Reo's POV
I slowly open my eyes. My vision is blurry at first but then slowly it becomes clear. I find myself attached to several machines. "Reo, are you awake?" A voice asks. It sounds familiar. It's Fuyu's. I nod and ask "What happened?"
"An old wound opened because of pressure and resulted in heavy blood loss. The cause of sudden opening is still unknown." A doctor says with a stern expression. "You'll have to be in the hospital for at least a week. As you are awake now, we will remove the Venous Catheters attached to your body. To promote healing follow R.I.C.E"
"Thank you doctor. Without your help, this all would have not been possible. Thanks for the cooperation regarding the reporters outside the hospital." Fuyu bows as the doctor exits the room. "Reporters?" I ask.
Fuyu switches on the television and changes some channels, all of them manifesting on the same topic, "…will incidents leave LIME's future scrambling?", "…what no one in LIME is telling you about", "Lime's upcoming CEO taken to the hospital", "... Secret operation in the Ken family", "Billionaire spend billions for his…" and then the screen goes black. "You're all over the news" She says. After a pause she continues, "I found a 'friend' of yours. It was quite surprising; I didn't know you had friends."
"Friend?" I say surprised by the appearance of a completely new character. "You don't know about him? Well he just donated you blood or you would have been dead by now."
I didn't respond. A complete stranger had helped me.
"Maybe it was because you are famous. Anyways, I'll leave now." I turned my face towards Fuyu, "Thanks". I say.
She smiles and walks out of the room.
YP Entertainment, Seoul
A silhouette exits the room slamming the glass door behind him. A girl standing outside follows the person's steps. "Zeal! Slow down, what happened?" She asks panting, trying to get a hold of his arm so that he doesn't run again.
"If they don't stop this right now, I'll terminate the contract even if it means that my life ends before starting. Please leave me alone Seri. Just for a while." He says as he opens the door of his car. Then the door of the car is slammed hard and the car accelerates leaving Seri behind. She had never seen him like this. She was shaking when the car left her sight.
30 minutes earlier
"Oh Zeal, come in please. I was just thinking about you." The person says.
Zeal enters the room and stands in front of the table with a label 'Do Hyun, CEO'. He bows to the person sitting in front of him.
"Have a seat. It's about your album." The CEO says as Zeal sits down. "You know you got so much praise for your recent stage debut. People are going crazy about it. Your videos are beating records. No doubt, this all is the fruit of your hard work and dedication. Am I right?" He says.
Zeal says nothing. "But you know we should prepare for performances early. And you have a lot of stage performances and we want something special for each time. After all you are the new star."
'Can't he get straight to the point.' He thinks. "Sir, What do you want me to do?" Zeal asks with a stern expression.
"How do I put this?" Do Hyun says with a fake sigh.
"We want you to get involved in a scandal just after the release of your album. Like a drug or uh… harassment scandal, huh? Basically we'll put you in a fake problem and then clear your image. Something like truth prevails, diamond shines type. If you are not comfortable with other girls, you can do it with Seri." He continues.
Zeal scowls and says, "I won't do anything like that. It's illegal. I don't want fandom if it comes like this. I won't become cheap for becoming rich."
"Please listen to me once-" "I said I won't do anything like this. Never." Zeal shouts and slams his hands on the table while standing.
"I'm sorry, I'll leave now." Zeal storms out of the office leaving the CEO expressionless.
"You are so innocent, always work like I think. I know your limits, your fears. I hold your strings." The CEO thinks as he adjusts his rectangular spectacles.
INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Seoul
Zoe's POV
I walk on the tiled floor of the airport after picking my luggage from the belt. I am going to start a new life from today. I spot some paparazzi following me so I turn and go inside the restroom.
___________
"The girl looks so familiar..She looks like the one I saw on TV." Some old women behind Zoe mutter. "I have to get out of here quickly." Zoe says to herself. "I have been recognized", she says as she picks up her phone. "No problem. Walk out straight from Gate-3. You will find a car with the no. plate I texted you earlier. Other arrangements have been made. No one will recognize you. Remember, come out from Gate-3 not 4." She puts on some makeup and then wears a black mask and a beautiful scarf. She moves out.
She walks towards the exit leaving behind the whispers and the shattering noises made by the cameras. As she exits the airport she puts on her hat. She spots some fan girls. She goes to a depressed reporter and asks, "What is happening here?" The reporter looks towards her lifelessly and replies, "Lime's CEO will be releasing an official statement here and as usual I won't get the chance to interview. Sad life of a low budget reporter."
Zoe quickly slides as she observes some reporters looking at her. It was quite easy to escape as 98% of the crowd was for Lime. Winds start blowing and the weather suddenly starts to turn. Her hat blows and falls down. She picks it up and notices a man holding a placard with her name written on it. She checks the no. plate and then walks towards the car.