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OO â The Prologue
Iseo stared at her calendar and sighed heavily. "So...if I go out with this idol, I have to account for how long it will take before I go out with this one...."
Iseo heard her friend from the Philippines groan out of frustration. "Oh, Sari, chillax... I'm thinking out loud, okay?" Sari shook her head in a big, well, actually more like HUGE disappointment.Â
"Oh, Iseo... You know I didn't come here to visit you just to talk you out of whatever you've been doin to yourself... At this point, you need a man. I think you're honestly lonely".
Iseo glared at her friend and tossed a pillow at her, while Sari dodged it and just giggled like she wasn't just insulting her a minute before. "Oh, come on, Iseo! You know I'm right. You literally almost married THE Jungwon from ENHYPEN. That is, until he thought you were using him for money. Like, you could've just told him the truth, but here you go LYING to him. I don't even understand how he is still friends with you after that..." Iseo rolled her eyes and continued looking at the calendar on her wall clearly ignoring her friend who was now rambling behind her.Â
She grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen as Sari followed behind. Sari stared at her friend and shook her head "Plus isn't going for your bias kind of weird? Well more like... our biases?". Iseo choked on her water as her friend pat her back "aggressively".Â
"Sari what the hell?" She glared at Sari who had already disappeared from her sight.
She groaned in frusteration and placed the water on the counter, knowing too well she'd forget she put it there in the first place.Â
She headed back to her room seeing Sari going through her photobook. "Is your mom still mad at you for leaving your kid for her to watch?".
Iseo laid flat on the bed and stared at the ceiling above her. "Well I told her a week before that I was planning to study abroad for two years and asked her if she could watch my child. She agreed probably thinking 'oh she's not actually gonna go'. But here I am, right?".
"Which reminds me about what you said earlier, you know I actually lied to you about Jungwon?" Sari gasped dramatically as if it was a scene from a k-drama. "So you never dated him or???" She placed Iseo's photobook on the nightstand and turned around fully invested.Â
Iseo sat up and turned towards her friend.
"I told him about the thing I did, actually. He told me it didn't matter because he wanted to marry me and knew I was being geniune with my feelings and don't get me wrong I loved him too".Â
She sighed and stared at the couple picture she took with him on their last date. "But my rule was... I didn't want to marry a Kpop idol. Too much drama and too much attention. He understood that and was heartbroken, but we went our separate ways".Â
Sari shook her head in disappointment like she's been doing for that past three hours she was in Iseo's apartment. "Girl... You had a chance to be in love and it's like you shove it away like it's nothing" Sari plopped back onto the bed.
"How haven't you been caught yet anyways?"
Iseo showed the fake realistic noses and ears she either bought or made herself. Sari stared at her bestie in awe.Â
Iseo looked at the time and put on her black face mask, which covered only her mouth and nose but at least it covered enough. She basically wore a black mask, black u-neck t-shirt, black jeans and black shoes. Also with a black cap on as well. Didn't help that she also had black hair.Â
"Iseo you look like your gonna go kidnap someone with that fit like..." Iseo threw another pillow at Sari who yelped as she got hit by it this time. Iseo once again rolled her eyes in annoyance and laughed at her friend before walking towards the door. "Remember my extra keys is by the door and I made food in the fridge that you can eat. Bye Sari!" Iseo opened the door and closed it fast so she wouldn't hear Sari scold her again.Â
She opened her phone and started walking down to the street below her. She felt an uneasy feeling and turned around her seeing no one around her she continued to walk.
"Sir, I found her. Did you want me to tail her?"
"Alright then, I'll head back to you after I finish up here"
She totally forgot that she had won two fansign events and had told Sari to come. She actually had won it for Sari but she forgot about it.Â
She had felt that eerie feeling again, she felt like someone was staring at her and looked up only to see the members of verivery waving and smiling at everyone. She couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was following her, but she was probably paranoid and overthinking it.Â
She had told Sari about the feeling she got earlier and Sari told her, "that's real cuz some people here aren't exactly as nice as people back home " so she told me to be careful.Â
Even though she was korean they knew she wasn't actually born in korea just by how she spoke in korean so...that made her stand out. But luckily most people don't care.Â
Iseo saw the line and followed her friend to line up to get her album signed. She's been to so many fansigns that she was so familiar with how it worked and exactly how much time she would get. But she also would never imagine that the first person in line would be Gyehyeon.Â
She had remembered their encounter back in America. They were filiming in a frickin graveyard for "content" which she thought was a lie but it wasn't. It was for a new mv they were filming at the time. She shook the thought off and started talking to him. It was strange though... She knew he looked at her like he knew something she didn't.Â
She really thought she was overthinking it but the way he held her hands and how he looked straight into her eyes with content made her think otherwise. She knew why she was here so she had to stay on task and charm him.Â
She knew the time was up and was beginning to move but she felt a shove from the girl who was next. She held it in and moved on until she heard a remark the "fan" made about her and her friend thinking she wouldn't hear. Iseo was clenching her fists while talking to Heoni who also listening in and making a certain reaction. He was probably debating whether to tell her off or something but she had it enough when the girl purposely pushed her AGAIN.Â
'Okay I can't stay calm anymore this person needs to go'Â She thought.Â
She grabbed the fan by the hair just as they were in the process of shoving her again. Leaning closer, she whispered in her ear, "You know I have a certain amount of patience when it comes to certain things, but you really don't get to trash-talk me or my friend. I know I'm not any better for doing this, but I'm reaching the limit of my patience with you."Â
Iseo scoffed and let go, pretending like nothing happened.
"We're here for VERIVERY, not drama or gossip, so please kindly keep your opinions to yourself." Iseo smiled before continuing to move along the line.
She could tell the people around them were impressed by how she handled the situation, but who really cared, you know? She could tolerate people being rude to her, but not to her friends.
After she returned back to her seat, she heard whispers from around the roomâsome good and some bad. Some people praised her for standing up for herself, while others said she should have just endured it instead of embarrassing herself.
She shook her head, knowing exactly how people would act in a situation like this.
Sari clapped happily. "Y'know, that girl was looking at me weird too... I'm glad you said something. I was close to arguing with her at some point."
She giggled and nodded. "Good thing we weren't too close to each other. You might've pulled her hair if she was right next to you."
Sari nodded, and the two of them continued talking about their lives and, of course... VERIVERY.
Their conversation continued for a while, mostly consisting of Sari complaining about the girl and Iseo telling her to let it go.
"I'm just saying," Sari continued, "if she pushed you one more time, I would'veâ"
"You would've done absolutely nothing."
Sari gasped like her heart just broke into pieces. "Excuse me?"
Iseo rolled her eyes and smiled "You heard me."
"I would have done something."
Sari narrowed her eyes at her before grabbing one of the albums from Iseo's bag and lightly smacking Iseo with it.
Iseo laughed and grabbed the album from her. "Hey! Be careful with that! My Gyehyeon~~ signed it."
"You're the one who started it."
Iseo threw her hands up in defense "I literally did not."
They continued bickering until one of the staff members announced that the fansign would be ending soon.
Iseo sighed and glanced down at her phone noticing it was getting kind of late. "Already?"
"We've been here for hours," Sari pointed out.
Sari gave her a look. "You have another one tomorrow."
"That doesn't mean I can't be sad about this one ending."
Sari rolled her eyes but smiled.
As the remaining fans began to gather their belongings, Iseo looked back toward the table where VERIVERY had been sitting.
Most of the members were already getting ready to leave.
As she was packing up she saw someone staring at her from the corner of her eye.
Her eyes stopped when she saw that it was actually Gyehyeon who was staring at her.
He was standing a little far, away from the others, talking to one of the staff, but for some reason, he suddenly looked in her direction.
It was the same look from earlier.
The feeling she kept getting earlier today
She frowned slightly wondering why she felt that way as he stared at her
Gyehyeon said something to the staff member before looking back at her.
This time, he smiled, but it wasnt that kind of smile he had given the fans during the fansign.
Almost like he knew something.
Iseo's expression slowly changed.
"Why is he looking at you like that?" Sari asked out of nowhere.
Iseo jumped as Sari basically appeared out of nowhere and immediately looked away from him. "Like what?"
"Well, he knows me as a fan..."
Iseo glanced back at the same place to see that he was already gone.
She frowned. "Whatever. I'm probably just overthinking it."
Sari hummed, clearly unconvinced. "You say that a lot."
"Because I overthink a lot."
Iseo lightly shoved her shoulder and laughed.
The two of them began making their way out of the venue with the rest of the fans. Iseo tried to focus on Sari's rambling, but that strange feeling from earlier had returned.
That someone was watching her, making her halt.
Sari took a few steps before realizing Iseo wasn't beside her anymore making Sari mentally groan and face palm.
Iseo looked over her shoulder wondering who could be watching her.
The hallway behind them was crowded with people leaving the venue.
Nothing seemed out of place, but she could have sworn she saw someone turn around and disappear behind a corner.
She blinked confused, and looked back at Sari.
Sari stared at her at her with a certain look on her face.
"Don't give me that look."
"I didn't say anything." Sari stated.Â
Sari sighed. "You know, for someone who claims to be good at reading people, you sure are bad at admitting when something is wrong."
Iseo couldn't respond, especially when she has been getting this feeling more than once.
Instead, she looked back toward the hallway one last time.
Realizing no one was there she finally let it go and headed out with the rest of the fans and Sari.
But somewhere outside the venue, a man stood with his phone pressed against his ear.
"Yeah. She's with the same girl."
The man looked toward the exit seeing the target leaving.
"Do you want me to follow them?"
The voice on the other end was quiet.
Sari headed back to Iseo's apartment first since she was probably going to knock out if she stayed outside any longer.
Iseo, on the other hand, was reluctant about whether or not she should stay home after all the weird encounters she had experienced that day. Maybe she was being paranoid. Maybe she really was being followed.
But alas... she needed food.
And she couldn't say no to convenience store food. Especially when it was from 7-Eleven.
She knew it wasn't exactly the healthiest thing in the world, but she was craving it, and sometimes cravings won over common sense (that's so real tho).
So, despite the uneasy feeling that had followed her throughout the day, Iseo found herself walking toward the nearest 7-Eleven.
As she got closer to the store, she accidentally bumped into a 5'10" male.
Well, at least she assumed the person was male based on their build.
Iseo really needed to start paying more attention to her surroundings.
She immediately bowed her head, apologizing to the poor person who she had bumped into because she was not paying attention at all.Â
A few items had fallen onto the ground.Â
She crouched down to help pick up the items scattered across the sidewalk. The other person did the same, and just as Iseo reached for the paper, their hands brushed against each other.
"It's okay," the man replied.
His voice sounded familiar.
Iseo froze for half a second before shaking the thought away.
She looked up curiously and froze.
The person in front of her was wearing a black mask and a cap pulled low over his head.
She knew those eyes way too well.
"...Gyehyeon?" she questioned.
The man stared at her curiously.
Iseo mentally covered her mouth in shock.
Gyehyeon blinked as if he was waiting for her to have an reaction.
She stood up so quickly that she almost lost her balance.
"I- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bump into you. I mean, I did bump into you, obviously, but I didn't know it was you." She mentally facepalmed herself telling herself she needed to stop rambling or she'll make it worse.
God why did I just say that...
"Not that I would've bumped into you if I knew it was you because that would've been weird and- " She stopped talking realizing this wasn't getting anywhere and so was her hunger not getting anywhere.
Gyehyeon stared at her making her get even more embarassed that she's basically making a fool of herself right now.
She smiled awkwardly "...I'm going to go now."
She quickly handed him the last item she had picked up and bowed at a 90 degree angle.
Before he could respond, she turned around and practically speed-walked into the 7-Eleven.
The moment she was inside, she pressed both hands against her cheeks.
She looked around seeing that no one seemed to be paying attention to her.
She let out a quiet squeal.
She had just bumped into Gyehyeon.
Out of all the people in Korea.
Out of all the people who could have been standing outside of a convenience store.
Iseo immediately grabbed a basket and began walking through the aisles, trying to act normal but she knew she was going crazy. She had totally forgotten about the feeling he had given her earlier that day.
She had seen him at the fansign earlier, and now he was here.
She was starting to wonder if the universe was trying to tell her something.
The universe probably just wanted her to buy her convenience store food and leave because her stomach was growling.
As she was still trying to calm herself down when the automatic doors opened again.Â
Iseo glanced toward the entrance seeing that Gyehyeon walked inside.
She immediately looked away wanting to hide.
She wasn't going to stare.
She inhaled and exhaled mentally as she picked up a package of ramen and pretended to read the nutritional information.
She had absolutely no idea what it said because of how rusty her korean still was.
Gyehyeon walked past the first aisle.
Iseo could feel someone standing behind her.
She slowly turned around.
Gyehyeon was standing there.
"Gyehyeon, did you hear what I said about her?"
Gyehyeon stared at the pictures the private investigator had been showing on the projector.
They were pictures of Iseo.Â
Some of her with friends.
Some of her with idols she's been with.
He leaned back in his chair and stared at the investigator with a unreadable look.
"So I'm the next target?" he questioned.
The private investigator nodded.
"Based on the information we've gathered, yes."
Gyehyeon stared at the screen blankly.
He remembered the way she had looked at him back then. The way she had spoken to him. The way she had acted as if she had no idea who he was.
And now, somehow, she was supposedly targeting him next.
The investigator glanced at him.
"That she actually wants my money."
The investigator sighed and shook his head.
"Gyehyeon, she's already been involved with other idols. One of them nearly married her-"
"But that still doesn't answer my question."
Gyehyeon looked back at the pictures.
The investigator continued.
"She's smart. She knows how to get close to people. She knows how to make them trust her."
Gyehyeon stared at one particular picture.
Iseo smiling happily with Jungwon.
She didn't look like someone who was trying to steal anyone's money. She looked lost. Like she was trying to be someone she's not.
But then again, he barely knew her.
"So what am I supposed to do?" He glanced at the private investigator.
Gyehyeon tilted his head.
The investigator nodded "That's it."
"I'm supposed to avoid her?" He questioned again.
"Until we figure out exactly what she's planning."
Gyehyeon looked back at the projector.
He stared at Iseo's picture for a few more seconds.
Then he smiled michieviously.
"That's boring honestlu."
The investigator frowned.
He leaned back in his chair, having an unreadable expression on his face making it harder for the investigator to figure out what the guy was thinking.
"If she really is trying to get close to me, then wouldn't it be more interesting if I let her?"
The investigator stared at him in disbelief.
"Because you don't know what she's capable of."
"That's exactly the problem."
Gyehyeon looked back at the picture.
He had been told to watch her.
To never tell her that he knew her schemes.
But the more he learned about her, the more curious he became.
And now, after finally meeting her again, he had come to a decision.
Maybe he didn't want to stay away from her.
Maybe he wanted to see what would happen.
What was the worst that could happen?
The investigator's voice pulled him back to the present.
"Don't tell her anything."
Gyehyeon looked at Iseo with a certain expression she felt him give her before.
She was staring at him with a confused expression, trying to figure out why he practically followed her into the store.
"I'm serious," the voice continued through his earpiece. "Don't tell her that you know about the investigation. Don't tell her anything about her past. Just leave."
He looked at Iseo for a moment longer.
"I know your little secret."
Gyehyeon took a step closer.
She stared at him, clearly trying to figure out what he could possibly know.
He knew there were a lot of secrets she could be hiding.
But he didn't actually know which one she thought he knew.
And that made this even more fun.
Iseo's eyes narrowed and she slowly backed up, now with her defenses up.
"You want to keep your secret?"
She stared at him wondering what the hell he knew about her as he backed her up against the juice section in the 7-Eleven.
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