One Thing After Another

6:00pm
Click! Click!
We’re not even half way through the shoot. They promised me i’d get to go home early today. “I don’t know if this one is right or not… What do you think Haeun?” A stylist questioned another stylist, then turning to me and asking me.
“Huh? Oh right well, it does go with the concept well. I would definitely put it in.” I snapped my head from my studying to see the outfit and quickly agreed as I saw the basic colours.
“See? I told you.” She said to the other stylist. The two beginning to bicker once again over the outfit, extending the amount of time I had to spend here.
Click! Click!
7:00pm
“Okay, next member up please!” The photographer yelled out to the rest of the studio. The whole rest of the staff rushing around trying to get things ready for the photographer and idols.
“Yes!” I yell back from across the studio where i’m grabbing the next idol to go for their shoot. I rush him over to the set where he gets straight into the posing. I sigh, hoping I get to go home soon.
8:00pm
“Okay Haeun, you’ve worked well. You can go home now.” The photographer and organiser says placing his camera equipment into his bags. A smile appears on my face. Finally.
“Thank you for your hard work! I’ll be going now!” I bowed 90 degrees and rushed off to pack my things and leave.
9:00pm
I unlocked the door and took one big step into my house. “I’m back,” I tiredly sang out to the rest of the house. Hearing hurried footsteps in response, my mum’s head appears from around the corner.
“Haeunnie! You’re finally back.” She smiled around the corner.
“Hi mum,” I replied tiredly, taking my shoes off.
“God, I hate it when they keep you there forever. You can’t even eat on time anymore these days.” She said as she followed me to the dining table where I saw a single meal laid out. I smiled at it dropping my bag on the floor, turning around and pulling my mum into a hug. “Thank you mum~!” I said in slight aegyo.
“Anything for you Haeunnie!” She said happily pulling me away to look at my face. Pausing to look at her face usually people would see similarities between their mum and them. I can’t see anything. Sitting down at the meal set out, I saw my brother walk out of his room out of the corner of my eye.
“Aww poor baby Haeunnie~ and sad and tired~” He commented as he walked behind me around to the lounge area.
“Shut up Sanghoon,” I warned him in my calmest voice possible. In my tired mood I was not one to mess with. He knew that all too well.
“Just because you’re adopted doesn’t mean you have to be all annoyed at us!” He said from behind me. I instinctively rose out of my chair and he fled in defence.
“Don’t worry about him Haeunnnie, you just eat!” My mum said sitting down in the chair across the table from mine.
“Don’t you worry either mum. Uncle says he’s relocating me with another group so I can have earlier finishes.” I said settling into my seat and stuffing rice and side dishes into my mouth immediately.
“Another group? You’ve been changing so much lately, are you sure you don’t want a break from managing?” My mum says anxiously looking at my face as I continue to shovel down food.
“No mum, you know how I enjoy it,” I mumble out in between mouths full of food, shaking my head in disagreement. I liked managing, as much as it was tiring.
“I know… I just get so worried when you leave the next morning after having five hours of sleep with big black eyes!” My mum said worryingly in a motherly way. She always worried about me fitting in and enjoying myself.
“I’m fine mum,” I said placing down my spoon and chopsticks, satisfied with the amount of food I had had. I had pretty much finished all the dishes anyway. “I gotta finish some homework mum, but thank you for dinner!” I grabbed the plates and dishes and placed them into the dishwasher. "Tell dad about the relocating news when he gets home. Good night ma~” I said hurriedly scurrying off to my room as I remembered all the homework waiting for me once again.

I can’t even remember how long it’s been like this but i’ve always been busy. There was always something to do and somewhere to go. My uncle first introduced me to his office and company one day when I was 10. The order of everything and how everyone played a role in making something happen that was nearly unnoticeable to most people looking at kpop groups, made me fall in love with it. Growing up from then onwards, I tried to get involved in the company with a little help from my uncle. Though as I got more involved in the company, Uncle seemed to want to help me more and more. It became uncomfortable because I liked the fact that I could get places without others help for once. Keeping things in order helped me feel like I had some control over my life and who I was. Like it compensated for my lost identity.

I stood outside the Pledis building staring at it, seeing how long I could manage to be late before my own OCD got the better of me. Five minutes until I had to be in his office. I sighed, and started heading up towards his office.

I knocked his door feeling my heart speed up a little. “Come in,” his low, clear voice said from behind the door. I paused a second in hesitation before pushing the handle down and slowly entering his quiet office.
“Hello Uncle,” I said bowing as I first saw him sitting behind his desk.
“Haeunnie, come on in and have a seat,” he said moving away some papers he had in front of him on his desk. I walked over to the couches and sat down onto one.
“I’ll get straight into it because I only have five minutes with you before I have to be somewhere,” he began talking to me. “Haeun you’ve proved yourself very capable and I think you could push yourself further,” Uncle said very seriously, sitting up tall in his chair. I gulped down, fidgeting with my hands worryingly. Uncle always thought highly of me when it came to managing, but I always wished he wouldn’t interfere with my progress. If I was going to go places, I wanted it to be on my own terms.
“Further?” I cautiously questioned him.
“A boy group,” he started standing up from his desk, “I want you to manage Seventeen for a while.” I immediately coughed in disbelief. After recovering, I looked up at his expression to see he was dead serious. So the guys I saw on the airplane here, 10:10 and Vernon… I’ll be looking after them?
“Uncle, there’s thirteen of them… and one of me! I can’t control all that by myself!!” I said adjusting myself. My seat suddenly feeling uncomfortable however I sat.
“That’s why you won’t be alone. I’ve assigned your sunbaes, Dohyun and Jaehwa to assist you.” The sound of their names made me shiver a little. More Dohyun than Jaehwa because i’d gone to managing courses with Dohyun, and he never took a liking to me.
“How did you get them to even agree? Never mind, I know how, that was a stupid question.” I took back my question knowing Uncle had called them in through bribing or with a deal that benefitted them. All for me to manage…
“Haeunnie, I’ve said this before, but i’ll say it again. My kids aren’t interested in this line of employment. I intend on giving this position to you one day.” His words seemed to make my shoulders feel heavier and heavier. I sighed slightly clenching my hands into fists feeling like his way going nowhere.
“So how long will I be with Seventeen?” I asked trying to take my mind of having to fill his gigantic shoes.
“A few months at minimum. Depends on how well the boys accept you,” Uncle said realistically, making me jump a little at having to see all thirteen boys. This was by far, a Carat’s dream… but who says they’ll like me. They could just hate my guts and make me miserable for two months.
“Okay, I can handle that,” I said giving myself fake confidence. He checked his watch he stood up.
“Time’s up. I’ve got to go Haeun but remember i’ll always be supporting you in this!” He said smiling at me, while I was almost crying on the inside.
Yay, just as I thought one thing was finished, another thing comes round.

Notes

So here's the second chapter up!
Hope you guys will enjoy this story! My exams for school start pretty soon so i've been studying recently (well trying to). So the next few chapters will be a little more spread apart because of this.
Thank you to the people reading my work! I get so surprised when people say what I write is good!
Hope you all are enjoying life and keeping healthy!
MUAH