Truth Behind The Glasses | Exo D.o.

chapter 16

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The press conference day loomed closer, and the atmosphere in Aunt Min's living room crackled with tension and excitement. Jinah was busy finalizing our strategy, while Aunt Min paced back and forth, checking off items on her mental list. I tried to concentrate on the conversations swirling around me, but my mind kept drifting back to Kyungsoo. My heart raced every time he entered the room, a mix of nerves and something deeper thrumming just beneath the surface.

I stole a glance at him as he stood by the window, his silhouette framed by the soft light of the afternoon sun. There was something about the way he carried himself—confident yet somehow still humble—that drew me in. He caught my eye, and a smile broke across his face, sending a flutter of warmth through my chest. I felt a blush creep up my cheeks, a feeling that was becoming all too familiar whenever he was near.

"Hey, Kiara," he called, walking over to me with a purposeful stride. The room around us faded into the background, and for a moment, it was just the two of us.

"Yeah?" I replied, trying to keep my voice steady, though the butterflies in my stomach were swirling frantically.

"Can we talk? Just for a minute?" His eyes held a mix of seriousness and warmth that made my heart pound even faster.

"Sure," I said, my curiosity piqued. As we stepped into the quieter hallway, I felt a rush of anticipation. What could he possibly want to say?

He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms in that casual way of his that made him look effortlessly charming. "So, about the press conference... it's a big deal, right?"

I nodded, my heart racing. "Yeah, it feels like everything is riding on it."

He took a deep breath, as if gathering his thoughts. "I've been thinking a lot about how we've been working together, and I wanted to say something important."

The weight of his words hung in the air, and I felt the anticipation swell within me. "What is it?"

 He hesitated, his brow furrowing slightly. "There's something I haven't told you yet, something about me."

I felt a rush of adrenaline. "What do you mean?" My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of excitement and dread.

He took a step closer, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that made me feel both vulnerable and exposed. "I am Littlepenguin."

The words struck me like lightning. My mind raced, processing his revelation. "You're... Littlepenguin?" I repeated, trying to grasp the enormity of what he was saying. The realization hit me like a tidal wave, flooding me with confusion and shock.

He nodded, his expression earnest. "Yeah. I didn't want to say anything until we were ready for the press conference. I was worried about how it would change things between us."

I felt frozen in place, my heart racing and my thoughts jumbled. "But... how? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" My voice wavered, a mix of astonishment and hurt creeping in.

"I wanted to protect our work, and besides I want to tease you. I thought it would be better if we focused on what we're doing together first, rather than complicating things with personal feelings." He ran a hand through his hair, a sign of his own frustration. "But the more time I spent with you, the harder it became to keep it a secret."

"I don't understand," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why didn't you just tell me?"

He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I thought it might change how you saw me. I didn't want to be seen as just Littlepenguin, the online persona. I wanted you to know me as Kyungsoo, the person behind the mask."

I took a step back, processing his words. It was a lot to absorb. I had always admired Littlepenguin—the cleverness, the humor, the way he engaged with people—but the reality of Kyungsoo standing before me felt like a different universe altogether.

"What if I can't separate the two?" I said, a flicker of fear igniting in my chest. "What if I can't see you as just Kyungsoo now? What if everything changes?"

His eyes softened, and I could see the sincerity in them. "I get that this is a lot, but I want you to know that who I am online is just a part of me. The real connection is what we've built together. Cinder and Littlepenguin, sure, but it's so much more than that. It's you and me, Kiara."

I felt a swirl of emotions inside me—anger, confusion, hope—all tangled together. "I don't know if I can just... accept that. You've been hiding a part of yourself from me."

"I wasn't trying to hide from you. I was trying to protect what we have," he replied, his voice earnest. "But now I realize I should have trusted you with the truth from the start."

Silence hung between us, heavy and thick. I tried to process his words, the implications of this revelation. I wanted to be angry with him for keeping such a significant part of his life from me, but I also understood his fears. My heart ached with the realization that we had both been navigating this storm, trying to find our way to each other amidst the chaos.

"Kyungsoo," I said finally, my voice trembling, "I don't know what to feel right now. I feel... betrayed but also like I want to understand."

He stepped closer again, a desperate sincerity in his eyes. "I never meant to betray you, Kiara. I care about you more than you know. And now that I've shared this, I'm hoping we can face it together. I want us to be honest with each other, no more secrets."

His words wrapped around me like a lifeline, and I felt the knot in my chest begin to loosen. The idea of facing the storm together, of building a real connection with him, felt more important than the secrets that had come between us.

I took a deep breath, meeting his gaze. "Okay. I want to understand, too. Just... give me a little time to process this. I want to know more about who you are, both as Kyungsoo and as Littlepenguin."

His relief was palpable, and a small smile broke through the tension. "That's all I ask. I want to share everything with you, the good and the bad. I want you to be part of my life, in all its chaos."

I felt my heart swell at his words, the mixture of determination and excitement rising within me once more. Despite the shock of his revelation, I realized that this was the start of something deeper—a chance to build trust, to face the challenges ahead together.

"Okay," I said, my voice steadier now. "Let's do this. We'll figure it out together."

As we stood there, the world outside continued its relentless pace, the storm of the press conference still waiting for us. But in that moment, I felt a sense of calm settle over me. We were united in purpose, intertwined in ways I was only beginning to understand.

And as I looked into his eyes, I felt the excitement of what lay ahead, the promise of adventure and connection drawing us closer. No matter what storms awaited us, I was ready to face them—not just as Cinder and Littlepenguin, but as Kiara and Kyungsoo, together.