[POV. Naina]
The sound of my phone vibrating against the wooden table jolted me awake. I groggily reached for it, my fingers fumbling over the screen. My heart sank when I saw the dozens of notifications flooding in.
Ruina: Naina, don't look online right now.
Ruina: I'm serious. Stay away from the internet.
My stomach twisted into a tight knot. I sat up quickly, my drowsiness vanishing as I unlocked my phone. The first thing I saw was my name—trending.
I hesitated before tapping on the link Ruina had sent. A wave of nausea hit me as the images loaded.
It was Kilin and me. Again.
This time, it wasn't just a blurry photo of us walking together or some vague speculation. No. The pictures were clear. Too clear.
One showed us in front of a small restaurant, standing just a little too close. The next one was even worse—Kilin leaning down, his hand reaching toward my face like he was about to brush my hair aside. The headline beneath it made my blood run cold.
"Star-light's Kilin Secretly Dating Mystery Girl? More Evidence Surfaces!"
My hands trembled as I scrolled through the comments.
"Who is she? Why is she always around Kilin?"
"This girl again?? Is she stalking him or what?"
"Kilin deserves better."
"Why can't idols just focus on their careers?"
I swallowed hard. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat feeling heavier than the last.
A call from Ruina interrupted my spiral. I answered immediately.
Ruina: Hey, hey, are you okay?
Naina: I don't know.
Ruina: I told you not to look.
Naina: I had to.
Ruina sighed on the other end. I could picture her pacing in our shared apartment, her eyebrows drawn together in frustration.
Ruina: This is bad, Naina. The media's going crazy. Kilin's agency hasn't responded yet, but it's only a matter of time.
I squeezed my eyes shut. Of course, they hadn't responded. They were probably in damage control mode, figuring out how to spin this story.
Naina: I should just disappear for a while.
Ruina: That's not going to make this go away.
Maybe not. But what else could I do?
---
[POV: Kilin]
"Kilin, what the hell is this?"
My manager slammed his phone onto the table in front of me. The headline stared back at me, mocking me.
I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair.
Kilin: It's just a picture.
Manager: Just a picture? Kilin, do you even realize how serious this is?
Kilin: I do.
Manager: Then why the hell were you so careless?!
I clenched my jaw.
Kilin: I wasn't being careless.
Manager: Oh, really? Because right now, the company is scrambling to contain this mess. Star-light has a comeback in two months. Do you know what this could do to our image?
I looked away, unwilling to argue.
Manager: You need to stay away from her.
I snapped my gaze back to him.
Kilin: No.
His expression hardened.
Manager: That's not a request, Kilin. If you don't, the agency will make sure you do.
I shot up from my seat, my chair scraping loudly against the floor.
Kilin: Are you threatening me?
Manager: I'm reminding you of your contract. You know how this industry works. You can't afford scandals, Kilin. Especially not ones involving some random girl.
I felt something snap inside me.
Kilin: She's not just some random girl.
Silence.
My manager exhaled sharply, shaking his head.
Manager: Then you better decide what's more important—your career or her.
He turned to leave, but before he walked out, he threw one last warning over his shoulder.
Manager: And don't think about contacting her. The agency is watching.
---
[POV. Naina]
I didn't leave my apartment for days.
The news wouldn't die down. Every time I checked my phone, there was a new article, a new comment, a new wave of fans dissecting every detail of my life.
And Kilin?
Silence.
I wanted to believe he was just as trapped as I was. That he wasn't ignoring me on purpose. But doubt crept in anyway.
What if… what if he regretted everything?
A soft knock on my door snapped me out of my thoughts. Ruina peeked her head inside.
Ruina: You have a visitor.
Naina: I don't want to see anyone.
Ruina hesitated before stepping aside. And then—
Kilin.
He was wearing a black hoodie and a mask, his usual disguise when he was trying to go unnoticed. But even with most of his face covered, I could see the exhaustion in his eyes.
Ruina: I'll give you two some privacy.
She left, closing the door behind her.
Kilin: You're ignoring my messages.
I folded my arms, leaning against the couch.
Naina: What was I supposed to say?
Kilin: Anything.
Naina: And what about you? You disappeared too.
Kilin exhaled, pulling down his mask.
Kilin: I didn't disappear. The agency—
Naina: Told you to stay away from me. Yeah, I figured.
He stepped closer, his voice softer now.
Kilin: Naina, I—
Naina: Don't.
I swallowed, forcing myself to stay calm.
Naina: This keeps happening, Kilin. And every time, it just gets worse. Your agency is never going to be okay with us being friends, let alone anything else. And your fans… they hate me.
Kilin flinched.
Kilin: Not all of them.
Naina: Enough of them.
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his expression.
Kilin: So what? You're giving up?
Naina: I don't know what else to do.
Silence stretched between us.
Kilin: I don't want to lose you.
My breath caught in my throat.
Naina: Kilin…
His hand reached for mine, but I stepped back.
Naina: You should go.
His face fell.
Kilin: Is that really what you want?
No.
But what choice did I have?
I forced myself to nod.
Kilin's jaw tightened. He opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just nodded stiffly.
And then, he left.
I waited until I heard the door close before I sank onto the couch, my hands shaking.
I told myself I had done the right thing.
So why did it feel like my heart was breaking?
---
[POV. Kilin]
I should have fought harder.
I knew that the second I walked out of her apartment.
But I also knew Naina. And when she made up her mind, it was nearly impossible to change it.
That didn't mean I was going to stop trying.
As I stepped into the dark streets, I pulled out my phone. I didn't care what the agency said. I wasn't going to lose her.
Not like this.
---