Winter Hearts

Two Sides

Hongbin and Ravi sat on the bleachers, feeling the late afternoon sun warm their faces.

"Hongbinnie, I was working in the studio after dance rehearsal today. Leo-hyung wrote a song."

Hongbin looked at him in surprise.

"You listened to it?" he asked.

"Yes. It's nice. About a love that cannot be." Ravi shook his head. "Our hyung has always been a softie."

Hongbin smiled. He knew Ravi was no different. Despite all the achievements and the name he had made for himself as an up and coming rapper-songwriter, Ravi was just another puppy who wanted to be loved. All of them were.

Ravi shifted closer, nestling his shoulder against Hongbin, and looked at him with those puppy dog eyes.

"Is there something going on that I have missed? Because I feel like a movie started playing around me and I'm the only one who has no clue."

"That's true. You and Ken. No clue." Hongbin laughed. He watched Ken play, his ability at basketball unsurpassed by any in the group. He was playing hard, just as everyone was. Hongbin knew that Ken would probably be fooling around rather than trying to win, if Siana hadn't made if clear to him that he was being let down nicely, discreetly.

Hongbin had a new-found respect for Siana. She had enough experience to know that being thoughtless about handling the Ken situation could jeopardise their acquaintance. He could tell that she was the kind to care for sustaining relationships well. She was level-headed, even when he had figured that things had gone badly for her the night before.

Hongbin didn't know the details, but he guessed that she and Leo had gotten somewhat intimate, and that somehow, things had gone awry.

He was only guessing when he thought that she wouldn't have been the cause of their falling out. But then Hongbin thought, even if she did do something wrong or make a mistake, she was worth getting over it. Hongbin hoped that Leo realised how lucky he was.

It was hard enough coming across someone to be attracted to within the industry. Firstly, there was the unspoken agreement to keep all relationships in the idol industry strictly business-like, or platonic. Secondly, it was hard to be attracted to someone who may be even more hungry for fame than yourself. Thirdly, if there was dislike for your romantic ties, the relationship could fail horribly from the backlash. Girls got it the worst, since fans and media alike would attack their beauty, age and talent, something the boys didn't get judged for in the same way.

Hongbin suspected that Leo might have pulled back for just that reason. But, he didn't think that Leo would have gone far enough to warrant pulling back. If he did, if he had somehow lost control and gone further than he would normally allow himself to go - well that signalled to Hongbin that he was falling very hard for Siana.

And he could see why. She was talented, hard-working, smart and funny, obviously loved her father and her home, and was brave and spunky to boot.

Ravi followed Hongbin's eye line and realised he was looking at Siana.

"Oh? Is Siana interested in Ken?"

Hongbin rolled his eyes. "No."

Ravi gasped, "Are you interested in Siana?"

Hongbin looked at Ravi with pitying eyes. "No, I am not."

"Oh, you think she isn't all that."

"That's not what I said. She is great. I'm just not interested in her in that way."

"Why not? She's cute. She can dance. She's not shy," Ravi said, thinking of the rehearsals that morning. As usual, N had choreographed something that was distinctly his flavour, and it involved a certain amount of coquettishness both from the female and male dancers - as well as a lavish amount of loaded looks, gestures and holds.