Jihyun is stuck in a love scandal with someone whom she hates. This person is coincidentally the stubborn Riki on her debate team and her favorite mainstream artist at the same time. And Jihyun is just a college girl who gets wrapped into a dating s...
Traitors exist. You never know anyone down to their true intentions because nobody can see through a lie. Your friends aren't your friends, and if you refuse to believe that statement, do you trust that when you enter a state of fame or riches they will not turn on you, that they will not sell your private information because of the benefit that it will give them?
You can't trust your family either, you don't know them as them, but rather you know them by how they portray themselves as a mother, a father, a brother, or a sister. Everyone around you has the potential to be a traitor. So watch who you sit beside. There are a lot more traitors than you may think.
Jihyun, unfortunately, has traitors in her debate club, because just the very next day, photos were being released to the public with the headline; Couple Jihyun and Riki are to be competing in the SDC this year as a duo. They really aren't trying to hide a thing.
It only makes Jihyun wonder what's next. It seems that everything is getting worse and she just can't catch a break whatsoever. People were so obsessed with other people's lives that it was unfathomable. So an artist gets a girlfriend, though Jihyun and Riki are not dating and by Jihyun's belief, never will be, what's the big deal?
This also makes her think that she dodged a huge bullet. When she was younger she had a similar dream of being an artist, but instead an idol under the big three, but now she's glad that she never took that path. This seemed like only a teaser or trailer of what idol or artist life truly was.
It turns out that her parents and her younger brother do not know about the situation, at least that's what they let on. But even if they are acting, Jihyun prefers it that way because she doesn't want anyone else trying to talk to her about the issue.
Jihyun scrolls through the articles and forums with a loud sigh, carelessly walking to the empty classroom instead of leaving early. Maybe being in Rohee's presence for a bit will make her feel better, that's possible.
The photos have been out for at least a couple of hours by now, from how the forums were posted a couple of hours ago too.
She wonders how long it will take before it ends.
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"Here! I wasn't sure if you were coming today actually, but I bought churros, do you want one?" Rohee smiled, holding out a thick churro wrapped in parchment paper. Jihyun wasn't necessarily craving one, but now that it was right in front of her, a churro didn't sound that bad.
"Do you buy them every day or something?" Jihyun asks, carefully taking the wrapped churro out of Rohee's grasp. They were fresh too, perfect.
"No, I just had a feeling that you may come this time so I decided to take a trip to get snacks during the transition period," Rohee answers. "Sorry about everything that's going on. It's crazy out there."
Jihyun chuckles shortly. "Don't apologize. I'm kinda getting used to it anyway," she says, peeling back the parchment paper. Whoever fried this one did a great job, it looked golden. After revering its appearance for a few extra moments, she finally took a bite. Maybe she should have just gone to get churros instead of leaving early, this was perfect for placating all of her negative feelings that arose due to the scandal.
Surprisingly, the company didn't come out with anything yet.
"I heard about the SDC," Rohee began. "Congratulations girl."
Jihyun grinned, being able to easily ignore that Riki was a part of it too for the time being. "What can I say? I'm just that good, y'know. I'm going to wipe the rest of the competition clean, mark my words."
"I'll be waiting for when you do, then." Rohee soon takes a bite out of her churro as well. They sit there, enjoying each other's solace in the silence until Jihyun decides to idly scroll through her phone once more when a certain notification catches her eyes. It's from Riki's—Shiru's company, it's embarrassing to still have them on, she needs to turn them off after this and probably stop following the accounts relating to him altogether before someone discovers her account.
She taps the banner and watches a block of words appear on her screen, out of dormancy, Jihyun decides to read through it.
Following the release of certain unsolicited photos of our artist. It is to be announced that all of Shiru's current activities will be halted until further notice. The current issue at hand is being investigated thoroughly and we would like to ask that the privacy of our artist is still taken into consideration. Please refrain from harassing both our artist and the other individual wrapped in this issue as it will only be detrimental to the both of them. We hope to resolve this soon and until then please act responsibly in reaction to anything that may be released in the future.
It's confusing, her feelings. A part of her feels nothing, or even a bit satisfied at this information because it's Riki who is being talked about, yet at the same time, she doesn't like it because it is Shiru as well. Shiru as in the artist whose music she loved and admired, the artist she bought front row tickets for, the artist she—stupidly—decided to wear neon to catch the attention of.
It sucks, and for the sake of all of them; Riki, Shiru, and herself, Jihyun hopes for it all to be over with soon.
"What is it?" Rohee asks after noting the change in the air around her.
Jihyun places her phone on Rohee's desk for her to read through it, and she watches anxiously as Rohee does just that.
"It's weird, y'know. It just reminds me of how serious this thing really is."
