“I’ll just go to the bathroom. I’ll leave my phone and wallet here.” 
“You won’t take a selca?” Mino teased and then winked at her when she walked away.
Mino reached across the table to keep his girlfriend’s belongings close to him. Her phone buzzed as soon as he got it, he wasn’t going to meddle with it but the notification caught his attention.
“________, just to let you know we’ll be letting one of our photographers follow you in one of your dates with…” The first line of the text message flashed on the screen and it didn’t escape Mino’s eyesight. He knows it’s wrong but he just had to read what the message was about. He swiped and entered her PIN to give him access to her message. 
“________, just to let you know we’ll be letting one of our photographers follow you in one of your dates with Mino. Give us the place, date and time and I’ll make sure our paparazzi will be well hidden. Don’t worry we’ll edit you well so only your back will be seen. This exclusive will make our show hit high ratings, possibly make us number 1 during the time slot. You’ll probably be given a bonus. Thanks in advance.” 
Mino was astonished, he couldn’t believe what he was reading. Was ________ really capable of this? Was she acting out to set him up?
“Hey, are you taking a selca?” _________ thought it was her turn to tease Mino but it turned out that the joke was on her. 
“What’s wrong?” She asked when she noticed Mino had a serious expression.
“And I thought you were different. I thought you weren’t the type of girl who use people for personal gain.” 
“What are you talking about?” ________ was alarmed, this is the first time that Mino’s talking to her that way. 
Mino returned her phone and she read the lengthy message that made her want to be swallowed up by the ground. 
“I can explain. I was going to tell you that they found out but - ”
“Save  your energy, I don’t want to hear any of it. Who knows? I just might read your statement on the news tomorrow. Tell me is there a paparazzi hiding right now? Wow! This is like just the perfect set-up huh. Where should I wave? Or do they want me to kiss you? Will that get you promoted faster?” Mino was getting more and more agitated.
“Please Mino, calm down. You’re going to attract attention.” Her voice was breaking but his heart wasn’t wavering. 
Mino scoffed before answering “Isn’t that what you all want?!” 
Mino ignored her plead to listen to her side of the story. It was too late for any explanation. 
“And here I thought this relationship brought out the best in me, that everything seemed to fall into place so naturally, that this is the kind of love people talk about. Guess it seemed too good to be true. Tell me, was any of it real? Wait, what’s the point of me asking when you’ve been lying just to get a good angle. I loved you ________, I made you my world! Congrats, I’m guessing you’ll get a promotion for letting your show win. You can quote me on that.” Mino harshly put money on the table before he stood up and stormed off the restaurant.
“Mino...” _________ could only whisper his name. She tried to wipe her tears away but it just kept coming. ‘You don’t know how much I love you.’ 

Mino was waiting for his phone to be blasted with questions for a statement. Any day now, his relationship would be publicized, it would be their biggest scandal for the year. He knew he screwed up so he told s and managers in advance so they could prepared. Days, weeks and now more than a month has passed but none of what he anticipated happened.
He couldn’t help but wonder why it never got out. He’s stared at ________’s number for more times than he can count, there were moments that he wanted to hear what she had to say or just to hear voice.  He wanted to forget her but he would be lying if he said that he made any effort to do that. He was mad but love is madness in itself. 

“Hey, what are you drawing?” Bobby asked when he found Mino sketching something in between their shoot. 
“Oh, nothing.” Bobby was able to snatch the paper when Mino was about to crumple it. In it was a drawing of a man with a whole in the upper right of his chest, symbolizing an empty heart. 
“This is dark and deep man. Just go after her if you still have feelings for her.” 
“I can’t. It’s not that easy.” Mino shrugged. 
“Why? I mean she must have done something great for your relationship to be kept a secret.” Bobby gave his two cents. Mino had similar thoughts but that just gave him more questions than answers. 
It’s true, the aspiring broadcaster did do something about it. Despite being pressured by all the producers and her head captain, ________ didn’t give them any information nor evidence that would make Mino the star in their episode. As much as it hurt, she deleted all his messages and kept their photos in a password encrypted external hard drive. Her defiance angered her seniors but __________ resigned before they could even fire her. 
Fortunately, she was accepted to be a news reporter in a government run TV network. She wondered if there would still be a chance that she and Mino would run into each other but she knew that it wouldn’t happen anymore since her beat was different now. 

Ever feel out of touch of what’s happening with the world? Don’t worry, your date will be able to update you on all the local news and current affairs.

“Now back with us live from Insadong is our reporter __________.” Mino turned around to face the TV screen the moment the news anchor mentioned her name.  
“We have located where the fire is coming from. The police told us that an improvised explosive device or IED was discovered near the area and they are suspecting that the same one was used in the building that is still erupting in flames behind us.”
“________, did they say if there are still more? Isn’t in dangerous to be there now?”
“Yes, they have now evacuated the people living near here. They are now working to control the fire but -” A loud explosion was heard and the screen immediately went blank. 
“_______-shi? It seems that we have some technical difficulties with the signal of our station to our cameramen. I hope our team at Insadong is safe. We will continue to update you on the recent...”
Mino’s eyes were wide open, his heart beating more than what he’s used to.
“Hyung, I have to go.” He told his manager and didn’t even stay behind to tell his group where he was going. He knew that ________ was just minutes away from the restaurant. He heard the explosion too and he’s worried that ________ may have been injured...or worse. 

The traffic was bad so Mino didn’t attempt to drive, instead he ran as fast as he could.
Mino reached his destination after twenty minutes of nonstop running. He was sweating, panting and he accidentally hit the people he passed by but his mind was set on only one thing...or rather one person. 
“Sir, you can’t be here.” One policeman told him as he was spotted loitering the area. The heat from the fire could be felt from where they stood.
“Where is the crew of NAFF reporting?” A frantic Mino asked, his eyes darting from side to side hoping to find her. The police was about to answer back when Mino heard someone coughing. He turned and saw _________ being guided by a fireman. 
“_______!” He didn’t think twice as he shouted her name. _________ looked up and was surprised to see that Mino was walking towards her.
“Are you hurt?” Mino immediately asked as soon as he was in front of her. His eyes scanned her face and body for any wounds. 
“What are you doing here Mino?” _______ was confused why Mino would be here, showing concern for her when the last time they met it ended on a very bad note.
“I saw you in the news. What were you thinking going closer to danger?!” 
“You still didn’t answer me, why are you here?” 
“Damn it I still care about you! I was scared, I thought something happened to you.” Mino gently put his hands on her shoulders before tugging her close to him for a tight embrace. “I miss you.”
________’s name was called so she quickly pulled away. 
“Shoot, I forget there are still cameras around.” _______ muttered. 
“We got the signal back. We have to film for the ending. We’ll be on air in five minutes.” The cameraman announced
“Yes, I’m ready.” 
“You’re not going near there again.” Mino grasped her wrist to pull her back. 
“It’s my job Mino.” 
“What’s more important your news or your life?!” Mino raised his voice, frustrated that she was still going to risk her safety for the sake of reporting.
“It’s our job to report the facts...and right now it’s for me to say that I missed you too. I loved you Mino and I still do.  I swear I never wanted you to get hurt or get involved with me in that way. Look maybe we should talk later, there are still other reporters here.”
“I don’t care anymore. We can go public. I wouldn’t want to hide the woman I love.” Mino surprised __________ with his statement but surprised her more with his next action. Mino closed the gap between them and kissed her with burning desire and admiration. The worry he felt earlier made him realize that he couldn’t and wouldn’t want to spend another day without knowing how ________ is doing.
“This is Song Mino reporting live from my girlfriend’s heart...that’s if she’d take me back after my awful behavior. Forgive me?” He whispered against her lips.
“I should be the one apologizing. Can we just forget about it please? I just want every little bit of time I have with you to just leave us a happy memory.” 
“I couldn’t agree more my love. However can we talk about changing the subject you’re covering so I won’t have another heart attack. Maybe switch to sports? Oh wait, the athletes might flirt with you. How about politics? Yeah that’s safer. Or go back to entertainment. I know! Just be at preschools, there’s news there, right? Maybe-” Mino was so cute thinking of ways of convincing his girlfriend to be on the safer side while she just mesmerized by him. She couldn’t help but kiss him again and that shut him up.  

“Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion, it is not the desire to mate every second minute of the day, it is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every cranny of your body. No, don't blush, I am telling you some truths. That is just being "in love", which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.” ― Louis de Bernières, Captain Corelli's Mandolin 

Got hooked with Got7 recently (I know I'm late.haha), should I feature them in one of the stories soon? ;)