The room was in complete shock. It was as though someone had just been murdered. The air was thick with disbelief, and every single face seemed frozen in stunned silence. The reporters were visibly shaken, eyes wide, jaws slack. It felt like the world had just come to a screeching halt.
The noise spread quickly, like a virus, a ripple that turned into a tidal wave. Whispers, gasps, and hurried conversations filled the space as the realization of what had just been said began to sink in.
"O-OH! Thank you so much, everyone, for coming. That's the end of today's event," Jane said, her voice breaking the tension in the room, but it only heightened the chaos that followed. She quickly grabbed my arm, pulling me toward a private room.
As we moved, I overheard snatches of conversation that sent chills down my spine. The reporters were already scrambling, trying to make sense of the bomb I'd just dropped.
"CONTACT THE NEWS ANCHOR! WE NEED THIS IN A FLASH REPORT. WE HAVE TO BE THE FIRST TO REPORT IT!!!!" I heard someone shout from behind me. Panic and excitement spread through the crowd like wildfire.
"Get me on the phone with the Cha group! This could be huge! We can't let this slip!" a man in a sharp suit barked, his tone urgent and commanding.
"DADDY, THIS IS A NEW COLLECTION! I HAVE TO GET IT! I NEED IT! MAKE USE OF YOUR CONNECTIONS TO GET ME ON THE WAITLIST!!!" a spoiled voice whined from somewhere near the back, clearly more concerned with owning the collection than understanding the magnitude of what had just been revealed.
"Contact the haute couture houses. Call every designer in Korea. Every brand needs to know first! This is massive, we can't miss out on this opportunity! We have to be on the guest list!" A group of A-listers or influencers were speaking in frantic tones, their words barely coherent as they tried to maneuver through the frenzy that was unfolding before them.
I was being pulled along by Jane, her grip tight as she signaled to Hyun-Jin and In-Hyuk, who were waiting by the door. They quickly guided me out of the venue, their movements swift and practiced. I felt like a piece of cargo being whisked away, caught in the current of chaos that was rapidly consuming everything around us.
People were panicking, running in all directions, some even hysterical, their voices rising in pitch with every passing second. The weight of what I had just revealed was starting to hit me, and I couldn't help but wonder what kind of storm I had just unleashed.
"Damn, Designer B is always ahead of her game," a voice from the back of the car muttered. It was one of the reporters, still talking about the madness we had just left behind. "I should release a new collection with her dates... ride that wave."
It wasn't just the reporter who had caught onto the potential chaos I'd triggered. The frenzy was palpable, and I could feel the weight of it hanging in the air. I didn't even realize until that moment that we were already outside the building, the city lights whizzing past us as Hyun-Jin opened the car door and ushered me inside.
Without a word, Hyun-Jin slid into the driver's seat, his face unreadable as the car started moving. The hum of the engine was the only thing I could focus on for a moment, but my brain was still trying to process everything that had just happened.
"In-Hyuk, what's happening? They're making a lot of ruckus right now." I could barely form coherent thoughts, my mind was fried. The madness of it all was too much. The tension was still thick in the air.
In-Hyuk, who had been silent up until now, leaned forward slightly, his eyes scanning the rearview mirror. "You just dropped a bomb in there," he said. "The entire fashion world is going to lose it over those plans. People are already calling their connections, getting ready to get ahead of the curve."
I nodded, still trying to wrap my mind around what had just happened, but my attention quickly shifted back to Jane, who was just stepping into the car behind us.
"Jane, what's going on?" I asked, my voice shaky. I needed answers, but she looked more flustered than I'd ever seen her.
"WH-WHAT HAPPENED?! Y-YOU ASKING M-ME THAT?!" Jane's voice was high-pitched, the shock still evident in her tone. Then, just as quickly, she paused, took a deep breath, and sighed.
"I'll sort this out, you go home. I'll be there, we'll talk about it." She straightened up, her usual confident persona taking over once again. Without another word, she signaled to the driver. "Go ahead, Hyun-Jin," she ordered, her voice cold and composed now.
Hyun-Jin wasted no time, pulling the car away from the curb and driving into the night.
I watched as Jane, with a fake smile plastered on her face, walked back toward the venue. In-Hyuk was walking beside her, keeping close, likely to ensure nothing else went wrong. They looked like two people braving a storm, but Jane's calm demeanor was nothing more than a facade.
As the building grew smaller in the rearview mirror, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Something big was coming, and I had no idea how much further this ride was going to take me.
"She is really something, quite the devil, I suppose." I couldn't help but smile to myself as I sat back and relaxed in the car. Jane had that uncanny ability to turn any situation into something she could control, no matter how chaotic it got. I admired her for it—she was a force to be reckoned with.
The car ride felt long, but eventually, I arrived in front of the building of my condo unit. Hyun-Jin opened the door for me with a polite gesture.
"Ms. B, let me walk you inside," he offered, his voice filled with genuine care.
I smiled back at him, appreciating the offer but knowing what kind of day I'd had. "It's alright. It's been a long day for both of us. I know you're also tired. So go get some rest," I said, trying to send him off with a little bit of peace of mind.
He nodded, but I could see a flicker of concern in his eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Also, don't use 'B' while we are outside. Just call me by my regular name. Okay?" I added, wanting a moment of normalcy.
His face softened, a smile breaking through the exhaustion. "Okay... Ms. Jovi," he replied, and for a moment, our eyes locked. If I were younger, I might have fallen for that look—those kind, thoughtful eyes.
I chuckled softly to myself before speaking again. "You've grown a lot, Hyun-Jin. I'm so proud of you." I hugged him tight, my hands resting on his shoulders before giving him a playful tap.
"I'll go in now, drive safe! Bye!" I said, giving him a final wave as I walked toward the entrance.
As I walked inside, my mind started drifting into the past. Memories of how things had been, how much we'd all changed. But suddenly, a jolt interrupted my thoughts.
Someone bumped into me—hard. I stumbled, caught off guard, and before I could regain my balance, I fell onto the floor with a sharp thud.
I looked up, dazed and confused, trying to make sense of what had just happened. My heart raced as I braced myself for what was coming next.
"Shit!" I shouted, pain shooting up my arm as I hit the floor. My head spun for a moment, and all I could focus on was the sharp sting that radiated through my wrist. "Could you f***ing look where you're going?!"
I screamed in frustration, feeling a mix of anger and pain. I glared up at the person who had knocked me down, expecting them to be just another oblivious jerk. But instead, they extended a hand toward me, a look of concern in their eyes.
I didn't take it. "I got it," I muttered, brushing off his offer and pushing myself up with what little strength I had left.
"Ouch, that hurts so much!" I yelped as I tried to steady myself, and that's when the realization hit me like a freight train. My wrist—it's dislocated. The pain was unbearable, the kind that makes your entire body go into a state of pure panic.
I couldn't waste another second. I didn't care who saw me or who was around. The only thing I could think about was getting inside and taking care of it. I ran—well, as best as I could—into my condo, each step a sharp reminder of how much my wrist hurt.
This wasn't the first time this kind of thing had happened to me. Even back when the brand was just a small project, before the fame and all the chaos, I had gotten used to injuries like this. Working long hours, pushing myself too hard, and then ending up with an emergency kit that I kept at home, at the studio, just for these kinds of situations.
I had always been reckless when it came to work, pushing myself too hard. But this time… this time, it really hurt.
I arrived at the condo, wincing with every step. In pain, I quickly grabbed the emergency kit. My hands shook slightly as I wrapped my arms with a bandage, then slid on the hand brace.
Once I finished, I texted Jane about the incident. An hour later, she arrived, with In-hyuk and Hyun-Jin in tow.
"Who did this to you? Tell me, and I'll make sure they regret it!" Jane's voice was full of fire, her concern radiating through her words. It was always the same with her — a sweet face that hid a fierce protector underneath.
I couldn't help but smile at her over-the-top response. It was just like her, always ready to stand up for those she cared about. But I knew, deep down, she'd actually do it too.
"It's fine, but I didn't panic. Honestly, it's not a big deal at all," I replied with a smile, trying to reassure them. But as I looked at In-hyuk and Hyun-Jin, I could see the worry in their eyes. They looked like two sad little puppies — confused and upset, but there was also anger there, not at me, but at themselves.
"IT'S MY FAULT! I DIDN'T WALK HER INSIDE AND SHE GOT HURT BY SOME JERK!" Hyun-Jin shouted, his voice trembling with emotion. Tears welled up in his eyes.
"NO, IT'S ALSO MY FAULT! I COULD'VE GONE WITH YOU BUT I LEFT YOU BOTH!" In-hyuk echoed, his voice just as frantic and filled with guilt.
I could see how much they cared, but I wasn't about to let them blame themselves.
"Guys, calm down. Seriously, it's okay," I assured them, trying to ease their minds. "Look, I'm fine! I can still play!" I grabbed the mouse and waved it in front of them, trying to lighten the mood.
"Ah—ah—ouch!" I groaned, wincing in pain as a sharp twinge shot through my arm. I forced a smile, but it was a little awkward. "See? Totally fine," I said, though the discomfort was still there.
"Still, that's not good. We should go to the hospital. Hyun-Jin, In-hyuk, get the car ready," Jane said firmly.
The boys didn't hesitate, rushing out the door. I knew they wouldn't let me off the hook if I didn't go. They'd keep bugging me about it, no matter what.
I waved them off with a lazy grin. "Nah, don't worry. It'll heal in no time. Don't stress, go get some rest," I said, shifting my focus back to the screen, determined to continue playing.
"Oh, by the way, what happened after I left?" I asked, casually grabbing a biscuit and nibbling on it while I played.
"Everything's sorted out. But people are really nosy about the announcement. I can't even believe what you said earlier," Jane replied, setting a cup of tea and some snacks on my desk.
I glanced up, taking a bite of the biscuit. "Why? Are they not happy about it?"
"More like the opposite," she said, taking a sip of her tea as she sat down across from me.
"People are eagerly waiting for the release of the new collection," she continued. "It's going to be a big deal when it hits the public."
I raised an eyebrow, curious. "How much are they willing to pay?"
"The elites are ready to pay top dollar for the first spots in the waiting list," she said with a slight grimace, scrolling through her tablet. "They're even bribing our staff to get ahead."
I couldn't help but chuckle, even if it was a little troubling. "Are you sure this can be done within the year?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
"Yes, didn't you check my office? In the studio?" I replied to her, a little puzzled.
"Huh? Why didn't they?" Jane looked at me, confused.
I paused the game for a moment and met her gaze. "I already made the collection three months in advance."
"We also had the factory work on a year's worth of supply for it," I continued, trying to keep it casual. "All we need to do now is approve the quality before releasing it to our partners and stores." I stopped playing, narrowing my eyes at her suspiciously.
"Don't tell me… you forgot?!?!?" I asked, my voice a mix of disbelief and amusement. She looked completely dumbfounded. I could tell she was exhausted.
"We still have those remaining collections that weren't released, right?" I added, raising an eyebrow.
"O-OF COURSE I KNOW!" She quickly scrolled through her tablet and grabbed her laptop, trying to recover.
I couldn't help but chuckle. "Damn, you really love to work ahead of time, don't you?" she teased. I could tell she was a bit embarrassed but also proud of the efficiency.
"HOLD UP!" The realization hit me. "You just want more time to slack off, don't you??!" I squinted at her, thinking she finally cracked the code.
I thought she was an angel, but now, I was starting to doubt my eyes. It was like the devil had made an appearance again. I had to get my eyes checked, apparently.
"Hehehe… Could you at least give it to me this time? You promised, pleeease? Pretty please?" I begged, rubbing my hands together in an exaggerated gesture.
"Ah—ah—that hurt," I muttered to myself as I winced from the pain. She let out a huge sigh, clearly trying to hold her patience.
"Well, I think you deserve to relax too. The reason we put a new atelier here is for moments like this. I can't imagine working non-stop for an entire year," she said with a heavy sigh.
"Oh, before I forget," I continued, completely shifting gears, "I gave out a suit earlier. I bumped into someone at the event."
"Which one did she ask for?" Jane's voice immediately turned sharp, her aura turning cold. I could practically feel the intensity of her gaze.
I swallowed, suddenly on edge. "An old one in the vault? 2020-ish? The white one," I said, unsure of my answer.
"WHAT? YOU JUST GAVE AWAY A SUIT WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS?!" She was fuming, her frustration clear.
I shrugged, trying to stay calm. "I mean, it's old. No one really wants it anymore. And it's just one suit. Don't worry about it."
"DON'T WORRY, YOU NINCOMPOOP, THAT SUIT IS WORTH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS! YOU CAN'T JUST GIVE IT AWAY TO RANDOM PEOPLE!" She exclaimed, her irritation still evident.
"ON TOP OF THAT, THE PUBLIC WILL PANIC BECAUSE THAT'S A PRICELESS PIECE! THAT IN ITSELF IS A PRESS STATEMENT!" She facepalmed after saying those words, clearly overwhelmed.
"Oops… didn't know. Hehehe…" I chuckled nervously, trying to brush it off.
"It's alright, what could go wrong, right?" I laughed awkwardly, attempting to ease the tension.
Jane just slumped into a chair, clearly drained. Poor woman, but honestly, I didn't feel guilty. She could be tougher than anyone I knew.
"Could you also please get my makeup kit ready? I have a gig next week!" I tried to lighten the mood.
"Makeup?! A G-G-Gig?!" She froze, her face falling as she lay there lifeless.
I just smiled and focused back on my game. "YAY, WE WON!!! GGS, GUYS, GGS! Finally, I'm Ascended." I giggled, feeling a small victory.
Jane's phone rang, snapping her out of her moment of despair, and she answered it.
"Is the car outside? Alright, we'll head down now. She's done playing," Jane answered before hanging up.
"Come on, we need to go to the hospital. Otherwise, those two will keep bothering you," she added with a knowing look.
"Okay, okay," I rolled my eyes, feeling a bit exasperated, as she helped me outside.
We made our way down to the car, and soon enough, we were on our way to the hospital. The ride was quiet, but I could tell Jane was still a little tense from everything that happened.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Nam Joo's POV
While heading out yesterday, I accidentally bumped into someone. She fell, and it seemed like her wrist was hurt.
She was clearly in pain, and I tried to offer her my hand, but she panicked and quickly ran back into the building.
"Haysh, what should I do?" I muttered to myself, feeling a bit guilty.
"You seem troubled. What happened?" My manager asked, noticing my distracted expression.
"I bumped into someone, and she fell. Looks like she got injured, but she ran back inside the building. I was planning on offering to take her to the hospital," I explained, my voice low.
"We can just send her some gifts as an apology. Do you know where she lives?" He suggested, trying to offer a solution.
"I think she's the one who moved into the 14th floor. I heard she owns the entire floor," I replied.
"Ah, so she's wealthy? Must be from a prominent family, then," he commented.
"I don't think so. She cursed me out like there was no tomorrow," I said, shaking my head, still taken aback by the way she reacted.
"Well, I still think we should send an apology, just in case. We don't want this to cause any issues for you," he suggested, always thinking ahead.
______________________________________________________________________________________
My alarm rang, and I groggily turned it off. I woke up at 11 a.m., after playing until midnight the night before. I missed that feeling so much. Slowly, I got up, stretched, and walked out of my room to the kitchen.
Jane had prepared a ton of food, and I couldn't help but smile. Filipino food—I'd missed it so much. She also cooked way better than I ever could.
"What a feast, time to dig in!" I exclaimed, already excited. "Thank you for the food!" Then I happily dug in, savoring every bite.
I texted her to thank her for it while I was still enjoying the meal. After gobbling everything up, I went straight to the shower.
When I stepped out, the doorbell rang. I quickly headed to the door and peeked out. It was a delivery man, so I opened the door.
"Ma'am, a delivery. Could you please sign here?" He handed me a clipboard.
I looked at him, confused. "Wait, I didn't order anything, sir. You must have the wrong floor."
"I'm not sure if I ordered something, or if my roommate did," I muttered to myself, still puzzled. Jane had been ordering a lot of things online recently.
"It's from Mr. Nam Joo. Do you know him?" The name sounded vaguely familiar.
"Could you please sign here?" He repeated kindly, offering the clipboard again. I took it, signed the paper, and handed it back to him.
"Do you need help moving it inside?" The delivery man asked, looking at me expectantly, as if I should've known what to do next. I stared blankly, feeling a bit clueless.
"Move? Isn't this the only one?" I asked, looking around in confusion. The delivery man stepped back, revealing the entire hallway stacked with gifts.
I was stunned. The whole hallway was filled with packages. Who in their right mind would send this many gifts to someone?
"O-Oh! Please, if you could put them in the living room. Thank you," I stammered, still trying to wrap my head around it. The delivery man and his crew began moving the gifts inside. It took a while, but they were making progress.
"Thank you so much for your hard work," I said, feeling grateful. "Please take this—treat yourselves tonight." I handed them some money as compensation.
"No, no, ma'am, this is our job. We're good," the delivery man politely refused.
I wasn't having it. I hated seeing them look so tired, especially when they still had a whole day ahead of them.
"I insist," I said, my voice firm but gentle. "In the Philippines, we give gifts to hardworking people like you. So please, take it. My heart will ache if you don't." I gave them my best smile, using every bit of charm I had.
"If you say so, ma'am... Thank you so much!" They finally relented, accepting the gift, before heading out.
Korean and Filipino cultures and traditions are very different, yet there's a little bit of similarity too.
Many Filipinos, just like Koreans, love to feed and be hospitable to people they've met. The hospitality is undeniable.
"Nam-Joo... Nam-Joo... Hmm..." I tried to recall, but nothing came to mind. My gaze drifted back to the gifts scattered around. There was a huge bouquet of flowers with a letter attached.
I picked up the letter and began reading:
"I'm so sorry for bumping into you yesterday. I know you got injured, and I wanted to offer to take you to the hospital, but you quickly ran inside. I was panicking. I hope you accept this apology gift. I've also included a warm welcome gift for you moving in. Let me make it up to you and treat you to a meal. – Nam Joo"
"Oh, so he's the guy," I murmured, finally remembering after a bit of thinking.
"He's the one who came to the atelier... He's also the one I bumped into yesterday. I see," I said to myself, connecting the dots.
"Well, whatever. I've got so much slacking to do," I sighed, feeling relieved. That was my first priority since stepping into this place.
I looked around at the gifts again. I couldn't deny it—they were some pricey items. Seriously, these were expensive.
Jewelry, designer bags, chocolates, clothes, heels... the list went on.
"He might be a rich guy. He could be a chaebol. Wah, you really don't know people," I muttered to myself, shaking my head in disbelief.
"I think I have no room for all of this. If Jane sees it, she'll think I bought these again," I murmured, eyeing the gifts scattered around.
Just as I was about to process it all, my phone rang. It was a text from Mr. Park.
"I'm going to need you tomorrow as my makeup artist for the shoot. 8 a.m. sharp. Arrive early."
"Finally, I'm getting work from him. I really need the extra cash to upgrade my PC and top up my account," I thought to myself, feeling relieved.
I quickly typed a reply.
"This is duly noted, Mr. Park. See you tomorrow."
-End-