Self-Indulgence

5. Another Story

Luka's POV

The first time I saw Yin was in high school. I had just moved from Slovenia to South Korea and started attending an international school. Back then, I knew him by his English name, Alecson.

He was popular, even back then, so I never got to know him that well. He was always surrounded by people. The first time and only time he had talked to me was when we had been lining up for lunch. He had asked to cut in front of me because his friend was there. His Australian accent and round doe eyes had immediately charmed me and I willingly let him step into line in front of me.

From that day, I would keep noticing and watching him around school. Before I even realised it, I had fallen for him. He was the reason I had realised I was gay. Too bad he moved away the year after. From what I heard his friends say, he had moved to a performing arts school.

***

A few months after Alecson moved, my family also made the move to America. It was there that I was cast in my first film, the film which gained worldwide popularity and cemented my place in the entertainment industry. The film would always have a special place in my heart, even though my company forbid me from ever mentioning it again.

I didn't see Alecson again until two years after my debut, but this time it wasn't in person. I had put out a tweet asking my fans to give me song recommendations. One of my fans had linked a music video to a song by a group called Hab2t. I recognised Alecson as soon as he appeared in the video. He still looked exactly the same as the last time I had seen him.

I became a huge fan of the group after that, mainly because of Alecson. Nine years passed by like that of me only being able to see him through a screen. I contemplated attending one of the group's concerts when they were performing in America, but my own celebrity status made it difficult to do so. Not to mention, my company would never let me attend a boy group's concert. 'It will spark the gay rumours' they would say.

***

When Elijah Davis suddenly had to drop out of filming for Up to Hell, Director Carrillo came to ask me if I had any actor friends who I thought would be a good fill-in. I was the one who had suggested he cast Alecson. I knew that Alecson could act because I had watched all his cameo roles. He would also be free for the next year because his group was on hiatus and he was fluent in English. It was the perfect fit.

I had a good reputation in the industry so Director Carrillo trusted my recommendation. He immediately called up his people who called up Alecson's company who made it to New York two days later. It all happened too fast for me to prepare.

That was why when he greeted me, I hesitated. Should I tell him I know who he is? Should I act like Mikaela had and declare myself as a huge fan? Should I just greet him normally? In the end, I didn't go with any of those options. I had gay panicked and stood there, staring blankly at his hand like an absolute idiot. By the time I came to my senses, it was too late to greet him properly.

I had sworn to myself that I would greet him properly the next time I saw him, but my company got to me before I could. They had found out that I was the one that had introduced him to the director. Anytime I had an association to any male that they deemed suspicious, they always made me cut it off. That was why I never got the chance to make it up to Alecson for the way I had greeted him. In fact, I had to continue treating him that way. The company was going to push me over the edge one day.

***

I hadn't expected the fans to notice. That was stupid of me because the fans always noticed. They had gotten the story about my company keeping me in the closet almost exactly right so of course they would notice my crush on Alecson. When the company told me I had an interview with just Alecson, I was surprised. They had made it very clear that I was to cut off any association from him.

Of course, I should have known that the company only ever does things for money. Apparently my relation to Alecson had gained me heaps more fans, many of them fans of Hab2t who had discovered me through Alecson. The company, knowing that it would be good publicity, told me to act like Alecson and I were best friends. What hypocrites.

***

The interview was a mistake. I didn't need the company criticising me a thousand times to know that. I knew it from the moment the line exited my mouth. Calling Yin cute? In an interview that would be released for the world to see? That was sure to bring a craze to the fans and a headache to the company.

I knew I had messed up but that didn't make having to go on a date with Kimberly Earving while paparazzi trailed behind any better. She was way too into it, more than a fake date should be. Surprisingly, the company hadn't told me to stay away from Alecson again. That was the only thing that pulled me through the fake date.

The entire time I could only think about how Alecson was probably criticising me in his head for being such a playboy. He had never been in a dating scandal in his whole career. It was impressive considering everyone who knew him knew his best friend was a female idol. For any other idol, that would have been equivalent to them begging for a dating scandal, but Alecson didn't seem to care.

Sometimes I wondered if they were actually dating but called themselves best friends to get away with spending time together. The thought always left a bad taste in my mouth.

***

Author's Note:

Honestly I don't like this chapter but imma publish it anyway. I had originally planned to do Luka's POV every 5 chapters, but I don't think I will anymore. I just feel like it's kind of boring and repetitive somehow. But anyways let me know what you think!