Sandali

Beyond the Spotlight

[MALOI]

The fabricated love story had taken on a life of its own. Paparazzi swarmed the dorm building, fans flooded our social media with #MaloiMaki edits, and news outlets clamored for interviews. It felt overwhelming, but Ms. Lim, our ever-supportive manager, navigated the chaos with a calm efficiency.

Colet and I, huddled in the vocal booth during a rare break, exchanged a hesitant glance. The playful banter between the girls had faded, replaced by nervous whispers. Even the choreography during practice lacked its usual synchronicity.

"This is...loud." I admitted, exhaustion evident in my voice.

Colet, ever the optimist, offered a reassuring smile. "It is, but remember, Ms. Lim said to relax. Let the excitement ride for a while, it can be good publicity."

Just then, the door creaked open, revealing Ms. Lim's face, her eyes sparkling with a hint of amusement. "Girls," she announced, her voice brimming with excitement, "Maki has requested a joint press conference!"

A collective gasp rippled through the room. A press conference? With Maki himself? This was escalating faster than we anticipated. We exchanged nervous glances, but a sliver of excitement peeked through the apprehension.

The press conference was a whirlwind of flashing cameras and probing questions. Colet and I played our parts flawlessly, feigning shyness and stolen glances. Underneath the carefully crafted facade, however, a secret language bloomed between us - a knowing smile, a brush of fingers, a shared wink, whispers only our hearts could decipher.

Finally, the inevitable question came. A seasoned reporter with a glint in his eyes addressed Maki directly. "Maki," he began, "the internet is buzzing with speculation about your relationship with Maloi. Can you share some details about how you met?"

Maki, a charming smile gracing his lips, scanned the room, his gaze landing on none other than... Gwen. Confusion flickered in his eyes for a brief moment before he answered.

"Actually," he said, a touch of surprise in his voice, "there seems to be a bit of a misunderstanding. Maloi and I haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet. The person I met at the coffee shop the other day was..." He paused, searching the room again before settling on Gwen, "Gwen, wasn't it?"

A stunned silence descended upon the room. Gwen, completely unexpected, became the center of attention. Her cheeks flushed crimson, her eyes widening in disbelief. Ms. Lim, however, instead of frustration, leaned back in her chair with a relieved smile.

Colet and I exchanged a bewildered glance, but a flicker of amusement danced in our eyes. This unexpected turn of events had thrown everyone off balance, but for us, it was a strange kind of relief. The fabricated narrative had crumbled, revealing a new truth.

As the press conference descended into a flurry of questions for Gwen, Ms. Lim ushered us away, her smile genuine. "Well, that was certainly interesting," she chuckled. "Looks like our little publicity stunt took a detour."

We reached her office, feeling a strange mix of relief and disappointment. The pressure was off, but a part of us wondered what could have been.

"Don't worry, girls," Ms. Lim said, sensing our dejection. "This might actually be a blessing in disguise. The internet is buzzing with the 'mistaken identity' angle. It's a new story, an unexpected twist that could keep the fans engaged."