Shadows Of Stardom

Chapter 20

I've been cooped up in Jisoo's house for days, feeling like a bird trapped in a cage. I couldn't even step outside to the garden because those annoying reporters were lurking everywhere.

Not only did I narrowly escape my crazy Aunt's fury Yesterday, but my secret with Taehyung also got out. I never had the chance to confess my feelings to him, and we never got to see what we could have become together.

The frustration is just too much... I miss him so much. As for the hate directed at me? I couldn't care less.

Being called names like "slut" or "prostitute" doesn’t bother me. But for my friends and brothers to get caught up in this mess... It turns out Taehyung found out about the threats she’d been sending me and immediately informed my brother, San. He’s been on high alert for a while, but it seemed like she had erased all evidence of her actions.

I was on the verge of losing it, and all anyone seemed to care about was spreading lies about me. It drove me insane that I couldn’t see Taehyung. Sure, we talked on the phone and did video calls, but it just wasn’t enough. I yearned to be with him. I missed him deeply.

My company had remained silent about the rumors swirling around me, all because my brother promised to fix everything by next week. I had no idea what he was planning, but I trusted him.

He had connections that spanned the globe. Honestly, I wouldn’t be shocked if the journalist spreading falsehoods about me ended up six feet under in a dumpster three hundred thousand miles away...

I just hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

The girls had stood by me through everything, never leaving my side for even a moment, which weighed heavily on my heart. I couldn’t bring myself to share my struggles with them, and I loathed myself for not being the friend they deserved.

Then there was a knock at my bedroom door, and Jisoo peeked in.

“Jennie, you have a visitor,” She said with a gentle smile. I jumped off my bed and hurried to the door, excited to see Taehyung. I had missed him so much. But when I opened the door wider, my smile faded. Kai was standing there, his smile warm but his eyes dimmed when he saw my reaction.

“Are you really that disappointed to see me?” He asked, likely feeling a pang of guilt. I just hadn’t expected him.

“Hi,” I said, forcing a smile. Jisoo nodded at me, and I gestured for Kai to come in as she quietly closed the door behind us.

I climbed back onto my bed, and he hesitated to join me, clearly feeling a bit awkward. I smiled, encouraging him to sit beside me, and he finally did.

“How’s it going?” Kai inquired as he plopped down beside me on the bed.

“I’m hanging in there, I suppose. How terrible can it be to be cooped up at home just because folks think I’m out to snag all their boyfriends?” I replied with a laugh, though he only managed a strained grin.

“Come on, it’s hilarious!” I teased, giving him a gentle nudge to coax a chuckle from him.

“I had no idea I possessed such a magnetic charm to draw in the guys,” I mused, catching his attention. He remained silent, letting my words linger.

“If I had known, I would have aimed it at you,” I confessed, flashing him a sincere smile. After all, he was aware of my feelings by now, so why pretend otherwise?

“Well, I thought I was inlove with you until Tae showed up,” I admitted. I let out a laugh, and he fell quiet, as if wishing he could take back his words.

“I warned you that Soyeon was trouble,” I said, steering the conversation in a new direction.

“Yeah, you did,” he replied, nodding with a smile.