Chapter Twenty-Five: Alley Guy





Hanbin and I were summoned to our main producer's office early in the morning, the day after the Jiwoong kiss had happened. I still felt my lips tingling, and I hadn't slept a wink. He hadn't responded to my text and I had yet to speak to him today. I would find him right after this.

The main producer was an older female named Park Hannah, and she was a tough cookie. Every interaction we've had with her had been unpleasant, but fortunately the other producers were alright.

She looked stern with those red-rimmed glasses as we entered her office. She pointed at the two chairs in front of her mahogany desk, and I gave Hanbin a worried look. He mimed 'are you alright' to me, and I gave him a feeble nod.

"So," Hannah began immediately. She threw her tablet on the desk with a clang, not worried about cracking the screen.

"Who are you kissing in that alleyway, Allison?"

My stomach dropped down to my feet, as it was a blurry picture of me against the alley wall, with Jiwoong in his black Star Planet suit, kissing me fiercely. His hands were in my hair, and from this angle, it looked hella passionate.

"I-I..." I couldn't come up with an excuse. It was so clearly me, I couldn't possibly lie. Jiwoong was not recognizable. The street light had only illuminated my face and my face alone.

All fears hit me at once.

They would disqualify me from the competition.

I would have to give up on this dream.

I would not see Jiwoong again.

Maybe ever.

The bridge of my nose started prickling, and I was going to burst out in tears at any second now.

Hannah sighed and snatched the tablet back.

"It's on every gossip site," her stern eyes found me, "I don't even need to know who it was because I will tell you who it will be." Her eyes snapped to Hanbin, and we froze in our seats. His hand found mine, I already knew what would be next.

"It's Hanbin, and our two number ones will be promoted from now on as a couple. It's the only way to keep the two of you in our competition and to keep the netizens happy and voting."

She nearly growled the last part, and my heart still beat out of control. Hanbin squeezed reassuringly. A panic attack was creeping up.

"I've scheduled a press conference for later today. You will be doing promotional pictures, indicating to the world you have been dating for two years. Am I clear?"

The two of us just sat there, frozen. Hanbin didn't dare speak, either. It was his career on the line, after all.

"Yes, ma'am," Hanbin whispered, not letting go of my hand.

I nodded feebly, still feeling weak in the knees.

This was a shit show!

Oh my fucking God...

We were dismissed, so we rose. I sought support on Hanbin's arm, truly shaking now. My teeth were clacking from shock and fear.

Before we were out the door, she spoke up for the last time.

"One last thing, If I find out the two of you don't go along with this spiel, you'll be out the door quicker than you can say scandal. Am I understood?"

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