Chapter 8

160113

***

Star is walking alone at the grounds of her school. Chahyun and Seomin were in different places somewhere, wandering around. And probably looking for a thing to get busy with in their vacant time.

She grabbed her phone from her pocket and checked if the two girls texted her. But there's none.

"Those two, they didn't even bother telling me where the heck they are." She sighed.

"KYAAAAAAHHH!"

She cringed as screams roared in the area in where she strolls.

"Ugh. Another famous person." She said looking sick of the screams. "I wish he or she is someone I know and I like." She added.

She ignored the commotion and continued working. Everyday in this school, this happens. She's getting fed up of it. She'll only be good to it, or maybe even join the screaming squad, if she knows who is the person they're screaming for.

She stopped walking as an idea popped in her mind.

"What if I'm already an idol and I'm still here?" She asked herself, thinking if they will also run after her once she becomes an idol.

"Nah." She said while laughing at her thought, "I'll finish studying first."

"Why are you talking alone?"

"Omo!" She jumped in surprise as someone spoke from near behind.

She turned around to see the guy but she then turned back as she saw the enchanting face of the one and only guy who can make her blush, Ten.

"You don't care." Then she hurriedly walked away.

"Hey! Wait!" Ten is about to follow Star but he's blocked by the fangirls who have earsplitting voices.

Star glanced at Ten and suddenly laughed as she watch him being agitated by the fans.

Ten looked at her with eyes screaming for help. Star just sticked her tongue out and continued walking.

"Star-yah! Sallyeojwo!"

She just laughed at Ten's yell but she unconsciously made her way to Ten's direction.

"Ugh. I'm hopeless. I can't resist you!"

She forcefully went into the middle of the screaming fans and finally caught Ten's hands.

"Excuse us, please!" She pleaded nicely.

"That won't do." Ten said. Star looked at him.

"Then how will you make it out from here? Shall I call the guards?"

Ten smiled meaningfully, "Simple."

Star doubted his smile and his word. She felt that there will be something wrong.

"Excuse us, guys!" Ten shouted, "My girlfriend and I have to attend classes! Excuse us, please!"

The crowd finally halted. They were all silent and a match of a question mark and an exclamation point is written on their faces. All of them looked blank except Ten who's holding the hands of Star, who is having a mental breakdown right now, trying to sort out the words that Ten just have said.

"Y-your girlfriend?" Someone asked.

"Ne!" Then Ten smiled.

"You have a girlfriend?"

"Is that allowed?"

"Oh my! He can't be!"

"It must be a fraud!"

And different comments around roared.

"So, see you next time!" Ten just ran while holding the cold hands of Star.

They stopped in front of their room, panting.

"Yah!" Star finally spoke.

"Yes?" Ten asked innocently.

"Why did you say that?"

"What? Which?"

"M-Me as your... g-girlfriend..." Star's face totally turned red.

"We need to get out of the crowd." He answered casually.

"But what you've said isn't true! It's not even right!" She shook her head.

"Hey, I made you a favor."

"It isn't a favor for me! It's for yourself!" Then she pointed at Ten angrily.

"Is it really that wrong?"

"Yes, it is!"

"Why do you say so?"

"Because first of all, that will be spread and that will be an issue. Second, I know that girlfriends are not allowed for you. And third, THAT ISN'T TRUE!"

"Hey. Keep calm." Ten held Star's shoulder.

"I can't!"

"You have to! You're making a scene!" Then he looked at the people around them who are watching them.

Star suddenly feel ashamed for the scene she made again.

"You're a trouble maker." Ten whispered.

"It's you rather." She fired back.

"Let's talk about this later." Ten pulled her into the room and went on his seat, as well as Star.

Star violently closed her eyes and hit her forehead with her knuckles.

**

Star was the only trainee in the training room. She's playing her fingers while her knees are trembling with nervousness. She's standing straight while waiting for the guy in front of him to speak.

"Now, speak!" That was their dance trainer, Sejoon, who also stand as their manager from this day on. He heard about the rumors that Star and Ten are dating. And he believed it as Jaehyun told him that they found them together in a restaurant in Hongdae.

"T-trainer-nim, it's not like that." Star stated while looking fearfully at Sejoon.

"Then what?"

She lowered her head first, "We were at the school grounds, talking about just simple and friendly things. Then his fangirls came and of course, a commotion began." She glanced at Sejoon who's throwing sharp gazes against her. Then she continued, remaining looking at him, "And then, I tried to help him make a way out. But what he did is he announced that I'm her girlfriend. With that, everybody's shut. And we successfully escaped. That's how it happened, trainer-nim."

Sejoon violently closed his eyes then massaged her temple.

"That foolish kid." He said while plotting a plan on how to punish the two.

"I'm sorry." Star said then bowed.

She's afraid of what may happen next. She can be expelled. Or she can be suspended. Or the company may stop sponsoring her education. Or whatsoever negative things. She bit her lips then crossed her fingers, wishing that the compensation would be light.

She heard Sejoon sighed heavily as if his lungs is loaded with a lot of stuffs. She silently prayed and prepared herself.

"What you did is wrong." He said.

"Yes, I know, trainer-nim." She said politely.

"But I think I have to consider the situation. By now, we have to tell the public that the rumor isn't true. But since it already came from Ten, we don't know what to do now." He slowly shook his head while inserting his hands on the pocket of his hoodie.

"Trainer-nim," the trainer looked at her, "It's better if you will tell the truth. Tell the situation, the reason, and the public will understand. It's not our problem anymore if they won't believe us. As long as we are transparent, it will be better and it will be a good image for us. We don't need to hide." She smiled slightly, hoping that the trainer will agree.

"I see." He nodded. "Ok, so we will release a statement about this. But I'm warning you, don't do any stupid acts again. Reread our guidelines if needed. Dating is not allowed, okay? And as much as possible, avoid being close to anyone from the predebut team. They have to focus on their work. As well as you. Plus you're still studying. For now, I'll let the others decide for your punishment. Understand?"

"Algettseumnida!"

"Ok. I'll be going." He bowed and headed out of the room.

Star remained standing there. She heaved a sigh of relief. Good thing, Sejoon has a good understanding.

"Yah! Star-yah!" Seomin, Chahyun and Hime entered the room with worried faces.

"Yah, unnie, gwaenchanhayo? Did he scold you? Are you okay?" Hime asked continuously.

"I'm ok." She smiled.

"What's your punishment?" Chahyun asked.

"So you anticipated the punishment more than my situation?" Star asked.

"Aw. You're going dramatic again!" Chahyun nudged her.

"He said nothing but he'll let others decide for it."

"I'm worried about Ten oppa. For sure, he will be scolded. Besides, he's already known by few people and they already have the 'no dating contract'. So the issue will totally be bad for him." Hime said worriedly.

Star frowned with that idea. She knew it would be like this.

"It's his fault tho." She just commented.

Seomin sighed, "Next time, be careful."

"I am! Tell that to him!" Star said while making her way to her things from the corner of the room.

After that, they decided to walk home. Chahyun and Seomin are chatting about KPop matters, while Star's mind is floating with thoughts.

"Dating is not allowed, okay?"

The trainer's words echoed in her mind.

"Avoid being close to anyone from the predebut team. They have to focus on their work. As well as you. Plus you're still studying."

She frowned. For her, that is actually a punishment already.

"I think I have to cut our linkage for the mean time."

She said in her mind unwantedly. She sighed.

***