Fame or Fortune - Choi Beomgyu

30

September 2024

Youngie drags Galaxy to TXT's room, not knowing what else to do when getting questioned by her members on why they didn't visit much anymore. They share a casual conversation, the boys congratulating them on their recent popularity.

"Yeah I think the famous life is nice for everyone. Especially Youngie since she's getting all the boys." Jia smirks. Both Beomgyu and Youngie look confused before Youngie's face morphs into shock.

"I thought we weren't telling our members about it?" Beomgyu frowns at Youngie. He sounded a bit hypocritical, but she didn't know that yet.

"Jia, don't!" Youngie panics but Jia continues regardless.

"Why wouldn't she tell us that Seungmin asked her out?"

Beomgyu's eyebrows contort as his confusion becomes jealousy. He pouts his lip and looks at Youngie.

"Stray Kids Seungmin?" Yeonjun giggles in shock and Jia nods.

"When?" Gyu sternly ask, Youngie's face falling into her palms.

"Last month." Jia shrugs, not yet piecing together everyone's reactions.

"You didn't tell me?" Beomgyu takes a step towards Youngie.

"I didn't think it was a big deal." Youngie tries to calm him, brushing her hands down his shoulders.

"They could've been cute together. I don't know why she said no." Hayoung joins, gaining a glare from Beomgyu and a confused look from Soobin. Beomgyu had told his members about him and Youngie, but he failed to mention that her members didn't know.

"Probably because she was dating Beomgyu." Soobin says as if he's stating the obvious.

"You're what!" Jia shouts.

"That's what Soobin said the other day!" Kai laughs out.

"I knew it!" Mei cheers.

"Your members know?" Youngie scolds, silencing everyone else. Beomgyu's face softens.

"It was an accident."

"Gyu! I asked you to do one thing! Do you know how much trouble I could be in?"

"Why would you be in trouble?" Hayoung asks. Youngie turns away from Beomgyu.

"Because I don't know if we have a dating ban."

"Oh, we don't." Jia replies.

"Yeah, if we did I wouldn't have dated that fanboy last year." Hayoung shrugs. The girls turn to her, confusion on all their faces before Jia mumbles 'we'll unpack that later'.

"Is that why you didn't tell us?" Jia ask, frowning towards Youngie. "You know you can tell us anything. We'll always be here for you. That's why I was excited when I found out you had a crush on him, I just wanted you to be happy with a nice guy."

Youngie sighs, both in exhaustion and relief from the situation.

"Plus, I wouldn't be openly crushing... " Jia's eyes land on Soobin. "If we weren't allowed. I try to set an example y'know."

"Hey, I'm the leader here!" Hayoung says.

"The leader who had a secret boyfriend, who was a fan! I thought you were into older guys?" Mei jokingly scolds.

"He was older. I'm pretty sure it was his kids who were the fans." Hayoung shrugs, now gaining confused looks from TXT.

"Again, we'll revisit this later. Back to us, me and Beomgyu are dating and Gyu I'm so sorry I didn't tell you about Seungmin."

His face returns to a jealous pout.

"Keeping me a secret but not some other man's affection? Kind of weird."

"I know, I'm sorry. Lets talk later okay? It's almost time for us to be onstage." Youngie runs up to give him a peck on the cheek before her and the rest of her members wave goodbye, leaving the boys more confused then when they entered.

-

The "later talk" comes the next day when TXT and Galaxy meet in the hall backstage, other groups walking about. Youngie was hesitant to approach but she figured that if both their members knew, and he probably told his other friends, and she called Chaeryeong and Hiyyih about it last night, their relationship wouldn't be a secret in the idol world much longer.

Beomgyu crosses his arms and turns away when Youngie walks up to him.

"Oh come on, I said I'm sorry. It's not my fault he likes me!"

"It probably is, you need to stop being cute in front of other boys." Beomgyu tries to be serious, but a smile creeps on to his face.

"Turn my cuteness off? Your asking the impossible babe." She giggles, but his smile fades. "How can I make it up to you?"

Beomgyu grew shy at the pet name and he nervously bit his lip, looking Youngie up and down.

"Don't look at me like that mister! If you want that your going to have to take me on a date."

"I didn't mean it like that! I like the sound of a date though. Where would we go?"

Youngie thinks hard before looking back towards Jia.

Everyone's eyes follow and Jia gets defensive under Soobin's stare.

"Don't look at me like I would know! You're the one whose had a boyfriend before!" She shouts causing Youngie's jaw to drop. They both had past boyfriends, Jia more than one, but Youngie got called out. Jia is always a girl's girl until a man she likes is watching.

Beomgyu becomes pouty all over again.

"First Seungmin, now this secret ex!"

"It's not a secret! I would've told you if you asked. It was years ago, before our debut."

"He's just mad because he's never had a girlfriend." Soobin snitches. Beomgyu sulks at his friend and Youngie rolls her eyes, thinking how him and Jia were perfect for each other.

"He's my only ex and it didn't last long. Please forgive me." She pouts and gives him soft peck on the cheek, cringing at herself afterwards. Only love could make her act like this.

"I bet you kissed him like that." Beomgyu turns away. His lip probably tired from all the pouting.

Then again, Youngie's eyes were probably tired as she rolls them once again. Her tough girl exterior returns as she grabs Beomgyu by the collar of his shirt.

She pulls him into a kiss, lasting long enough for his initial shock to wash away as he melts into it.

They break after a few awkward seconds for those around, and she pushes him back. Soobin catches him, a teasing smile while the older fixes his collar.

"Well I never kissed him like that, and if you want more, figure out a date." She ends, spinning around and walking away, leaving him flushed.