September 15- September 30
The biggest shock I discovered after knowing I have a brother was that Hyunjin, the "girl-like" boy I met years ago, was Hyunjin from Stray Kids. He was overjoyed to realize I was the same person he'd befriended back then. At first, he was nervous around me, but once the ice was broken, he became playful, constantly teasing or flirting whenever he could, even showing off in front of his members.
My parents had several social obligations during their visit, so I ended up accompanying them to meet their friends and business partners. One meeting, in particular, stood out. Ivan and I made a new friend who was six years older than me and five years older than Ivan and his name is Yeonjun.
My parents mentioned we'd met his family before, but I couldn't recall. We hit it off right away, mainly because we both liked Overwatch. I'm not a hardcore gamer, but thanks to my second cousin, I knew a thing or two about it. Ivan did not, and I tried my best not to give Ivan the feeling of being ignored or left out.
We even made plans to meet again soon, and I visited their house when my mom wanted to catch up with their mother. We met twice in person this month, and by the third time, we had exchanged numbers. Funny enough, I hadn't realized Yeonjun was in the same company as my second cousin, Jungkook. Small world.
Throughout the month, I also made time to visit Taeyong at his company, or he'd stop by my training sessions whenever he had a break. Our bond as siblings remained as strong as ever. And the sibling war eventually started. The quiet Ivan was very over-protective and over-possessive around Taeyong and would not leave me for a minute. When I thought Taeyong was mature enough, but actually, he was worse than Ivan.
I handed over five song drafts to JYP for a girl group, though I made sure to tell them not to use my lyrics as Yeim. I write and produce under the name "Azera," a combination of my English name, Zara, and Hera, the Greek goddess who has always inspired me, and overall name meaning "she who walks in the sea."
My mom's influence as a designer also contributed to my involvement in creative fields, like runway modeling, though I've never cared too much about the reputation that comes with it.
Speaking of Lily, she was already famous not for being an SM rookie, but for her incredible talent as a figure skater. Her reputation preceded her long before she stepped into the idol world.
One day, I was deep in thought, and Ivan was cooking for me in my apartment. I wonder how I'll face society if I can't cook, especially being the daughter of the head chef at Hotel Elite, one of the most prestigious hotel chains in the world.
My dad founded the hotel in 2005, and now it has branches all over the globe. It's not just a hotel chain. It's a symbol of luxury and excellence in the tourism industry. The hotels all carry the "Hotel Elite" name, followed by the city they're located in.
My dad's journey is one I deeply admire. He was a brilliant student at Harvard University, receiving multiple job offers even before he graduated. But instead of following a corporate path, he chose to build something on his own.
Despite coming from a wealthy background, he didn't ask for any help from my grandparents. He wanted to prove himself. When I was born, he renewed a restaurant he bought and made his first luxury hotel, and over the past 12 years, it's become a global success. He also expanded into the tourism industry.
My mom, on the other hand, is an incredibly talented fashion designer. She graduated from Harvard University, majoring in Political Science, and fashion designing was her hobby, but her designs were very famous in her second year; her unique vision and craftsmanship had caught the attention of top designers. She started working at YSL under the legendary Yves Saint Laurent himself. By her third year, she transferred to Gucci. That same year, she got married and became pregnant with me.
After nearly four years at Gucci, and following Yves Saint Laurent's passing, my mom received multiple invitations from LVMH.
In her fifth year at Gucci, she finally decided to make the switch to LVMH and was recruited to their headquarters. After five years there, she became a major shareholder in the company, a position she's held since 2014. Now, she continues to thrive at LVMH, shaping the fashion world with her innovative designs. Her original profession was a diplomat, but she pursued a career as a fashion designer.
As for my parents' ages, my dad was born in 1981, and my mom was born in 1982. Even though they're both in their late 30s, they look much younger, barely out of their twenties. I sometimes get jealous, worried I'll age faster when I grow up!
My mom is an orphan who was adopted by the Jeon family. Maybe that's why she is so close to Ivan. It was a secret that not even my paternal grandparents don't knew. My mom and dad fell in love when they were in high school. My mother was in high school, and Dad and his friends came to visit Busan. Later, he continuously visited them, and they were in a relationship, but my paternal grandparents didn't like them together. After pestering my mother a lot for breaking up, my mother finally decided to break up with my father, and she went to China.
Where she rescued a grandma, leading her to have godparents in China and a sponsoring family. She learned Chinese traditional ways of embroidering and coloring clothes for 2 years. After that, she applied to Harvard.
I got to know about my brother from Aaron's research. Ivan was born on 2004 December 26. He was adopted from an adoption house in America. After monitoring him for a whole 2 years. He is only 14 and already going to high school in America.
This teen had a poised and focused demeanor, always seen with a book or tablet in hand, effortlessly juggling tasks that would overwhelm most people his age. His sharp, intelligent eyes, perhaps framed by thin glasses sometimes, sparkled with curiosity and a thirst for knowledge, constantly scanning for new ideas to absorb. Dark circles beneath his eyes hinted at countless late nights spent studying, but his posture remained upright, a testament to his determination and discipline.
His style was simple yet stylish, mostly influenced by my mom. His hair was kept tidy, often pushed back or styled just enough to stay out of his face during his long hours of study.
Despite his serious and studious appearance, there was a subtle charm to him. His teachers often praised him for his insight and dedication, but he was bullied back in the adoption house. The occasional smile that crossed his face, usually when discussing a topic he was passionate about revealed a more personable side that made him not just respected but quietly liked by those who knew him well.
Whether in the classroom, the library, or participating in a debate, he seemed to always be one step ahead, driven not just by the pursuit of good grades but by a genuine love for learning. That was what returned in the papers. In my experience, he was indeed talented and could even cook. It's not like I can't cook. It's just that I can put the right amount of salt in the food. My parents and Ivan went back at the end of the month, leaving me to be busy with my work.
October
The entire month felt like a whirlwind, completely consumed by Stray Kids' upcoming album. While I didn't write the songs myself, I found myself fully immersed in the creative process, working side by side with 3racha and other seasoned producers. The energy in the studio was electric, ideas bouncing off the walls as we shaped the tracks that would soon define their sound.
One song in particular held my attention. I ended up choreographing the entire piece, my mind instinctively syncing each beat to a movement. For other tracks, I added subtle touches, a few dance steps here and there, and was flattered when the directors and producers took notice, offering me the praise I hadn't expected. Watching the music videos come to life was another exhilarating experience; seeing ideas transform from concept to reality always leaves me breathless.
Outside of work, I found myself becoming closer to the NCT members and other trainees.
One time, I was waiting for Taeyong after practicing for the day. I was listening to NCT Dream Drippin'. I was just immersed in the song when I felt my one earpiece get picked by someone, and it was Jeno. His eyes went wide after knowing what I was listening to. He took off my other earpiece, too. Saying "This is not for children," I was mad yet quite happy knowing I was the only one in the room. I am low-key like NCT Dream More, and Jeno is one of my favorite members.
The free time between projects allowed me to build relationships I had barely scratched the surface of before. When Lily was still at school, I would often hang out at the company, watching the boys practice, and sharing ideas with them.
Speaking of Jungkook, my second cousin from my mother's side, he and his group live just a few doors down. Their apartment is practically next to mine, which means I've gotten closer to them, too. It's become a habit for them to drop by whenever they need something. A missing ingredient for a meal, vegetables, or even just company. Taeha, my little Pomeranian, has become best friends with Taehyung's dog; the two of them would not separate whenever we visit.