JASON'S POV

I sat up like 'The Undertaker'. "Before I sleep! Huh?"

The well-rested feeling in my bones made my shoulders slump, and my eyes narrow.

"I slept, didn't I?" A mutter escaped me.

"What was your first clue?" Blitz quipped. "The beams of sunlight coming through the window, or June's current absence?"

Rolling my eyes, I got up from the couch and began to stretch.

Then I walked to the window and squinted at the sun a bit before looking down at zooming vehicles in the bustling city.

"Argh, I shouldn't have come here." I squeezed my eyes shut.

Turning around, I made my way to the door. "We've got to get back home and finish that analysis."

"You can't wear that same outfit." Blitz practically screamed in my head, making me grind to a halt. "Apart from it being sweaty, people might recognize you on the spot. And my scanners indicate that June's wardrobe might be incompatible with your physique."

"Gee, you think?" I did a facepalm.

"Just order a set of clothes online." Blitz aired my thoughts.

"I'm unsure who came up with that plan between you and me, but I'll roll with it." Creaking the door open, I spotted a familiar man in a black tuxedo dusting a portrait across the hall.

"Mr. Andrews, am I right?" I called out. He turned his head in my direction and arched a brow.

Not one to waste words, I see. "Say, you wouldn't happen to know where June is, would you?"

He pointed an index finger to the ground, a gesture for 'downstairs', before blandly returning to his dusting.

Blitz clamored."Bring out the human motivator!"

"Ah, yes." I dug my hand into my pants pocket and flashed a wad of hundred-dollar bills before clearing my throat.

Andrews' mustache twitched as his eyes lit up. So I wasn't out of his field of vision, after all.

Let's do this again. "Say, do you think you could do me a favor? If you're not busy, that is."

He flung the duster into the air and approached me with gallant strides. "Busy with what? By the way, June's down in the recording booth."

***

At long last, a scooter started decelerating close to the building, with an Amazon package strapped to the back. I watched through the window as the driver rounded the corner of Super Sound Studio.

My delivery had arrived.

In a few minutes, there was a knock on the studio apartment door.

"Coming." I dragged my feet lazily to the door. It seemed sleep tried to overtake me while I waited.

I rubbed my eyes while opening the door. Mr. Andrews stood with a delivery box hefted in front of his chest. "Your order has arrived, Mr. Jason."

"Please," I grinned as I relieved him of the weight. "Call me Jason."

After shutting the door, I set the box down on the couch and opened it.

"Towel, check. Soap, check. Underwear, check. Toothpaste and brush, check. T-shirt, check. Sweat pants, check. Grey hoodie, check. Square lensed glasses, check. Backpack, check."

I sighed with satisfaction before grabbing the silk white towel and heading for the showers. "If only I could order spaceship parts like that."

"Dream on." Blitz scoffed.

*****

The elevator dinged open, and I walked out onto the ground floor, zipping my hoodie up. My backpack was slung over one shoulder, relatively light as it only contained everything of mine I wasn't wearing at the moment.

The glasses were big-rimmed and non-medicated, I felt like Clark Kent.

"Jason?" My popstar crush's voice stopped me on my way to the double glass front door. As I spun back to face her, I was transfixed by her outfit; a cute white tank top with bum shorts. Her red hair was bound in a slick ponytail, and her green eyes had never looked more beckoning.

"You look..." She stared me down before suddenly bursting into laughter, making my cheeks flare without my authorization.

I rubbed the back of my neck. "You don't look that bad, I guess."

It seemed like she choked on something right before shooting me a burning glare. "What do you mean I don't 'look that bad'?"

My arms were up in surrender. That was so unexpected. "I meant to say, you look like Snow White."

Her countenance softened but not fully.

I gave a toothy grin. "You know, the fairest of them all."

She seemed to blush and roll her eyes at the same time. "Oh my god, Jason. Flirt much?"

"Haha," My dignity was Humpty dumptied. But my heart was still swooning. "It's been a while."

"Oh yeah," she walked up to me. "How long?"

Blitz poked at my mind. "Don't you dare say 'since high school'."

"C'mon, I've flirted at least a couple of times after high school." I retorted, only to realize I'd said it out loud. June tilted her head with a confused look.

"End me." I cried mentally.

"Well, well, well." A deep but cherry voice cut through the air. Looking towards the front door, I saw a tall man in a pitch-black suit and bright red necktie donning an Ice watch. He had gelled brown hair and a smile so bright, it was unreal. "June, baby. Didn't know you brought a guest. Hope he's not been delaying production?"

My heart almost leaped into my throat.

June put her hands on her hips. Her look hinted at intolerance, but her voice was neutral. "Jason, meet Samson Summers, my manager." She dragged those last words monotonously. "Samson, this is Jason McLean."

I whipped off my glasses and extended my hand for a handshake. "Hi, Mr. Summers."

He clasped my hand in a firm shake, his smile unwavering. "I thought you looked familiar, the unconventional celebrity."

"You're quite extraordinary yourself, Sir."

"Wish I could stay, but I'll give you two some room to do your goodbye kisses while I check on the production team."

"Very mature." June called out after him before he disappeared around a corner.

"You don't seem to like him very much." I finally brought myself to say.

She crossed her arms before shrugging. Her eyes were fixed on the reflective tiles. "He's alright, most of the time. Just has these really high standards, and I-" a sigh escaped her.

"You feel pushed to the edge," I muttered. "The weight of expectations, of scrutiny, of judgment."

She raised her eyes to meet mine. "You say it like you experience it too."

"I do, a lot." I could see my reflection in her beautiful eyes. For some reason I didn't understand, I felt I could trust her... with everything. "Because I'm Te-" Suddenly, I was whisked into a trance by Blitz; the aftermath of telling her my identity played before my mind. I could see her smiling, unconvinced, until I pop my armor on and suddenly she starts stepping away from me with an utter look of shock and disappointment. Samson comes around and puts the pieces together. The revelation spreads like wildfire throughout the media till every news bears the same headline, 'the super fraud'.

My fanbase abandons me, subscriptions are canceled by the millions, my and book sales grind to a halt. And all those many people who looked up to me now look down on me. I became an outcast in society.

"Jason, are you alright?" June's voice snapped me out of the trance. Looking into her eyes again, I saw only the sadness of my burden. I saw it on my reflected face.

"Y-yeah. I'm fine."

She brightened up. "You were saying something."

I blinked repeatedly. "Umm, yeah. I'm te...chnically a celebrity too. With people who have great expectations of me. You just have to believe in yourself and put your heart into the task. That's how to give your best."

She twirled the end of her hair as she smiled at me. "You know, I could use a source of encouragement on my tour, someone who gets me."

"Really?" My body rocked on the spot with my hands tucked into my hoodie pockets. "Do you...mean me?"

She chuckled. "Of course, silly. Wanna tour the UK with me?"

It wasn't just the first time a girl asked me out of the country. It was the first time a girl asked me out, ever. And not just any girl, the one I was tripping for. The logical answer lingered on my lips.

"I know you're just itching for a romantic getaway," Blitz pitched in. "But we can't let Kazar get away with whatever doomsday plan he's orchestrating."

I bit my lips hard, resisting the urge to blurt 'yes'.

Her cheeks flushed as she sensed my reluctance. Looking away, she spoke before I could. "It's alright, you don't have to come. You obviously have a life here. I guess it's selfish for me to just want you to -"

I slipped my hands into hers and squeezed gently. "I want you too," I whispered, holding her gaze. Maybe there were things I wasn't sure if she should know. But she had to know that the two oppositions in my heart were no more. She was right to call me silly before. Because now I realized that love, like friendship, was a two-lane road. And I could tell that whatever feelings I had toward her, she also had them toward me. "I really want you. And I wish I could go with you so bad that it hurts knowing I can't."

June's eyes glinted with sadness and curiosity. "Why?"

I shut my eyes tight, disappointed with my inability to tell her everything. I just couldn't beat the fear. "Work," I muttered.

She slowly released her hands from mine. "I understand."

"It's the same reason you can't stay, right?" I reached out with an open palm. "Let me come with you to the airport. It's the least I can do."

She gave me a lopsided smile before taking my hand again. "Thanks. That would mean a lot to me."

Without thinking twice, I raised her hand to my lips and kissed it.

A mirthful 'Jason!' filled the air, followed by her laugh.