Second Take

Morning light gently seeping through the hotel curtains, forming a warm of golden glow across the room. You stirred slowly, the soft hum of the air conditioner and the distant sound of Seoul traffic below reminding you where you were. For a moment, you just lay there, staring at the ceiling, still half-convinced this was all a dream.

You reached over and pinched your arm again. The sharp sting from your skin confirmed it… This was real.

With a deep sigh, you sat up and stretched, muscles a little sore from yesterday’s adrenaline. The luxurious hotel room felt almost too quiet. You padded barefoot to the bathroom, splashed cold water on your face, and stared at your reflection.

“Fake boyfriend to Jang Wonyoung,” you muttered with a small, disbelieving laugh. “What a life.”

Breakfast was delivered to your room. Its a simple but elegant spread the company had arranged: fresh fruit, yogurt, perfectly toasted bread with jam, and a hot Americano. The rich aroma of coffee filled the air as you sat by the window, watching the city wake up. The strawberries were sweet and juicy, the coffee smooth and strong. For a few peaceful minutes, it almost felt normal.

Your phone buzzed on the table.

Wonyoung: Good morning~ Did you sleep well? Don’t forget today’s schedule. I’m a little nervous but really excited, you know!

You smiled instantly, the warmth spreading through your chest. You took a sip of coffee before replying.

You: Good morning, princess. Slept okay, but kept thinking about yesterday. The coffee here is good but I bet your strawberry latte from the café was better. I’m excited too. See you soon, girlfriend

Wonyoung: Yah, princess again? You’re really getting bold 😂 The latte was good, but sharing it with you made it better. Hurry up and eat breakfast properly, okay? Managers said the car will pick you up at 11.

You: Yes ma’am. Already eating. Don’t work too hard before I get there.

Wonyoung: Too late~ But I’ll save some energy for you. See you!

You finished breakfast with a goofy smile on your face, the playful exchange lingering in your mind. The simple morning texts already felt like the best part of your day.

At exactly 11 AM, the black van arrived at the hotel entrance. You grabbed your jacket and headed down. The manager, Ji-hoon, was waiting inside with a tablet.

“Morning,” he said as he bows to you. “You did well yesterday. The online reaction is overwhelmingly positive, lots of comments about how protective you were. Today we’re keeping it lighter. You’ll meet Wonyoung at the agency first, then accompany her to a couple of short schedules. Dinner date in the evening at a nice restaurant with good photo spots. Act natural, look at her like you’re happy to be there. Any questions?”

You shook your head, nerves and excitement mixing in your stomach. The manager gave a few more details about the day’s flow as the car wove through busy Seoul streets. The scent of leather seats and faint air freshener filled the van.

When you arrived at the Starship building, you were led to a quiet waiting room on one of the upper floors. The space was minimalist but comfortable. Soft couches, a coffee table with water bottles, and big windows overlooking the city.

A few minutes later, the door opened.

Wonyoung stepped in, and the whole room atmosphere suddenly bright up. She was dressed in a soft white blouse tucked into a flowy skirt, hair styled in loose waves with a small clip. She looked elegant as always, but her eyes lit up the moment they landed on you.

“Hi,” she said softly, closing the door behind her with a gentle click. The faint scent of her perfume reached you as she walked closer. “You’re here.”

“Yeah. Right on time,” you replied, standing up. “You look beautiful.”

A small, shy smile tugged at her lips. She glanced toward the door to make sure no one was coming, then stepped even closer.

“I was looking forward to seeing you today,” she admitted quietly, voice warm and sincere. “Yesterday felt… nice. Having you around made everything less stressful.”

Before you could respond, she reached out and lightly fixed the collar of your shirt, her fingers brushing your neck for a brief second. The touch was casual but intimate, sending a small spark through you.

“Ready to be my boyfriend for the day?” she teased, eyes sparkling.

You grinned. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

She giggled softly, the sound light and melodic in the quiet room. For a moment, the two of you just stood there, close enough to feel the warmth between you, the line between acting and real feelings already starting to fade.

After a short while in the waiting room, a staff member knocked softly on the door. “Wonyoung-ssi, it’s time.”

Wonyoung let out a tiny sigh, then slipped back into her professional idol mode like putting on a second skin. Her posture straightened, her expression became gracefully composed. But before she stepped out, she turned to you and gave you one last soft smile, the kind that made your chest feel warm. It was small, but it felt like it was just for you.

You followed a few respectful steps behind her as her “boyfriend,” staying close enough to look natural but not intrusive. The hallway smelled faintly of coffee and fresh flowers from the agency’s decor. Staff members bowed as she passed, and you could feel curious eyes on both of you.

The first schedule was a quick media event at a bright, modern studio for a fashion brand collaboration. The moment you entered, the space was really bustling with energy, bright professional lighting, multiple cameras on tripods, makeup stations, and staff going around with tablets and garments. The air carried the scent of hairspray, fresh coffee, and expensive perfume.

Wonyoung moved through it all with effortless grace. She changed into the brand’s outfit behind a screen, then stepped in front of the cameras like she was born for it. You watched from the side, heart swelling with quiet admiration. She posed naturally, elegant tilts of her head, elegant smiles, confident yet gentle expressions. When the interviewer asked light questions about her daily life and recent activities, she answered with poise and charm, occasionally glancing in your direction with a subtle, fond look that made the staff whisper.

During a short break, she walked over to you while sipping water. Without hesitation, she subtly linked her arm with yours, leaning in just a little.

“Tired already?” she whispered teasingly, her voice low enough that only you could hear. Her scent mixed with the faint sweetness of her lip gloss.

“Not when I always watching you work,” you replied softly, looking down at her. “You’re really amazing. It’s like you were born to be idol, Wonyoung.”

Her cheeks flushed with a pretty pink tint. She squeezed your arm gently, her fingers warm through your sleeve, before reluctantly letting go as staff approached again. But not before she gave you a tiny, shy smile that lingered in your mind long after.

Later in the afternoon, you accompanied her to another light schedule, a casual group meeting with some IVE members for an upcoming project discussion. As you waited outside the meeting room in a quiet lounge area, Yujin and Rei spotted you.

Yujin’s eyes lit up with mischief. “Ohhh~ So this is the famous boyfriend we’ve been hearing about?” She looked you up and down playfully. “Wonyoungie has been smiling more than usual today. What’s the secret for this one?”

Rei stood beside her, smiling softly but curiously. “Yeah, she keeps checking her phone and blushing. You must be treating her really well.”

Wonyoung turned bright red and quickly hid her face behind her hands. “Unnies! Please stop teasing me right now!” Her voice was muffled but adorable.

You chuckled and bowed politely to the two members. “I’m doing my best. She deserves the world, so I’m trying to give her at least a small part of it.”

Yujin nodded approvingly while Rei gave you a warm thumbs up. “Good answer! Take care of our Wonyoung, okay? She acts strong but she’s soft inside.”

As the members bow to you and walked away, Wonyoung peeked through her fingers and lightly bumped your shoulder.

“You’re enjoying this way too much,” she muttered, but the smile on her face and the playful sparkle in her eyes betrayed her completely.

“I am,” you admitted with a grin, voice low. “Seeing you blush because of me is honestly really cute.”

She pouted playfully, crossing her arms, but her eyes were warm and fond. “Just wait until tonight. I’ll get you back for this, boyfriend.”

The rest of the afternoon passed. Every now and then, Wonyoung would find small, secret moments to connect with you. A quick encouraging text when she had a break, a shared glance across the room that lasted a second too long, or the brief brush of her hand against yours when no one was looking. The more time you spent seeing her real work life, the long hours, the constant professionalism, the way she still stayed kind to every staff member, the more your admiration for her grew.

As the last afternoon schedule wrapped up, the sky outside had turned a soft orange-pink. Staff escorted you and Wonyoung toward the back entrance where the usual black van was waiting. The moment the door closed behind you two and the car started moving, Wonyoung let out a long, contented sigh and leaned back against the seat.

She looked… happy. Really happy. The professional mask she wore all day had completely melted away. Her shoulders were relaxed, and there was a soft, genuine smile playing on her lips as she turned to look at you.

You couldn’t help but laugh quietly.