Chapter 21 - Nation's True Love

ANC TV Station was almost an hour away from their studio. It was one of the most popular TV stations and was known to be a hot hub of famous idols and actors.

Thankfully, there was not much traffic on the road and they reached the venue relatively early. A lot of celebrities were already there for their personal schedules. A group of fans were lined up around the set, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars. Mirae walked through the sets, unfazed by the dazzling celebrities. She followed KJ to his shooting site.

"Today's schedule involves a very important shooting sequence," KJ informed her. "You'll not just assist me, but you'll also have to help out Somi."

"Somi?" Mirae raised her eyebrows.

"Shin Somi," KJ rolled his eyes at her. "Don't tell me you don't know her!"

Shin Somi was the most popular idol of their nation. Her sultry beauty and innocent image frove people crazy. Considered to be a natural beauty, Somi was labeled as 'The Nation's True Love".

"KJ oppa!" came a singsong voice from behind. They turned around to find an astonishingly beautiful girl standing there, waving at them. She was radiating an unearthly beauty, turning the heads of everyone around her. Her long silky hair swayed slightly as she walked towards them.

Nation's true love, huh? Mirae wondered.

Somi stopped in front of them and hugged KJ, completely ignoring Mirae. KJ did not hug her back but simply stood there with a bored expression.

"You're cold as ever, oppa!" Somi whined, letting him go. "Such a meanie."

She playfully pounded on his arm.

"Stop messing around," KJ said, feeling annoyed. "We have to prepare for the shoot."

"Tch," Somi snorted at him.

"My assistant will help you with your preparations," KJ pointed at Mirae, who bowed.

Somi scrutinized her from head to toe, smirking sarcastically. This plain Jane was KJ's assistant? Somi felt a twinge of jealousy boiling inside her.

"Are you sure this trash can fulfill my demands?" Somi asked aloud.

Mirae raised her eyebrows. Trash, eh?

"I'll try my best to help you," Mirae gritted. It was very difficult to keep up with the obedient assistant facade. "After all, you are one of the top heroines of our country."

"Let's see," Somi sneered at her. "See you later, oppa," she added in a sweet tone to KJ, who watched her taunts with an uninterested expression. He knew of her fake attitude already. Somi was famous among fans for her beauty, but renowned among the celebrity circle for being bitchy.

"Good luck working with her," he remarked at Mirae.

"Thanks," she grimaced.

"What the hell are you waiting for?" Somi shouted at her. "We're getting late!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Mirae followed her to a trailer.

Somi's personal styling team was waiting for her. As soon as she came, they got busy with her hair and make up.

"Hey, you!" Somi snapped her fingers at Mirae. "Go fetch me my clothes!"

"Yes, ma'am," Mirae said.

"And also get me some coffee!"

"Yes!"

By the time she came back with the clothes and the coffee, Somi's make up was done.

"You're late," Somi complained. She took the coffee cup out of Mirae's hand.

"It's cold!" she exclaimed. "Make me a fresh cup!"

Cursing her luck, Mirae went all the way back to the barista corner to get another cup and returned to the trailer.

"Much better," Somi said as Mirae handed her the coffee cup. "Now bring those clothes to me."

She pointed at the pile of clothes Mirae just brought in. Mirae obliged, handing her the clothes. Somi flicked through the pile and threw all of them away in a fit of rage.

"Hey!" she shouted, startling the stylists working on her hair and toenails. Mirae observed the 'nation's beauty' getting riled up.

"These clothes are tacky as fuck!" Somi cried, picking up one of the clothing from the pile and throwing them on to Mirae's face.

Keep your cool, Mirae chanted inwardly. Keep calm.

Somi strutted out of the room in anger. The other stylists in the room were whispering among themselves, pitying Mirae for her so-called miserable state. Slowly, Mirae picked up the clothes and returned them to the set's wardrobe.

KJ was waiting for the director to start the shooting. He was standing near the set, when Somi burst in.

"Oppa!" she cried. "Your assistant is completely useless. Fire her now!"

Behind her, Mirae turned up, her expression unreadable.

"What happened?" KJ frowned.

"She chose all the tacky clothes for me!" Somi stomped her foot. "How can she expect me to wear these dull colors?"

"She didn't choose the dresses," KJ said coolly. "The costume designer did. Mirae was simply following orders."

"I don't wanna wear these," Somi whined like a child. "I don't like this girl either! Making me look bad."

"Those clothes were chosen by your stylist!" Mirae explained calmly. "I only gave you what I was handed over by your stylist!"

"Pft, excuses," Somi spat at her. "You're just trying to humiliate me in front of KJ oppa. You're just a measly assistant! How dare you make me look bad in front of oppa?"

"Ma'am please calm down," Mirae requested her. The 'Nation's True Love' was getting on her nerves.

KJ's patience was also running thin. He hated whiny women and Somi was being especially insufferable towards Mirae. This was starting to irk him.

"Somi, you're crossing the line," KJ threatened. "Let this matter go and apologize to her.."

A small crowd gathered around them. They were curious to see who was fighting. Who offended the Nation's True Love? They were side eyeing Mirae, whispering nasty comments about her.

"She seems to be jealous of Ms. Somi," one person whispered out loud.

"The new assistant is useless."

"She should be fired."

KJ heard their not-so-subtle whispers. He could feel his blood boiling but managed to keep his stone cold expression.

But even with his unfathomable face, the temperature around him was dropping. Mirae felt a chill run down her back as she noticed KJ's eyes were getting darker. Those were not the cold, calculative eyes he usually has; those were the eyes of a predator who is about to strike.

This is gonna be bad, Mirae realized.

"Sir," Mirae jumped in. "It's alright. Ms. Somi does not have to apologize. It was my fault."

KJ raised his hand to shut her down.

"No one has the right to insult my assistant like that," he said in a menacing voice.

Mirae stared at him. Was he the same person who shouted at just hours ago? His nice gestures scared her more than his cold attitude.

Is he on PMS? Mirae mused. This was getting interesting.

"Hell no!" Somi protested. "She ruined my image in front of you!"

"You ruined your own image," Mirae rolled her eyes. "Why don't you just ask your stylist, why she gave you such crappy dresses?"

"Why you-"

Somi held out her hand to slap Mirae but her hand was caught by KJ. "Don't you dare hit her," he warned her. He held her hand so tightly, that it was almost about to break. Somi was wincing in pain and her eyes watered up.

KJ ignored her and tightened his grip more, intending to break that delicate wrist. Sensing danger, Mirae tried to diffuse the fire.

"Sir, let her go!" Mirae exclaimed. "You're hurting her."

KJ gave Somi one last look before roughly letting her go. Seeing his cold gaze, Somi burst into tears.

"Oppa hates me!" she cried, as tears flowed down her face. "Oppa hates me and prefers this..."

She pointed out to Mirae, accusing her. "Oppa, she is a nuisance!"

"She's my assistant," KJ said firmly. "Not a nuisance. You're the nuisance."

Hearing his last words, made Somi break down completely. Tears were flowing down her pink cheeks.

"Stop crying!" KJ snapped at her. "You're just being a spoilt brat. Do you really think that by humiliating my assistant, I'd actually side with you? Get the fuck outta here!"

Somi was now sobbing even harder. Seeing her in such a pitiful state, Mirae felt bad for her and a twinge of guilt rose in her stomach. Somi quickly darted off to the washroom, probably to lock herself in.

"I'll go after her," Mirae volunteered, feeling concerned. KJ nodded his head and saw her disappear. He proceeded to disburse the unwanted crowd.

"What the hell are you all here for?" he asked the crowd in a cold tone. "Don't you guys have work? Do you want to get fired?"

Hearing his threats, the crowd quickly disbursed, murmuring to themselves about the scene they just witnessed.

Mirae reached the toilet on the ground floor. All the stalls were unoccupied except for one at the corner. She heard muffled sounds coming from there.

"Somi?" Mirae knocked on the door. Hearing her voice, Somi stopped crying. After a minute, she unlocked the stall and emerged from it.

They stared at each other intensely for a few minutes, both women's expressions cold and stoic. Suddenly, Somi's face twitched into a smile.

"Mir, how was my acting?" she asked proudly. "Was it good?"

"No," Mirae replied, smiling. "It was perfect."

Cracking into a smile, the two women embraced each other.