Page 24 of Wish Upon a K-Star

T he restaurant we’re filming in today is one of those fancy (read: expensive) places with private rooms in Gangnam. Places where exclusive business deals take place. But also, the place you go to meet your future in-laws when you’re trying to impress them.

Of course, I’m not trying to impress the people who will show up as Minseok’s stand-in family for the “family meeting” episode. But I am nervous nonetheless. It all seems both so real and so fake at the same time. It feels different than filming a drama. Because even though we’re still telling a story, we’re supposed to be ourselves—just a more entertaining, more palatable version. And it all just feels like more lying.

Get over it, Shin Hyeri, this is your job. Just do it and do it right.

“Okay, kids, we’re going to start filming soon,” Han-PD announces, pushing his square glasses up his nose. He’s in a good mood today. Probably because of the positive reception of the first episode.

Minseok has already settled at the table and is laughing at something one of the assistant PDs said. He looks so casually handsome and I’m suddenly reminded of all the viewer comments saying that we make a good visual pair.

Just thinking about it makes me blush just as Han-PD tells us to take our places.

I’m supposed to sit next to Minseok, but I feel self-conscious all of a sudden and I keep a foot of space between us.

“Okay, Hyeri-ssi, can you do the clapper?” the PD asks.

“What? Oh yeah, sure.” I hurry to clap my hands together, much smoother this time than last.

When I settle into my place again, Minseok pats my shoulder and I freeze. “Are you nervous?”

“Nervous?” I repeat, wondering if he’s picking up on my awkwardness.

“To meet my family?” he clarifies with a laugh. “Guess you are.”

My instinct is to lie. To pretend I’m fine. But I know the point of these shows is to give people a look at the “real” you. So, I nod. “Yeah, I guess a little. I want it to go well.”

I don’t add that it’s not about meeting family but about doing it on camera. I wonder if they brought Minseok’s actual parents over.

Instead, the door opens and two familiar faces walk in.

“Noona!” Robbie gives me a quick half-hug before I can fully react.

“Hyeri-noona.” Jaehyung, who has always been far more reserved, sends me a friendly smile and bow.

I’ve known them since we were kids, trainees together at Bright Star. But it’s been months since I’ve seen them. And I’m struck by how much they’ve grown since we were starting out.

Robbie used to be shorter and now he towers over me. It’s weird to think that he’s still in high school. He’s been in the industry longer than I have, growing up in the public eye.

They settle on the other side of the table and I send them a relieved grin. I’m glad it’s them. It should make it just a little easier to get through.

“How are you dealing with Hyeong so far?” Robbie asks with a teasing smile for Minseok.

“I’m not that bad,” Minseok insists.

“Sunbae is fine,” I say with a shrug.

“Sunbae?” Robbie looks between the two of us. “Oh.”

It’s just a single word, but it holds a ton of questions in it.

Minseok laughs. “She refuses to call me Oppa.”

“There are other things. Oppa isn’t the only option,” I insist.

“Then why did you choose Sunbae?” Minseok asks.

I can’t help it, my eyes slide to the cameras. I can’t say the real reason. That his warning all those years ago still echoes in my head. That he rejected me. And calling him Oppa represents a time when I was too naive to realize his platonic kindness wasn’t any more than that.

“What do you call Hyeri-noona?” Jaehyung asks.

“What I’ve always called her, Hyeri-ya.”

“That’s not very romantic either,” Robbie points out.

“What would you call your girlfriend?” Minseok asks, and I almost gasp. Is he allowed to say that? Bright Star has never confirmed that Robbie is dating, and I’m sure they’re doing it on purpose because of the Jongdae scandal.

Robbie just shrugs. “I call them Constellation. Obviously.”

Jaehyung lets out a surprised laugh, and Minseok rolls his eyes.

They’re so natural, letting these awkward moments slide off them so easily. Why can’t I do that? This is why WDB is so widely beloved, because their rapport with each other is so natural and fun. Filled with inside jokes and sibling-like bickering. They grew up together and it’s clear to anyone who watches that they’re not just teammates, but family.

With the three of them here, my nerves are smoothed out, and I’m able to join in on the conversation a bit more naturally than when it was just Minseok and me.

We’re served injeolmi, a rice cake dessert covered in roasted soybean powder called konggaru.

“We hope the newlywed couple will stick together like these injeolmi,” the waitress says with a professional smile.

“You should feed one to your bride, Hyeong,” Robbie says mischievously.

Minseok picks one up and to my horror, it looks like he’s going to comply with Robbie’s request.

“I’m okay!” I yelp, and quickly snatch it from his hand. Some of the konggaru falls onto the table.

I shouldn’t have done that, but it’s too late now. Embarrassed, I stuff the injeolmi in my mouth. Then immediately realize I’ve made another mistake as the chewy rice cake completely fills my mouth. I can barely bite down.

Minseok smirks at me. “You look like Jaemunk.”

I’m confused until Jaehyung lets out a surprised laugh. Jaemunk is the cartoon chipmunk that represents Jaehyung, his cheeks always puffed out with food.

“Hey,” I mumble through my mouthful.

Minseok laughs and leans forward. I want to pull away, but the rice-paper wall is right behind me. So, I’m trapped and he knows it, if his slow grin is any indication. He takes his time lifting his hand, then wipes the edge of my mouth with his thumb.

“You had some on your lip,” he says so quietly I wonder if the mics even pick it up.

There’s a thing Minseok has always done. He speaks to you like you’re special. When I was younger, I couldn’t wait for the times I could have that focus on me. To let it make me feel somehow important to him.

And I’m horrified to learn that it still gives me that glowy feeling, being the center of his attention.

He shouldn’t be able to pull me in like this when I know all his tricks already. I should be immune. I’ve worked so hard the past four years to be. Except I’ve clearly failed.

I hear Robbie and Jaehyung’s low “Oooh.”

Minseok’s gaze flickers toward them in annoyance, and finally I’m able to snap out of it and push him away. Not hard, but enough to get him to move back.

I’m sure I’m flushed, but for once I don’t care what I look like on camera. Jaehyung and Robbie start teasing Minseok, who plays along. I know I should participate. I will, I just need to catch my breath first.