A few days later:

The boys had been away on a schedule and Byul had been better since that incident.

Taehyun tried his best to hold in his laughter as Mino looked weirdly at him

“Aren’t you gonna check what the hottest keyword is?” Taehyun asked

“Wae? Is it something related to me?” Mino asked as Seunghoon walked in, eyes fixed to his phone

“Yah Mino, did you see it?” he asked as Mino grabbed his phone

“Winner’s Song Mino reportedly dating!” The headlines read

“Yah yah check out this sentence” Taehyun said excitedly

“The girl is said to be his friend since high school. They have been spotted on dates recently” Taehyun chuckled

“Why isn’t YG calling till now?” Jinwoo chuckled

“Yah it’s really not that funny” Mino said rolling his eyes when his phone rang

“YG” he sighed as he answered

“Mino-yah, is it true?” YG asked

“Um…kinda” he said

“We’re releasing that you are dating then” YG said casually

“Oh? I have to discuss that with Byul” Mino said

“Meet me in my office now” YG said

“Neh” Mino said hanging up
“Accompany me kids” he said looking expectantly at the boys.

 

>><< 

 

“How long have you been dating?” YG asked

“Since last year” Mino said

“Did you boys know about this?” YG asked as the boys nodded

“But I need to talk to Byul about it” Mino said worriedly

“it’s no use, her face can be seen clearly. Just tell her to make sure not to get spotted by the fans” YG said

“And she can’t be seen around the dorm for a few days, make sure the fans don’t know the address of your apartment” YG said

“Neh” Mino bowed

“Okay then, we’ll be releasing the official news then…I’ll contact you if there’s any more” YG said as the boys nodded and bowed before leaving

"Thank you" MIno bowed as YG smiled nodding

Mino dialed Byul’s number which was answered after a few rings

“Neh jagi?” she answered

“You saw?” Mino asked

“saw what?” Byul asked innocently

“Schedules are done for the day so I’ll be home soon, don’t go anywhere” Mino said

“Arasso, did something happen?” Byul asked

“Nothing…just don’t go out” Mino said

“Arasso jagi” Byul said obediently

“I’ll see you then, kenno” Mino said

“Arasso bye” Byul said hanging up

“Call me if anything comes up” Mino said as he changed into casual clothes and wore a cap, glasses and a facemask – just enough to escape the dorm unnoticed

“Sure” the boys said

“And take care Mino-ah” Seungyoon said as Mino nodded

“And take care of TaeByul too” Seunghoon said

“Okay, I’ll be back” Mino said as he exited through the backdoor and got into his manager’s car as he drove towards home.

 

>><< 

 

Byul popped a plum in as she hummed a tune while cleaning the kitchen counter when she heard the front door open
“Mino?” she said happily as Mino hugged her

“How have you been?” he asked as Byul coughed awkwardly

“Did something happen to me?” she asked, confused

“You seriously don’t know?” Mino asked

“Know what?” Byul asked as Mino showed her the article as Byul read it out loud

“Winner’s Song Mino reportedly dating!”

 “Winner’s Song Mino has been caught on dates with a girl. The girl is said to be his friend since high school. They have been spotted on dates recently. According to other sources, they used to be classmates. Who the girl is – is she a trainee? The question still remains. They have also been reportedly caught in public openly.

YG has not released an official statement regarding the issue yet. Fans have also been very shocked after discovering the YG stars’ dating rumors. Is it just a scandal or a fact?

The rumors are still to be confirmed”

“Does that mean we have been discovered?!” she cried cupping her cheeks

“YG said they’ll release the official statement that we are dating, since your face is clearly visible in the pictures” Mino said

“Yah that makes no sense” Byul cried

“kokjongmal~ it’s not a rumor” Mino said reassuring her

“Oppa, I know its okay for you but me? The fans?!” Byul said worriedly as Mino held her hand and gave it a tight squeeze

“We can make it through okay? I’ll protect you” Mino said

“it’s not okay” she muttered as Mino cupped her cheeks

“We’ve been through a lot right? And we made it through, let’s think of this time as a mere obstacle” Mino smiled as Byul shut her eyes
“it’s too harsh to be true” she muttered

“And I’ll open my eyes and everything will be a dream” she said when Mino kissed her

Byul looked at Mino as he pulled away

“Saranghae Byul, and I know everything will be okay, things will be fine” Mino said as Byul shook her head

“I don’t know” she said

“You don’t trust your namja jingu?” he asked as Byul shook her head

“It’s not like that either but…I’m scared” she said as Mino smiled at her
“As long as I am there for you and you are there for me?” he said as Byul looked into his eyes

“No matter what happens, let’s be next to each other” Mino said as Byul sighed before nodding
“Yaksook?” Mino said as Byul nodded

“Yaksook” she smiled looking at Mino.

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