[POV. Kilin]
The weight of secrecy had been wearing on me for weeks now, but today, it felt unbearable. Every time I met Naina, it was like stepping into another world—one where the demands of fame didn't exist. But it was always temporary, and deep down, I knew the cost of our time together was one I wasn't ready to pay. Still, I couldn't help myself. Every moment with her felt real. It felt like it was mine.
I arrived at our usual café, a quiet, hidden spot on the outskirts of the city where no one could find us. I could already see her through the window, sitting at our usual table, a book in her hand and a slight frown creasing her brow. I couldn't help but smile at the sight. There was something so effortless about the way she made everything feel right.
I pushed open the door, and Naina looked up, her expression brightening the moment our eyes met. A rush of warmth spread through me, and all the anxiety of the day melted away. She was the only person who could make me feel like I wasn't trapped in my own life.
Naina: You're late.
she said, her tone light but with a playful edge.
I chuckled, sliding into the seat across from her.
Kilin: By exactly two minutes. I'm sure the world won't end because of it.
Naina's eyes twinkled as she leaned back in her chair, studying me for a moment.
Naina: You've been acting different lately, you know.
My heart skipped a beat at her words, but I tried to keep my face neutral, not wanting to let her see how much she'd hit the mark. The truth was, everything about our connection was changing. But I wasn't sure I was ready to admit that to her… or to myself.
Kilin: I don't know what you mean.
Naina raised an eyebrow, not buying it for a second.
Naina: Don't lie to me, Kilin. You've been distracted.
I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could say anything, a familiar voice cut through the quiet atmosphere.
Manager: Kilin.
My blood ran cold at the sound of his voice, and I froze. The weight of his presence filled the room, his sharp eyes scanning the café as if searching for something. And then, they landed on me. His gaze locked on mine with an intensity that made it impossible to breathe.
I tried to keep my composure, but I could already feel my heart racing. This was bad. This was very bad.
I looked at Naina, her expression shifting from confusion to concern as she saw my reaction. She knew something was wrong.
Manager: We need to talk.
The words felt like a punch to the gut. There was no mistaking the cold authority in his tone. I had no choice but to stand up and follow him outside. As I turned back to Naina, her wide eyes followed me, filled with confusion and fear.
Kilin: Wait here. I'll be right back.
I didn't want her to worry. I didn't want her to know the truth—that everything was about to come crashing down.
Outside, my manager was already waiting, arms crossed, his face dark with frustration.
Manager: What the hell do you think you're doing?
His voice was sharp, filled with anger.
Manager: You're getting sloppy, Kilin. This is a disaster.
I couldn't even answer. I felt like I was suffocating, my chest tightening with every word he said. My mind raced, but I couldn't think clearly.
Kilin: I don't know what you're talking about.
Manager: Don't play dumb with me.
He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he stared me down.
Manager: I know about her. I know about your little secret. You've been meeting her behind our backs. And you think no one's going to find out?
The reality of the situation crashed down on me. I had been careless. I had let my guard down, let my feelings for Naina cloud my judgment. I had tried to hide it, to keep it from the world, but it was too late now. My manager knew. And worse—he wasn't going to let this slide.
Kilin: Please, don't do this.
Manager: Don't do this?
He scoffed, shaking his head.
Manager: You think you can just live this double life without consequences? You think you can keep seeing her like this and expect it to stay hidden? You're an idol, Kilin. You represent the company. You represent the fans. You can't just do whatever you want.
I wanted to argue, to tell him that I wasn't just a puppet, that I had a life outside of my career. But I knew better than to speak out of turn. I had already crossed a line.
Kilin: She's just… someone I care about. It's not like that.
Manager: It doesn't matter what it's like. What matters is that the public will tear you apart if they find out. The fans will never forgive you. The company will make sure of that. Do you really want to throw all of this away for some girl?
His words were like daggers, each one piercing deeper into my chest. But what hurt the most was the fact that he was right. The consequences were real. If the public found out about Naina, it would destroy everything. The perfect image, the career, the fanbase—all of it would crumble.
But then, in that moment, I realized something. I didn't care. I didn't care about the fame, the fans, or the company. I only cared about her.
Kilin: I'm not going to let you ruin this. I won't back down.
Manager: You think you have a choice.
He laughed bitterly, shaking his head.
Manager: You'll regret this. We all will.
But I didn't care. The thought of losing Naina was far worse than losing everything else. My mind was made up.
Before I could say anything else, the café door opened, and there she was—Naina. Her eyes were wide with concern, but there was something else in them too. She wasn't afraid. Not anymore. She was angry.
Naina: What's going on, Kilin?
My manager turned toward her, his expression hardening.
Manager: This is none of your concern.
But Naina wasn't backing down. She stepped closer to us, her gaze fixed firmly on him.
Naina: It is my concern. You can't just come in here and threaten us.
My manager's eyes flicked to me, then back to Naina, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. He hadn't expected her to stand up to him like this.
Naina: We're not hiding anymore. Whatever this is, it's not just for you to decide.
I couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at my lips as I looked at her. She was standing up for us, and it meant everything to me.
Manager: You're playing with fire, both of you. This won't end well.
Naina: I'm not scared of you.
The tension between the three of us was unbearable. My heart pounded in my chest as I realized what was at stake. This was the moment when everything could change—when the world would find out about us, about me and Naina.
Kilin: I'm not going to hide anymore.
The words felt like a declaration, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt free. There was no going back now. I wasn't going to let fear control me. Not when I knew what I wanted.
Manager: You'll regret this.
He turned on his heel and walked out of the café, leaving us standing there. The silence that followed felt heavy, but it wasn't suffocating. It felt like the calm after the storm.
Naina: You're sure about this?
She looked at me, her expression softening.
Kilin: Yes. I'm sure.
Her eyes searched mine, looking for any sign of doubt, but all she found was determination.
Naina: Then we'll face it together.
I nodded, my heart swelling with a sense of relief. For the first time, I wasn't alone in this. We were in this together. And no matter what happened, I knew one thing for sure—I would never let go of her.
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