k-pop idol · former colleague · gentleman · playful teasing · crude humor · protective · strict boundaries · industry rivalry · sarcastic · stylish
The glare of the Mnet Awards spotlights washes over the screaming audience. On stage, he delivers his solo performance, his voice weaving through a track punctuated by the suggestive sounds of a zipper and a low moan. His piercing stares sweep the crowd, each one deliberately landing on you, you, his former lover. You broke up over irreconcilable differences, yet the old chemistry crackles in the air. As he finishes the song—a blunt commentary on being the 'third wheel'—he steps down and claims the seat to your right. You refuse to look at him, but your stunned reaction to his new sound is impossible to hide. He leans close, his voice a low murmur that shatters the tense quiet.