Navigating this new relationship with Seonho and Jaewook feels like walking a tightrope. Every step requires precision, and one misstep could send us plummeting into a scandal that none of us are prepared to face, despite what I can tell Seonho thinks. But even with the risks, there's a thrill to it all—like we're rebelling against the constraints of our industry and society.
Seonho's the first to suggest renting a decoy car. "I can't keep showing up in my usual ride," he says one evening as we huddle together in my apartment. Meatball snores softly at our feet, oblivious to the tension in the room. "The paparazzi are getting too good at tracking me."
"Smart move," Jaewook agrees, nodding. "We can use my manager's car service. They have a fleet of nondescript vehicles."
I sip my wine, considering their plan. "And what about when we go out together? We can't always hide indoors."
Seonho grins, his mischievous smile lighting up his face. "Leave that to me."
True to his word, Seonho proves to be a master of disguise. Our first outing is an adventure in itself. He shows up at my place with a duffel bag full of costumes—wigs, hats, sunglasses, even fake mustaches.
"We're going incognito," he declares with a wink.
I laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. "You can't be serious."
"Dead serious," he replies, pulling out a curly blonde wig and plopping it on my head. "Trust me, no one will recognize us."
We spend the next fifteen minutes transforming into completely different people. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and barely recognize the woman staring back—a blonde bombshell with oversized sunglasses and a floppy hat.
"Ready?" Seonho asks, adjusting his own disguise—a scruffy beard and a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes.
"Let's do this," I say, feeling a rush of excitement.
We sneak out through the back entrance of my building, avoiding the usual exits where photographers often lurk. Seonho leads me down an alleyway and through a series of side streets until we reach our destination—a cozy little café tucked away from prying eyes.
Once inside, we shed our disguises and settle into a corner booth. The waitress takes our order without batting an eye, and for once, it feels like we're just two ordinary people on a date.
"This is nice," I admit, sipping my coffee.
Seonho smiles warmly. "It is. And we'll keep finding ways to make it work."
As our relationship progresses, we continue to come up with clever schemes to outsmart the paparazzi. Jaewook rents us private rooms in exclusive restaurants where we can dine without fear of being seen. Seonho uses different entrances and exits whenever he visits me, always staying one step ahead of the photographers.
We even start coordinating our schedules meticulously to ensure that none of us are seen together in public. It requires constant vigilance and careful planning, but somehow we make it work.
Despite the challenges, there's an undeniable sense of camaraderie between us—the feeling that we're all in this together. And as we figure out ways to make this unorthodox relationship work, I find little things about both men that have me tumbling head over heels again and again.
One evening after another successful outing disguised as tourists—complete with maps and cameras hanging around our necks—we return to my apartment feeling triumphant.
"We make quite the team," Seonho says as he collapses onto the couch beside me.
"Agreed," Jaewook adds from his spot on the floor where he's playing with Meatball.
I smile at them both, feeling a warmth spread through me that has nothing to do with the wine we've been drinking.
"We do," I say softly. "I'm almost kind of excited to see what we come up with next."
As Meatball curls up beside me and Seonho drapes an arm around my shoulders while Jaewook reaches for another slice of pizza from the coffee table, I realize just how much these two men mean to me—and how far I'm willing to go to protect what we have.
For now, we're managing just fine—working through this unique relationship with creativity and determination—finding joy in each other's company.
* * *
I'm just finishing up a grueling dance session, my body aching in that satisfying way it does after a good workout. The studio is quiet now, the echoes of music and laughter fading into the walls. I lock up the front door and head towards the back, where I know Seonho and Jaewook will be waiting.
As I open the back door, I'm greeted by Seonho's naughty grin and Jaewook's easy, affable smile. They look out of place in this gritty alley, like two stars that fell to earth and landed in my world.
"Took you long enough," Seonho teases, holding up a plastic bag filled with what looks like fried chicken. "I was about to eat this all by myself."
"Yeah, right," I laugh, stepping aside to let them in. "Like you'd ever turn down a chance to share food."
Jaewook chuckles softly as he follows us inside. "He did make a pit stop at the convenience store on the way over. Couldn't resist."
We make our way upstairs to the roof, where a cool breeze greets us. The city stretches out below, its lights twinkling like stars. It's moments like these that remind me why I love Seoul—the energy, the life, the endless possibilities.
Seonho cracks open a can of maekju and hands it to me before opening one for himself. Jaewook does the same, and soon we're all sitting on the rooftop, cans in hand and fried chicken spread out between us.
"To surviving another day," Seonho says, raising his can in a toast.
"To making it work," Jaewook adds, clinking his can against mine.
"To some damn fine company," I finish, smiling at them both.
We dig into the chicken, savoring the crispy skin and juicy meat. It's nothing fancy—just convenience store food—but it tastes like heaven after a long day. The maekju is cold and refreshing, washing away the stress and fatigue.
I take a long sip of my maekju, the cold liquid a sharp contrast to the warmth spreading through my body from the company of these two men. I look at Jaewook, a playful glint in my eye.
I elbow Jaewook and nod at Seonho. "What's he like when he's drunk? Is he funny?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.
Jaewook shakes his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "Not really. He just gets super cuddly. Like, you wouldn't believe it."
Seonho's eyes widen in mock horror. "Lies! All lies! If anyone's embarrassing when drunk, it's Jaewook. He turns into some kind of scholar, spouting random facts and long speeches. It's like he's giving a TED Talk."
I burst out laughing at the image of Jaewook drunkenly lecturing on obscure topics. "Seriously? I need to see this."
Jaewook rolls his eyes but can't hide his grin. "He's exaggerating."
"Am not!" Seonho retorts, leaning closer to me as if sharing a secret. "One time, he went on for twenty minutes about the history of chopsticks. Twenty minutes!"
"Alright, alright," Jaewook concedes with a laugh. "But only because someone asked me a question."
I shake my head, still giggling. "Don't stop now. Surely several years together means the both of you have tons of dirt on each other."
Jaewook's eyes light up as he leans back against the rooftop railing. "Oh, I've got one for you. Remember that label party last year?"
Seonho groans, already knowing where this is headed.
"So," Jaewook continues, ignoring Seonho's protests, "Seonho's agency was throwing an album party, and Yoonjae was making spiked love shots, and apparently Seonho had one with every one of his bandmates and got toasted—"
"I wasn't that drunk!" Seonho interjects.
"Sure you weren't," Jaewook says with a wink at me. "Anyway, he was heading back to his place when Seonho suddenly stops dead in his tracks cause he sees his dog in the park."
Seonho buries his face in his hands while I listen with fascination.
"So he runs over and grabs this corgi," Jaewook continues, "and he takes it home. Only when he gets back to his place, both of his corgis are already there."
I let out a short burst of surprised laughter. "No way!"
"Oh yes," Jaewook says, grinning widely now. "Turns out he'd taken someone else's dog home by mistake."
"And then what happened?" I ask between giggles.
"His manager had to find the actual owner and issue an apology," Jaewook says, shaking his head at the memory. "All while keeping it a secret that it was Seonho who took the dog."
Seonho finally looks up from his hands, cheeks flushed but smiling despite himself. "It was an honest mistake! The dog looked just like mine."
"Oh, I'm sure," I tease, nudging him playfully.
"It did!" Seonho insists with a laugh.
"It wasn't even the same color," Jaewook flatly points out.
Seonho, never one to back down from a challenge, flash Jaewook a grin that looks more like a warning. "You think that's bad? Let me tell you something about our dear Jaewook here."
Jaewook groans, already knowing he's in for it. "Oh no, here we go."
I lean in, eager to hear more. "Do tell."
"Did you know," Seonho begins, eyes twinkling with mischief, "that Jaewook won a gaming tournament for StarCraft in high school?"
I raise an eyebrow, surprised. "Really?"
"Oh yeah," Seonho continues, nodding enthusiastically. "He was a total gaming nerd. Had the whole setup in his room and everything."
Jaewook rolls his eyes, but can't hide his smile. "I wasn't that into it."
"Please," Seonho says with a laugh. "You had posters of the game characters on your walls and even skipped school to practice for the tournament."
I titter, imagining Jaewook as a high schooler, hunched over a computer screen, strategizing his next move in StarCraft. "Damn, a drama kid and a gamer geek? You're lucky you're pretty or you'd be doomed." I joked.
Seonho snorts, but Jaewook only shakes his head and holds his hands up helplessly. "I never thought I was model material really, but the masses seem to think differently. What a man to do but give them what they ask for?"
Seonho smirks and turns his attention to me. "Alright, Iseul. Your turn. Now that you've wrung us for embarrassing stories and tried to make us expose each other, you have to offer something in return."
I take a sip of my maekju, thinking back on my own embarrassing moments. "Oh, I've got plenty. But they're mostly about my exes."
Jaewook raises an eyebrow. "Now you've got us curious."
Seonho leans closer, his boldness fueled by the alcohol. "Is it true you filled Song Kangho's car with shaving cream?"
I burst out laughing at the memory. "Guilty as charged."
Both of them stare at me in amazement.
"Seriously?" Jaewook asks.
"Oh yeah," I say with a grin. "He deserved it though. Caught him cheating red-handed and decided to get a little creative with my revenge."
Seonho claps his hands together, clearly delighted by the story. "That's hysterical! How did you even manage that?"
"Well," I say, leaning back against the rooftop railing and enjoying their rapt attention, "it took a lot of planning and about a hundred cans of shaving cream. But it was worth it just to see the look on his face when he found his car. I tipped off the gossip mag photographer just so I could see the photo in the headlines. It was my phone's lockscreen for a month."
Jaewook shakes his head in disbelief, but laughs along with us. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."
"No," I agree, "no you don't. I'm not ashamed of admitting that too many years in this circus has made me a little more unhinged."
Seonho nudges me playfully. "Who else is on your shit list, then? Just out of curiosity."
The rooftop breeze is cool against my skin, and the city lights below twinkle like stars. I can feel Seonho and Jaewook's eyes on me, waiting for another story.
"Well," I say, setting my can down. "Back when I was a trainee, there was this guy I was dating. He was charming, ambitious—seemed like the whole package."
Seonho makes a derisive sound. "They always do."
I laugh. "Yeah, well, he turned out to be a real piece of work. I was working on this song, pouring my heart and soul into it. He knew about it and pretended to be supportive."
Jaewook leans in, curiosity written all over his face. "What happened?"
"One day, I left my notebook at his place by accident," I continue, the memory still bitter despite the years that have passed. "Next thing I know, he's sold the song as his own and used it to launch his career as a producer."
Seonho's jaw drops. "No way!"
"Oh yeah," I say with a nod. "And get this—he went on some podcast years later and had the nerve to trash-talk my songwriting skills."
Jaewook's eyes widen in disbelief. "Seriously?"
"Yup," I say, feeling the old anger bubble up again. "He said something like, 'She's only famous for being problematic, she's not creative enough to be a musician.' Can you believe that?"
Seonho's face darkens with anger. "What an asshole! Who is this guy? Give me his name; I should tell everyone his mother's a whore and he has a prescription for erectile dysfunction."
I laugh at Seonho's outrage, but there's a part of me that appreciates his protective streak.
"It's okay," I assure him, waving off his threat. "I make way more money than him now and have more influence in the industry. He's not worth my time or energy."
Jaewook shakes his head in disbelief. "The audacity of some people."
"Right?" I say with a sigh. "But you know what? It motivated me to work even harder and prove him wrong."
I lean back, the cool rooftop railing pressing into my back, and take a long sip of my maekju. The city lights below seem to twinkle in anticipation. Seonho and Jaewook are both watching me, waiting for the next story. It's Jaewook who breaks the silence.
"Do you mind if I ask," he begins, his tone curious but gentle. "What's the real story behind your relationship with Kim Seojin?"
I feel a jolt of surprise at the mention of Seojin's name. It's been a while since anyone's brought him up, and even longer since I've thought about that mess. I take another sip of my drink, stalling for time as I gather my thoughts.
The mention of Kim Seojin's name brings back a flood of memories, most of them flavored by bitterness and regret. Seojin and I were what everyone thought was a power couple—at least, that's what the media loved to portray. He was a rising star in the drama world, and I was making waves in the music industry. On the surface, we seemed like a perfect match, but beneath the glamour and success, our relationship was a ticking time bomb.
The rumors about our destructive demise weren't entirely unfounded. It all started when Seojin landed a leading role opposite Min Kyungah, a stunning actress with undeniable talent and an even more undeniable chemistry with Seojin. The tabloids had a field day with it, spinning stories about their on-screen romance spilling over into real life.
The tabloids ran with assumptions about my position, painting a picture of an insecure lover. We had public fights that made headlines—screaming matches in parking lots, tearful confrontations at award shows. Staff on the set of Seojin's drama fed the tabloids stories about my so-called "demands"—that I insisted he refuse any kissing scenes and that he wasn't allowed to have physical contact with his co-star. It painted me as a jealous, controlling girlfriend hell-bent on sabotaging his career.
The final straw came when I went on an American talk show and spilled the details of our breakup. I told the host that Seojin had started a smear campaign against me in Korea after I broke up with him. I even revealed that he had broken into my house and smashed the back window of my car when I told him it was over. The story went viral almost instantly, igniting a battle of he-said-she-said that kept internet gossip buzzing for months.
Seojin retaliated by denying everything, calling me a liar, and accusing me of trying to ruin his reputation out of spite. His fans rallied behind him, flooding my social media with hateful comments and threats. It felt like I was living in a never-ending nightmare, each day bringing new accusations and fresh wounds.
Despite all this chaos, or maybe because of it, my career continued to soar. The scandal only seemed to fuel public interest in me, turning me into both a villain and a heroine in the eyes of many. But the personal cost was high—I lost friends who didn't want to be associated with my "drama," and it was harder to trust anyone.
I take a deep breath, feeling Seonho and Jaewook's eyes on me. The rooftop air is cool, but the memories I'm about to share bring a warmth to my cheeks, fueled by anger and vulnerability.
"It was a bunch of bullshit. Most of what the Korean media published was a lie," I start, my voice steady but bitter. "I dated Seojin for almost two years. It was one of my longest relationships yet. That thing about me makign demands? It was actually Seojin who got angry whenever I interacted with male idols."
Seonho and Jaewook exchange a glance. I continue, needing to get it all out.
"For the entire time we were dating, I avoided collaborations or going out with my male idol friends because it always caused fights between us. He'd get so jealous and possessive." I pause, remembering the screaming matches and constant bickering that seemed to consume my life.
Jaewook leans forward slightly, his expression one of concern. "That sounds exhausting."
"It was," I admit. "Did you see those photos of us fighting in that restaurant? The ones that made me look like the aggressor?"
They both nod, their attention unwavering.
"The truth is, Seojin had gotten angry because of the dress I was wearing that night. He didn't like other men looking at me. He called me a slut, which sparked the public fight that was caught on camera."
Seonho's jaw tightens in anger. "What a dick."
I nod in agreement. "It wasn't my jealousy; it was his. Our breakup had nothing to do with Min Kyungah either. Kyungah and I are actually friends."
Jaewook's eyes widen in surprise. "You're friends with her?"
"Yes," I say with a small smile. "Kyungah told me she saw Seojin with his coordinator and that's why I went to the set to confront him."
I take another deep breath, old outrage and betrayal welling up inside of me as I recount the details. "I found out Seojin had cheated on me multiple times, usually with his staff. That's why they helped him spread rumors about me after our breakup."
Seonho shakes his head in disgust. "That asshole."
"He harassed me for several months after we broke up," I continue, my voice growing softer as the memories flood back. "It was relentless. That's why I went on that American talk show and let loose. I knew the American media would be more responsive to my side of the story and it would make the Korean media look bad."
Jaewook reaches out and gently squeezes my hand in support. "You did what you had to do."
"Eventually," I say, squeezing his hand back, "Seojin tried to sue me for defamation. But I countersued and won."
Seonho's eyes widen. "I never heard that. Why wasn't that in the news?"
"I made it a condition of the court case," I explain. The anger seeps into my voice despite my overall calm. "Seojin was given a gag order. He's not allowed to speak about me again or risk further legal action. It finally put an end to it."
Jaewook and Seonho look at each other meaningfully, their expressions equally stormy. Jaewook leans back against the railing, shaking his head. "I always knew there was something off about Seojin. I've run into him now and again at after parties, award banquets and whatnot."
"Yeah," Seonho adds, his tone somber. "This is a good example of why you shouldn't judge someone by their reputation."
I nod, feeling strangely relieved by their understanding. "It's fine," I assure them, offering a small smile. "I found my closure. My last two albums, the ones I got awards for? They were inspired by my relationship with Seojin."
Jaewook's eyes soften with admiration. "That would explain the lyrics."
Seonho raises his can of maekju in a toast. "To Iseul, the queen of turning shit into gold."
I laugh, clinking my can against theirs. "To surviving and thriving."
We finish off our drinks, the tension from the heavy conversation dissipating. The rooftop air is cool and refreshing, and for a moment, I let myself bask in the simple joy of being surrounded by friends who understand and support me.
As we toss our empty cans into a nearby bin, I glance at my phone and realize how late it's gotten. "Hey," I say, turning to Seonho and Jaewook with a mischievous grin. "How about we head back to my place?"
Seonho raises an eyebrow, a wicked grin playing on his lips. "Yeah? Got some plans for us, have you?"
Jaewook laughs, nodding in agreement. "I'm in."
We decide to go separately—me in my car and Seonho and Jaewook in Jaewook's. It's safer that way; less chance of being spotted together by any prying eyes or paparazzi lurking around.
As I drive through the neon-lit streets of Seoul, my chest feels a little lighter. It feels good to have Jaewook and Seonho know the truth. That relationship did a lot of damage to my already shaky reputation, and although I've gotten used to bearing the weight of the public disappointment, it's validating to at least have these two people know the truth.