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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"i'm curious about you, wooyoung."
if wooyoung claimed those words didn't cause even the tiniest bit of butterflies in his chest, he would be lying. but he soon came to the realisation that, when san expressed his curiosity, he was most likely referring to the scandal that had ruined wooyoung's career. naturally, he saw the chance and seized it. it made sense. what more could pique his curiosity?
just like that, all the anxiety, discomfort and frustration left wooyoung's body, being replaced by total apathy. it was obvious that he was disappointed, but why? was he really expecting more from anybody at all? could he really blame their curiosity?
"so that's why you're here?" wooyoung resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "you should've just said so."
for a long moment, san looked puzzled. wooyoung had finally lost the nerves that were holding him back from looking at him.
"you're wondering if the rumours are true."
upon hearing his words, san looked almost... relieved.
his deep brown eyes glistened with surprise, and then a helpless smile—the kind that appears on your lips without your awareness—formed on his face.
"wow, woo," he teased, sounding mock-offended. "you really think that lowly of me?"
this time, it was wooyoung's turn to be confused. with his lips parted from the incapacity to utter another word because he simply did not know what to say, wooyoung watched as san leaned in closer, his face almost an unsafe distance from his.
"i didn't say i was curious about all the lies on the internet," he said, the intensity of his smile seeping into his tone of voice. "i said i was curious about you."
those words were enough to set off another wave of butterflies in wooyoung's stomach. only this time, they lasted longer, fluttering upwards until they'd lodged themselves in his throat. wooyoung could feel the rush of blood that shot through his veins, and it was only a matter of time before the colour caught up to his cheeks, painting him red.
he cleared his throat before averting his gaze. "how would you know they're lies?" wooyoung mumbled, hoping, praying that this conversation would come to an end. if not the conversation, then maybe the rain outside. however, neither seemed to plan on stopping anytime soon.
san let out a silent laugh, his shoulders shaking slightly as he looked at wooyoung with his shimmering eyes.
"i may not know you that well, but i know this much," he spoke with utmost confidence, and wooyoung was almost certain he was going to twist this into some kind of joke.
"drinking at 16 is probably still the most problematic thing you've done."
"i told you, that was a misunderstanding!" wooyoung quipped, jumping to his defense almost instantly. "the first time i willingly had alcohol was when i turned 19!"
