What's stronger
Than a human heart
That shatters over and over again—
but still alive?

Isn't it hard to know that the toughest people get hurt and break sometimes. Like, your therapist has their own therapist. Your coach was once taught by their coaches. Like, it proves that being hurt or getting hurt is something normal. It proves that your heart is functioning.

At the same time, it shows that— we all need help every now and then no matter how strong you are. We all need help how to get back up. We need to learn how to throw a punch after being knocked down. You're not broken. You're still learning and that's what we call life.

I stood in front of the mirror in my room and confidently wore the pink cap my dad gave me when I was 15. I was embarrassed to wear it because I thought it was childish for a teenager like me to wear something like that in public. I still remember how I used to whine when my dad forced me to wear it.

Gladly I was good enough that I didn't make him feel bad. He understand why I didn't want to wear it anyway and just let me be. But today, after experiencing such a meaningful moment yesterday, I realised that there's no reason for me to feel bad or embarrassed for. I learned how to appreciate things more than I used to.

While Taehyung was struggling to make his parents love him, I didn't even have to do anything because my parents already love me, even I'm adopted. I should appreciate everything that I have now because out there, there's a lot of people who wish to live my life.

You're upset for not having your dream car? There's a lot of people who wish they had a car. You're not thankful for the bicycle you have? There's people who wish they had had legs to walk. Stop complaining and start appreciating while it still lasts. Nothing lasts forever. I repeat, nothing.

Now, I was finally feeling proud wearing the cap my dad gave me. Before going to work, I picked my phone up to snap a picture of me before sending it to my dad so he can see it.

Bae Sooyun
sent 8:12 a.m.
[attachment]
Thanks dad for this sweet little gift. Love you for this!

"Sooyun!" I heard my assistant, Elly called my name while coming to my way with a cup of coffee in her hand and I exactly knew that it was belong to me. "Here's your daily dose of coffee," she handed me the coffee and I took me with a big smile.

"Thank you, Elly." I thanked her.

She frowned for a short moment. "Why are you being all smiley today? What happened? Did I do something? Like, are you mad at me?" She think the otherwise.

I scoffed, "I'm just in a good mood, nothing's weird, you weirdo." I shook my head and we went into the meeting room before the photoshoot session starts because we had a meeting.

"I don't know what the director gonna say but I hope he says something nice." Elly was being anxious and I wasn't going to question her because the truth was; the director was so strict and too stern at times. He may say something we don't want to hear at all.

"I hope so." I shrugged.

Sharp on 8:45 a.m, Elly and I stepped into the meeting room. We still had 15 minutes before the meeting started but we intentionally entered the room earlier so that we won't be late.

The first person that I spotted was Taehyung who was sitting beside the director with a thick set of paper in front of him. He looked so serious, unlike yesterday.

Even the director seemed to be so serious and he had no emotions shown on his face. Maybe we were about to discuss about something serious.

I sat beside my assistant, Elly and across from Taehyung. Models aren't allowed to sit beside those people with high positions like the director and professional photographers. We had 4 professional photographers but Taehyung's seat was the most special among the 4 of them. Maybe because the company really needs him so they tried their best to make him feel as respected as possible.

See what power and influence can make people do.

The senior models started to enter the meeting room and took their seats. I noticed that some of them were throwing death glares at me. Elly told me that they envied me for having Taehyung as my personal photographer. All the models here wished to have a photoshoot session with Taehyung. But he ended up being my personal photographer and it made them pissed off.

I acted like I didn't see them throwing dirty looks at me and cleared my throat. The director stood up to start the meeting. "Since all of us are already here, we may start now." He stated.

He stood there straight while holding a huge file in his hand. I suddenly got so nervous.

No one can predict what he was going to say. I hope something nice would spitted out from his mouth. He cleared his throat and shoved one of his hands into his pocket to show a cool posture.

He casually started opening the file and read the thing that was written on the papers. "So here, with me is an offer from one of the biggest brand in the world." He spoke.

We all gasped when he said that. All of us were nervous and anxious at the same time. We were told about it several times.

"It's from—Gucci," he finished his sentence.

The models exchanged looks with each other but I only looked down at my palms, knowing that I wouldn't get a chance to be their model since I was just a rookie model. Big brands usually will just take professional and senior models.

The director flipped the paper and looked at the names that were chosen to be the face of Gucci. "I've submitted the pics that were requested by them 3 days ago and the executives have made their mind to choose only the top 5 of you." He said.

I could hear some of them had start whispering to each other. "I know it's gonna be me, I worked hard for this."

"That's for sure, you're a senior model. You've work here for 6 years," the other model supported her.

I knew I wouldn't get a chance. Maybe I could try next year, or maybe the next two years.

"So now, I'm going to announce the lucky people that were chosen by them." He said and looked at the all of us. I gulped in nervousness although I knew my name won't even getting called.

"Don't put your hope too high, sweetie." I heard one of the seniors mocked me. I lowered my head.

"Well, I'm gonna announce the names now. Get ready," he added. Everyone started doing everything and focused on him.

"The ones that were chosen by Gucci are Bora, Haechon, Kyungmi and Eunjung." he stated before looking up at the all of us.

Everyone started clapping their hands even most of them were disappointed that they weren't chosen. "But director, it's only 4. Who's the fifth one?" Someone asked after raising her hand. They exchanged looks. "Yeah, who's the fifth one?"

Everyone went quite again as their eyes were plastered on the director. They didn't really care about him. What they cared was the result in his hands.

He looked at our executives who joined the meeting as well. Clearing his throat, he began to speak again. "Well, the fifth model is gonna be the main model. The leader of the photoshoot. She's gonna be on the main cover and her pics will gonna be on every Gucci's advertisements." Everyone gasped again.

They couldn't wait to know the result.

"Damn, imagine the power she'll hold." Everyone talked to each other. "And the attention she'll get,"

"I definitely need the position to become a successful model."

I just stayed quiet without hoping that he'd say my name because I knew I wouldn't get a chance.

"Surprisingly, unlike the other past years, they chose the main model not based on how long they've been modelling. Instead, the picking was made based on how committed and how elegant the model poses. They also picked the leader because of her unique face and they think that she's the most ideal person to be their model and at the same time, the face for their brand." He explained.

"Imagine being the face of Gucci," Elly said as she looked at me.

I sighed and noticed at how chilled and calm Taehyung was. He seemed like he didn't care about what was going on. I knew that it had nothing to do with him but if I get the job, he will get the job as well since he was my personal photographer.

I wish I could be as chill as him.

The director cleared his throat before looking at the all of us. "So I'm gonna announce who's the lead model for Gucci now." He said.

All of us went silent.

"It is," he looked at Taehyung then back at the paper. "Bae Sooyun."

"What—" Everyone looked at each other.

I was frozen, my brain technically stopped functioning when I heard the director said my name. It was impossible. Me? Being the main lead model for one of the biggest brand in the world?

It had me shook. Maybe that was what people said Expect the Unexpected.

"But why?" A girl who was a senior model tried to stand up for her well-called right. "She's only into modelling for 4 months. I've been modelling for 5 years!" She snapped and glared at me. "It's not fair, the position is supposed to be given to me." She stated.

Elly, my manager scoffed at her statement. "She's just jealous," She muttered under her breath while looking at me who was still in shock.

The director looked at her. "As I mentioned before, the choosing wasn't based on how long you've been modelling. It's based on the pictures quality that you submitted to them. I already told you to do your best during the photoshoot because it'll be used in the choosing process." He told her but still, she wasn't satisfied.

"But how can a new model like her beat me?" She hissed while looking at me up and down.

"It's surely because she has Kim as her personal photographer. I told you to set him as my photographer. Not hers." She folded her arms in annoyance and dissatisfaction.

I saw Taehyung looked at her madly as if there was something that she said that triggered him. He stood up, "Excuse me, but I'm the one who wanted to be her personal photographer or else, I don't want to work for this company." He spilled the truth in the meeting room.

The senior model gasped and looked at him confusedly. "Wait, why? You deserve better. You can just have me as your model. I can do more way better than she does." She looked at me then back at Taehyung.

He scoffed at how desperate she was being. "Pathetic," he mumbled to himself. "If I wanted you to be my model, I would just have picked you. But I didn't. That means I don't want you to be my model. Who I want is Bae Sooyun." He clarified it to her.

Everyone looked at me and guessing by the way they all looked at me, I knew that they were making assumptions. I sighed.

"But I'm better!" She was still stubborn.

Taehyung rolled his eyes at her, showing that he fed up with how she acted. "I chose my model not by how they look with makeup or how they pose for the camera. I want my model to have the quality that I want. The one who can act naturally in front of the camera and the one who's— naturally beautiful even without the makeup." He stated after taking a quick glance at me.

"Most of you just know how to pose your body shape in front of the camera, acting beautiful and keep faking yourself. All of you aren't my definition of model. You guys are just being a doll. A bunch of dolls." They gasped in disbelief.

He really be roasting them this time.

"Stop complaining because I'll never choose you as my model. Full stop. End of discussion." He said and turned to me

"Bae Sooyun," he said my name as I got my sense back. "Let's go with me. We have lots of photoshoot to do." Gladly he invited me out with him. At least I won't have to face all the dirty looks they will throw at me after this.

I nodded my head. "Sure." I said and followed him.

•••

[A/N]

As you should, Tae.

__

Anyways, how's y'all doing? I hope all of you r doing fine! Stay healthy always, friends ; )