Light, Camera and Romance!

Chapter 3: The Publicity Stunt

Scene 1: The Manager's Proposition

The meeting room was filled with bright posters of the new series, and Joong and Dunk sat across from their manager, who wore an almost conspiratorial smile.

"So, I have a proposal," the manager began, eyeing them both. "To generate buzz for the series, we want you two to... pretend you're dating."

Dunk's eyes widened, and he shot a glance at Joong. Joong raised an eyebrow, a small smirk already forming.

"Fake dating?" Dunk repeated, incredulous.

Their manager nodded, clearly unbothered by their reactions. "We need to stir interest, create some excitement. The fans love this kind of thing. Trust me—it will help the show, and both of you." He paused, leaning in. "You'll attend a few events, hold hands, maybe even act a little... affectionate. Nothing too intense, just enough to spark rumors."

Dunk groaned internally. He wasn't opposed to publicity stunts, but pretending to be romantically involved with Joong? The thought made his skin prickle with nervousness. Joong, meanwhile, looked rather amused.

"You know, I think it could be fun," Joong said, nudging Dunk. "What do you think, partner?"

Dunk shot Joong a glare but then sighed. He knew how important promotions like this were. "Fine. But you better not take it too far."

Joong grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Scene 2: The First Event

The first event was a red-carpet affair—a glamorous premiere with cameras flashing from every angle. Dunk adjusted his tie for what felt like the hundredth time, his eyes darting towards Joong, who was chatting with a member of the PR team.

When Joong caught Dunk's eye, he gave a wink and a playful smile. Dunk rolled his eyes, feeling his stomach twist in a combination of nerves and reluctant excitement.

"You ready?" Joong asked, walking over and adjusting the lapel of Dunk's jacket with an exaggerated flourish.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Dunk muttered, shooting a nervous glance at the crowd of photographers.

They stepped out onto the red carpet, and instantly, the cameras exploded with flashing lights. Joong slipped an arm around Dunk's waist, pulling him close. Dunk stiffened at the sudden contact but forced a smile, reminding himself that this was all for the show.

Joong leaned in, whispering in Dunk's ear, "Relax. It'll look more real if you don't look like you're being held hostage."

Dunk couldn't help but laugh under his breath, and for a moment, the tension eased. Joong's hand was warm on his back, and Dunk let himself lean into it just a little.

Scene 3: Behind the Scenes

After the event, they found themselves in a private room, away from the prying eyes of the public. Dunk let out a long breath, sinking into a plush chair.

"That was... exhausting," Dunk said, rubbing his temples. He hadn't realized how draining it would be to pretend to be so close to Joong, especially with so many eyes on them.

Joong grabbed two bottles of water, tossing one to Dunk. "You did good out there," Joong said, a genuine smile on his face. He settled in the chair across from Dunk, his eyes softening. "I know this isn't exactly easy, but I think we handled it well."

Dunk looked at Joong, surprised by the sincerity in his tone. Joong usually masked everything behind jokes and teasing, but here, in this quiet moment, Dunk saw the effort Joong was putting in—for both of them.