Kim Ha Jun

She didn't like her relaxed he was acting, it was never a good idea when someone was this relaxed after a break-up from a relationship as long as he and Jang-mi.

She kept her glass of juice aside and looked him straight in the eye, she said, "How? I thought you were planning on having the ceremony in December. What happened?"

He smiled at her serious expression, opened his can of beer and sat on the other end of the couch, "Nothing, we drifted apart"

"After 8 years together?"

"Yes", he replied and quickly changed the conversation, "why are you here?" He folded one of his legs in and leaned on his side, watching her silently. Kim Ae-ri pulsed her lips, she wasn't pleased with the abrupt way, he had ended that conversation but she dismissed his actions. She understood that he might not wish to talk about that painful experience.

"Can't a sister visit her brother after he has been away for a month"

He clicked his tongue and said firmly as he held her gaze for a few seconds, "no, aren't you here for work. let us get straight into that".

".... you are becoming jaded. How is the groundwork for the album going"

"It is going well, I am almost done. Hwa Joo will do the rest", he replied

She placed her glass of juice on the table, " It has been a month, Ha-Jun. We have a schedule to keep, the final day for submission of the guide for ECHO's new album is on the 12th."

He nodded, "Don't worry everything will be ready by then. You mentioned in your messages that the final lineup for VIXEN was complete".

She bit her lips and nodded, rubbing both wrists together, "Yes it is, which is one of the main reasons I wanted you back. The contract with the production team Father wanted to take up Vixen's debut single fell through. You know he wanted the girls to debut with a sexy concept_"

"In this day and age, it would have just blown up in our faces. The last time I spoke with Director Oh, he mentioned that they already decided on the debut song. Can the song be used?"

"No, we need something fresh. I am going a different route with VIXEN, I want them to have a darker and more mature concept. They will debut with a Cyberpunk rock concept, it is a concept that has not been adopted recently in any girl group. It will be unique and make them memorable to the public." She took a flash drive out of her bag and handed it to him, "I want you to take charge of Producing their songs as you do with ECHO."

He looked from her to the flash drive in her hand, 'This is Ae-ri's first group, everyone is watching her. To see if she would succeed or fail. Most especially the investors, they are prepared to jump ship if VIXEN does not exceed their expectations. I cannot let her go through this alone but this will mean taking on more responsibilities. Can I handle taking on another group?', he thought. A few seconds later, he took the Flash drive from her and held it up,

"They need to come into my studio for a sound check. I check their vocal range and texture, a recorded video will not be enough."

Kim Ae-ri smiled and nodded, "I will arrange that", nodding at the flash drive, she continued, "I put in the storyline and concept details, let me know if you need anything else. Thanks, for helping out".

"mmm", he nodded placing the flash drive on the table, "What is the time frame?"

"ECHO Album will be out by August, the promotion will run till October or November and VIXEN'S debut was initially scheduled for September but I plan on shifting it back by a month. This is their debut mini-album and will like them to be well prepared so can it be ready by July 12th?"

He opened his planner to check what he had planned, apart from ECHO's album and one or two external projects, he was free for the next two months. "it is a mini-album, Nuna. July 12th won't work for me I have other ongoing projects due then. I am okay with July 25th, that will give my team time to compose the tracks for the mini-album. How many tracks do you want in the Mini-album?"

"Six"

"Okay, I can work with that".

She looked up at the clock on the counter, "it is getting late, I should get going". She picked up her bag as she stood, he dropped his phone on the table and stood, "I will escort you to your car, did you come with your driver?"

"No, I sent him home. I will drive back home".

They walked to the door, stopped by the shoe cabinet and changed out of their house slippers. He changed into a pair of blue rubber slippers while his sister put on her black 4 inches heeled sandals. Minutes later he stood with his hands in her pockets as he watched her drive away. He went up to his apartment once her car was out of sight.

He took out his phone from his pockets and clicked on the Kao Kao talk app, He scrolled up and stopped as Jang-mi's profile came up, breathing deeply. He sighed as he looked down at the 4 unread messages from his ex-fiancee. He paused just at his front door, he looked up and punched the middle of his forehead. He clicked in his passcode, turned the doorknob and walked into his apartment.

He changed into his slipper and once again brought up his phone but unlike the last few minutes, he had done the same thing. He tapped on her profile, the first message was sent three weeks. That was about a week and a half into his vacation, he fronted as his eyes fell on the name he had saved her contact with, "My angel".

"What in the_ how pathetic", he muttered closing his eyes and rubbing his hand on his hair, scattering his bun. He quickly edited her contact information to her full name Ko Jiang-mi. "This is better", he sat on the couch opposite the television and went back to her Kao Kao talk message which read,

May 12th

I am almost done filming, I will return to Seoul in the next two days. I will stop by to pack up.

****

May 16th

I am back in Seoul. I am coming over tomorrow.

*****

May 17th

I got your letter, I can not take the apartment. We were engaged, not married. I am moving out of the apartment, I suggest that you sell it or keep it. It is not like we pulled in money to buy it together. it was originally yours, I don't want to relieve all does memories. I need to move on. I heard you are on vacation, take care of yourself.

********

The last message was sent a few days ago, which must have been sent the day she ran into his sister.

*****

June 8th.

I ran into Aeri-Unnie at the press conference for my new drama, seems like you didn't tell her we had broken up. Don't worry, I did not say anything about that. You should tell her yourself. I left the apartment key with Myung Hee, you can get it from her when you are back in Korea.

****

After Reading the messages he shut his phone and dropped it on the couch beside him. He leaned his head back as sleep crept into his eyes gradually, he shut his eyes a few minutes later.