“I’m leaving for that wedding next Thursday. I know it’s short notice, but would you come with me?”
At first, Jiyeon thought she’d misheard. “To Tokyo? I don’t have an invitation. And what about Eric?”
“He’ll have a lot to say, like he did about Max bringing Hazel. No media coverage allowed, though, and Zu’s family takes the security really seriously. Not that Prism could stop us from attending as private citizens. Here, you do have an invitation.”
He showed it to her, attached to an email. Kazu’s cousin had even written a note, addressed to Jiyeon and scrawled elegantly on monogrammed stationery.Faster than the post, it read.Won’t you please join us?At the bottom, she’d signed it ‘Mika’ as though they were old friends.
Eunjae turned to her in the dark, Ezra’s letter crinkling in the pocket of his coat. Softly, he said, “Taking your girlfriend to a wedding… that’s a normal thing, isn’t it? I’ve had to say no to a lot of those. But this time won’t come again, we’ve only got right now, so I want to try. I want to be there with you.”
Normal things. So sharp was her longing in that moment, so boundless and deep, that it left no room for any other thought. “I’ll go,” she told him. It was an easy answer to give.
“You will?”
“I will.” She laughed. Why did he look so shocked? “I don’t have a dress. I’ll have to find one.”
He raked a hand through his hair, embarrassed. “Sorry, I didn’t even think about that part. Is it too late? What can I do?”
“Eunjae. You asked me to a wedding and now you’re apologizing for it?”
“I am.” Now they were both laughing. Switching languages, he said, “I sincerely apologize for causing concern. I requested your company at a formal event without considering the inconvenience this might cause. I will reflect deeply and take responsibility for my actions. Please continue watching over me with warmth and kindness.”
“You should ask Eric for a job. Senior Apology Composer. Lead Atonement Officer.” And she could’ve come up with more, but she kissed him instead.
He was right. They only had right now. This time wouldn’t come again.
Transcribed from a livestream by Emma Han(@jiye_unnie)on the official Star-Connect channel forSunshine 24/7: Apollo At Your Service
Emma appears on camera, dressed in a Sunshine Diner t-shirt. She’s pulled her hair into a ponytail that has just the right amount of volume. How did she do that? I mean, look at it.
“Hey! So over the weekend, I mentioned that I'm still getting tons of questions about that video with the wrist grab. I've asked Jungwoo to help me explain.”
The screen floods with emoji reactions as Jungwoo joins her in the frame. Sunshines inundate the chat with heart eyes and roses and all-caps screaming. Oppa looks adorable in his uniform! Oppa seems kinda shy today, what's going on?
Jungwoo tells the fans that he's just embarrassed about the video. “I didn't know any of you would see that,” he says. “Sunshines, I'm sorry. You know you're everything to me.”
For the benefit of viewers who don't speak Korean, Emma provides a quick translation. The fans are swooning. Someone types that they always knew oppa wouldn't go for someone like Emma; the next three lines are just people announcing they've hit Block and Report.
She doesn't miss a beat. “Okay, before we get into it, let's start with this: did you always want to be an idol? Was this your dream?” Speaking to the audience, Emma adds, “I'm just curious. I know you’re the experts, but I haven't known Apollo as long as you. And I'm kinda trying to figure out where to go with my own dream, so this is like research.”
Oh no, what's going on with her dream? Girl, are you okay? What about the salon? Their concern is a surprise to her, but she’s clearly touched by it.
In the meantime, Jungwoo replies, “I don't know about being an idol, maybe not that specific, but I've wanted to write songs since I was a kid. My mom was watching a drama,A Rose in Winter, and there was a song that played at the end. I thought it was the saddest thing I'd ever heard.”
Max interrupts. “And that's how you decided what to be when you grew up? What the hell, hyung?”
“And do you remember the song?” Emma asks, redirecting a distracted Jungwoo.
“Oh, yeah. Of course I do. It'sLast Goodbyeby Jewell.”
Emma smiles. “I hope you get to do what you love for years and years.” She sounds so sincere. The fans repeat the sentiment. “Are you ready to tell them why you grabbed my wrist at the festival?”
“Nicky made me do it,” Jungwoo replies right away. This triggers an outpouring of sympathy in the chat. Of course it was Nicky, that makes perfect sense. But for every Sunshine who quickly accepts that explanation, there's another who refuses to entertain it. What is this slander? Nicky is an angel! Nicky is above reproach!
“And why did I grab your wrist right back?”
He bites his lip, more hesitant to answer this question. “I was going the wrong way.”
Wow, look how he was able to admit that! Oppa’s so honest! Emma reads through the comments. She blinks, then starts laughing. “They wanna see another wrist grab.”
