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đđđđđđđđđđđ đđđđđđđđđđ, Seoul, SK Early January, 2023 w. đđđ đđđđ
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Had someone told Mireu back in 2018 that heâd be going to dinner with Yoo Rioh, especially multiple times, heâd have laughed in their face. To say he had been a fan would be somewhat of an understatement. Ever since heâd began training to be an idol, those heâd looked up to when he was younger had, in a way, taken on a less shining quality in his mindâhe realised just how human they were, with problems, flaws, weird habits and quirks. Yet, when heâd seen Catalystâs debut, and his eyes fell on Rioh, heâd known he was a goner. Heâd watched fancams, interviews, saved pictures of him to his phone, and kept up with what he was doing, just like Quantumphaseâs fans kept up with Mireu. Initially, heâd felt embarrassed about it, but over time heâd been more and more vocal about it in publicâhe was a self-proclaimed fan of Rioh.Â
That was until they became friends.Â
You canât exactly be a fan of someone youâre friends with, at least not in the same way. They lose that untouchable otherness that makes it possible to idolise them. Rioh went from being someone Mireu felt was so completely far away, to being someone that Mireu could message at any time of day, would lay awake facetiming until far too late at night, and who heâd blush when he thought about for too long. Theyâd been to dinner a few times over the last few months, and Mireu was gradually beginning to realise just how much he liked Rioh as a person, and not just as an idol. Heâs no stranger to the feeling of attraction, but heâd been through enough messes in the past to know heâd never jump into anything again. Yet, itâs not the dread of something going wrong down the line that makes Mireu nervous every time he thinks about asking Rioh on a date, itâs that Rioh may reject him. Heâs scared of the embarrassment, the disappointment, the realisation that heâll have to face the knowledge that a man who seems altogether too perfect for him exists and doesnât want him.Â
Which is why Mireuâs too careful with Rioh. Heâs careful as he meets him outside the restaurant and hugs him, pulling him against his chest and holding onto him for a few seconds too long. Heâs careful when he pulls out Riohâs chair for him at their table, and pours water from the jug on the table into Riohâs glass first. At least thatâs what he keeps telling himself. âHowâve you been? Busy? Anything new to update me on?â He asks once theyâve ordered their food. Heâs not asking to make small talkâhe really wants to know about Riohâs life, every single moment of every day; how he feels, what he thinks, what he hopes for. Things are still so new with them, though, and Mireu fears that in hoping for more, he could lose everything.











