"Jungwon? Jungwon!"

A voice snapped me out of my deep thoughts.

"Yeah..?" I cleared my throat, startled at how weird my voice sounded. Realizing where I was again, I couldn't help but let out a sigh.

The waiting room.

After the break comes to an end I need to go attend another schedule of mine.

Many people were rushing past me. Staff, managers or filming crew members, everyone was busy doing their thing.

And then there was me.

The adult, who turned out to be my manager furrowed his eyebrows in concern. He put down the papers in his hands and sat down next to me, "Is something going on, Jungwon? You can tell me."

She doesn't text me anymore.

She doesn't answer me.

I don't know how she's doing. She might be somewhere, dead or alive,

and I wouldn't know.

I smiled. "No, It's nothing."

"Are things too stressful?" The elder continued to guess as I shook my head, "You've been distracted for a while now. Always glancing at your phone as if-"

"I'm just missing someone..." I smiled weakly, making it sound like I was talking about a family member, "I'm sorry, I will concentrate."

"No, it's fine." He nodded to me, "I just thought it was because of this variety show. Since Ae cha will be here too."

My eyes widened, as I unconsciously swallowed, "She's here too?"

I didn't know.

"You didn't know?" My manager squinted his eyes and I could see another fold forming right above his eyebrows.

"A-Ah, of course! Of course, I know." I quickly corrected myself, not wanting to worry him any further. The show was just about to start, "You are right, I am pretty distracted...I really need to focus."

I would let out a weak laughter afterwards, hoping to sound convincing.

Relief became visible on his face, "Good...It's good to hear you are becoming your normal self again. I will go check the mics. Go get your make up done and- you can leave your phone with me."

I nodded, casually handing him my mobile device.

It wasn't new for me to give my phone to him whenever I was having a schedule.

"Is there anything I should be careful about? Facial expressions? Eye contact with Ae cha?"

The dating rumor had reached its peak not long ago.

It would be the first time that we would go live together after the scandal first surfaced.

"As long as you keep it natural you can do whatever you want, Jungwon." The adult nodded, looking like he was glad that I asked him, "Ae cha's in the waiting room next to yours, by the way. If you want to talk to her before you guys go on stage, go ahead."

I nodded, knowing very well I did not want to see her.

Standing up, I decided to go outside to get some fresh air. Since our waiting rooms were right next to each other, I was afraid that me and here would accidentally cross paths and that she would start a conversation with me.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate her.

She was more than kind to me and everyone else.

I just didn't want more trouble with her.

On top of that I was still feeling slightly bitter about the contract I had to sign with her.

She was the last one I wanted to see.

"Jungwon!"

Damn it. Just when I reached the railing and thought I made it.

I recognized the voice immediately, as I internally cursed to myself.

"Are you getting fresh air too-"

Ae cha immediately stopped in her tracks after seeing how serious my face must have looked like.

"Woah, woah calm down. You look like you are about to tear me to shreds." She let out a laugh.

"Sorry.." I quickly apologized and bowed to her, "I just have a lot on my mind."

"As long as you don't look at me like that in front of the other guests, it's fine I guess." She shrugged and sat down next to me. There was a big gap between us and I internally thanked her for it.

She continued. "It's the first time we meet each other since the dating scandal."

"Yeah.."

"How have you been handling it?"

"Better than you and your company, I'm sure."

Shit.

That must have sounded so rude.

Quickly, shaking my head, I corrected myself, "I'm sorry. What I mean is- I still don't understand why our side has to hold back denying the rumor for the sake of your upcoming drama...Isn't that just-"

pure hypocrisy?

"Being cowards? That's also what I told them." Ae cha pouted slightly, her face just screaming that she thought about it the same way I did, "Everyone's just after the money. I'm sorry you have to suffer because of it."

I stayed quiet, my face staying cold.

"Did it affect you a lot? I'm talking about your private life." The girl next to me tilted her head.

"Yeah, kinda." I was honest.

The whole dating rumor did affect my relationship with Ji a lot.

Now that I thought about it, It's been a week, almost two since we last texted. I miss and worry for her every day.

"You know, it's not long till the premiere release, so hold on a little longer." She sighed and stood up, "I apologize, I wish I could make it up to you and your company somehow, but my hands are tied."

"It's fine." I stood up as well, following her actions, "It's really not your fault.."

We both stayed quiet for a moment.

"Well, if that isn't the perfect chance for us to become friends..." She held out her hand towards me, a cheeky but genuine smile on her lips, "What do you think?"

I hesitated a little, before answering.

"Alright, friends it is." I smiled back, shaking her hand.

We went downstairs afterwards, smiling and talking as we made our way towards the stage. But the moment the cameras were on us, we became strangers again.

Because this is the life we chose.

And the life we love.

...Right?

"Look at how well Jungwon reacted to the other guests." The film director exclaimed contentedly during the break as he walked towards the boy's manager with a coffee cup in each of his hands.

"Surprisingly, he is doing well. I'm glad he was able to focus." The manager nodded gratefully and took the coffee, glancing at the boy who was busy looking at his phone with distraught eyes.

It seemed like something was troubling, the adult could sense that.

"Why? Is something going on?" The other was curious.

"Nothing serious. He's just a little closed off these days. I'm worried."

"You know...you should ask him. Maybe there's something upsetting him." The film director was now glancing at Jungwon as well, sipping his coffee, "Ah...There's this story of a colleague I once had. Things didn't end well with his idol, because of a stalker."

"A stalker?" Jungwon's manager pushed up his glasses, "Like a saesang?"

"Exactly."

Right in that moment, Jungwon approached the two, bowing politely before handing his well-trusted manager his phone. The break has come to an end, meaning that the show would continue.

Nodding gratefully, his manager took his phone, while staring at it intensely.

He couldn't resist.

No matter how much he wanted to avoid invading the boy's privacy, his concern just outweighed his moral guidelines.

Unlocking Jungwon's mobile phone, he found a chat at the top which he didn't recognize.

Is this what the film director was talking about? The manager thought with widened eyes.

Oh no! Without thinking, he quickly deleted the phone number right after blocking and reporting it.

______________________

(a/n: people were asking me (actually it was just one person) about a face claim for ae cha and let me tell you it has to be nmixx's sullyoon!!! I couldn't decide between her and nwjns minji but eventually my heart was convinced😩🤭 )