Yi-an groaned. Looking haggard, the singer barely got up from his bed and trudged into the spacious living room. His head rang from all the pounding as he finally opened his front door. Gina, his road manager, glared at the sleep-deprived singer.

“Yi-an, we need to hurry if you want to make it on time to your rehearsal!”

“... What time is it?”

“It’s almost 5 a.m.! We need to get to the shop to do your hair and makeup and get to the broadcast station by 6!” Gina grabbed Yi-an’s hand, hauling him out of his apartment. “Let’s go–!”

“Wait, noona. I need to get my phone. Besides, how can I leave the house looking like this?!”

Gina paused and glanced at the idol in his pajamas while his hair was sticking up in all the weird places. His eyes were red and puffy as if he had cried all night. Gina bit her lip as she avoided eye contact with him. It was already eight years, yet it seemed Yi-an still couldn’t let him go. 

With a sigh, she reluctantly released his hand from her grasp and stormed into his penthouse. “Go on, hurry up, and get ready.” 

“Um, do you want something to drink while you wait for me?”

“I’m good. We don’t have much time, Yi-an.”

“... Fine, fine.”

Yi-an was about to head into his bedroom when he came to a complete stop. Wait, hadn’t he fallen asleep inside the basement practice room…? Confused, the idol whipped his head back to his manager. 

“Noona, did you bring me back home?”

“Huh? No, I dropped you off at the company, remember?”

“Are you sure you didn’t come back to pick me up?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Why? Did something happen?”

“...Nothing, never mind.”

The singer quickly slipped into his room and shut the door behind him. What the hell…? If it wasn’t Gina, how did he even get home?!

“...Ha. Did I sleepwalk my way over here…?”

~~~

Yi-an yawned, blankly gazing out of the company’s van. After recording his comeback performance at the broadcasting station, Yi-an felt more exhausted than usual. He closed his eyes for a quick nap while they made their way to his scheduled photoshoot. As much as he loved his career, the idol hated the promotional period. Wasn’t there any other way to promote his new album without jam-packing his schedule like this? It wasn’t like he was getting any younger… He couldn’t function with only two hours of sleep anymore!

“Get some sleep, Yi-an. I’ll wake you up when we get there.”

“‘Kay, thanks.”

Just as he was about to fall asleep, Gina’s phone chimed incessantly until erupting into a loud ring. Smiling sheepishly at Yi-an, she quickly answered the call.

“Yes, CEO Lee? Huh? Yes, Yi-an’s with me; why do you ask?”

Groaning, Yi-an sat up and stretched his hand out for Gina’s phone. What did he want now? Taking her phone, the idol leaned back in his seat and answered with feigned politeness, 

“Yes? What is it, teacher?”

“You idiot! Why did you say that yesterday in the interview?!”

“...? What? I didn’t say anything bad–”

“Why did you say that the title track was dedicated to your ‘best friend and first love?!’”

“Why not? It’s not like it’s untrue.”

“You’re the top search on all search engine sites! The netizens are saying they’ll dig up who it is! Are you insane?!”

“...Let them.”

“WHAT?!”

Yi-an’s gaze hardened as his voice dripped with venom, “I said, let them. Even if they dig him up, it doesn’t matter since he’s already gone. If that’s all it was, I’m hanging up now.”

“YI-AN–!”

Placing Gina’s phone next to him, Yi-an crossed his arms and closed his eyes. Even if the netizens found dirt on him, the singer didn’t care if they found out he was gay. What was he going to do? Deny the rumors and get married to a woman? Besides, his company had erased any trace of his past, so why was CEO Lee so nervous about it? 

“Ugh, I’m so tired.”

~~~

~~Meanwhile, Tokyo, Japan~~

“Y.W. hyung!!! Did you see this?!”

The maknae of SHINE (a boy idol group under GOLD Entertainment) ran up to the group’s leader, his eyes round with surprise and shock. Y.W. (aka Young-woo) glanced up from his meal as the other members raised an eyebrow at the youngest with curiosity. What was that kid so excited about? Skidding to a stop, the youngest idol member shoved his phone in Y.W.’s face.

“Geez, settle down, Kang-in. What is this?”

“Is Yi-an hyung dating?! He dedicated his title track to his ‘best friend and first love!’”

Y.W.’s appetite suddenly dissipated at the news. Ignoring Kang-in, Y.W. clenched his fists as he stoically gazed at his plate. The other members stayed silent as they continued to sip their drinks, avoiding eye contact with their maknae. They already had an inkling that Yi-an’s title track was about Min when they received it from CEO LEE. 

“Why are you guys so quiet?! Did you guys know already?!”

“Kang-in, shut up and eat your food. You better not go around spreading rumors. It’s not like that.” Tae-ho (SHINE’s second oldest and rapper) reprimanded Kang-in, narrowing his eyes at the pouty idol.

Y.W. didn’t say anything as he stiffly left the hotel’s restaurant. Tae-ho clenched his teeth while gazing after their leader with frustration. That idiot, just when was he going to stop this ridiculous one-sided crush?

Alone in his hotel room, Y.W. stared at the photo on his phone’s lock screen. Why did Yi-an suddenly decide to dedicate a song to Min? He never thought Yi-an would come out and publicly mention his first love. What was he thinking?

“...Is this a sign, Yi-an? That you’re finally letting him go…?”