MINJAE'S POV
I was on time.
Yes, I want that noted.
"You're in a good mood," Seojin said from the chair next to mine in the dressing room.
Was I?
More like in the middle of a crisis as I inwardly asked myself why I even agreed to this bullshit.
"I'm always in a good mood."
"Yeah, but you look like you're planning something," he muttered, sitting up better in his chair.
I resisted the urge to glare at him while the stylist dabbed at my face with such meticulous effort.
"I'm getting my hair done, Seojin."
"Uh-huh, you look like you're planning something while getting your hair done."
Hyun looked up from his phone across the room. "The fan cafe crashed twice this morning. The servers couldn't handle the traffic."
"Obviously." I rolled my eyes.
"There are AURORA fans in the line outside. Like, a lot of them."
"Also obviously."
Hyun dropped his phone. "And you still feel like you don't need to talk about this to us? This is…a lot. What are our companies even thinking? What the hell happened?"
I couldn't tell them the agreement with the company. Yes, they were my bandmates but the CEO had been clearㅡ we couldn't avoid any mistakes, and that involved telling anyone.
"Nope." I brushed aside the statement casually.
Ren, our youngest, was eating chips in full costume which I know was about to send our poor stylist into an aneurysm. He didn't look up but his words were sharp. "So are you dating Han Jisoo or not?"
My jaw tightened for a second. "Who knows? That's my business."
Ren hummed, crunching harder on another chip. "So you're gay?"
I almost choked on air.
The dressing room went silent and I met his eyes in the mirror. "If you finish that statement, I'll tell Kim about the jacket you ruined last week."
The stylist snapped her head up. "What jacket?"
Ren shot me a withering look. "Fine."
Good.
I had enough on my mind and didn't need my members to start guessing my sexuality now.
Let's get this over with.
***************
The venue was already at a fever pitch when we were briefed backstage.
The managers of both companies stood together which was already strange enough and mine cleared his throat.
"The format is simple. Both groups are seated together, fans rotate through. Answer questions naturally, keep the energy warm, this isn't our first rodeo." He paused. "The seating arrangement has both groups mixed. Minjae, you're next to Jisoo."
Of course I was.
"Any issues with that?"
I shrugged. "Loads. But go on."
He stared at me like he knew exactly how many issues I had with that and chose to move on.
AURORA's members were already in the wings when we got there. I clocked them immediately ㅡ six of them, various states of pre-event nerves. Their leader, Taemin, was doing that thing leaders do where they stand very straight and smile very warmly at everyone to demonstrate that everything is fine and under control. I had met him personally at two award shows. He had a handshake that lasted a second too long and a look that always set me off.
Seo Jun, the one I knew was Jisoo's closest friend in the group, caught my eye and gave me a nod that was respectful and loaded at the same time.
And then, there was Jisoo.
Standing slightly apart from his members, already in his event outfit, looking at the monitor showing the live fan feed with an expression I would describe as a man watching a natural disaster approach from under a window he couldn't open. He was pale under his make-up. His jaw was set in that specific way people set their jaws when they're trying very hard not to show that something was affecting them.
I had seen him perform. I had seen him on stages in front of thousands of people without blinking. But this ㅡ this specific kind of attention where cameras were pointed at him because of who he was standing next to rather than what he was doing on stage ㅡ this was different and he didn't know what to do with it yet.
Interesting.
My feet moved before I could think and I stood right next to him.
He stiffened almost immediately.
"You're doing that thing with your jaw." I pointed out, my voice low.
"What thing?"
"The clenching thing. Fans notice."
He turned to me slowly. "I'm fine."
"Smile."
His lips pulled down in a frown. "I'm smiling."
"That's not a smile, Jisoo. That's what happens when someone tells you to smile."
He exhaled sharply through his nose and looked back at the monitor. I looked at it too. The crowd was enormous and getting louder and every third sign being held up had both our names on it and I will admit, privately, it was impressive numbers for an event that was technically unannounced until four days ago.
Our managers gave the signal.
"Ready?" I lightly touched his arm, relishing the way goosebumps scattered across his skin almost immediately.
Interesting. Very interesting.
"Don't talk to me." He hissed.
"Sounds like a yes to me." I grinned.
Then we walked onto the stage.
The noise hit like something physical. I was smiling before I fully stepped into the light because that part of me is automaticㅡ it had always been. It's the one thing in the industry that didn't feel like work. I heard my name from every direction and I waved as the NOVA section completely lost their minds. And honestly? Good for them, they earned that with the atrocious ticket prices I had seen.
We took our seats and the fan meet began.
It started well enough. Fans rotated in groups and I talked to every single one like they were the only one in the building. I responded to their banners and Seojin kept elbowing me from where he sat on my left for going over time. But I kept ignoring him because I wasn't going to take a lecture on time management from a man who missed a van. After all, he was fixated on taking a photo of a cloud.
Between rotations, I glanced at Jisoo at my right side. He had settled now, giving each fan in front of him his complete and undivided attention in that quiet and precise way he had. One fan was crying before she got a word out and instead of the polished response I expected, Jisoo handed her a tissue from the table and waited for her with a soft smile on her face.
Then a group came through that changed the atmosphere.
Four of them.
They stopped in front of my section first.
"Minjae-ssi, we've been fans since your debut." The one at the front with bright eyes grinned. "We just want to tell you we support you deeply."
"Thank you."
She doubled down as she turned to Jisoo. "Jisoo-ssi, how does it feel knowing that half of the people here only came for Minjae-ssi?"
Oh.
His smile faltered and the table went tense.
The MC was already moving to the scene but I beat him to it, leaning forward to the girl. "How long have you been my fan again?"
She turned to me. "Since debut."
My smile remained intact. "Then you'd know I don't keep people around me that I don't respect. The answers write themselves, don't you think?"
The group stared at me blankly.
Security was already at the end of the row. The MC redirected and they were guided out, one of them loudly enough that the crowd booed them on the way out and someone in the back threw a light stick sleeve.
My gaze flickered to Jisoo and he looked very interested in his fingers now.
This always happened. Fans overstepping. But hopefully that was all for the day.
Oh, how I was wrong.
Two rotations later, another group made their way over.
This one went straight to Jisoo. Didn't even look at anyone else. "Jisoo-ssi." A smile with nothing behind it.
He looked up with a smile that looked forced.
"AURORA sales have been struggling, right? Must be nice that something finally worked out for you."
The fans around reacted immediately. Several loud objections, someone saying 'What is wrong with you?' from three rows back.
Jisoo looked at her and this time, his expression didn't change. "AURORA has one of the most dedicated fan bases in the industry. I think they'd disagree with that assessment but thank you for the concern."
Security was faster this time as she refused to leave and had to be dragged out.
I leaned in closer to Jisoo. "You didn't have to be that polite."
"I know," he said quietly.
"I wouldn't have been." I shrugged.
"I know that too."
Thatㅡ that almost made me laugh.
But I didn't. I sat up straighter as the press came with questions. These were people looking for things useful. Things they could plaster on headlines.
"Minjae-ssi." A journalist from the front went first. "Can you please describe your relationship with Jisoo-ssi? For the fans who are skeptical."
I looked at Jisoo thoughtfully as though I was considering something genuine. "Let's just say time will tell."
A ripple through the crowd.
"So you're saying there truly is something to become less skeptical about?"
"Time is very clarifying." I picked up my bottle of water to signify I was done with that question.
"The public is divided. Half believe this is genuine and the other half believe it's a publicity stunt. What do you say to the other half?"
"I'd say divided is interesting as half already believe it. And I like those odds."
Noise from the crowd. The journalist tried again. "But can you confirmㅡ"
"Next question."
"Jisoo-ssi, your individual profile exploded overnight. Follower count. Search traffic. Brand interest. Some people are saying this whole thing is conveniently timed for someone whose group's numbers have been declining."
The room stilled.
"Convenient." Jisoo shrugged. "That's one word for it. I'd use a different one but that's good enough."
"Minjae-ssi, your ex-girlfriend, Yoon Ara, commented on one of your recent posts for the first time in a year. Do you think this…situation and rumor is going to cause complications?"
Of course, they'd noticed.
"I think that people who are looking for complicationsons usually find them." I paused. "And I'm not looking."
Another journalist raised a hand. "Jisoo-ssi, how long have you actually known Minjae-ssi?"
He stilled for a fraction of a second. "The industry is a small space."
Indeed it was. Rightfully so too.
After twenty more minutes of answering random questions, most directed at Jisoo and I rather than the group's performance in general, I was backstage when Seojin rushed after me.
"Seriously?"
"What?"
"Time is very clarifying," he mimicked. "Who are you? That was so corny."
"Shut up or I swear I'll trade you for a smaller company."
I looked down the corridor. Jisoo was with Seo jun, talking quietly, his back to me. Jun said something and Jisoo ran a hand through his hair and nodded, some of the tension I'd been watching him carry all afternoon visibly leave his shoulders.
My manager appeared at my elbow. "Let's go."
My eyebrows furrowed and I nodded. "Let's go."