Unexpected

Part 72

The race in São Paulo, Brazil is one that both the drivers and the fans love. Alex Albon was running in second place on the second to last lap. I was several cars behind and didn't see what happened, but then he's off the track and we all go past him before he can safely rejoin, crossing the finish line in fifteenth position. After the race I find out that he had contact with Lewis Hamilton. I'm devastated for him. Later, when he sees me, he lets his guard down and I see how crushed he is by having his first podium slip from his grasp.

I walk up to him and give him a hug, which he returns. "I'm sorry, Alex."

"Thanks," he quietly replies.

In the paddock nothing goes undocumented, so within the hour both photos and videos of our interaction are trending on social media. By this time Sangil and I are on our way to our hotel, and he is scrolling through posts (not unusual for him after a race).

"Sochi, we may have a problem."

"What is it?"

"Do you remember hugging Alex?"

"Of course."

"To sum it up, the F1 fans are saying, 'How nice of her! They have such a close friendship.' And the We Got Married fans are saying, 'How dare she! The only guy she should be hugging is her hubby'."

"I didn't think about their reactions. Or yours." I glance at him. "How do you feel?"

"The rational part of me knows you did nothing wrong. I am a tiny bit jealous, but just a tiny bit. I don't think you should have acted any differently. Except maybe not rub his back?"

"Did I rub his back? I don't remember that part."

"The video shows that you did. Kind of a pat and a rub."

"I apologize. All I remember is hugging him, and saying I'm sorry. Oh, he did return the hug. I guess rubbing his back was automatic."

"While I haven't had the exact same experience, if, let's say, KNK was about to win first place on a music show but had that taken away somehow—I have no idea how that could happen, but suppose it did— I would feel some extreme emotions. Granted, they are guys, but we are close friends. And Alex is your close friend. Of course you should comfort him, and a hug is not unreasonable."

"So, what should we do?" I ask. "I guess it doesn't matter that he has a hot pro golfer girlfriend."

"Not really. They'll say that you both did something you shouldn't have."

I groan. "I cannot think of a way to get them over this, except through inappropriate means."

"Such as?" asks Sangil.

"A video of us making out."

He's laughing before I finish the sentence. "Yeah, not gonna happen."

"How about a photo of us kissing?"

"Hmm. I think that you might have to explain that you didn't mean anything improper."

"So this is the reality of being with you. Pandering to the fans."

Sangil looks uncomfortable. "Sometimes it feels like that to me, too."

"What just aired on WGM?" I ask.

"Us at the shooting range in Texas."

"Perfect. The anti-fans will say that I was practicing to shoot you in the back."

Sangil laughs. "Oh, come on. No one will be that extreme."

"We've arrived," I announce when I pull into the hotel parking lot. "Let's continue this conversation inside."

Once we're in my room, I have us sit down on the carpet back to back, and lean on the other person. "I know this isn't a serious argument where we are upset with each other, but let's try talking this way." I pause and take a breath. "I apologize for rubbing Alex's back. And in the future I will pay closer attention to how I interact with my male friends and try not to do or say anything that will be hurtful to you."

"I accept your apology," he replies. "And once again want to say that you are allowed to hug your friends. I don't have a problem with that. Just not for too long and not in a romantic way."

"Understood. Do you want to show extra affection during filming tomorrow?" I ask, turning around.

"Sure. Maybe more handholding?"

I laugh. "I feel like we already hold hands at every opportunity. Antonio calls us the cutest couple in the paddock. What more can we do?"

"I'm not comfortable with serious PDA, but I'm sure we'll think of something."

But when we realize that what we film now won't air for a couple weeks or more, we decide to post on our social media accounts. As we take more and more photos and videos, we mess around in a lovey-dovey way until we're short of breath from laughing.

As we look through what we've filmed, they're either too sexual to show or too silly. "We need to get serious," says Sangil. "Or else our fans won't believe us."

"Right-o," I reply, to which Sangil raises an eyebrow. "Let's think some more."

We take a video for my account where we're both looking into the camera, but then I quickly turn and give him a surprise peck on the cheek. His small smile right after is awkwardly cute, so when I edit the video I leave that in. I post it with the text, I love Sangil. And it's not a crime to console a friend.

Sangil posts a picture of the two of us with my head on his shoulder. We're good.

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This explanation is very late, but I know that the title for this is boring. When I wrote the story I didn't think about the title at all, and then when I went to publish it I panicked and came up with Unexpected. I should have given it more thought.