Page 72 of Wish Upon a K-Star
I watch as Minseok’s face falls. Then I take pity on him. “I stayed for me. I don’t think that role is what I want. Not right now, at least.”
“Really?” he says slowly with a dubious frown.
“Really,” I confirm. I thought about how to tell him this a dozen times as Hyejun drove me home. We finally convinced Mom to let me stay and sent her to the airport in the taxi with kisses and apologies. She claimed she did not accept them, but I’m certain she’ll get over it. I realize that for all of Mom’s blustering, she always gets over it. “I felt pressured to take this role because everyone was saying what a huge opportunity it was. But to me, I felt just like I did before I was told I was cast in CiPro . The company told me instead of asking. I never had a choice. This time I do, so I said no.”
“And you don’t regret it?”
“No,” I say, and I mean it. Mostly.
Minseok nods. “Good, I’m glad you did what you actually wanted.”
“So, yeah, I guess that’s what I wanted to tell you.” I don’t really know what to say now, but I feel like I don’t have the closure I was hoping for either.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here.…I was at the airport actually,” Minseok says.
Now it’s my turn to be shocked. “You followed me to the airport?”
“Followed? No, I mean, kind of. Yes, I guess I did.” He looks flustered all of a sudden. “You left your phone; I thought you’d want it with you.” He pulls it out of his pocket, shoving it into my chest.
I take it, frowning as I rub where he jabbed me. “Thanks, I guess. You didn’t need to go all the way to the airport for this. I’m sure it was crowded.”
“Yeah, I realized after I was mobbed that it wasn’t the best idea I’ve ever had. I’m sure Hanbin is going to be pissed.”
I feel a strange clenching in my stomach. He went to the airport, alone, for me. He wanted to see me that badly.
No, I can’t be swayed. There’s more we need to talk about. We can’t just continue doing what we were doing. It’s not fair to either of us.
“Is this really the only reason you went?” I hold up the returned phone, trying to keep my voice calm, measured.
He sighs and shakes his head.
“No, it’s not the only reason. I also had something to tell you.”
My heart rate picks up, but I ignore it. The last few weeks with Minseok have taught me a lot of control when it comes to being around him. Now, even though my hands are itching to grab ahold of him, I ball them into fists around the phone instead.
“What is it?” I ask carefully.
“I was stupid for pretending that it didn’t kill me that you were leaving. And you were right, I lectured you about letting other people control your choices when that’s exactly what I was doing. I was just trying to avoid confrontation, which is obviously an issue I have. Oh, I talked to Jongdae, by the way. Which I might not have done if I hadn’t felt totally shitty about how I mishandled everything with you.”
He’s rambling. Minseok isn’t really a rambler, but I find this new side of him endearing.
“So, you and JD are better?” I ask when he finally stops for a breath.
“Mostly. We’ll figure it out. You’re right; family figures it out.”
I nod. “Good.”
“I’d like to figure things out with you too. I don’t want to lose my chance at this.” He points a finger between us. “So, I guess the first step is to be honest. I want it to be a real thing, not just fun or pretend or undefined. I want to be with you, Hyeri, officially.”
I suck in a deep shuddering breath. My heart is now going haywire. It’s literally the kind of stuff I’ve dreamed of hearing from Minseok since I was thirteen years old. But I have to make sure I have my say first. “I want to be with you too, but we have to be better about talking about the hard stuff.”
Minseok nods. “I know.”
“And I don’t want to tell anyone.”
His face falls. “What?”
“I mean, the public. Or the media. I don’t think they should have a right to every part of my life.”
He nods with a grin. “I agree. But I have to tell the guys and Hanbin.”
“And I probably have to tell Hongjoo-eonni.”
“Doesn’t she already know?”
“Yeah, but I should tell her it’s official.” I am dreading that conversation. I’m sure Hongjoo is dealing with enough having to explain why I’m not on a plane to LA right now.
Minseok reaches out now to take my hand. “Is it, then? Official, I mean.”
“Yeah, sure,” I say. “Today can be our day one.”
He cringes. “Oh wow, who knew you could be so corny.”
“Ya!” I punch his good shoulder, but he catches my wrist and uses it to pull me into him.
My hand is twined with his, the other stuck in my sling. So I can’t do anything but lift my chin to meet his kiss.
His lips are warm and full. He tangles his fingers in my hair, pulling me forward.
My newly freed hand grabs his lapel, holding on.
He breaks the kiss, but doesn’t move too far back. Instead he leans his forehead against mine. “Maybe let’s not do this in the middle of the hallway.”
“Your place?” I ask.
He shakes his head with a grin. “Let’s go to yours. More privacy.”
“You’re so smart, Oppa,” I say, pulling him to my door.
He laughs as he brings my hand up to kiss my knuckles. “That’s why you love me.”