The Aftermath   Jisoo drove his Audi in a daze. What exactly was he thinking? What has gotten into his mind that he had actually asked her out?   Wait… he wasn’t dreaming, was he? Yes, he did ask her out and she said YES.   He had to stop the car and re-think what just he did. Jisoo had to find reason or at least an excuse for the latest trouble that he has gotten into.   He rubbed his temples and let out a sigh. He looked outside the car window and realized that he had become desperate.   That desperate.   Jennie had come off as strong woman to him, no doubt. From that first meeting, he knew, with those honest (and beautiful) eyes of hers, she was a woman of substance. With that personality, she could’ve stopped him from going back to her when she comes back to him.   But still, Jisoo couldn’t imagine himself falling in love with Jennie. YET. He just needs her to stop him from doing crazy thing over and over again, that is, run back to that very person who had continuously hurt him. But how will Jennie be able to do that if he was not in love with her?   He told her to hold on to him, no matter what. But what about him? If she does her part, can he do his? Even if he doesn’t have feelings for her?   Back there in the coffeehouse was pure act of hopelessness. He had no way out, and upon recognizing that Jennie’s got similar situation, he took advantage of it. She knows everything and yet she agreed.   And everything happens too fast. He doesn’t even know when’s her birthday.   Bad Jisoo, he told himself.   Jisoo dated women in the past. Women who were his type but he ended leaving them anyway for her.   The longest relationship Jisoo had been with another girl aside from her was almost 2 years. It was a Japanese model, 5 years older than he is. She was a nice girl, beautiful beyond words. She is actually a close friend of Jena, Seulgi’s girlfriend.   Erika, was a low-profile model. She was one of the most beautiful faces out there in Japan modeling industry, but she kept it low. For one, she is a daughter of a rich business tycoon and secondly, she’s dating Blackpink’s Jisoo.   They had the best time together. Jisoo flew to Japan almost every week and Erika went to Seoul weekly, as long as her schedule would permit her. They saw each other at least twice every week. There was effort in their relationship and distance was never a problem.   They never fought. Their families even met. Even went out on dinner once in a while, and went on a holiday to London one Christmas.   Jisoo truly fell in love with Erika.   Jisoo had always said that he wants to get married at 40. He stopped saying that when he met Erika.   Everything was perfectly fine. Until that one night, when Erika was sleeping soundly in his arms, his phone rang.   That phone call didn’t wake her up that night, but that made her cry the next morning and the next few months.   But Erika just let him go back to her just like that. She just cried her heart out. Part of Jisoo wanted Erika not just to cry and watch him leave.   Same for the rest of the other women. Some of them were mad, but same story, with flowing tears they watched Jisoo go. He wondered if someone had ever said those two words ‘don’t go’ would he be able to gather the courage and the strength that he needed?   But it’s too late for all these thinking. He couldn’t just call Jennie and take everything back. That’s so un-manly. She could’ve agreed because maybe she also had her reasons.   Jisoo stepped on the gas. There’s no use on dwelling too much on what just happened. He needed a way out. This was the CLOSE-se way out, at least for now.   He had to hurry to the company for brief meeting.     YG Building Hapjeong-dong Mapo-gu, Seoul 6PM   when the YG building was still under conceptualization, CEO Yang Hyun Suk was very keen on the specifics of the conference room next to the recording studio. He noted that this meeting area must be comfortable enough that his artist must feel at home and relaxed yet they shouldn’t forget they’re still at work.   Hence, it looked very much like living room. A living room, which exudes an executive yet artistic vibe.   Lisa was joking around, doing gwiyomi when Jisoo came in. he sat beside Joy who was busy fiddling with mobile phone.   The CEO came in minutes after Jisoo, “Anyeonghasaeyo! Dinner’s on me after this meeting.”   Everybody growled. They have a cafeteria. And they always get free food.   “Okay that was lame. I know.” YG laughed. “Before we get to business, I want to know what is up with you guys?” He got a few nods.   “Are you this responsive all these years?” he smiles.   YG understands that this is what he gets from calling a meeting at 6pm. Five boys, at the prime of their ages, stuck with their boss at the time of the day when they don’t want to.   “So?” YG said still waiting for an answer. He was actually trying to ask if there is SOMETHING that he should know about.   “We’re good.” Seulgi answered for the group.   “You useless fools! I am trying to be a good Hyung here.” He resigned, “Alright, if there any, tell me beforehand so I know what to do…”   “I’m dating Jennie from Red Velvet…” Jisoo cut him off.   That statement solicited the same reaction from his fellow band mates.   “Hyung.”   “Wow.” YG, meanwhile was surprised. “Even before the world watches the North wages a war on us, they would first see how Lee Soo Man will throw a cannon ball at me.”   The boys were not sure if YG was serious or not. He kept a poker face. But he went on.   “Hyung…” Jisoo interrupted. “I’ve just asked her out…”   then he laughed mightily, “look Jisoo, I don’t care whom you’re dating and I don’t care if SM gets mad or what. I would only care if it concerns you and only you… but Jennie…? What happened to ‘matured, elegant, classy lady’ and more so, older… isn’t she 19?”   “Ummm… she’s 24 and…” Jisoo attempted to explain.   “Forget it.” YG didn’t give him the chance to explain anyway, “You’d make beautiful babies… with her eyes and your eyes, your kids eyes might even light up the entire Seoul… speaking of which, have you worked on that?”   “What?” Jisoo asked innocently.   “Making babies.” YG couldn’t contain his laughter now. “HYUNG!!!” Jisoo blushed. “I just wanted her to help me forget…”   “That, can make you forget Jisoo.” YG evilly smiled at the very red Jisoo. “I’m not saying to have babies now. But you can practice…”   “YAH! SAJANG-NIM!!!” Jisoo shouted.   “What? I’m just saying…” the CEO didn’t stop. It was fun teasing Jisoo.   “I’m going to the restroom.” Jisoo stormed out of the conference room looking like he’s about to burst.   Everyone was laughing. Behind those laughter, was genuine happiness in knowing that their friend had finally gotten another ounce of courage to move on and forget.   Jennie may not be like the other girls he went out before.   Correction. He went out with women. Jennie is still a girl. But if Jisoo had a reason to choose her, whatever it is, they’d go with it. Jisoo had suffered long enough.   he came back with his face still red, and his friends still laughing.   YG almost forgotten why they met, they were about to dismiss them when Seulgi reminded him.   “Yah! That’s because of you Jisoo.” He chuckled. “Anyway, Blackpink will have promotions for kakao talk in Malaysia next week. Seulgi still can’t come because of his world tour. It would be a fan meet, few songs maybe. Interaction with fans, question and answer for sure. Basically, same as what you did in Indonesia. I haven’t seen the entire program yet. The organizers are coordinating with Min-ji noona so she will fix everything and relay this to your respective managers.”   “To be honest, I wasn’t supposed to discuss this with you but I haven’t see you in a while so I had an excuse… so dinner, anyone?”   He got the same reaction. Same disappointe