fioredeciliego

[fioredeciliego]

Do you use AI for your fanfics?

haha, i don't.

i've always liked to read, and i even won some competitions in hs for writing short stories, so now that i can't do it in uni, i decided to do it here.

when i write essays and stuff for projects, teachers ask me the same thing, but i just like to write 'well' i guess (there's no 'correct' way of writing, everybody has their own style). also english isn't my first language, so sometimes i write the stuff in spanish in a translator when i want to say something specific that i don't know how to put to words in english, and vice versa for uni, so that's why it might seem that way.

ai can be a useful tool to help give ideas, but i hope people stop using it to make the whole thing for them. it's already doing enough damage.

[fioredeciliego]

Summary: All Minji did was stop some books from killing a nerd.

It's clear that I put effort into the picture😝

— fem reader🧍🏽‍♀️

It was too early for public humiliation.

YN muttered a quiet curse under her breath as she adjusted her crooked glasses for the third time. She stood in the far corner of the university library, struggling with a stubborn book lodged high on the shelf. Her hoodie sleeves were pulled over her hands, her expression pinched in frustration. She knew she could’ve asked for help—but she didn’t do help. She did solitude, sarcasm, and a healthy dose of avoiding all human interaction.

With a determined huff, she stepped up on the very bottom edge of the shelf, fingers stretching toward the book she absolutely needed for class.

Bad. Idea.

With a terrifying creak and a swift betrayal by gravity, three other thick volumes gave up on life and came crashing down toward her head. Her eyes widened, body frozen, mouth opened in a silent scream—

—and then, arms.

A warm, solid arm curved around her shoulders just as the books slammed into the air where her skull should’ve been. Her back was pressed against something—or someone—tall, strong, and inexplicably citrus-scented.

“What—” YN gasped, blinking up into—

No. Freaking. Way.

Kim Minji.

The girl who had a fan club without even trying. Who looked good doing nothing. The cool, tall, “of course she plays basketball and gets straight A’s” type. Universally loved. Universally not in YN’s life. Until now.

Minji raised an eyebrow as she looked down at YN, a crooked half-smile forming. “You okay? You looked like you were about to become one with the Dewey Decimal System.”

YN pushed her glasses up in a flustered panic and immediately scowled, stepping away as fast as she could manage. “I had it under control.”

“Sure you did.” Minji crouched to pick up the fallen books. “These just volunteered to attack for no reason.”

YN grabbed one of the books and clutched it to her chest. “I didn’t ask for help.”

Minji handed her another book, unbothered. “You also didn’t die. You’re welcome.”

YN turned, ready to disappear into a hole—or at least the nearest exit—but Minji followed her like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“I’ve seen you around, right? You’re in that, uh... abstract painting class that smells like turpentine and sadness?”

YN narrowed her eyes. “How would you know what sadness smells like?”

Minji grinned, undeterred. “It’s a talent. I’m Minji.”

“I know who you are,” YN muttered, already walking away.

Minji kept pace beside her. “Cool. So, who are you?”

YN sighed. “Someone who’s trying to study alone.”

“Noted.” Minji gave a mock salute but didn’t leave.

YN stopped in her tracks. “Why are you still following me?”

Minji tilted her head, like she was trying to figure something out. “Because, I don’t know… You look like the kind of person who forgets to eat while studying. And fall off ladders. You might need supervision.”

YN’s jaw dropped. “I’m not a hazard.”

Minji just shrugged, lips twitching like she was holding back laughter. “Could’ve fooled me.”

YN groaned loudly. “Unbelievable.”

“Nice to meet you too,” Minji said brightly, and for some reason—annoyingly—YN’s heart skipped a beat.

YN absolutely hated mornings. She hated mandatory events even more. But what she hated the most… was walking into a crowded auditorium where the only thing louder than the echo of her footsteps was the collective energy of people who actually wanted to be there.

A university-wide “Vision Conference.” Whatever that meant. Probably just another excuse for the administration to hand out tote bags and pretend they cared about student input. She dragged her feet inside the hall, hoodie half-zipped, earbuds dangling but not even playing anything. It was her last line of defense—if people thought she was busy, maybe they’d leave her alone.

She scanned the room. Packed. Great.

Some overenthusiastic emcee at the front was already shouting into the mic about student potential and growth and future excellence. YN tuned them out instantly.

Her eyes locked on the one safe space: the very last row, right by the wall. Perfect. Shadowed. No chatty people. Minimal eye contact.

She made her way toward it, clutching her water bottle and notebook like a shield. But as she weaved between knees and backpacks, her boot caught the strap of someone’s oversized designer tote.

Of course she stumbled.

Her arms flailed like a windmill in crisis, and she mentally braced for impact—

Again.

Except... again, it never came.

Because of course.

Because standing there—like some guardian angel with a basketball scholarship and a smug smile—was Kim Minji.

Again.

“Do you fall a lot, or do I just have amazing timing?” Minji asked, holding YN upright by the elbow like she didn’t just appear out of thin air like a protagonist.

YN blinked up at her, stunned. “Are you stalking me?”

Minji tilted her head, smirking. “Please. If I were stalking you, I’d know not to sneak up while you’re about to faceplant.”

“I wasn’t going to fall!” YN snapped, yanking her arm free and immediately regretting it because she nearly lost her balance again.

Minji caught her again, with one arm, like it was nothing. “Yeah. Super stable.”

“Stop catching me!” YN hissed, cheeks burning.

“I’d love to,” Minji said cheerfully. “But you keep launching yourself into the floor.”

Several students in nearby seats turned to look, curious about the chaos in the back. YN shrunk into herself, mortified.

“Just—go sit with your fan club,” she muttered, finally making it to the empty chair and throwing herself into it like a sack of bricks.

To her horror, Minji didn’t move.

In fact, she sat down right next to her.

“What are you doing?” YN whispered, horrified.

Minji leaned back in the chair, arms crossed behind her head like she owned the place. “Keeping an eye on you. Safety hazard, remember?”

“I am not a safety hazard.”

“Tell that to the bookshelves. And the tote bag. And gravity.”

YN groaned and buried her face in her hands. “This is a nightmare.”

“Then why is it kind of fun?” Minji said, glancing sideways at her with that maddening sparkle in her eyes.

“Stop smiling at me,” YN muttered.

“Can’t. It’s a reflex when I see you trip over your own feet.”

YN looked away, jaw clenched, but her ears were glowing red. She didn’t respond—and Minji didn’t push.

For a few minutes, they sat in silence as the presentation continued, filled with overly enthusiastic buzzwords and PowerPoint animations no one asked for.

Then Minji leaned over and whispered, “Bet you ten bucks the next speaker says ‘innovation’ at least seven times.”

YN blinked, then... almost smiled—before catching herself. She elbowed Minji lightly instead.

“Shut up.”Minji grinned, victorious

The laundry room smelled like lavender detergent and bad choices.

YN pushed open the heavy basement door with her elbow, her laundry basket balanced on her hip like a baby she didn’t ask for. Her hoodie sleeves were rolled up, hair tied in a messy bun, and oversized glasses sliding down her nose. It was already a bad day, and the last thing she needed was other people.

She let out a long sigh when she saw it: only one washing machine free.

She marched toward it like a soldier in battle, muttering to herself. “Just ten minutes. In, out, peace.”

But when she got there—

Click.

The door to the machine shut just as her fingers touched the handle.

YN blinked.

A beep. A cheerful whirr.

No.

She slowly turned her head, and there she was.

Sitting casually on the folding table, legs crossed, back leaning against the wall like a scene from a youth drama, was Kim. Freaking. Minji.

She had her AirPods in, a half-eaten granola bar in one hand and a book in the other. She looked cozy. Calm. Incredibly annoying.

YN stared at her in disbelief. “Are you serious.”

Minji looked up, startled, and paused her music. “Hey.”

“Don’t ‘hey’ me.” YN gestured dramatically at the machine. “I was literally reaching for that.”

Minji tilted her head, blinking innocently. “I didn’t see you. You move real quiet for someone who walks like she hates the ground.”

YN’s jaw dropped. “That doesn’t even make sense.”

Minji just grinned. “You want me to cancel the wash and give it to you?”

“Yes,” YN said, without hesitation.

“Too bad,” Minji replied, hopping off the table and walking over to the dryer. “Laundry rule #2: First come, first wash.”

“There are rules?” YN groaned, setting her basket down with unnecessary aggression.

“Yeah,” Minji said, opening the dryer and pulling out a hoodie. “Rule #1: Don't bleach your roommate’s black shirt unless you’re ready to move out.”

YN sighed dramatically and sat on the edge of the empty counter next to the vending machine. “I hope your machine explodes.”

Minji glanced back, folding a sweatshirt neatly. “It’s not the machine’s fault you’re late.”

“I wasn't late. I was precisely on time. The universe just hates me.”

Minji chuckled, stuffing clothes into a laundry bag. “Maybe it’s trying to throw us together.”

YN looked at her, deadpan. “Is that a pickup line or a threat?”

“Would you prefer a threat?” Minji’s voice was light, teasing.

YN didn’t answer. Instead, she pulled out her phone and began scrolling aimlessly, pretending not to notice the way Minji leaned casually against the washing machine now, looking at her instead of her book.

Minutes passed like that—soft humming of machines, awkward silence, and that quiet tension hanging in the air like steam.

Then Minji casually said, “So… Do you always sort your laundry by color like a perfectionist, or is that just a nerd thing?”

YN raised a brow. “I am a nerd.”

“Yeah,” Minji said, smiling. “It’s cute.”

YN choked on her own breath. “Excuse me?”

“I said it’s cute,” Minji repeated with absolutely no shame. “Your whole glasses-wrinkled-shirt-angry-girl-who-knows-how-to-fold-socks vibe.”

“I’m not angry,” YN protested, clutching her water bottle defensively.

“You literally just wished death on my washing machine.”

“You deserved it!”

Minji let out a real laugh then—low, genuine, relaxed. The kind that filled the echoey room and made YN’s face go hot. She hated how nice it sounded. She hated how warm she felt.

“I’ll be done in like…” Minji checked her watch. “Seven minutes. You can have the next machine.”

“Wow,” YN muttered. “So generous.”

Minji leaned closer, elbow resting on the machine. “Or… we could share.”

YN looked at her, appalled. “I’m not mixing my laundry with a stranger.”

Minji shrugged. “I’ve seen you trip three times. We’re not strangers anymore. We’re a recurring event.”

YN tried to hold back the smile tugging at her lips. “You are so annoying.”

“Yet here you are,” Minji said with a wink. “Again.”

The campus bookstore was unusually crowded that day. A new shipment of specialty notebooks had arrived—something about recycled paper, limited cover art, and QR codes that linked to calming lo-fi playlists. In other words: Gen Z bait.

YN didn’t care about the trend.

She just needed one decent notebook to replace the one that got coffee-bombed earlier that week. (Still a sore subject.)

She ducked inside the shop, sleeves tugged over her hands, hair slightly damp from the drizzle outside. Her glasses fogged up instantly, and she muttered under her breath while trying to wipe them clean on the edge of her hoodie.

“Ugh. This is fine. Totally fine. I love communal humidity.”

Navigating between displays, she headed to the back wall where the last stack of the limited edition sketch notebooks sat on a shelf—glorious, untouched, perfectly organized.

She reached for the top one—

“Whoa, déjà vu.”

The voice made her freeze.

She knew that voice.

She despised how familiar it was becoming.

She turned slowly to find Minji—again—standing across the display, holding the same exact notebook, her smile far too pleased.

“Are you following me?” YN accused immediately.

Minji raised an eyebrow. “This is a public bookstore. You’re not the main character, Nerdy.”

YN blinked. “Did you just call me—”

“Nerdy? Yeah,” Minji said, flipping the notebook cover open and inspecting the pages. “You’ve got the glasses, the emotional damage, and the tendency to argue with shelves. It fits.”

“I do not argue with shelves,” YN snapped.

Minji didn’t even look up. “The laundry room shelf still hasn’t recovered from what you said to it.”

YN looked skyward, as if asking the ceiling to take her. “Why do you keep showing up everywhere I go?”

“I think you’re underestimating how much you go where I go,” Minji replied easily.

“I’m not stalking you!”

“Never said you were,” Minji said with a grin. “But you’re definitely consistent.”

YN groaned and turned to leave with the notebook clutched in her hands—but not before Minji noticed which one she picked.

“Of course you went with the one with the tiny constellations,” Minji teased, falling into step beside her. “Very on brand.”

“Why are you walking with me?”

“Because I’m bored,” Minji replied. “And maybe I like watching you pretend you’re not flustered every time we run into each other.”

YN stopped in her tracks. “I’m not flustered.”

“Sure, Nerdy.”

“Stop calling me that.”

Minji tilted her head, pretending to think. “Hmm… Nah.”

YN glared at her. “Do you just collect nicknames for people you annoy?”

“No,” Minji said, taking her notebook to the counter. “Just for the ones I like.”

YN blinked. Hard.

Like actually froze-in-place kind of blink.

Minji was already halfway through paying when she turned back around and saw YN still standing in the same spot, eyes wide.

She smirked.

“Relax. It was a joke,” she said with a shrug. “Unless you want it not to be?”

YN didn’t answer—mostly because she couldn’t remember how to use words at that moment.

Instead, she quietly walked up beside her, placed her notebook on the counter, and muttered under her breath, “You’re so annoying.”

Minji bumped her shoulder lightly. “You keep saying that. Yet here we are.”

It was already a mistake.

YN knew it the second she stepped into the tiny, overly warm on-campus café. The lights were dimmed to “emotional damage” levels, and fairy lights were strung across the ceiling like someone tried too hard. A sign near the door read: "Open Mic: Pour Your Soul or Go Home."

She absolutely should have gone home.

But her roommate had begged her to come. “Come on, YN, it'll be good for your soul or whatever. You’ve been staring at that same brushstroke for five hours.” And like an idiot, she caved.

Now she stood awkwardly near the espresso machine, clutching a cup of lukewarm tea and trying to pretend she didn’t want to disappear.

A girl onstage was reciting a poem about being left on read. Someone in the crowd actually snapped their fingers in response.

YN grimaced. “I hate this timeline.”

“Wow. That’s the most dramatic reaction I’ve heard and you’re not even on stage yet.”

YN froze.

No way.

Not again.

She turned slowly—and of course.

Minji.

In jeans, a black bomber jacket, hair slightly damp from the drizzle outside, and that same cocky smile like she was here for entertainment—and YN was the show.

Minji wasn’t alone this time. Behind her was a whole squad of chaos:

Yunjin, who wore headphones around her neck and smirked like she knew everything about everyone.

Hanni, who was already waving excitedly at someone across the room and half-spilling popcorn.

Jiwon, the fashion major who looked like she’d stepped off a runway and was judging the fairy lights.

“Please tell me this is a simulation,” YN muttered, sipping her tea like it had answers.

Minji just laughed, nudging her shoulder. “What, you don’t like poetry?”

“I don’t like people.”

“Fair,” Minji said, then motioned toward her group. “Come on. You already look miserable alone. Might as well suffer near us.”

Before YN could protest, Minji had already grabbed her by the wrist—lightly, casually, like it was no big deal—and was pulling her toward a corner booth where her friends were camped out.

“Guys,” Minji announced as they sat down. “This is Nerdy.”

YN nearly choked. “Don’t call me that in front of people!”

But it was too late.

Yunjin grinned. “Nerdy? I love her already.”

Hanni scooted over excitedly. “Hi! You’re so pretty! Do you write poems? Can you write one about bread?”

Jiwon just raised an eyebrow, unimpressed but curious. “So this is the girl Minji keeps talking about.”

Minji’s face didn’t even twitch. She just sipped her iced Americano.

YN turned to her sharply. “You talk about me?”

“Only when it’s relevant,” Minji said. “Like gravity. Or fate. Or sudden disasters.”

YN buried her face in her hands.

But despite the embarrassment, she didn’t leave.

She stayed.

Because the energy around the table was stupid and chaotic and oddly warm. Yunjin made dry jokes under her breath, Jiwon kept critiquing every poem with fashion metaphors (“This piece has strong 2019 Pinterest vibes”), and Hanni kept offering everyone snacks from her oversized tote bag.

Minji, meanwhile, kept leaning closer to YN every time someone read a dramatic poem, whispering sarcastic commentary:

“Oh my god, he said ‘I am the moon, and she was the tide.’ That’s, like, peak Tumblr 2014.”

“Ten bucks the next one mentions ‘rain’ as a metaphor for depression.”

“Okay wait… that one was actually kind of good.”

At one point, the host called out, “Anyone else want to sign up for the mic?”

And Hanni—traitor—shot her hand up and pointed at Minji. “SHE DOES!”

The crowd clapped automatically.

Minji looked stunned. “What the hell, Hanni?!”

YN burst into real laughter for the first time that night.

Minji narrowed her eyes. “You're enjoying this, Nerdy.”

“Absolutely,” YN grinned.

Minji stood up with a dramatic sigh. “Fine. But if I die, I’m haunting you.”

She walked up to the mic, stuffed her hands in her pockets, and with no prep, said:

“This poem is called: ‘I wasn’t supposed to be here tonight, but then I saw someone trip on a bookshelf and now I can’t stop showing up.’”

The crowd laughed.

YN blinked, caught off guard.

Minji smiled—not at the crowd. At her.

It was raining. Again.

Not the dramatic storm kind, but the annoying drizzle that clung to your clothes and made everything feel damp and inconvenient. YN tugged her hoodie tighter, adjusting the sleeves over her hands as she jogged toward the small ramen shop tucked between two convenience stores near campus.

It was one of those hidden places that didn’t even have a sign—just a flickering neon bowl in the window and the smell of broth that could bring tears to your eyes. It was comfort food for tired students and broke souls. Exactly what she needed.

She pushed the door open and stepped into the warmth. The bell above the door gave a soft chime.

The place was full. Great.

There were barely any seats left, and the one corner booth that she usually claimed was already occupied by a group of students who looked like they were planning a group project—or maybe a coup.

She glanced around quickly, hopeful.

Then saw it.

One empty seat. At a two-person table. Already taken on one side by— Oh, come on.

Minji.

Sitting casually, long legs crossed under the table, chopsticks in hand, already halfway through a steaming bowl of ramen. Her hair was slightly damp, strands curling at the edges. She wore a grey hoodie under her jacket and looked like she’d just wandered out of a music video.

YN considered walking out.

Truly. She turned toward the door.

“Don’t even think about it,” Minji said without looking up.

YN froze.

Minji raised her eyes, one brow lifted. “There’s nowhere else to sit. Come on, I don’t bite.”

YN narrowed her eyes. “You absolutely bite.”

Minji shrugged. “Only people who deserve it.”

“Perfect. I’ll eat standing.”

Minji slurped some noodles, completely unbothered. “Suit yourself. But the owner does get passive-aggressive if people loiter.”

And as if on cue, the ahjumma behind the counter shouted,

“You eat, or you leave!”

YN groaned and shuffled over to the table, dropping her bag and sitting across from Minji with all the grace of someone being punished by fate.

“Thanks,” she muttered dryly. “I love being stalked by you across campus.”

“Right,” Minji said, chewing slowly. “Because you totally invented this ramen place, and I just followed your scent like a wolf.”

YN gave her the most exhausted glare she could muster. “You are unbelievable.”

“And yet,” Minji said, pointing to her with her chopsticks, “you’re still sitting here. Across from me. Again.”

YN huffed and waved at the owner for a menu, refusing to meet Minji’s eyes.

“You always eat ramen alone?” Minji asked after a moment.

YN didn’t look up. “You always talk this much?”

Minji leaned back, stretching her arms behind her head. “Only when I’m bored. Or entertained.”

The menu arrived. YN ordered the extra spicy bowl, mostly out of spite. Minji raised an eyebrow.

“Spicy?” she asked. “Didn’t take you for a masochist.”

“I didn’t ask you to take me for anything.”

Minji smirked. “I’m just gathering data. Nerdy’s got layers.”

“Stop calling me that.”

“Never.”

Silence fell for a while as they waited for YN’s food. The rain pattered gently against the windows. The warm yellow lights made everything feel slower, softer.

And for a moment... it wasn’t so bad.

Minji tapped her chopsticks against the bowl. “You know, I don’t usually like sharing meals with people.”

YN looked up in surprise. “Why not? You’re everyone’s favorite.”

Minji shrugged. “Too much talking. Too many expectations. I don’t like pretending to care about shallow stuff.”

YN blinked. “That’s surprisingly honest of you.”

“You bring it out of me,” Minji said without missing a beat.

YN stared at her, suspicious. “That... sounds like a pickup line.”

Minji just grinned. “Wouldn’t work anyway. You’re immune.”

YN’s ramen finally arrived—red, steaming, dangerous.

Minji leaned in slightly. “You sure you can handle that?”

YN broke apart her chopsticks with the confidence of someone lying to herself. “Watch me.”

One bite later, she regretted everything.

Her eyes watered instantly, face turning red.

Minji burst out laughing. “Oh my god. You’re dying.”

“I’m fine,” YN coughed, grabbing her water.

“You’re not fine. You’re actively ascending.”

YN glared at her between gulps. “Shut up.”

Minji handed her a napkin, still laughing. “You’re cute when you suffer.”

YN nearly spit out her water. “What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing,” Minji said, smiling. “You’re just really fun to mess with.”

And as the rain continued outside, they sat together—two stubborn souls, sharing warm food, sarcastic banter, and something neither of them would admit just yet.

By the time they left the ramen shop, the rain had gotten heavier. Not storm-heavy, just that steady kind that soaked through your sleeves and made the world smell like wet asphalt and fresh beginnings.

YN tugged her hood over her head, but it was too late—her hair was already damp. She groaned quietly, pulling her sleeves over her hands as she stepped out onto the sidewalk.

Beside her, Minji was unfazed. Hands in her pockets, face tilted slightly up to the sky like the rain didn’t bother her at all. She looked annoyingly cinematic, like she belonged in a slow indie film with Korean subtitles and lo-fi music playing in the background.

They walked in silence for a moment, the only sound being their footsteps on the wet pavement and the cars whooshing by on the road.

Then Minji broke the quiet, as usual.

“So,” she said, kicking at a puddle. “That wasn’t horrible.”

YN glanced at her. “The ramen or your company?”

“Both.”

YN smirked. “Well… you’re tolerable in small doses.”

Minji grinned. “Wow. The highest praise I’ve ever received.”

They turned a corner toward the main road where a few taxis idled under the shelter of a bus stop. YN spotted one with its light on and picked up her pace a little.

“Hey,” Minji said behind her. “Before you go—what’s your actual name, anyway?”

YN slowed just a little. “It’s YN.”

“That’s it? No middle name? No tragic backstory attached?”

YN rolled her eyes. “Just YN.”

Minji stepped closer, smirking. “Still gonna call you Nerdy.”

“Don’t.”

“Too late. It’s branded now. You even respond to it.”

“I do not respond to it.”

Minji leaned in just a fraction. “You literally turned your head in the ramen shop when I said it.”

YN stopped in front of the taxi, hand on the door. “I was trying to figure out if I should throw miso in your face.”

“And yet,” Minji said, stepping beside her with a slight shrug, “you didn’t.”

YN shook her head and opened the door, then paused.

Minji tilted her head. “What?”

Without a word, YN reached behind her, shrugged off the black hoodie Minji had tossed over her shoulders when they left the shop earlier, and handed it back—folded clumsily but warm from her body heat.

Minji blinked. “You could’ve kept it. It looks better on you.”

“I don’t borrow things from people who call me Nerdy.”

“Ouch.”

YN smiled faintly, already half inside the car. “Well... Thanks for the meal. Or the seat. Or whatever.”

“Anytime,” Minji replied, taking the hoodie with a slight grin.

YN closed the door, rolled the window down halfway, and leaned out slightly as the taxi started to move.

She gave a casual wave, as if they hadn’t just spent the weirdest, warmest evening together. As if she hadn’t just memorized Minji’s stupid smile.

“Bye, Minji,” she said, emphasizing her name teasingly.

Minji stood on the curb, hoodie in hand, rain still falling softly around her. She didn’t say anything—just lifted one hand in a lazy, smug wave.

But as the car pulled away, she watched it go with something restless in her chest.

A hum.

A flicker.

Something that felt like… “See you soon, Nerdy.”

Even if she didn’t say it out loud.

YN had made a very clear decision when she entered college: no sports. ever.

She hated noise. Hated uniforms. Hated the very concept of teamwork. (Also? She once got hit in the face with a volleyball in middle school PE and never emotionally recovered.)

So how, exactly, did she end up standing at the edge of the university’s indoor basketball court, clutching a bottle of water like it was a weapon?

It started when she got dragged by her roommate to “watch the legendary Kim Minji at practice, just for fun.” Apparently, it was a thing—Minji’s practices often attracted a crowd. There was even an unofficial fan club:

Front row girls with matching headbands

A dude with a DSLR zoom lens the size of his arm

And one girl actually holding a handmade sign that said:

“Minji, step on me (respectfully) 💘”

YN had rolled her eyes so hard it hurt.

She had every intention of hiding in the back row of the bleachers and sketching quietly on her iPad. Until the coach’s voice boomed across the gym:

“We’re short a player for the scrimmage—anyone want to volunteer?”

And before YN could process what was happening—

“She’ll do it!” Minji’s voice. Loud. Clear. Pointing straight at her.

YN nearly dropped her water bottle. “WHAT—?”

Too late. The coach waved her in. Minji was already jogging toward her with that damn smirk on her face.

“Come on, Nerdy. Let’s see if you’re useful outside of sarcasm.”

YN whispered harshly, “I don’t do sports!”

“You’ll be fine. Just run around and pretend you care.”

YN found herself somehow in gym shorts (borrowed, too big), standing awkwardly on the court, surrounded by tall, intimidating athletes and... Minji, who looked completely at home, spinning the ball on one finger like a showoff.

The scrimmage started.

YN didn’t run so much as she panicked while moving forward.

She got in people’s way, ducked instinctively every time someone passed the ball, and screamed once when someone just looked like they were about to throw it at her.

The team was wheezing with laughter.

“MINJI! YOUR GIRL’S GOT DEFENSIVE MOVES LIKE A CRAB!” “CAN WE GET A HELMET FOR HER?” “YO, FAN CLUB, CHEER FOR HER TOO!”

Even the fan club started chanting:

“NE-RDY! NE-RDY!”

YN wanted to dissolve into the floor.

Minji, of course, was thriving. Effortless dribbling, perfect form, tossing the ball in with a casual flick that made people in the bleachers scream.

Every time Minji passed near her, she’d throw in a smug:

“Having fun yet?”

YN’s answer was always a death glare.

But then... it happened.

Someone threw a clumsy pass from behind. YN—too shocked to react—just stood there.

The ball flew past her ear.

Minji shouted, “Watch out!” and ran to intercept—only it was too fast, too close, and—

CRASH.

They collided.

Hard.

The ball bounced somewhere off-court. People gasped.

Minji instinctively grabbed YN’s arms to keep her from falling completely—but the momentum pulled them both down to the floor in a heap.

And just like that…

Silence.

The gym faded. The laughter stopped. Even the fan club paused.

Because suddenly, Minji was on top of YN, both breathless, tangled limbs and pounding hearts.

Their faces—

Centimeters apart.

Minji’s hands were braced on either side of YN’s shoulders, her breath hot and fast. YN’s glasses were askew. Their eyes locked.

And stayed locked.

Too long.

YN’s voice came out barely a whisper:

“…ow.”

Minji blinked. Her voice was weirdly soft.

“You okay?”

“Y-Yeah.”

Neither moved.

Not yet.

Minji’s eyes flickered—YN’s flushed cheeks, the rise and fall of her chest, the way her lips parted slightly like she wanted to say something but couldn’t. Her breath hitched. Just a little.

It was the closest they’d ever been.

Closer than teasing. Closer than sarcasm. Real.

And that was what made it terrifying.

The spell broke with a loud whistle.

“YOU TWO GONNA MAKE OUT OR GET UP?” someone from the team yelled.

The gym exploded in laughter.

Minji’s ears turned red. She scrambled up quickly, brushing her hair back.

YN just lay there for another second, staring at the ceiling, silently begging the universe to end her.

Later, outside the gym, Minji caught up with her near the vending machine.

“Hey.”

YN didn’t look at her. “Don’t.”

Minji grinned. “You didn’t completely die.”

“I literally got tackled by a basketball and you.”

“You’re welcome,” Minji said, handing her a sports drink. “For the hydration and the trauma.”

YN took it silently, cheeks still pink.

Then, softer: “Thanks... for catching me. Again.”

Minji glanced sideways at her, smirked.

“It’s becoming a habit. Guess I just like falling into you.”

YN choked. “Minji—!”

Minji only laughed, turning away, her voice echoing in the hallway.

“Nice fall, Nerdy.”

The moment YN woke up, her brain kindly played the memory of Minji’s face hovering inches from hers on repeat. Again. And again. And again.

The way her hair had fallen into her eyes. The way her voice softened when she asked, “You okay?” The way their noses almost touched—

“NOPE.” YN flung a pillow at the ceiling and rolled out of bed like it had betrayed her.

This was fine. She would go to campus. Avoid Minji. Pretend the incident was a dream. Maybe she hallucinated it from sodium overload.

9:22 AM — Art Building Courtyard

YN ducked behind a stone pillar, clutching her iced coffee like a weapon.

Minji was standing across the courtyard with some friends, her bomber jacket slung over one shoulder, laughing at something Jiwon said. She looked carefree, magnetic… exactly how she always did.

YN didn’t even mean to stop and stare. It just… happened. For like, three seconds.

Five.

Maybe eight.

Until Minji turned, as if she felt the stare— and locked eyes with her.

YN’s soul left her body.

She ducked back behind the pillar so fast she hit her own elbow.

“Nope. Nope. Just a ghost. She didn’t see me. That wasn’t real.”

She spent the next ten minutes taking the long way around campus to avoid passing within five meters of Minji.

11:03 AM — Library

YN tiptoed into her favorite section and crouched behind the philosophy shelf, clutching a book she didn’t intend to read.

Safe.

Alone.

Until—

“Are you hiding from me, or do you just like creeping next to Nietzsche?”

YN’s blood ran cold.

She turned slowly.

Minji was leaning on the opposite shelf, one hand in her pocket, smirking like she’d just discovered YN’s search history.

YN cleared her throat. “I’m not hiding.”

“Oh really? Because you ducked behind a literal pillar earlier. I thought you were reenacting a spy movie.”

“I was just… admiring the architecture.”

“In the opposite direction?”

“Yes.”

Minji stepped closer. “Is this because I tackled you?”

YN stepped back, hitting the shelf. “You fell on me.”

Minji shrugged. “Tomato, tomahto.”

Silence.

Too much eye contact again.

YN stared at the floor. “I just didn’t sleep well.”

Minji tilted her head. “Was it… the emotional damage? Or the physical proximity?”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

Minji grinned. “You’re blushing, Nerdy.”

“I’m literally not—”

“You are.”

YN pushed past her, muttering. “God, you’re so annoying.”

Minji followed her, slow and smug. “You keep saying that, but you never leave.”

“Because you keep showing up!”

“Maybe I like watching you panic.”

YN spun to face her. “Why?!”

Minji’s smirk flickered, just for a second. Something real passed behind her eyes.

She leaned in. Not close, but… closer than necessary.

“Maybe it makes me feel something.”

YN blinked. “What?”

Minji leaned back with a shrug, already turning away.

“Anyway. I’ll see you in class, Nerdy.”

YN stood frozen in place, heart hammering against her ribs like a drum solo.

She whispered to herself, “What the hell is she doing to me…”

Later That Day — Cafeteria

YN finally sat with her roommate, trying to zone out and eat in peace.

Then, out of nowhere, a tray slid next to hers.

She didn’t have to look.

Minji sat beside her, biting into an apple like she belonged there. Then casually, softly:

“You still taste like blushing.”

YN almost choked on her rice.

Minji reached out and handed her a napkin without a word. When their fingers touched—just briefly—

It was worse than yesterday’s fall.

Because now, she was aware. Every breath. Every graze. Every heartbeat. Louder. Closer. Realer.

“Remind me again why I’m awake before sunrise and holding a hiking backpack?” YN muttered, adjusting the strap on her shoulder with the enthusiasm of a hostage.

Besideها, her roommate—Sohee—beamed like she was going on a honeymoon.

“Because you never go out, you live like a vampire, and I’m worried for your social development.”

“I’m perfectly developed. Socially deficient, by choice.”

They reached the university bus parking lot, where students were already milling around, chatting and loading their bags. A large chartered bus waited with the engine running, its front plastered with a big printed sign:

“Faculty Cross-Department Nature Retreat: Art x Media x Sports”

YN groaned. “I can already feel my soul dying.”

Sohee shoved a paper into her hands. “Group B. Sit wherever. It’s a two-hour ride, so make friends or at least don’t bite them.”

“Zero promises.”

Inside the bus, it was already buzzing with energy. Someone was playing K-pop quietly from a speaker in the back. A couple of athletes were throwing snacks across seats. Fan club girls had already claimed the row behind the driver and were whispering excitedly while scanning the aisle.

YN climbed aboard and scanned for the least chaotic spot. Spotting a window seat halfway back beside a quiet-looking student from media studies, she slid in without a word and immediately put in one earbud.

Safe.

She slouched, pulled her hoodie up, and stared out the window. If she ignored everyone long enough, they might forget she existed.

But of course, peace doesn’t last when Minji’s fan club is within a 20-foot radius.

The bus erupted in noise as soon as Minji boarded.

Cheers, claps, and someone actually gasped. Minji walked down the aisle, unbothered as ever, wearing a black baseball cap low over her eyes, hoodie sleeves pushed up, and a duffle bag slung casually over one shoulder.

“Why is she dressed like a main character…” YN muttered under her breath.

Fan club girl #1:

“Minji-unnie! Sit with us!”

Minji gave them a small wave, barely smiling. “I’ll find a spot.”

She passed YN’s row. Didn’t glance. Didn’t stop.

Good.

Forty minutes in.

The bus had settled into soft chatter and occasional snoring. YN had almost managed to doze off, forehead resting lightly against the window.

Until—

“We’re stopping for a break! 15 minutes!” The bus driver’s voice echoed through the speaker.

The bus jolted slightly as it turned into a rest station.

YN blinked awake, grumbling, and followed the crowd off the bus to stretch her legs.

Sohee appeared out of nowhere with a coffee and handed it to her.

“Drink. You look like you fought sleep and lost.”

“I did.”

As she wandered toward a vending machine, Minji passed her in a soft jog, earbuds in, doing small stretches like she wasn’t made of bones and fatigue.

YN tried not to look. She really did.

But the way Minji flicked her ponytail, took a long sip from her water bottle, then leaned against a railing with her head tilted back— It was criminal.

YN huffed and looked away.

Back on the bus.

The seat beside YN… was taken.

Great. Someone had filled it while she was out.

She turned, looking for an open spot. Everything toward the back was now filled. A group of three girls had merged into two seats. Someone had their feet stretched out.

Then—

“There’s a spot here,” a voice said behind her.

She turned and froze.

Minji. Sitting alone. Patting the empty seat beside her.

YN opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. “Why?”

Minji tilted her head. “Why not?”

“The fan club will start a petition to assassinate me.”

Minji leaned back casually. “Let them try.”

YN stood awkwardly, debating. Her old seat was gone. Everyone else was paired.

Minji gave her a slow smile.

“Come on, Nerdy. I won’t even talk if you don’t want.”

YN groaned and slid in beside her. “Only because I have nowhere else to go.”

Minji shrugged. “Sure, let’s call it that.”

Ten minutes later, they were back on the road.

The bus vibrated gently under them, mountains rolling by through the window.

They sat in silence at first.

Minji was looking out the window, one earbud in, foot tapping lightly.

YN stole a glance at her.

Minji’s profile was… calm. Unbothered. Like nothing could shake her. Like falling nose-to-nose yesterday didn’t faze her at all.

YN turned her gaze back forward and sipped her coffee.

“You really didn’t want to sit next to me, huh?” Minji said suddenly, voice soft.

YN tensed. “I didn’t say that.”

Minji looked at her, eyes narrowed playfully. “You said everything but that.”

YN hesitated. “You’re… distracting.”

Minji raised a brow. “That’s a compliment, right?”

YN flushed. “No. It’s a warning.”

Minji chuckled, low and warm.

“Well, Nerdy… we’re stuck on this ride for another hour. Might as well get used to being distracted.”

The bus finally rolled to a stop at the retreat site — a cozy mountain camp nestled between pine trees and misty hills. The crisp air bit gently at everyone’s cheeks as they stepped out one by one, stretching, yawning, groaning.

YN rubbed her eyes and looked up at the cloudy sky. “Great. Nature. Dirt. Cold. Love this.”

Sohee bounced beside her, camera out already. “Don’t be grumpy! Look how peaceful this place is.”

“Peaceful until the mosquitoes find me.”

In front of them, a staff member was setting up a whiteboard. She banged a metal triangle loudly for attention, like this was summer camp for overworked adults.

“Alright everyone! We’re assigning tents now. Two people per tent. Grouped randomly from the sign-up list. No swaps!”

YN whispered, “Please not Minji. Please not Minji. Please not Minji—”

“Group 4,” the staff called. “Kim Minji and... YN.”

Complete silence.

YN stared blankly at the board. Minji, standing a few feet away, looked over her shoulder with the most smug face YN had ever seen.

“The universe is getting bold.”

One of the fan club girls gasped dramatically. “WHAT?!”

Another muttered under her breath, “There must be a mistake. Minji-unnie wouldn’t voluntarily—”

Minji ignored them completely and strode toward YN with her duffel bag, stopping just a foot away.

“Guess we’re roommates now. Try not to kill me in my sleep.”

YN looked up at the sky. “Take me, Lord.”

Their tent was small, beige, and way too intimate. It had just enough space for two sleeping bags side by side. Maybe six inches apart.

Minji tossed her bag down on the left side, flopped back like this was her private studio apartment.

YN stood at the entrance, still clutching her backpack like a shield.

“Are you going to stand there all day?” Minji asked, head tilted.

“This is a nightmare.”

Minji smiled. “You say that, but you still came on the trip. Must be fate.”

“I was blackmailed by my roommate.”

“Fate with extra steps, then.”

YN finally threw her bag down on the right side and sat, arms crossed.

Outside, they could hear the others setting up nearby. Laughter, gossip, zippers opening and closing, someone struggling with a lantern.

From just beyond their tent, a whisper:

“I heard Minji was smiling when she read the tent list.”

“Do you think she likes her??”

Minji and YN froze at the same time.

YN whispered, “Do they not know we have ears?”

Minji grinned. “Let them wonder.”

“You enjoy this, don’t you?”

Minji turned her head slowly toward her. “What, sharing a tent with you? The best sleepover I never asked for.”

YN glared. “I hope you snore.”

“I hope you talk in your sleep. I’m curious what secrets are locked up in that head.”

They stared at each other for a beat too long.

Then—

“CAMPFIRE IN TEN!” someone shouted outside.

Minji stood up, stretching. “Let’s go, Nerdy. I’ll save you from the mosquitoes.”

YN sighed. “Can you save me from yourself?”

Minji smirked. “Unlikely.”

By the time the sun dipped behind the trees, the campfire was already crackling, painting everyone’s faces in warm orange light.

Students gathered in a messy circle, legs crossed, marshmallows in hand, mugs steaming with cheap cocoa.

Minji flopped onto one of the camp chairs like she owned the mountain. YN stood at the edge of the group, clearly evaluating if this was worth her social energy.

Sohee tugged her arm.

“Come on, just sit! Stop hovering like a socially anxious bat.”

“I am a socially anxious bat.”

“Then come hang upside-down next to Minji, Batgirl.”

Before YN could object, Sohee shoved her into the only empty spot. Right beside Minji.

Again.

Minji looked over, casually raising an eyebrow.

“Look who’s back. Can’t stay away from me, huh?”

“I was forced. This is a crime.”

Minji offered her a marshmallow on a stick without a word.

YN narrowed her eyes… then took it.

The first activity started: “Pass the Question” — someone spins a bottle, and whoever it points to has to answer a random prompt.

The bottle spun wildly.

Landed on Minji.

Jiwon grinned. “Alright, superstar. The question is… Describe your type.”

Minji didn’t flinch. She sipped her cocoa.

“Someone who doesn’t annoy me.”

The entire circle booed dramatically.

“That’s too vague!” “Cliché!” “Be specific!”

Minji smirked. “Fine. Someone smart. A little weird. Quiet but secretly deadly.”

Someone laughed. “You mean like… a cat?”

YN, trying not to react, sipped her cocoa like her life depended on it.

Minji glanced sideways at her. “Yeah. Like a cat.”

A few rounds later, the bottle spun again— and landed on YN.

“YEAHHH let’s gooo!” someone shouted.

Question:

“What’s your most embarrassing school memory?”

YN blinked. “...There’s a list.”

“Pick one!”

She hesitated. “...In 10th grade, I accidentally entered the boys' bathroom, panicked, ran into a urinal, knocked it off the wall, and then slipped.”

The circle exploded in laughter.

Sohee was wheezing. “You told me it was a faucet!”

Minji leaned in closer.

“You broke a urinal?”

YN groaned. “Please bury me in this fire.”

Minji grinned, voice low:

“That’s iconic, Nerdy.”

Later that night, everyone broke off into mini-groups.

Some were roasting marshmallows. Others doing riddles. A group was playing “Guess Who” — where they stuck post-its on each other’s foreheads with a name, and had to guess who they were.

“Sit here!” someone from media waved at Minji.

“No—sit here!” her fan club chirped, patting the log beside them.

Minji ignored them, walking straight to where YN sat cross-legged on the ground, doodling idly in a small notebook.

Without asking, she sat beside her.

“Busy drawing how much you hate this trip?” Minji asked.

YN didn’t look up. “No. Drawing ways I could disappear.”

Minji peeked over. “That’s… actually kinda cool.”

Just then, someone tripped over a rock near them and fell forward— accidentally bumping into Minji—

Who fell sideways—

Straight into YN’s shoulder.

Both froze.

Minji didn’t immediately move. Neither did YN.

Their heads were practically touching.

Silence.

“...You’re warm,” Minji murmured.

YN, heart hammering: “That’s because you landed on me.”

Minji didn’t apologize. Just leaned back slowly, that unreadable smile on her lips.

From across the fire, someone whispered, “Are they flirting? Or about to fight

The next morning started with a megaphone and far too much energy.

“WAKE UP CAMPERS! Stretch, hydrate, and meet at the flagpole in fifteen!”

YN sat up in the tent with a groan. Her hair was a mess, her back ached from the thin sleeping bag, and Minji… Minji was already up, stretching outside like a human anime protagonist.

Sohee passed by with a protein bar. “Minji’s already awake? Of course she is. Did she even sleep?”

YN stepped out, blinking at the sunlight— only for Minji to toss her a water bottle without turning around.

“Drink before you pass out, Nerdy.”

YN caught it, scowling. “Thanks, I guess.”

The first activity was a group hiking challenge.

Teams of five had to follow a marked trail, collect puzzle pieces hidden at waypoints, and return in under an hour.

YN tried very hard to be placed on any team but Minji’s.

It didn’t work.

The coach called out:

“Team Three: Minji, YN, Sohee, Jiwon, and Lina.”

YN stared at the trees like they were the gates of doom.

Minji shouldered her backpack with a grin.

“Don’t worry. I’ll carry your body down if you pass out.”

Sohee whispered, “Why does she say stuff like that like it’s sweet?”

Thirty minutes into the hike,

YN was sweating, breathing harder than she wanted to admit, and absolutely regretting all life decisions.

“Why. Are. There. So. Many. Hills.”

Jiwon looked back. “You okay back there?”

“I’m fine!” she snapped—just as she tripped on a root.

Before she could hit the ground, Minji caught her by the wrist, pulling her upright with one quick movement.

Their faces were close again. Too close. Familiar close.

Minji tilted her head. “That’s twice now.”

YN muttered, “Stop catching me like I’m fragile.”

Minji replied without thinking, “You are fragile.”

Silence.

YN looked away quickly. “I’m not made of glass.”

Minji, softer this time:

“No. But you walk like you're allergic to the ground.”

Later, at the clearing,

The teams had a short break. Everyone spread out on blankets, eating snacks and chatting.

One of Minji’s admirers approached YN with a sugary voice:

“Are you sure you’re supposed to be here? This is more for, like, active people.”

YN raised an eyebrow. “Oh, I didn’t realize gatekeeping fitness was trendy now.”

The girl pouted. “Just saying. Wouldn’t want you to slow anyone down.”

Before YN could snap back, Minji walked up behind her—slow, calm, dangerous.

She stepped right beside YN and said simply:

“She didn’t slow anyone down. I was watching.”

The girl blinked. “Oh—I didn’t mean—”

“Yeah, you did.” Minji’s voice didn’t rise. It didn’t need to.

The girl shrank away with a nervous laugh and scurried off.

YN blinked up at her. “You didn’t have to do that.”

Minji sat beside her on the blanket. “Sure I did. That was my job.”

YN narrowed her eyes. “Since when is it your job?”

Minji looked at her like the answer was obvious.

“Since you keep needing saving.”

Final activity: Sketch & share.

All students were told to find a view, sketch something they felt described the trip, and present it to the group.

YN sat on a rock, pencil in hand, drawing the surrounding forest—but her focus kept slipping.

Minji walked up, tossing a snack into her lap.

“Eat something.”

“I’m fine.”

Minji sat behind her this time, back against a tree, arms crossed.

YN tried to draw. But her mind kept returning to the way Minji caught her earlier. The way she stood up for her. The quiet comfort of her presence now—even saying nothing.

“Minji.”

“Hm?”

“Why are you always near me?”

Pause.

Minji opened her eyes, voice low, teasing.

“Maybe I just like your gravitational pull.”

YN snorted. “That’s not how gravity works.”

“It is when it’s you.”

The late afternoon sun began to dim behind the trees as the last activity of the day commenced: "Solo Exploration." Pairs were given small paper maps and told to collect colored tokens placed along a short forest loop trail. "Short" being a very generous word.

Minji and YN were—of course—paired again.

“It’s only a fifteen-minute loop,” the staff reassured. “You’ll be back before sunset!”

Spoiler: they were wrong.

Ten minutes into the trail, the path had become narrower, rockier, and completely unmarked.

YN held the map upside down. “This is either a hiking route or a prank.”

Minji leaned in to glance. “You're holding it backwards, Nerdy.”

“I’m not used to manual orientation! My GPS is emotional support.”

Minji took the map gently from her hand. Their fingers brushed. YN didn’t comment, but her heart did a little skip.

“We’ll figure it out,” Minji said, folding the map and tucking it in her pocket. “Just stay close.”

And for once—YN didn’t argue.

They walked in silence for a while. The forest around them grew quieter… thicker.

The path forked, and Minji took the left instinctively. YN followed, careful not to step on anything slippery.

But then the wind shifted, the trees creaked— and the trail ended.

Like, fully. Gone. No signs. No markers. Just ferns and shadows.

YN stopped, chest tightening slightly. “Wait… this isn’t right.”

Minji scanned the area. “We didn’t turn wrong…”

YN spun. The way they came now looked… unfamiliar. The light had changed. The air felt colder.

“Okay. Slightly terrifying.”

Minji pulled out her phone.

No signal.

“Cool,” Minji muttered. “Nature’s so welcoming.”

YN folded her arms, trying to stay calm. “Okay, it’s fine. We’re probably not lost-lost.”

Minji raised a brow. “Define ‘lost-lost.’”

Just then— A loud crack echoed nearby. Like a branch snapping hard.

Both of them froze.

YN instinctively moved closer, almost pressed against Minji’s side.

“…That was probably a squirrel,” she whispered.

Minji smirked, voice low. “A demon squirrel?”

“Shut up.”

They kept walking—slowly, now.

Minji lit her phone’s flashlight and held it out.

YN shivered slightly as the air grew chillier, evening creeping in fast.

“…Here.” Without warning, Minji shrugged off her hoodie and draped it over YN’s shoulders.

YN blinked. “What are you—”

“You’re cold. Your shoulders were tense. I noticed.”

YN clutched the hoodie tighter. It smelled like detergent, pine trees… and Minji.

Her voice softened. “Thanks.”

Eventually, they reached a mossy log and sat for a moment to rest. Everything was quiet now, almost too quiet.

YN leaned forward, elbows on knees. “I always hated being lost.”

Minji watched her. “You panic?”

YN shook her head. “No. I just hate not knowing where I stand.”

She wasn’t just talking about the trail.

Minji picked up a small twig, twirled it between her fingers.

“You always try to control things, huh?”

“Only because I’ve seen how messy people are when they don’t.”

Minji gave her a look. “You're not one of those ‘people are disasters’ people, are you?”

“I am the disaster. I just try to limit the damage.”

Silence. Then:

“I like your damage,” Minji said quietly.

YN turned to her slowly.

Their eyes met. Neither looked away.

A cool gust of wind passed, and YN shivered again without meaning to. Minji noticed.

She leaned slightly closer, shoulder brushing against YN’s.

“You okay?”

YN nodded, but her voice came out small. “Yeah.”

Minji didn’t move away.

They sat like that a moment too long. Close. Warm. Uncertain.

And then—

YN quietly reached out and held Minji’s hand.

It was small. Almost nothing.

But Minji didn’t pull away.

Her thumb gently brushed against YN’s knuckles.

Neither of them spoke.

Because words… would’ve broken whatever this was.

Eventually, voices in the far distance echoed—staff calling names.

They stood, still hand-in-hand for a beat longer, then let go as if nothing had happened.

But something had.

By the time Minji and YN made it back to the campsite, the sky had gone deep blue and the stars had started to blink through.

They emerged from the treeline quietly—calm, walking close, a little dirt on their knees, leaves tangled in their hair.

The fire was already lit again. The others turned at the sound of footsteps.

Then—

“They're ALIVE!” Sohee practically shouted, clutching her chest dramatically. “I thought we’d have to call mountain rescue!”

Jiwon grinned. “Where the hell were you two? It's been, like, an hour and a half.”

YN opened her mouth, but Minji answered first.

“We took a wrong turn. It was... scenic.”

Lina raised a brow. “You mean romantic?”

Minji didn’t respond. She just walked past them all, brushing leaves off her shoulders. YN followed, flustered, head slightly lowered.

But the fan club girls?

Laser-focused.

One of them whispered, way too loudly:

“They came back together?” “They weren’t even talking last week!”

Another one crossed her arms. “Minji’s probably just being nice. Like always.”

As if on cue, Minji turned, looked directly at them—then right back at YN.

And smiled.

It wasn’t a wide smile. Not smug. Not sarcastic.

Just... soft.

Like she was seeing something no one else did.

YN froze in place.

Her heart: not beating. Her brain: rebooting. Her body: floating.

And everyone noticed.

Later that night, the campsite quieted. The stars stretched across the sky like scattered wishes. Inside tent 4, everything was dim. Soft. Breathing slow.

YN lay on her back in her sleeping bag, eyes fixed on the ceiling of the tent.

Minji lay a few inches away, hands behind her head, staring at nothing.

Silence.

But it wasn’t awkward.

It was loud in its own way. Like every breath was saying what mouths couldn't.

Finally, Minji spoke, voice hushed.

“Are you mad I dragged you off trail?”

YN turned her head slightly. “You didn’t drag me. I followed.”

Minji looked over. “You didn’t have to.”

YN’s voice was quiet. “I know.”

Pause.

The moonlight barely lit Minji’s face. But even in shadow, her eyes were visible—watching.

“Back there,” Minji said. “You held my hand.”

YN swallowed. “…Yeah.”

Minji didn’t tease. Didn’t smirk. Just looked at her like she was trying to figure something out.

Then:

“I didn’t mind.”

YN’s throat tightened.

She rolled to her side to face her. They were so close now. Only the thinnest air between them.

YN whispered, “You always act so calm. Like nothing fazes you.”

Minji gave a tiny smile.

“You faze me.”

The words dropped like a match in dry grass.

Neither moved. Neither blinked.

Then—Minji’s hand reached out slowly, like she wasn’t even thinking, just drawn—

She brushed a strand of hair from YN’s face.

And her fingers lingered. Just for a second.

“Goodnight, Nerdy.”

YN whispered, “…Goodnight, Minji.”

But neither of them slept.

Not for a while.

The final morning of the retreat arrived with sleepy yawns and messy hair. Students packed up their tents, laughed over spilled toothpaste, and posed for last-minute selfies with the mountain in the background.

The vibe? Lighthearted. The emotions? Chaotic.

YN zipped her bag with a yawn, ready to disappear into the bus and sleep for three hours straight. Sohee, however, had other plans.

“There’s still one last group activity, sleepyhead! Don’t you want to say goodbye to nature properly?”

“I want to sue it.”

Sohee dragged her anyway.

At the camp center, the instructors had set up a fun final activity: “Compliment Circle.”

Each person had to give a quick compliment to someone they appreciated during the trip.

“Let’s end on a positive note,” the coach said, clapping. “Spread good vibes!”

YN immediately tensed. “This is a trap.”

Minji leaned behind her, whispering:

“You’re gonna compliment me, right?”

YN turned, deadpan. “I was thinking the squirrel that didn’t attack us.”

Minji smirked, hand brushing her shoulder.

“Rude. I literally gave you my jacket and my hand.”

“Yeah, and now your fan club wants to curse me.”

When it was Sohee’s turn, she stood with sparkly eyes and announced:

“I want to compliment my roommate YN—who actually came on this trip—and was super brave even when we thought she got eaten by a bear.”

Everyone laughed.Then Sohee added, smiling playfully:

“Also… Mr. Jaehwan from the media department for helping us find the trail again.”

YN blinked.

“Who?”

From the side, a tall guy in glasses raised his hand with a polite smile. “That’d be me.”He walked up to give Sohee a high-five—then turned to YN.

“Glad you made it back safely. You were… walking with Minji, right?”

YN nodded. “Yeah.”

“You looked cool. Very survival-movie aesthetic.”

And then—

He winked.

YN: (processing error)

Across the circle, Minji stared.Expression: neutral. Body: stiff. Aura: “Who is this tall discount actor and why is he looking at Nerdy like that.”Sohee whispered to YN, “Oh no. She saw the wink.”

YN looked at Minji—And yep. The glare. The micro-pout. The crossed arms.

She wasn’t even trying to hide it.Later, during the goodbye group photo, Jaehwan walked past Minji and casually said:

“You’re lucky to be her tentmate.”

Minji tilted her head. Smiled.

“Oh, I’m not just that.”

He blinked. “Oh?”Minji leaned slightly closer.

“I’m the reason she made it through this trip alive. So, yeah. Luck is a funny thing.”

YN, watching this from a few feet away, muttered to herself:

“What is she doing? Marking territory?”

Sohee whispered, “Are you jealous now?”YN: “No. I’m annoyed. Very different

Back at campus, the world felt louder. Traffic. Cafeterias. Lecture halls.YN walked across the quad with her sketchbook, headphones in. Trying very hard to pretend her heart wasn’t still on a mountain trail holding Minji’s hand.

From a distance, she spotted Minji across the lawn.Surrounded by her usual group. Laughing. Hair down. Head tilted back. That easy charm.

And yet— Her eyes scanned the crowd.Until they landed on YN.Just for a second.They didn’t wave. Didn’t smile.Just… held the gaze. Too long. Too much.And then looked away. Like nothing happened.YN exhaled and walked faster. “This is getting stupid.”Later that week, Minji passed by YN outside the art building.Their eyes met.Minji slowed.

YN didn’t.Minji called out, casual:“Still ignoring me, Nerdy?”YN turned just enough to reply:“You seemed busy. With your fanbase.”Minji blinked, amused. “Are you mad?”YN didn’t answer.

Minji leaned in slightly.“You’re cute when you’re jealous.”YN stopped. Turned. Eyes blazing.“I’m not jealous.”Minji grinned.“Sure, Nerdy. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”YN’s heart was racing.But she said nothing.She just walked away.Minji watched her go.Still smiling.But now— A little softer.Like she already knew:This war? Far from over. The party was loud. Of course it was.It took over the campus quad like a swarm—fairy lights hanging overhead, music pounding through portable speakers, half-spilled drinks sloshing in red cups, and students everywhere. Dancing. Laughing. Falling over.

YN stood on the edge, hoodie on, expression blank.Sohee nudged her. “You promised to stay at least an hour.”“I didn’t promise. You threatened.”

“Same thing.”Sohee twirled away toward a circle of students, leaving YN alone under a swaying light.As usual.

YN took a seat near the fence, where the music felt more like distant thunder than a personal attack. She pulled out her sketchbook, only half-seriously.

Just as her pencil touched paper—

“Is that your version of dancing?”

YN didn’t look up. “Is bothering me your version of flirting?”

Minji’s voice curved with amusement. “You admit I’m flirting?”

YN finally raised her head.

And immediately regretted it.

Minji was… Wow.

Hair tied up loosely, skin glowing under the golden lights, leather jacket slung casually over a fitted shirt. She looked like a scene from a movie. Unreachable. Unapologetic.

And the worst part?

She was smiling at her.

YN looked away. “Didn’t think this kind of party was your style either.”

Minji shrugged. “I go where the chaos is.”

“Then you’re in the right place.”

“And apparently…” Minji stepped a little closer.

“So are you.”

Soon enough, other students spotted them.

“Look who came out of hiding!” “YN, you clean up nicely!” “Minji, is she your bodyguard or your girlfriend?”

The teasing escalated. Minji shot back with sarcasm, YN rolled her eyes.

Then—

A guy stepped into their space. Tall, energetic, clearly tipsy.

“Hey—you're Minji, right? I’ve seen you at the gym.”

Minji nodded politely. “Yeah.”

The guy turned to YN. “And you’re... the artist? I’ve seen your stuff in the atrium.”

YN gave a stiff nod.

“You two together?” he asked, not really caring about the answer.

YN opened her mouth to say something biting— but Minji beat her to it, jokingly:

“She wishes.”

Everyone laughed.Even the guy.Everyone… except YN.

Ten minutes later, YN sat back down, face unreadable.

Sohee came over, cautious. “You okay?”

“I’m going back to the dorms.”

“What? It’s still early—”

“I’m tired.”

Sohee didn’t argue. But she watched her walk away with quiet worry.She wasn’t the only one watching.

From across the party, Minji saw it too— the way YN left without a word, shoulders tense.

Something in her chest twistedIt took Minji a few minutes to shake off the voices around her, the noise, the drink in her hand. She followed the direction YN had gone.Away from the lights. Past the quad. Into the garden path behind the library building.

There she was. Sitting on a bench under a lamppost, hoodie up, arms crossed.Alone. Again.

Minji didn’t say anything at first. Just walked up and stood in front of her.YN didn’t look up.

“…Why are you here?” she asked quietly.Minji's voice was low. “Why did you leave like that?”

YN scoffed. “Why does it matter?”

“It does.”

YN finally raised her eyes. There was fire there. But underneath it? Something brittle.

“You act like you care,” she said. “But then you joke. In front of everyone. About how I wish we were together.”

Minji stiffened.

“That was—”

“A joke?” YN stood up suddenly. “Right. That’s what you do. You flirt, then pretend it was nothing. You’re always half in, half out. You always act like you’re in control, and I’m just—what? Entertainment?”

Minji’s jaw clenched. “That’s not fair.”“Neither is this!” YN said, her voice cracking for the first time. “I didn’t ask for this! I didn’t want to feel anything. You just kept showing up. Every time I tried to keep space, you closed it. Every time I hated you, you saved me. You made me need you and now—”

Minji stepped closer.One step. Then another.

Their faces were inches apart now. Breathing heavy. Words gone.“Say something,” YN whispered, voice trembling.And Minji said nothing.

She just kissed her.

It wasn’t careful. It wasn’t soft.

It was need.

Fingers tangled in the hoodie’s collar, pulling her in. Lips pressed like they’d been waiting for this exact moment to stop pretending. All the teasing, the fights, the denial—it melted, burned, collapsed into this single kiss.

YN didn’t freeze. She melted into it.Hands finding Minji’s shoulders, then her hair. Their bodies fit like puzzle pieces. Like a crash and a landing at the same time.Minji pulled back just slightly, eyes half-lidded, lips flushed.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” she whispered.

YN, breathless, shook her head.

“Then show me.”

Minji kissed her again.Slower this time.But deeper. More desperate. Like she wanted to memorize every second.

It was hot. Messy. Real.And when they finally pulled apart, foreheads resting together, the silence returned.But this time, it wasn’t empty.It was full of everything they couldn’t say.

The kiss had ended. But they hadn’t moved.

Minji’s forehead still rested against YN’s. Their hands were still tangled in each other’s sleeves. Their breaths? Still fast. Still shared.

YN blinked slowly. Her voice came out low.

“So… that’s what all the teasing meant?”

Minji pulled back a little—just enough to look into her eyes. Her gaze was raw. Stripped.

“No.”

YN blinked. “No?”

Minji’s voice was quiet. Shaky. Real.

“It meant less than this.”

Then she leaned in again— and pressed a kiss to YN’s cheek.

Then the corner of her lips.

Then her jaw.

Tiny, desperate kisses like her body was acting faster than her brain.

“I didn’t mean to…” A kiss near the ear. “Fall this hard.” A kiss against the neck. “But I did.” A pause. Their eyes met.

Minji swallowed. Her voice broke just a little.

“And now I don’t know how to stop.”

YN didn’t move.Her heart was pounding, but her body felt frozen. Not with fear. With the terrifying softness of being truly seen.Minji looked at her like she was standing on a cliff— And falling.

“I kept telling myself it was nothing. That I was just being stupid. That the reason I noticed when you were cold, or mad, or quiet was because… I liked annoying you.”

She smiled, weakly.

“But I wasn’t teasing you. I was… looking for reasons to be near you.”

YN felt like she couldn’t breathe.

Minji touched her face again, this time slower, her fingers brushing her cheek.

“And then tonight—when you walked away—I panicked. I thought, ‘She’s leaving. And I’ll never get to tell her what she does to me.’”

A pause.

Her thumb traced YN’s lower lip, eyes flickering.

“How every time you look at me like I’m a problem… I want to be solved by you.”

Then— Another kiss.This one softer. Lingering. Barely there. Like her mouth was writing an apology against YN’s lips.

Minji tried to pull back. Her voice cracked.

“I should stop.”

But she didn’t.She kissed her again.Once. Then again.

Each kiss shorter. Hungrier. Like she was trying to hold back but failing.

“I told myself just once would be enough.”

A kiss.

“But I lied.”

A longer kiss. Slower.

“I don’t want to stop.”

YN whispered, breath catching—

“Then don’t.”

And just like that—

Minji sank into her.A tangle of fingers in hair, jackets slipping from shoulders, lips pressed with desperation.But in all that heat, there was something achingly gentle in the way Minji held her.Like even as she consumed her— She was trying to protect her.When they finally broke apart—again, breathless, quiet— Minji leaned her forehead against YN’s and whispered, almost like a secret:

“I don’t know what we’re doing.”

YN nodded slowly.

“Neither do I.”

Minji’s hand closed around hers.“But I don’t want to pretend anymore

It was almost 1:00 AM.

The campus laundry room was dimly lit, humming quietly with the low mechanical growl of washing machines and the occasional clink of zippers tumbling in metal drums.

YN shoved a basket of clothes through the door, hoodie halfway off her shoulder, hair tied in a lazy knot, eyes half-closed from lack of sleep—and mood fully grumpy.

She muttered under her breath as the door squeaked behind her.

“Why are college students incapable of doing laundry at reasonable hours?”

She made her way down the row of machines—only to find them all either full… or blinking “OUT OF ORDER.”All except one.The last one.YN narrowed her eyes.And then—

“Oh. You again.”Minji.

Leaning against the last washing machine like it was hers by divine right, sleeves rolled up, hair down in soft waves, wearing a T-shirt way too big to be anything but stolen from YN’s drawer.

She was smiling, of course. That soft, slow, smug sunshine smile.

“Fancy seeing you here, nerdy.”

YN sighed. “Please tell me you didn’t actually use the last one.”

Minji shrugged. “I was here first.”

“How much is in there?”

Minji peered through the door.

“Well… about half of my stuff. And half of yours.”

YN blinked. “Wait—what?”

Minji looked over her shoulder, feigning innocence.

“You left your laundry basket outside our room. Again. I just figured… joint life, joint wash.”

YN stared.

Minji took a step closer, arms crossed.

“Or should I separate your socks out next time?”

“You washed our clothes together without asking?”

Minji tilted her head. “I mean, we already sleep together. It felt symbolic.”

YN blinked twice. “You’re so annoying.”

“And yet.” Minji grinned wider. “You’re here.”

They stood like that for a beat.

Two people who still clashed like fire and ice— but now, the warmth in the middle belonged to both of them.

Minji leaned back against the machine, arms open in mock surrender.

“Go ahead. Glare at me. Grump about it. I’ll still kiss you.”

YN stepped closer, expression unreadable.

And then—

She did glare. But only for a second.Then she leaned forward and kissed her.A slow, drawn-out kiss.Soft at first—just the press of lips. Familiar now. Easy. But then… longer. Warmer.Minji smiled against her mouth. YN sighed through her nose and deepened the kiss.Their bodies leaned closer, comfortably tangled. Fingers slipped into hair. A hand brushed down a waist. A soft, muffled hum filled the space between them.Outside, the night kept moving. But in here? It was just them.

The washing machine beeped.They didn’t flinch.Minji pulled away just enough to whisper:

“Cycle’s done.”YN tucked her face into Minji’s neck.“Let’s stay a little longer.”Minji smiled. “We can dry them later.”Eventually, they opened the machine. Pulled out a pile of warm, tangled fabric.Minji held up a hoodie. “Yours.”YN held up a black t-shirt. “Yours.”They looked down.The rest? A mix of shirts, jeans, socks. No difference. All blended.Just like them.

“You realize,” Minji murmured, “we really are that couple now.”YN smirked, brushing her shoulder against Minji’s.“Gross.”

Minji kissed her cheek.“You love it.”

YN didn’t answer.She just smiled—soft, hidden, shy.The kind of smile only Minji could bring out of her

End

[fioredeciliego]

safe | karina x reader

⁍ song: hold on, we're going home - drake ⁍ genre: idol!karina x idol!reader. angsty, suggestive. ⁍ w.c: 14.3k ⁍ warnings: curt language, a little bit nsfw(?), more so just suggestive. ⁍ synopsis:

y/n is the 6th member of le sserafim, and an incredibly skilled dancer. when she's set to perform a special stage with karina, she finds herself growing closer to the girl in ways she'd have never imagined. the problem is, sometimes things don't work out the way you want them to.

current day

there were plenty of pretty people in the world, each carrying their own charm, but none of them compared to yu jimin. there was something about the way she carried herself that made everything else fade into the background. it wasn’t just her face, though that alone could turn heads with little effort. it was the way her expression shifted when she listened, the way her eyes held a quiet confidence that made you want to look longer. her beauty didn’t scream for attention. it settled into the room like it belonged there, like it had always been there. from the moment you saw her, you felt it, this quiet certainty that no one else would ever measure up. not because she tried to be more than anyone, but because she simply was. every small gesture, every glance, every word seemed to land with a weight that lingered longer than it should have. you didn’t even try to convince yourself otherwise. no one could rival her. not for you.

if you’d have asked your childhood self where you’d be in your twenties, you never in a million years would have expected this.

your knee bounced up and down, restless against the pleated fabric of the le sserafim dorm couch. across from you, chaewon watched in silence, her stare steady and unreadable. it wasn’t disappointment. it wasn’t frustration. it wasn’t pity either. whatever it was sat heavy between the two of you, stretching out the quiet until it felt suffocating. she stood with her arms crossed over her chest, unmoving behind the coffee table, her lips pressed into a thin line as if holding back words she didn’t want to say yet. her voice cut through the stillness, sharp and persistent.

"when did it all start?"

the question echoed inside your head like a bell that refused to stop ringing. you knew exactly what she meant, but the weight sitting in your chest made it impossible to speak the truth. shame curled in your stomach, anchoring you to the couch.

"i don’t know what you’re talking about." you lied, eyes darting anywhere but at her. the words came out dry and sharp, like something sour you had no choice but to swallow.

chaewon shook her head, a quiet sigh slipping past her lips before she finally stepped around the coffee table and lowered herself onto the couch beside you. with the distance gone, you had no choice but to meet her eyes. her face was drawn tight with concern, but beneath it was something softer, something like confusion that she couldn’t quite mask. she didn’t let up.

"y/n, don’t play stupid with me now. why are you so reluctant to talk to me?" her voice dropped, softer this time, almost unsure. "when have i ever made you feel like you can’t?" 

the vulnerability in her voice was all it took for everything to finally crack open. the frustration that had been building inside you surged forward, breaking free as sobs shook through your body. you lurched forward and felt her arms wrap tightly around you, pulling you into the safety of her shoulder. you cried harder than you had in years, not since you were fourteen and your parents sat you down to tell you your beloved pet was gone. but this sadness was different. it felt like grief that hollowed you out, like something inside you had splintered and left you struggling to hold the pieces together. part of you was thankful the dorm was empty, the other members busy preparing for the upcoming ‘different’ comeback. you weren’t sure you could handle their quiet concern or the weight of their sympathetic stares.

"i’m sorry, chae," you mumbled through your sobs, your arms tightening around her waist as if afraid to let go.

"hey, no, no, why are you apologizing to me?" chaewon’s brows pulled together in concern, her voice soft and steady as she instinctively began to rock you back and forth. her hand found the small of your back, drawing slow, soothing circles, trying to ease the tremors still rolling through your body.

"i made a mistake," you choked out, barely louder than a whisper. the words clung to your throat like they didn’t want to leave, heavy and sharp, weighed down by the shame you could no longer suppress.

chaewon’s arms tightened around you, anchoring you to her warmth. she didn’t say anything right away, giving you space to breathe, to find your footing. when she finally spoke, her voice was even softer than before. 

“talk to me," she coaxed, patient and careful, like she was afraid to push too hard but needed you to know she was right there, ready to catch whatever you couldn’t hold on to anymore.

you took a deep breath, letting it rattle through your lungs as you tried to gather the courage. the words sat heavy in your chest, but there was no turning back now. finally, you spoke.

“it started when we met.”

__

past

the energy backstage hummed like a slow building current, thick with hairspray, heat, and the collective nerves of idols pacing polished floors in their stage outfits. someone from the sound crew was yelling into a walkie, his voice half swallowed by the bass leaking from the main stage monitors. across the corridor, makeup artists huddled near mirrors, adjusting stray strands and patting down foreheads, while stylists crouched on the floor, arms filled with lint rollers and spare in-ears. you were standing with the rest of le sserafim near the waiting area, makeup carved sharp to match the mood of the performance and a dark brown trench coat tight around your frame to combat the arena's cold conditioned air. you were set to go on after txt and just before illit, the kind of lineup that kept your stomach in knots no matter how many stages you’d done.

no matter how many times you’d been here before, performing in front of fans at music bank, the nerves never seemed to completely fray. 

you’d rehearsed ‘hot’ until your joints felt fused with muscle memory, the choreography living in your spine even when the music wasn’t playing. still, the thought of the audience made your breath catch in the back of your throat. fans, seniors, label staff, cameras broadcasting to god knows how many countries. it was so numbingly daunting. especially considering it was your first performance back from a hiatus.

chaewon was beside you, quietly mouthing the chorus under her breath, hands tucked into the pockets of her jacket like she was trying to keep every last ounce of warmth close. kazuha stood a little apart from the group, leaning against the wall with one heel pressed to the baseboard, head tilted like she was listening to something no one else could hear. yunjin adjusted her belt with a short sigh, chewing at the inside of her cheek. eunchae held her water bottle like a lifeline, wide-eyed as she stared at the screen above the hallway showing the live feed from inside the venue.

you stayed still. part of you wanted to stretch again, or check your reflection in one of the handheld mirrors scattered across the benches, but your body didn’t move. the adrenaline had started to creep in already, making your pulse feel a beat too fast under your skin.

chaewon leaned in just slightly, her shoulder brushing yours as she glanced down the hallway.

“you okay?” she asked under her breath, voice low enough to disappear under the buzz of staff calls and monitor feedback. she didn’t look at you directly when she said it, but you could feel her watching anyway.

you nodded once, too fast to be convincing. “yeah. just cold.”

she huffed a soft laugh, barely audible. “you always say that when you're about to freak out.”

you cracked a smile, or tried to. your face didn’t quite cooperate.

“how’s your leg?” she added, quieter now.

you shifted your weight subtly, the movement instinctive. it didn’t hurt, not exactly. not anymore. not in the way it did when you first fell wrong during rehearsal, when the whole room had gone sideways with pain and panic, or in the weeks after when even watching the others practice felt like swallowing glass. but you still felt it, like a ghost in the muscle.

“it’s fine,” you said. “tight. but fine.”

chaewon finally looked at you then, head tilting the slightest bit. “don’t push it.”

you nodded again, this time slower. “i won’t.”

the injury had pulled you off the last cycle of promotions, and even though everyone was supportive, there was a quiet pressure in your chest that hadn't gone away. something about being away too long, about having to prove you still belonged here. you’d come back in time for end-of-year rehearsals, cleared for stage just weeks ago, and every performance since had felt like walking on a wire.

chaewon’s hand brushed yours for a second, nothing more than a touch, and then she stepped back into place as the call came through the earpieces.

“le sserafim, standby.”

you felt your body move before your brain could catch up, following the rest of the group toward the stage entrance. only, before you could step too far, you’re stopped at the feeling of a lean body knocking into you. your shoulder jerked slightly from the contact, slightly dazed. it wasn’t hard. more of a fleeting bump, the kind that happened constantly backstage with too many bodies moving through tight hallways. still, something about it snapped you out of your thoughts like cold water poured down the back of your neck.

“sorry,” came a voice, low and smooth, so casual it almost didn’t register.

you turned, expecting a rushed bow from a staff member or maybe one of the rookie groups shuffling into their next camera queue. instead, your gaze landed on her.

not framed by a screen. not softened by filters or distant from across a press conference room. she was right there, close enough that you could make out every detail. her presence hit you before your brain even had time to register it properly.  

karina. there was something absurd about seeing her in person. she wasn’t supposed to look like that up close. flawless skin, lashes casting shadows on her cheeks, that slight smirk playing on her lips like she knew exactly what kind of effect she had. you’d seen her before, who hadn’t? her pretty face was almost everywhere you looked. but this was different.

her outfit clung to her like it was built around her frame. the black crop top, bold with white lettering, sat sharp above her waist. her camouflage jacket hung from her shoulders in a way that looked effortless but deliberate, like it was meant to fall just so. she wore a belt low on her hips, her entire look edged in something that felt like danger wrapped in gloss. gold hoops caught the light as she turned slightly, and the chain around her neck only made the entire picture feel more untouchable. her makeup was heavy but immaculate. smoky eyes that gave her an almost feline sharpness, lips painted in a soft gradient that contrasted the fierceness of everything else. her hair was loose and wild in the best way, falling in soft waves that framed her face with a kind of studied mess. and her face—god, her face. she looked like a portrait. so symmetrical it almost hurt to look at her for too long. so composed it made you forget how to stand.

her eyes flicked toward you, cool and unreadable, and in that moment it felt like the world around you fell silent. the chaos of backstage, the pounding of your own pulse, even the call in your earpiece faded into nothing. 

you didn’t mean to stare, but the moment stretched longer than it should have. your gaze locked onto her as if your body had forgotten how to look away.

“it’s– karina– i’m– you’re—” you stuttered, the words tangling before they even left your mouth, your brain scrambling to catch up with what was happening.

you weren’t the type to get rattled. years in the industry had taught you how to keep your expression measured, how to stay centered even under the weight of bright lights and louder voices. you’d stood beside artists who had ruled charts before you’d even auditioned, and still managed to hold your ground. but there was something different about this– about her. she didn’t feel like just another idol.

karina tilted her head, just slightly, like she was watching a familiar reaction play out for the hundredth time. the look on her face wasn’t smug, but it was clear she knew exactly what effect her presence had.

she took a small step back, almost unnoticeable, and let the light from the stage hallway catch the side of her face. it brought out the shimmer along her temple, the warm gleam of her earrings, the perfect stillness of someone who didn’t need to say much to own the space around her. her smile curved, a subtle upward tilt that said she wasn’t surprised by your reaction in the slightest.

“i know who you are, too,” she said, voice low but steady, with none of the awkwardness you were currently drowning in. “you’re the one coming back from hiatus, right?”

you blinked, caught between confusion and disbelief. “wha–?”

“you’re hard to forget,” she said, her tone steady, neither flirtatious nor performative. there was no pause for effect, no expectation in her eyes. it was just something she believed, something she thought you should know. “it’s good to see you again.”

she didn’t linger, didn’t wait to see how you’d react. her voice had already landed, leaving you to stand in the echo of it.

her manager approached from the side, moving with the kind of quiet urgency that only came from years of shepherding someone through back hallways and call times. they said something under their breath, too low to make out, and karina nodded in response, already shifting forward. the moment ended as easily as it had begun, her silhouette gliding back into the tide of backstage traffic, the space where she’d stood still warm in your memory.

you hadn’t even noticed you’d stopped breathing until your lungs drew in sharp, like surfacing after too long underwater.

“hey,” chaewon said softly, reappearing at your side, her hand wrapping around your wrist with a gentleness that steadied you. “you good?”

you nodded, slower this time, like your body had finally caught up to itself.

“yeah,” you swallowed. “i’m good.”

the voice in your in-ear sounded again, a warning you were running out of time. chaewon practically dragged you up the stairs leading to the main stage. the bass from the opening bars was already humming through the soles of your boots, the kind of low thrum you felt more than heard.

you took a breath and stepped forward, coat shifting around your frame as you moved into position. but even as the adrenaline surged, even as you slipped back into the choreography that had been burned into your bones, one thing refused to quiet.

the place where her shoulder brushed yours still tingled beneath your coat, like her presence had branded itself into your skin.

no matter how sharp your lines were on stage, no matter how many cameras found your face, the imprint of her gaze clung to the back of your mind like it had nowhere else to be.

__

the practice room was quiet except for the low hum of the heater in the corner, a steady, almost soothing sound against the silence. you sat cross-legged on the floor, your hands resting loosely on your knees, absentmindedly stretching your fingers and wrists while your mind drifted somewhere else entirely. two full days had passed since the performance, but karina’s presence refused to fade. it kept replaying in your mind, like a song stuck on repeat, subtle but impossible to ignore.

her face slipped into your thoughts at odd moments. when you were tying your shoes, when you caught your reflection in the mirror, even during quiet moments when nothing was demanding your attention. it wasn’t just the fact that she was famous, or how every detail of her appearance was sharp and flawless under those unforgiving stage lights. it was something deeper than that. you could still hear the tone of her voice, calm and steady, without any hint of performance or pretense. the way she spoke to you was simple and straightforward, but it carried a weight that suggested she meant every word. her certainty had caught you off guard, and you couldn’t stop replaying it in your mind. it was strange how something so small could linger like this, how the memory of her had settled quietly inside you, pulling at your thoughts in a way you hadn’t expected.

you found yourself replaying the moment she brushed past you backstage, how her shoulder had lightly touched yours for just a second, but it left a strange warmth that lingered longer than it should have. even now, you could almost feel it, like a quiet spark beneath your skin.

chaewon settled against the mirror, her back resting lightly on the cool glass as she glanced your way from the corner of her eye. there was a quiet patience in her gaze, like she was giving you space but still keeping track of you. across the room, yunjin was half sprawled on the floor like she’d been poured there. she looped a hair tie around her fingers with the slow boredom of someone who was pretending she wasn’t waiting for a cue to speak. the silence hung for another beat before she cracked it open.

"so," yunjin said, twirling the elastic. "are we just gonna sit here breathing at each other like a lofi-girl youtube live stream?"

"don’t encourage her," chaewon replied under her breath, a habitual comment whenever the younger girl would stir the pot. 

"i’m just saying," yunjin went on, ignoring the warning like she always did, "if i wanted to watch two people avoid talking, i’d go back to my last situationship."

you didn’t say anything. you weren’t even sure what mood you were in. just the dull ache of overstimulation and not knowing what to do with yourself. practice had ended, no one was filming, and you were just left with too much of your own brain.

“you’ve been kind of quiet lately,” chaewon said softly, ignoring yunjin’s comments with a subtle eye roll as she turned her full attention your way, curiosity embedded in her soft gaze. “everything okay?”

you forced a small smile, trying to sound casual. “yeah, just tired i guess. being back on stage, it’s a lot.”

yunjin nodded. “we get it. it’s a lot for all of us sometimes.”

chaewon gave you a look that said she wasn’t convinced. “you’re not telling us everything.”

you hesitated, the weight of keeping your thoughts to yourself pressing down. “it’s nothing. just nerves. i’m still getting used to stuff again.”

chaewon’s eyes narrowed just slightly, but she didn’t press. instead, she leaned her head back against the mirror, watching you like she was waiting for the right moment to push a little further. yunjin stayed quiet for once, her usual teasing energy simmering down as the room settled into a softer, quieter kind of tension. it wasn’t uncomfortable, but it felt fragile.

you shifted your weight, letting your fingers fidget against the fabric of your sweatpants. the truth sat heavy in your chest, but you weren’t sure how to shape it into words that didn’t sound ridiculous. how could you explain that it wasn’t the comeback, or the pressure, or even the exhaustion that had you tangled up like this. it was one moment, one person, one look that kept resurfacing no matter how many times you tried to push it aside.

“you know,” yunjin finally said, her voice lighter now, as if trying to ease the edge of the silence, “it’s okay to admit when something’s got you in your head. we’ve all been there.”

"or someone," chaewon added softly, like she was testing the waters, her eyes still fixed on you, steady and patient.

your stomach twisted, the words clawing at your throat. you stared down at your hands, thumbs pressing into each other in a nervous rhythm. the name hovered at the edge of your tongue, ready to tumble out before you could stop it. you hated how easily she occupied your mind, how quickly her name wanted to surface.

only, before you could say anything, the sharp click of the practice room door opening cut through the moment. you all turned as your manager stepped inside, his head poking through the doorway, eyes scanning the room before landing squarely on you.

"y/n. company meeting."

"now?" your voice came out confused, your brows pulling together. no one had mentioned any meeting to you.

"yes. let’s get moving," he said with a quick nod, already stepping back into the hallway, expecting you to follow.

you rose to your feet automatically, your body moving before your brain had the chance to catch up. behind you, you could feel chaewon and yunjin exchanging glances, their confused stares following you as you trailed after your manager and disappeared down the corridor.

every time you opened your mouth to ask your manager what the meeting was for, something held you back. maybe it was the way he walked ahead without looking back, or the tension in his shoulders that made you think twice. the words sat heavy on your tongue, but never quite made it out. you told yourself you’d ask at the elevator, then in the hallway, then right before the door. but each time the moment slipped past.

by the time you finally worked up the courage to speak, you were already standing outside the meeting room. the door loomed in front of you, quiet and familiar. you had been in that room more times than you could count, but something about it felt different now. the lights inside were already on, shadows shifting through the frosted glass, and your heart began to thud with a dull, uneasy rhythm. inside were the other managers, already seated and waiting. at the forefront of them was a familiar face, sumin. his eyes met yours the moment you stepped through the door, a small smile tugging at his lips.

his face was weathered in a way that spoke of long nights and too many years in the industry. though still young by most standards, he was clearly older than your own manager, who barely looked past his twenties. sumin had to be in his mid-thirties, if not a little older. there was something steady about him, something that made the room feel more serious the moment he looked your way.

he was already seated when you walked in, scrolling through something on his tablet, a half drunk coffee sweating on the table beside him. you barely had time to sit before he spoke.

“we’ve been reached out to,” he said, tapping once on the screen without looking up. “sm wants you to participate in a special stage.”

your brows lifted slightly, but you didn’t say anything right away. special stages came up all the time, especially with award season approaching. sometimes it was a group number, sometimes backup for a bigger act. but rarely did the spotlight land on you, and definitely not like this.

you settled in slowly, your voice cautious. “okay... what kind of stage?”

he tapped the screen once more before finally lifting his gaze to meet yours. his expression was calm, but there was something unreadable in his eyes, something that made your stomach tighten just a little.

“they want a duet with karina from aespa.”

you blinked. the name settles over you like a quiet shift in atmosphere, not loud or dramatic, but enough to stop your thoughts in their tracks for just a moment. karina. the same girl who had been circling your mind without pause for the past two days, refusing to leave no matter how many times you tried to shake her off. you could still see her face clearly in your memory, almost annoyingly so. delicate features sharpened by confidence, eyes that held your gaze a little too long, and lips that moved with a softness that made everything she said feel like it was meant only for you.

“me and karina?” you asked, trying to keep your tone even. “just us?”

he nodded once. “just the two of you. high profile. one performance only.”

you sat back in your chair, the weight of it starting to settle. it wasn’t just any special stage. it was the kind people talked about before and after. clips that trended. gifs that never stopped circulating. and now, for some reason, they wanted you in it. 

“the team said you match well, in contrast and intensity. they want a dance stage, so there won’t be any singing. something dark and gritty.” he paused, then added, “they asked for you, specifically.”

you stared at the floor for a second. your reflection blinked back at you from the mirror wall. tired, slightly hollowed out from the week’s rehearsals. not someone who seemed particularly suited for a ‘concept-heavy duet.’

but still, you said “okay.” 

he didn’t look surprised. just gave a short nod and went back to his tablet.

you weren’t sure what you’d just agreed to. not really. but her name echoed in the back of your mind like a half-formed thought you couldn’t shake.

__

current day

“it started then? y/n, it’s been months.” chaewon’s voice was soft but edged with disbelief, like she was trying to process the weight of what you were finally admitting.

you exhaled, your fingers curling into the fabric of your sleeves. “yeah. time flew by, i guess.”

she shook her head slowly, her eyes never leaving yours. “when did everything get complicated?”

you paused, searching for the words, feeling your chest tighten with the memory. “after a few practices together. i don’t know exactly when. it wasn’t one moment. things just... shifted.”

chaewon arched a brow, her arms folding across her chest as she leaned in a little closer. “things don’t just shift without a reason. run me through it. from the beginning.”

you nodded, your throat dry as the scenes unfolded in your mind. “it was awkward at first. not in a bad way, just... careful. we were both professional. polite. she was warm, but reserved, like she was holding back a version of herself until she figured me out. and i was trying not to read into anything.”

chaewon’s gaze softened, but she stayed silent, letting you keep going.

“the first few rehearsals were strictly business. we went through the choreography, fixed timing, adjusted spacing. every move was so precise, so close. i kept thinking about how close we had to get for some of those lifts, how her hands felt steady on my waist, how her breath would catch for just a second after a hard set.”

you swallowed, the words catching a little as you spoke them out loud. “and then little things started happening. small stuff. she'd linger after practice to chat. offer to go over a part one more time even when we didn’t need to. she’d compliment me, not in a forced way, but like she genuinely meant it. and every time, it got a little harder to stay neutral.”

chaewon hummed under her breath, her expression unreadable now.

“sometimes i’d catch her looking at me when we weren’t even dancing. like she was studying me. like she was waiting for me to say something first. and i kept pretending not to notice because i didn’t want to ruin whatever... whatever was building.”

you trailed off for a moment, the weight of it thick in the air.

“and eventually it wasn’t just practice anymore. we started texting. we’d stay late to talk. sometimes she’d show up early just to see me before anyone else got there. i tried to convince myself it was just friendship, but every time she smiled at me like that, i felt it. like my chest would tighten and i’d forget how to breathe for a second.”

chaewon let out a quiet sigh. “so you let yourself fall.”

you looked at her, the vulnerability raw in your voice. “i didn’t even realize i was falling until it was too late.”

__

past

anticipation buzzed through hybe the moment word spread that you would be performing with karina. the excitement was immediate. you, arguably the strongest dancer in le sserafim, maybe even one of the most skilled female dancers in the entire company, set to share the stage with the industry’s untouchable ace. karina wasn’t just popular. she was the kind of idol other idols admired, the one who turned heads without trying, who carried a presence that seemed almost unfair. her reputation spoke for itself. an idol’s idol.

“that’s so exciting!” eunchae practically bounced up and down when you got back to the dorm after sumin informed you of the stage. she clasped her hands together and grinned widely.

and it was exciting. even through the nerves crackling under your skin like static, you couldn’t deny the rush of it. the thought of seeing karina’s pretty face again, of spending real time together, stirred something light and breathless in your chest. maybe you’d become friends. maybe you’d exchange numbers, share advice, trade stories only idols understood. maybe, if you were lucky, this wouldn’t be the last time you worked together.

if only you’d known at the time that you’d be getting more than you bargained for. 

the practice room smelled faintly of pine cleaner and sweat, the kind of lived-in scent that clung to wood floors and mirrored walls no matter how many times they scrubbed it down. it was your first time ever stepping foot into the sm building. the room was practically filled to the brim already with choreographers as you pushed the door open slowly, half expecting to be alone.

karina was already there, too. 

she stood near the center, arms crossed loosely over her chest as she watched her own reflection, quietly shifting her weight from one foot to the other. her cropped hoodie clung just above the waistband of her track pants, rising slightly every time she moved. her hair was down, the strands falling past her shoulders in a way that looked entirely accidental but probably wasn’t. a familiar choreographer stood on her side, regailing information off a clipboard held firmly in her hands. but through it all, the noise and chatter, karina’s eyes glanced up at you through the mirror when you entered. 

maybe you imagined it in your daze, starstruck by her sharp eyes and pretty lips, but you could’ve sworn her eyes lit up when they landed on you. it felt almost cinematic. like a slow motion scene in real time where your breath knocked clean from your lungs. only, before you could sit in the moment a second longer, the choreographer followed karina’s gaze and turned to face you. you recognised her. 

“oh, y/n!” lee yejin bowed ninety degrees, clipboard tugging under her armpit. 

you bowed back, relief coursing through you. truth be told, in a space as unfamiliar as this sm building, you were happy to see a familiar face. yejin was one of the choreographers to work with you on ‘hot’, a kind and creative woman you got along with through the entire comeback process. something told you this was your managers doing. 

the corners of your lips quirked up into a small smile. “yejin.”

“it’s so good to see you again! i’m so excited to work with you both. so, we have a vision here, and i think it’s going to be absolutely groundbreaking. if there’s anything you-“ 

yejin’s voice fell on deaf ears. you nodded along with her words, blips of them registering when you needed to give half measured ‘yes’ or ‘no’s’. but your attention kept drifting off to the girl behind her. 

you watch her stretch in silence. her movements were clean, intentional, grounded. there was a stillness to her that made you feel like any sudden motion might shatter something delicate. if only you noticed that she was sparing you glances, too. that you were both stealing glances when you thought the other wasn’t looking. 

yejin clapped her hands once, snapping your attention back. “okay! before we get started, let’s officially introduce you two.”

you blinked, suddenly aware of how fast your pulse was thudding in your ears. as if you didn’t already know who was standing in front of you.

“y/n, this is karina. karina, this is y/n,” yejin said with a bright smile, like the formality wasn’t a little ridiculous.

karina turned fully to face you now, her expression softening into something warmer. “it’s really nice to meet you properly,” she said, voice even, steady, but with a gentle edge of sincerity that landed heavier than it should have.

you dipped into a short bow, your hands clasped politely in front of you. “nice to meet you, too. i’ve… heard a lot about you.”

“same,” she replied, and there was the faintest hint of something playful behind her eyes. “looking forward to working together.”

her gaze lingered a second longer than it needed to, holding you there. you tried not to read into it, but your skin prickled anyway.

“alright!” yejin said, cutting the tension before it could swell. “let’s walk through the choreography. we’ve got a rough draft set, but i want to see how you both move together before we finalize spacing and transitions.”

the word together hung in your head as you followed yejin to the center of the room. karina moved alongside you, close but not too close, and for a brief second, your shoulders nearly brushed.

you couldn’t help but wonder if she noticed the space narrowing, too.

they pressed play. take me to mars poured into the room, the bass low and deliberate, crawling across the floor like something alive. your bodies moved in sync, mirrored but not matching, each beat pulling you closer. the choreography was sharp but sensual, built on tension. every step narrowed the space between you, like an invisible thread pulling tighter with each count.

yejin and the other choreographers moved fluidly around you, watching with practiced eyes. you could feel their gazes tracking your frames, adjusting angles in real time, but none of it seemed to reach you fully. your focus stayed locked on the girl across from you.

karina danced with a kind of contained energy, every movement precise but loose, like she was barely holding back a stronger current beneath the surface. her gaze flicked up every few counts, meeting yours in quick flashes before dropping back into the steps. it made your stomach flip every time. the first contact came fast. on the turn of the next eight count, your arms swept into an intertwined movement, palms grazing as your bodies shifted past each other. the warmth of her skin against yours was brief, but enough to spike your pulse. her fingertips brushed yours like she was reading you, testing the weight of the space between you.

your breath hitched, but you didn’t miss a beat. if she felt it too, she didn’t show it. her face stayed composed, but her eyes flicked to yours again, just for a second. a glance that didn’t need words.

when the moment came, the one where your hand hovered near her waist, where your face came just shy of touching, you felt it. the falter. it was barely anything. a pause no longer than a breath, but enough to notice. her fingers hesitated before landing on your collarbone, a little too soft, a little too late.

after a few run-throughs, yejin clapped once. “that’s good for today. we’ll refine the arm transitions next time. don’t overthink it. the more you do it, the more natural it’ll feel.” they scribbled something onto the clipboard, glanced between the two of you, and added, “great work, both of you.”

then the choreographers, lead by yejin left, pulling the studio door shut behind them with a soft click.

the silence that followed was almost jarring. no music. no directions. just the sound of your own breathing, fast and uneven, as the adrenaline started to fade. karina was still standing at center, arms back at her sides now, her expression unreadable.

you let the quiet stretch a little longer, both of you standing there in the center of the studio, caught in something that didn’t quite have a name yet. after a moment you took a slow step toward her, pulling the words from the space between you like they’d been hanging there the whole time.

“so,” you finally say, your voice soft but steady, “what do you think about all this? the choreography, the concept... everything?”

karina lets out a slow breath, her eyes flicking down briefly before returning to you. “it’s different,” she admits. “i wasn’t sure at first. it feels raw, kind of vulnerable. but i like that. it’s honest.”

“did i make you uncomfortable?”

her eyes widened slightly, like she hadn’t expected the question to be so direct. she opened her mouth, then closed it again. finally, she let out a breath, not quite a sigh.

“no,” she said, shaking her head. “not really.”

you tilted yours, not buying it. “but something was off. i could feel it.”

she looked down for a second, her fingers brushing against the hem of her hoodie. “it’s just…” she paused, her voice quiet. “i didn’t expect to be doing a choreo like this with a girl.”

you nodded slowly, letting the honesty settle between you. “yeah. me neither.”

karina glanced up again, meeting your gaze for the first time since the song ended. her voice stayed soft. “i thought it would feel different.”

“and did it?” you asked.

she hesitated. “yeah. but not in a bad way. just… surprising.”

karina shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her arms folding loosely across her chest. she looked over at you, her expression curious but careful, as if she was testing the waters, trying to figure out how much to say and how much to hold back.

you swallow, feeling the weight of her gaze as it lingers on you, steady and unreadable. the air between you shifts, growing dense with something unspoken, something just beneath the surface. it hums quietly, tension curling around the edges of the moment like smoke. after a pause that stretches longer than it should, karina finally speaks, her voice low, almost hesitant.

"do you want to run through it again? just us this time."

you nod, maybe too quickly, grateful for the excuse to move, to shake off the stillness pressing against your skin. the room suddenly feels different. quieter. more private. the kind of quiet that makes your heartbeat sound too loud in your own ears. without the others, without the eyes and voices and pressure, the space closes in. not suffocating, but intimate. familiar in a way that makes you uneasy and excited at once.

karina steps to the side and taps the speaker. the low, deliberate pulse of the bass rolls out across the floor like a slow wave. you both move into position, muscle memory taking over. the choreography returns easily, but now it carries a different weight. a sharper edge. it’s not just movement anymore. it’s something else.

there’s no one to count the beats. no one to correct your lines. just your body and hers, responding to rhythm and instinct. to each other. every movement is charged. every glance feels like a question. every brush of her fingers sends heat crawling beneath your skin. the air vibrates with it. something electric, something fragile.

your eyes lock again, mid turn, and you realize there’s a conversation unfolding between you with no need for words. it lives in every shift, every breath, every mirrored motion. your bodies speak in silences, in touches that last just a second too long, in the way she watches you like she’s waiting for something. at first, it was just about the routine. the shape of the steps. the mechanics. but now, something else threads through it. you move when she moves, catch her rhythm without needing to think. you dip when she dips. you spin when she spins. her fingers graze your waist, trail along your jaw, and even though she doesn’t say a word, it’s all there. unspoken but loud.

"you learn fast," she murmurs, her gaze flicking toward the mirror, not quite meeting yours.

"so do you," you reply, but your voice is softer now. like you’re both trying not to break whatever this is. whatever it might become.

the moment passed, but something in it stayed with you, clinging to your skin like static. it wasn’t loud or obvious, but it pulsed quietly beneath the surface, impossible to ignore. later that night, as your manager drove you back to the dorm, the city lights blurring past the window, your thoughts refused to settle. they circled around one thing. or rather, one person. karina.

you kept replaying it all in your head. the way her body moved, precise and fluid, like every beat was something she was born to feel. the way she looked at you during that final run, eyes locked, unreadable and intense. it had made your chest tighten, your breath catch, like your body had picked up on something your mind couldn’t yet name.

you told yourself it was the routine. the high of dancing well. the natural chemistry that comes with hours of practice. but even as you stared out the window, pretending to listen to whatever song your manager had playing, you knew that explanation wasn’t enough. it wasn’t just the steps. it wasn’t just muscle memory or partnership.

something about her had shifted something in you. and now, no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t shift it back.

before you knew it, several sessions had come and gone. each one bled into the next until time stopped feeling separate from movement. you grew attuned to her, how her body flowed with the rhythm, how she anticipated changes in tempo before they even landed. instinctively, you adjusted your own movements to match, to compliment her lines with your own. and she did the same. without words, you learned each other’s timing, each other’s weight and pace, until it all clicked into something seamless. but it wasn’t just your bodies falling into sync. somewhere in between the stretches, the water breaks, and the long hours under dim studio lights, you started learning the smaller things too. how she liked her coffee, the songs she played when no one else was around, the way her laugh softened when she was tired. she asked questions that lingered in your mind long after practice ended, listened closely when you answered.

you learned that she hated the cold but always carried a hoodie in her bag, just in case. that she cracked her knuckles when she was thinking too hard, and that she danced even when there was no music playing. she told you about the time she sprained her ankle during a middle school performance and still finished the routine with tears in her eyes and a smile plastered on her face. in return, you told her things you didn’t usually say out loud. how you got stage fright right before every show, how you used to practice in your bedroom with the door locked and the lights off.

you fell into rhythm, not just with the music but with her. the choreography smoothed out, every transition clean, every beat hit with intention. there were still details to polish, still corrections and notes, but you could feel it coming together. the routine lived in your limbs now, familiar and natural, like muscle memory laced with electricity. not quite stage-ready, but close. so close you could taste it.

today was the fifth session. the bass echoed low through the studio floor, reverberating up your spine as the track looped for the third time. you exhaled, rolling your shoulders back as you caught your breath. sweat clung to your skin, strands of hair sticking to your neck. you were tired. just yesterday you were singing and dancing across the stage at mcountdown performing ‘hot’, running between shoots and interviews, and just narrowly making it on time for a company dinner. today, you wanted nothing more than to collapse on the cold floor.  

across from you, karina stood with her hands on her hips, chest rising and falling in sync with the beat still playing from the speakers. her expression was unreadable.

“again?” you asked, grabbing your water bottle off the ledge beneath the mirror.

“mm,” she nodded, wiping the side of her neck with a towel. “you were a little early on that last transition.”

you raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile tugging at your lips. “i think that was you.”

karina’s mouth twitched, something dangerously close to a smile ghosting over her lips. but she didn’t argue. instead, she walked toward the speaker to restart the track, her silhouette backlit by the soft overhead light. the air in the studio was warm and thick with the scent of sweat, fabric softener, and whatever expensive perfume she always wore that clung to the inside of your lungs.

you moved back into position, eyes meeting hers in the mirror.

“from the chorus?” she asked.

“yeah.”

the music swelled, and you both dropped into motion. each step, each beat, choreographed to bring you closer. your movements mirrored one another, bodies shifting with practiced ease. but the closer you got, the harder it was to ignore the electricity simmering just beneath the surface. it had been building all week. maybe longer. the brush of her arm when she passed too close. the way her gaze lingered too long when you weren’t looking. the deliberate softness in her voice when she said your name.

karina stepped into you for the partner moment, hands on your hips, her body sliding just barely against yours. her touch was firm, professional. but her breath hitched. just for a second, and her hands stayed there too long. you held her gaze in the mirror.

“your count’s off,” she said, but her voice was lower now, less sure.

“no, it’s not.”

only silence followed when the music ended, fading into static and stillness. you didn’t move and neither did she. your reflection looked back at you.  two figures standing too close, eyes locked, tension drawn taut between you like a wire about to snap.

karina stepped back a half inch, but it was pointless. the charge in the air didn’t go anywhere.

“why do you keep looking at me like that?” you asked, voice calmly measured.

she blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. her pretty features twisted up into a small confused frown. “like what?”

“like you’re trying not to.”

her expression cracked, just slightly. she sighed, shaking her head dismissively. “don’t do that.”

“do what?”

karina didn’t answer. her eyes were on your mouth now, flicking back and forth between your collarbone and eyes like she was searching for an out to the conversation. lowe and behold, she found one. 

“we should go again,” she said finally, retreating behind something safe and professional as she hit play on the record for the nth time that session.

only when the music started, she didn’t move right away. she stepped behind you instead. slowly, deliberately. her hands found your waist like muscle memory. 

“fix your posture,” she said, but her voice was hoarse now.

your stomach tightened. 

she stood close, so close you could feel the rise and fall of her breath brushing softly against your neck, just beneath your ear. the air between you was thin, heavy. her chest, warm and steady, pressed lightly into your back, and your body tensed without meaning to. the contrast was jarring. her hands were cold, fingertips like little jolts of static as they slid down your sides, slow and deliberate.

goosebumps bloomed in her wake, a shiver chasing the trail she left behind. she didn’t rush. her fingers paused at your waist, then tightened, just enough for you to feel her there, claiming that space. her breath hitched. maybe yours did too.

the room felt suddenly smaller, the silence stretched and loaded with everything neither of you was saying. the weight of her touch, the heat of her body, the sharp sting of her cold hands. it all sank into your skin like a question waiting to be answered.

you watched her through the mirror, the way she studied you with that same quiet intensity she always wore. eyes dark, lips drawn into a firm line, her expression unreadable. she didn’t blink much. just let her gaze roam over you, slow and deliberate, like she was cataloguing every inch. 

you weren’t naive. you knew she didn’t need to touch you like this. she didn’t need to correct your stance, there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. she especially didn’t need to do it with both hands. not this slowly. she knew it, too. that knowledge hung between you like a thread, neither of you acknowledging it but both of you feeling the weight of it in every careful motion, every inch of space that no longer existed.

she touched you carefully, as if the wrong move would have you crumbling in her grip. her touch was cautious, curious. 

karina wasn’t sure what it was about you that made her so confused. every carefully crafted belief she had was tested the very minute you stumbled into her life. every religious idea embedded into her mind, every self deprecative whisper that told her she was wrong for finding beauty in another woman. with your waist between her hands, your body reacting, your stomach clenching taut and your head tilting slightly so her breath hit your neck— she decided then and there that you were like a drug. 

she tried to tell herself to step away, she really did. she tried to push her attraction to you into the deepest depths of her mind, forced herself to think about the allure she found in tall men like jaewook with coy smiles and handsome features. each and every time, she failed. the intoxication smell of your perfume permeated her senses. the intoxicating way your breath hitched when her right hand drifted up from your hip, nails lightly grazing your back beneath your shirt, lived in her mind like a memory she would never be able to shake. everything about you, she craved. no amount of gospel would ever equal the way she knew she’d commit to you like you were holy. 

whatever guilt she felt in that fleeting moment immediately evaporated when her body reacted on instinct. karina gently turned you around so you were facing her, closed in between her arms. the second you were face to face, she suddenly pushed you against the mirror she ogled you down through only seconds before. a quiet gasp slipped past your lips when your back met the cold surface, but it was her eyes that undid you. 

“this is wrong,” karina whispered, her voice low and wrecked, almost like she was pleading with herself more than with you. her hands still rested at your waist, but there was a tremble in them now, like she was on the edge of something she wasn’t sure she should fall into.

your eyes searched hers, the reflection of the two of you in the mirror blurring behind her. you didn’t look away. “does it feel wrong?” you asked, barely above a breath. your tone wasn’t challenging. it  was gentle, honest, like you were offering her a lifeline instead of an excuse.

she blinked, slow, as if the question hit something deep in her. her jaw clenched, the war playing out across her face in full view. “i don’t know what i’m doing,” she admitted, and it cracked something open in you.

“then stop thinking,” you said, voice soft but certain, and that was all it took.

karina surged forward, her mouth crashing into yours with a desperation that had been simmering beneath the surface for far too long. it wasn’t tentative. it wasn’t careful. her kiss was messy, searing, the kind that stole the breath from your lungs and left no room for second thoughts. her hands slid up your sides, fingers curling under the hem of your shirt, clutching like she needed to ground herself in your skin.

you kissed her back just as hungrily, your hands finding her jaw, her hair, anything you could hold on to. there was heat everywhere. between you, around you, pulsing through every inch of your bodies as they pressed together. your back arched slightly against the mirror, the cold glass a sharp contrast to the fever in your blood.

karina groaned softly into your mouth, her fingers digging in just a little deeper, her lips parting like she wanted to drink you in, like she didn’t know how to stop now that she’d started.

whatever guilt she thought she’d feel was drowned beneath the tide of want, swept away by the way you kissed her like you’d been waiting for this moment just as long. her mouth trailed from your lips to your jaw, then your neck, pressing open mouthed kisses that left your skin burning.

“tell me to stop,” she whispered against your throat, breath hot and shaky.

you didn’t. you tilted your head back and pulled her closer. her fingers curled against your waist, possessive, desperate, like she thought you might disappear.

“you have no idea what you do to me,” she breathed, the words so quiet you barely caught them, but the weight of them slammed into you like a wave.

her voice was raw, frayed at the edges, like the feeling had clawed its way out of her chest. she pulled back just enough to look at you, her eyes dark and blown wide with something far past want. it was too much, too fast, and not nearly enough.

“i think about you all the time,” she continued, barely pausing for air. “when i shouldn’t. when i’m alone. when i’m with other people. and i hate it. i hate that i want you like this.”

you stared at her, stunned by the intensity pouring out of her like it couldn’t be stopped, like she’d cracked open and spilled everything she was too scared to say until now.

“but i do,” she whispered. “god, i do. and right now, i don’t think i can pretend i don’t.”

she trailed kisses down your throat again, each one slower than the last, lips parting just enough to taste. her hands traveled with her mouth. up your sides, around your ribs. not quite touching, but close enough to make your breath catch.

“you drive me crazy,” she murmured, lips barely grazing your collarbone. “i’ve tried so hard not to want this.”

“then don’t try,” you whispered back, voice trembling.

that was all the encouragement she needed. she tugged your shirt over your head in one fluid motion, eyes devouring you like she couldn’t believe you were real. her touch followed, fingertips dragging down your torso, lingering in reverent, slow passes like she wasn’t in a hurry. like she wanted this to last.

you reached for her, fingers sliding beneath her hoodie, needing to feel her just as bare, just as close. her skin was warm, soft under your touch, muscles tense as if holding back. she helped you pull her top off, and suddenly you were chest to chest, skin to skin, heat rolling off her in waves.

her mouth was back on yours in an instant, hands framing your face now, like you were something delicate, something sacred. she kissed you like prayer, like apology, like surrender.

nothing had ever felt more like heaven than it did coming apart in karina’s arms. 

__

current day

at some point, the others came home. you heard them before you saw them. shoes kicked off by the door, the rustle of jackets, the low hum of familiar voices echoing down the hall. normally, you would have greeted them, maybe even joined in on the quiet chaos of winding down after a long day. but tonight, you stayed curled on the couch, chaewon’s arm around your shoulders, your body still trembling in the aftermath of everything that had come undone.

they paused in the entryway. you could feel the weight of their curiosity before they even stepped into the room. yunjin was the first to cross the threshold, all teasing grin and raised brows. until she saw your face. the moment she caught sight of your tear-streaked cheeks and red eyes, the expression melted off her like ice in warm water. all that was left was quiet concern. her mouth opened, like she was about to ask something, but sakura shot her a warning look sharp enough to cut glass.

whatever question was on yunjin’s tongue died instantly.

the rest of the girls lingered for only a moment. kazuha gave you a gentle nod, eunchae hovered like she wanted to come closer but didn’t know if she should, and then, one by one, they dispersed down the hallway without a word. no one asked. no one pried. not yet.

the silence they left behind felt heavier than the noise.

chaewon didn’t speak right away. her arm was still around you, her hand resting lightly on your shoulder, grounding you. the silence stretched for a few moments more, just long enough to make you wonder if she was waiting for you to say something first. but then, quietly, she broke it.

“do they know?” her voice was soft, but steady.

you shook your head. “no. just you.”

chaewon nodded slowly, her fingers brushing a strand of hair from your face with a kind of gentle care that made your throat tighten.

“do you… want them to?” she asked.

you hesitated, staring at the space where the others had just been. your voice came out small. “i don’t know.”

chaewon’s brows pulled together. not judgmental, just thoughtful. “you don’t have to tell them. not if you’re not ready. but you can’t keep letting this eat you alive.”

“i thought i could handle it,” you whispered, blinking hard. “i thought keeping it quiet was the right thing.”

“maybe it was. at first,” she said gently. “but things change.”

you nodded, eyes burning again. “i didn’t think it would get this far.”

chaewon leaned back a little so she could see you better, her expression quiet but fierce in its protectiveness. “y/n… are you in love with her?”

the question knocked the breath from your lungs. you didn’t answer right away. you couldn’t. but she saw the way your jaw clenched, the way your eyes dropped, the way silence folded in around you again.

chaewon let the silence settle again, but only for a breath. she looked at you closely, the kind of look that felt like it could see past your skin, straight into the mess you were trying to hide. her voice was quiet when she asked, but there was no mistaking the weight behind the question.

“when did things start to go south?”

your lips parted, but nothing came out at first. your fingers curled tightly into the hem of your sleeve, knuckles pale. you weren’t sure which moment to name. when the first lie slipped from your mouth? when she started pulling away? when you realized her idea of safety didn’t include you?

“i think…” you started, swallowing hard, “i think it was always heading this way. but i didn’t want to see it.”

chaewon’s gaze didn’t waver. “tell me.”

you took a deep breath.

__

past

you knew what you were getting into. you truly did. in moments of silence, your mind subconsciously drifts back and forth between all of the stolen moments and the late nights where you felt like you were the center of her world. but of course, you remember her warning. a warning laced in sweetness and compassion, but one that you should’ve known would keep her from ever truly being yours; wholly and completely.  

you swallow when you remember a particular time in one of the many hotel rooms of daegu. she’d just snuck in with her face mask pulled up over her mouth, but still you were rocked by her beauty. you don’t think you could ever truly get used to the absurdity of how gorgeous she was. 

the minute you let karina in and shut the door firm behind her, she practically raced to take you into her arms. discarding her face mask haphazardly, she pulled you in close and towards the bed. she wanted so badly to be close to you that it physically hurt her. she pushed her face into your neck as she held you tight, her breath warm against your neck, her nose cold from the trekk she’d made through the cold hotel elevators. but you didn’t mind. not when she held you like you were the one and only thing she needed. 

her fingers traced idle patterns over the fabric of your sleeve, but you could feel the tension underneath her soft touch. she had been quieter than usual all night, and even now, curled into you like she never wanted to move again, her mind felt far away.

“you okay?” you asked softly.

her hand stilled for a moment. “mm-hm.”

you waited. you knew her well enough to know that when she got quiet like this, it wasn’t nothing. she was trying to find the words, but the words scared her.

“you don’t have to pretend with me,” you whispered, brushing your hand gently through her hair.

another beat of silence. her breath hitched slightly. “it’s not you,” she said finally, her voice barely audible. “you know that, right? it’s never been you.”

“i know,” you whispered, but your chest tightened anyway.

she shifted, sitting up just enough to meet your gaze. her eyes were glassy, wide, full of something heavy she’d been carrying for too long. “it’s just… this isn’t like other places,” she said softly. “it’s korea. you know how it is here. you know what happens.”

you swallowed, nodding. “yeah.”

“it’s not just the fans,” she continued, her voice trembling slightly now, words starting to rush like she was afraid she might lose the courage to say them if she didn’t spill them all at once. “it’s the companies. the sponsors. the media. even my own family. it’s not just about me being happy. it’s about all the people who depend on me. all the people watching. waiting for me to slip. and if this ever got out—” she broke off, biting her lip. “we’ve seen what happens to people here. to idols who don’t fit what they’re supposed to be.”

you reached for her hand, holding it tightly. “i know. i’ve seen it too.”

“they ruin you.” her voice cracked. “the headlines. the rumors. the fake stories. the comments. people get blacklisted, abandoned by their own companies. brands drop them overnight. fans turn on them like they never loved them to begin with. even if it’s not true, even if it’s just speculation, it’s enough to destroy someone’s career. to destroy their life.”

her fingers tightened around yours. “sometimes i think about what they would say. about you. about me. what they would write. how fast it would all unravel.”

you stayed quiet, letting her speak, not wanting to interrupt the dam finally breaking.

“i’ve worked so hard for this,” she whispered. “i’ve built everything on being perfect. being who they want me to be. i know it’s stupid, but i’m scared. i’m scared of losing it all. of losing you, even. if it all fell apart, i don’t know how i would survive it.”

your heart ached. “you wouldn’t lose me,” you said softly. “not ever.”

you meant it. with every fiber of your being, you spoke your words and committed to them like gospel. you knew as well as she did that keeping your situation private was the best for your careers. still, when your mind then drifted between all of the instances it felt like more, the tug in your chest sweltered into a sharp ache. 

another hotel room in busan. the room was quiet, wrapped in the kind of stillness that only came late at night, when the world outside slowed down just enough for you to breathe. thin streaks of city lights slipped through the gaps in the heavy curtains, casting faint reflections on the walls. everything felt distant. the traffic below, the cameras, the eyes always watching. here, inside this small bubble, it was just you and her.

the door opened with a gentle click, barely louder than a breath. she slipped inside, her movements careful, deliberate, as if even the air might be listening. the moment her eyes met yours across the dimly lit room, her shoulders relaxed, her entire frame softening as though she had been waiting all day for this exact moment.

you sat on the bed, legs folded beneath you, watching her with a small, involuntary smile pulling at your lips. “hey,” you whispered.

“hi,” she breathed, her voice a quiet exhale as she crossed the room to you. her bag slid from her shoulder, forgotten on the floor as she climbed onto the bed beside you, immediately curling into your side like muscle memory. her head rested against your chest, one arm slung across your waist, her fingers lightly brushing your ribs. the weight of her pressed into you in a way that felt grounding, like you were anchoring her.

your hand found her hair, fingers slipping through the soft strands, tracing lazy paths over her scalp. you felt the tension leaving her body piece by piece with every stroke. she let out a long, quiet sigh, like she had been holding her breath all day and could finally let it go.

the two of you stayed like that for a while, wrapped in silence, not because there was nothing to say but because neither of you needed words to fill the space. outside these walls, everything was complicated. endless obligations, careful glances, coded answers. but here, where no one could see, it was easy. you could be soft with each other. you could be real.

“i missed you,” she whispered eventually, her voice barely more than a breath against your skin.

your chest ached, the words both sweet and heavy. “i missed you too.”

her fingers traced idle patterns on your side, drawing invisible shapes as her breath slowed. “sometimes i wish i could just stay here,” she said quietly. “never leave. never have to pretend again.”

you kissed the top of her head gently, feeling the familiar sting behind your ribs, the one that always came when you thought too hard about all the ways you had to stay invisible. “me too.”

her voice grew softer, more fragile. “it’s scary, you know. how badly i want this. how badly i want you.”

you held her closer, your hand smoothing down her back in long, soothing strokes. “i know,” you whispered. “i know.”

she exhaled again, and for a few precious seconds, it felt like the world outside didn’t exist. just her breath, warm against your collarbone. just your fingers in her hair. just the steady thrum of both your hearts, tangled up in something that felt impossibly tender, impossibly dangerous, and impossibly good.

you remembered the stolen moments at award shows and group stages, the ones where she would find you between the noise. 

the music still throbbed faintly through the walls, distant now, like a heartbeat fading into the background. backstage was a maze of shadows and hurried footsteps, voices calling out instructions as crew members darted back and forth. but for a brief moment, tucked away behind a heavy curtain, there was a pocket of quiet that belonged only to the two of you.

karina slipped through the gap, moving quickly, her eyes darting once over her shoulder before they landed on you. the moment they did, the tension in her shoulders softened, replaced by that familiar look that always made your stomach flutter. like you were gravity, and she was helpless against it.

“there you are,” she whispered, already closing the distance.

her hand reached for yours, fingers slipping between yours with practiced ease. the warmth of her palm sent a tiny spark up your arm. you smiled as she tugged you gently back into the narrow space behind one of the stage drapes where no one could see.

her skin still glowed under the remnants of stage lights, faint glitter clinging to her collarbone and neck, her lips still painted perfectly from earlier. you watched her for a moment, taking in every detail, the adrenaline still humming softly beneath her skin.

“you looked…” you started, but couldn’t find the words fast enough.

her lips curved into a knowing smile. “i know.” she leaned in, voice dropping slightly, playful. “but i want to hear you say it.”

you exhaled a quiet laugh, your free hand sliding up to rest lightly on her waist. “you looked incredible.”

she hummed softly, her body swaying closer to yours, her eyes sparkling under the dim lights. “it’s the outfit, isn’t it?” her voice was teasing, but her gaze dipped to your lips for the briefest second before returning to your eyes. “the way you were looking at me during the performance was very… distracting.”

“was i that obvious?” you whispered.

“completely.” her smile deepened, her fingers tightening around yours. “i could feel your eyes on me the whole time. i liked it.”

the air between you grew warmer, heavier, not uncomfortable but charged in a way that made your breath catch slightly. the press of her body was subtle but deliberate, her fingers brushing lightly over the inside of your wrist, tracing gentle circles like she couldn’t bear to stop touching you.

“you’re really playing with fire,” you murmured, voice low, the smallest edge of teasing creeping into your tone.

“maybe i like playing with fire,” she whispered back, her voice silk-soft but charged. her face was close now, close enough that you could see the faint shimmer on her lips, smell the faint trace of her perfume, feel the ghost of her breath against your mouth. “it’s only dangerous if someone catches us.”

“they’re everywhere,” you breathed, but neither of you made any move to pull apart.

“i know.” she smiled, biting her lip. “but you’re standing so close. you’re making it very hard to behave.”

your hand slid up her waist, fingers splaying gently across the small of her back, drawing her closer until there was barely a sliver of air between your bodies. her breathing quickened just slightly, her eyes never leaving yours, pupils dark and wide.

“then don’t,” you whispered.

for a moment, it felt like the entire world shrank to the space between your mouths. but just before your lips could meet, voices rose from the other side of the curtain, snapping you both back into the reality waiting just beyond this sliver of stolen time.

she laughed quietly, soft and breathless, forehead falling against yours. “one of these days, i’m going to get us into so much trouble.”

you smiled, savoring the warmth of her so close. “i’ll take my chances.”

she squeezed your hand one last time, reluctant but already starting to pull away, her smile still lingering like the echo of a kiss that almost happened. “later,” she promised softly.

and then she was gone again, slipping back into the noise and lights, leaving behind only the memory of her breath on your skin and the electric hum still sparking through your veins.

of course, your mind drifted to those moments. moments where she touched you like you were some kind of delicate scripture she so badly wanted to commit to memory. 

her room was quiet, wrapped in the soft glow of a single lamp that pushed back the darkness just enough. the light was warm and low, curling into the corners and leaving gentle shadows in its wake. shoes were scattered by the door, left where they had fallen. her makeup was gone, wiped away to reveal bare skin that caught the dim light and made her look almost unreal. she sat on the edge of the bed, her legs drawn up slightly, wrapped in loose sweatpants and a simple camisole. she looked tired. but she was beautiful in a way that made your chest tighten. beautiful in a way that felt too fragile to name. it made your breath hitch.

you closed the door behind you, the quiet click echoing like a secret between you. neither of you spoke.

she moved first. she stood slowly, her movements smooth but deliberate. she crossed the small space between you with a quiet kind of confidence, stopping just close enough that you could feel the heat of her skin. her eyes lifted to meet yours, wide and searching. there was something raw in them. something she had been holding back.

“does this mean something to you?” her voice was quiet. steady, but careful, like she was afraid of what the answer might be.

you looked at her. you felt the weight of her question settle heavy in your chest. “does it to you?”

her hands rested on your arms, then climbed to your face, then tangled in your hair as her body pressed against yours. the kiss deepened, pulled, turned rough. she backed you into the wall, her breath hot against your neck. you didn’t know how it turned into the bed, or when your shirt came off, only that when her fingers traced the skin above your waistband, you let her.

it was fast and breathless and intense, like everything unspoken between you poured out through touch.

you swallowed, a feeling of bile rising to the back of your throat. some part of you felt almost guilty. you knew the conditions. hell, you may as well have wrote half of them. still, somewhere along the way, the hotel rooms lost their meanings. the pit stops between shows made you feel like more of an afterthought. 

you just didn’t expect it to come to a collapse just three days before the special stage during a shared interview. 

the studio was too warm, the kind of warmth that made the skin feel tight and the breath shallow, like the air itself was trying to press you down. above, the lights buzzed softly, casting a false glow over everything, as though the moment could be softened by something as simple as studio lighting. between takes, the silence had stretched unnaturally long, not heavy enough to feel like tension to anyone else, but sharp enough that every second vibrated beneath your skin. you hadn’t seen her since that night. not in a way that mattered. not in a way that left you pretending you didn’t still carry her fingerprints on your body.

she entered just before filming began, her arrival quiet but impossible to miss. her hair had been cut, dark waves now framing her face perfectly, falling just below her shoulders in soft, deliberate layers. the light makeup made her features look delicate, almost impossibly so under the brightness of the cameras, and the dark blazer draped over her cropped top hugged her frame with an effortlessness that made your stomach twist. she looked beautiful. too beautiful. like nothing had ever happened, like the late nights and the trembling hands and the whispered confessions had been nothing more than some fever dream you had failed to wake from.

the host’s voice, bright and unrelenting, filled the air almost immediately, eager to direct the scene, to keep things light and marketable. they asked the usual questions, the rehearsed ones, the ones meant to make the viewers at home smile and feel as though they were seeing something candid and sweet. promotions were mentioned, schedules were discussed, jokes about long working hours and friendly banter exchanged. and through all of it, you sat beside her, close enough for your knees to brush, the contact igniting a strange ache inside you, an ache that made you resent your own body for still wanting to be near hers.

the conversation shifted, as you both knew it eventually would, to the dynamic between you. the chemistry. the playful teasing your fans adored. the host grinned widely, their excitement almost palpable as they leaned into the question. "so," they said with a sparkle in their eye, "what’s it like working together? there’s clearly some amazing chemistry here."

karina answered with the ease of someone who had perfected this performance long ago. her smile was flawless, the kind that looked natural to anyone who hadn’t seen the version of her that came apart beneath you. "we clicked quickly," she said, her voice light, her tone effortless, "very professional."

the word professional struck you with a force you hadn’t braced for. as though the stolen glances and secret rendezvous in the quiet hours had been some kind of contract fulfillment. as though the nights where she had whispered your name like a prayer, where you had held her as she cried because she was so afraid of what this all meant, had simply been part of the job. like the trembling in her hands when she first kissed you hadn’t meant anything at all.

and then came the question that you had felt looming in the air, inevitable and cruel in its timing. the host grinned again, voice lilting with playful curiosity. "last question," they said with a theatrical pause, "ideal types?"

karina didn’t hesitate. not even for a moment. her answer was as smooth as it was devastating. "i like someone dependable," she said with a soft laugh that made your skin crawl, "funny, strong. like… a guy who’s confident. someone who knows what he wants."

for a moment, it was like your heart forgot how to beat altogether. you had never expected her to speak your name into this space. you knew better than to think she would take that risk. you hadn’t wanted her to confess you, not here, not like this. but the ease with which she had erased you, the casual way she made you invisible, carved into you with a quiet brutality you hadn’t prepared for.

the host leaned forward, emboldened by her answer. "oh, very specific," they teased. "tall? handsome? does he work in the industry?"

karina’s gaze drifted somewhere distant, not meeting anyone’s eyes as she added, "maybe. someone who can handle the spotlight. someone my parents would approve of. someone stable. safe."

the word safe echoed through your mind, splintering into every corner of your memory. safe. was it safe when she had pulled you into her arms after long days, when her voice broke as she told you she didn’t know how to want you and still fear you at the same time? was it safe when she had whispered that no one had ever made her feel like you did, that she had never wanted anything like she wanted you? was it safe when her body had trembled beneath your hands, when her lips had found yours in the darkness where no one could see? nothing about what you had shared had been safe. it had been terrifying and thrilling and raw, but never safe.

the host chuckled, still completely unaware of the quiet devastation unfolding between you both. "ah, you have high standards! love that."

the noise around you blurred, the studio shrinking into a narrow tunnel of light and heat. your heartbeat pulsed painfully in your ears, the air growing thinner with each breath you tried to take. but she kept smiling, as though her words hadn’t just gutted you in front of the entire world. she smiled because that was what she was trained to do. the perfect answer. the perfect idol. the perfect fiction. the one who could never claim you. not here. not now. and maybe not ever.

the host, still entirely too cheerful, finally turned to you. "and y/n? what about you?"

you smiled. it was slow, deliberate, and held together by sheer will, even though your entire chest felt like it might collapse inward. you could feel her answer hovering in the space between you, still thick in the air, suffocating and heavy. your voice came out steady, but every word scraped against something raw inside you. "i think i like someone who’s not afraid."

the host blinked, leaning forward slightly, as though sensing the shift but unable to comprehend it.

"someone who isn’t scared to claim me," you continued, your voice quieter now but impossible to mistake. "publicly. fully. not just when it’s easy."

the silence that followed was not soft. it was jagged and brutal, cutting through every false smile in the room. you didn’t need to look at her to feel her shift beside you, but you turned anyway. you met her eyes, wide and full of something that looked like panic, or maybe shame, or maybe the sharp realization of what she had just done. she opened her mouth slightly, as though words might come, but nothing did.

the host gave a small, nervous laugh, desperately trying to break the tension that now choked the air. "oh—mysterious! sounds like there’s a story there!"

but you weren’t listening. not to the host. not to anyone. you stared ahead, your gaze fixed somewhere distant beyond the cameras and the lights, beyond the stage where you had been reduced to a secret that no one would ever be allowed to know. your words hovered, irreversible and final, hanging like an open wound between you both. unapologetic. and for the first time, you felt your heart begin to fracture in a way you knew you wouldn’t be able to mend. she was afraid. she had always been afraid. and maybe, no matter how much you had given her, no matter how much you had held her trembling hands in the dark, she always would be.

that wasn’t something you could carry for her anymore.

you felt your heart rip in two.

__

current day

when you finally finish regaling chaewon with the story, you see it in her face. not right away. she stays quiet at first, her expression still, eyes fixed on some invisible point just past you. the room feels too quiet, like even the air is holding its breath. but then her brows pull in slightly, her mouth presses into a thin line, and her fingers curl tighter where they rest against the fabric of the couch. it’s not anger exactly. it’s something quieter. deeper.

frustration. secondhand hurt. the kind that doesn’t explode, but settles heavy in her chest, in her shoulders, in the way she blinks like she’s trying to process too many things at once. her silence isn’t cold. it’s protective.

“you didn’t deserve that,” she says finally, her voice low and steady, but there’s a sharpness to it now. “any of it.”

you don’t answer right away. there’s a lump in your throat, thick and unmoving. you’re not sure what response would even be fair. you’re not blameless. you knew what you were getting into. still, hearing it out loud, from someone who’s always been a step outside the storm, makes it feel real in a way you weren’t ready for.

“i told myself it was worth it,” you murmur, eyes locked on your hands. “that it didn’t matter if it hurt, as long as it meant something.”

chaewon shakes her head slowly, a breath leaving her like it’s been sitting there too long. “but it did matter. it does. you can’t keep setting yourself on fire just to keep something warm that won’t stay.”

your throat tightens. “i know.”

she shifts beside you, reaching out to gently touch your wrist. her hand is warm. grounding. “you love her,” she says, and it isn’t a question. it’s just the truth, spoken softly enough not to break you.

you nod, eyes burning.

“but love isn’t supposed to feel like this all the time.”

you don’t say anything, because you know she’s right. because deep down, you’ve known it for a while.

chaewon squeezes your wrist, just once. “whatever happens next, you don’t have to go through it alone. even if she’s not there... i am.”

your chest tightens and you nod, afraid that saying anything will split you open. chaewon doesn’t speak. she just stays beside you, quiet and solid, like she’s holding the space steady so you don’t have to. still, your mind drifts.

you think of karina. the way she held you like you were hers, kissed you like it meant something, then acted like none of it ever happened. how she made you feel seen, then vanished into silence. how she smiled through that interview and said she liked confident men, like you weren’t sitting right there.

to make matters worse, you still had to see her again. the special stage was in three days. you ignored your managers calls when you hauled yourself home and into chaewon’s arms, her comfort the only tether you had keeping yourself to reality. truthfully, you didn’t think you could face her again.

still, chaewon held you.

[fioredeciliego]

lol,that one anon hating on you,but at the same time hiding behind the anonymity💀if you're that brave hating on Karina,show your username. They're definitely someone who dickride male idols when they get some allegations💀

lmao fr, can't even get mad, just a bunch of pathetic people wanting to be hateful cuz they have nothing better to do with their life

[fioredeciliego]

Ignore that stupid anon they cant even understand whats your point lol

i noticed LMAO. kinda pathetic the length people will go to hate on someone lol

[fioredeciliego]

So,the rose isn't even the symbol of that party🙂

If im being honest,yes,i am honestly disappointed at Karina at first. But after doing some research,and even ask some of my K-Mys moots on Twitter,Karina post is straight up harmless. So, please. I know moral over kpop,but before you decide to be 'dissapointed' or punish her , please do some research🙂

Now all of the girls are getting dragged in twitter for so much allegation coming from haters. And some of you who decided to blame the girls blindly, didn't help at all.

If you have bubble subscription,please send kind messages to the girls too.

You can read more about this here

[fioredeciliego]

Poor Karina can’t have an opinion, while some idols can open their criminals mouth. Even if it was the case she can’t be conservative? Think other things? She must be the good thinker liberals? I will not talk about SK bc I don’t know the politics but in my country the president is right wing (I’m not right or left party) this time after years of liberals, nothing changed I still have my rights and actually a better economy and a lowest crime. The right is seen as a villain (left media propaganda) but not everything is bad. The good thinker hates that to have a better economy we stopped to take illegal alien only allowing those who come by law and actually want to embrace our culture

Left vs right is a pure propaganda mean to make us hate each other all done by powerful people who don’t give a sh t about us.

that's the thing, politics are different in every country. so is culture. from what i've read, SK is fucked no matter if they choose the liberal party candidate or the conservative party candidate as their president.

we have to understand where the korean people are coming from, it is not our culture. but when korean's start defending her against INTERNATIONAL people, it's when you know karina is getting hate just because she is famous, not because of the post

[fioredeciliego]

bruh sybau u riding her wit no license 😭🥀

god forbid i have working brain cells

[fioredeciliego]

the karina situation

i'm not going to lie, when she first uploaded the picture and i saw the meaning behind it in korean culture, i was skeptical. we don't know the idols we stan, not fully at least, so i kept quiet to see what happened.

she deleted the picture 10 minutes after uploading it, she apologized before SM did, saying it was a misunderstanding, so why are people still hating on her? specially international people who have nothing to do with the korean politics culture?

she made a mistake, people are not perfect. i think she has shown us enough to see that she does not support the conservative party.

she has recommended a feminist book, she talked about how women in the idol industry have to work harder, she uploaded a picture with a blue scarf during the last election, and even when korean incels were throwing her hate, she didn't delete it, much less apologized.

the misinformation that is going around is crazy. ai pictures of a jacket with a 1 and blue color? fake. the rose representing the conservative party? fake, it actually represents the labour party of SK. taking clips of her and cutting them out of context so that she looks bad, and people believing it?

and of course she is not going to talk about the other party. do you guys even know what the nasty ass son of the "liberal" president candidate said about her? i hope he burns in hell too.

its crazy what people will do to hate on a woman that made a mistake, but throughout her years of being a public figure has done nothing but show love and respect.

do you know all the male idols that uploaded things in red and red hearts in the captions of ig picture during the last election, and even after getting called out on it, they didn't delete them nor apologize? probably not, cuz they're men, not women. i didn't see ANYONE talking about it. the double standards are crazy.

korean fans and korean feminists are defending her, isn't that enough to believe that she really isn't a conservative? and do not use her religion as an excuse, real catholics love people for who they are. we, who do not live is SK, cannot talk about it. really the only people making it an even bigger deal, EVEN after she apologized, are the international "fans", who finally have a reason to hate her. straight up nasty people.

she held herself accountable for her mistake. she apologized. she deleted the picture. if you don't want to stan her anymore, that's on you, but leave her alone, she just made a mistake, like all of us do. she has been through enough.

inform yourself better. be a better person. don't fall for all the fake things that you see in the internet.

[fioredeciliego]

Why can't all of you just believe Karina,or at least SM this time? All of you who act like you're 'dissapointed' on Karina,are no different from the haters. If it was an accident,it was an accident. Karina and the other girls have done so many goods,with Karina talking about how women was treat differently from men in the industry and she have donated to so many charity,but one mistake like this,all of you defame her like she have done worse than Taeil or Soohyun. At this point, people just use this chance to be misogynist and drag Karina more than what she deserves,and all of you just make it worse😐

[fioredeciliego]

existentialism | karina x reader

⁍ song: bleed - malcom todd, omar apollo ⁍ requested: yes-- thank you anon! ⁍ genre: AU! angsty, fluffy. idol!reader x fansite!karina ⁍ a/n: i hope this is what you were looking for, anon <3 ⁍ wc: 11.3k ⁍ warnings: none that i can think of. ⁍ synopsis:

y/n is an idol in a struggling group from a nearly forgotten company. karina, an amateur photographer, accidentally captures her most unguarded moment onstage. as their lives begin to intersect through late-night messages and fleeting encounters, both must confront what it means to be seen. not as a persona, but as a person beneath the facade.

karina hadn’t meant to become anyone’s favorite fansite. that kind of attention belonged to people with ring lights in their backpacks and watermark signatures they spent hours perfecting. she didn’t even think of herself as that kind of photographer. she just liked the way light hit things. how it caught on collarbones, glinted off earrings, poured over a stage like it was part of the performance.

it started quietly, the way most important things in her life did. it was her 22nd birthday. the restaurant had closed early, not because her parents had time to spare, but because they loved her. aeri had shown up late, out of breath, hair messy from the subway, holding a perfectly wrapped box like it was fragile.

“don’t say i never give you anything,” she’d said, plopping it onto karina’s lap as they sat in the backroom, legs curled on crates of radish and flour.

karina peeled the wrapping slowly, careful with the tape, as if savoring the moment might stretch it out a little longer. inside was a fujifilm x-t4, sleek and unreasonably beautiful. she blinked at it, then looked at aeri, who just shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal.

“you’re always noticing things,” aeri said. “figured you should have something that keeps up.”

karina didn’t touch the camera again for a week. it sat in its box under her bed while she sliced scallions and restocked soy sauce bottles and worked double shifts on weekends. but sometimes, when the dining room was empty and sunlight crept in through the windows just right, she’d find herself picturing how it would look through the viewfinder.

the first real photo she took was of her mother rolling out dough in the morning, flour dusting her hands, her expression somewhere between focused and serene. the shot was imperfect—slightly overexposed—but karina stared at it for longer than she meant to. it didn’t just look like her mother. it felt like her. solid. enduring. full of quiet strength.

after that, she started carrying the camera everywhere. tucked into her tote bag beside chopsticks and gum and receipts she never threw away. she shot alleys and rain puddles, foggy bus windows, the backs of people’s heads on the subway. it wasn’t about creating art. it was about holding onto moments before they passed.

and then one night, aeri dragged her to a music showcase in hongdae. a half-basement space with sticky floors and too many bodies, where the speakers were too loud and the lighting was an assault of reds and blues. karina wasn’t planning on shooting. she almost didn’t bring the camera at all.

but when the first group stepped onto the stage, something shifted. the lights flared, the bass rolled through her ribs, and the girl in the center smiled like she knew exactly what kind of effect she had. karina reached into her bag before she even knew what she was doing. the lens cap came off, the camera powered on, and her fingers moved on instinct. framing, adjusting, snapping, again and again.

later, when she uploaded a few shots—just a handful, raw and unedited, she thought maybe a few friends would see them. maybe aeri would leave a sarcastic comment. instead, her inbox filled up overnight. reblogs. retweets. strangers asking for more. someone called her “the eye behind the moment.”

she didn’t know what to do with that. she wasn’t trying to be known. she just didn’t know how else to look at the world.

but that was only part of it. there was the camera, sure, but karina’s life didn’t revolve around it—not completely. not yet.

the restaurant kept her grounded. a narrow two-story space tucked between a laundry shop and a bike repair store, with faded signage and the smell of grilled mackerel permanently baked into the walls. it used to belong to her parents, but they’d stepped back a few years ago, retiring with the quiet relief of people who had worked too long and too hard. now it was hers, even if she didn’t say that out loud too often. it felt strange, being twenty-something and responsible for payroll and supplier invoices, but she was doing okay. the regulars still came. the lights still turned on every morning.

ningning and minjeong, her best friends since high school, worked the evening shifts. both were juggling classes and internships, trying to survive off iced americanos and convenience store triangle kimbap. working at the restaurant was supposed to be temporary, but it never really felt like work. they were here, together, and that was enough reason to stay.

aeri didn’t work there, but she might as well have. she spent most of her afternoons at one of the corner tables, sketchbook open, doodling commissions or drawing whatever her brain felt like spitting out that day. she said it was the atmosphere. the way the place smelled, the sounds, the way the light fell through the front window. “and also,” she’d added once, “because you feed me for free.”

on nights like this, after hours, the place felt like theirs. dishes cleaned. chairs stacked. lights dimmed. the doors locked, but no one really ready to leave yet.

“minjeong, you missed a whole-ass table,” ningning called out, balancing a wet rag in one hand and dramatically pointing with the other. “again.”

“do you ever shut up?” minjeong deadpanned, wiping in increasingly aggressive circles. “it’s a water ring, not a war crime.”

“i’m just saying, the health inspector would have a field day with your laziness.”

“and yet,” minjeong replied, tossing the rag at ningning’s face with perfect aim, “i’m the one who passed organic chem senior year. unlike somebody.”

ningning shrieked and ducked behind a chair. “low blow! low blow! i was sick with a broken heart!”

“girl, he ghosted you after three dates and a noraebang session,” aeri chimed in without looking up from her sketchpad. “that’s not heartbreak, that’s natural selection.”

karina didn’t laugh, though she probably should have. she didn’t even look up. she was sitting at the far end of the dining room, camera resting on her knees, flicking through photos from a small showcase she’d wandered into last night. it wasn’t a big deal. just a filler show at a lesser-known venue, one of those lineups with too many groups and not enough lighting. but she’d gone anyway. she’d been bored. curious. sometimes the smaller acts surprised her.

and then there was you.

you weren’t even the headliner. she didn’t know your name, didn’t know your group. maybe she wasn’t even supposed to be filming by that point. but you’d stepped into the spotlight and something about the way you moved made her pause. not because it was clean or polished. not because it was loud. there was just something there. something raw and sharp and almost too real to be coming from a stage performance. it wasn’t the choreography. it was your eyes.

she hadn’t even intended to take more photos, but her fingers had moved on instinct. she zoomed in. framed. captured. the moment felt urgent, like it would disappear if she blinked too long. and now, in the quiet hum of the closed restaurant, she was staring at a still image of you mid-chorus, mouth open in song, hair clinging to your cheek with sweat. your expression was unreadable. eyes wide, almost desperate, like you were trying to claw your way out of the screen.

there was something beautiful about that. not in the traditional sense. not the curated kind of beauty fans expected from fancams and photobooks. no, this was different. you looked like you were trying to survive something.

karina liked photos like that. more than she ever admitted. she posted the clean ones, the ones where idols looked like perfection incarnate, frozen in joy and light. she knew that’s what fans wanted. but sometimes, she kept the others for herself. the moments when an idol’s smile didn’t quite reach their eyes. when their shoulders sagged between movements. when their mask cracked.

once, she’d used a photo of a male idol for her university thesis on existentialism. in the picture he was smiling for the crowd, full teeth, perfect posture. but his fists were clenched at his sides, and his knuckles were white. the angle of his body betrayed exhaustion. slightly hunched, like he was about to fold. the essay argued that idols existed in a liminal space between personhood and persona, between being seen and being known. her professor called the photo “haunting.” karina just thought it was honest.

you looked honest, too.

“karina,” aeri called from across the room, pencil tucked behind her ear. “if you don’t stop spacing out and come look at this cursed drawing of ningning with cat ears, i’m going to print it on a t-shirt and wear it to your funeral.”

karina didn’t answer. her thumb hovered over the save button, eyes still fixed on the image of you. something inside her twisted. not unpleasantly. not quite.

maybe she’d go to your next show. maybe she’d take more photos. maybe, this time, she’d take a video. 

there was just something about you that she couldn’t shake, even as the night shifted to morning. 

__

y/n was tired in the way that didn’t show on her face, but lived somewhere in her bones. another performance day. another barely promoted showcase in a cramped venue where the dressing room was just a partition and a folding table, and the smell of sweat and floor cleaner clung to every surface.

it wasn’t that she didn’t love performing, because she did. she really did. but lately, it felt like the love was one sided. her group had been active for long enough that the silence felt personal. comebacks with no traction. practice videos with barely any views. they trained like everyone else, starved like everyone else, cried in stairwells like everyone else. but they weren’t getting anywhere. not really.

their company was small. generous with promises, stingy with everything else. they’d been wearing the same reworked stage outfits for three promotions now, and their stylists had long since stopped showing up to these smaller events. today, they’d done their own makeup in a bathroom mirror with cracked lighting, blending eyeshadow with their fingers and praying no one would notice the frayed edge of a hem or the glue dot holding an earring in place.

“they’ve only got handhelds,” their manager said on the way in. “no headsets. sorry.”

y/n hadn’t answered. she just nodded and adjusted the strap on her mic pack that she now didn’t need.

the group before them was finishing up. another act from another no-name company, probably in the same situation as them. bright smiles, tight formations, doing their absolute best for a crowd of maybe fifty people and a camera crew that would forget their name by morning. they were solid. enthusiastic. the kind of performance that reminded y/n just how replaceable she might be.

she took a breath and let it out slowly, gripping the mic in both hands, the weight of it heavier than usual. it wasn’t nerves exactly. it was something deeper. a slow, crawling ache in her chest that whispered to her long into the quiet hours of the night. every night.

what if this is it? what if this is all there ever is?

“you okay?”

the voice pulled her back. she blinked and asa was suddenly next to her, fidgeting with the zipper on her jacket, eyes darting between her and the edge of the curtain.

“you look like you’re about to throw up,” asa added, laughing, but it was tight. nervous. she was trying to be casual  but the crack in her voice gave her away.

y/n forced a small smile. “thanks. that’s reassuring.”

asa shrugged, tugging at the hem of her sleeve like she always did when she was anxious. “sorry. i just… i dunno. i can’t tell if this venue is hotter than usual or if i’m overheating from impending doom.”

“maybe both.”

asa snorted, then paused. “you think people will actually cheer this time?”

y/n didn’t answer right away. she looked out past the curtain where a small crowd was gathering. half of them probably friends or staff, maybe a few real fans, maybe none at all. she could hear the muffled bass from the group on stage before them, feel it thrumming through the floor.

“i think,” y/n said slowly, “we do what we can. and we make it count. even if no one claps.”

asa nodded, quiet. then she sighed. “i swear to god, if my mic cuts out again mid chorus, i’m quitting and becoming a barista.”

“you can’t even drink coffee.”

“exactly. motivation to keep going.”

y/n huffed a laugh despite herself, and for a second, the ache in her chest eased. not gone. just quieter. 

the stage manager gave them the nod. tight, brisk, all business. asa straightened beside her, tugging her jacket into place one last time. their other members fell into formation like instinct, like ritual. y/n felt her feet move before her mind caught up, boots scuffing slightly against the edge of the raised platform. the mic was cold in her hand, heart knocking against her ribs in a rhythm too fast, too loud.

the lights hit first. hot, blinding, a poor imitation of grandeur. and then the music, tinny through the speakers but familiar in a way that wrapped itself around her spine. she stepped into position, found her mark, breathed.

and then she was performing. no room left for doubt, for fear, for aching questions about whether anyone out there even knew her name. there was only the music, the motion, the echo of their voices layered imperfectly through handheld mics and trembling breath.

she didn’t know if anyone would remember it. 

but she would give them something they could.

karina, embarrassingly enough, had spent most of the night deep in the trenches of the internet. the kind of rabbit hole where time folded in on itself and the only light came from a glowing screen and the blurry reflection of her own dumb, obsessed face. she wasn’t proud of it. but she also wasn’t stopping.

she’d found the smallest of leads. a screenshot from a barely active kakao chatroom used by venue staff. a schedule list, blurry and cropped, buried in a thread about broken light fixtures. in the corner was a group photo of five girls, clearly snapped on someone’s phone with zero artistic intention. the lighting was bad, the focus worse. but one face stood out.

y/n.

karina didn’t know her name at the time. didn’t know the group’s name either, not really. just a half readable hangul tag someone typed without bothering to correct the spelling. it didn’t matter. the only thing that did matter was that the photo didn’t do her justice. not even close.

karina stared at the screen, frustrated. not with y/n, but with the way the world had failed to capture her properly. if it had been her behind the lens, she would’ve framed her with softness and sharp light. she would’ve caught the way her expression shifted between verses, the fire tucked behind her eyes. maybe it was bias. or maybe it was just that she saw what others didn’t. and once she saw it, she couldn’t not see it.

so of course she had to go. of course she had to try. and somehow, by some divine combination of manipulation, bribery, and guilt—she managed to convince aeri, minjeong, and ningning to come with her.

“we closed early for this?” ningning groaned, arms folded as she eyed the neon-lit venue like it had personally offended her.

“my eyeliner is melting,” minjeong added flatly. “you said this was a cultural experience. you didn’t say it would be humid and depressing.”

karina ignored them, already scanning the crowd near the entrance with laser focus.

“do we even know the name of the group?” aeri asked, squinting at the flyer taped to a post. “because i’m not gonna lie, i’m seeing at least three acts with glitter names and vaguely tragic-sounding concepts.”

“we’ll know when we see her,” karina muttered, tightening her grip on her camera like it might help her focus.

“so just to recap,” ningning said, deadpan, “we abandoned paying customers to follow our emotionally repressed friend across the city to chase down a girl she doesn’t know, whose name she doesn’t know, in a group she also doesn’t know, all because she took one blurry photo of her looking vaguely ethereal.”

karina didn’t even flinch. her eyes were locked on the stage entrance like a hunter waiting for a sign. “when she comes out,” she murmured, “you’ll understand.”

“that’s what you said about the tofu place in yongsan,” minjeong replied. “we all got food poisoning.”

“and the time you dragged us to that underground film screening in itaewon,” ningning added, crossing her arms. “you know, the one where the director made us sit on the floor and watch three hours of interpretive dancing and crying in slow motion.”

“art is subjective,” karina said, without looking away from the stage.

“i hate it here,” minjeong cried, but she didn’t move. none of them did. despite all the complaints, the three of them stood beside karina. tucked just inside the dim edge of the crowd, the air heavy with stage fog and cheap hairspray. 

the music had dipped into transition mode. those awkward ten seconds where the next act lined up and the audience collectively held their breath.

karina leaned forward slightly, camera already raised. “shut up,” she whispered. “this is it.”

ningning sighed. “if she’s not the reincarnation of venus i swear to god—”

then the lights came up, and karina pressed the shutter.

the rest of the world collapsed into static. the chatter of the crowd, the sharp whine of a speaker adjusting, even her friends bickering a few steps away. it all blurred into the background. karina didn’t hear a thing. didn’t want to. her camera was already in place, viewfinder pressed to her eye like a second heartbeat.

and then, there you were.

center stage, swallowed in too-bright lights and haze that clung like mist. not even fully in frame yet, but karina felt it in her chest, low and sharp, the same way she sometimes did when stumbling across a perfect shot at golden hour. your movements weren’t perfect, not polished like bigger groups, but there was something in the way you carried the weight of the song. the way your body snapped from choreography into raw instinct. your expression wasn’t just practiced. rather, it looked like it meant something. 

like you were clawing your way out of anonymity with every verse, like every beat might be the last chance you’d get to be seen.

karina adjusted the focus, breath shallow. it wasn’t just technical skill, though you had that, too. it was presence. the kind of magnetism that cracked through cheap lighting and echoed off concrete walls. something unruly and honest. like pain, or hope, or both tangled together.

she didn’t realize how tightly she was gripping the camera until the shutter clicked—soft, barely audible under the music. she filmed. slowly, reverently. tracking you through the chorus, through that sharp turn of your chin, that flicker of emotion in your eyes that felt earnest. 

the music cut out on a final, echoing note, and the lights dimmed just a beat too late—just enough for karina to catch the way y/n’s chest rose and fell, quick and uneven from exertion. and then y/n bowed with the rest of her group and slipped backstage like a ghost.

the crowd gave polite applause. not wild, not dead, just that middle ground kind of lukewarm appreciation that stung more than silence. but karina wasn’t paying attention to them. she let her camera fall against its strap, her fingers still tingling.

“…okay,” ningning said slowly. “i’ll give you that one.”

karina blinked, turning toward her.

“what?”

“you were right,” aeri continued for her, her tongue clicking against her cheek, a look of genuine surprise on her face. “she’s got something. i don’t know what it is exactly, but i wanna draw her like, fifty times and then write poetry about it.”

“i felt things,” minjeong muttered. “against my will.”

“you’re welcome,” karina said, dazed, still watching the empty stage like she expected you to come back out.

ningning raised an eyebrow. “you got the shot?”

karina nodded slowly. “i got something.”

a beat.

“so… what now?” aeri asked. “are we gonna become groupies? follow them around the country? make a fan club?”

karina didn’t answer. not right away. she was already thumbing through the footage, pausing on a frame where y/n’s expression looked too real to be staged. 

“i don’t know,” she murmured. “but i’m not done.”

her friends exchanged a look.

“this is going to turn into another ‘project,’ isn’t it?” minjeong said.

“worse,” ningning sighed. “it’s gonna turn into a feelings thing.”

“i hate when she gets feelings,” aeri added.

karina didn’t bother defending herself. she just hit play again.

because something in her gut told her this wasn’t a one-time thing. this was the beginning of something she didn’t quite have words for yet. but she’d find them.

and when she did, you’d be in every frame.

when y/n stepped off stage, her chest was heaving, every breath thick with adrenaline and exhaustion. sweat clung to the back of her neck, her limbs heavy, the kind of heavy that only came after pouring yourself into something with no guarantee it mattered.

she gave it her all. she really did.

“you okay?” asa asked, brushing past her to grab a water bottle off the folding table in the corner of the backstage hallway. her voice was hushed, cautious.

y/n nodded, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “yeah. just… heart’s still racing.”

“mine too,” asa admitted, cracking the cap. “i thought my mic was gonna short out halfway through the bridge.”

“it might’ve,” y/n muttered, half-laughing, rubbing at her temples. “i think i was singing in the wrong key the entire chorus.”

“you were fine. we were fine,” asa said, then added more quietly, “better than we usually are.”

before y/n could respond, their manager rounded the corner with that frantic, harried look she always wore after a performance. clipboard in one hand, phone in the other, pressed between her shoulder and ear.

“come on, come on,” she barked, waving them forward. “wrap it up. van’s waiting out back. you guys did great. people clapped. that’s something.”

asa rolled her eyes and shoved her bottle into her bag. y/n followed, muscles aching, nerves still frayed. but there was something buzzing beneath it all. a strange energy she couldn’t place.

they stepped out into the back lot, the cool night air a welcome slap of relief. she was just about to pull her hoodie up over her head. 

flash.

a camera went off. bright, sudden, close. too close.

y/n flinched, instinctively jerking back, hand half-raised in defense. she blinked hard, vision adjusting, and there—just a few steps away—was a girl.

not a fan, not press. she didn’t look like the others. she wasn’t shoving a phone in y/n’s face or shouting a name. she was just standing there, camera still in hand, eyes wide with guilt and something else. awe, maybe.

“shit,” the girl said quickly, lowering the camera. “sorry. that was… i didn’t mean to get in your face like that.”

y/n shook her head, still catching her breath. “it’s fine. just surprised me.”

the girl stepped back, hands slightly raised like she was trying to prove she meant no harm. her features were striking. she almost looked unreal. elegant, sharp around the edges, but softened by the way she kept worrying her bottom lip. probably the prettiest girl y/n had ever met. which was unfair, honestly, considering she had just finished a performance looking like she crawled out of a thunderstorm.

“i, um…” the girl hesitated, then gestured vaguely to her camera. “i like your music. i mean. tonight. you… stood out.”

y/n blinked. what? she let out a short laugh, soft and self-deprecating.

 “you must’ve really low standards.”

the girl smiled, slow and a little crooked. “or really good taste.”

that pulled a quiet laugh out of y/n, one that surprised even her. there was something disarming about the way the girl looked at her. not in a dissecting, distant way, but like she saw something worth keeping.

“i’m karina,” she offered, finally.

y/n glanced over her shoulder at the van, her group piling in, her manager waving impatiently. then she looked back.

“y/n.”

karina nodded, eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. “i know.”

and somehow, that didn’t feel creepy. it felt… kind.

the flash didn’t seem so jarring anymore.

y/n lingered at the edge of the lot, hoodie bunched in her hands, still warm from the stage lights and not quite ready to disappear into the van’s flickering overhead bulbs and the smell of fast food wrappers. karina hadn’t moved either. camera still slung over one shoulder, fingers curled around the strap like she didn’t want to let go just yet.

“you always do this?” y/n asked, tilting her head slightly. “ambush tired performers in alleys with flashes and compliments?”

karina grinned, just a hint. “only the ones who make me feel something.”

y/n raised a brow, caught off guard by how sincere it sounded coming from someone with a smile that could cure all ailments. “you’re smooth. has anyone told you that?”

“no,” karina said, a little too quickly. “i mean. they have. but not like… seriously.”

y/n laughed, properly this time. it came up from her chest, unexpected, and when it slipped into the air, karina looked—well, proud. like she��d won something.

“i just wanted one more shot,” karina added, a bit softer now. “you had this moment on stage. just… I don’t know. you looked like you were carrying the whole song in your bones. like it was breaking you and holding you together at the same time.”

y/n’s smile faltered.  not in a bad way. just… enough to let something real settle between them.

“you saw that?”

karina nodded. “yeah. and i got it. i think. i hope.”

a honk cut through the quiet. asa leaned out the van window, clearly fed up. “y/n! if we leave without you it’s not personal!”

y/n rolled her eyes but didn’t turn away just yet.

karina cleared her throat, suddenly shy. “i mean. if you want the photo, i could send it. or… whatever. if that’s weird, ignore me. this is probably weird.”

y/n held out her hand. “give me your phone.”

karina blinked. “what?”

“so i can put my number in it. for the photo,” she added, almost teasing. “and maybe because I owe you a proper thank you that doesn’t involve me looking like i’m about to collapse.”

karina handed it over without a word, eyes wide but amused. their fingers brushed.

and y/n, still riding the echo of a half-empty stage and a performance she’d nearly drowned in, thought—for the first time in a long while—that maybe someone had seen her after all.

not just the version she performed.

her.

y/n finished typing and handed the phone back, her thumb brushing lightly against karina’s as she did. the contact was brief, but it left something charged in the air, something that hummed between them like the aftermath of a too-good chorus.

“thanks,” y/n said, backing toward the van. “for the picture. and, you know… seeing me.”

karina offered a crooked smile, a little too honest. “i couldn’t not.”

y/n’s lips twitched. half amusement, half something softer. “you’re gonna make me regret not being more photogenic.”

“you’re already wrong about that,” karina said, voice barely above the sound of the idling engine behind them.

y/n shook her head, cheeks warm, and turned to leave.

asa opened the door from inside, leaning out dramatically. “did you just flirt with a fan?”

“you don’t even have fans,” one of the others chimed in from the back.

“shut up,” y/n muttered, ducking into the van as laughter erupted.

karina stood there for a moment longer, watching the van pull away until its tail lights blurred against the city’s glow. her hand was still wrapped loosely around her phone, like it hadn’t registered yet that she was holding more than just a contact. it was the beginning of something.

she wandered back toward where she left her friends, the girls loitering near the venue entrance just outside a half-shuttered convenience store, picking at bags of chips like they hadn’t been standing in the cold for twenty minutes.

“well that took forever,” ningning said as karina approached. “what’d she do, recite her entire discography?”

minjeong popped a chip in her mouth. “karina’s blushing.”

“i am not,” karina said, immediately.

“you so are,” aeri chimed. “girl, you’re one soft smile away from writing her poetry in your notes app.”

“shut up,” karina muttered, but she was smiling, and they knew it.

by the time they got back to the apartment, it was late and the city had settled into its usual lull. neon signs blinking slower, streets emptier, the hum of life still present but quieter now.

karina plugged in her camera the second she walked through the door, pushing past the chaos of their coat pile and ignored dinner dishes. she transferred the files with practiced ease, fingers flying across her keyboard, eyes scanning through each frame.

she didn’t post everything. just her favorites. the ones that mattered.

a still of y/n mid chorus, eyes wide, mouth open, hand outstretched like she was trying to grab something intangible.

a candid just before the final note, sweat glinting at her temple, expression cracked open with something raw.

a short clip from the bridge— shaky, imperfect, real—where y/n’s voice dipped low enough to sound like a confession.

she uploaded them to the fansite, quietly, without fanfare. no clickbait captions. just a few words.

“she deserves to be seen.”

and then she closed her laptop, let her head fall back against the couch, the hum of adrenaline slowly dying down.

she had no idea what she’d just done.

no idea that by morning, the photos would be everywhere. that hashtags would start trending. that the internet would do what it does best. amplify. echo. obsess.

no one knew yet, not even karina, that the post would change everything.

__

one day y/n’s group was scraping together performances at half lit venues with static ridden mics and lukewarm crowds. almost overnight, their company—which had long operated on the thinnest of margins, barely scraping together enough for rented rehearsal spaces and reused stage outfits—found itself overwhelmed. it started slowly, then all at once.

more likes on a performance clip, a few reposts from bigger accounts, a comment section that suddenly wasn’t empty. then, emails came in faster than they could answer them. variety show invitations, modeling inquiries, stylists offering racks of clothes they never would have dreamed of affording, choreographers who used to work exclusively with chart topping acts now asking if they had time to meet. people who once ignored them suddenly wanted a piece of them.

the difference was staggering. their managers were stunned, stumbling through new opportunities with wide eyes and open calendars. it wasn’t luck. it wasn’t a random viral moment.

everyone knew where it started. even if they didn’t say it out loud. it was the photos.

karina’s photos.

not just because they were beautiful, though they were. it was the way they captured something deeper. something true. the exhaustion behind a sharp smile. the fire behind a subtle glance. the quiet power of a girl mid performance, holding nothing back because she never had the luxury of half trying. and for the first time, everyone was finally paying attention. not the passive kind of attention, not the polite clapping or half hearted glances they had grown used to. this was real. eyes wide, breath held, curiosity turning into obsession.

karina had managed to benefit from it, too. her inbox was filled with requests from magazines, creative agencies, brand managers. people she once looked up to were asking her to shoot for them. she was getting job offers, collaboration deals, invitations to events where her camera had once only earned her sidelong glances. they weren’t just looking for any photographer. they wanted the one who saw what others missed. the one who told stories through still frames. the one who captured something real.

karina was no longer just another fansite admin with a good lens and a sharp eye, working nine to five in her parents old shop.

she was an artist. a name people remembered.

but even with all the momentum, all the noise and new beginnings, she never stopped being what she had been from the start.

your biggest fan.

she sent the photo late one night. for a moment as she sat in the closed restaurant, minjeong and ningning arguing about in their typical way, she stared down at the contact you put in her phone. she hesitated, at least for a moment. the memory of your kind smile, your soft spoken voice. her fingers glided across the screen in tandem with her beating heart. no fanfare, no filter. just a single image attached to a quiet message. it was the close up she took of you after the show. you were caught mid-step, your hoodie bunched loosely in your hands, the flash of her camera catching you off guard. there was no performance left in your face. no mask, no practiced smile. just fatigue and something softer beneath it.  you weren’t posing. you didn’t even know she was watching. the message that came with it was short.

thought you might want this one. it felt like yours.

you stared at the photo longer than you meant to when the message chimed in your phone. not because of the lighting or the angle or the composition. it was the way it made you feel like someone had been paying attention, not to the version of you you put forward, but to the one you were seldom able to show.

you didn’t know what to say, so you kept it simple.

i don’t know how you did that. but thank you. really.

and that was how it started. not with fireworks, not with some grand confession or twist of fate. just a photo, a message, and the quiet, unmistakable feeling that someone out there understood something about you before you’d even found the words for it yourself.

there were late night messages, the kind that came unprompted but never unwelcome. blurry voice notes where laughter bled into silence. text threads that stretched past 2am, full of half-formed thoughts and gentle check ins. karina always said she was just doing what any fan would do, but it never felt like that—not to you. because when she spoke to you, she didn’t perform. she didn’t talk like someone trying to impress a name on a screen. she never asked for a selfie or a signature, never treated you like a symbol to collect or admire from a distance. instead, she asked about your day. she wondered if the stage lights ever gave you headaches, if you ever got tired of being seen all the time, but rarely looked at for real.

you told her things you hadn’t said out loud in months. about how much you missed home.  about how your own voice made you wince when you heard it back in interviews. about how surreal it felt to be loved so loudly and still feel, somehow, invisible.

karina never rushed to reassure you. she didn’t offer pity or polished wisdom. she just listened, and when she answered, it was always with care. always in a way that made you feel solid again, like a person instead of a product.

and you gave that back, in your own way. you asked her about her photography, about her life. you asked about her best friends, the ones you started recognizing in the background of her instagram stories. ningning with the bright smile, minjeong with the dry wit, and aeri, the chaotic artist who seemed to live in bursts of color.

karina began sending you photos she never posted anywhere else. quiet moments. behind-the-scenes shots of a life unfolding in soft focus. unedited, warm, honest. glimpses of the world as she saw it, framed not for performance, but for truth.

and somewhere in those quiet, electric moments, something shifted.  not all at once. not with drama or declarations. just a bond.

weeks later, your group found themselves sitting beneath the glare of studio lights, surrounded by producers, stylists, and a modest but buzzing live audience. it was your first real appearance on a major network talk show—an undeniable sign that something had shifted. the couches were too stiff, the air too cold, and you were suddenly aware of every camera angle, every eye trained on you.

and yet, when the host leaned forward with an easy smile and asked, “what do you think changed? what made things finally click for your group?”

you didn’t hesitate.

“a fan,” you said.

then, almost instinctively, you softened. your fingers fidgeted slightly in your lap, but your voice held steady.

“or… maybe not just a fan. she took this photo of me that kind of blew up online. it wasn’t, like, flattering in the usual sense. it wasn’t pretty-pretty. i looked tired. drained, even. but it felt real. like someone had caught something honest. i didn’t even realize how much i’d been holding in until i saw it.”

you paused, glancing down as if the words themselves carried weight.

“i guess it was the first time i looked at a photo and didn’t think, that’s what i’m supposed to look like. instead, i thought, yeah. that’s me. and somehow, that made me want to keep going. she didn’t glam me up. she gave me back to myself.”

the studio went quiet for a beat. not out of discomfort, but reverence. then the applause came. soft at first, then rising.

across the city karina sat in her apartment above the restaurant, laptop balanced on a stack of art books, camera lenses spread across the coffee table like instruments mid-performance. aeri was on the floor beside her, paint-splattered sweatpants and brush in hand, halfway through a bold, chaotic canvas.

minjeong was sprawled on the couch, bowl of popcorn in her lap. when the interview clip played and your voice filled the room, she didn’t even look up. she just tossed a handful of popcorn straight at karina’s head.

“you’re in love,” she said, deadpan.

karina didn’t blink. didn’t even react. her eyes were locked on the screen, on the way you smiled at the end of your sentence like you were thinking of someone specific.

“shut up,” she mumbled.

aeri snorted from the floor. “it’s giving muse energy.”

karina said nothing. she was already reaching for her camera bag.

the next day, she was at inkigayo. her press pass hung around her neck, laminated and slightly bent from use. her camera bag was snug against her hip, and her hands were calm, practiced, like they’d been made to hold that camera. the venue was a storm. fans crowding the barriers, chants echoing, lightsticks flashing like signals in a galaxy of movement.

but when you stepped on stage, something in the atmosphere changed.

karina found her place front left of the pit. she didn’t even realize she was holding her breath until your eyes found hers. it happened somewhere between the pre-chorus and second verse. one glance, a pause in the blur of it all. you saw her. really saw her. hair tied back, camera steady, face tilted just slightly as if she didn’t want to blink and risk missing something. 

you smiled. not the practiced curve they taught you during training. not the camera ready flash for fanservice or headlines. this smile was different. unguarded. real. and in that moment, amidst the pulsing beat and the sea of screaming voices, you didn’t feel like a product. you didn’t feel like a placeholder in a group scraping to stay relevant.

you felt like you.

and it was all because of karina.

__

karina wasn’t sure what exactly made her send the message. maybe it was the way the restaurant felt too still that afternoon, the echo of wiped-down surfaces and idle ceiling fans humming like a nervous heartbeat. maybe it was the thought of y/n finally having a rare day off, the kind she barely got anymore, and wanting—no, needing—to be part of how she spent it. either way, her fingers had moved before her brain caught up, and suddenly the invitation had been sent.

it wasn’t phrased like an invitation, not really. just a casual mention.

 i’m at the restaurant today. it’s quiet. 

she’d told the others to clear out well before sunset. ningning pouted. aeri dramatically draped herself over the bar like it was a tragedy. minjeong smirked with that knowing look that made karina want to crawl into the floor. they left, eventually, but not before tossing back a few parting jabs.

“don’t combust,” ningning had said sweetly, snatching her drink on the way out.

 “try not to sweat through your shirt,” aeri added from the doorway.

 minjeong just leaned in, low and amused. “don’t blow it.”

karina scrubbed the same table three more times after they were gone, even though it was already spotless. the place looked as perfect as it could. lights dimmed just enough, music barely audible, the warm smell of soy and grilled rice still lingering from the afternoon rush. she fixed her shirt twice, changed it once, then changed back. she told herself it wasn’t a date, even though her heart hadn’t stopped racing since noon.

when y/n arrived, it was quiet. no cameras. no staff. just asa’s car slipping down the street and disappearing around the corner like a secret. the door creaked open, and there she was. hood up, mask tucked low on her chin, eyes wide with something that looked almost shy.

“hey,” she said, like it was the easiest thing in the world.

karina could barely breathe. “hi.”

y/n pulled her mask down fully once the door clicked shut behind her. she glanced around, taking it all in. the faded wood of the booths, the soft clatter of wind against the windows, the smell of something warm and faintly sweet still hanging in the air. her expression softened. 

“it’s cute,” she said. “feels like home.”

karina didn’t know how to answer that, not really. she just rubbed the back of her neck, nodded awkwardly, and offered to make her something to eat. y/n didn’t protest. she perched on a stool by the counter, elbows resting loosely on the edge, watching with something like quiet amusement as karina bustled around the kitchen pretending she wasn’t hyper aware of every movement.

they talked about nothing at first. food, the weather, the stray cat that kept appearing by the dumpster out back. y/n teased her about being bossy with her friends. karina rolled her eyes and muttered something about “necessary survival tactics.” there was laughter, easy and unforced, and then there were silences that didn’t feel empty at all.

at one point, karina dropped a spoon. y/n leaned down to pick it up before she could, their hands brushing, barely. it wasn’t a moment worth writing down, but it lingered.

after dinner—mismatched bowls and a shared plate of grilled dumplings—they moved upstairs to the apartment above the restaurant. karina unlocked the door like it was something intimate, not just a key, and y/n stepped in slowly, quietly, her eyes moving over the space.

it was simple. lived in. warm in the way real places are, the kind that don’t need curated furniture or expensive lighting to feel whole. a stack of photo books by the window. slippers kicked halfway under the couch. art pinned carelessly to the fridge with old magnets.

“this feels familiar,” y/n said, her voice lower now, thoughtful. “my parents used to have a place kind of like this. smaller, though. messier. but... same energy.”

y/n drifted toward the table by the window, where the light hit soft and slanted, and her gaze landed on the camera resting there like something waiting to be remembered. her fingers hovered first, then moved with quiet confidence, tracing the curve of the strap, the smooth edge of the body, as if she already understood it wasn’t just a tool. like she knew that it was an extension of karina herself.

karina stilled, halfway through reaching for a pair of glasses to pour water, the motion forgotten as she watched. 

“can i?”

the question landed like a hush in the room. karina didn’t answer right away. the instinct to say no curled at the edge of her thoughts, the way it always did. no one touched the camera. not her friends. not even family. it wasn’t about possession, not really. it was about the way memory clung to film, the way the lens saw everything and sometimes too much. she guarded it because she didn’t know how not to.

but y/n didn’t reach like she wanted to take. she waited, like she already knew the weight of what she was asking for.

karina looked at her, at the patience in her eyes, the quiet way her fingers curved but didn’t close around the camera. and something softened.

she nodded once, almost imperceptibly. “yeah. okay.”

her voice was barely above a whisper. but she meant it.

y/n held it with reverence, turning it gently in her hands, fingers moving over buttons and dials like she was trying to learn the shape of karina’s world through touch. the moment stretched, soft and quiet. then, without asking, she lifted it, brought it to eye level, and pointed it at karina.

karina blinked, caught somewhere between startled and breathless.

“wait, i—”

click.

y/n lowered the camera, grinning a little. “too late.”

karina stood frozen, heart thudding in her chest. “you didn’t even warn me.”

“i didn’t need to,” y/n said. she turned the camera around, looked at the preview screen, then smiled again. this time quieter, fonder. “you always say your best photos happen when no one’s paying attention.”

karina didn’t answer right away. her voice felt caught in her throat. when she finally spoke, it came out softer than she meant.

“can i see it?”

y/n hesitated, then handed the camera over. karina looked. the photo wasn’t perfect. her hair was a little out of place. she looked tired, maybe. surprised. vulnerable in a way she usually tried not to be. but there was something else there too. a light behind the eyes. a softness. like maybe, just for a second, someone had seen her without the walls.

“keep it,” karina said, surprising even herself. “if you want.”

y/n just nodded. “i do.”

they stood close now, the space between them quiet but charged. y/n looked at her the way she always did. unflinching, sincere. not with expectation, not with some idolized version of karina in her head. just... her.

“i think,” y/n said slowly, “i wanted to see how you looked when you weren’t behind the lens.”

karina didn’t know how to respond to that. not with words.

so she didn’t.

she stepped forward, just slightly, enough that she could feel the warmth radiating between them. y/n didn’t move back. her eyes flicked to karina’s mouth, then back up.

“is this okay?” karina asked, barely more than a whisper.

y/n smiled, gentle and sure.

“yeah,” she said. “it’s more than okay.”

when they kissed, it wasn’t fireworks or orchestras. it was slow and quiet, like the closing of a door, like the breath before a song begins. it tasted like dumplings and late summer air. like truth. like a beginning. their mouths met gently, not in a rush, not all at once. lips parting slow, testing the shape of closeness. karina’s free hand found y/n’s waist, tentative at first, then firmer when y/n responded with the same kind of softness. the kind that steadies rather than consumes. their noses bumped, slightly, but neither pulled away. instead, they smiled into it—barely, just enough to feel the curve of each other’s lips.

the kiss deepened, not with urgency but with familiarity, the kind that comes from long nights spent talking about nothing, and photographs that said everything. it was quiet. a little clumsy. real.

karina’s fingers slid up the back of y/n’s shirt, curling into the fabric like an anchor. y/n’s hand lifted to her cheek, thumb grazing just beneath her eye, like she was trying to memorize the moment by touch alone. there was no need to fill the silence. no need to ask if this meant something. it already did. the camera between them carefully lowered to a side table, forgotten.

somewhere, downstairs, the ice machine clicked on. a car passed by outside, headlights sweeping shadows across the window.

but up here, there was only the soft thud of a camera on the table, and two girls finally leaning into the gravity that had been pulling them closer from the start.

__

a week had passed since their kiss, since the night they had spent together, a night that lingered like a secret melody beneath everything y/n did. even though they hadn’t seen each other since, karina was the first name on y/n’s lips when she woke, and the last thought before sleep took her. every message from karina was a small lifeline. quiet jokes, shared moments, bits of their worlds folded together across the distance.

today, y/n was back in the practice room, the weight of the choreography solid and familiar beneath her feet, but her mind kept drifting, pulling to the memory of karina’s smile. the warmth of her hand, the way the quiet between them felt less like emptiness and more like space made just for two. moving through the routine gave her a strange kind of comfort, something steady to hold onto while the rest of the world spun faster and farther away.

but then y/n’s phone buzzed. once, twice, a steady stream that pulled her attention away from the mirror where she’d been rehearsing the steps again. she glanced down, the screen flooding with messages. urgent, clipped, impossible to ignore. her manager appeared beside her, eyes wide and serious, voice low but sharp like a warning.

“you need to see this,” she said, handing over her own phone. her hand trembled just a little, the way someone might if they’d just stumbled into a storm.

y/n’s fingers hovered over the screen before she swiped, revealing the dispatch article that tore through the quiet like a blade. the headline was blunt, loud, impossible to miss.

 “rising idol caught in ‘dating scandal’: secret visits to family restaurant spark rumors.” 

the photo below was grainy, taken from a distance, but unmistakable. y/n stepping inside karina’s restaurant, hood pulled low but face visible enough for anyone who knew her to recognize. the caption twisted the simple truth into something explosive, something meant to divide and shame.

y/n’s breath caught in her throat. her heart hammered so fiercely against her ribs she was sure it might burst free at any moment, wild and desperate. no warning came before she was pulled aside from rehearsal, her manager’s grip firm but hurried on her arm as they navigated through sterile hallways to a small, windowless room tucked behind the scenes. the air inside felt heavy, suffocating, as if the walls themselves held the weight of every decision made within.

waiting at the long, polished table were the company executives. their faces were unreadable masks, eyes sharp and cold, devoid of any trace of empathy. they didn’t ask how she was doing or what she wanted; they only delivered orders.

“this has to be contained,” the eldest executive said, voice low and clipped, like he was issuing a verdict rather than offering guidance. “the group just broke into the mainstream. your image is crucial. any hint of controversy could set us back months, if not years.”

another executive, younger and more impatient, leaned forward, fingers steepled. “we’ll draft a statement. something tight, professional. deny everything. discredit the source.”

“you understand,” a third added, voice even colder, “you cannot be seen with her again. no contact. no meetings. no social media interactions. if you don’t comply, your career is at risk.”

y/n swallowed hard, words lodged in her throat. she tried to find a foothold in the conversation, to explain, to plead. “but it’s not true. karina and i—we didn’t want this. we didn’t do anything wrong.”

the executives exchanged glances, unimpressed. “this isn’t about truth,” the eldest said flatly. “it’s about control. perception. you are a product. you have a responsibility to protect that.”

the cold finality of their tone crushed something fragile inside her. the group was finally on the rise, the spotlight shining brighter than ever, and now the one thing she wanted most—the quiet connection she’d found—was being torn away, dismissed like a distraction, a liability.

she nodded silently, the weight of their demands settling like a stone in her chest. there was no room for hesitation, no space for feeling. only the harsh reality that the life she had been building might unravel in a heartbeat.

karina was at the restaurant, wiping down tables with a tenderness that seemed almost reverent. the afternoon sun filtered through the windows, casting long, lazy shadows across the floor, and the soft quiet wrapped around her like a blanket, fragile and precious. every folded napkin, every wiped surface held an echo of the calm she found in the idol she couldn’t shake from her mind no matter how hard she tried.

and then her phone lit up.

a message from y/n. another from the group chat with her friends, followed by dozens more. strangers with sharp tongues and cruel words.

her fingers trembled as she opened the article. the headline screamed across the screen, twisting the memory of y/n walking through that very door just a week ago into something dark and explosive. her breath hitched. the rag slipped from her hand and fell silently onto the floor.

karina had faced criticism before, the kind that stung and lingered. but this was different. this was a storm that threatened to drown everything she’d built, everything she cared about. her phone flooded with messages calling her reckless, selfish, an opportunist who had destroyed y/n’s rising career. the restaurant’s ratings plummeted, reviews turning venomous, and anonymous whispers spread across social media like wildfire, each one cutting deeper.

her parents called, worried but unsure how to help. karina couldn’t meet their eyes when they asked if she was okay. the guilt weighed heavier than any insult, twisting tight around her chest.

karina slid down behind the restaurant counter, the worn wood cool against her back, just beneath the register where the afternoon light fell soft and golden through the window. her fingers trembled around her phone, still buzzing faintly from the recent facetime call with her parents, their worried faces lingering in her mind. she stared at the screen, the quiet hum of the empty restaurant wrapping around her like a fragile shield.

then, her phone lit up again. y/n’s name, bright and sudden, breaking the silence. karina’s breath hitched. she hesitated a moment, then swiped to answer.

“karina?” y/n’s voice came through, low and fragile.

“yeah,” karina whispered, voice barely steady. “i’m here.”

they sat with the silence for a beat, neither sure where to start. finally, y/n’s voice cracked, raw and uncertain. 

“i’m sorry. for everything. for how this all happened. i didn’t want any of this. especially not to hurt you.”

karina bit her lip, the ache settling deep in her chest.

“i’m scared,” y/n confessed, voice trembling. “they told me to cut you out or i’d lose everything. and i don’t even know what losing you would mean, but it hurts more than i thought it would.”

karina swallowed the lump that rose tight in her throat. listening to y/n made everything feel real. her mind kept bouncing back and forth through memories. seeing y/n on stage at that shabby venue for the very first time, seeing her again and taking all the pictures she knew she would commit to her heart like gospel. the late night calls, the laughter, the vulnerability that y/n shared with her– only her.

the feeling of y/n’s body beside hers last week, her fingers brushing over y/n’s bare shoulder. it was that moment karina decided that no photo, not even her own, could do y/n justice. not when her chest rose and fell with breaths shared between them in that moment then.

karina shook her head, raising a palm to wipe at her eye. she didn’t want to cry. 

 “i don’t want to lose you.”

“you won’t.” y/n said, voice fragile but steady. “i want to fix this. but right now… i can’t. i’m sorry.”

the call ended, leaving the quiet heavier than before. karina held the phone close to her chest, breathing in the silence. 

a few hours later, y/n’s social media account posted a carefully crafted statement. the words were measured, rehearsed. she denied the rumors, calling karina a “family acquaintance” and insisting they were just friends. her hands trembled as she typed, each sentence feeling like a weight she had no choice but to carry. the message wasn’t hers but it was the only way forward, the only way to keep the chaos from swallowing her whole.

and in the silence that followed, when the noise finally dimmed, there was only one thing left. a photograph resting untouched on y/n’s bedside table. a fragile, quiet trace of what had once been real.

__ 

eight months had passed. eight months of radio silence. eight months y/n spent staring down at karina’s contact, fingers itching to send a message or maybe even call, but she never did. 

y/n stood on a bigger stage than she’d ever imagined, lights blinding, the roar of the crowd a steady pulse beneath her feet. the group had broken through, bigger names, bigger stages. the company still watched closely, but the tight leash had loosened just enough for y/n to breathe without suffocating.

she fought tooth and nail to stay in the group through the scandal, and slowly, the rumors faded, replaced by new headlines, new stories. but the feelings she carried for karina didn’t fade. they lingered, quiet and stubborn, beneath the gloss of the spotlight and the endless cycle of rehearsals and performances.

asa noticed, of course she did. they shared every moment on stage, every late night in the practice room. asa watched y/n carefully, her eyes sharp behind a calm smile, the kind that didn’t miss a thing. one night, after a long day, she finally asked.

asa sat beside y/n on the floor of the practice room, their backs leaning against the wall, legs stretched out in front of them. the hum of the overhead lights filled the quiet space, the only sound left after the others had trickled out hours ago. sweat clung to their skin, and the ache of the day settled deep in their bones, but neither of them moved to leave.

asa nudged a water bottle toward y/n with her foot. “you’ve been zoning out during cooldowns,” she said, not accusing, just stating. “your balance was off in the last run-through.”

y/n took the bottle, twisting the cap with tired fingers. “just tired,” she muttered.

asa nodded, letting the answer sit. she didn’t push. just drank her own water and rested her head back against the mirrored wall behind them. they sat like that for a minute, letting the silence stretch.

“this comeback’s going to be huge,” asa said eventually. “crazy to think about, huh? the venues, the collabs, the brand deals.”

“yeah,” y/n said softly. her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

asa glanced over, watching her carefully. “it’s everything we used to talk about back then. when we were stuck in those tiny green rooms and eating takeout at 3am.”

“everything we wanted,” y/n echoed.

asa was quiet for a moment. then, gently, she added, “but you haven’t really smiled since we got it.”

y/n’s breath caught, but she didn’t say anything right away. instead, she stared at the water bottle in her hands, fingers tightening around it.

asa didn’t push. she never did. she just waited, her presence steady and warm beside her.

“i never asked,” asa said quietly. “about… everything that happened. with her.”

y/n didn’t look up. her throat tightened. “there wasn’t anything to say.”

“maybe not then,” asa said. “but maybe now.”

y/n blinked slowly, eyes stinging for reasons she didn’t want to admit. the wall she’d built around those memories had held for eight long months, but asa’s voice chipped at it with every soft word.

asa reached over, placing a hand gently over y/n’s. “i’m not asking because i want the story. i’m asking because you look like you’re carrying something too heavy on your own.”

the quiet that followed wasn’t uncomfortable. it was the kind that made space. the kind that waited, patiently, for whatever came next.

and this time, y/n didn’t pull away. her grip loosened around the bottle. her shoulders, tense and drawn for what felt like forever, slumped the slightest bit.

“she saw me,” y/n said, voice so quiet asa had to lean in. “before all this. before the stages and the endorsements. she saw me.”

the words hung in the air between them, soft but heavy.

“i think that’s what scared me the most,” y/n continued, her gaze fixed on a smudge on the mirror across from them. “that someone could see me like that… and i let her go anyway.”

asa stayed quiet, giving her space. she didn’t press, didn’t try to offer empty comfort. just waited.

“everything’s gotten so big,” y/n murmured. “and i thought that was the point, right? to make it. to have people scream your name and sing your lyrics back to you. but somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling like mine.”

asa finally moved, reaching out to gently nudge y/n’s knee with her own. “you’ve been carrying that by yourself for a long time.”

“yeah,” y/n whispered. “and i’m tired.”

asa exhaled softly. “she’s the reason we’re even here, you know. if she hadn’t believed in you back then...”

“i know.”

asa gave her a long look. “so let me ask you something. when was the last time you were happy? like really, genuinely happy?”

y/n didn’t answer at first. her throat felt too tight, her chest too full.

asa tilted her head, voice gentle but firm. “i think you know. and i think you’ve known this whole time. you’ve given everything to this dream, and you’re still standing, y/n. but maybe it’s okay to want something that doesn’t come with stage lights and fan chants. maybe it’s okay to want something just for you.”

y/n looked down at her hands. her voice barely made it out.

“i miss her.”

asa nodded. “then go.”

and that was it. just the quiet support of someone who understood. the next steps were y/n’s to take, but for the first time in months, the path forward didn’t feel so impossible.

asa didn’t stop there. quietly, she reached out to contacts. first it was aeri, an artist she found through a post karina tagged her in on instagram. karina had kept posting after the worst of it. the restaurant, the sunrises, the small joys she’d reclaimed for herself. she no longer took photos of idols. no one could match the beauty she’d found in y/n.

with aeri, minjeong, and ningning’s help, a plan took shape. one quiet night, far from the prying eyes that once haunted them, y/n found herself standing outside karina’s apartment above the restaurant. it was two in the morning, the streets hushed and safe.

y/n took a deep breath and knocked.

karina opened the door, blinking against the dim hallway light, still wrapped in the warmth of sleep and the softness of an old sweatshirt. her brows furrowed for half a second in confusion. until she saw who it was.

“y/n..? wha—”

but she didn’t get to finish.

y/n stepped forward without hesitation, the weight of months crashing into her all at once. she grabbed the front of karina’s coat, fingers curling tight like if she let go, she might lose her again. and then she kissed her.

not tentative, not gentle. it was aching and desperate, like a dam breaking, like all the silence between them finally gave way. y/n poured everything into it. every sleepless night, every unsent message, every whispered apology. karina froze for only a heartbeat before she melted into it, her hands rising instinctively to cradle y/n’s face, thumbs brushing damp cheeks she hadn’t realized were wet.

the kiss deepened slowly, softening. less desperation now, more familiarity. recognition. karina tasted salt and the faintest trace of mint lip balm, and something about it broke her open too.

when they finally pulled away, karina simply stood in shock. her offhand found y/n’s waist, holding her close. y/n stared back at her, eyes wide and sincere.

“thank you,” y/n whispered, voice thick with everything left unsaid. “for seeing me when no one else did.”

karina didn’t speak right away. her thumb brushed gently over the fabric at y/n’s side, grounding herself in the moment, in the weight and warmth of her. everything felt fragile. like if she moved too fast, it might vanish. but y/n was still there. standing in front of her. real. closer than she’d been in months.

karina’s voice came soft, caught somewhere between wonder and heartbreak.

“you think i could’ve looked at you and not seen you?”

y/n’s breath hitched, her eyes flickering down for a second before finding karina’s again.

 “i lost so much of myself trying to hold on to the dream,” she said quietly. “but you… you made me feel like a person, not a product. like i mattered even when i didn’t know if i did.”

karina’s hand slid from her waist to her wrist, fingers curling around her gently. “you always mattered. i just didn’t know if you’d come back.”

“i didn’t either,” y/n admitted. “but somewhere between the stages and the silence, i realized… none of it feels like enough without you.”

the words hung in the air like something sacred.

karina’s eyes searched hers for a long moment, as if trying to find the truth beneath all the hurt, all the time they’d lost. what she found there must have been enough. because when she leaned in again, slower this time, more certain, it wasn’t a kiss born of urgency or ache.

in that moment, beneath the quiet hum of the city at night, y/n realized something that had been true all along. through every stage and every spotlight, through every dream she chased, it was karina who mattered more than anything. more than fame, more than success, more than the future she thought she wanted.

the future she truly wanted was here, in this small, fragile moment, with karina.

[fioredeciliego]

kingdom come is done!!!! so sorry for making you guys wait:( uni kicked my ass frfr. anyways, now that kingdome come is done, and i am officially out of ideas, you guys can send in your requests! once again i am so sorry for how long the final chapter took. thank you guys for enjoying kingdome come! until the next!!!<3

[fioredeciliego]

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝟏𝟎

𝐖𝐂: 𝟔.𝟒𝐤

ℑ 𝔩𝔬𝔳𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲, '𝔱𝔦𝔩 𝔎𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔡𝔬𝔪 ℭ𝔬𝔪𝔢

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚜𝚖𝚞𝚝

The moon hung high above the castle, casting a silver glow over the stone towers and silent courtyards. The entire royal wing had been ordered into strict silence—tomorrow was the wedding, and by ancient tradition, the brides were not to see one another until the ceremony. But tradition had never stood a chance against Kim Minjeong.

She had tossed and turned in her chambers for over an hour, the weight of anticipation pressing against her chest like armor. Her bed felt colder than usual, and the silence more deafening. Every thought drifted to Y/N. To her smile. Her laugh. Her hands, always warm even on the coldest days.

With no more patience to spare, Minjeong threw a cloak over her nightgown and slipped out of her chambers.

The halls were quiet, only a few torches flickering along the stone walls. She moved like a shadow, silent and determined, heart racing with every step toward the familiar wooden door that led to Y/N’s chambers. When she reached it, she didn’t knock.

She just slipped inside.

The room was dim, the fire in the hearth reduced to glowing embers. Y/N lay curled on her side, facing the window, her breath soft and even. Minjeong smiled at the sight—until the floor creaked beneath her foot.

Y/N stirred instantly. She turned, eyes still heavy with sleep, but they widened when she saw the figure cloaked in moonlight standing at the edge of her bed.

"Minjeong?" her voice was groggy but laced with surprise. "You’re not supposed to be here."

Minjeong shrugged, walking over and sinking to her knees beside the bed. "I couldn’t sleep. Didn’t feel right without you."

Y/N’s expression softened as she sat up, wrapping her arms around her knees. "We’re breaking the rules."

"We’ve been breaking rules since we met," Minjeong whispered with a smirk. "Why stop now?"

Without another word, Y/N pulled the covers back in silent invitation. Minjeong didn’t hesitate. She climbed into the bed, wrapping her arms around Y/N and burying her face in the crook of her neck.

They lay there in the quiet for a while, hearts slowly syncing in rhythm.

"Are you nervous?" Y/N finally asked, her voice barely more than a breath.

"Terrified," Minjeong admitted, her breath warm against Y/N’s collarbone. "But not because I’m marrying you. Because I want to be everything you deserve. I want to be the ruler, the partner, the woman you’ve dreamed of. And sometimes I wonder if I’ll fall short. If all the love I have for you still won’t be enough for the weight you’ll have to carry."

Y/N turned slightly to face her, the mattress shifting beneath them. Her fingers found Minjeong’s, threading through them. "You already are. You always have been. And if there ever is a moment you fall short, I’ll be there to lift you up again. That’s what love is, Minjeong. Not perfection. Partnership."

Minjeong met her gaze, their faces inches apart. Her voice was quieter this time. "Do you ever think about what comes after tomorrow? Not just the ceremony. Everything. Ruling, expectations, the crown... the world watching us and expecting us to be something bigger than who we are."

Y/N nodded slowly, her thumb stroking the back of Minjeong’s hand. "Every day. But it helps knowing I won’t face it alone. That no matter how heavy the crown feels, your hand will always be in mine."

Minjeong smiled, her chest tightening in a way that was both overwhelming and beautiful. She reached up, brushing a strand of hair from Y/N’s cheek. "I’ll be at your side for all of it. For the good, the bad... for the mornings when you wake up angry at me and the nights when I can’t sleep unless you’re near. For the days when the council is impossible, and the nights when we can just be us."

Y/N leaned into her touch, her eyes shimmering. "And I’ll be there when your armor feels too heavy, when you’re too proud to admit you’re tired. I’ll carry some of that weight. I’ll remind you it’s okay to lean on someone. You don’t have to be strong all the time."

Minjeong blinked back tears she hadn’t realized were building. "How did I get so lucky?"

Y/N smiled, the curve of her lips gentle and sure. "We were both lucky."

Minjeong tucked her face against Y/N’s shoulder again, pulling her impossibly close.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you more," Y/N replied, without hesitation.

Wrapped in each other’s arms, they drifted off to sleep, the firelight dancing gently across their peaceful faces, the world outside forgotten—

Three sharp knocks echoed through the chamber door.

"Princess Y/N! Princess Minjeong!" a flustered voice called from the hallway. "It’s almost dawn—what are you both—WHERE IS—Oh gods!" another voice cried out.

Y/N shot upright, eyes wide as she registered the morning light spilling in through the windows.

Minjeong groaned from beside her, dragging the blanket over her head. "Five more minutes."

"Minjeong!" Y/N hissed, scrambling to throw on a robe. "They’re going to lose their minds!"

"Let them," Minjeong mumbled through the blankets.

Outside, the ladies-in-waiting were already in a frenzy.

"Her Majesty’s orders were very clear! They weren’t supposed to see each other!"

Y/N looked back at Minjeong, a mixture of panic and amusement written all over her face. "You are so lucky I love you."

Minjeong peeked out from under the blanket with a sheepish grin. "Worth it."

And so began their wedding day.

☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦

The palace was alive with motion. Servants bustled through the corridors, florists trimmed the final petals of white and gold blooms, and sunlight flooded the grand hall in a soft, golden haze. But within two separate chambers, two very different kinds of silence settled.

Minjeong sat on the edge of a velvet chaise in her dressing room, still in her silken robe. Her usually steady hands trembled slightly in her lap. Despite the early morning chaos, all she could hear was the thudding of her own heartbeat.

She didn’t flinch when the door opened behind her.

"Minjeong," came Tiffany’s soft voice. She and Taeyeon entered the room, both dressed in subtle ceremonial robes, their faces calm but knowing. Tiffany crossed the room and sat beside her daughter, while Taeyeon leaned against the wall, arms crossed gently.

"I’m fine," Minjeong said quickly, too quickly.

"You’re not," Taeyeon said simply. "You’re scared."

Minjeong looked down. "It’s not Y/N. It’s... everything. The throne. The weight of two kingdoms. What if I mess it all up? What if I’m not good enough for her?"

Tiffany reached out and took her hand. "You’re human, Minjeong. But you’re also the strongest person I’ve ever known. You’ve faced war, betrayal, politics—"

"—and your own emotions," Taeyeon added, with a small smirk.

"You’re not perfect," Tiffany said. "But you love her. And you’ve never run from that love. That’s what will carry you through the rest."

Minjeong blinked quickly, then let out a shaky breath. "I’m going to cry and ruin my makeup."

"You have ten people waiting to fix it," Taeyeon assured her. "Let yourself feel this. You’re not alone."

Minjeong stood, and Tiffany enveloped her in a hug. For once, she let herself be held.

✠✠✠✠✠✠✠

On the other side of the castle, Y/N stared at her reflection. The gown she wore shimmered faintly, its delicate embroidery catching the morning light. But her eyes... her eyes betrayed her nerves.

Irene stepped in first, followed closely by Seulgi, who had clearly been crying.

"Oh, sweetheart," Irene murmured, walking toward her.

"I don’t think I can do this," Y/N admitted, her voice barely audible. "What if I let everyone down? What if Minjeong wakes up one day and regrets this?"

Seulgi wiped her eyes and came up behind her daughter, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You’ve already made us proud, Y/N. This—this love you’ve built with Minjeong—it’s more powerful than any treaty."

"And Minjeong adores you," Irene added. "She’d burn the world for you."

Y/N laughed weakly, the tears beginning to fall.

"Then it’s okay to be scared," Seulgi said, hugging her tightly from behind. "Just don’t forget to breathe. And remember—she’s probably pacing a hole into her chamber floor right now, wishing she could see you."

Y/N closed her eyes and nodded. "Okay. Okay... I can do this."

Irene kissed her forehead gently. "You already are."

✠✠✠✠✠✠✠

The grand hall was breathtaking.

Bathed in warm sunlight from the stained-glass windows above, it shimmered with golds and silvers, draped in lush florals of the kingdoms' shared colors. Nobles, royals, diplomats, and generals filled every seat, the air thick with anticipation. At the front of the aisle, Minjeong stood in her wedding suit—elegantly tailored in a deep, regal navy with silver embroidery. Her gloved hands were clasped tight behind her back, and her heart thundered in her chest.

Then the music began.

Every head turned as the grand doors opened.

And there she was.

Y/N appeared at the top of the aisle, radiant in an elegant gown that flowed like liquid moonlight. The intricate embroidery glistened with threads from both kingdoms’ heritage—Mindor’s delicate florals intertwined with Argoriath’s bold geometry. Her veil shimmered in the golden light, and her eyes locked with Minjeong’s immediately.

Minjeong forgot how to breathe.

The crowd faded away. The music became a hum. There was only Y/N, walking steadily toward her, a soft smile on her lips and unshed tears in her eyes. Minjeong’s throat tightened. She’d never seen anything so beautiful.

Y/N’s steps slowed as she reached the altar. Minjeong took her hand, steady now, grounding them both. They didn’t speak yet—but the way their eyes met said everything.

The ceremony began. Vows were spoken—words of loyalty, unity, and love. But when it came time for their personal vows, Minjeong was the first to speak, her voice trembling slightly.

"I’ve been in battles," she began, her voice low and reverent, "I’ve held a sword in one hand and a kingdom in the other, but nothing has ever challenged me more than loving you. Because loving you meant putting down my armor. It meant unlearning everything I thought I knew about strength. And it’s the only thing in my life that has ever felt effortless, even when everything else was hard."

She blinked, her voice beginning to waver.

"You make me want to be softer. Kinder. Braver—not in war, but in love. In vulnerability. In choosing you again and again, through every storm, through every crown, through every fear. I vow to protect you not just with my sword, but with my heart. To stand by you in your quietest days and your loudest triumphs. To love you when you are at your strongest, and especially when you feel like you’re not."

Tears rolled freely down her cheeks now.

"I vow to build a world with you that’s worthy of the love we share. A world that sees us—not as rulers, but as two women who dared to love in spite of it all."

From the front row, Seulgi let out an audible sob that echoed across the chamber, causing a soft ripple of chuckles from guests. Minjeong bit her lip to stifle a smile.

Y/N’s breath hitched, and the room was silent again.

She took a moment to gather herself, her eyes glistening as she began.

"Minjeong," she whispered, "You were never supposed to be part of my story. And then you became the entire book. I used to think I knew what destiny looked like—scrolls and swords and duty. But then you looked at me like I was something to be chosen, not inherited."

She smiled through her tears.

"You taught me that love isn’t weakness. That softness doesn’t make me breakable. That my heart can be my compass, not just my crown. I promise to carry you through the darkest nights and dance with you in the brightest dawns. To never let you forget how deeply you are loved."

Her voice cracked.

"I promise to fight for you, to grow with you, to rule beside you—but more than anything, I promise to choose you. In every life, in every universe, in every version of me—I will always choose you."

"And I’ll be crying about this until the next kingdom treaty," Seulgi sniffled again, and someone—probably Tiffany—snorted beside her.

The moment lightened just enough for laughter to mix with the emotion, guests dabbing at their eyes while smiling through tears.

"You may seal your vows."

Minjeong cupped Y/N’s face, her thumbs brushing away the tears slipping down her cheeks. And then she kissed her—slow, sure, reverent. The grand hall erupted into cheers, applause, and the joyful ringing of bells, but to them, it was still only the two of them.

Their lips parted with a whisper of a smile.

☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦

The grand hall, now transformed into a banquet fit for legends, shimmered with candlelight and opulence. Towering floral arrangements spilled from crystal vases, and the air buzzed with the hum of laughter, music, and clinking glasses. The feast following the royal wedding was no small affair—delegates from every allied kingdom, nobles and scholars, warriors and poets, had gathered to celebrate the unity of Argoriath and Mindor, sealed by a love everyone could now see radiating from the two women seated at the high table.

Minjeong sat beside Y/N, their hands still occasionally brushing under the long white-draped table, both of them unable to stop smiling. Every now and then, Minjeong would glance at Y/N with that unmistakable softness that only grew more obvious with every passing toast—and Aeri and Yizhuo noticed.

It was Yizhuo who struck first, rising with her goblet in hand and a grin that spelled trouble.

"If I may, a toast to our radiant brides," she began, drawing everyone’s attention. "Especially our fierce Princess Minjeong, who, despite her years of pretending to be emotionally unavailable, has been reduced to absolute mush."

Laughter echoed through the room. Minjeong groaned softly, already hiding her face in one hand.

Aeri stood next. "We actually wrote something special for this moment," she announced, gesturing to Yizhuo, who stood tall beside her like an overly proud bard.

And then they began to sing—to the tune of a well-known royal marching song:

"Oh mighty warrior of Argoriath, With sword so sharp and hair so sleek, She conquered not a battlefield, But blushes every time Y/N speaks!

She growled and glared and trained all day, Said love would only slow her pace, But one smile from her Mindor bride, And she melted in her place!

She vowed she’d never fall for charm, That no one could invade her heart, But now she’s just a puppy dog, Who whimpers when they’re far apart!"

By the end of the verse, the entire hall was roaring. Minjeong had buried her face in both hands, Y/N was practically wheezing from laughter, and even the queens were caught giggling like schoolgirls. Minjeong sent Aeri and Yizhuo a death glare over her goblet.

"You two are never allowed near a piano again," she muttered.

Yizhuo wiped a fake tear and dramatically clutched her chest. "Thank you, thank you, we’re available for weddings, coronations, and dramatic duels."

Aeri lifted her glass again. "But in all seriousness," she said, her voice softening, "Minjeong, we’ve known you since we were all kids. We’ve fought beside you, laughed with you, cried with you—watched you build walls so high we thought no one could ever get over them."

Yizhuo stepped in. "But then Y/N showed up. And suddenly those walls weren’t so strong anymore. We watched you open up in ways we never thought possible. You let someone see you, really see you, and love you for exactly who you are."

Aeri looked toward Y/N with a fond smile. "So thank you, Y/N. For loving our Minjeong. For grounding her, for understanding her, and for laughing at her terrible jokes."

Yizhuo raised her brow. "And if you ever hurt her—"

"We’ll thank you for doing what we never had the guts to," Aeri quipped.

"But if you, Minjeong," Yizhuo continued, turning serious, "ever hurt Y/N... we will murder you in cold blood."

Minjeong raised both hands. "Message received. Loud and terrifying."

The laughter resumed as they bowed with theatrical flair and took their seats.

Then, Queen Taeyeon stood.

Her voice carried gently over the crowd. "My daughter has always been many things—fearless, stubborn, reckless. But today, I saw something in her I haven’t seen before: peace. And it came the moment she looked at Y/N. This union is more than political. It’s a testament to the possibility of love changing everything."

Queen Irene followed. "As Y/N’s mother, I’ve watched her grow through pain, through duty, and now through love. This marriage unites two lands, yes—but more importantly, it unites two hearts that were always meant to find each other."

Then came Tiffany.

"I knew it the second they bickered at that first political dinner," she said, holding her wine glass up with a mischievous smile. "Minjeong looked like she wanted to throw Y/N into the moat. Which, in royal terms, we all know means she was smitten."

Laughter rippled through the room again.

"And let’s be honest," Tiffany added, winking at Minjeong and Y/N, "I’ve walked in on them making out at least five times before the engagement was even official."

Y/N turned red as a rose. Minjeong groaned, covering her face again.

Finally, Seulgi stood. Already sniffling, she waved off the polite applause with her napkin.

"I—I’m not going to cry," she sniffled. "I already did that—seven times. But I just—look at them."

She gestured helplessly to Y/N and Minjeong.

"So—so pretty. My baby girl is married."

She sobbed again. "And if you hurt her," she suddenly added, turning sharply toward Minjeong with teary, fiery eyes, "I will murder you. In cold blood."

The room howled with laughter—everyone except Minjeong, who had gone pale under the weight of Seulgi’s intense, watery glare.

Y/N leaned in and whispered, "She means it."

Minjeong nodded slowly. "I know."

A herald stepped forward, his voice carrying through the great hall. "And now, honored guests, we welcome the brides to the floor—for their first dance as wives."

The applause swelled, and Minjeong turned to Y/N, her hand already extended, her grin full of quiet awe.

"May I have this dance, my queen?"

Y/N laced their fingers together. "Always, my queen."

☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦

The music shifted to a softer melody, one that seemed to float in the air like petals on a breeze. As the crowd parted in the center of the hall, Minjeong took Y/N’s hand, and the cheers gradually faded into quiet anticipation.

All eyes followed them, but to Minjeong and Y/N, it felt like the world had narrowed to just the two of them. The noise, the gold-painted ceilings, the jeweled guests—it all melted into background.

Minjeong’s hand found Y/N’s waist, and their fingers intertwined. As they swayed to the slow, lilting tune, Y/N let out a soft laugh. “This is the part where we pretend we know how to dance gracefully.”

Minjeong smirked. “So many balls we've attended, you'd think we'd now by now. Let's just add dancing to our list of pretending”

Y/N rested her forehead against Minjeong’s. Their steps fell into rhythm—imperfect, unscripted, but effortlessly in sync. Neither cared if their feet moved with the elegance expected of royalty; the only thing that mattered was the closeness, the warmth between them.

Minjeong leaned closer, her lips brushing the shell of Y/N’s ear. “Do you know what I was thinking the moment you walked down the aisle?”

Y/N shook her head slightly. “What?”

“That you’ve never looked more like home.”

Y/N exhaled softly, her heart fluttering at the sincerity in Minjeong’s voice. “You really are trying to make me cry again, aren’t you?”

Minjeong chuckled. “Maybe just a little.”

Around them, the guests watched with fondness—some dabbing tears, others holding their partners closer. The queens sat together, arms linked, smiles shining as brightly as the crowns resting on their heads. Even Aeri and Yizhuo, for all their earlier teasing, had softened into quiet admiration as they watched their best friend glow with happiness.

The music lingered, drawing out the dance. Y/N leaned into Minjeong, letting herself be held, letting herself breathe. And in Minjeong’s arms, everything finally felt still.

She could feel the steady beat of Minjeong’s heart under her palm, could smell the faint scent of sandalwood and lavender on her collar, could sense the subtle tremble in Minjeong’s fingers—like even now, she still couldn’t believe this was real.

“I still can’t believe we’re married,” Y/N whispered.

Minjeong’s thumb brushed along her waist. “I was worried I’d mess up the vows.”

“You made me cry instead,” Y/N replied, smiling up at her. “So I’d say it went well.”

When the song finally ended, the applause swelled like a wave, crashing over them as they slowly pulled apart. But Minjeong didn’t let go of her hand.

Instead, she leaned in, her voice low against Y/N’s ear. “Come with me.”

Without a word, Y/N nodded.

Minjeong laced their fingers together again and tugged her through a side hallway, out of sight. Past quiet corridors and arched doorways, they slipped away from the grand festivities. The laughter and chatter grew quieter with every step, until it was just the sound of their footsteps and the soft crackle of torchlight.

She led Y/N to a hidden balcony, high in the castle towers. It was a secluded alcove, half-shadowed by ivy, with a stone railing overlooking the kingdom stretched beneath a blanket of stars.

The moon had risen above the city below, its pale light casting silver across the rooftops and the rolling hills beyond the palace walls. Torches flickered in the streets far below, the scent of night-blooming flowers drifting up on a breeze.

Minjeong stopped at the railing and turned to face Y/N. “I used to come here when I didn’t want anyone to find me.”

Y/N stepped closer, her hand still in Minjeong’s. “And now?”

“Now I brought the one person I never want to be without.”

Y/N’s breath caught. The cool air brushed her cheeks, but Minjeong’s hands were warm as they slid along her jaw.

“I used to think I would always be alone,” Minjeong continued quietly. “That duty meant sacrifice. That I couldn’t have this and still be the leader Argoriath needed. But then you showed me that love doesn’t take away from strength. It gives it.”

Y/N’s eyes filled with tears again—not from nerves or pressure, but from the overwhelming sense of being seen. “I used to think love was something I’d never get to choose. And now... I’ve never been so sure of anything.”

“This is ours now,” Minjeong murmured. “The kingdom. The sky. Every day that comes after this one.”

Y/N nodded, her voice barely a whisper. “And we’ll face it together.”

Their kiss under the moonlight wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t for show or tradition. It was slow and full of the quiet truth they’d waited so long to speak: we made it.

Minjeong pulled her into a tight embrace, her chin resting on Y/N’s shoulder. “We’re each other’s forever now.”

Y/N smiled, her eyes closed. “We always were.”

☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦

The halls of the castle had grown quiet, the distant sounds of laughter and clinking glasses slowly fading into memory as Minjeong and Y/N made their way toward their chambers. Not separate chambers—their chambers now. A single, shared space, no longer bound by duty or tradition, but by choice. By love.

They didn’t speak much as they walked. Fingers intertwined, hearts fluttering. The night air clung softly to their skin, the scent of roses and jasmine still lingering from the festivities. Moonlight filtered through the windows, painting silver trails along the marble floor as they passed. It was all dreamlike—quiet, surreal, sacred.

When they reached the door, Y/N paused, her hand on the handle. She looked at Minjeong, and for the first time all evening, a hint of uncertainty passed through her eyes. Not doubt—but vulnerability. The soft kind. The kind that only came with loving someone this much.

Minjeong smiled gently and stepped forward, her voice a whisper. “It’s okay. It’s just me.”

Y/N nodded, cheeks pink. She opened the door, and together they stepped into the candlelit chamber.

Dozens of candles lined the room—on the mantle, by the windows, beside the bed. The flames flickered like stars, casting warm golden light across the walls, the floor, their skin. The fire in the hearth crackled gently, adding a quiet rhythm to the stillness.

Y/N stepped toward the center of the room and turned to face her wife.

Wife.

The word made her breath hitch. Her hands fidgeted at her sides. Her eyes darted away, only to meet Minjeong’s again, wide and unsure.

Minjeong crossed the space between them and gently took her hands. “Are you nervous?”

Y/N let out a soft, shaky laugh. “Terrified.”

“Why?”

“Because… this is everything I’ve ever wanted. And I don’t want to mess it up.”

Minjeong lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “You couldn’t mess this up if you tried.”

Y/N smiled, still shy, still slightly overwhelmed. “You’re sure?”

Minjeong leaned in, brushing her nose against Y/N’s. “Positive.”

They stood like that for a long moment, until Y/N nodded slowly, her eyes shimmering. She lifted trembling fingers to the clasps of her gown.

Minjeong watched, unmoving, her gaze reverent. As layer by layer fell away, the candlelight wrapped Y/N in soft gold, outlining every curve, every breath, every inch of skin she revealed. And even as the nerves lingered in her posture, the trust was louder.

“You’re beautiful,” Minjeong whispered.

Y/N looked down, her face warm, her hair falling into her eyes. “Don’t look at me like that.”

Minjeong stepped forward, gently tucking the hair behind her ear. “Like what?”

“Like I’m the moon.”

Minjeong smiled. “You are.”

Y/N let out a choked laugh, half embarrassment, half disbelief. Then she reached for Minjeong’s wedding suit, fingers unsteady but determined.

Minjeong let her take her time. The fabric slipped away, revealing the lean strength beneath, the steady breath, the wild heart. And when they stood before each other, bare and bathed in candlelight, Y/N still hesitated.

Minjeong lifted a hand, placing it gently on Y/N’s cheek. “You don’t have to hide from me.”

“I’m not hiding,” Y/N whispered. “I’m just… overwhelmed.”

Minjeong nodded, brushing their noses together. “Me too.”

And then they kissed.

It was slow, reverent. Minjeong held Y/N like she was sacred, her hands mapping every freckle, every tremble, every breath. Y/N clung to her, her touch tender and tentative, learning the rhythm of Minjeong’s heartbeat.

The warmth between them grew like a tide, rising, surrounding. Their bodies fit together as naturally as their hands did—skin against skin, breath against breath. The firelight danced across their backs and shoulders, the glow painting golden constellations over curves and collarbones, like the stars themselves were watching and blessing this moment.

Minjeong’s hands were shaky. She didn’t try to steady them. Instead, she let them tremble as they roamed, as she touched Y/N with all the gentleness of someone holding something precious. Her lips traced a path along Y/N’s jaw, her shoulder, the hollow of her throat—worshipful and unhurried. Y/N tilted her head back, eyes fluttering closed, heart thundering beneath Minjeong’s palm where it rested over her chest.

“You feel it?” Y/N asked softly, her voice breathless.

Minjeong nodded, her voice catching. “Like it’s trying to break out of you. Like mine’s answering it.”

They found the bed with soft, uncertain steps, never breaking contact. When Minjeong laid Y/N down among the silken sheets, it was as though the world had shifted. She hovered over her, eyes roaming—devoted, reverent, in awe.

Y/N reached up and cupped Minjeong’s face, guiding her down into another kiss. This one was deeper, needier. Their mouths moved with more urgency now, as if finally admitting how long they’d been holding back.

Minjeong’s hand slid down Y/N’s side, brushing the curve of her hip, and Y/N gasped against her lips. Her own hands wandered too, exploring the slope of Minjeong’s back, the strength in her shoulders, the softness where she’d never expected it.

“I love you,” Minjeong murmured between kisses, a confession and a promise all at once.

Y/N’s fingers threaded into her hair, tugging her down again. “Then show me.”

Minjeong paused for a breath, her eyes searching Y/N’s—making sure. And when Y/N nodded softly, a whispered yes hanging in the space between their lips, Minjeong’s hands moved with care.

She reached for the final clasp at the back of Y/N’s gown, her fingers brushing warm skin as she loosened the delicate fabric. The dress slipped from Y/N’s shoulders like a sigh, falling into a pool of silk at her feet. The firelight caught the bare expanse of her skin, making it glow, soft and golden like sunlit honey. Minjeong stilled, her breath caught in her throat, eyes wide as she took her in.

Y/N, glowing and nervous, beautiful and undone.

“You look like something holy,” Minjeong whispered, voice shaking with wonder.

Y/N bit her lip, her cheeks flushed. She reached forward with trembling hands and began undoing the buttons of Minjeong’s suit, one by one, slowly revealing the body beneath—strong, lean, familiar.

Minjeong’s abs glistened with sweat, kissed by the soft heat of the fireplace. The way they tensed slightly beneath Y/N’s fingertips—reactive, alive—made something flutter low in Y/N’s belly. She had seen Minjeong train before, had watched the strength in her movements, the discipline of her form. But here, in the warm, quiet intimacy of candlelight, that strength softened. It wasn’t something to fear or admire from a distance anymore. It was hers to touch, to love, to learn.

Y/N’s hands lingered at Minjeong’s waist, her thumbs brushing over the warm skin just above her hips. Minjeong shivered at the touch, a breath escaping her lips like the first exhale of spring. Their eyes met again—Minjeong’s gaze heavy-lidded, pupils dark with want, but still so tender. Y/N’s own eyes wide, shining with emotion that words couldn’t hold.

Minjeong leaned down and kissed her, slowly, deeply, pouring all of her into it. Her hand cupped the back of Y/N’s head, guiding her gently down onto the mattress. The firelight cast gold across their skin, drawing soft shadows over the curves of Y/N’s body. Minjeong pulled back slightly, just enough to take her in.

“You’re unreal,” she breathed. “Like something dreamt into existence.”

Y/N reached up and ran her fingers along Minjeong’s jaw, her smile small but steady. “Then don’t wake up.”

Minjeong didn’t. Instead, she lowered herself again, her mouth brushing along the line of Y/N’s neck, across her shoulder, down to the swell of her chest. Her hands roamed slowly, reverently, as if she were reading the story of Y/N’s life etched into her skin. Every scar, every shiver, every gasp—Minjeong memorized it all.

The fire crackled beside them, casting flickers of gold and crimson across the sheets. Minjeong’s hair fell like ink across Y/N’s skin, soft and silken, catching the light as she moved. Y/N’s fingers threaded through it, holding her close, grounding herself in the reality of this moment.

Oh

Y/N's back arched when Minjeong's mouth reached her heat. The warm breath against her clit made her let out a loud moan. Every inch of her felt alight, like her nerves had turned into threads of gold under Minjeong's touch.

Minjeong moved slowly, purposefully, her hands splayed on Y/N’s thighs as if anchoring herself—like she was grounding them both in the sanctity of this moment. She kissed her bundle of nerves, and Y/N let out a sound she didn’t recognize, part moan, part plea, all surrender.

Minjeong continued her worship, her mouth soft but purposeful, her tongue moving in slow, deliberate circles around Y/N’s most sensitive point. Her lips pressed with gentle pressure, coaxing wave after wave of shivers from the body beneath her. Y/N writhed beneath her touch, her hips lifting instinctively, seeking more, chasing the pleasure that bloomed like wildfire under her skin.

Her fingers fisted the sheets, white-knuckled, the silk bunching beneath her as she surrendered—utterly and completely—to Minjeong’s rhythm.

Minjeong took her time.

She wasn’t rushed, wasn’t greedy. She moved with devotion, savoring every sound, every breathless moan that fell from Y/N’s lips. She kissed and tasted like it was sacred, like she was learning Y/N all over again with her mouth, her hands, her heart.

When she slid one finger inside, Y/N let out a gasp, her hips jerking. Minjeong’s touch was slow, teasing, the second finger entering with the same reverent pace. Her movements matched the pulse of her tongue—steady, deep, full of intention. The heat between them was thick, the air fragrant with rose oil and sweat and something that was uniquely them.

Y/N’s body responded like it had been waiting for this forever.

Minjeong could feel it in the way Y/N clenched around her fingers, in the way her thighs trembled, her moans rising in pitch. It was raw and real and overwhelming, and it drove Minjeong deeper into the moment.

“Minjeong—” Y/N’s voice broke, high and pleading, a breathless thread of need. “Please… I need—”

Minjeong didn’t answer with words. She didn’t need to.

She curled her fingers gently, pressing against that hidden, aching place inside Y/N, and sealed her lips around her clit, her mouth drawing a deep, perfect rhythm—one she knew instinctively, intimately.

Y/N shattered.

Her scream echoed into the chamber, raw and unrestrained. Her back arched, her body tensing and trembling, thighs clamping around Minjeong’s head as if to keep her close, to keep the moment from slipping away.

Minjeong stayed with her, slowed her pace, her hands gentle as they guided Y/N through the aftershocks. She kissed softly, whispered nothing but breath against sensitive skin as Y/N came down, her body slowly relaxing, melting into the mattress.

When Minjeong rose, her lips swollen, cheeks flushed, Y/N reached for her, pulling her close with shaking arms.

Their foreheads touched, breath mingling in the quiet between them.

Y/N’s voice was hoarse, tear-soft and smiling. “I love you.”

“I love you more.” Minjeong kissed the corner of her mouth, her breath warm against flushed skin. “Think you can give me one more, my queen?”

Y/N’s breath caught, but before she could answer, Minjeong shifted—slow and deliberate—as she slotted her thigh between Y/N’s, guiding their bodies together until the warmth of their centers touched.

The sensation pulled a gasp from both of them.

Minjeong stilled, just for a moment, her forehead resting against Y/N’s, eyes fluttering closed. “Gods,” she whispered. “You feel like fire.”

Y/N’s hands gripped her waist, her thighs tightening around Minjeong’s as she arched upward, seeking friction, seeking more. “Then burn with me.”

And Minjeong did.

They moved slowly at first, hips rolling in a gentle rhythm, the slick heat between them igniting a new kind of urgency. The combination of their wetness made it easy, effortless—the glide of skin on skin sending sparks up their spines, making both of them gasp with every pass. There was no rush, no need to chase something fleeting. This was about feeling. About tasting every heartbeat, every breath, every tremble that passed through them.

Minjeong’s hands found Y/N’s, their fingers intertwining above her head, pressed into the pillow. Their eyes stayed locked, even when pleasure started to unravel them, even when moans spilled from their lips in staggered, breathless harmony.

Y/N’s lips parted on a soft cry, her hips canting up to meet Minjeong’s over and over again. Each grind, each slow, firm roll of their hips built a rhythm that neither of them wanted to break. Their bodies were slick with sweat, the heat between them unbearable in the most beautiful way.

“Minjeong,” Y/N whispered, her voice wrecked, “don’t stop—please.”

“Never,” Minjeong breathed, pressing her lips to Y/N’s jaw, her temple, her mouth. “I want to feel you like this forever.”

Their rhythm stuttered, faltered, grew messier—desperate now, as if their bodies knew this moment would mark something permanent, something written deep in the marrow of their bones. The pleasure coiled tight, like stars gathering just before a supernova.

Minjeong could feel Y/N trembling beneath her, hear the hitch in her breathing, the way her hands clenched and unclenched in hers. She pressed down just a little more, grinding harder, and—

Y/N broke.

She came with a cry, back arching, thighs trembling around Minjeong’s hips, her entire body shuddering with the force of it. Minjeong didn’t stop, couldn’t—because the feeling of Y/N falling apart beneath her, because of her, sent her over the edge too.

Minjeong’s release was quiet but powerful, a breath torn from her chest as she pressed her body close, letting it crash through her. She collapsed onto Y/N’s chest, both of them panting, hearts hammering, skin slick and glowing in the dim, golden light.

They stayed like that, tangled and warm, the aftershocks of pleasure still pulsing gently between them.

Y/N let out a soft, breathless laugh. “Well… that was one hell of a first night.”

Minjeong chuckled, lifting her head to look at her, eyes glinting with affection and something undeniably mischievous. She brushed a kiss over Y/N’s jaw, trailing lower to the edge of her throat before whispering against her skin—

“Who said it was over?”

Y/N’s eyes widened, her breath catching again, and she laughed—bright, disbelieving, filled with wonder. “You’re insatiable.”

Minjeong grinned, lazy and loving, her fingers already tracing idle patterns over Y/N’s stomach. “Only with you.”

The fire crackled softly in the hearth, their shadows dancing along the walls, and the candlelight flickered—unfading, like the promise sealed between them.

And as Minjeong kissed her again, deeper this time, full of heat and devotion and forever, Y/N knew—

Their night was only just beginning.

𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 ; 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭

𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

[fioredeciliego]

uhhhhh

[fioredeciliego]

No need to make promises. I was just worried about you, because of the recent operation. :/ Take your time. :)

:(( ty for thinking about me angel, but no need to worry anymore, i've made a full recovery, just catching up on uni!!

[fioredeciliego]

Hey, are you okay? Not that I'm rushing you to update, but you're normally not this quiet/inactive. Are you still recovering from the operation?

hello! yeah i'm fine dw!! just have been catching up in uni and got a bit of writers block, which is annyoing cuz we're in the last chapter:( but i'll upload soon! i promise

[fioredeciliego]

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝟗

𝐖𝐂: 𝟑.𝟎𝐊

ℑ 𝔩𝔬𝔳𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲, '𝔱𝔦𝔩 𝔎𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔡𝔬𝔪 ℭ𝔬𝔪𝔢

The days leading up to the wedding had been nothing short of overwhelming. Between endless fittings, strategic discussions, and the weight of royal duties, Minjeong barely had a moment to herself. But amid the chaos, one thought had settled deep in her chest—she needed to confess to Y/N.

She didn’t want their marriage to be just a duty, an arrangement dictated by politics. She wanted it to be real. And that meant telling Y/N the truth about her feelings before they exchanged vows.

Easier said than done.

Minjeong had tried countless times over the past week, only to be thwarted by interruptions, her own nerves, or Y/N’s obliviousness. Each failed attempt left her more frustrated, but she refused to give up. She would confess. Tonight.

✠✠✠✠✠✠✠

Minjeong found Y/N alone in the library, the perfect setting: warm candlelight, a quiet atmosphere, just the two of them. 

She took a deep breath, opened her mouth— “Minjeong, I need you in the war room!” General Minho’s voice bellowed from the hall. 

Minjeong clenched her jaw as Y/N blinked at her, waiting. “...I’ll be right back.”

✠✠✠✠✠✠✠

Over dinner, Minjeong planned to subtly confess between bites of their meal. 

She leaned in, trying to make eye contact. “Y/N, I—” But before she could finish, she inhaled a little too quickly, and a piece of bread got lodged in her throat. 

Coughing violently, she waved her hands as Y/N rushed to pat her back.

 “Are you okay?” Y/N asked, concerned. 

Minjeong wheezed, nodding. “Fine,” she rasped, tears in her eyes. “Totally romantic.”

✠✠✠✠✠✠✠

During a stroll through the castle corridors, Minjeong tried to whisper her confession while passing by an open archway. 

“Y/N, I love—” 

“Princess, you’re needed in the throne room!” a knight suddenly shouted nearby, making Minjeong jump and nearly trip over her own feet. 

Y/N, oblivious, simply turned and walked off, leaving Minjeong to glare at the knight. "Great timing, truly."

✠✠✠✠✠✠✠

Minjeong had set up a romantic private balcony dinner, complete with flowers and candlelight. 

As she was about to confess, a strong gust of wind blew through, knocking over the candles and setting part of the tablecloth on fire. 

In her panic, she knocked over a goblet of wine, which spilled onto Y/N’s lap. "Oh my gods—" Minjeong grabbed a napkin, frantically dabbing at Y/N's dress while servants rushed in to extinguish the flames. 

Y/N just stared at the chaos and then at Minjeong. "Was this part of the dinner?" Y/N deadpanned. 

Minjeong groaned. "Not exactly."

✠✠✠✠✠✠✠

The evening air was cool as they walked through the royal gardens, the sky painted in soft shades of lavender and silver as dusk settled in. Minjeong had carefully orchestrated this moment—just the two of them, away from the watchful eyes of the court, no distractions.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the racing of her heart. "Y/N, there's something I need to tell you."

Y/N turned to her, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "What is it?"

Before Minjeong could get the words out, a low rumble of thunder echoed in the distance. She glanced up, her stomach sinking as dark clouds rolled across the sky at an alarming speed.

Y/N sighed. "Looks like rain. We should head back."

Minjeong panicked. No. She wasn’t going to let bad weather ruin this. "Wait, let’s—"

Before she could finish, fat droplets of rain began to fall, quickly escalating into a downpour. Within seconds, they were drenched.

Y/N let out a startled laugh, grabbing Minjeong’s wrist as they ran for cover. The nearest shelter was a stone archway entwined with vines, one they had stood under before, a place with unspoken meaning between them.

Panting, they ducked beneath it, shaking out their soaked hair. Y/N was still laughing softly, the sound warm despite the chill in the air. Minjeong, however, was too preoccupied with the way the rain clung to Y/N’s skin, the way droplets ran down the curve of her neck, how her soaked dress clung to her frame.

Minjeong swallowed hard.

This was perfect. The rain, the intimacy of the moment, the memories tied to this very spot. If there was ever a time to confess, it was now.

She took a shaky breath, willing herself to just say it. "Y/N, I—"

BOOM.

A loud clap of thunder roared above them, making Minjeong yelp as she instinctively flinched. Y/N blinked, watching as Minjeong stood frozen for a second before slumping in pure defeat.

Y/N chuckled, shaking her head. "Minjeong, what is wrong with you today?"

Minjeong let out a dramatic groan, throwing her arms up. "I have been trying to confess to you for days! And every single time, the universe—this stupid universe—won’t let me! Do you know how many times I’ve tried? The library, the dining hall, the corridors, the balcony—and now even the rain won’t let me! I can’t do this anymore!"

Looking back at Y/N’s face, she saw the latter blushing. Minjeong, not realizing that she had just confessed, frowned. "Are you okay? You’re really red—are you feeling sick?"

Y/N, flustered, shook her head rapidly. "Minjeong, you just confessed."

Minjeong froze again, her mouth opening and closing like a fish as she processed what had just left her mouth. Realization dawned on her, followed by pure resignation. "Fuck it," she muttered before looking at Y/N with determined eyes.

"I love you. I have for a long time. I don’t want this marriage to just be for politics. I want it because I want you. The stubborn, impossible, beautiful you. I love how you challenge me, how you care even when you pretend not to, how you look at me like I’m someone worth fighting for. I don’t want duty to bind us. I want us to choose this. To choose each other."

Y/N’s breath hitched, her heart swelling. Swallowing thickly, she took a step closer, voice soft but firm. "Minjeong, you infuriate me. You make me want to throw things half the time, but you also make me feel safe. You drive me mad, but you also make me feel like I can do anything as long as you’re by my side. I love you too."

Minjeong’s breath caught in her throat, their eyes locking, full of warmth, full of something deeper than words could express. They inched closer, the world fading, lips barely apart—

"Princess Y/N ! Princess Minjeong!" Two butlers came rushing toward them with umbrellas.

Minjeong let out a string of curses as Y/N laughed, shaking her head. "Of course."

☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦

The first few days of officially being together were, in a word, chaotic.

Minjeong had expected romance, stolen kisses, and warm embraces. What she got instead was a series of interruptions, awkward encounters, and an ever-growing level of frustration.

It started on the very first morning after their confession. Y/N had barely stepped into the courtyard when Minjeong instinctively reached for her hand, lacing their fingers together with a soft smile. Before either of them could savor the moment, Queen Tiffany’s voice rang out from across the garden.

“Oh! There you two are!”

Minjeong barely managed to yank her hand away before Queen Tiffany practically materialized before them, oblivious to their flustered expressions. She launched into an enthusiastic speech about floral arrangements for the wedding, while Minjeong and Y/N stood there, staring at each other in silent agony.

Later that afternoon, the situation only got worse.

They had managed to find a secluded hallway, away from prying eyes, and Minjeong, emboldened by the privacy, gently cupped Y/N’s face, leaning in slowly—

“Princess! Apologies, but we need your decision on the seating arrangements!”

Minjeong let out a quiet, strangled noise as Y/N sighed and turned to the frazzled steward, who looked completely unaware of the crime he had just committed. Minjeong, on the other hand, sent the poor man a glare so sharp he visibly shrunk under her gaze.

By the third day, it became painfully clear that the universe was against them. They couldn’t hold hands without a noblewoman calling for Y/N’s attention, couldn’t share a quiet moment in the library without a castle worker bursting in with urgent documents, and they certainly couldn’t kiss—

Minjeong had tried. More than once. Each time ended in utter disaster.

Once, it was Queen Seulgi entering Y/N’s chambers unannounced, her eyebrows raising as she found them sitting just a little too close. Another time, Minjeong had leaned in under the dim candlelight of the war room, only for General Minho to swing open the doors and announce his presence at full volume.

By the fifth day, Minjeong was seething.

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered under her breath, pacing in her chambers. “It’s like they know the exact moment to walk in.”

Y/N, who sat nearby, flipping through wedding invitations with an exasperated expression, let out a sigh. “We’re trying to merge two kingdoms, finalize trade agreements, and plan a wedding. Of course, they’re going to be everywhere.”

Minjeong groaned dramatically before dropping onto the couch beside her, head tilted back. “I just want to kiss my fiancée without half the castle showing up!”

Y/N glanced at her, amused despite her own frustrations. “We could always elope.”

Minjeong sat up, eyes wide. “Don’t tempt me.”

But through all of this, they managed to give each other those soft smiles, those shining eyes every time they made eye contact and those brushes of the hands.

Even amidst the chaos, the overwhelming responsibilities, and the ever-present interruptions, Minjeong would still catch Y/N’s gaze across the room, and for just a moment, it would feel like they were the only two people in the world.

During council meetings, when tensions ran high and voices clashed, Y/N’s fingers would briefly brush against Minjeong’s under the table—just a fleeting touch, but enough to ground her, to remind her why they were doing all of this. And in return, Minjeong would nudge Y/N’s foot under the table, a silent reassurance that she was right there with her.

At night, when exhaustion weighed heavy on their shoulders, and the day had left them both drained, they would steal quiet moments in the corridors. A shared glance, a whispered joke, a lingering touch at the small of the back before they were pulled away yet again.

It wasn’t the ideal start to their new chapter, but it was theirs.

☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦

Minjeong had been planning this for days—an escape, just for the two of them. No advisors, no interruptions, no last-minute emergencies pulling them apart. Just her and Y/N, finally alone.

Before the first hint of dawn colored the sky, Minjeong slipped into Y/N’s chambers. She moved quietly, careful not to startle her fiancée awake too abruptly. Instead, she knelt beside the bed and gently brushed a strand of hair from Y/N’s face.

“Y/N,” she whispered, her voice soft but insistent. “Wake up.”

Y/N groaned in protest, burying her face deeper into the pillow. Minjeong bit back a smile before leaning in, her lips brushing just over Y/N’s ear. “I have a surprise for you.”

At that, Y/N peeked one eye open, groggy but intrigued. “Minjeong, it’s barely morning. What could possibly be so important?”

Minjeong grinned, standing and offering her hand. “You’ll see. Come on, trust me.”

Still half-asleep, Y/N allowed Minjeong to pull her to her feet. She barely had time to wrap herself in a warm cloak before she was being led through the quiet halls of the castle. The air outside was crisp, carrying the faint scent of morning dew. The world was still asleep, the sky painted in shades of deep blue and purple as the first signs of sunrise crept in.

When they reached the stables, Y/N’s eyes widened slightly. “We’re riding?”

Minjeong nodded, already saddling one of the horses. “I want to take you somewhere.”

Y/N tilted her head but didn’t argue. Within moments, they were riding through the still-dark landscape, the only sound the soft rustling of trees and the steady rhythm of hooves against the earth. Y/N pressed herself against Minjeong’s back, arms wrapped around her waist as they rode together on the same horse.

The ride was peaceful, the kind of quiet that made Y/N’s heart feel at ease. Minjeong’s warmth, the steady way she handled the reins, the way the cool morning air nipped at their skin—it was perfect.

Finally, after what felt like only moments, Minjeong slowed the horse as they reached their destination. A meadow stretched before them, blanketed in wildflowers and kissed with the golden glow of the rising sun. The castle was nowhere in sight, the world around them still untouched by the morning bustle.

Minjeong dismounted first, then turned to help Y/N down. When their hands met, Y/N squeezed lightly, her lips curling into a sleepy but genuine smile. “This is beautiful.”

Minjeong led her toward the picnic she had set up earlier, a soft blanket spread out with a basket waiting beside it. “I figured we deserved a little peace.”

Y/N laughed softly, sinking onto the blanket as Minjeong settled beside her. “You really planned this?”

Minjeong nodded. “I’d do anything to have you to myself for a little while.”

As the sun crested the horizon, bathing them in golden light, Y/N looked at Minjeong with something soft in her gaze. “You’re ridiculous,” she murmured, but her fingers found Minjeong’s anyway, lacing them together.

Minjeong just smiled. “Maybe. But you love me for it.”

As the sun crested the horizon, bathing them in golden light, Minjeong turned her gaze to Y/N and nearly forgot how to breathe. The morning glow cast a golden halo around her, illuminating every soft curve of her face, making her eyes shimmer like liquid gold. The delicate way her lashes fluttered when she looked up, the faint pink tint dusting her cheeks from the morning chill—it made Minjeong’s heart ache in the most beautiful way. She had been in love with Y/N for so long, but in that moment, it really felt like she fell all over again.

Y/N turned her head, catching Minjeong staring, and their eyes locked. A quiet moment stretched between them, heavy with the weight of unspoken words, of everything they had been holding back for so long. Minjeong’s breath caught as Y/N leaned in ever so slightly, her own heart racing as she followed suit. Their noses brushed, their breaths mingling, and then—

Their lips met.

The kiss was soft at first, hesitant, as if they were both savoring the moment, committing it to memory. But then, years of waiting, of longing, poured into it, turning it into something deeper, more desperate. Y/N’s hands found their way to Minjeong’s jaw, fingers trailing along her skin, pulling her closer. Minjeong melted into her touch, one hand cupping Y/N’s cheek, the other gripping the fabric of her cloak as if she were afraid to let go.

When Y/N pulled back for air, Minjeong instinctively followed, chasing her lips with a soft, impatient sigh. Y/N laughed against her mouth, a light, breathless sound that sent warmth spreading through Minjeong’s chest.

Minjeong opened her eyes, smiling as she found Y/N already grinning at her. “You’re insatiable,” Y/N teased.

Minjeong only chuckled, tilting her head slightly. “You’re just realizing this now?”

Y/N hummed, still breathless, before leaning in again. This time, Minjeong took the lead, her hand sliding to the nape of Y/N’s neck, with the other on her waist, pulling her in for a second kiss. This one was different—slower, deeper, filled with all the words they hadn’t said. Minjeong poured every ounce of devotion, every unspoken promise into it, her lips moving against Y/N’s like they were meant to fit together. Y/N responded in kind, fingers gripping the front of Minjeong’s coat, pulling her impossibly close.

By the time they finally rode back to the castle, the sun was high in the sky, signaling that the morning had long passed into midday. The warmth of their stolen time together still lingered between them as Minjeong pulled the horse to a stop in front of the castle steps.

Helping Y/N down, Minjeong held onto her waist a second longer than necessary, her fingers ghosting over the fabric of Y/N’s cloak. As Y/N turned to head toward her chambers, Minjeong caught her wrist, tugging her back gently.

“Not even a goodbye kiss?” Minjeong teased, her voice low, her gaze locked onto Y/N’s lips.

Y/N rolled her eyes but leaned in, expecting a quick peck. Instead, Minjeong deepened it, one hand slipping to the small of Y/N’s back, pressing her close. The kiss grew languid, unhurried—until Y/N placed a firm hand on Minjeong’s chest, pushing her back with a breathless chuckle.

“Minjeong,” she murmured, amusement dancing in her eyes, “we’re in front of the castle.”

Minjeong groaned, barely resisting the urge to chase after her lips again. “You always ruin my fun.”

Unbeknownst to them, watching from the castle balcony above, four queens stood with knowing smiles, their arms crossed as they observed the scene before them.

“Finally,” Queen Tiffany sighed, shaking her head in fond exasperation.

“It took them long enough,” Queen Seulgi added with a smirk.

Queen Taeyeon chuckled. “Do you think they even realize we’re watching?”

Queen Irene simply smiled, eyes twinkling with warmth. “Let’s leave them be.”

As Minjeong and Y/N disappeared inside, blissfully unaware of their audience, the four queens shared one last look before retreating back inside, satisfied that their daughters had finally found their way to each other.

☦☦☦☦☦☦☦☦

𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 ; 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭

𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭