Star Planet II - Zerobaseone Added Members

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Girl and The Group

Jeju was supposed to be a fun and relaxing getaway, but my heart was heavy with the weight of secrets and lies. I had been sneaking around behind everyone's back with Alli, while she and Hanbin put on a show for the public. It was all for Hannah's publicity scheme, but it was tearing me apart. I couldn't deny it any longer.

Jeju was also the place I had given her that promise ring all those months ago and those memories now haunted me.

Throughout the weekend, I struggled to find a moment alone with Allison. Every time I tried to get close to her, she seemed to evade me, slipping away like sand through my fingers. It was as if she was purposefully keeping her distance, and the more I saw her pulling away, the more it ate at me.

As we strolled along the beach, the sound of waves crashing in the background, I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy whenever I caught Hanbin's gaze lingering on Allison. It was infuriating to see them together, knowing that their relationship was just a facade didn't help. The pretending part was over anyway, I noticed it with every little thing they did together. This wasn't pretending anymore.

I needed to talk to someone, to confide in a friend who could help me navigate this mess. And at that moment, I knew Matthew was the one I could trust. We had always been close, and his advice had guided me through tough times before. I just hoped he wouldn't fault me for the lies.

"Hey, Matthew," I called out, my voice laced with a mix of frustration and vulnerability. "Can we talk? I need to get something off my chest."

I walked him to a little sand dune, and we sat down in the shade of a tree. 

He turned to me, concern etched on his face. "Sure, Hyung. What's going on?"

I took a deep breath, my hands clenching and unclenching at my sides. "It's about Allison and me," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper.

I decided to get it out there in the open quickly like a band-aid being ripped off.

 "We've been secretly dating, but it's starting to unravel. I can't get any alone time with her, and it feels like she's avoiding me, especially this weekend."

Matthew's eyes widened, surprise evident in his features. "Wait, you and Allison? What the fuck? I had no idea!"

"Yeah, well, that's the problem," I said, frustration seeping into my voice. "No one knows about us, and it's becoming unbearable. I can't stand seeing her with Hanbin, knowing that they're just playing a part. It's eating me alive, Matt."

Matthew's expression softened, and he placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I had no clue you were going through this, dude. It must be tough, keeping it all inside..."

"It's tearing me apart," I admitted, my voice laced with a mix of anguish and desperation. "I don't know what to do anymore. I can't keep pretending, and I don't want to lose her, but it feels like she's slipping away."

Matthew gave me a sympathetic smile. "Listen, you need to have an honest conversation with Alli. Lay everything out on the table, and see where you both stand. Keeping this secret relationship hidden isn't healthy for either of you."

I nodded, grateful for his understanding. "You're right, Matt. I need to confront her, even if it means risking everything."

"This is Hannah's work, isn't it?" Matthew groaned.

I nodded.

"That evil woman needs to be dealt some karma these days, dude!"

"Don't I know it," I snorted as I played with the sand underneath my fingers. Letting it slip through my fingers.

"And you and Alli..." I saw his gears turning as he was figuring things out.

"You were the alley guy!!!" Matthew yelled as he pointed a finger at me, smiling from ear to ear.

I hushed him quickly, as I saw Gyuvin peeking his head up from a couple of meters away.

"Hush," I shushed him farther away from me. "You are the only one who knows. Hao doesn't even know. Hanbin hasn't told anyone!" But then I remembered. "Oh yeah, Lux knows too."

"Makes sense," Matthew replied. "But I can't believe how long this has been going on! And you have to watch that unfold every day!"

He pointed at Hanbin, Alli, and some of the others playing in the ocean. Hanbin was dragging Alli under the waves while she protested loudly. Giovanna had Gunwook pinned down.

"Yeah," I sighed. That was my reality and I saw no way out where I still had the girl and the group.