"Good evening, Korea! Welcome back to the evening show with Chaerin! Tonight, we have a very special guest. Please welcome the reigning king of the 'Actor of the Year' title, Mr. Choi Yeonjun!"
Yeonjun inhaled, a familiar gust of air doing little to calm the nerves. He walked onto the set, offering a practiced, humble smile as the cheers of fans washed over him. He'd done this a hundred times, a thousand times, yet the energy still hit him like a jolt every single time. He took his seat on the couch, the studio lights warm on his face.
"Mr. Choi, it's such an honor to have you on the show," Chaerin beamed.
"The honor is all mine," Yeonjun replied, briefly shaking her hand. The touch felt…distant. He didn't dwell on it.
"Tonight, on the evening show, we'll be asking the questions the media's been dying to ask! Mr. Choi, are you ready?"
"As ready as I’ll ever be," Yeonjun answered, forcing a confident edge into his voice. He was good at that.
"Let’s start with the basics. Mr. Choi, what were your first steps into acting?"
"It started with a high school play, then a few auditions for commercials. I landed the lead role in a theatre performance not long after that. A little bit of this, a little bit of that…and ta-da! That’s how my acting career started." He offered a self-deprecating chuckle.
"Quite a story, Mr. Choi! Next question: how old were you when you first started pursuing this career?"
"Fourteen."
"Wow! Fourteen years old and already chasing your dreams! Amazing!"
"Thank you," Yeonjun said, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes.
"Alright, question three! Your agency confirmed you're working on a new drama, starring as the lead, right?"
"Yes, that’s true."
"And you’re playing the leading role?"
"Yes."
"Wow! What can we expect from Choi Yeonjun? Right now, all we know is the drama's title is '드라마'. Any chance you'll drop a little spoiler?"
"All details of the upcoming drama will remain top secret until it airs," Yeonjun replied, cool and composed. He was practiced at this too. The polite deflection.
"Oh, that's a shame! Guess we'll have to wait." Chaerin moved on quickly, sensing his resistance.
A few minutes flew by as Chaerin continued to ask about his career. The questions were predictable, the answers rehearsed. Yeonjun answered them mechanically, his mind already drifting. He was always calculating angles, assessing exits. Then came the last question.
"Now, for the question your fans are most curious about—the one most frequently searched on Google: are you interested in pursuing a romantic relationship anytime soon?"
Yeonjun felt a jolt. He hadn’t prepared for this. He’d expected questions about the drama, about his craft. He hadn’t expected this. He took a breath. Not answering would look rude. He decided to be…honest. As honest as he could be.
"Well, I’m busy with my work right now, so I don’t think I’ll be involved in romance anytime soon. And…there's another factor. I don't feel attracted to women."
The words hung in the air. He watched Chaerin’s expression, bracing for the inevitable surge of manufactured surprise. It was a calculated admission, a way to preempt the endless speculation about his dating life. He’d rehearsed it in his head a dozen times. But it felt…wrong. Like a confession he hadn't wanted to make. The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable. He hadn't realized how much he'd been holding his breath.