The spotlight ► K.SN

06

The days that followed your quiet moment were a whirlwind, as though the universe had decided to test the strength of your bond. The truth about you and Sunoo, which had once been a secret shared only between the two of you, eventually came to light. The media, ever-watchful and ever-hungry for gossip, wasted no time in pouncing on the new revelation. Headlines splashed across newspapers and websites, each more sensational than the last.

"Sunoo's Secret Romance: Who Is The Mystery Woman?"
"Is This The End Of Sunoo's Single Status?"
"Rising Star Sunoo Found With Unidentified Girlfriend Is He Ready To Settle Down?"

The speculation didn’t stop there. Fans were quick to post their own theories, scouring every photograph, every glimpse of you and Sunoo together for the smallest hint of truth. Some were supportive, while others were vehemently against it, accusing you of taking advantage of Sunoo’s fame. The online world exploded with opinions, and Sunoo felt the weight of it all crushing down on him.

You had always known the risks of being involved with someone so high-profile. You had always been aware that fame brought with it an invasion of privacy, but it felt different when it became your reality. The phone calls, the messages, the constant pressure from the outside world it became harder to ignore as Sunoo’s popularity soared.

One evening, after a particularly exhausting day, Sunoo collapsed onto the couch in your apartment. He ran his hands through his hair, his eyes exhausted, his body worn down by the weight of the world. The constant barrage of questions, the rumors that twisted everything into something unrecognizable he had never been prepared for how overwhelming it could be.

You sat down next to him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, your touch grounding him. "Sunoo, you okay?" you asked, your voice soft but filled with concern.

He let out a long, drawn-out sigh. "I don’t know," he admitted, his voice filled with exhaustion. "It’s like the more I try to protect us, the more they find ways to break through. I can’t even go to the store without people following me. The rumors… they’re getting to me. I don’t know how much longer I can keep up with it all."

You could see the toll it was taking on him his usual energy, his brightness, had been dimmed by the constant scrutiny. He was strong, but even the strongest person has their limits. You hated seeing him like this, but you knew this was part of the price he had to pay for being in the public eye. You both had to decide if the love you shared was worth the price.

"I’m sorry, Sunoo," you whispered, rubbing his back gently. "This is all my fault, isn’t it? If I hadn’t let myself be close to you."

"No," he interrupted, his voice a little sharper than usual, though there was no malice in it. "This isn’t your fault. It’s my choice too. I could’ve kept things private longer, but I didn’t want to hide. I wanted you, and now that I have you, I don’t want to let go." His eyes softened, and he placed his hand over yours. "I just hate that it has to come with all this... pain."

You squeezed his hand, offering him a soft, reassuring smile. "We’ll figure this out. Together. We knew it wouldn’t be easy."

He looked at you, his eyes searching your face for any sign of doubt. When he found none, he sighed deeply, leaning back against the couch. "I don’t want to lose you. But I feel like every day, I’m risking it. The more the world knows about us, the more I feel like we’re on borrowed time."

You shook your head, leaning in closer, your forehead resting against his. "We won’t lose each other, Sunoo. I promise."

But as the days passed, it became harder to keep that promise.

The paparazzi began showing up wherever Sunoo went. The quiet dates, the moments that had once been private and special, were now tainted with cameras flashing in your faces. You would take long walks in the park, and within minutes, you’d be surrounded by reporters trying to get a glimpse of you, trying to catch you off guard. And it wasn’t just the media his fans, many of whom had once adored him, now felt betrayed. You read through the comments online, some crueler than others, and it felt like you were drowning in negativity.

"Who does she think she is?" one comment read. "Just another fan trying to steal our Sunoo’s heart."
"She’s not even pretty enough for him," another one said.
"She’s just using him for fame."

Each message, each post, chipped away at your confidence. You didn’t care about the opinions of strangers, but seeing Sunoo struggle with it all the pressure, the anxiety, the guilt was becoming unbearable.

One afternoon, you sat with Sunoo in a quiet café, his face tense, his eyes darting around nervously. You could feel the weight of the world on his shoulders. He hadn’t spoken much all day, and you knew he was thinking about everything that had happened in the past week.

"Sunoo," you said softly, reaching out to take his hand. "We’ll get through this. The world will calm down eventually. You’ve just got to give it time."

He shook his head, a sad smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I don’t know if time will fix it," he said, his voice shaky. "I love you, but I’m not sure how much more of this I can handle. I don’t want to lose you, but I don’t know how to protect you from everything."

Tears welled up in your eyes as you squeezed his hand tighter. "You’re not losing me, Sunoo," you said firmly. "I chose this we chose this. I don’t care about what the world says. I care about you. And we’ll find a way through this, no matter what."

His eyes softened as he looked at you, the weight of the world momentarily lifting from his shoulders. "You make it sound so simple," he said, his voice a little rough with emotion. "But it doesn’t feel that way. It’s hard… every day feels like a battle."

"I know it’s hard," you said, "but we’re in this together. You’re not alone, Sunoo. You never have to be."

He smiled at that, though it was a bittersweet smile. "I don’t deserve you."

You leaned in, your lips brushing against his in a soft, reassuring kiss. "You deserve everything, Sunoo. And I’ll be here through it all. As long as you want me."

The kiss lingered for a moment, and for the briefest of moments, the world outside faded away. It was just the two of you, holding onto each other, finding comfort in the quiet promises you whispered with every touch.

But even as the days passed, the world outside your bubble continued to pull at you, its noise growing louder. The rumors would never truly stop, the judgment would never cease, but one thing was clear love was never simple, and the price of it often came with a price that neither of you had been fully prepared for. But even in the face of the storm, you both knew that you would fight for each other, no matter the cost.