[POV. Kilin]
I sat in the cold, sterile room of the agency's headquarters, my fingers gripping the edge of the polished table as if I could hold on to some semblance of control.
Across from me, the president of the agency, Mr. Jang, leaned back in his chair, his gaze sharp, unyielding.
Mr. Jang: Kilin, you know why we're doing this. The scandal was bad enough, but this—this has escalated far beyond what we anticipated. Your image is everything to Star-light, and right now, your personal life is compromising that.
I swallowed hard. The words felt like a punch to the gut. It wasn't just about the picture anymore. It wasn't just about the media's scrutiny. It was about Naina.
Kilin: I don't understand. What are you asking me to do?
Mr. Jang: We need you to cut ties with her. For good.
The words hit me like a slap in the face. I felt the blood drain from my face, and I struggled to hold my ground. Cut ties? With Naina?
Kilin: You can't be serious.
Mr. Jang: I'm afraid I am. This is the only way to salvage your career, Kilin. If you continue with this relationship, it will destroy everything you've worked for. Everything the group has worked for.
I stood up abruptly, my chair scraping harshly against the floor.
Kilin: You're asking me to give her up? To throw away everything we've built? You don't understand. She means everything to me.
I could feel the frustration boiling inside me, my fists clenched at my sides. I couldn't let them do this. I couldn't let them take Naina from me.
Mr. Jang's face remained impassive.
Mr. Jang: I understand more than you think. You're an idol, Kilin. Your personal life is not your own. It's a brand. You belong to the fans, and they expect you to be perfect. Naina is a distraction, and right now, she's more of a liability than an asset. You need to let her go.
Every word that came out of his mouth felt like a blade cutting deeper into my chest. The coldness in his voice—the lack of empathy—it was suffocating. Did he really think I could just walk away from Naina like she was nothing?
Kilin: I won't do it. I can't.
Mr. Jang's eyes hardened.
Mr. Jang: If you don't, we'll be forced to take further action. We've already received threats from sponsors, and the media is starting to turn against you. Do you really want to lose everything?
The room seemed to close in around me as I thought of the consequences. I had already seen the backlash from the fans, the anger, the disappointment in their eyes. It had only been days, but it felt like a lifetime. Every corner of my life was under a microscope, and I was being suffocated by the weight of it all.
But the thought of losing Naina… that was a different kind of pain.
Kilin: You don't get it. Naina isn't just some fling. She's not a distraction. She's my escape. My peace. You can't force me to let her go.
Mr. Jang's voice grew colder.
Mr. Jang: We've already made arrangements. The agency will handle everything. We'll make sure she doesn't interfere with your public image. You'll need to focus on your career and your group. It's time to make a choice, Kilin. You can either keep her, and we'll have to remove you from Star-light, or you can stay, and she'll disappear from your life completely.
My heart hammered in my chest as I stared at Mr. Jang, his words echoing in my head. The ultimatum was clear. If I didn't let go of Naina, I would lose everything—Star-light, my career, the fans who had supported me for years.
Kilin: You can't make me choose.
Mr. Jang: I'm not asking. I'm telling you.
The finality of his words hit me like a ton of bricks. I was trapped. Trapped between the life I had always wanted and the woman I loved more than anything.
I felt my knees weaken, but I forced myself to stand tall.
Kilin: I won't choose. I won't.
But Mr. Jang didn't flinch.
Mr. Jang: Then we'll choose for you.
The door slammed open behind me. My manager, Jung Min, stepped into the room, his expression grim.
Jung Min: Kilin, it's done. We've made the call.
I turned to face him, the fury in my eyes.
Kilin: What do you mean it's done? What did you do?
Jung Min stepped forward, placing a folder in front of me.
Jung Min: We've arranged for you to be seen publicly with another woman, someone more suitable for your image. A 'clean slate' for the public to focus on. And we've made sure that Naina is out of the picture for good. She won't be able to contact you.
My chest tightened as I stared at the folder. Inside, there were pictures of a woman I didn't know, a woman they had arranged for me to be seen with. The papers were already in motion.
Kilin: You can't be serious. You've gone too far this time.
Jung Min's eyes were tired, but his voice remained steady.
Jung Min: We're doing what's necessary. You may not like it, but this is the only way to protect you, to protect Star-light. You're a star, Kilin. Your personal life isn't yours to control anymore.
I backed away, my hands trembling. My heart felt as if it was being torn in two.
Kilin: I don't want this. I won't be a puppet.
But they didn't listen. They couldn't hear me. It was already too late.
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[POV. Naina]
I sat in my room, scrolling through my phone, when the notification came.
'Star-light's Kilin seen with another woman after scandal with mysterious girl—who is she?'
The headline made my heart stop. I opened the article in a daze, my breath catching in my throat as I saw the pictures. Kilin, with his arm around a woman I didn't recognize, smiling brightly for the cameras. The images were staged, designed for the public eye. They were meant to make it look like Kilin had moved on.
I couldn't breathe.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I felt the weight of it all. He had done it. He had cut ties with me. The agency had forced him to, and he had gone along with it.
I stood up, feeling like the walls were closing in around me. The pain was sharp, unbearable. My heart felt like it was being ripped out of my chest, one beat at a time.
I had known this day would come. I had known the risks when I let myself get close to him. But I never thought it would hurt this much.
I grabbed my phone and called him, but it went straight to voicemail.
I tried again. Nothing.
I dialed once more, my fingers trembling, and then I realized—he wasn't going to answer.
I collapsed onto the bed, the tears streaming down my face.
It was over.
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