after a scandal, wooyoung, a defunct k-pop idol, runs away to his sister's hometown. he craves anonymity, yet his quiet routine is disrupted by a chance encounter- a local with a warm presence, who offers him a glimpse of a life beyond the spotlight...
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the primal urge to flee clawed at wooyoung's insides. every muscle in his body primed for a desperate sprint out the shop door, but a single, sobering fact kept him rooted in place – a chase with choi san would be a laughably one-sided affair. the athletic build that had filled the doorway moments ago was a stark reminder of san's prowess on the swim team back in high school. running away from him would only add a layer of pathetic humiliation to the already precarious situation.
wooyoung gulped, and the soft music he'd put on had faded away into the background. choi san's piercing gaze seemed to silence everything around him, taking all the focus for himself.
what gave him away? the hair? of course it wasn't the hair— his hair was just plain black! were his eyes even that distinguishable? was it his voice?
"i think you have the wrong person," wooyoung stammered. this would be enough to drive him away, hopefully. what was even slightly believable about an idol working behind the counter of a music shop in a town unknown to practically everyone?
san drew in the air between his teeth, looking fully unconvinced, yet teasingly playing along with wooyoung's game. "i don't think so," he furrowed his eyebrows, eyes still glistening.
"oh, wait. you might be right." an impish smile tugged at san's lips. "jongho's distant cousin, am i right?"
wooyoung almost choked on his spit. san was referring to the day when wooyoung had been at jongho's shop past closing time... had he known since then?
his mind raced as he tried to find an escape from the situation. choi san was relentless! the sharpness of san's gaze threatened to cut through wooyoung's facade, leaving him feeling exposed and vulnerable. he felt like a deer caught in headlights, his brain scrambling to come up with a plausible excuse or explanation. panic clawed at his insides, and he could almost hear the ticking of an invisible clock counting down the seconds until his cover was completely blown. he needed to think of something—anything—that would get san off his back.
"yeah," wooyoung said, forcing a smile that he hoped looked genuine. his cheeks felt stiff, and he could feel the strain in his facial muscles. "that's right. jongho's cousin." he mentally kicked himself for how weak that sounded, but it was all he had at the moment. even if he fully knew that choi was joking around with him. the words felt flimsy, like a poorly constructed house of cards ready to collapse at the slightest touch. he could only hope that san would take the hint and leave him alone.
san's grin widened, his dimples deepening. "jongho's cousin, huh? let's go with that for now." he leaned closer, his eyes twinkling with mischief. the scent of his cologne filled the small space between them, a heady mix that made wooyoung's head spin even more. "but you know what? you look an awful lot like someone i used to know. someone i haven't seen in a long time."
wooyoung's heart pounded against his ribcage, the rhythm erratic and uncomfortable. he felt the thudding in his ears, each beat a reminder of how dire his situation was. he had to stay calm, and he most definitely had to keep his composure.
"small world, i guess," he said with a shrug, trying to sound nonchalant. he hoped his voice didn't betray the anxiety that was clawing at his throat. "people say that all the time."
san's expression loosened slightly, but his eyes remained sharp, like a hawk watching its prey. "alright, wooyoung—sorry, jongho's cousin," he corrected himself playfully. his tone was light, churning wooyoung's insides even more. "i'm not here to cause you any trouble. i just wanted to return this." he gestured to the album on the counter and straightened up, slipping his hands into his pockets with a casualness that contrasted sharply with the intensity of his gaze. "but if you ever feel like talking–"
"i don't think there would ever be a need for us to talk," wooyoung chuckled awkwardly, which only made san's grin grow wider.
san stepped back, the smirk never leaving his face. "we'll see about that," he said, turning to leave. the bell above the door jingled as he pushed it open, the sound echoing in the now silent shop.
"see you around, jung wooyoung," san called over his shoulder as he stepped out.
"yeah, see you, san," wooyoung replied automatically, then froze as the words left his mouth.
san paused at the door, turning back with a triumphant smile. "i never told you my name," he said, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. he didn't wait for a response, leaving wooyoung standing in stunned silence.
slowly and dramatically, wooyoung fell to his knees, throwing his mask away. just how stupid was he?! he slapped a palm to his forehead over and over again, cursing himself with every offensive word under the moon. it was almost as if he had made a habit out of humiliating himself in front of san. how could he ever face him again?!
as the shock began to wear off, wooyoung's thoughts drifted back to the old times. he remembered the san from their high school—the bright-eyed boy with a mischievous grin and an infectious laugh. back then, san's hair was always a bit unruly, and it seemed that some things never changed.
the san who had just left the shop was different, yet the same in so many ways. his hair was still messy, giving him a slightly wild, carefree look. his features were more defined and mature, but those eyes—the ones that saw right through him—still held the same sparkle of mischief and determination.
wooyoung's mind was a whirlwind. he'd dodged a bullet, but barely. the relief was tinged with a hefty dose of frustration. here he was, a disgraced idol incognito, and his flimsy cover story had been shredded by a playful ex-schoolmate with a memory like a steel trap.
the silence after san's exit was deafening. shame burned in wooyoung's cheeks. how could he have been so careless? he stood up and tossed the mask on the counter, letting out a low groan that echoed through the shop.
he had nearly come to the conclusion that his time in this town would be trouble-free, but now, for some reason, he was starting to have second thoughts.
with choi san around, wooyoung was beginning to believe that trouble was the only thing that awaited him.
