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𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘.
Everyone could hardly wait.
MEDUSA was coming.
HYUNG SUK would like to believe he's the only one who knows, but that could only be wishful thinking. Everyone knows. And he means everyone. He's seen at least a dozen of people pretending to be Jae Won students not even ten minutes after leaving his house. While walking, he heard that Jae Won received the most requests to transfer overnight than they'd ever received in a decade — and, surprisingly enough, all requests had been denied.
By the time he arrived at the front gate of the school, he could begin to understand why.
Everyone was here to see you. Everyone. News crews, paparazzi, photographers and interviewers, and people from major agencies sent in hopes of scouting you — famous celebrities who could never get a hold of you, and eccentric millionaires who fell for you at first sight. You truly lived up to your name. Once they looked at you, they could never look away. They would follow you always.
The crowd didn't move no matter how hard Hyung Suk pushed through. He certainly tried, though, and while he did, he heard the crowd murmur. When were you going to get here? Was this some strange, elaborate publicity stunt? Had you gotten in an accident? The closer he got to the entrance, the closer he got to losing his mind. He wanted to know as much as them. Were you okay?
And the answer was: barely.
Had it not been for SOO JUNG, who was one step ahead of the obsessive fan that hijacked your car ride to school. She sent one man to help, and it only took one punch for your would-be assailant to be defeated. They were promptly detained by the police, and you were safely transferred to another vehicle.
The man introduced himself as JONG GUN. You sat beside him in the passenger seat, your hands shaking. This wasn't the first time a fan had crossed the line — but this was the first time a fan had put your life in danger. Perhaps you were exaggerating, and they didn't intend to do you any harm, but the look in their eyes when they said they weren't letting you leave, with the click of the car doors locking making you freeze, you found it hard to believe.
"I'm sorry for causing everyone trouble," you remembered saying. It was your own selfishness that got you in this position. You had no one to blame but yourself. "And for making you take care of a mess that I created... I'm very sorry."
The car ride was silent after that. It was only when you reached the final turn before your destination that he opened his mouth.
"I'm just doing my job. Don't worry about it."
You glanced at him. You could never know if he was looking back at you. It was only your reflection that returned your stare, and you found yourself turning to look out the window once more, a small smile appearing on your face. "Thank you for saying that."
Short and sweet. Your final moments together were pleasant.
"Thank you again," you said as you gathered your belongings. But before you opened the car door, you handed him your so-called business card — a piece of paper you'd torn out of your notebook with your phone number scribbled on it. "If you ever need anything, please give me a call. I'll do my best to help."
You gave him a final smile before you stepped out. As you slammed the door behind you, you swore he said, "I will."
...Whew. You'd made it.
But it was only getting started.
The real challenge would be getting past that crowd... but how?
JAE YEOL had just finished parking his motorcycle when he found you standing on the other side of the street, staring intently at the large mass blocking your way inside. You were thinking deeply, so much so that you only noticed his presence when he caught sight of his shadow looming over you on the concrete.
You nearly jumped out of your skin, and right into the street. The only thing that stopped you from getting hit by the car that sped by seconds later was his hand on your shoulder, squeezing gently.
You blink up at him. You assume he knows who you are. And even though he does, he hasn't done anything yet. So, maybe...
"Excuse me," you begin, "Do you think you can help me?"
Jae Yeol remembers when he first stumbled upon your stream. His sister talked about you from time to time. Complaining when she couldn't get her hands on a limited edition product with your face on it; squealing when you happened to read her comment in a stream; crying when you talked about your difficult past. It was only when his butler mentioned that his own children watched you that he finally took enough of an interest to open your stream.
There was never another day that he didn't after that.
Jae Yeol was content with supporting you through a screen. He didn't care if he was only a stranger to you. It was enough that you would welcome him whenever you spotted his name. It was enough that you'd choose to play with him in a competitive game, even if he wasn't as good as the thousands of others who wanted to join.
He stares at you. What if he told you who he was? Would you believe him? Would you even care?
...No. He was content with this.
As long as he could support you from the side, it was enough.
He nods. He would help.
You beam. "Thank you. Then..."
"Please hide me in your jacket. We'll make a run for it inside."
This was not what he expected.
He stares at you a little longer, and he nods again.
How could he ever deny you?
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𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄.
If you haven't noticed already you will soon, but I fucking suck at dialogue. And I hate it too. I could write on and on with the eloquence of a sophisticated aristocrat in the 1700s (I don't even know if aristocrats existed in the 1700s. I'm not a historian so just hear me out) but the moment I try to write dialogue I'm reduced to the mind of a fourth grader who just learned how to spell 'beautiful.' God help me I just want to be able to write some good fucking dialogue goddamn.
