Chapter 8: Timing, Just Right
*Flashback*
Quite predictably, BamBam created a new KaTalk group chat the morning after and named it "Pop-Porn Buddies". I woke up to the sound of my phone pinging non-stop. They were discussing the inappropriate title BamBam gave the group. I typed in my first message with a huge smile despite the debilitating pain in my head.
Love: Guys, my underwear collection is way too modest for a porn flick. Just saying.
BamBam: Ha ha ha! There you are! How do you even know for sure?! *wink emoji*
Love: IDK, probably because I'm old enough to watch Rated R movies? Are you?
Jackson: Oooohhh buuurn!
Mark: *laughing emoji*
BamBam: I will be soon!
BamBam: Will you watch with me when I turn legal?
Love: HA HA HA! CAN SOMEONE PLS TAKE THIS DIRTY CHILD AWAY?! *blushing emoji*
BamBam: JK JK JK *laughing and crying emoji*
Jackson: I already hit him on the head for you
Love: Ha ha ha! I was kidding. But really, guys, thanks for coming over. I have the worst hangover RN but it was worth it. I'm saving all your numbers BTW!
Mark: We saved yours too. Promise not to give ours to the fans?
Jackson: She won't do that. Right, Love?
Love: Why the heck would I do that?! I don't want to lose my job, guys.
Love: Was JB mad when you got back?
BamBam: Yeah, we fought a little...
Love: Sorry *crying emoji*
Jackson: No it's fine, we do that all the time.
Mark: We're good, don't worry!
Liv came just in time that day with a warm bowl of dak kalguksu [chicken noodle soup] to help me get over my Tequila-Sunset-and-Noisy-KaTalk induced headache. "How did you know I'd be hungover?!" I asked.
"I figured you'd be wasted because of your last text which, by the way, was the worst cliffhanger ever!" She said. I didn't even realize that she replied to the text I haphazardly sent the night before. I quickly told her what happened while sloppily filling my empty stomach with soup. Her jaw dropped, and it took her a while to recover from the shock.
Of course she knew I was working with GOT7, she was the first person I ever told outside my family. She was ecstatic when she found out I got in at JYP Entertainment. She's also the reason I got so hooked on K-Pop. She introduced me to Wonder Girls and 2ne1 back in college. We have fangirled in secret until junior year (which was the year she finally decided that being a popular cheerleader meant nothing if you couldn't enjoy the kind of music you really like). On our senior year, we went on our first trip to South Korea.
I fell in love with Seoul's beautiful autumn colors. I loved Busan's dreary seas and felt at home with the warm welcome I received when I visited my Granny and other relatives for the first time. That year, I vowed to return to my Korean roots.
My dad was very happy when I told them about my plans a few months before my graduation. My mom, though obviously disappointed that I have finally banished all possibilities of working as a designer in our company, felt glad that I was making clear and bold choices at a young age. It was ambition, after all, that led her to Korea, where she met the man she married.
"Okay, can I just say," Liv said after reading our Kakao exchange. "If BamBam were into me, I would definitely make him my boyfriend. I mean, what's seven years of age difference?! One of my clients told me he's having an affair with a 20-year-old girl and he's bloody old. You wouldn't be the worst cradle snatcher in history." I fervently shook my head in disgust.
"Oh, speaking of client, what happened to you last night?" I asked, remembering how she ditched me without any explanation.
"Oh, yeah! Sorry about that," She said, sulking like a kid. "I was in a meeting yesterday and I went out to eat dinner with this Mr. Hwang guy from Pledis Entertainment because we were trying to get them to do a fashion editorial with us next year—"
"Oh my god, for Spark?! Who are you getting?" I asked, referring to the Australian fashion magazine Liv's mother built back in the 2000s. Liv took over the PR manager post as soon as we graduated, which was why she wasn't able to join me in my crazy Korean adventure back then.
"Seventeen! Oh my goodness, those boys are gorgeous. Have you met any of them?"
"Nope, it's not like I have the time. I've only been working for six months!"
"I haven't either, they were super busy yesterday, I couldn't get a break. Anyway, we were eating dinner and I ordered the fanciest freaking meals on the menu to impress the guy but I didn't know the soup had lobster in it. So Mr. Hwang eats up, loads up on the soup, and the next thing I know he's turning purple and he's choking because he's allergic to bloody lobster!" I gasped and dropped my spoon. She recounted having to leave her credit card to the restaurant manager, calling for an ambulance, and rushing the hyperventilating marketing guy to the nearest emergency room—which was where she called me.
"So what happened to the guy?"
"He got better after four hours so I drove him home. I apologized so many freaking times, my back actually hurts from bowing too much which reminds me—let's go out and get massages!"
"No, no, no, I do not want to leave my house. Look at me! I'm a bloody mess!" I said pointing at my sweatpants and tangled hair.
"It'll cure your hangover, I swear. I've heard about this fabulous spa in Agpujeong. I promised you I'd treat you out right?" She answered before I had to chance to groan about my measly salary.
She was right about a full body massage curing me of my headache. She also got me spending way too much on a new haircut (I got bangs!) and new clothes for autumn. Though we haven't seen each other for a long time, Olivia and I felt like the same bunch of weirdos we were back in college, and I guess that was exactly what I needed at that time.
*Flashforward*
"Aishhh!" Mina breaks the silence just as I'm about to put a kimbap in my mouth. She pays no attention to my surprised face and raises her hand while speaking in informal Korean. "I cannot take this anymore, give me your phone!"
"Ani!"
"Give it!"
"Wae?! Wae?! So you can flood our KaTalk with your fan questions? I promised them I won't talk about it to anyone!" I nag, probably sounding a lot like Jinyoung. I shove a kimbap towards Mina's face to make her stop.
"Jinjja, how long has it been? You guys should be talking non-stop since you met at the bar, how are you supposed to deepen your friendship with them at this rate?!" Her sharp tone makes me drop the kimbap in between my chopsticks and I whine a little at her for not eating it. I stare at the forsaken kimbap for a while before speaking up again.
"Actually, we haven't spoken since their vacation break..." I say, remembering how the boys said goodbye before leaving for the States, Hongkong, and Thailand on the first week of August. It's October already, and I know they're back in Korea but I have not heard from anyone since then. "Maybe they're busy with the new album. You know how it is." I said, justifying my lack of courage to hit them up and invite them over.
"Araseo," Mina says, finally realizing my point. Despite my close KaTalk vigilance day and night, the premise of us becoming close pals is just too good to be true. "They did promise to get you a signed G. Soul album though," She adds, making me blush.
"I'm sure we'll see each other again," I say with a smile. We suddenly hear GFriend blasting from my pocket.
"You need to change your ringtone," Mina chides.
"Yoboseo?" I didn't even look at the caller ID—the perks of having a gesture-friendly phone.
"Aaawww, her voice is so cute!" I hear someone in the background say in English. I steal a glance at the caller ID to confirm who's on the other end of the line before shooting Mina a panicked look. "Hello? Hey, Love!" It's Jackson.
"Yo—Hello? Hey, Jackson!" I answer, quickly switching to English. Mina's eyes automatically widen upon hearing his name and she scoots beside me to eavesdrop.
"Yo, where are you? We're back, baby!" He says, his voice booming. Mina looks like she's about to explode in her seat.
"So I've heard! I'm still at work, why?" I say, trying to keep my chipper voice down. I feel like every time I speak in my native tongue people at work start judging me. They either look surprised, impressed, or annoyed.
"At JYPE?" Jackson asks.
"Uhhh... Yeah, where else would I be?" I can see Mina frantically flailing her hands at me. It's like she's trying to tell me something but I can't seem to understand what she's saying.
"Okay, we'll see you then!"
"Mwo? Geuge museun marieyo?" [What? What are you trying to say?] I say, to both Jackson and Mina.
"We're filming Real GOT7 at JYPE today, we're on our way there!" Jackson answers.
"Oh!" I answer, shock spreading all through out my body... And then I panic. "Ohhh... Okay," We were told about the next episode weeks before and I completely forgot about it. "Uhhh... Okay then! I guess I'll see you!" I say, feigning enthusiasm. I put the phone down as soon as Jackson mutters his goodbye. "Omo, the surprise video!" I squeal.
"That's what I've been trying to tell you, we're not done with the surprise video!" Mina says, collecting her stuff. We dash out of the pantry so we can finish the surprise video before GOT7 comes in for their filming. On the way to our desks, I finally send another KaTalk message to the boys.
Love: Hey guys, I have a small favor...
Mark: Yeah? What is it?
Love: You know that the people here have no idea we all know each other, right?
BamBam: But you're GOT7 staff, of course we know each other.
Love: No, like, no one here knows we're friends outside of work other than Mina, the other video PD.
BamBam: Oh ok!
Love: So, if it's okay...
Mark: You want us to pretend we're not friends?
BamBam: Awww... I'm hurt. *crying emoji*
Love: No! It's not that...
Jackson: *sad face emoji* Don't you like us anymore?
Love: Oh god, hear me out!
Love: If we ever need to talk with others in the room, just remember I'm your noona. So talk to me like how you address everyone else.
Love: And please no mention of my undies. I am begging you, BamBam. Jebal. *praying emoji*
BamBam: LOL *laughing emoji* Arase o!
Mark: *thumbs up emoji*
Jackson: Do we have to do acting? I'm bad at acting...
Love: Just treat me like how you treat the other staff, that's all I'm saying.
Jackson: Ha ha ha, just kidding. Okay!
I put my phone down just in time to see Mina staring at me from across our work table. "Yah, I hate to say this but that smile of yours will give you away immediately," She says. I bite my lower lip, failing to realize just how wide my smile has gotten. "By the way the video is done rendering." I look back at my computer and sure enough, the surprise video is done.
This day is about to look super interesting.