December - 2011

"Hurry girls!" Taeyeon shouts as she walks a few feet ahead of her group mates. Today was the day of SBS Gayo Show and the whole SMTOWN team is set to perform a special stage for everyone to see. On this certain day was also the day that Sment's soon to debut boy group EXO will also be performing with their sunbaes for the first time. Of course not every EXO member will be there, only a selected few. 

Taeyeon spins her head around and motions for her group mates to hurry, "Come girls! We don't have time to waste!" 

"Yah Kim Taeyeon you shorty we are hurrying!" Sooyoung the tallest member in SNSD shouts back at their kid leader. Taeyeon cackles and makes a funny face at Sooyoung, "Choi Sooyoung! Make use of your long legs please!"

"Taeyeon when I get there, you're dead meat! Dead meat you hear me?!" Sooyoung shouts and hurries. Taeyeon laughs again and spins around, quickening up her pace so that Sooyoung wouldn't be able to catch up with her. Taeyeon rounds the right corner and bumps into a man's body, knocking her over, "Ouch," she yelps once her landed on the cement.

"I'm sorry," a low manly voice rings out. Taeyeon opens her eyes to see a young dark skinned boy wearing a white outfit squatting in front of her, "Are...are you okay?" he asks worriedly.

"Taeyeon!" Sooyoung shouts from behind and quickly ran to help Taeyeon on her feet, "Are you okay?" she asks while dusting Taeyeon's outfit, "Yah! Kid! Why didn't you look where you were going?" 

"I...I'm sorry, I guess I was too busy thinking of..."

"Aish," Sooyoung cuts him off and rolls her eyes.

"Sooyoung stop it," Taeyeon interrupts them and then faces the man who bumped into her, "I'm okay, just make sure to watch where you're going next time."

The boy nods and hangs his head low, "Is everything okay?" SNSD's manager walks up to the two.

"Oppa!" Sooyoung shouts and lets go of Taeyeon to run over to their manager, "He bumped into Taeyeon and didn't even care to apologize," Sooyoung claims. The boy immediately looks up with his eyes widen, "I did say sorry."

"Kai shi," SNSD's manager calls for Kai with a smile.

"Oppa you know him?" Sooyoung asks in disbelief and their manager nods, "Yes, Kai shi is a member in SMent's soon to debut boy group EXO," he explains, "Taeyeon shi is everything fine?"

Taeyeon looks at their manager and nods with a smile, "I'm fine," she reassures them, "But let's get going, our rehearsal is coming up," and with that Taeyeon leaves the scene quickly with Sooyoung running after her.

"Don't worry about what just happened Kai shi," SNSD's manager tells him, "Sooyoung shi is like that, you'll get use to her."

Kai nods, "Better hurry up for rehearsal too Kai shi," SNSD's manager says and finally leaves him alone in the hallway. 

January 2012

"Ah! I'm so exhausted!" Jessica stretches and yawns as SNSD steps into their practicing room. She runs up to the air conditioner and hugs it, "I miss you my precious."

Yuri walks pass Jessica and kicks her on the slightly, "You're weird."

Jessica simply rolls her eyes at Yuri and continues to hog up the machine. The door to the room opens and their manager sticks his head in, "Taeyeon shi," he calls out once he sees Taeyeon lingering at the back while chit chatting with Tiffany.

"Yes?" Taeyeon answers. Their manager signals her to go over to him, "I'll be back," she tells Tiffany and makes her way up to their manager, "Yes oppa?"

"You and I have a place to go," he tells her. Taeyeon nods then leaves the room, following her manager. Her manager leads her to the elevator, they get on and he then presses the 6th floor. The both of them wait in the elevator quietly until the door opened. Taeyeon's manager then leads her down the hallway to a certain room and opens the door.

"Taeyeon shi," the CEO of SM Entertainment greets her once she appeared at the entrance of the doorway, "Come inside, I want to discuss something with you," he motions for Taeyeon to enter to which she obliges, her manager entering right after her, "Go ahead and have seat," and she does so.

"There's something you want to discuss with me sir?" Taeyeon asks, feeling quite nervous around the CEO. He nods, "Let's get to the point," he begins, "As you can tell this year we'll be debuting our new boy group EXO soon," he explains and Taeyeon nods, following his every word, "And well some of the higher ups along with me were discussing on who we should have as EXO's mentor. We were discussing and discussing and first decided on SHINee but then they wouldn't do because we are planning to focus on them this and next year, we couldn't use f(x) because they don't have the popularity and fame that can take EXO to stardom, Super Junior are a bit too busy with their concerts and DBSK with Japan so we decided that we'll have SNSD mentor them, but we only needed one. Seeing how your schedule this year isn't as heavy and complicated as compare to the other members, we're having you mentor EXO until they've reached stardom," the CEO explains.

Taeyeon sits there silently not knowing what to say, "But sir," her manager pipes in from the back, "What happens when SNSD are away in Japan to promote their Japanese singles?"

The CEO sits back and places both of his hands under his chin, "We won't have the girls promote their singles heavily in Japan, we've already got what we wanted in Japan last year," he explains.

"But...there are so many korean groups debuting in Japan this year, what if SNSD are forgotten among the fans?" 

"They won't be, like I said we've already got what we wanted last year with SNSD. SNSD had already imprinted their names among Japanese fans, rookie groups who are planning to debut in Japan this year will not be able to harm SNSD's popularity in Japan. Even if the girls don't heavily promote in Japan, they will not be forgotten due to the fact that Japanese fans sees them differently."

Taeyeon's manager sighs in defeat, "Taeyeon shi..."

"What if I refuse the offer sir?" Taeyeon finally asks and the CEO chuckles, "You can't Taeyeon, there is no refusing."

Taeyeon balls up her fist and shoots up in her chair, knocking it over, "Then what about my schedules that were already planned last year? Are you guys just going to throw them all away just so I can revolve my life around EXO?" Taeyeon shouts being at the verge of tears.

"Yes," the CEO simply answers, "We'll have your schedule fixed so that you can mentor EXO."

Taeyeon bites her bottom lips until she tasted her own blood but ignored it, "I don't have any options...don't I?" and he simply shook his head. Taeyeon sighs in defeat and looks down, "I have no choice then," and with that she spins around and left the room.

"Kwon Shi," the CEO calls for her manager.

"Yes sir?"

"Take Taeyeon to go visit EXO, I want them to get use to one another as quick as possible."

SNSD's manager nods, bows then leaves the room. He exits and sees Taeyeon squatting down against the wall crying while her body shook. He sighs and walks over to her, "Taeyeon shi," he calls and squats down before her. Taeyeon lifts her head up and wipes away her tears quickly, "I'm fine," she tells him and stands up, "We should get back to the girls, they might be wondering where I went to," Taeyeon says and spins around to head back to the elevator with her manager following her. They both enter the elevator but before Taeyeon got the chance to press the button where SNSD's floor was it, her manager reaches out and presses another button.

"Oppa?" Taeyeon asks.

"The CEO requested for me to take you to go visit EXO, he wants you guys to get comfortable as soon as possible," he explains. Taeyeon sighs and leans against the elevator's wall, "Sometimes I wonder why they never care to listen to what us artistes have to say," Taeyeon mumbles to herself. Her manager looks over at her and pats her head, "That's just how the working world is Taeyeon shi, you'll understand more once you step food into a high position such as theirs."

Taeyeon bits her bottom lips and nods, not wanting to say anything back. The elevator dings and the door opens, her manager then leads her out to a certain room. Taeyeon looks up at the door and takes in a deep breath, "Do I look okay?" she asks her manager. Her manager smiles and nods, "Pretty," he comments. Taeyeon chuckles and takes in a deep breath, "Let's get this over with," she tells her manager. He nods and knocks on the door then opens it....

Taeyeon stands there waiting for her manager to motion her to come in, while waiting Taeyeon looks ahead of her not knowing what her future holds for her from now on....

Leading 8 other girls was already taking a toll on her already, was she ready to take care and mentor 12 boys she never had the chance to interact with...ever? Her manager spins around and motions for her to enter, Taeyeon nods and walks forward with her fist clenched...

This is now...or never...