Page 45 of Wish Upon a K-Star

T he next few weeks are surreal.

Most of my time is taken up by OCM . They’ve doubled our air time because our segments are the most watched (and rewatched online).

It has strangely become a way for me to see the city. Even when I was a trainee, I didn’t explore as much as I wanted, since I was always so busy with training.

Then being in Helloglow took up all my time. And after, I was too scared to leave my safe spaces.

But now, with OCM , Minseok and I have had dates at all the most popular spots in Seoul. The Coex Aquarium. Dressing in hanbok at the Queen’s Palace. The Starfield Library. My favorite was actually after we finished at Namsan Tower, leaving a love lock like hundreds of other couples have. We walked down one of the winding roads instead of taking the car and found a small rooftop bar overlooking the mountainside. We just sat there, holding hands and watching the sunset together.

Too often, when we’re recording, I forget that it’s just for a show. But now, I don’t worry about blurring that line anymore. In fact, I fully embrace the illusion; the show’s dates have become like a way to live out my relationship bucket list with Minseok.

He’s so good at creating a bubble around us. Like nothing outside of the two of us can touch what we have. It’s such a skill, seeing as our relationship was literally created to entertain millions.

But Minseok doesn’t seem to care about any of that. When he talks about us, he talks in the indefinite. He’s always cracking jokes, sometimes shocking full snort laughs out of me. I can only imagine what my mom thinks as she monitors episodes. But it’s too hard to try to hold back when I’m with him. I’m the most relaxed I’ve ever been on camera. Somehow, along the way, I gave up stressing about maintaining a specific image, which is good, since half the time Minseok and I end up bickering over something or another.

But somehow the fans still seem to think we have good chemistry. That even our fights are cute.

For the first time, people online describe me with words like “relatable” and “witty” instead of “stiff” and “rude.”

There are still antis circling, commenting on articles about the show, but they’re drowned out by the new fans. And when one anonymous post claims I was a school bully in LA, it’s quickly shut down by other netizens picking apart the commenter for mixing up my middle school with my elementary school. I’ve never been so quickly defended online before like that.

I know I owe it all to Minseok. He makes me relax on camera.

And maybe sometimes I do have moments of worry about what will happen when I no longer have him beside me. But I tell myself that’s a problem for future Hyeri. For now, I do have him. Not just on set, but after as well.

When we get back from shoots, we go to our respective apartments. And later, he comes to my place. At first, he’d text beforehand. But soon, it just became our routine. We haven’t defined anything. It’s like an unspoken agreement that as long as we don’t say what it is, we don’t have to worry about any consequences.

“Double scoops of ice cream,” I say.

“Oh, that’s a good one,” Minseok hums.

We’re sitting on my couch. Well, I’m sitting, Minseok is sprawling next to me—which I’ve found is his favorite position. His head is lying in my lap and he’s playing with my hand, which is resting on his chest.

“I think the thing I miss the most since debuting is going to the movies.”

“You don’t go to the movies?” I ask, but then I try to remember the last time I went and come up empty.

“Well, we go to screenings sometimes when we’re invited. But I miss just casually going to watch a movie. And also, the snacks.” He twines his fingers through mine and presses my knuckles to his lips as he thinks—another habit he’s picked up.

“Oh yeah, I love the movie snacks here. When I first moved from LA, sometimes I’d just go to the theater to buy snacks to bring home. I wouldn’t even see a movie.”

Minseok grins against the back of my hand. “Yeah, I remember you once came back to the trainee dorm with two bags of movie theater popcorn.”

“It lasted me a week.” I smile at the memory. Then, as if also remembering, my stomach rumbles.

Minseok laughs, glancing at his phone screen. “Wow, it’s already almost dinnertime. We should order something to eat.”

“You’re not eating with the guys?” I ask.

He shrugs, already scrolling through a delivery app. “They’ll survive without me.”

I bite my lip, holding back my concern. I know that JD has moved back into WDB’s dorm. I saw him with his suitcase in the hallway this past weekend. Minseok hasn’t mentioned it at all, but he has been coming over to my place every day this week. “You’re over here more than you’re at your own place.”

“You try living with four other guys and see how often you want to be home. They’re all messy slobs,” Minseok mutters, snuggling closer.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think you’re any better.” I eye the socks he took off and left on the floor.

“What are you talking about? Haven’t you heard that the fans call me the mom of WDB? I’m always taking care of those boys.”

“Yeah, right. You’re just good at playing it up for cameras. I know that Jun does all the cooking.”

Minseok sits up and gives me an offended stare. “Shin Hyeri, that is some archaic patriarchal BS to think the mom always has to do the cooking.”

I laugh and smack his shoulder before he settles his head into my lap again.

“Fine, maybe you’re right,” I admit. “But aren’t you worried one of the guys is going to get suspicious? What if they figure out you’re coming over here?”

“If it’s Jun or Jaehyung they won’t tell anyone. If it’s Robbie, I’ll just bully him into keeping his mouth shut.”

I notice he doesn’t mention JD, but I wisely don’t ask. Still, it does feed my worry that he still hasn’t made up with Jongdae. Maybe I should say something. Isn’t that what a good friend would do? Or whatever I am to Minseok.

What do you call someone who has finally successfully started a situationship with their longtime crush, but it’s mostly secret kissing and heavy flirting?

Don’t overthink this, Hyeri. Not this time. Just enjoy it while it lasts.

“Hyeri?” Minseok says, pulling me back to the present. “Where’d you go?”

“Nowhere,” I say, pretending that I wasn’t just spacing out with anxiety over our non-relationship. “What were you saying?”

He reaches up to ruffle my hair affectionately. “I kind of love how spacey you are, I ever tell you that?”

Love. My heart jumps before I purposefully squash the feeling.

“I was asking you if you were down for sushi?’

“Sure.” I force a light grin, leaning in to peruse the menu with him.

Things are good for now , I tell myself. That’s all I can ask for.