Dating an Idol

Eleven: THE SECRET'S OUT

"Kamsahamnida," I told the sauna attendant after she handed me the baked eggs and three containers of sikhye or rice drinks, a traditional Korean sauna must-haves.

Yes, we are at a sauna. We're gonna spend the night here.

We couldn't go to the agency until tomorrow so we needed a place to stay for the night. Mael originally wanted us to find a cheap place to spend the night with. But there's nothing cheaper than a sauna so I suggested that we come here instead.

Gianna was thrilled about the idea. The kdrama fan in her was beyond ecstatic to experience the traditional Korean sauna for real.

While I was heading back to our spot with our snacks, I saw her walking towards me in her pink sauna pajamas. She met me halfway.

"Hey, wait," she said. "Listen."

She looked so serious.

"What?" I asked, curious on what she's about to say as I handed her some of the food I was carrying.

She took half of it and said, "I think that wasn't a joke."

"What do you mean?"

"I think Mael really likes you."

Ohhhh. She was talking about that incident on the bus earlier wherein she asked Mael if he likes me and he actually said yes.

I admit that it shocked me for a moment until Mael started laughing.

"I'm just messing with you," he said before he ruffled my hair.

"Of course, he wasn't serious," I said to Gianna.

"No, I think he was."

"He's not."

"He was."

"You know Mael, he likes to mess around."

"But did you see the expression in his eyes when he said yes? Girl, I'm telling you, he has feelings for you. I'm gonna bet up to the last penny I have, he really likes you."

"Nah, I don't think so. Besides, I don't think we should think about that. That should be the least among our priorities right now," I said.

"But what if ---"

"Stop it. He's coming," I said, cutting Gianna in mid-sentence because I saw Mael walking towards us.

"What's taking you so long?" he said the moment he approached us.

"Why don't you help us instead?" Gianna replied while handing him the eggs and sikhye.

Mael took it and we all went back to our spot to enjoy our food.

"C'mon, Yuri. Let's go to the heated room together! I really, really wanna try it," Gianna was trying to pull me up.

We just finished our baked eggs and sikhye. We were in the sauna's common room. I was lying on a mat, with the traditional sauna pillow under my head, and was trying to relax.

"I don't know where you're getting that much energy but I'm tired. I don't even think I have enough energy to get up now," I said to her while I was chatting with my mom on the messenger.

"Please, please…" she begged.

"Stop it, Gianna. Why don't you try to take a rest? We still have a long day tomorrow," said Mael.

He was also lying on a mat a meter away from me with his right hand covering his eyes.

"Arghh! It's a bummer! I really wanted to try this sauna date I only see on kdramas." Gianna pouted.

"Spare us from your kdrama obsession, Gianna," uttered Mael.

"Stop butting in. I am not talking to you. I am talking to Yuri," she snapped at him.

"Then talk somewhere where I can't hear you," he replied.

"Stop it, you two," I said.

Gianna left with heavy steps and when she came back, she had a mat and a pillow with her. She lied down beside me.

I was still on my phone. My mom was insisting that I let my dad know that I'm back in Korea. I said I will. Though I am not really sure if I want to see my dad now. It still hurts to think that he hasn't even contacted me since we left home. Not even once.

And I kept getting reminded of what he said before we left home. That he will no longer consider me as a daughter once I leave our house.

I was saying good night to my mom when a notification from i********: came. Skye had sent me a DM. That somehow got me excited.

I looked at Gianna who was now lying beside me. She was busy on her phone, too. I felt safe.

I opened my inbox and read Skye's messages.

Why aren't you messaging me?

Where are you right now?

Are you okay?

Who are you with?

Where are you?

Baek Yuri, where are you right now?!

I checked Gianna to see if she's minding me. She's not, she was still busy with her phone.

I started typing a reply.

[Me] I'm with a friend.

[Skye] Friend?

[Me] A co-trainee.

[Skye] You mean that guy who danced to 'Love Shot'? That guy from the coffee shop?

[Me] Yup.

[Skye] You're alone with him?! Where are you?!

[Me] We're with someone else.

[Skye] A girl?

[Me] Yup.

[Skye] I see. That's a relief. Where are you right now?

[Me] Don't worry, we're good. We have found a place to stay for the night.

[Skye] Are you in a hotel right now?!

I didn't reply.

[Skye] Where are you?

[Skye] Yuri, where are you right now?

[Skye] Baek Yuri!

I somehow felt bad so I started typing a reply again.

[Me] Don't worry about me, I'm good.

[Skye] Give me your number.

[Me] You can just contact me here.

[Skye] No, I want your phone number.

[Me] You can ---

"So who are you talking with, huh?" Gianna said out of the blue.

I couldn't finish typing my message to Skye because she took my phone from my hand. I didn't see it coming so I was taken aback.

Before I could protest and take my phone back, she already saw who I was talking with.

I saw as shock registered on her face. She didn't even try to resist when I grabbed my phone back. She must still be in big shock.

I checked Mael and was relieved to see that he was sleeping. So I pulled Gianna up and dragged her to the heated room.

"I'm so sorry about that," Gianna said when we were in the heated room already. Thankfully, we were alone. "I didn't mean to invade your privacy or what… I don't really know why I did that... I was just curious because I saw you smiling while chatting on your phone and… look, was it really Skye? It's legit, right? I mean, I saw a verified check so it couldn't be a poser. How the f*ck did you know Skye?" She still looked shocked.

"Shhhh." I covered her mouth. "Not too loud. Someone might hear us."

She took my hand from her mouth and whispered. "So was it really him?"

"Yeah." I slowly nodded.

"Ohmygod!" Gianna covered her mouth with her own hand. She looked twice as surprised as earlier. "Seriously? Like how? Why? When? Tell me, damnit!"

"You have to promise me first that you're not gonna tell anyone. Not even Mael," I said.

"Yeah, yeah. Promise. Cross my heart and hope to die, I am not telling anyone. Not even Mael." She even made a sign of the cross on her neck. "But how did you know him?"

"I want to tell Mael myself," I added.

"Yeah, yeah. You have my word. I am not telling Mael. But tell me first, how did you know Skye?" Her voice was a little loud.

"Lower down your voice!" I said.

"Okay, okay. I'm so sorry. I was just carried away by my emotions. Now tell me, how did you know Skye?"

"Stop mentioning his name, too."

"Alright, alright. How did you know him?"

"We grew up together," I confessed.

"What? Like how?"

"We were childhood friends. We basically grew up together."

"Really? That close? You are that close to him? So was it him? Were you talking to him on the bus?"

I nodded.

"I knew it!" Gianna snapped her fingers.

"Promise me you're not telling anyone."

"Yup, of course. My lips are sealed." She acted like she zipped up her lips. "Not even Mael."

"I'm gonna tell Mael myself. I want him to hear it straight from me."

"Why don't you want anyone to know it, though? If that was me, I would shout it to the world that I know Skye of Crest 88!"

"I don't want to put him in trouble. You know how jealous fans can be. Besides, I don't feel the need to let anyone know that I know him."

"That's so sweet of you," she said. "By the way, how was he as a kid?"

"He's really annoying!" I couldn't help but smile as memories from our childhood started coming back to me.

"Like how?" Gianna looked really curious.

"He would always tease me. Like he was the most annoying thing ever!"

"He doesn't look like it, though."

"Believe me, he was! Though he was the sweetest, too. He would protect me from school bullies. Did you know that he even attended dance and voice lessons because of me?"

"Really? Why?"

"Because I don't want to attend my dance lessons anymore since I got bullied for being a little chubby way back then. But he knew how I wanted to become an idol when I grew up so he volunteered to enroll, as well. That way, he can protect me from those bullies," I recalled.

"Awwww, that's the sweetest thing ever." Gianna looked giddy. "How can you be so lucky? Like, girl, did you save a nation in your past life?"

I just chuckled.

"Will you introduce me to him one of these days?" Gianna gave me puppy eyes.

"Forget it," I said as I stood up from squatting on the floor. I then headed to the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Out! I think I'm about to get dehydrated now!" I said.

I was sweating all over. I don't know if it's because we were in the heated room or because of the confession I just made to Gianna. Must be both.