Supernova||Book 1 [Wattys 2024]

Episode 13.1 - We Are Done

"Nine.Did you warm up enough? I only heard you doing a few runs." Manager Kim asked as the staff fitted Nine's mic

"Why?" Nine snapped. "Afraid no one will want to hear me if I don't sing well?"

His manager looked at him quizzically. "What's the matter with you? You've been acting strange for the past few days."

"Strange?" Nine echoed, shrugging. "I guess anyone would act 'strange' if they found out someone they trusted with their life had lied to them." He looked squarely at Manager Kim.

Sean, who'd been sitting a short distance away, looked up from his phone.

"Lied to you? Who? What are you talking about?" Manager Kim as he reached out to fix a part of Nine's collar the stylist hadn't folded correctly.

Nine's eyes became bloodshot. "Don't touch me." He suddenly slapped his manager's hand away before stepping out of his reach.

Manager Kim's hand recoiled like he'd been stung. The entire room stopped. Nine had been acting unlike himself since he arrived. Even his appearance, the stylists had managed to cover the dark circles around his eyes, but there was no makeup for his foul mood.

Manager Kim blinked, completely taken aback by this sudden rebuff. In all their years together, Nine had never treated him like this. "What's gotten into you? Are you tired?"

Nine's eyes were weary, misting over with tears. "I am," he confirmed. "I am..." He paused and sighed, holding the side of his head. "So tired."

He'd been staying with Asion for the past few days. Ever since he found out, he couldn't go back. Not to his place, not to Jorah's place. Jorah had called him a million times and left just as many messages. After the first day, he stopped checking. The notifications annoyed Asion, so he turned them off.

During those days, he barely slept, and it showed. He spent countless hours trying to understand. One by one, he examined everything, trying to make sense of it all.

Jade had lied. Their relationship was still new, so even though he liked Jade, he could explain it away. Jade was Jorah's friend; he had no obligation to him. But what about Jorah? How could he explain away what he'd done?

When he thought about Jorah, his heart ached. This was a person he'd shared so much with. Never mind that their relationship was still young, he felt like Jorah had every part of him. How could he lie to him like that? They spent practically every day together, and he never said anything. Not a single thing. It was too cruel.

Yet he had to deal with an even crueler reality. The one that truly killed him. He'd spent so many years with Manager Kim. He'd trusted him with his brother's life. How could he have allowed this to happen?

The bitterness and blame in his heart were too much. He really was worthless. His parents must be turning in their graves. His brother was in this situation because of him, and he couldn't even take care of him properly. Because of his own feelings, frailties, and issues, he hadn't been to see him. He passed most things to do with his care to his team, to his manager and Sean. How stupid.

A thought struck him, and he looked with accusatory eyes at the person sitting in the corner. They'd lied to him. Every single one of them. Was he a part of this? Did he know? He narrowed his eyes at Sean and was about to speak when the production staff popped their head in. "Please stand by for stage."

Nine snorted and followed the staff out with a huff. Manager Kim looked at Sean. "What's the matter with him?"

Sean shrugged. "Dunno."

"Useless." With a huff of his own, Manager Kim followed the path Nine had taken to the stage.

**********************************************************************************