Chapter: The Distance Between Secrets
Three nights had passed since the concert.
Three nights since the world watched the mysterious masked singer perform for the first time.
The name Jae Rin was everywhere now.
News headlines.
Music charts.
Fan pages.
Everyone wanted to know one thing.
Who was the girl behind the mask?
But thousands of kilometers away from all the speculation, Jay sat quietly in a high-rise apartment overlooking the glowing skyline of Seoul.
Her new home.
Her new life.
And the place where Jae Rin had been born.
The city was alive even at night — neon lights glowing across buildings, cars moving endlessly through the streets below.
Jay stood near the window, holding her phone tightly.
She had already made the decision.
Tonight she would tell Percy the truth.
Not part of the truth.
All of it.
Her thumb hovered over his contact name.
Percy.
He was currently thousands of kilometers away in Manila.
And if she called him now…
There was no going back.
Jay inhaled slowly and pressed call.
The ringing felt louder than usual.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then—
"Hello?"
Percy's voice sounded tired, like he had just woken up.
Jay spoke softly.
"…It's me."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then suddenly—
"Jay?!"
His chair scraped loudly on the other side of the call.
"Where are you?!"
"I'm okay," she said calmly.
Percy exhaled hard.
"You disappeared for months! No one knew where you went!"
"I know."
"Do you have any idea how many people were looking for you?"
Jay didn't answer that.
Instead she said quietly,
"Percy… I need you to listen carefully."
Her tone made him stop talking.
"…Okay."
"You've probably heard about a singer named Jae Rin."
Percy paused.
"Yeah actually," he said. "She's everywhere right now. The masked singer."
Jay looked at the mask resting on the table beside her.
"That's me."
The silence that followed was even longer than the first one.
"…You're joking."
"No."
"Jay… that singer just sold out a concert."
"I know."
"You're telling me that was you?"
"Yes."
Percy laughed in disbelief.
"Hold on. Wait. WAIT."
Jay could practically see him pacing around the room.
"You're telling me that the biggest rising artist right now…"
"…is the girl who disappeared months ago."
Jay nodded even though he couldn't see her.
"Yes."
Percy let out a breath.
"Wow."
Then he asked quietly,
"Why?"
Jay walked back toward the window.
"Because I needed a new life."
Percy immediately understood what she meant.
"…Keifer."
Jay stayed silent.
Percy sighed.
"He's still searching for you."
"I figured."
"He hired investigators," Percy continued. "They've been looking everywhere."
Jay glanced at the mask again.
"That's why the mask stays on."
Percy was quiet for a moment.
Then he said slowly,
"So why tell me?"
Jay's voice became serious.
"Because I trust you."
That answer surprised him.
Then she added,
"But you have to promise me something."
"What?"
"You cannot tell anyone."
Percy frowned.
"Anyone?"
"Not your friends. Not your family."
She paused.
"And especially not Keifer."
Percy rubbed his forehead.
"If he finds out I know something—"
"He'll start watching you," Jay finished.
"And eventually… he'll find me."
Percy sighed.
"…You're right."
"Promise me."
A long pause followed.
Then he said firmly,
"I promise."
Jay felt relief wash over her.
"Thank you."
Percy leaned back somewhere in Manila.
"I still can't believe this."
Jay smiled faintly.
"Well… believe it."
Then she said something unexpected.
"I want to meet you."
Percy blinked.
"…What?"
"In person."
"When?"
"Soon."
"Where?"
Jay typed something and sent it to him.
Percy's phone buzzed.
He looked down.
His eyes widened.
The location was a city across the ocean.
Seoul.
"…You're in Korea?" he asked slowly.
"Yes."
Percy stared at the message.
"That's like… four hours away by flight."
Jay shrugged slightly.
"Not that far."
Percy laughed in disbelief.
"You vanished and casually moved to another country?"
"Pretty much."
Percy shook his head.
"When do you want me there?"
"Three days."
Percy blinked again.
"Three days?!"
Jay smiled.
"Think of it as a vacation."
Percy laughed.
"You're unbelievable."
But he already knew he would go.
Three Days Later
Early morning sunlight filled the large terminal of Incheon International Airport.
Travelers moved everywhere — dragging suitcases, checking flight boards, rushing toward gates.
A plane from Manila had just landed.
Passengers began walking out of the arrival gate.
Among them was Percy.
He looked slightly tired from the flight but alert.
His eyes scanned the airport carefully.
Jay had told him to meet her here.
But she also warned him about something.
"You probably won't recognize me immediately."
Percy checked his phone again.
No new messages.
He looked around.
Tourists.
Families.
Business travelers.
But no Jay.
Then—
A voice behind him spoke.
"Percy."
He turned.
A girl stood a few feet away.
Black cap.
Large sunglasses.
Oversized hoodie.
Face mask.
Completely disguised.
Percy frowned.
"…Yeah?"
The girl slowly removed her sunglasses.
Then the cap.
Percy studied her face.
Recognition hit instantly.
"…Jay?"
She nodded.
"Hi."
Percy stared at her.
"You look like you're hiding from the government."
Jay laughed.
"Something like that."
He walked closer.
"I still can't believe you're actually here."
Jay glanced around the busy terminal.
"Good."
"Why good?"
"Because it means no one else recognizes me."
Percy frowned.
"Recognizes you as what?"
Jay didn't answer immediately.
Instead she reached into her bag.
Her fingers wrapped around something familiar.
Then she pulled it out.
The mask.
Black with silver patterns.
Percy froze.
"…Wait."
Jay lifted the mask slowly.
And placed it on her face.
In one smooth motion.
The exact same way she did before stepping onto a stage.
Percy stared at her.
The noise of the airport faded into the background.
"…No way."
Jay crossed her arms.
Behind the mask, her eyes smiled.
"Now you believe me?"
Percy ran both hands through his hair.
"You're serious."
"Completely."
Percy looked around the massive airport again.
Hundreds of people walking by.
None of them realizing who was standing right there.
"You're literally the biggest mystery in music right now."
Jay shrugged.
"And no one here has any idea."
Percy laughed quietly in disbelief.
"This is insane."
Jay removed the mask again.
"But now you understand why I disappeared."
Percy nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
Then his expression turned serious.
"Your secret's safe."
Jay looked directly at him.
"You're sure?"
Percy nodded firmly.
"I promised."
He paused.
"And I meant it."
Jay smiled.
Because somewhere out there…
People were still searching for the girl who disappeared months ago.
Meanwhile the mysterious singer Jae Rin continued rising to fame.
And the truth behind the mask was standing quietly inside an airport in Seoul.
Hidden in plain sight.
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Heyyy lovely readerssss here is next chapter I might upload the next chapter in the middle of the night or Tom tell me ur views on this chapter I hope u liked it I added Percy because I guys requested him so here it is
Hope u liked it please do comment💖🫶🏻💖🫶🏻😝