Whispers Between Us
pairing: vernon x fem!reader (no use of y/n) warning: just kissing; made-up info genre: secret dating word count: 2,779 proofread: yes synopsis: you and vernon are both idols who are secretly hanging out, figuring out what your relationship is. however, things become complicated when the secret isn't so private anymore
It was innocent. That was all. That's how it started. Just two strangers, exploring the boundless promises of young love. Maybe it was all meant to be friendly, maybe not. Regardless, it was done together.
With him, you felt liberated, floating with pure, innocent ecstasy, freedom pulsating through your veins. With him, you were away from the paparazzi, away from the flashing lights, from the facades, the play-pretend. With him, you were you: raw, vulnerable, and unapologetic. He understood you. He saw and accepted what he saw.
God, nothing ever felt wrong, or shameful, or dirty with Vernon.
So why did it feeI so, so wrong to see these photos?
You two had always been so-very careful, your guard never completely down. You never wore too-flashy, easily-recognizable outfits, never met in too-brightly lit areas, never in centers of public spaces. It was like a secret, just between the two of you, whispers unheard of by others.
You had always imagined what it would be like to let the world in on your secret, what it would feel like to crack open both of your hearts, allowing on-seekers to peer inside. Would it be a post? A company announcement?
Whatever the daydream, it was always done by you. The choice was always made by you. It was yours.
At least, you had hope that it was.
But this? It was never supposed to happen like this. This was not supposed to be the way things went down.
Your heart ached with gut-wrenching pain as images of last night flashed in your mind.
𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒
"Finally, thought you got cold feet," you speak out playfully, sat outside a cafe shop, hoodie up as your eyes peered at the man before you.
"Cold feet towards you? Never," Vernon joked back. His skin glistened a little under the overhead lighting, sweat coating his body as he just came from practice, hair damp and stuck to his forehead.
"Couldn't have showered first?" you joke once more, standing up now from your seat as Vernon pushed in your chair for you.
"Oh, you know, just couldn't wait another second to see you." His long, fluttering eyelashes closed as he giggled. You looked up as you admired his sharp, attractive, boyish features that were highlighted from the graze of the coffee shop's Closed sign.
You were an Idol, the leader of RosePedals, a girlgroup, so being surrounded by pretty people wasn't new, but the man in front of you was beyond comparison. The sight of Vernon was breathtaking, even with his post-practice condition. Tall, strong, and stable, like the sight of him just made you want to squeeze as close as possible and express your inner-most thoughts. You had to physically stop your hand from reaching up and caressing his face.
"What's going on up there?" Vernon jokingly asked, tapping gently on your head as another soft laugh escaped his lips.
You rolled your eyes, "Still really wishing you showered before coming." You push him away playfully as you skip ahead of him, headed to the small lake nearby that you two often would walk around.
Vernon chased playfully after you. "Admit it, you would hate if I kept you waiting any longer," Vernon teased, wrapping an arm around you as he finally caught up.
"Maybe you're right, or maybe you aren't. I'll never tell." You took his hand from around you and entangled your fingers into his, swaying your hands between you two.
"You'll tell me one day," he said, poking your side with his free hand. "You know, I really enjoy this." Your eyebrows raised in curiosity, almost nudging him to go on. You loved hearing Vernon speak. It could be about anything in the world: you were a puddle in his hand.
He gestured to your hands. "This, the night time, this walk. Everything feels so natural." "Me too, V. I really like this, too."
Vernon stopped abruptly, pulling you back.
"I like it a lot," he spoke, more softly now, as if it were just for you to hear. Which, considering it was just you two together, wasn't surprising.
"Me too. A lot." Vernon lifted your chin, making your nervous. averting eyes to stare straight into his. To see the truth. No more suggestive words or teasing touches of the hand.
"Is this okay?" he asked, leaning in closer. You two had shared kisses before, small, fleeting ones, but kisses nonetheless. However, for whatever reason, this felt different. It felt like confirmation to a truth you had been burying, scared it would taint it.
"Of course," you confirmed. Nothing felt wrong with Vernon, especially not this.
In an instant, as if waiting for the yes, Vernon leaned in, his soft, gentle lips connecting with yours. Shivers spread throughout your whole body. It burned with passion, the way your lips collided. It was sure and fulfilling, perfect and everything you needed.
But in the moment of harmony between you two, just by the edge of the lake, the darkness almost enveloping you both, you failed to notice the figure standing off in the distance. Their phone was out, red recording sign flashing as they captured this private, secretive moment you planned on cherishing for forever.
The flash is what gave them away, you practically shoving Vernon away, off of you. You felt dirty, hurt, pained. It all felt ruined.
Vernon noticed, looking to his left to see if the "fan" could be spotted. He inched closer, hand out to comfort you.
"Hey, it's okay," he whispered, his words being caught in fog before disappearing in the air, much like how you wished you could.
Whatever Vernon said, you couldn't hear. Your vision was blurry with tears and your hearing felt muffled with all the blood rushing into your ears. From embarrassment? Fear? You stared at Vernon with a scared, dazed face, eyes scanning everywhere. You looked like a deer staring down the barrel of a gun. Or maybe you felt that way?
Vulnerable. In the wide out.
What did that person see? What all did they catch? What did they take a picture of? "I have to go." "It was nothing. They saw nothing." "I have to go.”
𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒
That was last night. Only just last night, but it felt like a century since you have seen Vernon.
You barely slept when you got home, maybe getting two hours at most. Because you knew. You knew what news morning would bring, and you just couldn't stomach the thought of having to face this, especially alone. No Vernon.
The notifications on your phone were endless, flowing in like waves from an unforgiving sea. It seemed all social media platforms were going insane: Twitter, Tiktok, Instagram, etc. It was an endless sea of article after article, all with the same photos and videos.
Your denying thoughts, and Vernon's vainly words of comfort, were useless as the pictures practically embedded themselves on your mind. The mysterious fan caught everything, from the coffee shop to the kiss. All of it recorded, the joking, the teasing, the intimacy.
This moment, among many, was something you planned on holding nearest to your heart, to look back on when you needed a breather from your demanding Idol life. Now, it was stained with guilt and shame.
Unlike Vernon's group Seventeen, RosePedals, was only five years old. You were new in the industry, with everything at stake. There was still lots of work to be done, you, Katee, Olivia, Penny, and Shimmer. A scandal was not something you would ever inflict onto your reputation, especially as the leader. The girls have worked tirelessly, paid poorly, and gave everything they could give to get where they are, and now, it was as if you spat on all that work and passion before throwing it away.
If they hadn't already seen the video, you had no idea how you were going to show them. Especially your manager.
Before you could think of an explanation, though, your bedroom door bursts open.
"Okay, you have a lot of explaining to do," Olivia, the youngest of the group, speaks, holding out her phone with one of the newest articles open, zoomed in on you and Vernon, kissing, of course.
The four girls start all speaking at once, becoming this single void of questions and curiosities coming at you all at once, all too quick, you can't even process a single one.
You just burst into tears, your shoulders falling and your body shaking.
Katee notices first, always observant and in-tune with everyone's emotions. She hushes the other girls as they sit on your bed.
"Lovely, what's going on?" Penny asks gently, Shimmer rubbing your back as the other girls stare attentively.
"I am so, so sorry," is all you can manage to sob out.
Shimmer wears a confused look before laughing softly. "Sorry? Look, I don't know about you all, but I am excited! It is about time one of us hooks up with a guy." Katee swats at Shimmer before looking back at you. "What she's saying is we are definitely not mad at you about this. I can't imagine the weight you're carrying. Let us in on it."
"I mean, I have just set us so far back. Our reputation is crushed, are you seeing what people are saying about us? Everything we have worked so hard for is gone because I was stupid and let my guard down," you sob, finally speaking into existence your fears.
"We worked to get to this point together. This situation is no different. We will work through this, together," Penny says, giving you a reassuring smile.
"The internet is the internet, there isn't anything new there."
"But what about management? They're going to kill me." "Worry about crossing that bridge when we get there. For now, I need in on this secret romance affair," Olivia jokes, nudging me in a friendly manner.
And for a moment, your mind seems to fog over, forgetting the worries and focusing on what is in front of you. Letting in your members on one of the biggest secrets of your life feels like a massive weight lifting off your shoulders.
But in the back of your mind, while you all chat and laugh, you know what is to come.
𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒
"We think this would just be the smartest move, especially with the new comeback only three months away," your manager speaks, his voice that stern, serious tone you all have all grown so familiar with. "It is either him or your group, after all."
"I understand," you answer back just as cold. Your glance is fixated straight at the table in front of you, eyes dead and eyebrows furrowed together in thought.
"Great, my assistant will release the statement later today," he confirms. Your stomach flops at the mention. He lifts from his chair and heads towards the door, but not before saying, "You've made the right choice."
You sit in the deafening silence, your face puffy from crying all day and eyes red and irritated from tears.
Have I?
𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒
Subject: Mandatory Clarification Regarding YN and Male Idol Dear Fans (Flowers) and Media Representatives, This is SunLight Entertainment. We are issuing this statement in response to the unauthorized photos of YN and another male Idol that have been circulated online. After confirming the situation with both parties, we want to state the following clearly and without ambiguity: The interaction shown in the images has been severely misinterpreted. YN and the Idol are not dating and have never been in a romantic relationship. Any claims suggesting otherwise are false. Additionally, due to the unnecessary confusion and disruption caused by this incident, SunLight Entertainment has instructed both individuals to cease all personal contact immediately. This decision was made to protect Y/n's and RosePedal's privacy, professional commitments, and the integrity of our artist management. We strongly warn against the creation or distribution of fabricated rumors, edited images, or speculative commentary. Continued spread of misinformation will result in legal action without further notice. We ask for your cooperation in respecting the privacy of those involved and refraining from further baseless assumptions. Thank you. Sincerely, SunLight Entertainment
𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒
"This feels wrong," Olivia is the first to speak at dinner. "I mean, this doesn't even sound like us." "So far from it. I thought he said the message wouldn't be so stern," Katee adds on, idly moving her fork around on her plate. "But when has MD ever not been stern," she mumbles.
"It's a lie. All of it. I want what you want, Y/n. That is what is best for the future of our groups. Surely, our Flowers would understand that," Penny speaks, almost as if talking to herself.
The announcement felt like a kick in the gut. You felt so conflicted and confused with the message. Of course, you felt real with Vernon, but the commitment of your group was a responsibly you valued. It felt like you basically slapped Vernon in the face on your own, ripping both of your hearts out.
Vernon.
It has been only a day since you two were together, but the recent events have made that time feel like a lifetime. And now, with the recent announcement, you would never get to speak to him again. You would never get to explain yourself. The one person who saw, understood, and accepted you, gone.
"Uh, Y/n, there's someone at the door for you," Shimmer shouts, you unaware she even left the table or someone ever knocked. It was 7:00 pm and storming, an odd time for visitors.
The girls exchange looks as you push yourself from the table and abruptly stand up. The long hallway felt like it was narrowing and tightening as you walked, dread laying in your heart. Who could it be? Why were you scared to find out?
Shimmer steps out of the way of the doorframe, the outside storm air sending a shiver down your spine as it touches your skin gently. The streetlights blind you as the rain pours down mercilessly, like an unforgiving ocean on wet rocks.
As your vision clears, it is like the air is sucked out of your lungs. You feel sick. Why?
"I can't do this," is what he begins with.
There he stands, soaked from the rain, hair clinging to his forehead. His hoodie is worn in no avail as it droops from the water, his skin glistening. You couldn't tell if it was from the rain or sweat, as it's apparent he ran here, his chest raising and falling dramatically. Much like the beat of your heart, banging against the imprisonment of your ribcage.
"The pretending. Acting clueless. Like the time I spent with you meant nothing. Like you meant nothing to me. I can't," Vernon's voice breaks out, his eyes heavy as he looks up at you from the bottom of your porch stump.
"What are you doing here?" you begin, looking around to see if there are any onlookers peering in, waiting to steal the next front-page photo op.
"Please come out," he beckons. The look in his eyes is glistening with desperation. You have never seen him like this before, so burnt, yearnful.
"Vernon, you know you shouldn't be here," you try explaining, damning yourself for just how much of a rule-follower you can be sometimes.
You knew the rules, the new stipulations, what was expected of you. But how could any of that be on your mind when Vernon, so anguished and vulnerable, stood before you?
"I can't stay away. You have been on my mind for every second of every moment since yesterday. Honest, do you seriously think some announcement on Weverse will keep me from seeing you?"
Your heart thumps as Vernon speaks. He confirms, verbalizes, the exact way you felt. The announcement meant little to nothing in comparison to the way you felt towards Vernon, the way you both felt together.
You choke on your words as tears blur your vision. "It...it wasn't true," is all you can manage to say.
Vernon softly laughs at that.
"I know that wasn't what you want. I read it over and over and just knew it was bullshit."
"I'm just scared. There's so much I'm not sure of."
His chest falls as a sigh escapes his lips. Vernon gently grabs you by your elbow, pulling you closer to see him more clearly.
"Me too, but I am sure of this," Vernon says and in an instant, You are melting into that warm, familiar feeling of his lips, the softness freezing away all negative thoughts.
"I'm sure of this, too."
