Second Lead Syndrome

"Rogue! That's right! I remember now!" I abruptly rose from the sofa, nearly dropping the remote. "Craige and Zee played a role in that movie 10 years ago."

My eyes stayed glued on the large glowing screen in my living room, feeling so stupid for completely forgetting about that project that put Zee's life in danger 10 years ago.

"They did." Xes nodded as she also remembered that particular piece of my memory. Then she picked up my phone and opened the website of AsianViki. "It's definitely in Craige's filmography. But I guess, Zeanne didn't do this project. It's not on her list of filmography."

"I see." I slumped back on the seat beside her and continued to watch the live broadcast of the viewable radio show. But my concentration level plummeted as my thoughts were filled with disappointment. "If they had met 10 years ago, then would their story be so different from how it is now?"

"Probably." She shrugged then she suddenly chuckled while looking at the television. "But hey, I do have to admit. This guy is stunning with black hair compared to blonde."

Her comment made me chuckle as I studied Craige's face on the screen. "Whether in this world or my world, his visuals never disappoint."

"That kind of face would make him look good even with a sack on. No wonder you were stuck as a second lead in your previous world." Xes picked up another slice of pizza and appetizingly took a large bite.

Her words could be really offensive sometimes but I could not bring myself to get mad at her for some reason. I guess, I'd probably have to admit that she's really growing on me. Fast.

I watched her tilt her head to one side as if in deep thought. Then she tapped my shoulder without taking her eyes off the screen. "It's weird though, his name is too Western  and yet he seems to have a Korean or Japanese feel about him."

"Oh… that…" I followed her gaze with an understanding smile. "In my world, Craige was born Korean. But he was adopted after his parents passed away in a car crash." 

It's one of the top 10 mysteries back in High School and I would have not known the truth if it weren't for Zee. The memory of her crying as she told me about this piece of information about Craige made my heart wrench all over again. 

She felt so guilty for always receiving his love and support when he had his own problems to deal with. And hearing her thoughts back then made me feel guilty as hell for living a half-assed life myself.

Despite not having his real parents by his side, Craige still managed to grow up so well. And if he ever longed for them, he never let it show and he never held back from expressing his love to the people that he cared for.

'Especially to me and Zee.'

"You're making me doubt your preference lately." The smile on Xes' voice made me turn to her. That's when I saw her looking at me with an eyebrow raised and a mischievous smile on her pretty face. "Should I be convincing you to sever the other thread instead? Do you swing the other way?"

"Silly. It's not that. He was like a real brother to me." Even Zee used to mockingly question me about the same thing before. She didn't like it when Craige and I spent so much time discussing anime and manga, making her feel like she's the third wheel. "You think his backstory is the same in this world too? Considering that he's still a 'Clinton' and not a 'Song'."

Xes nodded. "Probably."

"You don't know?" I was surprised to learn that she doesn't know Craige's background. 'She always knew everything.'

She shook her head, probably reading my thoughts again. "I don't know everything. I only know whatever you and Arthur knew plus whatever was in the Archive before I was dispatched here as a Shadow. And the Archive only contains information about those who have departed."

"You mean the dead people?" I asked and she nodded. 

My mouth gaped in awe, thinking about all the dark secrets that dead celebrities and government officials brought to their graves only to be out in the open amongst the Shadows.

Then it reminded me of a celebrity with a very controversial family background. "How come Zeanne is still a 'Haile' if her parents are happily married? Arthur must have known, right?"

"It's complicated." She answered dismissively as she munched on another slice of pizza. I was not a fan of pizzas but she made it look so delicious that I got tempted on taking another slice as well.

And although I have to admit that it was not bad, it didn't seem to be as good as the one that she's currently eating with gusto. "Don't evade the question Xes just because you're too lazy to answer."

She stopped midway of taking a bite and grudgingly turned her attention to me. "Zeanne was born out of wedlock. Nathalie never married Choi Jiwoo even after she got pregnant. And she also made sure to keep Zeanne under her registry because she didn't want her daughter to get swept up in the power struggle of the Choi clan."

"Power struggle?"

Xes let out a deep breath, making her displeasure about having to share this information very obvious. "Did you really think that Zee's father was only an owner of an entertainment agency? In this world, Choi Jiwoo inherited 60% of SC Corporation's shares from his grandfather. Zirkon Entertainment was something that he personally built after selling the vintage car that his father gave him. ZEnt was more like a hobby that he loved doing to destress."

"And you know all this because…?" I looked at her suspiciously. She seemed to know too much despite claiming that she didn't know anything about the living aside from what I and Arthur knew.

She hit my forehead with her knuckle. "Arthur knew. Arthur became quite close with Choi Jiwoo after assisting on Choi Jiwoo's operation for his peripheral nerve injury that he got while playing tennis a couple of years ago."

"They're close?" I asked in surprise and, when she nodded, my brain switched to full gear.

My thoughts made her eyes go round and she slowly shook her head in disapproval. "Are you that determined to stay as a second male lead?"

I took a bite from the pizza on her hand then shrugged. "I guess I'm just not carved for the male lead role despite my jaw-dropping handsome looks."