Heartstrings and Headlines

CHAPTER 7: Fault Lines

The faint hum of the speakers faded into silence as the last track ended. I stayed rooted in front of the mirror, catching my breath, the sweat on my forehead making a cool path down my temple. Dancing always had a way of clearing my mind, but tonight, it wasn't working. My thoughts were like unsteady rhythms, crashing against each other in confusion. And, as much as I hated to admit it, most of them revolved around Min Yoongi.

Ever since the fake dating arrangement began, I'd been walking on eggshells. Not because of the cameras or the watchful eyes of the media—those were things I'd anticipated. But because of him. Min Yoongi. The man was an enigma: quiet yet sharp, cold yet oddly considerate. And now, after that practice room moment, he was under my skin in a way I hadn't expected.

The door creaked open behind me, startling me out of my thoughts. I turned to see Chae-won, poking her head in.

"Ara, you've been here for hours. Are you planning to sleep in the practice room tonight?" she teased, stepping inside with a water bottle in hand.

I sighed and plopped down on the floor, grabbing my towel to wipe my face. "Just needed to clear my head."

"Still worried about the fake dating thing?" she asked, sitting beside me. Chae-won always had a way of cutting straight to the point.

"It's not just that," I admitted. "It's... Yoongi. He's... complicated."

Chae-won raised an eyebrow. "Complicated how?"

I hesitated, unsure how to explain. "He's... not what I expected. At first, I thought he'd treat this arrangement like some annoying obligation. But he's... I don't know. He's paying attention—not just for show, but really seeing me. It's unsettling. And the teasing? It stopped, like he flipped a switch the moment the company introduced this fake dating idea. It's almost like he's taking it seriously, and I can't figure out if that's comforting or terrifying."

Chae-won tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "And how do you feel about him?"

The question hit me like a freight train. How did I feel about him? I'd been so caught up in trying to navigate the logistics of the arrangement that I hadn't stopped to consider my own emotions. But now, faced with the question, I realized I didn't have an answer. Or maybe I was too afraid to admit it to myself.

"I don't know," I muttered, avoiding her gaze. "It doesn't matter. This is all fake, remember?"

Chae-won didn't push further, but her silence spoke volumes. She handed me the water bottle and stood up, stretching her arms above her head. "Well, fake or not, you've got a big day tomorrow. Don't stay here too late, okay?"

I nodded, watching her leave. The door clicked shut behind her, leaving me alone with my thoughts again. I leaned back against the mirrored wall, closing my eyes. I needed to get my head on straight. This wasn't the time to get distracted. I had my career to focus on, my dreams to chase. Whatever this thing with Yoongi was, it couldn't matter.

But then why did it feel like it already did?

The next day arrived in a blur of rehearsals and scheduled interviews. By the time the 'date' rolled around, I was already drained. The PR team had picked another café, this one tucked away in a quieter part of the city. It was cozy, with warm lighting and the scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. The perfect backdrop for another photo-op.

Yoongi was already there when I arrived, sitting at a corner table with his usual impassive expression. He glanced up as I approached, his eyes briefly flicking over my outfit before settling on my face.

"You're late," he said, his tone teasing rather than accusatory.

"Traffic," I replied shortly, sliding into the seat across from him. "And I wasn't late. You were early."