W O N Y O U N G

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, fixing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. The fluorescent lights above cast an almost too-harsh glow on my face, making me look paler than usual.

The issue between me and Sunghoon was resolved over a week ago. I released my statement confirming that Sunghoon and I are nothing but friends and there's  nothing the fans should be alarmed about. Yeah, right. I addressed him as a friend despite him calling me a mere co-worker. Does it still hurt? Hell yeah, it still does. And it doesn't help that him and I doesn't maintain contact anymore. I chose to keep my distance and he didn't bother to reach out either. I guess that's how things are right now.

Taking a deep breath, I adjusted the collar of my sweatshirt and gave my cheeks a light pat. "Don't let it get to you, Wonyoung." I whispered to myself. The issue was resolved. Fans are no longer sending me threats or any of that sort. Everything is going to be fine. Right?

The company building was always bustling with activity, but the restrooms were my little sanctuary, a brief escape before stepping into the chaos of schedules and rehearsals. But I couldn’t stall any longer. Our manager had called for me, and I knew better than to keep her waiting. I already missed a very important meeting last time. I can't do that again this time around, especially when I know better already.

I exhaled one last time and pushed the door open, stepping out into the hallway. The moment I did, I spotted a few trainees passing by, murmuring amongst themselves, their eyes flickering toward me before they quickly looked away. I barely reacted. I was used to the stares by now.

Most of them are too intimidated to approach me, some of them looked at me with admiration, while there were a few that threw me judging stares. I couldn't care less though. That's just how it is.

When I reached the manager’s office, I knocked twice before hearing a muffled, "Come in."

The second I stepped inside, our manager, looked up from her laptop, gesturing for me to take a seat. "Good morning, Wonyoung. I'm glad you made it. Have you eaten? I had some snacks there.” her warm greeting made me smile.

“I already ate. Thank you so much though.” I replied and bowed at her. “That's good to hear. I have something important to discuss with you.” she stated.

I sat down, pressing my hands together in my lap. "Is it about our comeback?" I asked, trying to sound casual, but the way she exhaled made me suspect this was something else.

"Not exactly," she replied, leaning back. "There's an arranged special performance for the Valentine’s Day broadcast for a music show. And before you ask, yes, the music show's production team themselves are the ones who invited you specifically for this special stage. It's also going to be a duet.”

That didn’t sound so bad. A duet performance wasn’t out of the ordinary. But the way she hesitated made my stomach tighten slightly. What music show is it? Because I can only think of one right now. And it doesn't exactly make me excited about this whole thing.

"And… what music show is this?" I prompted. “Who will be performing with me?”

Our manager finally met my eyes, a knowing look settling on his face. "It's for Music Bank.”

My heart stuttered for a second before resuming its usual rhythm. Oh, could it be?

“You'll be performing with Enhypen's Lee Heeseung.”

My breath hitched. Heeseung. Out of all why does it have to be Heeseung? I mean, he's a friend of mine, but he's in the same group as Sunghoon. It could've been Sunghoon instead. I mean, if it was him we could've talked. Not that I want to, but a part of me yearns for clarification on everything.

Our manager continued, oblivious to the turmoil stirring inside me. "You two will be performing a love song. There will be a bit of choreography involved, and the concept is… well, romantic. It’s a Valentine’s special, after all."

“This doesn't sound like the best idea, manager-nim.” I stated. “I mean, the whole rumor with Sunghoon just died down.”

“It actually is.” she replied. “With this special stage, we'll prove to the people that Sunghoon and you are nothing but friends. And being able to work well with Heeseung will clear the air that there is no bad blood between both your groups. So yeah, I think this is a great idea.”

I nodded slowly, my throat dry. I feel like I can't do anything about it anyway.  "So, when do we start our rehearsals?"

"Tomorrow morning. The performance is in two weeks, so you’ll need to work closely together. No issues with that, right?"

I shook my head automatically, but my thoughts were spiraling. Work closely together? With Heeseung? I've been trained to work professionally with people but I'm quite unsure of myself this time. I don't know if I'll be able to work with Heeseung without bringing Sunghoon up or asking about how he is these days.

I left the company building, stepping into the crisp morning air. The sky was a soft shade of blue, streaked with hints of orange as the sun continued its slow ascent.The faint scent of freshly baked bread and brewing coffee lingered in the air, blending with the distant hum of traffic.

Tugging my hoodie over my head, I walked quickly, keeping my gaze low. The towering skyscrapers soon gave way to smaller buildings, the city noise dulling as I slipped into a quieter district. There, nestled between an old bookstore and a tiny convenience store, was my newly discovered secret place, a small ramen shop with wooden panels and a noren curtain swaying gently in the breeze.

The bell above the door chimed softly as I stepped inside. I occupied the seat in the farthest corner, away from the windows.

Moments later, a steaming bowl of ramen was placed in front of me. The rich, golden broth shimmered under the light, tiny beads of oil floating on its surface. Delicate slices of pork rested on top, their edges slightly curled from the heat. Thin strands of scallions and a sheet of nori completed the masterpiece, the aroma alone enough to make my shoulders relax.

I picked up my chopsticks and stirred the noodles gently, watching as the steam curled upwards. The first sip of broth was perfection: salty, savory, with just the right hint of spice. It was exactly what I needed to drown out my swirling thoughts. I almost burned my tongue, but it doesn't matter. It's so damn good!

Just as I was about to take another bite, the bell above the door chimed softly again. I didn't bother to look up though. I'm busy savouring the first bite that I just took.

Footsteps approached, stopping right beside my table. I froze, my grip tightening around my chopsticks. I slowly looked up, and my breath caught in my throat.

“Is this seat taken?”

Heeseung.

—

Doing it for the plot, I guess? 😜 Let me know your thoughts, people! And would believe it if I tell you that we are nearing the end?!?! So a huge thaaaaanks to all of you for still reading this book.