"Anyone but him Dad! I'd rather wash dishes and mend clothes than work with him". Chaerin still couldn't get over the turn of events.

"Ji Yong is the best you can learn alot from him", her father showed no sympathy. "I don't understand why you're complaining this much."

Chaerin tried another tact, "then why are you putting me, an inexperienced and out of control manager with him? I could mess it all up dad!"

Her father wasn't having any of it, leaning it he placed his hand on hers, "I have faith that you won't ,mess up".

Chaerin shuttered, it sounded more like a threat than an encouragement. Mess up and die. Great. Taking a deep breath in she conceded. "Fine, I'll do it. But, University comes first".

Her father smiled, "deal. As long as you keep your grades at A or above". His expression darkened, "but if it drops below, you're dropping out and working for me full time".

Chaerin struggled to keep her composure. "Fine". She stood up to leave.

"One more thing", her father added, "No dating or sleeping around with men. You've got an image to maintain now"

"Anything else sir? Any other ways you want to make my life totally miserable?" She snapped, before realising her mistake. "Sorry Dad".

YG shook his head, "I don't understand Chaerin. I keep your secrets, I'm in the process of giving you your own place and I let you work with a friend you used to go to high school with. I think I'm being more than reasonable"

"Friend, right." She scoffed.

"What do you mean? You and Ji Yong were inseparable in school." He father was confused.

Chaerin couldn't take it anymore, "Whatever you say dad", she headed for the door, "I need to go to work now".

 

* * * * *

Chaerin sat alone, in a dark studio. Her arms where tightly wrapped around her legs with her head resting on her knees. If she knew Korea was going to be like this she would've just stayed in London even with everything that had happened working in some ty cafe earning minimum wage. She let out a long sigh. Kwon Ji Yong, how the hell had she gotten herself into this mess. If anything she had avoided him like the plague, but that boy was persistent. Always ready to make the fool out of her. He was the reason she never made friends, every time she get close to someone, he'd tear them apart.....

 

4 years ago. Final year in school.

"Wow, top marks again Chaerin! Seriously, you're such a brainiac", her friend Soojung tap her lightly on the head. "Its a wonder your head isn't twice this size".

Chaerin smiled, "Its called study. If I want to go overseas then I have to get good marks for the scholarship".

"But even if you don't, I'm sure your parents can just set you up anyway".

Chaerin sighed, "its not about that. I want to get there by my own means. Without my parents money, that way they'll have no hold over me. No rug to pull out from underneath me", she looked at Soojung. "I'm not pretty like you, so I have to rely on my brains".

"Are you saying I'm a bimbo?" Soojung was confused.

"Nope" Chaerin grinned, "I'm saying you're pretty". She tapped her friend back on the head. "I hear you've got all the boys interested".

Now it was Soojung's turn to look sour, "All except the one I want", she said softly.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"The one guy I really really like wont even look at me"

Chaerin scoffed, "as if, you're gorgeous, I bet you he's just playing hard to get". Chaerin gave her friend a warm hug, "who is this guy anyway?"

"Oh My God! Kwon Ji Yong is coming!" Squealed a random girl in their class interrupting their chat.

Chaerin groaned. Great. Kwon-fricken-Ji-Yong. He was the last person she wanted to see. No doubt here to make her life miserable again. She turned to complain to Soojung...

"How do I look?" Soojung had pulled out a mirror and was in the middle of apply lipgloss. Fixing her fringe into place she smiled at Chaerin. "Cute right?"

Chaerin was confused. Why was she doing herself up? Putting on a smile she agreed, "the cutest!"

"Thanks Chaerin" Soojung giggled, "you're the best friend I could ever hope for".

That was enough for Chaerin. She gave Soojung the biggest eye smile ever.

"You're that happy to see me?"

Chaerin paused, slowly opening her eyes. First she saw Soojung smiling cutely, then her eyes landed on.... "Kwon Ji Yong", she sighed, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Why else? To see you Dokk Chae", he wasn't the best looking boy in the world, and fair for Chaerin's ideal type. But he had become popular within the school after word of his underground rapping had entered the major gossip circles. To all the girls he was a cute looking bad boy; but to Chaerin he was a baby-faced annoying brat.

"Seriously", she groaned, "I was having a nice time with my friend till you showed up". She motioned to Soojung.

Ji Yong looked at her, his infamous grin plastered on his face, "sorry for interrupting".

Soojung stuttered, "No..no" before composing herself and finishing cutely with "you're welcome to stay Oppa".

Now Chaerin was just disturbed. Oppa? What the ? She death stared Ji Yong, hoping somehow he'd get the point and leave her alone.

"Geeze Dokk Chae, why are you looking at me like that? You're friend said it was fine to stay. She even called me oppa."

"Leave" Chaerin was standing firm.

"What if I don't want to?" He teased.

"Fine", Chaerin turned her attention to her textbook. Ignore it and it'll go away.

"Now thats just rude" in one swift motion he grabbed the textbook, dangling it over her head.

"Kwon Ji Yong! Give it back now!" Chaerin had just about reached boiling point.

"Oppa, please give me my book back" Ji Yong demanded cutely, "say it like that".

"No. you!"

"Say it and I'll give it back to you".

"Never" she gritted her teeth and turned away. The whole classroom had gone quiet at their arguement, causing Chaerin to get even more pissed off. Trust Ji Yong to make her the talk of the class, now everyone is just going to remember her for this and not her good grades. Holding it in she tried one last time. Turning to face Ji Yong she forced a smile, "Ji Yong-ssi, can I please have my book back?"

"Not like that Dokk Chae", he grinned. "Tell you what, I have a gig tonight at the Space Nightclub". He leant in close, causing all the girls including Soojung to hold her breath, "you come down and ask again and I might just give it to you".

Chaerin could feel her face turning red, he was too close. She didn't even like him, but he'd invaded her personal space and she felt nervous about it. In what could only be described as a knee jerk reaction she shoved him, hard, sending him on to the floor. "Ji Yong, I'll never go to your stupid gig".

Most of the girls including Soojung rushed to help him up. Making sure he wasn't hurt. "Oppa are you okay? Oppa can I help you? Oppa she was too cruel." Chaerin couldn't help but feel a little bad with all the girls glaring at her.

"Its okay" Ji Yong tried to laugh it off, "its our relationship"

"Oppa, are you dating that girl?"

"NO!" Chaerin yelled, she did not want to be linked to him at all. "I can't stand him"

Ji Yong's smiled faltered. And for a moment Chaerin could've sworn he looked upset before he threw on a big grin "she's in love with me, she just doesn't know it yet".

"Yeah, in your dreams Ji Yong!"

He smiled, "it is".

Chaerin was speechless, she could deal with the teasing, but this felt more like a confession. She looked at Soojung for support, but her friend looked extremely pissed off. I couldn't be....

"Anyway.." Ji Yong interrupted her internal monolog. He placed a small flyer on her desk. "If you want your book, you know where to get it". He laughed as if it was the funniest thing in the world. "See you later Dokk Chae". Winking he left the classroom. Chaerin groaned clasping on her desk. She waited for Soojung to comfort her, bit her friend never did. Instead Soojung sat in her seat, giving Chaerin the biggest stink eye.

"Don't look at me like that, its not like I like him or anything". Soojung remained quiet for a moment, analysing Chaerin's comment before nodding.

"Its okay Chaerin", she smiled. "I understand, but" she paused. "Let me get one thing clear. Kwon Ji Yong is mine".

Chaerin was genuinely shocked by her friends response, she'd always imagined they'd never let a boy get between them."seriously", she groaned, "I don't even like him".

"Good" Soojung smiled, "then there won't be any problems. "She picked up the flyer off Chaerin's desk. "You don't mind if I keep this then?"

"Go for it" Chaerin didn't quite know what to say.

* * * * *

It had turned out to be one of those days that Chaerin relished doing homework. Alone in her study, her parents knew better than to interrupt, which a pile of questions to solve and essays to write. She pulled out her diary, checking the work she'd have to do for tomorrow; History essay, chapter 27-28 Maths and a presentation for English. Maths and English would be easy, she thought. We'll do history first. She rummaged through her bag in search for her history book, she'd slipped the essay topic in it as a means to not losing it.

"Thats strange" she said to herself, "I swear I put it in". Another attempt of searching also yielded no result, which confused Chaerin, till it hit her. Kwon Ji Yong. Damn it! The book she had been reading, the book that he had taken was her history book, complete with the essay topics. She frowned, there was no way she'd be able to get an extension on it under those terms. She needed that book and she needed it now. Sighing Chaerin leant back in her chair, she knew exactly what she needed to do.

 

10 minutes later she emerged from the back gate, Chaerin was not one to sneak out, but on the rare occasion she'd been forced to, the back gate was always a safe option. She was dressed head to toe in black jeans, jumper and sneakers, sporting one of her father's caps to hide her hair and identity. She wanted to get in and out a.s.a.p. She walked quickly through her neighborhood, keeping her head down. There was no one out at this time of night, so she'd have to walk to the main roads to at least hail a cab. It was the beginning of winter, so the nights were very chilly, Chaerin regretted not packing a parker and instead, with her hands tucked tightly in her jacket pockets, ran the rest of the way till she got a cab passing by.

 

The space nightclub was huge and popular, Chaerin had arrived just at the beginning of Ji Yong's set, and now she stood at the end of an extremely long line, which she estimated would be at least 2 hours long. Next to her, a gaggle of girls stood fan girling over their "Oppa". Chaerin felt ill listening to them, your oppa is a jerk she grimaced, looking at her phone she realized it had been at least 20 minutes without movement, she was not going to get in ever. There was only one thing to try, she sighed, but that meant giving up her identity. She gritted her teeth, as long as she kept her head down she'd live and with that Chaerin ducked out of the line and made her way to the front door.

"Hi", she spoke firmly to the bouncer, "I'm with YG talent scouts and I'm here to see Kwon Ji Yong-ssi."

"Name?" The bouncer didn't budge.

"I'm not on the list, it was a last minute task", she insisted.

"Name?"

Chaerin sighed, "Lee Chaerin"

The bouncer froze, "Lee Chaerin, as in YG's daughter Lee Chaerin?" He looked shocked then apologetic, "If I knew miss I'd.... Please go in" he undid the rope, "and let me know if you need anything.

Chaerin waved off the assistance and entered the underground arena that was Space Nightclub. She hated clubs with their loud music, half girls, drunken boys.... just everything. Making her way to the main room dropped open, the club was huge and pretty packed for a Thursday night. Great she sighed even more reason for Ji Yong to be cocky. She could see him now "see all these people Chaerin? They came to see me. Aren't I soo cool Chaerin". She sighed all she wanted to do was to get in and out with her book a.s.a.p. Looking around the room she spied a crowd of people, at least 10 deep. In the middle stood a stage a lone figure, wearing baggy clothes and talking into a microphone;

"Are you guys having fun?"

The crowd screamed in response. Girls chanting "I love you Oppa! Oppa Hwaiting!" Chaerin cringed, it was honestly appalling, these girls would rather follow this guy around instead of putting in the effort to shape their futures and make sure they don't ever have to depend on a guy. She walked over to the quiet part of the bar, ordering a coke, she hid under her cap and watched the show.

All men are all same but I am different, believe me girl
I am different from those other guys you met
I said with my whole heart that “I will only look at you”
There won’t be betrayal in front of love you gave me

Ji Yong grinned as he finished the final song of his set. Chaerin was taken back, normally the smiles he offered were a cover for some kind of prank or something he wanted. Up on this stage he just looked happy, a real smile of accomplishment and Chaerin couldn't help but smile with him. Realising her actions she quickly turned back to her drink, facing away from the stage. She knew half the female population of her school would be here and she didn't want to risk being spotted after the rumours of her and him had spread like wild-fire through the school. She looked int her glass of coke, stirring it occasionally with the straw. She needed a plan to get to him with out being found out by the others. If only....

"Seriously I would do him right now! Ji Yong Oppa is just too hot"

"You would have no luck Yejin, not with this one interested too. Honestly I don't know why he hasn't asked you out or at least tried something on you".

"I know."

Chaerin froze she knew that voice.

"The only time he ever acknowledges me is around Chaerin." Soojung sighed, "and even then I'm Chaerin's friend. Its like he doesn't even care that I exist!"

"Oh My God, Chaerin, that . She thinks she's all that just cause her dad runs an entertainment company. She even has the guts to shove Ji Yong Oppa today".

"After he asked her out" Soojung added quietly.

"What??!! No way!"

"Yeah, he gave her a flyer for tonight with free entry", Soojung sighed, "that's how I got in".

"So Ji Yong and Chaerin. I'd never"

"Its not real", Soojung snapped, "he's totally just in to her for the money and connections".

Her friend laughed, "and what about you then?"

"Birds of a feather, me and Ji Yong" Soojung laughed.

"You mean.... you're using her?"

"I've always wanted to be an actress. This way I just wont have to sleep with anyone".

Chaerin could feel the tears in the corner of her eyes. Everything was a lie, Soojung didn't like her like a sister. She didn't even like her as a friend. All she saw was a big ticket to fame by using her, and her father's connections. Chaerin was sick of this, she never made friends easy, afraid this would happen. But Soojung had been different, she had sought refuge with Chaerin unless..... Chaerin froze, she'd been playing her since day one.

Suddenly Chaerin's phone rang drawing the attention of the girls, she quickly switched it off but it was more than enough to pipe their curiosity on who the hatted stranger was. Soojung walked over to her as if she ordering a drink and gasped as she saw Chaerin's distinctive facial features. Chaerin kept her gaze down, she didn't want to look at her 'best friend'.

".....Chaerin....." Soojung began as the other girls formed a tight circle around the two.

"Psh! I thought you said you were not going to come"

"Fighting just to get Ji Yong Oppa's attention"

"Not like she can get him with her looks"

"What a !"

One of the girls pulled off her hat, throwing it to the ground. "If you wanted to come, why cover up? Too good for us huh? Don't want to see the smart and powerful Lee Chaerin mixing with the common folk".

Chaerin bit her tongue. Honestly she didn't know what to say. She was still coming to terms with her psuedo-friendship with Soojung. "I......" she stuttered.

The girls laughed, "for a brain your surprisingly stupid", she threw her glass at her. "Give up on Ji Yong, he's too good for you".

Chaerin could feel the tears rolling down her cheeks. She just wanted to sink into the ground and disappear. Who cared about her assignment. She was silly to come her in the first place, this wasn't her kind of place. With her head still down she stood up to leave, just as someone grabbed her arm.

"Who's too good for who?"

Chaerin looked up to see Ji Yong facing off with the girls, his hand firm holding her arm.

"I said, who's too good for who?" His face was stone cold.

The girls backed away in fright, "Oppa, we...." they stuttered, "you don't need to do this!"

"Do what?"

"Date her for her father, Oppa" Soojung spoke out.

Ji Yong stared at her, "You", he said slowly, "you're meant to be her friend". He looked her up and down, "get lost".

Soojung's eyes opened in terror.

"That goes for all of you", he stood firm, "get lost!" He pulled Chaerin by her arm away from the girls, stopping to pick up her hat, through a side door to the backstage area. They walked in silence, the only sound their footsteps on the cold concrete floor. Ji Yong stopped in front of a dirty red door, pulling out a key from his pocket he unlocked it, opening it to let Chaerin in. Rushing around her he pulled up a chair and draped one of his jackets around her shoulders before grabbing a bottle of water. "Drink?"

Chaerin nodded, taking a mouthful of water. "Thanks" she mumbled. "

Ji Yong sat opposite her, his eyes studying her expressions "are you okay?"

Chaerin sighed, "besides my best friend using me for money and connections and the fact that I even came to a place like this...." "

I'm sorry", Ji Yong interrupted, "if I hadn't made you come here none of this would've happened".

"I'd also still be in delusions about my best friend. Really, I should thank you". Chaerin couldn't help but sound bitter. " its like no one sees me, just my father. Honestly I wish I wasn't his daughter". Chaerin tried to fight, but the tears had already started to fall. She cursed herself, the last thing she wanted was for Ji Yong to see her crying. He'd give her so much crap for it. She stood up and turned her back, she needed to leave.

"Its okay", she felt strong arms wrap around her, "you can cry if you want".

As much as she didn't want to, Chaerin couldn't help her crying, she quietly sobbed as Ji Yong continued to hold her. She felt safe in her arms, but she couldn't seem to shake Soojung's voice from her mind; "he's totally just in to her for the money and connections". Chaerin flinched as she realised what was happening, Ji Yong was just pretending to be nice to her, he was a musician after all and all musicians needed contracts. Her father was what he really wanted. She quickly shoved him away, moving quickly towards the door. She needed to get out of here.

"Chaerin! Wait!" He whispered. "Don't go".

Chaerin was shocked, he sounded so pathetic. "Why?" She turned around, "so you can use me to?"

Ji Yong walked over to her, closing the space between them. "Here", he held out his hand, in it was her cap. "You left this".

Chaerin took it, "thanks".

"Oh and one more thing", Ji Yong looked her straight in the eyes before he kissed her.

Chaerin was frozen, her feet stuck to the ground as her worst enemy took her first kiss. She couldn't help but feel hot, maybe Ji Yong really liked her? "he's totally just in to her for the money and connections". Soojung still hadn't left her head. She pulled away from him for a second time, slapping his left cheek, hard. "Kwon Ji Yong. You're a jerk!"

Ji Yong was speechless for a moment, "I'm sorry. I just really like you"

Lies. All lies. Chaerin wasn't swayed. He's just trying to use you. "Bull. You just love what my father can do for you". She threw her cap to the ground, "why do you just confess to my father. You'll have a better chance getting into the company then!" And with that she ran out of the room, her eyes stinging with tears.

"You don't have friends".

* * * * *

 

Chaerin wiped her eyes which had finally adjusted to the dark studio. She hadn't spoken to Ji Yong since then, well unless you count London. The rest of the school year, she had been like a ghost, spending every waking moment studying. It had paid off, she'd got a scholarship to London where she'd well...

"Chaerin? Are you in here?" A hooded figure stood at the now open door to the studio. "! Where is she?" Teddy was stressed out. He saw Chaerin as the little sister he never had and her timely exit and heated discussion with her father had him worried. He knew she was unstable, he'd seen it before and now she'd gone missing. Just as he was about to close the door, a faint voice whispered.

"Teddy Oppa...."

He turned back around, turning on the lights of the studio where he saw Chaerin, still curled up in a ball, shaking. " Chaerin! Are you okay?" He ran over to her, pulling her into a tight hug. "I was so worried girl".

Chaerin took a deep breath, "I'm okay".

"What happened?"

"Its a long story. But I don't think I can work with Ji Yong".

"Is this because of.." Teddy was the only one who knew everything from that night. She had confided in him, her parents unless in offering advice.

"Yeah..."

"You know your father wont let up"

"I know"

"So you have to learn to work with it".

"What do you mean?"

"Use it to prove you're above it all. That Kwon Ji Yong has no affect on you what so ever".

"Like revenge?"

"Indifference", Teddy began, "is the best type of revenge".

Chaerin smiled. She could always count on Teddy to help her out. "Ok" She offered him a smile, "thanks Teddy Oppa".

"Just remember to be strong. But if it gets too much call me. My number is still the same". And with that he stood up, "I've got to head back to the studio, your father will be wondering where I am" He smiled. "Laters kid"

Chaerin stared at him as he left. He was right she could do this. Manager for Kwon Ji Yong? Piece of cake. Smiling she stood up and walked out.

Let's do this!

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Another chapter, hopefully it explains a little about Chaerin's mindset to everything.

Remember to comment with what you think.