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Park Moondae narrowed his eyes at Cheongryeo, assessing the man who always appeared at the top. “I don’t wish to be known as a person beside you.”
Cheongryeo didn’t even blink. He responded instantly, his voice smooth enough to irk Park Moondae enough to cause goosebumps, “You will always be known as my hubae.”
It was a threat, knew Park Moondae. TeStar and VTIC would always be known and grouped together since they were idol groups. You couldn’t know of one without acknowledging the other. It would be impossible to escape, and yet Park Moonday fought against the bonds.
He could not deny that they were both idols, but he would draw some sort of line in the sand. He gritted his teeth, and then opened his mouth, the sound not coming out in the beginning.
“... I do not want to acknowledge you as my seonbae.”
Cheongryeo grinned, his teeth shining in the lowlights of the room.
His eyes were not dark, which was the only reason why Park Moondae did not move away from Cheongryeo’s space. He had seen that smirk before; Cheongryeo meant no harm. Physically, at least.
“You shouldn’t say such a thing at such a public event,” murmured Cheongryeo.
Park Moondae took his eyes away from Cheongryeo’s face to look around. The event was quaint, nothing more than a small group gathering after the rehearsal.
Park Moondae wasn’t originally going to this after-party, but then he heard there would be a free buffet. After that, he was suddenly allowing VTIC’s driver to take him along for the ride. It was dumb but Park Moondae was easily lured in through treats.
Cheongryeo looked smug as they rode to the venue together. In retaliation, Park Moondae scrolled through cute photos and videos of animals to occupy his time. He ignored Cheongryeo’s lingering stare.
Park Moondae tsked before exhaling shakily.
It was annoying, but Cheongryeo was right. Park Moondae had to be careful with his words.
Things were always being overheard by others, especially in places like this. No one here had pure love and innocence in their hearts. They were all working, and in this industry, there was never a time not to be on guard against eavesdroppers.
Park Moondae moved his gaze back to Cheongryeo, who was patiently waiting. His eyes were bright even though it was mostly dark in the room. Park Moondae wanted to tear his gaze away, but that would allow Cheongryeo to know that Park Moondae was slightly intimidated by him.
Cheongryeo said, “You wouldn’t have to be so careful if only you would accept my invitations to dinner.” He stepped forward silently, leaning down toward Park Moondae’s ear. “Then we wouldn’t have to censor our words.”
Park Moondae inwardly seethed, picturing how easy it would be to hit Cheongryeo with his cup.
Park Moondae could envision it perfectly. He would smash his glass cup across the back of Cheongryeo’s head. It would shatter upon impact, creating a mess. But Cheongryeo would remain unaffected. He would raise his hand to the injury, dab at it, and then look at his returned red-stained fingertips. Cheongryeo would then give a low chuckle of amusement, his eyes bright as his lips curled.
Even in Park Moondae’s murderous fantasies, Cheongryeo remained an immortalized bastard. It made Park Moondae glare at the man next to him, hoping that he felt every bit of annoyance that Park Moondae felt toward him.
“You shouldn’t look at me with such a heated gaze,” said Cheongryeo, voice dipping low.
Park Moondae squinted at Cheongryeo. Why was the man suddenly so close? Park Moondae twisted his lips in displeasure as he felt Cheongryeo’s ghostly exhale across his skin.
Park Moondae replied, “What, are you afraid that they will realize that we do not have a great relationship like our panels together entail?”
Cheongryeo hummed. He didn’t lean back or away. He stayed rooted in place, overlooking Park Moondae with sparkling eyes of interest.
Park Moondae knew that the bastard was up to something. He looked too devious to be here for the simple pleasure of Park Moondae’s company.
“Is that all you think that people who would see us could imagine us as?”
Park Moondae blinked at the older man’s words. What else… What else would they see Park Moondae’s glare as? He didn’t glare at other people— well, okay, he didn’t glare at others often.
Park Moondae had a great reputation. He would blame his dirty look toward Cheongryeo as trying to see in the dark. It wasn’t like the gathering was well-lit. It was a nightclub venue, with drinks, food, and a dance floor. Park Moondae was one of the youngest in attendance.
Park Moondae puffed out air in annoyance. “Other than my annoyance, and occasional aggression, what else is there to see?”
Cheongryeo’s smile only grew deeper. It sharpened, causing a shiver to go down Park Moondae’s spine. Cheongryeo bent his head down further. Park Moondae frowned, his mind wondering if Cheongryeo being so close would mess up his hair.
Cheongryeo whispered, “You should be more careful.”
Park Moondae paused, his lips knitting together as he absorbed the words.
Cheongryeo pulled away, not too far yet still too close, but the damage was done. Park Moondae may be aware that Cheongryeo was doing better these days, but that didn’t mean that he was what others would declare as sane.
That was right; Park Moondae had to be careful. Cheongryeo was kind enough to give him a reminder. Cheongryeo had done crazy things before, pulling dangerous stunts that Park Moondae was only barely able to look past.
He had fallen into a false sense of security, somehow. He must remember that Cheongryeo had power, fame, and fortune. Cheongryeo had done things before with no one batting an eye. Park Moondae preferred that over the alternative, yes, but that didn’t mean that he did not hold any grudge or ill-will.
The room suddenly felt very small and stuffy, the air stilted. Park Moondae glanced around, looking for a door or window. Some fresh air would clear his head, he was sure of it.
Park Moondae separated from Cheongryeo, not realizing how odd the situation looked. Cheongryeo stayed against the wall, far from the masses, and looked over to Park Moondae. Park Moondae walked to a back door and stepped outside.
The breeze was fresh, though a bit odd-smelling. Park Moondae would take it, though, since he was tired of Cheongryeo’s company. The cold air hit his face first, and then goosebumps appeared on his arms. Park Moondae crossed his arms as he stood by the door, exhaling in huffs of annoyance.
He needed to get better at pretending that he was comfortable in Cheongryeo’s presence. A scandal would end TeStar. VTIC had a longer, more respectable reputation. TeStar wouldn’t survive if there were a scandal between the members. Park Moondae couldn’t be the reason why TeStar failed.
He had to do something about it. Park Moondae should have thought it over more, maybe hear the opinions of Lee Sejin or Ryu Cheongwoo. Instead, he abruptly drew out his phone, and messaged Cheongryeo.
He scrolled past the old photos of Kongi that Cheongryeo sent. Park Moondae saved too many of them to his phone, if he was going to be honest, but that's neither here nor there. He typed up his message, and then sent it before his adrenaline crashed.
Park Moondae would forever be unsure if he had done the right thing that day. He knew it was smart, but it was, perhaps, not the worst thing he had done either.
Park Moondae was in a poor mood, and he didn’t bother to hide it. He had already received multiple messages from Seon Ahyeon and a few gifs from Kim Raebin politely and gently asking if he was okay.
Park Moondae was fine, he was, but he felt idiotic. When he messaged Cheongryeo, he did so abruptly. He didn’t think long and hard about what he wanted. He was upset that he had been called out. He was frightened by the idea of causing his friends’ careers to fall to ruin.
So, he asked Cheongryeo to meet him occasionally so they could learn to be more comfortable in each other’s presence. What a stupid fucking thing to do, huh?
Park Moondae hid his despair behind a pair of sunglasses. He was thankful he didn’t stand out due to the day’s odd heat and glaring sun. He looked over the menu at the small cafe, his fingers twitching needlessly against his knee.
It was hard to focus when Cheongryeo hadn't arrived yet. He was late. Park Moondae thought it was unbecoming for a seonbae to make his hubae wait for him in the sun, but he did not say so out loud in fear of someone overhearing.
Park Moondae was rereading the menu, his eyes catching on a fluffy two-layer cake, when he felt a sudden hand on his shoulder. Park Moondae did not visibly startle, but he internally cursed up a storm. He glanced down at the hand, recognizing it instantly.
“Cheongryeo,” he greeted, eerily calm.
Cheongryeo smiled down at Park Moondae, his hand still lingering on his shoulder even as he shifted places to stand. “Dearest hubae,” replied the leader of VTIC.
Park Moondae’s patience was nearly gone. He gritted out, “Will you take a seat, now?”
“I thought you would enjoy it if I remained closer,” tutted Cheongryeo. His eyes shone brightly. “Isn’t the point of this to make it so that you do not give away your true thoughts about me?”
Park Moondae felt his eye twitch. He pursed his lips, not gracing Cheongryeo with a reply.
Cheongryeo’s eyelids fluttered, nearly closing, as he smiled. Park Moondae nodded after a long pause. Cheongryeo finally removed his hand from Park Moondae’s shoulder and sat down. Park Moondae wished that the man could do something ungraceful for once.
Cheongryeo didn’t even look at the menu before he said, “Are you ready to order?”
He had his hands placed on the table, his gloved fingers folded together. Park Moondae hated that Cheongryeo looked like a gentleman, as if he didn’t have the occasional burst of insanity. No one would look at Cheongryeo and think anything was off about him, except, of course, how professional he appeared despite meeting with a friend.
Park Moondae should have dressed up. He glanced down at his cardigan, wondering if he should have asked Cha Eugene for help on what to wear. Or maybe Ryu Cheongwoo? He would probably know what to wear when meeting friends in public.
It was too late to change. It was also too late to take back the messages he had sent. Park Moondae knew that Cheongryeo was the type of person who would not give in. He would be dead set on whatever he decided to do, and in this case, that meant Park Moondae was going to have to become comfortable in the other man’s presence.
Park Moondae couldn't even blame any alcohol on his sudden message. He was sober at the time, just anxious. He should have done something more logical, like calling one of his friends. Instead, he created a mess that he couldn’t fix.
“You already know what you want to order?” Park Moondae asked, looking at Cheongryeo through his sunglasses like he was a pesky fly.
Cheongryeo replied smoothly, “I’ll have whatever you have.”
This fucking bastard. Park Moondae’s fingers scraped on his pants, bunching the fabric.
“I know what I want.” Park Moondae had too many things he picked out, truly, but if he was sharing…
“Perfect.” Cheongyreo’s smile was too nice for his face.
Park Moondae hoped he would collapse and die the next time he tried to frown as justice.
Cheongryeo called over a server, and then looked to Park Moondae. Park Moondae rattled off his order of cakes and sweet treats, not paying any mind to what he thought Cheongryeo would like. Park Moondae would order these treats, two coffees, and watch Cheongryeo suffer. In fact, they would suffer together.
When the dishes arrived after the coffee, Park Moondae thought he would see Cheongryeo break. He thought that he would see a hint of anger cross Cheongryeo’s expression. Park Moondae was betting on it. He was justified in finding this man disruptive.
Yet, not a thing happened. Park Moondae pursed his lips, glaring at the man who was delicately wiping whipped cream from his lips with a towel. Park Moondae would make this man tick. He would make Cheongryeo regret accepting to participate in his crazy idea.
So Park Moondae had to sit there, getting used to Cheongryeo’s presence. It was just what he asked for. It was bothersome, in the end. Cheongryeo wasn’t supposed to look like he was having a nice time.
“Are you going to take off your shades?” asked Cheongryeo, voice passive yet somehow confused.
“No,” Park Moondae answered shortly.
He did not want to let Cheongryeo know how much he was staring. He was ultra-aware of every minuscule movement of Cheongryeo’s hands, and he was probably staring at Cheongryeo’s face longer than what was acceptable as the social norm.
Cheongryeo dipped his head, accepting the answer easily.
Park Moondae wasn’t sure if he wanted Cheongryeo to argue more or not. Either way, he lost this battle. He was going to lose the war, too. He frowned, digging his fork into the last remaining dessert on the table. This was not what he expected; it was getting on his nerves.
They had only gone out two times. Two fucking times of Cheongryeo trying to woo him with sweets to make Park Moondae stop glaring. Their relationship hadn’t improved, exactly. It just reminded Park Moondae that Cheongryeo was a bastard, a charming one at that.
Yet, the press had found them. And, instead of making up something nice and homey, like a seonbae hanging out with his hubae to give advice, they had to make it sound scandalous. Not just any scandal, either. Romance.
[VTIC’s and TeSTAR’s Star-Crossed Love]
The article delved into the past, uncovering videos of fan cams, past appearances on shows, and their public interactions. It made it seem like Park Moondae and Cheongryeo had been together for months, if not longer.
He could not allow TeStar to get dragged down with him. Either way they spun this, it wouldn’t work. Idols weren’t supposed to date, not really at least, and if idols were caught dating each other… It wouldn’t end without blood.
But, Park Moondae decided vindictively, he was going to take Kongi in the divorce, if nothing else.