Chapter 1: People, Places, Promotions
Chapter Summary: Solana attends a panel with her peers, where a performance from Stray Kids has her confronting the past. Afterward, Kai eagerly introduces the two friend groups. Despite her skepticism about the idols' intentions, Solana decides to stay, grappling with her own uncomfortable feelings.
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“Solana, it’s a dream come true seeing you in person. Hearing you talk with the other actors, it really shows how different you are from Irina. I have two questions. One, how do you get into such a character? And two, do you struggle with her character?”
I was staring out at a sea of blinking expectant eyes. Hundreds of people, all hanging on my next words, eagerly waiting for my answer. It was a simple question, though I could tell most of the crowd thought it was some deeply philosophical ask. It wasn’t, and I could only hope the real answer wouldn’t bore them. I deeply hated how I always had to make sure I was captivating in everything I said during the panels.
“I’ve got a dirty secret,” I said, leaning into my microphone, adding a touch more drama than necessary. It was what the crowd loved. “Ready for this?” I asked them. I got a mix of yes responses and continued. “The truth is… I used to be a lot like Irina. I hid my emotions until they festered into unrelenting anger. Much like Irina, I was dealt a shitty hand—sorry Jiho—so I was angry just like she is.” Nothing I said was a lie. I used to be angry, and even if I still was, the fire had dimmed to a softer simmer. It was no longer the raging inferno that consumed me. I went on, “The biggest difference between us is her inability to let others in. As silly as it sounds, this show really saved me. Both physically and mentally. Within this cast I was able to find friends I know I will keep for a lifetime.” I glanced at Claire and Collete who both gave me a soft smile. Then to Kai who wore a shit eating grin as if my confession was the best thing he had ever heard. Lastly there was Sasha, who was trying to blink back tears. “Maybe if Irina can learn to let others in, she can grow the way I did. As for your question, some days it’s harder than others to get into character. She reminds me of my old self, so memories can be brought up. But I think those are the days I connect with her the most and am able to deliver the best performances. No matter what her destiny is, I’m rooting for Irina, and I can’t wait to see where Danni takes her story in the future.”
Under the table, Sasha’s hand found mine and squeezed it tightly. It was warm and comforting. She felt a lot like Mom sometimes. She felt safe. Being cast in ‘The Universal Academy of Witches’ had been a stroke of luck. However I believe something deeper, perhaps something cosmic had brought me to Sasha.
Growing up, making friends was always challenging for me. I’d watch other girls click instantly, and I felt gnawing envy. When birthday invites were handed out, I was forgotten. When it was time to pair up in school, I’d be forced to sit alone and quietly work. I never understood why it was so hard for me. All I wanted was a group of friends to laugh and cry with. But instead, throughout my youth I only found myself more and more isolated. That loneliness became a kind of shield, something I wrapped around myself. I built my walls because it was easier to be alone, easier to not need anyone. At least, until I met Sasha.
We were alone in the waiting room. She was clearly nervous. Her leg bounced like it was on a spring, and she twisted her fingers around each other like they were the only thing grounding her to earth. I assumed she’d been cast as the jittery, anxious role—maybe the squirrely boy character. So, imagine my surprise when she introduced herself and revealed she’d been cast as Catherine, the strong-willed knight magician who cared more about order than any ruling government. Out of character her voice was soft and quiet, but the moment we started the cold read, Sasha and Catherine came alive.
Our situations couldn’t have been more different. Irina and I were woven from the same thread, but Catherine and Sasha felt like they were from opposite ends of the universe. Still, as time went, I could see Catherine in her, tucked away deep in her heart, waiting for the right moment to emerge. I knew it was coming.
Hearing the word sex broke me out of my thoughts immediately. “—the sex appeal character. Do you like playing fan-service roles or were you excited to get cast in something different this time?” The fan speaking to Sasha had started to lower the microphone and sit down, but just as his butt was about to hit the chair, he shot back up. “Wait! Also I’d love to know your favorite line. Okay sorry, thank you.” He finally sat down.
I didn’t even need to glance at her to know how she looked. Sasha hated those questions. Anytime her old work was brought up, I could see the energy drain from her. Her shoulders sagged, and her eyes lost a little of their sparkle. It was my turn to reach for her hand. I gave her a reassuring nod, hoping to give her a push to answer bravely. She looked back to me and smiled then let go of my hand.
”Well…” she drew out the word, buying herself a second to collect her thoughts. “I’m grateful for the roles I’ve had because they led me to where I am now. But did I like them?” She laughed into the microphone, a light, playful sound. “No. I didn’t like them. In fact, I hated them. They were just stepping stones, experience roles. But now that I’ve tasted the kind of characters I’ve always wanted to play, I’m never going back.
What an incredible answer it was. Sasha had this gift—the ability to connect with fans like it was what she was born to do. Despite all of her anxiety, when she was in front of a crowd, she beamed with radiance. “As for my favorite line,” she continued, “that’s tough. Do any of you have a favorite?” She gestured toward the rest of us on the panel.
It wasn’t a bad setup for a panel, really. We were seated in a packed university theatre auditorium. A long plastic table stretched in front of us, draped in a nice tablecloth with our show’s poster on it. Down at the far end, near the stairs, sat Danni Choi, the creative genius behind the manhwa. Next to her was her agent. Then came Jiho Lee, the manager for all the actors. Jiho had recently made headlines in South Korea for coming out as non-binary and launching a talent agency for queer entertainers. Some people adored them, and some hated them. After Jiho came the main cast of ‘Universal Academy of Witches’: Kai King, Collete Laurant, Sasha Wren, myself and lastly, Claire Gagni.
The premise of the show was simple enough: witches and warlocks from across the world came to train at an elite magic academy. So, the producers decided to cast actors from all over the globe. Kai was from Australia, Collete from France, Sasha from the U.S, Claire from the U.K, and me—from Russia. Well, technically. My last name Pavlov, and a passable Russian accent were all they needed to check that box. Never mind that I hadn’t been to Russia since I was six. But I wasn’t going to complain. That fake accent had landed me in a position where I could finally take care of Mom. I would always be grateful for Danni and Jiho seeing something in me when they watched my audition tape.
Claire must have wrapped up her favorite line because everyone was suddenly staring at me, waiting. I cleared my throat, preparing to drop into the lower register Irina’s voice required. “Irina is a woman of few words, but if I had to pick, I’d say, ‘I don’t fight because I want to win. I fight because I refuse to lose.’”
A handful of girls in the crowd started screaming, followed by a wave of applause. It still amazed me how putting on a different voice could inspire such a devoted fanbase. “Everyone has so many good lines,” Sasha mused, resting her chin in the palm of her hand, her eyes sweeping over the crowd like she was searching for an answer. “How am I supposed to pick?”
“See, she wants you to think she’s being all deep and quizzical,” Kai chimed in, laughing, “but she actually just can’t remember any of her lines.” The panel and the audience echoed his laughter.
“Alright, alright!” Sasha said, her eyes hardening into a steely resolve, a look that showed exactly why she’d been cast as Catherine. “‘Foolish cowards. My sword is the law, and I wield it with unwavering conviction.’”
The crowd went wild again. Next was Colette. Her character was a love witch, though more the innocent schoolgirl crush type rather than the seductive succubus archetype. “This is easy, Elise’s best line by far: ‘Yes, I’m crying! I can’t help it! I just love, love, love, love!’” A group of young girls cheered excitedly as Colette delivered the line.
Finally, it was Kai’s turn. He sat up a little straighter, taking a deep breath. His character, Oliver Brown, was the youngest professor ever to teach at the academy, and like many overpowered male protagonists, he had a massive cult following. His voice dropped into that perfect, smooth cadence that had won over so many fans—deep, rich, yet with a playful undertone that made every word sound effortless. “Now, I could be the good guy and give you the line you want…” He was toying with them, and the crowd ate it up. “Oh, fine. I can’t say no to you all,” he pouted, teasing them with a long pause. “Don’t worry, darling. Making the impossible look easy is kind of my thing. Besides, you know I can’t help but show off for you.”
The screams that followed were so loud I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing. It was every fan’s dream to hear Kai say that in person. He beamed with pride while Sasha gave him an exaggerated look of disgust.
“Kai! You’re so hot!” someone in the crowd shouted, setting off another wave of laughter.
The moderator took that moment to step in, taking the mic from the last fan. “Alright, I think we have time for one more question.” He scanned the room, finally landing on a girl with short pink hair practically bouncing in her seat. He passed her the microphone, and she cleared her throat before speaking.
“Kai, I’m sure a lot of fans of UAW are here because of that live stream you did with Felix from Stray Kids. Neither of you really mentioned how you know each other, and I think a lot of us are dying to find out.”
Kai smiled softly at the girl. “Damn, here I thought I’d make it through the entire Q&A without him stealing the spotlight.” He shook his head and glanced at the producers. They gave him a quick nod, and he continued. “Well, Felix and I are both from Sydney. Not just that, we grew up on the same street, and our families are super close. I have three sisters who love to terrorize me every chance they get, so I always wished I had a brother to help me fight back. Felix was the closest thing I ever had to a brother. He’s a great mate. When I overheard Danni and some of the others talking about the opening song, it was like my heart spoke before my brain even realized it. I said, ‘Stray Kids could be cool for it,’ and the rest is history,” he laughed. “I didn’t think they’d actually reach out to the boys, but Felix and I were over the moon to be part of the same project. And it wasn’t just Felix—every one of them was excited. I’m not sure if you can tell, but I swear those guys are the biggest nerds you’ll ever meet.”
The crowd chuckled as Kai paused, reading the room. “Seriously though, I brought them here today as a little treat for all of you. I can’t keep letting everyone think they’re these cool, collected guys. Come on out, you guys.”
Kai gestured to the left side of the stage, and from the wings, four stunning boys emerged. He wasn’t exaggerating—Stray Kids were probably the most beautiful group of friends I’d ever seen. Each of them had such distinct looks, but all of them radiated something magnetic. It felt unfair. Men weren’t supposed to be prettier than women.
“Hello, everyone! Helloooooo, Kai!” Felix called out, bounding straight over to Kai and wrapping his arms around him. I had seen pictures of Felix from Kai before, but seeing him in person was something else. I glanced over at Sasha, who looked just as awestruck as I felt.
“We thought it would be fun to perform the song live for you all. What do you think? Wanna hear it?” one of the other members asked, his voice smooth. I didn’t know his name, but he had strong-looking arms, pretty lips, and was dressed in a tight tank top, an open button-down shirt, and jean shorts. He was just as pretty as Felix, and I had to force myself to look away before I started mentally objectifying him. These boys probably dealt with that far too often. The last thing I wanted was to be another fan who did the same.
I can’t lie, I envied their looks. But I definitely didn’t envy their lack of privacy. Fame, especially at that level, had a way of stripping away the parts of yourself you’d want to keep hidden, and fans felt so entitled to you.
We were ushered off the stage to seats in the front row. As I settled in, I found myself glancing at the pretty one again, curiosity got the better of me. Leaning over to Kai, I whispered, “The one in the tank top—who is he?”
Kai raised his eyebrows, and I rolled my eyes in response. “That’s Chris. He goes by Chan or Bangchan. He’s the leader of the band.”
I turned to Sasha, ready to ask if she thought he was cute too, but her gaze was locked on the youngest-looking member of the group. His long auburn hair had a fox-like quality, and even his features were sharp, mischievous, and yet delicate. Sasha’s mouth hung slightly open, so I reached out and gently pushed her jaw shut.
She blinked and blushed, glancing at me sheepishly. “I was going to ask if you thought he was cute, but it looks like you’ve already found your type,” I teased, giggling into her ear.
She swatted my arm. “I’ve heard a song by him before, but he looked so much younger back then. He really, uh… grew into his features.”
I leaned toward Kai again, pointing at the one with the fox-like features. “What about him?”
Kai didn’t look at me—he glanced over at Sasha, who was still staring. He snorted softly. “That’s Jeongin, but most people call him I.N. And before you ask, the last one is Seungmin. He and I.N. are the main vocals of the group, but honestly, all of them are ridiculously talented. There are four other members who also sing on the track, but they couldn’t make it today. These guys will cover their parts.”
Just as he finished, the boys started moving into position on stage. The lights dimmed, casting a soft glow, and then Felix’s deep voice filled the room as the song began.
“In the shadows they awake, casting fear into the night. Monsters born from twisted magic, haunting dreams and stealing light. A fire burns within, forged from bonds we hold. Witches across the ages, we stand ready for the fight.”
My god, his voice rivaled Kai’s. Then Bangchan took center stage.
“When the darkness tries to break us, and the world begins to fall, we’ll be stronger, side by side. We will answer this call.”
Listening to him sing gave me chills. His voice was powerful, commanding, all the while filled with warmth. After his verse ended, Seungmin and I.N came in together, harmonizing as their voices blended like paint on a canvas. It was ethereal—nothing short of magical.
“We rise together, hearts aligned, we'll face the storm, through the night, our magic shines, a new world to be born. No more fear, no more pain, we’ll drive the shadows away. In this fight, we lead with heart, come what may.”
The song was perfect, and they were perfect, and I hated it. As the last note echoed through the room, the audience erupted in cheers, clapping, and screams. If the applause for us had been loud, this was absolutely deafening.
Danni stood from her chair, holding up her hands to shush the crowd. “It’s always lovely when you experience something and just know you’ve made the right choice. I hope you all enjoyed the panel, and thank you, Stray Kids, for working with us. Everyone, please get home safe, okay? Oh, and keep your eyes out this Friday—I might accidentally release two new chapters instead of one. Seriously, be safe!”
The crowd began to disperse, buzzing with excitement as people filtered out of the auditorium. The members of Stray Kids waved goodbye and started heading backstage. Kai chased after Felix, who giggled like a child and playfully darted away from him. Watching them together was adorable. Yes, Kai was naturally bubbly, but something about him when Felix was around was different. His smile wasn’t just for show; it was real, genuine, and filled with joy.
A strange feeling spread through me as I watched them. I desperately hoped that Felix was one of the good ones but I doubted it—it was too rare a find in this world of fame.
Call it jealousy or simply my truth, but I cannot stand big celebrities. I had my fair share of them come into the Red Light Club. It was easier for them to get away with their sinful indulgence in a smaller area. Besides that when Mom and I were struggling in New York, we’d occasionally come across famous actors, models, influencers, and musicians. It wasn’t every day, but it happened whenever we ventured deeper into the city. Those kinds of people rarely hung around where we lived. Unless they came for the dances. They were too important to be seen in the slums, and honestly, I didn’t blame them. But I still couldn’t—and can’t—stand their lives. Something about millions of people struggling to eat while others spend thousands on a meal never sat right with me.
Another aspect I despised was the illusion of perfection surrounding them. Perfect jobs, perfect faces, perfect lives. But nothing is perfect about being a celebrity. Most of them are terrible people who wouldn’t bat an eye at others' suffering if it meant they could pocket a few extra dollars. They present the best versions of themselves, tricking the public into thinking they’re decent human beings. They aren’t. They fake kindness. They fake being ’one of us.’ Once you reach a certain level of fame and wealth, you lose touch with what it means to be human. Everything becomes luxury, and they forget what it’s like to live without it.
Kai and I have gotten into screaming matches about this on a few nights out drinking. He’d argue I was being cynical, and I’d insist that he’ll never see the truth. Felix might be good to Kai, but would he go out of his way to help someone in need? Does he possess basic empathy? Probably not. But at least he makes Kai happy. He’s good to him, even if he’s not good in general. Despite my strong opinions, I had promised Kai I’d be civil, to treat them like I would my friends. But they aren’t my friends, and I doubt they ever could be. They don’t understand what I’ve been through, and it’s not their fault—but how could I possibly get close to people who’ll never get it?
I put aside my bitter thoughts and walked past the curtain into the wing of the stage. Off to the left was a walkway to the green room, a cozy space with three nice couches, a coffee table, and a TV showing the stage. The four members of Stray Kids were lounging on the couches, while Kai sat on the floor across from them. From the bits of conversation I caught, they were talking about the crowd’s energy.
“—seriously! I thought you were gonna forget to call us onstage, man,” laughed Bangchan.
“He’s soooo jealous of me, hyung. Didn’t want his fans switching up on him,” said Felix.
“Oi, come here, you cunt,” Kai lunged at Felix, putting him in a headlock. Felix immediately pretended to pass out, going limp in Kai’s arms.
“Careful, Kai, you’ll have a lot of angry people if you kill him,” I teased.
“Forget prison time—you wouldn’t last a day before their fans got you,” added Sasha.
“You two sound like Mum, always ruining my fun,” Kai groaned, letting Felix go. Felix stuck his tongue out at him and gave a cheeky wink, leaning back into the couch while Bangchan reached out to rest his hands on Felix’s shoulders.
“So, what did you guys think? Did we do the show justice?” Felix asked, looking between Sasha and me.
“You did. You two,” I pointed to Jeongin and Seungmin, “gave everyone chills when you sang together. It really captured the fantastical side of Academy of Witches.”
“You two? Wait, Kai, do they not know who we are?” Jeongin asked, incredulous.
“I briefly mentioned your names about 15 minutes ago, so technically yes.”
“What! Just now you told them our names? Are you embarrassed of us?” Felix pouted.
“Yes, absolutely I am. And hey, it’s not my fault, mate—they just never asked,” Kai replied.
“Do you know anything about Stray Kids? Either of you?” asked Bangchan.
Sasha, however, had a red tint to her cheeks. “Well… I know a single song because of my sister.”
“Is it God’s Menu? It's always God’s Menu,” Seungmin joked.
“Um… no,” Sasha laughed awkwardly. “It’s Maknae on Top.”
Jeongin’s eyes widened in horror as the other three boys burst into loud laughter.
“No way. There’s no way!” Felix cried, wiping away tears as he laughed harder.
Bangchan and Seungmin were clutching each other, trying to calm down, but every time they looked at each other, they just laughed harder. Jeongin, meanwhile, buried his face in a pillow, mortified.
"Okay, I have to know—what's so funny about this song?" I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.
Kai giggled. "Maknae on Top is a joke song they produced."
“It’s really catchy, to be fair!” Sasha defended.
Jeongin groaned into his pillow as the other boys finally caught their breath.
“I can’t wait to tell Minho hyung about this,” Seungmin added with a grin.
Just then, Claire and Collete emerged from the women's dressing room. They had clearly freshened up, with new makeup and comfortable, yet cute, outfits. I lowered my head slightly, hiding a knowing smile. Claire and Collete were good friends of mine, too. Since we were all cast together, we spent a lot of time hanging out. They were nice girls, and while I hadn't yet felt comfortable enough to open up to them completely, I did enjoy their company. In time, I thought, maybe I’d grow closer to them.
Although I didn’t share much about myself, they were open about their lives. Vanity played a big part in their world, which usually would put me off, but they never flaunted it. They just liked material things. Coming from wealthy families, it made sense for them to wear designer brands and the latest makeup.
When Kai told us about inviting Stray Kids to the panel, Claire and Collete had been ecstatic. Both were long-time fans, having followed the band since their debut on the survival show. It was no surprise they took extra time in the dressing room to change. What silly, vain girls. Boys like these could tear them apart, but if anyone could handle it, it’d be Claire and Collete.
"Hi!" Claire chirped. "It’s so nice to meet you guys—I’ve been a fan for so long."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bangchan’s smile falter. He chewed the inside of his cheek as the girls introduced themselves.
“Yeah, same! I’ve been following since Hellevator. It’s crazy to be in the same room as you,” Collete added enthusiastically.
Felix smiled back, but it felt practiced, the kind of forced, public smile I’d warned Kai about. I wondered if he saw it, too.
"You too,” Felix responded politely. “We were actually just talking to…” he trailed off, glancing between us and Kai, clearly unsure of our names.
“Sasha,” Jeongin chimed in, looking at her with a warm smile that made her flush immediately. “And Solana, right?”
“Wow, Lix. You don’t remember your best friend’s best friends’ names?” teased Seungmin.
“Hey! I just wasn’t sure which was which! Kai never shows us pictures of them!” Felix protested.
“Yeah, because you’re men. Men cannot be trusted,” Kai retorted, deadpan.
“Amen, Kai,” I laughed, but my eyes were drawn to Bangchan, who was staring intently at the back of Felix’s head. His hands fidgeted with the back of Felix’s sweater, and he was bent slightly forward as if he needed the blonde boy to ground him. Maybe it was time to wrap things up and give them some space.
“Anyway, we’ve got an early recording in the morning, so we should probably—" I began, but Kai cut me off.
“No way you’re leaving already! My best friends are finally meeting,” he insisted.
I shot Sasha a look, silently asking for backup. She nodded in understanding.
“Lonnie’s right. We have to be in the studio at seven tomorrow, so we really should get going,” Sasha agreed.
“I bet we could ask Jiho to push back the recording,” Claire chimed in, derailing my plan. “They are pretty understanding about stuff like this.”
Damn her. I just wanted to go back to our dorm and relax. These boys probably needed the rest, too.
“Let me text them real quick,” Kai said, already pulling out his phone.
“Sorry, you two, but I can’t let you leave yet. There’s no way the only thing you know about us is Maknae on Top, Sasha. You’ve gotta let me show you some of our other songs,” Felix begged.
Collete laughed, “Wait, you only know one of their songs?”
“I thought it was good!” Sasha defended again.
“Well, duh. All of their songs are good,” Collete replied.
I couldn’t help but notice Bangchan’s reaction. He scrunched his face when Collete said that, a clear sign of discomfort.
“Seriously though, come over! Let’s hang out for a bit. I’d love to hear the secrets of the show, and I’ll make sure to play you some better songs,” Felix smiled, trying to disarm with his charm. I wondered how long it took him to master speaking so casually with people who were so unlike him.
Bangchan’s grip on Felix’s shoulders tightened. “Lix…”
“Please, hyung! We rarely get to do stuff like this. It’s been ages since Kai’s been able to come over.”
“I don’t want to intrude, mate. We can grab coffee another time,” Kai said, clearly aware of the tension.
The two girls, however, were giving Bangchan puppy-dog eyes. Someone needed to step in for him.
“I’m sure you guys are busy, too. Don’t let us take up your free time,” I added, hoping to offer him an out.
“No. No, it’s okay. Please, Chan. Just this once,” Felix pleaded.
“I already texted the others to check if it was alright,” Jeongin added.
“Innie! I didn’t even give the okay yet,” Bangchan sighed, rubbing his hand down his face.
“Hyuuung! Kai’s been talking about them for ages. Come on, just this once…” Jeongin pressed.
Bangchan closed his eyes in resignation. “What did the others say?”
“They didn’t mind,” Seungmin replied.
“And Jiho? Did they agree to move the schedule?” Bangchan asked.
Kai glanced at his phone. “Yeah, just got a text. We’re not needed until noon.”
Claire and Collete squealed in excitement. I half-expected Bangchan to use their reaction as an excuse to refuse, but despite his clear reluctance, he gave in.
“Yeah, okay. Just this once,” he relented.
I felt a pang of guilt. It was clear he didn’t want us there, and I suddenly wanted to bail. I didn’t belong here, pretending to be part of a world I’d never understand. It felt like the walls of the green room were closing in on me rapidly.
“Would you hate me if I said I’ll pass? I think it’s best if I head home,” I started, but Kai stood up and immediately began slowly walking towards me.
“Yep. All of us will hate you. Me included. Hate you soooo much,” he said, his tone mock-serious.
“Kai, stop it. If she wants to go, let her,” Sasha chimed in.
“Don’t be so boring, Solana! When are you ever going to get to hang out with idols again?” Collete teased. I don’t want to hang out with idols. That’s why I’m going home, I thought.
Kai was still inching toward me, then finally picked up the pace at the end and wrapped his arms around my waist. “Would you hate me if I said I’m forcing you to go?” he teased.
I rolled my eyes and shot a look at Sasha, hoping for backup, but she was covering her mouth to hide a wide smile.
“Yep. Hate you soooo much,” I mimicked, making Felix laugh.
“Solana, I promise if you don’t have fun, I’ll buy you coffee for a week,” Felix offered with a playful grin. Typical rich boy.
“I’m more of a tea girl.”
“Then all the tea you can drink for a week,” he said, giving me puppy-dog eyes that made my cheeks warm. Kai, still swaying us both, was determined to drag me there no matter what I said.
“Kai, do you need our address, or do you still have it? You’ll have to take your own car. We can’t all fit in ours,” Bangchan mentioned.
“We’ve got room for two, Channie,” Jeongin offered, and Bangchan narrowed his eyes at him.
“I’ve got it, mate. No worries, we’ll figure it out,” Kai said, finally letting me go.
“If you’ve got room for two, could Collete and I join you?” Claire asked.
It was obvious Bangchan wanted to say no, but politeness won out. “Sure,” he replied.
Felix stood up and walked over to Kai. “Mind if I join you three? It’s a half-hour drive, and I’d love to get to know you both better,” Felix asked. If it weren’t for his status, I would have thought Felix was just a kind, outgoing guy. But I couldn’t shake the sense that his charm was part of his celebrity persona. Why was he so eager to get to know us?
“You can give me the rundown on why Maknae on Top is a joke,” Sasha laughed.
“Oh honey, we’ll need more than thirty minutes,” Felix teased, making Sasha smile at his quick wit.
“All right, children, let’s get going. We need to get home before Solana withers away to old age,” Kai called out, and I gave him my signature don’t-test-me look, raising an eyebrow.
“I’ll put you in the corner and make you count to five hundred for that, Kai,” I said.
“No! You wouldn’t!” Kai pouted dramatically.
I swatted his bum lightly. “You’re lucky that’s all I’m doing.”
“Ooooh, I like this side of Solana,” Felix chimed in while tossing me an exaggerated wink. Was he flirting with me? No way.
“Unfortunately, it’s the only time you’ll see it. Sorry,” I retorted.
“Lonnie, you’re such a brat,” Sasha laughed.
Kai started to head toward the door, dragging Felix along, and Sasha followed before pausing to look back at me. I hadn’t moved.
“It’s okay, Lonnie. It’s just one night, yeah? You won’t see these guys again,” she said.
“Yeah, that’s the problem, Sash. I hate friendships that feel fake.”
“Then it’s not a friendship. Just us meeting Kai’s friends. Nothing has to come of it.”
“You’re right. This isn’t about me. I should do it for Kai.”
“Atta girl. And if not for Kai, do it for me. There’s no way I can sit in a room with them without you,” Sasha laughed.
“You don’t give yourself enough credit.”
“Why do you have such a high view of me? I don’t see what you see.”
“Exactly. If you won’t see yourself in a good light, I have to. You’re phenomenal, Sash. I’m serious. If I didn’t go tonight, you’d be fine. You always are.”
“Lonnie, you put too much faith in me. I don’t—"
“Could you two be any slower? Come on, come on! We’re gonna miss our taxi!” Kai interrupted, poking his head back into the greenroom.
There was no escaping it. I needed to do this for Kai. He had been nothing but supportive since I’d been in Korea, and I couldn’t deprive him of this night. He had always talked about wanting his two worlds to meet, and I couldn’t say no. No matter my history with celebrities, I wouldn’t let it get in the way of Kai’s happiness. One night. Just one night, I told myself.
