EPISODE THIRTEEN
1678 Words
A LINE CROSSED
The Scandal Hit Like A Wrecking Ball.
A single photograph—Noah, lips pressed against a famous actress in the dim light of a high-end bar—was enough to send the media into a frenzy. Headlines exploded with speculation, gossip channels ran wild, and the company was in damage control mode once again.
Ethan worked tirelessly to put out the fire. He spent the entire morning on calls with PR teams, drafted official statements, and met with executives to discuss the best course of action. But as much as he fought to salvage Noah’s image, there was only so much he could do when Noah himself didn’t seem to care.
By nightfall, Ethan had reached his limit.
Without hesitation, he went straight to Noah’s penthouse.
---
Noah opened the door, looking far too relaxed for someone whose career was currently on the verge of another scandal. Dressed in sweatpants and a loose shirt, he leaned against the doorway with a lazy smirk. "Didn’t expect to see you this late, Ethan. What, miss me?"
Ethan stepped inside without waiting for permission, the frustration in his chest threatening to spill over. “What the hell were you thinking?”
Noah sighed, shutting the door behind him. "It was just a kiss. The media is blowing it out of proportion—like they always do."
Ethan scoffed. "A kiss? Noah, do you even understand the mess you’ve made? The company is barely holding things together after your last stunt, and now this? I’ve spent the entire day trying to fix this for you, and you act like it doesn’t matter."
Noah walked toward the bar in the corner of the room, pouring himself a drink. "You’re overreacting. This will pass."
Ethan’s fists clenched. "Will it? You’ve been acting like this for weeks—pushing me away, destroying yourself, and for what? To kill your feelings? To prove that you don’t care?" His voice wavered slightly, the weight of everything finally catching up to him. "How much longer do you plan on doing this?"
Noah took a sip of his drink, gaze unreadable. "As long as it takes."
The cold finality in his voice made something snap inside Ethan. He stared at Noah, searching for any trace of the person he once knew—the Noah who laughed with him, who trusted him, who needed him. But all he saw was a man desperately trying to erase himself.
Ethan let out a bitter laugh. "You really think this will fix anything, don’t you?"
Noah turned away, setting his glass down with a soft clink. "You don’t get it, Ethan."
"Then help me understand!" Ethan’s voice rose, raw with emotion. "Because from where I’m standing, all I see is you running away. And you’re dragging me down with you."
Noah’s jaw tightened. He exhaled sharply before turning to face Ethan, his expression dark. "If you’re so tired of being by my side, then walk away."
Silence.
The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.
Ethan felt them like a punch to the gut. He stood there, staring at Noah, his heart aching in a way he couldn’t explain. After everything—after years of loyalty, of standing by Noah’s side, of fighting for him—this was what he got?
Noah held his gaze, but there was something unreadable in his eyes. Regret, maybe. Or something close to it. But it didn’t matter anymore.
Ethan swallowed down the lump in his throat, his voice barely above a whisper. "...Got it."
Without another word, he turned and left.
---
That night, something inside Ethan broke.
He did exactly what Noah told him to do. He stopped trying.
From that day forward, Ethan became nothing more than Noah’s manager. He showed up on time, handled business with precision, and did his job flawlessly. But that was it. No more long conversations, no more shared laughter, no more silent support from the shadows.
Noah had told him to walk away, and while Ethan didn’t physically leave, emotionally—he was gone.
And Noah felt it.
He felt it in the way Ethan’s texts became strictly professional.
He felt it in the way Ethan no longer lingered after meetings, no longer checked in on him late at night.
He felt it in the way Ethan didn’t look at him the same way anymore.
But Noah had come too far to turn back now.
So, he stayed on this path, forcing himself to believe it was for the best.
Even as something inside him ached every time Ethan walked past him without a second glance.
Even as the silence between them became unbearable.
Even as he realized—too late—that he had lost something far more important than he ever intended to.
And yet, through it all, Ethan still did what he did best.
He protected Noah.
He cleaned up the mess, fixed the scandal, and made sure Noah’s career continued to rise.
Because that was who Ethan was.
Even when it hurt, even when it killed him inside—Ethan never stopped taking care of Noah.
But this time, he did it from a distance.
THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Time Didn’t Heal Anything.
Months passed, but the distance between Ethan and Noah only grew wider. Whatever fragile connection they once had was long gone, replaced by nothing but professionalism and hollow exchanges.
Ethan remained by Noah’s side, fulfilling his duties as his manager with precision and care. But that was all it was—duty. The warmth, the familiarity, the subtle moments of understanding between them had vanished.
And Noah told himself it was fine.
This was what he wanted.
Wasn’t it?
---
"You’re playing a dangerous game, Noah."
Jay Kang’s voice was sharp, his expression unreadable as he leaned against the practice room wall, arms crossed. The other members had already left, but he had lingered, waiting for the right moment to speak.
Noah barely looked up from his water bottle. “What game?”
Jay scoffed, pushing off the wall. “Don’t do that. Don’t pretend like you don’t see it.” He took a step closer, voice low but firm. “Ethan’s different.”
At that, Noah stiffened.
Jay noticed.
“He’s been working like a machine these past few months. No breaks, no complaints. Just making sure everything for this tour is perfect.” Jay let out a breath, his gaze searching Noah’s face. “And you—you don’t even talk to him anymore.”
Noah’s fingers curled tightly around the bottle, his nails digging into the plastic. “We’re fine,” he muttered.
Jay studied him for a moment before shaking his head. “No, you’re not.” He exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on between you two. And maybe I don’t need to. But I do know one thing—you’re gonna regret this.”
Noah didn’t respond.
Because what was there to say?
Jay was right.
But it was too late now.
---
THE WEIGHT OF GOODBYES
Ethan sat in his office, fingers hovering over his laptop as he reviewed the final tour logistics.
The international tour would last three months, covering cities across Asia, Europe, and the U.S. It was one of the biggest projects he had ever handled, and he had ensured that every single detail was flawless.
Because by the time they returned, he would be gone.
A quiet breath left his lips as he stared at his resignation letter—the one he had submitted a month ago. Only the CEO knew. No one else.
Not even Noah.
Especially not Noah.
His eyes drifted over the schedule one last time before he leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a moment. The exhaustion weighed on him, but it wasn’t just physical.
It was the kind of tired that seeped into his bones.
The kind of tired that came from holding on for too long.
He had spent years by Noah’s side. He had given everything—his time, his energy, his patience, his heart.
And for what?
To be pushed away.
To be told to walk away if he was tired.
The words still stung.
Ethan had heard many things in his life, had been hurt in ways he never spoke about, but that? That had cut the deepest.
Because for the first time, he realized he had always believed—foolishly—that Noah would never want him to leave.
But Noah did.
So Ethan would do what he always did—he would make sure everything was perfect for Noah. One last time.
And then, he would leave.
For good.
A MOMENT TOO LATE
The night before departure, Ethan stayed behind at the office late, double-checking everything.
Noah, on the other hand, was drinking.
Again.
He sat at the bar, surrounded by people but feeling utterly alone. Women laughed, leaned into him, touched his arm, whispered things he didn’t care to listen to. He played along, flirted back, smiled at the right moments.
It was easy.
Empty.
Exactly what he needed.
“Another drink, sir?” the bartender asked.
Noah hesitated for half a second before nodding. “Yeah. Keep them coming.”
He drowned himself in the burn of alcohol, in the meaningless touches, in the numbing haze of noise and flashing lights.
And yet—
Even in the middle of it all, his mind betrayed him.
Because all he could think about was him.
---
By the time Noah stumbled back into his penthouse, it was nearly 3 AM.
The city lights outside cast a faint glow into the living room as he dropped onto the couch, head pounding, chest aching in a way he refused to name.
He grabbed his phone, stared at Ethan’s contact for a long moment.
His thumb hovered over the call button.
But in the end, he locked his phone and threw it onto the table.
It was better this way.
It had to be.
Right?
- Writer
