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manawari · 7 months

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Just Friends

Once, Hae-in met a boy.

There was a track and field competition at the stadium. Countless of people flocked together to watch the match from different elementary schools. Hae-in had managed to get in the first place, much to her luck, but the victory came with a price — exhaustion. Her legs had gone sore when she threw herself at the bench, Hae-in looked around to see if there were people watching, so once she was certain, she raised her left leg to take off her shoe and then her sock.

It was a bruise, which she had gotten during her last training. But since Hae-in didn't want to back down from the competition, she went along with it amidst the sting it brought in her flesh.

She got through it anyway.

"You ran with that injury?"

A voice approached her. Hae-in looked up and saw a young boy, who was around her age. He had unruly pitch black hair and sun-kissed skin, he wore a varsity jacket over a shirt that had a school's logo and a pair of shorts that matched his jacket.

He must be a player. Hae-in thought. "Oh, well— I did."

"Are you still hurt?" He tilted his head to the side and stared at her injury.

She shook her head. "Not at all! Thank you."

"Wait, hold on a sec—" the boy reached to his pocket to bring something out. Then, he made his way toward her and got down on both of his knees to wrap a thin cloth around her ankle. His action caught Hae-in off-guard. When she opened her mouth to speak, the boy beat her to it. "I saw how you ran earlier. It was amazing. And now that I know you still competed in this state. . . Do your parents know?"

Hae-in shook her head.

The corner of his mouth twitched. "Well, I hope this helps. But you should get yourself checked since the competition is over."

"Okay," Hae-in nodded. "What's your name?"

"I'm Jin-woo!" The boy's smile extended when he turned up to meet her eyes.

"I'm Hae-in. Please to meet—"

"Hae-in! Sweetie, where are you?"

"That's my mom!" Hae-in hurriedly put on her sock and shoved her foot back on her shoe to get up. She rushed forward, but only then to halt. "N— nice meeting you, Jin-woo!"

She didn't wait for him to respond.

Hae-in would be lying if she said that she wouldn't see him again after that. To her, Jin-woo was the kid whom she met at the stadium. She had no hopes that their paths would cross again. But damn, she wished she had believed her mother's words that there were some people she would meet twice in her life.

When she was done doing her laps, Hae-in found three runners huddled together over a phone. It was blaring pop music that was mixed with cacophonous cheering from people. Hae-in speculated it must be the newly debuted band called ARISE, which was said to be composed of five people from different backgrounds who had passed the auditions.

Though, she could care less. She had no time for such things when she was a busy athlete and she would rather watch something—

"—give it up for Sung Jin-woo!"

The name drop made a pause in her world. It sounded vaguely familiar. So, Hae-in strode toward the young athletes and stole a peek on the phone.

"Ms. Cha!" One of the girls said. "Did you come to check out ARISE's concert last week?"

"Who's that guy?" Hae-in cut off the chase.

"Oh, this?" She pointed at the idol, who was singing in front of the crowd. He wore a black leather jacket with chains dangling on the shoulders, a white top, and a pair of leather pants with knee-high boots. "This is Sung Jin-woo! The main dancer of ARISE."

"Isn't he so cute, Ms. Cha?" The second athlete gushed. "Everything about him is so. . . Enchanting!"

"He can steal your heart in one look!"

Indeed, fans were cheering on top of their lungs at Jin-woo. But Hae-in? All she saw was that moment at the stadium. It was truly the same person. Jin-woo, the boy who had wrapped up her bruise, and Jin-woo, the man that young boy had grown to be and was now ruling the stage by his magnificent voice and breathtaking movements.

The first thing Hae-in did once she got home was open her social media platform and searched up 'ARISE'. And from there, a plethora of posts flooded her screen, each showcasing the band and its members, as well as the manager whom the fans had also been fawning over.

She eventually got to the posts that featured primarily Jin-woo. From his photoshoots, the random photos snapped by his band members, videos of him, fans commenting about him, and various others. Hae-in even chuckled at some of the posts.

Does he still remember me? She wondered.

Part of her wanted to message him, but the other part of her did not. Hae-in was worried that he might not recognize her, or even not respond to her message.

So, she decided to abandon the idea.

The next few days were spent with scrolling through ARISE for updates and Jin-woo's posts. Hae-in would watch his short dance covers that had kept her entertained throughout her break. And that was until she landed upon a post from the band's official account that had featured a video of ARISE's latest interview.

"I have a question for Sung Jin-woo!" The interviewer said. "If you could meet someone again, dead or alive, who would it be?"

"I'd say that girl I met when I was young. Even when she had an injury all along, she still managed to win, which I admired her for her determination." Jin-woo replied. He let out a soft smile. "I'm not sure if she still remembers me, but if there comes a time that I meet her again, I will be happy."

Hae-in's heart raced.

Jin-woo was hoping to meet her. . .

When Hae-in entered her condo later that day, her hands were shaking. Now that she discovered that Jin-woo still remembered her throughout these years, she must make her move, mustn't she?

But what should she say? Hi? Hello? Say that she was the girl he had described in the interview?

Finally, Hae-in mustered up her courage and went to his DMS to type out a message;

[ Cha Hae-in (@ truly_haein): hey! I don't know if you are able to see this but— I'm actually the girl whom you met a few years ago. ]

She shut her phone off and went to the kitchen to prepare for some dinner. And just as she set her utensils down, her phone let out a single sound.

Hae-in came over and picked it up and. . . Needless to say, she almost dropped it.

Jin-woo had replied to her message!

[ Sung Jin-woo (@ sjwofficial): Hae-in?! Oh my God!! ]

[ Sung Jin-woo (@ sjwofficial): I can't believe this. Really! I've been wanting to message you lately, but I was afraid that I might look like a fool to you in case you don't remember me. ]

Hae-in chuckled. Same.

[ Cha Hae-in (@ truly_haein): I watched your performances through the band's account. You're very amazing! ]

[ Sung Jin-woo (@ sjwofficial): haha thanks! ]

[ Sung Jin-woo (@ sjwofficial): do you want to meet up? That is, if you're free, of course. It's fine if you're not available:) ]

That was fast. Hae-in thought. But then she remembered that Jin-woo had been waiting for this moment, her lips curled into a smile.

[ Cha Hae-in (@ truly_haein): sure! ^_^ ]

At that moment, a seed of a beautiful friendship was planted.

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Jin-woo could hardly sleep at the excitement.

Hae-in actually messaged him. . . And then agreed to meet up with him after years of not seeing each other. Yes, Jin-woo had not forgotten about her even for such a short time, but it seemed that fate had another plan for the both of them, which was why she remained in the back of his mind.

If anything, he already knew about the life she had right now, based on the news he had been seeing — another athlete had made her mark in South Korea's Olympics and was competing in various competitions while representing her homeland. She reached her fame earlier before he did.

But here he was. . . A star of his own, radiating his newfound status everywhere he went. He sung, he danced, and did the two in the same time. Back then, Jin-woo was a shy young boy who had talents that brought him to the brightest and biggest path he had ever taken.

He was also in charge of his band's choreography. But before the rehearsal, Jin-woo must practice the song by himself until he came up with the right steps to teach his members. It was fun amidst the exhaustion, yet the results always paid off the moment the audience had witnessed it.

The music stopped the moment he clicked the remote. Jin-woo grabbed the collar of his shirt to wipe the sweat on his face. The rest of the members were panting after almost an hour of practicing in front of the broad mirror for their upcoming music video that was set to film next week.

"Please tell me the practice is over," Tae-gyu grumbled. "My arms are so sore!"

Jin-woo took his phone from his pocket to check the time. He grinned. "It is over. We're free to do whatever we want now."

"Finally!" Tae-gyu punched the air. "Anybody wanna order something? I'm starving."

"Your treat?" Byung-gyu eyed him curiously.

"Who said it's my treat?" Tae-gyu huffed. "Hey, Sung! After making us go suffer for one hour, how about you order us some food? Preferably Chinese, 'cuz I'm craving those."

"Sorry, I have plans," Jin-woo shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets as he began to leave the hall. "Enjoy your meals!"

"Wait, what?"

"Plans?"

"Since when did that idiot have plans for something else?"

"Leave him be. He's practically an adult!" Jong-in rolled his eyes at the three.

It had been eleven days since he had begun talking with Hae-in. And by his luck, Hae-in's schedule was cleared up and she was free from her tasks, so the moment she informed him, Jin-woo set up a time and place to where would they meet.

After finishing his shower, Jin-woo made his way to pick through his assortment of clothing. If he was going to head out and not have people swarming him, then he must wear something that disguised his whole self. Surely, Hae-in would do the same since she had gained a lot of public attention for being a skillful athlete.

Jin-woo had gone for a pair of black jeans, a plain white shirt, and a brown jean jacket. Even if it might be against his usual color style, wearing something that was not black would be a nice way not to drive any attention. He also chose a black hat and a black facemask for additional disguise. Once he was satisfied with the way he looked, Jin-woo headed out of his room and went downstairs where his friends were at the living room, facing the television that featured a western action movie.

Yoon-ho was the one who spotted him. "Take care of yourself out there, Sung! And, where are you going anyway?"

"To meet up with a friend."

Before anyone else could ask, Jin-woo strode to the door and left.

He was supposed to meet up with her at the coffee shop. It was a few blocks away from where he lived. So, when he entered the cafe, Jin-woo walked past the counter and went to one of the empty tables in the corner. There wasn't a lot of customers around, considering how the prices for the drinks and pastries were something not many could afford.

Jin-woo sat down and waited. He wasn't sure how far was this place from Hae-in's, though she already said yes when he was about to ask where she lived. His elation got the best of him.

A few moments later, his phone dinged.

[ Cha Hae-in (@ truly_haein): I'm here. ]

Jin-woo looked across the place and saw a woman clad in a pair of jeans, boots, and a blouse that had puffy sleeves. She had short blonde hair and wore a pink cap with a white facemask.

The corners of his lips tugged into a smile.

[ Sung Jin-woo (@ sjwofficial): look to your right. ]

Hae-in got his message from her phone and turned her head to the right direction. Jin-woo raised his hand to get her attention, and it wasn't long until Hae-in met his gaze, he stood up and watched as the star athlete walked toward him.

It felt like a light was coming toward him. Not blinding, but the kind of light that made him see the beauty of every second. Hae-in was shorter than him by several inches, yet her presence felt different than when he was only looking at her through her photos or short clip of her interviews.

"Hi." She said.

"Hey."

Jin-woo smiled behind his facemask, hoping she would still see it just like how he noticed her eyes were glimmering.

They stood in front of each other in silence.

Then, Hae-in cleared her throat. "So, uh. . . " Her hands fidgeted on her sides. "Sorry. I'm not used to talking to people a lot, especially in person."

"Oh! No, it's fine!" Jin-woo said. "I share the same sentiments. We've only been meeting each other for the first time in years, after all."

"I guess you're right," she chuckled.

And so, the two of them sat in front of each other. Jin-woo had the widest smile in his face as he chattered with Hae-in, who was more talkative than she was in her interviews. When he was watching her in his phone, Hae-in would often give short answers, yet enough to satisfy the interviewer and only gave little details of her personal life; she always put on a nice smile, which was one of the things the audience had adored to see, and it made Jin-woo wonder if she was as still shy when he first met her that day.

Turned out, Hae-in only had to be completely comfortable with someone before opening up.

Jin-woo couldn't help but be surprised at the information Hae-in was sharing him. She revealed to him about her struggles with trying to maintain the "perfect" image for the crowds and that she had to suffer from dealing with questions which were out of the line. Jin-woo felt the same. Keeping up with his image was easy, since the media didn't care about the ARISE members being themselves, but the personal questions? No.

Interviewers would ask him about his relationship status, his family, and other things that were past Jin-woo's boundaries. He swore to protect his privacy and could only hope for the media to respect his wishes.

Interviews had always been a torture.

"So how did you become a star?" Hae-in asked.

"It's simple— my family dragged me to the audition," Jin-woo spoke in a slightly low voice. "It's not an exaggeration. They literally dragged me when I was dressed in pajamas."

Hae-in let out a giggle. "Your family is so supportive."

"Yeah, and when they learned that I had to move in with my bandmates, they were supportive instead of being emotional! I thought all of us were like that until Tae-gyu told me his mother cried and threw a farewell party for him." Jin-woo sighed. "I was so jealous in that moment."

"Cute." Hae-in chuckled.

"What's the best competition you have participated in?"

Their time in that café felt like a lifetime.

Jin-woo had lost touch of the time until his phone started ringing. He answered it without looking at the name and realized it was Jin-chul, who demanded where he was and said he was late to the meeting about next month's agendas. Jin-woo hung up after saying a single 'okay' and didn't wait for his manager to complete his sentence.

He turned to Hae-in and said. "Welp, I guess I had to go. I forgot that I still have something to do."

"That's okay! It's been great talking to you, Jin-woo." Hae-in smiled.

"I'll message you later once I'm done," Jin-woo promised her.

Beside his band members, Jin-woo didn't have other friends who were famous, practically because he found them ambitious and quite overbearing. But Hae-in? She was nice. Jin-woo liked talking to her a lot — he even began to secretly message her under the table when someone else was speaking.

And he was never caught.

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He was a star in the music industry. And she was a star in the track and field.

Jin-woo chose to keep his friendship with Hae-in a secret. He didn't know why he did, but he just felt like it. His friends started to become suspicious at the amount of time he was found typing on his phone, though they chose not to say a word about it, considering how Jin-woo responded to their questions sometimes.

"Hey, Sung? Are you sure you told the interviewer that you are not dating someone? You keep checking your phone than usual."

"Hm? What is it? You want to get back to practice?"

Tae-gyu gagged. "It's only past two minutes!"

"Well, I can still dance without taking breaks," smirked Jin-woo.

"Urgh. Whatever."

Jin-woo chuckled. He glanced down again to see the digital poster Hae-in had sent him. It was her upcoming competition against the athletes from France, Romania, Japan, and Thailand.

[ Cha Hae-in (@ truly_haein): amazing, isn't it? At least I wouldn't have to book a flight this time since the competition will be in Seoul. ]

Jin-woo smiled.

[ Sung Jin-woo (@ sjwofficial): then that gives me a reason to see it :D ]

[ Cha Hae-in (@ truly_haein): WHAT?! DON'T YOU HAVE A BUSY SCHEDULE OR SOMETHING??? ]

[ Sung Jin-woo (@ sjwofficial): have you ever heard of "if there's a will, there's a way"? Trust me on this. ]

Jin-woo did show up on the competition. He wore a long-haired black wig, a white cap, and a black facemask to watch within the crowd. Hae-in still didn't believe him when he said that he was going to watch her competition, so Jin-woo took it as a challenge to surprise her.

He was supposed to practice with his band, but he snuck out in the middle of their break.

Knowing that his phone would be bombarded with messages, Jin-woo put it on silent to watch the match peacefully. This had been his second time to witness Cha Hae-in run with his own eyes. Back then, he was amazed by her speed that it made him go look and congratulate her for being in the first place.

And he was going to do it again.

When Hae-in won the competition, the crowd went wild. Jin-woo cheered along with them. He took out his phone to take pictures of her receiving her medals and a bouquet of flowers. Hae-in was panting, yet managed to let out a broad smile. Jin-woo snapped a photo out of it too. And once the crowd slowly piled out of the stadium, Jin-woo stayed in his seat until most of the audience had gotten out and approached the nearest worker.

"Excuse me? Do you mind if you tell me where the backroom is?"

The janitor, not knowing who he was, replied in a blunt tone. "The security doesn't accept strangers to personally see Ms. Cha, sir."

"I'm actually a friend of hers."

"You cannot fool me, sir. You are not the first person to say that, so please, go to the exit."

"But I'm not someone pretending to be her friend—"

"Go away before I call the security!"

Jin-woo sighed and took off his mask. "It's me."

The janitor's eyes quickly widened. "Sung Jin—"

"Shh!" Jin-woo cut him off. "Do me a favor? Please? I need to see Hae-in."

"But can I take a picture with you first, though?"

"No."

The janitor frowned. "Alright. If you insist. . . " He began to walk away with his broom.

"W— wait!" Jin-woo called after him.

The janitor turned to the idol with a grin.

Jin-woo walked across the hallway, searching for a particular blonde. The janitor also told him that Hae-in was busy with packing her things, so Jin-woo still had time to see her. He found her in a pair of sweatpants this time instead of the shorts she had worn during the competition, Hae-in had her back turned to him while she was placing her towels inside of her gym bag.

His lips twitched into a grin. Jin-woo tugged his cap lower and started to make his way toward her in soundless steps. Hae-in was still unaware of the nearing presence behind her. Jin-woo crouched low and once he reached the right proximity, he raised his head toward her ear and held his breath.

"Hey~"

Hae-in instantly shrieked.

Jin-woo burst out a loud laugh when he saw her frightened face while she had her arms across her chest, holding onto her shoulders. Once she recovered and realized who it was, a cold glare was formed in Hae-in's eyes.

"Jin-woo!"

"Surprise?" Jin-woo grinned.

Hae-in slapped him on the arm. "Who wouldn't be surprised at what you just did?!"

"Which one? The fact that I scared the heck out of you or the part where I showed up to your competition?"

"You—" Hae-in's ire subsided and lowered her head. Then, she snorted. She looked up to him with a smile. "You really lived up to your words, huh?"

"Now that's one thing you should always remember!" Jin-woo's grin broadened that showed a portion of his teeth. "So. . . No hugs? No 'oh my God! I'm so glad you came'?"

"Idiot." Hae-in rolled her eyes. She laughed and went up to wrap her arms around Jin-woo's shoulders.

They supported each other in every way.

When Jin-woo was busy and couldn't squeeze his time with Hae-in in his schedule, he'd try to make it up to her by checking up on her to see how she was doing. Hae-in did the same. She'd send him a message in the middle of the day and if she was too shy to comment on his posts, she would just slide into his DMs.

There were even occasions where Hae-in would attend the band's concert in her disguise and take a photo of herself when Jin-woo was on stage. She'd send it to him once the concert was over. And of course, Jin-woo would be surprised that he even dropped his phone after seeing the photo.

Eventually, he got used to it.

Jin-woo wasn't expecting that Hae-in would be in the concert, but if she sent him a photo, he would grin broadly. Same with Hae-in. He'd show up in her competitions and snap a selfie of himself to send it to her afterward.

They'd still see each other depending on their availability. Though, part of Jin-woo wished he wouldn't have to wear a disguise when meeting Hae-in. . . But given their reputations, nobody must know.

Only his parents knew about the friendship he had with the famous track and field athlete.

"So! You and I will do this part—" Byung-gyu drew a circle around the verse with his pen. "And then Tae-gyu will sing solo on the next part up until Yoon-ho's rap."

"Got it!" Jin-woo nodded. "Say, how about we practice our parts together?"

"Oka—"

The door was bursted open.

"Jin-woo! What's the meaning of this?!"

Byung-gyu and Jin-woo turned over their shoulders to face a panting Tae-gyu. Jin-woo raised an eyebrow. "But I didn't leak anything?"

"Not that! Check Twitter right now!"

Jin-woo took out his phone and so did Byung-gyu. He clicked on the app and found the "trending" option where—

"Oh my god!" Byung-gyu gasped.

He turned to his friend. "What—"

"You're dating Cha Hae-in?!"

"What?!" Jin-woo's jaw dropped. "Who did—"

Byung-gyu almost shoved his phone to his face that Jin-woo had to lean away a little to check the post.

His eyes became wide as spheres.

The post came from one of the popular entertainment agencies in South Korea that featured updates from various celebrities. Mainly, it posted rumors of two people dating. . . And it seemed Jin-woo had become one of those topics.

Him and none other than Hae-in.

[ Sung Jin-woo of #ARISE and Star Athlete Cha Hae-in are found in the park together! ] — the post stated.

It was indeed him and Hae-in. They had just finished jogging around the park and secluded themselves under the shady tree to peel their masks off a little to let themselves breathe. Unbeknownst to them, a couple was taking a picture of themselves, only then to notice two very familiar people behind

Hence, why the photo of him and Hae-in looked like it had been zoomed in and cropped.

This is bad. He thought. Very bad!

Jin-woo turned to his phone and his breath caught up at the center of his throats. There were comments. Dozens of them. All of them were astounded to see him together with Hae-in. And there were some who were skeptical if it was really them and that they were together.

[ user1: Jin-woo?? And Hae-in?? They are in a secret relationship all along?? ]

[ user2: Jin-woo has been lying in the interviews! Now this explains why he looks disinterested in questions about his dating life. HE'S JUST TRYING TO PROTECT HIS PRIVACY! ]

[ user3: congrats to the couple!!! ]

[ user4: I did not expect this. But since I'm a fan of both Hae-in and Jin-woo, I shall support these lovebirds! ]

[ user5: they look so adorable together!! ]

Jin-woo scrolled deeper until he had enough of the comments, especially the ones who were congratulating him for his relationship with Hae-in — which was not true. He and Hae-in never even dated.

"Is the post true?!" Tae-gyu snapped him out of his thoughts. "Look, I understand that you have every right to keep things for yourself, but it's your love life we are talking about! Like, how did you even—"

"We're not dating!" Jin-woo exclaimed. "Hae-in and I are not in a romantic relationship. We're just close friends."

"Then why didn't you tell us?" Byung-gyu raised an eyebrow.

"It's not that entirely big. And besides, I know how you guys will react if I bring her here." Jin-woo scoffed. "How did we become friends? It's simple. I've already met Hae-in as a kid, but never heard of her again until I made my debut in the industry."

"Since then, you hang out with her behind our backs?"

"Yeah."

Tae-gyu let out a glare. "So that's why you keep sneaking out like you're meeting up with your forbidden lover!"

"She's not!" Jin-woo argued. "But as much as I want to stay and argue, I must fix this mess up before it gets worse!"

Especially for Hae-in.

Sooner or later, she would be see those rumors and start getting nervous. But first, Jin-woo needed to prioritize the media, knowing how rapid it could get, and the more people would believe that it was true if he must not act early.

Without leaving his chair, Jin-woo made a new post in his account:

[ Sung Jin-woo (@ sjwofficial): in regards to the rumors, Hae-in and I are not romantically involved with each other. She's someone whom I've met when I was young and met for the second time this year. She's amazing, yes, but I support her and she supports me like how friends should. To anyone who hasn't known what's going on, please do not listen to the rumors. Thank you! ]

He pressed the button and his post showed up in his feed within a second. Byung-gyu and Tae-gyu saw it and snickered together.

"Supporting each other, huh? How many times have Ms. Cha came to see our concerts?" Tae-gyu grinned.

"Seven times. She sends me a photo every time she's in the crowd."

"Woah. . . I'm guessing you do the same?"

"Yeah."

Byung-gyu and Tae-gyu shared a glance at each other as if Jin-woo had gone mad. Jin-woo shook his head and got up from his chair to leave the two alone before something else might happen to him.

He called Hae-in when he got inside of his room. As anticipated, Hae-in had already known about the rumors and other athletes had begun to ask her about her relationship with the ARISE member. Jin-woo's heart pinched in worry and could imagine how tough it was going to be for her.

Instead, Hae-in just laughed.

"You don't have to worry about me, Jin-woo! Yeah, I was bombarded with questions, but I managed to clear everything to them." Hae-in said. "And besides, those are just rumors. Let people believe what they want to believe."

Jin-woo sighed. "I just don't want to let you get into this mess. You got an upcoming prelims next week."

"Yeah, but I'm not stressing about that," shrugged Hae-in. "Are you still coming?"

"Me? Of course! I'm not gonna let those rumors hold me back."

"See? That's what I want to hear from Sung Jin-woo!"

He snorted. "Why? Does it sound very unlike me?"

"Well, you're supposed not to care because that's how you are in interviews."

"That's different. I know you're trying to keep a low profile and not let your private life be invaded, so that's why."

"You worry too much." Jin-woo could feel her rolling her eyes. "As long as we know to ourselves that we're just friends and nothing more, that's it."

"Yeah," a subtle smile formed across his lips.

Just friends.

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They were friends.

Friends who supported each other on and off cameras. Hae-in and Jin-woo even became confident enough to comment on each other's posts. Even though the media hadn't seen photos of Hae-in being in ARISE's concerts and Jin-woo being in her competitions, the fans pretty much knew it due to the way Jin-woo and Hae-in complimented each other in social media.

They were friends.

Friends who never listened to the amount of rumors about them in a romantic relationship. Jin-woo had grown used to it, but it didn't stop him from posting a statement. The rest of the ARISE members just laughed at it when they saw the notification.

"You know, since you hardly post anything, your page is going to be filled with you debunking rumors." Yoon-ho said to him.

"So what? Dealing with rumors is like fighting bacteria." Jin-woo rolled his eyes.

"Shush!" Jong-in chastised him. "There are cameras around."

"Oh, please. . . I doubt they're gonna post it on the internet that I'm trashing people." Jin-woo muttered. The photographer gestured his hand to command the idol to move to the right. Jin-woo stepped down from the stool to lean his elbow against it, facing the camera as it let out another flash. "I'll keep doing it until they finally had enough of assuming Hae-in and I are not in a relationship. Byung-gyu's friends with Hee-jin, but there isn't a single rumor of them dating."

"That's because the media has nothing to use between her and I for creating fake news," replied Byung-gyu behind him. "Have you seen us act sweet toward each other?"

"Yeah. Last week, I guess?"

"That's because she wanted something from me."

"See the difference, Sung?" Tae-gyu piped up. "How about this— have you tried insulting Hae-in at least once?"

Jin-woo abruptly turned to the oldest member of the band, flashing him with a daggering glare that looked like he could kill. "No! Why would I even do that to her? We're not like Hee-jin and Byung-gyu, or even Yoon-ho and Jong-in."

"Huh?"

"What?"

He ignored them. "There are plenty of ways to prove that we're just friends. Not just throwing insults."

"Face the camera, please!" The photographer shouted.

Jin-woo faced the camera once again and another photo was snapped. Then, he caught Jin-ho appearing in his peripheral vision. The younger man held out his phone, which showed the ongoing call from Park Kyung-hye, so Jin-woo raised his hand to the photographers and then drew it across his neck to insinuate something. They nodded and paused the session, allowing everyone else to take a break. Some makeup artists rushed up to check if the members still looked presentable, but Jin-woo went past them to make his way to Jin-ho.

"Yes, mom?" He asked.

"Are you busy today, son?"

"Not really. I'm just doing a couple of photoshoots this whole afternoon."

"I see. . . " Kyung-hye said. "I was wondering if you'd be up for some dinner with us."

He chuckled. "You know that I'd drop everything just to have dinner with you, dad, and Jin-ah. Of course, I will be there!"

"Can you invite Hae-in too? I haven't seen her for the past few weeks. Jin-ah misses her too, so I think this should be a great time to have her around again and know how she's been doing."

"Alright. I'll ask her if she's free tonight." Jin-woo smiled.

"Love you, Jin-woo!"

"Love you too, mom."

It was always heartwarming on how fond his family was to Hae-in. Jin-woo remembered their reactions when he told them that he had met the young athlete runner again after many years. They were happy for him. Hae-in was even surprised when Kyung-hye had instantly welcomed her the moment he brought her to his house. Since then, his family adored her as if she was their own.

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Alone the rehearsal hall, Jin-woo was dancing to the music. There was no deadline or a particular event, he just wanted to dance to release some sweat. The others were off to do their own thing, so Jin-woo decided to do his. Being the lead dancer of the band, he had the liability to use the hall anytime he wished, whether it was doing his hobby or practicing, Jin-woo was the owner of the keys.

His jacket was discarded next to the small portable speaker which was blaring the music, leaving Jin-woo in his grey sleeveless top and a pair of black sweatpants. The white shoes he wore were light and made of cotton, so he wouldn't have to be bothered by hearing those squeaking noises each time his feet rubbed against the clean floor.

Jin-woo felt like he was in his own world. It was different when he was doing exercises — he had to be concentrated, but when he was dancing, his body moved naturally. Jin-woo could close his eyes and pay less attention to the beat, but he would still be on sync with the music.

Sometimes, he'd post short videos of his dances, whether it was solo of one of his band's songs or a dance cover. But other times, Jin-woo liked to keep the dances to himself just like how he frequently danced in his bedroom, which also explained his well-built physique.

The song was a personal favorite of his. It also included a choreography, allowing Jin-woo to feel in touch with the lyrics and beat more. It was not emotional, rather it had a specific rhythm that made him invigorated and didn't exert his muscles to exhaustion.

It was him and the music alone.

When the song ended, the corner of Jin-woo's mouth twitched into a grin as he turned around to make his way to his possessions. He still had some energy. So, he picked his phone up and began to scroll through his array of songs saved in his playlist. A certain song captured his attention, so he was about to press his thumb on it when he heard some clapping that echoed across the room.

"That was spectacular."

He raised his head and to his surprise, it was Hae-in. His jaw loosened upon the sight of her walking toward him with her lips curled into a smile. She wore a simple white blouse and a pair of blue leggings above her brown sandals. A cap also sat above her head.

"H— Hae-in?" Jin-woo stammered. "How. . . Have you been watching this whole time?"

"I only caught up in the middle of the song," she shrugged. "Why? Are you embarrassed?"

Jin-woo flushed a little. "No. . . Why should I?"

Hae-in had seen him dance before. Therefore, he mustn't be flustered when she caught him in the middle of the hall.

He cleared his throat. "So, uh. . . What brings you here?"

"I just wanted to visit you. I asked the guys and they told me that you're in the rehearsal hall, and since I don't know where that is, I asked Jin-ho for help." Hae-in explained.

"I see," he nodded.

"But since you're busy— I'll just sit here and watch." She concluded.

"Won't that make you feel bored?" Jin-woo huffed. "And besides, I have a better idea."

Hae-in arched an eyebrow. "And that is. . . ?"

"Dance with me."

" . . . " The athlete stared at him. "I'm sorry?"

"You heard me, Ms. Cha," Jin-woo grinned at her. "Instead of sitting there and acting like a stranger, why don't you join me?"

"I don't dance, Jin-woo."

"You wouldn't know until you try!" Jin-woo snickered. "Trust me, I'll make sure you won't feel embarrassed after this. I know a song that is great for beginners."

Hae-in swallowed before she reluctantly nodded. "Oh— okay."

Jin-woo lightly grabbed her wrist to bring her to the center and walked back to place his phone next to his speaker to press the play button, putting it on loop as well, and rushed back to Hae-in. The song began in a soft electric guitar stringing and the sound of a piano. He faced Hae-in fully and instructed;

"The first steps are similar to waltzing, so all you have to do is place your hand on my shoulder and put your foot back once I move mine forward. And don't worry, I'll guide you through it."

Hae-in nodded.

Now.

Her hand found his shoulder. His found her waist.

She was about to put her right hand as well when Jin-woo gently stopped her and told her that only one hand was required. Hae-in nodded again. Then, he and gently pushed forward. As told, Hae-in moved her foot backward and their feet slid across the floor to close the distance. Jin-woo did the same to his right foot and Hae-in followed.

They did the same steps with each feet until Jin-woo stopped, though it took a few seconds before he removed his hand. Hae-in waited for him to speak next.

"Now," Jin-woo took her hand. "The next step is I'm gonna spin you. If you'd like, I can do it slowly."

"Uh, I think I will be fine," said Hae-in. "Just do what you have to do."

Jin-woo nodded and heard her gasp when he twirled her around and tugged her back. Hae-in's hand found his bicep as though to balance herself. An airy chuckle escaped his mouth when he saw her wide-eyed reaction.

"Why so surprised, Ms. Cha? I thought you'll be fine?"

"I'm just caught off guard!" Hae-in exclaimed.

"Cute," Jin-woo grinned.

Hae-in was flexible, so it was easy for her to do some of the steps, but if she struggled a little, Jin-woo was there to guide her. The hall had never been so lively with their laughter in between the music. Their eyes almost never left each other as they repeated the steps when the song returned to the beginning.

There was no doubt that Jin-woo was astonished at Hae-in.

As she got used to it, Hae-in now wore a smile on her face. Jin-woo couldn't help but smile back. Moments ago, he was in his own world, but when Hae-in joined him, he felt as if he was sharing his world with his best friend.

When they got to the chorus, the two found themselves walking in circle with their hands on each other's shoulders. Jin-woo craned his neck down a little and Hae-in had to look up to meet his gaze due to their differences in height. It was as if there was magnetic field between them. It was just him and her.

Jin-woo had probably lost track on the amount of times their skins had touched. He had never made a lot of physical contact when dancing with someone. Hae-in, who would instantly flush when she got touched, had not complained. She was comfortable. Jin-woo wondered if he was the only one she had acted this way or there was someone else.

He spun her again when the song slowly reached its end note. Jin-woo gradually tugged her until her back was pressed against his side. With their hands still linked, he gently brought brought it down until his arm was wrapped around her waist as the last piano keys sang into silence.

He heard Hae-in chuckle. "Well, that was fun."

"Exhausted?"

"Quite. But it feels different when I'm doing my la—"

"Oh my God!"

Jin-woo and Hae-in almost jumped. She quickly retracted herself from him while he turned around and saw none other than Tae-gyu, who looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"What are you doing here?!" Jin-woo hissed. On the other hand, Hae-in was in deep red.

"I was just gonna ask if I can burrow your— you know what? Nevermind! Just keep whatever you two are doing." Tae-gyu turned around to face the exit.

Heat crept up to Jin-woo's neck. "I— it's not what you think!"

"Of course, it's not. What do you think I am thinking?"

"I. . . I don't know."

Tae-gyu let out a snicker and shot him a smirk over his shoulder. "Angry that you two's romantic dance got interrupted?"

"Scratch the romance part for the love of God!" Jin-woo groaned. "I was just teaching her."

"Yeah, keep saying that, Sung. Aren't you supposed to get ready? If you don't wanna go, then I will happily replace you."

"Get out!"

Once Tae-gyu left, Jin-woo sighed. He looked over and saw Hae-in wipe her sweating neck with her handkerchief — though, the mortification was still visible in her visage. Jin-woo couldn't blame her. Tae-gyu, of all people, had to ruin the moment and opened that annoying mouth of his.

Right! Jin-woo remembered that he had one thing to do since Hae-in was there. "Uh, Hae-in?"

"Hm?"

"My mom called earlier and told me to come home," said Jin-woo. "She also said that I should invite you to join us."

Hae-in's eyes finally lit up. "Sure! What time?"

"7 PM. But I'll pick you up instead."

"Okay," she smiled. "I'll wait for you."

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"Unnie! You're finally here!"

"Careful, Jin-ah! Let our guest breathe."

"It's fine, Mr. Sung!"

"Thank you for coming, dear. It feels like it's been so long since you've set foot in this household."

"I'm happy to be here again, ma'am."

"You're so gonna love this night's dinner!"

*chuckle* "Your mom's food always taste the best, Jin-ah."

Jin-woo smiled as he watched the loving sight of his family welcoming Hae-in. Jin-ah looked as if she didn't want to let go from Hae-in. He hung his coat over the hook, leaving him in his black turtleneck, then cleared his throat. "What about me? You haven't seen me for a long time too!"

"It's only been six weeks, brother," Jin-ah rolled her eyes.

He gaped. "Hey! That's long enough!"

"Here we go again," Kyung-hye sighed. "How about you two set up the table instead of arguing already?"

"Yes, mom." The siblings said in unison.

Before he was famous, Jin-woo and his family only lived in an apartment. But now that he was earning thousands of money, Jin-woo bought a new house for them to move in. It was not entirely big or fancy, rather it was enough to feel the simplicity of life. Kyung-hye was the one who set everything up, from the decorations to the photos, and Ill-hwang maintained the house's tidiness if he had no work.

Jin-woo had pretty much invested 70% his money into his family, only wanting nothing but the best for his parents and little sister, who was close to finishing high school. And at this, Jin-ah could choose any university she wished and Jin-woo would happily enroll her.

He didn't stop his father from continuing his job as a fireman. Jin-woo knew how Ill-hwang liked helping people's lives — which he admired his old man for that. As long as he still had capability, Ill-hwang would continue his job and earn to support his family without relying on his son most of the time.

The meal was a traditional seafood stew. It was perfect for the beginning of the cold season. Hae-in, who sat next to Jin-woo, laughed along with Jin-ah. Kyung-hye and Ill-hwang watched the two warmly as they exchanged short remarks to each other. Jin-woo just happily indulged in his meal, content with being surrounded by the people who meant to him the most.

"It's amazing that you managed to accept Jin-woo's invitation for having dinner with us, dear. For some reason, I thought that you won't be coming because of being busy." Kyung-hye said.

"I will always choose to spend time with you guys if there is an opportunity," Hae-in smiled.

The old woman chuckled softly. "That's almost the exact same thing Jin-woo had told me when I first called. How are you and your family?"

"We're doing good. Other times, they get very busy, so we don't have a lot of time to talk to each other a lot."

"I see," nodded Kyung-hye. "Do you have any upcoming competitions?"

"I do! However, it's in America. I'll be leaving in two days."

"America? That's too far!" Jin-ah piped up and then eyed her brother. "I guess oppa won't be able to see it since he might have a lot of projects to work on."

"That's fine by me. I'll just treat Hae-in for a meal or something." Jin-woo shrugged.

Jin-ah snickered. "And then someone snaps a photo of you two and rumors rise again!"

"Who cares about rumors?"

"Says you — I've seen your latest statement!"

"You know what I have to do," Jin-woo rolled his eyes. "Plus, if I don't say anything about it, the media won't shut up."

"But did it work? No. I even heard some of my classmates talk about you two. It was so hard for me not to join them." Jin-ah snorted. "Come on, brother! You're in the right age to date anyway."

"I will have to agree with your sister, son," Ill-hwang chimed in. "Sure, the decision is up to you, but try not to hesitate when you found someone. After all, your mom and I have raised you well and know you will treat someone genuinely."

Kyung-hye nodded. "And don't forget to choose wisely, Jin-woo. Fall for someone who loves you not because of your reputation, but for who you really are. I know a lot of celebrities who end up single despite having such good hearts."

"I'll keep that in mind, mom." Jin-woo agreed. He returned to his meal and looked at the corner of his eye, finding Hae-in, who had fallen into silence as she proceeded to eat.

When the dinner had come to an end, Jin-woo and Hae-in lingered for a little more to spend time with Ill-hwang, Kyung-hye, and Jin-ah in the living room. They conversed and laughed. Then, Jin-ah took out her phone and gathered everyone for a selfie. She moved the camera in front while the adults stood behind her, and unbeknownst to him, Jin-woo's hand held Hae-in's shoulder as they smiled for the picture.

Finally, the pair bid their farewell. Jin-woo grabbed their coats from the hooks and handed the blue one to Hae-in. The Sung family waved their hands as they watched the two depart from their home and walk toward the black car.

Hae-in sat on the passenger's seat while Jin-woo inserted the keys into the ignition. He pulled from the driveway and drove down the path that led to the road. Streetlights grazed over the windows as vehicles ran past, the city was lively with the bright lights beneath the dark sky, Jin-woo rested his elbow on the armrest to prop the side of his jaw against it, staring ahead of the open road. His pupils moved to the corner of his eyes again and spotted Hae-in, whom he noticed had uttered nary a single word since they had left.

Jin-woo cleared his throat. "How are you feeling?"

"Hm?" Hae-in met his gaze and realized. "Oh! Uh, yeah, I'm fine."

"Really? Your silence tells otherwise," said Jin-woo. "Is there something bothering you? Or did me or my family said something wrong?"

"No! None of you said something wrong." Hae-in shook her head. "It's just that. . . I keep thinking about what your mother said in the middle of dinner."

"Oh?"

"Remember when she said that you should fall for someone who will love you regardless of your reputation? Yeah. . . But I don't know why those words stayed in my mind longer." Hae-in explained. "I haven't thought of dating yet, but you know that I'll be flying to America soon, right?"

He nodded.

"I won't just be there for the competition. There's. . . There's someone who wants to meet me. My parents said he's around my age, so I'll be able to get along with him easily."

Something seemed to pinch a small portion of his heart. Jin-woo evaded it and responded. "Are your parents setting you up?"

"I guess? Based on their words, they kinda do." Hae-in sighed and leaned against the headrest. "Do you think I'm fit enough to be someone's girlfriend?"

"Of course. You're down-to-earth, sweet, and supportive. Why do you think otherwise?" Jin-woo told her. "That is, if you're not ready for a relationship yet."

"I'm not sure. Besides, I don't him personally, so I have no idea what kind of person is he going to be."

Part of Jin-woo felt lucky that his parents had never set him up with someone. He also felt bad for Hae-in. He had only known little details of her relationship with her parents, but learning that they had actually set up their daughter with someone she didn't know. . . It made him quite worried.

Sure, that was out of his business. If Hae-in ended up wanting to date the guy, he'd be happy for her.

The corner of his mouth slowly tugged upward. He stared as Hae-in faced the window for a few moments until an idea sparked in his head. So, Jin-woo stirred the wheel to maneuver the car to the intersection, causing Hae-in to move away from the window when she noticed they were going on a different way.

"Wait— where are we going?" She asked.

"You'll see," Jin-woo grinned. "Sit back and take a nap too. I'll let you know once we've arrived."

There was a place only he knew.

Jin-woo hardly went there, unless he needed to cool off alone. And with the nighttime shrouding the whole country, he thought he had perfect timing. Hae-in had remained awake throughout the journey, curious to see where he was taking her, and Jin-woo had a tinge of excitement in his stomach.

He was confident that she would love the place.

After several minutes of driving in an empty road, Jin-woo finally arrived in his desired destination. The place was quiet and nothing captivating, but there was an old steel fence at the edge of the land that blocked anyone from accidentally setting foot on the sea, and on the other side, it was the distant view of the glimmering lights of Seoul. And far above them. . . It was the clear dark sky tainted with vague mists of clouds and dotted stars scattered across the ether; the moon clung high and bright.

The car halted in the center of the area and Jin-woo got out of the door. He strode around his vehicle to open the other door for Hae-in, who was wrapping her white scarf around her neck; her eyes turned wide at the sight of his hand extended out for her to take. She eventually accepted it and allowed him to lead her out of the car, shutting the door behind her with his free hand.

Jin-woo brought her to the front of his car, leaning his weight against the hood. The wind was as soft as the whispers of the sea across them. It was a perfect place to be without having to hide himself from being recognized.

"It may not be as amazing as you think, but the view is everything you need," he said.

"It is amazing. To be frank, I only see this place in shows." Hae-in chuckled. "Now I understand why directors often choose this place to shoot."

Jin-woo hummed. "I just thought I'd bring you here to ease your mind — at least you won't have to think about the guy your parents had set you up with."

"Have you ever dated before, Jin-woo?" She asked him.

"Me? Pfft—" Jin-woo huffed. "That's the last thing I would do. Sure, I've met a lot of nice girls, but none of them felt right for me."

"ARISE members really have high standards, huh?"

He chuckled. "Not really. As far as I know, all of us have simple standards that are hard to find. I mean, Byung-gyu has been expressing what kind of girl he likes through the songs he wrote, Yoon-ho and Jong-in's are quite hard to tell, and Tae-gyu is. . . Well, I don't wanna think about that."

"What about you?"

"Why do you want to know?" Jin-woo let out a grin.

"Why not?"

"Eh. You might probably do something. Or worse, you'll realize that you got everything I look for a—"

"Shut up!" Hae-in shoved him from finishing the sentence, laughing.

"If that guy doesn't make you laugh this hard, then he's not the right one for you!" Jin-woo laughed back.

Her laugh was like a symphony.

Even under the night sky, Hae-in was as vibrant as the sun. Jin-woo could still see her smile amidst the low brightness around them. The warmth in his heart had spread throughout his body, no longer feeling the cold in the air.

"Whatever, Jin-woo! What if he does it better than you?"

"I doubt it," Jin-woo scoffed and crossed his arms. "If he manages to make you laugh, it means he succeeded in making you comfortable with him. But remember this, Hae-in — the moment you feel something strange in a bad way, don't hesitate to distance yourself."

Hae-in rolled her eyes. "Of course. Why should I still stay with someone who makes me feel uneasy?"

"That's the Cha Hae-in I know," Jin-woo smiled. "As long as you're not ready, the guy must wait, especially if he genuinely wants to be with you. If anything, he should be lucky that he's about to meet someone as nice as you."

Little did he know, something was pinching the back of his heart. Jin-woo chose to evade it and focused on the moment he shared with his best friend. Was he afraid that once Hae-in returned from the states, her heart already belonged to someone else? No, she was not like that. Jin-woo had nothing to fear.

Hae-in was her own person. It was up to her whom she wished to give her heart to.

Jin-woo had spent years deeply hoping to meet the unnamed girl he met at the stadium. All he had wished was nothing but the best. And when he saw her on TV, it stole his breath away. It was the moment he learned her name. Hae-in came into his life and brought such happiness he never felt in the people around him.

Now. . . He hoped that she would bring the same impact on the person she was yet to meet in America.

"You know, meeting you has been the highlight of my year," said Hae-in. She looked ahead, a soft smile curving on her lips. "I'm glad that our paths had crossed once again. I don't think nobody else can compare to that. No amount of words can simply express how thankful I am for you and this bond we have."

"Likewise, Hae-in," Jin-woo smiled tenderly. "That is why I keep wishing but the very best in your life."

"I'd still be able to share those moments with you, right?"

"I'm right beside you in every step of the way."

No matter what, he'd be there for her.

He'd be happy for her.

In the middle of the silence, Jin-woo felt Hae-in rest her head on his shoulder. His heart almost skipped a beat. Shaking his head, he turned to the stars, reflecting upon his eyes like the sea. Two heads of young people slowly became one. His gaze landed on their hands, a mere inch away from each other, then his pinky finger twitched, yet he held himself back from interlocking their hands together.

He believed he was not the right person to hold intertwine their hands together and not let go.

She already had someone waiting for her.

A shooting star sprinted above them.

This time, Jin-woo wished his best friend would be treated right by that person.

#jinhae here blurring the lines between friendship and romance and jin-woo being denial is my TEA #solo leveling #solo leveling boyband au: arise #sung jin woo #cha hae in #jinhae

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