It was early morning when Joong woke up, his senses still foggy from sleep. But faint voices and muffled chatter from the living room grabbed his attention. He got out of bed, made his way to the hall.
The sight that greeted him left him slightly annoyed. Gemini and Fourth were standing in the middle of the room, animatedly talking, while Dunk was sitting on the couch, watching them.
Joong:
Gemini, Fourth! What are you two doing here this early?
Both turned to him immediately.
Gemini:
Phi, itâs Fourth! Heâs being stubborn again!
Fourth:
Iâm not being stubborn! Iâm just saying whatâs right. If Phi Joong isnât going to the fan meet, neither am I!
Joong sighed heavily
Joong:
Fourth, weâve already discussed this. You have to attend. Itâs part of your work.
Before Fourth could respond, Dunk stood up and approached Joong.
Dunk:
Joong, I opened the door because I know them. Isnât that okay?
Joong glanced at Dunk, his brow furrowed.
Joong:
Dunk, I know you mean well, but next time, let me know before you open the door to anyone, okay?
Dunk nodding quickly.
Dunk:
Okay, Joong. Iâll remember. Butâ¦
He tugged on Joongâs sleeve gently.
Dunk:
Please solve their problem, Joong. They seem upset.
Joongâs gaze softened slightly at Dunkâs pleading expression, but he turned back to Gemini and Fourth.
Joong:
I canât do anything about this. Fourth, you need to go to the fan meet. Itâs part of your job.
Fourth crossed his arms, his lips set in a firm line.
Fourth:
You can do something, Phi! If you talk to Phi Tha and make Phi Dunk your partner, then everything will work out
Joong:
Fourth, thatâs not possible. I told you already-
Before he could finish, Dunk stepped closer, his eyes wide with hope.
Dunk:
Joong, please! Help them, naa? Iâll do whatever you say if it makes things better.
Joong froze as Dunk leaned in closer, their faces just inches apart. The intensity in Dunkâs eyes, combined with his soft, pleading tone, made Joongâs heart race.
Dunk:
Please, Joong. Just talk to Phi Tha. Help them. Please
Joong swallowed hard and instinctively took a step back, He avoided Dunkâs gaze, his heart still pounding.
Joong:
F-fine. Iâll talk to Phi Tha. But no promises, okay?
Dunkâs face lit up immediately, a bright smile replacing the worried look.
Dunk:
Thank you, Joong! I knew youâd help them!
Gemini and Fourth shared a relieved glance, both bowing slightly in gratitude.
Gemini:
Thank you, Phi Joong! Youâre the best!
Fourth:
Thank you phi!!
Joong sighed, running a hand through his hair as he gestured toward the door.
Joong:
Alright, you two, head back now. Iâll handle this. But Fourth, if I go through all this trouble and you still refuse to attend, youâre on your own
Fourth:
Donât worry, Iâll definitely go!
They waved enthusiastically before leaving the apartment.
Dunk turned back to Joong
Dunk:
Joong, youâre really amazing. Thank you so much!
Joong stared at him for a moment, his mind still lingering on how close Dunk had been earlier. He shook the thought away and sighed.
Joong:
Yeah, yeah. Just donât get into any more trouble, okay?
Dunk giggled and gave him a playful salute.
Dunk:
Yes, Sir Joong!
Joong chuckled softly
Joong stood under the warm stream, but his mind wasnât focused on the relaxing heat
Instead, his thoughts were tangled in the complicated mess Dunk had unknowingly created in his life.
He leaned forward, resting his palms on the cold tiles, closing his eyes as he let out a deep sigh.
Joong:
How am I supposed to do this? If Dunk becomes my partner in a series⦠how will I manage?
The thought alone made his heart race, not with excitement, but with a strange feeling. Joong had worked with several partners before
His old partners were just that-
partners. Even during the most intimate scenes, Joong had always been in control, treating it as part of the job.
But with Dunkâ¦
Joong frowned, straightening up and running a hand through his wet hair.
Joong:
I canât even stand him near me without my heart acting up. How will I handle scenes where I have to hold him⦠or-
He didnât dare complete the thought. His mind flashed back to the innocent moments theyâd already shared-Dunkâs radiant smile
Joong:
This is going to be impossible
He turned off the shower abruptly, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his waist.
Joong:
I need to figure this out. I canât let my emotions ruin my career⦠or Dunkâs life. He doesnât know what heâs getting into.
Joong knew the BL industry wasnât easy. It wasnât just about acting, it came with scrutiny, rumors, and an invasive public eye that left no room for mistakes. Dunk, with his naive charm and sheltered perspective, would be like a lamb thrown into a den of wolves.
Joong:
He doesnât know how harsh this world can be. And I donât know if I can protect him from all of it while keeping my own feelings in check
He clenched his fists
Joong:
Why does he have this effect on me? This is going to be hard. Harder than anything Iâve ever done.
He turned away from the mirror, grabbing his clothes and dressing quickly. As he left the bathroom......