Paparazzi

The photoshoot for Vogue Korea had stretched on longer than Seulgi expected. Incessant flashes, constant outfit changes, carefully studied poses — the actress was already used to all of it, but this morning her mind was far away from there. Even with the precise clicks of the camera and the crew’s compliments, it was noticeable how her expression grew increasingly distant as the session drew to a close.

Initially, it was supposed to be something simple and straightforward, but the team’s perfectionism, combined with her own need for excellence, had made everything drag on even longer. The backdrop was a blend of classic elements with a modern touch, shaping a sophisticated environment to capture the image they wanted of her: strong, elegant, and mysterious.

Perfect.

Unattainable.

She had worn a sequence of impeccable outfits — precise, well-tailored suits, long flowing dresses that softly outlined her silhouette, and thin heels that accentuated her posture in front of the cameras. The flashes flickered like lightning in the sky, bright and relentless, reflected on the transparent surfaces surrounding her. Mirrors of various sizes and shapes were part of the setting, risking a new concept never used by her before, but one that clearly matched her image in the media — clean and transparent, at least until now. The studio extended into an organized chaos, with crew assistants moving back and forth, lifting and shifting entire sets at each firm command of the photographers, stylists adjusting every misplaced fold of fabric, and makeup artists ready to touch up any imperfection on her skin before the next shot.

Everything was perfectly choreographed, and yet Seulgi’s mind wandered far away at every minimal opportunity she was given.

She tried to focus on the job, she swore she did, since with each click, a new character seemed to be born — one quite different from the actress in her everyday life. This new facet mastered powerful, commanding expressions, a fierce gaze, a slight arch of the brow, and a half-smile that could be interpreted in countless ways. But in the moments between each photo, when the studio dissolved into a murmur of preparation for the next pose, her thoughts inevitably returned to the same nagging question that had been hammering in her mind since the brief argument she’d had with Minji before leaving the house that morning.

Jaeyi.

Or more precisely, the rumors surrounding her and Jaeyi.

Seulgi couldn’t shake from her mind the images and headlines that had dominated social media and the country’s main gossip sites ever since the award show. Every photo of her beside the singer, every look captured from a different angle that seemed to intensify the provocative undertone — it was too much. What bothered her wasn’t just the scandal itself, she was already used to distorted headlines that followed the life of a celebrity of her level of relevance. The problem was that Yoo Jaeyi wasn’t doing anything to deny or curb the comments sparked by her own relentless actions and provocations that night. Her ability to control and shape an entire narrative in her favor, whatever it was she stood to gain from all this, without ever needing to speak or act in a direct, blatant way, irritated her deeply.

The singer hadn’t denied a thing. Quite the opposite, she fueled the speculation, helping to intensify the rumors and gossip surrounding them, feeding the scavenger vultures that were the sensationalist tabloids.

So again, what exactly did Jaeyi think she was doing?

The fact that she didn’t have an answer to that question right now made her press her lips together tightly, her expression hardening without her realizing it.

“Seulgi, darling, try something softer for this next one, okay?” The photographer’s voice pulled her back to reality. “Something more natural. It suits you better.”

The actress blinked, pausing for a moment.

Natural?

She was never natural in front of cameras.

Taking a deep breath and trying to ease the tension threatening to take over her body, the woman forced herself to focus on the moment, on the clicks, and to give them the expressions they wanted from her. Ignoring, even if only momentarily, that uncomfortable feeling that seemed to be growing stronger by the minute.

***

When it finally ended, she felt exhausted. Not just physically, but mentally. The weight of all the recent events still hung over her, pressing on her shoulders with an uncomfortable heaviness.

Already in the car on her way to her next appointment, her phone vibrated on her lap. Minji’s message was direct: “Meeting with the CEO. Now.”

Seulgi sighed, already anticipating what was coming. Minji had known how to soften the blows that morning, but if the CEO of Unlimited, her advertising agency, was calling an in-person meeting right now, there had to be some kind of emergency, and she could already imagine what it was about. Sighing tiredly, the actress sent a simple “Okay.” to her manager, and immediately after, instructed her private driver on the new route to take. Her lunch would have to wait a little longer.

***

As soon as she entered the meeting room, she was met with serious stares. Choi Jun-ceo, the company’s CEO, was seated at the head of the long mahogany table, drumming his fingers impatiently against the polished wood. Minji was already by his side, with her trusty tablet in hand, ready to present any data and reports necessary to support whatever decision would be made here today.

"Seulgi," Choi Jun-ceo began, his firm voice reverberating throughout the room, drawing the attention of the other men present. "I believe you know why you’re here."

She simply nodded. There was no need to feign ignorance in this situation.

"Your image is a valuable asset. And now, your association with Yoo Jaeyi is casting a shadow over it. I believe I speak for everyone here when I say that such rumors might be a little…" The man paused, seemingly choosing his next words carefully. "Harmful to your career at a certain point. Therefore, as a damage control measure, we’ve talked and reached a consensus that the best course of action would be to nip this in the bud. We deny everything. And you need to keep your distance, not just in front of the cameras. I assume you understand our decision, don’t you, Miss?"

Seulgi kept her expression impassive throughout the man’s brief speech, though she couldn’t suppress the slight curl of her lips at the end of his statement.

The bitter taste of those words settled on her tongue, discomfort creeping over her body at the condescendingly authoritative tone used by the CEO. The false politeness made her nauseous.

"Oh, well, let me see if I understand. You’re asking me to ignore someone, another public figure who moves in the same social circles as I do, just like that, directly?" The actress's tone was almost mocking. "It’s impossible to avoid her completely without making it too obvious and fueling even more speculation around us, now specifically about why we distanced ourselves when we seemed to have gotten so close, well, in the public eye, at least. That would be foolish, shooting ourselves in the foot. But I imagine you gentlemen can understand that point too, right?"

Mockery.

Seulgi’s counter-response sounded exactly like that now.

If the false politeness made her nauseous, the sarcasm in her tone seemed to satisfy her.

She didn’t think the decision made by her superiors was a good idea worth noting, they merely informed her what to do, never asked what she thought. And she wouldn’t make the slightest effort to pretend she considered the decision. She was too tired after the long morning and too hungry to be mechanically polite now. God, she just wanted the meeting to end so she could have lunch.

Sensing the tension forming in the air after the actress’s clear challenge, Minji intervened, trying to soften her client’s words.

"I believe what Seulgi meant, Mr. Choi, is that unfortunately, the fact that the other party is also a public figure who participates in the same circles as our client, especially at annual events and award shows, makes it a bit difficult for this distancing the gentlemen desire to happen naturally in the eyes of the media. But I can assure you that we will do everything we can to handle this situation in the best way possible, avoiding situations that could further fuel the rumors. I will personally make sure of that," the woman finished with a nervous smile, hoping her words were enough to smooth over her friend’s earlier remarks. It wasn’t like Seulgi to react or respond to a superior that way — she’d need to have a deeper conversation with the actress as soon as they left. Behaviors like that could put both of them in unfavorable situations, they couldn’t risk it.

Noticing her friend’s nervous attempt, Seulgi took a deep breath before responding, reinforcing what Minji had said.

"I’m sorry if my words came off harsh, gentlemen. But, for now, I’d prefer not to comment on the speculations. I believe silence is better than fueling the media’s curiosity."

Mr. Choi didn’t seem satisfied at all — on the contrary, the older man’s brows were furrowed in clear displeasure, his cheeks flushed red at the unexpected refusal of a direct order from him, the CEO of the entire company. However, after receiving a brief nod from his assistant, he relented.

Still displeased, the man dismissed those present with a brief wave of his hand, not saying another word after the actress’s thinly veiled sarcasm. Nevertheless, the core of his initial message lingered over everyone in the meeting: Some measure would have to be taken, at the very least, to slow down the flow of gossip and comments involving Woo Seulgi’s name.

As the two women exited the room, they both seemed to relax, but for different reasons. Minji, for having managed to save their necks, and Seulgi, well, she could finally have lunch.

***

The night of the event arrived faster than Seulgi would have liked.

The annual gala dinner was one of the industry’s most exclusive events, where celebrities, agencies, and big brands gathered to form ties and open new doors for future contracts and collaborations. The venue chosen to host the gathering this year was a luxurious hall in downtown Seoul. The place was lit by strong white spotlights that highlighted its glass facade, revealing its interior ceiling so that even from the outside, the countless crystal chandeliers hanging toward the polished floor, finely decorated tables, and ambient music could all be seen, filling the space subtly and elegantly. Only the best for the best.

Seulgi never had any problems with these gala dinners — they were part of the job, an obligation almost as natural as memorizing scripts or spending hours on a film set. But tonight, as the camera flashes momentarily blinded her at the entrance of the luxurious hall, the woman felt discomfort crawling across her skin like static electricity.

She received a few sidelong glances as she passed by, even from some other celebrities, curiosity evident in their eyes. The rumors had indeed spread like fire on gasoline.

Journalists and photographers intensified their flashes and questions in her direction, though the woman offered nothing but polite smiles as she walked down the small carpet laid out in front of the event's entrance, always flanked by her security and manager.

Taking a deep breath and maintaining the impeccable poise she had perfected over the years, she finally passed through the grand marble entrance of the luxurious hall.

Seulgi arrived dazzling, standing out uniquely among the other guests, attracting a different kind of gaze now, not curiosity, but desire, envy, lust. The actress wasn’t one to brag, but even she admitted that tonight her stylists and makeup artists had nailed their choices. Her dress for the night was a deep, elegant blue silk that hugged her body flawlessly, accentuating her soft curves. Her hair fell over her shoulders parted down the middle in soft waves, and the makeup on her face complemented everything, highlighting each feature with sophistication.

And that was how she walked through the event, momentarily alone after Minji stayed behind to chat with an industry acquaintance, determined to go through her night without distractions. She was there to fulfill her role — socialize, strengthen her image, solidify partnerships, nothing more.

But then she saw her.

Across the hall, as dazzling as ever.

The figure that had been dominating her thoughts lately. Acting as if it weren’t her life’s mission to be the reason behind the actress’s sleepless nights.

Jaeyi.

Watching from afar, Seulgi felt as if it were just the two of them in that immense hall.

Yoo Jaeyi looked beautiful, radiant.

And suddenly, she was everywhere.

Everything and everyone was just… Jaeyi.

The singer seemed to fit into the environment with an almost irritating naturalness. She moved among the guests as if she were the host, wrapped in a magnetic aura that seemed to attract everyone's attention. Her deep black hair was perfectly styled, and her smile on her face was the same one Seulgi knew well — charming, calculated, challenging. Her black dress, short this time, hugged her body in a sophisticated way, giving everyone the most beautiful and privileged view of her long, slender legs, which looked so soft to the touch that Seulgi’s hands tingled, aching to reach out. Not because she wanted to confirm whether they were as smooth and creamy as they looked — no, she already knew that — but because… she simply… wanted to?

The actress felt her stomach tighten at the thought. No, not tonight.

Shaking her head discreetly, the woman wished those thoughts would just vanish, along with that other woman now laughing across the hall, her laughter so characteristically hers slipping into Seulgi’s ears uninvited, proving it was impossible to forget when she was standing just meters away.

Determined to do her best tonight, the actress looked away. She needed to focus on what really mattered: expanding her horizons and closing deals.

She greeted a few acquaintances, exchanged rehearsed smiles, toasted with executives mentioning future collaborations. She did what she was supposed to do. But for some reason, every word exchanged felt distant, like background noise, because her stubborn mind kept drifting elsewhere, to someone other than the people in front of her. Her damn head was stuck on a single question:

Why hadn’t Jaeyi approached her yet like she always did?

Not that she wanted it to happen, of course. That wasn’t it. The actress just found it strange that the inevitable hadn’t occurred yet, after all, some time had already passed since she walked through those doors. And nothing, still nothing.

And without wanting to admit it, Seulgi waited.

She waited for the moment when the singer would show up beside her with a provocative comment, with that smile carrying meanings only they knew, with that way of hers of knowing exactly how to unnerve her (and she really did). But Jaeyi did nothing. Nothing.

Tonight, she merely existed within that event, like any other guest, without invading Seulgi’s space.

And that bothered her. More than it should have.

The discomfort began as a light buzzing, a subtle irritation Seulgi tried to ignore. But as the night went on and the distance between them remained, the irritation grew, transforming into silent frustration.

Seulgi caught a few furtive glances from the singer — quick, intense, and loaded. But that was it. Glances. Nothing more.

Jaeyi remained busy talking to others, standing beside her manager, Kim Hyeon, discussing various topics with executives who seemed fascinated by her presence. She laughed at opportune moments, her laugh enchanting everyone, tilted her head in a way that seemed slightly shy when receiving compliments and flattery — clearly rehearsed — lightly touched someone’s arm when she wanted to emphasize a conversation, and just like that, she was the center.

From afar, Seulgi observed everything without wanting to admit that tonight, it was her who was truly watching the other woman.

It was ridiculous, and she knew it.

She should be relieved.

After all, this was what she wanted, wasn’t it? Distance. Peace. For Jaeyi to live her life without dragging her into this sick game of hers. But now that the singer was doing exactly that, now that she seemed too busy to even bother her…

Why did it feel so wrong?

Why did it bother her so much?

Seulgi tightened her grip on the thin stem of the champagne glass she held, bringing it to her lips just to mask her growing discomfort. The bitter taste of alcohol burning down her throat. Her eyes roamed the luxurious hall, searching for any distraction, but always ended up returning to the same place, Yoo Jaeyi.

The star of the night.

The woman who wore a slightly relaxed expression, a glint of amusement occasionally appearing in her eyes when someone said something funny, her smiles being distributed left and right, without hesitation.

Smiles that weren’t for Seulgi.

And that… That made no sense.

Nothing tonight seemed to make sense.

The frustration coiling in the actress's throat tightened like a noose.

Since when did she wait for Jaeyi’s attention? Since when did the absence of the singer’s eyes on her irritate her so much?

Ugh.

Seulgi couldn’t take it anymore.

Forcing herself, the actress looked away once more, pretending to be interested in the conversation between two film directors beside her. But she wasn’t there. Nothing seemed to help.

She felt herself going crazy.

Was she going crazy?

Her mind was restless, replaying every detail of that night, trying to understand why the hell Jaeyi was acting like this. What did she want with this indifference? What was she trying to prove with all this?

Jaeyi never did anything without a purpose.

Seulgi knew that better than anyone.

And it was exactly that thought that made her feel even more vulnerable. Because if Jaeyi was ignoring her on purpose, it meant she knew it would get to her.

It meant Seulgi was predictable.

That Jaeyi was right to think that, sooner or later, the actress would miss her attention, her presence. Miss her.

Seulgi clenched her teeth, irritated by that mere thought.

It was ridiculous. A pathetic game.

A game she wouldn’t participate in.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders, forcing herself to regain control. She didn’t need Jaeyi, her glances, her attention, or anything else from her.

She didn’t need her provocations, her smiles, her looks full of unspoken promises.

She didn’t need it.

She was Woo Seulgi, one of the most sought-after actresses in the industry right now, with the world at her feet.

And from that moment on, she decided she wouldn’t give Yoo Jaeyi another second of her attention.

If she wanted to play, to toy with her, that was exactly what she’d get back.

Two people can dance to the same song.

And this was a two-person game now.