Shadows Of Stardom

Chapter 5

I sank into the soft cushions of Jisoo’s movie room, letting the weight of my day settle into the plush seating. The soft glow filtering through the sheer curtains created a warm glow, but my heart felt burdened. I should have been excited to spend the day with my friends, yet all I could think about was how Soyeon—of all people—had ended up with Kai. That thought nagged at me like an irritating fly buzzing in my mind, and it made me angrier than I wanted to admit.

“Hey! Come pick a movie!” Jisoo called from the front, her voice snapping me out of my thoughts. I forced a smile, pushing the bitterness down beneath layers of tired bravado. Today was meant to be about friendship, not frustration—at least that was the idea.

As I casually popped a piece of popcorn into my mouth, Rosé quickly slapped my hand away from the bowl.

"I told you to wait until the movie starts," she chided, clearly wanting to keep the popcorn all to herself.

"Come on, you just want more for yourself," I replied, rolling my eyes at her.

We had gathered in Jisoo's hotel room for a movie marathon, ready to catch up on films and dramas we had missed amid our busy lives. Each of us had written down our top three favorite actors, allowing us to binge-watch the movies or shows they starred in. This had become an annual tradition for us during the holiday season.

"Let me take the lead," Lisa proposed, quickly snatching the remote from Jisoo's hand. With a sense of purpose, she began to set up the movie on the large screen in Jisoo's opulent theater room.

The space is adorned with cozy seating options like sectionals and love seats, making it perfect for social gatherings. Stacked side tables hover over the sofa, providing an ideal spot for a bowl of popcorn.

"Let Lisa handle that... I haven’t chosen a movie yet!" I replied, unwilling to pull myself away from the cozy embrace of the cushions. My body felt pleasantly weighed down, as if it were melting into the seat. The four of us had a special tradition during our breaks: indulging in cheesy movie marathons, fueled by ridiculously excessive amounts of popcorn and spontaneous critiques of every cliché that graced the screen.

I knew I should be reveling in this moment, surrounded by the warmth of my closest friends, their laughter echoing beautifully around the room. Yet, every time I allowed myself to relax, the image of Kai’s new relationship with Soyeon would creep back into my mind, igniting a simmering anger that threatened to burst forth at any moment.

As Rosé rummaged through the collection of films we’d picked out, I turned my attention back to my friends. Jisoo was rearranging the cushions and fluffing up the pillows, her forehead wrinkled in concentration as she sought the perfect setup for our movie night. Meanwhile, Lisa had successfully synced the sound system with her phone and was now engaged in an enthusiastic debate with Rosé over which movie kick-off would get us into the holiday spirit.

"Alright, I’m thinking we start with a classic rom-com!" Lisa declared, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"I’m more of a thriller fan, you know this," Rosé countered, crossing her arms and pouting slightly.

“Well, not today! You seem dull. So you're obliged to laugh,” Lisa shot back with a teasing grin.

Even though the playful bickering should have made me laugh, the bitterness still swirled within me, and I fought to shake it off.

With that, I leaned back against the plush cushions, looking at my friends, their faces glowing with laughter and light. I knew the day wasn’t meant to be about my frustrations. I should have been in the moment, enjoying the simple pleasure of our friendship. But no matter how hard I tried to push my feelings aside, I couldn't ignore that annoying little voice in my head.