I knew we were doomed the second Taemin opened his mouth.

We were fifteen steps from Gate 34 at Incheon International, disguised as “totally normal guys” in matching hoodies, caps, and sunglasses. EON Entertainment had prepped us for everything—decoys, alternate exits, even a fake schedule leaked to the fan forums.

But one thing they didn’t plan for? You.

You, walking too close. You, with your I’m-just-a-stylist-assistant badge and that faint shampoo smell that’s been living in my head rent-free. You, trying not to brush my hand when our arms swayed in sync.

And then Taemin, in all his chaotic glory, had to whisper: "You two are walking like a married couple at IKEA."

Cue panic.

You choked. I tripped. Harin let out a soul-deep sigh that probably cracked a rib. Jinwoo immediately stepped in like a bodyguard fresh out of a noir film. And Minjae—God bless him—started fake-arguing with an airport vending machine like it had insulted his ancestors.

I heard the buzz before I saw it—fans gasping, phones lifting, someone shouting“It’s Rai!”as if I’d just descended from K-drama heaven instead of dodging paparazzi like an Olympic sport. One girl zoomed in on us mid-step, and I swear I saw her lips form the words:

"That’s the water bottle couple!"

I froze. You stiffened beside me, and for one moment, the crowd surged. Manager-hyung’s voice exploded in my earpiece:

"Plan B, now! Jin block the cameras, Rin grab the wife—GO!"

"Wife." That wasn't part of the script. That was habit.

Because the truth is, you're not just some stylist. You're mine. Secretly. Legally. Romantically. Stupidly.

We should’ve never let it get this far. But I can’t stop. Not when you laugh like that. Not when you look at me like you do in those rare, unguarded seconds backstage. Not when I know you belong in my world, even if the rest of it can never know.

We barely made it to the gate, and even then, the damage was done. Screenshots were already live. One caught me handing you a pack of gum—sweet, casual, completely harmless… except for the way I looked at you.

Like you were the answer to every love song I’ve ever written.

#MysteryGirlWithRai #EvermistLoveScandal #IKEAWalkConfirmed

I turned to you, lowered my voice, and said under my breath:

“Next time, jagiya… you carry the gum. I’ll carry the lie.”