𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙁𝙄𝙑𝙀 :
𝗔𝗻 𝗘𝘆𝗲 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗢𝗻 𝗠𝗲
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                    𝑨 𝑺𝑶𝑳𝑰𝑫 𝑾𝑬𝑬𝑲 𝑯𝑨𝑫 𝑷𝑨𝑺𝑺𝑬𝑫 𝑺𝑰𝑵𝑪𝑬 𝑵𝑨𝑴𝑾𝑶𝑶𝑲 asked Savanna out on a date, and she was beginning to catch his bluff.

        She tried to be understanding at first because they were both busy people. That meant that if they were going to make — whatever to call it — work, she needed to get used to the idea that they could go days, to weeks, to months without seeing each other due to obvious reasons. In idol terms, it's considered a long-distance relationship despite living in the same city and being under the same company.

        But they weren't dating.

        They weren't even in a relationship.

        Savanna knew better than to expect much, but she figured the least he could do was hit her up with plans or keep her updated. Or something! She could ask him herself but it was him who asked her out, not the other way around. It's his job, an opportunity he begged for, to pull through with it. Not hers.

        This was what happened when Savanna offered chances. Disappointment occurred. Time is wasted, the excitement is killed, and no longer was she attracted to them. And the men she pursued were just as worse.

        Despite all obstacles, Savanna looked forward to the date. She wanted to see just how far Namwook would go. How desperate he was to be with her and prove he was worthy of her attention. Chasing was always her forte being that the men in her life made courting seem like a chore and accepted bare minimal, unaware there were better options to choose from. She was naive before and fell for anyone who'd look her way. She'd even change herself to appease their type.

        She could use a good chase. Desired it even.

        And it made Namwook stick out for that very reason. . .if he didn't play in her face. Good one, Savanna. You sure know how to attract the worst ones.

       "What's cooking? It smells really good." Song-Yin dragged her heavy feet along the wooden floors, following the heavenly sent into the kitchen where Rachael and Jihyun were cooking. She yawned, claiming she had just woken up but by the soft makeup powered on and a burning smell lingering from her hair, she'd been up for a while.m.

        There were cameras currently recording their every movement. Red lights taped in every corner of the apartment and unusual spots beside the bathrooms, and a camera crew poorly hiding while following them around with big-ass hand-held cameras.

        A new hot group on the scene meant fans were interested to see how they lived and interacted with one another. Either to fuel their unhealthy fantasies or draw out detailed floor plans of their apartment, it was a MUST for the program to go on. They were practically begging the company to bring the girls on for higher ratings.

        Rachel lifted her head to Song-Yin while rising off the kitchen knife. "Pasta. An authentic Italian recipe." She answered with a smile too big for her face. Food always had her beaming.

        Song-Yin made a face. She didn't like pasta. Hated it in fact. It was too oily, she claimed, and slapped around her face than peacefully in her mouth.

        Remembering the camera close on her face, Song-Yin smiled though it was more of a grimace and made the expression worse than before. "Ah okay. Sounds good." She sat at the table to oversee their progress without getting in the way.

        While they were doing their own thing, Duri and Savanna hung out in the living room using the coffee table to indulge in personal activities. She had her nose in a book. A mystery/thriller about taking revenge for a memory others have forgotten. So far, the book was interesting but it would take her months to finish it.

        Sighing heavily at her homework, Duri lifted her head just when Savanna thought she had fallen asleep. Her brows pulled together, her mouth upside down, she slid the paper over the paragraph Savanna read over twice. "Unnie, are you good with math? Can you help me with this problem? I don't understand it and I'm gonna cry if I can't figure it out." She begged.

        The faint motor sound of a camera zooming in on Savanna's face and another getting shots of Duri's homework, forced her to focus hard on the problem neither she understood. By how hard she was staring, the numbers were starting to blur. Even her curls couldn't hide her face as they were pulled back. And though they were asked to be themselves and pretend the camera wasn't there, she failed the simple task.

        They had been filming for two days and each day felt as worse and as nerve-racking as the first day she sat in front of a camera and sang. Savanna wasn't normally shy in front of a camera and was usually the first to jump in the frame. At least, before debuting she wasn't.

        But after doing the one thing everyone was warned not to do, she did it anyway and stumbled upon an article.

        A brutal and harsh article about Red Entertainment desperate to gain diversity points by teaching a Black woman Korean when all it did was taint their pure history, and the one thing they had that the West hadn't infiltrated yet.

        And it wasn't just one article. There were hundreds of articles with hundreds of interactions, a mixture of reactions and an ongoing discourse that may never cease. Savanna appreciated her fans defending her, but for some reason, the negativity seemed to outweigh the positive side more.

       "I suck at math. Even if I knew something, I can't help you since it's all in Korean." Savanna admitted. "It's a whole language in a language that's hurting my head. Sorry."

        Jihyun must've overheard their conversation or Duri's loud cry for help because she was at her side reading the problem before taking her pencil and scribbled. Savanna removed herself since she was no help understanding what she couldn't and left to help Rachel in the kitchen instead.

        Filming continued for another hour. Duri caught up with all her homework, the members played a game given by the producer, and the pasta was soon finished for everyone to enjoy when the camera crew decided to take a short break.

        Savanna released a breath she didn't know she was holding but her muscles were still tensed and she was careful with her expressions. Though there weren't any cameras shoved in their faces, cameras in the corners of the room blinked red — still recording.

        Manager Bi rushed into the apartment out of breath as though she had ran a marathon up three flights of stairs. She stayed nearby with the producer watching the footage behind the screens.

        Jihyun furrowed her brows at her suddenness. "What's wrong? Did something happen?" She asked, worried a rumor arose out of nowhere or a member got caught up with their past and they were officially screwed.

        Or was I the screwed one?

        One by one, eyes followed toward the end of the rectangular table where Savanna currently sat replenishing her belly with delicious pasta. Anxiety took hold as they burned a hole through her head, fearing the worst had yet come and she was done for. She hid it well.

        They were all aware of the articles circling around her. Rachel was the first to comfort her when she wasn't aware of them herself. Slipped in bed with her one night and wouldn't leave until she was warm inside and out, her way of getting rid of negativity and cold feelings with warmth. The rest discovered them while looking up their own names, nosy to see what Formes had to say.

        Savanna wished Manger Bi would refrain from stalling information and spit it out. The wait was torture.

        She rested her hand on the back of Rachel's chair and stood from her crouched position when catching her breath, the loose shirt she wore creased in her rolls from sweat. "Are you dressed? We need to leave immediately." Her chest still heaving but overall calm.

        The crease between Savanna's brows deepened. "W-what? I mean, yeah, I'm dressed. But why?"

        "I just got a call from the company that thee Han G, Korea's most respected fashion designer and photographer of More And More, asked specifically for you to come in for a shoot. The details were little but a model was forced to call out last minute and you to fill her spot. The shoot starts in less than an hour, possibly twenty minutes, and we need to beat traffic so you're not as late. It's located in Jeju Island."

        Eyes flung open. "Jeju Island? That's already an hour hour away! More if not counting traffic. We'll never make it."

        "Which is why we need to leave now. Pack a quick bag. It's an overnight trip."

        She couldn't move. Utter a word through her dry lips. Breathe through her tightened lungs. Or process the information that was given despite it playing back like a fucked up filmstrip seconds from becoming a fire hazard. Even the fork in her hand slipped her fingers to the floor.

        "And he," Savanna swallowed a thick lump, still struggling to understand this opportunity. "And you're sure he asked for me and didn't mistake me with someone else? Like he knows I exist?"

        "He asked for you. Even the rookies have the call recorded." Manager Bi confirmed.

        Everyone jumped in excitement at the news. Rachel was the first to hug her while Duri slapped her shoulder with her heavy hand, Song-Yin offered a thumbs up, and Jihyun clasped her hand to her chest like a mother happy their child finally had a friend to play with.

        "This is a really big fucking deal, Savanna! Reeeally big! It will open many doors for you in the fashion industry, and the group too." Rachel ignored Manager Bi's warning for cussing while the cameras were rolling, hugging Savanna's frozen body to the point of suffocating her. Then she pulled back, confused as to why her energy wasn't being matched. "What's wrong? Aren't you excited?"

        "I am," Savanna responded with less enthusiasm. More uncertain about her feelings.

        Duri gasped. "Don't tell me you don't know who Han G is? This girl."

        "No, no, I know him. I know his work." She assured.  "I'm. . .in shock I guess."

        Of course, she knew Han G. How couldn't she not?

        Savanna wasn't that touched out of life especially anything involving Korea. She'd been here long enough to keep up with most of their trends and latest gossip. This country was her home too.

        Everyone and their mommas, to their dead grannies, to pets, to the poorest neighborhood, to a little kid with a big dream — knew of Han G. He was a legend in Korea and globally. His catalog was filled with elite and well-respected celebrities who were hard to reach and even harder to please, and collaborated with many Western designers with pieces hung in museums amongst gifted designers.

        It was impossible to look skim through any magazines without spotting his funky, sophisticated, and creative work only a mad genius would think of. During Fashion Week, influencers were fighting to get their hands on his work and pull archives to prove they were up there too. Even pieces as simple as a hairclip or shades. His work made names for upcoming models and created buzz wherever he went. . .

        And he wanted to work with Savanna.

        Me.

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A U T H O R ' S N O T E

~ Super short chapter. So rare for it to happen but it felt best in my gut.  Wonder how Savanna secured this gig aside from being a hot girl on everyone's list...👀