Chapter Text
It is a fine day. The sun is bright, the birds are chirping and a certain CEO Lee absolutely wants to kill someone.
“That’s it!” A broadsheet is slapped onto the table. CEO Lee likes his broadsheets, they’re scandalous and dramatic. “I’m gonna murder him before he makes me pop a vein.”
The pretty wide eyed secretary he’d hired the other week hurriedly puts a cup of coffee on the CEO’s table. He stares at the newspaper in his boss’ hands and gulps. Smack dab on the middle was the most famous actor that had ever graced the industry.
Han Seungwoo is the actor. At thirty, he is at the peak of his career with devastating good looks, award winning talent, and the most infamous personal life that had shocked the country, six times to Sunday. He is the media’s flavor of the year, every other week an article comes out highlighting even the most mundane thing he does.
Until last month.
"Han Seungwoo spotted on another date. Is the country’s favorite bachelor off the market (again)?"
“Call in Hyunsik. We need to discuss this."
//
“You are so fucked.”
Seungwoo is on the process of putting his glasses on when the door to his flat opens without much preamble. Yohan grins when he puts the bag of takeaway he had gotten from Seungwoo’s favorite porridge shop on the breakfast counter. Seungwoo removes the contents from the bag, sighing. “Do I even want to know what this is all about?”
“Apparently the country’s favorite bachelor is off the market. Care to elaborate on this crudely put statement, Mr Han?”
Seungwoo tries to ignore the foreboding in his gut. Fuck, he really should not have given in. But alas, he is a man and a man has his needs.
If only Jinhyuk did not give up on him, on them. None of this would have happened.
But then again, Seungwoo has had enough. He had long stopped lamenting over the loss of who was once the love of his life. It stings when he thinks about him. They have been together for nearly four years, longer than any of Seungwoo’s past relationships. The most important of all, he was in love. In love goddammit.
Along the way, he has learned to move on but not without consequences he liked to blame on other people.
The breakup was so sensationalized it could have been a prologue for a box office hit. The media made his suffering fodder for gossip and consequently pandered to mass consumers who had cried days on end because love is officially deceased. Han Seungwoo and Lee Jinhyuk were no more.
It had destroyed Seungwoo of course. To reiterate he was head over heels, fucking insanely in love with the music producer. And maybe just maybe he had spiraled into the most toxic version of himself because he wanted Jinhyuk to know you caused this. Five months later he dates an actress; three months after, an actor; last night he was seen with a random hookup; and today his name is plastered all over news sites.
The country is once again in an uproar.
“Oh fuck.” Seungwoo says, still squinting even in his glasses. “The boss is gonna kill me.”
Kim Yohan had the audacity to laugh at his face. “Good luck, Seungwoo. You’ll need it.”
//
Seungwoo strides into the company building that same afternoon. He managed to avoid the paparazzi loitering around his apartment building by directly going to the basement parking. He blackmailed Yohan to drive him, because the ungrateful prick couldn’t be coerced through nice words. Seungwoo surmises he really needs a new set of friends.
He knocks on the boss’ office door. He fully expects to be put on the spot, grilled to high heavens and threatened to have all his jobs revoked. It is the proper decorum after all. Instead, CEO Lee greets him nicely when he enters. The man’s eyes looked halfway manic yet he smiles at Seungwoo and ushers him to take a seat
Sat on one of the leather chairs dotting the CEO’s office is a man that Seungwoo could swear he had seen herding the members of the agency’s new idol group just a few days ago. Seungwoo as expected, is absolutely nervous; his heart feels like it’s catching in the hollow of his throat. He composes himself and gives the man a succinct greeting before he sits on one of the vacant chairs.
“So, gentlemen.” The CEO begins. His left eye twitches when he glances at Seungwoo and Seungwoo fights the urge to cringe on the spot. “Manager Park has come here with a proposition to clean up your image, Seungwoo-ah.”
Seungwoo wants to scream, run to the other side of the continent and never show his face again. He should just retire from the industry and quit all this nonsense. Yet he manages to calm down, face perpetually set into a relaxed expression. It is what makes him such a good actor.
Grace under pressure.
“It is nice to finally meet you, Seungwoo.” The man says, “Just call me Hyunsik.”
Seungwoo nods, sufficiently intimidated by the constricting tension in the room. “What’s happennig?”
“We want to set you up with a pseudo dating scandal.” Hyunsik says, matter of fact.
“Excuse me?”
CEO Lee turns to Seungwoo. This time, he does not hide his displeasure. He shoots Seungwoo with such a hardened gaze that immediately seals Seungwoo’s lips shut and stops whatever complains he would have uttered. “You will listen to the manager, Seungwoo.”
Seungwoo fears for his life.
“As I was saying.” The manager reiterates. “What we’re about to do is normal in the publicity sector of the industry. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
“Pardon me.”Seungwoo says, unable to hold it in any longer. “But how are we fixing my dating scandal with another dating scandal?”
The manager looks at Seungwoo with such a knowing gaze and Seungwoo really is under the impression that he is soon meeting his maker.
“Frankly, your current image is a mess Seungwoo. Though we can’t deny that you bring in more than half of free publicity for the company. You’re everyone’s favorite gossip. Now here’s the catch, we’re debuting X1 with a few recycled members as you know and we’re looking at one particular person who’s willing to take the hit for the team and do this with you. As opposed to yours, he’s the epitome of a crowd’s favorite. He embodies the good boy image and has it perfected. Dating you will bring him the exposure X1 needs and you’ll win points from the audience which will eventually clean your image. See the point?”
Seungwoo is pretty sure that every word that came out of the manager’s lips would bring his career into a screeching halt and if he is particularly unlucky it would be his own ruin. He wants to argue but when he turns to beg for another chance, the CEO gives him another withering glare that goes straight to his marrow. His lips remain sealed.
“Cho Seungyoun is an up and coming idol. His fans adore him. Hopefully they also trust him and his taste. If it all ends up as planned, you can consider yourself with a clean slate.”
Seungwoo fails to unravel the logic to that statement. His brain had short circuited at the word idol and is most likely not coming online anytime soon.
“I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“We won’t be confirming anything to the media, Seungwoo. Essentially, we will be selling them an illusion. Your consumers love the mystery. It will be a little white lie to save your career. You should be thankful that Seungyoun is willing to do this with you.”
Oh great.
“Do I really have a say in this?” Seungwoo sighs.
CEO Lee gives him another soul freezing glare, “You should have asked that before you allowed yourself to be photographed last night.”
Seungwoo sighs. “Alright I assume there is a nondisclosure agreement to all of this?”
A paper is literally slapped on the coffee table adjacent to Seungwoo’s seat. He signs without bothering to read the contents and throughout this process he thinks that he really has screwed it all up. He is losing his touch.
Right after, Seungwoo sees himself out while the manager opts to stay behind - something about needing to discuss things further with the big boss. Seungwoo just hopes that he’s not putting his career to rest soon.
He thinks about the names: Seungyoun and X1. The company hasn’t debuted any group in the last five years and the pressure that these people have gone through in order to step onstage and fulfill their dreams must have been immense. Seungyoun is such in a precarious vantage though Seungwoo begins to see the point, publicity is publicity. The stakes are high so the group must be incredibly gifted to enact such a risky move.
But still, it’s far too dangerous. It’s like having blood on his hands. The poor kid really should have protested.
//
Seungwoo darts into the hallway leading to a dance studio. It’s dark from where he is but the practice room is brightly illuminated. He stays there, not moving and wondering what in the bloody hell he is trying to achieve with this little excursion. But Seungwoo really wanted to get things over with and see the kid whose future depended on his career.
Seungyoun. He wonders who could the name belong to when he peeks inside the occupied dance studio. There is a very pretty kid with innocent doe eyes. Over the corner are a couple of teenagers huddled together and seemingly immersed in an odd game. The last few ones are laughing at a boy who is busy doing weird impressions and making ridiculous faces on the wall mirrors.
Curious.
Interest sufficiently piqued, Seungwoo watches the kids for a while and smiles at their childish antics. Then he knocks. Everyone looks at him when he steps inside, except for the weird kid who had seen him first and immediately proceeded to trip on air, falling to the hard wooden floor.
Pretty boy approaches his teammate and not so gently helps him up. “Seungyoun what the hell, you’re embarrassing. ”
Oh.
When Seungyoun stands up, the rest of the boys file in line and bow, unanimously greeting, “Hello sunbae-nim.”
Seungwoo smiles. O, they'are adorable.
“Hello. Do you guys mind if I borrow Seungyoun for a while?”
The one called Seungyoun nods. Seungwoo notices a few things about Seungyoun. He has beautiful eyes that crinkled into tiny crescents when he laughs, his cheeks seemed soft like he hadn’t shed off the last of his adolescent features, and his teeth are slightly imperfect. Seungwoo finds him oddly endearing.
“Sure.” Seungyoun says as he wrings his fingers together, “Sunbae?”
Seungwoo shoots him another smile in hopes that it would placate whatever discomfort he is having in these trying times.
“Are you alright? The floor obviously didn’t cushion your fall.”
Seungyoun nods and his cheeks flush pink. “I’m fine sunbae.”
“Okay. Do you want to grab dinner? It’s on me.”
Seungyoun nods, wringing his fingers like he doesn’t know what to do with them.
They quietly make the trek to the company’s cafeteria in the lobby. Seungwoo’s mind is still reeling that he stays quiet throughout.
“I’m really sorry.” Seungwoo begins after they order their food. “About the mess you have to go through because of my irresponsibility. Forgive me.”
Seungyoun’s eyes widen comically, “No sunbae. Please don’t apologize, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, did you have the choice to decline? This thing we’re about to do, it could be harmful for your career and it is my fault. You shouldn’t have been dragged into it.”
“I had. But they would still ask someone else from the group so I just went ahead with it since I’m the leader.”
Seungyoun has a disarming smile, it reminded Seungwoo of that kid he acted with on his last drama, Dongpyo. Now he wonders just how young the idol is.
“It’s alright sunbae. I trust them.”
This poor kid, innocent still and not as disillusioned as Seungwoo.
“How old are you, Seungyoun-ah?”
“Twenty-two.”
Seungwoo wails inwardly. They will be out for his blood. Han Seungwoo how could you allow yourself to stoop this low? You will taint him. You will ruin his career. God, they will be out there with pitchforks and burning torches.
“Jesus.” Seungwoo presses his face onto his palms and tries not to cry. Seungyoun looks at him worriedly and asks, “Are you alright, sunbae?”
Seungyoun really does not deserve to be tangled with Seungwoo. He is too kind for his own good.
“I'm alright Seungyoun-ah, do call me hyung.”
//
As expected of them, the powers that be come up with the most elaborate script of the century. The whole charade is worthy of prime time non-cable drama with how carefully it’s thought out. Seungwoo admits he is quite intrigued.
And just like that, it begins.
It’s a windy autumn night, two weeks later, when the act begins. Seungwoo steps off his vehicle in front of X1’s dorm (apparently X1 is Seungyoun’s band) and stares at the facade of the building, psyching himself. He is clad in an obnoxious outfit to hide his overly familiar face. A poor attempt at a disguise knowing that someone will eventually follow him.
He leans against the hood of his car and waits for Seungyoun as prescribed. The detailed dating dossier (as Seungwoo prefers to call it) did say to keep the vibe friendly but suggestive enough for rumors to begin. When he thinks further about it, it becomes more and more of a bad idea. He mulls through the pros and cons of what he’s about to do and slowly decides that he really shouldn’t be doing this.
He is about to screw it all to hell, when Seungyoun finally appears. He had on a beanie and a yellow sweater that looks far too thin for this weather.
Cheerfully, he greets Seungwoo in his naturally high pitched tone. Seungwoo cannot help the smile on his face; Seungyoun’s optimism is infectious and it is slowly rubbing onto Seungwoo and brightening his gloomy life.
He removes his jacket and casually slings it over Seungyoun’s shoulders. “You should have worn something thicker. It’s cold.” The tips of Seungyoun’s ears turn red. Seungwoo chuckles. Adorable.
“Let’s go.”
Seungwoo notices the paparazzo that had been following him, minutes ago. He tries not to get so angry about it since the whole point to this real life drama is to create a rumor anyway, but still, his blood boils. He does not let it affect the friendly vibe inside the vehicle where Seungyoun is humming to songs on the radio.
“You look tired, Seungyoun.” Seungwoo says and pats the idol’s thigh in a gesture of consolation.“You can sleep while I drive around.”
“I’m sorry, hyung. I should be more proactive about this.”
“If you insist.” Seungwoo says, “You can decide where we’ll go. Choose a place where you can rest.”
“How about my studio?”
Seungwoo nods. “Alright, lead the way.”
//
Seungyoun’s studio is a quaint place. Soft mood lights bounced off beige walls and the carpet brushed against Seungwoo’s ankles. He sits on one of the couches while Seungyoun goes to tinker with overly complicated musical equipment.
“Do you want to hear what I’ve been working on, hyung?”
Seungwoo nods. The idol seems to be really enthusiastic about his craft and Seungwoo is powerless to say no. A minute later, a soft tone reverberates inside the tiny space before a voice accompanies the melody.
“Who’s singing?”
Seungyoun fidgets on his spot. “Me. I’m sorry, I know I don’t sound that good, it’s just for the guide track.”
“You’ve a beautiful voice then, Youn.” Seungwoo says, sufficiently surprised at Seungyoun’s singing voice. “I thought you were a rapper. It’s what they told me.”
The way the idol handles compliments is truly adorable, he giggles and scratches the back of his neck like a confused little boy. God why is everything about Seungyoun so adorable?
“I am. I don’t really sing much, it’s embarrassing. I’m not as good as the vocalists in my band.”
"But I think you do. In fact, I'm going to signup for your fanclub."
The sound the younger makes at the actor’s statement is truly, truly endearing. They listen to the song for a while. Seungwoo just watches Seungyoun and notes the way his hair fans across his forehead. There is something fragile about Seungyoun as if one little tap might make him cave into himself. Seungwoo’s guilt slowly gnaws at him, like an irritating insect underneath his skin.
“I’m really sorry about all of this Seungyoun. I couldn’t help but think that I might ruin your dreams and you’ve barely even begun. We could back out now, and pretend that nothing was ever said about this.”
“It’s really okay, Seungwoo hyung. We’re both using each other for personal gains anyway so it’s not like I’m any more affected than you. I try not to think about what’s gonna happen later, for now I’m focused on getting X1 out there though the means aren’t necessarily the most conventional. I trust that we’ll pull through.”
“I hope you’ll carry this optimism throughout your career, Seungyoun.”
“I’ll try. I’m naturally happy, hyung.”
Seungwoo smiles. “You should go to sleep. Tomorrow we’re going to go on the most enviable breakfast date that will make everyone in this country green with jealousy.”
//
DISPATCH via NATE: Actor Han Seungwoo spotted on a date today.
[+35890, -2392] “Love really destroys, huh. When he and Jinhyuk separated he started acting up. It’s obvious he’s never been in love since.”
[+24789, -3432] “It’s a good thing he’s talented. All these scandals would have ended his career the minute they started.”
[+18790, -456] “OH MY GOD CAN HE DATE ME TOO. HAN SEUNGWOO DATE ME PLEASE. ONE DAY ONLY. I DON’T CARE.”
[+15671, -567] “his flavor of the month is cute tho. Anyone knows who the kid is? Drop them deets.”
[+12921, -345] “wait, isn’t the boy a member of the new boygroup Swing’s debuting? He sure looks like it.”
[+3456, -90] “no kidding. Looks like seungyoun from the photo teasers.
[+52, -823] “what the fuck, so the creep’s onto younger kids now? Go away please.
[+1256, -80] “you people stop need to stop acting like seungwoo’s so old. He just hit his thirtieth birthday. Give the man a break.”
[+8900, -78] “boy sure looks like he’s enjoying himself. Seungwoo really is the nation’s boyfriend.”