Chapter Nineteen 

"Hyejin! Where is my Hyejin?" 

Both of Hyejin's parents had arrived back home, worriedly walking over to their beloved daughter, who was still sitting down on the floor, staring at nothing but the silver screen that was switched off. 

"What's going on?" Hyejin's dad asked, looking over to Ms. Jang. 

Hyejin was still in shock. She couldn't move properly. She couldn't even answer questions, despite her parents worriedly asking her if she was okay. Dae Jung was somewhere in the room, trying to calm himself down from the sudden outburst from an hour ago. 

"Here's a plan that we have prepared, Mrs. Hwan," Ms. Jang said as she pulled out her phone. "From what Dae Jung has told me, the news are obviously false. In that case, we should at least stay mum so that Hyejin will have time to calm down from her shock. Don't worry. Whoever uploaded and recorded that video will be sued. In the mean time, please do check on Hyejin to ensure that she will feel better."

Hyejin's mother nodded, hugging her daughter as she lightly sobbed. 

How could I have been a fool? Dino must hate me now. I'm a fan. I should know my limits. Now, the entire group will suffer the consequence of my actions. Everything they have worked hard for, I just had to tamper and ruin it, didn't I?

+ + + 

Ms. Jang and Hyejin's parents went out to Waenji Publishing Company to have a further discussion about what to do in the next few days. Hyejin was left in the care of Dae Jung, who has finally calmed down himself. 

"Dae Jung?" It was the first time in two hours since Hyejin fell into her shock when she finally decided to talk. It slightly startled Dae Jung. 

Dae Jung quickly moved towards where she sat, which was still in the same position. "Yes?"

"He wouldn't want to see me, won't he?" Hyejin asked, her hands slightly trembling at the thought. She never imagined her idol come to hate her because of a stupid mistake such as letting her feelings take over. She was scared. 

"Who..."

"Dino," she said, closing her eyes for a brief second. "He hates me now, doesn't he?"

"Why would he hate you, Hyejin?"

"Because of this stupid news. I ruined their group name because of this. He probably hates me now. He won't ever get himself involved with a fan ever again, I just feel it. The Carats will blame me on that too." Hyejin covered her face with her hands, finally being able to feel her emotions again. She started to sob quietly. 

Dae Jung stared at her for a few more seconds before he hesitantly pulled her into his warm embrace. "No, he won't ever think of you that way. You were the reason why their group is more famous today. Don't think it's your fault because of a false accusation. Okay?"

"You don't understand, Dae Jung." Hyejin could feel her eyes shake with tears.

"What don't I understand, Hyejin? You have to tell me for me to understand everything better," Dae Jung said. 

What didn't he understand? Hyejin wasn't even sure what she understood. She did understand that she has just ruined SEVENTEEN's good name with a stupid, false scandal. Whoever recorded that video, they obviously saw wrongly. However, Hyejin was greatly affected by the entire situation. 

"Come on, Hyejin. You can tell me anything. I'm your best friend. What exactly don't I understand?"

"You don't understand," Hyejin found herself repeating again before she shook her head and finally opened her eyes to look at her best friend, deep into his eyes, "you don't understand... I think I've fallen for him too much. I think I care for him too much. I think I'm scared to know that he actually hates me now."

+ + + 

Even with Hyejin's parents home, Dae Jung still hasn't left her side. Hyejin had moved to her room, wrapped in her blanket safely as she stared blankly at the space in front of her, in deep thought. 

Dae Jung was hurt to see her this way. To Dae Jung, Hyejin was that happy girl who never seemed to be caught feeling down or sad. This was too new for Dae Jung. He couldn't stand seeing someone so happy actually be lost in the dark. Even worse, alone. 

"Do you need something to drink? You haven't even touched your food," Dae Jung said, sitting at the very end of her bed, looking at her worriedly. 

Hyejin was indifferent to his concern. She only shook her head, assuring him, "I think I'll survive if I skip one meal. I won't die from it, Dae Jung."

"I know that, but what I'm afraid if the fact that you'll keep this up and eventually starve yourself. Hyejin, you need to calm down a little and stop worrying so much," Dae Jung said, hoping it'd help her. 

Hyejin understood the heart of her best friend. She knew that he was worried for her, but she couldn't help but think about Dino instead. Was he doing okay? Was he doing better than she was? She was in no place to worry about someone else, yet that was exactly what she was found doing. 

"Hyejin." Dae Jung moved closer to her so that he was able to put a hand over her hand. "Please do what Ms. Jang says, okay? Don't go on the Internet. Don't even check your Wattpad. Just stay in your comfort zone. Somewhere where you can't get hurt."

How could Hyejiin do that? She wanted to find out if Dino was doing alright and the only way was to find it through the Internet. She was too afraid to text him on her own. Although, she knew that he probably sent a text to her. She chose to ignore it, however. She was too afraid. 

"Hyejin? Promise me right now. Please."

Hyejin looked up and met his eyes before she nodded softly. "I'll try."

"Don't try, Hyejin. I need assurance. Tell me you won't." Dae Jung was doing his best to be a better best friend. 

"Okay, okay." Hyejin admitted defeat. "I won't. Okay? I don't want to Google anything either... I don't want to know what they're saying."

"Good." Dae Jung leaned in closer to give his best friend a hug. "Now, please, get some rest and take your mind off everything."

Hyejin couldn't promise, though. "Okay. Head home safely, Dae Jung. Don't get attacked by reporters or anything."

"I'll be fine. After all, I think a police officer will escort me home. It's crazy outside your apartment, you know?" Dae Jung meant that as a joke, but after seeing Hyejin's facial expression, he quickly cleared his throat. "I'll arrive home safely, so don't worry about me. Worry about yourself. I'll be going now. I'll come back tomorrow morning to check on you."

"You don't have to."

"And leave you dealing with all of these things alone? Now that wouldn't seem nice of me." Dae Jung pulled her bedroom door open and gave her a warm smile. "I'll see you tomorrow, Hwan Hyejin."

"Okay," Hyejin soullessly answered in return, giving him a half wave. 

Dae Jung was satisfied enough with her wave and finally left the room, closing the door behind him. 

Although Hyejin promised herself she would stay somewhere in her comfort zone, she still wondered about Dino and how he was doing. So she found herself grabbing her laptop—she wasn't going to use her phone because she was afraid that Dino would have texted her about something she didn't want to see—to check. 

There were so many news about it. Different videos, different articles, so many comments with both good and bad words. 

Wow, Hwan Hyejin climbed up to fame and date her idol? Unbelievable. 

A fan dating her idol? That sounds just like a fanfiction! When can it happen to me? T-T

i don't know whether this is true or not... but the video makes me think it's real. dino oppa! you said you'd stay single for me... 

I don't know what to believe. There's so many different truths. 

as long as it's not wonwoo oppa hehe

If they're really dating, I'm happy... even if I'm sad because Hwan Hyejin would never look at me... as long as she's happy, then I'm happy :)

THAT'S IT, I OFFICIALLY DON'T LIKE HWAN HYEJIN. I LIKED HER BECAUSE HER STORY MADE IT FEEL LIKE I WAS THE ONE WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH DINO BUT NOW THIS?!??! I'M NOT YOUR FAN ANYMORE HWAN HYEJIN 

After that last comment, Hyejin felt discouraged to read any more comments. She shut off her laptop and shoved it aside, hiding even deeper in her blanket. Her heart was beating heavily, unable to get the hate comment out of her head. 

No... don't think too much about it. It doesn't mean much. Just forget about it for now, Hwan Hyejin, Hyejin told herself, diving deeper in her blanket. 

Like Hyejin reminded herself everyday, she shouldn't be bothered by any hate comments she received. After all, she has never done anything directly to hurt them, so why were they? It would seem idiotic to let them affect her. 

Hyejin could hear her phone ringing nearby her bed, and it was playing a distinctive ringtone which only one contact in her entire contact book has. That's right. It was Dino himself who was calling her at the very moment. 

Hyejin was too scared to even take a glance at her phone, so she decided to just let it play on until Dino eventually gets tired and stops calling her. Why was she calling her? Was it to tell her that he doesn't want anything to do with her anymore? At the very thought, Hyejin was already near tears. 

"Let's be strangers from now on. I'll delete your contact and we'll never talk to each other ever again. Deal?" 

Was it going to be something around those lines? Hyejin didn't want to think too far of it. For all she knew, it was probably something worst. 

Well, congratulations, Hwan Hyejin. Not only did you put yourself in a situation you'd never want to be in, but you've always dragged SEVENTEEN down with you. How does it feel now to have your idols hate you?

~Author's Notes~

Another short chapter, oh gosh. This isn't good :(