Midnight

First public appearance

Two months of non-stop practicing for the boys, and special training for aeri. The training mostly is about how to be idol-like, to suit with the general public assumption of each celebrity, which aeri has been struggling a lot.
Despite their own flaws, the deadline of debuting date is getting closer each seconds.
The music video had already been shot, using the company's most famous models to boost the public's engagement and more attention of their new experimental group. Though, the band members also were given small screen times in the video, just for the image introduction.

Their title song was amended to suit aeri's lower tone. though jeno did not seem to like it at first, the end result does not seem too bad. In fact, aeri's version sounds better than the original singer.
Since the group is a band-group, there is no much choreography being added, besides the members' charisma are already enough spice to the whole song.

Since it is their debut, only one b-side is given to promote along the side with the title track. This was not in the original plan of their debut, but it was part of aeri's idea.
The song was jointly produced by the siblings. That made it extra special for aeri to finally work and create a piece with her role model slash her own brother.

The members got much closer to the point of teasing and pranks.
The three boys were the reason keep her going, one caring brother, one funny brother, one same-age friend who is playful and understanding, and...... one stone-faced leader.

Same routine happened for another month until there is only one week away from their debut date.
News, medias are paying them extra attention. The advertising and marketing teams are working harder to get them gigs and tv-shows.

Today is one of their first official schedule as pre-debut, which is a radio show appearance.
None of them expect over hundred of supporters and reporters waiting for them outside the building.
Thus, the management did not send any security guards.
The four members, Taeyong, and their assigned manager, Kim yoon, were all dumbfound about the situation.

It was quite difficult to enter the building with countless phones and cameras being shoved to your face, shouting names to get attention, pushing and pulling.
jeno's name being called the loudest, yet he only gave gentle smile.
Aeri being surrounded by the guys. Manager yoon led them with yangyang and dery, then aeri, jeno and Taeyong. Yet, one of jeno's fan accidentally(?) pushed her to a side with her big camera, just to get a shot of jeno's face.
Her brother was quick to deal with the fan and politely ask them to be gentle and understanding.

As if the anxiety of dealing with the crowd has not caused her enough dizziness, the sudden push almost got her off balance. Luckily, jeno caught her in time.
"You alright?" It's rare to see him this worried. He got her stunned for second.
"Yeah.." she stood back on her feet and proceed until they safely entered the building.
The other three guys gave her the same worried look.

"Scary shit-"
"Yangyang, language." Manager yoon warned him, making the guy raised both arms in defeat. "It slipped sometimes, noona."
Manager yoon rolled her eyes. "Make sure it won't slip when there is camera. We can't afford unnecessary controversy on your pre-debut."

———————————————-
The accident early got spread online quicker than wild fire.
Opinions divided. Some were concerned, some blame the fans, and some brainless started calling aeri disgusting names.
Manager yoon already informed the company's legal team to deal with those rumor's spreaders and took them down before aeri and the members could come across those destructive comments.

Back to the radio show, their host today is luckily their senior from the same company, singer-actor kim doyoung. He took care of them really well, encouraged them to be confident, and kept the conversation going, making them less nervous and being natural in engagement.

Jeno dealt with the serious questions like the group-related project, concept, future goal, and so on. Despite the language barrier, yangyang and dery were able to make jokes and responsible for big laughter due to their unexpected information or bickering. As expected, aeri engaged the least. She once dreamt of being a radio dj, but this suddenly felt so uncomfortable to her.
Or perhaps, she has to keep that mysterious aura as assigned by the creative team seriously.

"Giselle-ssi-"
She was called back to reality when jeno's kick her leg under the table. It turned out that doyoung has called her two times already.
" uh.. yes?" She apologetically answered, avoiding the angry look from her leader, sitting the opposite.
Doyoung laughed to ease the tension. "What else got your attention, Giselle? You've been staring blankly at me."

"Perhaps, she likes you." Yangyang jokingly said, making aeri forced a laughter.
"He's right. I've been fan of you, sunbae. I really like your music, especially the b-sides of your recent album. I was thinking how to tell you earlier. Sorry for not paying much attention-"

Doyoung was flustered at the sudden confession and thanked her.
Aeri let out a sigh of relief for getting herself out of trouble. Then her eyes met the leader who frowned suspiciously at her. Of all the guys in this room, he's the only one familiar with her personal taste in music, and he's sure senior doyoung's type of genre are not much her type.

"First day at work, and you're already lying." He whispered to her when they walked out of the radio room, only her could hear. Aeri snorted and ignored him.
On the way out, she bumped into another lady, and quickly apologized. The latter also did bow back.
"It's not a big of a deal."

Turned out, she's also a rookie singer, jaera. Aeri was stunned by her fresh beauty, can't help but to smile.
"congratulation on your upcoming debut, Giselle right?"
Aeri nodded excitingly. " yes. Thank you. Good luck on your first comeback too, sunbae."
"Thanks!" The perfect smile on her face, then vanished when her gazes fell behind aeri's back. "Hey guys." The sweet voice turned to an awkward greeting.

Yangyang hesitantly waved and the eldest gave a small "hey", while jeno nodded and bowed out of respect of their seniority.
"We should get going. Taeyong hyung is waiting in the car." He coldly led them out.
"Nice meeting you here, sunbae." Aeri greeted farewell and jaera smiled back sadly as jeno walked pass her like they've not familiar at all.

"What with the behaviors, leader-ssi." Aeri came at him once the elevator door closed. Yangyang pulled her to the side, and gave an eye signal to shut her up.
"What?"
"Aeri." Dery shushed her. "Let's just not talk about it, alright. He has his reason."

It burnt her inside when this is always the excuse they have for him whenever he gives out attitude. It made her sick.
And the fact that the two guys act like they fear him. Right, he's the leader, but that should not be the case that the members have to not speak up because the leader says so.

Though aeri wants to protest, the look dery gave her pushed that thoughts away. She respected the older guy, and whatever she has against their leader should be settled between the two of them, not dragging the others into their problem.

——— —————————————————

"You guys did great job, especially you, gi." Manager yoon complimented them. "Director kang and the marketing team really liked your sudden confession to doyoung-nim. This may get his fans' attention on the upcoming debut. We call it the 'senior-junior' effect."

"Thanks, unnie." She smiled. "But seems like there's one person who thought the otherwise." Her gazes fell on jeno who rolled his eyes.
"Don't blame me. You lost focus on broadcast."
"Well, at least my quick brain came up with good excuse and secured us potential supports, leader-ssi."
"On that note," manager yoon cut her off. "I noticed that your relationship does not develop well."

Both turned away from each other.
"Stop addressing jeno that formal, gi. And Jen, stopped giving her that cold look. You two are a team. You supposed to give out closeness like family."
" indeed, he's not my-"
"Aeri." Taeyong warned her from the passenger seat. " yoon noona is right. Whatever you two have going on, learn to keep it behind the scene, even better, solve it before the supporters or even worse, the anti-fans, notice."

The sudden nagging made the car-ride awkward and tension high, even yangyang and Hendery decided to keep themselves out of this conversation.

Whatever has been discussed earlier, seems to be impossible since it's clear that the two are different, and they cannot go an hour without edging at each other's murder list.