lovelovelove | park sunghoon

twenty two

Misuk woke up to the sound of the special ringtone she had for their manager. She didn't understand what Hana was saying, but she got out of bed like someone's life depended on it. Actually, someone's career, but she didn't know that bit yet.

Haneul heard unusual loud stomps so she headed outside to find her friend almost leaving. "Where are you going so early? we have no schedules today."

"Hana just called me. I think something happened at the company, don't know. See you later!"

Misuk closes the door behind her without thinking much of it, while Haneul wondered why she wasn't called as well, considering she's the leader of the group. Maybe it wasn't that serious.

A car was waiting outside so the American gets inside and looks for her phone on her bag. God, what time was it? What is going on?

Misuk checks her phone, finding 10 missed calls from Sunghoon in the past hour. She immediately calls him back but it kept sending her straight to the voicemail. Worried, she texted him, but the ride to the Starship building is extremely quick so she wasn't able to talk to him beforehand.

"Unnie, why am I here so early and by myself?" Misuk says to Hana, who was waiting for her outside.

"You are in trouble."

What?

Misuk follows Hana around her workplace, completely confused at what was going on. They arrived at the meeting room, where a bunch of Starship employees were waiting for them.

The fluorescent lights of the conference room flickered uncomfortably as Misuk sat at the end of the long table, her heart racing. The air was thick with tension as the management team huddled around, their faces a mix of concern and disapproval. Why were they acting this way?

"There's an article coming out about your relationship with Sunghoon" Hana informed her. "We don't mind you dating, but I told you several times before what this could mean."

That's why he tried to call her.

Misuk clenched her fists, her mind replaying all the moments she fought with her manager over this. They could've been more careful but they both never cared about dating rumors, so why would they now?

"We talked to Hybe a few minutes ago and apparently Sunghoon told them to not make any comment, but we can't trust them."

"What?" Misuk questioned. "What do you mean?"

Another member chimed in, "They could be trying to spin this on you."

She didn't know what to say. Sunghoon could never do that to her.

"Should Misuk deny the relationship and apologize?" someone proposed and she almost choked.

Misuk wasn't having that. This was like someone was twisting a knife in her gut. "Sunghoon wants to ignore the article and you guys want me to apologize and deny what we have? Really?"

One of the team members, Hyun-ji, interjected gently, "We understand if it feels unfair, but you know how this works. You know how the industry blames it all on the girl."

"Sunghoon has been my friend since we were teenagers, we've gotten so many dating rumors these past few years. Why is this one so different?"

"Because you are actually dating him now" Hana replied.

Misuk took a deep breath, "I don't want do this."

"Misuk, please" Hana begged, her tone slightly softening. "It's a matter of protecting Nova and your career. We're not saying you cannot date him, but..."

"But what?" Misuk interrupted, her resentment boiling over. "You want me to lie? You want me to say we're not dating when we are? To act like I don't have feelings, wants, or a life outside of this?"

This is why they her members to be nowhere to found. They wanted to corner and pick her apart. She was trapped, each word an employee said about her was digging deeper and deeper into the gaping wound of her autonomy.

"Mimi...

"Don't call me that" she stops Hana, standing up abruptly. "I can't believe you would do this to me."

Hana's eyes narrowed, completely annoyed, "Are you ready to throw everything away for a guy then?"

Misuk scoffed. "Let the article come out and don't say anything on my behalf. I don't care."

With that, she stormed out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the hall, leaving behind the heavy silence of her bewildered team. As the door was closing, she could hear her manager's frustrated mutter, "I warned her about this."