Dating an Idol

Eighteen: THE DATING SCANDAL

Left… left… ooopppsss…

Right… right… wait, that's a little too much.

Left… left… there you go!

C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!

I was feeling excited when the crane in the claw machine got hold of an octopus plushie.

Up… up… up… and…

"Damnit!" I cried in frustration as the octopus plushie fell back to the pool of plushies.

I kicked the claw machine before I spun around and threw myself into the bed. I was really frustrated.

I reached for my phone on the bedside table and saw Skye in the picture frame, smiling at me.

"Don't smile at me! It's annoying!" I said to his picture before I grabbed my phone.

I started scrolling on my social media feed and got even more annoyed seeing the "dating news" of Skye and that girl from Galax-Z everywhere! Like it's literally everywhere!

It's annoying! It's really annoying!

I mean no, I am not jealous like how Gianna wanted to imply. Of course not. Why would I be?

But still, the thought that Skye could be dating someone without telling me annoyed me. I know it wasn't confirmed or anything, but still I couldn't help but get annoyed by the thought.

I checked my messages and my i********: inbox for the umpteenth time since I got home tonight. And the fact that I didn't get a message from Skye annoyed me more.

I know he's been very busy recently as they were getting ready for their comeback but still, shouldn't he be calling me… or sent me a message, at least? Didn't he know that his dating scandal had blown up?

"But what if he's getting in trouble with his agency right now?" I said to myself aloud. "What if the dating news was actually true and he's getting punished by his agency and they're confiscating his phone? And what if he's getting kicked out from the group?"

The thought suddenly made me feel nervous. I know it's crazy but I started to get myself worried.

I was starting to overthink when my phone started ringing. It was Skye!

I answered it right away.

"Hey!" I said. "I've been waiting for your call!"

"Why?" he nonchalantly said from the other side of the line.

"What do you mean why? Your dating scandal was all over the internet, babo! I wanna hear it straight from you!"

I heard him chuckle.

"Don't just laugh at me! How dare you date anyone without telling me!" I yelled at him.

"Why should I tell you first? Are you my mom?"

"Ya! You wanna die?"

He laughed out loud.

"Stop laughing! It's annoying!" I said. "So is it true? Are you really dating Dan Bi from Galax-Z?"

My excitement started to build up as I waited for his answer.

"What do you think?" he asked instead of giving me a direct answer and it annoyed me more.

"Don't ask me, babo!"

He laughed again.

"Hey! Want to come to Busan with me?" he asked instead of giving me an answer.

That got me frowning. "What? Why would I go to Busan with you? And why would you go to Busan? Aren't you busy getting ready for your comeback?"

Then I realized something.

"Ohmygod! Are they kicking you out of the group?" I asked.

He laughed even louder.

"No one's getting kicked out of the group, babo!"

"So your agency's not mad at you?"

"Of course not."

"They're not kicking you out from Crest 88?"

He chuckled. "Of course not! Why would they do that?"

"They're not mad that you are dating that girl from Galax-Z?"

"Why would they be mad at me over some senseless dating scandal?"

"What do you mean senseless? So it wasn't true?" I confirmed.

"Of course not! Shouldn't I be telling you first if I date anyone?"

I heaved a sigh of relief. For whatever reason, I feel that a burden was lifted off my chest.

"So you are not dating Dan Bi?" I asked again, just to be sure.

"Of course not. I am not even that close to her."

"Then what started those rumors?"

"I have no freaking idea."

"And why is your agency not denying it?"

"I dunno. To create some noise or something? Bad publicity is still publicity so they say. But they're gonna release an official statement denying it soon. Probably tomorrow."

That somehow put my mind at ease.

"So? Are you coming to Busan with me?" he asked again.

"Why would you go to Busan? Aren't you busy with your comeback preparation?"

"We got a two-day break. And eomma wanted to see you."

I suddenly remembered something. "OMG! It's your mom's birthday this coming weekend!"

"Exactly."

"She's in Busan right now?"

"Yup. For almost a year now. She moved there with her husband."

"With her husband? Did she get remarried?"

"Yup. And her husband is from Busan."

"Really? OMG!" I suddenly got excited.

"So? Are you coming with me?"

"Yes, of course! Of course!" The thought excites me more.

"Oh, wait!" I said when I suddenly realized something. "Is it okay for us to go together? I mean, you don't want to get yourself involved in another dating scandal, aren't you?"

"Who said they're gonna recognize me? All I need is some baggy hoodie and a cap and no one would know it's me," he said confidently.

"Yeah, right. Remember when you caused a commotion in the coffee shop I worked at?" I asked sarcastically.

"That's a different story."

"That's basically the same."

"So are you coming with me or not?" he asked again.

"Of course, I am!"

"Alright! Get ready tomorrow night. I'll pick you up by 10pm."

"Okay, sir."

"Will be there for two days so make sure to get permission from your part-time jobs," he added.

"Noted, boss."

"I've gotta go. I think it's my turn now."

"You're still working?"

"Yup. We need to finish filming a few scenes before we go on a short break."

"I see." I somehow felt sorry for him for working this hard.

"They're calling me now. Bye."

And the line went dead even before I could say goodbye.

But I somehow felt relieved knowing that the dating scandal wasn't true. And excited, too, because we're going to Busan!

I jumped out of my bed and went back to the claw machine. I got some coins and feed it to the machine before I tried again.

There you go… there... there… a little bit to the left… that's right… yeah… yeah… just a little bit more… wait… wait…

"YES!" I shouted when the octopus plushie went into the hole.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" I shouted and danced with so much excitement.

I reached for it from the prize out compartment.

"Awwww, you're so cute," I said as I stared at it. "Why do you look sad, though?"

Yes, it's a sad looking octopus. But it's actually reversible so I flipped it inside out.

"There you go! Fixed you."

It's no longer sad. It's already smiling.

"You look better when you're happy."

I brought it to the bed and put it on the bedside table, right next to Skye's graduation photo. And it actually looked like it belonged there.

I lied down in bed and checked my phone. And I saw that Gianna had left me a message.

[Gianna] So? Have you asked Skye?

[Me] About what?

[Gianna] About the dating scandal? Duh. So, is it true?

[Me] I dunno.

[Gianna] Haven't you talked to him yet?

[Me] I did.

[Gianna] And?

[Me] I'm going to Busan with him.

[Gianna] Ohhhh… really?

[Me] We're going to visit his mom. It's her birthday. Don't tell anyone.

[Gianna] Yes, of course.

[Me] I'm excited.

[Gianna] It must be not true.

[Me] What?

[Gianna] The dating scandal.

[Me] How can you say that?

[Gianna] Because you seem happy.

[Me] So what does the dating scandal has anything to do with me being happy?

[Gianna] Go figure it out yourself, girl. I hope you realize it soon before someone snatch that best friend of yours away.

[Me] You're spewing nonsense again.

[Gianna] Nah, nah. I doubt it. I need to go now. But I'm happy for you.

[Me] And why would you be?

[Gianna] Because Skye is not dating that Galax-Z member and you're actually going on a date with him to Busan!

[Me] You're crazy! It's not a date. We're gonna visit his mom because it's her birthday.

[Gianna] Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Enjoy your date. Good night.

I looked at the smiling octopus on my bedside table and said, "She's crazy."