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«Hello, I’m Hong Ja Young and I’ll be your manager starting today».
Those were the last words he expected to hear from that girl, a weird but sweet fan who helped him escape more than once from paparazzi and crazy followers. But he found himself smiling thinking of the fact that she would accompany him in the crazy attempt to go back to his origins.
«No, you’re not his manager. You’re in training, consider yourself like a trainee» said the annoyed real manager of Seo Woo. When his artist had decided to start backpacking around Korea to find new inspirations and experiences for his songs, he didn’t think twice to pack a suitcase too and to embark with him in this new adventure. «I only gave you this job because you begged me for it, but I won’t hesitate to fire you if you don’t behave, clear?»
«Yes Sir! I’ll work hard Sir!» she exclaimed, like a military soldier.
He took the suitcase and she picked up Seo Wook’s guitar and went to the car already packed and ready to leave.
Seo Woo smiled looking at them, they were more excited and elated than him, this experience should have helped him to leave behind all that happened in the last few months and try to go back to who he was before meeting Eun Ha Won: living with the girl changed him, allowed him to discover what it really meant to love someone with all your heart even if, at the end, he wasn’t the one she choose but his brother Ji Woon. He was happy for them, they were good together and he’d never dream of going between them. They had a really hard time and what they needed now was time to spend together and live their story like a normal couple.
He went to the car too, and let himself be guided by that odd couple of managers that he found.
The first “stops” of that weird tour were more or less already organized by his manager, who contacted shopping centres and stores to allow him to sing and play in front of who would stop to listen to him. His hyung was always ready to speak with traders and managers, while Ja Young took care of checking if he had enough water and food, that the sun wasn’t too strong on him and cables and speakers worked well. She was always behind him, ready to cheer and scream louder that the teen girls who stopped to listen. At the beginning Seo Woo though that would be a nuisance to have someone so enthusiastic always around, but he soon found out that he didn’t care, in fact he started to get used to always be the girl’s center of attention and be pampered by her.
When they had already visited all the shopping malls and clubs in the center of Seoul, Seo Woo decided that it was time to go outside the big city, to try the smallest villages in the province and move down the south coast to Busan, and then come back. They would been travelling for two months, taking advantage of the summer season and good weather to hit every square, every pub and every road.
The first few days went by without any trouble, the usual steady routine and the roles they took guaranteed the perfect execution of every concert, boys and girls liked his music and his voice, sometimes someone recognized him and so an impromptu autograph and photo session started; Ja Young was always very enthusiastic, ready to help him and to “direct the traffic” that his exhibitions caused.
It was when they arrived south, to the big city of Busan that things started to take a strange turn.
His manager was able to find a gig in the coolest place in town, where even VIPs and Hallyu stars went to spend their evenings.
«You’ve no idea what a great opportunity this is, the place is always packed every day of the week and they assured you’ll have a band and some dancers as backup. This is a real concert, like only the big artists do. For someone like you, with just two albums this is an experience that could guarantee your rise for the future!» he said ecstatically: if that evening went well, it wouldn’t be a success just for Seo Woo, but also his reputation as a manager would grow.
Also Ja Young’s reaction was incredible, her screams and squeals ringed in the guy’s ears for at least 5 minutes; but he was happy that his two travel buddies shared the same enthusiasm and anticipation at the idea, especially his new exuberant friend that never ceased to make him laugh and relax with just a smile.
They took a double suite in a hotel near the club, the fact that they busked around didn’t mean they had to live like homeless people: Seo Woo was rich and had the money both from the selling of his albums and from the family inheritance to fund their challenge.
The afternoon of the concert day Ja Young and the manager spent all their time to check that everything was ready, that the lights worked and the volume levels were adjusted. They didn’t left even the smallest detail behind, they did their best knowing how important that evening was for all three of them. At the end of the day, they both had barely the time to go back to the hotel room to have a shower and get ready for the big night.
Meanwhile Seo Woo was roaming around the streets of Busan when, passing by the window of a small shop, he didn’t withstand the urge to buy what he saw.
When he went back to the hotel, he found his manager changing in their room, comfortable clothes ready to deal with the endless evening in front of them, while in the other room the girl had exited the bathroom, wearing just a bath towel around her and another one on her head.
«Oppa!» she exclaimed a bit embarrassed.
«Oh, sorry Ja Young!» he said turning around. But it was already too late, those instants were sufficient to notice how the school girl wasn’t a teenager anymore, but how under that school uniform that allowed them to meet hided a grown up woman. Apparently he did good to follow his instincts that afternoon.
«I just wanted to give you this. It’s a small gift for you. You worked so hard this last month, without complaining and sometimes struggling even more than hyung. You deserve it».
«Oppa! Thank you!» she said enthusiastically, turning around without remembering her current unclothed condition.
«Aaah, Ja Young, be careful!» he screamed covering his eyes with one hand and extending the paper bag with the other.
«Oh, sorry Seo Woo».
«I’ll wait for you outside, hyung will already be thinking of checking all the lights again. When you’re ready we’ll go there together» he mumbled exiting the room.
Ja Young stayed for a few seconds gazing the door where the idol exited, unable to believe he just handed her a gift. She squealed twirling around the room, then deciding to finally open the bag the boy gave her. And she was left flabbergasted for the second time in a few minutes.
Seo Woo changed into the clothes that they choose together, an elegant and casual mix that went well with the place and the concert feel. He was fixing his shirt cuffs when the door of Ja Young’s room opened and he was left breathless for 3 seconds.
The dress she was wearing was the one he noticed a few hours before on the mannequin of a shop a few miles from there, but if before he thought that could’ve been ok for that evening, now he believed it had been made just for her: it was a simple leather black mini dress that hugged her like a glove and accentuated all the right places; she paired it with black studded boots, comfortable enough to face the evening ahead, and a plaid shirt left open. The black choker and silver bracelet, with a little make up to emphasize her big brown eyes and loose hair on her shoulders was the last touches to make all the outfit perfect.
«I-it…it looks good on you» he stuttered when he managed to breath again.
«Thank you, you guessed my size right, it’s perfect! Thank you again, it’s a beautiful gift».
Seo Woo couldn’t tear the eyes from the girl in front of him: who would have thought that the first woman to catch his attention after Eun Ha Won would have been that funny and smiley student.
«Your hair grew a lot» he noticed.
«Yeah, in just a month they’re already so much longer. Maybe I should find an hairdresser and cut them».
«NO! no, don’t» he said practically screaming. «They look good on you. Don’t cut them».
«All right. I won’t» she replied both confused and excited. Even if they spent a lot of time together that last month and their relationship became closer and intimate, she’d never imagined the great Seo Woo taking time to think about her and her appearance.
They entered the concert place from the back door, the one reserved for artists and staff.
Everyone was in a turmoil, the crew run around with cables or rods, the dancers were stretching in the dressing rooms, the musical instruments ready on the stage to be filled with Seo woo’s music.
The singer could hear the clamour of the people in the room and he thought that he never experienced such anxiety and trepidation like in that moment: he knew that concert wasn’t like the others, important people were in the club, people who could have guaranteed him a success both on a national and international level, or could have crushed him and his dreams forever.
The man saw Ja Young receiving instructions and a wireless earphone from the stage director, her look focused and driven to do her best: Seo Woo was sure she’d have made an excellent job, no matter her young age, he had the opportunity to see how she moved and managed with the problems that arose, and her troubled past was the perfect gym to train her for that moment.
«5 minutes to beginning!» screamed someone from behind the stage and everyone started running more and hurrying to their positions. Seo Woo too grabbed his guitar and went to position himself at the entrance of the stage.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw the young manager trainee approaching him with a microphone in hand, that she gave him just after.
«Remember, keep your concentration high and everything will be fine. You’re so talented and your songs will reach everyone’s heart. I know because they made me fall for you» she said looking at him with the biggest smile that reached even her eyes.
«Thank you Ja Young. You know that if I’m here is also thanks to you too».
«I have done so little, manager is the one who did most of the work. Or maybe, now that we’re a team, I should call him Team Manager?» she replied looking at the third member of their strange party.
«Really Ja Young. Thank you» he whispered with a barely audible voice, staring at her in the eyes with a softness and a light that the girl had never seen before. She kept on looking at him enchanted, the time stopped and she couldn’t help but think that there was more in those words than the meaning, but a sudden voice brought her back to reality.
«2 minutes to beginning! Everyone ready!» the manager shouted, already perfectly at ease in his new role of Stage Manager.
«Oppa, fighting!» said Ja Young disappearing just after.
The band started to play, the lights turned on and it was Seo Woo’s turn to enter the stage.
The show was starting.
It really was a huge success, the audience was dancing and singing with him, the girls’ screams mixed with the applause and cheers from the more “senior” audience, Seo Woo saw behind the scenes Ja Young and his manager hugging each other and bouncing around with happiness. He decided then he’d took them out to celebrate right after, they deserved it.
While he was trying to reach his dressing room to get changed and relax a little, he was like taken by storm by a group of fans that managed to sneak in to met him. He didn’t refuse them and, no matter how tired he was, he still had enough adrenaline to stop and chat a bit with them.
He was signing autographs and taking pictures, when he noticed two people, a man and a woman, going toward Ja Young who was helping the technicians to arrange the equipment. He tried to get closer to catch what they were saying.
«We really liked your way of working, if you’re interested in working with us, call me, this is my number» said the men dressed in an elegant suit while giving her a business card.
«You’re saying, to do other concert of Kang Seo Woon?»
«No no, I like you» replied the woman who, contrary to her partner, was dressed in a more sexy style with a tight and short dress and expensive looking killer heels. «I’ll leave for a tour in all South Korea and then we’ll move to China, Japan and Taiwan. It’ll be a very interesting experience and you’ll be able to see first hand how things works in this field, not only to be a good technician, but also to learn how to manage public relations and the tight schedule of a celebrity».
«You’re saying that you want to hire me?» she asked a little surprised. She definitely wasn’t expecting to get a real job offer just after a month of traineeship.
«Think about it, you’ll have the opportunity to tour around Asia for two months, it’ll be very tiring but I can assure you won’t regret it». The woman was trying very hard to convince her, Seo Woo recognized her as a fellow singer with a few more years of experience.
«We’ll leave in two weeks, of course you’ll need to come to our offices to meet the staff and get used to the environment, but I’m sure you’ll adapt very quickly» intervened the man that obviously was the woman’s manager.
«I promise I’ll think about it and I’ll let you know» replied Ja Young smiling.
«Remember, opportunities like this one don’t come around everyday, it’s a good offer, don’t let it slip away».
With those words they left from the back door. Ja Young bowed as a sign of respect and stayed there contemplating the business card she never stopped to hold onto.
Seo Woo felt like someone was squeezing his heart thinking that the girl could leave him to go work with another agency, with another singer; but at the same time he knew that they offered her a great opportunity on a silver plate: if it had happened to him, he’d never have thought twice to accept, but at the same time he trusted Ja Young’s loyalty towards him and his manager. Before accepting she surely would talk with them about it. Of course, this didn’t reassured him even a bit, he knew that it was an experience not to be missed and he would have been the first to incourage her to go. So why he felt sick at the thought of losing her? It was a strange sensation, he felt it just once before in his life, the day he found out that Eun Ha Won loved his cousin Kang Ji Woon and his first love sank even before beginning.
But he never imagined he would have felt the same desperation and surrender, not so soon and not towards a little girl that just a month before he found cute like a wagging puppy.
The next step was to realize that, in those times spent together touring the country, his feelings for her changed, they became softer and turned into affection beyond that of friendship. Seo Woo was falling in love with Ja Young and he didn’t want to lose her for the world.
But how to keep her from growing and take the best route?
When a few hours after they found themselves at the food stand to eat and drink, Seo Woo pretended to be fine and have fun with them, while inside he felt his heart tearing apart with the doubts and indecisiveness: should he encourage Ja Young to go and live new experiences and to take that gold opportunity, or should he give up and swallow his pride, confessing his feelings for her and try every way to keep her with him?
Soju flew like a river, his hyung had already crossed the line between intoxicated and completely drunk, the girl was still resisting even if her cheeks were really red and she was giggling more than usual.
«Hyung, maybe it’s time to call it a night» tried to say the singer.
«No! Seo Woo we have to celebrate! It was a success, your career will pick up in no time, the idea to travel around the country was the best you could have!»
«This wasn’t really the main reason, but I guess it’s not bad either».
«Oppa! You were great this evening. You were so beautiful and good and shining! Good job!» slobbered the girl raising her thumb in an appreciation gesture.
«Ja Young, it’s time for you to go to bed too». Why was he the only one sober?
«No, oppa! We have to celebrate like manager said!»
«We’ll celebrate on the bed, come on Ja Young» he said trying to take her away. «Hyung, you too, it’s time to go».
He rose up both his friends and hurried to leave some money on the table.
Not without effort, he managed to get to the hotel and leave his manager and the girl in their beds.
«Oppa, you said we would celebrate on the bed. What do you want to do oppa?» she said giggling nonstop. «Are you excited oppa?»
«Wh-wh… what are you saying!» he screamed shocked. He’d never dared lifting even a finger on her.
«Oppa, I want ice cream, I want ice cream oppa!»
«Okay, I’ll go and buy some ice cream. You promise to sleep a little though» he insisted pushing her over the bed covers.
«I’m not sleepy oppa. I want ice cream, I want…». She didn’t even finished her phrase that the girl fell asleep.
Finally Seo Woo was alone in silence and could try to clear up his mind.
Since Ja Young wanted ice cream, he went to buy some in a 24h supermarket.
He found himself wandering the streets thinking about what they shared that year: the friendship with Eun Ha Won, who was both her friend and his new housemate at Sky House, their meeting in the classroom while he was trying to escape from the paparazzi and his crazy fans, that uniform worn quickly to escape unseen and the photo she took that would become the link between the two; the trip to the countryside during the weekend. And then Eun Ha Won run away and they tried to find their friend, their meetings at the cafè with the excuse to have some news about the girl that disappeared, but that maybe already were the signs of an attachment to the girl. And then the surprise when he found her in front of the agency ready to leave with him to tour the nation with just the bare necessities, and their countless concerts and evenings together, he played while she cheered on him every time.
Seo Woo thought that their history went much deeper that what he imagined, they shared happiness, pain, embarrassing moments and of anxiety; he wasn’t so surprised, when thinking about all this, to realize his friendship feelings turned into something more. The problem now was to make the right choice: he felt he needed Ja Young in his life, as his manager and as his girlfriend. At the same time he knew he couldn’t offer her many occasions to travel the world and see much more than Seoul. At least for now.
Forcing her to stay beside him would be a selfish gesture, but at the same time he felt he couldn’t live without her anymore.
He wandered around for two more hours, managing to get back to the hotel and remembering of the promised ice cream.
He entered the silent room, put the ice cream inside the small fridge and went on the balcony to admire the night view of the maritime city. Completely taken by his thoughts he didn’t heard the small steps behind him.
«Oppa. What are you doing?» whispered a sleepy Ja Young.
«Oh, you’re awake. I was just thinking».
«Thinking of what?» she asked still a bit inebriated.
«About how things changed in just a few months. I was alone before inside the big Sky House, then suddenly Ha won came and upset the balance, she made me fall in love for the first time, I had my heart broken for the first time, I had the opportunity to get closer to my grandpa and to my family’s roots. And most importantly I met you» he said, hesitating during that last sentence.
«Me? But I didn’t do anything».
«That’s not true. You did so much for me Ja Young, and you’re doing it even now. I wish you could keep being beside me…»
«Oppa, I’m not going anywhere…»
«I know they offered you a job. A real job. And I know it’s a great opportunity if you really want to work in this field. You shouldn’t let it slip away».
«Are you sure I should accept it? Do you really want me to go?» she asked with a sweet voice.
«Of course not! I don’t want you to go away from me, I don’t want you far from me, I want to always keep you by my side, during the concerts, the interviews, while I wrote new songs and when I’ll be in trouble because I cannot find the words! But I also don’t want to be selfish and keep you from living your life. If you want to go, do it because it’s the best thing for you. But if you think it’s not the right way for you, then please. Please stay beside me».
Ja Young looked at him speechless, those words she always wanted to hear were being spoken by Seo Woo, the guy she fell in love with the first time she heard him sing in a street in the centre of Seoul. His eyes were so sweet, with a note of urgency and fear that were even too noticeable. They were his feelings coming out.
The girl decided then to dare, to give in and throw away to the night wind all the precautions and prudence.
«Oppa. I’m not going anywhere without you» she said getting closer to the singer.
With a bold move and insolence so far from her usual character, thanks to the romantic atmosphere and the alcohol still inside her, Ja Young grabbed Seo Woo by his shirt collar bringing him to her height, then she stamped a kiss on his lips that lasted a little longer than originally intended.
When she break off the kiss to allow the boy to talk and say his thoughts, he didn’t even let her breathe that he pulled her back to him to kiss her again, this time more decisive and trying to relay all the passion he contained during the last month.
They stayed there, cuddled to each other, watching the sun rising behind Busan skyscrapers, unsure of what tomorrow would have brought and sure just of the need they had of each other.
When, the next month, they came back home and met with their friends and family to have a pic-nic in the garden of Sky House, it was a surprise to no one the fact that they were a couple: Ha Won always had been the number one supporter of both Ja Young and Seo Woo, seeing them together was only an added joy; Kang Hyun Min and Park Hye Ji now lived in their own word made of romance and mawkishness that embarrassed all the other cousins: Kang Ji Woon was happy not to have Seo Woo as a rival for Ha Won’s love, even if he trusted completely his girlfriend; even Lee Yoon Sung, while being an inflexible butler before the crisis of Haneul, now was more relaxed and smiling.
They ate and shared together the fact they finally found serenity and their direction in life, sure that, if things really could change so suddenly, at the same time it was worth enjoying every single kernel of happiness.