A portrait of the unseen [COMPLETE]

Chapter 11 Distance

After the incident, as Ryu and I stood wrapped in each other's arms amidst the chaos, my manager, Mr. Rivera approached us with a stern expression. He had always been a no-nonsense kind of person, and I could tell from his furrowed brow and tight-lipped frown that he was not pleased with what he had just witnessed.

"Lexa," he called out, his voice sharp and commanding. "We need to talk. Now."

Reluctantly, I pulled away from Ryu, giving her a reassuring squeeze before following Mr. Rivera to a quieter corner of the building. He didn't waste any time getting to the point.

"What's going on between you and Ryu?" he demanded, his eyes boring into mine.

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "We're... close," I said cautiously. "We've been seeing each other for a while."

Mr. Rivera sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Lexa, you know how the industry works. Personal relationships can complicate things, especially when one of you is already in the public eye."

I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up a hand to stop me. "I'm not saying you can't be together," he continued, his tone softening slightly. "But you need to be careful. Both of your careers are taking off, and the last thing you need is scandal or distraction."

"Mr. Rivera, I care about Ryu," I said, my voice steady but filled with emotion. "I don't want to hide our relationship. We support each other."

He nodded, but his expression remained serious. "I understand that, Lexa. But for now, you need to keep your distance. At least until things settle down. The media will pounce on any hint of scandal, and it could derail everything you've worked for."

I looked back towards Ryu, who was talking with a firefighter, her expression worried and exhausted. The thought of keeping my distance from her, of pretending we were nothing more than acquaintances, filled me with dread.

"But what about Ryu?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "What if she needs me?"

Mr. Rivera softened a bit, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "She's strong, Lexa. She'll understand. And it's not forever. Just until things calm down and you both find your footing."

Reluctantly, I nodded, knowing he was right. The industry was unforgiving, and we couldn't afford any missteps. But the thought of distancing myself from Ryu, even temporarily, felt like a knife to the heart.

"Okay," I agreed, my voice tinged with sadness. "I'll keep my distance."

Mr. Rivera gave me a small, sympathetic smile. "It's for the best, Lexa. I promise."

As he walked away, I made my way back to Ryu, my heart heavy with the weight of what I had to do. She looked up as I approached, her eyes searching mine for answers.

"What did he say?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the difficult conversation ahead. "Ryu, we need to be careful. For now, we have to keep our distance. Just until things calm down."

Ryu's face fell, but she nodded in understanding. "I get it. It's just... I don't want to lose you, Lexa."

"You won't," I promised, reaching out to take her hand. "We'll get through this. Together."

As we stood there, hand in hand, I knew that no matter the distance or the challenges we faced, our bond was strong enough to endure. We would weather this storm and come out the other side stronger than ever.

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As the months passed, the promise I made to Mr. Rivera weighed heavily on me. Despite being in the same building as Ryu, I kept my distance, hoping to protect both our careers from unnecessary scrutiny. It was painful, but I convinced myself it was for the best. However, each time I saw her, my resolve wavered.