Chapter Text
The car ride was silent.
Which wasn’t super abnormal. They usually didn’t exchange much words.
Megan usually used this time to study whatever she needed to know about the event or interview they were driving towards. Or scroll through her Instagram feed. But it was rarely used for talking
Yoonchae usually just stared out the window. She enjoyed watching the scenery as the car drove them to their destination.
Today, she could tell Megan wanted to ask her something.
“Megan.”
The older girl immediately sat up straighter, turning to the young star.
“Yes ma’am.”
Yoonchae almost hissed at her. Almost.
“Don’t call me ma’am.” Yoonchae reminded and Megan nodded swiftly.
“Yes… Yoonchae?” Megan tried again, almost hesitant to use the other girl’s name, even though she’s never called her anything else.
“I can tell you want to ask something. So ask.” Yoonchae said clearly.
“This interview… you don’t usually… I mean, it’s kinda…”
Yoonchae just raised an eyebrow.
“I’ve never seen you drink.” Megan flat out said.
Yoonchae blinked at her.
”I just turned twenty one.” Yoonchae argued firmly.
“This is America. Everyone under age drinks here.” Megan argued back.
“You’ve only been my assistant for six months.” Yoonchae changed the direction of her argument.
“Yes. And I’ve spent an ungodly amount of time with you in those six months.” Megan countered.
Yoonchae’s lips almost curved into a smile. Almost.
“What’s your point?” Yoonchae asked, steady as always.
“The interviewer wants you to drink. It’s very… off brand for you.” Megan explained.
Yoonchae thought for a moment before speaking.
“I owe Sophia Unnie a lot. That’s all. Besides, she won’t purposefully post anything I say or do if it makes me look bad.” Yoonchae said simply with a shrug.
Megan just nodded, used to the less than emotional response.
That was their whole dynamic after all.
For the past six months, she worked as the personal assistant to the “Ice Princess”, Kpop turned mainstream star, Yoonchae Jeung.
If you watched her performances or music videos, you were in awe of her energy and her visuals, especially her facial expressions.
But outside of that, she was like a robot. Stoic, calm, no sign of emotion.
But Megan had come to realize that the world was underestimating Yoonchae, she was much more than her quiet nature let on.
“Lara, she’s younger than me.” Megan complained.
“Yes Meg, she’s younger than me too. But I’m still her manager. And she needs a PA. You said you wanted work in the industry, right?” Lara reasoned when she first told Megan about the job.
“I don’t even listen to her music!” Megan argued but she couldn’t deny that Lara was right. She needed an opportunity. And work. She could only bum off her best friend for so long.
Lara set up an “interview” between the two, to see if this arrangement would even work.
Lara and Megan quickly realized that the two girls were polar opposites.
Yoonchae was proper, and quiet, and well mannered.
Megan was loud, obnoxious, and emotional.
“Hi! I’m Megan!” Megan practically shouted at the younger girl when they first met inside the quiet coffee shop.
Yoonchae, in her sunglasses and baseball hat, tilted her head down, so she could make direct eye contact over her sunglasses.
“I’m Yoonchae.” Yoonchae had taken her hand delicately and shook it gently.
“Oh God, you really are like a princess, no wonder they call you ice prin-.”
Yoonchae narrowed her eyes at her.
“Oh fuck. I mean, nobody calls you that, what are you talking about?” Megan rambled out, trying to defend herself.
They remained in awkward silence for two minutes.
Two minutes that Megan felt her left leg bounce restlessly before manually stopping it. But then she determined that she probably looked weird and tried to relax. But that just caused her to slouch which made her feel like she had bad posture, so she tried to correct it-
“Do you listen to my music?”
Megan looked up. Yoonchae was staring straight at her through her sunglasses.
“Oh. Um. Yeah, I’ve heard the popular ones on the radio. I really dig… Gnarly?” Megan grimaced. Yoonchae’s face remained unchanged.
“Do you speak Korean?”
“Oh. No. Um. Im actually Chinese. Well half-“ Megan rambled out.
“You speak English though.” Yoonchae interrupted.
“Yes. I’m fluent. Unless I’m reading, I’m dyslexic but I can- nevermind.” Megan flushed, remembering that Lara told her not to mention any “bad” qualities.
Yoonchae just hummed. A pleasant sound, Megan decided. But her robotic nature gave Megan the same impression as a refrigerator and its constant hum.
Then she pictured Yoonchae as a fridge in a random kitchen.
So she started giggling.
Yoonchae just stared at her causing Megan to stop and get self conscious.
“What are your qualifications?”
Megan looked up from her panic. Yoonchae had removed her sunglasses and set them down calmly on the table in front of her.
“I’m sure you’re aware. I have a very busy schedule. My company thinks I need an assistant. I’m not a child, I can do things on my own. But they insist.” Yoonchae explained.
“Yeah. No. I get that. I mean, I’m interested in the industry. I’m hard working. I can do almost anything. I don’t know if Lara told you but I’m pretty crafty too. I can figure out how to get anything asked of me done.” Megan explained quickly.
“Why would Lara know how ‘crafty’ you are?” Yoonchae asked, only allowing a hint of confusion to protrude.
“Because she’s my best friend, she’s definitely seen me do some crazy shit-“
“Are you stupid?” Lara asked her incredulously two hours later as they sat on Lara’s couch.
“Dude. I thought you told her who I was?” Megan argued back, flopping her head backwards, spraying her dark hair everywhere.
“That’s Nepotism babes.”
“Isn’t this whole industry run on nepotism? You have to know someone? You’re my someone!” Megan countered and Lara sighed.
“Yeah, you’re right. I should’ve warned you not to mention that we’re friends.” Lara flopped her head back to match Megan’s horrible posture.
“It’s fine Lara, I’m sure there’s other ways to break into the industry. Maybe I’ll take up Dani on that whole back up dancer thing-“
Megan was interrupted by Lara’s phone ringing loudly. Megan stifled a laugh as ‘Let It Go’ from Frozen blared through the apartment.
She didn’t have to ask who was calling before Lara answered the phone.
“Hello?”
“Lara.”
“Is everything okay, Yoonchae?” Lara asked quickly as Megan picked up a slice of pizza from the box on the coffee table.
“When can your friend start?”
That got Lara’s attention.
“Megan?”
The girl turned slowly towards her best friend, her cheeks full of pizza, as she pointed a sole finger towards herself.
“Yes. I have chosen her to be my assistant.” Yoonchae replied firmly.
Over the next few days, Megan was formally brought into the company that managed Yoonchae, HYBE. The same company that Lara worked for as Yoonchae’s manager.
She signed a work contract and an NDA. Her role was simple.
Help Yoonchae with whatever she needed.
Megan figured that was making coffee, food, going to the store, picking up her dry cleaning, etc.
She arrived at the apartment a few days after Yoonchae’s phone call to Lara.
It looked no different than Lara’s. In fact, Megan noted that it looked smaller than Lara’s. She knocked on the door and was greeted by Yoonchae. No make up, no fancy clothes, no disguise. Just a t-shirt and sweatpants.
Megan sucked in a breath. She was still effortlessly beautiful.
“Megan.” The Korean girl nodded. She stepped aside. Megan mumbled a thank you and stepped inside.
The apartment was warm. It smelled of sesame oil and garlic but also vanilla and lavender. The living room held a big sofa, a large TV, and a medium sized round table. The living room bleed into the kitchen which was currently being used based on the smell.
Megan could see a hallway and three doors, all closed. Even without seeing those rooms, Megan decided that this apartment was way too small. Too small and too modest for someone who was one of the biggest rising stars on the planet.
“I was preparing dinner.” Yoonchae spoke, then glanced at Megan’s hands, noting that they were empty.
“Where are your bags?”
“My bags?” Megan asked confused.
“Yes. Your bags. With your belongings. You’re supposed to be moving in here today.”
Megan’s eyes almost popped out of her head.
Excuse me? Moving in?
“Yes. That’s what I said.”
“Shit, did I say that out loud?”
“Yes.” Yoonchae deadpanned. “You’re going to be assisting me in my life, right? And traveling with me when I travel. Staying in the city when I stay in the city. Was that not in the contract?”
The contract stated they would provide her a place to live close to Yoonchae. They did not say it would be in the same apartment.
If Megan was being honest, she had been excited at having her own place to live.
She had been crashing at Lara’s for the past year as her unofficial official roommate.
“Yes. It was. I just thought I would move in later. My bad, I’ll go get my stuff later.” Megan lied and shrugged her shoulders.
Yoonchae examined her for a moment before nodding. “I made food. Please wash up. Bathroom is the middle door.” Yoonchae said turning to the kitchen.
The bathroom was bigger than she anticipated. A spacious shower and a double sink, along with a private toilet.
“Ok, so not too modest.” Megan mumbled. Half the counter had bottles of Korean skincare and other things. The other half of the counter was empty. Megan assumed that was her side. She washed her hands on her side and dried them on her pants, not wanting to touch the other girl’s towels.
She walked out and was tempted to see Yoonchae’s room but figured it would be a bad idea to be caught snooping on day one.
She returned to the living room and found that the table was now full of plates.
“Have you had Korean food before?” Yoonchae asked quietly as she set the last plate down.
Megan shook her head.
“Ok.”
She sat down. Then glanced at Megan and the empty chair across from her.
Megan scrambled to sit down. A hint of a hint of amusement crossed Yoonchae’s face. Megan swore her mind was playing tricks on her.
Yoonchae began explaining the different dishes to Megan in the same way she spoke about everything. Almost robotic. Void of emotion.
It was honestly kind of scary.
“Don’t worry. I asked Lara if you had any allergies before I prepared any of this.”
Megan looked up at the Korean girl, surprised. That single sentence changed Megan’s perspective.
That wasn’t robotic. That was… kind.
“Oh. Thanks.” Megan said as she picked up her chopsticks.
She started placing food on her plate. She was aware that Yoonchae hadn’t started eating yet.
Don’t be weird, Megan told herself.
She brought something to her mouth, a piece of chicken covered in some kind of cheese, tinged red from the sauce.
She ate the food. She glanced down at her plate. She picked up another piece and ate that too.
“This is good.” Megan said digging in.
Yoonchae nodded. “Thank you.” Then she began eating too.
“What is this called?” Megan asked after a few more bites.
“Dakgalbi with cheese.” Yoonchae voiced.
“It’s delicious.” Megan said, with her mouth full. She quickly cringed and swallowed the food. Yoonchae looked down, but Megan could almost swear she was smiling. Almost.
“Can I ask you something?” Megan spoke up. Yoonchae nodded.
“You know I’m not really qualified to be your assistant right? I only got an interview cause of Lara. So why me?”
Yoonchae set her chopsticks down and clasped her palms together, resting her elbows on the table.
“Because. You’re not some rabid fan. Lara already told me, you know of me, but not enough to look up my history and care.”
“And I’m not just some random person, you know about the challenges of my life and what I’ll need.” Yoonchae added quietly.
“We’re also close to the same age. If you were too much older you would look down on me. And any younger and you’d be too immature.“ Yoonchae continued. She paused for a moment and then spoke again.
“Also… you treated me like a person.”
Megan looked at her with a sympathetic gaze.
“You even paid for my coffee that day of the interview like…” Yoonchae paused, “Like it never crossed your mind to expect me to pay. You just squeaked out a thank you, put money down for both our coffees, and ran away.”
Megan just nodded dumbly.
“Plus, Lara recommended you. And I love Lara. I trust her. So if she thinks you should be my assistant, then I agree.”
“Wait. You love Lara?” Megan asked surprised.
Lara was constantly afraid that Yoonchae hated her and was one hair away from firing her. She was always a mess internally whenever she had to interact with Yoonchae. She figured any little mistake and she was gone.
Yoonchae nodded as if it were obvious.
“Do you think HYBE would let someone so young and inexperienced, manage one of their biggest stars?” Yoonchae asked Megan, making her ponder.
“My contract is… limited. Let’s say I don’t have too much freedom. But I do have a say in my staff. So I chose Lara because she’s good and she cares and I trust her.”
“And now I choose you.”
Megan didn’t have a response. She couldn’t think of one. Nothing that would make sense. Her brain was word salad. So she just defaulted to her usual, teasing self.
“I’m telling Lara.”
“Please don’t.” Yoonchae said stoic-like.
“Yoonchae, I have to, you just said you love her-“
“And would she even believe you?”
That got Megan to stop. Her tone hadn’t changed but Megan realized, for a brief moment, that Yoonchae was messing with her.
“Fine.”
“Finish eating.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Don’t call me ma’am.” Yoonchae said with a tint of annoyance.
Oh.
This was might actually be fun.
The next six months involved a steep learning curve for the two woman who had to now co-exist.
While Megan had expectations for what her role in Yoonchae’s life would be like, she did not account for Yoonchae to be so independently normal.
During the first month, she would wake up in the morning to find that breakfast was already made. Coffee usually brewed. Even the mail was collected.
“Morning.” Yoonchae would greet from her spot at the table, reading on her iPad.
“Do you need me to do anything? I can go and get your dry cleaning?”
“Sure. Or I can pick it up later, it’s no big deal. Eat.” She would say, not even looking up.
Megan would just nod, trying to be useful. Picking up plates and washing the dishes but Yoonchae would beat her to it most of time.
“You’re not a butler.” Yoonchae reminded her.
“Yes ma’am.”
“Don’t call me ma’am.”
Going to events and interviews with Yoonchae granted her a little more clarity on her job.
She would follow Yoonchae and just get her things. Food. Water. Her phone if her outfit didn’t have pockets.
Megan didn’t mind, because she got to hang out with Lara at these events and actually feel useful.
However, it was two months into the job when she realized something important at a company meeting with HYBE executives.
Megan was nobody to them. She didn’t exist. Only when they believed Yoonchae needed something.
“Grab Yoonchae some food, she looks hungry.”
“Get her some coffee, she looks tired.”
“Bring her a chair, she looks like she’s been standing for too long.”
She was just an afterthought to these people, meant to serve their golden star.
But as void and emotionless Yoonchae acted, she always thanked Megan.
It wasn’t grand or dramatic. Just a “thank you, Megan.”
But after two months of this job Megan could kind of sense that Yoonchae was actually grateful.
That’s the only reason Megan didn’t quit right away.
Eventually, they settled into a rhythm, three months into the job.
At home, they were just like roommates. Cordial, but didn’t intervene with each other’s lives that often.
Yoonchae kept to herself most weekends and nights. She was usually scrolling on her iPad or watching an unhealthy amount of kdramas or hidden in her room. Megan tried her best to stay out of her way unless called upon.
Yoonchae, in turn, had no problem if Megan wanted to go out.
“I’m more than capable of cooking or ordering Uber Eats on my own.” Yoonchae simply stated when Megan brought it up.
“Right.” Megan said embarrassed before sending a text to Lara.
Megan: she said yes!!! ❄️❄️❄️
That faithful Friday, lead to the first real crack in their work-life relationship.
At two in the morning, Yoonchae was startled awake by her phone ringing constantly. She had five missed calls.
Two from Megan. One from Lara. And then another two from Megan. All within five minutes of each other.
“Hello?” Yoonchae answered.
“Oh my God, she answered! Lara we are saved!” Megan’s voice came from the other line, louder than Yoonchae would’ve preferred.
“Yoonchae. Please. You need to come get us. I got locked out of my uber account and Lara’s phone literally fell into a puddle.”
Yoonchae could tell that Megan was drunk. She wasn’t that hard to read but the sloppy speech pattern and the slurred words only solidified her assumption.
Megan, on the other side of the line, in her drunk mind, could’ve sworn she heard Yoonchae chuckle. But that was impossible.
“Where are you?” Yoonchae’s typical deadpanned response.
“Lara, where are we?”
“Outside the bar. Harmony! On fifth street.” Lara replied.
“Ok. Don’t go anywhere.” Yoonchae said before hanging up.
Megan put her phone down from her ear and turned to Lara. “She’s on her way!”
Lara, who was sitting on the curb next to her, had laid down on the sidewalk to stop the world from spinning so much. She just put her thumb up.
Thirty minutes later, a familiar car pulled up to the duo on the curb.
“Wait. This is my car.”
“Yes Megan, because I don’t have my own car.” Yoonchae, who had exited the vehicle and stood in front of them wearing sweatpants and a soft looking sweater, spoke clearly.
The weird thing was, there was no sense of anger either.
“Right. Sorry.” Megan said standing up.
“Oh God, I forgot we called Yoonchae. Now she’s here and she’s seeing me drunk.” Lara said, both horrified and slightly amused.
Yoonchae just walked over and held her hand out.
“Come on. You can stay on our couch.”
Megan stepped over and the two helped Lara into the backseat of the familiar BMW.
“Stay back there with her in case she gets sick.” Yoonchae demanded.
“Yes ma’am.”
“Megan.”
“Sorry.”
The following morning started with both girls, kneeled in front of Yoonchae, bowing their heads to the floor.
“We are so sorry.” Lara spoke from the ground.
“I shouldn’t have called you. And then tried to call you on Lara’s phone when you didn’t answer.” Megan apologized.
“And then I dropped it in the puddle so I just called you again on my phone.” Megan rambled on.
They were anticipating anger. Honestly, the thought of getting fired crossed both of their minds.
Instead, they just got Yoonchae, awkwardly tapping both of them on their backs.
“It’s ok.” Yoonchae shrugged.
“I ordered food. We can eat soon.” And then she got up and walked away.
Lara and Megan just exchanged glances.
During breakfast, Lara got a phone call (Yoonchae had thrown her phone in a bowl a rice when they got home and surprisingly, the device still worked) from one of her bosses.
“There’s paparazzi photos of Yoonchae out at three AM outside some bar. TMZ is calling her an alcoholic and the Daily Mail just said she’s turned into a party animal.”
The photos, which luckily didn’t feature a drunk Megan or Lara at all, literally just showed Yoonchae in sweats getting in and out of Megan’s car outside of the bar called Harmony.
“Shit, Yoonchae. I need to figure out how to handle this.” Lara said, typing away on her phone. Her spinach omelette only half eaten.
“What if she does a live?” Megan spoke up, a bite of her bagel sandwich in her mouth.
Both girls turned to her, which caused her to flush with embarrassment and swallow her food before talking again.
“Just go on live, address it straight up. ‘I went out last night and photos and rumors are circulating.’” Megan said with a deep fake voice she used to over exaggerate.
“I haven’t done a live in a while. It’ll be pretty obvious it’s because of the photos.” Yoonchae countered.
“Exactly. Nip it in the bud. Before it gets worse.” Megan said, taking a swig of orange juice.
“Nip it… in the bud?” Yoonchae asked confused. Megan realized it was an English phrase she didn’t understand.
Another part of her job had become explaining English idioms to Yoonchae. Sometimes basic stuff and sometimes meme culture.
Yoonchae still didn’t quite understand ‘skibidi’.
“I mean, address the photos. And cut it off before more rumors can start.” Megan explained.
“HYBE’s on board.” Lara said, her thumbs up again.
Yoonchae pondered for a moment before nodding.
“Ok.”
Two hours later, Yoonchae was live on Weverse.
“Before we get started, I just want to address something. There are photos from last night that are now being thrown around with rumors.” Yoonchae started.
Her lives were usually like this, she was known for not showing emotion after all. Most of her lives were just information dumps about her next project.
Lara nodded along, having gone over with Yoonchae what to say.
“Just state that they caught you off guard, you weren’t at any bar, you just happened to be driving home. It’s obvious since you’re in sweats.”
But for the first time, Yoonchae went off script.
“Some friends of mine needed my help so I went to go pick them up. As you can see, I was wearing sweats. Not exactly ‘party animal’ clothing.” Yoonchae spoke clearly, but with the tiniest tinge of amusement.
The internet loved it.
@yoonmetothemoon: omg she’s the bestest friend ever.
@yoonchaewon: daily mail and tmz can rot for trying to spread lies about our princess
@sophialaforteza: the honesty. the sarcasm. I’m so proud.
Yoonchae also used the live to promote her newest EP, which the company leaned into.
Soon, the paparazzi photos and TMZ headlines circulated but with the caption: Things are getting… Wild.
As Megan sat on the sidelines and watched Yoonchae answered fan questions about her life with the most robotic, monotone voice, she found herself repeating a word in her head.
Friends.
Is that what we are? Or did she just say that to appease the fans?
After that day, Megan felt herself loosen around Yoonchae.
Most of the comments she used to keep to herself in fear of getting fired the initial four months would now just leave her mouth.
Sometimes it was simple.
“The food they’re serving here looks disgusting.” Megan claimed, quietly standing next to Yoonchae when they were at an event for the launch of some product that HYBE wanted her to sponsor.
“Agreed.” Yoonchae would respond.
“I’m getting us Taco Bell later.”
“Agreed.” Yoonchae didn’t even hesitate.
Sometimes it was silly.
“This place feels haunted.”
“It’s literally a Hot Topic, Megan.”
“Exactly. It’s haunted by my angsty middle school days.”
Yoonchae just hummed at that one. But Megan could tell it was an amused hum.
Sometimes, it was vibe checks.
“The security guard here gives me the creeps.” Megan said once, when they were at a fansign event.
“Why?” Yoonchae would ask, her full attention on Megan.
“I don’t know. He just wouldn’t stop staring at Lara’s chest.”
“He was?” Lara asked, incredulously, trying to cover up her chest.
“Ok. I’ll ask them to switch him out.” Yoonchae replied as if it wasn’t inconvenient for her. Megan smiled at her gratefully, and Lara looked at Megan with a curious look.
The second crack in their status quo came when it was time for them to travel together.
They were flying to South Korea for an award show, now five months into the job.
HYBE had gotten them all first class, which was a first for Megan who was used to flying Spirit (RIP).
She was excitedly playing with the buttons on her chair, reclining and straightening. She was sinking into the comfortable chair, mentally preparing for the long flight, as the plane started moving towards the runway.
Lara was asleep across the aisle already, exhausted from the planning process for this trip.
Megan glanced to the seat directly next to her. Yoonchae hadn’t put up the divider between them. She saw that Yoonchae had pulled her hood up and had one of those eye covers on. To the outside world, she looked asleep.
But then Megan noticed her hands. They were gripping the arm rest tightly.
Megan noticed her face twitch, just slightly as the plane began to pick up speed.
Oh my gosh, she’s scared of flying.
Before Megan could filter the action through her brain, she reached across the divider and placed her hand over Yoonchae’s.
She felt the girl flinch at first, her breath catching. She tilted her body, just slightly, towards Megan.
Megan just tapped her hand gently, calmly.
Yoonchae let out the breath she was holding, and turned her palm over. Megan’s fingers automatically intertwined with the idol’s, giving her hand a reaffirming squeeze.
Yoonchae’s shoulders relaxed, and she squeezed back as the speed increased to its peak and the plane began to take off.
Megan closed her eyes and felt the warmth seeping through the crack that she just witnessed in Yoonchae’s emotional armor.
She figured once the plane was airborne, Yoonchae would let go.
Of course, they both fell asleep.
Of course, Lara woke up before them.
Of course, she took a photo.
She had a feeling it would come in handy later.
Megan definitely felt out of place, not used to this much make up or the tight dress she was wearing.
For once, the company had put her in the chair for make up and made her work with their stylist for a dress, probably because she was going to be sitting with Yoonchae as part of her team.
The award show, all the signs, and almost all the information was in Korean. She had accepted her fate to just laughing when everyone else laughed, clapping when everyone else clapped, and sighing when everyone else sighed.
However, right at the start of the show, Yoonchae had leaned over while the host was talking.
“He’s thanking everyone for coming and telling us to enjoy the performances and good luck to all the nominees.”
The rest of the show passed along with Yoonchae leaning over and translating what was going on to Megan who nodded along. She still followed her plan, laughing and clapping with the audience, but now Yoonchae was giving her the context for her actions.
At one point, the announcer was talking in Korean and Megan realized that everyone sitting around them, as part of Yoonchae’s team, had tensed up.
Even the robotic girl next to her just stared at the stage. Megan wondered why until she felt Yoonchae’s hand grab her own hand.
There was a pause while Megan glanced at Yoonchae who didn’t turn her attention from the stage.
“Yoonchae!”
The audience stood up and clapped as they all turned to their section. Yoonchae released Megan’s hand as she stood up.
Megan quickly followed standing up and clapping, realizing that Yoonchae must have won the award that she was nominated for.
“She did it!” Lara shout-whispered to Megan who nodded proudly.
Yoonchae was nodding and shaking hands with her team but then her eyes found Megan and Lara who were smiling at her.
“Congrats.” Megan mouthed softly.
And then Yoonchae’s face did something neither girl expected.
She smiled.
Then it dropped and she walked onto the stage, accepted the award, and made a short speech.
Lara explained she was thanking the company, her team, and of course, her fans, for everything.
Still the same monotone, robotic voice. But Megan was replaying the smile Yoonchae sent her. The warmth of her hand when she was waiting for the results.
Right at the end of the speech, Yoonchae’s eyes found Megan. And they both just held it, for a second, before reality set back in.
The after party is when Megan really understood the reason she had this job.
Not the official, on paper reason, but the reason Megan decided on.
Yoonchae had mingled with people. Took photos. Gave the occasional nod and thank you when people congratulated her.
But then those people would drift away and Yoonchae would be alone. Megan had watched from afar, standing with Lara and the other executives and realized it quietly.
Yoonchae was an outcast. A shy, quiet, introvert, especially here since she was based in the States now instead of Korea. She must be lonely.
So Megan walked over and stood next to her.
“Give me the tea.” She announced to the Korean girl when she arrived.
“What?” Yoonchae responded, looking at her cup which she knew had water in it, because Megan herself had gotten it for her.
“The tea. The gossip. Who is secretly dating who?” Megan said eyeing the idols around them.
“Don’t be stupid. This isn’t fanfiction. We’re professionals.” Yoonchae replied, but her mouth twitched. Just slightly.
Even though she didn’t show it, Megan knew she was amused.
“Honestly, I think I saw those two acting suspicious.” Megan said pointing out two idols from the same group that were literally just talking.
“Stop pointing. That’s rude. And totally the wrong ship.” Yoonchae said, sipping her water.
Megan turned to her with an exaggerated shocked look.
“Oh you have ships do you?”
“Shut up Megan.”
“Yes ma’am.” Megan said with a smile as the two idols she pointed at waved at Yoonchae and began to walk over to them.
Back in the present day, the two girls had arrived at their destination.
The venue for the interview was not as Megan anticipated. It was just a small coffee shop that had been rented out for the day.
The backdrop for the interview was simple, a low table, pillows on the floor for sitting, the cafe set as the background.
The only interesting thing was the bottles of soju sitting on the table.
Megan followed Yoonchae as she walked towards Lara who was talking with the interviewer, Sophia Laforteza.
Megan had done her research on the ride over. Sophia was an older contestant on Dream Academy, a survival show that HYBE created to flush out future idols, with Yoonchae that took her under her wing.
While Sophia’s idol career never took off, she made it as an influencer and general internet presence.
Her current project was drunk interviews with celebrities so fans could see their favorites in a new, inebriated state of mind.
“And I can totally introduce you two if you want-“ Sophia was saying to Lara before Yoonchae spoke.
“Unnie.” Yoonchae said when they arrived in front of the two girls.
“Yoonchip!” Sophia squealed, throwing her arms around the Korean girl.
To Lara and Megan’s surprise, the idol hugged her back. Not super enthusiastically but it was way better than the awkward side hugs they’d seen her give before.
“Megan.”
“Yes.”
“She’s hugging her.”
“I can see that Lara.”
“Yoonchip?” Megan asked confused and Sophia laughed.
“It’s my nickname for her because she used to scarf down these chocolate chips pancakes during our trainee days.” Sophia explained, still embracing the rigid Korean girl.
When they pulled apart, Sophia grabbed the ends of Yoonchae’s hair gently.
“Oh my God. I know I saw the photos but it looks so good in person.” Sophia said praising Yoonchae’s new blonde hair.
“Thank you. I was… really nervous about it.” Yoonchae admitted.
Megan smiled at the ground, a fond memory crossing her mind from two weeks ago.
They were in a hair salon, not by Yoonchae’s choice, Megan determined.
They had come here after a meeting with HYBE.
Megan didn’t understand anything that was said in the meeting, as it was all in Korean and the executives continued to pretend her existence was the same as the plant in the corner.
(Except they probably gave the plant more water)
But after, when Megan asked if she was driving them home, Yoonchae had sighed.
“We have to go to the salon.”
So that’s how they ended up at the hair salon. Yoonchae sitting in the chair with several of her stylists standing around.
“Trust us, Yoonchae. You’ll look great.” Her main stylist, Kim, spoke gently. She was touching the ends of Yoonchae’s hair with respect and reverence.
“They’re making you dye it.” Megan said simply from behind the chair. Not harshly, not loud.
Yoonchae nodded, looking at her using the mirror. “For the comeback. For Wild. They want me to be… blonde.”
Megan was able to read Yoonchae now. The way her leg bounced slightly. Her fingers tapping against the arm rests.
Megan was able to tell that she was nervous, even if Yoonchae didn’t outwardly show it too much.
“You know, I dyed my hair ginger once.” Megan said walking around to the other side of Yoonchae’s chair, now in front of her. They exchanged a look through the mirror.
“Your hair didn’t fall off?” Yoonchae asked, voicing her concern.
“Nope. It was fun for a while. But then I got bored and went back to normal.” Megan said as she walked along the mirror and the various boxes of hair dyes.
The stylists watched them, interested but also amused at this woman, who usually stood in the background, speaking so casually to Yoonchae who they’ve known for years.
Megan picked up a box displaying a woman with pink hair and smiled, making a decision.
“Let’s get wild.” Megan said firmly sitting in the salon chair next to Yoonchae’s, while holding up the box she selected.
Yoonchae turned her head to look at her and Megan grinned back.
“I’m gonna have to sit here and wait for you anyway. I might as well let HYBE pay for my new look as well.” Megan said with a grin as another stylist, Janet, understood the assignment and grabbed Megan’s selected box.
Janet draped the cape over Megan as the Chinese girl explained her vision of pink bangs and a strand on each side to frame her face.
“Ready?” Kim asked Yoonchae who made eye contact with Megan one more time. Megan sent her a wink.
Yoonchae gave her the brief smile, the one from the award show, before returning to neutral.
“Ready.” Yoonchae nodded.
“Blondechae really is unmatched.” Sophia laughed.
Megan and Lara laughed as well. Yoonchae just slightly, very slightly, smiled at Sophia.
The older girl turned to look a the girl who arrived with Yoonchae. She glanced up at the pink bangs, then back at her face.
“You must be Megan.”
Megan was surprised to hear that. Why did Sophia know her name?
Almost as if she was reading her mind, the Filipina continued speaking.
“Yoonchae has told me about you-“
“Unnie.” Yoonchae interrupted her firmly. Lara could see the slight tint of the Korean girl’s cheeks and stared at Sophia in wonder. This woman could actually get a reaction out of Yoonchae.
Sophia had on the biggest grin, knowing that the ragebaiting was just getting started.
“Come little one, let’s get you settled.” Sophia said, even though she was shorter than Yoonchae. Megan could swear she heard Yoonchae huff as Sophia lead her to the table.
“Dude. That might be the most emotion I’ve ever seen Yoonchae display, and I’ve managed her for a year.” Lara said as they watched the staff adjust the lighting and the cameras.
Megan just hummed as she looked at Yoonchae.
She was wearing a simply button up and her signature baggy jeans. Her blonde hair was down, her makeup a more subtle, natural look.
Megan knew Yoonchae was attractive. But after spending six months as the girl’s assistant, she also knew something else.
Megan had a crush. Plain and simple.
She didn’t think it would happen, based on them being so opposite in nature but every time Megan found a crack in the wall of Yoonchae’s emotionally constipated existence, she grew fonder and fonder.
There was a human under there after all and that discovered human was precious to Megan, she felt the need to hold it close.
Of course, Lara had clocked it when they returned from Korea.
“You’re drooling bud.” Lara teased.
“Shut up.” Megan rolled her eyes. She wasn’t going to do anything about her crush. Yoonchae was technically her boss after all.
She watched the staff hand Yoonchae and Sophia black clip-on microphones.
Yoonchae copied Sophia and clipped it onto her collar.
The discussed more technical stuff and before everyone knew it, the cameras were rolling.
“Hello everyone, welcome back to Drunken Ramblings. I’m Sophia Laforteza and today I’m joined by a very special guest.” Sophia started speaking eloquently to the camera.
She pointed her hands at Yoonchae who shyly waved.
“Hello.”
“Global star Yoonchae Jeung! As you’re all aware, we go way back. And she’s here to promote her new EP, Wild, coming out at the end of this week. She also just turned twenty one, so what better way to celebrate both things than by-“ Sophia said grabbing two bottles of soju in each hand and holding them up, “-getting wild while I ask her ridiculous questions.”
Yoonchae nodded and took one of the bottles, she tapped the bottom against her elbow and twisted her arm, cracking the bottle open.
“Oh my God guys, my little girl is a professional!” Sophia teased, looking at the camera in fake shock.
“Unnie. That’s how rumors start.” Yoonchae said pouring out a shot for each of them.
“Yes, yes. Like when those pap photos got out.”
“I was picking up some friends,” Yoonchae glanced at Megan and Lara who shrunk a little, “but I did practice opening soju bottles because you asked me to do this interview.” Yoonchae explained.
“Just as dedicated and hard working as ever.” Sophia said picking up her shot glass.
“Down the hatch, first one is free!” Sophia shouted drinking the shot. Yoonchae followed behind quietly. Megan grimaced for her.
Sophia let out a huff and grimaced slightly at the alcohol. Yoonchae just placed her glass down, seeming unaffected despite not having much experience drinking.
Sophia looked at the camera, giving them an exhausted look. “I swear guys, don’t ever play poker with her.”
“Alright. Rules are simple, every ten minutes, we take a free shot. But I’ll ask questions. If your answer is boring, then you take a shot. If you don’t want to answer the question, you have to take a shot.” Sophia explained. Yoonchae nodded.
“But, if you do pass on a question, I add a shot for every previous skip or boring answer.”
“Wait, what-“
“First question. Who are you and where are you from and what do you do?” Sophia interrupted quickly. Yoonchae just blinked at her.
“I’m Yoonchae. I’m from Seoul. I am a singer.”
Sophia just blinked at her.
“What? I answered your question.”
“A little enthusiasm goes a long way.” Sophia replied, looking back at her cue cards.
Yoonchae’s eye twitched as Megan had to stifle a laugh.
“Take a shot.” Sophia suddenly said.
Yoonchae looked at her quickly.
“What?”
But Sophia was already pouring both of them shots.
“I answered your question.” Yoonchae argued flatly. But Sophia just grinned at her, thrusting the shot glass into her hands.
“Sorry Yoonchip, but it was too boring. This is my show so I decide what an acceptable answer is.” Sophia said while turning to the camera with a wink.
Yoonchae’s eyes widened slightly, realizing what she had gotten herself into.
However, she agreed to this. And she trusted Sophia. So Yoonchae tilted her head back and took the shot.
“Atta girl. Ok, so let’s talk.” Sophia laughed.
They talked about her childhood in Korea. Their trainee days. Yoonchae’s inspirations and role models. Yoonchae’s favorite foods which, Megan discovered that Sophia wasn’t lying, it really is chocolate chip pancakes.
Megan learned a lot in this short amount of time: Yoonchae liked to draw, she liked spicy food, hated scary movies, she even played video games. (Megan’s jaw dropped when she mentioned Roblox and Tower of Hell, like Megan has literally played that in her room, in their shared apartment)
After thirty minutes, she had taken a total of seven shots of soju so far. Sophia had dinged another one of her answers as too safe.
“Tell us about your family.”
“I have my parents. And my sister. They support me. I love them.” Yoonchae spoke her usual response to any questions about them. She didn’t want to put them in the public eye too much, more so for their protection.
“Boring. Drink.”
“Sophia!” Yoonchae had raised her voice. Megan sucked a breath in, realizing that the more drunk Yoonchae got, the more expressive she was being.
After taking the shot, Yoonchae’s face actually scrunched up. “Ew, that flavor is gross.
“Oh my God, that was an actual facial expression.” Lara said under her breath.
“Answer better and you won’t get this shitty flavor.” Sophia teased, sending her a playful smile.
Yoonchae huffed. “About my family? Who else do I mention? My cat Oreo?” She complimented the sentence with an eye roll. An actual eye roll.
“She’s sassy…” Megan mumbled.
“Ok, time for the juicy one.” Sophia rubbed her hands together gleefully.
“Do you have a crush?”
The closest thing to a horrified expression flashed across Yoonchae’s face.
“Unnieeee,” Yoonchae whined as her face turned red. Actually whined. Lara’s jaw dropped.
“No. Skip. Pass.” Yoonchae said quickly, shaking her head.
“That’s three shots then.” Sophia said smugly.
“Three?!” Yoonchae and Megan asked at the same time.
“Yup. One shot for passing, and the other two cause you said two boring answers before.” Sophia explained.
Sophia poured out the three shots that taunted Yoonchae’s now emotional face.
“That’s a lot.”
“Then tell us about your crush.” Sophia said, emphasizing it by sticking out her tongue.
For a brief moment, so quickly that if Megan hadn’t been already staring at Yoonchae, she would’ve missed it.
Yoonchae’s eyes, drunken and glazed, met hers.
Then they returned to Sophia’s.
“Fine.” And she took the first shot.
“Soph, just so you know,” she took the second shot.
“I hate you.” She took the third shot. Sophia and the rest of the staff actually laughed in the background.
As Yoonchae placed the last glass down, she actually swayed a little, threatening to fall off the pillow she was sitting on while Sophia just cackled in the background.
Megan instinctively stepped forward, catching everyone’s attention.
She froze in fear, realizing that she was now being perceived.
“Oh um… her microphone.” Megan said, pointing at Yoonchae who was now closing her eyes trying to regain her sense of self.
Her microphone had slide down her collar, the extra weight was now dragging the shirt down, threatening to expose her shoulder and tank top underneath.
Sophia just made a gesture with her hands to approach, “Can you help her fix it?” She asked with a kind smile.
“Right. Of course.” Megan said, stepping into the camera’s shot. Her back was to the camera so they couldn’t see her face. She knelt in front of Yoonchae who opened her eyes when she realized someone was now sitting in front of her.
“Megan.” She said under her breath, looking up at the girl. Megan grimaced when she smelled the three shots of pineapple soju on her breath.
“Hi Yoonchae. Just need to fix your shirt.” Megan explained gently as she adjusted the microphone and her collar.
“But I’m fine.” Yoonchae said softly.
Megan made the mistake of looking up from her task and saw that Yoonchae was looking up at her.
Like, really looking at her. With the most open and softest gaze she had ever seen on another human being.
Megan quickly averted her eyes, red heat flushing her neck and face, which earned a snicker from Sophia who was watching this whole exchange but choosing not to speak.
“Stop. Don’t look at me like that.” Megan said quickly, fumbling with the microphone clip.
“Like what?” Yoonchae asked, confused.
“Like that. You’re too cute.” Megan replied on instinct. She froze. She wanted the ground to swallow her up right then and there.
She did not just say that out loud, in front of everyone including internet famous Sophia, her own best friend, and the entire camera crew watching.
Especially not in front of Yoonchae.
But instead of calling her out or ignoring her, Yoonchae smiled. Like, an actual genuine smile crossed her face.
Megan’s brain lagged. She had only seen her smile three times before this and they were all brief. (The award show, the hair salon, last month on her birthday when Megan surprised her with a cupcake at midnight.)
Yoonchae grabbed Megan’s shoulders and forced her to look at her face.
Megan almost screamed. It was too much. Yoonchae was so close and the way she was smiling at her and her yearning gaze made her want to melt.
And kiss her.
But she was definetly not doing that.
“Stop, it’s- I can’t- you’re too cute-“ Megan cut herself off. Yoonchae giggled.
“Chae, please.” Megan begged. Yoonchae just blinked at her after a second.
“Ok, Mei.” And Yoonchae closed her eyes, allowing Megan to finish her job uninterrupted.
When she stood up, Megan caught Sophia’s eye.
“Can you help bring over the food? She might pass out if she doesn’t eat something.” Sophia asked, pointing to another table where white plastic bags sat. Megan nodded.
She quickly walked over, ignoring the smirk that Lara was giving her, and picked up the food. She carried it back to the table and began taking it out, helping Sophia open up the containers of Korean food.
Megan quickly made her way back to Lara’s side, out of breath, face flushed.
“Nice job.”
“Don’t.”
“Mei.”
“Please.”
“I didn’t know she called you that.”
“She… she never has before.”
Lara has called Megan a plethora of nicknames in front of Yoonchae. Meg. Megs. Megatron. Meiyok, her middle name.
But Yoonchae always called her Megan.
But the way she said Mei, the affection behind it, followed by the way she had looked at her. Yeah, she was surprised she didn’t pass away on the spot.
“Why are there so many rice cakes?” Yoonchae whined while stirring the contents of one container.
“Cause it’s tteokbokki?” Sophia looked at her confused.
“No-“ Yoonchae tried to respond but she was interrupted by Sophia knocking her fist jokingly against her head. “Hello?”
Yoonchae swatted her hand away, “No- but I ordered the fish cake one.”
Everyone laughed at the interaction. Yoonchae narrowed her eyes, at Megan specifically, for laughing a little too loudly.
As the two began eating the food, in order soak up the alcohol, the two just talked normally.
“So Yoonchae, if you weren’t an idol, what would your dream job be?” Sophia asked curiously.
“I would want to be an actor!” Yoonchae giggled. Sophia just giggled.
“Wait, I can see it.” Sophia sat up.
“The way you switch on stage and in music videos-“ Sophia started and Yoonchae nodded enthusiastically.
“When I’m performing, I feel like a different person. I feel so confident and powerful.” Yoonchae explained quickly, almost like she was excited.
“Ok but then outside of performances you’re very… stoic.” Sophia said gently. Yoonchae frowned.
Megan’s brain stuttered. Yoonchae was capable of frowning and it was adorable.
“Yes. They call me the Ice Princess.” Yoonchae said with disgust.
“Not a fan of that nickname?” Sophia asked amused.
“No! Princess is fine! But I’m just… I struggle with… emotions.” Yoonchae spoke.
Sophia nodded. “You were always a little quiet at DA.” Although, she was never this quiet and stoic but Sophia didn’t point that out.
“Yes. On the show I learned it was easier that way. To get through the challenges. To accept the criticisms. To watch my friends get eliminated one by one.” Yoonchae leaned back.
“So I blocked it out. I process things… alone. And I guess I just, never really grew out of it.” Yoonchae said somberly.
She was just a kid, Megan realized. Yoonchae went through that show so young. She grew up in the spot light, in different rules than she did.
Megan suddenly felt bad for ever comparing her to a robot. It was a coping mechanism for her to survive this industry, not her doing it on purpose.
“Well. You’re doing pretty well right now showing your emotions.” Sophia observed.
“That’s cause I’m drunk! This is your fault!” Yoonchae let out a loud laugh. Megan wanted to hear that sound again and again. Preferably forever.
“I told you we were getting Wild!” Sophia directed to the camera. Yoonchae nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes! Please buy my new EP guys. Wild comes out on Friday and I hope you guys love it as much as I do.” Yoonchae said giving her best puppy dog eyes to the camera.
“You heard the girl.” Sophia said wrapping her arm around the younger girl. “Anything else you want to say?”
“I never say it enough, but thank you guys. So much. For supporting me. I love you all.” Yoonchae said, making an actual heart with her hands.
Megan almost choked as the director called “cut!”
“Girl, are you ok?” Sophia asked Yoonchae who giggled and yawned.
“M’ sleepy now.” Yoonchae whined cutely.
“Megan?” Sophia called and the pink haired girl approached them, Lara in tow.
“You should probably get her home. I’ll have the editors work on the video and I’ll bring it over tomorrow so we can review it.” Sophia explained.
“Let her sleep through the hangover though.” Megan countered, almost protectively, and Sophia raised an eyebrow.
“Of course.” She said with a smirk. “Maybe I’ll bring some friends.” Sophia said, winking at Lara who flushed.
“See you ladies tomorrow.” Sophia said, walking away towards her own team.
Lara and Megan each got on one side of Yoonchae and helped her up.
They said their goodbyes to the staff that helped them with today’s shoot. Lara and Megan carefully helped Yoonchae out to the car, their driver waiting for them.
After depositing her into the backseat, Yoonchae grabbed Lara’s wrist.
“Thank you Lara, for convincing them to let me do this.” Yoonchae said and Lara’s eyes softened.
“Of course. You really wanted this one huh?” Lara chuckled and Yoonchae nodded.
“Yeah. I had a lot of fun. And I wanted to… do something different. For myself.” Yoonchae hiccuped.
“I’m glad.” Lara smiled. Her eyes met with Megan’s who was sitting next to Yoonchae now.
“See you tomorrow Lara. I love you.” Yoonchae yawned.
“Oh my God, you actually meant it.” Lara said, referencing what Megan told her months ago.
“Of course. I wouldn’t lie about that.” Yoonchae mumbled, closing her eyes, leaning her head on Megan’s shoulder who froze.
“Good luck with that.” Lara said with a smirk. Megan just sent her a death glare as the manager closed the door.
Yoonchae was asleep before they hit the main road.
When they got to their apartment, the driver barely even waited for them to exit the car before taking off.
“Dick.” Megan muttered to herself, holding up Yoonchae by her waist.
“Gross.” Yoonchae mumbled sleepily.
Megan laughed. She actually laughed at a joke Yoonchae, the Ice Princess, made.
Megan lead the stumbling girl inside carefully. She sighed and took them to Yoonchae’s room.
She knew that Yoonchae was a night time shower person but figured she could just shower in the morning and Megan would get her fresh sheets.
Stepping into Yoonchae’s room was an experience.
Megan expected the room to be neat, organized, with like, minimal decorations.
It was not.
Fairy lights bordered the walls, bathing the room in a soft pink light when she flipped on the light switch. Her bed, a large king sized mattress was pressed against the wall. On her desk, a giant Alienware PC sat next two monitors.
She even had a little stand for her headset that had black little cat ears.
Megan was dying with this information dump. This stoic, emotionally stunted, mess of a girl in her arms, played PC games, with cat ears attached to her headphones.
On the floor was a fluffy carpet of a black cat, sprawled out. That thing had to be custom made.
And the walls, the walls contained photos. Just Yoonchae in random places. With random people.
It was then that Megan realized they were places Yoonchae had been. Tour arenas, sightseeing, and celebrities she had met. Idols that she had mentioned earlier in the day during the interview that she looked up to.
Megan smiled at it all before placing Yoonchae down on the bed gently, where she sat on the edge.
“Yoonchae.”
No response.
“Yoonchae.”
Ignored again.
“Yoonchip.”
The Korean girl looked up.
“Yes Mei Mei?”
Megan’s breath hitched.
“Do you want to change into more comfortable clothes?”
She nodded her head and began unbuttoning her shirt.
Megan turned away quickly, feeling her face get hot.
“Megan.”
The girl turned around and found Yoonchae frowning at the shirt and the buttons.
“Help.”
Megan nodded and once again found herself fixing Yoonchae’s shirt. This time, taking it off, so she could sleep.
When she was finished, the shirt open exposing Yoonchae’s tank top underneath, she made the mistake of looking up again.
Yoonchae was looking at her again, with the gaze. The one from the interview. Megan bit her lip.
“What did I say about looking at me like that?” She whispered.
Yoonchae didn’t fold, if anything she leaned in closer. Her hand came up and rested lightly on Megan’s jaw causing the pink haired girl to lose her breath.
Megan was so tempted to lean in. She could feel Yoonchae’s breath on her lips.
“Thank you for helping me.”
The way she said it, Megan could actually hear gratitude in her voice, instead of having to peer through Yoonchae’s walls to see it. It made her smile softly and pull away gently.
Yoonchae was drunk, that was all.
She was not going to change everything by kissing her while she’s drunk. She had grown to like the way everything was now.
“Put more comfortable clothes on. I’m going to get you some water.” Megan stood up and the girl nodded, rubbing her eyes.
When Megan returned, Yoonchae was already under the covers, snoring softly. Megan sighed and placed the cup of water on the nightstand.
She looked around the room one more time before turning off the lights.
“Goodnight Yoonchae.”
And as Megan closed the door, she had a feeling that everything would be different now.