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"Why am I out here in this cold?" she hissed at herself, rubbing her palms vigorously, blowing on them to warm them up.

"It's okay Eunji. It's okay. Take a warm shower later" she said to herself as she shoved her hands into the hoodie pockets.

It was one of those cold October early mornings where it felt like it was 6:00 AM even though it was almost eight. It was cloudy and foggy. She just had on a normal hoodie as she walked down the street to the convenience store. She had to get groceries as early as she could before they ran out. It was the pandemic, the stores kept low stocks on items. She looked on at how the city was half empty, but still buzzing with life. People walked in their padding coats, having masks on. She had graduated just a while ago and wanted to take a break from her serious studious student life. She walked a little, hopping further down, but stopped when she saw a huge crowd of people a few meters away from her. She walked to the front to see people of all ages with their phones pulled out, especially young teenagers as if they were recording something. She walked further more through the crowd to see a boy shivering with an anxiety attack.

"Hello?" she called out slowly, patting the boy as she crouched down.

She had her eyes wide at who the boy was as he slowly lifted his head up. Those tear filled eyes had her heart shattering. It was NCT's maknae Jisung. The boy who was just a year older than her little sister. One hand of his held his knee that was bleeding, the red staining his pant and palm. How inhuman of people to not help and just record. And all this just because he was a celebrity.

"Come on. Let's get you out of here" she whispered, helping the boy up.

She was surprised when he started to run as they broke off the crowd of people. He limped as he ran, she wanted to stop him, but couldn't. It was hard to keep up with his pace, but had to because he held on to her hand tight.

"Jisung-ssi stop" she wheezed as they ran.

He stopped "I'm sorry" he stuttered, letting go of her hand.

"Sit here" she whispered, gesturing to a chair and table that was outside one of the convenience stores.

She helped him sit down and winced when he hissed in pain and at the intensity he limped in. She walked into the nearby pharmacy to get him some first aid. She looked at him through the glass windows as he sat there, fidgeting his fingers. She sighed. She was a stranger, of course he was not going to trust and be comfortable with her. But now, he was sitting out there.

She walked to him with a towel "keep this on to stop the bleeding. Looks like a deep cut. Your pant is torn, I'll go buy you one" she spoke softly and all he did was just nod.

She ran to another store close by to buy him a set of pant and shirt. It had gotten dirty too.

She made a call "I want everything wiped out. Not a single thing" she snarled and hung up after a few more exchange of words.

She walked back to see him having his pant rolled up on the right side. The small soft towel gently pressing on top of the wound.

"I'll clean it up and you can go change after that okay" she smiled at him, but he definitely couldn't see since she had her mask on.

"Okay" he nodded.

She pulled down her mask since she needed some air. It was still a little hard to get used to wearing the mask for long time. She was sweating underneath it and could taste her own salty sweat. She wondered how the idols wore them. The towel was taken down and she saw that it swollen around the area. She started to clean the wound after sanitising her hands. It definitely was a deep one and he would be needing a tetanus shot.

"It's so deep. It'll sting a little" she whispered in warning, placing an antiseptic pad on it and heard him hiss.

"What did you even do to fall like that?" she chuckled softly.

No reply. He was silent. As expected of him.

"Where is your manager? Why did you come out without him?" she asked.

"I just wanted to go for a walk. Feels claustrophobic to stay inside" he replied.

"You shouldn't be coming out like this. Your health is important, even if you're on a hiatus" she sighed "it must be annoying to stay inside" she nodded, looking up.

"Yes" he nodded.

"Have you called your manager to come pick you up?" she asked.

"No" he shook his head, his voice hardly audible.

"Why?" she asked.

"My phone. I think I lost it" he whispered.

"You can call from my phone" she said.

"No!" he shook his head. For the first time, she heard him loud and she was going to listen to what he had to say.

"Why?" she asked.

"I want to be away from the company and the dorms for at least a while. Please" he pleaded, looking down at her.

"Okay" she sighed as she finished bandaging his knee with gauze "but wouldn't they be worried?" she asked.

"I guess so" he shrugged.

"Sit for a while and try stretching and bending your leg a little, slowly" she said.

"How are you so good at this?" he asked.

"I have a little sister. She used to fall a lot. She was super clumsy. Mom and dad never had time for us, so it was only us who were there for each other" she smiled, her heart twisting at the memory of her sister.

"How old is she?" he asked.

"In her last year of high school" she replied "a year younger than you" she smiled.

"Nice" he smiled, nodding.

"Will you be able to walk?" she asked as he stood up with her help.

At the SM Entertainment practice room, some members were chilling, while the other members practiced. Some helping the others get the lines for their drama or for the shows they were anchoring.

"Is Jisung here?" his manager ran in panting.

"What? No" Jaemin said "what's wrong?" he asked, sounding a little worried seeing the manager's face.

"He's not in the dorm and is not answering his phone. I thought he'd be here" the manager replied.

"How can he be out? He did complain of his knee hurting during the recording yesterday" Johnny walked forward, looking confused.

"He didn't call you before he went out?" Jaemin asked "what if he lost his phone?" he asked, tensed.

"I'll go look for him" the manager said.

"I'm right here" they heard a voice.

They all turned around to see Jisung standing at the door with a smile. He waved as he supported himself on Eunji.

"Eunji!" Doyoung called out to which Johnny just froze.

"Aah! You can identify me even with my mask on?" she tsked, wincing when he flicked her forehead.

"Your chain" he pointed out.

"No wonder. Why did I expect too much from you?" she rolled her eyes, still rubbing her forehead.

"Sorry" he whispered seeing her well up and she just chuckled, waving him off.

"What are you doing with Jisung?" Johnny snapped.

"Sit down please" she smiled, helping Jisung sit "you really had to hurt your right leg twice" she chuckled softly, ruffling his hair softly to which he groaned at her.

It had them all smiling. It looked like an older sister pampering, playing and annoying her little brother. And he was everyone's younger brother. They smiled wider when he smiled back at the woman named Eunji who Doyoung just happened to know.

"Don't you dare snap at me!" she snapped back, walking towards him pulling her mask off.

"You?" he looked shocked.

"You know me? We know each other? Have we met?" she asked, looking curious, putting on a cute thinking face.

"I don't think I do" she said and that had his heart shattering.

"Is she a sasaeng?" Haechan asked.

"Haechan-ssi!" she gasped "I don't have time for my own life and here you are calling me a sasaeng" she fake sobbed.

"I'm hurt" she pouted, her hand over her heart.

"There's no other way hyung would know you" he scoffed.

"She looked like someone I knew. I thought it was her" Johnny sighed and she chose not to pay attention.

"She's not a sasaeng. She helped me when I fell and when no one was ready to help me. They all just kept recording me" Jisung sighed "she gave me first aid, got me a glucose drink, a pair of pants, since the other one is torn and quite bloody. And a shirt too" Jisung said, sounding a little angry.

"Why were you out?" Johnny asked her.

"Is this a police investigation? God, stop glaring and shouting at me like that"  she said, looking around.

"Answer me" he snapped.

"I needed groceries, okay? And it's not like it's all stocked like before. And I live alone. So, here it is. Your answer" she replied "and I didn't buy them yet" she sighed, her shoulders dropping.

"Done? Fine?" she looked up at the tall giant.

"Nuna, sorry" Haechan stepped forward.

"What are you apologising to her for?" Johnny hissed.

"You talk to me okay" she pulled Johnny down by his shirt "stop snapping at everyone around" she hissed.

"From when did you become like this?" she whispered, disappointed.

"I don't believe you" he snapped.

"Didn't ask you to" she scoffed, pushing him away.

"Oh, I want to punch you so bad. But I can't. Your face is precious. To you and the public" she huffed.

"Is it precious to you?" he asked.

"Me? Why me? Who are you to me?" she asked chuckling and could definitely see his face drop.

Same with her as well. It hurt so much. But she couldn't just go around saying that she knew him and that they were neighbours. He was super mad and it was not the time. She knew she wasn't going to be forgiven easily. They stood in front of each other, thirteen years later. As total strangers.

"Guys!" Taeyong called out and they looked at him.

"Your name is Eunji?" Jisung asked.

"Yes! My name is Eunji. Eunji Kim. I know I look nothing like a Korean and look totally Indian" she smiled "mom's Indian and dad's Korean. So, I'm a hybrid" she smiled again, bowing.

"I take on my Indian genes by looks" she said.

"Right" he agreed.

"Nuna, thank you" Jaemin smiled.

"No problem. He really is a baby. You should've seen him when he was getting his tetanus shot" she laughed.

"Nuna.." Jisung groaned.

"Sorry" she apologised.

"Did you recorded it?" Haechan asked, excitedly only to get smacked by Jaemin "ouch" he pouted at his friend and she laughed lightly.

"I didn't. Let him have his reputation" she smiled wide and Jisung just grinned back.

"He is our baby" Taeyong smiled "how did you fall?" he asked turning to Jisung.

"I don't remember. I think I tripped down the stairs. And I also lost my phone when I fell. Nuna told me to call manager hyung, but I was the one who told her that I didn't want to. I wanted to stay out for a while. I know I'm not supposed to be out, but I hate staying in" Jisung sighed.

"You know we start shooting for the show today right?" Johnny asked.

"I do" he replied.

"And that we also should be leaving soon" Johnny said.

"Yes" he nodded.

"I will leave then" Eunji said, backing a little.

"You're not going anywhere" Johnny snapped.

"What is it with you?" she sighed.

"Hyung, she's my best friend. You better behave" Doyoung walked forward angrily.

"And oh! Congratulations on bagging the musical!" she smiled, clapping and jumping a little, facing her best friend.

"Musical?" Mark looked confused.

"Nobody knows? Sorry" she apologised, holding her ears.

"It's okay" Doyoung smiled, throwing an arm around her shoulder "who told you?" he asked.

"Your mother of course. She's so happy. So proud that she wouldn't stop boasting about it" she smiled "why wouldn't you answer my calls? I called you so many times. Messages too" she playfully smacked his head.

"Too busy" he chuckled.

"I can see that" she nodded, bringing her fist up to punch, but didn't.

"You're so cold" he said.

"It is cold. I forgot my jacket" she pouted.

"Stupid girl" he flicked her forehead. Again. Harder. For the second time.

"Not again" she cried out, holding her forehead that now felt hot, the area turning redder than before.

Johnny saw red. All he wanted to do was punch Doyoung and pull her out of his arms. But, he couldn't. She was someone from his past. A coward who had run away. Who had never cared about him. She was someone who he couldn't stand and she was now someone who he hated. With all his heart. He did want to pull her into his embrace, but not anymore. She had no place in his present life.

"There are no articles about today" Jeno said.

"About what?" Jaemin asked.

"Jisung said he was recorded when he fell. There is nothing about it. Not a single thing" he replied.

"It's a good thing" Jaemin smiled "how inhuman" he scowled.

Eunji's phone beeped "DONE" the message read and it made lips quirk up into a smirk.

"Nuna, do you want to be our manager?" Jisung asked.

"Manager?" she choked out "why me?" she asked, sliding her phone into her pocket.

"You seems to be the most suitable candidate" he smiled.

"I didn't graduate MBA for this" she chuckled "I'm sorry, but no" she sighed.

"Our manager quit. We're a little short on staff. You are the right person" he grinned.

"I don't think so" she shook her head, chuckling nervously.

"I want to help. Your safety matters now. You think by now, the sasaengs wouldn't have figured out who you are?" he sighed.

"I still don't think this is right" she said.

"I see it right" a voice was heard.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm the Head Manager, Lee Jinyoung" he replied, walking forward.

"Okay.." she looked confused, moving to hide behind Doyoung.

"We don't bite" Jungwoo quipped, his face deadpanned and it made her laugh a little.

"You graduated engineering and MBA from SNU. Impressive" he nodded, looking at his tab, swiping "gradated MBA now?"  the head manager asked.

"Yes" she nodded.

"You're appointed" he said.

"On what basis?" she asked, exhausted.

She was hungry. She wanted to go home. She wanted to be a staff once, but things change when life changes. But, she also wanted to give it a shot?

"Instinct" he replied.

"Instinct, my foot" she heard Johnny scoff.

"What is your problem? What did I even do to you?" she almost cried. Everything that was happening was too overwhelming.

"You will be his personal manager too" the head manager said.

"No!" Johnny screamed.

"You want me to die? And I'm a woman" she said.

"You'll be fine. There are a few women staff managing boy groups" he smiled "it's time we break stereotypes" he smiled.

"Eunji-ah, it's okay. We're here to take care . You're safe with us" Doyoung spoke.

"Okay" she breathed out in a whoosh "I'm in" she nodded.

"I HATE YOU!" Johnny snapped her, storming out of the room.

.............

There was a knock heard, breaking her chain of memories from the past. She pursed her lips, wanting to curse at herself. It was not the time to be remembering him and the past. She was out of there and he was now the happiest person that she was no longer there.

"Why does he hate me so much?" she heard her mind and it had her insides twisting in pain.

"Come in" she called out.

"Ms. Kim?" she heard the voice of her assistant from the door.

"Hmm?" she hummed, looking up at him with a small smile.

"The actor is here" he said, walking in.

She sighed, looking at him. Definitely the actor did not want to let himself be known before meeting her. Since 2(EJ) was going to be funding for the movie, the artists had to sign a closure and definitely sign at her presence.

"Let him in" she nodded, turning her chair to face her computer.

"Hello, ex manager" the voice was more than enough to have her insides freeze.

Her head whipped to the direction in the snap of fingers. She would recognise that voice anywhere. At any point of time in life. Johnny stood at the other end of the room, smiling. Her eyes widened at how fast her heart raced at his warm presence. Holding her chest, she gulped down watching him walk further in. She squinted her eyes at him, seeing him hold a flower bouquet in his hands. He bowed, taking his seat, his smile still unwavering. How was he not glaring at her? He always had. Was he playing around? Or was this what positions in profession did?

"You're the lead actor for this project?" she asked, balling her fists to cover the trembling.

"You got that right" he chuckled, throwing in a wink.

"It's just us here, you can stop smiling and go back to being who you actually are" she scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"Eunji" he sighed.

"Don't Eunji me" she hissed, her eyes welling up, but didn't fail to notice how fast her heart raced again.

"Baby" he sighed.

"Baby? Who're you calling a baby?" she scoffed "keep that all to your girlfriend okay" she said.

"What is it that you want?" he asked.

"For you to leave of course. Just sign this and leave" she sighed, gesturing him at the file "and don't bring in flowers from next time. We here are not on good terms for all that to happen" she said, watching him sign the papers as the pen glided gracefully that was held by his long slender fingers.

"Aren't you going to read what's there?" she asked, sitting up straight.

"It's called trust" he smiled.

"Do you say this to everyone?" she scoffed, spinning around on her rolling chair and it made him chuckle.

"Nope" he smiled.

"How are you?" she asked, her eyes away from him. She couldn't help it.

"I'm good. You look better" he smiled.

"Definitely!" was her spontaneous reply, facing him.

"I'll leave now that I'm done" he said getting up and her shoulders dropped.

"Okay. Let's cooperate and make this a success" she said, extending her hand for a shake.

"Yes" he nodded, taking her hand without hesitation "everything will be fine. It is going to be" he smiled, squeezing her hand a little.

Before she could ask, her hand was let go and he was already walking out of her cabin. She definitely had this feeling, something she couldn't decipher. There was definitely a hidden message behind what he had said. But, it was not the right time to think about it. She turned to where the drawer was, pulling it open as quickly as she could.

YALL!

RenikaSiyaSharma faazilaraiza PiyaKashyap8

OKAY..

SO.. HERE IT IS..
THE ONE THAT YALL WERE WAITING FOR.

JOHNNY AND EUNJI.

NOW KEEP WAITING. IMMA FINISH BUNNY, THEN GET BACK TO THIS ONE.

HOPE YALL ENJOY THIS ONE AS WELL, JUST LIKE THE OTHERS.

BYE.

LOADS OF LOVE ♥️♥️