Chapter 15: My Assistant's Debut

The insistent chirping of my phone dragged me from the blissful depths of sleep. Groaning, I swatted blindly at the nightstand, finally silencing the offending alarm. 5:00 AM. The life of a rising star was not for the faint of heart, especially with a schedule as packed as mine.

Today was different, though. Today, I had backup. Today, Shawn officially started as my personal assistant.

A soft knock echoed through the room, followed by Shawn's voice, "Ryung, it's time to rise and shine."

I couldn't help but smile. Even at this ungodly hour, he sounded infuriatingly cheerful. But then again, that was Shawn – always the optimist, even when faced with a mountain of laundry or a grumpy, sleep-deprived actor.

"Come in," I mumbled, burying my face deeper into the pillow.

The door creaked open, and I felt the familiar warmth of Shawn's presence fill the room. He sat on the edge of the bed, his hand gently shaking my shoulder.

"Come on, sleeping beauty," he teased, his voice laced with amusement. "We've got a big day ahead of us."

I finally peeled my eyelids open, squinting at him through the morning light. He looked impossibly fresh and alert, his gray eyes sparkling with mischief. I felt a pang of jealousy – how could anyone look that good at five in the morning?

"Don't you ever get tired?" I grumbled, pushing myself into a sitting position.

"Not when I'm working for the most famous actor in Korea," he quipped, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't suppress the warmth that spread through me at his words. Shawn might be my assistant now, but he was still my Shawn – the boy who'd stolen my heart years ago in the chaotic hallways of Seoul Global Academy.

He'd left his security guard job at the bank on Friday, a decision that both thrilled and terrified me. It meant we'd be spending even more time together, but it also meant the lines between our professional and personal lives would become increasingly blurred. Not that they were ever clearly defined, to begin with.

"Alright, alright," I conceded, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. "Let's get this show on the road."

Shawn had arrived early, as promised, and had already greeted my father with a respectful nod. Appa seemed pleased with the arrangement, relieved that I finally had someone to help me navigate the whirlwind of my newfound fame. He'd been supportive, but his busy career as a lawyer left little room for him to play the role of a doting stage parent.

As I trudged towards the bathroom, Shawn handed me a steaming mug of coffee. I took a grateful sip, the caffeine jolting me awake.

"Thanks," I mumbled, my voice still thick with sleep.

"Anything for the boss," he replied with a wink.

I couldn't help but smile. This was going to be interesting.

The day unfolded in a blur of appointments, fittings, and rehearsals. Shawn proved to be an invaluable asset, his calm demeanor and organizational skills a welcome contrast to my own chaotic energy. He kept me on schedule, fielded calls from my manager, Ms. Kim, and even managed to find me a decent cup of coffee amidst the madness.

My wardrobe, once a modest collection of jeans and hoodies, was now overflowing with designer clothes, a testament to my rising star status. I still felt a little out of place in the midst of all the glamour, but Shawn seemed to navigate the world of high fashion with surprising ease. He offered helpful suggestions, reminding me of upcoming events and ensuring I was always dressed to impress.

I'd given him my old Samsung tablet, a much-needed upgrade from his aging laptop and battered phone. He took to it quickly, using it to manage my schedule, research upcoming projects, and even fend off the occasional online troll who dared to criticize my acting skills.

"You know," I said, catching him scrolling through my social media feed during a break, "you're getting pretty good at this whole assistant thing."

He looked up, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I told you I was a fast learner," he replied with a smirk.

"Just don't get any ideas about replacing me as the star," I teased, nudging him playfully.

He chuckled, his hand finding mine under the table. "Don't worry, Ryung. You'll always be the star in my eyes."

His words sent a warmth spreading through me, a comforting reassurance that amidst the chaos and uncertainty of my newfound fame, our connection remained as strong as ever.

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The constant scrutiny that came with fame was something I was still getting used to. Everywhere I went, eyes followed me, whispers trailed in my wake, and cameras flashed, capturing every move, every expression. It was overwhelming, to say the least.

Having Shawn by my side, however, made it a little easier to bear. His presence was a calming force amidst the chaos, his quiet confidence a shield against the prying eyes and intrusive questions.

People were curious, of course. They'd seen me with Ms. Kim, my manager, but now there was this new addition to my entourage – a tall, handsome, and undeniably fit young man who seemed to anticipate my every need. Whispers started circulating, speculation swirling like a typhoon around us.

"Who's the new guy?"
"Is he Ryung's bodyguard?"
"Maybe he's his driver?"

The questions were endless, the assumptions often far from the truth. I'd simply introduced Shawn as my personal assistant, but that didn't seem to satisfy the gossip-hungry masses.

Some nodded politely, but their eyes held a knowing glint, as if they were privy to some secret I wasn't aware of. Others were more blatant, their whispers laced with a hint of disbelief.

"A personal assistant? Really?"
"He looks more like a model than an assistant."
"They're definitely more than just colleagues."

The last comment, uttered by a group of giggling girls, made my cheeks flush. I couldn't deny that Shawn and I were close. We'd been friends for years, our bond forged in the crucible of shared secrets and stolen moments. But our relationship was more than just friendship, a fact we'd carefully kept hidden from the public eye.

It wasn't that we were ashamed of our feelings for each other. It was more about protecting ourselves, protecting our careers, from the judgmental gaze of a society that wasn't always accepting of relationship that didn't fit neatly into predefined boxes.

Our families knew, of course. Both my parents and Shawn's parents had welcomed our relationship with open arms, their love and support a constant source of strength for us. But the world outside our little bubble was a different story.

So, we played the game. We kept our distance in public, our interactions carefully measured, our words devoid of any hint of intimacy. It was a delicate dance, a constant balancing act between our true feelings and the image we needed to project to the world.

But sometimes, in the quiet moments, when the cameras were off and the crowds had dispersed, we'd let our guard down. A stolen glance, a lingering touch, a whispered word of affection – these were the moments that sustained us, the fuel that kept our bond burning bright amidst the shadows.

And as I watched Shawn navigate the chaotic world of celebrity with such grace and ease, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. He was my confidant and my partner in crime. And no matter what the gossipmongers whispered, no matter what assumptions they made, we would remain unbreakable, ours a beacon of hope in a world that often felt too dark and too judgmental.