1 Meeting

I wake up from barely having any sleep last night. Last night was hectic. My editor-in-chief, Mr.Kwak, took out all his frustration on us because his daughter declined her potential arranged marriage candidate.

"I don't want to go to work today!" I complained. After a while of grumbling about, I dragged myself out of bed. I opened the windows for the cold air to come in and greet me. I always love doing this in the winter season. It really refreshes me and it clears my mind when the cold air touches my face.

I went to my washroom, washed my face and my hair. I did my makeup and then I wore a white blouse, slacks and my white and grey plad tweed coat.

I then left for work. While I was walking, I looked at my text messages when suddenly, I bumped into someone.

"Hello, miss? Are you okay" He asked.

Hearing his voice made me weak to my knees. His voice is literally music to my ears. I could listen to him talk all day. Something about his voice sounded familliar, though.

I looked up and I was shocked on who I saw. The man I bumped into looked very familliar. I then looked up and I realize who it was.

The man was none other than popular singer Choi Jisoo.

He was wearing expensive looking clothing. He's wearing black, leather loafers with some black Cashmere slacks and a black trench coat. He also wore Gucchi sunglasses and a black cloth facemask which covered his smooth skin. His luscious black hair was uncovered though. His hair looks very silky and it reflects the sun.

Despite being all covered up, he still radiated a distinct aura that makes you recognize who he is from a mile away

The best way I could explain it is that it allures you to look at him, to talk to him. Like it's begging for you to just want him.

"Are you-" I asked. "Fuck! I got recognized." He then cut me off. I was shocked. I didn't know how to react. From the interviews and clips of him I've seen, I never heard him swear.

He then helped me up but he looked in another direction. He immediately takes my hand and makes a run for it.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I shouted. "I'll explain later. For now, let's get out of here." He replied.

I looked back and I noticed a taxi and in front of it was a growing crowd of girls who are probably 17-25 years old.

"Oh my god! Jisoo oppa* is running away with some girl!" A girl said.

*Oppa is used to adress males if the speaker is female. This term is also used in a flirty manner by females.

Jisoo then looks back. "Shit! There's more of them now." He complained.

The crowd then starts running toward our direction.

Fear and adrenaline fill up my whole body while confusion looms over me. I'm wondering how this ended up happening. Today was supposed to be a normal day. I was supposed to be in a train car going to the Mapo-gu* and the next second, I am here getting chased by sasengs*.

*Mapu-gu or Mapu-dong is a district in Seoul. Universities and office buildings are usually located here.

*Sasaengs are fans who wishes to get close to them as they can. They go as far as using stalking and harassment to achieve this goal.

We eventually stop in front of a cafe. I can't run for another mile. I was gasping for air. My lungs were desperate to get some air. My legs are weak and they can't move an inch anymore.

"We lost them." He said. "What a relief." I said. "Let's get in the cafe and I'll explain there." He replied.

We went inside the cafe. It's warm inside compared to the bitter, minus ten degree cold outside. The smell of coffee filled the air. I like the scent of coffee. The room is certainly inviting to someone like me.

We then order some drinks. He ordered  some Irish coffee while I ordered some Black tea. Afterwards, we looked for the most secluded spot that we could find. When we finally found a spot, he removed his sunglasses.

"I'm sorry for involving you. I saw a taxi that was following me around." He said. "What about that taxi?" I asked. "There are certain taxis that cater to obsessive fans. I'm constantly getting followed around by those. Those psychos give good money to the drivers to follow me around. When I helped you up awhile ago, I noticed a flash coming from a taxi nearby. My instincts told me to flee but I didn't want an entire mob to attack you because of a misunderstanding. You have no idea what these damn crazy bitches are thinking. I'm even more scared of them now because of what happend to Ian." He said.

"What happend to Ian?" I asked.

"You haven't heard? God, you must be living under a rock." He said while he slightly turned his head to the right.

"He was attacked by a sasaeng in his own apartment. The psycho stabbed him multiple times. He's now fighting for his life in the hospital." He said in a somber tone.

"Wow. I have no words." I replied.

"It's all over the news now not just here in Korea but around the world. An international star got attacked in his own apartment, that would be enough for the media to go wild." He said.

"I haven't asked your name yet by the way." Jisoo stated. "About that, well, my name's Raon, Doh Raon." I said. "Raon* huh, I hope you find happiness in your life as your name implies." He said.

*Raon means happiness

We then talk for a while. I stayed here because I'm still afraid to go out to the streets. I felt comforted within Jisoo's presence.

For some reason, while I was talking to him, my gut was telling me something. It was telling me that someone is watching us. I feel like someone is watching us like a predator. I swallow out of nervousness but I just shrugged it off and continued to talk to him.

After a while, I check my phone and I saw that it was already 7 am.

"I need to go now." I said.

"Wait." Jisoo said in a low voice.

I then look out the window and I notice a person press her body against the glass panel near the front door. Another person arrives, and another, until there was a crowd in front of the entire cafe building. They were all fighting to be the nearest to the glass panel. They were almost like zombies trying to eat Jisoo and I alive.

"Godammit! Why do they have to show up now!" Jisoo whined.

My mind then starts to go blank from the overwhel

"What do we do now? I'm gonna be late for work! " I complained. "Dont worry, I'll call my manager. She'll help us." He said.

The crowd just kept on growing as time passed by. More and more people flock and take photos of us.

A black van finally arrived.

Jisoo dragged me out of the cafe with him. As we were running towards the van, I felt a lot of tugs and pulls. The fans were all trying to touch him like they were animals fighting over food. This lasted for about 10 minutes before Jisoo and I are finally in the safe haven of the van.

The van's interior is all beige leather. It's quite comfy inside as well. Nobody was inside aside from Jisoo, I and Jisoo's manager.

A woman was driving the van. Her veins are popped out and her brows are really furrowed.

"Jisoo! Look at the situation you got yourself into! Aigoo, you even dragged an innocent girl into this!" The woman scolded Jisoo.

Jisoo looks like a dog getting scolded. Remorse is shown on his face.

"I'm so sorry for trouble I caused you." I said to the woman.

"You don't have to be sorry. In fact, I should be the one who's sorry. The one I'm taking care of is careless." She reassured.

"Ms. Jung!" Jisoo screamed.

"It's true. Why aren't you more careful when you already heard about what happend to Ian! " She shouted.

"I'm sorry I was getting chased by a taxi for christ's sake!" He replied.

"We'll talk later Jisoo." She said. "Miss, where can we drop you off?" She asked me. "You can drop me off in front of the MCB building." I answered.

We then drove away from Gangnam.

I'm breathing really fast. I was trembling. I could feel my eyes water. Fear is taking hold of me. My anxiety is shooting up. All I could think of is that my life is over!

"See what you did Choi Jisoo?" Ms. Kang sneered.

The van finally arrived at my destination. I went out of the van.

I check my phone to see the time and it was already 8:30 am.

I am 30 minutes late, great. Mr. Kwak will have my head on a pike now.

I tried to go to my floor as fast as I can. I put my company id through the scanner and then I zoomed through the people around me. While doing so, people stared at me weirdly. I as soon as I arrive at the elevator, I pressed the button going to my floor.

When the doors opened, I could feel my anxiety rise again. As I go through the glass door separating the elevator lobby and my office, I could feel my fear taunting me. Time slowed down. Every step I took in the office going to my desk, I could feel the eyes on me.

I finally arrive at my desk. I put down all my stuff and then my collegue came up to me. "Hey Raon, the Mr. Kwak was looking for you." She said.

Going to my desk is daunting enough, now add the fact that I have to face Mr. Kwak. The editor-in-chief! My boss! "I'm gonna get fired." These types of thoughts keep racing through my head.

I immediately ran to Mr. Kwak's office. He must be extremely pissed by now.

I after a while of walking, I arrived at his office. God, I feel like the door is taunting me. I'm scared to open it.

I knock on his door. "Who is it?" He asks. "It's me, Ms. Doh." I answered. "Come in immediately!" He said.

I then open the door and I see Mr. Kwak looking not too pleased. The wrinkles on his forehead are more prominent. His frown already tells you what you have done without saying any words. I'm very certain at this point that I would lose my job.

"Ms. Doh, why are you late today? You're usually early. What happend?" He asks. "It's a long story." I replied. "Don't give me that bullshit!" He shouted.

"I'll explain. I encountered him on the way to the station. Turns out, there was a stalker fan nearby and then eventually a crowd formed." I said.

"What has this to do with you being late?" He snarked.

"Jisoo then grabbed me and then we ran. We were chased by his fans but then we lost them sometime later. We then found solace in a cafe and we rested there for a bit. Well, another stalker fan was there so a crowd formed outside that cafe and I had to wait for his manager to come and pick us up." I explained.

"You should be more careful. I'll only let you go this time." He said.

Relief sprung up and washed away all my worries. I'm not getting fired!

"Getting that all out, I'm giving you an assignment." He said. "Assignment?" I asked.

"You'll be covering sasaeng behavior." He said. "Why" I asked. "There's a recent issue that's making waves in all over the world. International celebrity , Ian, was almost killed by an obsessive fan. Apparently, the fan snuck in his apartment and hid in his closet. She waited until Ian fell asleep. When he was asleep, the fan went to his bed and stabbed him 23 times." Mr. Kwak explained.

"What's her motive?" I asked.

"When she was interrogated by police on what's her motive, she said "If we can't be together in life, we'll be together in death."" He said.

"What's the reason? I'm not up to date with celebrity drama." I said.

"There's rumors about Ian dating a fellow female celebrity. This might've been the trigger for that fan." He answered.

"What has this to do with my assignment?" I asked.

"We're gonna ride the waves of this controversy." He answered. "A major media outlet hasn't done this before." He added.

"Isn't this a bit disrespectful?" I asked.

"It's not. It'll help bring more attention to this underlying issue." He answered.

"So what do I do?" I asked.

"You're going to observe the actions of sasaengs. You're going to wait in places near entertainment buildings and when there's a crowd, you should follow them and observe their behavior. Also, find some people you can interview." He answered.

"So will a camera crew follow me around?" I asked.

"Having a camera crew follow you around would immediately give you away. I'll be equipping you with a hidden camera." He said.

"Isn't this illegal? Won't this cause us getting sued?" I asked.

"No, we have permission from the entertainment companies to do this." He reassured.

"When will I start this assignment?" I asked.

"You'll start it next week." He answered.

Mr. Kwak then handed me my schedule. After that, I went back to my desk.

Once I arrived at my desk, I sat down and I gave out a huge sigh. I then a hug from behind.

"Raonnie!" A girl called.

"What is it, Eunsoo?" I asked.

"I heard that you were with Jisoo today." She said.

"Yeah, why?" I asked

"That's no fair! Why do you get to meet him while I don't!" She sulked.

"That meeting wasn't fun Eunsoo. I got chased by sasaengs today." I replied.

"But still! You got to talk to him. Lucky bastard." She said before smacking my head.

After Eunsoo went to my desk, I looked at the schedule.

Let's see here:

Monday: GY studios

Tuesday: Shine Entertainment

Wednesday: BG Entertainment

Thursday: Sun Studios

Friday-Sat: Interviews

"Okay, interesting." I mumbled to myself.

I then do my research about my current assignment. I search up stories and the psychology of sasaengs to give some background info on my script.

Work eventually ended. I went down from my building and I commute home.

Upon arriving in the spot wherein I met Jisoo, I stopped for a second and looked up to the cloudless, void of the night sky. There's no stars today so it was just pure darkness.

"I wonder what you are doing now." I whisper. I then smile for a bit before looking down and going straight home.