I'll Be Good For You, Ch. 7
Previously:
Chapter 1: Here's to the Night
Chapter 2: Maneater
Chapter 3: Know Your Enemy
Chapter 4: I Just Wanna Live
Chapter 5: Shark in the Water
Chapter 6: Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk
Disclaimer: The A.N.JELL-verse belongs to the Hong sisters, creators of You're Beautiful.
Author's Notes: Thanks, as always, to akaironoyoru and lilivanilla1 for reviewing, and to those of you still following this story :)
Chapter Seven - Smooth Operator (Sade)
Get a hold of yourself, Park Oh-lan, she told herself firmly. This outfit isn't very different from the others you've worn to work. The only new thing you're wearing is the shirt!
She had had all of the Chuseok break to blend her new things into her existing wardrobe, as Stylist Wang had ordered, and to work up the courage to actually wear them in public, but she still couldn't help feeling nervous as she walked down the hall to the Inside Showbiz offices wearing one of her new blouses. There was nothing seriously wrong with it - it was perfectly appropriate for office wear, but Oh-lan was not used to wearing such bold patterns.
It seemed, however, that Stylist Wang was truly good at her job, and Oh-lan's new look was going to be well-received, judging from the double thumbs-up that she received from In-jung when she walked into the writing department. "Looking good, noona!" he told her.
The photographer had apparently been discussing work with one of the other reporters, Woo Jung-ah, who gave Oh-lan a broad grin. "Reporter Park, you're blooming! What's the occasion? Do you have a hot date after work?" she asked with an exaggerated wink.
Oh-lan laughed self-consciously. "No," she admitted. "I just felt like trying out a new look, that's all."
"Well, it's about time!"
"Why is this such a surprise to everyone?" Soon-ok's drawl broke in, just before he himself emerged from the pantry with a mug of coffee. "Of course Reporter Park would change her style. After all, she's a big-time writer now and she must dress the part."
There was nothing wrong with what he said; rather, it was the way he said it. His tone implied that Oh-lan had become arrogant due to her being recommended for the A.N.JELL book project, and was rubbing it in everyone else's faces. To add insult to injury, the expression on his face as he looked at her said plainly that he didn't think that the new style was becoming.
Resisting the temptation to trip Soon-ok as he stalked by her desk, Oh-lan focused instead on maintaining her composure. Stylist Wang was a professional; on the other hand, what did he know about women's clothes? Furthermore, the others seemed to like it.
"As I was saying," Jung-ah said when Soon-ok had gone, "it's about time you got a new look. I always felt that you were hiding yourself under the things you used to wear. You know the old proverb..." The older woman's voice trailed off.
"What old proverb?" Oh-lan asked.
"If you've got it, flaunt it!"
She laughed in spite of herself. "Well, I'm glad some people think I've 'got it.'"
In-jung snorted. "Don't pay any attention to Reporter Kim, noona."
"Yeah," Jung-ah chimed in, snickering. "Maybe he just wishes that he looked half as good in a skirt as you do."
Oh-lan breathed a great sigh of relief when she finally returned home after work that day, and was able to change into a comfortable, threadbare T-shirt and sweatpants. The feedback on her new look had been good (if she wasn't mistaken, a couple of guys might have even checked her out on the subway ride home), but it was still a strain to pretend that she was perfectly comfortable with the new style, and keep her composure in the face of Soon-ok's disdainful attitude and thinly veiled insults.
She had just flopped down on her sofa with a book, a mug of tea and Genghis when her phone rang. She frowned in confusion when she saw the name of the incoming caller, but picked up nevertheless. "Hello?"
"Hi, Reporter Park!" Go Mi-nam said cheerfully over the line. "How's it going? How was your Chuseok break?"
"Just fine, thank you," Oh-lan replied slowly, tucking her feet under her. "What can I do for you? Is there a problem with the book project?"
"What? Oh - no!" He chuckled. "I was just checking to make sure you're not working."
"Well... I'm speaking with you right now," she told him, perplexed. "Does that count as working?"
"I'm not calling you as a client."
Silence fell on the other end of the line. For a moment, Mi-nam feared that Oh-lan was going to snap at him for wasting her time, so he was relieved to hear amusement in her voice when she spoke again. "I suppose you're calling me as someone who thinks I'm working too hard?"
He grinned. "That's right. So, are you working right now?"
"Actually, I'm not. My cat and I were just about to do a little reading when you called."
"That's good. Me, too," he told her.
"You have a cat?"
"No," Mi-nam answered, chuckling. "But I am about to start the second book that you recommended."
"Really? ...What happened to the first one?" she asked suspiciously.
"I finished it, of course!" he told her, sitting bolt upright in indignation. "I'm hurt, Reporter Park."
She laughed. "I was just making sure. How did you like it?"
"I liked it a lot," he admitted. "You're right about those kinds of books being easier to read, since they're shorter and the stories are simpler. This one was really funny, too." That had made it even easier to follow; that and the fact that the group of boys who were the lead characters in the book sort of reminded him of himself and his bandmates, and their misadventures of the crazy things that A.N.JELL did together. Maybe he would even try to convince them to read it, even if they still thought it was a baby book.
"It was, wasn't it? That author writes a lot of funny stories. You should read more of his work."
"Maybe I will," he said. He couldn't promise anything, and he didn't even understand why getting him to read more was so important, but he would definitely try.
As they chatted some more, Mi-nam happened to glance at the picture of his mother. That night, there was a bit of mischief in her smile. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into, her expression seemed to say.
He made a face at her, glad that he was alone in his room and no one could see him doing something so silly. He was calling Oh-lan to keep her in a good mood and prevent her from prying into A.N.JELL's private affairs. Of course he knew what he was doing.
"Reporter Park! Good morning!"
"Good morning," Oh-lan replied on her way inside the AN Entertainment offices. She couldn't help smiling as she returned the security guard's greeting, for the surprise in his voice was vastly amusing. Was her new look really that big of a change?
"Oh, Reporter Park!" a staffer exclaimed as they passed each other in the halls on the way to Oh-lan's office. "I almost didn't recognize you!"
All right, she amended, perhaps it was a pretty major change.
Not surprisingly, Stylist Wang was thrilled to bits at the sight of her. "You look amazing!" she squealed, her stiletto heels drumming happily on the floor as she did a little dance. "That pink is doing wonders for your complexion. See what going lighter and brighter, and wearing clothes that actually fit, can do for you? But you like it, right?" she demanded. "Do you feel comfortable?"
"Not completely," Oh-lan admitted. "I mean, they feel fine, not too tight or anything, but they're not styles that I'm used to. I do like them, though," she added emphatically, "and I think they look good on me, so I'm going to try and wear things like this more often."
"I'd better see more at the charity bash this weekend! You're coming, right?"
She nodded. "I need to observe A.N.JELL for the book, and also to cover the event for Inside Showbiz."
Stylist Wang squealed again, loud enough to alarm people passing by, including Mi-nam. "Hey, what's up, Coordi-noona?" he asked, one eyebrow arched quizzically. "Are you feeling all right?"
"I'm fine!" she told him. "I'm just so happy over how good Reporter Park looks! Doesn't she look darling in her new outfit, Go Mi-nam?"
Oh-lan found herself holding her breath as the young man inspected her (much too closely, it seemed), and let it out when he gave an appreciative nod. "She looks lovely," he agreed, sounding gratifyingly sincere. "Is this your doing, noona?"
"Naturally," the stylist confirmed, patting her hair, which was in some kind of complicated towering arrangement that day. "But my magic only goes so far - the rest lies in how well the person carries off my style recommendations."
"Well, I think Reporter Park carries them off very well."
Oh-lan had to laugh at that. It seemed that moving as though she were ready to pick a fight with anyone who made the mistake of insulting her new look was the right thing to do. "You're both too kind, and I wish I could stay here and soak up more compliments, but I have a lot of writing to do today."
Mi-nam grinned and winked at her. "If you ever need any more compliments, you just come look for me."
"Don't let Mi-nam rattle you," Stylist Wang advised when he had bid the ladies good day and ambled on down the corridor. "Sometimes he can be over-the-top when talking to girls."
"I can tell," Oh-lan answered with another short laugh.
"He really meant what he said, though, about you looking good," she added, as though afraid that Oh-lan might change her mind about continuing to wear her new clothes. "I'm a pro, so I know what I'm doing."
"I know that you do," she assured the taller woman with a smile. "And thank you very much again. I don't think I would have been able to change my style like this without your help."
By the time she finally got to her office, Oh-lan's cheeks were as pink as her little cardigan sweater (and the matching ring on her hand). She hadn't worn this outfit to AN Entertainment today to get anyone's attention, she told herself firmly as she plugged in her laptop and booted it up. She had worn it for herself, because she thought it was pretty and a nice change from her usual style. Black went with everything, especially more black, but it could get pretty confining.
Nevertheless, hearing other people tell her how good she looked had definitely felt very nice.
The "charity bash" to which Stylist Wang referred was veteran actor-singer Sung Bo-dae's annual birthday extravaganza, which also doubled as a fundraiser for a specially selected (often high-profile) charity. Invitations to the event were highly coveted, not only because it was a chance to rub shoulders with the glitterati of the entertainment and business circles, but for public figures it was also an opportunity to be seen as contributing to a charitable cause.
As Korea's top idol band, A.N.JELL was naturally on the guest list, and the boys were looking forward to it. "At least we don't have to wear any boring monkey suits," Jeremy said as they entered the function hall that was serving as the venue of the event. "And Bo-dae sunbae always throws a good party. I want to be just like him when I grow up."
"You'll have to grow up first," Mi-nam teased him.
Jeremy narrowed his eyes at his bandmate through the bangs arranged artistically to hang in his face, and as usual, Shin-woo stepped in to avert disaster. "Batgirl and Cookie Monster are already here," he said. (Mother Teresa, unfortunately, wasn't coming that night.)
Fortunately, that was enough to distract the blond boy. "Really?" He craned his neck to scan the crowd. "Yeah, I think I see Batgirl."
"We should probably go over to them and say hello, right?"
Jeremy nodded enthusiastically. "Definitely!"
"Divide and conquer - nice move," Tae-kyung murmured to Shin-woo as the guitarist started steering Jeremy away. Shin-woo gave him a conspiratorial wink.
"Did you say anything, brother-in-law?" Mi-nam asked, turning his attention from the pretty (and hopefully single) women in the room. He didn't want to do that, but if Tae-kyung was saying something important, he knew he had to hear it. For all his faults, Mi-nam took his belonging to A.N.JELL seriously.
"No," the vocalist assured him.
He grinned. "Well, since Shin-woo hyung and Jeremy have gone to mingle, I suppose I'll do the same. Would you excuse me?"
Mi-nam made his way to the crowded open bar, ordered a drink from the bartender and sidled up to one of the pretty young things he had been eyeing from afar. "Nice party, huh?" he said. The girl turned, and his smile faded. "Never mind."
"Why, hello there, Go Mi-nam," Yoo Heyi said with an acid-sweet smile on her petulantly pretty face.
"Turn back around, Heyi. The back of your head looks much better than the front."
"That's not what you said last year."
"I didn't know better then," he retorted, rolling his eyes. He had liked Heyi for a while, when he had first taken his place in A.N.JELL, but that had ended very quickly when she made him choose between her and his sister. That had been a very easy choice to make. Who needed a toxic girlfriend like that, especially when there were dozens of others out there who would know their place and understand that family came first?
Her smile turned into a scowl, and Mi-nam wished that there was a paparazzo nearby to capture "Korea's fairy" looking so ugly. "I still know your secret, you know," she threatened, referring of course to the fact that Mi-nyeo had posed as her brother for the first month following his A.N.JELL debut while Mi-nam recovered from plastic surgery. Mi-nam wasn't too clear on the details, but from the way the others had talked about her, he gathered that Heyi had held this over their heads for quite a while.
"Yeah, but is anyone going to believe you if you went public now? More than one year later, and after you laughed at that reporter who tried to strip me naked to prove I was a girl?" Mi-nam laughed in her face. "Face it, Heyi - you've lost, and you're not going to get anything out of me, my sister or my bandmates. Ever."
With a final smirk, he turned away from her, in time to see Oh-lan walk up to the bar and order a drink. He probably wouldn't have spared her a second (OK, maybe a third) glance if he hadn't spied Shin-woo, Jeremy and their girlfriends, semi- and otherwise, standing together not far behind her.
Mi-nam was at the writer's side in a flash. "Reporter Park! Fancy seeing you here!"
She blinked, startled, then recovered to give him a polite smile. "Oh, hello, Go Mi-nam."
"Can I buy you a drink?"
A slender eyebrow rose above the top of her eyeglasses. (She was dressing much better these days, he thought, but the woman obviously had yet to hear of contact lenses.) "They're free."
"Makes it easier to treat you, then," he said with a grin.
Oh-lan laughed. "I suppose it does."
"How are you liking the party?"
"It's pretty cool," she answered, glancing around. "Of course, I'm not here as a guest but a member of the media, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the perks." The bartender brought her her drink, and she raised her glass to Mi-nam. "Like free drinks.
"So are you here on business or pleasure?" she asked him then.
"A little of both!" he answered, taking her arm. "Hey, Reporter Park, you don't want to stand around all night, do you? Why don't we sit down?"
Oh-lan was surprised when Mi-nam took her arm, but didn't protest when she saw that he was merely guiding her towards one of the seating areas set up for the guests' comfort. She couldn't help thinking that it was rather nice of him to do that... and to want to sit with her as well.
They nabbed an empty table and sat down. "What do you mean, a little of both?" she asked, sitting primly with her glass in her lap even though he had taken another seat instead of sharing her short bench.
"Of course, being seen here is good for A.N.JELL's image," Mi-nam explained. "But besides that, Bo-dae sunbae is a respected member of the showbiz community and his parties are lots of fun. We would be happy to come even if it's not a high-profile affair." He paused, and then gave her a penetrating look. "Hey, you're not interviewing me right now, are you?"
"Well, I am partly here to get more material for the book," she admitted with a smile, "but don't worry, I'm not going to grill you, or any of the others for that matter. I'm happy just to observe."
"Good," Mi-nam said. "I mean, I'd be happy to answer your questions, but this is a party and you should enjoy it even if you're here as part of the media. You shouldn't-"
"-work too hard," they chorused, Oh-lan rolling her eyes as she spoke.
He grinned at her. "You learn fast."
They chatted amiably for a while until Mi-nam saw his bandmates and their girlfriends moving towards the area where he sat with the writer. He shot Shin-woo and Jeremy a glare. Were they being guided by an evil spirit? Or following him around on purpose, just to spite him?
Unfortunately, Oh-lan didn't miss the expression that crossed his face. "Is everything all right?" she asked, sounding concerned.
"Yeah, everything's fine!" he assured her hastily. "I-it's just that this is one of my favorite songs... and I really should be dancing to it! Would you like to dance?"
She looked startled. "What?"
"Would you like to dance?" he repeated.
"I'm supposed to be observing!" she blurted out.
Mi-nam shook his head and grabbed the writer's arm, hauling her to her feet. "Sometimes you shouldn't just observe," he told her as he began towing her towards the dance floor, "but be part of the action."
He hustled her quickly past his bandmates, who watched their progress with interest. "Was that the writer you guys mentioned before?" Su-jin asked.
Shin-woo nodded. "Mi-nam probably saw us coming and tried to keep her from seeing you with us."
"No wonder he was giving you two a dirty look just a while ago," Ha-neul observed. "He was trying to warn you away from here."
"He should have sent us a text message," Jeremy snickered.
Su-jin smacked his arm. "That's mean! And to think he was trying to help you!"
"Well, you have to admit he looked kind of funny scrambling around like that!" The drummer scowled. "And why are you standing up for him? Are you his girlfriend now?"
"Mi-nam is doing us a favor," Shin-woo reminded them. "Do you really want to undo all his hard work by fighting in public?"
"This is probably a good time for all of us to split up again," Ha-neul suggested, taking Su-jin's arm. "There's an executive that Appa says I need to talk to, anyway. The executive is a woman," she added when Shin-woo's eyes narrowed playfully.
Her boyfriend grinned, mollified. "That's fine, then. We'll see you girls later. Come on, Jeremy."
Out on the dance floor, Oh-lan moved hesitantly to the music, feeling awkward. "It's been a long time since I danced," she explained, although the main reason why she was feeling this way was the guy right across from her. She was sure that he wasn't going to laugh at her or anything, but he was a professional and she still couldn't help feeling self-conscious about dancing in front of him.
"It's just like riding a bike," Mi-nam told her. "You never really forget how!" He grabbed her hand and twirled her around.
A laugh burst out of her as she spun, colored lights speeding dizzily by, and in the space of a heartbeat, a different person faced him.
Oh-lan raised her arms and moved more freely as the music stole through the soles of her feet and up into the rest of her body. After years of not having the chance, not having the time, to dance, this felt like the first rays of spring sunshine. Soon, she was consumed by the dance.
Mi-nam watched her from across the breath of space that separated them. It was hard to believe that this was same woman - instead of a nun, a fairy princess stood before him. A fairy princess in a black leather jacket who smelled like little white flowers and moved as though her feet had wings. One who waved her arms as though casting a spell so that she could dance forever. One who arched her neck and pouted, inviting any brave soul to break the trance with true love's kiss.
Perhaps he was the one in the trance....
He leaned towards her only to have something hit him in the face, jolting him back to reality. "Omo!" Oh-lan exclaimed. "I'm so sorry! Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," Mi-nam replied, rubbing his cheek and trying to sound natural even as he tried to come to grips with what he had almost done. "I barely got hit. What happened?"
"My glasses." Laughing, she bent down to pick up something from the floor. "I was moving so much that they fell off!"
"Oh." He watched her inspect them for damage. "Are they broken?"
"No, they're OK, but I think I'll put them away for now." She put them into the small, slim purse tucked under her arm and smiled at him, her eyes shining like stars even in the dim light of the dance floor. "I don't need to see while I'm dancing, anyway!"
The next day, Mi-nam's bandmates congratulated him on his excellent job of running interference. "Thanks to you, Mi-nam," Jeremy said as A.N.JELL took a break from recording, "I got some important quality time with Cookie Monster!"
"Did she finally agree to take you back?" asked Shin-woo, with a smile that said that he already knew the answer to the question.
"No, but I think I made progress!"
Tae-kyung put down his water bottle and snickered. "I guess that's better than nothing," he said. "But seriously, Mi-nam, I must thank you, too, for distracting Reporter Park. I didn't have to hide my girlfriend last night, but it was nice not feeling like she was looking over my shoulder."
Mi-nam acknowledged the thanks with a kingly wave of his hand. "You're very welcome, brother-in-law. Remember this moment the next time I ask you to do something for me, OK?"
"It wasn't difficult for you, was it?" Shin-woo asked him. "I mean, you gave up practically your whole evening just so the rest of us could enjoy ourselves."
The keyboardist thought about the way Oh-lan had looked on the dance floor: slender arms raised, long lashes fanning darkly against her cheeks, kittenish pout flashing red, blue and yellow under the lights.
"No," he said finally. "It was fine."
Suddenly, there was a loud bang. The boys looked up, startled, to see the door leading into the studio bouncing off the wall.
The writer stood in the open doorway. Judging from the stunned look on her face, she had heard everything they said.
Chapter 1: Here's to the Night
Chapter 2: Maneater
Chapter 3: Know Your Enemy
Chapter 4: I Just Wanna Live
Chapter 5: Shark in the Water
Chapter 6: Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk
Disclaimer: The A.N.JELL-verse belongs to the Hong sisters, creators of You're Beautiful.
Author's Notes: Thanks, as always, to akaironoyoru and lilivanilla1 for reviewing, and to those of you still following this story :)
Chapter Seven - Smooth Operator (Sade)
Get a hold of yourself, Park Oh-lan, she told herself firmly. This outfit isn't very different from the others you've worn to work. The only new thing you're wearing is the shirt!
She had had all of the Chuseok break to blend her new things into her existing wardrobe, as Stylist Wang had ordered, and to work up the courage to actually wear them in public, but she still couldn't help feeling nervous as she walked down the hall to the Inside Showbiz offices wearing one of her new blouses. There was nothing seriously wrong with it - it was perfectly appropriate for office wear, but Oh-lan was not used to wearing such bold patterns.
It seemed, however, that Stylist Wang was truly good at her job, and Oh-lan's new look was going to be well-received, judging from the double thumbs-up that she received from In-jung when she walked into the writing department. "Looking good, noona!" he told her.
The photographer had apparently been discussing work with one of the other reporters, Woo Jung-ah, who gave Oh-lan a broad grin. "Reporter Park, you're blooming! What's the occasion? Do you have a hot date after work?" she asked with an exaggerated wink.
Oh-lan laughed self-consciously. "No," she admitted. "I just felt like trying out a new look, that's all."
"Well, it's about time!"
"Why is this such a surprise to everyone?" Soon-ok's drawl broke in, just before he himself emerged from the pantry with a mug of coffee. "Of course Reporter Park would change her style. After all, she's a big-time writer now and she must dress the part."
There was nothing wrong with what he said; rather, it was the way he said it. His tone implied that Oh-lan had become arrogant due to her being recommended for the A.N.JELL book project, and was rubbing it in everyone else's faces. To add insult to injury, the expression on his face as he looked at her said plainly that he didn't think that the new style was becoming.
Resisting the temptation to trip Soon-ok as he stalked by her desk, Oh-lan focused instead on maintaining her composure. Stylist Wang was a professional; on the other hand, what did he know about women's clothes? Furthermore, the others seemed to like it.
"As I was saying," Jung-ah said when Soon-ok had gone, "it's about time you got a new look. I always felt that you were hiding yourself under the things you used to wear. You know the old proverb..." The older woman's voice trailed off.
"What old proverb?" Oh-lan asked.
"If you've got it, flaunt it!"
She laughed in spite of herself. "Well, I'm glad some people think I've 'got it.'"
In-jung snorted. "Don't pay any attention to Reporter Kim, noona."
"Yeah," Jung-ah chimed in, snickering. "Maybe he just wishes that he looked half as good in a skirt as you do."
Oh-lan breathed a great sigh of relief when she finally returned home after work that day, and was able to change into a comfortable, threadbare T-shirt and sweatpants. The feedback on her new look had been good (if she wasn't mistaken, a couple of guys might have even checked her out on the subway ride home), but it was still a strain to pretend that she was perfectly comfortable with the new style, and keep her composure in the face of Soon-ok's disdainful attitude and thinly veiled insults.
She had just flopped down on her sofa with a book, a mug of tea and Genghis when her phone rang. She frowned in confusion when she saw the name of the incoming caller, but picked up nevertheless. "Hello?"
"Hi, Reporter Park!" Go Mi-nam said cheerfully over the line. "How's it going? How was your Chuseok break?"
"Just fine, thank you," Oh-lan replied slowly, tucking her feet under her. "What can I do for you? Is there a problem with the book project?"
"What? Oh - no!" He chuckled. "I was just checking to make sure you're not working."
"Well... I'm speaking with you right now," she told him, perplexed. "Does that count as working?"
"I'm not calling you as a client."
Silence fell on the other end of the line. For a moment, Mi-nam feared that Oh-lan was going to snap at him for wasting her time, so he was relieved to hear amusement in her voice when she spoke again. "I suppose you're calling me as someone who thinks I'm working too hard?"
He grinned. "That's right. So, are you working right now?"
"Actually, I'm not. My cat and I were just about to do a little reading when you called."
"That's good. Me, too," he told her.
"You have a cat?"
"No," Mi-nam answered, chuckling. "But I am about to start the second book that you recommended."
"Really? ...What happened to the first one?" she asked suspiciously.
"I finished it, of course!" he told her, sitting bolt upright in indignation. "I'm hurt, Reporter Park."
She laughed. "I was just making sure. How did you like it?"
"I liked it a lot," he admitted. "You're right about those kinds of books being easier to read, since they're shorter and the stories are simpler. This one was really funny, too." That had made it even easier to follow; that and the fact that the group of boys who were the lead characters in the book sort of reminded him of himself and his bandmates, and their misadventures of the crazy things that A.N.JELL did together. Maybe he would even try to convince them to read it, even if they still thought it was a baby book.
"It was, wasn't it? That author writes a lot of funny stories. You should read more of his work."
"Maybe I will," he said. He couldn't promise anything, and he didn't even understand why getting him to read more was so important, but he would definitely try.
As they chatted some more, Mi-nam happened to glance at the picture of his mother. That night, there was a bit of mischief in her smile. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into, her expression seemed to say.
He made a face at her, glad that he was alone in his room and no one could see him doing something so silly. He was calling Oh-lan to keep her in a good mood and prevent her from prying into A.N.JELL's private affairs. Of course he knew what he was doing.
"Reporter Park! Good morning!"
"Good morning," Oh-lan replied on her way inside the AN Entertainment offices. She couldn't help smiling as she returned the security guard's greeting, for the surprise in his voice was vastly amusing. Was her new look really that big of a change?
"Oh, Reporter Park!" a staffer exclaimed as they passed each other in the halls on the way to Oh-lan's office. "I almost didn't recognize you!"
All right, she amended, perhaps it was a pretty major change.
Not surprisingly, Stylist Wang was thrilled to bits at the sight of her. "You look amazing!" she squealed, her stiletto heels drumming happily on the floor as she did a little dance. "That pink is doing wonders for your complexion. See what going lighter and brighter, and wearing clothes that actually fit, can do for you? But you like it, right?" she demanded. "Do you feel comfortable?"
"Not completely," Oh-lan admitted. "I mean, they feel fine, not too tight or anything, but they're not styles that I'm used to. I do like them, though," she added emphatically, "and I think they look good on me, so I'm going to try and wear things like this more often."
"I'd better see more at the charity bash this weekend! You're coming, right?"
She nodded. "I need to observe A.N.JELL for the book, and also to cover the event for Inside Showbiz."
Stylist Wang squealed again, loud enough to alarm people passing by, including Mi-nam. "Hey, what's up, Coordi-noona?" he asked, one eyebrow arched quizzically. "Are you feeling all right?"
"I'm fine!" she told him. "I'm just so happy over how good Reporter Park looks! Doesn't she look darling in her new outfit, Go Mi-nam?"
Oh-lan found herself holding her breath as the young man inspected her (much too closely, it seemed), and let it out when he gave an appreciative nod. "She looks lovely," he agreed, sounding gratifyingly sincere. "Is this your doing, noona?"
"Naturally," the stylist confirmed, patting her hair, which was in some kind of complicated towering arrangement that day. "But my magic only goes so far - the rest lies in how well the person carries off my style recommendations."
"Well, I think Reporter Park carries them off very well."
Oh-lan had to laugh at that. It seemed that moving as though she were ready to pick a fight with anyone who made the mistake of insulting her new look was the right thing to do. "You're both too kind, and I wish I could stay here and soak up more compliments, but I have a lot of writing to do today."
Mi-nam grinned and winked at her. "If you ever need any more compliments, you just come look for me."
"Don't let Mi-nam rattle you," Stylist Wang advised when he had bid the ladies good day and ambled on down the corridor. "Sometimes he can be over-the-top when talking to girls."
"I can tell," Oh-lan answered with another short laugh.
"He really meant what he said, though, about you looking good," she added, as though afraid that Oh-lan might change her mind about continuing to wear her new clothes. "I'm a pro, so I know what I'm doing."
"I know that you do," she assured the taller woman with a smile. "And thank you very much again. I don't think I would have been able to change my style like this without your help."
By the time she finally got to her office, Oh-lan's cheeks were as pink as her little cardigan sweater (and the matching ring on her hand). She hadn't worn this outfit to AN Entertainment today to get anyone's attention, she told herself firmly as she plugged in her laptop and booted it up. She had worn it for herself, because she thought it was pretty and a nice change from her usual style. Black went with everything, especially more black, but it could get pretty confining.
Nevertheless, hearing other people tell her how good she looked had definitely felt very nice.
The "charity bash" to which Stylist Wang referred was veteran actor-singer Sung Bo-dae's annual birthday extravaganza, which also doubled as a fundraiser for a specially selected (often high-profile) charity. Invitations to the event were highly coveted, not only because it was a chance to rub shoulders with the glitterati of the entertainment and business circles, but for public figures it was also an opportunity to be seen as contributing to a charitable cause.
As Korea's top idol band, A.N.JELL was naturally on the guest list, and the boys were looking forward to it. "At least we don't have to wear any boring monkey suits," Jeremy said as they entered the function hall that was serving as the venue of the event. "And Bo-dae sunbae always throws a good party. I want to be just like him when I grow up."
"You'll have to grow up first," Mi-nam teased him.
Jeremy narrowed his eyes at his bandmate through the bangs arranged artistically to hang in his face, and as usual, Shin-woo stepped in to avert disaster. "Batgirl and Cookie Monster are already here," he said. (Mother Teresa, unfortunately, wasn't coming that night.)
Fortunately, that was enough to distract the blond boy. "Really?" He craned his neck to scan the crowd. "Yeah, I think I see Batgirl."
"We should probably go over to them and say hello, right?"
Jeremy nodded enthusiastically. "Definitely!"
"Divide and conquer - nice move," Tae-kyung murmured to Shin-woo as the guitarist started steering Jeremy away. Shin-woo gave him a conspiratorial wink.
"Did you say anything, brother-in-law?" Mi-nam asked, turning his attention from the pretty (and hopefully single) women in the room. He didn't want to do that, but if Tae-kyung was saying something important, he knew he had to hear it. For all his faults, Mi-nam took his belonging to A.N.JELL seriously.
"No," the vocalist assured him.
He grinned. "Well, since Shin-woo hyung and Jeremy have gone to mingle, I suppose I'll do the same. Would you excuse me?"
Mi-nam made his way to the crowded open bar, ordered a drink from the bartender and sidled up to one of the pretty young things he had been eyeing from afar. "Nice party, huh?" he said. The girl turned, and his smile faded. "Never mind."
"Why, hello there, Go Mi-nam," Yoo Heyi said with an acid-sweet smile on her petulantly pretty face.
"Turn back around, Heyi. The back of your head looks much better than the front."
"That's not what you said last year."
"I didn't know better then," he retorted, rolling his eyes. He had liked Heyi for a while, when he had first taken his place in A.N.JELL, but that had ended very quickly when she made him choose between her and his sister. That had been a very easy choice to make. Who needed a toxic girlfriend like that, especially when there were dozens of others out there who would know their place and understand that family came first?
Her smile turned into a scowl, and Mi-nam wished that there was a paparazzo nearby to capture "Korea's fairy" looking so ugly. "I still know your secret, you know," she threatened, referring of course to the fact that Mi-nyeo had posed as her brother for the first month following his A.N.JELL debut while Mi-nam recovered from plastic surgery. Mi-nam wasn't too clear on the details, but from the way the others had talked about her, he gathered that Heyi had held this over their heads for quite a while.
"Yeah, but is anyone going to believe you if you went public now? More than one year later, and after you laughed at that reporter who tried to strip me naked to prove I was a girl?" Mi-nam laughed in her face. "Face it, Heyi - you've lost, and you're not going to get anything out of me, my sister or my bandmates. Ever."
With a final smirk, he turned away from her, in time to see Oh-lan walk up to the bar and order a drink. He probably wouldn't have spared her a second (OK, maybe a third) glance if he hadn't spied Shin-woo, Jeremy and their girlfriends, semi- and otherwise, standing together not far behind her.
Mi-nam was at the writer's side in a flash. "Reporter Park! Fancy seeing you here!"
She blinked, startled, then recovered to give him a polite smile. "Oh, hello, Go Mi-nam."
"Can I buy you a drink?"
A slender eyebrow rose above the top of her eyeglasses. (She was dressing much better these days, he thought, but the woman obviously had yet to hear of contact lenses.) "They're free."
"Makes it easier to treat you, then," he said with a grin.
Oh-lan laughed. "I suppose it does."
"How are you liking the party?"
"It's pretty cool," she answered, glancing around. "Of course, I'm not here as a guest but a member of the media, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the perks." The bartender brought her her drink, and she raised her glass to Mi-nam. "Like free drinks.
"So are you here on business or pleasure?" she asked him then.
"A little of both!" he answered, taking her arm. "Hey, Reporter Park, you don't want to stand around all night, do you? Why don't we sit down?"
Oh-lan was surprised when Mi-nam took her arm, but didn't protest when she saw that he was merely guiding her towards one of the seating areas set up for the guests' comfort. She couldn't help thinking that it was rather nice of him to do that... and to want to sit with her as well.
They nabbed an empty table and sat down. "What do you mean, a little of both?" she asked, sitting primly with her glass in her lap even though he had taken another seat instead of sharing her short bench.
"Of course, being seen here is good for A.N.JELL's image," Mi-nam explained. "But besides that, Bo-dae sunbae is a respected member of the showbiz community and his parties are lots of fun. We would be happy to come even if it's not a high-profile affair." He paused, and then gave her a penetrating look. "Hey, you're not interviewing me right now, are you?"
"Well, I am partly here to get more material for the book," she admitted with a smile, "but don't worry, I'm not going to grill you, or any of the others for that matter. I'm happy just to observe."
"Good," Mi-nam said. "I mean, I'd be happy to answer your questions, but this is a party and you should enjoy it even if you're here as part of the media. You shouldn't-"
"-work too hard," they chorused, Oh-lan rolling her eyes as she spoke.
He grinned at her. "You learn fast."
They chatted amiably for a while until Mi-nam saw his bandmates and their girlfriends moving towards the area where he sat with the writer. He shot Shin-woo and Jeremy a glare. Were they being guided by an evil spirit? Or following him around on purpose, just to spite him?
Unfortunately, Oh-lan didn't miss the expression that crossed his face. "Is everything all right?" she asked, sounding concerned.
"Yeah, everything's fine!" he assured her hastily. "I-it's just that this is one of my favorite songs... and I really should be dancing to it! Would you like to dance?"
She looked startled. "What?"
"Would you like to dance?" he repeated.
"I'm supposed to be observing!" she blurted out.
Mi-nam shook his head and grabbed the writer's arm, hauling her to her feet. "Sometimes you shouldn't just observe," he told her as he began towing her towards the dance floor, "but be part of the action."
He hustled her quickly past his bandmates, who watched their progress with interest. "Was that the writer you guys mentioned before?" Su-jin asked.
Shin-woo nodded. "Mi-nam probably saw us coming and tried to keep her from seeing you with us."
"No wonder he was giving you two a dirty look just a while ago," Ha-neul observed. "He was trying to warn you away from here."
"He should have sent us a text message," Jeremy snickered.
Su-jin smacked his arm. "That's mean! And to think he was trying to help you!"
"Well, you have to admit he looked kind of funny scrambling around like that!" The drummer scowled. "And why are you standing up for him? Are you his girlfriend now?"
"Mi-nam is doing us a favor," Shin-woo reminded them. "Do you really want to undo all his hard work by fighting in public?"
"This is probably a good time for all of us to split up again," Ha-neul suggested, taking Su-jin's arm. "There's an executive that Appa says I need to talk to, anyway. The executive is a woman," she added when Shin-woo's eyes narrowed playfully.
Her boyfriend grinned, mollified. "That's fine, then. We'll see you girls later. Come on, Jeremy."
Out on the dance floor, Oh-lan moved hesitantly to the music, feeling awkward. "It's been a long time since I danced," she explained, although the main reason why she was feeling this way was the guy right across from her. She was sure that he wasn't going to laugh at her or anything, but he was a professional and she still couldn't help feeling self-conscious about dancing in front of him.
"It's just like riding a bike," Mi-nam told her. "You never really forget how!" He grabbed her hand and twirled her around.
A laugh burst out of her as she spun, colored lights speeding dizzily by, and in the space of a heartbeat, a different person faced him.
Oh-lan raised her arms and moved more freely as the music stole through the soles of her feet and up into the rest of her body. After years of not having the chance, not having the time, to dance, this felt like the first rays of spring sunshine. Soon, she was consumed by the dance.
Mi-nam watched her from across the breath of space that separated them. It was hard to believe that this was same woman - instead of a nun, a fairy princess stood before him. A fairy princess in a black leather jacket who smelled like little white flowers and moved as though her feet had wings. One who waved her arms as though casting a spell so that she could dance forever. One who arched her neck and pouted, inviting any brave soul to break the trance with true love's kiss.
Perhaps he was the one in the trance....
He leaned towards her only to have something hit him in the face, jolting him back to reality. "Omo!" Oh-lan exclaimed. "I'm so sorry! Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," Mi-nam replied, rubbing his cheek and trying to sound natural even as he tried to come to grips with what he had almost done. "I barely got hit. What happened?"
"My glasses." Laughing, she bent down to pick up something from the floor. "I was moving so much that they fell off!"
"Oh." He watched her inspect them for damage. "Are they broken?"
"No, they're OK, but I think I'll put them away for now." She put them into the small, slim purse tucked under her arm and smiled at him, her eyes shining like stars even in the dim light of the dance floor. "I don't need to see while I'm dancing, anyway!"
The next day, Mi-nam's bandmates congratulated him on his excellent job of running interference. "Thanks to you, Mi-nam," Jeremy said as A.N.JELL took a break from recording, "I got some important quality time with Cookie Monster!"
"Did she finally agree to take you back?" asked Shin-woo, with a smile that said that he already knew the answer to the question.
"No, but I think I made progress!"
Tae-kyung put down his water bottle and snickered. "I guess that's better than nothing," he said. "But seriously, Mi-nam, I must thank you, too, for distracting Reporter Park. I didn't have to hide my girlfriend last night, but it was nice not feeling like she was looking over my shoulder."
Mi-nam acknowledged the thanks with a kingly wave of his hand. "You're very welcome, brother-in-law. Remember this moment the next time I ask you to do something for me, OK?"
"It wasn't difficult for you, was it?" Shin-woo asked him. "I mean, you gave up practically your whole evening just so the rest of us could enjoy ourselves."
The keyboardist thought about the way Oh-lan had looked on the dance floor: slender arms raised, long lashes fanning darkly against her cheeks, kittenish pout flashing red, blue and yellow under the lights.
"No," he said finally. "It was fine."
Suddenly, there was a loud bang. The boys looked up, startled, to see the door leading into the studio bouncing off the wall.
The writer stood in the open doorway. Judging from the stunned look on her face, she had heard everything they said.