EPISODE 7

Chapter 7: Entanglements

Nabi’s morning was far from peaceful. Her phone buzzed non-stop, each notification adding to her growing confusion. Bleary-eyed, she picked it up and stared at the screen. The headline staring back at her made her heart sink:

"Mysterious Girl Spotted with Jung Hwan in Gangnam!"

A blurry photo accompanied the article, showing Nabi and Jung Hwan standing close outside the boutique. She could almost hear the gears of speculation grinding in the public's mind. The caption didn’t help: “Is this Jung Hwan’s new romance? The internet is buzzing!”

Her stomach churned. She never wanted this kind of attention. It was supposed to be just an ordinary day with friends, a simple moment stolen away from the spotlight he lived under. But now, she was part of his world, and it wasn’t the part she admired.

The first message was from Minji: "Nabi, what’s going on?!"

Then Jisoo: "OMG, are you and Jung Hwan... dating?!"

She buried her face in her hands, groaning. It wasn’t long before her phone rang. It was Minji.

“Hello?” Nabi mumbled.

“You and Jung Hwan? Spill everything!” Minji demanded, her voice teetering between excitement and disbelief.

“It’s not like that,” Nabi protested. “We just ran into each other, and then... it escalated.”

“Escalated?!” Jisoo’s voice joined in from the background—Minji had apparently put her on speakerphone.

“It’s complicated,” Nabi said, unsure how to explain without giving too much away. “Can we talk later?”

Minji sighed. “Fine, but you owe us the full story. No skipping details!”

Meanwhile, Jung Hwan’s morning wasn’t much better. He sat across from his manager, Mr. Park, who wore an expression of barely contained frustration.

“You have any idea what you’ve done?” Mr. Park’s voice was sharp, his hand gesturing toward a tablet displaying the same headline Nabi had seen.

“She’s a friend,” Jung Hwan said simply, leaning back in his chair.

“Friends don’t cause this kind of media storm. Do you know how many interviews we’re going to have to deflect now? They’re going to dig into every detail about her, her past, her family—”

“That’s not her fault,” Jung Hwan interrupted, his tone firm. “Leave her out of it.”

Mr. Park sighed, rubbing his temples. “Jung Hwan, I know you mean well, but this isn’t just about you. It’s about the group. Everything you do reflects on us. Be more careful.”

Across the room, Taeyang, Hyun Woo, and Seo Joon exchanged amused glances.

“Looks like lover boy’s in trouble,” Taeyang teased, plucking at his guitar strings.

“Don’t start,” Jung Hwan muttered, shooting him a glare.

Seo Joon smirked. “I don’t know. It’s kind of refreshing. Usually, it’s one of us being reckless, but you? Didn’t see that coming.”

Hyun Woo, ever the voice of reason, interjected. “Let’s not make it worse for him. The media’s already doing enough of that.”

Jung Hwan exhaled, grateful for Hyun Woo’s support but still weighed down by the situation.

By midday, Nabi decided she couldn’t stay cooped up at home. She needed fresh air and a chance to clear her mind. Pulling on a hoodie and sunglasses, she stepped out and headed to a small café tucked away from the bustling streets of Seoul.

As she sipped her coffee, she felt a presence nearby. Looking up, she saw Jung Hwan standing there, his usual composed demeanor slightly faltering.

“Mind if I join you?” he asked.

She nodded, gesturing to the seat across from her. “How did you find me?”

“Just a guess,” he admitted, settling into the chair. “I figured you’d want to avoid the spotlight today.”

Nabi gave a wry smile. “You guessed right.”

For a moment, they sat in silence, the hum of the café providing a background to their unspoken thoughts. Finally, Nabi broke the quiet.

“I didn’t sign up for this,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration.

“I know,” Jung Hwan replied, his tone soft. “And I’m sorry. I should’ve been more careful.”

“It’s not just about being careful,” she said. “It’s about... this whole world you’re in. It’s not me. I don’t belong there.”

“You don’t have to,” he said firmly. “I didn’t bring you into this to change you. I just... wanted to be around you.”

His honesty caught her off guard. She searched his face for any hint of insincerity but found none.

“Jung Hwan...” she began, unsure of how to respond.

Before she could finish, the café door swung open, and a group of fans walked in, their eyes scanning the room. Jung Hwan tensed, pulling his hood lower.

“Time to go,” he said, standing up.

Without thinking, Nabi followed him out the back door. They emerged into a quiet alley, the sounds of the city muted by the towering buildings around them.

“Do you always have to sneak around like this?” she asked, half-joking.

“Pretty much,” he said with a small smile. “It’s not glamorous, but it’s the price of fame.”

They walked in silence for a while, the tension between them slowly dissipating. Eventually, they reached a park, the same one they had visited not long ago.

“I feel like this place is becoming our spot,” Nabi said, sitting on a bench.

“Maybe it is,” Jung Hwan said, sitting beside her.

As the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the park, they talked about everything and nothing, their conversation flowing effortlessly. For the first time in days, Nabi felt a sense of calm.

But deep down, she knew this was only the beginning of their entanglement. The worlds they came from were so different, yet something about their connection felt undeniable.

And as she looked at Jung Hwan, the question lingered in her mind: Was it worth it?

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