“So… where did we stop the other day?” Junhyung asked Hara was seemed to be fidgeting all over her seat. Hara finally stop fidgeting upon hearing his question, she looked up at him and spoke, “Ah… erm, about our fake relationship.” Junhyung just nodded – a sign that he understood and she should continue talking but Hara just stopped, and said nothing after that.

“So,  you said you were being forced too?” Junhyung finally spoke upon sensing how tense the atmosphere was. Hara nodded, “but why?”, as she heard Junhyung continue asking. “What why? Did you have a reason too for being forced by your company to get into this fake relationship with me?” Hara asked him back, carefully eyeing the older guy in front of her.

Hara had a good reason for it; her company was going to take her off Kara if she didn’t accept that request. With her group’s lawsuit which ended not long ago, the company felt that their popularity level had dropped and that some of their fans have left them – in short, the company needed some news to boast their popularity level again which was the fake relationship she is in right now. But aside from being afraid of being taken off the group, she had a darker secret. Hara waited patiently for the older guy to answer her.

Junhyung just looked around the recording studio, and the conversation between him and Hong CEO just played in his mind, over and over again. He wanted it to stop badly, but there’s no way it would stop and telling Hara about it won’t hurt a single bit, right? He thought to himself. “Yeah, I do have a reason for it. I’m not sure if it’s good or not, but its one hell important reason to me.” He finally spoke, looking at Hara. Hara just smiled back at him as he continued, “What’s your reason?”

Hara looked at him, a little surprised. She has never expected him to ask. “Oh…” Hara stuttered a little, before continuing, “mine? Haha, it might be ridiculous to you but the company threatened to take me off the team if I didn’t accept this request – actually, it isn’t a request, but more of like an order.” She paused for a slight moment to study Junhyung’s face – he nodded in understanding but he was slightly shocked, maybe due to the face that the company would want to take her off the group for such a slight reason – before continuing, “But, there is something else other than taking me off the team too. That’s actually the main reason why I actually decided to take the order.” Hara just laughed her last sentence off, hoping to sound as carefree as possible – hoping she didn’t sound like she was too serious, be she knew how serious her reason was.

Junhyung was about to speak as he wanted to probe further about her main reason, but got cut by Hara’s sudden words, shocking him a little. “So, now, your turn. Your reason for accepting this request, or should I say order?” Junhyung just looked at the petite girl in front of him. His voice was stuck in his throat, not wanting to come out. Is it okay to tell her about HyunA? He asked himself over and over again, and decided to – hoping it isn’t a wrong mistake.

“I did it to protect someone. Both she and I might get kicked out of the company. The CEO threatened to.” Junhyung said, after letting out a sigh. He was about to continue when Hara spoke, “Who’s this lucky lady who got your heart?” She let out a soft chuckle. “HyunA?” Hara said, jokingly – little did she knew she hit jackpot – as Junhyung’s face stiffened. She saw the change in Junhyung’s face and asked, “Was I right…?” Junhyung just looked at her blankly, before nodding.

“Oh I’m sorry…” Hara said. “It’s okay. It’s a fact anyway. The CEO threatened to kick both of us out. I don’t mind getting kicked out, but if I’m going to pull HyunA down, it’s definitely unfair to her. I mean, it’s her dream to stand on stage and perform. She feels the happiest when she's standing on stage, performing. I have no right to take that away from her...” Junhyung said, straightly, trying his best to hide all his sadness. “I’m sorry, really. Well, it’s the same for me too, but I’m not supposed to talk about it.” Hara said, consolingly.

Junhyung just looked at her, apologetically. “It’s okay. I hope this conversation actually helped us to get closer, I mean we’re still a real couple to the rest of the world who don’t know anything.” Hara nodded, and continue, “It did, Junhyung-shi. Let’s just hope we actually became closer so the public would actually believe our lie.” Junhyung just nodded, and the room became awkwardly silent again.

I miss you, both Junhyung and Hara said to themselves as they thought about the ones they’re protecting.