Make Me STAY

WOLFGANG

"Oh! Please join us, Noona! You'll love the JYP cafeteria, everything is very healthy."

"Well, how can I say no to that."

And that was how Rose found herself eating with two Idols in the JYP company building.

She had to admit that it was rather surreal. Although she had hung out with the members of ATEEZ while they were working, being at JYP was on a whole other level. Rose tried not to stare at she saw a couple of members of Twice walk through the cafeteria.

"So, Noona, what have you been up to? Did you go to Anna's fan meeting?"

"I think you know I did. That reminds me I must thank Changbin for getting me a ticket. He really shouldn't have."

Hyunjin's eyes widened. It hadn't been too surprising that Rose was friends with Felix, the boy made friends with everyone he met, but Hyunjin was surprised that she was close with Changbin as well.

"Changbin-Hyung just wanted to do something to cheer you up. We all did."

"And I appreciated it, a lot. You boys are too sweet."

"Rose knows Changbin-Hyung as well?"

"Yep. We both met her at Wooyoung-Hyung's. Don't you remember me telling you, Jinnie?"

The slightly older dancer nodded thoughtfully as he pieced it all together. He remembered now that Changbin had introduced Rose as someone who worked with ATEEZ. Hyunjin wondered why she was looking for a new job if she was on such close terms with the other group.

Rose stiffened under Hyunjin's calculating gaze. Perhaps this hadn't been such a great idea after all.

"The food here is great. So, are you excited about your comeback? Not long to wait now."

"Did you watch the teaser videos, Noona? Did you like them?"

"They were amazing! I didn't think I could be any more excited than I was after watching the main trailer, but... wow."

"What was your favourite?"

"Lonely St., I was singing it afterwards without realising, but the concept for Freeze was cool as well."

"You didn't like Venom?"

"It's not that, it's just... spiders freak me out."

Both boys began to laugh, and Rose put her hand to her chest as if their reaction hurt her.

"What are we laughing at?"

Rose looked up at the Idol who had approached their table. She didn't know why she was so surprised to run into yet another member of Stray Kids today, she was in their company building after all.

"Rose-Noona is scared of the spider in our Venom video."

Jisung nodded his head in understanding.

"And rightly so. That thing is huge!"

While the other two boys broke out into giggles once more, Rose chuckled at Jisung's response and smiled gratefully at the rapper.

While Rose had followed her soulmate and his group over the past few years, she had become a true fan of their music. What she would never admit though was how Chan wasn't the only member to have caught her eye. Although it was full of fangirl innocence, she was sure that anyone who had watched Han Jisung perform Silent Cry at the fan meeting had instantly fallen in love with him.

As Jisung looked down at her, Rose noticed the moment when he recognised her.

"STAY!"

"Jisung, this is Rose."

"Nice to see you again."

"Not to sound rude, but... how did you get in?"

"Hey! Rose-Noona was here for an interview."

"Interview? To work here? Doing what?"

The rapper rested his chin in his hand as he waited for her answer.

"Actually, I would be working with - "

Before she could finish, Rose's phone rang. After excusing herself, she walked away to a quiet corner to answer the call. It was the hiring team at JYP, they had made their decision and were offering her the job. Her eyes glanced over at the Idols she had just been sitting with.

"I'm afraid we can't give you too much time to think about your answer. We need someone to start tomorrow."

"No. That's okay. I don't need any time to think."

When Rose sat back down at the table, Felix looked at her expectantly.

"Was that about the job? Did you get it, Noona?"

"I guess you'll be seeing a lot more of me."

"Yay! When do you start? I'll bake brownies to celebrate, or would you prefer cookies, Noona?"

"Tomorrow, and I'm still recovering from the last batch of baked goods you made me! They're too good for even my self-restraint."

"Really?"

"Fine. I choose cookies. They're Ch- your leader's favourite, right?"

"Chan-Hyung? Good luck getting him to eat any. He's still on his diet."

"Still?! But he's so thin... Sorry."

"Maybe Noona can convince him."

Rose met Felix's gaze and she was as sure as she could be that he knew that she was Chan's soulmate. She wished that they were alone so that she could ask him about it.

"I can't believe that anyone could resist your baking, Felix."

"True. Just the thought of it is making my mouth water."

Jisung licked his lips and grabbed one of the drinks that were on the table and took a mouthful.

"Um, Sungie, that was Rose's."

Hyunjin's smirk was replaced by an expression of disgust as the other Idol spit a bit of the drink at him in surprise. He had thought the drink was one of his group mates.

"I'm so sorry! I'll buy you another one."

Rose waved the rapper off before he could jump up to fetch her another drink.

"It's quite alright. I should be going now anyway. It's a big day tomorrow."

While they thought she was referring to the first day of her new job, and in a way, she was, Rose was more focused on the fact that Chan would be introducing her to the rest of Stray Kids as his soulmate.