Sweet Pineapple

Chapter 10

Jae's POV

I couldn't sleep that night.

He is not what you think he is.

Nyan's words were echoing repeatedly in my mind. What did he mean? He is an idol, my idol, my bias. He is unique and talented.

He is not what you think he is.

He is a singer. A dancer. Perhaps he is a little cocky. But he can be cocky, he is fucking Exy! Nyan is cocky too, and he's not even an idol. Maybe that's what he was talking about, Exy is not perfect. But I know that. He is a person, after all. He can't be perfect, but he's still my favorite idol. It's not Nyan the one to decide what Exy is or isn't, damn, why did he have to say that?

I started earlier the next day, drinking a huge cup of coffee to keep my eyes open. My first appointment was with a group of six girls. They were beautiful, but so thin I was afraid they could break. I just don't get those standards. They must starve to keep that body. They were nice and funny, though. All of them were nice to me and I really enjoyed being there.

"You are new here, right?" Asked Yumi, the last one to be made up.

"Yes, I am." I answered.

"But I think I have seen you before."

"I don't think so. I just started this week."

She kept staring at me, figuring out my face behind the messy hair.

"Oh my god! You look like Exy!" She exclaimed.

"Hahahaha. No, I don't."

"For real, you too have the same hair color and your face..." She brushed away a strand of hair that covered my eyes. "You even have a mole under your eye, just like him!" I scowled as she tried to push the rest of my hair in front of my face, but I pulled back.

"No, you are right." She concluded. "Exy is... different."

It was not the first time someone compared me to Exy. We do have some similarities, like the dark hair, the height, the brown sharp eyes... I think after becoming a fan I actually wanted to look like him, but try as I might, I'm still far from being like him.

I finished my work and went to the tenth floor for my next appointment. As soon as the doors of the elevator opened, I heard raised voices down the hall.

"YOU CANNOT FORCE ME, FIRE ME IF YOU WANT!"

"It's not your choice, Nyan! This is much bigger than you!"

"I DON'T CARE! I'M NOT HIDING IT ANYMORE! HE DESERVES TO KNOW!"

"Nyan!" I said. Awestruck with the scene.

Both Nyan and Ms. Follan turned to face me. His eyes burning in anger.

"Mr. Kim, you are here already." Ms. Follan pulled herself together after seeing me.

Nyan passed by me, entering the elevator. He was usually so calm that I couldn't imagine him being upset like that. I cast an apologetic look to Ms. Follan and followed Nyan. There was no way I would leave him like that. No button was pressed so I hit the four. He made no protest.

He was silent, avoiding my gaze. A deep wrinkle formed between his thick eyebrows. He was breathing heavily and his chest moved fast. I wanted to say something but I couldn't find the right words. When the elevator arrived at our destination, I grabbed his hands and pulled him down the hallway to my room. Locking the door as we both entered.

We sat on the couch, silently. His expression didn't change. I tried again to find the right words to say but my mind was blank. What could possibly have happened for him to fight with Ms. Follan like that. I was curious but I thought it wasn't a good idea to start with the sensitive questions, so I just decided to go with the basics.