Idol of the Heavenly One - vanish into fiction

I muttered to myself about how obvious the members’ glances were, saying this is why workplace romances are a bad idea, but the sight was amusing. I had only seen it in dramas, but I had actually experienced it in my past life. Couples in the workplace cannot hide their signs.

‘It all shows. Even the dorm fridge knows.’

Crazy. I suddenly remembered what Joo I-rip had said. I froze for a moment. Joo I-rip looked at me with a questioning expression, and I waved my hand, trying to hide my embarrassment.

As expected, there was a music video reaction shoot scheduled for tonight. The company had arranged three people sitting in front and three standing behind to watch the video. For the first time in a while, I was next to Baek Jae-heon. We were an inseparable combination, after all.

I sat in front, and Baek Jae-heon stood right behind me. During our activities, this arrangement happened often. Every time, Baek Jae-heon would naturally rest his hand on my shoulder and hug me tightly. I would push his hand or arm away, but he never gave up. Fans collected clips of this and called it “front paw parking,” and when I realized how much the fans enjoyed it, I usually let it be.

But today, there was no front paw parking. When I briefly turned my head to speak to Go Hee-min, who was standing beside Baek Jae-heon, I noticed Baek Jae-heon standing with his hands behind his back. A slight pang of disappointment rose, but I pretended not to care and focused on the monitor in front.

The music video began with a scene of me alone in a classroom, lying on a desk. Even before the members started, they cheered, “Oh—” just from that shot. I gave a slight smile and continued watching the video, which had prettier colors and more interesting content than I expected.

The members appeared as friends who encouraged me while I nervously tried to confess to a girl I liked. Each time I saw her, I would tremble, and eventually, on a rainy day under the eaves, I succeeded in confessing. It was genuinely enjoyable to watch.

“…Huh?”

“Wow, it’s like a painting.”

“When was this filmed?”

But the last scene was different from what I knew. I thought the video ended with my confession, “I like you,” followed by the girl smiling.

However, the ending differed from what I remembered. I was smiling and talking to the girl, but then I seemed to notice someone and turned toward the screen. My smile slowly vanished, and at the same time, the rain stopped. The camera focused on my face.

Complexity mixed in my eyes: affection, worry, and curiosity. As if I was paying more attention to someone than the female lead.

I had never acted like that. But I knew when it was filmed.

“What?”

“What is this? Is someone else there?”

“Myeong-hyeon. Who did you see?”

“Was it Baek Jae-heon?”

Kwon Ji-hak’s comment made the members burst into laughter. But I could not smile. It really was Baek Jae-heon. After filming, I waited for the rain machine to stop, chatting with the female idol. Then I noticed Baek Jae-heon watching me from among the staff.

I cannot remember what I felt at that moment. But I remember Baek Jae-heon’s expression. At the time, I thought he was expressionless, but in hindsight, he must have been confused and sad. Somehow, I subconsciously sensed it. Seeing that expression…

I stared at my face on the finished video, then instinctively turned and looked up at Baek Jae-heon. He immediately met my gaze. His eyes seemed to hold many things he wanted to say. I also had so much to say.

“Let’s watch it one more time.”

But Go Hee-min’s voice reminded me we were in the middle of the music video reaction shoot. I quickly sat upright and started watching the video from the beginning again, but this time, nothing in it registered in my mind.