Page 12 of Wish Upon a K-Star

Minseok starts to fiddle with the brushes David left behind on the counter. “Yeah, well you know him.” He picks up my script, lying open to the last page I was reviewing. “Did you read through all of this?”

“Of course.” I grab the script from him. Maybe a little harder than necessary as I’m still annoyed about my lost chips. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready?”

He shrugs. “I just have to change outfits later.”

Lucky, I think. It takes me hours to get ready. But at least my current look doesn’t involve dyeing my hair. I remember when I had icy-blue hair for the Helloglow summer album. I had to wake up hours before the other girls to get it re-toned before every performance.

“You’ll take care of Woori-Riri. Mat-ji, Minseok-ah?” Hyejun asks in a mix of English and Korean. His default when it’s just the three of us. I used to love it when it was the three of us. When I was younger, Minseok always convinced Hyejun to let me hang around. Something I used to mistake as affection. I’ve learned better since.

Seeing him now always makes me annoyed and on edge. He just loves to press my buttons for no reason. And I can’t have that today. Not when I have to be careful after the article.

“Don’t I always take care of Riri?” He gives a mischievous grin that I definitely do not trust. Then, he lunges and I find myself in a headlock.

“Let go!” I demand.

“Not until you say it.”

I scowl because I know exactly what he wants, and I’ll die before I give in. “No way!”

“Come on, Riri.”

“I’d rather cut off my own tongue!” I claim, a little hyperbolic, but he pisses me off so much.

“Minseok-ssi, keumanhae,” Hongjoo says sternly from the corner, her hand over the mouthpiece of her phone. She must be really annoyed to interrupt a phone call.

Minseok stops like she says and releases me. I carefully extract myself, patting the clips in my hair and turning to the mirror to check that no damage was done to the ’do.

“Geez, Hyeri, just call him Oppa. What’s the big deal?” Hyejun asks, finishing the chips and crumpling the bag between his hands. “You used to call him that all the time.”

“When I was thirteen and I didn’t know better.” I try to tuck a loosened strand behind a clip to hide it.

Hyejun laughs as he lobs the chip bag into the trash. “You act like you’re so much older now. It’s only been a few years.”

“I’m hurt, Hyeri-ya. I thought we were close,” Minseok says, catching my eyes in the mirror. And I can see the mocking in them.

Before I can retort, Hyejun’s manager opens the door. “Hyejun-ah! What are you doing here? We’re next for sound check!”

“Coming, Hyeong.” Hyejun holds out his hand, which Minseok promptly slaps in one of those lazy-yet-complicated handshakes. I almost laugh. It’s like two kids on the playground. But I feel a buzz of envy too. Hyejun and Minseok are allowed to play around like they’re kids. Even be messy or unprofessional.

It’s different for girl groups.

You’re not an idol anymore, I remind myself. I shouldn’t have to be as worried. But I still am. It’s a hard thing to shake once it’s been an every-waking-hour part of your life.

Hyejun hurries out after his manager, but, for some reason, Minseok lingers.

“Don’t you have to go too?” I ask pointedly.

“We have sound check together. I can wait here with you for it.” He flops onto the couch, folding his hands behind his head and closing his eyes. Like he’s lying on a beach instead of invading my dressing room. Within moments, his breathing evens out and I swear he’s already dozing off.

I consider poking at his feet to wake him, but Hongjoo hangs up and from her expression, I know it’s not good.

I hurry over to her. “What is it, Eonni?”

“That was the director forIdol Academy.”

“Oh, what did he say?” I ask, trying to keep my voice down so Minseok can’t hear.Idol Academyis a new drama considering me for a leading role. I don’t have the heart to admit to Hongjoo that I’m not sure if I even want the part. It’s a drama about kids going to an elite art school to train as singers. Everyone around me says I’m tailor-made for the role. But just thinking about it makes me nervous. It reminds me too much of my past and all the scandals that come with it.

But it would be such a huge deal to book a lead role so soon, and Hongjoo worked so hard to get my name in for consideration. I tell myself that if I get it, I’ll do my very best so I can make her proud.

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