Asclepsius

Chapter 3: The First Introduction

AM

Bang PD looked up from the documents on his desk.

"Oh, and my PA, Mr. Choi, will take you to their room now."

Am's eyes widened.

"WHAT?!"

Bang PD blinked at her dramatic reaction.

"But, sir, you said we would be starting tomorrow!"

"We will start tomorrow."

He smiled calmly.

"But you should at least get introduced to them today. You don't want to walk in tomorrow as a complete stranger, do you?"

Am slowly nodded.

"That makes sense..."

Then she looked down at herself.

Her confidence immediately disappeared.

"But I didn't come prepared."

Bang PD raised an eyebrow.

"Did you have a script for coming into my office?"

Am froze.

She gave him an embarrassed smile.

"No, sir."

"Then why are you scared?"

"I'm not scared."

She paused.

"Just nervous, sir."

Bang PD chuckled.

"Am, you shouldn't be nervous. You should try to get a little closer to everyone in this company, especially BTS."

Am listened carefully.

"You're going to be Jungkook's personal makeup artist. The other members won't exactly let you do your job peacefully until they trust you."

Am nodded.

"I understand."

"And trust me, they will test you."

Am took a deep breath.

Then her nervous expression slowly turned determined.

"Don't worry, PD-nim. You can count on me."

She smiled confidently.

"I'm a very trustworthy person. Once someone trusts me, I won't give them a reason to stop."

Bang PD smiled.

"That's my girl."

He gave her a playful wink.

Am laughed softly.

"Thank you, PD-nim."

"Oh, before you go..."

Am looked back.

"Stop calling me 'sir.'"

She blinked.

"Call me PD-nim. Or just PD."

"Okay, PD-nim."

She immediately gave him a tiny salute.

Bang PD laughed.

"Now go."

"Yes, PD-nim!"

Am bowed politely before leaving the office.

As the door closed behind her, Bang PD leaned back in his chair.

He smiled to himself.

This girl is cute.

He shook his head.

Almost like my own daughter.

Outside Bang PD's Office

Am stood outside, waiting for Mr. Choi.

Four minutes passed.

Then finally, a man approached her.

"Ms. Am?"

She turned.

"Mr. Choi?"

He nodded.

"Yes. I'm here to take you to the members' room."

Am smiled.

"Thank goodness. I was beginning to think I was going to grow roots here."

Mr. Choi laughed.

"You've been waiting for four minutes."

"Exactly. Four whole minutes."

He shook his head with an amused smile.

As they began walking down the hallway, Am, being the social butterfly she was, couldn't resist starting a conversation.

"Mr. Choi?"

"Yes?"

"Can I call you Mr. Choi?"

He looked at her.

"Of course. Why not?"

"Thank you."

They continued walking.

A few seconds later, Mr. Choi glanced at her.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Mr. Choi."

"I'm probably not supposed to ask this..."

He hesitated.

"But you look very young. How old are you?"

Am gave him a shy smile.

"Not too much, not too little..."

She paused dramatically.

"Just right."

Mr. Choi laughed.

"You're like my six-year-old daughter."

Am giggled.

"Hehe. Thank you, Mr. Choi."

"You're welcome."

They continued walking until Mr. Choi suddenly stopped.

"We've arrived."

Am looked ahead.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Mr. Choi pointed toward the hallway.

"I hope you can go on your own from here. PD-nim already called me back."

"Of course."

She nodded.

"But where exactly is the room?"

"Just go straight. You'll see a room with 'Bangtan Sonyeondan' written in Korean."

He looked at her.

"I hope you know how to read Korean."

Am smiled proudly.

"I do, Mr. Choi."

"Good."

"Thank you for bringing me here."

"You're welcome. Good luck."

Mr. Choi walked away.

Am watched him disappear around the corner.

Then she turned toward the hallway.

And suddenly...

Her confidence vanished.

A Few Minutes Later

Am walked for what felt like ten minutes.

Finally, she spotted the familiar Korean writing on one of the doors.

Her heart skipped.

Found it.

She let out a quiet sigh of relief.

But finding the room had been the easy part.

Now she had to actually go inside.

She stared at the door.

You're a professional.

You're their makeup artist.

They're just people.

She paused.

Very famous people.

She shook her head.

"Nope. Don't think about that."

She stood there for another forty-five seconds, arguing with herself internally.

Finally, she took a deep breath.

Raised her hand.

And knocked three times.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Silence.

Then a faint voice came from inside.

"Come in."

Am slowly opened the door.

The moment she stepped inside, she froze.

Five pairs of eyes immediately turned toward her.

Four looked confused.

One looked absolutely delighted.

And that excited voice spoke first.

"Am!"

Am blinked.

Kim Taehyung was grinning at her as if he'd known her for years.

"What a surprise! I thought you were coming tomorrow!"

Am opened her mouth.

"I..."

Before she could finish, another voice interrupted.

"Taehyung-ah."

Kim Namjoon looked between them.

"Who is this?"

Am tried again.

"I..."

Once again, Taehyung interrupted.

"This is Am."

He gestured toward her.

"My Jungkookie's new PMA."

Am froze.

My Jungkookie?

Her brain immediately short-circuited.

Did he just say "my Jungkookie"?

Oh my God.

I'm actually inside BTS's room.

And Taehyung just casually said Jungkookie.

She tried desperately to keep her expression professional.

Namjoon looked surprised.

"Oh. How come we didn't know?"

Taehyung shrugged.

"It was supposed to be a surprise, you know."

Am finally found her voice.

"Hello. I'm Lee Amungi."

She smiled politely.

"But you guys can call me Am."

Namjoon smiled.

"Oh, okay. Hello, Am."

"Hello."

Jin, Suga and J-Hope greeted her as well.

"Hello."

Am smiled and greeted each of them.

Then she looked around the room.

"Where is Mr. Jeon?"

Silence.

Then suddenly...

Everyone burst out laughing.

Am's eyes widened.

She looked around nervously.

"Did I do something wrong?"

Taehyung was practically laughing.

"No, no. Nothing offensive."

He tried to calm himself down.

"It's just cute the way you call Jungkook 'Mr. Jeon.'"

Am blinked.

"Am I not supposed to call him that?"

Taehyung shrugged.

"I mean, you can if you want."

He grinned.

"But you should probably just call him Jungkook."

"Oh."

Am nodded seriously.

"Okay."

She looked around again.

"So where is Mr. Jungkook?"

The room erupted in laughter once more.

Am covered her face for a second.

"Okay! Fine!"

Taehyung laughed.

"He's gone to grab something for us to eat."

"Oh, okay."

Am nodded.

"I can wait."

She moved toward one of the empty seats.

The members continued talking among themselves.

Am quietly waited.

But despite trying to focus on the conversation around her, her eyes kept wandering around the room.

She wasn't looking for Jungkook.

At least...

That's what she told herself.

Her gaze moved from one corner to another.

Then toward the doorway.

Then back across the room.

Something was missing.

Someone.

A familiar face.

A face she hadn't seen since that graduation dinner.

She didn't know why she was looking.

She didn't even know if he was here.

And she certainly wasn't going to ask the members.

But her eyes kept searching anyway.

Suga noticed.

He quietly watched her for a moment.

Then finally spoke.

"Am?"

Am immediately turned toward him.

"Yes?"

Suga raised an eyebrow.

"Are you searching for something?"

He paused.

Then added casually,

"Or, more accurately..."

His eyes flicked toward her wandering gaze.

"...someone?"

Am froze.

Her heart suddenly began beating faster.

She swallowed.

"I..."

And for the first time since entering the room, she had absolutely no idea what to say.