In a world where dreams and fame collide, Naeun is a hardworking freelance model trying to balance her studies while secretly in love with Taemin, the rising star of SHINee. Their romance began when he was just a trainee and grew stronger as he prep...
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☾ ⋆･ﾟ:⋆･ﾟ:✧⋆.:･ﾟ✧.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ☾
Taemin's POV,
My phone had been buzzing nonstop, but I was too absorbed in the video playing on the computer screen. The rest of the members and I were focused on our self-recorded dance practice video, scrutinizing every move, every step, all in the pursuit of perfection.
The quiet of the practice room was abruptly shattered when Joonwoon barged in, his voice urgent as he called out my name. We all snapped to attention, and I looked at him in confusion. He thrust his phone toward me, his face a mix of frustration and panic. "You're in trouble. Why haven't you been checking your phone?!"
"We were just practicing," Key replied, just as bewildered as I was. My eyes shifted to the phone, widening in shock as I saw what was on the screen. It was a picture of Naeun and me, sitting on a bench, our hands intertwined.
"Where did this come from?" I groaned, feeling the weight of the situation crash down on me.
Joonwoon ran a hand through his hair in frustration, massaging his forehead as though trying to stave off an impending headache. "It's everywhere. The photo's gone viral. This is bad, Taemin. Really bad. How am I going to explain this later?" His voice was tight with anxiety.
I sighed heavily, running my hand through my own disheveled hair, trying to make sense of it all. That picture was from the park, during one of our rare moments of peace. Luckily, I had been wearing a cap that covered most of my face. Maybe, just maybe, it would be hard for people to recognize me.
Onew, ever the calm presence, spoke up. "Taemin had his cap on. They might not be able to tell it's him right away." His attempt to reassure me did little to ease the rising tension in the room.
"Yeah," Joonwoon groaned, "but don't get too comfortable. It's only a matter of time. For now, they haven't linked your name or the company to it—yet." His emphasis on "yet" sent a chill down my spine.
My thoughts raced. Had Naeun seen the picture already? That question gnawed at me, and the pit of anxiety in my stomach deepened. Just as Joonwoon was about to say something else, his phone rang, cutting through the tense atmosphere. He fumbled to answer it, glancing at the caller ID.
The name flashed across the screen: 'Lee Eun' The head manager. The one responsible for managing the reputations of all the idols. My heart sank. This wasn't going to be good.
While Joonwoon hurriedly spoke with Lee Eun, I took the opportunity to grab my phone and call Naeun. The anxiety within me grew with each unanswered ring. I sent a series of messages, desperate for any response. Still, there was nothing but silence.
As Joonwoon wrapped up his call, I reluctantly turned off my phone, bracing myself for his update. "I have to go meet with Lee Eun right away. Taemin, make sure you inform Naeun about this, and then finish the practice. We'll wait for further instructions."
