**Boys and girls compete in the first co-ed competition to become an idol in a coveted new K-pop Group.**
Beom Giovanna, with her two million Instagram followers, is ready for another reality competition and crown. Yet, a well-kept secret might be t...
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In this last week and a half, many things changed for me. I was somewhere I hadn't thought I would ever be again. Not after what had happened the last time I fell for someone.
As I glanced at Jiwoong, sitting across from me at the Korean BBQ place, who was telling me an elaborate story about his early trainee days at his previous firm, I enjoyed watching how he told me things. The way he used his hands and the way his eyes sparkled. Silly butterflies danced around my stomach whenever I was near him, and I almost forgot my train of thought whenever we were together. Almost.
We were in a competition and it made things ten times harder.
He also saw me as his friend and I wasn't getting out of this friend zone anytime soon.
He continued to serve me food as he placed pieces of meat on my plate. Served me rice and made sure my glass was filled.
"You alright?" He asked suddenly. His eyes trailed to mine, searching for answers.
I nodded, swallowed a piece of steak, and wiped my mouth with a red napkin.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask me that suddenly?" I laughed and reached for my glass of soju. I was slightly feeling the buzz.
"You seem a little off tonight. Is it the competition?"
"No, it isn't the competition," I said honestly.
"Is it me?" Jiwoong asked after another beat of silence. Something unspoken slithered through his beautiful eyes, as I saw a worry set itself over his brow.
I must have hesitated too long because he said, "It's me, isn't it?"
He sighed and sat back in his chair. Now fully worried, his face had pulled taut.
"No, it isn't you!" I quickly added and reached over the table to grab his hand. I squeezed it, and he didn't pull it back. In fact, he opened his palm and laced his fingers through mine. We sat like that for a good minute, staring at each other. His eyes darted over mine, staring from one eye to the other. I couldn't read him right now, and mostly he was an open book to me.
"We can't, jagiya," he whispered softly while gently squeezing my hand. I felt the need to pull it back, and tears started prickling behind my eyes suddenly. It was stupid. He didn't let me at first, but then I managed to pull my hand back.
I mumbled, "Let's not talk about that here."
My eyes stared at the barbecue plate and I suddenly felt full, when we had so much meat left.
"I want to talk about it again," Jiwoong said as he leaned over the table, searching for my eyes, but I kept them glued somewhere else. "Allison, look at me, please."
My eyes flashed up and it was then I noticed four people walking in behind my dinner date.
It was Lux, Hanbin, Zhang Hao, and Gyuvin, and they were asking the waiter for a table.
