Chapter 12

The next morning, Soon-young woke up with mixed feelings. On the one hand he was looking forward to dancing with Ji-yeon. Today they would really start working on the choreography. However, he was also dreading the moment he would tell her about Seventeen. What if she thinks I've lied to her all this time?

They had decided to meet up in the afternoon, because Soon-young had to be at the company in the morning - which was not what he explicitly told her - and Ji-yeon would go sightseeing with her father.

Before Soon-young opened the door to the practice room in the building where Ji-yeon and her dad were staying, he realised that he could hear music inside. It wasn't hard to hear which song was playing: Two Melodies. Soon-young smiled. Apparently Ji-yeon was practising already.

He decided to knock before he opened the door, so that he wouldn't startle her.

''Hi.'' he said after he entered the room.

Ji-yeon smiled at him. ''Hi!''

''I see you started practising already.'' Soon-young said while he put his bag next to one of the walls in the room.

''Yeah, I came up with some ideas for the choreography! I can show it to you.''

''Great.'' Soon-young smiled.

''Did you finish class for today?'' Ji-yeon asked him suddenly.

''About that...'' Soon-young knew that he should really tell her now. He couldn't and shouldn't hide it anymore. He walked to Ji-yeon's phone that was still playing Two Melodies, and turned off the music. ''I have to tell you something, but I don't really know how.''

Ji-yeon noticed how serious her friend suddenly sounded. ''Is it about your university?'' she asked, a bit confused.

''Kind of. I didn't go there this morning.'' He began.

''What do you mean? You skipped class?''

''No, I mean...'' Soon-young sighed. He really didn't know how to start telling her everything without making it seem like he lied to her. ''I'm not a university student. Wait, I'll let you listen to something.''

He grabbed his phone and looked up a song: Adore U, Seventeen's debut song.

While the song played, Ji-yeon showed Soon-young a confused expression that eventually changed from a frown to a smile. ''Oh, I know this song!'' She exclaimed.

''Y-you do?''

''Yeah! Some of my classmates played this song often. It's from Seventeen, right?''

''Yeah... do you know any of the members?''

 ''No, I just remember that they said there are many members.''

''Right...'' Soon-young didn't really expect this reaction, so he wasn't sure how to continue explaining that he was actually one of the members. ''Eh... have you seen the music video?''

''No, I haven't.''

''Would you mind watching it?'' Soon-young asked.

''Do they dance in it? Wait, never mind, that doesn't matter.'' She smiled at him.

''Really?'' He returned her smile, but couldn't help being afraid that the confidence she finally found would be crushed once she realises that the friend she trusted is actually an idol who seemingly lied to her.

Ji-yeon nodded, so Soon-young played the video and held his phone in front of her. The first few seconds, Ji-yeon just smiled while watching the video. She hadn't watched many music videos, since kpop groups often dance in their videos, so it was nice to see one again. The guys in the video looked like they were having fun. But after about 15 seconds she stared at the screen, confused.

''He looks like- wait, no...''

''No, you're right...'' Soon-young said while looking at the ground. ''It's me.''

Ji-yeon stared at him for a few seconds and then continued to watch the video. As she saw the blonde boy more often, she realised that it was, indeed, Soon-young.

''Hoshi?'' she asked after a while. Soon-young looked up. ''Stage name.'' he replied.

''So you're... one of the members of Seventeen? You're an idol?''

Soon-young nodded slowly.

''But... you didn't mention that before, right...? Why not?'' Ji-yeon asked gingerly.

''Do you remember what you told me when we met each other again two weeks ago? You said you don't watch idols' videos, because you don't want to compare yourself with them. I didn't want you to feel like I was someone you had to compare yourself with... I just wanted to be a friend you can dance with without having those thoughts...''

Ji-yeon looked at him for a few seconds and then did something she usually wouldn't have done.

She walked closer to him and hugged him.

''Thank you. For caring about me.'' she whispered.

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