An Unwanted Spotlight

Chapter 7: An Unwanted Spotlight

The next morning, I walked into the agency hoping for a quiet, uneventful day.

I should've known better.

The second I stepped into the office, all eyes were on me. People whispered behind their hands, some openly staring. My stomach dropped.

Oh no.

I hurried to my desk, pretending not to notice the tension in the air. Just as I sat down, my phone buzzed. A message from my friend in another department.

[You're on the front page of a gossip forum. Look.]

Dread pooled in my stomach as I clicked the link. There it was—a blurry photo of me and Hyunjin from yesterday's dance practice. The caption?

"Who's the mystery girl with Stardom's top trainee?"

And worse—

"Not idol material? Netizens debate Hyunjin's alleged 'plain-looking' partner."

I felt my soul leave my body.

Before I could even process the disaster unfolding, a cup of coffee landed on my desk. I looked up to see Sunwoo staring at me, unimpressed as always.

"Figured you'd need that," he said dryly.

I buried my face in my hands. "I want to disappear."

"Too late. You're famous now."

Before I could respond, Hyunjin waltzed in, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

"Good morning, celebrity!" he greeted, plopping into the chair next to mine. "You're trending, you know."

I groaned. "I know. And I blame you."

Hyunjin shrugged. "Hey, at least they got your good side."

"Yeah? Well, netizens don't agree." I threw my phone onto the desk, the comments glaring up at me.

"She doesn't look like she belongs in the industry."

"Hyunjin can do better."

"Maybe she's rich? There's no way someone so average gets close to a top trainee."

My stomach twisted.

Hyunjin's grin faded as he picked up my phone, scrolling through the comments. "Tch. These people are ridiculous."

Sunwoo sighed, rubbing his temples. "You two are giving me a headache."

I let out a humorless laugh. "At least I know where I stand now."

Hyunjin set my phone down and leaned in, his gaze unusually serious. "You know they don't matter, right?"

I exhaled sharply and stared at my phone, my fingers tightening around it. "Yeah... I know." My voice came out quieter than I intended. I wasn't going to admit how much those words actually stung. Not out loud.

Silence settled between us. For once, Hyunjin didn't have a teasing remark. Instead, he reached over and flicked my forehead lightly.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

"To remind you that you're not just 'some girl,'" he said simply. "Don't let them decide your worth."

I blinked at him, momentarily speechless.

Sunwoo stood, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeves. "If you two are done with your dramatic moment, get back to work."

I sighed. This was going to be a long day.

Chapter 8: The Pressure Behind the Smile

Hyunjin wasn't the type to let things get to him—at least, that's what he wanted everyone to believe.

He strolled into practice like nothing was wrong, flashing his signature smirk at the other trainees, acting like the scandal was just another joke. But the moment he stepped into the empty dance studio, his shoulders dropped, and the weight of the situation settled on his face.

He pulled out his phone, scrolling through the never-ending flood of comments.

"If this is the type of girl Hyunjin likes, my standards for him just dropped."

"His company better do something about this. He's going to lose fans."

Hyunjin clenched his jaw. He wasn't new to criticism—being a trainee meant growing thick skin—but this time, it wasn't just about him. It was about Haneul.

And that made him uneasy.

He knew how ruthless the industry could be. He had seen countless people give up their dreams because they couldn't handle the pressure. But Haneul wasn't even a trainee—she was just a staff member who got dragged into his world.

And now, she was suffering because of it.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, tossing his phone onto the floor.

The door swung open, and Sunwoo walked in, arms crossed. "I thought you'd be out there acting like nothing's wrong. Didn't expect you to actually be here, sulking."

Hyunjin scoffed, picking up a towel and wiping his face. "Who said I was sulking?"

Sunwoo leaned against the wall, watching him. "You think I don't notice? You're worried."

"Tch," Hyunjin clicked his tongue, forcing a smirk. "Worried? About what? The netizens? Please, I couldn't care less."

Sunwoo raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then why are you gripping that towel like you want to rip it in half?"

Hyunjin quickly loosened his grip, shoving the towel aside. "Doesn't matter. It'll blow over. It always does."

"Not for her." Sunwoo's voice was quieter this time.

Hyunjin froze.

"You're used to this. She's not." Sunwoo sighed. "You can joke around and pretend it doesn't bother you, but you can't expect her to do the same."

Hyunjin ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his posture. "What do you want me to do? Apologize for existing?"

Sunwoo shook his head. "Just... don't make it harder for her. If you actually care, then act like it."

Hyunjin didn't answer.

Because, for the first time, he realized—he did care.

More than he wanted to admit.

Chapter 9: Reflections in the Mirror

Haneul sat on the edge of her bed, phone in hand, the screen glowing in the dimly lit room. She had been scrolling for what felt like hours, reading comment after comment, each one chipping away at the confidence she barely had to begin with.

"She looks so plain. Is she really working in the entertainment industry?"

"No wonder she's just a staff member. She doesn't have the visuals to be an idol."

"Hyunjin could do so much better."

Her fingers tightened around the phone. She knew better than to take netizens' words to heart. She had told herself a hundred times that their opinions didn't matter. But the longer she read, the harder it was to ignore the small voice in the back of her mind whispering—

Maybe they're right.

She pushed herself off the bed and walked to the mirror, hesitating before meeting her own reflection. Dark circles under her eyes, hair in a loose ponytail, an oversized T-shirt hanging off her shoulders. She never really cared about how she looked. Comfort had always been her priority. But now, standing there, she couldn't help but wonder—

Was this why people thought she didn't belong?

She turned to her vanity, where a few untouched skincare products sat in a neat row. Gifts from her mother, who always nagged her to "at least put on some toner." She had never bothered. She wasn't an idol, wasn't trying to impress anyone.

But now? Now she wasn't so sure.

With a sigh, she reached for a bottle, pouring a bit onto a cotton pad before dabbing it onto her face. The cool sensation felt foreign, like she was trying on someone else's life.

Maybe it was time to change. Not for them. But for herself.