A/N: THOUGHTS ARE IN ITALICS. Font in purple is spoken in English

Author POV

Jaejoong and Reya managed to escape from the crowd thanks to the employees at the ice cream shop. Though rumours began to flood the news sites that the “couple under the bridge” is Reya and Jaejoong, they fortunately haven’t found enough proof yet. Jaejoong’s agency has been quiet but now as more rumours have begun to spread, they prefer coming clean about the true relationship between the two guardians.

Jaejoong’s manager locked the door of his office and turned to face the idol.

“Jaejoong-ah this won’t do.” The older male sighed “Either you let the agency provide a media statement about your relationship or you refrain from being seen with her”

He loved the idea of becoming official, but he dreaded that Reya would become a target. He loves her so much that he wouldn’t be able to bear it if something happens to her because of his fame.

“Don’t do that yet hyung” Jaejoong stated. “I’ll keep quiet for now ok?”

He made sure to not go to Nathan’s place the next few days. It drove him crazy that he couldn’t meet her when she was so close to him. Ever since the day she spent the night with him, sleeping in his embrace, Jaejoong has begun craving for more moments as such. Though he still has the urge to strangle Yixing for making her cry, he is happy that she broke things up before feelings escalade. He has had enough drama in his life and Jaejoong wishes his love life to not be as dramatic as his career. Then again, for his love life to succeed he has to man up and confess to her - something that he is struggling to do lately. The words “I love you” always linger in the tip of his tongue but they don’t seem to come out of his mouth. He wants to tell her, to scream out loud that he is madly in love with her but it just does not come out of his mouth. A part of him thinks to write a song but then again, he suspects that he’d stutter than sing meeting her lovely eyes.

While Jaejoong was struggling to come up with a way of confessing to Reya, Yixing on the other hand has shut everyone out completely. He doesn’t talk with anyone, comes for practices on time and leaves the practice room before the others could join him. The trainers sense the change and have begun to inquire from the leader. Suho managed to lie that he wasn’t feeling well but as time passed Yixing only grew more distant. He is mostly disgusted in himself for behaving wrongly to Reya. Worse, he misses her and it is slowly driving him crazy.

Chanyeol sighed in defeat looking at Yixing stare at the sky bearing a longing look on his face.

“Xing” Chanyeol walked to the Chinese “Please talk to us man”

Yixing looked to his left, his gaze was fixed at a certain building for no reason. Suho peeped into the room and eyed at Chanyeol who shook his head sideways. The leader’s shoulders slumped down in defeat and stepped to the room.

“Breakups are hard to cope but please move on Yixing-ah” Suho pleaded. “I can’t cover your back always man.”

“No one asked you to” Yixing muttered under his breath.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I said” Yixing turned to face Suho “NO ONE ASKED YOU!”

Chanyeol ran his fingers over his hair.

“Yixing-ah” He sighed “Please st-”

“What does Jaejoong have that I don’t?”

Suho sighed hard resting his hands on his waist.

“Ok” Yixing breathed out “He is better looking than me. Taller than me.” He leaned on the wall “Has a better voice than me”

“Zhang Yixing please stop comparing him with yourself” Suho sighed

“But that man left her for his career and I left work to be with her!”

Suho opened his mouth to talk but Chanyeol held him back.

“Let him vent it out before he goes crazy” He whispered to the leader.

“How can I not” Yixing bit back his tears “I thought we had something real” Yixing slid down to fall on the floor.

“How did he shake her feelings in a couple of days?” He muttered

“Maybe she broke up because she is spotted with him always” Sehun sat by him “You know, so that more trouble won’t rise”

Yixing’s head snapped towards the maknae, his eyes gradually widened once Sehun’s words sank in.

Reya meanwhile was on the phone with her mother.

“Ma” She breathed out “What do you want to talk about?”

“When are you coming home?” She asked.

“Sophie’s school starts next week”

“Why on earth did you take such a responsibility of looking after that child?” Her mother sighed.

Reya’s face dulled. “Ma please understand. I am doing this for Anne” She justified

“And that boy… What about him?”

“Jaejoong?” Reya verified

“Yeah. Jaejoong” Her mother rolled her eyes.

“What about him?”

“Stop playing dumb young lady. I might not know to use the internet but it doesn’t mean I can’t make another to show me the articles”

“Ma, I have told you before didn’t I?” Reya sighed “He did it because-”

“I don’t care why he did it. But what I am concerned is that everyone thinks the both of you are a couple.” Her mother paused. “You’re lucky that none of our relatives have any idea about this yet. If they do, what are we to tell them?”

“When have I ever bothered about them?” Reya rolled her eyes

“You don’t. But we do. You are the only girl in our family and we don’t want you to be the title story of some celebrity’s apparent romance”

Her mother’s statement stung her heart. But she couldn’t counter. Jaejoong hasn’t made a move and she too has started to have second thoughts.

“Please come home Reya” Her mother sighed “It’s enough that you were pulled to the spotlight. It’s your future that will be tainted.”

“Stop talking like that. He would never spoil my life” Reya justified immediately.

“How close are you two?” Her mother questioned feeling uncomfortable at her snapping

“We lived together ma.”

“How close are you two?” She stressed the word ‘close’

“What do you mean ma?” Reya asked back “We are close”

“He holds you close in every photograph” Her mother’s tone was quite serious

“I’ve told him numerous times to not touch me in public but he never listens”

“Really?” Her tone deepened “He touches you too?”

Reya grew alarmed. She wasn’t feeling comfortable at her mother’s tone

“The two of you” She paused. Reya’s stomach knotted in nervousness. “Are you, perhaps,” She breathed in a calming breath to continue “Physically intimate?”

It took a good minute for Reya to process her mother’s words and understand their meaning.

“MA! WHAT THE HELL! I’M A FREAKING !”

“Well that’s a relief”

“How could you ask it from me? Don’t you trust me? Just because he is one of my favourites that doesn’t mean I’ll throw myself to him?! Hell, he has never laid a finger anywhere he shouldn’t!”

“Not that I don’t believe you but a man and a woman living under one roof; in your case, looking after a child like a married couple” Her mother paused feeling embarrassed as to where the explanation was leading “It can, you know, trigger urges”

“Oh god please shut up!” Reya pleaded feeling completely uncomfortable at the electric surge she felt right now.

“Which is why I am asking-”

“OK! I’LL COME! Just give me one darn week!”

Completely frustrated, Reya threw herself to the bed to welcome a much needed sleep.

The next morning, Jaejoong wore a black shirt, tu