An Unlikely Love Affair

10 - The Set up

IRENE

"YERIMAH!!!"

I was consciously taking deep breaths to calm myself. Just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse, this happened.

Seulgi found and read another article out loud:

"Red Velvet's Irene and EXO's Suho caught dating. Pictures of the two idols having a private lunch circulated online, fueling dating rumors. They have been allegedly seeing each other secretly and are said to be in a relationship since early this year. A reliable source reveals they were inseparable along with another idol couple during a top businessman's halloween fundraiser. The two and SM entertainment have yet to release a statement addressing the rumors."

How would we release a statement when it hasn't even been 24 hrs since the "private lunch" and they're already posting articles about it?!

"These pictures aren't even blurry, unnie. Even with your mask on, there's no denying that it's you with Suho sunbaenim." She continued to scroll through posts.

"KIM YERIM!!!" I barked.

"Y-Yes,unnie?" The perpetrator of this mess has finally surfaced. She peered behind the door frame reluctantly.

"Come here." I ordered.

Seulgi stood to leave as Yeri approached slowly. "You're so dead." She told our nervous maknae.

"Yah, where are you going? Don't leave me." Yeri pleaded, pulling the hem of Seulgi's shirt.

"I'm sorry but I need to get ready in the other room. You're on your own on this. Good luck." She tapped Yeri's shoulder, half sympathetically and half teasingly.

"You called, unnie?" She asked, batting her eyelids, trying to look innocent.

"I'm assuming you've already read the articles?" I tried to keep my composure, as I always did even in my worst moods, but my voice was distinctly quivering with irritation. I already scolded her when I arrived but the online articles have gotten me on another level of aggravation.

"Y-yes? I-I might have." She responded tentatively, gauging my reaction.

"And?" I arched an eyebrow at her threateningly.

"I'm so sorry unnie! I swear I never meant for it to turn out the way it did. Suho sunbaenim promised me it was going to be discreet and no one would find out about it." She was waving her hands in the air as she was trying to make her case.

To set the record straight, it was Yeri and I who went out for a quick lunch earlier, before our scheduled photo shoot. I, in no way, planned or wanted to be with Suho but our devious maknae set me up. She excused herself while I was ordering and never came back, only to be replaced by Suho shortly after. He gave me this lame excuse that Yeri went ahead to take care of something before our photoshoot and requested him to accompany me in her stead.

Of course, I didn't even remotely believe him. In what universe would anyone, especially my members, ask him, of all people, to accompany me in place of them. I knew this was premeditated. Nonetheless, I sat through it, not wanting to be rude.

As if that weren't enough, Yeri left with our van and manager, leaving me alone with no other choice but to hitch a ride with Suho.

"I remembered there were only a few people in the restaurant and most don't seem like they're even kpop stans." Yeri rambled on.

Now, I'm normally observant but I was too eager to get things over and done with to notice the surroundings. I consumed my food hastily and almost leaped off my seat when we were finally done. I made sure I had my mask on and head hung low when we left, so as to avoid this exact situation from happening.