“,” Wendy said blankly. “I need to call Chanyeol—“   “Uh, hold up!” Seulgi said, grabbing Wendy by the wrist. “You still need to explain. Chanyeol can wait. I mean, with the way he’s looking at you, he definitely looks like he would be willing to wait—“   “What are you talking about?!” Wendy interjected, while Seulgi and Irene were just laughing.   “Fine, be in denial, whatever,” Irene said. “Just... what happened?”   “’Twas nothing,” Wendy shrugged it off, acting nonchalant.   “That’s definitely the opposite of nothing,” Seulgi commented, pointing to the photos on her screen.   “What? We just attended a wedding. We walked down the aisle—“   “You what?!” Seulgi exclaimed.   “Seulgi! You know what I mean!” Wendy answered, nearing her wit’s end. Seulgi apologized (though she looked nowhere near sincerely apologetic).   “We just took care of his nephew for a while, and, uh, I just sang for the couple, and he played the piano,” Wendy said, almost muttering to herself.   “The performance we’ve all been waiting for but there’s no video? Life is unfair,” Seulgi complained. “You two never perform together with just the two of you. Or at least not in front of us. You’re always in the studio! Well, with the exception of the Stay with Me thing... but that was years ago!”   “Probably because Chanyeol didn’t want to get caught looking at Wendy like that,” Irene said, pointing to a photo on Seulgi’s phone.   “What?! Stop, that’s nothing, that’s always how Chanyeol is!” Wendy insisted. Wendy actually never noticed if Chanyeol was always like that – looking like she was the most precious thing in the world – but Wendy didn’t want to dwell on it. It’s probably just one of Chanyeol’s other antics finally caught on camera, she thought. Wendy remembered Meejin’s speech and how she instantly felt like wanting to stare and hug Chanyeol during that moment – but she chose to keep that bit to herself.   “So, what happened next?” Seulgi said, prodding her best friend on.   “Well, I, uh, kinda drank some beer—“   “Oh no,” Irene and Seulgi said simultaneously.   “Oh no is correct,” Wendy slumped to her seat. “I think Chanyeol and I danced? And I probably said some things I shouldn’t have said. And I have no idea how I got here.”   “You danced with Chanyeol?!” Seulgi said, her -eating grin widening.   “Seulgi,” Wendy tried to stop Seulgi from teasing her, but she knew it won’t ever work.   “Fine, we’ll stop teasing you. For now,” Irene said. “But you should look at the comments, Wendy. The people. My god. They love you two together. Well, at least the top comments say so.”   “Uh, what?!” Wendy asked in shock. The SM directors insisted again and again that the tides were to turn to the fake couple’s favor, but she didn’t believe them sincerely. They were still idols who had fans (with some probably still feeling betrayed from their ‘relationship’), and those fans were brutal. She should know.   Irene handed Seulgi’s phone to Wendy, and Wendy started reading the top comments on the Naver article.   [+26,069, -1,541] Normally, I would say that this is invasion of privacy, but they look so cute together k k k finally an idol couple i like   [+25,449, -1,678] Who released these photos? He should be jailed because they look like they had no idea these were taken, but at the same time thank you Mr. Photographer. These two are beautiful to look at   [+24,987, -1,690] TT they look in love especially oppa TT TT it hurts but as long as chanyeol oppa happy... i’ll try to be happy... TT but it will be difficult... TT   [+23,798, -1,793] That’s Chanyeol’s mom Wendy’s talking to in photo #2... oh my... I had my doubts at first... but if the parents are involved... it really is real... they look like they’re gonna get married...   [+23,451, -1,861] Privacy issues aside... is no one going to talk about how beautiful the two look... especially wendy! Why are stylists hiding her beauty! I had no idea she was this gorgeous! She deserves more exposure   [+23,002, -1,998] A sasaeng probably got these photos. Sasaengs continue to be the worst. You’re all disgusting   Wendy felt a little relieved when she read the top comments. Of course, there were still some bitter fanboys and fangirls at the bottom of the comments section receiving all the thumbs down, but at least, most people reacted to the article with either a smiling or a heart emoji (which she thought were ridiculous when the feature was first added, but at least she understood its use now).   Wendy heard something ringing, but thought that it was just her head, which was throbbing with pain.   “Wendy, I think your phone’s ringing. It’s in your room, I think,” Irene said. Wendy immediately stood up and ran to get to her room.   “Hello?” Wendy said, panting, and sat on her bed.   “Hey,” Chanyeol answered. “I’m guessing you saw the article by now.”   “Yeah,” Wendy sighed.   “Are you okay?”   “Why wouldn’t I be?”   “It’s just... you and alcohol... and well, the article, the photos that we had no idea about—“   “My head’s in pain, but I’m mostly fine,” Wendy admitted.   “Are you sure?” Chanyeol asked, still sounding worried.   “Yes, I’m sure,” Wendy replied. “But where the hell did those photos come from?!” Wendy exclaimed, and she heard Chanyeol sigh.   “I’m not sure, either, but I think it’s from one of our sasaeng fans,” Chanyeol speculated. “And since I have more sasaengs than you, I’m pretty sure it’s one of mine. I’m so sorry, Wendy. I have no idea how they found out about the wedding, my mom took care of everything--”   “Chanyeol, it’s okay,” Wendy cut him off. “It’s what we needed anyway, right? Seulgi and Irene said the photos look uh, well, they looked lovely? The directors would be happy about this. The comments were really, really good,” she added, trying to dismiss whatever the photos showed (as Seulgi and Irene said), despite feeling a tinge of pain running through her chest as she said the words.   “Right.” At the other end of the line, Chanyeol tried to hide the disappointment from his voice. He looked down on the floor, and wondered why in the ever living was he disappointed about Wendy mentioning the directors being happy about the photos.   “Yeah, you’re right,” Chanyeol said again, trying to mask whatever he was feeling. “The directors called me earlier, actually, and said we did a great job.” He left out the part where the director told him that Chanyeol sold that ‘I’m-head-over-heels-in-love’ look. Chanyeol, of course, laughed in astonishment when the director told him that. It was just how he looked at... people, he insisted.   “Just my luck,” Wendy sighed. “The date I planned so hard for, we get ZERO pictures, and this spur-of-the-moment thing – we get pictures and thousands of views. The universe is trying to tell me something.”   Chanyeol snorted. “It is trying to tell you something. That it’s okay to calm down and not worry about things. Just... go with the flow.”   “Thanks for the advice, Mr. Philosopher,” Wendy answered sarcastically. Chanyeol could just imagine Wendy rolling her eyes. “My head’s killing me.”   “Shouldn’t have gone for that beer, lightweight,” Chanyeol reprimanded her. “You should rest.”   “I know,” Wendy sighed. “Our comeback is nearing too – in like three weeks. But Chanyeol, thanks for yesterday. I have no idea how I got home but I’m pretty sure you were involved.”   “Like I said, you’re literally a lightweight, so it’s nothing—“   “Did you have to carry me to my room?!” Wendy gasped.   “Nothing like that, no,” Chanyeol snorted. “The apartment guard who’s still in love with you would’ve killed me. But take a nap. Drink medicine, okay? Text me when you’re feeling better.”   “I will,” Wendy said and hung up. She could feel that Chanyeol was hiding something from her. She had no idea what it was, but she thought it was just Chanyeol being considerate, as her head was still pounding. And her chest was hurting, feeling like she missed saying something important. It’s the alcohol, she thought to herself. She’ll have to confront him tomorrow.         As it turns out, Wendy forgot all about confronting Chanyeol as the Red Velvet comeback date neared. They were booked for music shows, even more practice, concerts, and variety show guestings. She wanted to talk to him – she was booked, and Chanyeol was even busier than ever. They still messaged and called each other, but their conversations were always cut short – her suddenly getting asleep, Chanyeol recording for EXO’s next comeback. She missed him. When the promotions are over, Wendy thought, I’ll talk to him.   Her thoughts were cut short when her manager called her over to a corner of one of SM’s practice rooms.   “Wendy, a word,” he said, and Wendy followed him. “You’re more in demand for variety show guestings more than ever. That’s good.” Wendy nodded, listening attentively to each word their manager said.   “We’ve already booked you on Running Man with Irene, and even Infinite ing Challenge wanted you, so you’re also going to guest with Joy and Irene,” he said, smiling. “You’ve come a long way, Wendy, just wanted to say that this is great for you.” Wendy smiled back, grateful for her manager, whom she treated like her own older brother.   “We just have one problem,” the manager clicked his tongue.   “What is it?” Wendy pursed her lips, worried for what was coming.   “Hello Counselor – that TV show where they have guests and ask for advice – also wants you to guest with Seulgi,” he said.   “I like that show! What’s wrong with it?”   “Sunggyu’s gonna be there too. He’s already confirmed,” the manager added. Wendy took in a deep breath. This was the last thing she expected – Sunggyu, at this point, was already at the back of her mind. Seeing him again after months – in the flesh – might just open her wounds again.   “Wendy, you don’t have to go,” her manager insisted. “Everyone else has schedules but I’m