VIRAL LOVE Chapter 9 : TEAM “I don’t know if this is a good idea, everyone coming here.” She keeps walking back and forth on the foyer of her studio’s reception area, trying to sooth her nerve. “I’m not looking forward to more scolding from my sister either, but it’s for the best. We can figure out a plan together.” Mo-yeon bits her lip, still not convinced. “But what if the paparazzi take their pictures?” “They’re not famous, they won’t bother them.” He pats the seat next to him. “Sit down already, Kang Mo-yeon. You’re going to burn a hole on the floor at this rate.” She immediately sits down. “Mianheyo.” And then she starts fidgeting. Si-jin isn’t exactly as cool as he seems to be – the truth is he’s very nervous, especially at the prospect of meeting her parental figures. But he’s used to keeping a calm and collected façade no matter how he’s feeling. “What do you usually do when you want to take your mind off things?” “Hmm? Err, usually I play. What do you usually do?” “I run 10 miles or swim thirty laps.” He stands up and looks at her expectantly. She blinks. “What?” “Go play the piano. Or any of the other fifty instruments you seem to know how to play.” She snorts. “I only know seven instruments.” He raises his brow as he waits. She grumbles as she finally stands up. “Fine, fine, fine.” --- Watching Mo-yeon play in person for the first time is an experience that will stay with Si-jin for a very long time, he thinks. He stands across her at the white baby grand, silently staring as she plays Howl's Moving Castle theme song, her pretty face partially covered by her long hair. He can see how the tense energy slowly seeps out of her with every key she presses. He was right, she’s ethereal when surrounded by music. Watching her like this, he thinks he’s found something even better than a 10-mile run to keep himself calm too. --- Everyone is there by 11.30 am followed by awkward introduction all around. Everyone except Ji-soo, who still needs to work at the recording studio she is currently employed at before her final notice ends next week, just in time to join KMY Studio. She texts Mo-yeon to whine about how unfair it is that she can’t meet Mo-yeon’s ‘star athlete boyfriend’ in person. She groans when she read Ji-soo’s trolling text and doesn’t reply back. Mo-yeon and Si-jin sit next to each other at the white sofa, taking care to put some gap between them. Their managers and Myeong-joo choose to sit in front of them on the swivel chairs they had dragged from the reception desk. Sunbae Song is leaning against the wall, quietly observing everything. Everyone is staring down at the two parts of a ship that has been causing so much trouble these past few days. It feels a little bit like they’re under an interrogation session. “This is weird.” Mo-yeon mutters under her breath. “It’s like a really bizarre family drama about a marriage arrangement.” Si-jin whispers back. “Shut up.” Mo-yeon hisses. Sunbae Song moves to stand next to Si-jin and he immediately sits straighter. “I’ve been watching you,” Sunbae Song begins in a low voice. Si-jin panics. “Sir?” “Your games. You’re really good.” “Oh. Thank you.” Si-jin takes a deep breath, relief. He thought Mo-yeon’s father figure is talking about something else. ---- “So, first thing first. How are we supposed to deal with the paparazzi hiding outside?” “Maybe Yoo Si-jin Ssi can stay here till nighttime, wait them out till they get tired?” Manager Ha suggests. Si-jin shakes his head. “I have training at 5 pm. It's impossible to skip it. And also, wouldn’t it be worse if they only have my picture going in?” Myeong-joo glares at him. “I still can’t believe you’re so stupid to not realize they were following you. Haish jinjja!” She looks apologetically at Mo-yeon. “I’m sorry for my brother, Mo-yeon ssi.” Mo-yeon just smiles at Myeong-joo while Si-jin sighs tiredly. “Haven’t you chewed me enough on the phone? I already apologized! It really didn’t cross my mind, seriously!” Myeong-joo shakes her head, still not satisfied. “I’m not even a celeb and even I know to stay low once you are all over the news. And why did you even go to the studio anyway? I still can’t believe I found out about it at the Shippers Forum--” Her voice trails off when she realizes she just busted herself. Mo-yeon and Si-jin simultaneously blurt out a “What?” at the same time. Dae-young just snickers knowingly at his girlfriend. “Did you….you go to a forum about your own brother?! Yaah Myeong-joo I can't believe you!” Myeong-joo waves him off, blinking innocently at her pissed-off brother. “Can we stick to what’s important right now, please? How are we going to fix this?” Manager Ha sighs. “There’s nothing else we can do. Just walk down the stairs and pretend everything is normal then, Yoo Si-jin Ssi. Maybe Manager Seo should go with you. It’s too late to do anything else, I think.” Manager Seo agrees. “I think that’s the best too.” -- Myeong-joo retreats to the piano since her brother is still sending laser eyes her way. She looks up when she realizes Sunbae Song is approaching her. “….Goodjoojoo?” Sunbae Song whispers, pretending to look out the window and not at her. Myeong-joo gasps out loud. How does he know--? She covers in surprise realization. “…..Songsing?” He nods and quickly shushes her when it seems like she wants to jump in excitement. “Keep it down, will you? I don’t want my wife to kill me.” “I didn’t know you’re a shipper too.” Sunbae Song clears his throat and pulls on his collar. “Three words. Covert Psychological Tactic.” --- “What if we issue a joined denial tomorrow? Just tell the truth about what had happened. How they met, and what happened yesterday here.” Manager Ha suggested. Manager Seo shakes his head. “If we go with the real truth that these two just ‘bumped and spilled coffee into each other’ - twice,” he glances at the two sitting on the sofa and they stare at him back, half-offended at his blatant use of quotation mark sign with his fingers, “I don’t think anyone would believe us.” He continues, “