A STAR ON SET (SON CHAEYOUNG X F READER)

CHAPTER VI: BENEATH THE SURFACE

You sat on the couch, your hands clasped together as your mind replayed everything that had happened over the past few days.

The tension between you and Chaeyoung, her boyfriend's abuse, the way she collapsed into your arms tonight, each thought weighed heavier than the last.

The soft sound of footsteps broke through your thoughts. You glanced up to see Chaeyoung walking out of the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel.

She wore your oversized clothes, which draped loosely over her small frame, making her look even more vulnerable than she already was.

Despite the bagginess of the clothes, there was something oddly cute about the way she looked in them, like she was hiding within their comfort.

She paused for a moment, glancing around your apartment.

"I never thought I'd be in here," she muttered quietly, her eyes roaming over the walls and shelves. "I've seen it so many times in vlogs or photos... It feels kind of surreal."

You stayed silent, lost in thought. The weight of everything that had happened between you two and her personal struggles made it hard to find words.

You stared at the floor, your fingers twitching as the urge to do something, to help her, gnawed at you.

Sensing your distance, Chaeyoung's eyes softened with confusion. She stood there, towel in hand, not sure what to make of your quietness.

After a beat of silence, she took a small step toward you, her voice soft. "I'm... sorry," she said, her tone hesitant. "For the way I acted before... in the dressing room."

Your eyes flickered up to meet hers. The sincerity in her voice surprised you, and the tension in the room shifted.

"You don't need to apologize," you muttered, rubbing the back of your neck. "I get it... It's not exactly been easy."

She sat down next to you on the couch, keeping a small distance between you two.

"It wasn't fair to take it out on you," she continued, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the towel. "I shouldn't have acted like that."

You let out a soft sigh, turning your body slightly to face her. "I'm not mad about that, Chaeyoung." You hesitated before adding, "I'm more worried about you... and everything going on with him."

Her face tensed at the mention of her boyfriend, and she looked away.

The bruises on her skin, the fear in her eyes, all of it told a story she wasn't ready to share.

"I don't need your help," she whispered, barely audible. "I can handle it."

You shook your head. "No one should have to 'handle' something like that."

For a moment, there was silence. You both sat there, the tension still lingering, but something in the air had shifted.

It was as if the walls between you were slowly crumbling, brick by brick.

Finally, she spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why do you care so much?"

You swallowed, not sure how to answer.

Maybe it was the look in her eyes that had pulled you in, or the way she had clung to you on the motorcycle.

Or maybe it was just the simple fact that you couldn't stand to see someone suffer like that, especially someone like her.

"I don't know," you replied honestly, your voice soft. "I just do."

She glanced at you, her expression unreadable, and for a moment, neither of you said anything more.