Hypernova : A Sequel to Supernova

Episode 2 - We Meet Again

Nine tugged at the collar of his white coat, trying to still his restless hands. Today had arrived quicker than he imagined, it seemed like only last week he'd gotten that congratulatory email. 

Besides the quiet hum of the engine, no sound could be heard in the van transporting their group to the project's onboarding. At the end of this ride, there would be no cameras or screaming fans but Nine could not shake the nervous feeling clawing at his insides.

When he glanced over at the person sitting beside him, Ontae was not only the picture of calm, he was actually looking at Nine in bemusement.

"Hmm?" Nine raised a brow. 

"Nothing." Ontae smiled. "You just look really nervous."

Nine's gaze dropped. "I am," he admitted quietly.

Ontae blinked, surprised. "How come? Don't you perform in front of thousands of people?"

At the question, Nine chuckled softly. "I do. But it's not the same." He leaned closer, his voice dropping conspiratorially. "Besides, I get nervous before those too."

Ontae's face twisted in shock, prompting a laugh from Nine, who felt some of the tension inside unwind. "Are you really that surprised?" he asked.

"Honestly, yeah. I could never tell." Ontae admitted. 

"Must mean I'm a good actor, then," Nine teased.

"I think you are," Ontae agreed.

Nine looked at him as his smile faded somewhat. He fell silent as he glanced out the window at the scenery rolling by. Even though others often recognized him, he'd never made a habit of talking about his other job while in school, content to keep the two separate.

Right now, he wasn't Nine the Idol, he was Kailen Kim, a student on edge.

"I'm sure you will do well." Ontae's calm reassurance broke through Nine's thoughts. "You worked very hard."

"Has he, though?" The sharp voice from the back seat shattered the fragile calm like glass. Nine and Ontae turned to face Sejin Amarin, whose sneer dripped with disdain.

Nine and Ontae turned simultaneously to see the disdainful smirk on the face of Sejin Amarin.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ontae questioned with a frown. "What are you implying?"

Sejin's gaze remained fixed on Nine, his expression betraying a simmering animosity. "Think about it. Why wouldn't he be chosen? Ever since he started attending he's been a favourite hasn't he?" Sejin's expression became even more twisted.  Nine's fist balled on his knee. "I'm sure it couldn't hurt having another big name tied to the project."

Nine's  nails dug into his palm as Sejin's words sliced through the air, each one landing like a blow. His pulse quickened, and a familiar, choking sting of insecurity rose, curled around his throat.

"Sejin does that even make sense to you?" Ontae's voice was sharp now, cutting through the tension with the edge of a blade,"If you were paying attention you would have seen how hard he's worked." He glanced at Nine before shooting daggers at his accuser. "Everyone in this van earned their spot through hard work. That includes Kailen. Or are you questioning the professors' judgment now too?"

Sejin shifted in his seat, rolling his eyes. "Just saying, we all know fame and money gets you places."

"We know." Ontae's smile was cold, "Isn't your father a politician?"

Nine gasped as Sejin's expression darkened.

Before the young man could retort however, a stern voice from the front cut in. "Enough!" Professor Jung as the chaperone interjected sharply. "If you all have time to argue about such drivel, I would imagine that you are already teeming with ideas about how you can bring meaning to this research."