Page 46 of Wish Upon a K-Star

M inseok steps back into his apartment and plops onto one of the kitchen stools. He’s never been one to stress over a relationship, but he really thought Hyeri would be open to defining things by now.

He meant it when he told Hyeri they could start out casual. But he never said he had any intention of staying that way.

Maybe he needs to be more proactive in convincing Hyeri that they can have both their careers and each other. It will be hard, because he isn’t certain he’s fully convinced himself. But still, he has to try. Moon Minseok is someone who thinks it’s worth trying even if the goal feels impossible. That’s how he’s already come so far in his young life.

“Hey, Hyeong.” Jaehyung emerges from his room, carrying an empty bag of chips.

“Was that your dinner?” Minseok frowns, wondering if Hyeri’s right. Maybe he should spend more time here, if only to ensure his members eat more than salty snacks for meals.

“More like an appetizer.” Jaehyung opens the fridge and stares at the contents.

“Any Spam? We could make bokkeumbap.”

“Didn’t you eat at Hyeri-noona’s?”

“Yea but—” Minseok cuts off, turning to eye Jaehyung, who is considering a container of mystery pasta.

“Why do you think I was at Hyeri’s?” he asks carefully.

“Because you’ve been there every day this week,” Jaehyung says, clearly deciding the pasta is safe to eat as he pops the lid and digs in without even heating it.

Minseok sighs. He should have known. Jaehyung is always underestimated due to his resting confused face. It’s what endears him to fans. He seems so innocent. But he’s the most observant of the group. And he’s clearly picked up on what’s going on between Minseok and Hyeri.

“You haven’t told the others, have you?”

Jaehyung shrugs, shoving another spoonful of pasta into his mouth. “If you wanted us to know, you’d tell us.”

Minseok smiles, reminding himself that while astute, Jaehyung also likes to mind his own business. An introvert through and through, he doesn’t like gossip because it means he has to say more than a sentence at a time.

“Does it bother you?” Minseok grabs a mug and fills it with water. He slides it down the counter where Jaehyung catches it and takes a long gulp.

“Do you want my honest opinion?” Jaehyung asks.

“Yes.”

Jaehyung hums thoughtfully, taking another bite of pasta. He is not one to speak thoughtlessly, so he always takes the extra time if he needs it. He figures, if the other person wants a real answer, they should be willing to wait for it.

Finally, he takes a sip of water to clear his throat and says, “I think I was actually surprised nothing ever happened between you two before. But when it didn’t, I also thought you’d both moved on.”

“Well, we clearly haven’t.” Minseok grabs a mug for himself to fill with water, suddenly parched. He feels slightly uncomfortable talking about this. The relationship with Hyeri still feels too delicate. He’s worried that overanalyzing it will show the cracks. “I think I’ve liked her since before we even debuted. But it just wasn’t a good time to start something.”

Jaehyung looks surprised, then he gives one of his slow smiles. The kind that takes a minute to spread, but that any Jaehyung bias can tell you is worth the wait.

“Then I’m happy for you. I like you and Hyeri together.”

“Wow, really?” Jongdae steps into the kitchen. The look of anger on his face unmistakable. He no longer needs the assistance of a crutch, but the boot he wears makes his gait uneven. “You seriously gave me so much shit about not telling you that I was dating Sooyeon and you’re in a secret relationship?”

“It’s not a secret and it’s not a full relationship,” Minseok says.

Derision flashes across Jongdae’s handsome features.

Jaehyung gives a careful cough, as if to remind them he’s still there. “Hyeong, if it’s still new, maybe Minseok-hyeong just needed time—”

“That’s not the point. You acted all high-and-mighty at the beginning of the summer about how I screwed things up.” He jabs a finger into Minseok’s chest.

“Back off,” he says through gritted teeth. It takes everything Minseok has not to grab that finger and give JD another broken limb.

“No, you’ve been calling me selfish all summer for wanting a relationship outside of this group.” Jongdae shoves his sneering face into Minseok’s. “Guess you’re no better than me, huh?”

“I said back off.” Minseok pushes Jongdae away. Not hard, but with his boot, JD can’t catch his balance, and he stumbles into the couch.

“Hyeong!” Jaehyung races to Jongdae’s side. “He’s still hurt.”

“Then he should be more careful.” Minseok scowls. “You have no right to get into my personal business. Not when you worked so hard to keep me out of yours.”

Jongdae shakes his head. “Yeah, well at least I’m not a hypocrite.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Minseok growls.

“You act like you’re doing everything you can to save WDB. At least Sooyeon didn’t have a reputation that could hurt us. Can you say the same about Hyeri?”

“You should stop talking,” Minseok warns through teeth clenched as tight as his fists. He’d like nothing more than to hit that smug look off Jongdae’s face, but he knows he has to hold back. He always has to hold back.

Jongdae doesn’t listen. “Have you ever thought about how her reputation could blow back on us? Can she even survive another scandal if this gets out?”

That pushes Minseok over the precarious edge he’s standing on. He can take all the jabs and criticisms for himself, but hearing Jongdae talk about Hyeri makes him lose his control. He grabs his friend’s collar so forcefully that he hears the material rip. “Don’t fucking talk about her like that.”

Jongdae’s fist is like lightning, a brick-hard blow to Minseok’s jaw.

The surprise of the attack and the anger behind the hit makes stars explode behind his eyes.

“Hyeong! Stop it!” Jaehyung’s shouting now, something that rarely ever happens.

It’s enough to bring Jun and Robbie into the living room.

“What’s going on?” Jun asks.

“Hyeong? You okay?” Robbie goes to Jongdae’s side.

“Minseok-ah?” Jun asks, worry creasing his brow.

“It’s nothing. It’s over,” Minseok says, wiping at his lip; it comes away with a smear of blood. “Just keep him the hell away from me.”

As he escapes into the hallway, he stares at Hyeri’s door. He wants to go to her. To hide away with her. But Jongdae’s angry accusation echoes, too fresh in his mind.

Can she even survive another scandal if this gets out?

Instead, he turns to the elevators. He needs fresh air and time to think.