On my way to stardom

15. New manager?!

Someone rings on my doorbell the next morning at 7am sharp. Even though my heart skips a beat but I tell myself my lunatic of a manager is taken into custody, it cannot be him.

'Good morning, Shannon-ssi!'

My stylist, Freddie Kim, greets me with his usual smile.

'Freddie-ssi? Why are you here?'

He looks at the iPad in his hand and says, 'apparently you have to go to the gym now, don't you? Jeez, how early do you idols wake up these days?'

I can only manage a nod after everything that happened yesterday and now, the sudden visit of Freddie.

'Well then, let's go!'

The adrenaline rush yesterday has drained so much of my energy, I'm still feeling tired and powerless today. 'Oh, I brought you breakfast,' Freddie says.

Something that has never been in my breakfast for the past 4 months is sitting in the paper bag. 'What is this?'

'A breakfast wrap?' Freddie says as a matter of fact. ' I thought it's quite a universal breakfast choice.'

Okay, I've decided that I deserve a real breakfast after 4 months of hell. Freddie can find out about my diet later.

------------

After my morning commitments, as expected, I am summoned to Bang P.D.'s office.

'Take a seat, Shannon,' my boss says. His calm self has returned.

'Yes, P.D. nim.'

Freddie enters the room 2 seconds later. 'Take a seat, Kyung Shik-ssi.'

' Actually you can call me Freddie,' he says but Bang P.D. doesn't look like he's acknowledged what he said.

'I'm so sorry about what happened yesterday,' our boss says. 'About 7 years ago, we gave him a break because he was found attacking one of our artists. Later, he got diagnosed with bipolar disorder.'

A gasp escapes from someone, whether from me or Freddie, I'm not sure.

'I thought I'd give him another chance to work for us since he got doctor's certificate saying he's all good now. I didn't know he still needed care.'

'I understand, P.D. nim, so I take it you're not...umm...'

'What is it?'

'So you're not firing me, right?' I ask quietly.

'No, of course not. Why would I? It wasn't your fault,' he says understandingly.

Phew. I really need this job.

'Excuse me, Bang P.D. nim. May I ask why you wanted me here?' Freddie asks, curling his newly dyed green hair.

'For the time being, I hope you can become Shannon's manager until we've found another suitable candidate. Is that alright?'

'What?!' Both of us say in unison.

Bang P.D. chuckles, 'obviously we will discuss a raise of some sort, but...'

'No problem, I'm on it!' Freddie claps excitedly.

I've worked with Freddie quite a lot of times now since he always has to be present for any photoshoots or video filming. He's always been nice to me and even cracks jokes to make me laugh. I can't be happier to have him to be my temporary manager.

'Freddie-ssi, please take care of me and teach me many things!' I say when we're dismissed from our boss's office.

'Of course! You know you can call me oppa, right?' He giggles, 'I've always wanted to become a manager!'