looked at her, surprised when his gaze went to the cigarette between her lips.

“I thought you stopped?” He said calmly without any judgment. He brought his cigarette to his lips and lit it up without any hesitation. He offered his lighter to Jaeyi, and without thinking too much, she got closer. Jungsu smiled and lit her cigarette up. She inhaled once and coughed as she felt a warmth in her throat. She heard the man beside her laugh. “We can tell you didn’t smoke for years.” Jaeyi hummed, but didn’t have the force to smile. The man beside her seemed to understand something was deeply wrong with Jaeyi.

“So, what’s going on?” Jaeyi tapped weakly on her cigarette and looked at the sky. “Seulgi told me she wanted to keep a professional relationship and that she shouldn’t have been close to me or Heeyoung.” Jungsu gasped, which made Jaeyi look at him. His hand was on his mouth, and his eyes were wide.

“The Yoo Jaeyi got rejected? Wow.” She rolled her eyes, but her lips didn’t move an inch. Her throat started to hurt, and she didn’t know if it was because of the cigarette or her urge to cry. She was still inhaling the cigarette since it calmed her so much. Jungsu cleared his throat. “On a serious note, maybe it’s for the better. You know Youngmin has a close eye on her. I’m even wondering if he didn’t meet her.” Jaeyi turned her head as fast as an owl and threw her cigarette. Jungsu looked at her confusedly. “What? Did I say something wrong?” Jaeyi furrowed her eyebrow and shook her head. She put both of her hands on the man’s shoulder.

“Jungsu, do you think Youngmin will go that far?” He looked at her, raised his bottom lip, and shrugged his shoulders. “He has a lot of pictures of her, I mean. I wouldn’t be shocked if he did it. But I don’t think he did it, though. If he did it, I don’t think he will be that present for Heeyoung.” He concluded. Jaeyi wasn’t convinced, and the idea of Youngmin meeting Seulgi alone terrified her. She blinked, and a question came to her mind.

“Do you have an idea of how much Youngmin knows about Seulgi’s life?” She sensed the shift in Jungsu’s body. He became suddenly cold, his second arm went behind his back, and he looked at Jaeyi as if she had said something wrong. “The real question is what doesn’t he know?” He tapped Jaeyi’s back slightly and left her. Jaeyi watched him go away, trying to process what he had just said.

She looked at the still blue sky and let out a deep breath. For some reason, her heart wasn’t as heavy as before, but the anger started to grow. She clenched her teeth and rested her hand on the edge of the balcony. She wanted to believe the sudden change in Seulgi’s behavior wasn’t normal, and there was something else. She needed to find a way to know the truth of the situation. She stayed on the balcony for at least thirty minutes, thinking about a plan or someone to help her.

And then, she suddenly remembered her talk with Yeri and Kyung.

Ara.

She smiled a bit and let the wind brush her face. Then, she went down to find her daughter, who was sitting on the sofa, half asleep. She sat beside her, and Heeyoung rested her head on her mother’s shoulder.

“You woke up?” She felt her nod. “Dad, wake me up, so I can say goodbye to grandpa, grandma, and auntie. Can I go with you tonight? I missed you.” Heeyoung said with her tired voice. Jaeyi smiled out of love and stroked her daughter’s arm. “Yes, of course.” She said softly. She heard a little ‘yea’ from Heeyoung, and a silence fell on them. After a moment, Heeyoung finally asked something.

“I miss Seulgi. When can I see her?” Jaeyi’s heart did a painful beat in her chest. Her daughter didn’t see Seulgi for almost three complete months, and she never stopped asking about her. Even though she still spoke about the actress a lot, she understood that she was busy and didn’t ask to see her as much as before. The care she still has for the actress always made Jaeyi’s heart hurt. She kissed the edge of her head, but stayed silent for a moment. “I don’t know, she is really busy, you know.” Heeyoung hummed quietly, and then stood. “Let’s go home, Mom! I miss my bed so much!” She ran out of the living room, and Jaeyi genuinely laughed. She stood up almost immediately and ran after her daughter.

She might not have been in her best mood today, but for the first time since the talk, Jaeyi’s smile reached her eyes.

Jaeyi gave a glass of coffee to the woman in her office and sat on the sofa in front of her. The woman thanked her and took a sip of her drink. The atmosphere was neutral, not awkward, not cold, just something professional. The woman cleared her throat and looked at Jaeyi with a smile.

“I’m listening, Ara.” Jaeyi planned to summon Seulgi’s manager, but apparently the universe made her task easier. It was Ara who wanted to speak to her personally and urgently. Now, four days after her daughter’s birthday, she could ask everything she wanted about Seulgi, and she didn’t plan this to be that fast. Ara bit her lips, and her hands were playing with her t-shirt.

“Don’t panic, please,” she began with a trembling voice, and Jaeyi raised one of her eyebrows, confused.

“Who do you think I am? Just tell me already.” She saw her gulped, and let out a breath.

“Seulgi fainted twice last week. W-” Before she could continue, Jaeyi stood abruptly. “WHAT?!” Ara followed her movement and stood up, panic in her eyes. “She is doing fine! The doctor just said she doesn’t eat enough. I tried to offer her food every day, but apparently, I shouldn’t have trusted her. Now I make sure she eats!” She replied in a hurry. Jaeyi sighed loudly and sat back on the couch. Ara did the same.

“So, I was saying, we were discreet about it. Nobody knows, so no worries. I wanted to tell you, but Seulgi didn’t let me. Anyway, I’m here to speak about Seulgi’s mental state.” Jaeyi’s heart stopped for a second. She looked at the woman in front of her, feeling her stomach tighten, and motioned for her to continue. “I don’t know what happened, but Seulgi isn’t doing well. She sleeps less, eats less, speaks less, and she even stopped smiling. She only works, and works. She also doesn’t like to be in her home at all. I think she is overworking herself, mostly because of it. It felt like she didn’t feel safe enough to sleep well in her apartment. I tried to speak to her, but she changed the subject quickly.” Ara explained calmly, yet Jaeyi could feel the worries in her tone. She looked at Seulgi’s manager and closed her eyes for a few seconds. She breathed multiple times and stood up. She walked to the window and started to think.

“Seulgi didn’t tell you anything?” Jaeyi asked softly. She heard Ara hum, and with an uncertain tone, she started to speak.

“She told me about your date, but I don’t think it because of that she is overworking herself.” Jaeyi turned to see Ara and walked fast toward her. “You think? What did she tell you about it?” The woman in front of her looked at the ceiling with a thoughtful expression.

“Well, she explained to me her fear and insecurity about the relationship. She told me she can easily run away from her relationship when her reputation is in danger. I told her to communicate with you and to explain her fear to you.” Jaeyi felt something drop in her stomach. “What?” Jaeyi said, completely dumbfounded. Ara looked at her confusedly.

“I guess she didn’t communicate with you. Gosh, she chose to run away.” The woman let her back fall on the back of the sofa and sighed. Jaeyi was still standing in front of her, and her thoughts were a mess. She can easily run away from her relationship when her reputation is in danger. The sentence stuck in her head, and she suddenly laughed out loud. Ara bounced and sat straight on the sofa.

“I will tell Mr. Kim to make Seulgi’s schedule less heavy. If Seulgi doesn’t feel safe in her apartment, we should find a solution quickly. Did she start to search for a new apartment?” Ara shook her head and mouthed ‘too busy’. Jaeyi sighed and sat on her chair behind her desk. “This woman. I will see what I can do. I will just contact her directly.” Ara smiled at her and stood.

“Thank you, Ms. Yoo! I hope everything will go well. Seulgi can be a little stubborn.” She said with a satisfied tone.

“Well, she will see me in front of her apartment.” Ara laughed. She bowed, thanked her again, and left the office.

Jaeyi stayed on her chair for a long time, thinking about the talk. She couldn’t stop considering the idea of Youngmin threatening Seulgi, and it made her heart accelerate a little. She felt that wind of anger in her chest, and the weight on her heart. Youngmin definitely has a talent to make her feel all types of negative emotions. She shook her head, and for the first time since the famous talk between Seulgi and her, she regained her focus on her work. She smiled and turned on her computer. Unfortunately, her smile disappeared as fast as it came. When she opened her mail, something caught her attention. An email was sent by someone, but it was not the person who caught her attention, but the subject of the email. “Important information about Woo Seulgi.” Of course, Jaeyi was curious; she was always curious about everything that involved Seulgi. She opened the mail, and as she read the mail, her smile slowly faded. One sentence in particular made her whole nervous system stop.

“Woo Seulgi was known to take all types of drugs in her debut era.”

Jaeyi read the sentence hundred and hundred times, but none of the words changed. She stayed frozen. She could ignore it, saying it was just some rumor, someone playing with her for money, but the mail contained a picture in it. Jaeyi recognized Seulgi very well, and if that picture got published, Seulgi’s career would be dead for sure. She heard a knock, and Mr. Kim entered. He didn’t even bow when he saw Jaeyi. He just looked at her confusedly.

“What’s going on, Jaeyi? You seem like you saw a ghost?” The CEO motioned for him to come beside. The assistant didn’t think twice and came fast. Jaeyi pointed at the mail, and the man read it. She knew her assistant read it multiple too, not believing once what he had just read. “Seulgi smoked drugs when she was younger? Gosh, I would never bet on that. This is terrible, we can recognize her so well in the picture.” Jaeyi brought her hand to her head and groaned loudly. She heard Mr. Kim laugh. “I guess this woman will keep torturing you for a while,” Jaeyi said nothing for a moment. She didn’t know what to think about this.

“I need to talk to her, like right now!” Mr. Kim understood the order and ran out of the office. After a few minutes, he came back, scratching his head. “I think her phone is off. It doesn’t even ring.” Jaeyi’s arms fell to her side, and she closed her eyes.

“I’m going to her home. I just hope she is there.” Mr. Kim nodded and told her good luck. Jaeyi stood and took her bag. She turned off the light and went straight up to her car. She laughed when she started her car. She found it funny that even the day she had her focus back, something took it back immediately. God knew that Mr. Kim was the one who made the agency work. She drove in silence, not even listening to music. She only let her thoughts fill the silence, even though it made her anxious. The wind of anger mixed with anxiety, being blocked in her throat, never left her.

Arriving at Seulgi’s building, she looked up to the window of Seulgi’s apartment and noticed they were closed. She took her phone and messaged Ara. After only a few seconds, she answered her.

Seul’s manager: Yeah, I dropped her off in some park, she told me she wanted to walk a little.

Seul’s manager: The park is like forty minutes away from her home. I don’t know when she will come back.

Jaeyi sighed, clearly annoyed, and got out of her car. Today’s weather was good, sunny, and not too hot. She bought something to eat in the convenience store and sat beside the door of Seulgi’s building, where she knew Seulgi would notice her. After a moment, she felt her eyes becoming a little too heavy, and her view became darker each second. Without even realizing it, she fell asleep.

“Ms. Yoo?”

“Yah, Yoo Jaeyi, wake up!”

She felt someone shake her slightly, and a muffled feminine voice calling her. She blinked multiple times, half asleep, and looked around her confusedly. She heard a relieved breath from the woman and looked at her. When she recognized Seulgi, she stood up fast, losing her balance at the same time. She put her hand on the wall close to her and let out a brief breath. She would be embarrassed if she fell in front of the actress. She heard a small laugh, and she finally looked up to Seulgi.

“You are crazy. Imagine if someone recognized you?” Seulgi said with a worried tone. The CEO didn’t reply and only observed the actress. She looked way too tired; she had dark circles under her eyes, and she seemed skinnier, but still beautiful. Jaeyi wanted to touch her so badly, but out of respect, she intertwined her own hands.

“I needed to speak to you urgently, and your phone seemed off.” Seulgi’s gaze went down, and she whispered an apology. She motioned for her to follow, and Jaeyi, with a big smile on her face, gladly walked behind her. When Seulgi opened the main door of the building, Jaeyi noticed that she was holding two plastic bags full of stuff. She leaned her body and took the bags from Seulgi’s hand easily. The actress turned and tried to take them back, but Jaeyi didn’t let her. The scene was kind of funny; they almost looked like they were fighting.

“Yah, Yoo Jaeyi! Gave it back to me, I can carry them!” Jaeyi shook her head and told her to walk. Seulgi understood she had no chance in this fight, sighed, and let Jaeyi carry the bags. When they arrived at Seulgi’s apartment, Jaeyi dropped the bags on the kitchen counter. The actress thanked her and apologized for the little mess. Jaeyi felt she was awkward.

The CEO observed the apartment and found it dark. It wasn’t that messy; the living room seemed like it had been a long time since someone used it, the kitchen was clean, and it also seemed like Seulgi hadn’t used it for an age. The apartment still screamed and smelled like Seulgi, and Jaeyi found comfort in it. The younger started to take off all the food from the bags, and the older only watched her. Nobody can blame her; she missed her so much, and having her this close, in the most domestic way, Jaeyi felt her heart doing that stupid thing.

“Do you need help? I can cook for you.” Seulgi looked at her and shook her head, but the actress wasn’t the only one who was stubborn. Jaeyi still helped her even though Seulgi told her not to.

“Jaeyi, you don’t have to do it. You already carry it.” But the CEO didn’t listen to her.

“Let me cook for you. Ara told me you don’t eat that much these days.” Jaeyi said softly, but Seulgi frowned at her sentence and shook her head violently.

“I can’t believe she sold me.” She whispered. “I’m doing well, ok. You can just sit on the couch until I finish cooking. Or better, we speak right now, and then you leave me alone!” The younger said with a cold tone that made Jaeyi shiver. She knew she shouldn’t push it, but seeing Seulgi in this state made her want to treat her like a princess.

“Or, you lie on the couch and I cook for you in silence. You seem tired, Seulgi.” The actress rested her hand on the counter and took a deep breath. “Why are you doing this? I already told you I wanted a professional relationship. Don’t make me feel worse than I already am.” Seulgi didn’t look at her, but her voice broke as she spoke, making Jaeyi swallow hard.

“Just go on the couch. We will speak about it later. Don’t be stubborn and look at yourself.” She heard her gulp, and after a few minutes, Seulgi decided to give up.

So, Jaeyi didn’t waste any time and started to cook in silence, like she said. She heard Seulgi turn her television on, but she heard nothing from her, no laugh, no gasp, no comment. Her body didn’t move; it felt like a frozen scene with only the television being the reminder that time was moving. When she finished cooking, she put it on the table in front of Seulgi, but the actress wasn’t reacting. Her head was tilted down, and her arms were crossed. Her breath was calm, and Jaeyi understood she had fallen asleep. She chuckled and let her sleep for some more minutes. She watched the television and smiled when Yeri appeared.

But something caught her attention on the table. A white envelope with the actress’s name written on it. The style of the handwriting was the thing that made her heart jump in her chest. She recognized it well; it was Youngmin’s handwriting. She felt that wind of anger passing in her throat and bit her lips strongly. She looked at Seulgi, then back at the envelope.

What a nightmare.

She tried to take control of her emotions and swallow the anger in her. She looked at the food, and before it could be cold, Jaeyi shook Seulgi slightly to wake her up.

“Woo Seulgi, wake up. The food is ready, don’t let it get cold! It won’t taste as good!” The actress raised her head, eyes still closed, but her eyebrows were furrowed out of discomfort. She brought one of her hands back to her neck and massaged it slightly. She then opened her eyes and blinked multiple times when she saw the food.

“Oh wow. You didn’t have-” Before she could continue, Jaeyi cut her off. “Just eat.” Seulgi did what she said and wasted no time. She hummed complacency as she tasted the food. “It’s so good.” Jaeyi giggled, feeling satisfied with her job. While the actress ate, a silence embraced them. It wasn’t awkward, surprisingly, but Jaeyi felt the tension of the talk that was waiting for them. She even noticed how Seulgi ate slower and slower, pushing their talk as if she herself wasn’t ready for it. There was one sound, the television. Every time she heard Yeri’s voice coming out, she rolled her eyes in annoyance.

“You can turn off the television if you want. I didn’t know Yeri’s voice would irritate you.” Jaeyi shook her head. The last thing she wanted was complete silence. At least, the television sound shut her thoughts down and made her less anxious. After a long moment, Seulgi stood to clean the table and came back to the couch. There was a distance between them, but Jaeyi didn’t mind it. The younger woman turned the television off and faced Jaeyi.

“First, thank you for the food.” Jaeyi smiled at her and told her it was nothing. A silence fell on them for a moment before Seulgi found the courage to speak. “I’m listening, Jaeyi. Why are you here?” Now that Seulgi asked the question, Jaeyi didn’t know where to begin. She intertwined her own hands and stared at them.

“I have a lot of questions to ask. I will start with the subject of my presence in the first place. Be honest with me, Woo Seulgi.” The actress’s body straightened, and she started to play with her finger. She seemed so anxious that it made Jaeyi want to hug her and tell her everything was alright, but she bit back her want. The actress nodded, giving the green light to Jaeyi. “Have you ever touched drugs?” The CEO didn’t take her eyes off the actress and noticed that her eyes went wide.

“What?” Seulgi asked with a trembling voice.

“Did you take any drugs before? Be honest with me, Seulgi.” She heard her laugh nervously.

“Why are you asking this question?” The actress suddenly stood up, making the CEO stand up too.

“Just answer the damn question, Seulgi. Yes or no?!” Seulgi’s gaze was on the floor as she refused to speak, making Jaeyi feel annoyed. “Woo Seulgi! I’m asking as your CEO! Answer me, for god’s sake! I can’t protect you if you can’t be honest with me!” Seulgi jumped slightly at the sudden change of Jaeyi’s tone, her eyes full of anxiety.

“Yes.” She finally let out. It wasn’t loud, and her tone weighted shame in it. “Between my fifteen and twenty-three, I used to consume all sorts of drugs. It was my escape from my pain, but I’m sober now. After one year of hell trying to fight the urge to smoke.” She admitted without looking at Jaeyi. She looked small, defenseless, and weak like this, and Jaeyi felt the urge to protect her. The older let out a breath and sat on the couch.

“Thank you for your honesty.” She looked at the table and stared at the white envelope. She knew the talk had just begun and the worst was to come. “Why are you asking me this question?” The actress’s voice made the CEO look away from the envelope. “You don’t need to worry about that.” Of course, the younger didn’t like the answer.

“What do you mean? It’s about me and my career, Jaeyi! I deserve to know what’s going on! Did someone tell you I consumed drugs?” Jaeyi looked at her, then at the window.

“Why are the windows closed like this?” The older woman asked. She heard Seulgi groan out of annoyance. “Can you answer my question, Jaeyi?” She pretended to think and then smirked. She stood up, still ignoring Seulgi’s question, and took the envelope. Before she could even open it, Seulgi ran toward her and tried to scratch the envelope. Thank god Jaeyi had a wonderful reflex and caught Seulgi’s wrist.

“Jaeyi. Put down that envelope.” Seulgi said with an authoritative tone, but Jaeyi wasn’t having it and pushed her on the couch.

“I recognized this handwriting. You either tell me what’s going on, or I will find it myself.” The CEO said with a cold voice, and she knew she gave Seulgi her darkest look.

The actress frowned and stood up, trying to get the envelope. The two women found themselves fighting with each other until the envelope dropped all the pictures on the floor. Seulgi groaned loudly and immediately picked up the pictures. Jaeyi was still fast enough to see some of them and even took two pictures. Her heart stopped beating for a second as she looked at them. Suddenly, the picture on her hand was taken away from her, and she looked at Seulgi, whose eyes were glistening with tears that threatened to fall. Jaeyi felt her heart tighten strongly as she noticed the distress. She bit her inside cheek to hold back her want to touch her. She didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable.

“You aren’t alone, Seulgi. I can help you if you let me. Don’t run away and tell me everything. I promise you I will protect you, no matter what.” Jaeyi said lowly, trying to sound as reassuring as possible, but Seulgi only giggled. She looked at her confusedly. “Why are you laughing?”

“How can you even protect me, Jaeyi? Just leave me alone, and I’m sure everything will be fine.” Seulgi said with a steady tone, but Jaeyi sensed the small panic that she tried to hide. The older woman walked closer to her, and Seulgi went backward until she hit the wall. Jaeyi took this opportunity to be the closest and rested one of her hands on the wall, beside her head. She looked at Seulgi closely and saw the blue in her. She stroked slowly her cheek with her other hand and never took her eyes off Seulgi’s face. The actress had her eyes closed, and after a few seconds, she leaned into Jaeyi’s touch.

“I’m not anyone, Woo Seulgi. I’m a Yoo. My family does a lot of things; they are politicians, judges, doctors, directors, police officers, and businessmen. I have a reputation to maintain for myself, for my family, and for my company. Your performance, your career, and your reputation are as important to me as it is to you. And it will be like that until you leave my company.” She let her hand fall on her side and leaned her mouth close to Seulgi’s ear. “If something’s bothering you, it’s bothering me too. Now, tell me what Youngmin did, so I can finally do something.” A silence fell on them, and the moment Jaeyi wanted to put a distance between them, Seulgi took her hands.

“Are you sure about it, Jaeyi? If anything from me gets exposed, my career will die forever. Can I really trust you?” Seulgi whispered. She seemed more exhausted than before, less collected, less in control. She looked weak and vulnerable. Jaeyi brushed Seulgi’s hair away from her face and smiled weakly. Her heart beat painfully as she stared at Seulgi’s desperate face.

“Of course, you can trust me, Seulgi. I don’t want to lose you.” She heard a small breath that sounded like a breathy laugh. Seulgi put Jaeyi’s hand on her waist and rested her head on Jaeyi’s shoulder.

“Four days after our date, Youngmin found me in one of my spots. He gave me this envelope with a lot of pictures, some we were together, others only me and Heeyoung, but most of them are of me in my apartment. This man follows me everywhere, and I don’t feel secure here. I kinda felt like I was becoming paranoid every time someone left me alone. So, I tried to spend most of my time with people or at work.” Seulgi began with a soft tone. She wasn’t speaking fast; she took her time, and sometimes she stopped between two sentences as if she was thinking before saying anything. She always took a deep breath during each break. Jaeyi started to stroke her back, listening with intense care.

“To be honest, if it were just about pictures, I wouldn’t care that much. I know you would handle the situation; it’s not like we were kissing or whatever. But he threatened me. He told me he knew about my past, and for the first time in years, someone mentioned my father. I don’t even know how much he knows about me, but the fact that he knows my father is so terrifying. Only two people know about him: my mom and Byeong. I just couldn’t let someone expose my private life, especially about my fucking father.” Seulgi’s tone became more aggressive as she spoke about her father. Jaeyi let out a breath that she was holding without knowing it and brought Seulgi closer to her body.

“What did he ask you?” The older said with a trembling voice.

“To stop being around you and Heeyoung.” Jaeyi let her head fall on Seulgi and laughed.

“What a bastard.” She whispered. She hugged Seulgi a little more tightly as anger started to form in her stomach. “Can I know what your dad did?” She felt the actress’s head nod.

“He is a pedophile.” Jaeyi’s nervous system shut down for a second, and out of control, she leaned back to see Seulgi. “What?” The actress only smiled, it was a sad one, a smile that weighed too much.

“My mom had me when she was still a minor. My father was her teacher. He did that multiple times, you know. He married my stepmother for god knows what, but he cheated on her with students. When I was sixteen, someone filed a complaint against him, and she won. He got less than two years in jail.” Jaeyi said nothing; she only tried to swallow the new information. Seulgi said this with such ease, and her face expressed nothing, not even pity or sadness. She looked numb, empty, like someone who had heard too much to even know what to feel. Jaeyi pulled Seulgi closer to her and hugged her tightly. She didn’t know what to say, so she let the action speak for itself.

“Thank you,” the actress whispered with a broken voice. Jaeyi didn’t need to see her to understand she was trying not to cry, and she tightened her embrace a little more.

The silence embraced them, and Jaeyi’s brain suddenly swallowed the information she had just heard. Her emotions started to become more vivid each second as she repeated some important sentences. Her heart suddenly burned, and heat disseminated through her chest. Her lungs started to take up too much space, giving her a little hard time to breath. She tried to focus on her breath, but the feeling began to be too much for Jaeyi. Her ears were plugged, and her sight started to blur. She felt an attack of heat on her body, and her hands started to tremble. Her gaze went to the floor as she felt a bad headache. Her breath suddenly became fast as she tried to calm herself. She needed air or something to calm her. Seulgi seemed to sense the change in Jaeyi’s body and moved to the sofa. She dropped Jaeyi slowly on the couch and knelt in front of her. She intertwined her hand with Jaeyi’s.

“Hey, Jaeyi, can you hear me?” Jaeyi heard her voice, but it was muffled. She nodded, still having a hard time breathing. “Breathe with me, Jaeyi. Follow my rhythm. I’m here.” Jaeyi tried to follow Seulgi’s breath, and after a minute, she felt her chest lightening. She took one deep breath and looked at Seulgi.

“I don’t know what just happened.” Seulgi let out a sigh and closed her eyes.

“You scared me! I think you had a panic attack.” Jaeyi looked around, and her eyes fell on the white envelope. She bit her lips and closed her eyes. She didn’t even know how she would stay calm the moment Youngmin would be in front of her. She would probably slap him, or worse, kill him.

“Now, can I know how you get the drug information?” Seulgi’s voice brought her back to reality, and her gaze went to their intertwined hands, making Jaeyi smile widely. “You look like a teenager who just found love, Jaeyi.” The CEO looked at her and smirked.

“Well, maybe I am?” Seulgi rolled her eyes and giggled. “Someone sent me an email about it. There was a picture with it and we could recognize you well. They said your ex-dealer wants to expose you cause you have a debt.” The actress’s jaw dropped, and her eyebrows raised.

“This motherfucker,” she cursed and brought one of her hands to her hair. “I have no debt. I was his favorite cause I always paid for everything the moment I took it. What’s his problem, seriously?” Jaeyi looked at the windows, which were still closed. She didn’t know what time it was or if someone even called her.

“You should open your window, Seul. We can’t even know if it’s day or night, right now.” Seulgi turned her head toward the windows and shook her head. “And for your ex-husband, see us? huh-huh.” Jaeyi rolled her eyes and tightly held Seulgi’s hand.

“If you don’t feel safe in your apartment, you can come to mine in the meantime, until you find a new apartment. I can even help.” Seulgi’s gaze went on her with a hesitant look. Jaeyi knew what Seulgi was thinking and put her hand on her cheek. “It’s not too much. Just accept my help, you aren’t alone right now. Plus, Heeyoung missed you so much.” The actress frowned and crossed her arms, dropping Jaeyi’s hand.

“This is cheating! Don’t use your daughter like this!” Jaeyi laughed loudly. Then a silence fell on them. The older woman could tell Seulgi was thinking deeply about the proposition. She stared at her, and then her gaze slowly went to her lips. She bit her inside cheek to swallow her desire to kiss her. The actress cleared her throat, making Jaeyi look directly into her eyes, and saw her smirk.

“What?” Jaeyi blurted out, making Seulgi chuckle.

“Nothing,” She replied with an ounce of satisfaction in her tone. “I accept your proposition. I can’t stay in this apartment or else I will go insane. After being crazy as an experience for a psychotic role can be tempting.” Jaeyi gave her a judgmental look, making Seulgi laugh. “I’m joking.”

“Something is telling me that your want for a psychopath role isn’t a joke,” Jaeyi commented with a worried tone. The actress only shrugged her shoulders and told her it could be fun to try.

Seulgi started to pack some of her things up with Jaeyi’s help. Of course, the CEO didn’t hesitate to criticize or tease the actress’s wardrobe, which made the actress regret her decision. When everything was done, which took tens of minutes, they both got into Jaeyi’s car. Of course, the older woman drove the car into the building parking so they could be as discreet as possible, even though she knew it would be a little useless. While driving to the penthouse, a call came suddenly. She told Seulgi to stay quiet and picked up the call on the loudspeaker.

“Yah! Yoo Jaeyi! What the fuck are you doing? Imagine if I weren’t in South Korea, who would pick Heeyoung up?” Jena screamed, and Seulgi bit her lip not to laugh out loud. Jaeyi side-eyed her, making the actress go back to a serious expression.

“I had an urgent thing to do, like really urgent. A ride or die situation.” She heard her sister sigh.

“Whatever! Heeyoung is with me, in Dad’s hospital. I know you hate it, but I had too much work. Also, Dad told me you and Youngmin reconciled. Is it true? I mean, you seemed close to him in Heeyoung’s birthday.” Jaeyi tightened her grip on the steering wheel.

“No. We were just speaking about Heeyoung. You know he started, out of nowhere, to take care of Heeyoung.” Jena hummed and said nothing more. Jaeyi thanked her sister for picking Heeyoung up from school and hung up the call.

“When was Heeyoung’s birthday?” The CEO turned her head toward Seulgi for a second and then focused her gaze on the road. “It was four days ago, 26 June.” Seulgi gasped. “I need to buy her something!” Jaeyi stopped the car at a red light and stared at Seulgi with a smile.

“You don’t need to, your presence will be enough.”Seulgi shook her head and continued to argue that she needed to find a gift for Heeyoung. Jaeyi felt that stupid thing in her chest, and a heat started to grow on her face.

Maybe the last three months were like hell for Jaeyi, but a day with Seulgi was enough for her to forget about everything.

She felt at home with Seulgi beside her.

Chapter Text

Jaeyi parked her car in the hospital’s private parking and went directly to Jena’s office. She tried to be as discreet as possible; she even put on a black mask and cap so people wouldn’t recognize her. She knocked once on the door and entered without waiting to hear Jena’s voice. Her sister stood when she saw her and sighed.

“You scared me, Jaeyi. I thought that was Father.” Jena brought her hand to her chest and breathed dramatically loudly, making Jaeyi roll her eyes. She looked around her office and found Heeyoung sleeping on the couch. “She was so tired today,” her sister commented. “Let’s wake her up and go to the hospital’s park. I have a lot to tell you.” Jaeyi sighed tiredly but still nodded to her older sister. She woke up her daughter softly, and the Yoo family walked toward the hospital’s park. Heeyoung ran everywhere and found herself speaking with an old woman when she decided to sit down to rest for a little while. Jaeyi never took her eye off her daughter, making sure she was alright. The two sister were sitting on a bench with a cup of coffee in their hands.

“So, you and Youngmin? You were weirdly close to him.” The mention of his name made Jaeyi tighten her grip on her cup slightly. Her sister looked at her hand and seemed to sense the change in Jaeyi. “You seem angry,” Jena commented with a curious tone.

“I don’t even know where to start.” Jena, who stared at her, touched her hand.

“Just let it all go, Jaeyi. I’m here to support you.” Jaeyi smiled at her sister and took a deep breath.

“Youngmin started to take care of Heeyoung almost every day and still does. He even spoke to me about a trip he wanted to do with Heeyoung. He has never done that before, just the fact that he picked her up from school is so,” Jaeyi stopped for a moment, and looked at her daughter, who was laughing with the old woman. “But, it doesn’t seem right to me.” The sudden absence of Jena’s touch made her look at her sister confusedly.

“And why do you think he suddenly changed?” Jena asked before she took a sip of her drink. Jaeyi looked back at her daughter and shrugged.

“I think he wanted me to be mostly alone. He spoke to Seulgi and threatened her, forcing her to leave me and Heeyoung alone. He also admitted he was jealous of Seulgi.” She heard a chuckle beside her.

“So you think he took care of Heeyoung, so you had no reason to be in a personal contact with Seulgi?” Jaeyi nodded and bit her lips. She gazed at her feet and started to play with her fingers.

“Youngmin follows Seulgi closely, even in her apartment. I saw some pictures, and it sent a shiver down my spine. I asked Seulgi to stay with me until she found a new apartment. She accepted.” She finally said and raised her gaze to Jena, who looked surprised.

“What?! Are you insane?! That’s the worst decision of your life! Now he will just expose her for sure, are you stupid? You need to pretend you both don’t know each other!” Jaeyi shook her head and motioned for Jena to calm down, as she noticed people were starting to look at them strangely.

“Girl, be quiet! Gosh,” she massaged her head and swallowed hard. “I know what I’m doing. Plus, Seulgi looked so exhausted, she looked like she hadn’t slept in an age! My apartment is way more secure, and Youngmin won’t even have proper proof. I will make sure of it.” Jena hummed, but didn’t look convinced.

“Who else knows about it?” Jaeyi smirked. “Well, Mr. Kim, Ara, Heeyoung, and you.” Her sister nodded. A silence sat between them, and Jena suddenly made a confused facial expression.

“Who the fuck is Ara?” Jaeyi laughed out loud and answered her. They both talked a little more before a doctor called Jena for an emergency. The sisters said goodbye to each other, and Jena waved goodbye to Heeyoung. Jaeyi walked closer to her daughter, and the old woman, who had already noticed her, smiled.

“She is your daughter?” The woman asked softly before coughing a little. “Yes, she’s my little world,” Jaeyi said with a pride in her tone that she didn’t even control. The woman smiled gently and pinched weakly Heeyoung’s cheek.

“You educated your daughter well! She is smart and sweet! She is also really empathetic.” Heeyoung’s smile widened with each compliment from the elder woman, and Jaeyi shook her head slightly with a breathy laugh. “And she looks a lot like you!” The little girl suddenly stood up and raised her hand in happiness.

“Heeyoung, calm down.” Her daughter listened to her and apologized, making the older woman laugh. Jaeyi stayed a moment, speaking to the woman before leaving the hospital. She held her daughter’s hand and smiled as Heeyoung spoke about her day in school. When she opened the car’s door and Heeyoung was sitting correctly, she stared at her for a moment and spoke to her with a soft, authoritative tone.

“Mom has something to tell you, Heeyoung, but you need to stay calm and listen to me carefully. Ok?” Heeyoung nodded as her eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Promise me you won’t say this to your Father. It will be our little secret between mom and daughter.” Heeyoung looked at her perplexedly, but promised her to lock her lips together. “Seulgi will live with us for a moment.” Before she could even finish her sentence, Heeyoung bounced from her seat and screamed.

“REALLY?! REALLY, MOM?!” Jaeyi sighed, regretting the choice to prevent her. “Kang Heeyoung!” The sudden change of last name made her daughter calm instantly.

“Yes. She is already there, but she is tired. So don’t ask too much, okay?” Heeyoung nodded fast and buckled her belt. Jaeyi closed the door and sat in the driver’s seat. She started the car, and the drive went silently until Heeyoung began to talk.

“Mom?” Jaeyi hummed and looked at the interior rear-view mirror to see her daughter. “We should maybe think about a gift for Seulgi’s birthday.” The CEO suddenly stopped the car at the red light and turned to see her daughter more properly.

“When is her birthday?” Heeyoung looked at her confusedly. “What do you mean? It already passed, Mom.” Jaeyi’s jaw dropped, and Heeyoung rolled her eyes. “It’s a day before mine, 25 June. Everything is on the internet, Mom! I knew I shouldn’t have stayed with Dad that day.” Her daughter said in desperation. Jaeyi leaned on her seat and brought her hands to her face.

“It’s okay, Mom. I’m sure she still loves you even though you forgot to celebrate her birthday.” She said innocently, but the fact that she used the word ‘love’ made Jaeyi’s brain stop. She saw the green light and continued to drive, but this time she smiled shyly.

Jaeyi clicked the code of her house and entered with Heeyoung just behind her. As they walked toward the living room, she started to smell food, and her daughter also seemed to notice it. Heeyoung rushed to the kitchen and screamed Seulgi’s name. Jaeyi rolled her eyes, knowing her daughter had totally forgotten what she had told her just before. She walked to the kitchen side and found Heeyoung hugging Seulgi tightly as if she were afraid Seulgi would disappear again for months. Jaeyi smiled widely at the scene and felt her heart beat painfully, not from sadness but happiness. She looked at the kitchen island that separates the living room from the kitchen and found the food already prepared on it.

“You didn’t have to cook, you know.” Seulgi looked at her and smiled.

“I wanted to.” Heeyoung sat in a chair already and looked at her mother with a hurried expression. Jaeyi sat beside her and tasted the food first. She raised her eyebrows and motioned for her daughter to taste it.

“Wah! It’s so good!” Heeyoung exclaimed and started to eat a little too fast for Jaeyi’s taste. “Heeyoung, slow down! You’re going to choke because the food went down the wrong way.” She heard Seulgi chuckle and looked at her. The actress was still cleaning what she used, and Jaeyi watched every movement she made. She felt something shaking her and looked to her side. Heeyoung gave a questioning look, and Jaeyi only shrugged.

“Seulgi, you should eat too. Just leave it there.” The actress didn’t argue back and joined them fast. Heeyoung smiled at Seulgi, and she suddenly asked about her journey, making Jaeyi roll her eyes. Yet, Seulgi gladly spoke about her projects and random things that happened to her recently.

“Wah! That’s a lot! I can’t wait to watch your next drama, unnie.” Seulgi smiled and told her she was sweet, making Heeyoung shake her mother’s clothes. Jaeyi rolled her eyes again like she always did when her daughter fangirled over Seulgi. Then, it was Heeyoung’s turn to speak about her weeks, and Jaeyi brought particular attention to it.

“I was mostly with Dad. We went to a zoo, and I saw Uncle a lot of times too! Dad showed me his law office, and I met a lot of people who work with him. Some people were cool, but some were weird. I mostly stayed with Grandpa, though, since Dad was busy in his office. Other than that, nothing.” Seulgi hummed, and time to time, she gazed at Jaeyi, who was already staring at her. The actress cleared her throat.

“You must have been happy to see your father more often.” Heeyoung shook her head weakly like she was hesitant.

“I don’t know, I still prefer to stay with Mom.” Jaeyi closed her eyes as she heard her daughter’s statement. She knew well that her daughter didn’t tell everything and feared something worse than she could imagine had happened. Yet, she was too tired to even feel anything.

“You know, tomorrow it’s your dad who will pick you up?” Heeyoung turned her head as quickly as possible toward her mother and furrowed her eyebrows.

“But I thought this week I’m with you?” She said, confused, with a hint of fear in her tone. Jaeyi brushed her daughter’s hair away from her face and smiled faintly. “He insisted on picking you up, and tomorrow I’m quite busy. It’s just for a day, Heeyoung.” Her daughter sighed and tilted her head down. “Okay.” She whispered. Jaeyi looked at Seulgi, who was already staring at her with a worried eye. Jaeyi decided to ignore it and started cleaning the table. The two other girls followed her fast, making Jaeyi smile as she felt something close to peace in her chest. Just after, Heeyoung said goodnight to the two women and went to her bedroom, leaving Seulgi and Jaeyi alone. The CEO fell on the couch and groaned as she felt her body relax under the comfortable sofa.

“Must be a hard day,” She heard the other woman say. She sat down and tapped the place beside her. The actress didn’t hesitate and sat close to Jaeyi, knees touching.

“Do you have something planned for tomorrow? I asked Mr. Kim to make your schedule less heavy.” Seulgi smiled shyly.

“Yeah, Ara sent me the new one. I still have something tomorrow, but the following days and next week are almost empty. I have like three days of shooting.” Jaeyi sighed in relief, and her head fell backward against the sofa’s back. She knew she could trust Mr. Kim with the schedule, he has a talent for making everything less tiring.

“I should maybe promote Mr. Kim, he was the one holding the company the past three months. Maybe I should give him the director post.” She felt a weight on her shoulder and looked down only to find Seulgi’s head. She smiled, feeling something strange in her chest, something close to excitement, and stroked Seulgi’s hair.

“You seem to trust Mr. Kim a lot. He knows a lot about your life.” Jaeyi’s gaze was on the ceiling.

“Yeah, he is someone close to my family. He is like a second dad to me, even though all his family works with mine. He was the one who always picked me up from school or anywhere. He knew all my secrets, and sometimes he found himself in some promising situation because of me. My father wanted Mr. Kim’s nephew to be my assistant, but I insisted so much on Mr. Kim that he gave in. It was my second win against my father, but my first win against him without any help.” She smiled proudly as she remembered the day her father accepted her demand. She heard Seulgi humming and felt her hand resting on her waist. She froze in her place, feeling her pulse beating against her skin, and a heat going up behind her neck. With the bit of boldness left in her, she wrapped her arm around Seulgi’s waist, pulling her closer. A silence fell on them for a moment, both enjoying the presence of each other, until Jaeyi spoke.

“I will lend you a car in the meantime, with a personal driver. Tomorrow, you will come with me to the company, and Ara will pick you up from there. Don’t tell her you are here. Tell it to nobody.” Seulgi raised her head to see Jaeyi and furrowed her brow.

“Not even Byeong?” The CEO shook her head. “Are you sure you can trust him, Seulgi? I think we should be more cautious.” The actress breathed loudly and stared at the older woman.

“He is like my brother, I’m sure he won’t snitch on me. Plus, he can’t even expose me without exposing himself, anyway.” Jaeyi sighed and shook her head. “Seulgi, please. I prefer that nobody know about it. You can hide a thing from him, it’s not the end of the world.” She replied with a cold tone, stopping the actress from arguing back.

“Okay, my mouth will be locked even with Byeong.” The actress sounded annoyed, but the CEO smirked in victory. She had a plan in mind, and she expected everyone to follow her orders, even if they disagreed. She trusted Seulgi a lot to stay quiet, and knowing her personality, she knew she wouldn’t say a thing. After all, the actress was still a private person. The younger woman rested her head back on the older woman’s shoulder. Jaeyi smiled, closed her eyes, and seized the moment. The room was a little dark; only the light from the moon prevented the dark from embracing them completely. There was no sound, only their calm breath filling the space, and for the third time in her life, Jaeyi didn’t feel the need to drink alcohol. The atmosphere felt intimate and romantic, making Jaeyi relaxed.

“I missed you,” Seulgi confessed in a whisper, her voice was deeper than usual, making Jaeyi pause for a second. She stopped stroking Seulgi’s hair, and her brain went suddenly blank. Seulgi’s head was buried deeper in the crook of Jaeyi’s neck, and Jaeyi could feel her breath brushing her skin, giving her shivers. Jaeyi reacted with a delay and hummed confusedly minutes later, but she received no reaction, not even a breathy laugh. She brushed Seulgi’s hair off her face and found her sleeping. She smiled fondly and bit one of her fingers out of a strong feeling she couldn’t even describe.

“I missed you too,” Jaeyi said softly.

Jaeyi closed the door of her most expensive car, and a man wearing a dark blue suit bowed at her without giving a smile.

“Hello, Ms. Yoo. We didn’t expect your visit today.” He looked at a man not far from him and motioned for him with her head to take care of the car. The man, who was also wearing a dark blue suit, bowed quickly and entered the car to park it somewhere else.

“You can follow me, Ms. Yoo. I’m sure your aunt will be delighted to see you.” Jaeyi didn’t show any emotion or expression on her face; it's something common within the family to always have a cold face, especially with people who work with them. She followed the man, and they both entered the luxury house. Nothing changed, everything was still large, white, and luxurious. Her aunt loved to collect art, so naturally, the walls were always decorated with paintings, and some rooms even had sculptures. They arrived at the conservatory, and the man bowed to her before leaving her. Jaeyi looked around and found her aunt drinking tea while reading a magazine. She cleared her throat, making her bounce from her seat.

“Gosh! Your dad never learned you to introduce yourself with a hello! Thanks god I’m used to it, I almost dropped everything.” The CEO let out a breathy laugh and bowed to her.

“Hello, auntie, how are you?” The older woman frowned and dropped the paper she was holding. She pointed to the chair in front of her, and Jaeyi sat on it immediately. Of course, her aunt wouldn’t be her aunt if she didn’t judge the outfit; she looked at her niece from head to toes.

“This is why you are my favorite! You always know how to dress elegantly. Now tell me, why are you here? Do you need help? Money? Man? Or maybe a killer?” The CEO laughed and shook her head.

“I need your secret service.” The elder raised her eyebrows in surprise and took a sip of her drink.

“I don’t let anyone use that. I need to know the details, Jaeyi. Why do you need it, against whom? I need to know your plan, and I hope you included me in it. Maybe we share the same blood, but I won’t give my service to anyone, and surely not for free.” Jaeyi swung her lips from left to right and looked at the garden through the window. Her foot was slowly tapping the floor. She felt the anxiety building in her. If her aunt disagreed with her plan, she wouldn’t hesitate to tell her mother everything. The sudden consciousness of the bad scenario made her bite her lip. After a moment of silence, Jaeyi finally spoke.

“Have you ever done something completely insane for love?” It came softly with a bit of fear in the tone. The elderly woman paused for a second and looked at her niece with a suspicious expression before returning her gaze to the cup.

“Well, I think everyone would do an insane thing for love. For example, a woman who marries a man is an insane thing to do for love. They literally threw their life out of a window for a man. To be honest, women are the ones who have been doing the most insane things out of love, so yes.” Jaeyi’s foot stopped moving, and she rested her elbow on the table. “You’re asking me this because you want to do something for someone?” Her aunt gave her a compassionate look and smiled slightly when she heard no answer from her niece. “Who is the lucky person?”

Person.

She didn’t say man, but used the word person. Neutral, no gender. Jaeyi’s smile grew wider, and she tried to hide it by resting her head on her hand.

“If I tell you everything, you promise me you won’t judge me.” The woman in front of her raised one of her hands and swore to be the most open-minded person in the family. Jaeyi exhaled once.

“Ten months ago, I signed up Woo Seulgi in my agency. I don’t know if you know her.” She heard a big slap on the table and gazed at her aunt, who had just stood up abruptly.

“WOO SEULGI?! Oh my god, I love her drama. Recently, I’ve been watching one of her dramas, omo omo omo, you should see her! Of course, I know her! Who doesn’t? She is the South Korean princess! Good choice, good choice!” Her aunt gave her a big thumbs up and slapped the table once more with her other hand, making Jaeyi jump slightly. “Sorry, continue.” She took her coldest facial expression back as she sat down and looked at her niece with specific attention. Jaeyi cleared her throat once again.

“So, I was saying. Yes. Seulgi took care of Heeyoung a lot of the time, and naturally, we both became close. I don’t need to tell you everything,” Her aunt grimaced in disagreement, but didn’t cut her off. “After our first date, Youngmin met her and threatened her to expose her past to the public if she didn’t leave me and Heeyoung alone. He follows her everywhere and has a collection of photos. It’s scary as hell. Thankfully, I've found a way to make Seulgi open up, but now there's a significant chance that my ex-husband will ruin her career and possibly my agency with it. I can’t let another major scandal happen. I need your help, auntie, please.” The CEO brought her two hands together and begged shamelessly for help.

“Jaeyi, in detail.” After hearing her aunt asking for more, she dropped her hand and sighed loudly. Of course, the detail was necessary because each scandal has a degree of importance; some of them aren’t that impactful, but Jaeyi was against the idea of sharing Seulgi’s life with someone else, especially her family. She bit her nails and felt a weight on her chest.

“Okay…” She said in defeat. Her aunt was the only person who could truly help her in every aspect; it was too important to just walk away and pretend the talk never happened. She took a deep breath and opened her mouth. “Her father is a pedophile, she is an orphan, and she has taken all types of drugs. If she gets exposed, her reputation will be affected, and she will go to jail because the drug test will be positive. My agency already had a problematic actor, and I can’t let it happen again. I’m not even sure I know all the details. I don’t even know what my ex-husband wants. This is why I need your help, Auntie.” The older woman’s jaw dropped, and her eyebrows raised. After a minute of silence, she sighed.

“This looks bad and not easy at all. You aren’t helping her by loving her, Jaeyi. Are you conscious of that? If someone is against Seulgi, they won’t hesitate to expose your relationship. Drug, a pedophile father, a strong lesbian allegation, and a dating scandal with her CEO.” She began by using her finger to count each allegation. “Jaeyi, this is a lot. Maybe you should think twice before jumping into something that could be out of your control. You aren’t even sure you know everything.” Jaeyi’s body straightened, and she looked at her aunt with coldness.

“I don’t care, if I need to start a war against the industry, I will.” Her tone was cold, confident, and firm. She wasn’t just saying this to bluff or to convince; she didn’t talk from her brain, no, she said it out of her heart. The older woman seemed to notice it, the sincerity, the devotion, and the love. Her niece wasn’t doing it only for someone, but for herself, for a future she already imagined in her thoughts. She smiled and stood from her chair.

“Ok, I will help you. It’s not free, though.” Jaeyi jumped from her chair, and a feeling of relief overwhelmed her. “Anything!”

“Come with Heeyoung and Seulgi. I would like to have a personal conversation with the actress. I’m her fan, you can’t ask me to save her career and run away like that! You'd better note it in your notes right now. ‘Aunt meeting my girlfriend’!” Jaeyi’s mouth was slightly open from surprise, and nodded slowly. She hadn’t even noticed that her aunt used the word girlfriend to name Seulgi.

“So, tell me, you need a lot of men, right?” The older woman said while motioning her niece to follow her. Jaeyi nodded and started to walk behind her.

“A private driver, a new assistant, someone who can investigate, and a security guard, too.” She said while counting on her hands every time she mentioned something. The two women entered the office. The older woman sat behind her desk and turned on her computer.

“You can sit down, Jaeyi. I need to know your plan and who you want me to investigate. I need reasons to see if it’s a waste of time or not. I’m listening.” She said firmly, resting her head on her hand. The CEO sat on the sofa, watching her aunt with deep seriousness. She swallowed hard and started to explain her plan to her aunt, whose smile grew wider.

“So, this is why I need you to investigate Youngmin. Also, my Dad. I think he has some influence on my ex-husband. I need an investigation on Mr. Kim, Nam Byeongjin, Cho Ara, and…” She stopped herself for a second, thinking twice before pronouncing the next name. She breathed and smiled faintly at her aunt. “Jena.” The elderly woman arched her eyebrows in surprise.

“Jena? Your own sister?” Jaeyi nodded slowly. “Why? Isn’t she trustworthy? She is your sister, I’m sure she is on your side.” Her aunt tried to reason with her, but Jaeyi didn’t seem quite convinced.

“I-” She started, but something blocked her from continuing. She felt a slight pain in her heart, feeling the sadness taking over as the thought of her sister betrayed her. “I think she still takes my father’s side.” The other woman looked at her with compassion and nodded weakly.

“I understand, I will investigate if it could make your heart feel more at ease. I wrote everything down. Your plan seems good, and I don’t think your father will even suspect anything. Keep me updated with every change you will make.” Jaeyi bowed her head and thanked her aunt. She felt relieved knowing someone from her family was here for her. She smiled and stood up. Before she could even reach the door, the deep voice of the elderly resonated in the room with something Jaeyi didn’t know she needed to hear.

“You grew up so well, Jaeyi. I’m proud of you and who you have become. Please, stay strong. I know it’s not always easy.” The CEO bit her lips and gripped the door’s handle firmly. Her throat tightened as the tears were on the verge of dropping.

Oh, she wished these words came from her parent.

Jaeyi entered her penthouse and got hit with a smell of food. She smiled, feeling her heart race quickly, and walked toward the kitchen to find Seulgi sitting in a chair, frowning as she read something on her phone. She didn’t seem to notice Jaeyi’s presence, which made the older smile wider. Well, that was what she thought.

“Don’t think I didn’t hear you enter, Ms. Yoo.” Her tone was playful and soft. She turned her head, and their eyes met, making Jaeyi smile weirdly. The CEO came closer and sat in the chair beside her. “I made food, I didn’t know what you wanted, so I just made what I craved. I hope it’s still good.” She looked at the table and took her chopsticks, taking a little to taste. She hummed and furrowed her eyebrows.

“You’re almost better than me.” She commented with a teasing tone, making Seulgi pinch her thigh playfully. Jaeyi squirmed when she felt a slight pain and laughed. “Yah, it’s hurt!” They both smiled at each other for a while without saying a word.

“You should also eat.” Blurted out Jaeyi while she took a bite of meat. The actress nodded and joined her. They started eating in silence. They didn’t need words to make the atmosphere comfortable or enjoyable; they just needed each other’s presence. Jaeyi loved how Seulgi always brought calm and joy to her without even doing anything, and found herself smiling at her thoughts and self-consciousness. After a few minutes, the actress broke the silence.

“So, how was your day, Ms. Yoo?” Asked the actress with a sincere curiosity. Jaeyi hummed thoughtfully while chewing her food.

“Good, I gave Mr. Kim two weeks off, I managed to finish my work early, and visit my aunt. And you, Ms. Woo?” She said it calmly at first, but her tone changed to something playful when she called her by her last name. Seulgi smiled and swallowed before replying.

“I went to my shooting and then did some exercise before coming here and making food for the owner of the house.” She said, her elbow resting on the table while her hand supported her head, as she stared at Jaeyi with a smile. The CEO felt a heat going up behind her neck and put down her chopsticks. She couldn’t understand what her body was doing; the girl beside her didn’t even compliment her or flirt with her, so why would she blush? She bit her lips.

“Next time, I’m the one who cooks.” Seulgi laughed softly, and Jaeyi couldn’t help but find it pretty. Such a beautiful melody to her ears, one she could listen to for hours.

“Yes, chief, try to be better than me.” The CEO smirked and looked at the actress as if she accepted the challenge.

“Well, mind you, I think that wouldn’t be a hard task!” Seulgi gasped and took Jaeyi’s chopsticks, making the older woman laugh. “Yah! Give me back that! I didn’t finish eating.” Seulgi shook her head. Jaeyi’s gaze went to the actress’s chopsticks that were on the table and smirked. She pretended to want to take back her chopsticks, but in the last minutes took Seulgi’s one and started eating with it, leaving the actress surprised by her move.

“Yah! What are you doing?!” Jaeyi refused to look at her and only shrugged her shoulders while eating.

“Your food is good, wouldn’t it be bad if everything goes to trash?” She said softly, causing Seulgi to quiet down. She heard the younger sigh and suddenly felt a shift in the air. She looked at the actress who was playing with her fingers under the table, and her eyes wandered everywhere. She seemed anxious, or maybe scared; Jaeyi couldn’t tell. She just knew the actress wanted to say something, but had blocked herself from doing it. She could feel it in the air, the hesitation, and she hated it. Jaeyi put down her chopsticks, feeling her hunger disappear, and stared at Seulgi.

“Just say what you want to say, Seulgi.” Their eyes met for a second, but it was enough for Jaeyi to see the fear behind it. “Just let it out. You don’t have to fear for anything.” Seulgi still refused to look at her for a second time and sighed.

“Aren’t you disappointed?” She asked softly, like a wind that brushed your face. Jaeyi stared at the actress and remained silent for a moment. The question caught her off guard. Was she disappointed by Seulgi’s past? It was sure she hadn’t expected something like this, but to have this specific strong emotion, she didn’t know. She still tried to process everything that was happening, and only God knew how Jaeyi was truly feeling about everything. She didn’t have the time to sit and analyze all the things that happened in her chest.

Am I disappointed by Seulgi’s past?

She tilted her head and looked at the food, then at Seulgi, who was still looking down, playing with her fingers, and waited as if it was her last judgment. She smiled faintly.

“I can’t answer that question. I don’t think I’m disappointed, just surprised. I don’t care what you were, Seulgi. The most important thing is the present. You stopped, right? It’s what all matters, and I’m proud of you for that.” The actress didn’t look up at her CEO, but she stopped playing with her fingers, and her eyes were closed. The silence became their third friend, sitting between them. After a long minute, Jaeyi spoke up, not enjoying the silence that had fallen. “Why are you asking that question?” Seulgi raised her head and finally found the courage to look at Jaeyi.

“I just don’t understand why you protected me. The drug situation should already make you want to give up on me and my fallen career.” The CEO closed her eyes. She didn’t know if it was the tiredness, but she felt nothing in particular. No anger, no sadness, no pity, nothing. She opened her eyes and met Seulgi’s with a weak smile.

“I already told you, Seulgi. Your career is important for my company’s reputation. I don’t see what’s so surprising in it.” She heard the actress laugh softly.

“Don’t take me for someone who doesn’t know how the industry works. You could simply break the contract for the criminal case and have me pay you whatever the court orders. I would have broken one of my engagements. Your company won’t take any damage, and you know it! So, no, I don’t understand why you want to protect my career.” Jaeyi sighed and stood, starting to clean up the table. The actress frowned and let out a mocking breath from her nose. “Don’t ignore me, Ms. Yoo.” Her last name made Jaeyi stop in her tracks. She set down the plane in the sink and turned to look at Seulgi with an indifferent gaze.

“My company will be named ‘the agency of druggies and criminals’. Who would sign up for that? Who would invest in that? Do you know how hell it was almost three years ago when that bastard did what he did? It was awful! I needed to juggle between my divorce, Heeyoung, and the fucking hell in that company! I don’t want that. I don’t want the helpless nights, don’t want to hear about people talking shit about me, my work, or people that I consider my friends. It’s the less things I want! Plus, you know Youngmin is following you!” Jaeyi said with an angry tone and took a deep breath. The actress furrowed her eyebrows.

“You don’t make any sense. You could just break the contract right now. You could simply say to people that I cut it off for personal reasons, for health reasons, or whatever excuse you prefer. You don’t make sense cause protecting me will cost you more than giving up. And don’t even bring your ex-husband into it, you know it because of you, he follows me.” Seulgi didn’t raise her voice or show any anger. She spoke steadily, trying to understand the situation. Jaeyi didn’t like how the conversation was going and felt that wind full of emotion passing by her chest. She gripped the marble behind her firmly and clenched her teeth.

“I don’t understand you. Yesterday, you were open and accepting of my help. Why are you now suddenly reluctant?” Her voice wasn’t loud; it carried confusion, fragility, and a hint of tiredness. The woman in front of her avoided eye contact as much as possible. Maybe out of shame, Jaeyi didn’t know, and maybe didn’t want to know.

“I just thought about it and…” She stopped talking for a moment and crossed her arms. “I don’t see why protecting me and my career will benefit you. It’s just too big, Jaeyi, like too big. Why would you go to all that trouble, Jaeyi? We could just pretend we don’t know each other, or better, just break the contract, and I’m sure everyone will be happy. If the dealer wants to expose me, then be it; I did my time anyway. There are plenty of actors and actresses who you could convince to sign with your company.” Seulgi was now speaking with her hands, her mouth was still moving, but Jaeyi stopped to listen. She looked at her sides and walked closer to the actress. Maybe she was too tired to think clearly, or perhaps too emotional to even control her movements. She took Seulgi’s wrist and pulled her closer, their chest brushed, and their face close, too close. She could feel the breath of the younger on her cheek and smiled.

“You speak too much and think too much. Are you afraid, Woo Seulgi?” She whispered as her hand stroked Seulgi’s side face to her neck. She noticed her ears turning a deep red and smirked. “You don’t have to worry, I told you I’m on it. Just follow my instructions, and I assure you, everything will be fine for you and me.” She deliberately brushed her lips on Seulgi’s right ear before stepping back with a smirk. Seulgi didn’t look at Jaeyi, too stunned by the sudden boldness. The CEO stared for a few seconds at how much the actress was flustered and walked away with a proud feeling.

She went to her bedroom, closed the door, and fell on her bed. The first minutes were calm; the silence enveloped her without her thoughts filling it. But then, suddenly, she realized what she had just done minutes ago to Seulgi. She turned to her stomach and sank her face on the pillow, stifling her scream. A heat went to her face as she started to overthink her move.

What on earth was that?

She started to complain on her pillow about her stupidity, but her phone rang suddenly, bringing her back to reality. She took it and picked it up without even looking at the number.

“Yoo Jaeyi? Is that you? I hope you didn’t change your phone number.” She recognized her aunt’s voice and smiled.

“Auntie! You called me on time. Yes, it’s Jaeyi!” She heard her chuckle.

“Oh really? That’s good. I called to let you know that your team is already ready. Your new assistant is Mr. Wan Hyun. He is the best of our men, so please take care of him. I didn’t know if you wanted a girl or a man as an assistant, but I thought your girlfriend wouldn’t be happy that you have a second female company.” Jaeyi furrowed her eyebrows confusedly as she heard the word girlfriend.

“What do you mean girlfriend? I don’t have one?” She heard a laugh.

“Yes, and I’m married. The private driver for your girlfriend,” her aunt said while using a playful tone on the word girlfriend, “is also her close bodyguard, just in case. His name is Kwang Jin, and he is kind and strong. When I get news about anything else, I will tell you.” Jaeyi hummed in agreement.

“Thank you, auntie, but again, Seulgi isn’t my girlfriend!” She heard a louder laugh.

“YET!” And she hung up, leaving a confused Jaeyi.

She sank her head back to her pillow and thanked the universe that Heeyoung wasn’t here today. She threw her phone on the side table and went to her bathroom for her nighttime routine. After everything was done, she lay on her bed and fell asleep unconsciously without her thoughts haunting her.

Jaeyi was in her childhood bedroom, the biggest one in the family, for the best one. She smiled as she looked at the blue color everywhere, feeling a sense of peace and ease within these walls. She liked the blue, a reminder of the water, something calm and serene. Yet, if she were honest with herself, it was a color that resembled her the most, not for its calmness, but for the emotion associated with it. Sadness. Loneliness. Coldness.

Suddenly, she heard a noise, a broken sound. Strangely, no scream followed it, no word, not even another sound. Jaeyi’s curiosity got the best of her and opened the door of her bedroom to see what was going on behind it. Surprisingly, she saw her sister standing in front of her with no emotion. She looked tired, maybe a little psychotic. There was blood sliding on her pale face and tears, but they weren’t watery, they were red, dark.

Jaeyi started to feel something was wrong. She stepped back slowly, keeping her eyes fixed on her sister, and laughed nervously. Jena was smiling weirdly, and with each step she took, her eyes became darker. Jaeyi ended up on her bed while her sister was close to her. None of them talked. Jaeyi tried, but the fear in her was too intense to even open her mouth. Suddenly, Jena jumped on her and started to strangle her with a strength she wasn’t even aware of. Her sister finally let out words.

“You should die, you can’t be better.” Jaeyi tried to protect herself and pushed her sister, but the grip was too strong, and the lack of oxygen started to be felt. She began to feel dizzy as her head felt light. She looked everywhere, searching for something to help her or someone to be there.

Then she saw him. The silhouette that she couldn’t stand. He was here watching the scene with a smile. He seemed entertained by the sudden turn of the event, and his eyes were full of admiration and joy. She tried to call him, but he only smiled wider. Jaeyi felt like she was going to lose consciousness in any second as she couldn’t breathe for minutes.

“What did I tell you. Cain and Abel.” That was the last words she heard.

Jaeyi woke up abruptly. Her breath was fast, her head full of sweat, and her heart beating quickly. She brought her hand around her neck and breathed deeply. She touched her forehead and felt the dryness in her throat. She cursed under her breath.

This nightmare, again.

She sighed and walked out of her bedroom to drink water. She didn’t notice at first the presence in the living room; she was too focused on her hydration, and her brain was still a mess because of her dream. She opened her fridge and poured the water into the glass. She drank it and felt the cold water passing through her throat, relieving her. She put down the glass of water on the kitchen island and looked toward the living room. She finally noticed the woman on the couch, who was looking at her phone while listening to something through her headphones. Jaeyi smiled and walked toward her. The moment she sat beside her, the actress looked up confusedly. She took off her headphones and spoke first.

“Why are you still up? Don’t you need to wake up early tomorrow?” Jaeyi looked at Seulgi’s phone to see the time— 2 AM. She laughed faintly and stared at Seulgi.

“And you? Why are you still up? It’s two in the morning.” The actress furrowed her eyebrows and took a step back, which only made the CEO more confused.

“I don’t like how you always get around my question by asking questions.” Jaeyi didn’t move, respecting the distance, even though she wanted to be as close as possible to the actress. After all, Seulgi always made the older calm and comfortable, and Jaeyi needed it.

“I fell asleep, I just woke up because of a bad dream.” She answered softly. Seulgi turned off her phone and dropped it on the table. She looked at Jaeyi with a neutral face.

“I couldn’t sleep.” The atmosphere felt heavy as if their last talk had impacted their relationship. The tension whispered to them to talk more deeply about their feelings and thoughts, and Jaeyi squirmed in her place, feeling uncomfortable. She didn’t know if it was the couch or the atmosphere, but she felt like sinking under pressure. They both stayed silent for a moment, avoiding each other's gaze. When it was too much for the CEO, she sighed and broke the silence.

“Are you insomniac, or is it because of our last talk?” The actress stayed silent and started to play with her hands. She looked at the window, admiring the city view, and she breathed.

“Both.” She replied with a sincerity that you couldn’t even doubt for a second. Jaeyi stared at the side profile of Seulgi’s face and blinked slowly. She wished they could talk about it later, but deep inside, she felt it was a good time to have a deep conversation about everything, especially about them. The older woman drew closer to the younger one and brushed her hair out of her face, causing Seulgi to look at her.

“Share your thoughts then. Let’s talk about everything more properly.” Seulgi said nothing for a moment; she only stared at Jaeyi. Her eyes were full of hesitation, yet full of guilt. She abruptly turned her face as if she remembered something and avoided the older woman.

“I just can’t understand you. No, I think it is deeper. I don’t understand myself and my actions. I,” She cut herself off and started to pinch her palm hard. “When I think about everything, I feel guilt eating me alive. I don’t feel like I deserve to be here. I don’t understand why you want to protect me so badly when I myself ran away. I don’t understand why you badly want to keep me close when I’m mostly like a menace to your reputation. I even,” she stopped again, as she wasn’t sure if she could be this honest. She breathed and, with a whisper, said, “I even feel regret for signing up in your company or getting close to you.” Jaeyi felt like something heavy had dropped on her. She bit her lips and let out a breathy laugh.

“You mean you feel guilty because you ignored me for three months after our first date?” She replied, using a particular tone when she mentioned the first date. Seulgi refused to look at her, and her pinch became stronger, making her skin go white. Jaeyi’s hand went directly on Seulgi’s hand, stopping her from hurting herself. “Seulgi, look at me.” The actress shook her head. “Let me see your beautiful face, princess,” Jaeyi whispered as she pulled Seulgi’s face toward her. The actress didn’t fight back, but she closed her eyes, letting the tears drop. The older woman wiped the tears with her thumbs with a softness, as if Seulgi was something fragile and easy to break.

“You are letting your fear win again, Seulgi. I’m ready to protect you and your career because you are someone important to me. Your presence makes everything more bearable, more enjoyable. I like being with you. Your past doesn’t matter to me. I just want you by my side, knowing you are okay and in security. I know you feel guilty for having hidden your situation with Youngmin, but again, you did what was the most logical solution. I don’t blame you and will never. I just need you to fight for yourself, for your career, and for us.” Jaeyi said with the most reassuring tone. Seulgi finally authorized herself to look at the older woman. She sniffed twice and wiped the rest of her tears.

“I’m sorry for everything,” Seulgi said gently. “You know, I’m not good at that. I always let people walk out of my life after ignoring them out of fear. I’m not good at this, Jaeyi. Why can’t you do like the other and-” Jaeyi cut her off, not wanting to hear the end of her sentences.

“I don’t care about the other. If the other preferred to give up on you, it’s their problem, not mine. I don’t want to do that, I want to understand you and be here for you. I will give you anything! If you need reassurance, I will give it to you. You need more protection; I will provide it. If you need someone to talk to, I will give you all my attention.” Seulgi stared at Jaeyi with wide eyes. They both stopped talking for a moment, letting the heavy tension weigh on them. The actress avoided the other woman and gazed out at the city view, not letting Jaeyi see her face. On the other hand, the CEO closed her eyes, a sense of regret starting to form inside her. It looked like a confession, and the silence of the other woman wasn’t enjoyable. She couldn’t stop thinking that maybe it was too early. She bit her lips and gripped her knees tightly. Suddenly, the younger let out a laugh, making Jaeyi turn her head toward her.

“You know, I always put my career first before anything else, even though I love a person a lot. I think I do that because I’m afraid of losing something that provides me with the stability I need in my life. My exes constantly reproach me for this and for refuting my sexuality. I never liked it when people know this part of me, I feel judged. I never introduced someone to my mother, and I never said proudly, ‘This is my girlfriend.’ Just a rumor can destroy everything. I haven’t gotten into a relationship since my last one for this reason.” She said steadily without any pause. She didn’t look at the other woman in the room, but Jaeyi didn’t mind; what mattered was her words.

“I don’t understand myself because everything with you came naturally, and I didn’t even have the time to stop myself to think about this. I told myself it was a fun flirt, that maybe even for you it wasn’t that serious. I never wanted to admit what I felt, and the moment you officially proposed a date to me, I didn’t have a choice but to be honest with myself. Byeong’s speech never left my mind either, and I started to feel bad because you threw your rule of not getting close to your artist for me. You didn’t even care about what the other were saying. And I was here, flirting with you, talking to you every night, opening up to you, giving all signals while I wasn’t even sure if I was ready to give my one hundred to a relationship.” She stopped for a moment and turned to look at Jaeyi with a small smile.

“I still loved the date. You listened to me with such unique attention, and you made sure that everything was private, just between you and me. I felt safe, calm, and you even made me forget my fear, my anxiety, and my thoughts. I've never felt this peaceful with someone, almost like being at home. When I told you I wanted a second date, it was honest. The months trying not to contact you or see you and Heeyoung were so hard. I also overworked myself to distract myself from my feelings. Yesterday, when I said I missed you, I was honest, too. I’m just not sure that I can give my one hundred, and you don’t deserve someone who would run away when things don’t go the way they want. Especially if you saved me from everything.” Jaeyi broke eye contact and breathed heavily. Throughout the monologue, the CEO held her breath, swallowing every word with special care. She should smile, the actress didn’t reject her, she even said it was kind of mutual, but she couldn’t bring a slight reaction. What Seulgi said was an open speech of her feelings; she was being honest with herself and Jaeyi. The older woman felt her heart tighten out of pain and closed her eyes.

“Jaeyi,” The CEO didn’t look at her nor say anything. She felt Seulgi moving from her place, and a few seconds later, the actress sat on her lap, brushing the hair out of Jaeyi’s face, and smiled weakly. The older woman’s eyes went wide, and she felt a heat behind her neck. “You look like a sad puppy even though you are flustered.” Jaeyi let out a giggle. “You know, I’m not rejecting you, I’m just telling you I’m not ready to commit to a relationship yet. I don’t want to run away like I did with the other. I’m still afraid of that.” Jaeyi stayed silent, not sure what to answer. She brought her hand around Seulgi’s waist and rested her head on the younger’s shoulder.

“I won’t ask you anything in return. Just let me help you, and we will see if you run away from it.” She whispered, and the other woman hummed.

They stayed in this position for a long moment without saying anything more. They didn’t need to add more words; everything was told, and Jaeyi felt slightly happy with the outcome.

Even though Seulgi wasn’t ready yet.

“Hello, Ms. Yoo. I’m Wan Hyun, your new assistant.” The man said as he bowed. He looked young, he was tall, good-looking, and firm in his posture. Jaeyi smiled in satisfaction and bowed back.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Wan! I hope we’ll get along.” The young man smiled politely. “Do you have something to tell me this morning?” The man cleared his throat, and his face became cold.

“Yes. Your last assistant, Mr. Kim, left a perfect resume. The music section is doing better than you predicted. Byeong’s world tour is a success, and almost all his dates are sold out. The new girl group managed to win several weekly awards and received praise for their talent. All the groups are working on a comeback, and Ms. Kwan has already organized every date of each comeback. The acting section began to be profitable for the agency. The new drama starring Seulgi is eagerly awaited, and its promotion is set to start in two weeks. Chanwoo is the rising star; his last romance was a huge hit. The director highly requested Yeri for their drama, and a luxury brand has asked her to walk the runway at Paris Fashion Week. That’s all I have.” Jaeyi hummed happily with a smile on her face. At least, her company was doing well.

“This was for the company. Ms. Jung gave me this. She is swift in her work. This is about Nam Byeongjin and Cho Ara. She said she needs a little more time for the other and apologized for this.” The CEO took the papers and thanked the man before he left her alone.

She didn’t open it at first; she wanted to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere a little more. She wasn’t that hungry to know everything in detail. She was afraid, maybe more than Seulgi. Everything wasn’t about the actress, and she knew it; something else was behind it, something she wasn’t ready to face. She stretched her arms and touched the dossier. At first, she only tapped on it, feeling anxious about the sentences behind each paper. Then, after a long breath, she opened the dossier of Ara. As she read the details, Jaeyi sighed in relief. She didn’t hire someone bad.

Ara came from a wealthy family; she had three siblings, and as the youngest, she had the luck of choosing her career. She was good at school, not a troublemaker, but her surroundings were suspicious. Nothing too alarming for Jaeyi. Ara has no criminal record, no drug record, nothing that could make her an enemy. She put the dossier on the side and stared at Byeong’s name for a few minutes. Her chest felt suddenly heavy as the anxiety started to wake up. Jaeyi knew how vital the singer was to Seulgi. They considered each other like sibling, and if she learned something bad about him… she didn’t even know how she would react. She shook her head and opened the dossier. It only needed a page before Jaeyi found something unpleasant.

Byeong was the opposite of Ara; he didn’t have a family. He spent his entire childhood and teenage years in the orphanage. He was known to be a troublemaker, always getting into fights and stealing things, but was pardoned thanks to the orphanage's connections. He started using drugs at a young age, fifteen, and involved some people in it. Not only did he consume drugs, but he also sold them. He stopped to calm down the day he was told he would debut as a soloist. At the end of the page, her aunt wrote:

Even though he has a complicated past, he was known to take care of kids in the sweetest way. He always stood up against bullies. He has been sober for six years now. He is super close to Seulgi’s family, and he knows all Seulgi’s secrets, even about drugs. I prefer to indicate it cause we never know.

Jaeyi sighed in frustration. She never received anything about Byeong since his debut in her company. She never suspected him to be this messy. She closed the dossier and put on the Ara’s one. She stood up and walked toward the window.

At least she knew that Seulgi’s surrounding wasn’t a big problem. It meant that the one who threatened Jaeyi was someone from her surroundings. She swallowed hard and thought about each interaction with everyone since she signed up for Seulgi here. She bit her nails and her foot tapped on the floor. Something was off, and the way she couldn’t see what made her more frustrated. She heard a knock on her door and turned her head toward it. A man entered the office with a smile on his face. The CEO’s face turned cold, and she stayed in her place.

“Youngmin? What are you doing here?” Her ex-husband laughed and sat on the sofa. He didn’t seem angry or annoyed. He looked happy, even satisfied.

“I came here to speak about our wonderful daughter.” Jaeyi’s chest formed a weight at the end of her throat, her guts telling her something bad was coming. She sat on the opposite sofa and motioned for him with her hand to speak quickly.

“I want our daughter to change schools. This one isn’t to my taste. I trusted you for Heeyoung’s education, but I think that was a mistake. I spoke to one of her teachers and found out that she was lacking in some subjects.” Jaeyi furrowed her eyebrows, and a protective feeling invaded her.

“She is nine, Youngmin. Don’t expect her to be perfect everywhere; let her grow in her rhythm, and I’m sure everything will be fine. She doesn’t need to have a perfect score everywhere, a seventy or eighty score in two subjects isn’t the end of the world.” She said with a cold voice, but Youngmin gave a mocking laugh.

“What happened to the Yoo reputation? Your father hadn’t told you that everything needed to be perfect, that a Yoo should be first everywhere?” The CEO shook her head.

“Kang Youngmin, you know how I despise my father’s education. I won’t put that pressure on my daughter just for the sake of an imaginary reputation. My daughter will choose her career and pursue it at her own pace. She already is a hard-working kid, don’t destroy her joy of studying.” Her ex-husband laughed out loud.

“We will see. I’ll let you think about it until she enters middle school. I want my daughter to go to my school, which has a good reputation. By the way, you don’t see Woo Seulgi these days?” His question took Jaeyi off guard, and she looked at him, surprised.

“No, she is busy with her schedule. Why?” Youngmin shrugged his shoulders.

“Just to know, I told you I don’t like when she is around Heeyoung.” Jaeyi didn’t look at him and walked toward her desk.

“You don’t need to worry about that anymore. She told me months ago that she didn’t want to take care of her anymore, nor did she want to see me. I didn’t see her since then.” She added with a sad tone. The man nodded and stood up.

“Well, see you around, Jaeyi!” He said with a rare enthusiasm and left the office without waiting for Jaeyi to reply. She waited for a few minutes, and when she was sure he wouldn’t be behind the door, she let out a big sigh.

Something was definitely off…

Chapter Text

Jaeyi was three years old the first time she met the Kang family officially. She used to see them randomly, but her father never said who they were or what they did for the family. She never dared to speak to them; she always found the Kang intimidating and scary. Jaeyi remembered the day she first met Youngmin well. How could she forget the shy, cute boy? The moment she saw him, she knew he would be someone too important in her life. So, when her father introduced them, Jaeyi couldn’t help herself but feel excited to meet someone around her age.

“Jena, Jaeyi, I present you, Mr and Ms Kang and their sons, Youngmin and Jungsu,” Taejoon said with a calm tone. The two little girls bowed their heads, and the family on the other side responded in the same way. Jaeyi let out a small smile at Youngmin, and the little boy blushed slightly. The dinner went well, and the adults were talking about things Jaeyi couldn’t catch up, but she loved listening to them. Time to time, her eyes lingered on the young boy who fed his little brother with a sweet smile, and seeing such a scene was enough for the girl to know he was a caring boy.

When the dinner ended, Taejoon told the kids they could play in the garden since the weather was good. Jaeyi and Jena nodded and motioned for Youngmin to follow them. At first, it was awkward; they didn’t know what to do or what to say, until Jaeyi broke the glass with a little game. She didn’t quite remember what they played that day, but she just knew they ended up laughing and talking. Youngmin tried his best to be entertaining; he joked around a lot, and to avoid any silence, he opened up about his parents’ work. Jaeyi found him interesting, the way he was talking and the way he seemed to know things she didn’t, attracted her. She wanted to be friends with him.

“Jena! Come here, please!” The sister’s mother screamed. Jena didn’t even look at the two other kids and ran toward her mother, leaving Youngmin and Jaeyi alone. The first time they were alone, and the first conversation they had. Jaeyi smiled at him, and since she was the extrovert between them, she spoke first.

“So, how old are you?” The boy looked at Jaeyi and answered in a shy tone. “Three years old, and you?” Jaeyi let out a dramatic gasp.

“Me too! Which month?” Youngmin’s face got brighter when he heard the girl was the same age as him. “May, and you?” Jaeyi pouted and said with a defeated voice, “November.” The boy laughed quietly.

“And your brother?” She asked curiously, making the boy scratch the back of his neck, clearly anxious about the attention. “One year old, he is a baby, but I like him even though now all the attention goes to him.” He answered with a breathy laugh at the end, “And your sister?” Jaeyi crossed her arms on her chest.

“She is older, four years old, worst sister ever! She steals my toy and sometimes my food, too!” Youngmin’s gaze went toward Jena, who was talking to her father, and he laughed. “What a terrible sister!” He said dramatically.

Even though Jaeyi couldn’t remember much about that day, she knew that she and Youngmin got closer after that. They both liked each other, and their humor was the same. She always saw in him a potential brother she never had in her life… At least, that was her thought for long years.

Jaeyi and Youngmin grew a strong friendship. They were inseparable. Every time the Kangs came to have dinner with the Yoo family, Youngmin and Jaeyi always found a way to run away from the table to play and talk with each other. The parents from both families never said a thing, quite the opposite. Jaeyi knew her father loved to see them together; sometimes, he even organized outings just with the two kids. Taejoon wanted them to be close, and he did everything to make it happen, even with school.

The two kids went to the same elementary school, middle school, and high school. The elementary, Jaeyi didn’t have a lot of memories. The ones she had are always about her father and how he tried to put Jena and her in some unhealthy competition. Of course, she knew she had opened up about that to Youngmin, and the boy comforted and supported her so much. She remembered the day he tried to cheer her up when she won a violin competition; he even went to see her with his mother. She felt relieved to have at least someone like this in her surroundings. Youngmin was her only friend; even though she was popular, she never liked to be around others. She only knew that in elementary school, she was glued to Youngmin to the point she said he was her brother, her twin, her soulmate.

But, again, nothing prepared her for the future.

In middle school, things got more complicated for everyone, but some of her memories stand out more than the other, especially with Youngmin. She remembered so well the first time she had a breakdown and cried so hard against the young teenager’s shoulder. She couldn’t forget that day, and maybe this moment was a turning point in their relationship. No, it was a turning point. Seeing someone in their worst state was a rare sight, especially with Jaeyi, who never showed her struggle, no matter what.

It was in the middle of May, and the school had started two months before. Jaeyi, as Taejoon wished, needed to be perfect everywhere. Not only perfect, but even better than her older sister. The pressure was so intense that she had a lot of panic attacks, and the anxiety was eating her little by little. It wasn’t in Jaeyi’s habit to be this stressed, especially with school; she always managed to get the best grade, until that day.

Jaeyi was sitting in her chair, behind her table, waiting for the result of her exam. She knew she didn’t do well, but she still prayed not to be too drastic. The teacher was walking slowly to each student. She commented, gave advice, and cheered them up if needed. It was torture for Jaeyi; her hands were trembling, her feet tapped the floor, and the ball of anxiety in her stomach was going up and down. The teacher was too slow, and each step was like getting closer to the final judgment. Finally, the teacher stopped in front of her desk, gave the result, and smiled. She didn’t even say a word. Jaeyi looked at the number, and her lips twitched. She folded the paper and was the first one to leave the class when she heard the ringing. That day, she didn’t wait for her sister.

Arriving at home, her father was already waiting for her in the entrance with a smile. Jaeyi wanted to act, pretending everything was fine, but she couldn’t manage it. She was too tired, too drained to even try something. She closed the door, handed the paper, and looked down, her hands intertwining. There was a silence, a silence that said ‘you are in trouble’, a silence Jaeyi couldn’t bear. She heard her father sigh loudly, and after a moment, a noise of paper being torn apart. The teenager still refused to look up, too ashamed of the grade.

“What were you doing these past months, Jaeyi?” His voice was calm, but not in a peaceful way. She sensed the danger, the anger, and how he tried to control his behavior. She refused to speak, too afraid of saying something wrong. “I’m asking a question. Answer me! Even your sister never had that kind of grade in her life!” She heard her father punching something, and she jumped slightly at it. She felt her legs trembling, and her sight began to blur. The weight of something she couldn’t name started to take up too much space in her chest, and her breath began to quicken.

“I-I’m s-sorry,” was the only thing she could manage to say. It was weak, she knew. Her father hated apologizing; what he wanted was an explanation, something that justified the drop. Her father took a deep breath and, suddenly, she felt a pain in her right cheek. She brought her hand to it, and her eyes went wide as she understood her father had just slapped her.

“I don’t want an apology. I want a reason. You’re supposed to be better than your sister. What happened to you? Do you want your sister to mock you? To look down at you? To be the shame of the family?” Jaeyi heard each word, but in the moment, she was still too in shock to even swallow his sentences. Her father didn’t stop screaming at her. She wasn’t listening, at least, she told herself to stop listening, but sometimes she caught some words. ‘Useless’, ‘shame’, ‘dumb’, everything that could hurt. When Taejoon finished his speech, he ordered her to get out of his face, and Jaeyi went to her bedroom without a second.

She waited there for a few minutes, she tried to catch her breath, to calm down, and rationalize everything. But she couldn’t, his voice never left her head, and his slap, too. She took her phone and messaged the only person she could open up to without restriction, Youngmin. What was so fantastic about him was the way he always answered in a second, as if he were under Jaeyi’s service. Naturally, he told her to join him at his home since his parent are working. Jaeyi didn’t waste any time; she ran away from her home, and in no time, she was in the Kang’s house. She always liked to be there, it was a second home for her and a place where she felt loved by Youngmin’s parent, more than her own.

She knocked twice on Youngmin’s bedroom door, and the teenage boy opened up fast as if he were behind the door waiting to hear the knock. Jaeyi didn’t plan it, but the moment she saw him, she broke down in tears. The boy pulled her into his room and closed the door behind him. His first reflex was to hug her tightly. He didn’t ask what happened, with whom, he just stayed here without saying a word. He stroked Jaeyi’s back and sometimes her hair. The teenage boy was patient, and without Jaeyi noticing, he brought them onto his bed. They were sitting, and Jaeyi’s head was on his shoulder. When she finally calmed down, she sniffed and hugged his torso tightly.

“Sorry, your t-shirt is wet now.” She said first, her voice still trembling from the cry.

“It’s okay, my clothes aren’t more important than you. Are you now okay?” His voice was low, reassuring. Jaeyi loved how sweet he could sound and how he could calm her down with it. She nodded slightly.

“A little. Can we stay like this for a moment?” Youngmin stroked Jaeyi’s hair and hummed positively. They stayed for a long minutes, embracing each other as Jaeyi tried to calm down. When she felt like speaking, she hugged him tighter and cleared her throat.

“My dad slapped me,” she whispered. Her voice came softly, a little hoarse from her cry, as if she couldn’t believe what happened. “H-He was s-so mad, he s-slapped m-me.” Youngmin tilted his body backward, making Jaeyi look up to him. He took her face in his hands and caressed her right red cheek. He still said nothing, and he looked at her with tenderness as if his gaze was speaking for him. Jaeyi closed her eyes, and a tear dropped on her cheek again. It wasn’t from sadness. She didn’t know what she felt at this moment, but it was too much to keep in and too much to even speak out. She just let her body express it in her own way.

It was the first time she experienced warmth, a tenderness, someone who seemed genuinely to care about her. It was true that Youngmin was always here for her, listening to her, and supporting her in her hobbies, but it wasn’t always warm, not in the way she experienced that day. They always preferred to joke around, curse, or run away to express their frustration or hurt, but they never did physical touch or look at each other with love. This was the first time Jaeyi understood what care was really about. She couldn’t forget his gaze or his touch. It made her feel alive, seen, and understood. He didn’t ask for more information or push her to open up. He just let her express what she wanted and made sure to speak only when he knew his words would have a positive effect.

“I don’t want to go home, Youngmin,” she admitted after she explained everything. The teenage boy smiled at her and brushed her hair from her face as she was on his lap.

“I know, Jaeyi, I know, but your dad will be madder if he finds out you ran away. I’m sorry that your dad is like this; he is really awful. You deserve better, and it’s alright to fail sometimes. A grade means nothing,” he said gently, and stared at her with love and care. He kissed her right cheek and caressed it just after. “If he slaps you again, or if he makes your sister hit you, don’t hesitate to come here. This house is yours, too.” Jaeyi hummed as she brought her hand to Youngmin’s and leaned her head into his touch.

“Thank you, sorry for all of this,” she replied, and the teenage boy giggled. “Why are you apologizing? You don’t have to pretend you feel nothing with me, Jaeyi. You are human; it’s normal to cry.”

Jaeyi didn’t answer him, but this sentence did something in her, and every time she cried, she repeated this sentence.

After that breakdown from Jaeyi, she came more frequently to the Kang’s house. Youngmin always invited her and took care of her. His parent knew how often the daughter of Yoo was in their home, but they decided to stay quiet about it. The Kang was kinder and more supportive, and Jaeyi started to consider them as her second parent. They always had a soft spot for the youngest Yoo, and they tried to take care of her like the daughter they never had. Of course, Taejoon knew where her daughter always went, but since it was the Kang, he said nothing.

The relationship between the two teenagers only grew closer and maybe more intimate, more than Jaeyi could have imagined. She never complained. The young boy was still the shy and kind person she’d met as a kid. He was smart, caring, and an introvert. He didn’t change much; he didn’t have a lot of friends and tried to help his brother as much as possible. He was also a sensible boy. Jaeyi found out about it while watching movies with him; he always ended up crying at the slightest angst or a happiness scene. He ended up telling Jaeyi, “They seemed so happy, it’s an intense scene!” and she laughed at him for this.

Youngmin was everything for Jaeyi, physically and emotionally; he was her pillar. She couldn’t stay a day without texting him or gossiping with him. People always found them weird; some students even started to call them a couple, which always made Youngmin blush. For Jaeyi, it was nothing. She just rolled her eyes and told them to stop saying nonsense. For her, it was not even imaginable to be with Youngmin in that way. He was just her best friend, her brother, not a lover, and the only thought of it made her feel disgusted. They never talked about it, and Jaeyi never felt the need to.

The high school started, and for Jaeyi, it was a mess. It was also the first time in her life that she found Youngmin annoying. He was still the supportive best friend and helped her when she needed help, but Jaeyi was far from being dumb, and some of his actions were too suspicious. She had never been in a relationship before, and high school was the period of discovery for Jaeyi. She wasn’t someone closed off, girl or boy; she never really cared about it. She was curious and tried a lot of things. Her first relationship wasn’t serious, actually; all her relationships weren’t serious. She just wanted to know how it felt to be kissed by someone, to be taken care of in a romantic way. Youngmin watched her from afar; she knew it, she always sensed his gaze on her, whatever a boy took her hand.

Of course, not all her relationships or flings came from high school; the majority of them came from the club. Mr. Kim was in charge of looking over the youngest daughter, but since Jaeyi found a way to run away in the most discreet way, the poor man was searching for her all night. Of course, when Jaeyi called for him to pick her up, Mr. Kim said nothing and even lied to her father. She was always thankful to have someone like him around, and she started to warn him in advance of her night plan to make his work easier. But her favorite part was talking to Youngmin about everything. He was her confidante, so naturally she told him her thoughts about anything. She couldn’t forget how the boy judged her most of the time for her disastrous taste in men, even if it was for a night.

“Jaeyi, that man is so fucking dumb! Why are you doing this?” Youngmin said in a desperate tone.

“Exactly! Because he is dumb!” The young boy shook his head weakly and let out a breathy laugh.

“When are you going to see him?” He asked curiously. Jaeyi hummed and shrugged her shoulders. “I never said I wanted to see him,” she replied with a smirk.

Even though Youngmin pretended to judge Jaeyi, he never truly judged her for her actions, and even if he wanted to, he knew Jaeyi was aware of his own experience. After all, it wasn’t only the young girl who shared everything; even Youngmin opened up and sometimes even more than Jaeyi. The first year was mostly like this, nothing serious, both of them experienced things they wanted and laughed about it together.

The second year was a little different; they both calmed down a little until they stopped completely, but not for the same reason. Jaeyi met a girl in her new class whom she couldn’t help but find attractive. The day she saw her, she tried to be close to her. Of course, she succeeded in becoming friends with her, and since then, she has done everything with that person. She ate with her, worked with her, did all the group work together, and she even started to invite her on some outings. Youngmin noticed how Jaeyi started to become distant from him since she was friends with that girl. At first, he couldn’t understand his feelings, but he didn’t like them. Until that evening, when Jaeyi came to Youngmin’s bedroom to work together, well, that was what they said to their parent, but the reality was completely different.

“Guess what!” Jaeyi said with an excited tone as she closed the door behind her. Youngmin looked at her with a suspicious gaze. “Well, hello to you, too. Tell me? You got a new guy in your sight?” The girl laughed and shook her head.

“Forget about that, Youngmin. I don’t know if you know Lee Minji?” He moved his lips left to right and took on a thoughtful expression. “I think, yeah, why?” Jaeyi smiled shyly and bit her lip.

“I finally found the courage to ask her out. I was so stressed, you should have seen me. I hope I wasn’t obvious.” She said quickly, and the boy beside her arched his eyebrow.

“Asking her out? What do you mean? Like a date?” His questions came quite harshly, more than he expected. Jaeyi looked at him, surprised by his tone. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound harsh. I’m just surprised.” He brought his hand behind his neck and scratched it. The girl ignored his anxious state and replied to him like nothing had happened.

“Yeah, like an official date. I think I’m falling in love with her. She is so cool and sweet. You should see how smart she is, too! And the way she smiles, gosh, even her voice came from heaven.” The young man only hummed and started to open his notebook.

“I didn’t expect you would fall in love with a woman; she must be wonderful.” Jaeyi sensed something was wrong with his tone and word choice. She looked around the room and hummed, feeling that the atmosphere was awkward. It never happened before, and Jaeyi didn’t know why he changed so suddenly. Youngmin seemed to sense the awkwardness, too, and cleared his throat.

“I mean, I’m still supporting you, Jaeyi. I don’t judge you or anything! Girl or boy, it doesn’t matter!” He said by waving in the rhythm of his sentence. Jaeyi smiled weakly and hugged him. “Thank you, Young! You are the best.” The boy smiled slightly, and the girl beside him never noticed his real feelings behind it.

The days went by, and Jaeyi started to date Minji officially. They wanted to be discreet; nobody in the school knew about it, except Youngmin. Jaeyi told him the night she asked Minji to be her girlfriend, she couldn’t contain her joy and needed to share this with someone she knew wouldn’t judge. Youngmin congratulated her with a fake happiness; she noticed it, of course, she did, but too caught up in her excitement, she ignored it. Maybe she should have asked him what was wrong, but she was too scared of his answer or the lie he would tell. She didn’t want something to break her joy.

The months went by, and Jaeyi was deeply serious about her relationship with Minji. She didn’t even look at the other person; she was too drawn into her girlfriend, and she loved it in a way she never imagined. Their relationship wasn’t perfect, far from that, they were still teenager and fights did happen a lot, but never to the point they wanted to break up. Jaeyi found a new side of herself, and she hated some aspect. How jealous, needy, obsessive, and possessive she could be. They would fight for some of these aspects, and in the end, Jaeyi did improve in her behavior. She didn’t mind changing for someone, especially for her girlfriend.

“You know, Jaeyi, I think you’ve started to be a little too dependent on your girlfriend.” Jaeyi looked at her sister and crossed her arms. “What do you mean?” Jena’s gaze went on her, and she sighed.

“You changed a lot, don’t interrupt me!” Her sister said when she saw Jaeyi open her mouth to cut her off. “Listen to me. I know in a relationship you need to change some aspects, especially your possessiveness, but you changed more than that, Jaeyi. Every time she tells you something, you don’t even question it, and you do it. You can’t even stay alone for a day without her. You also started to put distance between Youngmin and you. Have you even noticed how you try to complete all your affection needs with Minji? Or how you always asked her for validation? Or how you stopped going out with your friend to spend it with Minji? It sounds like dependence to me, and Youngmin seems to suffer from it cause you stopped talking with him. I know a relationship must be a little harder for you since our parents were horrible when it came to love, so I prefer to warn you with my observation. Please, think about it before she starts to manipulate you.” Jena closed her book and left her sister alone. It was the first time Jaeyi heard about dependence in a relationship, and she didn’t know it yet, but this conversation with her sister led her to work on herself more.

It was true, she didn’t remark how distant she had been with everyone since her relationship, especially with Youngmin. She used to always be at the Kang’s house, and now she couldn’t even remember the last time she put her feet there. The guilt started to eat her, and she decided to start contacting her close friend more frequently. At first, everything went smoothly. She sure had a hard time finding a balance between her relationship and friendship, but after weeks and a lot of fighting with her girlfriend, she found her rhythm, and for a month, everything was perfect. Until that day, she went to her girlfriend’s house to spend time together. It was calm, like always. They laughed, talked, kissed, and played. Everything was perfect, and then, in the middle of her talk, she mentioned Youngmin. The mere mention of him made Minji sigh in annoyance, confusing Jaeyi.

“What? Did I say something wrong?” Her girlfriend looked at her with cold eyes and something close to jealousy.

“You mentioned him again. You always speak about him when we are together.” Jaeyi’s gaze went to the floor, not understanding the problem. “I don’t understand the problem? Youngmin is my best friend, and you know he is a brother to me. Of course, I will speak about him a lot.” She heard her laugh, and Jaeyi furrowed her eyebrows.

“Seriously, Jaeyi? Best friend? A brother? Have you even noticed how he looked at you? Oh, have you even noticed how YOU looked at him? Because last time when you waited for me with him, I couldn’t help but remark how close both of you were and how you looked at each other. I’m not born yesterday, Jaeyi. Best friends don’t look at each other like this.” Jaeyi froze in her place. She was too stunned to even find a word; she didn’t know what hurt the most, her girlfriend accusing her of cheating or the lack of trust. She remembered how angry she was that day, how her hand turned white with the strength she put in her fist. She let out a bitter laugh.

“What do you mean? That I cheat on you with Youngmin?” Minji looked at her and bit her lip. “You tell me! You can’t blame me, Jaeyi. You two are so physically close, and he definitely doesn’t see you as a friend.” Jaeyi moved her jaw and released her fist.

“I can’t believe you, right now. Even though Youngmin doesn’t see me as a friend, don’t you trust me? I told you, Youngmin is like a brother to me, Minji. I don’t love him! I only love you!” Her girlfriend smiled with amusement, but not the good kind.

“No, I don’t trust you. You looked at him like he was your world. Maybe you just don’t want to admit that you have a feeling for someone you consider like a brother.” They weren’t speaking; in Jaeyi’s memories, they were screaming at each other. She didn’t know how long they had fought about that subject, but she remembered how hopeless she felt the moment she heard the words ‘break up’.

“You know what, Jaeyi? I think we should break up! I don’t think the relationship will continue, and I’m sure at some point you will choose him. If it’s not for yourself, it would be for your family. After all, he will give you more than I can give.” Jaeyi’s mind went blank at her words. She didn’t expect Youngmin to be the reason for the breakup.

“W-What?” Jaeyi felt her heart beating fast, not from love, but from panic. “You heard me, Jaeyi. Let’s break up, I don’t want to keep going.” Jaeyi already felt the tears welling up in her eyes faster than she expected.

“D-Don’t do this, Minji. I t-told you, between me and Y-Youngmin, we only have a platonic relationship. I-I love you, Minji. I p-put my heart into this, and I will always choose you!” Minji passed by her and opened the door to her bedroom. “Just leave, Jaeyi.”

Jaeyi’s breathing started to quicken, and a painful impact went to her heart. She turned to see Minji and suddenly went to her knees. “Please, don’t do this.” Her voice was unstable, as the tears started to drop one after one. She remembered how she didn’t stop begging her. Minji knelt in front of Jaeyi and wiped her tears. “Don’t make this hard, Jaeyi. Just leave, you will be fine.” She didn’t want to leave, not when the person she loved touched her and spoke to her with such a soft tone. She wanted to tell her she loved her again and again, but her throat caught up with her tears.

Minji wasn’t wrong, but she still hated her for the pain she caused because deep down, Jaeyi would have fought for her.

She would never forget that night; she never cried that hard in her life. It was her first love, first heartbreak, and first relationship. She didn’t run to the Kang’s house; she didn’t want to see Youngmin because she knew she would punch him for destroying her relationship. So instead, she knocked on her sister’s bedroom door, and when the door opened, she let herself drop onto her sister’s shoulder. Jena was the second person who saw her in such a state, and she seemed genuinely worried about her.

“Jaeyi! What happened? Oh my god.” She guided them to her bed and lay on it. She stroked her sister’s hair, trying to calm her down. Every time Jaeyi tried to explain, her voice broke, and a sob cut her off immediately. “Shh, you don’t have to talk now, just let it pour, Jaeyi.” And she did. She cried for an hour, maybe less, maybe more. When she had no more tears to let it out, she started to explain to her sister about the fight and the break-up. Jena never stopped the stroke and listened to her carefully.

“What a bitch. How can she say that when you were ready to change everything for her? I’d better not see her ever again.” Jaeyi let out a giggle and sniffed. They never talked about Youngmin that night. Jena only reassured her and let her sleep with her. Even though the sisters weren’t the closest because of their father, they still cared for each other a lot.

The days that followed the breakup, Jaeyi ignored Youngmin. She even found herself eating less, sleeping less, and found everything tasteless, even her favorite hobby. Everyone noticed how Jaeyi was less enthusiastic, less herself. She still managed to be first in the school, after all, she only found studying to forget about everything. Her father said nothing; what was important for him was the grade. He didn’t care if her daughter was happy or not, but he did care about her health. He forced her to eat and even gave her some sleep pills. Jaeyi pretended to take it, but when her father left her room, she spit it out. She didn’t want to take what her father gave her; she hated it.

After some weeks, Youngmin stopped her in front of the school. He waited for her to get out, and when he saw her, he took her wrist and pulled her.

“Yah, don’t touch me and leave me alone!” She tried to fight back, but the young man was too strong. “Stop fighting, you know you have no chance with me! I just want to talk with you. You’ve been ignoring me for weeks now!” He looked at her with such soft eyes that she couldn’t reject him. She only followed him; his hand was still on her wrist, and his pace was moderate, just like Jaeyi’s rhythm. She couldn’t help but notice that detail. They arrived at Kang’s house, entered his bedroom, and closed the door. He dropped Jaeyi’s wrist and sat on his bed.

“I heard about your breakup with Minji. I’m sorry for you,” Jaeyi cut him off with a bitter, loud laugh. She couldn’t control it, even though it had been months since the breakup, she still felt like it was his fault.

“She broke up with me because of you.” Youngmin’s gaze went to Jaeyi. He stood up and furrowed his eyebrows.

“What? I did nothing, Jaeyi. I swear! What did she say?” She walked toward him and pointed at his torso with strength as she spoke.

“She told me that you didn’t see me as a friend, that you looked at me like someone you love, that you are too close, too physical, too kind, too caring, too protective, that you are too much!” She said with a rare anger. As she pronounced the last word, she pushed Youngmin onto the bed as she couldn’t control her strength. The young man brought his hand to his torso and grimaced in pain.

“J-Jaeyi, calm down, o-okay? I didn’t know she was jealous!” Jaeyi avoided his gaze as her sight started to blur. She felt her throat tighten and the room getting smaller. She wanted to run away from here, but the moment she started to walk away, Youngmin took her wrist. She tried to release his grip, but that only made the boy pull her to him. In no second, she was on his lap, head on his shoulder, and a sob got out of her throat. The young boy hugged her and didn’t stop apologizing. When she calmed down, she pushed Youngmin to motion him to lie down and joined him. She rested her head on his torso and sniffed from time to time.

“She told me that if one day I had to choose between you and her, I would choose you. It breaks my heart that she thought I would never fight for her.” Youngmin stayed silent and started to stroke Jaeyi’s hair.

“She also told me that I looked at you like you were my world.” She whispered, and the young boy stopped his movement.

“She really said that?” He asked slowly and softly, as if each word cost him something. Jaeyi nodded and sniffed.

“I was so caught off guard… I miss her so much, Youngmin.” She admitted as she felt the tear sting her eyes. She hugged Youngmin tightly and closed her eyes. After so long, she felt at peace and light.

After the graduation, the two young adults were closer than ever. Jaeyi moved on; it was one of the hardest things in her life, but she succeeded, and she never felt prouder of herself. She started to live her life as she wanted, even though her father wanted her to be a doctor, but thanks to Youngmin and his parent, Jaeyi had the luck to choose her path. She was happy and free. Youngmin still supported her and was always here for her, no matter what.

The duo was now inseparable; they went out a lot, studied together, even though they weren’t in the same field, and sometimes Jaeyi found herself sleeping at Youngmin’s apartment. She never thought about it that much, but it was true that sometimes their outing were kind of intimate. Youngmin always took her hand, and sometimes he even bought her a gift. She never wanted to face the reality of the new dimension of their relationship. She even started to ignore all the signs of her having a crush on her childhood friend. She even tried to talk with more people, to find someone who could get her attention, but, in the end, she found everyone insipid.

Then, one day, Youngmin invited her for an outing. He never mentioned the word date or anything that could hint that it was a different outing than the other. It wasn’t something fancy; he took her on a rooftop where they could see all of Seoul and arranged it with a table so they could eat. Jaeyi loved it and couldn’t stop smiling. The outing went well; they laughed, talked, teased each other, and somehow started to flirt. She didn’t know how it started, but she found herself enjoying it.

“You like the view?” He asked while he pointed with his hand at Seoul. Jaeyi let out a breathy laugh and nodded.

“It’s really pretty. I always forget how beautiful Seoul can be.” She heard the man beside her humming. The lack of talk from the man made Jaeyi look at him, and she caught him staring at her. She raised one of her eyebrows. “What?”

“Nothing, you’re just a better view to me.” He said with a voice that was deeper than usual and sent a shiver down her spine. She stayed for a second, completely frozen, not quite understanding the situation.

“What was that? Something is weird tonight.” Youngmin laughed and asked her to develop. “I mean, you never invited me to such a beautiful place, you put effort into this, you just indirectly called me beautiful, and why did we even flirt?” The young man let out a nervous laugh.

“I guess, it’s time to be honest.” The moment he let out this sentence, Jaeyi felt a rock drop in her chest. She felt it, sensed it, and she didn’t know if she was ready for this turn in their relationship. “I didn’t know how to tell this, and I thought about it for a long moment. We go out a lot more than before, and you are almost living with me. I know you see me as a brother and all, but I don’t know when it started or how it started. I think it was the first year of high school? Maybe in the second year, I don’t know, and it’s not important. I started to catch feelings for you, and I know it’s stupid. I tried to bury it, and I even told myself I was being crazy. I mean, I always saw you as a sister, too, and it felt weird. I was sure about my feelings the day you told me you had a girlfriend. I felt jealous, but I didn’t want to break what we had, so I still supported you and will always do, no matter what. When I saw it was serious between her and you, I took this opportunity to stop this madness, and I thought I succeeded.” He stopped and looked at his hand.

“But then, we recently went out a lot, drank together, studied together, and you even started to sleep in my apartment. My feelings started to come back. I tried to bury it again, I swear, but I couldn’t. I do like you. I’m really sorry.” Jaeyi’s eyes went wide, and she swallowed hard. She didn’t know what to answer, but she felt her heart race faster each second. “You know, you don’t have to answer now. You can even reject me; I don’t care. I just wanted to be honest with you.” She looked at him and unconsciously smiled. He played with his fingers, and his gaze was on his hand. His cheek was slightly red, and his lips moved left to right. She knew all these signs; he was nervous, and she couldn’t help but smile at that. She came closer to him and hugged him.

“Thank you for your honesty, Youngmin. I don’t know if I like you this way, I never tried to see you in other way than as my best friend, and maybe it’s a mistake. I don’t know. Recently, I started to doubt myself about everything, especially between us. I don’t mind trying, and let’s just see.” She didn’t promise him a relationship or something deep, but because she was confused, she gave a chance to the man she had known since they were children.

After that day, things between them changed a lot. They took their new relationship slowly as if they were afraid of doing things wrong. Jaeyi would never forget how everything felt intense and still peaceful. Youngmin never rushed her and was open to discussing everything without fighting. He had a talent to calm down Jaeyi just with his voice and touch; he never screamed at her, never forced her for anything, and when he felt like it wasn’t the moment, he left Jaeyi alone. She liked how he understood everything about her, from her body language to her tone. She didn’t need to verbalize her thoughts or wants for Youngmin to know.

And maybe, it was the first thing that made Jaeyi fall in love with him.

Jaeyi also found out new aspects of Youngmin. How he always bought her gifts or flowers, how protective he can be, or even jealous. She liked everything new from him; he was someone who cared about Jaeyi a lot, in a way that even Jaeyi found herself crying out of love. He was still the kind, shy, and careful kid she had met the first time. He always showed his love in different ways; sometimes it was a gift, sometimes with words, and sometimes he helped her with the household tasks. He always left her a note before leaving if he started earlier, and sometimes he even prepared her breakfast.

And maybe, it was the second thing that made Jaeyi fall in love with him.

Youngmin tried not to be too physical with Jaeyi. She knew it was out of respect, and he preferred to let her do the first step with that. She liked how careful he was with her and how he never made everything fast. He invited her on a lot of dates. It was always different; sometimes it was fancy, sometimes playful, sometimes it felt more romantic, sometimes it felt more childish. She loved each one of them, even though she learnt nothing new about her date. Youngmin always managed to make it interesting; they laughed a lot, teased each other a lot, flirted a lot, and Jaeyi, when she felt enough at ease, didn’t hesitate to be a little physical with him. She would never forget the day he wanted to carry her on his back, but after some steps, they fell together, and they both laughed at their own stupidity.

And maybe, it was the third thing that made Jaeyi fall in love with him.

Jaeyi was now living with Youngmin, and she had already left her mark on it. She decorated his apartment, bought new furniture, and even painted some walls. She also found herself sleeping in the same bed as Youngmin, finding his presence comforting. Jaeyi was now officially part of this apartment. She liked how peaceful she felt around him, how she didn’t feel anxious. She noticed how her heart raced quickly when he was around, how a fast, anxious air passed through her chest when he touched her, how he could calm her down in a second with his voice, and how he always knew how to comfort her. The man has a power over her that she has never noticed before. She found herself speaking to him about everything and nothing, talking about her project, her want to create an actors and music company. Youngmin always listened to her and advised her about things, especially when it came to the law. She knew she fell in love with him when, for thirty minutes, he gave a speech about a law, and she couldn’t take her eyes off him while her heart beat faster. She remembered that when he finished his speech, he smiled at her and teased her because she was smiling like a dumbass.

And, she fell in love with him hard because of it.

She was the one who confessed first, since Youngmin’s. It took the young man by surprise, and he didn’t stop asking her if she was sure. She remembered how she almost regretted confessing to him, but when he swallowed the information, he didn’t hesitate and kissed her. She found it funny how it was actually their first kiss together after a year of dates, but she never complained because it showed how patient he was with her.

They started to date each other on the 29th of November, a day before Jaeyi’s birthday.

For Jaeyi, her relationship with Youngmin was perfect, too perfect. Things went faster, and less than a year later, they got married. She didn’t think much about it. It was obvious he was the man of her life, someone who would stay with her forever. She never imagined a future without him by her side, so naturally, when he proposed to her, she said yes. Both families were happy with the news, and they supported them in a way that Jaeyi didn’t expect. Even Taejoon couldn’t stop smiling and shared his pride, which was a rare sight. Everything went smoothly and naturally. She never felt forced or uncomfortable.

Youngmin didn’t change; he was still the kind and caring man she knew, even after the wedding. He helped her wife with everything, still invited her on dates, and offered her gifts. Jaeyi felt like he didn’t take her for granted, and she loved how he treated her. He was good at communication and always tried to understand his wife as much as possible. For Jaeyi, he was the perfect man that every woman dreamed of having, and she always felt lucky for this. Even Yeri and Kyung, who were known to be judging, never criticized him, finding him perfect for Jaeyi. She was happy and satisfied with her life.

The idea of having a child came from Jaeyi. She loved kids and always imagined herself to have a mini her or a mini Youngmin. She was loud about her desire to have a family, but even though Youngmin wanted to, he preferred to wait. Jaeyi never rushed it, after all, she was still a student, and she had some issues to work on before having a child. She didn’t want to be like her parent. In this state of mind, she started to see a psychologist. At first, it was hard for her to open up, but with time and some easy exercise, she began to improve her well-being and become more aware of her emotions. It did help the couple; they fought less, and Jaeyi talked about her feelings more openly, making her husband understand her more easily. When Jaeyi felt more ready, she started to talk about having a child more seriously. Youngmin was still a little hesitant about it, but after a time, he gave what her wife wanted.

If you asked Jaeyi if she regretted having a child at such a young age, she would say no. The first week when she felt nauseous and noticed how her period was late, she didn’t waste more time and went to her father’s hospital to do the official test. It was her father who announced her pregnancy with a big smile. It was also the first time her father showed worries.

“Are you sure it’s okay? You know, you are young and with your studies, it could be hard.” Jaeyi rolled her eyes and nodded.

“Don’t worry, Dad! It’s my last year, you know. Youngmin will help me with anything, anyway.” Her father nodded, satisfied by her daughter’s answer, and hugged her tightly.

“If you need anything, I’m here! Come next week, I will explain to you everything.” Jaeyi smiled brightly and nodded happily.

When she announced to her husband the news, he couldn’t believe it at first, but Jaeyi noticed the happiness behind his eyes. He became softer and more caring with her wife; he even tried to free his time to be around her as much as possible. The pregnancy wasn’t that pleasant to Jaeyi, but at the same time, she still felt happy. She always prayed to have a girl who would look exactly like her. It wasn’t like Youngmin’s genes were bad, but she still preferred hers. Jaeyi would always be grateful to God for answering her prayer.

Jaeyi knew giving birth would be painful, but she didn’t expect it to be that painful. Her mother warned her that nothing would prepare her for the pain. But the moment she saw her daughter, she forgot about everything. It was the first time she cried out of happiness, and Youngmin let her choose the name of their child. Jaeyi had thought about it since she learned she was pregnant. She thought about a name that started with J, but after thinking deeply about it, she preferred to do something different from her father. She called her daughter Heeyoung, Kang Heeyoung. She didn’t choose it randomly; she wanted a name that made sense to her. She knew she would be her forever joy, so Heeyoung came naturally to her mind.

Her eternal joy.

Youngmin was still the same supportive husband; he took care of her wife, always around her and at her service. They were both already graduated in February, four months before Heeyoung’s birth. Jaeyi took a short break from her project, even though almost everything was done. She wanted to stay close to her daughter, taking care of her, and also resting when she could. The family didn’t change their way of living, and the couple made sure their daughter had everything.

Even though now they had children, Youngmin still tried to find time to spend with her wife. Jaeyi was always grateful to have someone like him beside her; he never neglected his responsibilities and still treated Jaeyi like a princess. Maybe they had less time together because of their work and daughter, but the rare time they could do something together was weirdly more enjoyable than before. Jaeyi was more than happy; she had everything she wanted, and her father was proud of her.

Six years.

Six years of marriage and seven years of relationship destroyed.

Jaeyi should have seen this coming; everything was too perfect, too joyful, and everything worked too well. Her company worked well; she opened first the actor side and then the music side. She worked hard to find people she judged had enough talent and creativity to debut and become famous. She put her heart into it, tried to find a balance between her family duties and work. She debuted actors that had hit drama, she debuted a group that broke charts, and even started to debut soloists, even though she knew it was a risky bet. She remembered the first time she saw Byeong, she liked him, found in him something others didn’t have. Her judgment was always great, because in no time, his fame grew.

Jaeyi was proud of her work, how she won awards for her company, how the media praised it, and how it was considered as one of the biggest agencies of South Korea when it came to the art industry. She got a ton of collaboration with great brands, her artists were never ignored, and people wanted to work with her. Jaeyi built this agency with her principle, her heart, and her mind.

This was what she thought.

It started with a small conversation with Jungsu. Her brother-in-law was close to her; he was like a little brother to her, and he always loved to help her with little things. She didn’t know if he was clueless or said it on purpose, but it brought Jaeyi’s attention.

“It’s noted, Jaeyi. Don’t worry! Youngmin won’t be happy, though,” he finished his sentence with a whisper, as if he was complaining under his breath in discretion. The thing was that she heard what he said, and she was confused.

“Youngmin? Why Youngmin wouldn’t be happy, it’s none of his business.” Jungsu looked at her with panicked eyes and stood. “Of course, it’s none of his business! I’m sorry, he was on my mind and I might have said his name unconsciously!” He scratched the back of his neck and left the office before Jaeyi could speak more.

It was weird; she never saw Jungsu being this agitated about something, but she just shrugged her shoulders and ignored her gut. She shouldn’t have. If you asked her if she would do the same thing, she would tell you no. At the end of her day, she waited for her husband to pick her up. She didn’t need to wait too long; he was a punctual man, and after only five minutes, he was in front of her. She saw her daughter behind waving at her and did the same with a big smile. She entered the car, in the passenger seat, and kissed Youngmin’s cheek. She turned around and motioned for her daughter to come closer. She kissed her daughter multiple times, provoking Heeyoung to laugh.

The drive went peacefully. Heeyoung began to speak about her day, and Youngmin joked with her a little. Jaeyi was half listening; she rested her head on the window and felt her eyes becoming heavier. The radio was on, and it suddenly filled the car as the two other people stopped talking.

“Woo Seulgi did a remarkable performance in her last drama! People already think she will win Actress of the Year! It’s been only four years since she debuted, and everyone already speaks of h…”

Jaeyi closed her eyes and fell asleep. She didn’t know that night would be her last peaceful night; if she knew, she would have savored it more. She would have listened to the talk, even participated in it, but life was unpredictable.

The next day, she received a big envelope. No name was written on it, not even an address. She remembered how her anxiety suddenly came to her chest, how her hands trembled without any warning, and her breath became unstable. She didn’t know what to expect, but her guts whispered to her that it would be too much for her. She still opened it, and her heart stopped beating for a second. It contained pictures, a lot of paper that looked like contracts, and a USB.

All the pictures were of Youngmin. Some were at a restaurant, some at an office, and some at a café. He was always accompanied by someone, and she knew each one of them. The director of her agency, producers, and even the CEO of a big brand. Jaeyi didn’t understand the situation right away, or maybe she didn’t want to believe it. She read all the papers again and again, looked at the picture again and again, as if everything would change. She looked at the USB and let out a trembling breath. She opened her personal laptop and plugged in the USB key. It was only a file. She clicked it and found a ton of audio. She opened the first one and listened to it.

“Jaeyi’s agency will be one of the greatest, believe me! I will make sure of it. The artists are wonderful. I always make sure to get the best one to audition there. I talked to a lot of producers, and they are ready to work with her. I made sure they won’t tell her they saw me first. You don’t have to worry about your daughter, Mr. Yoo.” Jaeyi paused the audio.

For the first time in years, she couldn’t describe what she felt in that moment. It was beyond betrayal, beyond humiliation. Every day she went home, talking about her day, her success, and her frustration, only to find out everything was planned out by her husband and father. This wasn’t only a breach of trust; it was beyond that for Jaeyi. She felt her throat tighten, but ignored everything. She listened to all the audios, and her rage only grew. She felt like entering hell. When the last audio stopped, she looked at her computer, eyes full of rage. She heard a knock and hid everything fast. She cleared her throat and opened the door, only to see her assistant.

“Hey, Ms. Yoo! I’m here to tell you the director Hwan wants to see you.” Jaeyi relaxed her facial muscles and shook her head.

“Tell him he is fired.” Mr. Kim looked at her in surprise. “W-What? But we need him, Jaeyi. You can’t fire someone that important like this?” She said nothing for a moment and sighed.

“Watch me. Fire him. If you won’t tell him, I will just send him an email. I can’t work with people who, from the start, weren’t even honest.” Mr. Kim didn’t ask more; he noticed how Jaeyi seemed agitated.

“Also, I will send you a list, fire all the people from it. I’m going home now.” That was her last word before leaving the company. She was already exhausted, and the worst was to come.

She waited all day in their apartment. She called Jena to pick up Heeyoung and to take care of the night. Her sister didn’t even ask the reason for the sudden service, sensing the rage of Jaeyi. She thought she was going insane as the hour passed slowly. She couldn’t stop repeating every audio she heard. She suddenly heard the door being opened; she knew Youngmin had just gotten home. His voice resonated in the dark apartment. He was talking to his phone and jumped when he noticed Jaeyi sitting on the couch in the dark. He hung up the call and put his phone in his jacket.

“You scared me! Why are you in the dark, babe? Turn on the light, wait,” he walked toward the switch, but Jaeyi’s cold voice made him freeze in place.

“Don’t. I don’t want to see your face.” The atmosphere became suddenly heavy, as if it were a warning of the storm that was coming. Youngmin didn’t light up the room and walked closer to his wife.

“What’s going on? Did I do something wrong? Where is Heeyoung?” She let out a dark laugh and crossed her arms on her chest.

“She is with my sister.” It was cold, and she knew Youngmin felt uncomfortable. He sat beside her, too close to Jaeyi’s taste, and tried to touch her, but she stood before he could even do anything.

“I see, you are mad. I will just leave you alone, and when you are ready to tell me the problem, find me in my office.” He began to stand up, but Jaeyi’s voice made him sit down rapidly.

“You lied to me. No, you did worse than lie; you manipulate me.” She couldn’t see his face, and even if she could see it, she wouldn’t even notice his reaction. She was too deep in her rage to even notice anything; she didn’t even know the time.

“What? I never did that?! Who the fuck told you this?” She laughed, feeling the tear sting her eyes. If her first breakup was painful, this one felt like dying. She hadn’t only been betrayed by her husband, the person she had imagined all her future with, but also by her childhood friend, someone who knew all her struggles, pressure, and hard times. He saw her in the worst state possible, saw her crying, in pain, in happiness, saw her in the way she would never let another person see. He was her confidante, best friend, someone she could count on, someone she trusted more than her own mother and sister. She told him all her secrets, desires, fantasies, dreams, everything she could give; she gave it to him. She bit her lips hard and tasted the blood.

“And you lie to my face again? You knew how important this agency was to me, how I wanted to do everything by myself, to prove my worth to my father, to everyone that I’m capable, that I didn’t need to be a fucking doctor for my father to be proud of me! How could you even step into my business?! How could you do that to me?! Am I a joke to you? Something you could play along with? Are you happy to see your wife being humiliated and laughed at each family’s dinner? Is this what you wanted from the start? Seeing me humiliated?” She felt the tear of rage, sadness, and frustration on her cheek. Her voice didn’t come out broken; she let her voice express her feelings, and didn’t care if the neighbor heard her screaming. She heard Youngmin coming closer to her and stepped back immediately. “Don’t even come closer to me, stay there!”

“J-Jaeyi, this is more complicated, ok? Just calm down, and let’s talk about it more calmly, huh?” Jaeyi chuckled and sniffed once.

“Calm down, huh. How can I calm down when the person I trusted the most betrays me? It’s hurt so much, Youngmin, so much. I prefer to find out you cheated on me than this.” She brought her hand to her chest as she spoke. Each beat from her heart hurt, and she felt like she was being suffocated.

“Don’t say things like this. You know I love you, and I only wanted to push your business, so everyone could be happy! Aren’t you happy? You have everything, no? Didn’t I give you everything? You wanted a child, I gave it to you; you wanted a new apartment, I gave it to you; you wanted your father to be proud of you, I gave it to you, too! I gave you everything, Jaeyi! Can’t you see it?! How can you say it’s a betrayal when the result is good! You have what you dreamed of, Jaeyi!”

“No! I asked you not to intervene in my business; I never asked you to do all that! Happy? Do I look like happy right now? How can it be happiness when everything was fucking fake! My work wasn’t even mine, my agency wasn’t even built by me! How can I be happy? How can I face my father when he knows I did nothing! How can I be proud of myself if you do everything? Am I that useless? Do I look like someone who can’t do shit?” She heard him laugh. The atmosphere only grew heavier with rage, and the room filled with their scream.

“Yes, exactly, Jaeyi! You always think you can do everything alone, you can’t, ok? Are you happy now? You finally heard what everyone thinks of you! Too much pride, too much ego, too much everything! If your father accepted you to do something other than medicine, it’s thanks to me, Jaeyi! This was the deal. I couldn’t let you fail! You can’t even fight for yourself, Jaeyi, are you aware of that?” It was too much for Jaeyi, hearing this from someone she loved deeply, it hurt her more than anything. Before she could even control herself, she walked toward him and slapped him hard.

“If you think your wife is useless, you’d better sign the divorce papers and find another woman. I don’t want to see your face.” She wanted to leave this apartment as fast as possible, but the moment she started to walk away, Youngmin gripped her wrist.

“Jaeyi, let’s calm down! I’m sorry, ok! I didn’t do this to humiliate you; I did this out of love! I wanted your company to work out, and seeing you happy about it made me happy. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to insult you like this. I couldn’t let you fail, Jaeyi! Do you understand me? I couldn’t!” Jaeyi turned around and looked at Youngmin with hate.

“Oh, yeah? You could at least let me try before stepping in! The fact that you also thought from the start I would fail is enough to know everything about you. And even if I fail, what’s the problem with that?! Isn’t the goal of life to have both failure and success?” The man gripped her with more strength to the point that Jaeyi felt pain in her wrist.

“Really? How dumb of you to think like that! Fail and bring shame to me? To your family? To your daughter?! You know well you can’t fail! You should thank me for avoiding this humiliation!” Jaeyi tried to free herself from his grip, but he pulled her closer. “I’m sorry for lying to you, please, babe, let’s speak about everything calmly. You know I love you.” He tried to kiss her, but Jaeyi leaned her body backward, and when she felt his grip loosening in strength, she freed herself.

“If you are sorry and you do love me, sign the divorce papers. You disgust me right now; you aren’t so different from my father. How can I trust you again? I don’t even know how many things you hid from me.” It was her final words before leaving the apartment.

She never stepped back into their shared apartment; she left all her belongings there and never asked them back. She remembered how broken she was that night and the rest of the year. She went to her sister’s apartment, face full of tears, and her breath was too ragged, almost choking in her own sob. Jena looked at her with fear and worry. She immediately took care of her sister and never asked what happened. Jaeyi didn’t let out a word all night. She couldn’t sleep, the pain in her heart help up it. She slept with her sister, hugged her tightly, and rested her head on her neck. The tears never stopped falling, even though she tried to contain them.

“Just let it out, Jaeyi, even if you cry all night. It’s okay, someone close hurt you, it’s normal.”

And she did cry all night. And the following one, and the following one.

It took her more than a year to move on.

Jaeyi clicked the code of her home door and walked in. She was welcomed with laughs; she recognized the voices of Seulgi and Heeyoung. She went to her living room and found Heeyoung in a dress while Seulgi told her how pretty it looked on her. She smiled at the scene, seeing her daughter happy always brought a relieved feeling in her chest. Seulgi saw her and smiled at her.

“You’re finally back!” She said softly. Heeyoung turned her head and ran toward her mother.

“Mom! Look what Seulgi bought me! It’s so pretty! Just like what I wanted!” Jaeyi turned her daughter around to see the dress and smiled. “Indeed, it suits you so well. Did you thank her?” Her daughter nodded and went to hug Seulgi. The actress laughed and hugged her back tightly.

The evening went smoothly. Seulgi took care of Heeyoung, they played together and watched a drama while Heeyoung asked some questions about how they filmed some scenes. Jaeyi did say to the actress she would cook the next time, so there she was, cooking and watching, from time to time, the two girls doing their things. She always found herself smiling at them like a dumbass, and each time she furrowed her eyebrows at her self-consciousness. When everything was done, they ate together, and it wasn’t awkward, quite the opposite. They all laughed and talked, and for the first time, Seulgi was the first one to start the conversation. She found the moment peaceful, enjoyable, something she wanted to feel every day. After dinner, Heeyoung went to sleep since she had school the next day, leaving the two women alone. The CEO always waited for this moment, the only time she could be closer to the actress, speaking to her freely.

“You didn’t have to buy a gift for Heeyoung, you know.” Seulgi wiped her hands and smiled.

“It’s nothing, Jaeyi. I wanted to give her a gift for her birthday. She saw this dress one day when we went out, and she kept telling me how pretty it was.” She said with a giggle in the end. Jaeyi sat on the couch and sighed. She closed her eyes and let her head fall on the back of the sofa. “Hard day?” She felt the actress sitting beside her, and her knees touching her.

“Kinda. Youngmin came to my office today. He asked about you and spoke about my daughter’s education.” Seulgi hummed and rested her head on Jaeyi’s shoulder.

“I have a question, but if you don’t want to answer it, it’s okay!” The actress began with an ounce of anxiety. Jaeyi hummed, telling her to keep going. “I noticed that people called Heeyoung, Kang and not Yoo. But you always call her Yoo…” The CEO didn’t let her finish her question and started to talk.

“I don’t like calling her Kang Heeyoung. I wanted to change her last name, but I couldn’t. The kid should take the father’s last name, bla bla bla. So, Jena and I called her Yoo Heeyoung, and people from the company too. After all, it was me who wanted a kid.” Jaeyi didn’t notice how her tone sounded bitter, but she understood that her tone wasn’t like usual when Seulgi moved her head to see her. “What?” The actress looked down at her neck, then her lip, and then her eyes.

“You said this like you forced him to have a child.” The CEO avoided the gaze of the woman and cleared her throat as she felt uncomfortable.

“I didn’t. Let’s stop talking about it.” She stood abruptly. She felt Seulgi watching her and started to scratch the back of her neck nervously. She still has a hard time getting used to the attention of the other woman, but she liked it; it always made her remember how down bad she was for this woman. Out of nowhere, she remembered Seulgi’s birthday and turned around to look at her. The actress gave her a questioning look, and Jaeyi smirked.

“You scare me, don’t smirk like that!” The younger woman said as she frowned. The CEO sat back next to her and rested her hand on the actress’s thigh.

“You never told me your birthday was the 25th of June.” Seulgi raised her brows and looked down at her thigh.

“Well, generally I don’t need to tell people, since everything is on the internet. You really didn’t do your research, Jaeyi.” Her gaze went back to Jaeyi with a deadpan expression. The older woman swallowed hard and squeezed the actress’s thigh.

“I did! I just didn’t pay attention to the birth date!” Seulgi maintained her cold face, and Jaeyi pouted.

“Your agency literally did a party for me…” Jaeyi gasped, “THEY DID?” She brought her hand to her face and cursed under her breath. The woman beside her only laughed out loud and gripped the older woman’s hand out of her face. “Best CEO my ass!” She knew the actress expected her to complain, but Jaeyi saw an opportunity to turn the situation to her advantage.

“Did my Seulgi wait all day for my text?” She said with a teasing tone and a smirk. Seulgi let out her wrist and suddenly turned her face away. “What! No!” But Jaeyi saw her ears turning red and let out a chuckle.

“Are you blushing right now? You really waited for my text?” Jaeyi tried to make Seulgi turn around, but the actress refused. The older woman started to tickle her, making the other woman fight for her life, between some laughs. “Yah, Jaeyi, you are so dead!” A childish fight started like this, until Jaeyi found herself lying on the couch with Seulgi on top of her. The realization of their position made the two women stop laughing, and the atmosphere felt intimate, too intimate, but none of them moved.

“I’m sorry, I should have paid attention to your birthday,” Jaeyi said softly, and Seulgi looked at her intensely. “Don’t be. I ignored you. I would feel worse if you actually sent me a birthday message. For this year, it’s okay.” Seulgi hid her head deep on Jaeyi’s neck. “When is yours?” The CEO stroked the actress’s hair.

“30th November.” Seulgi hummed, and a silence embraced them. Jaeyi seized the moment as if it would be the last time she would ever experience a tender moment like this. She felt safe, peaceful, and happy. She wanted to stay like this forever with Seulgi on her. She never thought she would love someone again, not like this at least. Maybe it was even the first time she felt like this. Jaeyi started to caress her back slowly, maybe a little too sensually.

“What do you want as a gift?” She felt Seulgi move weakly, and she looked down to meet her eyes. “Don’t. I want nothing from you. You already gave me too much, it’s enough for me. Don’t even buy a gift, Jaeyi, I’m dead serious! I would feel really bad.” She laughed as she noticed how Seulgi’s voice went a key lower. She should feel scared, and she sounded scary, but the CEO found it hot.

“Okay, your wish is my command,” she answered softly. They stayed like this, and they both fell asleep in this position. Seulgi was the first one to fall asleep, and Jaeyi only enjoyed the warmth the actress offered her. She hugged her and closed her eyes.

Life always made her understand that moments aren’t meant to stay, even with people we love and imagine a future with.

And Jaeyi was right to enjoy her night, because soon enough, she won’t know a peaceful day.

Chapter Text

Seulgi was sitting in the back seat of the car, waiting for her driver to return. Her head was pressed against the window as she watched people walking freely on the street. She sighed uncomfortably as she felt an envious feeling in her. She hated feeling jealous of others; she felt like a bad person and ungrateful, too. After all, why would she feel jealous when she has everything she wanted? Well, almost everything. She didn’t have freedom, at least not like the other, and with her new situation, her feeling of living in a jail grew stronger. Since she admitted everything to Jaeyi, she needed to be more cautious with her moves. There were some places she couldn’t go even if she was covered, and if she wanted to go back to Jaeyi’s house, it should always be with her new driver. Jaeyi was careful about everything, even with her schedule.

Seulgi didn’t mind that much because she knew the danger of the situation. She couldn’t argue back, couldn’t complain, she had no right to do it. Not when a drug scandal and a pedophile father were on the verge of being exposed. But still, she was a human, right? Feeling envious of others wasn’t that rare; she just wished for freedom and to be unknown. In periods like this, the regret of being a celebrity ate her. She may be rich, loved, and successful, but in return, she needed to be perfect. No scandals, no fault. It felt somewhat dehumanizing. She wished she wasn’t afraid of the people, wished she didn’t have to mind her reputation, her number of followers, if her drama or movies went well, didn’t want to care about the award, or what the professionals thought of her skills, she wished to not care if people would recognize her, and maybe if she wasn’t a celebrity her situation with Jaeyi would have been easier.

It has been a week since she started to live with Jaeyi temporarily. She, at first, wasn’t fond of the idea. She felt like she was depending on someone too much. She also felt bad for Jaeyi; she didn’t want to take advantage of her. It was almost like she was privileged, like the kids of rich parents who get everything thanks to contacts. She didn’t stop thinking for hours about why Jaeyi wanted to help her in such a mess. She tried to be in her shoes, but even so, she couldn’t get the answer. Seulgi knew how the industry worked; if she were in her former agency, they would drop her. There was no doubt about it.

But then, they talked about it, and Seulgi did change her mind. She couldn’t stop thinking about their conversation, how Jaeyi seemed ready to genuinely give her everything, how her eyes were full of love and worry. She wasn’t throwing words randomly. Seulgi felt the sincerity in them, in her eyes. It was the first time the actress heard someone saying they wanted to understand her. Maybe it was the reason for her honesty too. She couldn’t hear such a confession from the older woman and leave without telling her feelings. Jaeyi did understand her, maybe she always did, she didn’t know. But she felt understood, the CEO didn’t force her into anything, and let her choose without expecting something from her. Nevertheless, she still had a hard time swallowing the fact that Jaeyi was fighting for her, and maybe it was the reason why she was sitting in this car waiting. It was the first time someone was fighting for her, and maybe her curiosity got the best of her. So even though she wanted to run away right now, she couldn’t.

Seulgi was also obedient. She didn’t say a thing to Byeong nor Ara, and even her mother wasn’t aware of her situation. Jaeyi wanted her to be the most discreet, and she didn’t fail in her mission. She still posted on Instagram, Bubble, and Twitter, and followed her schedule. She, time to time, went out with her actor friends or Byeong, and she was in the agency some days. She made sure that Youngmin didn’t suspect something; he just didn’t know where she slept, and it was enough for Seulgi. Her manager did ask her why she couldn’t drive her back home or pick her up from there. Of course, Ara would be nosy with everything, but Seulgi maintained the secret and told her it was the new security system. She didn’t know if Ara believed her or not, but she didn’t ask more questions. Byeong, on the other hand, was too busy to even notice that Seulgi abandoned her apartment.

The door suddenly opened, and someone sat beside her. Without a second, she felt the person hugging her, bringing her back to reality.

“Unnie!” Seulgi giggled and hugged her back. “Hey, sweetie, how was your day in school?” The car suddenly started to move. Heeyoung, who was still hugging the actress, raised her head to see her.

“Good! I learn a new math formula, and my teacher lent me a book! She told me I may like it, but she didn’t tell me the synopsis.” The little girl said happily, but the actress sensed a hint of tiredness in her voice. “You seem tired, you can sleep a little.” Heeyoung shook her head.

“No! Sleeping is a waste of time! Can we put music so I wake up a little?” Seulgi frowned, not liking Heeyoung’s speech, but didn’t make any comment. “Yeah, of course. Mr. Kwang, is the Bluetooth on?” She heard her driver saying yes, and didn’t waste any time connecting her phone to the car. She handed it to the little girl and let her choose the songs.

“Oh my god! You listen to Jennie?” Seulgi smiled and nodded. “Of course! Who doesn’t?” Heeyoung laughed and put on ‘with the IE’, turning the car into karaoke in no time. The actress joined her in the fun, enjoying her time with the little girl.

“Wah! You sing so well! You could be an idol, unnie!” Seulgi laughed, loving the compliment. “Byeong wanted to create a duo with me,” admitted the actress, giving a little lore about her past. Heeyoung gasped and paused the song that was playing in the background. “Really?! You should have done that!” Seulgi’s lower lip went up, and her eyes went to the right.

“Nah, I don’t think I would do well. Being only an actress is good.” Heeyoung furrowed her brows clearly in disagreement with the actress. Never in her life had Seulgi imagined she would end up fighting with a kid, but here she was arguing back and forth with a nine-year-old girl. They only stopped when Seulgi’s bodyguard opened the door and looked at them with a tired gaze, making the two girls laugh.

They got out of the car and went directly to the penthouse. Seulgi promised Jaeyi to take care of Heeyoung when she didn’t have a schedule, avoiding as much as possible Youngmin from picking up her daughter. The CEO didn’t argue back; in fact, it made everything easier for her, and Seulgi was happy to have more time to spend with Heeyoung. After all, she has three months to catch up with her favorite kid. The actress helped Heeyoung with her homework, and when they finished with everything, they ended up watching a movie or doing something fun. She even found herself buying a console for Heeyoung, which made the little girl excited since she always wanted it. Jaeyi didn’t notice it at first, but one day she went home and heard a scream in the living room that scared her, but she only found the two girls playing Mario Party. Jaeyi wasn’t happy about it, but Seulgi couldn’t tell if it was because she bought it or the CEO just hated the fun. Nevertheless, she ended up accepting the new object.

The actress also found herself cooking for everyone, and she could never get tired of seeing their reaction. It was a daily boost for her ego. Her first week in the new environment was perfect; she didn’t feel like a stranger or someone who disturbed them. She felt at home, like she always belonged here. It was quite a weird feeling for Seulgi. It felt wonderful, maybe too peaceful, and it scared her a little every time she thought about it. She tried not to get used to this temporary daily life; she knew it was only for a time, and couldn’t let herself be attached to everything. It would break her heart the moment she needed to leave.

She often thought about running away, more than she wanted. Not because she wanted to leave Jaeyi and Heeyoung, but the fear of losing everything was gripping her. Sometimes, having intense happiness could be overwhelming, even more so when the person wasn’t used to it, and Seulgi wasn’t used to it. She still fought these feelings; she didn’t know why she only did that now. Maybe seeing Jaeyi fight for her made her want to work on herself, or perhaps taking care of Heeyoung did make her want to stay. She didn’t know, but she felt proud of herself for waking up in the same bed.

Seulgi was sitting on the couch, while Heeyoung was lying, her head on the actress’s thigh. They were watching a movie tonight. Seulgi stroked Heeyoung’s hair and heard her breathing slow down, indicating she had fallen asleep. She didn’t move her body; she only rested her head on the back of the sofa and continued to watch the movie until Morpheus took her too.

“Ms. Jung will come tomorrow to your office, she said it’s too important to send you everything in paper.” Mr. Wan said with a serious tone. Jaeyi closed her eyes and rested her head on the window, feeling the tiredness weigh on her head.

“Alright, I guess I need to prepare myself,” The CEO said with a resting face. She already knew what her aunt was going to say. She would talk about her agency first because Jaeyi never told her the real reason for her divorce from Youngmin. It wasn’t like she asked; she always told her she never trusted men and didn’t need to know the reason. In other words, for her aunt, Youngmin was the problem no matter what.

“We are here, Ms. Yoo! Hwan Jin said everything went smoothly today. Seulgi didn’t do much, and he left her with your daughter at your house.” Jaeyi hummed and thanked him. She got out of the car and walked a little faster than usual to get home. She won’t lie, but she loved to return home with two girls waiting for her. She never knew what kind of scene she would see when she entered her home, but since Seulgi took care of Heeyoung, she loved each one of them. It felt too natural to see them together, as if the actress were the second mother.

She pressed the house code and was welcomed with only the sound of the television. She went to the living room only to find Seulgi and Heeyoung sleeping on the couch. Heeyoung’s head was on Seulgi’s thigh, and she faced the sofa, body glued to it. Seulgi’s hand was on her daughter’s hair, and her head was tilted backward, her mouth slightly open. Jaeyi couldn’t help but smile at the scene. She watched them for a few seconds, feeling light from the peaceful emotion that crossed over her body. She wished to come home every day like this, and a little bitter feelings came with it cause she also wished to have met the actress way before. She blinked slowly, and her smile never left her face. She opened the camera app on her phone and took a picture, just to keep a memory. She turned off the television and lifted Heeyoung to put her on her bed. She covered her with a quilt and kissed her forehead before leaving the room. When she got back to the living room, Seulgi was already awake. She looked confused as if she was still trying to come back to reality.

“You are already awake?” The actress turned her head and blinked multiple times, making Jaeyi chuckle. She sat beside the woman and brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. Seulgi had her eyes half open, and her hair was messy. The older woman smiled at her and couldn’t stop thinking how pretty the woman beside her was, even like this.

“What time is it?” The younger asked with a sleepy tone. “Nine pm,” Seulgi groaned and rested her head on Jaeyi’s shoulder. “You should go to sleep, Seul.” She only heard a hum, but the woman refused to move. She wished to stay like this with the woman, enjoying the intimacy, but the actress seemed genuinely tired, and she didn’t want to make her stay up for nothing. “Seulgi.” Her cold and authoritative voice made the younger woman look up at her.

“But, I didn’t make food tonight, and you must be hungry. Just give me like five minutes, time I collect all my thoughts.” Jaeyi felt a heat behind her neck. Even in such a sleepy state, she first thought about her. The CEO smiled shyly and stroked Seulgi’s hair, feeling her heart skipping a beat at her own thoughts. “Don’t do that, or I will end up sleeping right now, right there.” Jaeyi didn’t listen to her and continued to stroke her hair.

“That’s what I want, I’m not hungry,” she replied softly, making the younger groan and raising her head. “You sure? You usually don’t eat much during the day.” Jaeyi stopped her hand movement and furrowed her eyebrows. Now, her thoughts were a mess. Not only did the younger think of her, but she also noticed her bad habits.

“How do you know that?” Seulgi avoided her gaze and smiled weakly. She brought her hand behind her neck to scratch it. “Just an observation?” The younger woman looked back at Jaeyi, her ears turning red. Jaeyi touched her right ear and smiled. She felt happy to have the actress around her. Not only did she take care of Heeyoung, but also of Jaeyi and the house. It could be interpreted as a payback, but the CEO didn’t see it like that. Seulgi seemed to enjoy her time here, and Jaeyi, herself, felt like the actress belonged in this home, with them. It was natural, as if they had been living together forever. Her home was cleaner than usual and had more life in it. With such consciousness, Jaeyi felt a grateful feeling spreading through her chest.

“Thank you, Seulgi.” The actress looked at her, confused. “For what? I did nothing,” Jaeyi stared at Seulgi, and began to caress her cheek.

“You do more than you think,” she replied calmly. Even though she couldn’t hear herself, she knew she sounded a little too lovely, too soft, as if she were in love. Seulgi rolled her eyes and took Jaeyi’s hand that was on her face to her thigh. “Don’t be ridiculous,” the older woman cut her off with a pinch on her thigh. “Ow!” Seulgi put her hand where she felt the pain and caressed it.

“You are the ridiculous one! You should thank God that you are cute!” The actress laughed and stretched her arms, making her shirt go up and showing a bit of her abdomen. Jaeyi noticed it and in a second she turned her head, feeling a heat going up directly to her face. She bit one of her fingers and stood up. “You are going to sleep? Already?” The younger asked with a tone that sounded a bit deeper than usual. Jaeyi closed her eyes forcefully and tried to shut her thoughts down.

“Y-Yeah, I had a long day, to be honest.” Seulgi hummed without arguing back. “Then, goodnight, Jaeyi.” Her voice was sweet and deep, something between kindness and seductive. A tone that made the older woman feel things she couldn’t describe. “Yeah… g-goodnight, Seulgi,”

She went directly to her bedroom without looking back and let herself fall onto the comfortable mattress. She hid her face on the pillow and groaned loudly. She stuttered twice, Seulgi made her stutter twice. Jaeyi couldn’t believe it, and for what reason did she even react like this. The actress only spoke, nothing more, nothing less. She didn’t even flirt or compliment. Jaeyi rolled her body and sighed.

God, please, I’m not your strongest soldier.

Jaeyi walked out of the elevator and, without any surprise, found her aunt waiting for her.

“Jaeyi! You’re finally here! I came a little earlier than I said, my apologies, I just couldn’t wait.” Her aunt said with a smile. Jaeyi did notice the hint of curiosity in her tone. She smiled back and opened the door to her office. Her aunt didn’t waste any time and sat on the sofa.

“I don’t want anything, let’s not waste too much time.” Hurried the elderly woman. The CEO sighed in fatigue and nodded. She sat on the opposite sofa and waited for her aunt to speak first. She didn’t know what to say, so she preferred to stay quiet. There was a long silence, and only the sound of Jaeyi’s feet tapping the floor filled the space. The silence was heavy, in a way of suspense. Both women had questions for each other, and both women held a big secret. Ms. Jung sighed and looked at Jaeyi with disappointment.

“Why did you hide from me the history of this agency? I mean, yeah, I wasn’t curious about your divorce and the reason behind it, but when you came to my house and explained to me your plan, why hadn’t you said this important detail?” Her aunt crossed her legs and arms. She sounded annoyed, but also curious. Jaeyi stopped her feet from moving and looked down. She felt ashamed, just like the day she found out about this mess. It was still fresh in her mind, especially her fight with Youngmin.

“I don’t know. I still felt ashamed about it. It’s not easy to swallow the fact that I didn’t build my agency. I always wanted to do this by myself and prove to everyone that I could do it.” She replied in honesty, but she refused to look at her aunt, even when she heard no reaction. She was too afraid to see the disappointment in her eyes.

“Oh, Jaeyi! I don’t care about the past or if you made the agency. What mattered is the present, right? Your company is still one of the best, and to be honest, way better than before. You still have investors; you cleaned your agency, right? And everything you do is a success. Don’t be ashamed, you should feel anger and rage that someone didn’t let your potential be released.” Jaeyi raised her head fast and looked at her aunt with wide eyes. She didn’t expect her to react like this. She knew her mother’s family was more open-minded and sweeter than her father’s side. They were more understandable, and maybe it was because the only man in her mother’s family was their father, a sweet man according to everyone.

“I need you to tell me everything. I just know that Youngmin contacted a lot of people so they could help you with your business.” Jaeyi stood up and opened one of her desk drawers. She took out a dossier and handed it to her aunt.

“Here, someone sent me this anonymously. There were pictures, contracts, and a USB where audio was stored. This is how I discovered Youngmin’s plan. He met the CEO of big brands, producers, and directors who have a good reputation. He also convinced a lot of young, talented people to audition for my company. I fired everyone who had contact with him, and stopped a lot of collaboration with the big brands.” Ms. Jung looked at every paper and furrowed her eyebrows.

“Man really thinks women can’t do shit, huh? What an asshole, I’m surprised you still speak to him.” Jaeyi sighed and shook her head weakly, not in disapproval, but in disappointment. Oh, she wished to break off all ties with him.

“I couldn’t, for Heeyoung and my father love to invite the Kang family to our dinner. He doesn’t stop asking me to give him a second chance.” Her aunt raised her eyebrows and closed her eyes. She threw the dossier in her hand on the low table and sighed loudly.

“Well, should we start with all my investigations?” Jaeyi nodded and straightened her body. She was impatient to know everything and put her plan to work, but still felt a little anxious about the details. “I just want to warn you that it could be shocking. So, if you need a time of silence, just cut me off.” The atmosphere became heavier, like the gravity added weight to them. Jaeyi hummed and started to bite her nail.

“Your father cares a lot about this agency; he asked Jena and Mr. Kim to warn him of everything. Your movements, new project, or idea you have, the people you sign up, and of course financial report. I think this isn’t new to you. But Mr. Kim is suspicious. I know you both are close, and you consider him your second father, but he lied a lot to you. He doesn’t hesitate to share any information about you, your love life, who comes to your office, and what they say. Your father knows about Seulgi. He knows that she took care of Heeyoung, and everything you told him.” Jaeyi’s body froze for a moment.

“You mean, my assistant was the spy?” Ms. Jung nodded slowly and didn’t add another word as if she sensed Jaeyi’s turmoil. The CEO said nothing for two minutes; her mind was blank, but her chest was loud. The emotions were so intense that she couldn’t think or hear anything. She felt a heavy rock on her stomach, and her throat was tightened with anger. It was heavy, her chest was heavy, and she didn’t know what to do with this sensation. She took a deep breath as she swallowed the information and gazed at her aunt, motioning for her to continue.

“Let’s bring a positive note. Jena is safe, you can trust her. Just so you know, she also said everything to the Kim family. If you tell her something important, pray she didn’t share it with her own assistant.” Jaeyi breathed in relief and nodded. Her sister meant a lot to her; if she learned Jena had betrayed her, she would probably end everything. Her aunt smiled at her for a minute and switched her expression to a cold one. Jaeyi understood she was going to say something awful and felt a wind of anxiety passing through her chest.

“Youngmin, what a weird character. He knew everything about this agency. I think your dad has a responsibility in this. It’s not the only thing he knows, of course… He knows Woo Seulgi’s life too much. The details are insane. He knows who she dated, why they broke up, he knows her adoptive mother, her biological mother and father, he also knows all the schools she went to, her grades, her friends, her orphanage, what kind of drugs she smoked, to whom she bought it, everything she did wrong in her life and could be used against her. I prefer not to say what I know; it’s Seulgi who should tell you about her past fully. Also, did you trust him with Heeyoung?” Jaeyi gazed everywhere and opened her mouth to breathe. Both of her hands were in a thigh fist, her nails scratching her palm slightly, but Jaeyi was so into her emotions she didn’t even notice the pain. After all, the real pain wasn’t physical; it was internal.

“No, of course not. Why are you bringing this?” Her tone was aggressive; she didn’t intend to sound like this, but her rage was too present, whether it was in her chest or the atmosphere. Her aunt straightened her body and gripped the couch.

“You know how sensible I am with kids. I always said to your mother that children need love, attention, and peace. I was so against your father’s way, but your mother told me she was too weak to fight against him. I even told her one day to kill him, and I would help her to hide the body. She only laughed, but I hated to see you and Jena suffering like this.” Ms. Jung began slowly. Jaeyi was taken aback by the sudden turn of the discussion. She didn’t expect her aunt to tell her point of view about the education she got, but didn’t cut her off. The curiosity was too intense. “I’m sure you are stronger than your mother, and you would do anything for Heeyoung, at least, I hope so.” Her voice was full of concern and hope. She looked at her niece and smiled kindly.

“You know that Youngmin pressures your daughter to be the best?” Jaeyi nodded and stayed silent. “From what I heard, he isn’t kind to her. He doesn’t hesitate to pull her down and kind of treat her like a robot, if we’re being honest. The person who gave me the information didn’t tell me more; he seemed too uncomfortable. I just hope he doesn’t hit her.” A silence filled the room, and none of the women said a word or moved. Jaeyi looked to her left and started to laugh suddenly, making the older woman jump. Her aunt said nothing, after all, she knew why her niece’s reaction was this. When Jaeyi calmed down and wiped the tears that had dropped on her cheek, she cleared her throat.

“Sorry, it-” Ms. Jung cut her off. “You don’t need to explain, everyone has their way to express their deep emotions. If you need help, don’t hesitate.” Jaeyi looked at her aunt with a surprised gaze and swallowed hard the urge to cry as she realized that her aunt knew her and stood for her. “Also, before I leave, something is really off with Youngmin. The information he got, we don’t know where he got it. Do you know someone else who could want to hurt you or Seulgi? A brother, friend, or any family member?” The CEO thought for a moment and shook her head.

“No, I don’t see who wants to hurt me. His brother is close to me, and he has never shown any interest in business or my business. He is too busy with his work, and he is rarely in South Korea. The Kang family is a lawyer. I don’t see what they would win by destroying my business. Their family is the lawyer for my family in every business. And I don’t know any of Youngmin’s friends.” Her aunt hummed and sighed in annoyance.

“This is weird, be careful with everyone! Even the Kang! Maybe Youngmin hid his source well. I will try to dig more.” Ms. Jung stood up and bowed to her niece. “Don’t forget to come see me with Heeyoung and your girlfriend!” She added with a playful tone. Jaeyi rolled her eyes and stood up to bow back with a shy smile.

“Seulgi isn’t my girlfriend! But noted!” Her aunt laughed and left the office without looking back. When the door closed, Jaeyi let herself fall onto the sofa. She stayed unmoved for a long minute. Her mind was blank; she didn’t even replay the discussion with her aunt, and her thoughts weren’t present. Her chest felt heavy, but less than before. The laugh she had made her release her emotions from her chest. But, after a moment, the feelings started to come back, and Jaeyi wasn’t in the state to think or analyze what was going on in her chest. The moment she felt too much, she stood and went back to work.

She ignored her emotions all day.

“Unnie, am I doing it right?” Seulgi looked at what Heeyoung was doing and nodded.

“Yes, you are doing well!” The little girl smiled happily and continued her action with Seulgi’s supervision. They were in the kitchen preparing something for dinner. The actress wished they could go out, but Jaeyi was clear: no outing with Heeyoung or her. It frustrated Seulgi to stay inside when she could be in a museum or a café with Heeyoung right now, even in the park, she couldn’t go. She thought for a long time to find an activity to do with the girl this weekend that wasn’t in front of a screen, and the idea of cooking came naturally.

“I hope Mom will like it!” The actress smiled at her and nodded. Seeing the little girl enjoying the activity made the actress happy and relieved. She was afraid that Heeyoung would find it too boring.

“Of course she would!” She helped a little Heeyoung and explained to her the next step of the recipe. It took more time than usual, which was normal when you have a kid around. The little girl was curious and asked a lot of questions. Seulgi noticed sometimes the hesitation, it wasn’t sometimes, actually, it was in each question. Every time she wanted to ask something, she said it slowly as if she expected someone to shut her down after each word. The actress ignored the unusual behavior and answered each question with kindness, hoping Heeyoung would understand she could ask any question without any fear.

When they finished the dinner, Seulgi sat on the couch, looking at the window, while Heeyoung was sitting on the floor, doing her homework. A silence accompanied the girls in the living room. It was comfortable, a silence that invited everyone to relax and get lost in the peaceful atmosphere. The actress closed her eyes and enjoyed it as much as she could. She didn’t hear a complete silence, of course, the pen writing of the paper filled Seulgi’s ears, but she didn’t mind. In fact, the sound made her mind shut down, like she was listening to white noise. After minutes, the sound stopped short, making the actress open her eyes. She looked at the little girl who didn’t move a bit.

“Unnie?” Heeyoung began. Her voice was soft, but a hint of fear and anxiety was hidden behind it. Seulgi hummed, indicating that she was listening. There was a moment of silence which made the actress tense. There was something wrong, and she started to feel it in the atmosphere, the one who screamed revelation. She still let the silence weigh on them, not wanting to rush the girl.

“I read a book not long ago, and the story was good. It made me question things, but in a good way. The book was about a dysfunctional family. When I read it, at first, I didn’t understand why my aunt wanted me to read it. She told me she liked the book because it reasoned with her, and that she wished she had read it when she was younger. So I thought she just wanted to share with me her favorite book, just like she shared with me her favorite dramas and movies. But, somehow, it didn’t feel like it.” Seulgi couldn’t see her face since Heeyoung gave her back, but her head was tilted down, and her hands were under the table.

“My mom never explained to me her past or anything related to family, and maybe it’s better like this for now. I just always wished my mom had told me why she and Dad divorced. So, I ended up telling myself that maybe my aunt was in a dysfunctional family, and it was her way to tell me our family isn’t good, or at least my grandparents. But,” There was a silence, a hesitation. Before Seulgi could speak up, the girl continued. “But, I read the book in two times, I started before my father started to find time for me, and I finished the book when my father started to take care of me. I somehow understood one of the characters that I hated first. The book was complex to understand; I still didn’t understand everyone, but two characters stood out to me. The fighter, just because I found it admirable to fight for themselves and their mental state. And the one who hated their father to the point she wished he would die. I hated the character because I found it irrational. How can you wish your father to die?” Seulgi froze in place. The question made her uncomfortable as she felt calling out, and the sight of her father started to draw in front of her. She shook her head when she started to feel the hate in her heart and tried to stay focused.

“I mean, it’s true I was disappointed that my father didn’t have time for me, but I understand him. He is a hard worker, and I really admire him for that. He is smart and I craved for his approval, maybe more than my mom. I still don’t know why, but maybe I will understand that part one day. Anyway, even though I was disappointed about my father, I never wished death for him and I couldn’t understand the character wishing, cause in the end of the day, it’s her father! But then, I understand. The character and I shared some similar experiences… I understand her because somehow, I wished to get back when my father didn’t have enough time to spend with me.” There was a silence. Heeyoung took back her pen and continued her homework like nothing had just happened.

Seulgi didn’t say a thing for multiple minutes. She didn’t even know what to say, and just repeated Heeyoung’s speech in her mind. The girl just told her indirectly that she hated her father in such a beautiful way. Should she also say she hated her own father just like her and she always wished the death for him? Would that make her feel better or understood? Wasn’t it too soon for a kid of her age to speak about it? The actress gripped the couch tightly and sighed. She didn’t know how to react; nobody taught her how, and nobody was here for her when she also experienced this type of feeling. She took multiple breaths and decided to sit beside Heeyoung.

“Heeyoung, you know you have me and your mother, right? Don’t hesitate to tell your mother everything.” Seulgi said carefully, as if she were afraid of saying the wrong thing. The little girl turned her head toward the actress and shook her head.

“No, I already said I don’t like to be alone with him. She still authorized him to pick me up and stay with him for a whole week. What’s the point of telling her?” She sounded disappointed and resentful. Seulgi stayed quiet. What can she say more? Nothing. She knew it was more complicated than prohibited the child custody to one of the best lawyers in the country, but she didn’t feel like it was her role to explain this to the little girl. After a moment, the actress heard the door open and close. “Oh, speaking of the wolf,” Heeyoung said, and stood up. Seulgi looked at the time and frowned. Jaeyi came home later than usual.

“Mom! You’re back!” Seulgi stood, and her gaze fell on the mother and her daughter hugging. Jaeyi smiled at Heeyoung and asked about her day, but something bothered the actress. Something was off with the older woman, and she felt it. When Heeyoung finished speaking to her mother, she returned to her homework, trying to finish it so they could eat. The actress walked toward Jaeyi and welcomed her.

“How was your day?” She asked as she took a glass from the kitchen to pour water into it. Jaeyi sat on the chair behind the island kitchen and stared at Seulgi with an exhausted gaze.

“I don’t know. Tired, I guess?” The actress looked at her CEO and furrowed her eyebrows. Something was definitely wrong, but she said nothing more yet. She started to place everything on the table for dinner, and she felt Jaeyi’s gaze on her the whole time. She made zero comment on it, feeling it wasn’t the day or the moment to tease the woman in front of her.

“Your daughter did the dinner today, well, she helped me a lot.” She began, not enjoying the silence at all. There were two women sulking, making the atmosphere a little gloomy.

“Oh really?!” The CEO replied, making Heeyoung join them at the table. “Yes, Mom! Your daughter became a cooker!” Jaeyi smiled and rested her hand on her daughter’s head and stroked it. It made the atmosphere a little lighter, but the mood of the Yoo didn’t improve at all. Seulgi started to feel the influence of their energy on her and furrowed slightly.

The dinner still went well, but not like usual. The two Yoo were mostly silent and ate slowly. It wasn’t normal; this wasn’t their usual behavior, and it made Seulgi uncomfortable. She didn’t know how to react, whether she should speak or just let the atmosphere be as it was. She chose to stay silent; she was an introvert, and to be fair, they looked like they needed a moment for themselves without any noise. When they finished, Heeyoung told the two women goodnight and went to sleep. Jaeyi looked at Seulgi confusedly.

“She suddenly felt down. I guess she wants to be alone.” The older woman nodded, but a weak frown could be seen on her face. “You also seem down tonight. What’s going on?” Jaeyi sighed and walked toward the couch to lie on it.

“Just my aunt, she came today to tell me things. I still tried to swallow the information, I guess.” Seulgi came closer to the couch and looked at Jaeyi. She had her eyes closed, and her body seemed tense.

“What did you learn? It seems like it bothers you.” The CEO opened her eyes and stared at the actress with a hesitant gaze. She breathed loudly and sat down to make some space for Seulgi.

“You don’t need to worry, it’s just that I’ve been thinking about something and couldn’t put my finger on it.” The younger woman sat beside Jaeyi and hummed. She wasn’t a fan when the CEO tried to say the less things as possible about the situation. She wanted the older to open up too, just like she herself did to her. She wanted to know what she had gone through and what turmoil her right now. She just wanted to know what was going on in her mind and chest. She wanted to be useful, to be here for Jaeyi, and not to be out of the matter when her career was literally on the verge of ending in the most horrifying way.

“Tell me, then. Maybe saying out loud will help you.” Seulgi began first. Their body weren’t close. They were a coldness between them, an invisible limit that none of them was conscious of its existence. The line didn’t come from the actress, but from the CEO. A fear, maybe? An unconscious protection? She didn’t know, but the line seemed well-drawn. Jaeyi didn’t look at her as she was a little ashamed.

“No, I said, don’t worry.” Seulgi didn’t want to push it, really didn’t want to, but her frustration took over her mind and body.

“How can you tell me not to worry when you leave me in the dark? I want to know what’s going on too! To help you, to be here for you! Before anything else, I’m a friend, am I not?” Jaeyi turned her head toward her and rubbed her eyes with her fingers.

“You are, Seulgi. But it’s just complicated. I don’t know,” she replied vaguely. The actress swallowed hard, a new layer of frustration added to her chest.

“You don’t know what?” The older woman avoided her gaze and started to play with her fingers. She seemed to hesitate as she bit her lips, making the actress burst from her frustration. “Just say it, Jaeyi!”

“I don’t know if I can trust you when it comes to my past! Yeah, I know you opened up to me, you trusted me, but the only thing I can give you is protection. I wish I could tell you everything, but I just can’t, my brain doesn’t let me. I still have this fear of betrayal! Do you know how it felt when someone you trusted too much betrayed you? You don’t because, compared to me, you still have your childhood friend by your side, hiding all your secrets! I lost that in such a horrible way! I hate him so much, not only for breaking me, but also for instilling in me such intense trust issues. Are you happy now?” Jaeyi let her head fall on the back of the sofa and let out a trembling breath. Seulgi stayed silent; she wasn’t feeling hurt or angry. The silence wasn’t heavy; it was more a relief, the feeling after admitting something. The older woman’s voice wasn’t low or normal; she was loud, aggressive, and Seulgi could feel the pain behind it.

“I’m sorry, I let my emotions control me,” Jaeyi said in a whisper. The actress didn’t bulge or speak. She stayed beside her at the distance that the CEO had set, and let her calm down. She felt the older woman coming closer to her, and then she felt her head on her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Seulgi, I just don’t know who to trust anymore.” The actress moved her body, rejecting Jaeyi’s physical contact. That was the last straw.

“Then why are you helping me?” Jaeyi rolled her eyes and sighed, clearly annoyed.

“Not this question again, I already answered that!” Seulgi wasn’t paying attention to the CEO’s tone or reactions. She was too tired to let everything in and needed to share what her mind was telling her. Maybe she was annoying or sounded aggressive too, but who can blame her?

“Yeah, that you have feelings for me, but how can you pretend such a thing when you don’t even trust me? You expected me to trust you, to let you help me, to welcome you into my space, to be honest with you, but you can’t even do that! You should have just let me ignore you if you weren’t even ready to let someone be in your personal space!” The actress stood up to leave the living room, not wanting to be near the other woman, but Jaeyi took her wrist and pulled her back to the couch.

“Feelings are a thing, trust is another thing, Seulgi. I’m just afraid, can’t you understand that? I’m afraid of betrayal, trusting someone fully again seems too much right now. I want to help you because you trust me, and you don’t need to know about me.” Seulgi released herself from the CEO’s grip and shook her head.

“I do understand your fear, but you are missing the point. I have no reason to betray you or do something bad to you. You know too much about my situation, I don’t know any of your relatives, and I don’t even search for power or anything! This situation isn’t only about me, and even if it were only about me, isn’t it sad that you have to hold the weight of everything? You have someone on your side that literally fighting for herself! You can’t ask me to stay in the dark, pretending everything is fine, when clearly nothing is fine! You can’t hide everything when the situation is about us! I need to know about you because if my career is in such danger, it’s because of you in the first place!” Jaeyi seemed taken aback, and her eyes reflected hurt. Seulgi breathed deeply, not even aware of her sudden burst of words, and left Jaeyi alone in the living room. She closed her bedroom door and lay on the bed, trying to calm down.

She groaned as her mind started to remind her of the words she used. Maybe she went too far this time? Rejecting the fault on Jaeyi about her ex-husband’s behavior was… fuck up. Seulgi hid her face on the pillow and cursed into it. She suddenly felt guilt eating her heart little by little, but her ego told her to ignore it. After all, she wasn’t wrong; she deserved to know what was going on. The actress rolled her body on her bed and stared at the ceiling. She touched her chest, where the heart was, and sensed the slow beat. She wasn’t angry, just frustrated, and now that she had calmed down, she was just sad. Nothing showed it, just the feelings were deeply settled in her heart at this moment.

The two women weren’t in the same line; one woman was hiding everything to protect the other, while the second woman wanted to be a support for the other, to be trusted.

In some way, it was their way to show their love.

Since the talk between the two women, they had been ignoring each other, making the atmosphere always cold every time they were in the same room. Heeyoung noticed it, she always did. She was a smart kid; she understood things easily and caught the subtlety of every situation. Yet, she stayed silent and just watched them from afar. What was funny for Heeyoung was how she felt like a divorced kid, even though the two women weren’t dating officially.

The days off for Seulgi went by fast; she was now busy with filming and promoting her new drama. Heeyoung felt a little sad about it, knowing now her father would be the one to take care of her if needed. Well, she thought like that first, but Jaeyi tried her best to be the one to pick her daughter up. The little girl was happy, even though the stress of seeing her father at the end of the day stayed with her. She found herself back in the office of her mother and started to walk around the company as usual. She always met artists who loved to talk to her, and sometimes producers or staff members. She liked to be in the studio; she had the privilege of listening to some music in advance.

Heeyoung loved more to be with people who work directly with music, she could ask any questions and learned new things about producing songs. She loved it, and sometimes she thought about becoming an artist herself. It seemed cool, and she was a fan of art in general, but she never took her desire seriously. She couldn’t, not when her father pressured her to be a lawyer. It wasn’t like she hated law, but she didn’t find it passionate, at least not how her father was doing it. She didn’t stay long with people in the company; she always found herself walking back to her mother’s office unconsciously. It has been four days since Seulgi started her work again, and four days she stayed with her mother just like before.

She didn’t complain about it; anything would be better than staying with her father, plus she loved to be at her mother’s workplace. Since Jaeyi was too busy with her work, she never noticed what her daughter had been truly doing, and Heeyoung knew that. She loved it that her mother’s attention was always taken away from her. She could do anything, but more importantly, she could spy. She loved to listen to what people said, no matter the subject. It could be about her mother, about Seulgi, about the company, about the artist, about staff members, anything. Thanks to her wonderful attention, she even knew some secrets, like who was dating whom, but her favorite activity would always be overhearing the conversation in her mother’s office, or any person who worked directly with her mother.

She always heard people calling her mother cold, strict, and even scary, but Heeyoung never saw this side. When she was with her mother, Jaeyi only showed care and even sensibility. She rarely saw her mother angry, maybe just when her father or grandfather were near, and she wouldn’t qualify as angry, just as tense. She loved how her mother had self-control. Of course, when she started to pay more attention to her mother’s behavior at her workplace, she saw her other side, the one that everyone was talking about. At first, she didn’t understand why she spoke like this to her employer, but one day, she heard her father calling her weak or useless. She, maybe, understood at that time why her mother showed her cold side. She never found the courage to ask her why she needed to be different, but maybe one day she would. She knew she would.

Today wasn’t different than the other days. She sat close to her office, where none of her assistants would see her and where she could hear everything at the same time. Jaeyi told her that she now has two assistants and to be cautious of Mr. Kim. She understood that she shouldn’t speak to him, even though she didn’t understand the reason. Mr. Kim was like a grandfather to the little girl, and just like Seulgi, Heeyoung hated how her mother never explained things, leaving everyone in the dark. She still obeyed, of course, she would. After all, she was a good daughter, right?

“I don’t understand why you need two assistants? I’m not enough?” Heeyoung recognized the voice of Mr. Kim. He seemed to be angry and confused at the sudden change.

“It’s to make your work less heavy, Mr. Kim. You do a lot, a second person for help won’t hurt. Mr. Wan is excellent, and you can now leave early! I’m sure your daughters would love it.” Jaeyi replied with a kind tone. She didn’t use her bossy voice and seemed to be calm. Heeyoung leaned her head on the wall and closed her eyes.

“I see. Well, thank you, I guess? But I didn’t mind leaving work late, anyway. Have you seen Seulgi recently? I haven’t seen her in your office since forever, which isn’t normal. I thought both of you talked about everything, especially the drug things?” There was a silence. The little girl opened her eyes and found Mr. Wan in front of her. She jumped out of fear and gasped. The assistant brought his hand to her mouth and motioned for her to be quiet.

“No, I haven’t since then. Why the question?” Heeyoung frowned her eyebrows.

“Just out of curiosity! You know, since the woman impacted your mood.” The little girl looked at the man in front of her, confused. The assistant only gripped her wrist and made her leave the floor.

“Where are we going? I wanted to hear what they were saying!” The man sighed and clicked to the café floor.

“Your mom didn’t teach you that spying on people is bad? You have heard enough, Heeyoung. You weren’t supposed to know the thing about Seulgi. This is between adults.” He said with a tired tone. Heeyoung knew he was right, but she couldn’t help but be nosy. She knew something was going on; she heard the conversation between her mother and Seulgi that night. She wasn’t sleeping, and the two women were speaking a little louder than usual.

“I know, but I couldn’t help. Please don’t say a thing to my mom!” She begged. The man beside her sighed loudly and nodded. “If she doesn’t ask me.” The little girl frowned and linked her hands.

“Please! Don’t tell her no matter what! She would be so angry!” The assistant looked at Heeyoung and shook her head. “I’m working for her, I’m sorry. I need to be honest about everything.” The little girl felt a wind of anxiety on her stomach. She knew she was fucked up and closed her eyes tightly.

After an hour waiting in the café with Mr. Wan, her mother finally came. The assistant stood and bowed immediately to Jaeyi. The CEO looked at Heeyoung, then at her assistant, with a confused look. The little girl knew she was dead. She hid her hands under the table, and her gaze went to the table. She couldn’t help but play with her finger.

“Why are you both here?” Asked Jaeyi while looking at Mr. Wan. The assistant seemed hesitant and gazed at the little girl. He sighed and shook her head as if he had moved aside his thought.

“She was listening to the conversation inside your office. He started to speak about Seulgi, so I took her away.” He said honestly. He didn’t look sorry, why would he? It was his job, right? Heeyoung closed her eyes, waiting for her mother to speak, but nothing came.

“I see, thank you, Mr. Wan. I’m leaving, no need for a drive today.” The assistant hummed and bowed before leaving. Heeyoung felt her mother’s gaze on her, but she still refused to look at her mother, too scared.

“For someone who loves to spy, you seemed ashamed and scared of the consequences. Let’s go,” Jaeyi replied with a soft tone. Heeyoung finally looked at her mother, who was smiling at her.

“You aren’t angry?” Jaeyi looked to her left and shook her head. “Why would I? I did the same things at your age. It’s still bad, Heeyoung! Don’t do that again.” There was a switch between the sentence in her tone; she sounded suddenly authoritative. Heeyoung nodded and stood up. She felt relieved that her mother was kind, something totally different from her father. She sometimes forgot the difference, and she didn’t know why she always expected her mother to react like her father.

The drive went in silence. Heeyoung expected her mother to ask her what she heard, but she didn’t seem to care. She didn’t know if she was disappointed or not. In the middle of the drive, as she couldn’t bear the silence, Heeyoung started to speak about something she was herself surprised to bring up.

“Mr. Kim said that Seulgi impacted your mood a lot. I never noticed it before, but since Saturday, both of you have been as cold as Antarctica. He is kinda right,” Jaeyi didn’t say a word for a moment, but Heeyoung noticed her grip on the wheel tighten.

“How much did you hear?” Heeyoung bit her lips and looked out of the window.

“In the office or about Saturday?” Jaeyi stopped the car short at the red light and turned her head toward her daughter, who was already staring at her with a surprised look as if she didn’t mean to say it.

“You have heard, oh gosh.” The CEO turned her head to the road and with one hand massaged her forehead. Heeyoung suddenly felt the need to explain.

“I mean, you were loud! I didn’t intend to overhear the conversation! I swear! And to answer the first question, not much, just Mr. Kim complaining about the new assistant, and him asking if you had seen Seulgi since the drug thing. And for Saturday, I heard the moment you started to be loud, so the first burst, I guess?” She answered with a deep honesty. She wasn’t feeling anxious, and her mother didn’t seem angry. She just heard her sigh.

“You heard too much. Gosh,” Jaeyi started to drive when the light turned green. Heeyoung hesitated for a moment, but after ten seconds of intense mind battle, she decided to speak. She pinched her finger as she spoke, not quite sure of herself.

“You know, maybe you should really start explaining to people what’s going on; it would be easier to make everyone obey since it would make sense.” Her mother said nothing. Her body didn’t seem tense, but Heeyoung understood she tried to understand what she had just heard.

“Is this your way to tell me you are on Seulgi’s side?” Her mother had a frustrated tone, it wasn’t too noticeable, but enough for Heeyoung to notice. She just hummed in response. She didn’t like the take; she wasn’t really on Seulgi’s side nor on her mother’s one.

“Not really, I just understand her frustration. I mean, Seulgi seemed trustworthy. Did she even tell you what she and I talked about?” Jaeyi looked through the front rear mirror and shook her head. “It’s funny cause I didn’t stop speaking about you and what you like or dislike. She is really good at keeping secrets. She could have literally been teasing you because you are a fan of her best friend.” There was a silence. Her mother said nothing for the rest of the drive; she seemed to think deeply. When her mother stopped the car as she parked it, Heeyoung added: “I still hope she will apologize, her last sentence wasn’t right,” and got out of the car.

Heeyoung knew her words had an impact on her mother, and she hoped that the two women would finally talk about it.

She hated to see them in the cold war; they looked like two sad puppies.

Jaeyi rolled her body on her bed for the hundredth time. She blew the hair that was on her face and groaned loudly. She couldn’t sleep, not when her mind couldn’t stop thinking about Seulgi and what her daughter had said. She took her phone and looked at the time. 1 AM. She threw her phone on the side table and stood up. She, maybe, needed a glass of alcohol after all. It had been days since she drank. She walked toward her kitchen and took a bottle of red wine. She poured it into a glass and didn’t waste a second. She drank it quickly, as if she were thirsty. She didn’t even feel the warmth in her throat. She served herself a second time and did the same thing. It was a bad idea, irresponsible even, but the desire was too much to ignore it or pretend. She started to feel a little tipsy, but she wasn’t drunk, not yet.

The moment she was serving herself the third one, she heard the door open. Her brain was a little slow, and she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. After a second, a very beautiful woman appeared in the room. The woman noticed her really fast, and she suddenly took a worried facial expression. Jaeyi ignored her and drank her third glass of wine. Her head felt a little more dizzy, but she ignored it and served herself a fourth one. The moment the glass touched her lips, she felt something gripping her wrist, stopping her short. Her eyes went to the woman and let out a frustrated breath.

“You should stop, Jaeyi, your face is starting to turn red.” The CEO stared at the actress and released her grip. Now that she mentioned she looked red, she felt her face burn, and her chest too. It wasn’t something warm, it was maybe the pain? Or the frustration? Can someone feel their chest burn out of frustration? Jaeyi frowned at her thoughts and drank the fourth glass, causing a sigh from the other woman beside her. Now it was her head that felt too much, but she couldn’t stop herself and was ready to serve herself her fifth glass of wine.

“Jaeyi, stop!” The actress took the bottle out of her hand and put it a bit away from Jaeyi. The older woman didn’t like the action and passed her hand through her hair before trying to take the bottle. Yet, Seulgi had good reflexes, and her strength wasn’t a joke. She pushed Jaeyi with an ease that could destroy any ego and took the glass to put in the sink. Jaeyi groaned in frustration and pointed her finger at the woman.

“Yah! What’s your problem? If I want to drink, let me!” The woman said nothing and rolled her eyes. She gripped the older woman’s wrist and pulled her onto the sofa. She left her for five seconds alone and came back with a glass of water.

“Here, drink this. Getting drunk won’t make your problem disappear, you dumbass.” The woman took the glass of water and drank it without arguing, as she felt the authoritative tone and eyes of the other woman. She avoided the actress, her gaze down to her knees, and her hand playing. Seulgi put down the glass on the table and sat beside her, saying nothing. Jaeyi wasn’t really drunk, still tipsy, within the limit of drunk. She pouted and let her head fall against the back of the sofa. She closed her eyes, feeling her body burn.

“Are you okay?” The question made the older woman laugh softly. “Do I look like someone who is doing okay?” She opened her eyes and turned her gaze to the woman beside her. She was close, the closest since their last talk, but the cold was still here, between them. Seulgi stared at her with a worried eye and something else.

“I’m sorry,” blurted Seulgi. The CEO sensed the guilt in her voice; it felt like she wanted to say this for days, but didn’t find the time to. Jaeyi blinked slowly, showing no expression. Maybe she was drunk? She felt like everything was slow. “For what?” She managed to say. The other woman didn’t avoid her, quite the opposite, she maintained eye contact a little too good. Jaeyi was almost intimidated by her.

“For saying it’s your fault that we are in this situation. It was out of space, and it’s not true. You have no control over the other’s behavior. I’m sorry.” Jaeyi blinked slowly for the second time and nodded. Her head felt a little heavier, and she closed her eyes.

“It’s okay, it was just anger and frustration. I don’t blame you.” The CEO didn’t open her eyes; her brain didn’t let her. “Still, you looked really hurt by it, and I felt bad. I just don’t like seeing you like this.” This sentence made Jaeyi open her eyes and look at Seulgi widely.

“Really? Then, don’t ignore me next time.” Seulgi’s eyes were a little bit watery, but she let out a breathy laugh. She suddenly moved onto Jaeyi’s lap and hugged her. Jaeyi’s brain stopped working for a few seconds, rejecting the fault on the alcohol, but she managed to hug her back. She let the comforting feelings that Seulgi provided her, and let her head fall on her shoulder. She closed her eyes, enjoying everything, even the sudden blank in her mind.

She is really good at keeping secrets.

The sudden voice of her daughter resonated in her mind. Maybe it was the alcohol that put her guard down, or maybe the comfort of the moment, but she suddenly felt the urge to say everything. Before she could even stop herself, her mouth spoke before her mind.

“Youngmin was the one who made the company behind my back. He and my father organized everything, the directors, producers, some people who auditioned, and the brand collaboration. I wasn’t aware of it; he did that behind my back and let me think I was doing good. He didn’t trust me; he thought that since day one, I would fail. I thought I entered hell that day.” She tightened her embrace around Seulgi and felt the younger stroking her hair. “I also learned from my aunt that Mr. Kim said everything he knew about me to my father, even you.” Seulgi’s hand stopped moving, and she felt her body tense around her. “Youngmin knew your life in such a scary way, he even knows who your biological parent are.” The younger leaned back, making them look at each other.

“What do you mean? I know he knows my father, don’t tell me he also knows my mother?” Jaeyi stayed silent, and she didn’t need to speak. Her silence was enough, and her eyes too. She must look tired, more than usual. Seulgi sighed in what seemed disbelief and looked away. “What a bastard. Unbelievable.” The older woman still stared at the actress. She could see her jaw being tense, and the anger all over her face. She didn’t know what made her in a such angry state, the fact that Youngmin knew everything about her, or what her ex-husband did to Jaeyi. After a moment of silence, Seulgi looked back at her with a more relaxed face and put one of her hands on the older woman’s cheek, caressing her with a tenderness that made Jaeyi’s heart melt. She leaned on the touch until she felt her finger wipe something.

“Thank you for telling me this. I have no plan to betray such a wonderful woman. They are the fool one, and I’m sure he knew that. You are strong, Jaeyi, and smart. Trusting someone isn’t a mistake; it doesn’t make you less smart or more vulnerable. They should be the ones ashamed.” Jaeyi’s sight was blurred, and she felt her chest free from something, maybe anxiety that she wasn’t aware she had, or maybe it was just the relief to have someone with whom she could now open up to. She pulled Seulgi closer to her and hid her face on her neck. She didn’t even realize she was crying until she saw water on the younger’s neck. After a moment, she calmed down and sniffed multiple times.

“Wait, I’m going to get tissues.” Seulgi tried to move, but Jaeyi didn’t let her. The older shook her head. “No need, stay here.” She heard a chuckle, but the body that was against her didn’t move a bit.

“You and Heeyoung are really similar. It’s kinda scary.” Jaeyi leaned back to see the younger and furrowed her eyebrows. “What does that mean?!”

“That you are a needy woman! Such a baby!” She replied with a teasing tone. The older woman pouted, making the other woman laugh and so taking Jaeyi with her. Their laughter stopped slowly, and as if they were aware of the closeness, the two women stared at each other. The atmosphere felt suddenly intimate, warm, and somehow sensual. Jaeyi’s eyes slowly went to Seulgi’s lips, and pulled the younger closer, her arms around her waist.

Maybe it was the alcohol, or the moment, or her desire, but she knew she would definitely put everything on the alcohol even though she wasn’t even drunk.

She leaned her face on the other woman, and since she didn’t see any rejection from her, she closed the gap between them, kissing her lip. It was only a peck at first, just to see how Seulgi would react, and the younger frowned her eyebrow, making Jaeyi chuckle. But then, Seulgi grabbed her neck and kissed her more fiercely, catching Jaeyi off guard, who took a few seconds before kissing her back with the same energy. The kiss wasn’t soft; it was hurried, putting all their desire, unsaid feelings, and frustration into it. Seulgi’s arms went around her neck while Jaeyi’s arms pulled her as close as possible, feeling the heat grow. The older woman smiled in the middle of the kiss as she felt Seulgi’s finger caressing her neck. They broke the kiss when they both needed to breathe. Their faces were still close to the point that Jaeyi could feel the other woman’s breath brushing her skin.

“I forgot how good it was to kiss a woman,” she said without thinking. Seulgi raised her eyebrows and pinched her rib with no hesitation, making the older groan in pain and jump slightly. “That hurt!” The actress only laughed and rested her head on the older’s shoulder. A silence fell on them, and it wasn’t awkward. The atmosphere was light, and comfortable. The two women enjoyed the moment without saying a thing, not even a comment on the kiss. They just stayed in each other’s embrace for minutes until Seulgi spoke.

“You know, now you are saying this. Didn’t you tell me that you had to juggle between your divorce and a mess in your agency?” Jaeyi hummed, not sure where this conversion would lead.

“Yeah, one of my most famous actors got exposed for drugs and a criminal record.” She replied. Seulgi moved her head to see Jaeyi and frowned.

“How did you find out that Youngmin was behind everything in your company?” The older woman looked to her left, quite in confusion. “Someone send me an envelope, I don’t know who. It was anonymous, not even a word was written on it. Just pictures, contracts, and a USB with audio. Why?”

“Isn’t it weird? Someone sent you that your husband never believed in you, forcing you to divorce him, and then a scandal fell on your company. The timing is really fishy to me. Plus, if there were audio as proof, it must be someone close to Youngmin, no? I mean, your father and husband thought you would never make it, a divorce that leaves you in a bad mental state, and then a scandal that, if you didn’t manage well, could lead you to sell your agency or worse to resign from your post.” The younger said, explaining with some hand gestures. Jaeyi looked at her and frowned as if Seulgi’s theory made sense.

“My aunt thinks someone could be behind Youngmin too. I just don’t see who. His brother is never in South Korea, well, now a little more, but before, it was rare. For the audio, any bodyguard could record them or the staff, or the assistant. I just don’t see who it could be.” Seulgi brought her hand to her chin and hummed.

“That’s weird. Are you sure his brother has nothing to do with it? I mean, it’s his brother, he must know a lot about him.” Jaeyi shook her head. “Jungsu never showed any interest in business or a company. He was more passionate about the law than his brother. I’m close to him; he is like my little brother, even though I don’t trust him fully. Maybe it’s just Youngmin, you know. After all, he made the company, I won’t be surprised if he wanted to be the CEO and thought I would crawl back to him for x or y reason.” The younger shrugged her shoulders and rested her head on Jaeyi’s shoulder.

“I don’t know, it’s weird. He didn’t seem to be that smart. But I’m sure you will find out, anyway.”

Jaeyi said nothing and thought about it more deeply.

Jungsu would never do that, right?

6 AM, Naver

Main article:

The actress Woo Seulgi is still in contact with her pedophile father, who was sentenced to one year in jail.

In only an hour, Seulgi was mentioned in tons of articles with the word ‘father’ following of ‘pedophile’ near her name, becoming the main topic in South Korea.

Chapter Text

The alarm of the phone that seemed to be set up hours before resonated in the bedroom, making Jaeyi groan in annoyance. Eyes still closed, she sketched her arms toward the table beside her bed and shut the alarm down. She sighed and blinked multiple times. As her consciousness came back to her, she felt a presence beside her, a comfortable heat, and turned her head only to face Seulgi’s sleepy face. Their body were close, it seemed they were cuddling in the middle of their sleep, and their legs were tangled. The older woman smiled, not aware of the mess that was happening outside her home, and brushed the younger woman’s hair out of her face. She wished she could wake up every day like this, with Seulgi by her side. It felt safe, peaceful, perfect, as if she belonged with her. Jaeyi stared at the woman for a long minute, paying attention to the actress’s facial features, until Seulgi moved slightly. The younger woman opened slowly her eyes and smiled shyly.

“Good morning, gorgeous,” she said with her morning voice. It was deep, yet sweet. The older woman smiled widely and felt a heat on her face. She wasn’t used to this, to be complimented by the actress.

“Well, good morning, princess. Did you sleep well?” Seulgi sketched her arms and sat down. She passed her hand through her hair and smiled. “One of the best, what time is it? Shouldn’t I wake Heeyoung up?” Jaeyi took her phone to look up the time, but found a ton of notifications, too many to be normal. She frowned, feeling her stomach tighten as if something bad was going to happen. She was too deep into the phone that she didn’t feel the actress move. She suddenly felt fingers touch, caressing her shoulder to her neck, making her body shiver from the sensual touch.

“What’s going on? You suddenly looked worried.” Jaeyi looked at the woman beside her and shook her head. “It’s half past six in the morning, and I just had a lot of notifications, which isn’t usual.” She heard a hum and felt a kiss on her shoulder. Jaeyi’s mind went blank, and she felt the heartbeat under her skin, with how loudly it was bouncing.

“I’m going to wake up Heeyoung and let you handle the notifications.” The CEO laughed at the teasing tone and watched her walk out of the room. She wasn’t in the mood to look up what people sent her. She felt happy and peaceful right now and wanted to enjoy it as much as possible. She even found herself touching her lips as she remembered the kiss and smiled with satisfaction. She finally stood up and did her morning routine.

She walked to the kitchen and began cooking breakfast for the girls. She prepared everything and put down each plate on the table. Then, her phone started to ring, showing the contact of Mr. Wan. She understood she couldn’t ignore the mess anymore and took a deep breath before picking up the call.

“Hey, Ms. Yoo! I’m sorry to call you this early, but we have a huge problem. I don’t know if you looked up Naver. If not, please tell Seulgi not to look up her phone!” Her assistant seemed hurried, and his voice was a mix of anxiety and fear. Jaeyi felt a rock drop in her stomach, sensing the emergency.

“What’s going on? You seem agitated.” She heard him sigh and let a silence for a few seconds before taking a grave tone.

“I think Youngmin knew that you still see Seulgi. Many articles are starting to shed light on Seulgi’s father. Naver being the first one with the title ‘Woo Seulgi is still in contact with her pedophile father’ or whatever.” Jaeyi’s eyes went wide, and she rested her hand on the kitchen island as the shock went through her body and mind.

“How is that even possible? I made sure that everything was as discreet as possible!” She heard a nervous laugh. Jaeyi said nothing more for a few seconds, trying to think about a plan or something. The situation took a drastic turn, and she wasn't sure if she was yet ready to face it. She breathed loudly and massaged her forehead with her hand.

“Call Mr. Hwan and tell him to drop Heeyoung off at her school. I’m coming with Seulgi, call the PR team and Seulgi’s manager for an emergency meeting. If Seulgi has a schedule today, cancel it.” Her assistant hummed and hung out. Jaeyi stayed still for a long moment, swallowing the information. She didn't even notice the fear that was gripping her chest or the anxiety that started to take place in her stomach. She bit one of her fingers and stared at the food as the thought began to flow.

“What’s going on? You look more worried.” The sudden voice of Seulgi made her jump slightly. She didn’t hear the girls coming and saw both of them looking at her with a confused stare. Heeyoung walked closer and hugged her as a good morning before sitting in her chair. The actress sat beside the little girl, but her eyes never left Jaeyi as if she were worried for her.

“I’m telling you after, just don’t look up your phone. Heeyoung, my love, today it’s Mr. Hwan who’s going to drop you off at your school. There is an emergency at work, and none of us can accompany you, I’m sorry.” Heeyoung stopped drinking her chocolate milk and furrowed her brows.

“Does that mean Father is going to pick me up after school?” Jaeyi looked over Seulgi for a second and sighed. The actress didn’t say anything and continued to eat her egg as if the conversation wasn’t her business.

“I don’t know. It will depend on the circumstances. I will see if your aunt is free.” She replied with a sweet voice, making her daughter nod weakly. She knew Heeyoung wasn’t happy, but she didn’t have another plan and wished things were easier. She looked at Seulgi, who seemed tense, but stayed quiet. The actress didn’t ask any questions, didn’t make any comments. She just ate breakfast slowly in silence as if she knew what was waiting for her.

Mr. Hwan came after twenty minutes. He bowed to everyone and took care of Heeyoung. Jaeyi still hated it when someone she didn’t trust took care of her daughter, but with the circumstances, she didn’t have the choice. She kissed her daughter’s cheek and apologized again for not being here today. Her daughter said nothing; she just nodded and followed the assistant. When the door closed, the CEO walked back to the kitchen, where the actress was cleaning the table. She helped her at first, in absolute silence. It wasn’t normal, she knew, but she didn’t know what to say or with what to start. Seulgi was the first one to break the gloomy atmosphere.

“Just tell me what’s going on. I hate when you are silent like this, it always makes the ambiance weird, or should I look at my phone?” Jaeyi sighed and came closer to the actress. She wasn’t sure how to say it, really. She didn’t even know how Seulgi would react. She caressed one strand of Seulgi’s hair and started to play with it at the tips.

“Don’t panic, okay?” She started unsure. The woman beside her nodded calmly, and her eyes didn’t express anything, maybe a bit of worry. She didn’t know; she still had a hard time reading Seulgi’s eyes. Nevertheless, Jaeyi always found it fascinating how her eyes were big but so empty. It felt like watching the galaxy, so vast, so beautiful, yet so clear. “I think Youngmin knows that you are staying here. There are articles about you and your father. They said he is a pedophile, and you are still in contact with him.” She stared at her face to see any reactions, but saw nothing. The actress just looked at her back, and after a minute, she sighed deeply.

“He must have gotten bored. After all, he doesn’t even know where I sleep. Have you told anybody that I’m here?” Jaeyi’s lips went to her left as she felt her heart beat faster. She almost forgot. “Yeah, my sister. I told her, pretending that Mr. Kim knew it too. I don’t think she said it directly to my father, though. I’m going to speak to her after.” Seulgi breathed loudly and turned her head.

“I guess it’s going to be a long and draining day.” The older woman still stared at her and placed her hand on the youngest’s waist to pull her against her.

“You aren’t alone, Seul.” The actress looked up to her and smiled. “Yeah, I know. Thank you,” she replied in a low tone, yet she sounded fragile. The actress hugged her and rested her head on the older woman’s shoulder.

They stayed like this for a few long minutes, enjoying the comfortable heat that each body gave. Jaeyi liked these moments when the actress was close to her, open, and physical. It always felt different than her past experiences and so safe. It felt like she could do anything, as if the fear didn’t even exist, and she didn’t know if she found it beautiful or scary. But she loved it. She felt loved and supported.

Everyone was already here. They looked at each other with fear and anxiety. Some of them were tapping the floor with their feet, some were tapping the table with their finger, and some were just waiting, eyes glaring at each people in the room, a little longer on Seulgi. The atmosphere was heavy as everyone understood the emergency and the importance of the meeting. It wasn’t only the career of the actress that was on the verge of an end, but also for each person in the room. The company’s reputation was at stake, and everyone needed to think quickly. However, they weren’t afraid of their capacity to deliver a lie, but they were afraid of the woman who was on the very side of the table, looking at each of them with a cold stare.

“I guess everyone saw the news today. I don’t think it will be the only attack we will receive from whatever the person is. I’m listening. If you have a question or idea to handle this situation, let me hear it all.” The CEO said with a cold and authoritative tone. Everyone avoided looking at their boss and hesitated to even speak. “I’m listening, or do I need to fire everyone?” The comment made everyone jump from their chair except Seulgi, who was looking at everyone with amusement. Ara punched her shoulder weakly and gave her a grave stare that told her to behave, making the actress gaze down at her knees.

“Seulgi-ssi, is it… is it true that your father is a pedophile? No judgement of course!” A girl from the PR team spoke first with hesitation and a trembling tone. Seulgi knew they felt under pressure, especially with Jaeyi’s presence in the room, so she smiled kindly at the woman and nodded.

“Yeah, but I’m not in contact with him. My stepmother divorced him when I was like sixteen, and I have never seen him since then.” She replied in honesty. A silence fell on the room, and it was kind of awkward for Seulgi. All the eyes looked at her with some judgment as if she were responsible for her father’s actions. She hated it, the silence, the look, the awkwardness, the way they prepared her for being hated by people just because she wore her father’s last name. She didn’t choose her parent; nobody chose them, right? So, why did they look at her like this? Like she was the one who committed the fault? Jaeyi seemed to notice Seulgi’s discomfort, just like her manager, who stood up suddenly. Before the CEO could even interfere, Ara spoke first.

“Why are you looking at her like this! She said she had no contact with him! She doesn’t control her father’s actions, and nobody chooses their parents! If you want to judge someone, go judge her father, not her!” Jaeyi’s brows twitched slightly, and she smiled. On the other hand, Seulgi raised her head toward her manager and pouted as she felt grateful to have someone like Ara beside her. The CEO finally stood up, making everyone look at her.

“Cho Ara is right. I want a first draft of the statement in my office as soon as possible. Say that Woo Seulgi had no attachment to the man, and that we will file a complaint against the people who defame our artists. If I hear any of you talking badly about this, you will get fired. Did I make myself clear?” The cold voice resonated in the room. The fear could be sensed in the atmosphere, and everyone nodded, eyes down to the table, expecting one person who was frowning.

“I’m sorry, but how is this a defamation when the article is right? Her father is a pedophile, no matter what. Saying that she had a pedophile father won’t be great for her reputation; people will still judge her for that. Worse, they will dig into her past and try to find out who he is and if she really cut him out of her life. A single picture together and it’s dead. Especially with the politics of the moment, Ms. Yoo.” The speech hung in the air as if it were a direct challenge waiting to be accepted, making everything colder. Jaeyi stayed still and looked at the man who pronounced these words. The actress noticed her jaw being clenched, and she felt herself boil with anger. She didn’t care if the man was right or not; the fact that he didn’t believe her that she cut her disgusting father out of her life made her furious. How did people see her truly? Someone who could let the most disgusting person stay in her life? Someone who has zero conscience? Zero principle? Zero moral?

“I said I have no contact with him since I was sixteen. If they want to dig into it, I don’t care; there is nothing to see except my disgusting father trial. It’s not my fault that I need to wear his last name, that doesn’t mean I support his actions!” Her voice was aggressive; she knew that. Everyone looked at her, surprisingly, even Jaeyi, but the man didn’t bulge. He looked at her with a mocking smile.

“Oh really? Good for you, Woo Seulgi! But nobody cares about that. If you want to save your career, I think we should hide the fact that your father is a pedophile. Just a month ago, a big case of pedophile came to light, and it’s the main debate these days in the assembly! What kind of image would you have? Not a good one! You still wore a pedophile’s last name, no matter what, and that will follow you until you die. If you are really disgusted by your father, why don’t you change your last name, anyway?” This took Seulgi aback, not only the actress, but also Ara, who furrowed her brows strongly. Her manager walked closer to the man and took him by his shirt.

“Yah! Are you insane?! Aren’t you ashamed?! It’s seven in the morning, soon eight, and you still found the energy to be a disgusting piece of shit.” The man pushed her and brought his hands around his neck.

“You are a crazy bitch! I said what most people will say!” Ara cursed loudly and ran to the man to punch him. Everyone stood up trying to separate them, but nothing was useful. Ara was too into her rage, and the man didn’t seem to be ashamed to fight against a woman at all. Seulgi sat slowly on her chair and looked at Jaeyi, who watched the scene with amusement.

The actress didn’t understand what was so amusing in the situation. It was a mess, and her fear started to eat her. Maybe she should run away? After all, nothing makes sense. Jaeyi should have given up on her and pretended they had never met. It was only about her father, and she felt like drowning in the deep ocean. The man wasn’t wrong; she still wore the name of a pedophile, of someone who made her life miserable. People will surely judge her for it. To be honest, she didn’t find the courage to look at her phone since the morning. She knew the comments would affect her, and she didn’t want to look weak this early, not when Jaeyi had it harder. She looked back at Jaeyi, who was now staring at her. She couldn’t read her face; her eyes were cold, authoritative, dark, and something deeper, maybe protective? She didn’t know, but it sent a shiver down her spine.

“Enough!” The loud, cold voice made everyone freeze in their spot, and everyone looked at their boss. “Everyone will do what I say. The PR team, you will do what I said. Write a statement saying that Seulgi has no contact with her father and that she didn’t see him a lot during her childhood. We can’t refute her father’s actions. People will find out about the trial since a criminal case can be public. If people don’t find it, the person who shared the information will. I’m sure people aren’t that dumb, a pedophile who has a child, don’t you see a danger in it? I also want to include in the statement that Seulgi is against her father’s action. I’m in charge of the law thing. I will still file a complaint because saying she is still in contact with her father is defamatory and can cause distress. Now get out of here to do your job.” Everyone took their stuff and bowed to Jaeyi before leaving without daring to look back. Seulgi noticed how the CEO looked at the man before he left; her gaze said everything. He won’t be working anymore in the agency. The actress sighed in relief; she knew everything was now under control. She stood up and walked toward Ara with worry. She couldn’t believe her manager was ready to fight someone for her.

“Are you okay? You didn’t have to do all that, you know.” Her manager looked at her and frowned.

“He kinda insulted you, of course I had to do that! Men always forget they live in a patriarchal society! I won’t let anyone insult you, Seul.” The actress felt an intense grateful emotion in her chest as her sight started to blur. She hugged her tightly and thanked her a hundred times, still in disbelief at having such wonderful surroundings. Ara hugged her and stroked her back.

“I’m still here, by the way.” The two women jumped slightly and broke the hug fast. Jaeyi didn’t seem to enjoy the sight or the closeness between the two women. Ara seemed to notice the change in the CEO and stepped back a little while looking at the actress with sad puppy eyes as if she had done something wrong. Before anyone could say anything, the door suddenly opened, and Mr. Wan appeared out of breath. The man took a time to breathe, enough time to sense the heavy, awkward atmosphere, and looked at Jaeyi confusedly.

“What’s going on?” Jaeyi asked with a perplexed tone. Mr. Wan bowed his head and scratched the back of his neck.

“Mr. Yoo is here. He wants to speak to you. He is already in your office, Mr. Kim welcomed him.” The CEO sighed loudly and furrowed her brows weakly. Seulgi noticed how her body went rigid and her face suddenly turned into worry. She looked like she was afraid, as if meeting him was one of the biggest challenges of the day. The actress never met Jaeyi’s father, and the older woman never spoke about her family. Now that she thought about it, Seulgi knew almost nothing about the CEO’s life, just her history with Youngmin. Jaeyi looked at her and Ara one last time and gave a bitter smile before leaving without saying a word. Mr. Wan bowed his head to them and followed the CEO behind with an urgent speed. After a moment of silence, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“You have a lot to tell me, Ms. Woo, and you should start with whatever’s going on with Jaeyi.” Seulgi turned her head toward Ara, who had her arm crossed against her chest. She knew it was time to explain everything to her and Byeong. The actress felt an impatient feeling in her chest as she thought of her childhood friend. He must have contacted her after he saw the news.

“Where are you going, Seulgi!” She heard her manager screaming as she ran away from the meeting room with her bag. She went to the hall and stopped in the middle of it. A few seconds after, Ara was beside her, out of breath.

“Gosh, I need to start exercising cause what the hell, I’m already out of breath!” Seulgi giggled, but her eyes were still looking around the floor. She knew the singer would come to the agency since she wasn’t reachable, and she was right. Only a minute later, the main door opened, and Byeong was there with a worried look and completely out of breath. He was looking everywhere with a rare dash, and when he finally met Seulgi’s eyes, he ran to her and hugged her tightly.

“Are you okay? I saw the news. What the fuck is going on? I ran here as soon as possible. Why did you turn your phone off? I was dead worried!” Seulgi hugged him back tightly, enjoying the safety of his body and presence. It was different from Jaeyi; she couldn’t quite explain it, but it was different. When the singer noticed Ara, he stepped back and scratched the back of his neck. “So?” Her manager sighed, but she had a big smile on her face.

“Let’s grab a coffee and sit in the company’s coffee shop. It must be empty at these hours. Seulgi has a lot to share, right?!” The actress and the singer nodded. They arrived at the café and sat at a table close to a window. Byeong joined them a few minutes later with their order and sat beside Ara. The actress faced them with a rested face and took her drink. She already felt exhausted, and yet she did nothing. She felt the eyes on her, waiting for her to start explaining the weeks she had. “So, Seulgi, what’s going on with Jaeyi?” The actress closed her eyes and sighed.

“With Jaeyi? I thought we were here about the news?” Byeong said in confusion.

“Well, yes, but I’m sure Jaeyi has some responsibility in this. Plus, she looked jealous to see me hugging Seulgi, like I saw the possessiveness in my own eyes.” Seulgi opened her eyes and furrowed her brows. Jaeyi was jealous of what? She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“Stop saying nonsense. Jealous of what?” Ara and Byeong shared a quick look, and the singer asked what had happened. Her manager said in detail everything, while the singer exaggerated his reactions. Seulgi only listened to them and stayed silent. She didn’t have the strength to react or speak, even though she needed to explain everything to them soon. She took advantage of the small moment to breathe and thought a little about her mother, who must have seen the news. She was wondering how she reacted and what she was thinking. Byeong suddenly slapped the table, making the actress jump from her seat.

“She was definitely jealous! And the guy will lose his job for sure, this motherfucker.” Seulgi rolled her eyes and simply ignored her childhood friend’s commentary.

“It’s Jaeyi’s husband behind the news. He knew my life in detail and threatened me months ago, leading me to ignore Jaeyi for three months, I think. Then, someone sent an email to Jaeyi about me and the addiction I had to drugs. She waited for me in front of my building to talk.” There was a silence, a cold one at first, and then a soft, warm one. She looked at Ara first since the manager had no idea of the actress’s past life and saw no judgment on her face. She just stared with a little pout and eyes full of support and understanding. Seulgi didn’t have to explain about her life for Ara to understand; it was like she already knew all the struggles. The actress turned her eyes to Byeong. His jaw was clenched, and he seemed to try to control his emotions. They both had their own reaction, but neither of them pushed her to say more or judged her, which made Seulgi feel safe and loved no matter what. Her throat started to be painful as she felt the desire to cry. She felt overwhelmed by the kindness of the people around her.

“What a bastard! Why would he threaten you? Is he jealous?” Ara put her arm in front of Byeong and shook her finger.

“That wouldn’t make sense. If he wanted Jaeyi back, shouldn’t he have just taken care of her daughter and just flirted with her? Hurting someone important to Jaeyi and her daughter won’t make her go back to him.” The singer sighed, clearly not agreeing with the woman beside him.

“Speaking of it. I stopped taking care of Heeyoung for three months, and apparently, he was the one who took care of her, almost every week. He left Jaeyi most of the time alone.” Byeong snapped his finger and nodded fiercely as if he had just understood something.

“This is why Jaeyi was moody? Are you insane?! You knew what I went through? Nevertheless, I think he wants to have Jaeyi back. He eliminated you, took care of Heeyoung, and I’m sure he tried to flirt with her, pretending he is the only option, anyway. Isolation can be such a good manipulation.” Seulgi looked at her manager, who was thinking deeply. Ara didn’t seem to follow up on the jealous plot and looked at the window. After a few seconds, she started to talk.

“Still doesn’t make sense. Why would he destroy Jaeyi’s business? Who would want to get back with someone who destroyed everything their built and maintained? I think there is something else. Tell us everything. What happened after your talk with Jaeyi? Why couldn’t I drop you off at your home? Spill.” Seulgi sighed and looked at the window. The sky was grey today, and she could tell the rain would pour. Of course, it would rain, even in the middle of the summer. If something bad happened to Seulgi, the rain would always come. She took a deep breath and started to explain everything. Their talks, how she ended up in Jaeyi’s home, her weeks in there, and how Jaeyi managed the security. She didn’t talk about the feelings, or all her breakdowns, or even the kiss.

“Oh wow, she really made sure to blur everything. New car, new driver, new assistant, but still using the old car when going to the schedule, so he won’t suspect anything. Clever. But her ex-husband is scary as hell. Following you? Knowing all your past relationships and things? What the fucking hell!” Her manager was stunned by the tale and crossed her arms against her chest. On the other hand, Byeong seemed angry, and Seulgi could see his protectiveness being activated.

“If I knew this the day we had met him, I swear I would kill him that day, even if it were in front of her daughter.” Ara punched his shoulder and screamed at him how dumb he was, making Seulgi laugh. The singer looked at his friend with tenderness and spoke softly. “You should have told me, Seul. You could have stayed at my place. You know you could always count on me, so why did you stay silent? I thought we had to tell each other everything? I kinda feel dumb not to notice that you weren’t doing well, or you abandoned your house.” Seulgi circled with her finger the edge of her cup. She felt bad about having hidden this from her childhood friend. She knew he wouldn’t judge and would help her.

“I’m sorry, Byeong. It’s not against you, but I was just too scared to ask for help. I didn’t want you to be involved in something like this, especially since he followed me everywhere. Jaeyi also asked me personally not to tell anybody about this because we didn’t know whom to trust. I wanted to argue back, but it didn’t seem to be useful. So yeah, I’m sorry.” Byeong said nothing for a moment, but then he sighed and nodded.

“It’s okay, I understand. The situation must have been hard for you. I just want you to know I’m still here if you need!” The actress smiled at him and felt grateful to have met such a good man in her childhood. She sometimes wonders what she would do if he weren’t in her life.

“Okay, but you’re going to tell me that you lived for like two weeks with Jaeyi and nothing happened? Spill the tea! We want the tea!” Ara said with a steady tone. Seulgi looked at her manager and rolled her eyes. She wished not to speak about this area; she wasn’t even sure of herself, and quite not ready to answer the holy question: what are we? She sighed and finished her drink before speaking.

“Well, I asked her why she wanted to help me that much when the allegations were too scandalous. She indirectly told me she had feelings for me, like she said, she wanted to understand me and fight for me, and that she liked to be with me.” The two people in front of her stopped their movements and stared at Seulgi with disbelief, confusing the actress. “What? I just started.” Ara brought her hand to her mouth and shook her head.

“Oh Seulgi… You just started, but what a strong start. Jaeyi is down bad for you, saying all this just to justify her help. Competent woman, if you ask me.” The actress rolled her eyes, but didn’t deny her manager’s statement. It was true, Jaeyi was only comprehensible and patient with her. She never pushed her, never forced her, she took all the time needed, and let the necessary space between them. The older woman always made sure that Seulgi was safe and tried her best to earn her trust.

“Anyway, I told her I wasn’t ready for a relationship and needed time because I didn’t want to run away like my last relationships. I still told her I liked to be around her, too.” Ara gave her a thumbs up, and Byeong nodded proudly. “We kinda grew closer after that, but one day she came home and she didn’t seem to be alright. I wanted her to open up a little, and my frustration made me say things that I shouldn’t have said.” Byeong stopped her and looked at her with worried eyes.

“What did you say? I’m scared, I know you can be really mean when you want to.” Seulgi began to scratch the back of her neck, knowing she was in trouble. She hated herself for throwing this sentence at Jaeyi, especially when she was the one who genuinely wanted to protect her.

“I said that if my career was on the verge of ending, it was her fault.” Her manager gasped, and her eyebrows arched widely.

“You didn’t say that! You didn’t!” Byeong put her arm in front of Ara and motioned for her to stay quiet. The actress groaned loudly, regretting everything already.

“I did, but I apologized. We became cold for four days, I think, and I came home late yesterday. I found Jaeyi drinking alcohol one after another. When she was at her fourth glass, I think, I stopped her. Surprisingly, she wasn’t drunk, so I apologized because I really felt bad, and Jaeyi opened up about things. I just hope she did this because she wanted to, and trust me, not because she felt like she had to. After that, we kissed, and that was all.” Seulgi unconsciously touched her lips and felt a light heat on her cheek. Byeong caught as he swallowed his drink while Ara spilled out her drink in her cup. Her manager was the first one to come back to her shocked state and started to tap Byeong’s back a little. She stared at the actress with a surprising glare and shook her head slightly.

“You said like it was nothing! Crazy, you kissed her, and hours later, an article about you appears. No luck at all! But, oh wow, so she is your girlfriend, right? Right, Seulgi?” The actress avoided their look and began to whistle. She felt someone beside her and raised her head just to face Byeong, who gripped her shoulder and shook her slightly.

“What happened to you! I thought you didn’t do situationship!” Seulgi took his arms and put them away from her shoulder. She brought her hand to her forehead and sighed.

“I still don’t, it’s just not the moment for this. Maybe when this mess ends, I will see, but for the moment, there is too much shit going on. We didn’t even go on our second date?!” She gazed at Ara, who was smiling at her widely.

“At least, you seemed sure of yourself. You have grown a lot since our last talk about her. I hope none of you will screw up. Well, congratulations, Seulgi-ah! You succeeded in having a CEO wrapped around your finger! Also, congratulations again, you are now a mom too! Oh wow, things can go fast! One day, no child, no partner, you closed your eyes, and the next day, you have a child and a partner. Crazy!” Ara clapped her hands in excitement, and an amused smile was still on her face. The actress looked at her childhood friend for help, but only found a confused man who tried to understand Ara’s words. He looked back at Seulgi and opened his mouth.

“Does that mean I’m finally an uncle?” Seulgi sighed in defeat and looked at the window. Nevertheless, she couldn’t contain the chuckle. A light happiness flame was here, in her chest.

Jaeyi walked out of the elevator and entered the office with a cold face. Her posture was perfect, straight, confident, showing no trace of weakness. She bowed to her father and sat on the opposite sofa, facing him. He didn’t look happy, and Jaeyi could sense the anger energy around him. He came here for something specific, and she didn’t know what to expect. He crossed his legs and rested his arms on the sofa’s back, leaving his posture open, confident, as if he were trying to say he was the real boss.

“I saw the news about the actress Woo Seulgi, I’m a little disappointed that you didn’t dig her past. I told you to pay attention to their activity. Who knows what this woman is doing outside. To think someone like her was taking care of Heeyoung, and that you let such a woman be important in your life? What were you even thinking when you started to flirt with her? Aren’t you ashamed?” His voice was cold, colder than Jaeyi would ever be, and each word felt like a cut on her skin. It wasn’t because his sentence hurt; it was how he saw her. He didn’t tell it directly, no, he made sure that her daughters understood his thoughts by his tone and specific words. Right now, her father wasn’t trusting her and thought she would fail. It hurt Jaeyi. After all these years, trying to prove she could manage everything without a man being behind her wasn’t enough. Nothing was enough.

“Woo Seulgi doesn’t have contact with her father, she isn’t a bad person. I won’t let you speak about her like she were the criminal. I trust her; she took care of Heeyoung better than Youngmin ever had been. So, no, I’m not ashamed.” Taejoon didn’t bulge and let out a snort. He looked at her desk and then back at Jaeyi.

“Youngmin told me a lot about Seulgi. She had taken drugs, stolen, orphan, and had three relationships with women. She isn’t good, Jaeyi. Mr. Kim told me how she affected you in your work and mood. How a dispute could lead you to be stubborn and angry at your employee, or when she disappears, you couldn’t even focus on your work. Why are you keeping her around you, Jaeyi? You divorced your husband, who gave you everything, to be with someone who will destroy your work. Are you blind?” This was a stab in the heart. She knew her father would be against this relationship, but used it against her. That was too much. Everything was always around Youngmin, no matter what. Youngmin this, Youngmin that, Youngmin, Youngmin, Youngmin. She hated it. She hated the name, the face, the person, everything. She clenched her jaw and tried to calm down.

“I won’t go back with Youngmin, I already told you. You need to accept it, Dad. I don’t love him, I don’t want to see him, I want nothing from him. I never asked him to give me everything. I will fight for my company, and I don’t care if you think I have the capacity or not. Seulgi had a hard past, and I will make sure her name won’t be soiled. I don’t want your support. If Youngmin wants so bad to destroy this, then be it, but I will never be with him, and I will choose Seulgi no matter the ending.” She said with a sharp, cold tone, leaving no space for doubt. Taejoon uncrossed his legs and straightened his body. Jaeyi pushed a button that made her father more vigilant, less confident. He looked at her with rage and challenge. He smirked and looked at the door.

“I can’t wait to see that, Jaeyi. You were my favorite daughter, always so obedient, so smart, so easy. You were always better than your sister in everything. You surpassed her even in marriage, wouldn’t it be too sad to lose that?” The CEO furrowed her eyebrow and closed her eyes. She couldn’t bear her father talking like that about her sister. Everything was a competition to him, and she couldn’t stand that. Jena was her sister, her second half, someone she should see as a support, not as a competitor. She slowly opened her eyes and sighed. Her father was still here, sitting on the sofa, body straight, but his lips drew an amused smile.

“If you have nothing else to say, you can leave. I have a lot of work to do.” Her father took it as a win and stood up.

“Of course! Well, good luck, but think twice. Seulgi’s case will only destroy this agency into pieces.” He smiled at her and left the room without looking back. When the door closed, Jaeyi let out a loud groan. She felt a weight on her eyes, something she couldn’t fight against. She let her eyelid close by itself. It felt exhausting; she wanted to run away from this country and never come back. She would take Heeyoung with her and would say goodbye to this life, far away from Youngmin and her family. Just the thought of it made her happy. The USA should be good, or maybe somewhere in Europe? The sudden knock brought Jaeyi back to reality. She opened her eyes and stood up to open the door.

“Ms. Yoo,” said Mr. Kim with an unsure tone. Jaeyi didn’t give him her usual soft gaze; she even ignored him since her aunt told her everything. She let the door open and walked over to her desk, sitting in her chair. The assistant closed the door behind him and scratched the back of his neck. The CEO didn’t look at him; she couldn’t. She cleared her throat and spoke with a cold tone.

“You are fired, Mr. Kim, and I’m sure I don’t need to tell you the reason. I’m disappointed, I trusted you a lot, and to think since the start…” She couldn’t end her sentence; she couldn’t even look at him. Her heart clenched; it still hurt like she had just found out about the betrayal. The man said nothing for a second, but managed to swallow his shame.

“I’m sorry, Jaeyi. You know, it was the deal. I could be your assistant, and in return, I would give him all the information he wanted. Thank you for everything. I only hope for the best. I didn’t lie when I said I consider you like my daughter.” He bowed one last time and left the room. Jaeyi didn’t notice if he looked at her one last time or not; she just waited for the door to be closed again. She let out a sigh and brought her hand to her chest, where her heart was. She didn’t feel the pain, and maybe it was because she got used to it. She turned on her computer and started to work seriously.

After all, she had a scandal to handle, and it was about someone she loved.

She couldn’t let it pass like this, and she also couldn’t let the other information see the light.

She couldn’t lose Seulgi.

The statement was published at ten in the morning, and the reactions were divided, but with each hour that passed, people only felt sorry for Seulgi. After all, she grew up without a father, and the public opinion became more and more positive and supportive of the actress. Jaeyi felt relieved as she watched the reactions unfold. She couldn’t do much anyway for this case. She only needed one thing: a new lawyer.

She couldn’t call the Kang family for this case, it was too dangerous, and she didn’t trust them at all. She thought for hours and even started to regret ignoring all the lawyers she had met before. But could she really blame herself? After all, her past self couldn’t see the future. Then, she remembered one of her talks with Youngmin, how he didn’t stop complaining about his rival being almost better than him. She took her phone and called her sister. She forgot the name of that lawyer, but she was sure her sister would find him in no time. After some minutes, her sister came to her office and hugged her as soon as she saw her.

“Dad told me for this morning, I hope you are ok. I wanted to come, but Dad gave me all his patient. I’m listening, what do you need? I will help you as much as I can.” Jena said softly as she sat on the sofa. She didn’t take her gaze off her younger sister, even though they still had a lot to work on between them; she was always worried about Jaeyi. She wished she could be closer to her, to help her more often. Jena never saw how enough she was and never noticed how grateful her sister was to have her. They were both important to each other, but they both had a hard time expressing it. Jaeyi sat beside her and hugged her again. Her sister didn’t ask her anything, and she instinctively hugged back.

“Sorry, I’m going to ask too much, again,” Jaeyi whispered. Her sister only hummed positively as if she didn’t mind. “Do you remember the man who was the rival of the Kang? Youngmin always said they were almost as good as him.” Jena put her hand on her sister’s head and started to stroke her hair.

“Yes, it’s Hung Youngjae, why? You want to change your lawyer?” Jaeyi raised her head and nodded.

“I can’t trust the Kang family anymore. Can you send me his contact? I need to see him fast, it’s about the scandal.” Her sister nodded fast.

“Of course, anything! I didn’t know the Kang had something to do with everything. Mr. Kang loved you a lot, and Jungsu was always loyal to you.” Jaeyi sighed loudly and looked at the floor. It was true that the Kang always loved her, and Jungsu was always here for her, but again, Youngmin and Mr. Kim were always there for her, and it didn’t stop them from betraying her.

“We never know, Jena. By the way, did you tell anybody that Seulgi lived with me?” Her younger sister looked at her, surprised, and shook her head violently.

“Why would I do that? Be serious, Jaeyi. Dad would kill you if he knew this detail. I told no one, not even my assistant.” This made Jaeyi confused. If Jena wasn’t the one, then how did Youngmin know? “You seemed confused? You expect me to say this to Dad? I thought you trusted me? Don’t tell me you tested my loyalty like this, Jaeyi?” She stood up and sat in her chair, avoiding her sister. She didn’t want to fight or scream, especially not against her sister. She heard a bitter laugh.

“You tested me, right? Unbelievable. And I, who thought you really trusted me.” The CEO could feel the pain in her voice; it passed through her chest, and she bit her lips as the shame started to wake up.

“I didn’t mean to, Jena. I just didn’t know who to trust anymore since someone in the agency was the spy. I couldn’t even say anything to Mr. Kim, and thank god I didn’t because he was the spy. Please, try to understand me. Youngmin literally threatened Seulgi and is ready to destroy this agency if needed. He is the one who created this scandal. I’m confused because if you aren’t the one who said to Father, then who told him Seulgi was living with me?” Jena froze in her spot and stared at Jaeyi, completely taken aback.

“What do you mean Mr. Kim was the spy?” Jaeyi swallowed hard and explained to her sister the situation in detail, not forgetting anything. Jena stayed silent for a moment, seeming completely taken aback by the news.

“I’m in shock. I thought the Kim were trustworthy. Fuck, that’s annoying as fuck. Did Youngmin take care of Heeyoung when Seulgi was with you?” The youngest sister frowned. She couldn’t believe her question, to point out her daughter like this. It annoyed her.

“You think my daughter said this to her father?” The oldest shrugged and nodded.

“Well, think deeply, Youngmin scares your daughter a lot. He could have pressured her to tell him everything. So, did he take care of Heeyoung when Seulgi was with you?” Jaeyi stayed still in her place, feeling the cold taking over her body. She couldn’t answer the question; the mere thought of Youngmin hurting Heeyoung made her see red. “I will take your silence as a yes. Jaeyi, you should stop ignoring the problem between Heeyoung and Youngmin. I know you are scared, but Mom was also scared, and look at us. Weren’t you the one who feared not being here for your daughter?” The question made Jaeyi look down. “You aren’t alone, now. Seulgi is here too. I’m sure she considers Heeyoung as her own daughter.”

This comment did something inside Jaeyi, something warm, overwhelming. She felt the tear going up, but tried to contain it. Jena smiled at her and bowed her head. “I will pick Heeyoung up today, you don’t need to worry,” she said before leaving the office.

The CEO stayed still, staring at the door, until she heard her phone ring once. She looked at the notification and saw her sister’s contact with all the information about the lawyer she had asked for. She smiled and thanked her. Her sister was right, she should stop running away from the problem between Youngmin and Heeyoung, but she didn’t know how to speak to her daughter about this. She breathed and closed her eyes for a moment. She had a lot of things to do in the following days, and she needed to execute her plan in no time.

If she wanted to save everything, she needed to face Youngmin more seriously than the last time.

It was the start of the evening, and Jaeyi finally stepped out of her office. The day was long, exhausting, and hard. Even though Seulgi’s scandal was controlled rapidly, the investors were more annoyed than the public and asked for a lot of reassurance from Jaeyi. They admitted that the company was doing better than last year, but the scandal impacted the share, and, of course, they were concerned. The CEO tried her best all afternoon to convince them that everything would be fine and that everything was under control. The investors asked a few more questions, but ended up believing and trusting the woman. Jaeyi felt satisfied with her work and left her office with a happy smile.

She had sent a message minutes ago to Seulgi saying she’ll be there soon. The actress only said she was in the hall with Byeong, waiting for her, and so the CEO walked toward the hall with an impatience feeling to see the woman again after a long day. It didn’t take long for the older woman to find the childhood friends sitting on a bench. She smiled but didn’t interfere. The youngest didn’t notice her yet, and she seemed to be too into her conversation. Jaeyi hid herself not far from them and waited a little. She knew spying wasn’t good, but she couldn’t help it.

“So, Jaeyi opened up to you, right? You must know why she divorced and all.” Byeong said with a curious tone. She heard Seulgi sigh in tiredness, which made Jaeyi smile weakly.

“I won’t say anything, Byeong. That’s not your business! You are being a little too nosy right now.” The actress’s voice was serious, sharp, leaving no space for arguing, and Byeong groaned.

“You are so serious! She won’t know anyway. I’m just curious cause before her divorce, she was chill, you know. I never met her husband before that day, but people always said he was kind and the perfect man. The divorce was so sudden, so I’m curious.” Jaeyi leaned her head to see their face. The actress looked at her friend with a deadpan face while Byeong rolled his eyes at her reaction.

“Byeong, it’s a no. Some things aren’t meant to be said to others, and it’s one of them. Even though I know you won’t tell her, I just can’t share. It’s too personal, too not your business.” Jaeyi slid down the wall and embraced her knees. She felt weird. Maybe she couldn’t believe that Seulgi didn’t say anything, or perhaps she expected her to say this to someone, but seeing her not do it made her feel relieved. She didn’t even notice the tear that fell on her eyes until she saw a wet spot on her arm.

“I see. You never change, it’s good to know. At least, can I know if she is a good kisser?” The question made Jaeyi let out a breathy laugh and wipe her tears. “Gosh, you are so annoying right now! When is Jaeyi coming? I can’t stay a second longer beside you!” The CEO stood and cleaned her outfit, making herself presentable. She got out of her hidden spot, and after only five seconds, Seulgi turned her head, making eye contact with Jaeyi. The older woman swore she saw her face become brighter when she noticed her.

“Jaeyi! You’re finally here, please let’s leave now, I can’t stay any longer beside him.” Seulgi said as she stood up and walked toward her. Byeong followed her and shook his head with a furrowed brow.

“Yah! I stayed with you all day! This is how you thank me? Ungrateful!” The younger woman gasped and turned her head fast, arguing with the man. Jaeyi only watched them with amusement. They looked like sibling fighting playfully, something she had never really experienced with her sister, and found it funny how two people who didn’t even share the same blood could act like real siblings. Suddenly, Jaeyi laughed, making the two friends stop.

“Why are you laughing?!” The actress said with her brows furrowed.

“Because you’re both ridiculous. Can we go now?” Seulgi nodded and waved at Byeong goodbye.

The actress stayed silent as she followed the CEO, and Jaeyi didn’t feel the need to speak or fill the silence. It felt right, no awkwardness, no coldness, just a comfortable and comprehensive silence. They were both tired, and the older woman could see it on the face of the youngest. Her walk was slower than usual, and her eyelids were half closed as if they had no energy left to stay fully open. Jaeyi’s gaze went to the actress’s hand with a desire to touch it. She always found her hand pretty, long, and somehow attractive. She finally took her hand and intertwined it with hers. She couldn’t believe this simple gesture made her a little anxious, as if she was afraid to be rejected even though they had kissed last night. Seulgi didn’t react much; she just gripped her hand tightly without saying anything. During the drive, there was no difference. The silence was still there, and their hands were still intertwined, even though Jaeyi broke the hold when she needed to use the gearbox and went back searching for Seulgi’s hand.

Arriving in front of Jena’s building, she stopped her car and looked at Seulgi. She needed to speak about something with the actress, and she found the moment perfect for this. The lack of action from Jaeyi made the actress look at her confusedly.

“I have something to ask you.” She begun. The air suddenly became heavy as the suspense hung in there. The actress only nodded, motioning for her to continue. The CEO took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

“Did Heeyoung tell you something about her father? I need to know everything, Seulgi.” The actress frowned weakly and said nothing for a few seconds. The silence only made the older woman frustrated, as the anxiety slowly started to manifest. She tapped her hands on the wheel in a fast rhythm.

“The day we fought, your daughter told me that she hated her father indirectly. She spoke about a book that your sister lent her, which described a dysfunctional family, and she identified with one of the characters because they shared a similar experience. I didn’t ask about the title or for more details. I told her to tell you everything, but.” Seulgi stopped short. Jaeyi opened her eyes and looked at her. She seemed hesitant as if the next thing she was going to say might hurt her.

“Just say it, Seulgi. Even if it hurt me.” The actress’s gaze went down to her hand, and she sighed.

“She said she didn’t see the utility of telling you everything when you let her father take care of her for weeks when she tells you she was scared of him. I couldn’t reply to her because it’s not my role to explain the complexity of the situation.” This was the second stab she got today. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and she looked at the actress who was smiling shyly. “Your daughter is soon a teenager, Jaeyi. You can’t hide everything from her; it will only confuse her. You should start explaining one or two things, so she could understand your decision. I’m sure she would love that and trust you more.”

Jaeyi said nothing for a moment, too deep in her thoughts. She tried to swallow the information, and a lot of questions started to germinate in her head. She didn’t know how to discuss it with her daughter or explain everything. Wasn’t Heeyoung too young for this? She never wanted her daughter to be in the middle of adult affairs. Heeyoung always talked highly about her father, and she didn’t want to ruin that for her or her relationship with her father. She never truly imagined Youngmin being mean to their daughter; every time they were together, they seemed so happy. She never found the strength to destroy it, her illusion. Jaeyi rested her head on the back seat and sighed. She was tired. Her life was never at peace, and the little happiness she could ever have was destroyed in no time.

She felt a soft touch on her cheek. It was light, slow, and maybe a little hesitant, but the touch had something tender, as if touching her was sacred. Jaeyi felt her stomach go upside down. She looked at the woman beside her and leaned her head on the touch. She knew Seulgi was someone she could trust, but a doubt gripped her. The fear was still here, and maybe this time it wasn’t really about trust, but about judgment. She never asked for help when it came to her motherhood. No, it was deeper; she wished to have help, but couldn’t get it. So, she never learned to ask for help, and maybe it was an error.

Seulgi was staring at her. She said nothing as if she knew what was happening in the older woman’s mind. She didn’t rush her or ask anything. She just sat still and waited patiently. Her touch never left Jaeyi’s cheek, and her eyes weren’t filled with judgment. Now that she thought about it, the younger never judged her in any of her decisions. She just supported silently.

“I-” Jaeyi pronounced the letter and stayed silent for a moment again. She was still hesitant, but so desperate at the same time. The fear and the want were fighting endlessly in her mind, making her head hurt. She swallowed hard and played with her fingers. A rock started to form in her chest, and she felt the air being a weight on her, making everything hardly breathable.

“Jaeyi, you are overthinking. Don’t let your fear win; it never ends well. Believe me.” Her tone was soft, yet firm. Enough to pull Jaeyi out of her thoughts. The actress took Jaeyi’s head in her hands and delicately caressed her right cheek with her thumbs. This small gesture was enough to make the unbearable feeling disappear and stop her inner fight. Without even being conscious, as if her mind gave up, she let the words slip out of her mouth.

“I don’t know how to speak about this with Heeyoung. I don’t even know how to react or what to do. I’m just… just afraid of doing it wrong and not finding the right words. I don’t want to… to make the same mistake as my mother.” Her voice came as a whisper. She was tired emotionally, and she underwent it suddenly. An intense weight was on her eyelids, causing her to double her effort to stay awake. Seulgi observed her, and Jaeyi could see the worries in her eyes.

“You won’t make the same mistake, Jaeyi. It must be hard, and you might be afraid of what your daughter may say, but you shouldn’t think too much about it. Your daughter is someone smart, and I’m sure she’ll understand everything if you are honest with her. She will be honest in return. Just so you know, I’m here too, Jaeyi. If you need anything, just tell me.” The older woman smiled sincerely. The actress always has the right word to reassure her. She stared at the youngest and slowly looked down at her lips. She wished she could kiss her a second time, but it felt too greedy and too soon. She whispered a thank you and placed her hand on the car door handle. Before she could even open the door, Seulgi took her wrist, making Jaeyi turn her head toward her, confused.

“Let me drive after, you seem very tired.” Jaeyi wasn’t the type to let others drive her car, but Seulgi wasn’t wrong. She could feel her eyes closing slowly by themselves, and sighed. She nodded and left the car to pick up Heeyoung.

She didn’t take a long time. She didn’t speak to her sister that much; she wanted to go home as soon as possible, and her energy wasn’t even here. She felt drained, and her sister seemed to notice it. Heeyoung didn’t say much when she saw her mother as if she knew Jaeyi had a hard day.

The drive also went silently. Jaeyi felt a little weird to be in the passenger seat, but seeing Seulgi drive was a new view she didn’t know she needed to experience. The actress’s posture was relaxed, with one hand on the wheel, and her gaze never left the road. She found her pretty, as she could see the night lighting from the lamp passing through her face, highlighting her facial features for a few seconds. Jaeyi bit one of her fingers and rested her head on the window. She didn’t even pay attention to the city blurring, not when every second her gaze went systematically to the woman beside her.

After a moment, without even knowing it, she fell asleep. She didn’t feel the need to enjoy the calm moment as if she knew she would experience this tomorrow and the other days that would come.

Deep down, she knew Seulgi didn’t have the desire to run away and would stay beside her, no matter what.

The next day was calm. No new scandal, no big emergency to handle. Seulgi insisted on maintaining her schedule, arguing that she couldn’t hold a production like this. Even though the CEO wanted the actress to have at least the weekend for herself, she knew the youngest was right. So, she let her work and handle her public image. At first, Jaeyi was stressed. It was the first scandal of Seulgi’s career, and the CEO was afraid of the actress’s words or moves. She stayed all day with a knot in her stomach, her finger twitching every time her assistant entered her office. The only thing that made her forget about everything was her daughter. She stayed in her office all day, and when she felt her mother too tense, she started to speak, making the atmosphere more enjoyable for both of them.

Unsurprisingly, Seulgi managed everything well. No bad move, no wrong words, just her honesty and calmness. She didn’t speak much about her past, but enough for people to like her more. Her reputation has not been damaged at all, quite the opposite, more people got curious about the actress. Jaeyi felt relieved when her assistant did his report for the day. On a normal day, she would have asked the PR team to push Seulgi into the spotlight, but she couldn’t. Not because she wanted to sabotage her, never in her life would she do that, but because she knew what kind of other scandals could fall on them. She tried her best to dampen the damage.

Nevertheless, Seulgi wasn’t the only person who caused Jaeyi stress. Something else was on her mind, something she couldn’t stop overthinking about, imagining every scenario possible and imaginable. It was something that slowly opened the door to insanity. She tried to find all the right words, sentences, and reactions, but it seemed so impossible to her. She was on the verge of asking Seulgi to do it in her place, but she couldn’t because it was her role to discuss it. It was her history, her feeling, and her role to protect her daughter even if the death was the finality. Throughout the day, she would occasionally glance at her daughter with soft eyes. For the first time in her life, she wasn’t excited to finish her work and go back home.

Because she knew this evening would be unbearable.

As if life were against her, the day went by quickly, and maybe it was because Jaeyi tried her best to be as busy as possible, even though her mind wasn’t always with her. She went home a little later than usual, but the sun was still out as they were in the middle of summer. The mother and daughter found Seulgi already at home, preparing dinner for them. When she saw them, she smiled brightly and welcomed the little family.

“Hey girls, how was your day?” Heeyoung threw her bag on the sofa and ran to hug the actress tightly. “Oh wow, I see someone missed me,” Seulgi said with a laugh. The older woman watched them silently as she sat in the chair behind the island kitchen. She liked to see the closeness between the actress and her daughter; they seemed so close, and if Jaeyi wasn’t in love with the woman, she would probably be jealous.

“Stop smiling like a dumbass and tell me about your day.” The voice sounded closer than she expected, making her jump. “I wasn’t smiling!” She defended herself. Seulgi chuckled and nodded.

“Yes, of course, whatever makes you happy.” Jaeyi felt her face burn and dropped her gaze to her hands, which were busy playing with her shirt. “My day went well. Just more stressful than usual.” Heeyoung sat next to her mother and nodded as if she were a witness.

“Mom was really deep into her thoughts today.” Jaeyi furrowed her brows and pinched slightly her daughter’s arms as a warning. “Ow, it’s hurt, Mom.” The little girl pouted as she caressed the painful spot. The actress only laughed at the scene, making Heeyoung furrow her eyebrows.

Seulgi put down the last plate and sat in her usual chair, face to the Yoo family. The girls ate with a more joyful energy than in the last days. Heeyoung started to speak about a movie she saw with her aunt, and her opinion led to a debate, especially between the mother and daughter. Seulgi only watched them; her gaze stayed longer on the older woman. Jaeyi felt her eyes, and sometimes she looked back at her with a seductive smile. She liked to see the actress flustered and secretly play around just to see it. When dinner finished, Heeyoung went to her bedroom, saying she wanted to finish a book before sleeping.

The two women were now alone. The kitchen was cleaned in no time as they helped each other, and they both sat on the sofa. Seulgi let out a tired sigh and closed her eyes.

“I hate journalists so much, or whatever. They asked me so many questions.” Jaeyi smiled and came closer to her. She didn’t touch her. She just stared at her, feeling privileged to be near the woman.

“You did a good job, better than I expected.” The actress looked at her and smiled in gratitude.

“Thank you, Ms. CEO. Your opinion matters a lot.” The older woman laughed at the half-teasing, half-serious tone. After a few seconds, Seulgi took a really serious tone as she asked the forbidden question. “Did you speak to your daughter?”

The question made Jaeyi freeze in her place. She scratched her neck and shook her head weakly as if she were ashamed. Well, she was. It felt stupid to be so unsure about a talk. So stupid when the person was her daughter. But, somehow, it felt like she was running straight to hell.

“I thought about it all day, but I didn’t find the courage or the words. It feels so stupid.” She brought her elbow to her knees and hid her face in her hands. After a few seconds of silence, she felt a touch behind her ear. She raised her head and met Seulgi’s eyes. They were full of kindness, a gentleness that attacked the heart right away.

“It’s not stupid, Jaeyi. You are just afraid of what you’ll find out, and it’s normal. We speak about your daughter, after all, it’s not anyone. But you need to do it. It’s important, you know that. If you want, I can be here.” The older woman stared at the floor and thought for a moment. Seulgi’s idea wasn’t stupid; her presence always brought a calmness, a strong support. Jaeyi’s gaze went to the actress and nodded.

“I would love that.” Seulgi smiled weakly and stood up. Without thinking, she took the actress’s wrist instinctively. Her foot was already tapping the floor, and she could feel the sweat on her hands. She wasn’t ready; she already felt nauseous as her stomach tightened and her heart started to beat too hard on her chest, filling her ears. The younger one seemed to notice the woman's stressed state and pushed away the hand that Jaeyi was biting unconsciously. She took the older woman’s head between her hands and forced her to look at her.

“Jaeyi, you need to calm down first, ok? Everything is going to be fine. Stop overthinking, you can do it, even if your communication is awkward. It’s going to be okay.” Her thumbs caressed the CEO’s cheeks softly. The gentle touch had an effect. Jaeyi’s breath became more regulated, and she felt less sick. “Can we go now?” The CEO stayed still for a minute and then nodded slowly.

Jaeyi walked slowly toward her daughter’s bedroom. Each step felt heavy as if she were pulling with her the Sisyphus’s rock, and the desire to run away gripped her. A touch went to her hand, it was warm, delicate. A silent, supportive touch. Jaeyi stayed in front of the door for a minute. She breathed deeply and looked at Seulgi, searching for support. She found more than support; the woman looked at her with love, and her eyes whispered that everything would be okay. She finally gathered all her courage and knocked at the door before opening it.

Heeyoung was on her bed with a book in her hands. She turned her head and frowned as she noticed the two women with a grave facial expression. She closed her book and sat down on the bed. The little girl only looked at them, patiently waiting for them to speak. The atmosphere felt strange, as if nobody knew what to expect in the next seconds, but knew the talk would be a turning point. Jaeyi released her hand from Seulgi’s and knelt in front of Heeyoung. Her daughter needed to tilt her head slightly down to meet her eyes. She took a deep breath and, with an unsure tone, she started to speak.

“I wanted to speak about something, Heeyoung. It’s really an important subject that I should have spoken about way before.” Heeyoung’s gaze went on Seulgi and then on her mother. She looked lost and started to caress her thumbs fast, an anxious gesture. “A-About what?” The little girl asked with a stutter. Out of instinct, Jaeyi took her daughter’s hand and stroked it softly as a reassurance.

“About your father. I know you hate being with him only, but I never asked you why. I always thought you would tell me if anything bad was happening. It was stupid since you always told that your father was scary.” Something in Heeyoung’s eyes shifted. It wasn’t tender or worried, no, it was dark and resentful.

“Yeah, you never took the hint and left me days with him.” Jaeyi dropped her head and closed her eyes for a second. She understood her daughter’s feelings and couldn’t blame her. It was her mistake. She looked back at her daughter and smiled apologetically.

“I’m sorry, Heeyoung. I should have been a little more vocal about it. If I could have the parental authority fully, you wouldn’t have to be with your father. You know, Heeyoung, your father is a good lawyer, and a divorce isn’t only about separation. You were also a subject, and the judge needed to decide with whom you should stay. If I prevent your father from seeing you or taking care of you, he could file a complaint against me, and I would lose you. It’s complicated.” Heeyoung didn’t bulge, and she looked at her mother. She seemed to love the sincerity and the explanation from her mother. She sometimes frowned as she tried to understand everything, but she didn’t ask for more explanation. She nodded and swung her lips left to right.

“Why did you divorce Dad?” She asked it slowly, completely unsure if it was a great idea to even ask. Jaeyi breathed and smiled with sadness. She knew one day she had to explain to her daughter her story. She turned her head to Seulgi, who was leaning on the wall, and the actress gave a little head up as encouragement. She looked back at her daughter.

“Well, your father and I were always close since we were kids. He was always supportive and great with me. He knew all my dreams and goals. Even though he seemed like a perfect man, he betrayed me and hurt me a lot emotionally. I couldn’t stay with someone who lied a lot.” Heeyoung nodded slowly. She didn’t ask more questions even though she looked like she wanted to, but it was still enough to fill her curiosity.

“I see, Dad was never a good person.” She said this with disappointment, as if the reality just slapped her. It broke Jaeyi’s heart after hearing such a disappointing tone. She looked lost and quite hesitant about something. Jaeyi caught the little twitch on her lip; it was subtle and fast, but she caught it.

“Heeyoung, just tell me whatever is going on. I will do everything to protect you, everything. Just let it out.” Her daughter’s gaze went between the two women in the room, and then dropped on her hand where her mother was still holding her. Jaeyi patiently waited for her daughter to open up, not wanting to hurry her, even though the frustration started to grow in her. After a few minutes, Heeyoung opened up.

“At first, it was soft, he just didn’t stop speaking about my grades and my hobbies. He wanted me to be the best everywhere and didn’t stop comparing me with someone he knew. He told me I must be a lawyer like him, so I could inherit his law firm. I never really took his remark seriously; I thought it was his way to motivate me. But then, he suddenly changed; he became more aggressive and demanding. He is obsessed with everything I do. He became close to my teacher, and he wanted me to take extra lessons in every course where I didn’t have a perfect score.” She stopped talking for a second.

“He doesn’t let me sleep until I complete his tests, he doesn’t stop screaming at me every time I ask a question when I didn’t understand something, and when I don’t get the grade he wants, he punishes me.” Jaeyi dropped her hands and looked at her daughter with a terrifying gaze. A rock was well installed in her throat, making it hard to speak and ask the question she wanted to. The silence was thick, too uncomfortable for everyone. Seulgi didn’t move but seemed to understand that the mother needed a little help. She looked at Heeyoung softly, and with a soft and reassuring tone, she spoke.

“What kind of punishment does he give you, Heeyoung?” The little girl avoided the two women and stood up. Jaeyi sensed the thing that she was scared of coming right in her face and clenched her teeth. Her daughter seemed too tired to even speak about her father’s actions and chose to just show. She turned around, showing her back, and took off her top, letting the cool air blush her skin.

The two women gasped as they saw bruises on her skin. There were a lot of cuts, her back was mostly red, and Jaeyi, with wide eyes, skimmed past the bruise. She almost couldn’t believe it. Her fingers were trembling in a way that anyone would notice. Her eyes and fingers went until the end of her daughter’s back, and she noticed a burn mark on her side. Her breath caught and touched it, making Heeyoung squirm in place. It looked recent.

“Why did he-” She stopped herself. Her voice wasn’t stable; her body was trembling even on the inside. She felt a painful lump in her throat. She wanted to scream, to break everything, to cry in rage. She couldn’t even find the courage to continue her question. She heard a sniff and raised her head.

“I-I’m sorry, Mom, I broke our promise. I didn’t mean, really, but Dad was so… out of himself.” Jaeyi pulled out her touch and stood up. She couldn’t stay in the room a second more. It felt too small, as if the wall was closing in on her, and her head was too painful as the thoughts flooded in. Her stomach didn’t only hurt, she felt it physically twisting, and something rose to her throat. Her daughter sensed her mother’s movement and turned around fast. Her face was full of tears, and she looked like she had done something bad. Jaeyi knew she shouldn’t have left the room; she should have hugged her, reassured her, but she couldn’t. It felt too much. Her emotions were blurred; she felt rage mixed with a deep disappointment, not against Youngmin, but against herself.

She never noticed the bruises. What a failure.

Seulgi watched Jaeyi run away from the room and said nothing. She sighed and walked toward Heeyoung. She looked lost, sad, and scared. The actress took the little girl in her arms and stroked her hair, making sure not to touch her back too much. The moment Heeyoung rested her head on the woman’s shoulder, she let out a sob. It was a painful one, the one you let out after holding too much in you. She didn’t stop apologizing as if she were at fault, breaking Seulgi’s heart. The actress tightened her embrace.

“It’s okay, Heeyoung, you didn’t do anything. It’s not your fault. You just acted with the goal to survive; you did nothing wrong. Your mom just needs some time to swallow the information, but you can be sure she isn’t angry at you. Nobody is angry at you, Heeyoung, you did what was best for you. You should rest now; you were really brave.” Heeyoung nodded and sniffed multiple times before going to her bed. Seulgi stayed with her a little more. She stroked her hair, waiting for the girl to calm down, and from time to time she kissed her forehead. When she felt her breath slow down and heard no sniff, she moved out of the bed slowly, trying not to wake her up.

She closed the bedroom door slowly and walked fast toward the living room in search of Jaeyi. The piece was empty, but she noticed a glass half full of alcohol. She sighed and entered Jaeyi’s room. The moment she opened the door, she heard the sound of someone throwing up, and she ran to the private bathroom. She didn’t say a word. The other woman raised her head from the toilet and stood up with a weak balance, making Seulgi come closer to her in case she fell. Jaeyi cleaned her face and mouth with water, the actress still beside her in case the CEO needed something. She looked fragile; her body was still trembling, and she didn’t seem to be conscious of her surroundings. She was still in her rage, Seulgi could see it in her watery eyes.

Seulgi didn’t leave the older alone. Jaeyi was now sitting on her bed with an empty, tired look, and her body wasn’t moving; only her eyelids were closing from time to time to hydrate her eyes. It split Seulgi’s heart to see the older in this state. She didn’t only look vulnerable, but weak, empty, so out of herself. It was worse than seeing her crying. It felt like any words wouldn’t be enough to repair the broken pieces, and the actress felt helpless. She was always the one who found the right word to make her feel better, but now, she had no idea what to say. So, she sat beside her and intertwined their hands.

Jaeyi’s gaze went to her, and she put down her head on the younger’s shoulder. They said nothing, they didn’t need to. They just needed the presence of each other.

“Sleep with me tonight, I don’t want to be alone. I feel like I would become insane if I stayed with my mind only.” Seulgi hummed positively and stroked her hair. After a moment, they were lying on the bed. Jaeyi’s head was resting on the crook of Seulgi’s neck while the actress still stroked her hair calmly. They didn’t speak for a while, just enjoying the warmth of the position, until Jaeyi broke the silence.

“I felt like I failed as a mother.” Then, she let out a breathy laugh. “I wonder if my mom feels like this, too.” She whispered in tiredness. Seulgi stopped her movement. Her last sentence felt like a wish and something deeper.

“You didn’t fail as a mother, Jaeyi. You can still protect your daughter. Now you can ask the judge to avoid as much as possible the contact between them since he is a danger to the child. You should rest, you’ve done enough. I’m proud of you.” She felt Jaeyi tighten her embrace and hid her head deeper into her neck. Seulgi kissed her head softly, adding reassurance. As time went by, she felt the breath of the older slow down slightly, and before Jaeyi fell asleep she spoke.

“Thank you for staying by my side, Seulgi.” And after a moment.

“Please, never leave me.” And in the final whisper.

“I love you.”

Seulgi froze. She didn’t move for a long time and didn’t even make a sound. Her heart stopped as she felt a heat on her face. She said it with so much honesty, so lovely. It took a couple of minutes for Seulgi’s brain to comprehend the situation and the words. She moved slightly to get a sight of the woman’s face. Jaeyi’s eyes were closed. Her face was relaxed and peaceful as she was in a deep sleep. She didn’t even wait for an answer, as if the confession wasn’t planned at all, and the actress smiled.

“I love you, too.”

Chapter Text

Jaeyi woke up alone the next morning. She was at first a bit confused, clearly remembering that last night she had slept in Seulgi’s arms, but then she saw a little note on the nightstand. The older woman took the paper and read it with particular attention. She wanted to remember her handwriting, which she found beautiful, and smiled as she reread the sentences over and over.

Sorry, I couldn’t stay until you woke up. Unfortunately, I also work on Sunday.

I’ve made breakfast for you and Heeyoung. I will try to come home as early as possible.

Have a nice day with your daughter (try to reassure her and don’t forget, everything is going to be okay).

— Seul, Your princess.

Jaeyi admitted it; her eyes were mostly stuck on the end of the note. She felt the hesitation in the handwriting, and the way she crossed her name out was proof of it. She put down the note and stayed a bit longer in her bed. In the first few minutes, she thought about nothing. Her mind was blank as white paper, and her eyes fixed on the ceiling. Then, everything that happened last night fell on her. Her anxiety, her talk with Heeyoung, her running away, and the sudden confession that slipped out of her mouth. Jaeyi brought her hand to her lips and groaned loudly.

She wasn’t happy about it. She didn’t plan to confess like this, in her most vulnerable moment. Seulgi deserved much more, and to think she just slept after. Jaeyi let out a sigh and shook her head, hoping the thoughts would disappear with the motion. It didn’t, in fact, it made everything worse. Her brain didn’t let her rest for a second. She was now thinking about the kiss, something they still didn’t speak about, and even pretending that it never happened. She could still notice the change in their relationship; it felt more intimate, more like a couple. But they weren’t official, and Jaeyi felt the jolt of annoyance in her chest as she thought about it.

She sighed loudly one last time and stood up to do her morning routine, as she couldn’t bear her thoughts anymore. When she finished, she walked toward the open kitchen and smiled as she saw the breakfast well established on the table, covered with a thin cloth. She suddenly heard steps coming toward her and raised her head just to see Heeyoung rubbing her eyes, still half asleep. Jaeyi smiled softly and walked closer to her daughter.

“You’re already awake.” The little girl looked at her and nodded slowly. She didn’t hug her mother like she usually did every morning. She waited, waited for her mother to make the first step as if she were afraid. Jaeyi understood that quickly and opened her arms, inviting Heeyoung. Her daughter didn’t think twice and jumped into her mother’s embrace, hugging her tightly.

“Did you sleep well?” She asked softly. She didn’t hug her daughter as tightly as she normally did; the image of Heeyoung’s bruises on her back was still fresh in her brain, and she was afraid to touch it too hard. The little girl nodded weakly and refused to leave her mother’s embrace. Jaeyi stayed still, letting her daughter take the time she needed. After all, a mother should bring comfort to their child, right?

“Let’s eat. Seulgi made breakfast for us before going to work. We’ll talk after, okay?” Heeyoung said nothing and walked toward the table, her hand taking her mother’s. She refused to be distant from her, and Jaeyi let her.

During breakfast, they didn’t talk much. From time to time, when Jaeyi noticed the tension in her daughter’s body, she joked around, trying to make the atmosphere more enjoyable. It did work since Heeyoung seemed a bit relaxed. The moment they finished, her daughter helped to clean the table with a more enthusiastic energy, making Jaeyi smile widely at the sight. But then, the moment of talk came, and the two girls felt it in the air— the importance of it. They were sitting on the sofa, television on with a random animation show for Heeyoung, and Jaeyi stayed silent for a long moment.

She tried not to overthink, just like Seulgi told her, but she couldn’t help it. The subject was sensible, and each word used had its weight and importance. She knew she should start with an apology for running away after such a breaking confession, but how to do it correctly? Her attention was fully on Heeyoung. She stared at her angelic, relaxing face and felt an intense feeling in her stomach. It was love, no, even that word wasn’t intense enough. She could kill for her protection, for her happiness, she could even leave everything behind for her. It was that intense that she felt a pain in her throat as she tried not to let the tear slide down her cheeks. She caressed her daughter’s cheek and smiled softly. A feeling of protection emerged in her chest and brain.

“Heeyoung, you know mom loves you, right?” Heeyoung detached her eyes from the television to look at her mother. She smiled widely and nodded fast.

“I love you too, Mom.” Her daughter climbed on her lap and hugged her tightly. Jaeyi kissed her forehead and stroked her back slowly and carefully. She didn’t touch her back fully; she just passed through it with her fingers. Maybe Seulgi was right; she shouldn’t think much about the words to use, and with this state of mind, she let herself go.

“I’m sorry for yesterday, Heeyoung. I shouldn’t have walked away; I regretted it very much. I didn’t know how to react and let my emotions control me. Seulgi wasn’t supposed to be the one to comfort you after such a revelation. I’m also sorry that I haven’t seen the bruises or how bad you felt. I’m going to pay more attention to you now.” Heeyoung said nothing for a few seconds as if she needed time to comprehend the words, but Jaeyi felt her embrace tighten around her and smiled.

“You aren’t mad at me?” The CEO furrowed her brows as the confusion and guilt settled in her chest.

“Why would I be mad?” She felt her daughter bury her head on her neck.

“I said to Dad that Seulgi was with us. I broke our promise. It’s my fault that Seulgi had a scandal.” Heeyoung said softly and slowly. Jaeyi moved her daughter’s head so they could face each other. She grabbed her head with one of her hands and caressed her cheek with her thumb. Heeyoung avoided her mother’s look, and Jaeyi felt the remorse on her daughter’s face.

“Heeyoung, look at me.” She repeated the sentence twice before the little girl finally looked at her. Her eyes were watery, and she felt a bang of pain in her heart at the sight. “Heeyoung, I’m not mad at you for this. Your security is way more important than anything, even more important than my work. You did what you should have done. You didn’t have the choice, it’s okay. I’m here for you, and you don’t have to worry about anything, ok? I’ll make sure that you are safe.” She pulled her daughter in a hug, and they stayed for a minute. She loved Heeyoung’s embrace; she could hug her for hours. She kissed her daughter’s cheek delicately and smiled at her.

“Before we could relax and have our day for ourselves fully, we had to speak about something. Do you want to see your father ever again? You can be honest.” Heeyoung hesitated for a moment, but as if she remembered something, she spoke confidently.

“Not when you aren’t around. I don’t want to stay with him alone.” Jaeyi nodded and motioned for her to stand up. Heeyoung followed the instruction with a confused look, but seemed to trust her mother blindly. The CEO took her phone and opened the camera application.

“I’m going to take pictures of your bruises, Heeyoung. It’s important, and tomorrow we’ll go see Auntie for a checkup. Can you, for now, take off your top?” The little girl said nothing and followed the instructions. She didn’t seem to understand the need to take pictures of her bruises, but she didn’t ask. She stayed silent as if she wanted to move on quickly. When her mother touched her burning mark slightly, she squirmed. “Does it hurt?”

“No, Dad took me to a doctor. The mark will disappear, right? It’s ugly. Plus, every time I touch it, I still feel the sensation of his action.” Jaeyi pulled out her touch and stayed silent as she took the last picture. She stared at the burn mark and bit her lips out of anger and frustration. She still felt guilty about it.

“I’m sorry, Heeyoung. The burn seems too important; it won’t go away.” Jaeyi whispered, and the little girl said nothing. She just nodded in disappointment and traced her burn mark one last time before wearing her top back.

“It’s okay. Can we now watch television? I don’t want to do anything else.” Jaeyi let out a chuckle and nodded at her daughter. She also didn’t want to do anything for the day. She wanted to escape for a day from reality and the mess in her life. She deserved a little rest before attacking her plan.

In the morning, they only watched television, and in the afternoon, they played some games.

Seulgi left the studio where she was recording for her drama and stayed in front of it, waiting for Ara to pick her up. Since the scandal, the actress’s manager regained her role fully and was now the one to drive Seulgi back to her new home. Nevertheless, she was late today, which wasn’t normal. Ara was serious, and if she had a mishap, she always sent a message. She didn’t today, and Seulgi grew worried. Her foot was tapping quickly on the floor, and she tried to hide her head as she noticed how crowded the street started to get. She prayed that nobody would recognize her. She only made one public appearance after her scandal, and then she disappeared from the camera.

The problem with her scandal was how people started to get curious about her private life. She opened social media to see what people were saying, even though the public opinion wasn’t against her, they were questioning every aspect of her. She refused an interview, and she would continue to refuse until people forget about everything. She knew they would. It was always like this. She suddenly heard a beep and saw Ara’s car parked in front of her. She didn’t wait any longer and sat on the passenger seat.

“I’m so sorry for my late. I got an important call, my phone died just after, and there was traffic. Horrible! Anyway, how was the shooting?” Her manager started the car and drove. On the other hand, Seulgi rested her head on the window and sighed.

“Good, the male lead was kinda annoying. The moment you left, he became different.” Ara briefly looked at her and refocused herself on the road. “Is this your way to say he flirted with you? Kyung warned me about this.” The actress frowned and crossed her arms on her chest.

“Warning about what?” She stared at her manager, waiting for her to speak impatiently. Ara didn’t even look at her, but she saw how her manager rolled her eyes as if she had asked a stupid question.

“That you are famous among actors! Kyung told me in your last shooting, the one you are promoting right now, the male lead didn’t stop flirting with you. She didn’t lie, though! The way he looked at you would make Jaeyi mad jealous.” Seulgi rolled her eyes, and her gaze went back to the blurry motion. She knew they were right about her popularity and all the things that come with it, but Ara’s comment had germinated an excellent idea, and she felt a jolt of impatience in her as a smirk began to draw on her face.

“You gave me an excellent idea, Ara.” Her manager looked at her briefly multiple times with an urgent gaze as if she wanted to say she wasn’t responsible for her bad ideas. “I never saw Jaeyi jealous. I’m curious now. Maybe I should talk about these ugly ass men.” She said as she bit her finger and watched the city blur by at the speed of the car.

“What do you mean by ugly? Right now, you are pairing with the most handsome actors! And have you read the new script I gave you? The lead male is Chanwoo! He is handsome too, since the rumor, everyone wants to see both of you together.” Seulgi sighed deeply and massaged her forehead. She totally forgot about the new script she needed to read. Ara gave it a moment ago, but with the mess, her mind wasn’t deeply into work and career. She was thinking mostly about Jaeyi and Heeyoung these past few days.

“No, I still didn’t read it. I’m going to do it tonight. Anyway, they are still very unattractive to my eyes, and when you meet a beauty like Jaeyi, let me tell you, everyone is ugly!” Ara’s mouth opened slightly, and she shook her head, eyes still fixed on the road. “May god help you, Seulgi, may god help you.”

The actress only laughed, and she spoke about her schedule. It didn’t take long before they arrived in front of Jaeyi’s building, and Seulgi said goodbye to her manager before getting out of the car. She walked fast, impatient to see the two girls at home. She typed the door code, and the sound of fast footsteps welcomed her. She didn’t even get the time to look up when she felt someone hug her tightly. The impact was so strong that her body leaned on the door to maintain her balance.

“Seulgi unnie! You’re finally home!” The actress chuckled, feeling a new emotion she had never experienced before. It was still new for her. She won’t say nobody waited for her to come home; she had a present stepmother who took care of her until she left, but she still felt different. She felt like being part of a family, feeling at home. The feeling of coming home and having someone so excited to see her was something strong. She never thought she would live something like that, and Ara’s teasing suddenly resonated in her head.

“Hey, cutie. How are you? Did you enjoy your day?” She said as she hugged her back. She felt Heeyoung’s head move up and down to reply to her last question, and pulled back to face Seulgi.

“I’m good! Mom and I enjoyed our day. I finally succeeded in making Mom play on Nintendo Switch, and let me tell you, I thought she would be bad at it, but she is a good player!” Seulgi laughed, quite surprised that Jaeyi was good at playing video games.

The actress looked behind Heeyoung and swung her lip from right to left as she hadn’t seen the CEO welcoming her. The little girl seemed to notice the disappointment on Seulgi’s face and suddenly took her hand to pull her toward the living room. The actress said nothing, letting herself be guided by the girl, and they stopped behind the sofa. Heeyoung moved her head toward the couch, indicating to look over, and Seulgi followed her order. Her eyes fell on Jaeyi sleeping, one hand on her stomach, the other dangling off the couch. She looked relaxed like this, no anxiety, no overthinking, no fear, nothing. Seulgi smiled uncontrollably and turned her gaze on Heeyoung, who had an amused smile on her face and eyes that said everything. For some reason, Seulgi felt a heat on her face and her heart flip.

“What should we do, unnie?” Seulgi thought for a moment. She needed to find something quiet, avoiding waking Jaeyi. After a minute of consideration, she found something wonderful that mixed her work with activity.

“Do you want to read with me one of the new scripts, and you’ll give me your opinion on it?” She saw her eyes lighten, and Heeyoung did a little jump while nodding. She told her to wait in her bedroom until the time she found the script, and in no time, the two girls were reading.

It wasn’t supposed to be a noisy activity. They were just reading a script; it was like reading a book, but with some differences. Heeyoung was deep into it and started to imagine the scene. She even asked Seulgi to act a little. At first, it was just her, but then Heeyoung joined in the fun, and without being conscious, they began to be loud.

“Who would be the male lead?!” Heeyoung asked as they were reading a romantic scene. The actress didn’t answer right away as she furrowed her brow, reading the sentences before her. “Chanwoo apparently.” She didn’t look at the little girl, too focused on the paper.

“Oh, the rising star of mom’s agency! I’ve met him multiple times, and he always spoke to me kindly. One day, he gave me a candy, but don’t tell Mom!” Seulgi let out a giggle and nodded her head. “Anyway, I can imagine both of you on my screen.” The actress stopped reading and gazed at Heeyoung with surprised eyes.

“Really? You think we suit each other?” The girl nodded and gave her a thumbs-up. “You would probably win the best couple just because of the visual. Note it as Heeyoung’s prediction.” Seulgi rolled her eyes, but let out a laugh. They continued to read, laughing, reacting, and further, they read the script louder they get. Suddenly, they were startled by a knock and looked directly at it. Jaeyi was standing there. She was rubbing one of her eyes and looked at them with a confused gaze. Seulgi found it cute how her brows were furrowed weakly with her eyes half open.

“Why are you both so loud?” Heeyoung didn’t speak and pushed Seulgi slightly with her shoulder, making her come back to reality. The actress scratched the back of her neck and smiled awkwardly.

“Well, it wasn’t supposed to be loud; we were just reading my new script. I guess we got into it deeply.” The girl beside her stood up and hugged her mom.

“Sorry, Mom, if we wake you up. The script was just good.” Her explanation made the adults roll their eyes and chuckle. Seulgi took her phone to check the time. 6 PM. They read for two hours. Then, she saw a notification that caught her attention. It was the male lead of her current shooting, and Seulgi sighed.

“Is there something?” Jaeyi’s voice brought her back, and she shook her head. She turned her phone off, ignoring the notification, and smiled weakly.

“No, nothing important.” Heeyoung looked at both of them and smiled weirdly. Seulgi noticed it, and she didn’t know if she liked it or not. She just knew her heart beat slightly faster and felt her face burn, clearly a sign that she was blushing. “We should cook for dinner.” She said with the need to leave the room, and she executed her will. She didn’t know what got her today, but she felt flustered so quickly and over nothing.

The girls joined her just a few seconds after, and they naturally started to cook. It was something convivial; they looked more and more like a family, and for some reason, Ara’s teasing resonated in her mind. She couldn’t help but think about her relationship with Jaeyi. Her confession was still fresh in her head, and she knew they couldn’t play around like this forever. Seulgi’s eyes went to Jaeyi, who was helping her daughter cut vegetables with a smile. She was beautiful and warm as a person. Behind her cold mask, the actress found a sensible woman, full of generosity and passion.

A partner.

She wanted to make it official, to be part of Jaeyi’s journey, and to help her. She knew she was in love with her, but she wasn’t aware of the depth of it. She wanted to be her girlfriend; she was sure of it. Even though they looked like a couple, they weren’t, and Seulgi always stopped herself from kissing her or saying something too much. At this point, she didn’t even want to go on a date; she got more than dates and better than that. She started to feel desperate, and a need to rush everything gripped her, but she always found a way to calm down. She couldn’t screw this.

The dinner went well. Seulgi observed how the mother and daughter seemed closer than before, a sign that Jaeyi talked to Heeyoung and did well. She smiled at it as she ate. The girls talked through dinner and laughed a lot. It had been a while since the Yoo family looked like this, happier and less tense. Seulgi knew it was just for a time and enjoyed the energy they brought to the table. When they finished cleaning everything up, Heeyoung kissed the cheek of each woman as a goodnight and went to her bedroom, leaving the adult between them.

“It’s her last week of school. Summer break is already here.” Jaeyi said as she poured herself a glass of wine. Seulgi sat on the couch, head falling on the back and eyes looking to the ceiling.

“How will you manage it? My schedule is going to be awful; I won’t be available.” She heard Jaeyi coming closer and sat beside her. She felt a finger tracing her jaw line, and she turned her head toward the older woman. Jaeyi was staring at the actress, her leg crossing, and in her other hand, she supported her glass between her fingers. She looked intimidating, and Seulgi found her hot like this. She bit her lips and raised her head off the sofa’s back to look at the city in front of her.

“She’ll stay with me like always, unless my sister has free time. I’m going to find a way so Heeyoung doesn’t stay with her father.” She replied. Seulgi felt a touch on her ear, and a heat surface in her body. She didn’t move, didn’t reject her touch, she just stayed still as Jaeyi circled her top ear. “Your ears are red.” The CEO whispered. She knew what she was doing, and Seulgi was on the verge of losing it, but still let her touch whatever she wanted to. She cleared her throat as she felt it dry.

“You know I’m sensible there.” She heard a deep hum from the older woman. Her voice was different than usual, and it felt like a game, a seductive game. “Anyway, it seemed like you talked to Heeyoung. Tell me about your day.” She let her back hit the couch’s back and looked at Jaeyi, who dropped her hand off Seulgi’s ears.

“Yeah, it went well. I took pictures of her bruises, and tomorrow I’m going to see Jena so she can do a detailed report about it. I’m going to charge him with child abuse. Other than that, we did nothing special. We watched movies and played some games. It was funny.” Seulgi nodded and smiled at her.

“You finally succumbed to video games! Heeyoung told me you were pretty good.” Jaeyi snorted and rolled her eyes.

“I can be pretty competitive when I want it! Kid or not!” They both laughed. They weren’t touching each other, but the intimacy and tension were still present. Jaeyi stared at her and tilted her head slightly with a smile on her face.

“And you? How was your day?” Seulgi thought about her day, and she sighed as she remembered the person who acted as the male lead. “You sound annoyed. Someone pushed the wrong button?” The actress straightened her body and massaged her left shoulder. She felt tense just at the thought.

“Yeah, the other lead actor was annoying as hell today. The other days he was sweet, and then I don’t know.” Jaeyi said nothing for a moment and took her glass of wine to drink a bit.

“You mean he flirted with you?” Seulgi nodded weakly. Jaeyi’s voice wasn’t cold; it just lost its sweetness and seductive tone, but she noticed a shift in her eyes. An annoyance? She began curious about how the conversation would turn out, and like a very famous quote: fuck around to find out.

“He even asked me out because he knows Byeong, and that we could do a double date since Byeong is dating someone or whatever.” Jaeyi’s brow twitched into a furrow, and she drank a bit more of her wine.

“And you answered?” Her voice turned a bit colder, which made Seulgi smile weakly.

“I still didn’t answer it. I think I’m just going to ignore it. We have to do a kiss scene tomorrow, so.” Jaeyi finished her drink and put it down on the table. Her body was tense, and she could feel the annoyance emanating from her.

“Does it happen a lot?” The actress was taken aback by the question and crossed her arms against her chest.

“Yes, not always, some even became good friends, but yeah. I even turned down some projects just because the actor was one of the persistent ones.” Jaeyi came close and rested her head on her shoulder.

“Why don’t you tell them you are in a relationship?” Seulgi stayed silent.

“They either don’t believe me or they just don’t care, saying they could be better.” The older woman raised her head and looked directly into the actress’s eyes. Seulgi was mesmerized by her gaze; they were dark, but not in a scary way. They were protective and possessive. They were so intense, she found herself lost in it, and Jaeyi could’ve done anything; she would give in.

“Did they touch you inappropriately?” The younger woman avoided her gaze and bit her lips.

“You know the answer, Jaeyi. Even though I’m managing the situation better than before. It’s just annoying and always destroying my day. I even hesitated one day to pretend I’m dating someone publicly just to see if there was a difference, but I found it ridiculous.” A silence fell on them. The older woman placed her head closer to her neck and left a wet kiss there. Seulgi’s body tensed, and she felt her whole face burn.

“You do a lot of romance, it’s kind of annoying.” Seulgi sighed loudly, making Jaeyi’s head raise to face her, confused.

“People love to see me in romance. Mind you, have you forgotten you’re using me so that Chanwoo can have a rise in popularity?! The script is a romance; I had to kiss him more than six times, and one should be a heated kiss.” She heard Jaeyi groan loudly and laughed at it.

“Don’t laugh! It was Mr. Kim who convinced me! I never read scripts, I knew it was a bad idea! Say no, please. I won’t hate you for this.” The actress only laughed more as Jaeyi stayed neutral the whole time. “Yah! That’s not funny!” Seulgi stopped her laugh and tilted her head toward Jaeyi.

“Shouldn’t you think about your company? I loved the script, I’m going to accept it. The shooting isn’t for now, anyway.” Her reply left Jaeyi speechless, and she started to sulk. Even though she found it funny and knew the older woman was joking around, she could tell there was a sincerity in her want for Seulgi to stop the romance genre.

“Jaeyi, you know, if you want a relationship with me, you need to accept that I would kiss other people for work, right?” She heard a deep sigh, the one that came out as a loss of weight on the shoulder. The actress smiled weakly and went onto her lap.

“I know, but that doesn’t mean I can’t dislike it.” The CEO put her arms around Seulgi’s waist and pulled her closer. The actress’s eyes kept glancing at her lips, but she didn’t make a move, not when they weren’t official. And maybe, because of that, the tension only grew each second, making everything more intense. The moment Seulgi felt it was unbearable, she hid her face on her neck and hugged her. At least, she could enjoy the comfort of her body.

She felt so safe in her embrace that she fell asleep without overthinking.

The door opened, and a woman with a white blouse was standing there. Her eyes were full of rage as her hands were in a tight fist, but her face didn’t reflect that. She looked more sad than angry. The atmosphere was heavy with guilt as the two women stood in front of each other. They looked responsible for not spotting everything before. The doctor brought her finger to her temple and sighed.

“I’ve made a detailed report. I’m going to make an appointment for the psychologist; she needs to be registered with one. I can’t believe he did that. Her burn is deep; he must have burned her multiple times in the same zone. She was in care of by a doctor quickly, but the burn isn’t treated fully yet. For the scratch, I think it’s the mark of the object he used to hit her multiple times. All the visible part of her body isn’t being touched, so I guess he made sure to hit her where nobody would notice. This fucking bastard.” Jena leaned on the wall and closed her eyes while her sister sat on a bench in the hallway, deep into her thoughts. The silence was full of unsaid words, but they didn’t need to say them out loud; they knew what the other was thinking. Jaeyi felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to her right to face her older sister. She was so disconnected from her surroundings that she didn’t even see her coming toward her.

“How are you managing it? That must have shocked you.” The CEO let a small, breathy laugh and shrugged her shoulders. She looked at her sister’s eyes and gave her a tired smile.

“I’m just tired emotionally. Thank God Seulgi is here; she took care of us. I couldn’t stay in the room when Heeyoung showed me everything. It was horrible.” Jena nodded in comprehension and stroked her sister’s back as a reassurance gesture.

“I’m sorry, you and Heeyoung deserved better. Should I warn father?” Jaeyi shook her head violently.

“Do not! Dad would be on his side, you know it. I’m going to meet the lawyer this afternoon, and I’ll speak about it too.” Her older sister nodded once and stayed silent for a moment.

“If you want me to lie in the medical or psychology report to make everything more dramatic, tell me, and I will do that. When Dad knows about everything, I’m going to speak with him. I don’t want to see his face ever again.” The CEO blinked slowly at the doctor’s words. The tone and the sentences seemed protective. She observed her sister and saw the anger and the urge to fight. It was a rare sight; her sister was always so obedient out of fear. Jaeyi’s gaze went to the wall and hummed.

“Thank you, Jena. I’m so sorry to always ask you so much.” There was a minute of silence. Everything stopped around them, and Jena took her sister’s hand.

“Don’t, I’m your older sister, it’s normal. I always tried to protect you, and I will continue, even though I’m not loud with my words.” This made Jaeyi freeze.

It was the first time she heard it from her, and it made her emotional. They never talked about their childhood or the way they felt for each other. Nothing was perfect between them. They rarely teased each other or fought for fun, never told each other their secrets, and they never acted like sibling at all. The only moments when she recognized Jena as her sister were the moments of protection and the small care she gave when Jaeyi let her. They were sometimes physical, but not too much. The younger only hugged her when she felt like she could, but otherwise, they were never touchy. It wasn’t because they didn’t want it, but they weren’t comfortable with it. Not when Jaeyi hit her because she got a better grade, not when Jena screamed at her out of jealousy and temper. They always have that love and hate relationship, but since they lived apart, they hated each other less and less. They grew and healed individually, even though Jaeyi wished that one of them would have the courage to talk about their relationship.

“I’ll keep you informed about the situation. I need to drop Heeyoung off at her school; she already missed the morning.” Jena nodded and stood up to open the door of the check-in room. Heeyoung was sitting in a chair, swinging her legs as she patiently waited for her mother and aunt. She looked tired and lost in her thoughts. Jaeyi hated to see her in such a dull mood and felt a punch in her stomach. She called out her daughter’s name, and they left the hospital.

Jaeyi made sure that Heeyoung got at least a good moment before dropping off at her school. They ate in a restaurant, and the mother tried her best to energize her daughter with some jokes and stories. It worked well; in no time, the little girl was all smiling, looked like she had forgotten everything that had happened the past three days, and Jaeyi was satisfied with it. She then drove her to school.

“I’m going to pick you up after school, but I might be late.” She said as she walked with her daughter in the school hallway. She was holding Heeyoung’s hand while her other hand held her daughter’s bag. They stopped not far from the classroom, and Jaeyi caressed the top of Heeyoung’s head.

“Okay! Can’t wait then.” She replied with a higher tone that hinted at her excitement and hugged her mother tightly before joining her classmate. The CEO observed her a little longer. Heeyoung was smiling at her friends, who didn’t stop glaring at her mother. Jaeyi noticed the light blush on her daughter’s cheek, but she couldn’t tell if it was out of embarrassment or shyness. Nevertheless, she smiled at herself as the relief submerged her.

She turned her back and walked toward the director’s office. She needed to be sure that the director was still on her side. After all, they were supposed to be good friends. She knocked at the door and waited two seconds before the door opened. An old woman appeared in front of her, and as she met the CEO’s cold face, she bowed her body to welcome her.

“Oh, Ms. Yoo! I didn’t expect your visit. You can sit! A drink?” Jaeyi sat on the sofa and shook her head with a weak smile. Her body stayed straight, and her face went back to a serious, cold one fast. She wasn’t here to be friendly. She was here for a specific cause. The director sat in front of her with an awkward smile. Her body was also straight, but the way her finger tapped on the sofa indicated that she was nervous. Of course, she would. Jaeyi rarely came like this, unexpectedly. “What can I do for you, Ms. Yoo?” Her tone was stable, no hint of discomfort or weakness.

“I’m here to speak about my daughter, Park Heeyoung. I need you to be honest with me about something, or more specifically, about someone.” The director stopped her finger movement and nodded firmly, ready to give anything. Jaeyi looked briefly toward her desk, which was clean without any paper on it, and went back to the director. “Did Kang Youngmin come here?” The elder woman relaxed her face and avoided the CEO’s eyes.

“Yes, he came here to speak about Heeyoung’s grade and other things. I told him she was doing great and that you were behind Heeyoung, anyway. He didn’t seem happy with it. He spoke about wanting to change schools for his daughter, saying this school wouldn’t be useful. I felt offended. So we spoke about what can make this school better. He was ready to give a good amount of money, but in exchange, I should do some favoritism.” Jaeyi stayed silent for a moment. She was supposed to be the one in charge of their daughter’s education, and they agreed on it. He shouldn’t have interfered in this, but again, when did he let her be independent? She sighed.

“You accepted, right?” The director said nothing, letting the silence as an obvious answer. “How much?” The women never took their eyes off each other. It looked like a war, a challenge.

“Billions of won. I couldn’t refuse it. The school needs that money to grow, even though your donations have opened a lot of things for our school. Plus, I don’t see the problem in this. Your daughter will get the best grade and dossier ever. We will even recommend her for the middle school you both want. A win-win situation!” The CEO clenched her teeth and crossed her legs.

“I never donate for my daughter to be privileged by the school, and we agreed on that. Heeyoung isn’t a bad student, her grades are stable, and she is part of the best. She doesn’t need to be the best, like her father wants to. So what are you talking about, a win-win situation? She is only nine.” Her tone became aggressive and colder as the words left her mouth. The director’s body straightened and tensed.

“You know that the competition starts at their youngest age. They need to understand that importance. Mr. Kang has already donated the money, and I can’t break our contract.” Jaeyi’s stomach burned suddenly from the rage she felt at this moment.

“What did he ask other than that? Did he ask about the person who picked up my daughter? Or anything related to her and her private life.” The director said nothing for a moment and then nodded weakly.

“Yeah, he asked all that. If we knew Woo Seulgi and saw her here. I thought he was joking at first. I mean, why would an actress be here for Heeyoung! But he was serious. I just said it was your assistant who picked her up when you couldn’t. He didn’t ask much than that. Just how you managed Heeyoung’s education. I didn’t lie and told him you were sincere and didn’t pressure your daughter. He didn’t seem happy about it.” The CEO nodded her head multiple times before she stood up and bowed to the director.

“Mr. Kang shouldn’t have interfered in the education of my daughter, and you’re going to regret accepting such a favor from him. You broke our agreement, and you never called me to discuss it. Heeyoung won’t be here the next year.” The director jumped from her seat and furrowed her brows. Before she could even speak, Jaeyi left the office. She heard the elder woman calling her name, but she never turned around, already annoyed by the current situation. She checked the time and smiled at her perfect timing.

She entered her building, and everyone bowed at her with a sincere respect. Jaeyi loved to see the fear and respect in people’s eyes. They knew who the boss was, and it was enough for Jaeyi. She took the elevator and pushed the button for her office floor. She checked her phone in the meantime and found a message from Seulgi.

My princess: Don’t wait up for me tonight, I have a night shooting miserably…

My princess: Btw, how did the check-in go? Heeyoung is okay?

Jaeyi smiled at the messages; a familiar feeling settled in her chest. She didn’t answer right away as the elevator door opened, but she made a side note in her mind to reply when she finished her meeting. Her assistant welcomed her with a small bow and a weak smile.

“Hello, Ms. Yoo! The lawyer Hung Youngjae is here. He is waiting in your office.” The CEO thanked Mr. Wan and entered her office without hesitation. She needed the meeting to be fast so Heeyoung didn’t have to wait for her. The scent of her perfume hit her first. It only lasted a second, but it was enough for Jaeyi to feel like she belonged here. She put her cold mask on her face and bowed at the man who just stood up from his seat.

“Hello, Mr. Hung! I apologize for the wait.” The CEO said in a stable and neutral tone. The lawyer bowed his head, and a shy smile appeared on his face.

“Hello, Ms. Yoo. It’s okay, I just arrived too.” His voice was soft and professional. Nothing dominant, nothing awkward, just professional, and Jaeyi could already see why her ex-husband hated him. She invited him to sit back on the sofa, which he did without a second. Jaeyi never took her eyes off him. The man was sitting with a straight posture, his legs not spread, his eyes fixed on the table as if he was afraid of looking somewhere he shouldn’t, and his hands were on his knees. He showed no anxious gestures, just professional and comfortable. Jaeyi sat on the opposite sofa and met his eyes.

“I was surprised to get an email from your company. I thought the family Kang was the one in charge of the law part of your family business. Kang Youngmin doesn’t stop bragging about it.” He began the conversation with a certain enthusiasm as if they knew each other. The atmosphere wasn’t cold like it usually was when she met someone new. It was a light and enjoyable atmosphere as if he were a regular. Jaeyi sighed and crossed her arms on her chest.

“Well, yeah. It is still the case theoretically, but I want to cut that familial tradition.” The man in front of her nodded in comprehension. His position never changed, just his hands that massaged his knees weakly.

“I see. A change never hurt, but still. I’m the rival of the Kang, and I don’t think they would love that decision. May I ask why me? I mean, I’m not into people’s private lives, but in this case, I can’t just pretend that you aren’t the ex-wife of one of the Kang’s sons.” He was right. She also couldn’t pretend that he wasn’t the biggest rival of the Kang family. She dropped her arms and gripped the couch with her hands.

“I can’t trust this family anymore, and I also want to annoy Youngmin. He always speaks highly of you, saying that you are as good as he is. I want to crush him badly, and what is more humiliating than losing against his biggest rival? Plus, I’m sure you won’t tell him a thing. I can trust you in that.” Jaeyi noticed the twitch in his lips. He wanted to smirk, but prevented himself.

“He never told that he had a wily devil as a wife. He always said the opposite, but glad to know he was just full of himself. I’m listening, Ms. Yoo. What do you want from me? I’m at your service.” Jaeyi smiled darkly and started to speak with a serious voice. No cold, just serious. She didn’t need to be emotionless with the man in front of her, and she was right. He listened to her carefully, advised her sincerely, and, most importantly, he respected her as a CEO but also as a woman.

“Let’s start with the easy one. I think you saw the scandal about the actress Woo Seulgi. I just want to file a complaint against the defamatory title.” The lawyer took out a block note and started to write down something with a pen.

“Yeah, I saw. It will be easy. I note it down, and you can consider it as done. What else?” Jaeyi took a deep breath and took out a paper from her bag. She put it down in front of the man and leaned back on the sofa.

“I want to charge Youngmin for child abuse. I don’t want him to take care of or see his daughter ever again. I already did the medical report, and we have an appointment for a psychological one. Tell me anything you need as proof that could make you win. I have no problem with lies.” The lawyer raised one of his brows and took the dossier from the table. He flipped through the paper, and Jaeyi saw how his jaw tightened as he read.

“This is horrible. I can’t believe he treats his only child like this. I’m going into it in more detail. Maybe find a witness who could have seen this. How old is your daughter?” His voice was more serious than before as he furrowed his brows when he found the pictures of the bruises.

“Nine years old.” She said with a proud smile. The man looked at her and nodded with compassion.

“She is still young. May God protect her. She has the age to speak in court; if she wants and only if she wants, she can speak about her father’s actions to the judge. It’s better if she does.” He said with a small, reassuring smile. “I’m in charge of it. You don’t need to worry. I’m going to make sure he’ll lose his parental authority.” The CEO felt relieved to know she had a competent lawyer on her side. She didn’t need to see him doing his job to know if he was good or not. His posture alone was enough to tell. “There is something else?” Jaeyi shook her head.

“No, it’s already a lot. If I have something else, I’ll just call you. Keep me informed about everything, Mr. Hung.” The lawyer stood up and bowed with his body this time, showing full respect for the woman.

“Of course, Ms. Yoo. It was a pleasure to meet you and work with you. Your ex-husband is reckless to think you aren’t a danger. See you soon!” He took his bag and left the room without waiting for anything back, and just like that, Jaeyi was alone in her office. She stayed in her seat, eyes glued to the ceiling.

She didn’t feel something in particular. Her body was relaxed as her day went quite well. Only one thing stayed in her mind, her daughter. She was still worried sick for Heeyoung, the sight of her bruises still playing in her mind as if she discovered it for the first time over and over. She didn’t understand Youngmin at all. How could he do that to their daughter? He knew all about her past with her family and education, but still did exactly what she feared. He pretended to want her back and regretted his action, but did the opposite of what could make her heart flutter. It was almost like he didn’t know her at all, like he never listened to her, and even though she moved on, it still hurt her deeply. So deeply, it made her hate the feeling.

She sighed, and her mind wandered toward Seulgi as if her brain knew it would make her relaxed. Nobody knew us better than we knew ourselves, right? Jaeyi smiled uncontrollably as she remembered last night, how she looked at her lips but didn’t do the move, preferring to hide her head in the crook of her neck. She was wondering why she didn’t kiss her; it wasn’t like it would be their first one. She brought her finger to her lips and traced the bottom of it. She missed Seulgi’s presence, her eyes, her voice, and maybe her lips more than the other. She took her phone and clicked on the actress’s contact to reply to her messages.

Are you free right now for a call?

It didn’t take long for the actress to see the reply, but instead of writing her answer, Jaeyi’s phone rang with the My Princess name on her screen. She smiled widely and picked up the call fast, a little too fast.

“Hey, how are you?” Jaeyi said with an excitement that didn’t go unnoticed as she heard Seulgi giggle.

“Oh wow, you are fast. Didn’t know you missed me that much, but I’m doing good, what about you?” The CEO furrowed her brows at the teasing tone, but her smile never left her face. She felt her heart flip as soon as she heard her sweet voice. She won’t admit it loudly, but Seulgi was right; she missed her a lot.

“You’re being full of yourself right now. I’m doing good as well, I’ve met the lawyer and Jena today.” She said with a more tired voice in the end. She heard the actress hum with concern. It sounded cute to Jaeyi’s ears and felt them burn slightly, a sign of blushing.

“What did Jena say? Is Heeyoung okay?” Jaeyi stood up to walk toward the window and stared at the city beneath her.

“Jena was in shock but told me she was ready to lie if needed for the court. Heeyoung is okay, her burn isn’t fully healed, but she is alright. We ate in a restaurant before I dropped her off at her school.” She heard a sigh of relief from the actress, and she smiled at that. It felt weird, but at the same time, so tender that someone who wasn’t even related to Heeyoung treated her like she was. She knew she wasn’t a single mother anymore, and her heart flipped at this thought for the second time.

“That’s a relief.” There was a small silence, as if Seulgi was hesitating, but she managed to overcome it fast. “And you? How are you feeling?” Her voice was sweet as honey and full of concern. The question made Jaeyi think twice before answering.

“I don’t know. I just can’t stop thinking about Heeyoung and… the bruises. I talked to the lawyer and he agreed to help me.” She looked at the blue sky, and after a silence, the voice of the actress passed through the phone, making Jaeyi smile.

“Don’t push yourself too hard, Jaeyi. Take the time you need for yourself, too. I’m sorry, I wish I could talk to you more, but work is calling me right now. I’ll be home around midnight, I think, if I’m lucky.” Jaeyi hummed, shyly throwing her foot forward, as a sad and disappointed feeling ran through her body. “I can feel you sulking through the phone; it’s terrible.” Seulgi joked, but before Jaeyi could argue back, she ended the call.

“Did she just-” She gasped dramatically and shook her head with a frown visible on her face.

She took her bag and left the company with happiness in her chest and a big smile on her face.

Jaeyi didn’t waste more time when it came to her plan. She needed to act fast and was well aware of it. She didn’t know what she would learn in the near future, but something deep in her chest knew she had more surprises to come. She walked through the main door of a luxury restaurant, and a man in a suit welcomed her.

“Welcome, have you reserved a table?” Jaeyi nodded slightly.

“A private room, yes, in the name of Yoo.” The man looked through his list and gave a nod of confirmation.

“Yes, a man is already there. Follow me, please.” Jaeyi smiled weakly and walked behind the man until he opened a door. The CEO bowed her head one last time and entered the private room.

A man was standing in front of the window, looking at the city beneath him. He turned his head as he heard the door close and smiled at the CEO. He was tall, with blue eyes, hair short and blond, and he was in his thirties. He was wearing a black suit, and his body was straight, arms by his side. He had a calm and professional expression. He reached out his hand to her and spoke with a perfect English accent.

“Hello, Ms. Yoo! Nice to meet you again.” Jaeyi took his hand and shook it slowly. It wasn’t the first time she met a foreign businessman for her company; she had good contacts around the world, especially in Asia. This meeting was still more important than the other, and she needed the help of this man for this. He was the CEO of an investment company in America. He knew all the tricks and where to put his money. If she could convince him, she would win the jackpot.

“Nice to see you again, Mr. Millier. It’s been a while since we’ve met.” The man giggled and motioned Jaeyi to sit down.

“Right? I guess being a single mother must take all your time to allow yourself a business trip.” He replied as he sat down. The atmosphere wasn’t awkward; she never felt awkward with him. He had something that others didn’t have, a charm that made anybody relaxed around him. Jaeyi got to know him through one of her business trips when she was still married and could leave her daughter with Youngmin. Mr. Millier was so kind and even defended her when someone had crossed a line. He wasn’t really a friend, but a good acquaintance.

“Let order first, and talk about business after. I can’t think properly with an empty stomach.” Jaeyi chuckled and nodded. They both ordered their food and talked a little about their life as they waited for the food. They laughed a lot and shared some advice.

“I can’t believe my older daughter is going to middle school. She grew too fast, and when I see her taking care of her little brother… they are so sweet.” The man said with a lot of sweetness in his tone. His eyes were bright and dilated as he spoke about his children. Jaeyi saw the sincerity and love in his eyes and couldn’t help but feel envious. How lucky his wife must be to have a man who loves his children.

“Yeah, they grow up fast. I myself can’t believe my daughter is already nine. I swear I was holding her in my arms yesterday.” She said as she drank a bit of her wine. The door suddenly opened, and the food was served. They didn’t speak about business right away, still talking a bit about life. Halfway through the dinner, Mr. Millier brought the subject to the table.

“So, Ms. Yoo, what can I do for you? Your assistant only spoke about growing the agency.” Jaeyi swallowed the food in her mouth and nodded. She put down her cutlery and took out papers from her bag. The man took the papers and looked at each one. It was reports from the last two years of her company, and a detailed plan for the next step.

“I want to make my agency bigger. I was thinking of opening an American side, getting into Hollywood and Western music. Since I have one hundred percent control over my company, the profit has only grown to the point that I’m part of the biggest company in South Korea. My groups are doing pretty well internationally, but I want more.” The man nodded multiple times and swung his lips left to right. Jaeyi didn’t feel nervous, not when it came to work and business. Her face and posture never showed a weakness.

“The plan seemed to be good. Los Angeles is a great place to establish the building, and indeed, your company is doing so well. The growth is impressive even. You must feel happy. It’s a great idea, it means you’re going to be independent from the other Americans’ label for your artists. You could also easily sign contracts with new actors that have a lot of potential. Do you have a potential Korean actor who can debut in America? I think I saw somewhere you signed up with Woo Seulgi, right?” Jaeyi smiled widely at the mention of the actress.

“Yes, I mostly signed her up for this. I heard she got a lot of offers to act in American and Japanese movies, but she always refused them. I didn’t talk about this with her yet, but I’m sure I could convince her easily.” She said confidently, and Mr. Millier seemed to drink her words.

“Well, I don’t see any reason not to support this. You can consider me as your first investor. I’m going to ask ten percent, is that okay? I’m being generous now.” Jaeyi smiled, knowing well the offer was good enough. She should have negotiated for a lower percentage, but considering how influential and important Mr. Millier was, she just let it be as it was.

“It’s more than okay.” The man put down the papers and looked at Jaeyi with a curious eye.

“Are you sure about this? You have to move to America for a year or two, the time to stabilize everything. Why now?” Jaeyi sighed loudly and drank her wine. She looked over the window while her finger circled the top of her glass.

“I need a little change, a new challenge. I want to be far away from South Korea, and to be honest, I always wanted my company to be more international.” Mr. Millier nodded and smiled softly with a hint of understanding.

“I completely understand, and you are right. I hope everything will be fine! After all, we are business partners!” He said enthusiastically. He seemed sincere and sure of himself, which made Jaeyi giggle.

The rest of the dinner went by fast, and in the blink of an eye, Jaeyi found herself in her car driving back home. She felt satisfied with the meeting and couldn’t wait to leave everything behind. The car entered the building’s parking, and Jaeyi stepped out of it, thanking her assistant for the drive. She went to the elevator and checked the time. 10 PM. She smiled at her efficiency and pushed the button on her home’s floor. She walked out of the elevator when it opened at her destination and tapped the code of the door. She was welcomed by a silent, no voice, no television, nothing. Just the scent of her home and the feeling of being home. The penthouse was dark; only the light of the city and the moon illuminated the living room and kitchen.

She walked toward the couch and found an empty glass, a bottle of wine on the table, and one lit scented candle. Jaeyi furrowed her brows as she knew Seulgi wasn’t a drinker at all. Before she could even look around, she felt an arm around her waist and a soft kiss on her naked shoulder. She didn’t need to turn around to see who it was; she could recognize the touch within a second. The older woman smiled at the contact, completely melted into her embrace, and turned around to face the actress.

“Hey, gorgeous, how was your day?” Seulgi asked in a low tone, making the older woman’s heart race fast. Jaeyi said nothing for a few seconds. She just stared at the younger’s face and with her thumb she caressed her cheek delicately. She noticed a faded red appear on her cheek.

“Tired, but good. And you? Where is Heeyoung?” She looked toward the hallway where her daughter’s room was, but Seulgi’s voice got her attention back to her.

“She is sleeping already. School tired her more than the other days because of activities. Other than that, I’m doing good, just tired. I didn’t sleep a lot yesterday.” Jaeyi furrowed weakly as she felt concerned. She dropped her head on the actress’s shoulder, enjoying the warmth of her body.

“I wanted to wait for you yesterday, but I fell asleep around midnight.” She heard the younger woman humming and felt her arm pulling her body closer to hers. “I told you not to wait for me. I was really unlucky, I came home at two in the morning.” Jaeyi leaned back fast and looked at her, surprised, making Seulgi laugh.

“What kind of scene did you need to shoot that late?” The actress avoided her eyes and pouted.

“I can’t give spoilers, watch the drama when it’s out! The only thing I can say is that people will love it,” she teased with an amused tone. Jaeyi gave her a deadpan look and put distance between them, making Seulgi confused.

“Yah, I’m not a fan! I’m your boss! You speak like you’re promoting your drama. Was it the kiss scene?” The actress laughed and shook her head weakly.

“Yeah, I’m trying to convince you to watch my work! You said to Kyung and Yeri that you’d never watched a project from me! I told you I’m not going to say it, even though, yes, we had kiss scenes.” The CEO looked coldly at the actress from head to toe. It was unfair for Jaeyi, a man had the chance to kiss Seulgi multiple times, while she only got one. Even though it was acting, she couldn’t help but feel jealous. She wasn’t even aware that she got carried away by her thought until she felt herself fly from the floor. It took her time before she understood Seulgi was carrying her in a bridal style, and her arms were already around her neck. She stared at the actress, completely in shock.

“Wow, you are strong?” She wasn’t even sure if she said it as a statement or as a question. The only thing she was aware of was how hot she felt and how her brain was a mess. She could feel her pulse beating against her skin fast. She was so into her senses that she didn’t even hear anything that followed her sentence until Seulgi spoke.

“Am I? You are kinda light, though.” Jaeyi said nothing more; she let the actress do whatever she wanted. She heard a small laugh from the younger woman after a few seconds. “Glad to know when someone carries you, you shut up.” The CEO frowned deeply and bit her shoulder strongly, making Seulgi groan and grimace in pain.

“Put me down! You just broke the moment, you dumbass!” The actress laughed out loud and put her down on the couch. She sat next to her while massaging the shoulder where the older woman bit her. Jaeyi gazed at the bottle of wine and understood Seulgi had put this here deliberately for her. She smiled softly, feeling a happy wind going through her chest. She moved closer to the actress and tilted her head toward her. “You start to know me well.” She whispered into her ear and smiled as she saw her ears turning red. Seulgi scratched the back of her neck and smiled shyly.

“I noticed you love to drink wine when you come back from work. Especially red wine in this specific brand.” Jaeyi melted at the woman’s attention and poured herself a glass. When she leaned back, she felt the actress’s arm around her waist and loved the small physical contact.

“So, who did you meet with such a beautiful dress?” Jaeyi sighed and started to play with the collar of her shirt. She noticed the younger woman bit her lips for a small second. The moon was shinier than usual, reflecting the white, blue light of the night on them. It highlighted the feature of the actress’s face, and Jaeyi didn’t take her eyes off her.

“A businessman, but since you didn’t want to spoil your drama, I won’t spoil my plan too.” Seulgi groaned and threw her head backward, showing her throat more notably. “Are you serious, right now?”

“Very serious.” She said while laughing. She took a lot of pleasure in teasing the actress. Her finger left the collar and went to her neck. “I’ve met the lawyer again today. We already filed a complaint against Youngmin. The prosecutor is ready to investigate. I wanted it to be private so Youngmin doesn’t try to corrupt everything, but Mr. Hung told me not to worry. I asked him to put this case publicly as soon as possible.” She said with a low tone while her finger went up to the actress’s jaw.

“I hope your ex-husband won’t crash out at your office. Maybe I should start to visit you every day.” Jaeyi stared at her relaxed face and blinked slowly, trying not to miss anything of her features. The room seemed smaller as she couldn’t hear or feel anything but Seulgi’s voice and the emotion she provided her. It felt like they weren’t living in a city where millions of people lived. Just her and the person she loved, completely forgetting everything else, even the beautiful view of Seoul in front of her.

“Because you think you can beat him up?” Seulgi turned her head, making the older woman stop her finger movement, and smirked at her.

“No doubt about it! I exercise! I know how to fight when I’m awake.” Jaeyi laughed, understanding she was referring to the intruder. She kept staring at the actress with attention, tracing her ear and jaw as if it would be the last time she could touch and see her this close. She hadn’t seen her for more than twenty-four hours, and it felt like weeks to her. She wasn’t even aware of how deeply she missed her until now. Having her so close, so open, it felt like she met her for the first time again without the awkwardness and cold atmosphere. She put down her glass of wine on the table and climbed into her lap, arms on her shoulder.

“W-What are you doing?” Jaeyi smirked when she noticed how red Seulgi’s face had gone. Her body seemed tense and completely caught off guard by the older woman's move. As their bodies and faces drew closer, the atmosphere shifted from playful intimacy to something more sensual, almost lascivious.

“Why are you shy? You always climb into my lap.” She felt a hesitant hand touching her waist. She glared into the younger woman’s eyes and saw them tremble slightly. Her pupils were dilated as ever, full of something deep. Maybe desire, or lust? It made Jaeyi’s body shiver as an unholy intrusive thought came to her mind.

“E-Exactly, it felt different.” Even though she stuttered and blushed, she still held eye contact as if she wanted to prove she wasn’t completely affected. Jaeyi occasionally glanced at her lips, but didn’t kiss her, allowing the sensual tension to grow. She loved this —the slow, intimate tension they shared. They didn’t have to rush, and it felt somehow more real. Jaeyi moved her head closer to Seulgi’s right ear and traced a line slowly and delicately on the back of her neck with her finger.

“Yeah, I know. You have less control, and you let yourself be led.” She whispered with a playful, seductive tone. She kissed her jaw and her cheek, then hid her head in her neck. Seulgi’s body was still tensed and refused to move for a moment, clearly flustered by the older woman’s advances. It made Jaeyi smile. She loved the effect she had on the other woman; her heart always fluttered, and her ego was boosted.

After a moment, she felt the actress’s arms around her waist, pulling her closer to her body. She sighed in delight and closed her eyes. She was in love with the warmth and safety that Seulgi’s body provided. All her thoughts and emotions went away as if she were in paradise. Her body was light with how peaceful she felt. She could stay there forever and never be bored with this feeling. It felt like home, a real one.

Seulgi was her home.

It took exactly two days before Youngmin received the complaint from the court. Jaeyi’s new lawyer was clear the moment he knew he had a report against him, the media would be aware of it too, and he didn’t lie. In the middle of the afternoon, she saw a lot of articles about them.

JY Entertainment’s CEO, Yoo Jaeyi, pressed charges against her ex-husband, the famous lawyer Kang Youngmin, for child abuse against their daughter.

A ton of articles followed the first, making it the top topic in South Korea. She didn’t mind being the center of attention for a while; it was the sacrifice she made to avoid any corruption. What made her anxious, nevertheless, was Youngmin’s reaction. She knew he would drive fast, either in her office or at her home, hoping for the first option. She didn’t want Heeyoung to witness any of his crazy side again. Thank god, her prayer was answered well. It took him thirty minutes after the first public article for him to be at her office. She heard the loud voice between her assistant and her ex-husband in the hallway. The moment she stood up to walk toward the door, it opened brutally with a breathless Youngmin. He pushed Mr. Wan strongly, making him lose his balance and fall, but he stood up fast and took Youngmin’s shoulder.

“You should leave! Take an appointment if you want to speak with Ms. Yoo,” her assistant said firmly, but Youngmin only laughed out loud.

“I don’t give a shit! I’m Kang Youngmin, her ex-husband, the father of her daughter! I have the right to come here whenever I want!” He said with an angry tone. He didn’t scream, not yet, but she knew if Mr. Wan continued like this, the situation would only escalate. Youngmin looked at Jaeyi with rage. She didn’t want to speak with him, not when he was out of himself, but she knew it was time.

“Mr. Wan, it’s okay. We’ll just talk.” Her assistant seemed like he wanted to argue back, but let it go. He bowed his head and left the room while never taking his eyes off Youngmin. When the door closed, a heavy silence fell on the ex-married couple. Jaeyi’s gaze went on him, observing his face. His eyes were full of rage, disappointment, and betrayal. She sighed and sat on the couch. They had a lot of things to say that they had avoided since their last fight three years ago. The man’s hands were both in tight fists, and his jaw was tensed. He walked behind the opposite sofa and gripped the back of it until his hands were white. He looked around the room and nodded with irony.

“I can’t believe it. After everything I have done for you, for your company.” He stopped talking and went behind her desk. “I built everything in this building. Every room, every person who helped you, who made this agency what it is now. I didn’t do it to humiliate you, but to make everyone proud, even for yourself.” Jaeyi didn’t look at him. She clenched her teeth as she felt her heart tighten with rage. A ball of anger began to form in her stomach and chest the longer he spoke, but she didn’t cut him off.

“We were supposed to be the happiest family, the richest, the most respected one. Why did you need to make everything so complicated? I know you didn’t want me to interfere in your business, but why can’t you see it as an act of love? Hum?!” He said with a calm tone, hiding his anger behind it, but he was tensed; Jaeyi could feel it. At any moment, he could burst. Jaeyi looked at him and let out a breathy laugh.

“I didn’t make a mistake. You were the one who didn’t listen to me, and you are here saying I’m the one who complicates everything? I never asked you anything, except to be here for our family! I never asked you to help me with my work or to build it from scratch! You never trusted me, that’s how I felt back then!” Jaeyi said steadily. Her tone was controlled, even though she was angry, she didn’t let it show. The man relaxed his face.

“It wasn’t about trust, Jaeyi. It was about family, about love! I promised to make your dream real, and look around you, did I break my promise? I didn’t know you would feel hurt to know I helped you. If I knew, I wouldn’t do that, Jaeyi! Your father was a pressure, he didn’t stop asking me to help you, he told me you would love i-” Before he could finish his sentence, the CEO stood up and cut him off with a sharp tone.

“Don’t bring my father into this! You know deep down that my father doesn’t know me at all! You should have listened to me, not my family, not my father, not my mother, not even my sister. You should’ve paid attention to me and only me! Is it that hard? If our family’s reputation was your first concern, why did you even waste your time with me?!” The man furrowed his brows and looked over the window. His lips twitched, surely out of rage, and he gazed at Jaeyi back.

“My family was never my priority! I don’t give a shit about all that, I only cared and still care about you! I love you, Jaeyi! I don’t care about the other; I just didn’t want to see you fail, and I wanted your father’s approval! You left without letting me explain the situation, everything collapsed for me, and you didn’t even think about Heeyoung. You only thought about yourself and your pride.” Jaeyi’s jaw dropped as he mentioned their daughter like he even cared about her. She walked closer to her desk and rested her hands on it.

“How can you even mention Heeyoung in this, like you care about her? After what you did to her?! You never cared about her, so don’t even pronounce her name.” The man laughed and rested his hand on the desk. The table was the only thing that separated their body, but their face were close, too close to Jaeyi’s liking.

“You are right. I don’t fucking care about Heeyoung.” Jaeyi’s heart dropped at his words. “What with this face? You are right, you should be happy! Yeah, I don’t care about her, and you know what, I even hate her! She is here only because YOU wanted. You wanted a family, a child, something that looked like both of us. I gave it to you, even though I didn’t want to. Why would I want a child who’ll take all your attention? I cared about her just for you, Jaeyi, because I love you. Nobody comes first, and nobody comes after you, not even our child. I don’t like sharing what mine.” Jaeyi stepped backward. Her head felt suddenly dizzy, and a permanent pain was well placed in her heart. The room was too small, too oppressive, too much. She needed air and wanted to run so far away from here, but she couldn’t. She avoided his gaze, completely helpless about the new situation. Youngmin had noticed the shift in Jaeyi’s body and came closer to her.

“Babe, don’t be so shocked! You should feel good to know that you are my priority. I would do anything to have you back. If you want, I would stop interfering in your business, I would even start to care about Heeyoung. We could go back to our little sweet family together. Heeyoung would have everything she wants and be a good lawyer, while I gave you the best life ever.” She felt a hand on her waist, and she suddenly felt sick. Her hands were trembling out of fury, and without even thinking, she slapped him hard.

“You’re the most disgusting man I’ve ever seen in my life. I can’t believe I married a man like you.” Youngmin brought his hand to his cheek and smiled with amusement.

“You got stronger, babe, but not as strong as me.” And with that, he pushed Jaeyi into the nearest wall, head hitting hard. The CEO groaned loudly as she felt a pain behind her head. Her chest began to feel heavy and had a hard time breathing correctly. His head was tilted as his mouth was close to her ear. “I let you divorce me, thinking you’ll take it as regret for my action. I hoped you’d come back, even just for Heeyoung. Jungsu even thought the same, but he was so surprised when he understood you were stronger than he expected. To be honest, this is all Jungsu’s fault. I’m paying the price of someone else’s devilish, and I can’t stand that.” He whispered in her ear. Jaeyi froze as she didn’t understand his words. She tried to push him, but the man only put more strength into his movement, blocking her against the wall.

“Stop bringing other people into your mess, Youngmin. You are the only one responsible for this situation.” Youngmin moved his head to face her and smiled slyly.

“No, I don’t bring people into my mess; it’s them who bring me into their mess. Why would I destroy your company when I was the one who made it? When it’s one of the only things that makes you happy and proud? I want you back, Jaeyi. I’m not dumb. I started to care about Heeyoung for you to see me. I couldn’t stand the way you and Heeyoung talked about that useless, disgusting woman. I didn’t stop begging Jungsu to slow down his plan so I could have you back in a softer way, but I guess you were too reckless. My brother made sure that his plan would work perfectly, and you would crawl back to me. I let him.” He stopped and looked down at her lips. Jaeyi felt the danger coming and tried to slide down, but the man brought her back to her position.

“Are you scared? You shouldn’t, I won’t hurt you, Jaeyi. Why would I hurt the love of my life?” Jaeyi tried to push him again, as the panic started to control her body. Her hand began to punch his torso, but Youngmin took her wrists and pressed her arms against the wall. His grip was so strong that the woman felt the pain around her wrist.

“Leave me alone, Youngmin! Get the fuck out!” The man kissed her to shut her down and looked at her with possessiveness.

“Don’t be ridiculous! You charged me for child abuse! You are destroying everything, and Jungsu is fucking furious! You don’t know where you put your feet. You need me, Jaeyi! Don’t you see it? How Jungsu uses Seulgi’s past. How he encouraged you to be with her, showing some fake support. He let you fall in love with someone who used drugs, stole, didn’t even have a parent, and had the worst past ever. Because of her, I needed to hurt our daughter. You’re so reckless, and it’s so funny. You won’t win, Jaeyi, you won’t. You meant to be with me.” She wanted to drop to the floor. Her mind and body weren’t with her anymore as time passed. She tried one last time to free herself from his grip but failed miserably, provoking a dark laugh from her ex-husband. He released one of his holds and wiped something from her cheek. Jaeyi closed her eyes instinctively.

“Why are you crying? I told you, I won’t hurt you.” His arm went around her waist and hugged her. “Everything is going to be okay.” Jaeyi opened her eyes slowly. Her sight was blurred, and she felt the intensity of her exhaustion on her eyelids.

She had heard the same sentence from someone else and recognized the difference. Seulgi’s one felt safe, sincere, and real. This one felt the complete opposite, and a tear slid down her cheek again. She stopped fighting back. She was too tired for this and let herself be held by someone she hated the most. She didn’t even move when Youngmin took her head between his hands and moved forward to her face, probably to kiss her. She didn’t close her eyes; she just stared at the corner of the room, completely detached from reality.

The kiss never took place. The door opened suddenly, and someone punched Youngmin straight in his face, making him fall on the floor. It should have brought her back to reality, the sudden lack of his contact, the muffled voices around her, but nothing came to her senses. The last thing she remembered from the scene was Seulgi calling her name with so much worry.

After that, the exhaustion and the emotional storm carried her away from her distress to somewhere more enjoyable. The darkness.

Chapter Text

The hallway was bright and white as a medical scent filled Seulgi’s nose. She stopped in front of the VIP room where Jaeyi stayed the night and took a breath before opening the door. Two women were already in the room, and they didn’t seem to notice the actress, too deep in their talk. She recognized Jena; she expected her to be present since she was in charge of her sister, but she didn’t recognize the older woman who was speaking to the doctor and glared at Jaeyi every second. She looked wealthy as her outfit stood out. Seulgi brought her hands behind her body and looked around shyly. She didn’t want to break their conversation, but at the same time, it looked like she was spying. Before she could even leave the room, a deep, enthusiastic voice called her.

“Oh my god! You are Woo Seulgi, right?” The actress turned around and met the eyes of the older woman, who was smiling widely. She looked at Jena confusedly as if she searched for an explanation, but the older woman only shrugged. “I’m Jung Minjae, the aunt of these two girls.” Seulgi’s body tensed as the words reached her ears. She bowed her body, and the elder did the same, showing a mutual respect.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Woo Seulgi.” The elderly nodded with pure joy, and her niece beside her rolled her eyes before smiling weakly at Seulgi.

“You must be here for Jaeyi, right? I didn’t see you yesterday.” Jena spoke before her aunt could open her mouth. Seulgi walked closer to them and nodded, her hand behind the back of her neck.

“Yeah, I couldn’t come. Someone needed to take care of Heeyoung; it was a bit complicated. How is she?” The younger woman was deeply preoccupied with the CEO’s health, and the two other women could tell by her tone, making them smile weakly.

“She dissociated and fainted after. She was too stressed, and her emotions were too intense. She hasn’t woken up since she came here. This girl, always doing too much.” She looked at her sister briefly and exhaled loudly. “If she wakes up and I’m not here. Tell her to rest.” She gazed back at Seulgi and then her aunt. “Don’t hesitate to threaten her! If she doesn’t listen, call me.” She put her hands in her blouse’s pocket and bowed at them before leaving the room.

Seulgi was now alone with Jaeyi’s aunt in a closed room with no escape at all. Talking to Jena wasn’t that stressful since she had met her from time to time at the agency, even before she became close to Jaeyi, and Heeyoung loved to talk about her too. But she was the only Yoo she had met. The CEO never talked about her family, and Seulgi never saw them in her agency. If she had met the older woman’s aunt before falling in love with Jaeyi, she wouldn’t mind. She wouldn’t even care, but now, it’s a totally different story. She felt an anxiety wind going around in her stomach and avoided the gaze of the elderly. Her finger was playing with her t-shirt, and her lips swung from left to right in a slow motion. She felt her judgmental eyes on her, and swallowed hard.

“You seem tense. Relax! If it can help you, I’m a big fan of your work.” The elderly said calmly and easily, as if she had known her forever. The actress’s head raised, and she looked at her in surprise.

“Really?” The woman nodded and smiled widely. It did help her to relax, and she sat in the chair near the bed. She didn’t expect the whole family to be a fan of her, but it made her proud for some reason, as if her hard work paid off.

“Yes, you choose good drama, and who doesn’t know you, seriously?” Seulgi chuckled and felt a heat going up to her ears. She was embarrassed but not in a bad way.

“The older people generally don’t know me much. But I’m glad you love my work; it means a lot.” She smiled at Ms. Jung and turned her gaze on Jaeyi, who was sleeping peacefully for hours now.

She thanked god, even though she didn’t believe in it, to have finished her work early and had the wonderful idea to visit the CEO at her office. Who knew what this man would have done to Jaeyi? Just thinking about it made her body shiver. She didn’t quite swallow the event of yesterday, or maybe she didn’t want to. Mr. Wan scolded her for punching Youngmin right in his face, arguing that he would probably file a complaint against her and publicly. If she were right in her mind, she would have panicked, but her mind was only filled with Jaeyi. She didn’t even care about her career anymore.

“You know, Jaeyi was never good at saying out loud how much she loves a person. It is always with actions and some crazy questions or sentences that made no sense. I always found it funny, but at the same time, admirable. I don’t see Jaeyi a lot, once a year, twice if I’m lucky, but I always felt like I know her better than her own mother.” The actress didn’t understand why she was saying that to her, but she didn’t cut her off and listened to everything silently. “She came to see me weeks ago to ask me for some help with your situation. She seemed to care deeply about you in a way that I couldn’t refuse her demand. She’s lucky she is my favorite niece, I usually don’t like helping celebrities, especially with such allegations.” Seulgi said nothing. She didn’t know what to say, whether she should be thankful or not. Her tone wasn’t bitter or aggressive; she said this in such a passive way, and she didn’t know if it was good or not.

“Did Jaeyi know about your past fully?” No words came after. “She doesn’t?”

“We never talked about our past completely, she just knows the basics. She knows I was addicted to drugs, that I had three past relationships with women, that I grew up in an orphanage, and that my dad is a pedophile. Oh, and that I have a step-mother, but I never explained in detail anything, and she never asked. Not like she talks about her past anyway.” Seulgi replied with a dry tone. The conversation was weird, and she knew that the woman had the details of her life.

“So she doesn’t know you used to steal food in the local market, or that you were bullied? Do you still have that burn mark?” The actress froze in her place and turned slowly her head toward the elderly woman, who was smiling weakly. “I know everything about you. Jaeyi didn’t ask me to dig into your past or recent activities, but I did just in case. I was so shocked that you hadn’t gone through a scandal before. I was wondering how you managed to keep everything silent, and while speaking to people, even the ones you may have forgotten, I retained that you were a good person. People who know one bad element about you keep it secret because of your good personality. It’s rare.” Seulgi started to play with a finger, feeling uneasy.

“You’re wrong. They talk about it if you ask them, but they would just emphasize my kindness to make it less problematic. You are the proof.” She said lowly with a disappointment in her tone. She felt a hand on her shoulder. The pressure was correct, not too strong, not too light. Just present.

“I think the drug issues would be the next scandal. If it happens, listen to Jaeyi carefully and don’t let your panic control you. Don’t tell her I said this, but my niece does need you a lot. Not physically, I don’t talk about presence or emotional support, but about your career. Jaeyi loves to pretend a lot of things, like she doesn’t watch things, isn’t a fan of artists, when in fact she is the biggest fangirl you would’ve met. She does watch a lot of movies, and when she signs up an actor in her company, it’s always for a purpose.” The CEO’s aunt explained calmly, occasionally glancing at Jaeyi. Seulgi stayed still, trying to understand their conversation.

“She overanalyzed your career and saw something she needed for her plan. Maybe she is fighting for you, but she is also fighting for her freedom, and you’re the key to it.” A silence fell on them, a confusing one for Seulgi. She stared at the window of the room, close to Jaeyi’s bed, and became conscious of each word that was being pronounced. She wanted to reply, asking more about Jaeyi’s plan and her vision of the situation, but the small groan of the CEO stole the women’s attention.

“Yoo Jaeyi! You’re finally awake!” Jaeyi furrowed her brows as her eyes blinked multiple times. She looked lost, not completely aware where she was and what had even happened. She touched her forehead and grimaced in pain as she raised her chest. “Slow down, sweetie. Take your time.” The elderly woman’s voice made Jaeyi open her eyes widely.

“Auntie?” Seulgi stayed in retreat, not wanting to break anything. She felt her chest being less heavy as a relief went through her. She was worried sick for Jaeyi, and seeing her awake made her happier than winning the best actress award. The CEO looked around her, seeming to try to understand where she was with a focused face as if the mere reflection was too much for her brain. Seulgi’s eyes suddenly met the older woman’s and felt the jolt of anxiety go up to her stomach. She loved this sensation because it made her realize that anxiety can also be a pretty feeling. Jaeyi smiled weakly, a relieved smile as if she was afraid that Seulgi wouldn’t be here. She looked at the two women in the room and sighed.

“What happened? And what time is it? Why am I in the hospital?” Ms. Jung chuckled and tapped her niece’s shoulder.

“Slow down, I said. You’re going to freeze your brain at this rhythm. You fainted yesterday afternoon after you dissociated. Thank God, Seulgi entered your office on time! Who knows what this man would have done to you! We were worried sick. Jena said you should rest.” Seulgi stared at the floor, feeling a little out of place. She was fighting the urge to hug and kiss the waking-up girl since they weren’t alone. For these reasons, the little voice in her brain told her to walk away and come back later. She heard Jaeyi groan after her aunt finished talking and started to argue back. Her voice resonated well in the room, and the actress smiled at that. She missed her sweet voice so much that she could feel a growing pain in her throat. The family duo didn’t seem to care about Seulgi, and it was an efficient signal for her to leave the room discreetly. The moment she took a step, the CEO’s voice called her.

“Woo Seulgi, where are you going?” Seulgi turned her head toward them and scratched the back of her neck with an awkward smile.

“I just thought you both wanted a moment alone. I’ll just be around.” She felt her ear burn from embarrassment. She didn’t want to look impolite or make the situation awkward. Jaeyi’s brows twitched into a frown, and she looked ready to speak, but her aunt cut her off.

“Thank you, Ms. Woo. I just need ten minutes with her.” The CEO was taken aback by her aunt’s words, but didn’t say anything. Seulgi bowed to them, shared a quick stare with Jaeyi, and left the room.

She leaned against the door after closing it and closed her eyes. She sighed and felt the rock she carried on her shoulder disappear suddenly. She wasn’t even aware of how stressed she was and how worried she felt for Jaeyi. She pulled herself out of the door and walked toward the hospital park. She needed some fresh air and a coffee too. When she ordered the drink, she sat on a random bench and watched the blue sky. The weather was cool, and the birds flying were visible. She heard some of them let out a sound. She inhaled the cool air and smiled. She needed that. Her mind was empty, causing her body to relax. It was a rare moment, especially these days, and sized it as much as she could.

The drug issue would be the next scandal.

She put down her drink beside her and scratched her left shoulder. This would be hard. She wasn’t even sure if she would listen to Jaeyi. The whole talk with Ms. Jung repeated in her mind, breaking the peaceful moment. Her chest tightened with fear, and the overthinking began without any warning. What if she ran away? What if she was too exhausted to even fight for her career? What if she disappointed Jaeyi? Leave her alone after giving her so much emotional support? Her body leaned forward as her hands gripped her hair. Her thoughts continued to flood with the what-if scenario and all her past mistakes with her exes. She felt a rock between her stomach and throat, blocking breath and emotions. She closed her eyes to focus on her breath and tried to think about another subject.

After a few minutes trying to calm herself down, she stood up and walked back toward Jaeyi’s room. She needed to see her, and maybe her thoughts would go away. Before she could even open the door, Jena came out of the room and smiled widely as she saw the actress.

“Seulgi! You have perfect timing. My aunt left two minutes ago, and I was going to find you. Jaeyi can go home whenever she wants, just make sure she rests.” Seulgi nodded slowly and bowed her head. The doctor only smiled and walked away from the younger woman. The actress sighed once and entered the room with excitement. She finally has Jaeyi for herself. The CEO immediately noticed her and stood up from the bed to walk toward her with rushed steps. She didn’t let the actress think and hugged her tightly. Seulgi buried her head on the older woman’s neck and hugged her back as tightly as she could. Her thoughts disappeared in the void, and her body relaxed in the embrace.

“Thank you for yesterday,” Jaeyi whispered. Her voice sounded still tired. The actress said nothing; she just nodded against her shoulder and breathed in complete relief. The older woman’s scent filled Seulgi’s nose, and she smiled as she felt the jolt of anxiety in her chest. She missed her so much that it broke her heart. Her throat started to irritate her as she tried to block an intense feeling of being outed.

None of them spoke. Jaeyi stroked the actress’s back softly and kissed her head occasionally while Seulgi closed her eyes in total immersion in the warmth of the CEO’s body. They stayed like this for a long time; neither of them knew how long they had been hugging each other, but the moment they broke the hug, Jaeyi took her belongings and, without a word, took Seulgi’s hand, pulling her out of the hospital.

The older woman stayed still in front of the building and inhaled the fresh air while her eyes were closed. The woman beside her stared at her as the light of the sun brushed her skin. She slowly dropped her gaze to their intertwined hands and smiled shyly. She caressed with her thumbs Jaeyi’s hand just to taste the anxiety again. Her heart beat slightly faster; she could sense it in her throat, and she felt like her chest was open to the world, as if everyone could see what happened in her. Seulgi pulled Jaeyi silently toward the parking, and got in the car. They didn’t need to speak to understand each other, and the actress knew the older woman wasn’t in the mood to talk about anything.

She started to drive, still in silence. She felt the stare of Jaeyi on her, and her hands tightened on the wheel as the attention felt too much, but she said nothing. She had a part of her who liked to be the center of the older woman’s attention. In the middle of the drive, when she stopped at a red traffic light, she looked back at Jaeyi and smiled.

“Heeyoung missed you. She couldn’t sleep last night alone.” She said calmly, and Jaeyi hummed, never taking her eyes off the actress. The light turned green, and Seulgi continued to drive; the silence still embraced them.

The atmosphere was comfortable, but they could feel the unsaid words. Seulgi suddenly felt a touch on her thigh and gazed briefly at the older woman who was watching the blurred city. She said nothing and freed her hand to intertwine with hers. She kissed the hand once and smiled weakly at the road, feeling a light emotion in her chest. Arriving at the building parking, she parked the car, and they both walked toward the penthouse. This time, they didn’t hold each other’s hands, but they still stayed silent. Jaeyi entered the door code, and they stepped into the apartment. The CEO breathed in the scent of her home and smiled widely. Seulgi took off her shoes and walked directly to the kitchen.

Jaeyi joined her a few seconds later, looking around before sitting in the chair behind the island kitchen. Her head rested on her hand, and Seulgi sensed her gaze on her the whole time she was cooking. The silence was still present as if it had become a third person that nobody wanted to speak with. They stayed like this until Seulgi set the table and sat beside Jaeyi with a confused face. The CEO smiled gratefully and began to eat. Everything in silence. It wasn’t usual, but the atmosphere felt right, just like the actress expected.

She thought about every crazy thing Youngmin could have said to predict Jaeyi’s reaction when she woke up, and at the end of each scenario, she only thought about silence. It was the most beautiful, yet the most frustrating, reaction a person could give. The silence has a particular beauty as it could convey a million messages. A punishment, an anger, a comfort, a peace, and it can even be a prediction for the one who paid enough attention to everything. They didn’t have to always use words when silence can be enough, and Jaeyi’s silence was a clear message that she was swallowing her talk with her ex-husband.

When they finished eating and clearing the table, they both lay down on Jaeyi’s bed. The older woman wanted to rest, but didn’t want to stay alone. In that circumstance, Seulgi found herself cuddling with her CEO on her bed. Jaeyi had her head resting on the actress’s chest while her finger was doing the same circle motion over Seulgi’s collarbone. The younger woman said nothing, didn’t even reject the gesture, even though she felt her body burn as an anxiety gripped her. It wasn’t the good one; it was the anxiety when a secret was on the verge of being exposed. She held her breath when she felt her finger going down slowly and stopped short on it. Jaeyi raised her head and looked at her confusedly. Still in silence, the actress unbuttoned the first button of her shirt and showed for the first time her burn scar, which was located slightly on top of her breast. The older woman passed her finger through the scar delicately as if it could still hurt her.

“Someone extinguished their cigarette on my skin. I always hid it with makeup and some tricks that the makeup artist does to cover it up better. Plus, I always wear a dress that hides this part.” Jaeyi said nothing and buried her head on her neck. Her hand slid to her shoulder and hugged her.

“What else?” She asked lowly. “What else do I not know about you?” Seulgi hummed thoughtfully and tapped her finger slowly on the older woman’s waist.

“I used to steal candy or snacks from that old man’s store so I could give it to the kids of my orphanage when I was in middle school. My stepmother was always so angry, but the man never complained for some odd reason.” The CEO let out a giggle, and the actress felt her head shake weakly.

“How have you managed to have zero scandals for seven years?” Seulgi laughed and stared at the ceiling. Ms. Jung’s speech resonated in her mind, and she felt uneasy. “Your aunt knows everything about me, and she still said I have a good personality.” Jaeyi’s hand went down to her waist and left a quick kiss on her neck. Her body shivered at the sudden contact and felt a rush of blood go up to her face.

“My father and Youngmin had mentioned something about stealing, but I always ignored it. Now that you told me it’s just to give kids candy, it’s kinda sweet. The person must have said this to my aunt, and since she is crazy about children, she might have found it cool. You do have a good personality, Seul.” Seulgi smiled widely, feeling her chest light as the CEO’s reactions were positive. A silence fell on them for a few long minutes, a little too long as Seulgi felt her eyelids getting heavier with each minute that passed.

The atmosphere was calm and comfortable, like two lovers who had found each other after a long time. The actress was stroking Jaeyi’s soft, straight hair and enjoyed the warmth and safety of the woman beside her. The room was mostly dark as the blinds were closed, and only some sunbeams passed through gaps, giving a peaceful atmosphere to the room. It felt like the first afternoon of the vacation after a long flight. Peaceful, away from everything. The moment Seulgi was going to give herself to Morpheus, Jaeyi began to speak.

“He told me he hates Heeyoung.” The sentence woke the actress up in no time, as her eyebrows raised in surprise and shock. “He said he took care of her only because he lo…” She cut herself off, as if she couldn’t believe the sentence, and tightened her embrace. Seulgi’s stomach suddenly burned as a boiling anger began to form. “He never wanted a child because it would’ve meant sharing,” Jaeyi said this with such a monotone that it broke something inside the actress’s chest. She was detached as if she still couldn’t believe the words she had heard yesterday.

“What a twisting thing to say. Jealous of his own daughter.” Both of them stayed silent, swallowing the information, until Jaeyi cracked and started to laugh. It made the actress jump out weakly, not expecting such a reaction, but she said nothing. Her laugh was different than the one she heard from her; it was painful, a laugh that held a lot of emotions, and finally found the moment to free itself from her chest. Seulgi waited for her to calm down, even though the sound made her want to cry, and stared at the ceiling. The laugh began to fade until it stopped completely.

“I’m sorry,” The actress cut her off and started to caress her waist.

“Don’t. Everyone has their way to express their emotions. So, don’t apologize, you don’t have to with me.” The CEO raised her head and stared directly into the younger woman’s eyes. Seulgi noticed her eyes were watery, and a tear was already sliding down her cheek. She wiped it with her hand and smiled in reassurance.

“Youngmin’s brother, Jungsu, has something to do with all of this. I kinda felt dumb because I was defending him, saying he couldn’t have done something bad to me since he was never in South Korea. I’m really tired, Seulgi. I don’t think I could handle a second confrontation with any of Kang’s family members.” Jaeyi whispered as if she were running out of energy to speak. Seulgi sighed and pulled her into a hug.

“You aren’t dumb, Jaeyi. This family was your family too; it’s normal that you trusted them deeply. They are the ones who took advantage of it, and I’m sure they won’t get what they want. Everything is going to end soon, and well, hum? Just rest for today and let’s forget about everything.” Jaeyi hummed and buried her head into Seulgi’s neck. The actress stroked the CEO’s hair and kissed her head from time to time.

They stayed like this until they needed to pick up Heeyoung from school. The rest of the day, the family enjoyed their time, completely forgetting the world outside.

7 AM, Dispatch.

Woo Seulgi was known to take all different types of drugs and steal things from an old man’s business. Here is the story of Woo Seulgi.

Jaeyi woke up with the sound of her phone. She sketched her hand and dropped it beside her, but found it empty. She opened her eyes widely and furrowed her brows in confusion. She looked around her and took her phone to check the time, but only found a hundred notifications and a lot of missed calls from her dad and her assistant. She sighed tiredly and did her morning routine, ignoring everything at first.

She walked toward the kitchen and found an already prepared breakfast on the table. She smiled as a sweet wind passed through her chest. She sat in the chair and started to eat, completely disconnected from the outside world. Her phone suddenly rang, and she picked it up as she saw her assistant’s contact. She put him on the loudspeaker since she was alone.

“What’s going on? You called me endlessly.” Jaeyi started a little annoyed as she felt her morning would be cut short.

“Ms. Yoo, we have a big problem, like one of the biggest.” The CEO noticed the panic in his voice and the importance of the next words he was going to pronounce. She took one last bit of her food and hummed, motioning him to continue speaking. “Dispatch revealed all the past of Seulgi. From her mother’s and dad’s stories to the drugs. They even spoke about stealing, orphanage, dating life, and bullying?” His last word sounded unsure, like he missed a detail from an episode. Jaeyi said nothing and smirked slowly.

“Put Woo Seulgi on a hiatus. The director from her projects wouldn’t want to work with her anymore with such allegations. Call the PR team, I’ll be here in an hour.” She replied with her usual cold and composed tone. Her assistant hummed and hung up the call.

Jaeyi took a deep breath and cleaned the table. The news didn’t fully shock her, as her aunt had warned her about this yesterday. What she didn’t expect was the full story of Seulgi. It wasn’t only about drugs, but everything, including criminal allegations. She didn’t expect it, but she was still ready to fight against each one. She planned everything, the lies, how to make the lies approved by the court, and most importantly, how to save Seulgi’s career. She was ready to apply her plan and finally found peace for her and her little family. The only thing that scared her was Seulgi.

The actress was unpredictable, and she couldn’t anticipate her reaction to the scandal, especially since this one exposed all her life. She could run away, give up, or not listen to her. She could let her panic control her, yet she could also be calm and follow every order. She didn’t know, but she needed to be ready when she came back. Jaeyi sat on the sofa and read the article to see how far they went. It was fascinating how the article was detailed, too detailed. One thing that made her finger twitch was the sudden outing.

“Woo Seulgi is known to be a lesbian. It’s not a secret in the industry.”

“These bastards, they must be laughing their ass off right now.” She sighed and threw her phone on the table. It sounded bad, at the same level as the one three years ago. She bumped her head on the sofa and bit her lips in frustration. Their timing was perfect, too perfect.

The door suddenly opened, and before Jaeyi could stand up, she saw a silhouette running fast toward the toilet. The older woman hurried her step, following the woman, and saw Seulgi throwing up. She said nothing and only took her hair into a ponytail. The actress raised her head and sniffed once. Jaeyi let her clean herself up and wait in front of the toilet. She didn’t need to put herself in her shoes; she knew she felt awful, and the anxiety must be unbearable. Seulgi stepped out of the room and looked at the older woman with a dull stare, a gaze that made Jaeyi shiver. She looked fragile, on the verge of breaking down, and the sight made Jaeyi’s heart tremble in pain.

“I didn’t expect all my life to be out like this.” The actress said slowly and out of energy. Her balance wasn’t stable, and when she made a step, she almost fell. Jaeyi’s reflexes were good and supported her immediately. She held Seulgi until the sofa and sat beside her.

“Wait, let me bring a glass of water.” The moment she stood, Seulgi’s hand was around her wrist and pulled her back beside her.

“No, I just want you close.” The CEO nodded once, understanding her need. She stared at Seulgi’s tired face and bit her lip, trying to find the right word to reassure her.

“Climb on my lap.” The actress looked at her with the same empty eyes and executed her words, maybe because she was too tired to argue back or question the order. Jaeyi placed her arms around the younger woman’s waist while Seulgi rested her head on her shoulder, hugging her tightly.

“Have you read the article?” Jaeyi stayed silent for a few seconds and hummed in a positive tone.

“Yeah, I read everything.” The actress raised her head and stared directly at her CEO. Her face was already full of tears as her eyes suddenly expressed guilt.

“I’m sorry, Jaeyi, it feels too much to save anything. You should have just done what I told you and terminated my contract. I don’t even see how yo-” The actress started to say, almost out of breath, as if it was her panicked side who was speaking, and Jaeyi cut her off.

“Seulgi, listen to me.” She tried to say, but the younger woman got up, breaking their physical contact.

“No, you should listen, Jaeyi. This is too much, too much! The drug issue is already huge, but I told myself that I would have no problem trusting you with this. But now? We spoke about stealing, my dating life, and just my fuck up life in general! People aren’t dumb, Jaeyi! Nobody would see me like before! Plus, I’m a woman, nobody closes their eyes with a woman, Jaeyi, I don’t have this privilege.” The actress said, walking around the living room with an anxious step. She didn’t stop gesturing with her hands and bit her lips. Her brows were furrowed in worry. Jaeyi stood and put her hands on each side of her shoulder, stopping the actress in place.

“Seulgi, I won’t give up on you. I have a plan for each allegation; you just have to follow it, and everything will be alright. I need your trust in this. Please, Seulgi, don’t give up on your career like this. Isn’t it the most precious thing you have in your life, Seulgi? You sacrificed too much to let it go like that.” She saw Seulgi’s eyes go wide at her words and stepped backward.

“Are you serious, right now?” She sighed and passed her hand through her hair. “Let’s be realistic, whatever your plan, it won’t work. Some women stopped their careers over a bullying rumor, and you want me to survive this much? Yes, I care about my career, but I’m not delusional.” Jaeyi breathed through her mouth and looked to her side before responding.

“So what? You give up? That’s it? Eight years of career, of sacrifices, of putting it first, of breaking hearts, just to stop like this? Are you really going to run away again just because you weren’t prepared to have everything exposed at once? You have someone who told you from the start they’ll help you with everything! Didn’t I tell you this? You accepted my help, and now you want to stop?! I told you, I have a plan, Woo Seulgi!” The CEO’s voice was loud and full of frustration. She could sense her heart beating fast, clearly not prepared enough for this Seulgi. The actress turned her head and scratched her nails.

“I don’t even know your plan! Everything is so blurry!” Seulgi blurted out. “Please, Jaeyi.” Her voice broke as she called the older woman’s name. Jaeyi looked at her and could hear her heart break inside her chest at the sight. The actress’s face was full of tears and regret, making the CEO’s stomach tighten out of anger. Not against Seulgi, but against the men who used the actress’s life as a weapon.

“Tell me about your life, everything. Why did you start using drugs? Why were you in an orphanage when you had a father alive out there? Tell me everything, and after that, I’ll see if I listen to you or not.” Seulgi gazed at her with trembling lips and sat down on the closest couch. She massaged her knees and avoided Jaeyi.

“Why do you want to know now? In such a situation.” Jaeyi sat on the sofa, distanced from Seulgi, and sighed.

“I was always curious, I just didn’t know if you would trust me that much to share it with me.” She answered, half-sincere. The actress looked at her and said nothing for a moment. She wiped her tears and cleared her throat.

“My mom got me when she was still a minor. After four years of taking care of me and hiding the father, her parent discovered who he was, and they charged him with sexual abuse of a minor. During the court, my mom needed to pass a lot of psychology tests, and according to my stepmother, her mental state was too unstable to keep a child with her. My father got nothing, I mean, just four months of jail and a fine to pay. The judge decided to place me in foster care before putting me in an orphanage. I don’t know why they did that, but anyway.” She explained steadily, but her eyes shared a lot of emotion. Mostly rage and sadness. Jaeyi listened carefully without cutting her off.

“I’ve met Byeong in an orphanage when some kids bullied me because I was too quiet, but I already told you that.” Jaeyi nodded as she stared at Seulgi. “The bully didn’t stop there. I didn’t get the chance to be in the same school as Byeong, so he couldn’t always protect me. In middle school, I got bullied a lot, to the point that someone burned me with their cigarette. I started taking a boxing course with Byeong, and since I began to defend myself, they stopped bullying me. They tried to paint me as a villain, but my stepmother, who was at that time my legal guardian, somehow succeeded in making them shut up.” She continued with a weak, proud smile, as if it were one of her best memories, but suddenly her smile faded. She looked back at Jaeyi with shame before gazing back at her hand.

“I was close to the younger kids in the orphanage; I was like their big sister, and I took this role seriously. It was something so wonderful for me, as someone who had a hard time maintaining a conversation with people, and these kids helped me a lot with that. I didn’t have money in middle school, and the orphanage was kinda strict when it came to our nutrition. I wanted to please the kids, and ended up stealing snacks and candy from the local old man. Now, I think it was dumb of me to do that, but the kids seemed so happy, I couldn’t help but do it again and again, until my stepmother stopped me and made me apologize to the man. He never filed a complaint, saying my action was for a good cause. He didn’t know, but when I first became an actress, I sent him each month money to repay all the things I stole.” She said, scratching her nails. Jaeyi felt a warm feeling in her chest, something close to relief or maybe something else that she couldn’t tell. The only thing she knew, her Seulgi never changed.

“When I went to high school, my stepmother adopted me and divorced my father. In this period, I got to know everything about my parent and what kind of father I have. It was hard for me, I didn’t know where to put my head, and because of the wrong surroundings, I got into drugs. I smoked cigarettes at first between fifteen and sixteen, but then I needed something more, so I tried alcohol. It was good, it made me forget everything, but at some point, it wasn’t enough. I met a man who gave me a bit of a drug, and I liked the sensation. It felt just so good at that moment. I thought I would stop it the moment I get myself a grip, or something else to make me better, but I was wrong. I got addicted to this shit.” She stopped talking for a moment, her hands massaging her knees, and her eyes watery.

“My first girlfriend didn’t mind that much, actually, she was like me, but then we broke up, and I felt bad. I debuted, I got sudden attention I had never experienced before, and it made me anxious as hell. I got myself more doses to keep it up and forget everything slightly. It felt better like this. My second girlfriend knew this quite late, and she tried to make me stop. I took fewer and fewer drugs for her, but I couldn’t stop. It made me feel like shit, my hands trembled, and all. When we broke up because I refused to put her above my career, like she had done with me, I let myself fall into it again. It was worse because I felt like shit, and I hated myself a lot.” She sniffed and took a break. Her hands started to play around, and she took a big breath as if her next sentences were the hardest ones.

“My third girlfriend was the reason why I stopped the drugs, and it was the reason why it was the hardest for me to move on. She was a psychiatrist and helped a lot. She was so patient with me and kinda accepted my way of living and job. She was what I needed the most. She accompanied me on my journey. The breakup was the hardest for these reasons. I fuck it up because of my cowardice, and she lost her patience. I never blamed her, I wouldn’t even stand myself for a second, but it hit me that much that I started to be followed by a professional for stopping the drugs. It was really hard, but I succeeded. I never touched alcohol or cigarettes ever again, afraid of relapse. After that, I just lived my life carefully and avoided any drama or complications.” She finished without looking at the CEO. Jaeyi noticed the shame in her posture. Tense, hand in movement, avoidance, her body language was anxious and closed. The older woman sighed and nodded slowly.

“Thank you for opening up that much.” A silence fell on them as if they didn’t know what to say next. Seulgi started to bite her finger and glanced at Jaeyi from time to time with trembling eyes.

“Jaeyi, I don’t want you to waste your energy on me. I’ll just take responsibility for my past action and, I don’t know, find another thing to do, like an art teacher.” The actress said with a determined tone. The CEO said nothing and leaned her head back to the sofa. The situation was frustrating, and Jaeyi brought her hands to her face to massage it. Her plan couldn’t work if Seulgi gave up on her career. She needed her to be less stubborn. She looked at the actress and stood up.

“If you want to take responsibility for your actions, it’s five years in jail and a fine of fifty million won. Stealing one is six years in jail and a fine of ten million won. Think about it, Seulgi. It won’t only destroy your career, but also your life. I was prepared for each of the allegations, all at once or separately; it doesn’t change anything. The plan is the same, but I need your trust, Seulgi. I can’t help you if you don’t want to find a way out of this. You have someone who can help you clean your name, even though it means corruption, but guess what? This country is corrupt anyway, use it for god’s sake. Think about the weeks you stay here with me, everything we tell each other, don’t let your fear choose for you. I gave you a day to think about everything.” Jaeyi said with in the end a hint of desperation. She took her stuff and looked at Seulgi one last time before leaving for work.

“Turn off your phone. If Byeong wants to see you, send him the address and the code of the apartment. Don’t go outside today. If you want fresh air, the rooftop is still available. Take care of yourself and rest.” Jaeyi said softly. She wanted to say something more, a ‘I love you’ to remind her why she didn’t want her to give up, but she didn’t. She turned her head and left the apartment.

Jaeyi found herself at her agency in no time. She noticed the journalist in front of the building and sighed. She used the secret entrance and walked directly to the meeting room. The conversation with Seulgi drained her and made her feel hopeless. She even herself doubted for a moment if it was a good idea. She might be just blinded by love and run toward a wall. She shook her head and focused on the meeting.

“Ms. Yoo, the situation is… hopeless. Drug, theft, bullying, lesbian? That’s a package.” A man said with a trembling voice, and a woman beside her nodded before speaking.

“He is right. There is a picture of her smoking; the test must be positive. The other things we don’t know what’s true, what’s false, but if the drug is real, people would just jump to the conclusion that everything is also true. I don’t see how we could help her. We should maybe just terminate her contract for the company’s image.” Jaeyi listened to each person telling the same sentences over and over with a fear in their voice. Her finger was tapping the table in a slow rhythmic, and she stood up suddenly.

“I’m taking full responsibility for the consequences of my decision. You’re going to follow what I said without arguing back. Write that we are going into the subject with the actress to see what is true and false, and we are open to any investigation. Seulgi is going to pass a drug test as soon as possible. We’re going to clean her name, starting today with the bullying one.” The PR team looked at each other in disbelief, but didn’t argue back, following Jaeyi’s instruction.

Seulgi stayed frozen in her place since Jaeyi left the apartment. The moment she heard the door close, her thoughts flooded the silent space in no time. Jaeyi’s sentences were on repeat in her mind, feeding her anxiety in her chest. She felt the rock being heavier, the gravity on her shoulder, and the irritating pain in her throat. She swallowed hard and blinked multiple times, letting her tears fall. Her lips went into a thin line, and she tried to control her feelings. She brought her hand to her heart as the pain never let go. Suddenly, a sob freed itself from her throat. She tilted her head down and gripped her shirt on her chest tightly. After a moment of fighting with herself, she let go of her emotions, too tired to pretend.

After long minutes, Seulgi sniffed as there were no tears left and looked at the window. The sky was blue, no trace of grey cloud or rain. It was a first. She smiled weakly through the last tears and wiped them fast with her trembling hands. She took her phone and messaged Byeong just like Jaeyi told her. She, then, turned her phone off as the notifications started to get too much. She lay down on the couch and stared at the ceiling. Her mind wandered to Jaeyi.

She knew the CEO wouldn’t give up on her, and even if she refused her help, she would still try no matter what. She didn’t want to run away, not after everything, but the fear was still gripping her, and she couldn’t even predict what would happen after. Taking her responsibility for her past seemed easier, more predictable, less scary. She would just end up in jail, and then she would find a way to live like she always did, but she would lose Jaeyi and Heeyoung. She didn’t want that, not when she got attached to them. She sniffed once and felt a pain in her head, as if someone was knocking in her skull. She suddenly heard the door open and close with fast steps.

“Woo Seulgi?!” It was a familiar male voice that resonated in the room, and the actress stood up. Byeong appeared, out of breath, and looked at Seulgi with deep, worried eyes. “Oh my god, Seulgi! Are you okay? I read the article, this bastard. I swear I’m going to kill him if I see him one day!” The singer took the actress in his arms and stroked her back. The younger woman buried her head on his neck and hugged him tightly. His presence made her relax, and she felt her anxiety going away a bit.

“I’m just still in shock, but I’m good, I guess.” She responded weakly. The man didn’t move and kissed the top of her head.

“Everything is going to be fine. Let’s just rest a little, okay?” Seulgi said nothing back and let her childhood friend guide her.

He made her sit on the sofa and turned the TV on, putting on her favorite movie. He stayed beside her half the way, hugging her and trying to reassure her as much as he could. He, then, started to cook for them. Seulgi’s favorite dish, and they both ate. At first, it was in silence, but then Byeong started to joke around, speaking about some random things that happened to him on his world tour. It made the actress forget for a moment the mess as if it were just one random day. She loved how caring her best friend was. They went back on the couch after cleaning up everything, and the actress stayed silent as her thoughts came back. She was still unsure about everything and whether she was capable of bearing the consequences.

“What’s on your mind?” The singer’s voice broke Seulgi’s thought, and she looked at him briefly. She closed her eyes and scratched her neck softly, mostly out of stress. Her best friend was the only one who could help her with her hesitation. Nobody knew her life more than him, after all.

“I told Jaeyi to just give up on me, but she refused, saying she had a plan and just needed my trust. I just don’t know if I deserve this; it seemed too much, too complicated.” The man hummed thoughtfully and shook his head.

“Seulgi, you are doubting between jail and lying? You should put your head in the off mode and follow Jaeyi.” He said seriously, but after a moment of silence, he looked at Seulgi with wide eyes. “Unless your doubt isn’t about your career anymore, because the Seulgi I know won’t hesitate to do the craziest thing to save her career and stability.” The actress turned her head toward the singer and opened her mouth as if she wanted to speak, but no word came up as if something held her. Byeong said something right, and at this moment precisely, she caught a fact she hadn’t noticed before.

Yes, if she were in her normal state, the survival one, she wouldn’t even think twice about anything. She would follow Jaeyi blindly, no questioning anything, just to keep the thing she had built and loved for many years. Her stability was her priority. Seulgi bit her lips and felt a bang in her heart as a realization hit her deeply.

Jaeyi had become her new priority.

She loved her more than her stability.

“You’re right, this isn’t how I would normally react.” She said in a monotone. She looked at Byeong, feeling her eyes sting. “I just don’t want Jaeyi to suffer more than she already is. She’s taking too much risk with this, and I don’t want her to lose her work because of my fuck up past.” Her best friend nodded slowly and caressed her shoulder.

“It made sense. This is why you think you don’t deserve it. You should speak about this to Jaeyi, you know, because I’m sure you are more important than her business. She puts you first. You should think about it, and don’t decide by yourself.” Seulgi’s gaze went down to her hand and sighed.

Byeong was right, she should communicate more precisely about her feelings and thoughts. She looked over the window and observed the city. She was wondering how things were going in the agency and on social media. The singer took out his phone, and as if he read Seulgi’s mind, went on social media.

“Don’t go on social media for at least two months. People are evil, even though some supportive commentary can be found. The agency made one statement. It said that they are looking into it with you and are ready for any deep investigation, saying they won’t interrupt anything. Maybe Jaeyi is prepared for a second statement, or she is waiting for your consent.” Seulgi nodded slightly, feeling her eyelids heavy. She rested her head on Byeong’s shoulder and hugged his arms.

“I’m too tired. Let me sleep for a moment, just to escape my anxiety.” The singer hummed and didn’t move, still on his phone. Seulgi let her eyes close by themselves and, in no time, fell into the dream world.

“Why are you waiting to post the second statement? You have the prove that Seulgi was the one who got bullied, just publish the statement.” Mr. Wan said in a serious tone. The CEO was in her office, sitting in her chair behind her desk. She put down the pen she had in her hand and shook her head.

“I can’t, not until Seulgi gives me the green light. I can’t start my plan and then give up on it in the middle. I need her approbation.” Her assistant sighed and nodded slowly. She knew the situation was frustrating, and they needed to move fast, but she couldn’t defend the actress and then withdraw. It wouldn’t be good for either of them.

“Get that answer tonight, Ms. Yoo. If she is still in doubt, just give up. I know it would be hard, but think about your agency and life too.” The CEO looked down and said nothing. He was right, and she didn’t want to admit it. She didn’t anticipate this scenario; she trusted Seulgi to follow along. Wasn’t she worth it after everything? She sighed and stood up.

“I’m leaving, it’s already late. I’ll inform you of the next step tonight, hoping for something positive.” Mr. Wan bowed his head and said nothing more. Jaeyi left the agency at the hidden exit and drove directly to her home.

When she entered the penthouse, she went directly to the living room, but didn’t find the actress. She looked around the apartment, and there was no sign of Seulgi. She bit her lips and started to think about where the younger woman was. Then, she remembered she had mentioned the rooftop before leaving for work and went without wasting any more seconds. She climbed the stairs fast and found herself welcomed by a strong wind. She looked around with an emergency gaze and breathed in relief when she found Seulgi close to the edge, head raised toward the orange sky as the sunset started.

She didn’t think that Seulgi ran away; she was just afraid that the actress had decided to do a dumb move and walk around the city. She walked closer to her, trying to make the less noise as possible, and hugged her from behind. The girl jumped slightly and turned around fast, meeting her eyes. The actress punched her shoulder softly and furrowed.

“You scared me! I didn’t hear you!” The CEO laughed and brushed a strand of hair behind the actress’s ear. “Sorry, princess, but it was an open opportunity that I couldn’t ignore.” Seulgi rolled her eyes and smiled before hugging her back. It was warmth, and Jaeyi let herself melt in it. She almost forgot the world around her; it was the actress’s voice that woke her up.

“How was your day? And where Heeyoung is?” Jaeyi smiled as a sweet and warm feeling filled her chest. She loved how the actress’s first thoughts were about her and Heeyoung.

“It was a rough day, but still ok. Heeyoung is staying with Jena for a day or two, maybe more, I still don’t know.” Seulgi hummed and hugged her tighter. There was a silence, a heavy one as they both sensed the next conversation would be more complicated. It wasn’t only about the unsaid words that were waiting to be outed, but also the fear of the consequences of it. Jaeyi knew that if Seulgi didn’t want to fight for her career, she could forget about having a relationship with the actress, and just the thought made her heart beat painfully.

She never imagined herself falling in love again after Youngmin, and she couldn’t even imagine finding someone as perfect as Seulgi. The woman took care of Heeyoung like it was her own children, and Heeyoung accepted the actress to the point she supported her mother with any type of relationship she had with Seulgi. How lucky was she to have met a person like this? She caressed the actress’s cheek and slid her finger to her ear. The touch made the younger woman’s ear turn a deep red, and Jaeyi smiled in relief. It was a good indication that she still affected the younger, and she didn’t know why she had this fear of losing that.

“Jaeyi,” the CEO looked at her eyes and hummed. There were a few seconds of silence as if Seulgi was preparing herself for the conversation, and Jaeyi patiently waited. The actress broke the closeness and put a small distance. She crossed her arms against her chest, and her finger tapped in a slow rhythm on her arm. “Tell me your plan, please.” The CEO glanced at the floor and then back at the actress. She sighed and nodded her head. Seulgi needed to know the plan, and she didn’t even know why she had never told her before. Maybe she was waiting for a moment like this.

“The plan isn’t hard. The bullying allegation is easy to prove false. Byeong told me he is ready to speak about it, and your burn mark is also enough. For the thief allegation, there was no proof of it, so even if out of nowhere, the man wants to charge you, he won’t win. My aunt told me the man wants to speak in your favor, and with what you told me this morning, I can also say you still donate a lot to this old man and his family. For the drug, I have a lot of contact with the police, the law, and the hospital. I succeeded in convincing someone to falsify the test. You just need to follow the instructions. When you go to the police station for their investigation, you just need to put your wonderful talent to work and lie about the drug. Say you only smoked cigarettes, and that picture is photoshopped. You don’t need to worry about the other things.” Jaeyi stopped talking for a moment and played with her finger as she was going to tell her real plan after this.

“But your reputation would still be damaged even though I clean it up. So, I was thinking about moving away from South Korea, where people are ready to accept anything from the celebrities. I know you had a lot of offers from Hollywood that you refused, but I think it’s the moment to accept them. You could do your coming out and grow your career internationally. I would support you, of course. I’ll do my best so you have the best things ever. I always wanted to grow my agency, so I planned the new building for four years now and-” Before she could finish her speech, Seulgi cut her off with a soft voice.

“I can’t do it anymore.” Jaeyi looked at her confusedly and continued to play with her finger as she felt a wind of anxiety in her chest. “What do you mean?” The actress passed her hand through her hair and bit her lips.

“I was thinking of doing it after the mess, but I just can’t do it anymore. I love you so much, Jaeyi, that it hurts. I can’t live a day without thinking about you or caring about you. I felt so special with you, and seeing you give this much makes my heart ache with love. You become someone more important than my career or anything, and I’m so afraid of losing you, but at the same time, I do not want you to risk everything just because of me. I told you I needed time to be sure that I won’t run away, and I’m sure now. I don’t want to run away, I want to stay beside you and Heeyoung, I feel like home, like I belong here, in your arms. I never loved someone this much in my life, and I’m ready to do anything just for you to be happy.”

The CEO raised her eyebrows in shock, clearly not expecting the sudden confession, and smiled widely. The actress looked at her with trembling, anxious eyes; her arms were loosened beside her body, but her hands were in a light fist. Jaeyi came closer to the actress and took her head between her hands, caressing her cheek with her thumb. She looked at her eyes and slowly went down to her lips, then back at her eyes. She felt her heart race fast in anticipation.

“That’s unfair, I wanted to confess first, after such a ridiculous confession I made that night. I love you too, Seulgi, more than anything. I don’t want to lose you; this is why I took all the risks. I can’t see my life without you; I need you to stay by my side. You’re my home, too.” She dropped her hands and put her arms around the actress’s waist, pulling her closer against her body. Their forehead were touching, and Seulgi smiled weakly.

“Really?” The youngest asked. It wasn’t a doubtful question, more a teasing one. Jaeyi giggled and hummed positively. “Then, kiss me.” She didn’t need to ask twice that Jaeyi closed the gap between them, meeting her lips for the second time since they met.

The kiss wasn’t rushed like their first one. It was slower, sweeter, and a bit sensual, something that was saying love. Seulgi tilted her head, deepening the kiss, and raised her arms around Jaeyi’s neck. The kiss suddenly intensified, becoming hurried and intense, and the older woman let out a moan at the new turn. They broke apart when they needed to breathe, and after sharing a smile, their lips met each other again. The older woman couldn’t describe the feeling she was having in that specific moment, but she was never satiated with Seulgi. She wanted more and more, to the point she was afraid of herself and her own feelings. They finally broke apart, and the actress buried her face in the older woman’s neck.

“So, does that mean you’re officially my girlfriend?” Seulgi raised her head to face Jaeyi and laughed, which made the older woman furrow her eyebrows slightly.

“Well, I don’t know, you tell me.” Her tone was playful, almost obvious about the answer. The CEO looked at the sky with a fake thoughtful expression and glanced back at the actress with a wide smile. “It depends on whether you’re going to follow my plan or not.” Seulgi stared at her for a second before dropping her head on Jaeyi’s shoulder and biting her with a little strength— enough for the older woman to squirm in pain.

“Yah! It’s hurt!” The younger woman giggled and kissed softly where she bit. “I don’t feel sorry. Your manipulative move won’t affect me, but yes, I would love to be your girlfriend, and yes, I’ll follow your plan, even though I’m not confident about the Hollywood part.” She answered with a lack of confidence at the end of her sentence. Jaeyi caressed her waist, as her arms never left their position, and smiled weakly.

“You should, you have the talent for. Plus, you have me to make it realizable.” The actress tilted her head and breathed in doubt at her new girlfriend’s words. “And this should make me more confident?” The CEO gasped and dropped her arms from Seulgi’s waist.

“It’s been only one minute since you became my girlfriend, and you’re already showing a new side of you!” The younger woman laughed and kissed her cheek, which surprisingly made the older woman blush deeply.

“And you saw nothing!” She answered with a teasing tone before passing by Jaeyi and walking back to the penthouse.

Jaeyi stayed on the rooftop for a minute, looking at the sky and letting the wind brush her skin. It wasn’t cold; the weather was quite enjoyable as the sky was as clear as a spring. She touched her lips unconsciously and smiled as she thought about what had just happened. Seulgi was finally her girlfriend.

Her love of her life is finally hers.

She looked at the city one last time and returned to her apartment, joining the actress. She thanks God that Heeyoung was with Jena. She had the whole night with Seulgi and Seulgi only.

Naver, 10 AM

JY ENTERTAINMENT revealed that Woo Seulgi was never a bully, but in fact, a victim of bullying. The agency shared all the proof needed and said they would take legal action against the person who spread this false news.

Naver, 2 PM

An old man shared a story about Woo Seulgi and revealed she never stole anything; in fact, she paid him years after and continued to help his family financially.

Seulgi stepped out of the elevator, and Mr. Wan welcomed her with a wide smile, as if he were happy to see her composed, and bowed his head. The actress bowed back and smiled weakly.

“Ms. Woo! Glad to see you again! Ms. Yoo is free; you can just knock and enter. Thank you for trusting her. She was kind of stressed yesterday.” He said softly, but his face never went back to his cold and professional one, which wasn’t usual. Seulgi thanked him with a sincere smile.

She knocked on Jaeyi’s office door and didn’t wait for her to open it. She opened the door and walked in before closing it behind her. She met the CEO’s eyes quickly as Jaeyi was already walking toward her. The older woman put her hand on her waist as if they were meant to be placed there, and gave her a peck on her lips before smiling widely.

“Hey, princess. What’s bringing you here?” Seulgi smiled back and brushed one of her strands behind Jaeyi’s ear.

“The articles.” She replied. The CEO smirked and invited her to sit on the sofa, which the actress didn’t hesitate and sit. Jaeyi brought two cups of coffee and sat beside her, close enough that their knees were touching. She sipped once from her drink and looked at the actress with a more serious face.

“People’s reactions are divided; most of them are waiting for the drug to make up their minds. Well, your reputation is still impacted no matter what. I’m sorry for that.” The actress took Jaeyi’s hand and rested her head on her shoulder.

“Don’t be sorry for things you can’t control. You did the best you could, and it’s enough for me. I already told you I don’t care about my career anymore, I mean, not as much as before.” Jaeyi nodded and stayed quiet for a moment. “Still, how did you manage to find the old man that I used to steal their candy and snacks?” The CEO laughed and leaned back on the sofa. She opened her arms, and the actress immediately jumped into her arms, head on the crook of her neck. Jaeyi’s hand found her waist and caressed it softly.

“My aunt. She is an expert when it comes to things like this. The man wasn’t hard to convince, I just had to tell him you were the anonymous donor.” Seulgi groaned and buried more of her head into her neck.

“Why did you do that! I wanted to stay unknown.” The older woman laughed and shook her head slowly. “Don’t be ridiculous. The old man was surprised, and then he said ‘I knew she had a good heart.’” This sentence made Seulgi feel a warmth growing in her chest, and she felt her ear burn in embarrassment. Her fans always said this to her, how kind and lovely she was, but fans were fans, and they only saw what the actress wanted to show. So when she heard something like this from people who saw her worst side, it felt strange, even unreal. “Next week you have the drug test, right?” Her girlfriend’s voice brought her back to reality, and she nodded.

“Yeah, I’m kinda stressed. I hate journalists, and I know my anxiety would kill me.” Jaeyi’s hand slid to Seulgi’s back and traced a line slowly. “Ara will be with you, so don’t worry too much,” Jaeyi whispered to her ear. The actress shivered at it and, as if she wanted to take revenge, she left a wet kiss on the CEO’s neck. She felt her body freeze, and she smirked at the reaction, feeling pride in her chest. She raised her head to face Jaeyi and kissed her lips.

“Thank you for everything.” She whispered as their nose were still touching. Jaeyi smiled and kissed her back.

Naver, 1 PM,

Woo Seulgi arrived at the police station to do the drug test and answered the police’s questions.

“So, Woo Seulgi, you really had bad luck. The one who charged you with it is a good lawyer and kinda wanted to speed up things. The first question is simple: Do you smoke?” A police man asked softly. The actress was in a private room, facing two officers, a woman and a man. They weren’t mean, quite the opposite. They seemed a little annoyed to be there, but at the time, excited to speak with the actress.

“I used to smoke cigarettes, but I stopped three years ago.” She answered sincerely. She knew what she could reveal and what she should hide. She and Jaeyi talked about every detail, and as if she had learned a script, she knew when to act. The police man nodded, his facial expression between shock and impressed.

“So you stopped to smoke. Why?” The woman beside the officer asked. Seulgi looked over the woman and answered sincerely again.

“Health reason.” They both nodded, seeming to notice her sincere tone.

“Have you consumed any drugs in your life?” The actress looked back at the man and shook her head.

“No, I never consumed any of them. I just smoked cigarettes or drank alcohol to calm my nerves.” She said, half lying. She found it fun and at the same time scary. It felt like filming a thriller scene, but this time it was for real. The two officers nodded.

“But there is a picture of you who seemed to sniff something. We can clearly recognize you in it, and someone who we can’t reveal the identity, said you were a regular in this kind of club.” Seulgi glanced at them and shook her head.

“No, I wasn’t a regular. I indeed went to this club once or twice, but I wasn’t a regular. I went there because one of my friends worked there. I don’t remember taking anything there, and I don’t even know where this picture comes from.” The officers glanced at each other briefly and sighed.

“I see, to be honest, a picture isn’t enough to prove anything since we couldn’t recognize the substance. Do you know Lim Daewoo?” The actress repeated the name multiple times, as if she tried to remember something, and then shook her head slowly.

“No, I never heard this name before.” Seulgi didn’t lie for this one. She never knew the real name of her old dealer, and she thanked the sky that she was never curious about it. The officers nodded at the same time and stood.

“Well, thank you, Ms. Woo. We can only wait for the drug test. After the result, you can go back to your home. We’ll call you if we get new evidence.” Seulgi bowed her head as the officers did the same and waited for the drug test result, so she could finally go back to her home.

She missed Jaeyi a bit more today

Naver, 3 PM

The police station revealed that the drug tests were negative for both the urine one and the hair one.

Jaeyi started to clean her desk and took her bag, ready to leave work. She was satisfied with her day and how fast things went. The opinion was still divided, but more and more people started to believe someone wanted to set up Seulgi. Her reputation was still damaged, and nothing could repair this, at least in South Korea, but it was enough for Jaeyi to keep the actress under her company until her contract terminated. The moment she opened the door, a man was standing there. Jaeyi noticed his posture and outfit first. His body was straight, his hands were in a tight fist, and he was wearing a dark blue suit. Her gaze raised until she met his dark eyes.

Kang Jungsu.

He was smirking, but not the playful one. It was the frustration one. He looked quite angry as his lips twitched from time to time, and his eyes weren’t as sweet as they usually were. Jaeyi breathed loudly and massaged her forehead with her hand.

“It’s already late, Jungsu. If you want to speak to me, come back tomorrow. I’m really not in the mood to speak with you about anything.” She heard the man let out a dark chuckle, which made her look back at him. His eyes were darker, and his smirk disappeared.

“What the fuck are you doing? First, I learned you charged my brother with child abuse. Secondly, your new lawyer is our fucking enemy. And now, you managed to save your little princess? Maybe I wasn’t hard enough. Maybe my father was right. I underestimated you.” Jaeyi furrowed her eyebrows and laughed.

“What are you talking about, Jungsu? I think you forgot I’m a Yoo, but your father didn’t forget about that, right?” She replied with a provocation. She didn’t want to confront him, but she guessed the universe wasn’t on her side today. He laughed at her words and pushed her into her office, closing the door behind him.

“My father is a coward; I’m not. You’ve never done a thing alone, Jaeyi. I thought you would give up easily, that your company would crumble, but I was really surprised that you managed to glorify your agency. I sent you how my brother was manipulating you. I think you are kind of ungrateful. I even gave you a hint about it, but your love for him blinded you, so I thought you were oblivious and dumb.” Jaeyi stepped back, not leaving her eyes from the man. With Youngmin, she could predict his move, but with Jungsu, she couldn’t. She never had a problem with him, never saw him angry, never saw him frustrated. He was always so composed and chill. It made her a little bit scared for the next move.

“So, you are the one who wanted me to feel like shit so you could bring out the worst scandal ever?” Jungsu laughed darkly and nodded. “Why did you do that? I thought we were like siblings.” The man looked around the room and lifted his bottom lip in arrogance.

“Because I’m jealous of you, Jaeyi. I never wanted to be a lawyer, but my father forced me, saying my ambition of creating a company was horrible. I felt rage every time I remembered how he supported you in your project to the point that he talked to your father so he could change his mind. You can’t understand how it felt, and I don’t blame you for that.” Jaeyi felt the wall closing in on her as the man started to walk closer. She let out an anxious laugh.

“And so what? You planned to take over my company by making me quit my position or by making the shareholders vote for my resignation? Are you crazy?” The man looked at her and laughed, making his eyes smile too.

“Yes, exactly, Jaeyi, exactly.” He said with a threatening tone. Jaeyi’s leg hit her desk, and Jungsu was now close to the CEO.

He touched her cheek and let out a mocking laugh.

“If I were you, I would stop everything, or I won’t hesitate to tell the whole truth to the world. You wanted to protect your princess, okay, but now you gave me more things to expose about you.”

Jaeyi looked at him with fearful eyes.

But in reality, she wanted to laugh at his face, because after all, she was a Yoo and he wasn’t the only one who had things to expose.