SEOL AH : (-excited-) DID YOU SEE THIS?

Namjoon was transfixed by her sudden appearance. Messy hair, crumbled hems of her loungewear and face unwashed. As if just woken from a sleep, she was looking completely raw.

SEOL AH : Your album received a 10 MILLION views over night!

She squealed as if her life depended on it. Namjoon, who already knew the results but hating to steal her thunder, faked being surprised.

NJ : REALLY?!

SEOL AH : (-nods happily-) Isn't that great?!

NJ : It sure is! Shall we throw a party?

SEOL AH : No-.. You should be happy. But, you've got to limit and control it for now. Let it burn till you can blast it all out. This is just a precursor to stay determined.

NJ : (-serious-) Noted and highlighted!

SEOL AH : (-realizes her overboard words-) You can have a party if you want to though. It's your choice afterall. (-awkward-)

NJ : (-chuckles-) I will rather rest. Too tired to party now.

SEOL AH : Nice take on that. 

Seol Ah with a bright smile and squealing over the views saw herself out to freshen up.
A sudden grin flashed on Namjoon's face recalling her visage of a while ago. She was so excited and genuinely happy that she didn't care of her appearance then. Or did she almost puke at her own reflection on the mirror of her room, still a mystery for Namjoon.

Getting back to writing something he just received an inspiration for, he was distracted by the door bell. The two receivers were fixed - one in his studio and the other out in the hall, provided that his studio had sound proof walls.

Presuming Seol Ah to be occupied, he went to get the door. There he welcomed his mother, Ms. Seo alongwith Kim, carrying two bags of satin fabric draping a few boxes - standing right behind her.

NJ : Eomma? How come you are here?

Ms. SEO : That's the first thing you ask your mother?

NJ : (-hugs her-) I am sorry. I just wasn't expecting you.

Ms.Seo, well acquainted with her son, didn't wait for him and welcomed herself inside. On the way, she asked Kim to rest the bags on the table.

NJ : Why suddenly though?

Ms. SEO : It's been over 2 months, no visits, no news from you. Of course, I would come in to check on you instead. Look how skinny you've become.

NJ : Eomma, I neither gained nor lost any weight since the last time you saw me.

Ms. SEO : (-completely ignoring his words-) I figured you must've run out of Kimchi and other side dishes. So, I brought you some. (-opening the satin drapes-) Thanks for helping me, Kim.

KIM : My pleasure, ma'am.

Ms. SEO : (-smiles-) And yes, there's still one box in the car. Take it to your home, okay?

KIM : Oh, there was no need for that.

Ms. SEO : It's okay. Don't be so formal. That's just a small token of appreciation for putting up with my Joon-ie.

NJ : Eomma! Am I high maintenance?

Ms. SEO : Want to rethink that?

NJ : Alright, maybe a little. Kim, just take that home or she won't let it slide.

KIM : (-grins lightly-) Ah, Yeh. Thank you so much. I will take off then. (-leaves politely with a bow-)

With him gone, Namjoon's attention was back to his mother who was seen busy, separating the stacked boxes.

NJ : You didn't have to bring these. I don't need them.

Ms. SEO : Oh trust me, you don't even know what you need.

NJ : (-nods defeated-) Expected.

They were suddenly cut off by Seol Ah, coming out of her room, now decently dressed with a fresh look.

Ms. SEO : (-seeing her, looks back at Namjoon-) Please don't say that's a new manager of yours.

NJ : Yeah, she is. Seol Ah-ssi, meet my Mom, Ms. Seo Kyunghee. Eomma, Kim Seol Ah. My new manager.

SEOL AH : (-bows formally-) Annyeonghaseyo.

Ms. SEO : (-nods in a greet-) Onh onh, hello.

There was a peculiar awkward silence with only the box clicks prominent until Seol Ah tried to speak.

SEOL AH : Maybe, I should come out some other time.

Ms. SEO : Oh, can you help me store these in his Kitchen? (-smiles-)

NJ : Eomma, she is my manager. Not a kitchen staff.

Ms. SEO : When did I say that then? I am just politely asking for her help.

NJ : I will help you.

Ms. SEO : You see, I adore these receptacles. If I have to break them, I would be sure to send them to you. (-smiles at the girl-) Do you mind a little help, Seol Ah-ssi?

SEOL AH : Of course not. I would be glad to help you. (-smiles-)

Ms. SEO : Thank you. (-to Namjoon-) You give a call to your father once. He must be worried.

Seol Ah, gladly forwarded to help her escort the six boxes to the kitchen while almost dropping the last one.

SEOL AH : (-manages to save it-) My apologies.

Ms. SEO : (-smiles to herself-) Just like him.

SEOL AH : Pardon?

Ms. SEO : No, nothing. Where are you from, anyways?

SEOL AH : Yes? Ah, I am from The Netherlands. Born and brought up there. Just recently came to Korea.

Ms. SEO : Ah, is it? Is this your first time here? Your Korean seems pretty natural.

SEOL AH : (-blushes-) Yeh, thanks to my parents.

Ms. SEO : You're one smooth talker, I must say. Also don't mind me interrogating. I meet his managers rarely. It's the only way I could know how he is doing.

SEOL AH : (-smiles-) There's nothing for you to worry. He is carrying off decently well.

Ms. SEO : Those are the exact words, Chae Ri used to say.

SEOL AH : Chae Ri? Chae Ri, who?

Ms. SEO : Ah, his first manager. Such a nice young lady she was. They were so complementary to each other. I was only concerned, he might come to me one evening and announce they are dating. (-sad grin-) But, that one evening he comes to me and says "Eomma, Chae Ri vacated. She just left." These were the words.

His mom reminisced that stormy evening when he came home and just hugged her without any words. It still quivers her heart to recall the tears he shed on her lap for hours.

Beside her, standing Seol Ah noticed her expressions softening and lost in thoughts.
She couldn't help her curiosity that was flooding her with a zillion questions as she tried to ask one of them.

SEOL AH : Chae ri-ssi quitted?

She was more intrigued to know if there was no terms for Chae Ri against quitting as of her own contract.

Ms. SEO : (-gets back normal-) Onh~ It must've been like roughly 1 year or so.

One year? - she repeated in her mind as the insides were in mayhem. Nothing seemed to sit in place. There were so many question marks, she had no answers to set them a full stop.

Ms. SEO : (-continues-) After that, she suddenly left. You can say, he was devastated. He moved to this apartment, calls became shorter than ever. It was just hard seeing him at all. We didn't even know he moved here until a few months ago.

SEOL AH : Ah, I see.

Ms. SEO : Can you hand me his Kimchi container?

SEOL AH : Oh, yes. (-gets her the container absent-mindedly-)

Seol Ah found herself dive deep into the pool of wonders. Chae Ri, to her, felt the missing key that unlocked the doors to his past. The reason of his social inactivity, self indulgence and every aspect he is a different person from his past self, pointed towards her.

"What meaning did she have in his life?"

"Why did she suddenly leave?"

"Did the 3 months contract come about, after she left?"

These whats, whys and dids tethered her mind throughout the day. Less efficient, she could call her work while trying her finest to focus.

Helplessly shackled to the spirit of inquiry, she exhaled a deep sigh before walking upto his studio. Finally determined, to ask him all out.

As she headed inside, the sight made her hold a few seconds of silence before speaking up. In one word, haggard - explained his visage as he could hardly hold his head upright without an arm's support.

His exhausted mien made her to gulp back all the curiosity she had walked up with.

SEOL AH : Here's your schedule for tomorrow.

NJ : (-registering her presence-) Onh, thanks. (-studies it-) Oh, that show is tomorrow? I don't like being in shows though.

SEOL AH : Shall I cancel it out?

NJ : Onh? No, it's fine. I need to do some promotions afterall.

SEOL AH : Ye.

He continued his speculation through the task sheet wearily while Seol Ah couldn't help her worry from surfacing.

SEOL AH : You look tired.

NJ : Do I? Maybe I am a little tired.

SEOL AH : How would you not be? You hardly slept during this entire week. I suggest you call it a day. You might pass out, if you continue.

NJ : (-looks at her-) I never passed out before.

SEOL AH : That doesn't mean you would never do.

NJ : (-slight smiles-) So, you want me to keep aside all the pending works for today and just, rest?

SEOL AH : Yes. It's "not hard" I heard from someone.

Namjoon chuckled recalling the time he spelled those words to her but more like a yell.

NJ : It's not hard on a "rest day". Besides, this is not how it works. Everyone has their schedules to follow, everyone is busy. Everyone is tired too. We cannot prioritize ourselves and fit others to our schedule, can we?

SEOL AH : Uh.. My shift is almost over for today. Then how about I do your pending tasks instead? Unless, it's a song you were to record. I wouldn't be able to mimic your voice.

NJ : (-grins-) It's not a song. Although it is about one.

SEOL AH : I request a little elucidation on that.

NJ : Well, it's the contract I signed with Mr. Park for a drama ost. I just need to hand it back to him. And it wouldn't be polite to have him drive all the way here to take it himself, would it?

SEOL AH : Ah~ Then how about this. I take it to him on your behalf? It's only transporting the contract, anyway.

NJ : You will?

SEOL AH : Yeah, I can do that. Besides, I would get some fresh air too.

NJ : So, that's what you want? You want to head out.

SEOL AH : Well, partially(?) It's been over a month, I didn't step out. The first time ever in my life, it happened so.

NJ : (-thinks for a second-) Alright, I will call Kim about it.

SEOL AH : Actually, he is not here. He has gone to drop your mom off to the station.

NJ : Ah, that almost slipped my mind. So, can I trust you enough then?

SEOL AH : You have your threatening missiles pointed at me in all directions. Why would I betray you? However, if you don't feel like it, I won't go.

He sensed the hidden resent in her last sentence and though not fully confident, he didn't want her to feel locked up with him.

NJ : Alright. Let's try you out. (-forwards a file to her-) Here's the contract. You need to go to Itaewon-

SEOL AH : (-completes him-) Urban Pub in Itaewon at 6 p.m? Of course, I know. I made the reservations.

NJ : (-nods-) Okay, be careful then. It's going to be rush there.

SEOL AH : Roger that!

.

.

.

Seol Ah, done with the formal meeting and professionally having made an appropriate excuse for Namjoon's absence, walked out in the busy pub from the private room.

Not that the busyness irked her as she attempted to exit the pub and was blocked by some drunk men. She was more upset with the pub's lacking security system, to guard the doors from the wasted.

Hence, she was rooted near the counter till the trembling men cleared her way out. Amidst the light music and undefined murmurs, someone making a reservation in the counter caught her interest. It were his words that stood out to her more than the guy saying those.

COUNTER : Whom am I making the reservations for?

GUY : (-in a hurry-) Mr. Bang Si Hyuk.

COUNTER : Alternative names, that we should allow?

GUY : No, that would do. Or maybe just add, Bang PD.

COUNTER : Time and date?

GUY : Today at -

The sudden glass break, from a nearby table, snapped her towards it at that very moment. Thereby the time, the guy just mentioned to the counter, couldn't reach her ears.

SEOL AH : (-quitely to herself-) Bang PD? Isn't he BigHit Entertainment's CEO? The PD-nim, he never stops talking about?

She grew a certain respect for Bang PD, listening to Namjoon talk highly of him every time they were at it. She was well acquainted with the great support, BTS had received from him through Namjoon's very own words.

Seol Ah never found him out of breath, talking about his BigHit family and how much he misses being a part of it. Although, he never framed such a sentence, but his emotions always reflected it by the way he shared stories with her.

She didn't realize the smile that was shot at her lips while reminiscing the sparkles in his eyes. His entire facade would glow up whenever he talked about BTS, BigHit and the priceless moments he shared with their fans.

A phone call rushing in, sucked up her smile as she looked at the caller ID on the screen, before receiving.

SEOL AH : Yes, Joon Sajang-nim*, I am done already.

NJ : Onh. That's good. Kim almost reached there to pick you too.

SEOL AH : Ah, really? Nice then.

The few guards arriving by then, arm handled the blind drunk men and cleared the way. While on the call, she marched out with another couple who were stopped beside her earlier.

NJ : (-over the call-) Okay, safe there.

SEOL AH : Yeh, don't worry. Your papers have been well transferred to the right hands.

Namjoon, aware of the ambience in a pub, grew an altruistic concern for her safety but was mistaken by her. He didn't try to correct her either and played along with her oblivion.

NJ : (-after a silence-) Alright.

The call ended.

She breathed in the fresh air after a long time. Never had she been more pleased by a huge crowd of people from all around the world, offered by the busy Itaewon roads.

SEOL AH : (-to herself-) Ah, so called Mr.Black's house is so much depressing. Ugh..I almost suffocated myself.

"My clear say, you never call me Mr.Black", the little warning mingled with the chapter Chae Ri was somewhere lost and couldn't be heard anymore.

Her one careless comment— mind too occupied tackling her unanswered questions — was loud enough for the people around to listen. Little did she know, that it gave an open invitation to a horrendous incident in the near future.

Rightfully said, "curiosity killed the cat."

While she waited for Kim, watching the little bickers and quality moments people having, a mysterious man approached her.

??? : Excuse me. By any chance, are you Kim Namjoon's new manager?

________

Is that too obvious? ;)

Sajang-nim* : General address to one's boss/supervisor, regardless of the latter's post or field of work.

A/N : I didn't use "Mrs.Kim" for his mother since "Seo Kyunghee" was the only result I found for her. This doesn't mean, I am saying that is indeed her real name. So, don't come on me. I don't know either and it mustn't bother you much too. :)

Besides, I am going to keep it this way until I get an authentic source for any correction, if required.

Thank you for the patience! ^.^