FRAMES OF FATE 🎥

TANGLED FLAMES

Hyunjin's steps echoed down the hallway as he tried to shake off the strange energy still clinging to him. Minho's words, his touch, the intense gaze—it was like they had left an imprint on him, something he couldn't simply walk away from. No matter how much distance he put between them, the sensation lingered.

As he rounded the corner, he glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting Minho to be following him. But the hallway was empty, leaving him alone with his racing thoughts.

With a frustrated sigh, he stopped, leaning against the wall to catch his breath. His fingers brushed over his waist, the spot where Minho had held him. Despite himself, he could still feel the warmth, the subtle pressure of Minho's hand. It annoyed him how much he remembered every detail, every second of their closeness.

"Get it together, Hyunjin," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. But even as he tried to dismiss it, a part of him wondered if Minho had felt the same spark, the same thrill. There had to be a reason he kept pushing Hyunjin's buttons, why he couldn't just leave him alone.

A buzzing in his pocket snapped him back to reality. Pulling out his phone, he saw a flood of notifications—fans were already buzzing about their interaction, photos and clips circulating online. Hyunjin's heart skipped a beat when he saw the trending hashtag: #HyunHo.

He clicked on one of the posts, and there it was—the photo of Minho's hand on his waist, the two of them close enough to look almost... intimate. The comments were a mix of excitement and speculation, fans going wild over what they assumed was a hidden romance.

Just as he was scrolling, a new message popped up from his
manager: "We need to talk. ASAP."

Hyunjin's stomach twisted. He knew exactly what this was about. As much as he hated the attention on something so personal, he couldn't deny the opportunity it presented. Taking a deep breath, he pocketed his phone and started toward his manager's office, knowing that this "rivalry" with Minho had just become something much more complicated.

Hyunjin arrived at his manager's office, heart pounding. He barely had time to process everything when the door swung open and Minho walked in, his usual confident smirk plastered on his face. Of course he was here too. They were both caught in this whirlwind together, like it or not.

Their managers exchanged a glance, then turned to the two of them. Hyunjin's manager, a sharp-eyed woman with a no-nonsense demeanor, didn't waste a second.

"Well, I'm sure you've both seen the response online," she began, pulling up her tablet to show them the trending photos. "The fans are obsessed. 'HyunHo' has skyrocketed, and frankly, this attention is too good to pass up."

Hyunjin shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his mind racing. He hadn't signed up to be part of some fabricated romance, especially not with Minho, of all people. But his manager's tone left little room for protest.

Minho's manager leaned forward, his tone more businesslike. "We've already spoken with the organizers of the 'Global It Couple Runway,' and they're eager to have you two open and close the event as a pair. The world's hottest 'It Couple'—you'll be the talk of the industry."

Hyunjin could feel Minho's gaze on him, that amused glint in his eyes. "So, what do you say?" Minho murmured, just loud enough for Hyunjin to hear. There was a teasing challenge in his voice, one that only made Hyunjin's blood boil more.

Hyunjin gritted his teeth, determined not to let Minho get the best of him. "Fine," he replied, his tone cold and steady. "If you think you can keep up, that is."

Minho raised an eyebrow, a slow smile creeping onto his lips. "Oh, I don't think that'll be a problem."

Their managers exchanged satisfied nods, already discussing details and scheduling. Meanwhile, Hyunjin felt trapped in a surreal moment—one that he wasn't sure he wanted or hated entirely. The idea of being so close to Minho on the runway, of being forced into this "It Couple" act... it felt like a dare, a challenge he couldn't back down from.

As they wrapped up the meeting, Hyunjin's manager clapped her hands together, looking pleased. "This is going to be incredible. The fans already think there's something real between you two, and we intend to capitalize on that."

With a curt nod, she gestured for them to leave. Minho and Hyunjin stepped out of the office, the weight of the situation settling between them. Hyunjin felt his frustration bubble over, and he turned to Minho, ready to say something sharp. But before he could, Minho's hand shot out, grabbing his wrist and pulling him closer.

"Careful, Hyunjin," Minho murmured, his voice low and dangerously close. "If we're going to play this game, you'd better be ready."

Hyunjin yanked his wrist free, narrowing his eyes. "I don't need you to tell me how to handle this."

Minho's smirk deepened, as if he found Hyunjin's resistance entertaining. "Oh, I'm counting on it."

They held each other's gaze, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Finally, Hyunjin turned away, storming down the hallway, leaving Minho's quiet chuckle echoing behind him.

The next day, news of their joint runway appearance spread like wildfire. Social media exploded with fan theories, speculating on the "chemistry" between them. Everywhere Hyunjin looked, there were photos, fan edits, and comments fueling the idea that he and Minho were secretly an item. The attention was overwhelming, the fans relentless in their excitement.

One comment in particular caught his eye: "HyunHo as the opening AND closing act? Can't wait to see the sparks fly!"

Hyunjin scoffed, rolling his eyes. Sparks, indeed. If only they knew the real tension that simmered beneath the surface.

But what none of them realized was how real it was starting to feel—how every interaction with Minho left him frustrated, rattled, and... intrigued. The line between rivalry and attraction was blurring, and he couldn't tell which side he wanted to lean toward.

Just as he was mulling over his thoughts, his phone buzzed with a message from Minho: "Get ready, partner. This is just the beginning."

Hyunjin's heart skipped a beat. He clenched his jaw, determined not to let Minho get under his skin. But deep down, he couldn't deny the thrill—the challenge—that came with every word, every glance.

And as the day of the runway show drew closer, he realized that this was only the start of something far more intense than he had ever anticipated.