Under The Spotlight (Lee Siyeon fanfic)

Chapter III - Confrontation

I woke up the next morning with a knot in my stomach. The revelation about Siyeon's true identity had left me feeling confused and betrayed. It wasn't just that she was famous; it was the fact that she had hidden it from me, leading me to question everything about our time together.

After some deliberation, I decided to call her. We agreed to meet at a different quiet café, away from the usual spot where we might run into people. 

I arrived early, my mind racing with the words I wanted to say. And when Siyeon walked in, her usual cheerful demeanor was replaced with a look of apprehension.

"Hey Jiwon!" she said, taking a seat across from me. "What's up?"

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. "I've been thinking a lot about last night.. And honestly, I'm having a hard time processing everything."

Siyeon's face fell slightly. "What.. do you mean?"

"The fact that you're a celebrity. I mean, I knew you were keeping something from me, but I didn't expect this," I said, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "Why didn't you just tell me? It feels like you were hiding it." 

Siyeon looked down at her hands, clearly uncomfortable, but a bit confused. "I didn't want to make things complicated. I was hoping we could just get to know each other without all the media attention... Besides, why does it matter so much to you?.."

"That's the problem," I retorted. "It's not just about the media. It's about trust. I don't want to be a public persona you created... I don't want your fans to know about this... whatever this is between us.."

"I'm sorry," Siyeon said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to deceive you. I just wanted to have a normal relationship for once.. I didn't want my fame to overshadow everything."

"How can anything about this be normal when you're constantly in the public eye?" I shot back. "I don't want to be part of a media circus.. I'm not sure I can handle it, Siyeon.."

Siyeon's eyes were pleading now. "Please, try to understand. This is who I am, but it's not all I am. I care about you, we can make this work. Trust me. You don't have to be afraid..!"

"Make it work?" I echoed, feeling a pang of guilt. "You didn't give me the chance to decide if I could handle this. You're just making the choice for both of us."

The conversation grew heated, with both of us raising our voices. Siyeon tried to explain her side, but my anger and hurt clouded my judgment. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being pulled into a world I didn't want to be a part of. But at the same time, was I doing too much?

I stood up, my frustration boiling over. "I need some time to think. I don't know if this is something I can do. I don't want to be involved in something where I'm constantly in the spotlight, Siyeon.."

Siyeon looked at me, tiny tears welling up in her eyes. "Please don't make any rash decisions. I.. I want to make this work.."

"I don't know," I said, shaking my head. "Right now, I'm not sure if I can be with someone who has such a complicated life. I need space to figure out what I want."

With that, I left the café, feeling a mix of guilt and relief. I knew the confrontation had been inevitable, but it didn't make it any easier. The future of our relationship was now uncertain. 

"I... I have the right to protest.. it's my decision too!..."

I couldn't help but wonder if we were too different to ever really work out.