Eventually Irene settles down, and frees herself from my embrace like a cute kitten with her eyes red from tears. She sniffs and faces Chae-won who hasn"t budged and has kept holding onto my free hand.She looks at me to do something, but I can only shrug. What am I supposed to do? She saved my life
With tears still lingering on her face, I wipe Irene"s face. "You should smile, I"m alive! people will think you are at a funeral!"
She pounds me with her little fists, "Do you really think you should be making jokes right now?" Irene can"t help but laugh still
Shaking my head cutely while crinkling my nose, I tease my little love bug more "If not now, then when?"
She leans into me once again, laying her head on my chest, "I was really worried !"
While I pat her slowly and whisper my answer, "I know, I won"t worry you again."
Chae-won feeling like a genuine third-wheel is pressing onto my hand so hard right now, I can feel her jealousy.
"I"m still a patient!!"
"So have I missed anything these past two days?"
Irene sits up and looks at me like I did something wrong, "Huh? What"s the matter" I ask
"You"re famous! now you know. The whole country loves you" She says with a little sourness in her tone.
"What do you mean?" I ask slightly amused by her over zealous jealousy, seeing Irene act so cute everynow and then is refres.h.i.+ng.
"Don"t ask me, ask you"re new girlfriend" Irene sourly answers.
Turning to Chae-won, I throw her a look which screams , "Explain"
Chae-won tries to figure out how to phrase what she"s about to say correctly, "Well... Uhm.... You see... the country thinks ... we are dating"
"Hold up! What!? Us?" "And didn"t I reject you already? What is happening?" I keep the last words to myself for obvious reasons.
"Yes! Dylan. After Unnie, saved you from your "death". Pffft, the papers have been calling you two the nation"s sweethearts!" Irene answers visibly annoyed
"Oooh, I got my first national t.i.tle! Cool" I say proudly, proceeding to give Chae-won a high five to boot.
In South Korea, Earning the t.i.tle of "Nation"s ____" just might be the biggest honor you could get as a celebrity or public figure. These t.i.tles show just how loved you are by the nation and your fans, and although its not widely used outside of the country it"s still a pretty big deal.
"Cool! The whole country thinks you are cheating on me and you say... cool!" Irene says sternly
Chae-won corrects her by saying, "Actually, they don"t know his dating you... so if they were to find out. You"d be the person cheating"
"Well she"s not wrong there"
Chae-won then proceeds to show me various headlines, from the past few days.
I even made it to the cover of some newspapers! A lot of them have little to no substance apart from clickbaitable t.i.ttles.
"Actors live out TV romance"
"Falling in LOVE on Set?"
"Death Defying Romance"
"Beauty saves the Handsome (my personal favourite headline)
Reading how the media glorified this accident, really makes me realise the power of the printed press. In the court of public opinion, they are pretty much. Judge, Jury and Executioner.
I should really consider buying a couple publications for future needs. Can you imagine if the Owner of Korea"s number one Scandal releasing site Dispatch was an Actor and Idol? Wouldn"t I be like the most protected person ever?
"Wait! I feel like I"m forgetting a bigger issue"
"What is it?"
"Think Think! GOT IT!"
"Baechu! Baechu! What about... your parents. What did you tell them!" I suddenly feel fear running down spine
"My parents? Well I told them the truth... MY Boyfriend. Took his GIRL friend home, and stayed over the night" She stresses some words over others
"Baechu..." I plea
"I"m kidding, I"m kidding. I told them that you took her home after dinner with the crew, like you said in the text you sent and that nothing happened" She relays. I breathe a little easier after hearing that. "But you best think of an explanation, my dad still wants to kill you, and to be honest. It"s what you deserve!"
"Baechu.... Spare me. I"m still barely alive" I beg
"Barely alive, the doctor said it was a miracle that you were relatively unscaved from the accident. I guess that"s the good thing about driving such expensive cars. The only reason you were out cold for 2 days was because of the medication and your fatigue" She explains
"Who was the one crying, when the came in 30 minutes ago! "Dypa! waawaah" I mimic her
"Dylan if you say anymore.. We breaking up...!" She threatens, which instantly shuts me up
"Okay okay, that"s enough you two" Chae-won mediates, "Dylan just woke, he needs to rest"
Irene and I settle the battle for now, "So what are you going to do?" Chae-won asks
"About?" I ask
"The scandal?" Irene says, thinking I didn"t understand the question
"Hmmmmm.... What scandal?"