A Distraction // Bangchan

Chapter Eight

After dinner, the restaurant seemed even quieter, the soft glow of the candlelight between them casting a warm, intimate atmosphere over their table. The conversation had been easy, flowing naturally, but now, as the waiter cleared their plates, Lauren could feel the evening shifting. There was an unspoken tension that had been simmering beneath the surface all night, and now, with dinner behind them, it was becoming more palpable.

"How about an after-dinner drink?" Chan suggested, his voice low and casual as he leaned slightly toward her.

Lauren smiled, nodding. "Sounds good to me."

The waiter returned a moment later, and Chan ordered two glasses of wine, something smooth to finish off the evening. When the drinks arrived, Lauren took a slow sip, letting the warmth of the alcohol spread through her. She glanced over at Chan, who was watching her quietly, the intensity in his gaze tempered by the softness of his smile. There was something about the way he looked at her that made her heart race.

After a few moments of silence, Lauren set her glass down and looked at him, her curiosity getting the better of her. She had been careful not to pry too much into his personal life, but tonight felt like the right time to ask.

"So," she began, her tone casual but her eyes steady on his, "I've been wondering something."

Chan raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "What's that?"

Lauren took another sip of her drink, feeling the liquid courage settle in her chest before she spoke. "Have you... dated anyone since becoming an idol? I mean, I know how private everything has to be for you, but I've always been curious what it's like. How do you even navigate something like that?"

She wasn't trying to catch him off guard, but there was a genuine curiosity behind the question. She wanted to understand him better, to know more about the person behind the idol image. There was a part of her that wondered what kind of experiences he'd had, how he managed relationships in such a public and pressurized world.

For a moment, Chan didn't respond. His fingers traced the edge of his glass, and his eyes drifted away, as if he was considering how to answer. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, more thoughtful.

"It's... complicated," he admitted, glancing back at her. "Dating as an idol isn't easy. Everything has to be kept so private, and there's always the risk of rumors, which can get out of hand really fast. I've had a couple of relationships since we debuted, but they were... difficult."

Lauren leaned in slightly, her interest piqued. "Difficult how?"

Chan hesitated for a second, as if weighing how much he wanted to reveal. He took a sip of his wine before continuing, his gaze soft but serious. "Well, it's hard to have something real when you're constantly worried about being seen or having your personal life exposed. Everything feels... fragile. It's like you're always looking over your shoulder, wondering when something is going to leak, and that takes a toll on the relationship. You want to be normal, to just enjoy the time you have together, but there's always this pressure."

Lauren nodded, understanding the weight of what he was saying. It made sense—the constant scrutiny, the need to keep everything hidden. It wasn't just about privacy; it was about protecting the people you care about from the harsh glare of public opinion. She could see how exhausting that would be, how difficult it would make any kind of meaningful connection.

"Do you think it's even possible to have a normal relationship in your position?" she asked softly, genuinely curious.

Chan looked at her for a long moment, his dark eyes searching hers. "I think it's possible," he said finally, his voice steady but quieter now, almost vulnerable. "But it's rare. You need someone who understands the situation, someone who's patient. And even then, it's not easy. There's a lot of sacrifice involved."