Three agonizing hours. The forgotten movie played silently on a loop, the flickering light doing little to dispel the growing shadows in your heart. Jungwon finally entered, his usual effervescent energy dimmed by exhaustion. The weight of his idol status, a constant presence even within your tiny apartment, seemed to press down on him with renewed force. You flung a pillow at the sight of him, the soft projectile landing with a dull thud on his head. The air crackled with unspoken hurt, a storm brewing beneath the surface of your forced composure.

"I hate you!"

You spat out, the words laced with a bitterness that surprised even you. The words raw with a pain that went deeper than anger.

"I'm sorry, love. Recording ran late."

The practiced apology tumbled from his lips, as he picked up the pillow from the ground and gingerly set it back down on the couch. But tonight, 'sorry' wasn't enough.

"Don't you dare try to apologize for this, Yang Jungwon."

Your voice, usually laced with warmth, dripped with icy scorn. Each word was a shard aimed straight at his heart, a stark contrast to the comfort you usually offered. Jungwon flinched, the familiar spark of defiance in his eyes replaced by a wounded vulnerability that left you wanting to lash out even further. But beneath the anger, a sliver of fear snaked its way in. Was this the price you paid for loving a star who could never truly be yours?