[POV. Kilin]
It started with a click.
Just one moment, one picture, and everything I had worked for—the carefully constructed image, the perfect fanbase, the fame I had built from nothing—began to crumble.
The photo appeared without warning, breaking through my phone screen with the brutal impact of a sledgehammer.
The image was clear, too clear. Naina and I, sitting close in a quiet corner of a café, heads leaning in toward each other. Her smile was bright, eyes full of warmth. My hand was resting just an inch away from hers, our fingers almost touching. It looked innocent enough—a moment between friends, a simple shared laugh—but the caption that accompanied it was anything but innocent.
'Star-light's Kilin caught on a secret date with an unknown girl—who is she?'
I stared at the photo, feeling my breath leave me. This couldn't be real. There had to be some mistake. The world couldn't know about Naina, not like this.
The phone in my hand shook as I tried to swipe away the image, but it felt like it was burned into my retinas.
Before I could think, my phone buzzed again. And again. Notifications flooded in—texts, tweets, messages from fans, from people I barely knew, all speculating about the photo.
I couldn't breathe.
My manager called, but I couldn't bring myself to answer. What was there to say? The damage had already been done. The public would never see me the same way again. They would never see Naina the same way again.
I felt the panic rising in my chest, my palms clammy. This was the nightmare I had been dreading—the one I had tried so hard to avoid. I had thought that if I kept us hidden long enough, no one would ever find out. But someone had leaked the photo, and now there was no turning back.
[POV. Naina]
I had just finished a late study session with Ruina when my phone buzzed. I glanced at it, expecting a message from one of my friends—but instead, my heart stopped.
'Is this you with Kilin? A secret date?!'
I stared at the message, then at the photo attached to it, my mind going blank as I processed the image. There I was, with Kilin, my face too close to his. His hand was just barely grazing mine, but the picture looked like we were more than just friends.
'Star-light's Kilin caught on a secret date with an unknown girl—who is she?'
I felt a tightness in my chest, my throat closing up as I tried to make sense of it all. The room around me seemed to spin as the messages poured in. Friends. Strangers. All of them sending me the same thing.
I rushed out of my room, clutching my phone like it was a lifeline. Ruina looked up from her desk, her face immediately morphing from curiosity to worry when she saw me.
Ruina: What's wrong?
I held up the phone, showing her the image.
Ruina: Oh my God. This can't be real…
Naina: It's real. How did this happen? How did they get this picture?
I couldn't stop the panic creeping into my voice. Every part of me wanted to deny it, to pretend it wasn't happening, but the evidence was right there in front of me.
Ruina: You need to call him. Now.
I nodded numbly, barely aware of my trembling fingers as I typed out a message to Kilin.
Naina: Kilin, please call me. Now.
I hit send and immediately felt a sense of helplessness wash over me. There was no way out of this. The world would find out now. They would know about us.
---
The Response
The media exploded. It was everywhere—on TV, on social media, on every website that covered celebrity gossip. Fans had their own opinions, and they were divided.
Some were supportive.
"Kilin deserves to be happy. Who cares who he dates? He's a human being, not a product."
"Naina is lucky. I hope they're happy together."
But others…
"What is he doing? He can't just date a regular girl like that. What about his fans?"
"Star-light isn't for regular people. How could Kilin risk everything for her?"
The outpouring of support and hate flooded in waves. I scrolled through the comments, my stomach sinking lower with each new one. Some fans defended us, but there were so many who didn't understand. They didn't see what I saw in Naina. They only saw a breach of trust, a betrayal.
I could barely keep up with the chaos.
---
[POV. Kilin]
I sat in my car, staring at the screen of my phone, which was buzzing non-stop. It felt like the entire world had turned against me in a matter of hours. How could I have been so careless? How could I have let them find out?
But even as the flood of messages came pouring in, all I could think about was Naina. She must be terrified. She didn't deserve this. She was just trying to live her life, and now it was all being ripped apart because of me.
I called her, but it went straight to voicemail. I tried again. And again. But there was no answer. My heart pounded in my chest, each unanswered call a reminder of how far I had pushed us into this mess.
I slammed my fist against the steering wheel in frustration.
Kilin: Damn it.
I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. I needed to fix this. I needed to make it right.
---
The Fallout
The next day, I went to Naina's apartment. Her phone was still off. I didn't know where she was, but I had to find her. I had to make sure she was okay.
When I arrived, Ruina opened the door, her face drawn and tired.
Ruina: She's not here.
Kilin: Where is she?
Ruina: She left. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen.
My heart skipped a beat. Naina had left? Where could she have gone?
Kilin: Please. I need to find her.
Ruina looked at me for a long moment before nodding.
Ruina: She's staying with Renji for now. You can't blame her for running. She's been under a lot of pressure.
I swallowed hard, guilt gnawing at my insides. I had done this. I had brought all of this onto her.
I ran a hand through my hair, my mind racing with how to fix this. The world knew about us now, and the media would be relentless. The fans were already divided. I could hear the whispers even now—how could Kilin risk everything for a girl who wasn't a celebrity? How could he throw away everything he worked for?
But then I realized something. It didn't matter. I would fight for her. I would fight for us, no matter what the world thought.
---
[POV. Naina]
I sat on the couch at Renji's place, my hands shaking as I scrolled through my phone. The messages were still flooding in, the insults still cutting deep, but the worst part was seeing the messages from Kilin's fans. The ones that were angry. The ones that felt betrayed.
Some of them even called me names. They said I didn't deserve him.
I shut my phone off, burying my face in my hands. I didn't know what to do anymore.
Then the door opened, and there he was—Kilin, standing in the doorway, his face full of guilt and determination.
Kilin: Naina…
I didn't look up.
Kilin: Please, just let me explain.
I shook my head, my voice small but firm.
Naina: I don't want to hear it.
Kilin: You don't have to listen. Just… let me be here. Please.
I still didn't look up, but I felt a tiny flicker of hope. Maybe he was here to fix it. Maybe this wouldn't end in disaster after all.
---