CHERRY BOMB!

naeun doesn’t mind doing interviews too much. most of the time, half of what she says is cut out anyways to save space in the magazine column they’re squeezing her answers into. nonetheless, she straightens her dress and crosses her legs, facing the interviewer behind the camera with a smile. with a nod, she gives her the go ahead.

there’s something oddly thrilling about listening to the phone ring, watching it ring and blatantly ignoring it. it’s the same strange thrill that comes with showing up fashionably late when meeting friends or pushing off important responsibilities until the last minute. sebin thinks that it makes him seem nonchalant, unbothered — really, it just makes him seem like an asshole. “i’m on a tight schedule these days, naeun,” he informs and while it’s true when you look at the bigger picture, it’s far from an excuse. he’d already been staring at his phone when it started ringing. “and i have better things to do than sit around waiting to pick up calls, anyway. you’re lucky to be talking to me right now. if you were anyone else, i would’ve turned my phone off.”

his facade of annoyance is hardly believable as is, but it wears off completely when she mentions that she wants to hang out. that’s one thing that sebin really, truly hates about the few friendships he has — how embarrassingly eager he is to be around the other people involved. “i’m free on the 22nd and the 23rd. on the 24th, i’m going to l.a and i’ll be there for the rest of the month. please tell me that that works for you ‘cause i feel like this is something i’ve gotta see.” he laughs under his breath at the thought. “you? an anime girl? it must be a long process, considering what little you have to work with. you’re more like master splinter than any anime girl i’ve ever seen. but how’s that going for you? do you like it or should i fight your company for you? i’ll fight them all — from the interns to kim dongchul himself, scott pilgrim style. just give me the word.”

“i’m lucky to be talking to you?” naeun scoffs, rolling her eyes dramatically. “i think you’ve forgotten who i am, sebin. a phone call from me is worth billions.” she doesn’t fully know if that statement checks out, but she’s sure that there’s some obsessed fans with pockets deep enough who would pay that and more to speak to her. there’s people who would buy her phone number, she knows that much. she’s dealt with her fair share of calls from mystery numbers, but naeun doesn’t pick up the phone to anyone unknown. 

it was always fun to watch her members record their tracks. areum sat in the waiting room area, legs kicking back and forth as she watched naeun finish her studio time. it was a bit difficult since it was their japanese comeback and areum’s japanese proficiency capped at what she was able to memorize from her lines and asking strangers if they’ve seen her manager. still, their japanese comebacks were always fun and areum liked the feeling of being back in the studio for iota promotions. she smiled as naeun flopped down reaching to fix the older girl’s bangs from where they flopped across her forehead. 

naeun was older, but still acted cute when she was pouty. it made areum laugh. “it is on the cuter side, that’s true.” iota was fixed in the cute concept, something areum didn’t mind too much as the youngest, but she knew as they grew older it grew more and more tiring on the group as a whole to always be fixed into the same mold. “we won’t have to promote it too long! i think it’ll be fun to see how they animate us, i think you’d look very cute. like an anime!” she smiled brightly, nodding. “we should, i still have a list of things i want to do from the last time we were in japan.”

areum’s fingers toy with her bangs until they’re perfect again. naeun smiles. this is why she likes areum, she thinks. well, for a lot of other reasons too, but naeun likes being pampered, even if it is through such a small, insignificant action. she enjoys moments like these for a multitude of other reasons -- it’s not often that naeun lets her guard down far enough to act so affectionately. it happens almost exclusively with the other members of iota. her other close friends experience something close to it, but not to the catlike lap-climbing extent iota does.

“Hey!” She rubbed her arm with a pout. It hadn’t hurt that much, but it had taken her by surprise. “Oh, come on, Naeun-ah! One thing has nothing to do with the other.” Saeun still wondered why the public had chosen her, but it didn’t matter much now, and it had nothing to do with her acting. She knew she was a great singer, she was the main vocalist of one of the most popular girl groups, and My Voice had done so quite well that they had allowed her record a single, she wasn’t worried about that. But acting was a different thing, and she worried she was putting on some shoes that might be too big for her. But she laughed and nodded, unable to say no. “I’m cool, I’m cool! Happy now?”

It was something she could understand, but she also knew that asking was the only way to make things happening. They could get projects and offers only because they were part of Iota, but there was no way the managers could know what they truly wanted unless they said something. “You wouldn’t be pushy. Just tell them that you have been thinking for a while and that you would like to either release solo stuff or maybe find a good brand deal. When I mentioned that I wanted to release a solo album, I just told them that it was something I’ve wanted since trainee and that I would like the chance.”

Saeun doubted that would ever happen as long Iota keep being popular, but it wasn’t something they should be so sure about. “I think it might never happen unless you say something. Otherwise they will never know you’re interested in it. Look Areuminnie, she also told them she was interested and her album is the cutest. It’s worth a try, I think. They can say not now, but maybe later. I asked about acting like a year ago, it took a while to happen, but it did. Besides, you have a face for fashion brand deals, I think they can see it too.”

naeun feels a little bad for hitting saeun on the arm. she quickly, if somewhat begrudgingly, shuffles around in her seat to rub saeun’s arm where she’d hit it, patting on the spot gently. naeun tuts softly, shaking her head disapprovingly. “everything has to do with everything though in the end, don’t you think so?” naeun’s not a woman of many convictions or strict morals, but she believes in things like the butterfly effect and a fluid kind of destiny. “the only way this could go wrong for you is if you’re seriously a shitty actor, which i highly doubt.” 

“mm. i’m happy now.” it took naeun moving back in with her parents to realise just how much saeun had stepped into a motherly role for the rest of them. she’s only two years older than naeun, but they feel like the longest, most significant two years there ever was. “it’s nice to hear you talking yourself up, even if i did have to force it out of you.”

“han minkyu,” naeun spits. she doesn’t make eye contact, looking ahead instead, chin perched on the back of her hand and her legs crossed as she addresses him. though she hates to admit it, naeun is insecure. she always has been, but lately she’s been more so. it’s been a slow build up, fueled by bad dreams where naeun is old and alone. in her nightmares, her parents have passed away, but she’s still living in the same old two storey apartment she bought for the three of them when iota were freed from the dorms, by herself for real, and surviving on waning relevancy. 

perhaps she should try to be nicer to people. naeun decides the easiest starting point would be the person she likes the least, but who knows her the best. naeun is deathly insecure, and han minkyu knows that very well.

“are you jealous of your vocal unit?” she asks. naeun’s nose is stuck in the air haughtily as she drums her fingernails against the table. one eyebrow raised, she leans in a little closer to gyumin. “surely summit has some plans for the rest of you too. a special clip, maybe?” 

she’s certainly one to talk. naeun knows as well as anyone that she’d be the first one out of the running for a spot in an iota sub-unit. if they had units like 2020 had, she’d probably be in the performance unit or the hip-hop unit. or ... “i think i’d be in the visual unit. that’s not one of yours, i know, but, if iota had units, we’d probably be split up like we were for the muses. which means you’re either a baby or you’re pretty. artemis or aphrodite.”

but now naeun is curious.

“hey, kostion boy, what took you so long?” naeun barks when sebin finally answers her facetime call. for as long as she’s known sebin, she’s always been his senior, but now that he’s officially debuted, naeun just feels like reminding him. there’s no real malice behind it, as her smile betrays. she rests her chin on her hands, laid flat against the table, her phone propped up on its pop socket - a pop socket with her own face on it, no less. “and before you say anything, i know i look tired. news flash, i am.”

naeun is finished with her studio time ... for now. she thinks that she did just fine. it doesn’t seem like she’s going to be doing any rapping this comeback, instead making the most of her vocal position. whatever, she doesn’t care that much about the lines. it’s not like she’s ever gotten many lines to start with. plus, her knowledge of japanese is very limited. naeun drags her feet back into the waiting room area, plopping into a chair next to areum. she flops her top half onto the tiny jeon sister’s lap, dramatic as ever as she brings her hand up to cover her forehead. 

Oh, she was incredibly nervous about that. Filming had been fun and she had enjoyed it quite a lot, but the closer the premiere date was, the more nervous she felt. She was an idol without any acting experiences, and although summit had found an acting coach for her and they had been amazingly helping during all the process, it didn’t mean she was anywhere near to some of the actors that were in the drama as well. She wanted to believe she would do well and that the drama would be liked, but there was always the possibility of facing the netizens’ criticism that could be mean and downright cruel. “I wouldn’t say cool, Naeun-ah. I just hope the public likes it and maybe have the chance to do it again, because I actually do love acting.”

At such words, Saeun sighed and looked at the younger girl. Naeun wasn’t mean, she just protected herself in the way the other members didn’t. Saeun didn’t judge here for it, and understood that she had been trying. “You’re nice enough.” she was, or at least Saeun thought so. But knowing she was a good example for the younger members, it made her heart full with pride and love. They were her siblings, the people she loved the most, and she wanted them to feel confident enough to do anything they wanted to do.

“Have you considered mentioning one of our managers that perhaps you would like a brand deal or a modeling gig? I mentioned that I wanted to release a solo some day and they made it happen, or at least they went to the right people with the information. I love Iota, it’s fun when we work together and are on the stage, but explore more thing outside the group isn’t a bad thing. And you never know, make-up can do wonders.” Naeun had a cute face, but she could also do much more than that if she truly wanted it.

naeun rolled her eyes and looked up at saeun with a doubtful pout. “unnie,” she chastised, swatting saeun on the arm. “i changed my mind. you’re not a good example for us at all. you need to believe in yourself more. you’re the nation’s ideal type. they’re not just going to not like your acting. you’re good. and even if you weren’t, pretty girls get roles all the time, so you’ll have plenty of chances to improve. say it, you’re cool!”

still, she’s chuffed to hear that naeun thinks she’s at least kind of nice. she isn’t sure what being nice enough actually means. probably just that naeun isn’t a total bitch, which, yeah, naeun could agree with. she can be cruel when she wants to be, but at the end of the day, she takes good care of the people she loves. case in point: her parents. also, the way she insists on trying to get saeun’s self esteem as high as possible. she’s the one with the actual reason to have an ego, unlike naeun.

𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 &  𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 : backstage , somewhere , any - time  𝐰𝐡𝐨 & 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭:  anyone  with  a  social - security  number  &  a  pass  backstage

                                 pushing  himself  to  his  limits  was  one  of  minseok’s  many  flaws , and  while  he  could  usually  mask  the  burning  sensation  in  his  legs  &  back , the  lack  of  sleep  had  caught  up  with  him  and  pushed  him  to  his  bursting  point . his  entire  body  was  aching ;  and  the  bright  lights  were  making  him  feel  more  lightheaded  than  usual . after  finishing  up  his schedule  for  the  day  with  a  deep  bow  and  a  beaming  expression ,  the  idol  had  pretty  much  scrambled  off - stage  before  collapsing  against  the  nearest  wall . the  adrenaline  in  blood  was  already  breaking - down  ;  the  rush  of  endorphins  slowly  decreasing  as  he  inhaled  and  exhaled  as  he  had  been  taught  in  order  to  not  let  his  knees  buckle .  it  was  the  presence  of  the  other  that  pulled  minseok  into  consciousness ;  hands  grabbing  onto  whatever  fabric  of  clothing  his  weak  hands  to  grasp  in  such  a  state .   ❛     d ’ ya  got  a  protein  bar  i  could  have  ?    ❜

naeun had a reputation for being an ice queen, but she wasn’t completely heartless. she didn’t go rushing to the legion member’s side, but she did hold up her hands just in case, and she was glad that she did when he grabbed onto her shirt. carefully, naeun peeled his fingers off of her and steadied him with her hands pushing against his shoulders, focusing on keeping him propped up against the wall.

Having one of her girls in her apartment always made Saeun’s day better. If she could, she would invite them over more often, and even offer them to stay the night with her if they wanted to. She knew that they all had their own places now and didn’t want to spend more time with her than necessary, and Saeun understood that, but she still missed them so much. So when Naeun had arrived, Saeun had made breakfast for both and were now eating it in the living room while watching some drama she hadn’t been paying much attention to.

It was a question she didn’t remember being asked, and she placed her fruit bowl on the coffee table before turning around to face Naeun, tugging her legs underneath her. “I was nervous, if I have to be honest. I love it, but when I’m with Iota, the focus is on all of us, and here it was all on me. But it was nice.” And she would do it again if given the chance. My Voice had done well, and because of that, she hoped Summit gave her a second album, but it was too soon to think about that.

“I did! I didn’t have you guys with me, and you know I love you girls and Iota over anything else. Promoting solo was fun, but I didn’t like it as much as I liked our comeback more.” She was being honest. Going solo had been fun and all, but it had been more about doing something that was more her, than anything else. Now that Areum had released her own album, she realized that perhaps he hadn’t been the only one feeling like that. Iota was fun, cute and sweet, but it wasn’t what Saeun wanted to do forever. “Have you ever considered going solo?”

was even saeun’s apartment nicer than hers? or was naeun just jealous that saeun was actually living alone? stupid naeun, she scolded herself, you should’ve bought your parents their own place instead of moving them in with you. if she had done so though, she’d probably be over there more between schedules than she was home. even though naeun very much enjoyed her own space, having a roommate was comforting to her. maybe it was a mark of immaturity, or maybe it was just because of all of her paranoia surrounding obsessive fans, but even if naeun was alone in her room, she liked knowing that at least someone else was somewhere around the house with her.

she glanced at the drama on the television. naeun pointed at it with her chopsticks. “and soon you’ll be on t.v. like that too. you’re so cool, unnie,” naeun whined sulkily, pouting cutely at saeun. slightly more seriously, she added, “i know i’m not ... nice often, but it really is cool, everything you’re doing. you’re a good example for the rest of us.”

record scratch. naeun immediately masked any sense of seriousness on her face with her signature pursed lips.

naeun always likes to think that she tries her best. she does her best to, anyways. she’s hell bent on maintaining her industry status, and with that, comes hard work. naeun just wonders what it is that she’s doing wrong. saeun gets all the solo work, while naeun spends her time away from group schedules vegetating on her sofa, watching reruns of dramas and listening to sad music. she could become proactive, and start to maybe put more time into practice aside from when summit demands her to, and maybe then they’d take notice of her, but as it stands, her talent is being wasted.

maybe it’s her talent that’s the problem. she’s not the powerhouse vocalist that saeun is, not by a long shot. but she can hold a tune well enough ... though maybe not well enough for more than a song or two by herself. still, solo work doesn’t necessarily have to mean music, and naeun is more interested in fashion anyways.