𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐒𝐀.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐋 𝐊𝐈𝐃𝐒' 𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄.

❝𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐈 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇?❞

DUK HWA can't believe it. You're looking at him.

You're smiling at him.

"Of course!" You chirp. "What's your name?"

He responds. He can feel people burning holes into the back of his head, but he can't give a single care. He'll gladly endure any beating if it means being by your side even a second longer.

"You're the first person who's approached me for an autograph today," you say. You laugh at the expression he puts on. With a fondness he knows he doesn't deserve, you look at him. You look at him like he's a person — that's a start. "It's true. It must be awkward to approach someone like me in front of so many people, but I appreciate it. I'm glad I get to have a fan like you."

He himself doesn't understand his confusion at your compassion. You were famous for your golden heart, even at the beginning of your career. Duk Hwa can't help but be surprised, though. It's the first time anyone has treated him like this. Someone like you, who has everything you could ever want and more, is so... humble.

"If you would like," you clear your throat, and Duk Hwa swears he sees your ears turning red, "Can we eat lunch together?"

Duk Hwa can hardly believe his ears.

And JIN SUNG can hardly believe his eyes when he finds himself sitting across from you at a table that everybody avoids like the plague. Beside him, MI JIN quietly savors her food, although every now and then, he sees her lift her head to stare at you. He can't blame her; admittedly, he's doing the same. He can't seem to take his eyes off you no matter what he does, and although he would like to brush it off as protectiveness, he knows it's something more. Especially when everyone around you is drawn just the same, and Jin Sung finds that every time he looks up, there are more people lingering behind your seat, debating whether to approach. The only thing stopping them is —

The fact that you attract too many eyes. Even the eyes of someone like EUN TAE, who took the liberty of taking the seat next to you. Nobody has been able to find the courage to approach you out of fear that he'll do something. He's strong enough to, after all.

"So you do music? That's amazing!" You clap your hands. Somewhere in the cafeteria, HO BIN grimaces. Why is he the one who gets to sit with you? That bastard... Duk Hwa. Just what did he say to you to get you on his side? Now he can't do anything. "I would love to listen to your music sometime. I can't live without music, so I would probably play it wherever I go!" You laugh.

He swallows thickly. If you supported his music, then it would be guaranteed to take off... He needs to take this chance.

Duk Hwa opens his mouth to respond.

"So this is where you guys were!"

But he's interrupted.

HYUNG SUK weaves his way through a stream of people, holding his own tray of food. He freezes in place when he sees Jin Sung and Eun Tae. Part of him wants to turn back, but when you brighten and wave him over, he knows his fate is sealed.