"I can't believe so many people are thirsting over us," Ren sighed, resting on the spacious couch in Stupefy's lounge room. The others quickly mooched on the snacks, feeling exhausted after reading so many thirsty posts in one day.
Staff members who wanted to rest in the lounge quickly walked away when they saw the handsome bunch. They were immediately intimidated by their vibe, most of them feeling giddy as they glimpsed at the idol group.
"I can," Zeth said, eating some gummy bears. June noticed this and took one from his hands. "I'm not saying this to boost your egos or something like that, but we're a pretty good-looking bunch. I'm not just talking about me. You guys are attractive, too. Sometimes, I even get startled when I look at us in the dance practice mirror."
"If it came from Zeth, then I'm believing it," Akira smiled. "I needed that extra boost after Amira rejected me again."
"You're still after her?" Jaeyong asked. "It's been more than three months!"
"What can I say? I like that we have similar names," Akira responded.
Jay suddenly appeared from behind the couch to glare at the members.
"Goodness!" Akira exclaimed, placing his hand over his heart. "What are you doing there?"
"How do you think I get my information?" Jay asked.
June frowned in confusion. "So, you just chill behind a couch?"
"No," Jay deadpanned. "I hide behind a couch—there's a difference."
"Sometimes, people don't willingly give out information because they know I work for Azure now. In the end, I have to resort to hiding behind couches so I can hear the latest news!"
Ren tilted his head to the side in confusion. "Is that legal?"
Jay shrugged. "I don't know. I don't use the information with ill intent. I just use it to my advantage sometimes."
"That's definitely the same thing," Akira whispered to Jaeyong, but the entire group was still able to hear it.
Jay narrowed his eyes at Akira.
"You, young man," he said, pointing at him. "Don't act like I didn't just hear that you're talking to Amira."
Akira scratched the back of his head.
"What's wrong with that? They're just talking," Zeth defended. "Besides, it's not like Amira would give Akira a chance. From my view, she really likes June."
June lifted his head in surprise, not believing Zeth's words.
Meanwhile, Akira stood, offended by Zeth's insinuation.
"Hey, she replies to my texts...after three business days," he muttered the last time. "But she still does!"
"Wait, you're right," Jay said, finally calming down. "It probably won't cause an issue."
Akira crossed his arms in front of his chest. Somehow, not being reprimanded by Jay made him feel worse than being scolded by him.
"However," Jay said, pointing at Zeth this time. "I'm still warning you guys. I know that you've been talking to Kiera for quite a while now."
Zeth pursed his lips and couldn't refute this time around.
"We're being careful," Zeth sighed. "We're not even official yet."
Jisung watched what was going on with wide, sparkly eyes. This seemed like a real-life K-drama! What a wonderful sight!
"And I'm advising you not to," Jay sighed. "You know how fans would react once they find out—especially since you're still a rookie."
Zeth looked down at the ground.
"Is it a sin for idols to love?" he quietly asked, sounding vulnerable.
The others turned silent while Jay suddenly felt bad.
"No," Jay said. "It's not. It never wasn't."
"However, people are cruel—that's the truth of life. This job is very harsh because it's limiting. People feel like they have the right to direct how you live just because they support you. I hope you knew that before working in this industry."
Zeth pursed his lips.
"Yeah, I get it," he said, trying to shake his sadness away.
Jay then turned to the other members, but they raised their hands in surrender.
"I've never had a girlfriend before!" Jisung defended himself.
Sehun, too, shook his head. "I was too busy worrying over my debut that my long-term girlfriend left me in the process."
Jay then looked at Casper to warn him but quickly halted when he realized that the guy only loved his cat and June.
"You don't have to worry about me," Ren raised his hands in surrender. "I think you should be more wary of June over there," he said.
June lifted his head when he heard his name. He wasn't really paying attention since it concerned something that never even crossed his mind.
"You," Jay whispered. "I have a feeling I need to be wary of you."
"What do you mean?" June asked, confused.
"You're so secretive," Jay remarked. "Moreover, you talk to different girls on your phone. You also disappear from time to time without informing me."
"Different girls?" June asked. "Do you mean Hana? Jia? Mimi? Esther? Mari? Ann? or Mentor Jihyun?"
"Dang, that was a flex right there," Akira said.
"You're talking with these many girls all at the same time?" Jay asked with wide eyes.
"Yeah," June nonchalantly said. "I ask them for advice sometimes."
"And you don't feel anything for these people?" Jay asked.
"No," June said with resolution.
"We're friends."
"We're all just good friends."
"I salute you, bro!" Akira said, standing and bowing at June's direction.
***
After resting for a while, the members of EVE finally decided to leave Stupefy's studio. They were gracefully provided some merch and other gifts before they went home, so it lifted their moods despite the exhausting filming process.
Jisung and June were currently in the restroom, peeing side by side, when somebody suddenly entered the room.
June didn't bother glancing at the newcomer and merely focused on his own urinal.
On the other hand, the trickling sound from Jisung's urinal stopped as he looked at the person who had just come in.
Jisung gulped loudly as the hooded man walked to where the two of them were.
"J—June," Jisung shakily said, feeling that they were doomed.
June finally raised his head to meet the eyes of the man who was right beside him already.
He frowned and quickly zipped up his pants, facing the familiar person.
"Haruki," he muttered.
"What are you doing here?"
Haruki finally removed his hood and continued looking at June with cold eyes. He paused for a while before finally speaking.
"My brother wants to meet you."
