Jackson sat in front of the trainees with a dead expression. He wasn't impressed, and he was begging to lose his cool. He knew they were tried. He could see it in their eyes and suddenly remembered himself in their shoes. The years of torment and rejection was something he could relate to deeply, and the last thing he wanted to do was push them to the point they gave up on their dreams. He looked towards them, seeing the prior determination now lacking. He sighed. He knew he was being harsh, and he hated it but if they wanted to succeed this was the way to do exactly that. He stood up calling everything to an end and getting them to sit down. He looked down at his watch. 9:30PM before looking back at them. "I know you guys are tired, and I can see some of you are beginning to give up, but let me just say that I know what it feels like. I spent five years in your position and I know that this road seems really hard and difficult but it will get better if you put the work in now. Everything requires hard work and I know how much you guys are trying. If your not understanding something ask, if your finding something hard ask, because your questions will forever hold you back from being better. Your a bunch of talented individuals but what your showing right now is a discredit to that. This is your chance to prove yourselves and if you really want it, fight for it. I'm going to give you guys a break today early. Go back to the dorms and get some rest, you deserve it. We will do better tomorrow. Okay?" He saw the gratefulness in their eyes as Jackson passed them small smiles waiting by the door to see them all out before heading home himself.

He sat on the couch in front of the TV watching the weekly idol segment of Irene and Suelgi who had just debuted as a sub unit. He smiled, his attention fully focused onto Irene, and then it clicked. He grabbed his phone that lay resting on the coffee table charging, yanking  the wire out before beginning to scroll through the contacts.

To Irene 😊🥰
Hey Bae...do you remember that night back in Vietnam after the San-E incident and how you said if I ever needed a favour to let you know as a way of repaying me back even after I said you didn't have to?

I need a favour.

Seen-10:05

Jackson waited patiently his fingers dancing over the key board to type a response or waiting for his phone to come to life with a notification from her. Within the next second his phone blared with an incoming FaceTime call from the goddess herself. He smiled answering the call. His breath taken as he saw her ethereal face, her smile radiant and her eyes warm. "What can I do?" He smiled as she looked at him, "Are you free to come to China? I know it's a lot to ask for, and I'm asking In such short notice as well. Bae I'm sorry I bothered you it's okay. You probably had a busy day with schedules and here I am burdening you-" "Wang!" She called pausing him mid rant. "I said to you that night, whenever you decide to call me I'll be there in a heartbeat. I'm glad you've finally decided to call because I was on the verge of just going up to you and taking you out or something. Don't worry about the schedule, if you need me I'm coming. Let me have a look at some flights okay?" He looked at her guiltily through the screen. "Don't look at me with those eyes." She said as she sat down at her desk opening her laptop up. She flashed him a quick look seeing the pout he wore. "Don't look at me with that faceeee." She whined cutely causing him to smile. "Why is the ice queen melting?" She rolled her eyes. "I melted for you ages ago, there's memes all over the goddamn internet about it." He chuckled. "Well that was your fault. You couldn't stop staring at me." She blushed. "Shut up Wang I'm innocent. I didn't want to look at the ass besides me and it's not like your not visually pleasing, my eyes were blessed." He coughed loudly causing Irene to laugh. "Awwww is Wang puppy blushing? How cute.." "Rene." He warned. She laughed. "There is tickets for tomorrow and I'll be there same day, and your in luck me and Suel have a four day break from promotions because it's been pre recorded." "Thanks Bae." She smiled. "Always Wang. But what do you actually need me for, I mean if it's a date we could have just done that when you came back." He glared at her slightly before laughing. "I'm shooting for idol producer, and the guys are big fans of RedVelvet and in particular you. I've been working them hard and I just want to give them something." Irene nodded with a smile. "Does that mean I get to see mentor Jackson?" He nodded as she laughed. "I better go pack." She said "okay let me know when you land, I'll pick you up." "It's fine I'll take a taxi." "No you will not. Call me." She rolled her eyes. "Fine." "Bye Bae." "Bye Wang."

Irene landed in the early hours of the morning much to Jackson's surprise who picked her up before asking if she wanted to rest before going to see the trainees. She refused saying she wasn't tired and was excited to see them.

Jackson walked in, seeing the training idols already present and practicing. They greeted him with smiles and determination in their eyes as Jackson looked up at them with his own cheeky smile. "I know how hard you guys have been working, so I wanted to give you guys a surprise." He walked towards the door opening it, Irene coming out from the side as the studio went into a frenzy. "Hi." She spoke, as they greeted her. She opened her arms extending them as they barrelled in for a group hug Jackson wanted to reprimand them for the force but hearing her laugh made him pause as he watched with a small smile.

As she stood by Jackson's side the trainees looked at her with a sense of awe. "It's pleasure to meet you all, Jack has told me you guys have been working really hard." They smiled up at her as Jackson took over. "Irene Noona will be helping me assess you guys today and if you have any questions you have the opportunity to ask her." Irene smiled as Jackson called up the first set of rappers, and before it even got a minute further he stopped. Irene was slightly turned on by this side to him as she leaned back, to watch the seriousness in his features. He looked hot. She looked at the trainees. "Sorry Jack to cut in, i used to struggle with rapping, it's not something I was used to, and the way I was taught was to just flow. Listen to the beat and try to match the rhythm, what jack is trying to say to you guys is that at the moment your rushing ahead of the time, ahead of the beat and most of the time that's a habit we all fall into at the start for rapping but it's not about being ahead of the beat, relax and listen to the music. Jack is it okay if we just play the track, I think they need to be familiarised with the beat." He nodded smiling at her as he sat back on the chair next to her. "Your good at this you know." They smiled at each other before running it again, the quality of rap improving. And as Irene watched Jackson she could see the relief in the way his shoulders eased.

Once they had gone through all the groups Irene clapped Jackson following. "You guys did well." She said offering them smiles as Jackson asked them to sit down him accompanying them on the floor as Irene smiled before joining to make them feel less intimidated. "So do you guys have any questions?" Hands shot up and Jackson felt the smile return in gratitude that they were opening up. "Ms Bae Do you have any advice for us in general?" Irene smiled looking to Jackson who nodded at her. "My advice would be. Don't lose yourself. Each and everyone of you have a sense of humanity within you. And as humans we make mistakes and that's okay. Despite the image idols have to keep it's okay to make mistakes in the beginning, it's how you learn. And that is a human quality you should never want to try and get rid off. It's that individuality that will make you stand out from the crowd. Embrace yourself and love yourself first and nothing else won't matter."  They smiled up to her the next question coming. "Ms Bae I'm the leader of this unit, how can I be better for my members?" Irene smiled softly looking at the floor. "I wish i had a solid answer to that question, but most of the time whilst being a leader I've improvised it's something you have to navigate yourself, every person if different and your group won't be exactly the same to my girls. One thing I will say is make sure you know your members. Your a family, a team and without one it can fall apart. A leader is what keeps things together through the chaos. Be strong, resilient and over the years it will get easier. Another thing to add to that is as a leader listen, it's not always solely about your ideas, your responsible for the incorporation of ideas and concerns. And they will look to you for that guidance. They wouldn't have made you leader if they doubted you so be better for them." She smiled again a final question been asked. "Ms Bae you and RedVelvet have amazing synchronisation and that's something we lack, do you have any tips?" Irene thought for a second. "What we tend to do is look at the mirror, each movement when you look and practice in-front of the mirror can be seen by all of us, so if one makes a mistake we can easily work to fix it. We actually tend to blindfold ourselves and record us performing the choreography before we watch it back but that's a technique that requires a lot of hard work. When I'm on stage I imagine the mirror in front of me and from that I can see myself and my positions but I'm also aware of what the girls are doing. And honestly it just comes down to practice." She looked to Jackson who was listening intently. And smiled, the segment finished.

Irene stood talking to the trainees before seeing them off alongside Jackson. "Is Lay here?" Jackson nodded. "Can I give him a heart attack?" Jackson laughed, "Yeah come on Bae." He took her hand in his own as he lead her to his room where he was in session, Irene stood at the door as Jackson walked in. "Hey bro!" He said him and Lay doing their meeting thing as lay smiled at him. "What brings you here?" He asked and before Jackson could answer Irene burst through the door. "LAY!!!!" She screamed, causing him to jump as Jackson stood laughing. "Joohyun? The fuck are you doing here?" Irene laughed as Lay pulled her for a hug. "Jack asked for a favour."

Irene turned to the trainees walking up to them and speaking to them as Jackson and Lay spoke. "You asked her for a favour." The older of the two smirked. "And how do you plan on repaying my sister Wang?" Jackson laughed, rubbing the nape of his neck. "Maybe that type of repayment shouldn't be discussed with the brother." Jackson laughed at Lay's horrified face. "Be careful Wang, your gonna have me, Kai, Suho, Chan, Chen, Sehun and Baekhyun up your ass if you hurt her." Jackson raised his hands in surrender. "I won't."

Irene walked back up to them, "What?" She questioned both boys shaking their heads as lay wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "How long are you here for?" "Three days." He nodded. "We will go out for dinner tomorrow all three of us." Irene smiled side hugging him as his smile dropped "Now get out I need to teach these kids." Irene rolled her eyes walking to Jackson's side as the two left.

"What do you fancy to eat?" Jackson asked. Irene raised an eyebrow as he continued, "My treat to say thank you for flying out for me." Irene smiled. "Is this what we do? Return favour after favour." Jackson took her hand back in his. "Anything to see you more." Irene laughed. "I fancy you." Jackson's eyes widened as he backed her up against the wall. "That can be arranged." She smiled holding onto the strings of his hoodie to pull him closer, their lips touching as they kissed. Irene backed away. "I think it's just been served." Jackson smirked at her. "And how did it taste?" She smiled at him again. "Like home." Their lips met again.

The end

Authors note:
Hope you enjoy this one. Let me know what you think in the comment section below. Lots of love and best wishes to you all.