Shadows Of Stardom

Chapter 55

The scent of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee hung in the dining room, a strangely comforting aroma that did little to alleviate the knot in my stomach. Entering the room felt like stepping onto a meticulously arranged stage, with everyone already in their assigned roles.

San, as usual, presided at the head of the impossibly long mahogany table, his laptop casting a harsh blue light that highlighted the dark circles under his eyes. He looked up and offered a small, strained smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Hey,” Chanyeol called out, his booming voice echoing off the high ceilings as he clapped me a bit too hard on the back. He pulled out a chair next to him, and I gratefully sank into its velvet comfort. The soft fabric momentarily eased my tension as I watched a maid, her expression carefully neutral, set a steaming plate of food in front of me: eggs, crispy bacon, and golden-brown toast—a breakfast fit for royalty, though my appetite was stubbornly absent.

Before I could even bring the overcooked bacon to my lips, Kai strolled into the room, moving with the fluid grace of a panther. He took a seat directly across from me, next to Chanyeol, and offered a brief, almost shy greeting as he served himself some food.

“Thanks for saving me last night,” Kai mumbled, poking at his eggs with little enthusiasm. He looked like he was battling a hangover.

Chanyeol scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. “You drunk-dialed Jennie, not me. I just pointed her in your direction.”

My head snapped up, my heart racing. “Jennie picked me up?” The question lingered in the air, suddenly heavier than the smell of bacon. Kai's dark eyes met mine, a flicker of…something I couldn’t quite identify. Guilt? Shame? I nodded and offered a small, reassuring smile. Great. He didn’t remember a thing.

Chanyeol nodded, casually munching on a piece of toast, oblivious to the sudden tension in the room. “Yeah, she did. You were all over her last night. A bit of a handful, too.” He chuckled, and my stomach churned with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. Why did Chanyeol have to be so blunt?

“Just don’t stress her out too much,” Chanyeol continued, completely unaware of the internal turmoil he was causing.

“I’m sorry I disturbed you… I thought to call Chan or Suho,” Kai said, his words spilling out in a rushed, apologetic stream.

“It’s no problem…” I managed, my voice a bit too high-pitched. San shot me a pointed look that clearly conveyed, You’re not going to trouble yourself again. The silent message was one I knew well: protect Jennie at all costs. I was so tired of being treated like fragile glass.

“Was I overbearing?” Kai asked, his eyes filled with genuine concern.

I quickly shook my head and forced a reassuring smile. “No… I’m sorry about that.” It felt like a hollow expression, but I didn’t know what else to say.

“Alright… I’m heading to the office now,” San declared, decisively grabbing his laptop from the table. The sound was like a starting gun, signaling the end of this awkward breakfast scene.

“Take care,” we all said in unison, our voices tinged with a mix of relief and resignation as San walked out, his shoulders squared against the weight of the world.

“I’ll leave you two to chat,” Chanyeol said, getting up and giving Kai a friendly pat on the shoulder. His grin held a knowing glimmer, and I shot him a warning look, hoping he would just go.