STOLEN GLANCES

EPISODE FIVE

SPACE AND STRAIN

The tension had been building for days. Every glance, every word exchanged between them felt weighted, as though a storm was always on the horizon. But this time, for once, Noah decided to do something he rarely did—give Ethan space.

Ethan’s distance was becoming increasingly obvious to him, and though Noah had pushed him, the last thing he wanted was to drive him away entirely. So, he did what he knew best—he buried himself in his work. He had an intense schedule ahead of him: group rehearsals, solo recording sessions, interviews, and promotional events.

The bustling world of Vireo, his band, was a whirlwind Noah had grown accustomed to. He knew how to navigate through it—his charm, his charisma, his undeniable stage presence all made him the star. But behind the polished image was a machine that constantly needed to be fueled.

VIREO'S SCHEDULE: NON-STOP WORK

It started early each morning with rehearsals. Their latest single, “Shattered Echoes,” was in its final stages, and the band was preparing for a massive performance at the K-Entertainment Festival—one of the biggest music events of the year. Noah's responsibilities were numerous. He not only had to lead the group in terms of performance but also had a significant hand in the creative direction of their projects. Writing lyrics, choreographing parts of the performances, and sometimes, even directing the promotional material. Vireo wasn’t just a group—it was his second family.

Today’s rehearsal was intense. They were working on the choreography for the group’s performance, and Noah was taking charge, his movements sharp and precise. His bandmates, Jae-Hyun, Min-Soo, and Hyun-Ik, followed his lead with remarkable ease, but Noah could see that they were exhausted. The group had been working for weeks on their stage presence and musical performances, and the stress was starting to show.

Jae-Hyun, the quiet but fiercely talented guitarist, wiped the sweat off his brow. “Noah,” he said, his voice soft but heavy, “maybe we should take a break. Everyone’s been pushing hard lately.”

Noah looked over at his bandmates, seeing their weariness mirrored in each of their faces. He knew Jae-Hyun was right, but he also couldn’t afford to take a break. Not with everything riding on this performance.

“No,” Noah replied, a fire in his voice. “We’re going to push through this. This performance has to be perfect.”

He could feel the weight of his words as they hung in the air. His perfectionism was both his strength and his curse. But Noah knew that the moment he let down his guard—even just a little—everything could fall apart. There was too much at stake for him to take a moment to breathe.

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THE PRESSURES OF THE INDUSTRY:

Behind The Stage

After the rehearsal, Noah's schedule continued at a fast pace. Interviews with reporters, photo shoots, and brand promotions followed one after another, leaving little time for personal reflection. Everywhere Noah went, he was surrounded by the bright lights of the entertainment industry—his fans chanting his name, the cameras clicking as he posed for countless photos.

But even in the middle of this frenzied activity, his mind wandered back to Ethan. Ethan, who had been noticeably absent from the rehearsals, was focusing more on his own work. In the past, Ethan had always been there—by his side, making sure everything ran smoothly, ensuring that Noah had everything he needed. But now? It felt like he was slipping through his fingers, like sand in an hourglass.

Noah tried to push the thought away, but it clung to him like a shadow.

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ETHAN’S LIFE OUTSIDE THE SPOTLIGHT

Meanwhile, Ethan was dealing with his own set of pressures. While Noah’s work was under the spotlight, Ethan’s was behind the scenes, away from the camera flashes and the ever-watchful eyes of the public. But that didn’t mean it was any less demanding.

As Noah’s manager, Ethan had built a reputation for being efficient, sharp, and unshakeable. But that was only part of his work. Over the years, Ethan had started to diversify his career, becoming involved in various business ventures outside of his management duties for Noah. With his growing wealth, he had become an investor in several startups, helping emerging companies grow by providing both financial backing and strategic advice.

Today, Ethan was meeting with a potential client—an up-and-coming music producer who was hoping to land a deal with Lume Entertainment. Ethan had done his homework on the producer, and he could already tell that this would be a productive meeting. But as the conversation went on, Ethan found his focus drifting. The words from the producer blurred together in the background. It wasn’t the meeting he was worried about—it was the one person he couldn’t stop thinking about.

Noah.

For a moment, Ethan closed his eyes, trying to block out the thoughts, the anxiety. The distance he’d put between them felt like a double-edged sword. He had always prided himself on keeping a professional distance from Noah, but lately, it felt more like a wall than a boundary. He couldn’t tell whether it was Noah’s flirtations or his own feelings that had made everything so complicated. But he knew one thing: something had shifted between them, and it wasn’t something that could be ignored.

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NOAH’S INNER STRUGGLES

The Quiet Behind the Noise

Noah, too, was struggling. In the chaos of his schedule, there were moments—rare, fleeting moments—when the noise of the world quieted, and he was left alone with his thoughts.

One of those moments came late at night, in the quiet of his apartment. He had just finished an interview where he’d been asked about his love life—questions about his fake dating scandal and whether Ha-Na was really his girlfriend. He had dodged them, as he always did, with practiced ease. But as he sat in his apartment, the tension from the day slowly melted away, Noah let himself think.

What was he doing? Was he really going to push Ethan like this? Was he willing to risk everything for something that might not even exist?

Noah leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the darkened window. He could hear the faint hum of the city below, the soft sounds of the world moving around him. He was at the top of his game—rich, famous, admired by millions. And yet, in this quiet, empty moment, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.