perfect actors|| hyunlix ❀

Chapter 23

(Felix's POV)

The air in the small meeting room was thick with tension. Yuri stood by the window, her arms crossed, the light from outside casting a sharp shadow across her face. Hyunjin and I lingered near the door, neither of us fully stepping inside.

"Alright," Yuri said, breaking the heavy silence. "What's this about? You looked like you wanted to murder me back there."

Hyunjin's jaw tightened, but his voice came out even, if only barely. "We need to talk about this love show, Yuri. And your role in it."

She raised an eyebrow, her gaze flicking between us. "My role? I'm the host. What more is there to say?"

"You pushed for us to join," I said, my voice quieter than his but still firm. "You made sure we were part of this."

Yuri's laugh was sharp, almost mocking. "Are you serious right now? You're accusing me of what—sabotaging you? I was hired to do a job, same as you."

Hyunjin took a step forward, his tone icy. "Don't play dumb. We know someone approached you. Someone who had something to gain from getting us involved."

Her expression shifted, her features hardening. "What are you even talking about? I didn't approach anyone. I was told you two would be on the show, and I made it work. That's my job."

"Don't twist this," Hyunjin shot back. "This wasn't just some network decision. Someone made sure we'd be forced into this, and you went along with it."

"Are you even listening to yourself?" she snapped, her voice rising. "Do you hear how paranoid you sound? I don't control the casting decisions!"

"Then explain why someone would pressure you to make it happen," I said, stepping forward. My chest felt tight, my heartbeat oddly loud in my ears.

Her eyes narrowed. "I don't need to explain anything to you. I'm not some villain in your love story, Felix."

Hyunjin let out a humorless laugh. "Love story? Don't flatter yourself. This isn't about us being a couple. This is about you betraying people you're supposed to trust."

Yuri's mouth tightened, but she said nothing, her silence louder than any defense she could have made.

The quiet stretched between us, oppressive and suffocating. I shifted uncomfortably, my fingers twitching at my sides. Hyunjin's presence next to me was steady, almost grounding, but the tension in the room made my thoughts scatter.

Finally, Yuri sighed, her hands dropping to her sides. "Look, I don't know who you think I am, but I don't owe you an explanation. I've done my part, and that's the end of it."

Hyunjin stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous. "The end of it? You think you can just walk away from this?"

"Yes," she said flatly, meeting his gaze without flinching.

Her calmness only seemed to fuel Hyunjin's anger. His fists clenched at his sides, his shoulders taut with barely restrained frustration. "This isn't over, Yuri. Not until we know the truth."

She rolled her eyes, but there was a flicker of something—uncertainty?—that crossed her face. "What truth? That I'm doing my job? You're acting like I personally dragged you into this."

I couldn't stay quiet any longer. "Because it feels personal," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "You knew this would be hard for us, but you didn't care. Why?"

Her lips parted as if to respond, but no words came. For a moment, she looked genuinely taken aback, as though she hadn't considered the impact her actions might have had on us.