"Behind Closed Doors"

The next day, Ryujin and Yeji received a call from Jinwon, their manager, asking them to meet up with her at her office. They arrived separately, but together, and were ushered into Jinwon's room. The atmosphere was serious, and Jinwon's expression was stern. "Girls, I think we need to talk about something," Jinwon said, getting straight to the point. "I know about the photo booth pictures. And I also know about what happened during the interview yesterday." Ryujin and Yeji exchanged a nervous glance. They had been worried that the moments caught on camera would get out, and now it seemed like Jinwon was aware of everything. "Look, I'm not here to judge you," Jinwon said, holding up her hands. "But as your manager, I have to think about what's best for the group. And in Korea, unfortunately, there are still a lot of... prejudices against certain relationships. If your relationship becomes public, it could be a problem for the group." Ryujin and Yeji nodded, understanding what Jinwon was getting at. They had heard stories about how difficult it was for LGBTQ+ individuals in Korea, and how much scrutiny they faced. "So, if you're going to be in a relationship, I need you to keep it a secret," Jinwon continued. "The company can't confirm or deny anything, no matter what the media or the fans want. But... having dating rumors is fine. Playing into them, even, is fine. Just make sure that you two are careful, okay?" Ryujin and Yeji nodded again, taking in Jinwon's words. They knew that they had to be careful, for the sake of the group. "Now, there's something else I need to tell you," Jinwon said, a hint of a smile on her face. "We're going to be doing a little publicity stunt. You'll be going on a date, and it will be recorded by a secret camera. The company van will follow you, and we'll use the footage for promotional purposes." Ryujin's eyes met Yeji's, and they both looked surprised. A fake date, for publicity? It seemed like a strange idea, but they also knew that it was part of their job. "Okay," Ryujin said finally, nodding. "We'll do it." Yeji nodded in agreement, and Jinwon smiled. "Great. I'll give you the details later. For now, just make sure you're both ready for... a fun day out." Ryujin and Yeji left Jinwon's office, still trying to process what had just happened. They knew that they had to keep their relationship a secret, but they also had to pretend to be a couple for the sake of publicity. As they walked out of the building, Ryujin turned to Yeji and smiled. "Well, I guess this is going to be interesting." Yeji grinned back, and they shared a brief, sparkling glance. They knew that they had to be careful, but for now, they were just going to enjoy the ride. The two of them went their separate ways, but they both knew that their fake date was just around the corner. And as they prepared for it, they couldn't help but wonder what other secrets they would have to keep hidden.