Three to One

5. Exposed

The audience watches me from their seats, a few people have their phones up and the security walks around probably telling them to put them away. The interviewer, oh god, what's her name?

"Bada, thank you so much for coming today." she greets warmly. The crowd cheers, whistling and clapping. I wave to them. I've already done several interviews by myself but the space left on the couch feels like a hole in my universe.

"How is it not only switching from a group to a solo career but being signed with an American label?"

"It's pretty crazy, actually." I've been asked this question before, I know what to say. "Korean companies are pretty strict with our image, so it's fun to be able to manage my own Instagram." the crowd laughs. "And I was a minor when I signed so the rules are even more strict to make sure we don't end up in places we shouldn't be with people who might be dangerous." a few people cheer for that.

"I love you, Bada!" a girl screams. I wave in the direction I think heard her voice.

"Now, the other night was your first stadium performance on your own, right?" she asks. Is her name, did she even introduce herself to me.

"Yes, it was" Gi is great with names, she would have remembered.

"How did that feel? You didn't have to share the stage with anyone." she laughs, and the crowd whistles and claps again.

"It was good but I missed my groupmates," I admit. "I'm sure I'll get used to it as time goes on."

"I'm sure." she glances at the big screen behind us. I follow her gaze back and my heart plummets into my stomach. Gun has me trapped in his arm, his lips pressed to mine, there was no one there, how did anyone get that?

"If I'm not mistaken that is Gun from the recently disbanded Kpop group After Party?" she gives me a sly grin. "I've heard the Korean companies are strict about relationships, is this the first time you've been able to go out with anyone?"

Blood rushes in my ear, my mouth gaping open. I look out at the crowd and back to the interviewer. "I..." I look to my left waiting for Deiji to say something, to fix it like she always does, but she's not there. Hae is not there. Gi is not there. It's just me. Before I know it, I'm running across the stage and to the back already calling my agent. Tears prick my eyes and I hide in a corner.

"Hello." he greets happily.

"Don, there's a picture of me kissing Gun. What do I do? I didn't know there was anyone there. We're not dating we just went out to-"

"Bada." he cuts me off. "This is good. Gun is about as famous as you. It's good publicity, spin it however you'd like."

"What?"

"You can date, there's nothing in your contract about relationships. You're not in any kind of trouble."

"I'm not?" the room settles, my ears clearing as the sounds of the crowd and the workers backstage come back into focus. My heart calms in my chest and a wave of relief washes over me making me sink to my knees.

"Okay." I hang up on him and take a few deep breaths. That's what Deiji would make me do. After a few minutes, I pick myself up and walk back to the waiting interview. A smile plastered across my face. I'm a professional. I know how to do this.

"Sorry." I apologize. As I take a seat. "I was just surprised anyone saw that."

"We can see that." the interview laughs. "Was that a first date?"

"Yes, we went to a butterfly garden and it was really nice."

"So..." she wriggles in her seat as if she's too excited to sit still. "Can we expect more pictures like this, are you two dating?"

"Well," I glance around at the crowd. "It was just one date we haven't really talked about anything else so as of right now, so I don't think so."

"That is precious." she pouts to the crowd, irritation makes my palms itch. "I think you guys would make a fantastic couple, now this is just rumors but I hear he's set to debut sometime next year as a solo artist."

"Is he?" I ask. "We didn't really talk about work life. We just wanted to have a normal fun day."

The crowd awws and heat crawls over my skin.

"Can we expect any kind of duet with you two in the future?" she asks and just like that. Everything is about Gun and me or what has Gun told me? Can I spill any secrets, share anything juicy. Was he a good kisser? I pretend Deiji is beside me and I recite answers I was trained to spit out on command.

I don't know anything going on with Gun's career. We're just friends right now. You guys know more than I do.

Once, Deiji had a fling. And she got caught but she handled it perfectly. She smiled coyly and waved a hand. And the same words fall from my lips that she had said. "I don't kiss and tell."

The crowd cheers me off stage as I waive to them and go back to my corner to hide. No one ran to me or asked if I was okay. No one smiled and told me good job. I take a shaky breath and force myself to smile and head out to meet my driver to take me back to my hotel until the photoshoot this afternoon.

Sitting in the back of the car I stare at Deiji's number on my phone. I want to call her, and have her tell me what to do if I handled that okay but she isn't supposed to have to monitor me anymore. Maybe I went solo too soon. Maybe I should have signed with a Korean company. They would have squashed this already and kept me safe within my curated image. I turn my screen off and lean back against the seat. No. I have to handle this myself.