[POV. Kilin]
I knew the moment I walked out of that press conference that my life would never be the same.
But I didn't expect the storm that followed.
The headlines exploded within minutes.
"Star-light's Kilin Confesses: 'I Won't Hide Anymore'"
"Kilin's Shocking Statement Leaves Fans Stunned"
"Idol Love Scandal: Support or Betrayal?"
Social media was in chaos.
I sat in my apartment, my phone buzzing non-stop with messages, notifications, and news updates. I had turned off most alerts, but the sheer weight of it all still surrounded me.
I clicked on a trending hashtag—#WeSupportKilin—and scrolled through the flood of comments.
> "Kilin is so brave for standing up for himself! He deserves happiness too."
"I will always support him, no matter what! Love you, Kilin!"
"Idols are human. Why should they have to live like robots? Kilin fighting!"
I exhaled, a small weight lifting from my chest. There were fans who understood. Fans who supported me.
But then, I saw the other side.
A different hashtag was climbing the trends—#KilinBetrayedUs.
I hesitated before clicking.
> "I can't believe Kilin did this. He lied to us all this time."
"If he was dating, he should have told us! I feel so betrayed!"
"Star-light is over. He ruined everything."
The words felt like knives.
I had expected backlash. But seeing it written out, seeing fans turn against me—it hurt more than I was willing to admit.
A lump formed in my throat.
I had spent years dedicating my life to them. I had given them my best, my everything. And now, some of them were treating me like I had committed an unforgivable crime.
I locked my phone and rubbed my face, exhaustion weighing on me.
The world was split.
And I wasn't sure how much more of it I could take.
---
[POV. Naina]
I knew this would happen.
I had spent the past few days bracing myself for the wave of opinions, the mix of love and hate, the judgment of millions.
But nothing could have prepared me for seeing my name trending alongside Kilin's.
I scrolled through the comments, my heart pounding.
> "Who is she? Why does she think she deserves Kilin?"
"She's so plain. He could do better."
"She ruined his career. I hope she's happy."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Ruina sat beside me, arms crossed as she scrolled through her own phone.
Ruina: These people are insane. It's like they think he belongs to them.
I swallowed hard.
Naina: Maybe I should say something…
Ruina turned to me, eyes sharp.
Ruina: No. If you say anything, it'll only make it worse.
I knew she was right. But staying silent felt just as painful.
A message popped up on my phone.
Kilin: Are you okay?
I stared at the words, my fingers hovering over the keyboard.
Was I okay?
No.
But I didn't want to burden him with that. He was already carrying enough.
Instead, I forced a small smile and typed back—
Me: I'm fine. Just… don't worry about me, okay?
I wasn't sure if I believed my own words.
And judging by the time it took for him to reply, neither did he.
---
[POV. Jihoon (Kilin's Manager)]
The agency was in chaos.
The PR team was working overtime, the executives were in back-to-back meetings, and CEO Park was making calls non-stop.
Kilin's confession had thrown a grenade into the industry, and everyone was scrambling to control the damage.
I stood outside the main office, waiting for my turn to be summoned.
The door opened, and Suhoo, one of Kilin's bandmates, walked out, his face tense.
Jihoon: How bad is it?
Suhoo sighed. "They're trying to figure out how to spin it. They won't kick him out, but… it's messy."
I nodded, already expecting as much.
Suhoo hesitated before speaking again. "The fans are really divided. Some are supportive, but a lot of them… they're not taking it well."
I ran a hand through my hair. "Yeah. I know."
I glanced at my phone. The agency had put out a statement, trying to calm things down, but the damage was done.
Kilin had spoken his truth.
And now, the world was deciding whether to accept it or tear him apart for it.
---
[POV. Kilin]
I had spent the whole night staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the headlines, the tweets, the comments. The mix of support and anger, love and betrayal.
I had expected this.
But I hadn't expected how heavy it would feel.
A soft knock on my door pulled me from my thoughts.
I sat up. "Come in."
The door creaked open, and Yuan stepped inside.
He didn't say anything at first. He just sat down on the edge of my bed, hands clasped together.
Yuan: How are you holding up?
I let out a dry laugh.
Kilin: Honestly? I don't know.
He nodded, like he understood. And maybe he did. Yuan had always been the leader, the one who carried the weight of the group.
Yuan: You did something brave.
I sighed, rubbing my face.
Kilin: It doesn't feel brave. It feels like I just ruined everything.
Yuan frowned.
Yuan: Do you regret it?
I looked at him, my throat tightening.
Did I regret telling the truth? Did I regret fighting for what I wanted?
I thought about Naina. About how much I had already lost by trying to push her away.
And I shook my head.
Kilin: No. I don't regret it.
Yuan exhaled.
Yuan: Then that's all that matters.
I stared at him, surprised.
Kilin: You're not mad?
He shrugged.
Yuan: At first, yeah. I was worried. But then I realized something.
I raised an eyebrow.
Kilin: What?
Yuan: For years, we've done everything they told us to. We gave up our personal lives, our freedom, everything. But at the end of the day, what do we have left? Just this… this perfect image they created for us. An image that isn't real.
His words hit me harder than I expected.
Yuan: You made a choice. You chose to be real. And yeah, some people won't like it. But the people who truly care? They'll stay.
I swallowed hard.
Kilin: And what about Star-light?
Yuan smiled, patting my shoulder.
Yuan: We're not going anywhere.
A lump formed in my throat.
For the first time since the press conference, I felt a flicker of hope.
Maybe I hadn't lost everything.
Maybe… I had just started to find what really mattered.
---