Minju's POV:

We are on the last few days of Spring and summer was fast approaching. It was beginning to get hotter and hotter these days. My god, I swear it's making me crazy by the minute that I was exposed under the heat of the sun. It was maddening but I had to still shoot some Magazine covers for Vogue. After the shoot we went ahead and had a break, Hyem of course surprised me again and sent me refreshments, Iced Coffee and a bouquet and her note said to have a great day ahead since she knew it was hot, she hoped I can cool down with the drinks, she also said something more is coming. She's really thoughtful like this and the staff were relentlessly teasing me with their thank you for the drink that Hyewon had sent. Oh gosh, I think I'll be strangling her later. The staffs were nice and kind over all but do they really have to tease me endlessly? I smiled otherwise at them and bowed my head to them whenever they approached me. The last few months had been busy for me, this was because of several projects I had. Several fashion shoots and preparing for my upcoming drama announcement.

She was similarly shooting for her webtoon character. She was receiving some flack with her height, the fans are really either an ally or an anti. We were both busy from all the work we are doing as is the other members who are either preparing for comeback, promotions, acting or shooting magazine covers. Everyone of IZ*ONE were super busy that we rarely saw each other. The group chat was alive though, they still send updates and other miniscule things currently happening with them. We also send snacks and other stuff the two other members in Japan were needing or craving. Hii-chan and I were supposed to hangout once she visits for work with Eunbi Unnie and Chaeyeon Unnie in August. It was a quick weekend trip. Before she comes back to Japan, I planned to take her to several bakeries she wanted to try.

Albeit my schedule was a little jam packed in August, I already made sure to set aside time for Hii-chan. I was updating my Minjoo-dans about my daily life on Bubble except I don't ever mention Hyewon's name. Our life together were still a secret we've kept. Only several staffs knew about us, trusted staffs from both 8D and UrbanWorks, the magazine shoot staffs were same staff who shot our magazine cover once back in IZ*ONE so we basically knew them both, we treated everyone in our line of work with so much respect. That they respected us both, they helped us in the beginning of our relationship, the blossoming feelings between Hyewon and I were palpable, we are never shy in showing subtle moves towards each other. Probably Hyewon was a little shy during IZ*ONE Days, but she always clung to me whenever she gets the chance.

Often she couldn't look me straight in the eye, which later I found out that it was the case because she had blossoming feelings for me too, but she tried her hardest to hold it in, often calling Chaeyeon Unnie her Jagiya, initiating skinship with Sakura Unnie and the rest of the members. She tried her hardest not to show her true 'colors' to me, she tried but failed. Until we got a chance to go out for a walk at the boardwalk in the U.S.A for K-Con, we went to the U.S.A and during a downtime for the one week affair, we had the chance to go and walk. She surprised me when she held my hand and intertwined our hands as we walked at the beach. Then she started to confess to me.

Minjoo... I like you... No, uhm I love you... Like I really really love and like you. Like romantically. She mumbles to me as we walked.

Unnie? You like and love? Like romantically? Are you sure? I asked her back.

Yeah, I'm sure. Like sure sure. Y'know? Aigooo! She stopped walking and held me by both hands and turned me towards her.

Our back drop was the sunsetting behind us.

I really like you, I love you more than my life, like I wanted to have Mini Minjoo's and Hyewons with you, build a family and life with you. I'm bad at professing my love, but hear me out, I have always loved you since the first time I've met you back a year ago, Produce 48 days was my fondest memories of you, I worked hard because I always had the opportunity to sit with you and talk to you, make hearts when the cameras pan our way, I just wish I had the courage to tell you how I always felt. Now, Minjoo, I don't think I can hold myself back any longer than I have. So, I wanted to ask you out on a proper date, be my girlfriend, spend our lives together and and...

She cutely stuttered, finding a coherent sentence. I stepped forward and encircled her in a hug.

Unnie, you don't have to explain it at length. I understand what you meant and I love you too, more than I would ever admit to anyone. It just feels right when I am with you, taking photos of you and hanging out with you like this instance. I love you more than anything else too and yes I will be your girlfriend.

Thus began our story, we had sweeter moments together during the last few months of being an IZ*ONE Member, she bravely clung to me and even went as far as talking about how beautiful I am with our WIZ*ONEs, it has been a year post IZ*ONE Disbandment, we've since forged our own paths in the industry and we are still holding out strong, despite minor hiccups such as the Sasaeng Fan who found out I was in a relationship with another woman. Thank goodness for Chaeyeon's idea of decorating our house with photos of the whole group, otherwise we will be found out. I trust that we will come out with our truth, by the end of this year, we will come out. Though Hyewon seemed reluctant with the reveal 8D wasn't at all helpful at this point, she often gets nothing these days from 8D. Not even allowing her Hyemdans to send food trucks to her filming. Her Instagram was still unverified, not even an attempt to get her Instagram verified, it was like all her hard work was reduced to nothing, like her work didn't count for her credibility as an artist of the K-Entertainment Industry. Her recent uploads on YouTube also didn't have English Captions, making her International Hyemdans a little upset.

We already talked about our move to a different company. It was a good thing that our contracts will expire in 2023, so far it is everyone's game. We came out to producers as a couple and expressed our want to come out, who ever will support us, we will sign with them. We told them to keep it hush until we come out. So far there was SM Entertainment and YG-X, these two were relentless in pursuing us. SM most especially was interested with Hyewon and I. We honestly fitted SM's pure visuals, great kind of people they were looking for, they even agreed to support us. But we had to tell them we had another company we would consider and hold meetings with and to give us until the end of the year to actually decide on matters. Which they gracefully agreed to do. Soon lunch came and food truck was delivered by Hyewon to the set. It was one of those that offered hot meals. Her message on the truck read as follows.

To Minjoo who likes to take care of everyone around her, this time I took care of your lunch. Please enjoy lunch, I might be busy myself, but you will always be in my mind and heart and soul. Let's fighting through the rest of our days, stay humble and pretty my aegiya. -Hyemu

I nearly melted at her sweetness. She could be either a tsundere or the sweetest soul there ever was. I typed a message on our Kakao Chat Window.

Minguring: Aegiya! You really surprised me! Thank you for the cold drinks and lunch to the shooting staff, we are grateful for your thoughtfulness. Fighting through the day for you too, do great in acting and I'm sorry I can't send a food truck to you, because 8D won't even allow us to send one, your fans and I were on the same boat this time.☹️ But, when my schedule eases up, I will make lunch for your staff and the drama staff. Fighting my Hyemu-rangi! I miss you heaps! I miss being your supportive girlfriend, I promise to really make it up to you one of these days. ☹️ Saranghae. 🥺

Hyemu-rangi: You don't need to tire yourself out, my Minguring. We are fine on set. We are currently eating lunch. My lunch is bingsu, because it's too hot to get something else. 🤣😂 I'm kidding, Naengmyeon and then for dessert bingsu. Have a good lunch, aegiya. 😘🥰 Take care coming home to me. 🥺☹️ I miss you heaps too. Saranghae. 🥺😭

Minguring: We're ridiculously in love, I say it's ridiculous because we say we miss each other despite every end of day, we are together, we always end up in one roof. 🤣😂 I love you so much, Hyemu-rangi. Take care on your way home. I'll finish up this shoot and come home soon. I'll have dinner ready for you before you come home. Saranghae. 😘

Hyemu-rangi: Nado, I'll make sure to work hard so I can get off work early. Take care, aegi~ Stay safe. I have guards guarding you on set, so anyone who tries to visit you will be promptly shot to death. 😤

Minguring: Ah uh! Your guards aren't shooting anyone. Hurry back to me Hyemu-rangi. 🥺 I have to go and eat and finally wrap up the shoot. 😘 Saranghae.

Hyemu-rangi: Nado, Saranghae. 😘

We went and lined up for food and after went back to the dressing room to eat. Hyemu-rangi was Hyemu + Horangi, I call Hyem that because she looks like a tiger when she's serious and a Hamster when she's being a silly Unnie. Lunch was delicious, we had cold salad, some cold cuts of meat and cold Naengmyeon. It was a refreshing lunch that it made me power through the heat. Soon the photoshoot concluded. The staff clapped their hands and I smiled and bowed to everyone before leaving for home. Soon after changing into my own clothes, I was ready to head home when the Sasaeng Fan showed up to the set together with my other fans. I have ID'd her, I knew what she looked like because the Police shared the information to me. I whispered to Manager Unnie, that she's here. Then pretended to scroll through my phone.

"Soojin Unnie, she's here. The sasaeng fan who threatened Hyem and I." I told her.

"Right, she's here. The nerve of this lady! Ayshe! I'm calling the security now." She replied to me and stopped me from moving towards my van.

We were by the door, I was the only one the fans could see, Soojin Unnie was in my back, I was covering her.

"Chief, please come by the door, the Sasaeng is here. We are waiting behind the door. Okay, yeah, we will wait for you." Soojin Unnie told the Chief of Security.

Soon, Chief of Security Jeon Jung In came, the bulky Oppa positioned himself beside me, the rest of the security team walked ahead to contain the crowd. Another security was to my right. My initial instructions to them is not to hurt my fans or purposefully shove them back, take whatever they wanted to hand me, letters and stuff, but leave the dolls or stuffed toys behind. As an IZ*ONE Member previously, we were only allowed to take things that are safe, fan letters, snacks, candies, flowers are good and acceptable, but the dolls and stuffed animals we would have to leave with the fans, often as a token of our appreciation, we sign those dolls and give them back to fans. The dolls can contain recording devices embedded within them, so we give those back to fans after the event has ended.

I also sign them when I go out and someone approaches me. But recently, I had to stay away from fans not only for my own security but also for my own health. Earlier, I got COVID and I wish not to get that again. Self-isolation took a good chunk of my sanity, I always cried for Hyewon to be able to hug her and hold her close, I was already used to sleeping in one bed with her. So, being cut off through self-isolation earlier in the year gave me so much separation anxieties. Hyewon would stay by my door, she camps just outside, telling me stories about her day, how she went to buy groceries so that our Unnies can cook for me. She told me how cool Chaen and Eunbi Unnie were cooking for me. She eventually learned how to cook for me, because as she said, she felt ashamed not being able to feed me home cooked meals when I was down sick with COVID.

Though for me, it didn't matter who cooked, whether it was me, Chaeyeon or Eunbi Unnie. All I needed was her physical affection. Nothing else, but that time, I was down with COVID. Most of the Korean members have caught COVID on the first year, it was Chaewon, Hyewon, Chaeyeon and I who hasn't caught it but this year I was down with it, so we are being extra careful of our health. My fans were very worried, so I had to come on Bubble to update them from time to time. Isolation took a week, I had to halt all of my activities and really focus on getting better. It was nice to rest but definitely not that way. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone, the hardness of breathing and other difficulties in your airway, I wouldn't wish it upon anyone else.

Soon, we were walking towards my van, fans flocking from either sides of me. Waving at me, I flashed a smile at them and waved back. The sasaeng pushed a fan, causing her to go off balance. It was a good thing one of the security caught her before she fell down. Oth