Chapter Text
“Solar-ssi, please tell us why are you here today?”
Canned laughter filled the studio and the two male hosts hammed up with it. Solar couldn’t help but smile. She had always wanted to appear on SBS Morning Wide.
“I’m promoting a new musical ‘Breaking Up is Hard to Do’. I am gonna star in it, Oppa.”
The said oppa clutched at his heart dramatically.
“Call me Oppa all day everyday.” They all laughed at the good-natured flirting. “This musical is gonna feature songs from the great ‘Neil Sedaka’ is that right?”
Solar nodded in affirmation. “It would also be the first time in Korea.”
“Really, that’s great! This is a historical moment then! Congratulations Solarssi! Talking about break ups though. Have you ever been in a situation where you have said ‘breaking up is hard to do”? The host was so cheesy he even cradled his head to look closer at Solar.
“Yes, ofcourse! Haven’t we all?” Canned laughter rang out again.
“I hope this hasn't discouraged you from love, Solarssi. You’d break a lot of hearts if it did.” He clutched at his heart again.
“Of course not!”
“So, who’s your ideal type?”
Solar laughed. They had practised this question and prepared an answer for it. “My ideal type is Jeong Hyeong Don Oppa.”
“Ahhhh funny guy, eyyyyy!” The two hosts shared high fives and posed cheesily for the camera. “We fit your ideal type Solarssi. No other types up your sleeve?”
As scripted, she pointed to a guy wearing a “Trust fully in Moon Byul Yi” gag shirt. The camera panned to the guy who acted like he just won the lottery. “Moon Byul Yi.” A chorus of disappointed awws followed the clarification.
“Moon Byul Yi, monster CEO of Idol Academy, Moon Byul Yi? Eeeyyyyyyyy!” The two hosts pretended to shiver. “She’s a cold, cold lady but we could totally understand the appeal! We have no chance then.” Cue canned laughter and the audience laughed too. This time both of the hosts pretended to suffer heart attacks.
“Go ahead and tell them when your amazing play is gonna be Solarssi. This had been a heartbreaking segment.”
Solar gave out the information eagerly to end the segment.
The Moon Byul Yi skit caught fire and continued on to the next interviews, variety show appearances, etc. Truth be told Solar had no idea about this “monster CEO”, but since they’d become an unwitting love pairing she Googled and ofcourse Navered the woman up. Always clad in suits and always looking composed in every social gathering she’s photographed in, Miss Moon was the epitome of chic. Solar’s curiosity peaked. She devoured every publicly released info about this Moon Byul Yi. The tagline “Trust Fully in Moon Byul Yi” came from the fact that every young starlet that went under her company’s wing got to debut and became popular.
Solar had a dream of being an idol a long time ago, but the call of the theater had been greater. Besides, she’s happy in where she’s now at 30. She’d given up everything and travelled to New York(without knowing any English) at 18. Her parents had been against her dream. They bought her a plane ticket and not much else. She had to support herself and her studies by doing odd jobs. Walking dogs, babysitting Korean kids, singing at clubs, waitressing... mention it she’s probably done it. While all these were happening she was also attending on and off Broadway auditions. She hit the jackpot at 23 when she was casted as “Gigi” in Miss Saigon. She was told to thank her looks for getting the part. She was told she doesn’t look 100% Korean. Whatever that meant. She then went on to star in numerous musicals and travelled around the world. She’s sure she had done a good job and her parents should be proud of her.
She opened a magazine to an article about Korea’s successful individuals under 30 and there’s Moon Byul Yi posed haughtily. Solar’s admiration grew at each article that she read, each anecdote shared about the young CEO. She feared she’d actually developed a crush(a woman crush if you may) on this bottle blonde ice queen. Article stated that Moon Byul Yi had been disowned for coming out at the age of 19. Like Solar, she supported herself until she finished her studies. She; however, received a considerable amount in inheritance when her paternal grandfather died. With that money she built an empire from the ground up. At 28 she shared the goblet with entertainment industry CEOs who were much older.
#WCW Theatre star SOLAR POSTS A PHOTO of Idol Academy CEO as her Woman Crush Wednesday!
“Really? That’s headline worthy?” Solar passed on the tablet to her manager, Jung Wheein.
“You don’t like her pic that I posted? I thought you wanted to be invited to more TV Shows? Theatre is not forever, Yong Sun Unnie.”
She rolled her eyes at being first named.
“Is this your mom’s idea?” Whee in’s mom was Solar’s original manager, but the woman wanted to retire soon. She’d been training Wheein to be her sub.
“Don’t you think I am too old for this kind of scandal?”
“No, besides you’re kinda a foreigner. The GP expects ridiculous things from you so they can bask in their superiority. Look at Jessi Unnie.”
Solar sighed.
“Fine, I wanna be a panelist or a judge whatever you call it here on Kings of Mask Singers. Get me that and you’re forgiven.”
“Piece of tteokbokki.”
“Also, please get me some tteokbokki.”
Seoul Fashion Week was a bustle of activities for Solar. She’s invited to a lot of front rows thanks to her artist friends. The theme for the year was feminine lines even in suits. She’s halfway through ooohing and aaahing over Lee Chung Chung’s Amelia Earheart inspired collection when she saw her. Moon Byul Yi was sitting stone faced wearing a double breasted hound’s tooth patterned wool suit jacket with silk lapels. A soft flowing maxi skirt and high heeled boots completed the outfit. A clear Lee Chung Chung look. Solar’s breath got caught in her throat.
Damn. This Moon Byul Yi really turned out to be Solar’s newly discovered ideal type. She hadn’t even thought about being gay or whatever before. She was too busy with her career to even think about relationships other than brief tussles in the sack with pretty theatre men.
She’s brought back to reality by her friend pulling her to meet Lee Chung Chung. They were invited to an after party. Solar wanted to refuse. She had a bottle of wine and some script to go over at home. Her friend was pouting though and Solar had to give in.
She’s drowning in beautiful people. Models towered over her though she’s wearing 3 inch heels. Good thing she had the sense to change into a basic black dress with a high slit at one side. She put on some pearls to complete the understated elegant look. Drinks flowed freely and she’s had a few herself. She’s nursing her last drink of the night. Her friend disappeared into the sea of models a long time ago. It’s time for her to go.
As she stepped out into the cold, she contemplated between driving or calling a cab.
“Look what the cat dragged out.”
Solar looked at the direction the voice was from and saw Moon Byul Yi herself confidently standing on the side waiting for her car. The party was in full swing inside that nobody was going home yet. Nobody but them, apparently.
“Me?”
“Yeah. So, how was dragging my name all over the entertainment platforms working out for you?” Moon sneered.
“I wasn’t. It wasn’t intended. It was supposed to be a one time thing.”
Moon Byul Yi shook her head.
“Do you think it’ll help you get famous?”
Solar shut her mouth because that’s exactly what she and her team had been doing. She’s thinking of a good retort but Moon Byul Yi was already walking away.
“Wait!” Solar picked up her pace to follow the other woman. She needed to apologize.
Moon Byul Yi didn’t stop walking until she’s inside her 2019 BMW M5.
Solar stood there slack jawed not knowing how to begin with her apology.
“What are you waiting for, Solarssi? Get in.”