“Now SunYoung, I know that you’re going to be busy with your oversea schedules, but this was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

Hyomin just nodded at her manager from the back seat of the T-ara van, not paying particular attention to him trying to explain the current situation. She was slightly livid, but she was used to this kind of treatment from her company. There was never really such a thing as “time off.” Especially when you’re in the idol industry.

“Where exactly are we going oppa?” Hyomin finally decided to ask. This had better be worth it.

“The SBS office. We got a last minute offer for you to be on the second season of Roommate.” The manager said matter-of-factly, fully expecting the shocked expression that Hyomin now wore on her face.

“B-but…a variety show with a fixed cast? I haven’t done that in years! This is so sudden!” Hyomin sputtered out. She wasn’t opposed to the idea, but she wished that she was better prepared for this. There were still sandwich crumbs on her pants for crying out loud!

“These offers always come suddenly SunYoung, but it’s an opportunity to promote Sugar Free when it releases. To be honest we might not be able to fit this show into your schedule because we still have that deal with China to settle, but we thought we’ll just let you audition for this show in the meantime.” Her manager said softly, trying to calm her down. He was having a day off as well until this came along, so he understood how overwhelmed his passenger must feel right now.

“Audition? Y-you didn’t mention anything about an audition. Is that why we’re going to SBS right now?!” Hyomin bolted upright at the thought of having to audition without having anything prepared. What should she do? What would be appropriate for her to say? She wasn’t even quite sure what Roommate was about. Just a couple of people living together with cameras following them? What was that all about?

“Yah…of course you have to audition. You’re not exactly SNSD or 2NE1 you know. Your popularity is nowhere near what it was during your Roly Poly days.” Her manager said, amused at the slightly hurt expression on Hyomin’s face.

“Sigh….I understand oppa.” Hyomin let out a defeated sigh. If she had to audition and do this show in order for her group to regain their popularity, then by gosh she’ll do it.

“In fact, I think even Sistar could get on a show without having to audition for anything. Then there’s APink, Girl’s Day….” The T-ara manager continued to tease the girl in the back who was trying her best not to seem irritated.

“I said I understand oppa!” Hyomin seethed, holding herself back from flinging her cushion at the currently driving manager. That’s how accidents happen, Hyomin thought. Cheeky managers. Ugh.

Hyomin just resigned herself to sitting with her arms folded, trying to run through possible questions that she could be asked.

“Oppa…What kind of questions do you think they’ll ask?”

“I don’t know, maybe things like why you want to be on the show?” Her manager suggested.

“I didn’t even know I was auditioning for the show until a few minutes ago though…”

“Well make something up! Use that variety sense that you keep saying Sunny taught you. Talk about how it’s lonely living alone and you need fresh air or something.” Her manager quickly shot back an answer so that he could concentrate on his driving.

Hyomin tensed up slightly at the mention of Sunny’s name, and her thoughts immediately went back to the girl currently still asleep on her bed. If anything, she figured that Sunny would have needed the fresh air more than she does.

The pair spent the remainder of the journey in silence. One trying to get his artist to their destination as fast as possible without creating any unwanted headlines, and the other trying to organize her brain that had been filled with too much information to digest for one day.

****************

The SBS building was a tall structure, consisting of 24 floors located in the middle of Seoul. Hyomin has been in it countless times for work purposes, but she mostly came with the other 5 T-ara members for group work. Coming alone was something she was not very familiar with, and it just made the large building seem a lot more imposing than it already was.

Hyomin stepped out of the elevator onto the 10^th floor of the building with her manager closely in tow, giving her a reassuring smile and a pat on the shoulder from time to time. The floor she was on didn’t have many people milling about save for the occasional office worker running around with handfuls of papers. The long, clean hallways were lined with dark wooden doors that many aspiring celebrities would dream of stepping through.

Behind those doors is fame and stardom!, Hyomin used to think as a rookie idol, and she’s pretty sure a lot of other idols shared the same mindset. Hyomin wondered which of these doors led to the room she would be auditioning in, when the distinct sound of conversation carried itself throughout the empty halls from around the corner.

As soon as Hyomin turned the corner, she was met with a peculiar scene of a girl with long, straight hair talking to a girl who was slightly taller than her, who possessed wavy, dark red hair. The shorter girl had both hands placed firmly on the other’s shoulders as if she was a football coach giving a pep talk and since Hyomin knew the girl very well, she had no doubts that the slender girl in front of her was doing just that.

“But unnie! What if it’s too soon to send me on a show all by myself?” The red-haired girl asked, the fear and nerves obviously getting to her. This must be her first time, Hyomin thought.

“Nonsense Young Ji!! You’ll do fine! Look at my girl! Your unnies prepared you for anything didn’t we?!” The straight haired girl reassuringly patted Young Ji’s  shoulders wearing a smile on her face so optimistic that it even managed to loosen Hyomin up slightly.

“You’re right! You did! I’ll do my best!” Young Ji said with newfound enthusiasm, even doing a little fist pump to display her determination.

“That’s the spirit!” The shorter girl said while playfully swatting Young Ji’s rear, causing the younger girl to yelp. Hyomin couldn’t help but giggle at Goo Hara’s unrivalled ability to lift people up when they’re feeling down. She was similar to Sunny in that sense, and that was one of the main reasons that Hyomin had a fondness for the slender girl in front of her.

Hara looked up after hearing the giggle and her eyes lit up when she saw Hyomin standing there within a few feet of her.

“MINNIEEEE!!!!” Hara bounced in excitement before she ran towards Hyomin and gave the T-ara member the world’s tightest hug.

Hyomin got the air knocked out of her and she would have fallen over if it weren’t for her manager discreetly keeping her balanced with his hand pressed to her back, an amused expression on his face. What on earth is up with these super energetic short people in her life?!

“I missed you!! It’s been too long!” Hara said after finally letting go, beaming at Hyomin while failing to notice that the girl she had just embraced was trying to catch her breath and her face had turned blue.

“I missed you too. You still hug like a pro wrestler though,” Hyomin said, massaging her aching ribs.

“It’s so that you can feeeeel my love Minnie!” Hara said, but followed up with an apology that Hyomin waved off. Hyomin was used to Hara being like this, and frankly Hyomin wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Oh! This is the newbie! Kara’s latest member!” Hara said, dragging Young Ji by her arm to stand beside her. “Young Ji is her name! Cute isn’t she?!” Hara had the expression of a proud older sister. You could easily tell that she was very fond of the latest addition to Kara’s lineup.

“Hello, I’m Kara’s latest member and maknae Heo Young Ji! Pleased to meet you Hyomin-sunbaenim.” Young Ji said, giving Hyomin a bow so deep she was practically folding herself in half. Hyomin couldn’t help but feel slightly taken aback by how respectful Young Ji was being. Sure most of the newer idols were respectful to their seniors, but none of them ever bowed to her so deep that left her staring at the back of their necks.

“N-ne…” Hyomin blurted out in reflex, giving a polite bow of her own, which left both Hara and her manager stifling their laughter at the side.

A head poked out from the door ahead of them, and called out Young Ji’s name, indicating it’s her time to enter the room.

“You sure you don’t want me to go in there with you?” Hara asked Young Ji, slightly concerned about the rookie’s first variety show audition.

“No, I’m fine. I want to try to do this on my own.” Young Ji smiled reassuringly. Hara grinned and smacked Young Ji’s bottom again, earning another yelp from the younger girl.

“I’ll be right outside here catching up with Hyominny.” Hara said, giving the latest member of her group an encouraging “Hwaiting!” before the red headed girl disappeared behind the dark wooden door.

Hara spent the next few moments just staring at the door Young Ji just walked through, biting her thumb. It was obvious that she was very concerned about how Young Ji was doing, and it made Hyomin smile looking at how well Hara was taking care of her junior member. Hyomin’s manager said he needed to fill in some more paperwork regarding the audition since it was so last minute and he went off leaving the two alone in the small corridor.

“How’s the idol life treating her?” Hyomin asked, trying to distract Hara before the latter chewed her thumb off.

“She’s adapting really well actually. She has a lot of energy, and she’s very bright! She kind of makes the rest of us feel like we’re really starting out fresh. Like a rookie group again.” Hara smiled, and there was a sparkle in her eye that Hyomin noticed.

“How’ve you been Minnie? Heard you went on a date with Sunny this morning. You sly dog you!” Hara threw Hyomin a mischievous smirk and playfully nudged at her side with her elbow. Hyomin’s face burned bright red as she fruitlessly tried to fend of Hara’s elbow attacks.

“W-what?! Where did you hear that from??” Hyomin asked in shock. It had only been a few hours prior. News really travels fast.

“It was on the front page of one of those sleazy news sites that nobody reads. Of course, since I’m the type to monitor everything, I saw it. You guys have to be more discreet. A restaurant in broad daylight? Amateurs!” Hara teased, the grin never leaving her face.

“We weren’t on a date! We were just having breakfast, but then we decided to go back to my place –“

At this Hara’s eyes grew big as if Hyomin had just told her something scandalous.

“To eat breakfast! EAT BREAKFAST! There were too many people at the restaurant! Get your mind out of the gutter Hara!” Hyomin was embarrassed beyond belief, and this just served to amuse Hara even more.

“Hmmm…eat breakfast? Is that what the kids these days are calling it?” Hara mock pondered, enjoying the exasperated look on her friend’s face.

“Yah! You’re younger than me!” Hyomin nearly shouted out while pointing her finger at Hara, who just stuck her tongue out in response.

“We’re just really close friends Hara.” Hyomin finished but she said it with the tiniest hint of disdain in her voice that did not go unnoticed by Hara, who just nodded half-heartedly. The younger girl decided not to pursue the matter any further however. As much as she loved teasing her dear Hyomin, a part of her was still actively trying to figure out what was going on behind the door in front of them.

“Hey Minnie?” Hyomin heard Hara call her name after a long moment of silence.

“Yeah?”

“Remember how Sunny used to coach you on how to act on variety shows and took care of you during Invincible Youth?”

“Yeah, how could I forget?” Hyomin responded with an eyebrow slightly raised. She didn’t know where Hara was going with this.

“Can you… do the same for Young Ji on Roommate? You’re very familiar with TV appearances, and I know you can teach her so much! Just like how Sunny took you under her wing all those years ago, can you do the same with my lil’ girl?” Hara looked straight into Hyomin’s eyes as she made her request and Hyomin couldn’t possibly have said no to Hara. Especially when she owes the Kara member so much for guiding her when she was just starting out. The look of concern on Hara’s face in addition to the pleading eyes didn’t hurt things either.

“Sunny was always better with all that mentoring stuff….but I’ll try. We don’t even know if I can pass this audition or not however.” Hyomin replied. It was true. She still had to pass this audition. Hara didn’t look too worried however.

“If you want the part, you’ll get it.” Hara answered with so much confidence in her voice that Hyomin couldn’t help but wonder where it all came from. She wished that she believed in herself half as much as Hara seems to believe in her.

“How are you so sure?”

A broad smile stretched across Hara’s face, spanning from ear to ear. She wasn’t sure if Hara’s next words only made sense because of Hara’s extremely infectious optimism, but it served to loosen the knot in her stomach that was created due to her nerves.

“Because you’re Hyomin, and people love you.”

“That doesn’t even make any sense, but for some reason it makes me feel better.” Hyomin could barely stifle her laughter at how ridiculous Hara’s reasoning was. It sounded slightly egoistic for Hyomin to agree with it, but maybe she should just accept the confidence boost.

The door in front of them swung open suddenly causing the both of them to jump back in surprise. Young Ji stepped out, but not before turning around to give the people in the room one last thankful bow. She had a bright expression on her face and she gave Hara a thumbs up the moment the door shut close behind her.

The door opened a second time, and Hyomin’s manager came out to call Hyomin in for her audition. Hara gave Hyomin a pat on the back and told her that she and Young Ji had to leave for a different schedule. Young Ji wished Hyomin all the best and told her she looked forward to working on the same show as her. Hyomin waved the pair goodbye and took a deep breath before she stepped into the room to meet the Roommate producers.

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No Sunny in this one, but I really enjoyed writing this chapter. In fact, I wrote this chapter and Chapter 4 all one in one sitting, but since I try to cap each chapter off at about 2500 words, I had to split it into two. I'll upload the next chapter soon though, as I just got started with university again and I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. Best thing about studying Business Music Management is that you can wing it most of the time, so I can probably get away with writing fics during lectures. :p 

I made the manager call Hyomin by her real name because I thought it felt more formal that way. I also wanted to include her manager's name in the fic, but I couldn't find out what his name is. Might not even be a He. Does anyone know? For future fic-related purposes? hahaha

Huuuge shoutout to Eight-trackcalibri, kazechan, firstfxfrost, imakestories and Jimayy (I've been reading your fics for awhile! Pictures of You is a really enjoyable fic by the way. shoutout to Pictures of You) for upvoting the story! Glad all of you are enjoying the fic so far. It really feels good to read the comments. :)