Hard to love : A haesoo love story

Chapter 7 : Goodbyes (part 1)

Hello everyone, 

I am very sorry for the delay but it was an unexpectedly very busy end of the year for me. 

I wish you had happy and healthy holidays and I wish you all a happy new year. 

Thank you for your patience. I hope you like this chapter and you won't have to wait a whole week for the next one.

Enjoy. 

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Boarding was about to begin, and the atmosphere in the lounge was tense and somber. It was a stark contrast to the joy and camaraderie she had experienced the previous August when they flew to the VMAs - their first group trip since the COVID-19 pandemic had started.

NYC August 2022

Jisoo was sitting in the car traveling to their NYC hotel with Jennie next to her. She was utterly spent and a bit uncomfortable. She was wearing a stylish black dress over a white collared shirt that went just above her knees and tall black leather boots. She felt cozy and toasty during the flight, despite appearing to be a bit overdressed for a 14-hour flight.

She was thrilled to go to the VMA's, but she wanted her first return to NYC since she began dating Hae-in to be with him. Yet, openly acknowledging their relationship would be a huge risk to their careers.

Her group had been together for 6 years; she knew they might have another 4 before going their separate ways. All of her bandmates had started their solo careers however she had favoured acting. She had gotten more than she'd bargained for. She had been criticized from the beginning of her musical career for having a tight hold on her feelings and emotions. Unlike her bandmates, there were no videos of her crying anywhere.

Rumors circulated that she had taken the place of another idol who had left the agency just prior to their debut. People said she was meant to be an actor, not an idol. The truth was, she lacked the same stories of perseverance that Rosé had, the dance competitions wins that Lisa had, and the songwriting prowess that Jennie had. Instead, she was drawn to the entertainment industry for its performance aspect, the dancing and music she had learned.

She was the Blackpink member with the most side gigs, having worked as an MC, ambassador for luxury brands, and appeared in various variety shows. She had always been drawn to acting, and when the world paused due to COVID-19, she got her chance. After some convincing, her agency finally allowed her to pursue her passion.

They had quite a few non-negotiable terms:

1. Take the starring role opposite a well-known actor: she was already globally recognized and couldn't begin in a supporting capacity like some other actress breaking into the business

2. Have a big supporting cast or a close group of female friends: to help dissipate her performance if it was inadequate

3. An older male lead preferably in a relationship to prevent any potential dating rumors

4. Minimal physical contact

5. No roles where she was a dancer or vocalist

With the list of criteria, she was convinced she would never get to act before BLACKPINK's end. One magnificent late spring day, the script for Snowdrop came to her. At the time, the male lead was still unknown, though there were a few famous names being considered. The only obstruction was the politically tense backdrop and her love interest's nationality: North Korean. By luck, Crash Landing on You, another show about a South Korean-North Korean relationship, was airing at the time. It had been a huge hit and helped reassure her agency. She formally accepted the role in July 2020. She had expected a successful acting debut, and she got much more than she expected.