Sweet Pineapple

Chapter 9

Jae's POV

This is it. I am working at KSE. I'm packing my stuff while Berta is making a list of all idols I need to ask for autographs.

"I cannot chase all and every idol in the building asking for autographs, Berta."

"Not all.." she replied. "You don't need to chase them... But, if you have the chance..."

"Okay, okay. I'll try."

"I'm gonna miss you at work, you know?" She said in a sad voice that I wasn't expecting.

"I wish I could take you with me."

"Nah.. that's not for me. I wouldn't be able to work properly with an idol in front of me. I would be shaking and probably pass out every five minutes." We laughed, but we could both feel the pain behind it. It would be the first time we would be working in different places. We were always together for the past five years. we were almost conjoined twins at that point. We laid down on the bed, hugging each other. "Ah, Jae-Jae, I need to ask you."

"What?"

"Are you going to work looking like this?" She pointed a finger to my usually messy hair and made a disgusted face, teasing me.

"I've always been like this, Be."

"But now you work with fucking idols, Jae-Eun! They all look perfect. You must look perfect too."

I stood up and studied my reflection on the mirror beside my bed. I was wearing jeans and a white oversized t-shirt, my favorite outfit for work. My hair was a bit longer than normal, some strings were already reaching my mouth. I don't really like my face so I usually use my hair to hide it. But yes, it was a mess.

"Why don't you tie it up? Maybe a ponytail?" She ran her hands through my hair, brushing it backwards.

"Humm..." I wondered. Maybe my hair was a bit too long.

"Come here, let me try." She took her brush and an elastic. She started to comb my hair back. I saw my exposed face, but the feeling made me uncomfortable.

I avoided looking at it. "Can you leave the front? I don't like it like this..." I complained, pulling a fringe out of her hands.

"Okay, okay. But you have such a beautiful face..."

"No, I don't."

"I'm not arguing with you about it. I just hope one day you will see yourself the way I see you. The way everyone sees you."

I analyzed the new hairstyle Berta gave me. The ponytail was not a bad idea, I actually liked it. I could still cover part of my face with the strings I pulled out, so I could get used to it. "Thank you, Be."

She had a happy smile on her face. "I like to be able to see your eyes. You have lovely eyes, Jae. You should let people see them more often."

"I have common, boring asian eyes. What's special about that?"

"It's not the shape, dumbass!" She laughed and I just scowled. "You know what I mean. People say the eyes are the doors to the soul, and yours are wide open."

"Actually they are pretty small..." I teased, half closing my lids.

"Oh gosh you're impossible...." We both burst into laughter. "Get out of here! Don't be late on your first day!"

"Okay, okay! Mom, I'm going!" She showed me her mid finger and I blew her a kiss before leaving home.

The journey to the KSE building was so calm that I almost fell asleep. I constantly wake up still tired and sore. Even when I go to bed early, it's like I'm not resting at all. I think all the stress is affecting me more than I can tell.