Joon-woo bit his lip as he gazed at the signed contract in his hands. He couldn’t do it. The secretary knew the additional contract provision would crush his friend beyond repair. 

At 19, Joon-woo made it his mission to stick close to Min, accompanying the young heir anywhere and everywhere. He had been terrified that he would lose his best friend if he didn’t… After all, it wouldn’t have been surprising if Min had ended up dead somewhere following his family’s deaths. 

Under the chairman’s orders, the two friends found themselves in England, where they both pursued a degree in finance and business management. For the next six years, the pair traveled across Europe and North America, building their connections for the day Min would take over S&H Group. However, during all that time, Joon-woo rarely (if never) saw his friend genuinely enjoy his life and all their new experiences.

Joon-woo, who had always seen Min’s bright smile, was at a loss with Min’s change in personality and behavior. To describe Min’s new personality as an “empty shell” was an understatement. As months and years went by, Joon-woo felt so suffocated– like he was living with an animatronic programmed to imitate the act of living. So who would have thought that a freaking poster would change all that…? 

It had been like any ordinary day. After an exhausting day of work, the two friends had stopped by a local pub with some of their colleagues when Min froze in his tracks. Amongst all the fliers piled up on the corkboard, Min had managed to spot a poster of ASH’s European tour. Joon-woo could never forget how Min’s dull eyes sparkled upon seeing ASH’s smiling face. The lifeless heir had once again found a purpose to live.

... So how could he tell his best friend that his crush never wanted to see him again?

“I can’t fucking do this–”

“Joon-woo. Why are you standing out here like an abandoned puppy?” 

“AHH! Jesus, you scared me!” Joon-woo screeched as he stared up at Min’s confused expression.

“What’s there to be scared about? Let’s go inside– Is that the contract?”

“Huh? Uh….” Joon-woo quickly hid the manila envelope behind his back and offered a sheepish smile. “L-Let’s go inside and talk, haha.” 

Pushing Min into his office, Joon-woo tried to throw the contract out the door when his friend abruptly snatched away the envelope. Before he could even protest, Min was already scanning the contract’s contents. 

“... What is this? ‘Under this provision, no further contact or communications will be made between Executive Director Jake Yoon and model Asher Yi-an Lee?’ What the fuck is this?”

“I… That was his only condition for signing the contract.”

“What…?”

Joon-woo glanced away from Min’s intense, shocked gaze, “He said he would only sign the contract if he didn’t have to meet up with you.”

“...” Min didn’t know how to react as he tightly gripped the documents. He never expected Yi-an to request such a thing. “Did he ask for anything else?”

“No, that was it. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, why?”

“...Nothing. I’ll get going now. Look over the contract and let me know if there’s something you want to add, okay?” Joon-woo patted the heir’s shoulder and turned to leave when Min called out to him.

“Wait.”

“What’s up?”

“Did he seem… Never mind, it’s not important.”

“Just spit it out; is it about ASH?”

Joon-woo suppressed a groan as he watched Min tense up at the mention of the singer. It felt like he was a spectator of a stupid soap opera who knew what was going on while the main characters were lost in their own delusions. Didn’t they meet up that night? Joon-woo had thought the pair would have resolved any misunderstandings by now, but obviously, he’d been wrong. 

“Did something happen between you two? You went to go see him, right?”

“Nothing happened–”

A sudden knock echoed against the wooden doors, startling them. Glancing over at his friend, Joon-woo tilted his head at the door, to which Min nodded. The secretary hesitantly opened the doors for their unexpected guest, only to find Chief Secretary Choi, Chairman Yoon’s right-hand man, waiting by the door. The elderly man bowed respectfully to the heir, who reciprocated the gesture.

“Chief Secretary Choi, what brings you here?”

“The chairman would like to have dinner with you at Onjisu at 7 o’clock. He emphasized that you must attend tonight since you did not show up for the ancestral rites.”

“...I understand. I’ll be there.”

“Please excuse me.” The chief secretary bowed again, side-eyeing the document in Min’s hands. Then, straightening up, he smiled and swiftly exited the room, closing the door behind him.

Joon-woo waited a few minutes before glancing at the irritated heir, “... He saw it, didn’t he?”

“... At least I know what the old man is going to talk about for dinner, huh?”

“You know, I wish we were back in Canada... Do you think the chairman will send us back if we create enough trouble?” Joon-woo asked with a cheeky grin.

“Huh, who was it again that said he wanted to go back to Korea?” Min smirked as he leaned into his seat.

“Oh, whatever! I was homesick, okay?! Anyways, let me know if you need anything.”

“Wait, Joon-woo. Look after him–” 

“I know, already. Don’t worry; I’ll take care of ASH. Later!”

Min gritted his teeth as he closed his tired eyes. He couldn’t understand why Yi-an requested such a thing; was it because he was reminded of their past…? The heir had hoped to watch over the singer at a closer distance. But, as always, Min was forced to merely watch from afar as his favorite star continued to shine brightly without him by his side. 

“Just when can I get closer to you again?”