The message arrived at 2:13am. No warning. No context .Just a link. Aru didn't open it immediately. He already knew that feeling. The kind of message that changes everything before you even read it.
When he finally clicked... his breath hitched slightly. The world stopped moving.
It was a video. Blurry at first. Then clear. Too clear.
Backstage. Dim lighting. Two figures. Him... and Zeyu. Not careful enough... again.
A moment too close. Too real.
The kind of moment no company could 'explain away'. Because they weren't supposed to be seeing each other. Not anymore.
His hands on Zeyu's wrist. A pull. A short pause. Then... a kiss. Not staged. Not for the cameras. Real.
Within minutes of it release, it spread.
@aruzeyunation: The company lied?
@idcimsayingit: It's them!!
@aruzeyuforlife: You'all, AI has been dominating social media lately. I just want to make sure this is real.
@pinkbarbie: They never broke up??
Arun and Zeyu were trending again. Old interviews resurfaced. Old clips being analyzed.
Every smile.
Every pause.
Every glance.
Now evidence.
Nova Wave Company Limited.
The office was in chaos. Phone ringing. Managers shouting. Screens flashing red with headlines.
"Who leaked it?"
"Find the source!"
"Damage control NOW!!"
But one voice cut through everything. Cold and Controlled.
"No,"The director stood still. Watching the screen.
"Let it be. Nothing can be done"
PRACTICE ROOM
The same room. Same silence. There was no music this time. No instructor. No pretending. Just him... Han Zeyu . Standing still. And watching the video again.
And again.
And again.
Until it finally felt too real. His hands trembled slightly. Not out of fear. Not of shock. But something worse.
Relief.
.....
Bright lights. Styling teams rushing. Phone vibrating nonstop. His schedule had exploded in minutes. Interviews cancelled. Statements being drafted. Crisis mode. But Aru wasn't listening. Because on the screen, in front of him, was the same video. He didn't blink. Not once. Nope.
"You need to breathe"A voice beside him said. He didn't turn.
"They are going to drag you into this mess too" Aru said quietly to Jae.
Silence.
Then, "I don't care." That made Aru turn.
Finally.
"...What?"he asked wanting to confirm that he heard him clearly.
"I said I don't care"A pause. "They can ruin me if they want." Jae smiled,a faint smile. Not playful. Not joking.
"But i'm not watching you break alone."Silence. That changes something.
...
Zeyu's phone rang. Unknown number. But he already knew. He answered. No greeting. Just silence.
Then a breath .On the other end.
"...You saw it?"
Of course he saw it. Everyone saw it.
"...I think the whole world saw it."
Silence again.
Longer this time. Then quietly, "I didn't mean dor it to come out like this."Aru said. A bitter laugh escaped before Zeyu could stop it.
"Then how did you mean it to come out?" No answer. Because there wasn't one.
"You need to stay away from me."Zeyu said. The words were sharp. Forced.
A pause, then..."No."
There response was immediate. No hesitation. No doubt.
"No"Arun said again. Softer this time.
"You don't understand what they'll do-"
"I do"Aru said interrupting what Zeyu was saying. A beat.
"And I don't care."
Everything around Zeyu felt too small. Too controlled. Too fake.
"I can't protect you from this anymore,"he said.
"...I don't need protection,"A pause, then quieter. "I need you."Then silence. The kind that hurts physically.
...
After the phone call, Aru came out of the studio, where he was making the call. He saw... Chaos.
"We Need To Issue A Statement, Now!"
"Fans are demanding answers!"
Everything became noisy. But Aru wasn't listening. Because across that noise, he heard something. A memory.
"Let's just stop."
He stepped away from the chaos. Slowly. He walked out. No one stopped him, because no one saw him.
The air outside was cold. Real and Quiet. And there... in the distance, a figure stood. Waiting. Not by accident. Not by coincidence. They looked at each other. No camera. No company. No fans. Just them. Arun Kittiphan and Han Zeyu.
They stood side by side. The silence stretched between them.
"...what now?" Zeyu asked. Quiet. Everything they had built. Everything they lost. Everything that broke them, hung between that question.
A long silence. Then Arun step closer towards Zeyu. Until the disttance disappeared completely.
For a moment, it felt like before. Like nothing had changed. Like everything could still be fixed. But they both knew better. Aru's hands lifted slowly,like he had done this a thousand times before. It stopped. Just before it reached Zeyu. Not out of fear. Not of hesitation.
Understanding.
"I can't fix this..." Aru's voice was steady, but it carried everything he didn't say.
"...But I won't forget you."Something in the air shift. Not breaking. Not healing. Just settling into something. No arguments. No desperation. o Running this time. Then Aru stepped back. Not forced. Not pulling away.
Chosen.
And this time,the distance returned slowly,deliberately. Like they were both learning how to let go without losing everything.
"...Not now."Zeyu finally said.The was a pause. Then his voice softened but it didn't shake.
"...but not never."They looked at each other, and walked away. In the opposite direction. Not Because they had to. But because they understand what staying would cost. Somewhere online a hashtag began to rise again.
#AZ Couple... Still Yours.
And this time no one called it fake.
THE END