Chapter Text
You’re secretly dating Siyeon.
As an idol, there are rules she can't break, boundaries set in place to protect them. Yet she doesn't care about the trouble she could get in if you were caught. It worries you but she reassures you that she wants this. She wants to take the risk for you.
It’s sweet but you can’t help but feel like something is going to go wrong.
“Babe, come on,” Siyeon teases, stealing a kiss from you. She’s very good at distracting you when you’re worried. “I swear, everything will be okay.”
You frown and sigh. “I know. I just… I never done something like this. I’ve never… been in a relationship like this. Where things might go bad if people find out.” Lying isn’t something that comes naturally to you. So hiding your relationship is new.
Siyeon chuckles, taking your hands in hers. In the safety of Dreamcatcher’s dorm, you have no fear of being seen by anyone. Here is perhaps the only place you can be together properly. The other members do tease and make fun of you but overall, they give you plenty of privacy and time alone. They’ve covered for you on more than one occasion.
“It’s cute that you care so much,” Siyeon says, stroking her thumb over the back of your hand. “I… I really appreciate it.”
You smile. “Of course. Anything for you. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t. Nothing that could happen would be your fault.” She leans in, arching an eyebrow. “Unless you cheat on me with Sua. Then I will be mad.”
“Siyeon!”
Siyeon shrugs innocently, though the corner of her mouth tug upwards. “Hey, just saying. Sua is very attractive. You are very attractive. Things happen that I might not like.”
“Um, who’s girlfriend am I?” You slide over in your seat, pressing up against her arm. “I’d much prefer if you talked about me than Sua.”
As a week passes, you’re achingly reminded that you have to go soon. Your time in Korea is almost up and then you'll head home. Will you survive being apart? She's busy enough as it is but not even being able to see you? It worries you a lot.
She works. You work.
You like Korea. As you work on an article about the most recent comeback of Twice, another Korean idol group, you wonder if you’d move to stay with Siyeon if everything turns out right. Out of the two of you, your work is the most movable.
Suddenly your phone starts ringing.
Apologising to everyone around you, you step outside the room to answer it. To your surprise, it’s Siyeon. Why is she calling right now? You’ve kept calls to outside work hours in an effort to reduce the chances of her being caught. You frown and answer.
“Siyeon? Hey, what’s up, babe?”
“(Y/N), please, I need you to listen to me. Something’s happened. Don’t trust what you hear in the news.” Her voice is frantic, hurried whisper down the line. “Please. Don’t talk if anyone asks you anything.”
“Si, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”
“Someone found out about us. I have to go, I’m sorry!”
“Siy-!” you start to say but then the line goes dead. She’s gone.
Worry creeps into your mind. Someone found out about you. And now she’s panicking. This isn’t good. You can’t imagine what might be happening. You immediately want to go to her, see if she’s okay but your presence would only make things worse.
“Siyeon…” you murmur to yourself. “What have you gotten yourself into?”
You work through your article as best as you can but your mind is distracted. By the time work is over, you barely edited it.
You head back to where you’re staying and search up Dreamcatcher online. And what you see makes your blood run cold.
“Dreamcatcher’s Siyeon revealed to be more than friends with Mysterious Woman…” you read.
That’s what she meant by the media. What will this mean for her? Idols aren’t allowed to date, even if there aren’t rules against it, too many fans would snap. They don’t know who you are. But they know her. The feelings of betrayal, possessive, it makes you sick.
The comments are a mixture of positive and negative. Some people are losing it, crying about how they’re so happy Siyeon’s found someone, not to mention that fact that you’re a woman. Others are less kind with their comments. And Siyeon’s able to read every single one.
There are English comments as well but those are harder to read. You don’t even try, don’t even want to. “Siyeon…” What’s going to happen now?
Today was supposed to be a normal day where you’d go out after work with a couple of friends. But you call up to cancel because you aren’t in the mood. Nothing. You just want to know about her. Is she okay? What’s going to happen now?
Suddenly there’s a knocking on your door. Hurried, frantaic. You jump to your feet and rush to open it. And it’s who you were hoping.
“Siyeon!”
She’s standing in front of you wearing a long coat, hair windswept. She looks as though she just ran her way up to your room. “I’m so sorry, about everything. I should have explained but I didn’t have time, I’m really sorry.”
“You’re sorry? Si, this is my fault you realise. Your whole group is going to come under fire for this.”
Siyeon shakes her head. “No. Maybe the media will but our company won’t. Nor will our fans. (Y/N), the industry needs this kind of thing, a healthy relationship that shows we’re human too. I understand if you don’t want this. And you can leave if you-”
“Leave? You think I’d want to leave you after this?” You’re trembling, tears threatening to run down your face. You thought you’d screwed up. That everything was going to change.
Her kiss is comforting, reassuring you that she’s not lying. Everything is going to be okay. She said that in the beginning. And now you believe her.
You sit at the side of the stage nervously, legs bouncing up and down. You had coffee this morning due to the fact that you'd been unable to sleep. That was a mistake. Your nerves were frayed anyway but the coffee so did not help.
There are fans out there, milling around with their banners and lightsticks (please) but there are also major news sites, reporters, journalists like you would have been if this had been someone else. The world has their eyes on Lee Siyeon and the official statement she’s about to make.
Dreamcatcher walk out first, Siyeon giving your hand one final squeeze before joining them. Every single member is here to support you and Siyeon. They didn't have to. But they wanted to be here for you guys.
The murmur of the crowd rises. They're getting restless. Usually statements are never held like this. The company releases them online or through a recording. But never a live event with all the members present. They know this is going to be big. And they can't wait for it to happen.
Siyeon reaches the middle of the stage and the microphone. She bows once before starting to speak.
"Hello. Today, I'd like to introduce you to someone. (Y/N)? Please join me."
That's your cue. Siyeon's voice wobbles once but her tone is clear. She knows what she's doing. You walk out onto the stage, keeping your head forward. Their gazes turn to you, their judgement hand in hand. It weighs on you.
But you see Siyeon ahead. She's smiling, eyes only for you. And your nerves calm. She has your back no matter what. You reach the stand and she nods.
She takes your hand.
A murmur ripples through the crowd but you think nothing of it. In this moment, there's only you and her. This is your last chance to turn around and pretend like nothing ever happened. To not take the risk. But she nods again, squeezing your hand.
You turn to the microphone and freeze at the sheer amount of people in front of you. Dreamcatcher's popularity had grown in the months you were in Korea but you've never seen a crowd like this. It goes quiet. Everyone's holding their breath, waiting for you to say something. Inhaling, you do. It's time.
“Um, hello,” you say. “I’m (Y/N). I’m Siyeon’s girlfriend.”
Cameras start flashing and you have to struggle not to flinch. Siyeon touches your lower back, stirring gentle circles through your clothes. She stands close to you, protectively.
Fans start cheering. At first it just a few calls but it grows until the room is full of applause. Support from all directions. Not everyone claps. That's to be expected with how Korea reacts to these kind of things. But they're drowned out by the rest until you forget they're even there.
Finding your confidence, you stand straighter. You love Siyeon. You're proud of what she's done. The courage she has. Behind you, Dreamcatcher are cheering as well.
“Hey,” Siyeon murmurs. “You okay?”
You nod, turning away from the crowd to her. “Yeah. Strangely I am.”
"Lee Siyeon! Lee Siyeon! The people want to know-?" The news sites start crowding towards the stage, asking question after question. Their mikes are extended by Siyeon waves them away. Questions later, once everything has calmed down.
You know this will spread. And everyone will know. Your mind flashes to Honoka, the avid fan of idols, and how she might react. In your secreaxy, you hadn't even dared to tell her. She would freak.
“Thank you," Siyeon says and the two of you bow.
The media wants to know more, clammering as the two of you leave the stage. That's for another day, another interview, where you can be properly prepared.
"Ay, that was positive!" Jiu says as they come off stage as well. "I think it went well."
You smile and nod but as you do, a thought comes to you. In the moment, it was so natural you hadn't even noticed. But now, it's shocking. Taking Siyeon by the hand, you thank the others and drag her off somewhere private.
"Hey~ what is this about?" She's smirking, ready to tease and flirt. But not now. This is much too serious.
"I think I love you," you gasp to Siyeon.
Siyeon freezes but then falls into a content smile. She kisses you, soft and gentle, lips caressing yours like a whisper. Her hand cups your cheek and when she pulls away, her eyes are shining.
"I think I love you too."
You have to laugh, reaching to pull her in for a hug. You were so nervous earlier but now all you feel is happiness. Everything is good. And it will work out okay. In this path of life, Siyeon now promises to walk with you. This is the first step. And it will be the first of many.