faking you │ B.I.

► 01

I am no stranger to the flashing lights or constantly being followed around. I am very familiar with my name constantly being called out and having a country's eyes watching you. I know when I'm supposed to smile and wave. I know when I'm supposed to turn my head so that every person gets the shot that they want. But something is missing from my life...and whatever it is? I have no idea how I'm supposed to find what out what it is. 

"Min Soojin!" Fingers snap in front of my face, drawing me back to reality.

No matter how busy I am, my mind often runs off, wondering what the thing missing from my life is. I look at the fingers and blink. Then, I turn to see my agent staring at me, expecting me to say something. I blink again. "Hm?"

She sighs. "Soojin, how can you still be so disobedient?"

I sit up straighter in my chair. My hairstylist is waiting behind my agent. I stand up and bow, apologizing. "I'm sorry, Lee Hwayoung..."

"Whatever. Now that you're paying attention, I need you to do me a favor."

"What kind of favor?"

"I know you probably don't think much about this type of thing, but I need you to start dating."

I look at her confused. "W-why?"

She stares at me coldly. "Can you just do what I say? Please? I talked with the team. We all thought it best if you start dating. So, we need you to meet your new boyfriend in the lobby of this hotel at seven tomorrow evening." 

"Wait, you're arranging my relationship?"

"Yes."

"Who is he?"

"You'll meet him tomorrow. Now," she turns to the hairdresser. "Please finish her hair, the photoshoot is in fifteen minutes."

I watch as my manager walks away, going back to typing furiously on her phone. I look back at the mirror and catch my hairdresser's eyes. I give her a small smile and she shakes her head, giving me back a sad look. She obviously knows how I feel. I sigh and look down at my own phone, notifications from fans scrolling across the top of my screen constantly. I reply to some texts from friends and wait for my hair to be styled.

  ✿✿✿

The next evening, I step out into the spotlight of at least a dozen flashing cameras. Reporters and online gossipers watch as I enter the Lux Hotel. They snap their photos of me, suspicious of why I'm dressed in a fitting blue dress that hugs my body. The bottom of my dress is just above my knees and the straps are thin. My heels are a cream color that gives a "nice contrast" - in the words of my stylist - to my blue dress. I freeze right before I step into the hotel and give my best impression that I obviously don't want them to follow me. 

My bodyguards pretend to ward off the photographers by lazily pushing them back, allowing me to enter the hotel alone. The lobby of the hotel is huge and every sound echoes. It's gold everywhere: golden chandeliers, golden couches, even the front desk is golden. The carpeting is red and there are red roses set up around the lobby as a way to show off the beauty of the grand hotel. 

The Lux is supposedly the one place that all celebrities go to meet their secret boyfriends/girlfriends so that they can enjoy a nice dinner in the "wondrous hotel restaurant" or walk through the illuminated gardens or just spend a night together in a secluded room. So, when reporters unexpectedly caught news that "the darling actress Min Soojin" was on her way to the famed hotel, they all quickly gathered their gear to see who it could possibly be that she was going to see.

I roll my eyes as I scope the room, looking for a hint as to who my "boyfriend" may be. I try to keep myself from shooting daggers from my eyes, but the annoyance in my mind wins. For some reason, it irks me to know that I have to be forced to publicly date someone just to make a scene. It feels like my privacy is being taken away, like my freedom is being taken away. Because now, instead of having a couple of days off to relax, I'll have to make "surprise visits" around the city so that the beloved reporters can get their daily scoop. I'll be lying to the country and fans around the world, just to get fifteen minutes of fame. And to me, that's worse than any villain I've played in my career.

Suddenly, someone puts their hand on my shoulder. It's warm and cautious. I turn to see a bundle of white daisies in my face. I raise an eyebrow and look beyond the flowers to the unfamiliar face generously smiling down at me. His face looks somewhat familiar, but I don't recognize him. I grow even more annoyed when I see his smile. Somewhere deep in my heart, I feel a quick burst of something, but I quickly go back to being annoyed. He's too sweet. Either he's playing really innocent to this whole facade, or he is genuinely happy to be playing like this. Either way, I hate him.

Unfortunately, my contract states I must listen to my agent. So, I plaster a smile on my face and take the flowers. I quickly bow my head and thank him for the flowers. His hand that was on my shoulder moves up  so that he's cupping my cheek with it. He smiles and his eyes give me a tender, sincere look. My heart actually melts for a second.

"I read somewhere that your favorite flowers were white daisies," he says, rubbing my cheek with his thumb.

I smile. "They are. Thank you so much."

Suddenly, a man around my height rushes towards the boy in front of me. "Hanbin, you almost forgot these..." He holds out a box of chocolates.

Hanbin. Kim Hanbin. I recognize the name and the face now. The leader of renowned boy band iKON. How could I possibly not recognize him instantly?

Hanbin shakes his head and pushes the chocolate away. "No, Soojin doesn't like chocolates."

"Oh?" The man questions.

I nod my head. "I'm sorry to cause a fuss, but Hanbin is right. I don't like chocolates."

The man bows. "I see, I'm sorry."

Hanbin looks back at me. "Soojin, this is my publicist, Oh Jinhyo. He..." Hanbin leans down toward me a little to whisper, as he's quite a few inches taller than me. "He's who was in touch with your publicist."

I nod. "Nice to meet you. I hope you two were able to discuss the matters thoroughly?"

Jinhyo looks over my shoulder at the crowd of reporters trying to get their shots of the "new couple." Then, he looks at the both of us. "Let's carry on somewhere else, shall we?"

Hanbin and I nod. Then, without warning, Hanbin takes my hand and intertwines our fingers. I try not to be shocked by the sudden gesture by distracting myself with sniffing the flowers. I see Hanbin smile in the corner of my eye. His publicist leads us near the front desks, where the elevator is. While we wait for the elevator to come, a few of the reporters "somehow manage" to get passed my bodyguards who are still blocking the entrance. Hanbin suddenly bends down and kisses my forehead. 

I can hear the cameras clicking. I push down the urge to roll my eyes and instead smile at him as he pulls away. Then, the elevator comes. We smile at each other for the cameras just so the reporters are able to get their last minute photos before the elevator doors close. As soon as they close, I know I was right. Hanbin immediately lets go of my hand and moves away from me. I try not to act offended by his actions. I was wrong about Hanbin. He's not just some rapper from a well-known boy group. No. He's as talented at rapping as he is acting.