STOLEN GLANCES

EPISODE FOUR

TESTING ETHAN

The Fake Dating Scandal Intensifies

In the quiet moments between schedules, Noah decided to play a game. He didn’t know what it would prove—maybe it was just his frustration or a curiosity he couldn’t quite shake—but he wanted to test the waters. The fake dating scandal had taken a life of its own, so why not escalate it just a little more?

Noah dropped the idea casually. “Maybe we should take this up a notch,” he said, his voice light but his eyes sharp as he looked at Ethan. “You know, keep the media guessing.”

Ethan, ever the professional, raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Noah’s lips curved into a sly smile. “Let’s give them more to talk about. How about you take a step back, let me handle things with Ha-Na a little more publicly? See how the media reacts. I’ll keep up the charade, but let’s see how you really feel about it.”

Ethan remained silent, his gaze unwavering as he processed the suggestion. It wasn’t a request—it was a challenge, and Noah was curious to see how Ethan would react. Would he brush it off as just another part of the job? Or was there something deeper to his discomfort that Noah could exploit?

Ethan’s voice was calm, but there was a hardness to it that Noah could hear. “You’re testing me, aren’t you?” he asked, as if he had already figured out Noah’s game.

Noah just shrugged, a nonchalant expression on his face, though the glint in his eyes said otherwise. “Maybe. Maybe I just want to see how much you care.”

For a brief moment, the world seemed to still. Ethan’s gaze held Noah’s, steady and intense. But before either of them could say more, the door to the studio opened, and the moment was broken.

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THE GROWING TENSION BETWEEN THEM

That night, as they reviewed their schedules in the office, the silence between them was thick. Both of them were keeping their cards close to their chests, but it was becoming impossible to ignore the tension.

Ethan had always been Noah’s best friend and manager, but the lines were blurring. There was something deeper between them now—something neither of them was willing to name. The weight of unspoken feelings hung heavy in the air. Every glance, every word, every small gesture seemed to carry more weight than before.

As Noah watched Ethan, he couldn’t help but notice how other people in the company—especially those idols who had never paid much attention to Ethan before—were suddenly taking a keen interest in him. It bothered Noah more than he was willing to admit, and the realization that he might be jealous sent an unsettling shock through him.

Noah wasn’t sure what this was between them, or where it would lead, but one thing was for certain: things were changing, and neither of them was ready to confront it.

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THE MASK WE WEAR

The days following the photoshoot with Ha-Na were a whirlwind, but for Ethan, they felt like an eternity. He had buried his growing feelings for Noah deep inside, where he could pretend they didn't exist. His role as a manager and Noah's best friend was his priority, and if that meant ignoring his heart, then so be it. Every time Noah flashed that cocky grin or cracked a joke, Ethan had to remind himself that it was just another part of the job. There was no room for emotions in their friendship—certainly not the kind he harbored.

But Noah could feel it. The discomfort that lingered between them. Ethan's guarded responses. The subtle distance between them that hadn't been there before. Noah was a master at reading people, especially the one person who knew him better than anyone else.

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NOAH'S GAME: GOING ALL IN

When Noah realized that his initial attempts to get a rise out of Ethan weren’t as effective as he had hoped, he decided to escalate things. The headlines were full of rumors and speculations, but he knew he could do more. And so, he did.

Noah started playing the media. He amped up the flirtations with Ha-Na, not just for the cameras, but behind the scenes too. He would brush his fingers against hers, make exaggerated comments about how they were such a perfect couple, and play it all up for the press. The paparazzi ate it up. What started as a mere fake dating rumor became a full-blown spectacle.

Every time Noah appeared with Ha-Na, whether in public events or photoshoots, the media would explode with headlines about their whirlwind romance. But it wasn’t just the media. Noah noticed the way Ethan would grow increasingly distant and quiet. The jealousy Noah had hoped for was starting to show—just not in the way he had imagined.

Ethan's professional demeanor was still unshaken, but Noah could sense the subtle change in his attitude. Ethan wasn't openly reacting, but Noah knew. The way Ethan's jaw clenched when Noah casually mentioned Ha-Na. The way he would avoid eye contact when Noah purposefully leaned into Ha-Na, making sure Ethan noticed.

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A GLIMPSE INTO THEIR DAILY LIVES

Noah's Career and the Entertainment Industry

As Noah’s flirtations grew bolder, his schedule was packed with intense rehearsals, interviews, and performances. Despite all the chaos, Noah had built a reputation as one of the brightest stars in the entertainment industry. Not just as a soloist but as the leader of the group Vireo, a band signed under Lume Entertainment, one of the most prestigious labels in the country.

The demands of being in such a high-profile group were enormous. Vireo was made up of five members, each with their own unique talents. While Noah was the lead, his members were not far behind in terms of fame. Their fanbase was loyal and global, but Noah had the most attention, both as a solo artist and as part of the group. His latest single was topping the charts, and their next album was eagerly awaited. But the real work was behind the scenes—recording sessions, choreography practice, media appearances, and meetings with the high-powered executives at Lume Entertainment.

In the past, Ethan had been a part of all of it, quietly overseeing Noah's career, making sure things ran smoothly. But recently, Noah had noticed that Ethan was distracted. More often than not, Ethan’s focus seemed to wander, especially when Noah was in the middle of a project.

The tension had been building for a while, but this week it seemed to reach a boiling point. As Noah prepared for a new music video and the release of his highly anticipated single, Ethan was noticeably absent from the studio. Noah wasn’t sure if it was because of the way he’d been pushing Ethan, or if something else was going on in Ethan’s life, but the absence was becoming harder to ignore.

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THE SECRET STRUGGLES BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Noah, despite his usual cocky demeanor, wasn’t just a product of his label. He was a driven, self-made man who had worked relentlessly to get where he was. But the pressure of being the face of Vireo and the constant media scrutiny weighed heavily on him. He had his own struggles—personal demons that only Ethan knew about.

Ethan, for his part, was as successful as Noah, but in a different way. As Noah’s manager and lifelong friend, Ethan had built a fortune of his own—one that rivaled even the biggest stars in the industry. His business ventures outside of his management role were substantial, though he kept them out of the spotlight. The vast wealth they had accumulated over the years made their lives easier in many ways but also more complicated.

Ethan didn’t need to work for Noah anymore. He didn’t need to manage him. But it was the only thing that kept them connected. Noah’s fame and Ethan’s financial empire had intertwined over the years, their bond so strong that nothing—not even the growing distance between them—could break it.

Still, Noah couldn't ignore the fact that Ethan was increasingly preoccupied, his eyes more often focused on his phone or his thoughts rather than on the work at hand. It was starting to affect their day-to-day activities. In meetings with Lume Entertainment, Ethan’s responses were curt, his usual sharp attention to detail faltering. Even Noah had noticed his growing distraction, though he refused to acknowledge it. It was like the balance between them was shifting, and neither of them was willing to address it.

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NOAH'S FLIRTING ESCALATES

A Reaction He Didn't Expect

One afternoon, after another string of media appearances, Noah leaned back in his chair, watching as Ethan ran through the latest schedule. The office was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioning. Noah could feel the tension hanging thick in the air. Ethan was still avoiding him—ignoring the subtle cues Noah had been throwing his way.

Noah couldn’t help himself any longer. He needed a reaction, needed to know where they stood. His voice, low and teasing, broke the silence.

“Ethan,” he began, his tone casual but charged, “don’t you think we should take this whole dating scandal to the next level? I mean, it’s getting a lot of attention. I’m just playing my part. You can’t blame me for wanting to keep the buzz going, right?”

Ethan paused, his fingers hovering over the screen of his tablet. He didn’t look up immediately. His expression was unreadable.

“I don’t think it’s necessary,” Ethan said, his voice even, though there was a tightness to it. “It’s just the media playing their game. You don’t need to—”

“You don’t think I’m playing my part well enough?” Noah interrupted, his voice dripping with mock amusement. “I thought I was doing great. But hey, if you don’t want to keep the buzz going, I’ll just have to up my flirting game a bit more. Maybe Ha-Na and I should go out for dinner, you know, make it more believable.”

Noah let the words linger, his gaze fixed on Ethan’s still figure. He could see Ethan’s jaw tighten, his eyes flicking briefly to Noah before looking away. But Ethan didn’t say anything.

Noah grinned to himself, watching Ethan carefully. The silence between them deepened, thick with things they weren’t saying.