#sliceoflife

YJ: You’re overthinking. B: I say this with complete sincerity, your group frightens me. YJ:  That’s dramatic. B: One of them sent me a shark emoji as a threat. YJ: That wasn’t a threat. B: That somehow concerns me more.

Yeji laughed quietly beneath her breath afterward before reaching over to steal the drink out of my hand like she had already done this enough times for it to become muscle memory. Then the practice room door suddenly opened before either of us could continue the conversation. And there she was. Ryujin leaned casually against the doorway first before immediately narrowing her eyes toward me like she was assessing a suspiciously intelligent stray animal— the shark emoji suddenly made psychological sense now. “So this is him.” Ah, great start already. Yeji immediately sighed beside me. “Ryujin.” “What?” Ryujin stepped farther into the hallway afterward without taking her eyes off me yet. “I’m observing.” “That wording sounds predatory.” “That’s because it is,” she answered instantly. Excellent. Very normal interaction. I extended the remaining iced coffee toward her anyway.

“Peace offering” Ryujin looked down toward the drink briefly first before slowly accepting it. “…You think bribery works on me?” “No.” I shrugged lightly. “But people are usually less hostile with caffeine.” “That’s emotionally manipulative.” “That’s called basic psychology.”

Ryujin stared at me for maybe two seconds longer afterward. “…Oh I get it now.” I narrowed my eyes slightly. That sentence psychologically threatened me. “She likes you because you fight back.” Yeji nearly choked on her drink beside me “RYUJIN.” Ryujin looked entirely unbothered afterward “What? You’ve been smiling at your phone like an emotionally compromised idiot for weeks. Silence “…Weeks?” I repeated carefully. Yeji looked ready to commit actual violence now. Ryujin looked delighted. They had an interesting ecosystem already. Then finally she took another sip from the iced coffee before speaking again. “Hm” another pause “You’re calmer than I expected.” B: That sounded vaguely disappointing. RJ: I was expecting at least one visible panic response by now. B: I’m choosing survival. RJ: That’s less fun.

Yeji rubbed lightly at her forehead afterward while I started understanding exactly why this woman probably exhausted everybody around her psychologically. Not maliciously. Just professionally committed to being a problem. Then suddenly another voice came from somewhere inside the practice room “Did Ryujin finally scare him away?” Ah. More of them, excellent.

Yuna appeared next almost immediately afterward before stopping mid-step once she noticed me properly standing there. Then without hesitation “Oh wow he’s actually handsome.”

YJ: YUNA. YN: What? I support women’s rights and women’s wrongs. YJ: That sentence didn’t even apply here. YN: It applies spiritually. B: How are YOU the leader here? RJ: That’s what I’ve been asking too

That finally Yuna stepped closer afterward before looking me up and down with absolutely zero subtlety whatsoever “So did you really manage Yeji unnie’s solo schedules?” I gave Yuna a nod and she followed up with “And does she like-like you?” I could feel Yeji giving their maknae a death glare. “What? I’m gathering information.” Yeji already had my fingers on the bridge of my nose “That’s not how normal people gather information, you know.” Yuna ignored her like a pro. Then eventually she pointed toward me directly. “You don’t look stressed enough to work here.”

B: That’s because panic is inefficient. RJ: That’s actually of annoying. B: Thank you RJ: That wasn’t a compliment. B: Spiritually it was.

Yeji physically lowered her head afterward like she was reconsidering every decision that led her to this hallway. Honestly, watching her fight back laughter while trying to maintain leader dignity was becoming one of my favorite hobbies alarmingly quick.

Then before the conversation inside the practice hall could deteriorate any farther, the practice room door opened again. Lia stepped out first while fixing one sleeve of her hoodie absentmindedly before immediately slowing once she noticed me standing there. Unlike Ryujin and Yuna, her reaction wasn’t loud— just observant. Then a soft voice came from her “Oh… You’re actually here” She blinked out of surprise. “That sounded vaguely accusatory.” Lia laughed quietly beneath her breath after hearing my comment “No. No. I just thought Ryujin was exaggerating dramatically again.”

“I NEVER exaggerate.” Every single person in the practice hall looked towards Ryujin immediately. “Wow,” Yuna muttered “That was probably the biggest lie spoken inside this building today”. Betrayed from every direction honestly.  Then finally as Chaeryeong arrived, she paused almost immediately once she noticed me there too. And unlike everybody else so far— she looked directly towards Yeji first. Then eventually her eyes shifted back toward me afterward “… So you’re the manager that unnie keeps smiling at her phone about.” Absolute silence. Yeji looked like she was about to cry from embarrassment. Ryujin looked fulfilled. And Yuna physically collapsed on the floor laughing.

“I KNEW IT” Ryujin pointed aggressively toward Yeji “I told you she had that look.” “You people are genuinely terrible for my mental health” Yeji muttered while covering part of her face with one hand. “Counterpoint,” Yuna answered immediately “This is the most entertaining week we’ve had in months”. Then Lia looked toward me again afterward while offering a small polite smile “Sorry in advance by the way.” I looked at her curiously “For what?” She glanced briefly toward the other members around her first “…Them”.

Reasonable concern honestly. Then before the conversation could continue farther, another staff member stepped out from inside the practice room. “ITZY?” the coordinator called carefully “The meeting’s about to start”. That finally shifted the atmosphere slightly afterward. Less chaotic, more curious. The members slowly started moving out of the empty practice room while I stayed farther behind instinctively out of habit. “Aren’t you coming in?” I looked up the voice, Yeji stood near the doorway watching me expectantly while the others slowly settled inside already. B: That sounded like a trap YJ: It’s a meeting B: That doesn’t make it less dangerous

“It definitely becomes MORE dangerous actually.” Ryujin immediately leaned sideways from inside the room. “Thank you, Ryujin.” Lia sighed softly. I eventually stepped inside anyway and the room itself looked surprisingly normal compared to the psychological hazards occupying it. Practice schedules covered one side of the wall, concept drafts, timeline boards, and preliminary comeback planning materials. It was an early preparation. Smart, honestly very smart.

The members slowly settled around the table while staff members arranged papers and tablets nearby. Then finally one of the division heads cleared his throat lightly before beginning the meeting properly. “As everybody already knows, preparations for the next comeback cycle will begin earlier than usual this time.” This cause immediate reactions from everyone around the room, mostly surprise— no resistance. A good sign. “We’re restructuring scheduling priorities to reduce unnecessary fatigue accumulation during comeback preparations.” They actually read my report based on my time managing the preparations for Yeji’s solo debut.

I could physically feel Ryujin looking at me already, then the division head continued calmly “This approach was heavily recommended after the success of Yeji’s solo preparation management”. Great, now everybody was looking at me openly. “In addition, due to the successful management techniques of Mr. Sung Benjamin— effective immediately he is to officially work as your personal manager and wellness coordinator moving forward.”

Silence, deafening silence at that “… Wellness coordinator?” Yuna repeated carefully “That sounds emotionally expensive.” I answered honestly. “Yeah, that title makes me feel concerned.” Ryujin looking too entertained now. Meanwhile Lia looked more thoughtful than surprised. And Chaeryeong? Still quietly observing everything, first at Yeji, then me, and the space between us. This girl has piqued my interest, she was very observant and not in a good way.

The division head continued speaking afterward while presentation slides changed quietly across the screen behind him. “With comeback preparation beginning earlier than previous cycles, the company’s priority moving forward is sustainability.” That alone almost made me laugh honestly— not because it was wrong, because hearing a corporation discover human beings require recovery after years of overworking idols sounded borderline revolutionary. Still, better late than never. “We’ll be implementing adjusted rehearsal pacing, structured recovery periods, nutritional monitoring, and revised travel management.”

“By any chance… are we dying?” Yuna slowly raised one hand while asking. “No” the division head answered patiently. “Then why does this sound like a hospital reform plan?” Yeji sighed beside me, “That’s enough” Ryujin leaned back in her chair afterward while looking toward me instead of the screen.

RJ: So this is your fault? B: That sounded accusatory. RJ: You made the company discover empathy. B: Allegedly. RJ: That’s terrifying.

Eventually another slide appeared onscreen— Travel Restructuring, Preparation Timelines, Rotational Rest Days. That was good progress for the company to give to the girls. The biggest issue with idols and their schedules wasn’t even the workload, it was accumulation. Too many consecutive days without decompression eventually turned exhaustion into personality and unfortunately people normalized that way too easily. “Wait,” I looked up to Lia who was looking at the screen “… We’re getting actual off-days during preparation?” The room unexpectedly quieted after. Because the question itself said enough. The division head nodded calmly “Mandatory ones, yes”. Silence again, not in a dramatic sense… more of unfamiliarity.

Lia leaned back afterward while looking strangely thoughtful now. That reaction bothered me more than complaints would’ve. Because it meant rest had become surprising, that should never happen to somebody. Then suddenly Ryujin pointed toward me again.

RJ: I’m blaming him for this too. B: Why are you acting like I committed corporate espionage? RJ: You kind of did. B: That’s not how my job works. RJ: Doesn’t sound convincing to me.

Yeji physically lowered her head into one hand beside me again. Meanwhile Yuna looked increasingly invested in this entire situation. “Wait so if he’s our personal manager now…” she tilted her head slightly afterward. “Does that mean he’s going to start bossing us around?” I answered immediately “Not in that way”. That made Ryujin narrow her eyes “That answer sounded suspiciously fast.” I didn’t even look at her “Because I value survival”. This warranted a grin within her. Then eventually Chaeryeong spoke again for the first time in the meeting “What exactly CAN you control then?”

Ah. That was a good question. The division head answered first “Schedule adjustments related to wellbeing, fatigue management, travel concerns, dietary recommendations, recovery prioritization, and emergency intervention authority if necessary.” A brief silence loomed aver until Yuna broke the silence “…Emergency intervention authority?” she repeated carefully. “That sounds vaguely threatening” Ryujin added. “It means if you’re overworked to the point of physical or psychological risk, I am allowed to override schedules temporarily.” I explained.

The room quieted again after that. Less playful this time with everyone processing what I just said. Then eventually Ryujin leaned sideways against one arm while looking directly at me. RJ: You can actually do that? B: Yes RJ: That’s kind of insane. B: That’s because most industries don’t let people sleep. RJ: That sound personal. B: It was. YN: WAIT. Does that mean he can let us go home early? LA: I already like this arrangement. RJ: Alright, I’m onboard with that. B: NOT LIKE THAT.

Then finally the division head spoke again “Additionally, Mr. Sung requested earlier visibility into future schedules to reduce last-minute stress buildup.” Now THAT got reaction. Because all five members looked up immediately. “You asked for that?” Yeji asked beside me. “Well that should’ve already existed honestly.” Yuna leaned forward slightly “You specifically asked for that?” I shrugged lightly. “People handle stress better when they can prepare for it mentally”.

“That actually makes a lot of sense.” Lia admitted first. And the way she said it sounded less surprised than relieved. Ryujin looked toward me again afterward, before narrowing her eyes slightly. “You’re annoyingly competent”. I looked at her with a grin “Thank you”. She sighed in defeat “That wasn’t a compliment”. That finally earned another round of laughter around the room again. And for the first time since entering the building— the atmosphere around the table no longer felt like managers and idols. Just people slowly getting comfortable with each other.

The moment the official meeting ended, the staff members slowly began filtering out of the room one by one. Papers gathered. Schedules discussed. Managers coordinating outside the hallway again. Normal company atmosphere.  Unfortunately for me though— the five women across the table were still sitting exactly where they were. Which immediately felt threatening. I slowly narrowed my eyes. B: Why does this suddenly feel like an intervention? RJ: We’re processing. B: That wording has never led to anything positive. YN: Correct.

Yeji looked significantly less amused now though as the others slowly shifted their attention toward me instead. And truthfully, the expression on Ryujin’s face specifically look like she just discovered gold, then Lia spoke first “So you’re really managing us now”. Shrugging my shoulder, “You sound disappointed” I told her. “Oh no,” Lia laughed softly beneath her breath “More like surprised.” I admitted the same. “Wow, that’s somehow less reassuring.” Ryujin muttered. “Well transparency builds trust” I reminded Ryujin. “That sounded manipulative”. Yeji sighed quietly beside me afterward while Chaeryeong kept watching the entire interaction unfold like she was mentally building a conspiracy board in real time.

“Wait one minute.” Yuna looked at me curiously. “If you’re doing all this extra work now…” she narrowed her eyes at me “How much are they even paying you?”. I immediately answered “The legally required minimum.” Silence filled the room. Then all four of them simultaneously looked at me like I was some sort of madman. Yeji was already staying out of this leaving me to fend the sharks alone.

RJ: No, seriously. B: I am serious. RJ: That’s stupid. B: That’s efficient. YN: NOT FOR YOU. B: The job interested me, money didn’t.

That silenced the room once more. Then “That’s not a normal sentence.” Chaeryeong tilted her head towards me. “THANK YOU” Yuna pointed aggressively toward me. Then Yeji finally stepped in to save me from this, “He literally wouldn’t take the position unless they lowered the compensation.” More silence, then everybody turned toward her. “…You knew that already?” Lia asked carefully. An interesting shift immediately happened, Yeji forze for maybe half a second too long, a small yet noticeable delay. Especially now that Ryujin noticed the delay, she’s sharper than I thought she was. “…He mentioned it before.” Yeji tried to regain her composure— technically true.

“Ok wait wait wait wait,” Yuna leaned forward now pointing directly at me. “You’re telling me you asked the company to pay you LOWER THAN WHAT THEY OFFERED for this job?”

B: Yes… YN: That either means you’re absolutely crazy or insanely rich. RJ: He could be both. LA: You really don’t care about the money? B: No B: This wasn’t even that much of an impressive sacrifice from my perspective, money stopped feeling emotionally real a long time ago. YN: Ohhh, he’s RICH-rich! B: I’m choosing not to participate in this conversation. RJ: That means “yes” CR: Wait… What kind of car do you drive? B: No, absolutely not. You stop that. RJ: That is not an answer. B: I am choosing self-preservation. RJ: OH MY GOD, he’s hiding billionaire lore. B: I am not a secret billionaire. CR: That honestly sounds like something a secret billionaire would say.

Yeji physically covered part of her face after hearing that while quietly laughing beneath her breath. No help whatsoever. Then eventually Yuna suddenly stood up dramatically afterward. “Well” she nodded firmly. “Since our emotionally concerning rich manager is apparently taking care of us now—” I DID NOT LIKE WHERE THIS WAS GOING “— you should treat us to lunch.”

B: Ahhh. Corporate extortion. Excellent. B: That sounded less like a suggestion and more like a ransom demand. RJ: It’s team bonding. B: So your idea of team bonding is to financially exploit your poor minimum wage manager? CR: Mr. Sung oppa, you are bad at acting. B: Fair— but please, drop the honorifics. “Ben” is fine. YJ: He likes it when you call him— B: YEJI DON’T YOU DARE. LA: I was always curious where rich people usually eat. B: Even the polite one is ganging up on me. YN: You did say recovery and wellbeing mattered.

Oh that was evil. But they had me at checkmate. “Fine.” I gave up fighting, it was more efficient to take the loss.

The next several weeks disappeared significantly faster than expected. Which honestly meant one of two things. Either everybody was adjusting well to the new preparation system— or we were all collectively too exhausted to properly perceive time anymore. Could’ve gone either way. Still, the earlier comeback planning surprisingly worked. Less last-minute panic, less schedule compressing, and more breathing room between rehearsals. It wasn’t completely healthy. But noticeably healthier.

Which unfortunately meant I was now driving to the building almost every single day. And the Seoul traffic was beginning to radicalize me. “You look irritated.” Ryujin pointed out the obvious one afternoon while sitting cross-legged on the practice room floor. B: Well I lost ninety minutes of my life in traffic today. RJ: Sounds dramatic. B: I could’ve completed three meetings, reorganized two rehearsal schedules, and consumed caffeine peacefully in that amount of time. RJ: Aside being a secret billionaire, are you secretly forty years old too? B: The polite term is “Spiritually Exhausted” and no, I am not a secret billionaire.

Yeji laughed quietly somewhere beside me while stretching near the mirrors afterwards. Meanwhile Yuna looked up from her phone afterward “…Wait how long do you actually drive here?” Thinking about it thoroughly “Sometimes less than an hour, sometimes almost 90 minutes. Depends on traffic.” Then Lia chimed in “You really are constantly here in despite being paid next to nothing.” Ok that was just mean. But that phrasing was interesting— not ‘working constantly’, but ‘here constantly’… that was a subtle difference, harsh nonetheless.

Suddenly Chaeryeong glanced up from where she’d been quietly reorganizing practice notes. “Why don’t you just move closer?” I answered immediately “Nope”. This caused Ryujin to glare at me with suspicion. RJ: That was too fast of an answer. B: Because all of you are psychologically a danger to my peace of mind. RJ: Liar YN: Oh my God, he thinks we’d invade his personal space. B: That’s not the issue, the issue is when you would. YJ: We absolutely would. RJ: Within the week if you’re lucky. B: That sounds more like a threat.

Eventually I leaned back against the mirrored wall afterward while rubbing lightly at my forehead “Traffic is still inefficient though.”

RJ: That sounded like a wind up for something. YJ: That sentence concerns me, Ben… B: That sounded accusatory YJ: What did you do? B: I solved the commute issue -silence- YN: Nuh uh. B: I did. LA: What scares me the confidence in how he says it. RJ: What exactly does “solved” mean in this context? B: It means renovations finished today… CR: …Renovations… YN: You were renovating something? B: That’s how renovations work. LA: You’re making it sound worse.

I eventually let my phone down and reached for my car keys on the nearby table “Come on, it’s better I show you” yet nobody moved from the table. “If we get murdered, I want everybody to know I was suspicious from the beginning.” Ryujin said standing up first. “Oh my God, are we actually going somewhere?” Yuna followed suit. “Why am I being pinned as a psychotic murderer?” Lia laughed on that statement “So you would prefer ‘Secret Billionaire’ then?” This made Yeji cover part of her face to laugh “I refuse to comment on that.” I looked back to them before walking to the van.

A few minutes later we were all inside the company-issued van driving towards their residential building while the members continued trying unsuccessfully to interrogate me along the wary.  “Wait, why are you even driving the company van?” a curious inquiry from Yuna. “All of us won’t fit in my personal car.” that wasn’t wrong but not the real reason I took the van. Ryujin broke the silence after my statement “Oh my God, that’s what rich people would totally say.” Yuna was backing Ryujin up “Rich people LOVE pretending to be normal by using company things”. Lia looked increasingly amused “I actually kind of see it now”. Great, even the polite one is against me on this “What are you on? I am literally using the company van for work.”

“They’re not going to let this go anymore, Ben.” Yeji laughed under her breath. “I noticed. Anyways were here”. The members realized that we were in their residential building. “Wait why are we here? Are you letting us go home early?” Yuna was looking around while we all headed to the elevator. I pressed on the button to the top floor. “What’s on the top floor? None of us live there, Ben.” Yeji pondered before the realization hit her “BEN THERE IS NO WAY”. I gave Yeji a quick look “We’re going there because that’s where the renovations are at”. All of them were looking at me now. RJ: No… B: Yes YN: Nuh uh… B: Again, yes. YJ: BEN, I TOLD YOU THIS WAS INSANE YN: Yeji unnie, YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS? YJ: I knew he was working on fixing that traffic issue.

Then the elevator doors finally opened on the top floor. There was a tinted door right in front of them. I took out my security card to scan the door open. And what they saw left them speechless— but to me it looked good enough to pass. It was an entire floor redesigned to mirror a luxury wellness facility, minus a few adjustments that catered to optimizing the recovery of exhausted idols. Warm Lighting, Private Lounge Spaces, Glass-panel Training Room, Sound-proof Resting Areas, Security Access Points, Recovery Facilities, and a fully renovated shared kitchen. And at the very center— a massive common space that somehow felt weirdly comfortable instead of overly luxurious.

At first, it was absolute silence. Then Ryujin broke the tension “What the actual fuck?” she was still staring at me. Yuna looked like she was about to enter cardiac arrest. Lia physical froze at the entrance. Chaeryeong looked like she was trying to manually process the financial implications in real time. Meanwhile Yeji just slowly covered her face with both hands afterwards.

YJ: You actually did this. B: I solved the problem. YN: YOU BOUGHT AN ENTIRE FLOOR?! B: For efficiency purposes. RJ: This is rich-rich, like evil villain rich. B: Now that feels judgmental. RJ: YOU BUILT AN IDOL RECOVERY FORTRESS B: Not what it is, but that does sound cool. YJ: I told you he was rich. RJ: No, you implied he was rich. THIS IS “BATMAN BEHAVIOR” RICH B: Now that was excessive CR: Says the person who bought an entire floor. YJ: Wait, did you talk to Jihyo unnie about this? B: Uhmmmm. RJ: You will be missed, Mr. Sung Benjamin oppa. YN: Wait, wait, wait. Didn’t John mention about Ben being richer than basically everyone except Mina unnie? B: There it is. YJ: Ignore that. John said that if Ben “pooled” all his resources… he could technically buy majority of JYPE.

Complete silence “…WHAT?” Yuna screamed so loudly it echoed across the entire floor. Ryujin physically folded onto the couch laughing like she lost control of her nervous system. Lia looked spiritually disconnected from reality. Chaeryeong just stared at me in complete silence now like she was rethinking every conversation we’d had over the past weeks. At this point I was starting to understand why people avoided discussing wealth entirely. “I need everyone here to understand something,” Yuna announced while pointing toward me like she’d uncovered government corruption. “I thought he was secretly rich in a normal way.” “That sentence has concerning implications,” I answered honestly. “No seriously,” she continued while pacing dramatically across the lounge now. “Like expensive watch rich. Maybe suspicious-investment rich.” B: Those are both fake categories. YN: NOT “can-buy-JYPE” rich! YJ: I said “technically” most of JYPE. LA: That correction somehow made it WORSE.

Meanwhile Ryujin was still collapsed sideways on the couch laughing intermittently like her body hadn’t fully recovered psychologically. “You know what the worst part is?” she wheezed eventually. “I’m frightened to ask.” RJ: You don’t even ACT rich. B: That sounded accusatory. RJ: You drive in silence and complain about traffic like a divorced office worker. B: That’s because traffic is emotionally disrespectful. RJ: That’s not a normal sentence.

Then finally Lia slowly walked farther into the shared kitchen afterward before lightly touching one of the marble countertops like she still wasn’t fully convinced this place was real. “…This kitchen is bigger than our old dorm.” I looked at her in quite the disappointing shock “That feels structurally inefficient honestly.” Everybody immediately turned toward me “…WHAT DO YOU MEAN INEFFICIENT?” Yuna nearly screamed again. “If you’re feeding multiple people regularly, larger shared kitchen spacing improves movement efficiency.” Silence. Then quietly “…He talks like an evil architect,” Ryujin muttered from the couch. “That’s because he planned this,” Chaeryeong answered softly while still looking around carefully. Lia looked at the sharp girl “What do you mean?”. Chaeryeong pointed towards the facilities— then back to me “None of these feels random. I mean he tailored it to focus on our needs”. I guess Chaeryeong noticed it faster than anyone else, I leaned lightly against the kitchen island afterward “Stress reduction works netter when people naturally gravitate toward comfort instead of needing to consciously seek it”. Complete silence

RJ: I’m sorry, are you secretly building emotional support architecture? B: That sounded fake when you say it like that RJ: Because it should sound fake YN: IS THAT A MASSAGE ROOM? B: Yes YN: WHY B: Recovery RJ: Morally ambiguous billionaire recruits emotionally damaged idols B: That sounds weirdly target at me RJ: It is

Meanwhile Lia had wandered toward the lounge area now while quietly observing the soft lighting around the common space. “…It’s really comfortable here”. And the way she said that hit harder than the screaming somehow. Because she sounded relieved. Yuna cut in to ask “What’s this room?” I pointed out to the room in question “It’s my private living quarters”. That gave everyone the same reaction— absolute shock. “OH MY GOD HE IS ACTUALLY MOVING INTO OUR BUILDING.” Yuna screamed. “You make it sound invasive.” I told her while she was still showing visible denial. “Because it IS” she pointed it out. “It’s efficient.” I corrected her.

Ryujin looked entirely too entertained now. “No no wait. This means he got annoyed by traffic and responded by purchasing vertical territory.” She pointed toward me again. “That is an emotionally hostile way to put it”. Then finally Yeji quietly walked farther into the lounge afterward, slowly sitting down on the center couch— and unlike everybody else, she wasn’t looking shocked anymore. “How long were you planning this?” she looked up towards me again. “About two weeks after becoming ITZY’s personal manager”.

YN: TWO WEEKS?! B: I needed construction permits. YN: THAT’S THE PART THAT BOTHERS YOU? LA: So all of this was because you were worried about us getting exhausted? The traffic thing was just a cover up wasn’t it? B: Brownie points for guessing it right. B: Look, you are all already overexposed constantly. Cameras. Crowds. Schedules. Public Expectations. The least I can do is make sure there’s somewhere you can destress without worrying about the general public.

The realization kept everyone silent, by then I was reaching for my jacket pocket, pulling out a stack of black access cards. “What are these? Why do you have access cards?” Yuna asked. “Cause this is not a public space for everyone in the building. Entry requires access, and access requires access CARDS.” I pointed out the logic.

Eventually I started handing the cards out one by one. The reactions varied significantly. Yuna accepted hers like somebody receiving forbidden technology. Lia took hers carefully with both hands like I’d accidentally handed her partial ownership of the building. Chaeryeong stared at hers longer than everybody else. Meanwhile Ryujin immediately held hers up dramatically toward the ceiling. “Oh my god.” She looked genuinely delighted now. “He gave us villain headquarters clearance.” I pressed my hand on my face “That wording is becoming emotionally exhausting.” Then finally Yeji accepted hers quietly afterward while already looking suspicious again.

I gestured lightly around the floor afterward. “You all have twenty-four hour access here.” Silence. Then immediately: “…WHAT?” Yuna nearly folded in half again. “It’s easier if you can access recovery facilities whenever schedules allow it and in case I’m not around.” Ryujin looked at me “That sentence sounds TOO emotionally healthy”. I shrugged my shoulders “That’s because your industry normalizes suffering”. Ryujin immediately pointed toward me. “See? This is why he wins arguments.” Tiny pause. “He says things that sound annoyingly correct”.

Then eventually Lia looked down toward her keycard quietly again. “…Anytime?” Another small silence. “Yes.” and honestly? The way her shoulders relaxed slightly afterward told me everything I needed to know about how exhausted they actually were beneath the surface. Then finally Chaeryeong spoke again. “…Everywhere on this floor?” I pointed back to my private room “Mostly”. Ah. There it is. Everybody immediately looked up again. “Mostly?” Ryujin repeated slowly. “My living quarters remain private.” Yuna immediately gasped dramatically. YN: Oh my god he DOES have a billionaire cave. B: It’s my room, please stop making it sound illegal. RJ: What are you HIDING in there? B: My home. RJ: That answer was disappointingly normal.

Then eventually I gestured lightly toward one section farther down the hallway. “The rest of the floor is open access.” Another pause. “…Wait,” Lia blinked once afterward. “Nobody else knows about this?” Another great observation “Correct”. LA: Not even the company? B: The company knows I purchased the property. They do not know the extent of the renovations. YN: Oh we’re so getting fired. B: That’s a little too dramatic. YJ: Says the man who build a secret idol hideout B: Again, hostile wording. YJ: So who does know about this? B: Me. All of you… and John RJ: Oh God No YN: WHY WOULD YOU TELL JOHN? HE IS THE WORST POSSIBLE PERSON TO TELL B: Firstly, valid. Secondly, he asked around with all the construction workers walking in and out of the building. YJ: Jihyo unnie is going to kill you.

Then eventually the atmosphere softened again slightly afterward while everyone slowly started wandering farther through the floor more comfortably now. Yuna had already discovered the media room and nearly screamed again. Ryujin was investigating the soundproof practice room like she planned on testing the laws of physics inside it later. Lia quietly lingered near the lounge spaces. Chaeryeong kept noticing tiny details in the layout that nobody else picked up on. Watching them slowly settle into the space felt weirdly satisfying in a way I probably shouldn’t examine too deeply psychologically. Then quietly beside me “You already knew they’d react like this, didn’t you?” I glanced to see Yeji standing beside me, giving me a warm smile while holding the keycard between her fingers. “I estimated about 70% of it was Yuna screaming”. That warranted a laugh from Yeji “Higher than expected?” I couldn’t help but laugh at my own joke too “Beyond expectations, surprisingly.”

Eventually when it was just me and Yeji at the sitting at the center couch while everyone was exploring the entire floor, I handed her one more access card. “What’s this one for?” she asked me. “That one is yours” Yeji gave me a confused look “You already gave me one” as she pointed to the one in her hand. “This one has direct access to my private quarters.” A small silence was between us as I looked down to see Yeji who was blushing beet red from hearing what I just said. “I-I meant in case you needed me” that only made her blush even harder and the fact Ryujin was giving me the eye meant she heard all of that. “I MEANT AS YOUR MANAGER”. Yeji looked directly at me afterward. That tiny smile forming afterward told me she knew exactly what the implications in-between professionalism meant.

Ryujin was still exploring the entire floor when Yuna suddenly pointed toward me again like she’d uncovered another conspiracy. “No but seriously. How does someone even GET this rich accidentally?” She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Which was a fair criticism, but I left her to her imaginations— it was funnier that way. Meanwhile Lia had slowly settled onto one of the lounge chairs now while quietly looking around the floor again. And the more she relaxed visibly— the more I started understanding exactly why this entire idea stopped feeling excessive to me weeks ago “This place is quieter”. Everybody looked toward her briefly afterward. Not because the statement was dramatic. Because it sounded surprised— that bothered me more than the screaming somehow.

It slowly got quiet until eventually Chaeryeong looked toward one section farther down the hallway. CR: …What’s over there? B: Private practice room.

Ryujin immediately sat upright again. “You built a SECOND practice room?” I argued back “The company rooms become crowded during preparation periods.” She just gave up the will to fight against my logic “That’s not a normal reason to build a private one”. Then Yuna let out a sudden gasp as she violently raised her hand to ask me a question

YN: Does this place have food? B: Of course? YN: IT’S AN ACTUAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT HABITAT FOR IDOLS B: Can you not describe it like I’m keeping you as zoo animals? RJ: We’re raiding the fridge. NOW. B: Criminal behavior, Miss Shin Ryujin. RJ: You gave us access cards, this is your fault.

She got me beat there “…You really weren’t joking when you said you solved the problem. But I am still deciding if I should be impressed or concerned.” Yeji finally leaned slightly closer afterward. “Both are acceptable” I leaned back towards her. That finally earned another small laugh out of her. Dangerous sound honestly. Very dangerous. Then eventually the others disappeared farther down the floor while continuing to argue loudly about whether wealthy people naturally evolved into supervillains over time.

Then suddenly from the kitchen “BEN WHY IS THE WATER DISPENSER SMART?” I closed my eyes briefly. “…That sentence psychologically exhausted me”. Yuna still kept on screaming “You bought TECHNOLOGY WATER.” Yeji was laughing right next to me. “That’s just a normal filtered dispenser.” and Yuna still kept on going as if it was on purpose now “IT TALKS”. Ryujin physically leaned against the kitchen doorway laughing again while Lia quietly apologized to me despite not being involved whatsoever. Then eventually Chaeryeong walked slowly back toward the lounge afterward before glancing toward me again “…You really expect us to use this place whenever we want?” I gave her a nod “It’d be pretty useless if you girls didn’t” I assured her. Another small silence followed afterward. Softer this time.

The following days settled into something dangerously close to routine afterward. Which honestly should’ve concerned me more than it did. Schedules. Meetings. Practice evaluations. Recovery pacing. Nutritional planning. Travel adjustments. Normal management responsibilities on paper. Except now those responsibilities somehow also included Ryujin randomly appearing beside me without warning. Yuna treating the entire floor like an amusement park. Lia quietly falling asleep in the lounge area twice already. Chaeryeong continuously noticing things I wished she wouldn’t. And Yeji— well Yeji had started existing around me with a level of casual familiarity that was becoming psychologically hazardous. Like she’d already unconsciously decided my space was somewhere she belonged comfortably now. Still— the floor worked exactly the way I intended it to.

The members stayed longer after practice. Stress levels dropped faster. Nobody looked as constantly exhausted anymore. Even the atmosphere between them felt lighter lately. Which unfortunately meant the investment had technically justified itself already.

Then eventually one evening I found myself sitting inside my private unit finishing another game of Apex Legends with John and Mina over on Discord. Watching Mina carry both of us mechanically while John contributed emotional support and questionable decision-making had become a disturbingly regular experience lately. MN: John stop peeking that angle J: I believe in pressuring and baiting B: You believe in asking to get tapped in the head. MN: OH MY GOD THERE IS ANOTHER TEAM TRYING TO THIRD PARTY US FROM THE REAR

John got downed— AGAIN. While Mina managed to aggro the entire enemy team alone giving me the ample opportunity to flank and rush. I managed to get a two down before being in danger myself but Mina managed to finish off that last person before anything critical could happen. B: Crisis. Resolved. MN: By ME J: It was a team effort MN: Not how that works, babe. B: Tactical bait is technically a role.

Before John could ramble about my rudeness, there was a sudden voice from behind me. “Hi” that scared the shit out of me— I turn back to look, it was Yeji. How long has she been there watching me? Amazing stealth capabilities honestly. She sat comfortably near the far end of the couch now while loosely hugging one of the throw pillows against herself, more importantly— she didn’t disturb or interrupt me, just watched me do my thing. Then immediately through the headset “IS THAT YEJI?” John’s voice so loud even Yeji heard it “Yes it is, hi John.” A quick pause and it was back to more screaming. J: OH MY GOD. WHY IS SHE IN YOUR PRIVATE QUARTERS ALREADY? B: I gave her an access card, dumbass. For managerial purposes. MN: Lies. J: Absolute lies.

Yeji quietly laughed beside me afterward. God. That sound was becoming an actual issue now. Then eventually Mina spoke again. “…Anyway I’m getting off before John emotionally sabotages another ranked game— and don’t worry about John, I’ll make sure he doesn’t stay and pester.” I swore I heard a giggle from Mina before she left the call. After that debacle, I turned back to look at Yeji who still sat comfortably on the couch while absently playing with the keycard between her fingers “You’re good at games” she pointed out. “Sorry for coming in unannounced.” she shyly hid half her face on the pillow she was hugging.

“Don’t worry about it, that’s the whole reason I gave you an access card.” I tried to remind her. And something about her expression felt slightly different tonight. Not upset. Not distressed. Then eventually I leaned back slightly into the couch afterward “So… something bothering you?” I gave her my full attention. A tiny pause. Then immediately “No.” Another pause. “…Maybe a little”. I stayed quiet afterward. Not pushing. Not filling the silence immediately. Because Yeji had started doing something lately that honestly mattered more than she probably realized herself— she was beginning to approach difficult thoughts instead of hiding from them entirely.

Then eventually she shifted slightly farther into the couch afterward while still loosely holding the throw pillow against herself. “…Can I ask you something weird?” I scratched my head with genuine consideration “That sentence has historically led to psychological damage”. A small laugh escaped her again. “…As my manager—” Ah, a loophole. Clever girl.

B: That clarification sounded strategically prepared. YJ: Technically it counts for my wellbeing. B: Concerningly arguable. YJ: You mentioned it before. Stress affects people physically… What about… sexually?

I leaned back slightly afterward while considering the question properly instead of reacting too quickly. That question was careful. Measured. Genuinely curious. Not flirtatious. “It absolutely can.” Yeji nodded once slowly afterward like she’d expected that answer already. “…Okay”. Yeji’s fingers lightly tightened around the edge of the pillow afterward “I wanted you to know… what happened last time. I’ve never felt anything like that.” I genuinely was shocked “Are you talking about an orgasm?”

“Yes.” Yeji stayed quiet afterward for a few more seconds before finally speaking again “I used to think it was exaggerated. Cause I have had a few experiences in the past, but I’ve never felt what they usually described it was.” I was stunned, speechless— then she continued “I used to think that there was something wrong with my body.” I stayed silent for maybe one second too long afterward. Because suddenly the phrasing, the question, the confusion, the curiosity? It all started aligning together psychologically in ways I really didn’t expect.

“…Yeji” I said slowly, watching for a reaction “Was that really your first time experiencing an orgasm?” She immediately looked nervous afterward. Not because I sounded upset. Because she realized I noticed something. I kept my voice gentle anyway “I’m going to ask a follow up question, what do you think was the trigger that made a difference from past experiences to last time?” I was wondering was there something related to the stress she endured prior to all of this. Then she quickly answered with full confidence. “You.”

Oh… OH! That hit significantly harder than expected. I stayed quiet for a second afterward. Not because I didn’t understand what she meant. Because suddenly a LOT of smaller things started rearranging themselves into a pattern that was professionally bad, but something that I didn’t particularly hate. Yeji looked away first afterward while absently adjusting the sleeve of her jacket covering part of her hand again. A habit. One I’d started recognizing whenever she felt exposed emotionally. “…I didn’t mean that weirdly,” she muttered quietly afterward. “That sentence usually means the conversation is already psychologically doomed.” A tiny laugh escaped her again.

Then eventually she exhaled softly through her nose before continuing. “…I just mean…” Another pause. “The way I felt with you was…” She struggled briefly for the wording afterward. “…Different enough that I started wondering if something was wrong with me before.” That sentence bothered me immediately, not clinically. Because that wasn’t vanity, or comparison. Nor was it performance anxiety. That sounded genuinely confused. I leaned slightly forward afterward while keeping my tone calm.

“…Wrong with you how?” Yeji looked embarrassed now. Not ashamed. Just vulnerable. “…I thought maybe people exaggerated things.” Interesting. Very interesting. “Things,” I repeated carefully. “You know.” She looked increasingly flustered now. “The whole…” Tiny gesture. “…mind going blank afterward thing.” Oh. Oh no. There it is. I physically leaned back slightly afterward before my brain could stop itself from processing the implications too quickly. Then carefully “…Yeji.” She immediately covered part of her face with the pillow afterward. “That reaction means you figured something out.”

Another small silence settled afterward. Then finally I asked the question as gently as possible. “…Have you genuinely never experienced that before?” The room went completely quiet. Then eventually Yeji lowered the pillow slightly afterward while avoiding eye contact entirely now. “…I thought I did.” That somehow made the entire thing worse. Because it meant nobody had ever slowed down enough for her to even recognize the difference properly. Interesting. Deeply frustrating too. “…Can I ask something else?” She pondered to herself “Of course you can.” That made her smile warmly at me, I was there to listen— not critique. “…Was that actually an orgasm?” I closed my eyes briefly afterward. Not because the question embarrassed me. Because the sheer sincerity behind it was genuinely upsetting.

“By definition, I am sure it was.” Yeji stayed completely still afterward. No immediate response. No dramatic reaction. Just… processing. After a long silence filled the room, “…That explains a lot actually” she sighed to herself. “That sentence psychologically concerns me.” I was visibly narrowing my eyes despite the room being dimly lit. “It’s not bad,” she answered quickly afterward. “Just…” Another pause. “…I genuinely thought people were exaggerating before.”

That almost made me angry. Not at her. At the idea that somebody like Yeji— someone constantly expected to perform, endure, succeed, and maintain control had apparently experienced intimacy the exact same way too. Like it was something to manage instead of feel. Then eventually I leaned slightly farther back afterward while speaking carefully. “…For the record, this is significantly more common than people think.” That finally made her look toward me again. “…Really?” I paused for a bit “Yes. Especially people who are used to disconnecting from themselves under stress.”

“…Oh.” She realized. Watching her slowly connect emotional exhaustion, and physical disconnect in real time felt strangely intimate in a way I wasn’t entirely prepared for. Then she said in a low voice “That’s kind of depressing.” I interrupted her train of thought “That depends on perspective.” She blinked once. “How is there another perspective?” I shrugged lightly. “It also means nothing was wrong with you”. Yeji looked down again afterward while smiling very faintly into the pillow she still held against herself. Yeji stayed quiet for a while afterward. Not uncomfortable. Just… thinking harder now. The room itself had gone softer sometime during the conversation without either of us noticing. The muted city lights outside. The low ambient hum from the air conditioning. The faint glow from the monitor still left on after the game. Everything felt strangely still.

The longer Yeji sat there hugging the pillow against herself while processing all of this, the more I realized how carefully she must’ve been carrying these thoughts around alone for the past several days. Then eventually she spoke again. Quietly. “…I almost asked Lia about it.” That caught me slightly off guard “…What stopped you?” Yeji laughed softly beneath her breath afterward “Imagine trying to explain that conversation”. Then eventually she looked down again afterward while lightly tracing the edge of the pillow with her fingers absentmindedly. “…I kept thinking maybe I was just overreacting.”

I leaned slightly farther back into the couch afterward. “You’re allowed to notice when something affects you significantly.” She looked down to her legs “I know… I’m still getting used to it”. That sentence hit harder than it probably should’ve. Because she said it so casually. Like somebody admitting they were still learning how to breathe properly again. Eventually Yeji looked toward me again afterward. More carefully this time. “…Can I ask one more thing?”

“That depends on how emotionally catastrophic it is.” A small laugh escaped her again. Then quietly “…Did you know?” Interesting question. Very interesting wording too. I considered it honestly before answering. “…That it was different for you specifically?” She nodded once slowly. I exhaled softly through my nose afterward. “Not immediately.” Yeji looked relieved by that for some reason. “But I knew something about the way you reacted felt…” I paused briefly searching for the right wording. “…new to you”. There it is again. That soft realization. Then after another pause “…That’s kind of embarrassing.”

“No it isn’t.” Yeji looked at me for maybe a second too long afterward. Something about the expression on her face there felt strangely fragile in a way I hadn’t seen often from her before. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot.” I stayed quiet afterward instead of interrupting. And Yeji noticed that too. Then eventually she shifted slightly closer into the couch corner afterward before continuing. “…I kept trying to compare it to everything else before and it just…” Tiny pause. “…doesn’t.” The room stayed quiet again. Then finally she looked down toward the keycard still resting loosely in her hand. “…And I think part of me keeps wondering if it only happened because of everything that night.” There was the real fear underneath all of that. Not sex or experience, but uncertainty. Then she murmured “…Like maybe it was just because I was emotionally overwhelmed already.” I watched her carefully afterward. Then eventually I answered honestly. “It probably intensified things.” Yeji nodded slowly.

“But,” I continued carefully afterward, “that doesn’t make the experience itself less real.” Silence again. “…Yeah.” Tiny answer. Very thoughtful. Then after another quieter pause “…I think I want to know for sure.” The way she said that nearly made my chest tighten immediately. Because there wasn’t manipulation in it, or seduction. Just careful honesty— like she hated admitting the thought out loud but trusted me enough to do it anyway.

The room stayed quiet after Yeji’s last sentence. Because both of us understood exactly what this conversation had slowly become somewhere along the way. Yeji still sat curled slightly into the bed corner while loosely holding the pillow against herself, though at some point during the conversation her grip against it had gradually loosened. Less defensive now. That somehow affected me significantly more than I was prepared for. Then softly afterward “…I know how this sounds.”

“That depends.” Yeji looked up carefully. “On what?” I exhaled quietly through my nose before answering. “Whether you think I’m misunderstanding you.” Yeji’s expression shifted because that moment she realized I knew exactly what she meant now. Very transparent sometimes despite trying not to be. Then eventually she lowered her eyes again afterward while laughing quietly beneath her breath once. “…Right.” Another pause. “…You’re annoyingly perceptive.” I gave her a smile “That sounded vaguely hostile.” I laughed. “It was meant affectionately.” Then eventually Yeji spoke again without looking up yet. “…I keep replaying it.”

“I tried not to at first because I thought maybe I was just emotionally overwhelmed after the solo debut.” Tiny pause. “But the more time passed…” She exhaled softly. “…the more I realized I wasn’t thinking about the situation.” Slowly now. Carefully. “…I was thinking about how it felt.” No hiding behind vague wording anymore. No loopholes. Just honesty. The sincerity in her voice there nearly made my chest tighten immediately. Because Yeji didn’t sound reckless. She sounded curious. Trusting. Vulnerable. Like somebody standing in front of a door they never realized existed before “And I think I want to know if it was real.”

I stayed still afterward for a second. Not because I needed clarification. Because I was very aware now of where this conversation could go. Who was sitting in front of me and the fact that Yeji was giving me the choice to either move closer or stop this entirely. Then eventually I spoke carefully. “…Yeji.” She looked up again immediately afterward. The way her expression softened slightly just from hearing her name in that tone nearly destroyed the last remaining fragments of my self-restraint psychologically. “You know this doesn’t have to be some kind of test, right?”

“I know.” I looked at Yeji, trying to get a read on her “Then why does it feel like one?” Tiny pause. Then finally she answered honestly. “Because I spent a long time thinking intimacy just…” She searched briefly for the wording. “…wasn’t something my body understood properly.” That sentence hit harder than expected. The clinical part of my brain already understood exactly why. But hearing Yeji say it aloud anyway still felt quietly devastating somehow. Then eventually she looked down again afterward while speaking softer this time. “…And then with you it suddenly wasn’t difficult anymore.”

Oh boy that was a dangerous sentence. With very dangerous wording. The room stayed quiet afterward. No distractions now. No jokes. No comfortable escape routes left. Just open honesty between us. At some point during the conversation, Yeji had unconsciously shifted farther toward the edge of the couch closest to me. Not dramatically. Just enough that I noticed it immediately. Then softly “If I’m crossing a line right now, you can tell me.”

That almost made me laugh quietly. Not because it was funny. Because somehow even now— while sitting inside my private room at night after deliberately using the one keycard connected directly to my quarters— Yeji was still trying to make sure I felt comfortable too. I leaned slightly forward afterward before answering honestly. “You crossed that line the moment you walked in here looking for this conversation specifically.” Tiny silence. “But for the record the line was crossed that night after your solo debut”. Then slowly— very slowly Yeji nodded once. That was probably the moment the remaining distance between us stopped feeling accidental. Because now both of us knew. Not implied. Not danced around.

The city lights outside continued glowing softly through the windows while the room itself stayed warm and quiet around us. Then eventually Yeji shifted again afterward before setting the pillow aside completely. Small action. Very dangerous consequence. Because suddenly there was nothing left between us or the conversation. “You know what the worst part is? I think I knew why I came here before I admitted it to myself.” That nearly snapped the last thread of restraint I still had left. I stayed still for maybe one second longer afterward before finally standing from the bed she was on. Not rushed. Not impulsive. Just… certain now. Yeji watched me carefully the entire time. And interestingly enough— she didn’t look nervous anymore. Just aware.

The opposite end of my bed sat only a short distance away from where she’d shifted during the conversation. And at some point— quietly, naturally— she’d already settled there instead of the corner without either of us acknowledging it aloud. I stepped closer afterward until I finally stopped near the edge of the bed while Yeji tilted her head slightly upward to meet my gaze again. No games now. No loopholes. Just the both of us fully understanding where this was about to go.

Close enough now that I could see the slight shift in Yeji’s breathing every time she looked up at me and then away again for half a second afterward. Because despite how honest this conversation had become— there was still something careful about her. Like she understood this mattered now in a way neither of us could pretend was casual anymore. The room itself felt smaller somehow.

The fact that Yeji didn’t look nervous anymore was probably affecting me more than if she had. Because now this wasn’t impulse. It was choice. And before I got lost in my train of thought “You’re thinking again.” I exhaled softly through my nose afterward. “That accusation has become emotionally weaponized.” A tiny smile pulled briefly at the corner of her mouth again. I leaned slightly closer afterward before resting one hand carefully against the edge of the mattress beside her instead of touching her immediately. Giving her room. Giving her choice. Important distinction. Yeji noticed that too. I could tell from the way her expression softened almost instantly afterward. Then eventually she looked down briefly before speaking quieter this time. “…You know what’s weird? I’m not embarrassed right now”.

“Should you be?” I asked her to look for any hint of her wanting to back out. “No.” Tiny pause. “…But normally I overthink things like this.” Yeji overthinking vulnerability felt almost inevitable considering the life she lived. But right now? She looked calmer than she had during most emotionally difficult conversations we’d had before. Then eventually she shifted slightly farther back onto the bed afterward while still keeping her eyes on me. “…I think that’s part of why I wanted to talk to you instead of just…” She made a small vague gesture. “…wondering about it alone.” I nodded slightly afterward. “Because uncertainty becomes louder when you isolate yourself with it.” Yeji blinked once. “…That was annoyingly accurate.” I leaned towards her “Occupational hazard.”

The atmosphere between us had changed completely now. Less tension. Less confusion. Just closeness. The kind built from being understood too carefully for too long. There it is. That feeling in my chest again. Genuine issue honestly. Then eventually the laughter softened away again while she looked at me quietly afterward. And this time— neither of us looked away first. “I think I trust you too much.” The honesty in that sentence nearly destroyed me. Because Yeji didn’t say it recklessly. She said it like someone acknowledging something important they already accepted. I moved slightly closer afterward almost instinctively now. Her eyes just stayed on mine while her breathing slowed slightly again. The longer I looked at her sitting there— comfortable, honest, wanting— the harder it became to remember why I’d been trying to resist this at all anymore.

YJ: You’re still thinking. B: That sounds judgmental. YJ: You get quieter when you’re trying to be careful.

I exhaled softly afterward before finally admitting the truth. “I’m trying very hard not to overwhelm you.” The way Yeji’s expression softened after hearing that nearly ended whatever restraint I had left entirely. Because for a second— she looked almost relieved “…Benjie”.  I kept my gaze at her “Yeah, I still hate that nickname. But it’s not that bad hearing it from you”.  That made her giggle and in a soft voice “I came here because I wanted you to stop being careful eventually.” That answer nearly destroyed the remaining distance between us immediately. Not because of the words themselves. Because of the way Yeji said them. Soft. Certain. Honest. Like she’d already spent days thinking herself through every possible hesitation before finally walking into this room tonight.

I stayed still for maybe another second afterward while looking at her lay there against the dim lighting of the room. Comfortable now. Aware. Waiting. The longer I looked at her, the more obvious it became that Yeji wasn’t asking for reassurance anymore. She was asking to be chosen back. “You make this incredibly difficult sometimes.” A tiny smile pulled at the corner of her mouth afterward.” Then eventually the smile softened away again while she looked up at me quietly afterward. And for a second— neither of us spoke. We didn’t need to anymore.

I moved closer again until I finally sat near the edge of the bed beside her. Yeji’s breathing shifted slightly again afterward “…Still trying to be careful?”. That somehow affected me significantly more than if she’d looked uncertain. “That depends on how much self-control I have left”. That finally made her laugh quietly again before the sound faded into something softer when I reached up instinctively to brush a loose strand of hair gently back away from her face. Yeji immediately leaned slightly into the touch before she could stop herself.  “You know it’s unfair how calm you look right now”. That almost made me laugh “I’m significantly less calm than I appear”. Then eventually her fingers lightly curled against the edge of the blanket beside her while she kept looking at me with that same quiet openness that had been destroying me all night.

That was probably what finally broke whatever restraint I still had left. Because suddenly the distance between us felt ridiculous. I leaned closer slowly afterward. Enough that I watched Yeji’s breathing catch slightly in real time. Enough that her eyes softened immediately before flicking toward my lips again. And the closer I got— the more obvious it became that Yeji already knew exactly what was about to happen.

I got closer to Yeji, her breath hot and erratic against my ear. I lowered on to her as she lay in mattress, the springs groaning under our combined weight. Yeji looked up at me, her eyes wide, dark, and shimmering with a hunger that had been suppressed for far too long. The fabric of her shirt was clinging to her skin, but her jacket was a discarded heap on the floor. I shifted, moving between her thighs and pushing them wide. The air in the room felt thick, charged with the kind of electricity that precedes a storm. I didn't go for her lips this time. I slid down her body, my chest brushing against her breasts, until I reached the edge of her underwear. "Ben..." she whispered, her voice a fragile thread.

I didn't answer with words. I hooked my fingers into the elastic of her panties and slid them down her legs, tossing them aside. The scent hit me immediately—sweet, musky, and heavy with arousal. She was already drenched, her core glistening in the dim light. I leaned in, my breath ghosting over her inner thigh, making her jump and arch her back. My tongue moved to the shape of her slit, tasting the sweet tang of her desire.

Yeji let out a sharp, strangled gasp, her fingers digging into the bedsheets. I focused on her clit, swirling my tongue around the swollen nub with a deliberate, agonizing slowness. "Oh God," she whimpered, her hips beginning to stutter upward. I increased the pressure, sucking the small pearl into my mouth while my fingers slid inside her. She was tight, pulsing around me, the walls of her pussy clamping down in rhythmic waves. I could hear it now—the moans she produced in reaction to the movement of my tongue against her clit and the squelching of my fingers moving through her cream. I didn't let up. I matched the rhythm of her breathing, pushing her higher and higher, feeling the tension build in her thighs. Her breath hitched, then stopped. Her entire body went rigid, her toes curling into the mattress. A high pitched moan tore from her throat as the first orgasm crashed over her. She shook violently, the muscles of her pussy squeezing my fingers in a desperate, crushing grip.

I kept going, refusing to let the peak fade, driving her right back into the fire. I didn't stop the stimulation. I used a flicking motion with my tongue, faster now, more aggressive, while my other hand gripped her hip to hold her still. Yeji was sobbing now, a mixture of pleasure and shock. "I can't—Ben, please—" I pushed her over the edge a second time.

It was more violent than the first, a total systemic collapse. She screamed into the quiet of the room, her back arching so high only her head and heels touched the bed. The second orgasm ripped through her, leaving her limp and gasping, her chest heaving under the thin fabric of her top. I pulled back, watching her. She looked shattered in the best possible way, her eyes glazed, her lips parted. "Was that..." she panted, her voice sounding distant. "Was that normal? That... that actually happened twice."

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, looking at her with a small, knowing smile. "Completely normal, Yeji." She stared at the ceiling, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye. "I spent years thinking I was just... defective. That the stories were lies. But I felt it. I actually felt it."

She shifted then, her gaze sliding down to where I was positioned between her legs. My cock was straining, a hard, pulsing rod of meat that was leaking pre-cum onto the sheets. She looked back up at me, the realization hitting her face. "You didn't... you didn't even touch yourself," she whispered.

"Your pleasure was the priority," I told her, my voice rough. Yeji frowned, a spark of her usual leadership returning even through the haze of her climax. "No. No way. I can't just... I'd feel guilty. I can't let you do all the work and get nothing." "I'm fine, Yeji. Really." "I don't care if you're fine," she countered, her voice gaining strength. "I want to make you feel it too."

She reached down, her small hand wrapping around the shaft of my cock. Her grip was tentative, lacking experience, but the warmth of her palm sent a jolt of electricity straight to my gut. She started to move her hand up and down, her thumb rubbing over the sensitive head. I groaned, my head falling back as the friction began to build. As she worked her hand, she shifted her body, pressing her chest against my arm, her nipples hardening through the fabric of her top. The combination of her soft skin against me and the tight grip of her hand was almost too much. I reached up, grabbing her waist and pulling her closer, our bodies intertwining in a messy tangle of limbs and sweat.

The pace of her hand increased. She was getting the hang of it, her movements becoming more confident. I could feel the pressure building in me, the heat radiating. I let out a low moan as the climax approached, my hips involuntarily jerking upward. "Ben? Am I... is this right?" she asked, her voice breathless. "Yeah," I choked out. "Right there. Don't stop." I didn't have much time left.

With one final, forceful squeeze and a rapid slide of her hand, I snapped. I let out a loud, guttural shout as I came, the force of the ejaculation sending thick, white ropes of semen spraying across her stomach and thighs. It was a messy, visceral release, the hot liquid splattering against her skin in heavy bursts. Yeji gasped, looking down at the white streaks covering her body. She reached out, touching the warm fluid with her finger, looking fascinated. Then, she looked back at my cock. It hadn't gone soft. It was still standing, pulsing slightly, still fully erect.

"Wait," she whispered, her eyes widening. "You're still hard?" "I'm a bit of an overachiever," I muttered, my breath still ragged.

Yeji’s expression shifted from surprise to a determined kind of curiosity. She sat up, the movement causing the semen on her stomach to smear. Without a word, she reached for the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head in one fluid motion, tossing it across the room.

She was stunning. Her breasts were small but firm, her nipples dark and peaking in the cool air of the room. She climbed on top of me, straddling my lap, her bare skin warm against mine. She looked down at me, her face flushed, a small, nervous smile playing on her lips. "I'm not... I've never really done this part," she admitted, her voice small. "The part where I'm in charge." "Just do whatever feels right," I told her, reaching up to cup her breasts.

Yeji lowered herself slowly, guiding the head of my cock to her opening. She let out a long, shaky exhale as she sank down, her tight walls stretching to accommodate my size. She gasped, her eyes fluttering shut as she seated herself fully, the wet sound of our bodies meeting echoing in the room. She started to move, a slow, tentative grind of her hips.

She was awkward at first, her balance off, but the feeling of her gripping me so tightly made my vision blur. I groaned, my hands sliding down to her ass, squeezing the firm cheeks and pulling her down harder against me. "Like this?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Yes. Exactly like that." As she found her rhythm, the movement became more vigorous. The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the room—a rhythmic, wet thudding. Her breasts bounced with every downward thrust, the tips brushing against the palm of my hand.

Yeji was beginning to enjoy it, her head tossing back, a series of short, sharp moans escaping her. I didn't stay passive for long. I gripped her hips and began to thrust upward, meeting her movements with my own. The friction was intense, the heat between us reaching a boiling point. I could feel her tightening around me again, the walls of her pussy pulsing in anticipation. "Ben! Oh god, it's— I’m coming again!"

I didn't slow down. I drove into her with everything I had, my thrusts becoming deeper and more frantic. Yeji was screaming now, her fingers clawing at my chest, her body shaking as she hit another peak. The feeling of her climaxing while I was buried inside her was almost enough to finish me. I felt the pressure building again, a second wave of heat crashing through my body. I knew I was close. As the sensation peaked, I gripped her waist and pulled her up, sliding out of her just as the first jet of semen erupted.

I came strongly, the white fluid hitting her stomach and chest with a loud, wet smack. It splattered across her skin, coating her in a second layer of heat. Yeji looked down at herself, breathless and covered in me, a look of utter disbelief on her face. "You... you're actually..." she panted, leaning her forehead against mine. "Most people... they usually just... one round and they're done. How are you still...?" "Told you," I whispered, kissing her forehead. "Overachiever."

Yeji looked at me, a mischievous glint appearing in her eyes. She slid off my lap, but she didn't move away. Instead, she knelt between my legs. She looked up at me, her body smeared with a bit of my cum, her expression determined.

"I want to try something," she murmured. She leaned forward, her lips brushing against the head of my cock. I stiffened, my breath catching in my throat. Yeji took me into her mouth, but she immediately struggled. She gagged slightly, her eyes watering. "Careful," I whispered, my hand resting on the back of her head. She didn't give up. She used her hand to guide me, focusing on the head, her tongue swirling around the rim before trying to slide deeper. The sound was incredibly wet—the squelch of saliva and the suction of her cheeks creating a vacuum that nearly drove me insane.

She was inexperienced, her technique unrefined, but the sheer effort she was putting in—the way she looked up at me with those determined eyes—was the most erotic thing I had ever experienced. I groaned, my fingers curling into her hair. The sensation of her warm mouth and the friction of her tongue was the final straw. I was still sensitive from earlier, so I felt the build-up happen almost instantly, a sudden, violent surge of pressure. "Yeji, I'm—" She didn't pull away. She leaned in further, taking as much of me as she could.

I let out a strangled cry as I finished, the semen erupting from my cock and filling her mouth and throat. She swallowed some of it, but the sheer volume was too much; the rest sprayed upward, coating her cheeks, her nose, and her forehead in thick, white streaks. She pulled back, gasping for air, a thin string of saliva and semen connecting her lip to my cock. She looked like a mess—covered in fluids, hair disheveled, skin flushed—and she had never looked more beautiful.

We stayed like that for a long time, the only sound the heavy thudding of our hearts and the distant hum of the city outside. Eventually, I reached down and pulled her up into my arms, kissing her deeply, tasting a bit of myself on her lips. "Shower?" I whispered. "Please," she breathed.

I carried her into the bathroom, the air quickly filling with steam as I turned the water on high. We stepped under the spray together, the hot water washing away the salt and the seed. The shower was a blur of tactile sensations—the smell of sandalwood soap mixing with the lingering scent of sex, the feeling of wet skin sliding against wet skin. I pressed her against the tiled wall, my hands roaming over her curves, scrubbing the soap into her skin with slow, deliberate movements. I couldn’t help myself, deciding to sneak a few kisses in while we showered. Though we didn't have sex again—we were both too exhausted—but the intimacy remained. I kept on kissing her, slow and unhurried now, stealing softer kisses beneath the falling water while my hands rested comfortably against her waist. Neither of us seemed interested in letting go yet. She stayed close against me, her head eventually settling against my shoulder while the steam curled quietly around us, my hands lingering on her breasts, while she clung to me, her head resting on my shoulder.

"Ben?" she whispered, the steam curling around us. "Yeah?" "I think... I think I'm starting to understand why you're so obsessed with wellbeing." I laughed softly, pulling her closer. "Is that so?" "Yeah," she murmured, a small, content smile on her face. "I feel... quiet. For the first time in years, my head is actually quiet."

I held her there under the falling water, knowing that the bridge between us had been permanently crossed. We weren't just manager and idol anymore. We were something far more dangerous, and far more real.

We stayed there beneath the water a little while longer before eventually stepping out together, the warmth of the bathroom immediately replaced by the cooler air of the room outside. I reached for one of the towels first, wrapping it loosely around Yeji before drying her hair gently enough that she immediately narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously. “…Why are you being so gentle?” “I’m preserving company assets, professionally.” “That sounds deeply unserious.” “That’s because it is.”

Yeji laughed softly under her breath while I finished drying the ends of her hair before quickly drying myself afterward. Then she glanced down toward the scattered state of her clothes near the bathroom doorway. Those were absolutely beyond immediate reuse “…I think you murdered my shirt,” she muttered while picking it up carefully between two fingers.

“In my defense, there were a lot of emotionally charged variables involved.” “That sentence sounds legally dangerous.” “Correct.”

Another smaller laugh escaped her afterward while she tossed the clothes into the washer tucked near the laundry area before pulling one of the bath robes from the cabinet nearby. Meanwhile I just pulled on a pair of sweatpants before deciding shirts were currently an unnecessary societal expectation. Yeji stepped back into the living area afterward, the robe loosely tied around her waist while still drying bits of damp hair with a towel. Then immediately paused. Her eyes moved slowly downward.

“…You actually stayed shirtless.” “That sounds judgmental.” “You look like you belong on a cologne advertisement right now.” “That somehow feels insulting.” “It was complimentary.” “Your delivery mechanism needs work.”

Yeji rolled her eyes before quietly walking closer again, stopping directly in front of me before lightly tugging me downward by the waistband just enough to steal another kiss.

By the time we finally left the room together, the apartment floor itself had gone mostly quiet. Late enough now that most people were either asleep— or pretending to be responsible adults. We made it about halfway toward the kitchen before Yeji suddenly spoke up casually. “I’m getting a snack.” Then louder afterward “Do you want anything, Benjie?” I opened my mouth immediately. “I’m actually pretty thirsty myself, what do we ha—” And stopped. Because standing near the kitchen counter holding a half-open refrigerator door was Lia.

Lia blinked once slowly. Her eyes moved from Yeji in a bath robe, to me standing shirtless beside her, then toward the very visible tattoos across my shoulders and arms. The realization happened almost instantly behind her eyes. Not shock. Not judgment. Just understanding. Yeji froze beside me too “…Oh,” Lia said softly. That somehow felt significantly more dangerous than screaming would’ve. I rubbed lightly at the back of my neck afterward. “Well this is unfortunate timing.” Yeji immediately covered her face “Oh my God”. Lia stared at both of us for another few seconds before unexpectedly letting out a quieter laugh beneath her breath.

“No wonder you’ve both been acting weird lately.” “That feels accusatory,” I muttered. “That’s because it is,” Yeji answered immediately beside me.

Lia finally closed the refrigerator door afterward before leaning lightly against the counter, still visibly processing things. She was handling this significantly better than expected. Then her eyes shifted back toward me again “…You’re surprisingly fit.” I looked down briefly toward myself. “That’s the second time I’ve heard that tonight. I’m beginning to feel profiled.” Lia laughed softly before gesturing vaguely toward my shoulders “And the tattoos too”. Yeji immediately pointed toward her. “RIGHT? I said the same thing earlier”. Excellent. Now they were unionizing against me. Lia tilted her head slightly afterward while studying one of the tattoos near my collarbone.

“You honestly look like the type to get something emotionally reckless tattooed eventually.” “That sounds concerningly specific.”

Then suddenly— Yeji’s expression shifted. And immediately I knew exactly where this was going. Lia looked between both of us once before slowly narrowing her eyes.

LA: …Wait “No,” I answered instantly. LA: I didn’t even say anything yet. But you looked emotionally suspicious. B: That’s not a real sentence. LA: It should be.

Lia immediately started laughing again while Yeji completely lost composure beside me. Then finally Lia pointed toward Yeji directly. “You should get a portrait tattoo of Yeji somewhere, or at least her name written down.” I stared at Yeji. Yeji stared at me.

“Oh my god, YOU ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT?” Lia asked in disbelief. “That sounds significantly worse when phrased like that,” I answered immediately.

Yeji was still hiding her face behind one hand while laughing uncontrollably now. Meanwhile Lia looked increasingly horrified and entertained simultaneously. Interesting emotional combination honestly.

The next several days settled into a rhythm surprisingly quickly. Morning meetings. Practice evaluations. Wardrobe fittings. Demo reviews. Recording adjustments, and somewhere in-between all of that the top floor quietly became part of ITZY’s daily life. Not officially, just… naturally.

At first it started small. Yuna using one of the lounge rooms to nap between schedules because “the couches up here are spiritually better.” Chaeryeong occasionally hiding in the music room whenever the practice floor became too loud. Ryujin kept stealing expensive drinks from my refrigerator like some kind of emotionally unstable raccoon. And somehow Lia became the most normal about the entire thing.

Which honestly felt suspicious now. Very suspicious. Especially because every single time our eyes met across a room lately— she smiled like she knew something. The first time she winked at me during practice evaluations nearly killed me internally. I was midway through discussing rehearsal pacing adjustments with one of the choreographers when I glanced toward the mirrors and caught Lia casually sipping iced coffee while looking directly at me. Then a wink.

Subtle. Tiny. Absolutely catastrophic. I immediately lost my train of thought. “And then we can probably reduce strain on Yeji’s lower back during the second chorus by—” pause “…What was I saying?” The choreographer blinked. Meanwhile somewhere behind me

“You look distracted, manager-nim.”

I slowly turned afterward only to find Lia visibly trying not to laugh while Yeji completely avoided eye contact near the mirrors. Excellent. Now BOTH of them were psychologically dangerous. Even worse? The members started noticing something weird was happening. Not the truth, obviously. Yuna asked one afternoon while eating snacks on the studio floor.

YN: Why does Lia unnie keep looking at you like she knows your tax fraud secrets? B: I don’t commit tax fraud. YN: That sounded defensive. B: That sounded financially targeted.

Ryujin looked up immediately from the couch nearby.

RJ: …Wait. You absolutely look like someone who has offshore accounts. B: That feels racist toward wealthy people. YJ: That sentence alone confirmed it. B: I hate this group. “Emotionally false,” Chaeryeong answered quietly without looking up from her phone. Traitor number four. Then somewhere beside me Yeji suddenly laughed under her breath— and Ryujin noticed. Because Ryujin’s eyes shifted slowly between me, Yeji, and then at Lia. The stare lingered there slightly longer than comfortable.

The atmosphere returned to normal quickly afterward, but I noticed something important over the next several days, Ryujin started watching more. Not obviously. That wasn’t her style. But she lingered around conversations longer now. Sat closer during downtime. Interrupted moments more often. Started stealing my attention deliberately. It was the emotional equivalent of poking a bruise repeatedly until somebody reacts felt EXTREMELY Ryujin themed tactics.

One evening after rehearsals, I was reorganizing part of the comeback scheduling inside one of the smaller production rooms when the door suddenly opened behind me. No knock. “You’re avoiding everybody.” I glanced up briefly. “You entered this room like a police raid.” Ryujin ignored me professionally before casually dropping onto the couch nearby

RJ: You’ve been weird lately. B: That’s vague enough to qualify as emotional terrorism. RJ: And you keep looking at Yeji differently. B: That sounds observational. RJ: And that sounds like avoidance.

Ryujin studied me quietly for another second afterward before speaking again “And Lia unnie keeps looking at both of you like she’s watching a drama nobody else understands yet.” I stayed silent just slightly too long. And unfortunately, Ryujin noticed that too. Then slowly— a grin appeared “…Oh.” That singular syllable somehow felt psychologically threatening. I rubbed lightly at my forehead afterward “You need healthier hobbies”. “No I don’t,” Ryujin answered immediately. “This is fascinating.” “That word concerns me deeply.” “You’re hiding something.” “That describes literally every human being alive.” “But yours is interesting.”

That was somehow worse than false accusations. Then Ryujin leaned slightly forward afterward, resting her chin against one hand while studying me with visible amusement now.

“…You know what’s funny?” “That sentence has historically never improved my life.” “You stopped looking tired.”

Silence. Not because I didn’t have a response. Because unfortunately she was right. Then finally she leaned back again afterward while still looking unbearably smug.

“Wow.” “I’m beginning to resent your observational skills.” “You should.” She paused briefly. “You’re getting way too comfortable around us.”

That landed significantly harder than expected. Because there was no accusation in her voice. That somehow felt more dangerous than suspicion.

The following weeks passed in a blur of rehearsals, recording sessions, emergency wardrobe meetings, and increasingly concerning amounts of takeout food consumed on the top floor at two in the morning. Which honestly meant the comeback preparations were going well. Too well, almost. Because despite the heavier schedules approaching, something around the group had noticeably shifted. People laughed more now. Not loudly. Not dramatically, it was more natural now.

Yuna practically moved into the upstairs lounge during off-days, usually buried beneath blankets while aggressively stealing everyone’s snacks like a tiny home invader. Chaeryeong quietly developed the habit of staying upstairs after practices ended, often sitting near the music room while absentmindedly talking about choreography frustrations she normally kept to herself. And somehow Lia became terrifyingly calm about the entire secret she accidentally uncovered.

That honestly concerned me slightly. Because now she occasionally looked at Yeji and me like an emotionally well-adjusted hostage negotiator. One afternoon during vocal recording evaluations, Yeji walked over absentmindedly while I was reviewing scheduling notes before immediately stealing the iced coffee beside me without asking. Normal behavior. “Wow,” Ryujin muttered from the couch nearby. Yeji paused mid-sip. “…What?” Ryujin slowly looked between both of us. “You two act married sometimes.” Dead silence. Yeji immediately coughed into the coffee while I calmly continued reading paperwork with the survival instincts of a man refusing to acknowledge a landmine directly beneath him.

“That sounded psychologically loaded,” I answered carefully. “That sounded defensive,” Ryujin answered instantly.

Then somewhere beside her Lia smiled into her phone. Unfortunately Ryujin noticed THAT too. The tension dissolved quickly afterward once Yuna loudly accused everybody of emotionally bullying her for being hungry, but the look Ryujin gave me before leaving the room lingered significantly longer than comfortable. Not suspicious anymore. Curiosity. That was worse, much worse. Still— despite the increasingly dangerous emotional ecosystem forming around me the comeback itself progressed almost shockingly smoothly. Not effortless obviously. Everyone was still exhausted. Still overworked. Still emotionally stretched thin sometimes.

But now? There was somewhere safe to come back to afterward. And having that safety net for the girls changed everything. Late nights became movie nights upstairs. Group dinners. Chaotic card games. Yuna loudly losing competitive games and accusing everybody else of cheating emotionally. Even Yeji slowly stopped carrying herself like the entire future of ITZY rested solely on her shoulders twenty-four hours a day. That alone probably justified my entire employment contract psychologically.

One evening after rehearsals, I found Chaeryeong asleep sideways on one of the lounge couches with a blanket tangled around her legs while Lia quietly adjusted the volume on the television nearby. “…You know,” Lia said softly without looking away from the screen, “this place feels different now.” I glanced toward her briefly.

“That sounds ominous.” “It’s not.” A smaller smile appeared afterward. “It just feels quieter.”

Then quietly afterward “…Thank you.”

That caught me slightly off guard. I looked toward her properly “For what?”. Lia finally glanced toward the sleeping Chaeryeong nearby before answering softly. “For noticing when everyone’s tired before they fall apart”. That sentence stayed with me significantly longer than expected.

By the time “Girls Will Be Girls” finally released, the atmosphere surrounding the group felt completely different from the one Yeji had dragged herself through months earlier during her solo preparations. Still stressful. Still chaotic. Still exhausting. But no longer lonely. The release day itself was predictably catastrophic in the way all comeback days usually were. Staff everywhere. Phones constantly ringing. Wardrobe emergencies. Three separate people crying for entirely different reasons. Normal idol industry behavior.

Yet despite all of that— the members looked happy. Actually happy. Not “camera happy.” Not “idol happy.” Real. That realization hit me harder than expected.

Later that night after schedules finally ended, the five of them collapsed across the upstairs lounge in varying states of exhaustion while takeout containers covered almost every available surface nearby.

Yuna was halfway unconscious against the couch. Ryujin was scrolling through early reactions with visible satisfaction. Chaeryeong looked seconds away from passing out entirely. Lia quietly hummed along to the television music playing softly in the background. And Yeji— she looked peaceful.

“…We did well,” Yeji murmured quietly into the room. Simple sentence. But the silence afterward said significantly more. Because everybody knew what she actually meant. Not just, the comeback— everything. The floor. The schedules. The balance. The atmosphere. All of it.

Then eventually Ryujin glanced toward me from across the room and smirked. “…You look happy,” she observed casually. Interesting. Very interesting. Because for once— I didn’t immediately deny it.

The celebrations after the first week of Girls Will Be Girls promotions were significantly less glamorous than most people probably imagined. No luxury parties. No celebrity-filled rooftop events. Just five exhausted women sprawled across various sections of the top floor while half-eaten food containers slowly occupied every available flat surface like an invasive species. Honestly? Probably healthier.

“You know what I miss?” Yuna muttered dramatically from beneath a blanket cocoon on the lounge couch. “Peace.” “You started three arguments today,” Ryujin answered without looking up from her phone. “That’s unrelated.” “That feels deeply related.”

Meanwhile Chaeryeong was halfway asleep beside the window while Lia quietly scrolled through social media reactions nearby. And somewhere several thousand kilometers away Yeji was currently attending some luxury fashion gala in Europe while occasionally sending me increasingly judgmental selfies from makeup rooms. The latest one arrived three minutes ago “stop forgetting to eat properly”.

I was midway through typing a response when Ryujin suddenly stood up from the couch. Historically, that move was concerning. Then she pointed directly at me “You”. I slowly lowered my phone.

“That sounded accusatory.” “You’re drinking with me tonight.”

Silence. Not because the statement itself was strange. Because the tone implied that she had already decided this hours ago internally. “I don’t think that was a question,” Lia muttered quietly nearby. I rubbed lightly at my forehead afterward.

“Why am I suddenly being kidnapped?” “Because,” Ryujin answered calmly, “our emotional support manager is now our designated emotional support drinking buddy.” “That sentence should not be legally binding.” “It is tonight.”

Yuna immediately sat upright beneath the blanket. “WAIT I WANNA COME.” “No, it’s a one on one tonight.” Ryujin answered instantly. “That’s maknae discrimination.” “This is purely business.” “Emotionally false.”

Chaeryeong blinked sleepily from the corner “Can I at least know where you’re going?” Ryujin shrugged casually. “Somewhere private would be better”. I narrowed my eyes immediately.

“Public places are absolutely not happening.” “Obviously,” Ryujin answered. “We’d get photographed in five minutes.” Then her eyes shifted toward me again. “So we’ll drink at your place.”

Silence.

“…My place?” “Yes.” “You say that like I casually offered.” “You were going to eventually.” “No I wasn’t.” “You literally own multiple houses.”

Traitorous wealthy information leakage. I slowly turned toward Lia.

“You told them?” Lia looked genuinely offended. “I absolutely did not.” Then quietly afterward “…But you DO look like someone who owns multiple houses.” “This group profiles me financially constantly.” Ryujin ignored the complaint professionally. “There’s probably expensive liquor there.” “That sounds dangerously assumptive.” “That sounds correct though.”

Unfortunately, she was right. I leaned back slowly afterward while weighing my rapidly deteriorating options mentally. “You realize I still need to drive back eventually.” Ryujin immediately smiled “No you don’t”. That singular sentence somehow felt psychologically threatening. Because suddenly I realized exactly what she was doing. She already planned around the escape route. Meanwhile Yuna pointed aggressively from the couch.

“SEE? This is favoritism.” Yuna protested. “You literally tried to invite yourself.” Ryujin argued back. “Because I believe in togetherness.” “You believe in chaos.” “That’s emotionally subjective.”

I rubbed lightly at my face afterward while Ryujin casually grabbed my keys from the counter beside her before I could physically stop her.

“…That feels criminal.” “That feels dramatic.”  “You are actively stealing my vehicle.” “You can always buy a new one.” Then she glanced toward the others briefly. “We’ll be back tomorrow.” Lia looked down at her phone immediately afterward, visibly hiding a smile. Meanwhile Chaeryeong looked mildly confused. Yuna looked spiritually betrayed. I was beginning to realize I probably lost this argument the second Ryujin stood up from the couch fifteen minutes ago.

By the time we reached the parking area downstairs, Ryujin was still holding my keys with visible satisfaction while I questioned every life decision that somehow led here. Then she stopped walking “…Wait”. I followed her line of sight directly toward my personal car. Unlike the company-issued vehicle— this one was mine. And unfortunately? It looked expensive enough to immediately become a problem. Ryujin slowly looked between the car, me, then back toward the car again “…Ben”. “That sounded financially judgmental.” “What the hell do you DRIVE?” “That sounds accusatory toward engineering.” “This is the most suspiciously wealthy thing you’ve done so far.” “That feels statistically incorrect.”

Ryujin walked slowly around the car afterward while visibly processing things. “…You absolutely grew up rich.” “No actually.” “That somehow made this worse.”