My Shining Light

Chapter 55

"It's not going to happen, Jinwoo," said Manager Min.

Jinwoo's eyes widened, "But... you said that you would help me. You told me to trust you!" he cried.

"That's before I knew it was her."

Jinwoo scowled. He should've trusted his instincts. His manager's offers to help were nothing but empty words. "What have you got against Lucy?"

"Nothing. I actually like her... But Eunwoo will have something against you if he finds out. It's the ramifications of that which worry me."

Jinwoo shrugged, "I'll just tell him."

"No you won't! I let her go so you could break up with her quietly."

Jinwoo gave him a cold hard stare.

There's. No. Way.

"Don't look at me like that, Jinwoo. You need to see that I'm trying to help you."

"You're not helping me if you try to stop me from seeing Lucy."

"I'm helping you with your number one priority - to keep Astro together! I just saved you from Eunwoo. If I'd let him enter this room and he had seen you with your arms around the girl he loves, he would've blown up! Imagine the chaos to follow. Manager Noh would find out about your relationship in no time! He knows everything about Eunwoo. It's his job to know, and he always finds out. He'll report you to the company with no hesitation. Don't you see? Eunwoo is the golden boy so he'll get away with his public serenade, but you? Just the hint of you dating - even in secret, and you and I both know it's game over for you. Maybe Astro too..."

Jinwoo shut his eyes for moment.

Was he right? Was Eunwoo so perfect he was untouchable?

"What if the reason Astro breaks up isn't because of the company or your fans? What if you split up because you and Eunwoo are fighting over a girl?"

"That wouldn't happen, Eunwoo loves Astro more than that. He loves me and Lucy. He would understand us wanting to be together."

Manager Min shook his head. "Wisen up Jinwoo! Would you understand? You're both the same when it comes to getting what you want. If I know Eunwoo, he'll fight for her."

"I'll win. She's my girlfriend."

Manager Min crossed his arms. "Is that so?"

Jinwoo nodded.

"So, your mind is made up?"

"I can't let her go. I won't."

"You'll have to constantly watch your back, keep it a secret from Eunwoo, your other members, and all your friends too. Not only that, a stalker could be following you! It's basically ten times harder than it was before."

"I know it sounds impossible-"

"Then don't do it!" Manager Min shouted, throwing his arms in the air.

Jinwoo bit his lip as he tried to weigh up other options.

In his mind, there were none.

Manager Min smirked at his silence. "You just said yourself that it's impossible... but you're gonna try and date her anyway, aren't you?"

Jinwoo smirked back, "Yep."

"Don't you dare, Jinwoo. I'm warning you, don't you dare."

...

"Did you like it?" Jinwoo's deep voice sounded quietly in the dark.

"I loved it," Lucy replied in a whisper. She had one hand in Jinwoo's, and the other on the door handle at her back, keeping it closed. They were pressed inside a hot, stuffy storage room; hidden once again.

"I felt it, right here," she said, bringing his hand up to her chest and placing it over her heart. It was beating fast. His touch could do that to her, make her feel things, make her body respond. Watching him dance had been the same. She couldn't take her eyes off him, and his movements seemed to speak louder than words.

"W-what did he say? Your manager... are you in trouble? What do we do?" she asked, her voice straining with the weight of her emotion.

The hot air around her moved and she knew that he was shaking his head.

No? That's it?!

She supposed there wasn't any need for an explanation.

Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry! 

She struggled to keep her breathing regular, but it felt like her chest was being crushed. Just like her hopes and dreams.

He wasn't saying anything. Why wasn't he saying anything?

"Jinwoo, I'm so sorry."

"No, I'm sorry! I thought I could convince him!" he cried, his voice rising. "I really thought he would support us! I thought we had a chance!"

He was too loud; she quickly placed a finger to his lips. "Shh!" she whisper-screamed, "One last kiss!"

He acted so fast that she gasped, lost for air as his mouth covered hers. His masculine scent: cologne, mixed with hot sweat from his stage, smelt much stronger in the hot little space. When she inhaled, she breathed him in, and when she opened her mouth, she savoured the taste of him.

Lucy's stomach was in knots. Everything was happening so fast. He was setting her alight and she didn't know what to do. She didn't want to let Jinwoo go but they'd already been caught once...

"I should... I should go. We have to be careful!" she said through ragged breaths, gripping the door handle with all her might.

Jinwoo leaned over her and pulled her hand away from the door handle. He interlaced his fingers with hers, "What do I do?" he panted, "I can't let you go. This can't be our last kiss! We haven't shared a single moment that wasn't stolen!"

He was right, they were always stopping and starting... would they ever get to be together in peace?

"That's just how dating in secret goes, Jinnie... all of our moments are stolen."

Jinwoo gulped. "Then I guess I'll have to keep stealing them."

"Why?" she cried softly, "why would you take this risk for me?"

"I made you a promise."

"What promise?"

"Didn't you listen to lyrics I wrote?" he asked.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket. Using the flashlight feature, he shone his light between them and while caressing her cheek, he very softly sang the chorus again...

I'll be the light you missed in the dark
I'll be the light you wanted in your heart
Don't be afraid now, I'll be by your side
I'll always be the light that shines on you

"I'm your shining light, and you're mine. There's no way I'm going to leave your side, and there's no way that that was our last kiss!" He squeezed her tight, brushing his lips against hers again, "I am definitely going to kiss you again!"