Chasm.| Seo Changbin

Seventeen.

Stella sniffled nonstop as Felix caressed her arm up and down. She was cuddled with her brother on the sofa of his rented house in LA. Her head rested on his shoulder as he tried to soothe her after she spilled out all she had gone through for the past few days.

The tour was discontinued for an indefinite period. 

She barely could finish her last concert. The news about Changbin was everywhere and the fans were having different reactions. Some demanded an explanation. Some accused Changbin of being a pervert. Some suggested that they were already dating and that the staff thing was a coverup, especially after some of the movie staff talked about how they seemed to be close to each other. Some said that Changbin had to immediately leave Stella's team while others were confused about the whole situation and what was wrong about dating anyone!

Stella's company, without her permission, posted a statement. They announced that Changbin was fired due to his inappropriate behavior towards the artist. Like what the hell? He was never inappropriate!

Stella was fueled with anger once she saw the posted statement on the company's official website without her consent of publishing such a thing. And then, she wasn't thinking straight. The pain and guilt of the possibility of doing him wrong took over and she found herself posting the photo they took together while hiking on her Instagram account. She wrote down her own statement about how respectful and decent a man he is, and that they are friends who worked together and lived together and it was only normal to grow close to each other. 

Resting her head over his shoulder? Holding his hand? It wasn't a big deal. She clearly said that the statement from her company had nothing with what really happened and that no one had the right to curse Changbin, call him names, or demand anything from him or her. They can't control her.

The company went nuts. They demanded Stella to delete the post but she refused. There were fights and running wars for days with her and her manager. Hajoon was so angry with her and yelled at her so many times. His new angry personality was now the dominant one. 

The company and Hajoon weren't the only problem. The fans too weren't helping. Petitions were signed, demanding Stella to leave the industry. Banners were hung in front of the company with deformed photos of her. They called her a liar who was secretly dating and ignored her fans and career. Edits were made with every single clip from her last tour where her voice cracked or she slipped on the stage, claiming they were evidence of how she was careless and neglected her work because she was busy dating.

Other fans went against the company. Who the hell still uses and forces their artists like that? They demanded a better place with better management for their artist cause she was just being used in that shitty place and even her guard who was always protective, respectful, and sweet, was being wronged.

As she was at war with her company and all of her upcoming schedules were postponed, she ran to her brother's house instead of flying back to South Korea. Cause she knew it would be hell there.

And in the middle of all of this mess, Stella was still confused about who published those photos and who took them. It didn't make any sense that it was Changbin or Hajoon, but the two males kept pointing fingers at each other.

"It just," She sniffled. "It can't be Hajoon. Why would he do something like that? I'm his artist! Why would he want to start a scandal about his artist?" She pouted.

"And why would Changbin?" Felix questioned softly, keeping his caressing hand in action as he talked. "There's no valid reason for him. If it was for money, he had many other ways. Fame? If he wanted that, he could've accepted the scouting offer he received. You?" He paused and looked down at his sister in his arms. "If his goal is you, he would've tried something on you." He pushed his sister a little away to look at her face. "But he never did anything, right?"

Stella pouted and nodded. "I'm the one who held his hand, Felix."

Felix smirked. "And why did our little Stella do that?" He wiggled his brows.

Stella rolled her eyes, pulled away from her brother, pushed his face out of hers, and rested her back against the sofa. "It was just a moment, Felix."

"What kind of moments?" He still had that smug smirk.

Stella kicked her brother multiple times and he just laughed out loud. "Stop it already." She snapped at him. "It's all chaos right now, and that's all you think of?"

"You are the one who was whining about how he left before your concert started and immediately flew back to South Korea and never contacted you since then." Felix shrugged. "You are the bitter one about how you turned out to be just a client." He sighed, getting back to being serious. "But you are the one who didn't believe him, chose Hajoon over him, and made him leave."

"What should I have done?" She whined, feeling her guilt getting back at her.

"You should've thought of the possibility of Changbin being right." Felix sighed. "To be honest, Changbin was suspecting Hajoon's motives for some time."

"WHAT?" She gasped.

"Even before that incident, he suspected his behavior." Felix narrated. "He told me once before the tour started. I was chatting with him and he asked me about Hajoon. He asked for so many details so I questioned the reason and he told me he suspected that Hajoon stalked you on your hiking day. He suspected that it wasn't the only time he did something like that."

"What the hell?" Stella flinched. "Why would he do something like that?"

"According to Changbin, Hajoon might have feelings for you," Felix said and Stella's jaw dropped. "Unhealthy feelings." He added. "You never noticed?"

"I- what? No! I- no." She stuttered. "Why didn't Changbin tell me?"

"He was afraid you might lose trust in Hajoon and get hurt. After all, you considered Hajoon a family. Changbin asked me not to tell you before he made sure his suspicions were true."

"That's why he was keeping an eye on him and objected to us sharing a house on the tour." She was finally realizing. "Oh God!" She rubbed her face. "What should I do, Felix? I might have wronged Changbin!"

"I suggest you start with the footage of that hill you hiked. Your answer will be there."