Chapter 101 - Revelation

"Wow, but when you would be interning, your identity will be known to all, right?" Kiaraa asked Hwan.

"Yes, the other interns and people involved in the program would be aware of it, but we all will be signing non-disclosure agreement to not reveal our identities to anyone else outside the program. If in future, we end up working in other entertainment companies, then also we need to keep each other's identities a secret. The other people working in the company, who won't be associated with the management team too will never be aware of our real identities"

Song Ji Hwan explained in detail.

"So, wait, the kpop artists, others actors working in that company too won't be aware of your identity?" Kiaraa looked surprised as well as excited.

"Yeah, they won't know. They will only know us by our pen names." Song Ji Hwan confirmed.

"That is so exciting" Kiaraa almost jumped in her seat.

"Why is that exciting? I find it ridiculous that so much is being done to keep a few identities under wraps. Like why do you have to go through so much to hide yourself?" Ian questioned Hwan, being clearly annoyed.

"Because I don't want someone like you saying, I got this success due to my 'family name'" Song Ji Hwan politely smiled.

Ian understood this guy nicely gave him a reply to all the assumptions he made.

"I am happy for you, Hwan. Congratulations" Ian finally said, defeated as he was also happy for his friend.

"Thanks, Ian. It means a lot" Song Ji Hwan smiled tiredly and again leaned on Kiaraa's shoulder annoying Ian.

"Come and sleep on mine" Ian patted on his own shoulder.

"Why?"

"Because I love you and I want to pamper you" Ian answered making the other two laugh,

"Awe" Song Ji Hwan went to sit next to Ian and rested his head on his shoulder instead making Ian feel relieved.

"Hwan, now that you told us about this secret identity thing, will that be fine?" Kiaraa asked him.

"Hmm, I trust you two. I hope you will not reveal whatever I shared just now, with anyone else" 

"Of course, we won't" Kiaraa and Ian promised him.

"So, I guess even my parents are still not aware that you made it into our internship program?" Ian asked Hwan.

"Hmm, you two are the first people I am sharing this with. Even my Hyung doesn't know" Song Ji Hwan informed them emphasizing on the fact how much these two people mean to him.

Ian felt a bit guilty for trying to show Song Ji Hwan down in front of Kiaraa out of his jealousy after knowing he was the first one Hwan shared such a big good news with.

"I am sorry, Hwan. Earlier, I didn't mean to demean you…"

"Hey chill, I didn't feel like that at all, I know you were teasing me and are worried about my future. Although, I am not a topper like my Hyung, I at least score decent marks so don't worry a lot" 

Song Ji Hwan assured Ian as he genuinely thought Ian was being strict with him like an elder brother as he was worried about his future.

Ian now felt even more guilty and hugged Song Ji Hwan. Patting his shoulder, he said, "I am sure you will do better than all of us career-wise"

"Nah, I am going to do better than all of you" Kiaraa confidently declared making the two guys laugh.

"So competent she is" Hwan commented.

"Seconded" Ian agreed.

"I'll go and get more starters" Kiaraa declared as the food on her plate was over and she left to get more food.

"Hwan, I need to tell you something" Ian declared as soon as Kiaraa left.

Hwan moved back from Ian's shoulder to his seat and seriously looked at his friend, waiting to know what he has to tell.

Ian took a few deep breaths and looked around his surroundings to check no one was around them.

"Hwan, I am so sorry, earlier I intentionally tried to insult you" Ian confessed to his friend.

"Oh, really?" Hwan was surprised at this revelation.

Ian nodded his head.

"Why would you do that?" Song Ji Hwan calmly asked him as he doesn't react or get affected by such things easily.

"Please promise me, this would stay only between you and me" Ian requested him making Hwan feel very suspicious.

"I won't make such promises, sorry" Song Ji Hwan made his stand clear as he knows himself way too well.

"Hwan, please" Ian looked like he couldn't keep this information hidden for very long and wants to reveal it soon.

"First tell me what is it, then I'll decide" Song Ji Hwan could see the desperation in Ian's eyes to share whatever that he had in his mind.

"You might already know this, as I tend to act obvious at times" Ian started sharing by giving some context before dropping the huge bomb on Hwan, "I am crazily in love with Kiaraa"

"What?" Hwan shouted and stood up from his seat.

All these years he saw how close Ian and Kiaraa were, but he always thought they were just friends and Ian's possessiveness towards her was only out of the close bond they share.

He didn't expect or rather he didn't wish to ever think in this direction as for years he had been aware of the fact that his elder brother too is crazy about Kiaraa.

Although, Hwan used to tease his brother about Ian it was more like a friendly teasing or to just trouble Ji Hun but he didn't expect Ian to actually seriously be in love with her.

Ian pulled Hwan back to his seat and made him sit.

"Don't tell Kiaraa, she might freak out" Ian warned Hwan.

"Like I am freaking out now?" Song Ji Hwan felt breathless as he could see things getting complicated for his brother.

"Hwan, it was not easy for me to share my feelings with you like this. I mustered up a lot of courage to talk to you. Can you please not make me regret it?" Ian requested him.

Song Ji Hwan calmed down and decided to be Ian's friend for a moment instead of being Song Ji Hun's brother.

"Sorry, I always heard your parents mention they want Kiaraa as their daughter-in-law but I thought they were just teasing you casually. I never thought you like her, I believed it was only platonic" 

"No, I am crazy about this girl" A wide smile spread across Ian's lips when he said these words.

Song Ji Hwan felt his heart hurt seeing that smile on Ian's face.

He was not sure how to feel about all of this as one of the two most important people in his life are surely going to get hurt some day.

In spite of knowing this, he can't do anything to stop it from happening in the future.

Song Ji Hwan was not sure if his brother's heart is going to be broken or Ian's but no matter who it would be, his heart will ache seeing either of them in pain.

They were not kids, anymore, they were grownups now.

"Hwan" Ian called his name, pulling him back from his deep thoughts.

"Yeah, sorry I am still processing this information" Song Ji Hwan drank some more water from the glass, emptying it.

Ian looked over at the food counter and saw Kiaraa busy with other guests as one after another people were approaching her, engaging her in conversations.

Sighing in relief that she won't be back so soon, Ian looked back at Hwan, "I am thinking of asking her out to date me. Will it be too soon?"

"No, I mean yes, maybe" Hwan received another blow and he couldn't help but worry about his own brother, who was way too far in making his move on Kiaraa.

"Hwan, you have a girlfriend" Ian reminded him implying he is younger than him and already dating then why can't Ian do the same.

"Yeah, but I am not in love with her, I like her and she is not my childhood friend, my case is different" Song Ji Hwan honestly said.

"Different?" Ian raised his eyebrows in confusion.

"Yes, I don't see any future with her. I am dating her because she is pretty and I get to make out with her" 

"Asshole" Ian laughed smacking Hwan's shoulders.

"That's why my case is different. Even if my parents ever find out about my girlfriend they won't bother much. But if you and Kiaraa start dating each other then both your families will get involved in it. You two won't be able to break up in peace if you ever want to" 

"Why would we ever break up? I am going to marry Kiaraa" Ian declared turning Song Ji Hwan speechless as he didn't wish to hear this.

'Fuck, Ian is so serious about her' Song Ji Hwan tried his best to not think about Song Ji Hun and be a good friend to Ian.