Chapter 25: There for You (no matter what)

The tension was high inside Nocturne as the Kwon Jiyong tapped his fingers on the bar. He eyed the tall man who he had clashed with earlier warily. 

Johnny was by the door, waiting for Yoona to come in. As if feeling someone's eyes on him, the NCT member turned his head at Jiyong's direction and glared.

It's been half an hour since Yoona left to answer YG's phone call and she still hasn't been back yet. The party had died down, almost everyone had left except for he and his ride, Youngbae and Hyorin, and then the NCT members. Amber tending to the bar also waiting for Yoona to be back.

It was stupid of him to bait Johnny into fighting earlier. There were still a few idols there and the fact that he had been drinking should have been the sign to think twice. He just hopes he doesn't get the silent treatment from Yoona again. That was unbearable. 

After some more nervous tapping, he saw Yoona enter from the cafe. She was holding her phone to her chest and was zoning out as she walked slowly. 

Jiyong stood up and approached her, ignoring Johnny's warning stare as he did the same. Amber stopped wiping down the bar to get there too. 

"What did the press find out about me this time?" Jiyong asked. He had long given up hope about the media truthful and merciful about his life. For those people, he is just fodder for clickbaits and web traffic. 

"Baby, you okay?" Johnny asked, touching Yoona's elbow. 

When Yoona still seems to be in a trance, Amber snapped her fingers in front of her face. "Earth to Yoona!"

That seemed to do the trick. Yoona blinked a few times as she reorients herself, noticing Jiyong, Johnny and Amber look at her worriedly.

"Is it bad?" Jiyong asked again. 

"Huh? Oh. No. No bad news. It's..." She lost focus again still wondering if the conversation she had with YG was true. She pointed at Jiyong. "He wants you to guest on this new show.. some variety show or something."

"That's it?'

"I think he just came from some businessmen dinner because he was real chatty and then he remembered I was leaving in a month." 

A burst of hope came into Jiyong. Was she offered a renewed contract? For a longer period this time? "You're staying?"

"Not really." Yoona met his eyes. "He thanked me for what I've done and that he'll support my firm however he can... starting with a magazine cover. In Time Magazine Korea."

"HOLY-- Oh my god, Yoong!!!" Amber freaked out and jumped to Yoona to hug her. It was big news.

"Magazine cover?! That's wonderful!" Johnny exclaimed, hugging Yoona next.

"I know, right?! He said that he was approached by the editor of Time for the future of KPOP management issue." Yoona shared. 

YG had told her all about how the editor was gushing over Yoona's work in G-Dragon's career. The polls were so against the superstar back before she started working for YG. No one had predicted G-Dragon to come back in the good graces of the general population. What she did could be described as a miracle.

Jiyong had a big smile on his face as he digested the news. She deserves it. She had made the impossible happen.

"When's the shoot?" Johnny asked, excited for her.

"Next week! Oh god, it's next week and I have no idea how to do the whole photoshoot thing!" The thought of it was making Yoona panic.

"Don't worry," the NCT member said as he rubbed her shoulders. "I'm going to be there and I'll help you every step of the way."

"No, you won't." Jiyong butted in. Johhny's jaw ticked. Amber raised an eyebrow at the man. Yoona had a look that very clearly says 'please don't start again'. He shrugged. "I-I just mean that he can't be there because that would bring up rumors. You would have no 'valid' reason to be there. It's bad enough the press is asking manager Yoong about your little chivalry act at the awards show."

Yoona sighed. She looked up at Johnny. "He has a point, bear." 

Cute call names? Ouch. A certain YG artist thought.

"I can be there though," Jiyong crossed his arms over his chest, trying not to look overly smug. "I'll help her."

Yoona felt Johnny's grip on her shoulder become heavier. She puts a hand over it. "You can't be there at the shoot day but I'd still like your help. You can come over and teach me all your fashion evolution thingies." 

She goes to him for fashion? I'm fashion. I'm fashion personified! 

Johnny couldn't help but laugh. "Nice try. It's fashion evaluation, not evolution. But I like that idea." He looked at her adoringly, as he pinched her nose cutely.

It was obvious that the two were having some kind of romantic moment now so Amber just rolled her eyes goodnaturedly. 

She tapped Jiyong on the arm. "Come on, man. I'll fix you a cup of coffee before you leave."

He could only follow her wordlessly, leaving the two. But of course, he couldn't help but turn back to get one last look. 

That was a mistake. Yoona has her back on him as she was facing Johnny, her hands looped on his neck and Johnny's tall physique was bending down to meet her height. He couldn't see it but he knew what they were doing. Kissing.

And just like that, he wished he was back at the car accident instead. Because this hurts more than that car crash.

Johnny's bedroom door creaked as Yoona opened it. It was 2AM and this is another episode of Yoona and her relentless insomnia. Johnny had already gone to sleep so she decided to go out of the room to get something to drink.

What she didn't expect is three sets of eyes staring at her as she stepped out of the bedroom. 

Jaehyun, Yuta and Taeyong were huddled on the island counter all of them nursing a cup of tea. Their eyes went down to Yoona's leg.

"Oh!" Yoona pulled down Johnny's hoodie which she was wearing. She borrowed the hoodie and a pair of boxers from the tall NCT member since this was just an impromptu sleepover. She must have looked like they were having or something. "We weren't-- We were just sleeping... O-on separate beds! And I had no extra clothes so I--"

Taeyong chuckled. "Yoona-ssi.. Relax. You won't hear any judgments from us."

Yoona sighed in relief. "But we really weren't doing anything.."

"Johnny hyung is a freaking saint." Yuta muttered under his breath. 

Jaehyun heard Yuta and he tried not to laugh. "Tea?" He offered to Yoona.

"Uhmm.. sure." Yoona answered. "Why are you guys still up?"

"We got hungry and we were deciding what to eat." Taeyong handed her a cup of tea. "It's not really like we have a lot of choices. We might end up just cooking ramen. Do you want to join us?"

Yoona bit her lip. She could choose to go back to bed and stare at the ceiling until it's morning or she could hang with these three and eat some ramen while she's at it. "Only if I cook."

"Deal."

The four of them sat on the dining table. Jaehyun beside Yoona while Yuta and Taeyong were acrosss them. They brought out kimchi for side dish and all of them dug in together.

"You don't seem uncomfortable being with guys. Have you managed boy groups before?" Taeyong asked, opening a conversation. 

Yoona sipped the broth before answering. "G-Dragon is the first artist I managed. I used to work for corporations. I'm used to being around boys though. I have a brother and his friends are always over I basically adopted them. I grew up in chaos, I guess."

"Then you'll fit right in with NCT." Jaehyun kidded. 

She suddenly thought of asking the question she's been thinking of for a while. "Wasn't it weird the way Johnny acted at Nocturne the other night?"

"Weird?" Yuta repeated.

Taeyong snorted. "I was actually surprised he didn't do much more. I honestly thought I would need Lucas to drag him out of there."

Yoona frowned. Didn't do much more? "I mean it was just a game! Is he really that competitive?"

The three NCT members studied her to see if she was serious. Wasn't it obvious? 

Yuta was the first to break contact. "Yoona.. do you speak Japanese?"

"Err.. just English and Chinese."

Yuta nodded and turned to Taeyong, speaking in Japanese. "I think she has no idea. It's not as farfetched considering they're just 'sleeping'. Do you think we should tell her?"

"That two sought-after idols