[POV. Naina]
The silence between Kilin and me felt suffocating, like a heavy blanket that smothered all the life out of the space around us.
I stared at my phone, its screen blank and empty. I had stopped checking for messages from him days ago. What was the point? He wasn't going to reach out, not when his agency had made it clear that I was nothing more than a mistake—a distraction in the perfect world they had carefully curated for him.
It was easier this way.
At least, that's what I told myself.
I had tried calling him, I had even texted him a few times—only to be met with silence. It was the kind of silence that screamed louder than any words could. He had moved on. And I had no place in his life anymore.
The pain of that realization felt like a storm raging inside me, but I had to swallow it. I had to force myself to believe that this was for the best, that I was better off without him. The truth was, our relationship had been a lie—at least in the eyes of the world, and perhaps even in his eyes too.
I had never been part of his world. Not really. He had been a star, and I was just a girl from a small town in America. The difference between us had been too great to overcome.
I had known that from the very beginning.
But knowing it didn't make it hurt any less.
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[POV. Kilin]
The days after everything had fallen apart felt like a blur.
I was surrounded by people—by staff, by my fellow bandmates—but I felt like I was sinking deeper into an abyss of loneliness with every passing minute.
I had tried to contact Naina, I had tried to send her a message, call her—but each time, my attempts were met with cold silence.
It didn't take long for me to realize she had shut me out completely. She wasn't responding. She wasn't answering. And no matter how many times I told myself it was for the best, a part of me—no, all of me—wanted to scream at the injustice of it all.
I had been forced into a corner. I had made a choice, and now I had to live with the consequences. But what they hadn't prepared me for—the thing no one had warned me about—was how empty it felt.
Ziang: Hyung, you good?
His voice cutting through my thoughts.
I nodded stiffly, forcing a smile onto my face as I turned toward him.
Kilin: Yeah, just tired.
Ziang studied me for a moment, his eyes narrowing. He knew me too well.
Ziang: You're not fooling anyone, you know. You're distracted.
Kilin: I'm fine.
I could feel the lie hanging in the air. But Ziang didn't press it further. He turned his attention back to his phone, the conversation over.
But for me, the pain wasn't over. It was a constant, gnawing ache in the pit of my stomach. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face—her smile, her laughter, the way she looked at me like I was something more than just a star.
But that was before everything changed. Before the agency's demands, before the world's eyes turned on us. Now, I had no idea where I stood with her—or if I even had a place in her heart anymore.
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[POV. Naina]
I had buried myself in my studies. If I could just keep my head down, if I could just focus on my classes, maybe the ache in my chest would disappear. Maybe I would forget him.
But every time I walked past a café or a newsstand, I saw the headlines: "Star-light's Kilin Moving On After Scandal—Is He Dating?" or "Kilin Seen with Mystery Woman—Is Naina History?" The photos from that night, the ones with Kilin and the woman his agency had set him up with, were plastered everywhere. It felt like the world was rubbing salt in the wound, each headline a reminder that I had never truly belonged in his world.
Ruina had been my only constant. She had tried to comfort me, tried to be the friend I needed, but even her words felt hollow.
Ruina: You know he's hurting too, right?
I didn't answer her at first. The idea of Kilin hurting was almost too much to bear. But the reality was impossible to ignore. We had both been forced into this cruel game, and now we were paying the price.
Naina: Does it even matter anymore?
Ruina: It does. It's just... complicated. But he's not the one who did this. He's not the one who wanted this separation.
I shook my head, staring at the floor.
Naina: He chose his career. He chose his image over me.
Ruina: No, Naina. That's not what happened. The agency is controlling everything. It's not just Kilin's decision.
But I didn't want to hear it. I didn't want to hear excuses or explanations. The truth was too painful. If Kilin really cared about me, he would have fought for us. But he hadn't. He had let go of me the moment his agency told him to.
The thought of that broke something inside me. The silence between us was deafening, and each day that passed without a word from him made it harder to remember what it felt like to be close to him.
---
[POV. Kilin]
I couldn't take it anymore.
The silence between Naina and me was unbearable. It had been weeks, but it felt like years. I couldn't get her out of my head. I couldn't escape the feeling that I had made the worst mistake of my life.
I had been told it was the right thing to do. I had been told it was for the good of my career, for Star-light, for everything I had worked for. But the truth was, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I couldn't stop wondering if I had made the right choice.
I tried to go about my day-to-day life. I went through the motions—rehearsals, performances, fan meetings—but it felt like I was just going through the motions. Like I was living in a world that wasn't real.
I had tried to reach out to Naina, but every time I did, I was met with silence. She wasn't responding to my texts. She wasn't answering my calls. It was like she had completely disappeared from my life.
I had nothing left to lose. So, I did the only thing I could think of.
I went to her apartment.
---
[POV. Naina]
I had just gotten out of class when I heard the knock on the door. I froze. My heart raced as I hesitated. I wasn't expecting anyone.
But when I opened the door, there he was. Kilin.
My breath caught in my throat. I had almost forgotten what it felt like to be in his presence. The warmth of his body, the familiar scent of his cologne.
Kilin: Naina…
His voice was soft, hesitant. He looked at me, his eyes filled with uncertainty.
I didn't say anything at first. I didn't know what to say.
Kilin: I'm sorry.
I swallowed hard, my chest tightening.
Naina: You don't have to apologize. I get it. You had no choice.
Kilin shook his head, taking a step forward.
Kilin: No. I had a choice. I should've fought for you. I should've done more. But I didn't. And I'm sorry for that. I let you go when I should've held on.
My eyes welled with tears, but I refused to let them fall. I couldn't let him see how much this had broken me.
Naina: It's too late, Kilin.
He reached for my hand, but I pulled away, stepping back.
Naina: You made your choice. And I'm not going to be a part of a life that doesn't want me.
Kilin: I do want you. I've always wanted you.
But the words were empty now. They didn't matter. He was a star, and I was just a girl. And the reality was, no matter how much we wanted it, we could never be together.
The silence stretched between us again, and I knew.
It was over.
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