Jihoon's mother hurried over from the kitchen with an apron still tied around her waist. "My daughter!"
She immediately pulled Y/N into a hug.
Jihoon's older sister leaned over the sofa. "Jihoon said he'd be another twenty minutes. So we get you to ourselves first."
Y/N laughed. "I don't mind."
As she took off her cardigan because of the warm weather, his sister suddenly narrowed her eyes. "...Hold on."
Y/N froze. "What?"
She gently grabbed Y/N's wrist. "...Mom."
His mother looked over. "...Oh my goodness."
Clear finger-shaped bruises wrapped around Y/N's wrist. Not severe. But definitely enough to tell someone had grabbed her hard. His mother's face immediately hardened.
"...Who did this?"
Y/N looked down. "Oh... It looks worse than it is."
His sister crossed her arms. "Y/N."
She already knew the answer. "Was it Jihoon?"
Y/N sighed. "We argued yesterdayâŠ"
Both women gasped.
"He grabbed my wristâ He didn't mean to hurt meâ He just..." She scratched her cheek awkwardly. "...Held on too tightly."
Silence.
His mother's expression slowly transformed into the disappointed look only Korean mothers seemed capable of. "...Han Jihoon..."
His sister stood up. "I've waited twenty years for this moment."
Y/N blinked. "...What moment?"
"I'm finally allowed to yell at him."
"You don't have toâ"
"Oh, I absolutely do." His sister rolled up her sleeves dramatically. "Eomma. Get the spoon ready."
His mother nodded once. "I already have one."
Y/N couldn't stop laughing. "It really wasn't that serious!"
His sister pointed at the bruises. "You have fingerprints on your arm."
"I bruise easily!"
"Doesn't matter. He should never grab you hard enough to leave marks."
Y/N opened her mouth. Closed it. Fair enough.
About twenty minutes later, the front door opened.
"I'm home!" Jihoon's cheerful voice echoed through the house.
"...Why is it so quiet?"
He stepped into the living room. Immediately, three pairs of eyes stared at him. "...Uh..."
His sister cracked her knuckles. His mother folded her arms. Y/N looked anywhere but at him.
Jihoon slowly pointed at himself. "...Did I forget somebody's birthday?"
His sister marched toward him. "Explain."
"...Explain what?"
She grabbed his wrist and held it up beside Y/N's bruised one. "These."
Jihoon's smile disappeared. "...Oh. I... I know. I already apologized."
His mother sighed. "Jihoon."
"What?"
"You know better."
"I do."
"So why were you grabbing her like that?"
Jihoon looked guilty. "I wasn't thinking."
His mother opened her mouth, then suddenly stopped. "...Wait."
She blinked. "Jihoon. What happened to your face?"
Everyone turned.Only then did they notice the dark bruise around Jihoon's left eye.
His sister burst out laughing. "JIHOON, you have a black eye!"
Jihoon rubbed the back of his neck. "YeahâŠ"
His mother looked horrified. "Who hit you?!"
There was a long silence. Jihoon glanced toward Y/N. Y/N slowly looked at the ceiling. "..."
His sister followed his gaze. Then, slowly, her eyes widened. She looked at Y/N. Then Jihoon. Then back. âY/N?!â
Y/N coughed awkwardly. "...I... May have punched him."
Another silence.
His mother blinked. "...You?"
Jihoon immediately waved both hands. "Before anyone says anythingâ I deserved it."
His sister looked like she was trying very hard not to laugh. "Explain,"
Jihoon sighed dramatically. "We argued. I grabbed her wrist too hard."
Y/N immediately interrupted. "I told him to let go. He didn't."
"I wasn't squeezing harder!" Jihoon defended himself. "I just... Didn't let go. So..."
Y/N looked embarrassed. "âŠI punched him."
His sister stared. âIn the eye?"
"...It was supposed to be the shoulder."
Jihoon nodded. "Her aim needs work."
Y/N covered her face. "I SAID I WAS SORRY."
"You did. Like..." He started counting on his fingers. âTwenty-eight times."
His sister couldn't hold it anymore. She doubled over laughing. "Oh my gosh."
His mother looked at Y/N's bruised wrist, then Jihoon's black eye, then back again.
"...Well." She nodded thoughtfully. "I was going to discipline Jihoon."
She pointed toward his face. âBut it seems someone already handled that."
Jihoon looked betrayed. "Mom!"
"What?"
"You learned your lesson, didn't you?"
"...Very much."
His sister wiped tears of laughter from her eyes.
"So..." She looked at Jihoon. "You grabbed her too hard."
"Mhm."
She looked at Y/N. "You punched him."
"...Mhm."
Another pause. Then she clapped once. "Perfect."
Both of them looked at her. "...What?"
"You two are even."
Jihoon frowned. "I still have a black eye."
Y/N immediately lifted her bruised wrist. "I still have fingerprints."
"...Fair."
His mother walked over and gently patted both of them on the shoulders. "Good."
They blinked. "...Good?"
She smiled warmly.
"You both know how to apologize. You both admitted you were wrong. Andââ She looked between them. "You've clearly learned that fighting hurts both of you."
Jihoon quietly reached for Y/N's hand. This time he only hooked his pinky around hers. "...Better?"
Y/N smiled. âMuch."
His sister immediately pointed. "Pinky privileges until further notice."
Jihoon groaned dramatically. âI've been demoted."
"You've been supervised," his sister corrected with a grin.
Y/N couldn't help laughing. Jihoon looked over at her, smiling despite the bruise around his eye.
"...At least your aim really is terrible."
She gasped. "My aim?"
"You missed my shoulder by that much." He held up two fingers.
"...Next time I'll aim better."
His mother immediately raised a wooden spoon.
"There will be no next time!"
The room erupted into laughter, and even Jihoon couldn't help joining in, one hand instinctively coming up to protect his already sore eye.
The dorm was unusually quiet. Practice had ended hours ago, but Kyungmin hadn't come back to his room. Y/N frowned as she glanced at the time on her phone.
11:47 PM.
He had texted her earlier saying practice ran late, but that had been nearly three hours ago. She knew him well enough by now. When Kyungmin was happy, he wanted everyone around him. When he was struggling he disappeared.
The rooftop door creaked softly as Y/N pushed it open. The cool night air greeted her immediately. There he was. Sitting on the concrete with his knees pulled to his chest, hoodie covering part of his face as he stared blankly at the city lights. He didn't notice her. Not until she quietly closed the door behind her. "...Kyungmin?"
He looked over his shoulder. His eyes were red. Not from the cold. From crying. "...Hey."
His smile was small. Too small. The kind that tried to convince someone everything was fine. It never worked on her. She walked over without saying anything and sat beside him.Â
Neither of them spoke.
The city buzzed beneath them while the wind gently tugged at the strings of his hoodie. Finally, he sighed. "I was hoping you wouldn't find meâŠ"
"I didnât expect it from myself."
"How?"
"You disappear to quiet places whenever something hurts."
He blinked. "I do?"
"You've done it for quite some times."
A faint laugh escaped him. "I didn't even realize."
Another silence settled between them. This one wasn't uncomfortable. It was simply waiting. Eventually "I don't know if I can keep up anymore."
His voice barely rose above a whisper. "The schedules keep getting busier. Practice, recording, filming, trying to improve..." He rubbed his face roughly. "I feel like I'm always behind."
Y/N stayed quiet. He wasn't looking for solutions. He just needed someone to hear him. "I watch the older members and they always know what they're doing. I make mistakes. I forget choreography. I mess up recordings. I smile in front of cameras even when I barely have enough energy to stand."
He laughed bitterly. âI wanted this so badly. So why does it feel so hard?"
Y/N slowly reached over. Their pinkies touched first. Then her fingers slipped between his. No words. Just warmth. Kyungmin stared at their joined hands.Â
"Do you remember..." His voice cracked. "the day you collapsed at practice?"
Y/N looked over at him. "The hospital?"
He nodded slowly. "I remember sitting beside your bed thinking I should've noticed sooner."
His eyes stayed fixed on their intertwined hands. "You kept telling everyone you were fine. You smiled. You came to watch me practice. And I believed you."
He swallowed hard. "When you didn't wake up..." His voice faltered for a moment. "...I was terrified."
Y/N squeezed his hand gently. "I remember waking up. You wouldn't let me sit up by myself."
A tiny smile appeared on her lips. "You adjusted my pillow. Made me drink water. You even checked if my IV tube was bent. You hovered over me the entire time."
A quiet, breathless laugh escaped him. "You called me bossy."
"I did."
"You asked if I'd cried.â
âAnd you said no."
"I lied." His shoulders slumped as he finally admitted it. "I cried. I thought..." He shook his head, unable to finish the sentence. Y/N shifted a little closer until their shoulders touched.
"You remember what you told me that day?"
Kyungmin frowned slightly.
"Which one?"
She smiled softly. "Doctor's orders."
His expression softened immediately. "You rest. I'll worry."
For the first time that night, a genuine smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "You made me promise I'd stop pretending I was okay." She turned fully toward him. "So..."
She gently squeezed his hand once more. "...let me use my girlfriend card."
Kyungmin looked at her in confusion. She smiled exactly the way he had in that hospital room months ago. "You don't have to keep saying you're fine when you're not. You took care of me then."
Her free hand rose to brush a few strands of hair away from his forehead, just as he had done for her while she lay unconscious in that hospital bed. "So now, it's my turn to worry, you res.t"
His eyes shimmered.
Not because she'd solved anything. The schedules were still waiting. Practice would still begin tomorrow. The pressure hadn't disappeared.
But somehow...
Just hearing those words "It's my turn.â made the weight on his shoulders feel a little less impossible to carry.
He leaned forward. Slowly. Carefully. Until his forehead rested against hers.
The city lights blurred behind her. "I don't say this enough."
His voice was quiet. "But..." He swallowed. "I love you."
She froze.
She'd never heard those words. Yet how he said them with no teasing, no embarrassment, no rushed mumble, just honesty.
"I love you." He said it again. "I love you when things are easy. I love you when I'm exhausted. I love you when I'm scared. I love you when I don't even feel like myself."
His fingers tightened around hers. "And somehow...You still stay."
His eyes shimmered again. "I don't know what I did to deserve that."
Y/N smiled through her own tears. "You don't have to deserve love." She leaned forward the remaining inch between them and kissed him softly.
When they pulled apart, she rested her forehead against his once more. "I love you too."
The words came easily. "I'll keep choosing you. Even on the days you can't choose yourself." Kyungmin closed his eyes.
For the first time in weeks, the weight on his chest felt lighter.
Not because his schedules had changed.
Not because idol life had suddenly become easier.Â
But because he finally allowed someone to carry part of that weight with him.Â
And in the quiet of the rooftop, wrapped in the warmth of the girl who had once hidden from thunderstorms in his arms, Kyungmin realized something. Back then, she had been his shelter. Now, theyâve become each otherâs.
Over the years, your relationship with Kyungmin became a collection of quiet moments rather than grand gestures. It was never about dramatic declarationsâit was in the way he remembered your fears, the way you learned each other's habits, and the countless promises hidden inside ordinary days.
One rainy afternoon after school, you insisted on staying behind to study for an upcoming competition. Kyungmin had worried about leaving you alone, especially after seeing the dark clouds rolling in, but eventually agreed when you reassured him you'd be fine.
You weren't.
As thunder cracked across the empty school building, your pen slipped from your fingers. Another deafening rumble followed, and before you knew it, you were crouched beneath your desk with your hands covering your ears, struggling to breathe.
You whispered the only name that came to mind.
"Kyungmin..."
Again.
And again.
Until suddenlyâ
"I'm right here, Sweetie."
You looked up through teary eyes to find him kneeling beside you, wrapping you in his arms. He admitted he'd only gone to the nearby convenience store to buy snacks because he didn't want you studying on an empty stomach. The moment the storm began, he'd rushed back knowing exactly how frightened you'd be.
Instead of returning to your books, you spent the evening sitting together on a classroom chair, you tucked safely in his lap while he fed you jelly candies one by one.
Outside, the rain continued.
Inside, it felt as though the storm no longer existed.
Dating wasn't always perfect.
One evening, after weeks of busy schedules, you visited Kyungmin hoping to spend a peaceful night together.
Instead, exhaustion got the better of him. He snapped. Called you clingy. Said he never asked you to come.Â
The words hurt far more than either of you expected. You quietly picked up your bag and left without raising your voice. The silence afterward became unbearable. Only once the room was empty did Kyungmin realize he'd directed an entire day's worth of stress toward the person who had only wanted to comfort him.
After pacing around alone for what felt like forever, he finally swallowed his pride and sent a message. "I'm really sorry... I took it out on you. You didn't deserve that. Can we talk?"
It became one of the first lessons of your relationship.
Love wasn't never making mistakes.
It was choosing to apologize before pride became bigger than the relationship itself.
Thankfully, most days looked nothing like that.
Most days looked like blankets scattered across Kyungmin's room while "Lucky to Be Loved" quietly played through a speaker.
He'd lean against your shoulder complaining about practice, insisting you stay exactly where you were because you made the world's greatest pillow. "You don't know how much I treasure moments like this."
You'd simply smile before mouthing the lyrics as the chorus played. "Lucky to be loved by you."
His eyes always widened every single time.
As if hearing it from you never got old.
There were nights when your roles reversed.
One night Kyungmin woke from a nightmare trembling so badly he could barely breathe.
Rather than letting him brush it off, you held him close while gently stroking his hair.
"You're safe."
"Youâre loved."
"And you're not alone."
He slowly relaxed against your chest untilâ
Grrrr...
Your stomach growled loudly enough to ruin the emotional atmosphere.
Instead of laughing at you, Kyungmin climbed out of bed. "Want to do something stupid?"
At nearly three in the morning, the two of you wandered to a convenience store in oversized hoodies, buying ramen, banana milk, onigiri and chips under fluorescent lights.
By the time you returned home, neither the nightmare nor your hunger remained.
Only sleepy laughter.
The ordinary moments became his favorite.
Sometimes he'd wake before sunrise simply to watch you sleeping peacefully beside him.
Tracing your features with his eyes, he'd quietly thank you for staying beside him through every rehearsal, every busy schedule and every difficult day.
He'd kiss your hand while whispering words you'd never hear because you were still asleep.
"I love you 24/7... 365."
Even in sleep, your fingers somehow found his.
Kyungmin's love language often revolved around food.
When you quietly left hurt, he abandoned his game without hesitation.
Instead of making excuses, he apologized sincerely before disappearing into a nearby convenience store.
He returned carrying steaming cups of ramen.
"What about... you eat this and join me?"
Soon enough, you found yourself sitting beside him gaming while the other members teased him relentlessly for running after his girlfriend.
He didn't care.
There were countless smaller memories too.
Sharing a Pepero stick until he cleverly turned the game into a surprise kiss.
Building pillow forts during supervised sleepovers, only for him to sneak into your bed later just to hug you from behind.
Loaning you every hoodie he owned because secretly he loved wearing them again afterward when they still smelled like your shampoo.
Always preferring to be the big spoon, although he never complained whenever you wrapped your arms around him instead.
Perhaps the most meaningful memory came on a quiet Saturday evening.
Kyungmin invited you to a bridge overlooking the river just before sunset.
There, he handed you a small silver ring engraved with a single word. Promise.
"It isn't an engagement ring," he explained shyly.
"It's just... my promise."
"No matter how busy life gets..."
"I'll keep choosing you."
You couldn't stop smiling through your tears.
The date ended not with elegance, but with the two of you laughing uncontrollably as Kyungmin insisted on riding a playground slide together before crossing the bridge hand in hand.
Your laughter echoed through the empty park.
The silver ring caught the glow of the streetlights.
And as your fingers intertwined once more, you realized something.
Winter break ended almost as quickly as it came. For most seniors at Hanlim, the new semester meant one thing. University entrance exams. Y/N's schedule quickly became packed. One week she'd be interviewing at one university. The next she'd be taking practical exams somewhere else. Another week she'd barely come to school because of written tests.Â
Kyungmin noticed the changes immediately. Her peach juice became iced americanos. She smiled less. The dark circles beneath her eyes slowly returned.
"How many hours did you sleep?" he asked one morning.
Y/N thought for a second. "Three?"
"...Y/N."
"What?"
"Three isn't enough."
"I'll sleep after exam season."
"That's not how sleeping works."
She simply laughed and walked ahead.
Kyungmin started keeping track without telling her. He made sure breakfast found its way into her locker every morning. A triangle kimbap. Warm soy milk. Sometimes a handwritten sticky note. Eat first. Study second.
Whenever she forgot lunch, he somehow appeared. âHere."
She blinked. "How did you know I forgot?"
"You forgot yesterday too."
"...You're scary."
"I just pay attention."
Some days she barely replied to his messages. Not because she didn't want to. Because she had fallen asleep while studying. Kyungmin never got upset. Instead, he'd simply send one message before bed.
Kyungmin: Sleep well. Good luck tomorrow.
When she woke up, it was always waiting.
The week of her biggest entrance examination finally arrived. Everyone could tell she was exhausted. Even her teachers stopped assigning extra homework.
"You look pale," one classmate muttered.
"I'm fine."
"You said that yesterday."
"I'm still fine."
She wasn't.
The morning after her final exam, Kyungmin texted her:
Kyungmin: Practice today?
Y/N: Mhm.
Kyungmin: Come if you're feeling okay.
Y/N: I promised I'd watch.
That afternoon, TWS practiced for nearly two hours. Kyungmin kept glancing toward the mirror. Toward the corner where Y/N usually sat. She was there. Cross-legged. Watching quietly. He smiled. She gave him a tiny thumbs-up.
During their break, he walked over. âHungry?"
"A little."
He handed her a sandwich he'd bought earlier. âEat."
She obediently took one bite. "Good."
Then another. She stood up to refill her when suddenlyâ She suddenly frowned. "...Kyungmin."
"Hm?"
"...I feel..."
The sandwich slipped from her hand. Her eyes lost focus. "...Y/N?"
She swayed. Before she could hit the floor, Kyungmin caught her. "...Y/N!"
The music stopped instantly. Dohoon turned around. "What happened?"
Youngjae was already calling for the manager. Shinyu hurried over. âMove the chairs."
Jihoon grabbed a bottle of water. Hanjin looked completely panicked. "Y/N?"
Kyungmin knelt on the floor, supporting Y/N against him. "...Hey." His voice stayed calm despite the fear tightening in his chest. "Can you hear me?"
No response. "Y/NâŠ" His grip on her hand never loosened.
Hours later, The hospital room was quiet. Only the steady beeping of the heart monitor filled the air. Kyungmin quietly pulled a chair beside the bed. Y/N looked so peaceful that, for a brief moment, it almost didn't feel real. He carefully reached over, brushing a few strands of hair away from her forehead. "You scared me." His voice barely rose above a whisper. "You always tell me you're fine. Even when you're notâŠ"
He looked down at their intertwined hands. "I should've noticed sooner." He rested his forehead lightly against the back of her hand. "I'm sorry."
Minutes passed.
The room remained silent.
Thenâ
"...Mm..."
Kyungmin's head shot up immediately. "Y/N?"
Her eyelashes fluttered. She blinked slowly against the bright hospital lights before looking around the unfamiliar room. "The...Hospital?" Her voice was hoarse.
The moment her eyes landed on Kyungmin, his entire expression softened. "Hey."
She smiled weakly. "Hi."
Before she could even think about sitting up, Kyungmin was already adjusting the bed for her. "Slowly. You'll get dizzy."
"I can sitâ"
"No."
He pressed the button until the bed lifted into a comfortable angle. "There, comfortable?"
She blinked. âYeah."
He grabbed the cup of water from the bedside table. "Small sips."
She obediently took the cup. One sip. He watched. "Another."
She laughed softly. "You're so bossy."
"I'm making sure you drink."
"I am drinking."
"Wellâ your not drinking enough."
After another sip, he carefully took the cup back before she accidentally strained herself. "Enough for now."
She watched him fuss over every little thing. He straightened the blanket over her legs. Adjusted her pillow. Checked whether the IV tube was bent. Moved the chair closer. "Kyungmin."
"Hm?"
"You're hovering."
"I'm taking care of you."
She smiled. "You're acting like I've broken every bone in my body."
"You fainted."
"I know."
His voice grew quieter. "You didn't answer."
Only then did Y/N notice it. His eyes looked tired. His hair was messy from repeatedly running his hands through it. There were faint marks where he'd been nervously biting his lip.
"Did you cry?"
He immediately looked away. "No."
"You did."
"Maybe a little."
She reached over, gently touching the corner of his eye with her thumb. "I'm sorry."
He caught her hand before she could pull it away. "Don't apologize." He smiled, though it was still tinged with relief. "Just don't do it again."
She lowered her gaze. "I'll try."
He gently shook his head. "Not 'try.' Promise me, please?"
She looked back at him. There was no teasing in his voice. Only worry and sincerity. Y/N slowly nodded. "I promise."
His shoulders finally relaxed. "Good."
For a while, neither of them spoke. The silence wasn't uncomfortable. Kyungmin simply sat beside her bed, absentmindedly tracing small circles across the back of her hand.
Y/N watched him. "...You know..."
"Hm?"
"I think you're even moodier than I am when you're worried."
He let out a quiet laugh. "Shut up."
"I didn't know you could fuss this much."
"I didn't either."
She smiled. "It's kind of nice."
He looked at her. "Good to hear."
Then, after hesitating for only a second, he leaned forward. Very gently, he pressed a kiss against her forehead. "So..."
he murmured with a small smile, "...Doctor's orders."
She tilted her head. "What orders?"
"You rest. I'll worry."
"...That doesn't sound very fair."
"It isn't."
He intertwined their fingers once more. "But you have no choice because I'll be right here until you're well enough to argue with me again."
Y/N laughed. âAlright, guess you're finally using your âboyfriend cardâ?â
On New Year's Eve. For most people, it meant spending the last night of the year with the people they loved. For Kyungmi, it meant another award show.
The backstage area buzzed with stylists, cameras, and staff calling out last-minute instructions. TWS had just finished their final performance of the night. Confetti still clung to Kyungmin's black stage jacket as he bowed with the members.
"Thank you!"
"Happy New Year!"
The crowd roared one final time. Fireworks erupted outside the arena. A giant digital clock appeared on the stage screen. Kyungmin checked the time.
11:42 PM.
Only eighteen minutes left.
Dohoon noticed immediately. "You're doing it again."
Kyungmin blinked. "Doing what?"
"Checking the clock every thirty seconds."
Youngjae laughed. "You've done it since rehearsal."
Jihoon folded his arms. "Go."
Kyungmin looked up. "What?"
"Go." Shinyu smiled. "We've already finished."
Hanjin grinned. "Your girlfriend's waiting."
Kyungmin hesitated. âIs it okay?"
Dohoon shoved his shoulder. "If you don't leave now, you're spending New Year's with me."
"...That's terrifying."
"HEY."
Everyone laughed. Within two minutes, Kyungmin had changed into a hoodie, thrown on a beanie, grabbed the neatly wrapped gift he'd hidden in the dressing room, and sprinted toward the waiting van.
The roads were packed. Cars barely moved. People crowded the sidewalks counting down the final minutes of the year. Kyungmin stared anxiously through the window.Â
11:53 PM.
"...Come on..." Traffic stopped again. He groaned. "...Hyung."
The manager looked in the mirror. "Hm?" "...Can I get out here?"
"It's still fifteen minutes away."
"I'll run."
"...You'll run?"
"Mhm."
The manager looked outside. Then back at the determined eighteen-year-old.
He sighed. "Don't get recognized."
"I'll try!"
Before anyone could change their mind Kyungmin was already running. His breath turned into little white clouds in the cold air. Past convenience stores. Past families taking pictures. Past children holding sparklers. His phone vibrated.
Y/N: How's the award show?
He smiled while running.
Kyungmin: Almost done.
Y/N: Dad keeps asking if idols ever get holidays.
Kyungmin: Tell him... not really.
Y/N: That's sad.
Kyungmin: A little.
He didn't tell her he was already halfway to her house.
11:57 PM.
He finally stopped in front of the familiar two-story home. "...Made it..."
He bent over, catching his breath. The upstairs bedroom light was on. Y/N's room. Perfect. He looked around the yard. "...It wont be a surprise so I can't exactly ring the doorbell..."
He spotted a few small pebbles near the flower bed. "Sorry."
He gently tossed one.
Tap.
Nothing. Another.
Tap.
Still nothing. One more.
Tok.
The curtain moved. "Yes,"
A silhouette appeared. Then disappeared. She's coming.
Kyungmin smiled to himself. Unti the front door suddenly opened. "...Oh."
It wasn't Y/N. It was her father. Standing in slippers. Arms folded. Looking directly at him. Kyungmin's brain immediately stopped functioning.
"G-good evening, sir."
Silence.
"..."
"..."
Then her father looked down at the tiny rocks scattered across the front yard. "Were you throwing rocks at my daughter's window?"
"..." Kyungmin considered lying. "Yes. Iâm sorry."
Another long silence. Then her father sighed. "You're going to break my windows."
"..."
"Come inside instead."
"What?"
"You heard me."
"...Sir?"
"It's cold. Come in."
Kyungmin stood frozen. This wasn't how he'd imagined meeting her father.
The warm smell of grilled meat greeted him the moment he stepped inside. The house was full. Grandparents. Aunts. Uncles. Little cousins running around with party hats. Someone was arranging fruit on the dining table. Someone else was arguing over who cheated during cards.
The moment Kyungmin entered, every conversation stopped.
"...Who's that?"
Y/N's father answered casually while taking off his slippers. "Oh. This is Y/N's boyfriend."
Kyungmin almost choked on air. "S-sirâ"
"What? You are."
"...Yes, sir."
One aunt immediately gasped. "He's handsome!"
A grandmother smiled brightly. "Come here, dear!"
A little cousin tugged on Kyungmin's sleeve. "Oppa, do you play games?"
"...Sometimes?"
"You're sitting next to me."
"Okay."
Before he even realized what was happening, someone handed him a plate. Another person filled his cup with juice. Someone else insisted he try homemade tteokguk. "Eat."
"Yes, thank you."
He looked around desperately. "Where's Y/N?"
Meanwhile, upstairs, Y/N stepped out of her room after hearing the front door. "...Dad?" No answer. She frowned. "...Dad?"
She walked downstairs. "...Who wasâ"
She stopped halfway down the staircase. Her entire extended family was gathered around the dining table. And right in the middle of them sat Kyungmin.
Looking utterly overwhelmed as her grandmother piled more food onto his plate. "Eat more."
âThank you, Grandma."
"Call me Halmeoni."
"Y-yes, Halmeoni."
One uncle clapped him on the back. "So! When are you taking our Y/N to marry?"
Kyungmin's face turned bright red.
Y/N stared in complete disbelief. "...Kyungmin?"
Every head turned toward her. Her father looked up from slicing fruit. "Oh! there you are. I found your boyfriend outside throwing rocks at your window."
"...He was WHAT?"
Kyungmin slowly looked up at her. "Happy New Year?"
She blinked. Then burst into laughter so suddenly she had to hold onto the staircase railing.Â
"...You..." She couldn't stop laughing. "...You met my entire family..."
Kyungmin rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"...It wasn't exactly the plan."
After Y/N calms down she took Kyungminâs hand away from the table. âAlright everyone, go back to your fun before!â She pulls him upstairs to her room. âDad! No cousins up my room alright??â
Her father chuckled as he checked the clock on the wall.
11:58
The room fell into a comfortable silence. It wasn't the first time Kyungmin had seen her room. He'd only ever seen it through video calls. Seeing it in person somehow felt... different. Books lined one shelf. Hair clipsâmany of which he'd given herâwere clipped neatly onto a small cork board, one sheâs wearing right now is 3D version of a yellow chick. A Polaroid camera rested on her desk. Beside it, their Christmas photo framed.
Kyungmin smiled to himself. "Itâs cuter now that you displayed it."
Y/N followed his gaze. "Of course I did."
She walked over and picked up the picture. "It's my favorite."
"Already?"
"Mhm." She placed it back carefully.
"...Now." She crossed her arms. "You."
"...Me?"
"You came all the way here, because you miss me?"
"Maybe."
She stepped closer. "You skipped resting after an award show, just to see me?"
"YesâŠ"
"And you threw rocks at my window."
"Definitely."
She couldn't help laughing.
"You're ridiculous."
"Worth it?"
She looked at him for a second. Then smiled. "Worth it."
Y/N reached up and straightened the beanie that had become crooked from all his running. "Your hair's a mess."
"I was sprinting."
"I noticed."
She fixed one stubborn strand before gently patting it back into place. "There."
"Thank you sweetie" He smiled at her, pulling her waist making her sit on his lap as she too laid her head on top of him. She looked at him, really looked at him. There were still faint traces of stage makeup around the corners of his eyes. His cheeks were pink from running through the winter air. He looked exhausted. âYou're tired."
"A little."
"Idiot."
"You've said that a lot lately."
"I'll say it again."
She reached up and lightly pinched his cheek. "Idiot."
He laughed before catching her wrist gently. "Oh?"
"You've become brave."
"Maybe."
"You keep bullying me."
"I'm dating you."
"That's your excuse?"
"Mhm."
Kyungmin chuckled before giving her hand a tiny tug. The two of them stood side by side, looking out across the neighborhood. Families had stepped outside. Children waved sparklers. Some neighbors were already counting down early. Kyungmin rested his shoulder lightly against hers. "I'm glad I made it."
She hummed. "Me too."
Downstairs, someone shouted, "One minutes!"
Y/N smiled. "They're impatient."
"Mhm."
Another voiceâ
"Get the drinks ready!"
A cousin yelled, "WHERE'S NOONA?"
Y/N immediately whispered, "Pretend we're not here."
Kyungmin nodded seriously. "Alright,"
A few seconds later, tiny footsteps raced down the hallway. Both of them froze.
"..."
"..."
The footsteps passed right by her room. Y/N let out the breath she'd been holding. "That was close."
Kyungmin laughed. "You're hiding from your own family."
"I'm protecting our peace."
The clock on her desk quietly changed.
11:59:30.
The sounds downstairs grew louder.
Y/N looked toward Kyungmin. "Happy almost New Year."
He smiled. "Happy almost New Year." "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For coming."
"For meeting my family⊠Even if it wasn't supposed to happen like that."
Kyungmin chuckled. "I think your Halmeoni adopted me."
"She definitely did." They both laughed. Then, the countdown began downstairs. "Ten!"
The voices echoed through the house. "Nine!"
Kyungmin looked at Y/N. "Eight!"
She looked back. "Seven!"
Neither of them said anything. "Six!"
She moved a little closer. "Five!"
He brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Four!"
She smiled softly. "Three!"
Their foreheads almost touched. "Two!"
"Happy New Year, Y/N."
"One!"
"Happy New Year, Kyungmin."
Fireworks exploded across the night sky. "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
At the exact stroke of midnight, Kyungmin leaned forward. This time, neither of them hesitated. Their lips met in a soft New Year's kiss, gentle and lingering, while bursts of color lit up the room through the window behind them. When they finally pulled away, they stayed close enough that their noses almost brushed.
Y/N smiled first. "Second New Year's resolution."
Kyungmin blinked. "Second?"
"My first was to stop overthinking."
"And the second?"
She laughed quietly. "Kiss you more than twice a year."
Kyungmin's ears turned bright red. "...I... fully support that resolution."
She giggled, hiding her face against his shoulder.
From downstairs, her father suddenly shouted loud enough for the entire house to hear,
"Y/N! Kyungmin! If you're done being romantic, come eat the tteokguk before your uncle finishes everything!"
The two of them froze. Then burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"...He definitely knew," Y/N mumbled.
Kyungmin nodded, still laughing. "...I think everyone knew."
December arrived as Hanlim's trees had long since turned bare, and strings of colorful lights now wrapped around the campus fences. Christmas songs played softly through the speakers during lunch, and every classroom had somehow acquired tinsel despite teachers repeatedly asking students not to decorate.
The school festival marked the final major event before winter break.
This year's highlight?
A Christmas play.
"...How did you get the female lead?" Kyungmin asked as Y/N flipped through the thick script.
She shrugged. "I auditioned."
"...Why?"
"I was bored."
"...That's the most Y/N answer ever."
She grinned. "What about you?"
Kyungmin held up his script. "...Tree number three."
She blinked. "...What?"
"I'm kidding."
He flipped another page. "...I'm Ensemble Number Five."
"...You have one line."
"I know."
She burst into laughter. "'Merry Christmas, everyone!'"
"...Don't."
"I've memorized it."
"...Please don't."
"'Merry Christmas, everyone!'"
"...Y/N."
She laughed even harder.
Rehearsals quickly filled every afternoon.
Kyungmin spent most of his time helping move props and practicing group choreography. Meanwhile Y/N was almost always on stage. The play centered around a girl finding love during Christmas, and unfortunately a romance scene.
The first time Kyungmin watched rehearsal, he told himself he'd be mature. "It's acting. It's literally acting. You're an idol. You film things all the time. Don't be weird." He repeated that to himself. Until the male lead gently took Y/N's hand during rehearsal.
Kyungmin stared.
The director clapped excitedly. "Good!â
Kyungmin looked away. Then immediately looked back.
"...Kyungmin."
"Hm?" He looked back and his eyes widened. Dohoon had dropped by Hanlim after a schedule to watch rehearsals. He leaned against the backstage wall with an amused smile. "...You're pouting."
"What the heck are you doing?! ⊠and I'm not."
"You absolutely are."
"I'm just looking out for her."
"You're jealous."
"...No."
Youngjae looked over. "He's jealous."
Hanjin nodded. "Very."
Shinyu chuckled quietly. "It's only acting."
Kyungmin straighten himself after seeing the two more hyungs. "I know that. I know ...I still don't like it."
The members laughed.
The day of the festival arrived, parents, friends, teachers. The auditorium was completely full. Kyungmin nervously adjusted his costume. Y/N walked past wearing the lead costume. "...Pretty."
She smiled. "Thanks."
He hesitated. "Good luck."
"You too, Ensemble Number Five."
"You're never letting that go."
"How could I? The great Kyungmin from TWS is an ensemble."
âWe have other idol students in this school-â
The performance went perfectly. The audience laughed. They cried. They applauded. Then the romance scene. The prince reached for Y/N's hand. The audience collectively sighed. Kyungmin stood backstage waiting for his entrance. He knew. He knew it wasn't real. Still he couldn't help looking away.
After the final curtain call the audience gave a standing ovation. Students ran around backstage celebrating.Â
"Great job!"
"You were amazing!"
Y/N finally found Kyungmin near the prop room. "Hey!"
He smiled. "Hey,"
"You're quiet."
"Am I?" She tilted her head. "You're jealous."
"...Maybe a little."
She couldn't help smiling. "Idiot."
"I know."
She reached up and lightly straightened his slightly crooked Santa hat. "It was acting, plus we didnât had any kiss scene. This play is about finding love, but hey!- atleast I slap the prince as a comedy."
"I know."
"I was looking for you in the audience afterward."
His expression softened. "...Really?"
"Mhm." She glanced around.
The hallway was empty. Only decorations remained. One of the teachers had hung mistletoe above the backstage exit.Â
Y/N looked up. "...Oh."
Kyungmin followed her gaze. "A mistletoe."
"..."
"...That's awkward."
She rolled her eyes. "Not really."
Before he could react, she stepped forward, held onto the front of his blazer and kissed him. Soft. Sweet. Just long enough to make his jealousy completely disappear. When she pulled away, she smiled. "Better baby?"
Kyungmin laughed. "Much."
After the fun play, Kyungmin dragged Y/n out from the school with the companyâs van in front of them. "Where are we going?" Y/n giggled as she entered the van and looked out the car window.
Kyungmin smiled mysteriously. "It's a surprise."
"I don't like surprises."
"You'll like this one."
"...Maybe."
The car eventually stopped in front of the HYBE building. Y/N blinked. "You brought me here?"
"Mhm."
"Why?"
"Come on."
The moment the elevator doors opened, the lights suddenly dimmed.
"Kyungmin?"
"Just keep walking." his voice fading slightly.
"Why does this feel suspicious?"
Soft Christmas music suddenly began playing. Then, Dohoon appeared. Wearing a red blazer. Holding a bouquet of white roses. "Welcome."
Y/N froze. "What."
Before she could process anything Youngjae gracefully walked in from the opposite side carrying another bouquet.
Then Hanjin.
Then Jihoon.
Then Shinyu.
The five older members formed two neat lines.
"..." Y/N slowly looked at Kyungmin in front of her. "...Did you..."
He looked anywhere but her. "Maybe."
Dohoon dramatically announced, "Presentingâ The honorary little sister of TWS!"
The members began dramatically escorting her down the hallway as though she were attending an awards ceremony. Dohoon bowed exaggeratedly before handing her flowers. "Merry Christmas."
Youngjae followed. "Merry Christmas."
Jihoon smiled. "Thanks for taking care of our maknae."
Hanjin laughed. "He smiles more because of you."
Shinyu handed her the final bouquet. "We're happy you're here."
By now, Y/N was laughing so hard she could barely walk. "You guys are unbelievable."
"Because Kyungmin asked us to make your first visit memorable."
Y/N slowly turned. Kyungmin stood at the end of the hallway. Both hands hiding something behind his back. He looked far more nervous than he had during any concert. "Hi."
She walked toward him. "Hi."
"Merry Christmas."
"You too."
He finally revealed the gift from his hand, a neatly wrapped box. "For you, go on open it."
She carefully untied the ribbon. Lifted the lid. Then completely froze. Inside rested a brand-new Polaroid camera. The exact model she'd stopped to admire in a camera shop months ago. The one she'd picked up. Turned over in her hands. Then quietly placed back on the shelf.
"Too expensive."
She never thought he'd remembered. "...Kyungmin."
He rubbed the back of his neck shyly. "You always say memories disappear too quickly."
"So, now you can keep them."
Her eyes immediately filled. "You remembered."
"Of course."
She laughed through the tears threatening to spill. "You're unfair."
"...Why?"
"You remember everything."
He smiled. "Only the important things."
Without caring that five grinning TWS members were watching from a few steps away, Y/N threw her arms around him. Kyungmin hugged her back instinctively, nearly dropping the empty gift box. Behind them, Hanjin quietly wiped imaginary tears. "Our maknae⊠He's so grown up."
Youngjae nudged him.
"I'm appreciating the atmosphere."
"You are crying."
"I'M APPRECIATING!"
Everyone laughed.
Y/N pulled away from the hug just enough to hold up the Polaroid camera. "Smile!"
"Hm?"
Click.
The first photo the camera ever printed wasn't of the HYBE building. Or the Christmas decorations. Or the flowers. It was Kyungmin standing there with messy hair, red ears, and the happiest smile she'd ever seen.
Y/N looked down as the image slowly developed in her hands. A small smile spread across her face. "...It's nice."
Her voice came out quieter than she intended. Before she realized it, warmth pricked at the corners of her eyes. "...Ah."
A tiny tear escaped despite her best efforts. She let out a small, embarrassed laugh. "...Seriously? I'm crying over a camera."
Without saying a word, Kyungmin stepped closer. Like it was the most ordinary thing in the world, he brushed the tear away with the pad of his thumb. Then another. His movements were slow, gentleâpracticed. As though he'd done this countless times before. "There. Youâre such a crier, even when your happy."
He smiled softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
She lightly swatted his arm. "...I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm emotional."
"That's a nicer way to say it."
She couldn't help laughing through the lingering tears. "You're so annoying."
"And yet..." He nodded toward the camera in her hands, grabbing the printed photo and wave off. "You're still crying because of my present."
"Shut up."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Still smiling, Y/N carefully tucked the finished Polaroid into the back of her phone case. "This one's staying with me."
Kyungmin nodded. "Iâm glad."
Because if there was one memory he hoped she'd never forget, It wasn't always the surprise, or the flowers, or even the camera. It was the way she smiled at him that Christmas, with tears in her eyes, and a happiness she no longer tried to hide.
The longer they dated, the more Y/N started thinking. Which, according to Kyungmin, was dangerous. Because whenever she thought too much, she'd convince herself of things that weren't true.
It was another quiet afternoon. The playground swings creaked gently as the autumn breeze drifted through Hanlim. Y/N absentmindedly swung her feet while Kyungmin sat on the swing beside her, lazily spinning in small circles. "Kyungmin."
"Hm?"
âCan I ask something?"
He looked over immediately. "You've never questioned me."
She nodded. "About us."
He frowned. "Whatâs wrong?"
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "We've been dating for almost two months."
"Mhm."
"We barely hold hands. We don't really hug unless nobody's around. And..."
She looked down at her shoes. "We haven't kissed since..."
Her ears warmed. "...The stairwell."
Kyungmin's own ears turned pink. "Oh."
Y/N sighed. "You never complain. You never ask for more. You never tell me you're disappointed." She looked at him carefully. "Why?"
Kyungmin smiled. "Because, I know you."
She blinked.Â
"Youâre overthinking about this. Maybe if youâd ask more like this, then maybe you wont think I'm secretly unhappy."
She looked away. âMaybe."
He laughed softly. "See? I told you."
She groaned. "Don't be right."
"I'm always right."
"You wish."
He reached over and gently flicked her forehead. "Ow." "You know..."
His voice softened. "I'm dating you. Not..." He made little quotation marks with his fingers. A 'girlfriend who has to act like every other couple.'"
She listened quietly.
"If holding your hand makes you uncomfortable at school, we won't. If you want to keep us private, we will. If your not ready for a kiss and need time, I'll wait."
He shrugged like it was the simplest thing in the world. "That's what dating isâ as far as I understand. Meeting each other where we are."
Y/N stared at him. "You really don't mind?"
He smiled. "The only thing I'd mind is if you stopped thinking these cruel thoughts."
She lowered her head, smiling to herself. "You're annoyingly mature."
"I learned from you."
"Liar."
The following Saturday, one of Kyungmin's high school friends invited nearly everyone from school over for a birthday party. Nothing fancy. Just pizza. Board games. Music. Too many teenagers squeezed into one living room.
Y/N almost didn't go. Until Kyungmin texted:
Kyungmin: Please?
Y/N: ...Fine.
The party was loud. Some people played Mario Kart. Others were dancing badly in the middle of the room. Y/N watched from the couch, laughing into her drink. Kyungmin quietly sat beside her. "Having fun?"
"Mhm."
âIâm glad to hear that.â Without thinking, his little finger hooked around hers where their hands rested between them on the couch. Hidden by a cushion.
Y/N looked down. Then smiled.
"Cheater."
"You said little affection. You didn't say none."
About an hour later, someone suddenly clapped loudly. "I HAVE AN IDEA!" Everyone looked over. "Let's play Seven Minutes in Heaven!"
The room exploded. "YES!"
"NO!"
"THAT'S SO OLD!"
"ITâS FUNNY!!"
Y/N immediately shook her head. "Absolutely not."
Kyungmin nodded. "Same."
Too late. The bottle was already on the floor.
One by one, people laughed. Friends ended up together. Some screamed. Some spent seven minutes simply talking inside the storage closet. Then the bottle spun again, slower, slower, slower...
It stopped.
Pointing directly at Kyungmin.
The room erupted. Before Kyungmin could even react, someone spun it again for the second person. The bottle rolled. Circled. Then stopped. Directly in front of Y/N.
"...No way." she muttered.
Kyungminâs friend slapped his knee so hard he nearly fell over laughing. "I KNEW TODAY WAS MY DAY!"
Y/N immediately stood up. "No. Nope. I suddenly remembered I have homework."
"You finished today's yesterday," one of her friends deadpanned.
Kyungmin tried to help. "Maybe we skip this round?"
A chorus answered. "NO."
Before either of them could escape, half the room stood up. "GET THEM!"
"What are you doing?!"
"WAITâ" Y/N grabbed Kyungmin's sleeve. "Run."
They made it exactly three steps. Before their combined group of classmates caught them. "No mercy!"
The closet door swung open. They were gently, but very enthusiastically, shoved inside. "Have fun!"
The door slammed shut. Click. Silence.
The storage closet was very small. Y/N stood awkwardly with her back against a shelf. Kyungmin scratched his cheek.
"Hi."
"...Hi."
"..."
"..."
"This is awkward."
"A little."Â
He laughed quietly. "They're unbelievable."
"They've definitely planned this."
"Mhm. You think?"
âDonghyeon definitely winked before pushing us."
"Yeah. They planned it."
Both of them started laughing. The awkwardness slowly melted away.
Kyungmin looked at her. "...You know."
"Hm?"
"We don't have to hide in here."
She blinked. "What?"
"I mean..." He smiled. We're already dating. At this point they know."
"Probably."
"Definitely."
He opened his arms. "Come here."
She looked at him for a second. "You're making me embarrassed."
"I know, so?."
"Fine."
She shift forward, sitting on his lap. His arms wrapped around her naturally, as though they'd done this a hundred times before. She relaxed almost immediately. "This is nicer than sitting awkwardly."
"I told you."
She smiled against his shoulder. "You're right. Again. âDon't get used to it."
Neither of them knew how much time had passed. They simply stayed there. Talking. Laughing quietly. Until, Y/N looked up.
"Kyungmin."
"Hm?"
"I think" She hesitated. "...I kind of missed this."
"Me too."
Their eyes met.
Neither looked away. Kyungmin brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "...Can I?"
She smiled faintly. "You don't have to ask every time now."
He smiled, putting away a strand of her hair thatâs covering her face. "...Okay."
He leaned in slowly. Giving her every chance to pull away. She didn't. Their lips met gently. Soft. Unhurried. This time, there were no tears. No panic attacks. No confessions tangled in fear. Just two teenagers quietly happy to be together.
When they pulled apart, Y/N couldn't stop smiling.
"Hi."
Kyungmin laughed. "Hi."
"That was better than the first one."
"Definitely."
Knock knock. "TIME'S UP!"
The closet door flew open. Light flooded inside. Y/N instinctively moved away. Kyungmin coughed awkwardly. "We're coming."
Nobody spoke. For exactly three seconds. Then, one of Y/N's friends gasped dramatically.
"LOOK."
Everyone followed her finger pointing at Kyungmin.
Kyungmin blinked. "...What?"
Donghyeon burst into hysterical laughter. "Oh myâ"
Someone else covered his mouth. "Hahaâ"
Y/nâs friend couldn't even speak anymore.
Y/N frowned. "What's wrong?"
Her best friend pointed at Kyungmin. "Your lipstick."
Kyungmin froze. "My what?"
Y/N's eyes slowly widened, in the corner of his lips, a faint rosy lipstick mark remained.
She immediately covered her face. "I forgot..."
The room exploded. "I KNEW IT!"
"I TOLD YOU!"
"THEY'RE DATING!"
One of Kyungmin's classmates pointed accusingly. "You know why we played Seven Minutes in Heaven?"
Kyungmin sighed, already knowing the answer. "Why?"
"Because you two have been the worst secret couple in Hanlim history."
Another friend crossed her arms. "You thought we didn't notice?"
"You literally share snacks."
"You walk home together."
"You look at each other like no one else exists."
"And he buys you hair clips every other week!"
Donghyeon proudly folded his arms. "I've been waiting MONTHS for you two to admit it."
Y/N slowly peeked through her fingers. So⊠everyone knew?"
The entire room answered in unison. "YES."
Kyungmin looked at her.
She looked at him.
Then they both burst into laughter. All those weeks of trying to hide. All the whispered conversations. The secret hand squeezes. The careful distance in school hallways. Completely useless. Still laughing, Kyungmin reached for Y/N's hand.
This time, he didn't hide it.
And for the first time since they started dating, neither of them cared who was watching.
Dating Y/N was exactly what Kyungmin expected. It wasn't filled with grand romantic gestures. There weren't dramatic dates every weekend. There weren't constant "I love you."
Instead, their relationship was built from tiny habits that slowly became part of everyday life.
Walking to class together. Splitting convenience store snacks. Arguing over whether peach juice tasted better than grape juice. And somehow...
Those little moments became Kyungmin's favorite part of every day.
One afternoon, Y/N suddenly grabbed the sleeve of his school blazer before they left class. "...Kyungmin."
"Hm?"
She looked left. Then right. Making sure nobody was paying attention. "...Can we keep dating a secret? From school"
He blinked. "A secret?"
"Mhm."
"I don't want everyone making us their entertainment."
He tilted his head. "What about our friends?"
"...No."
"My members?"
"...Especially them." Kyungmin laughed.
"Why especially them?"
She looked horrified.
"Your Dohoon hyung exists."
"..."
"...Fair."
"They'll tease me until graduation."
"They probably will."
"So promise."
Kyungmin smiled before holding out his pinky. "Our secret."
She stared at it. "...You're so corny."
"But?"
She sighed dramatically before hooking her finger around his. "...Fine."
The secret,
Lasted about four days.
Not because anyone caught them kissing, or holding hands, or hugging. No. Because everyone had functioning eyes.
Lunch break. Kyungmin walked into the cafeteria carrying two trays. Without asking, he placed one directly in front of Y/N. She didn't even look surprised. "...Thanks."
"No problem."
She immediately stole one of his dumplings. He silently stole half her omelet. Neither acknowledged it. It had become routine.
Across the cafeteria, one of Y/N's friend slowly lowered her spoon. Another pointed. "...They're sharing food again."
"I'm telling you."
"They're dating."
Meanwhile, Dohoon somehow happened to be visiting Hanlim for a schedule.
He looked through the cafeteria window.
"..."
He immediately pulled out his phone.
TWS Group Chat
Dohoon: Emergency.
Youngjae: ???
Dohoon: They're feeding each other with chopsticks.
Shinyu: ...Really?
Dohoon: Well not literally
Dohoon: NO WAIT.
Dohoon: SHE JUST TOOK HIS LAST DUMPLING.
Jihoon: That's definitely dating.
Hanjin: đđđ
That afternoon, Y/N walked into the hallway. Dohoon happened to pass by. He gave her the biggest grin imaginable.
"...Good afternoon, sister-in-law."
Y/N stopped walking. "..."
She slowly looked at Kyungmin. "...Your members are the reason I wanted this secret."
Kyungmin scratched his cheek awkwardly. "...Sorry."
If someone asked where Kyungmin and Y/N usually went after school...
There were only three answers.
The small playground behind Hanlim was technically meant for neighborhood children.
Yet every afternoon, one swing was always occupied. Y/n sat lazily kicking the ground. Kyungmin pushed the empty swing beside her. "...You're not swinging?"
"I'm too lazy."
"So why sit on a swing?"
"...Because it's comfortable."
"..."
"...Don't question my logic."
He laughed. "Yes, ma'am."
Some days they talked. Some days they didn't. Sometimes they simply watched children running around while sharing a bag of chips. Y/N liked those days most.
The owner of the convenience store had already memorized them and their orders. "The usual?"
Kyungmin nodded. "Two orange juices."
Y/N corrected him. "One orange juice. And one chocolate milk."
Kyungmin looked over. "...You changed?"
"I'm craving chocolate."
"You said yesterday chocolate milk tasted weird."
"...Today it doesn't."
"..."
He looked toward the cashier. "...See?"
The cashier laughed. "Told you. You'll never understand girls."
Sometimes Y/N waited while TWS practiced.Â
She never interrupted. She simply sat cross-legged in the corner wearing headphones while doing homework. Every once in a while, Kyungmin would glance toward the mirror. She'd already be looking at him.
The moment their eyes met, she'd immediately pretend to read her notes.
Dohoon noticed first. "...She's watching you."
Kyungmin smiled without looking away. "...I know."
Kyungmin knew Y/N's moods changed, fast. But when she had her period? It skyrocketed to 250%.
One Monday, she happily skipped beside him. "Look!"
She proudly showed him a cloud shaped exactly like a bunny. He nodded seriously.
"...That's definitely a bunny." She beamed.
On Tuesday. He accidentally finished the last gummy bear. She stared. "...You ate it."
"...I..."
"...That was mine."
"...I'll buy another bag."
"I DON'T WANT ANOTHER BAG."
"..."
"..."
"...Sorry."
"...I'm not actually mad."
"...Really?"
"...Maybe ten percent."
Wednesday, she suddenly stopped walking. "...Kyungmin."
"Hm?"
"...Can we sit?" He immediately noticed. Her smile was gone. Her shoulders looked tense.
"...Does your stomach hurt?"
She slowly nodded. "...Mhm."
He quietly opened his backpack. "...Here."
Heat pack, painkillers, chocolate, A bottle of warm water.
Y/N blinked. "...Why do you have all this?"
"You told me last month what helps."
"I wrote it down."
She looked at him in complete disbelief. "You⊠actually remembered?"
"Of course."
She stared at him for another second before quietly taking the heat pack. "...Idiot. Thank you."
Later that night, Dohoon noticed Kyungmin packing another heat pack into his bag.
Finally Friday, classes ended early. Kyungmin had promised to meet Y/N. Instead, a few boys from his class stopped him. "Kyungmin!"
"One game!"
"Come on!"
"You haven't played in weeks!"
He hesitated. Then looked toward Y/N.
"...Can I?" She shrugged. "Go."
"You sure?"
"Mhm."
"I'll wait."
"...Really?"
"Go."
Forty minutes later. Basketball became an hour. An hour became nearly two. The boys kept saying, "One more game!"
Kyungmin lost track of time.
When he finally returned, the bench was empty. Only a canned peach juice sat there. With a sticky note.
Went home.
Have fun with your real girlfriend.
âY/N
"...Oh no."
The next morning, he found her sitting in the classroom. "...Morning."
"...Morning."
"...Are you mad?"
"No."
"...Really?"
"No."
"...You're lying."
"I'm not."
"You are."Â
She finally sighed. "You chose basketball over me."
"It was just one afternoonâŠ"
"Exactly."
"You barely get free afternoons and basketball won."
Kyungmin slowly crouched beside her desk. "I'm sorry."
She looked away. "I know."
"I'll make it up to you."
"How?"
He thought.
"...No basketball for two weeks." She immediately looked back. "Thatâs ridiculous."
"One week?"
"Still too much. Iâm not that cruel."
"Three days?"Â
She smiled despite herself. "...Deal."
And finally, the hairclip collection. It started with one pink bow when he confessed. Then a peach clip. Then a tiny sunflower. Then a strawberry. Then little white daisies. Then a tiny duck.
Every time Kyungmin saw one that reminded him of Y/N, he bought it.
One morning, Y/N opened her locker. Another small paper bag.
She sighed. "Lee Kyungmin."
He immediately looked guilty. "What?"
"Again?"
"...Maybe."
She opened it. Inside, A pair of tiny cat-shaped hair clips. "They're cute."
"I know. That's why I bought them."
She looked at him. "Do you know how many hair clips you've given me?"
"Eight?"
"Twelve."
"Really?"
She unzipped a small pouch inside her backpack. Every single one neatly arranged, pink ribbon, peach, strawberry, sunflower, duck, cloud, angel wing, heart, and more from herself.
Kyungmin laughed. "You kept all of them?"
She looked at him like he'd asked the world's dumbest question. "Of course. You gave them to me."
She carefully picked up the little cat clip and fastened it into her hair. "How is it?"
Kyungmin's ears turned pink. "Pretty."
"Hm?"
"Really pretty."
She smiled, pretending to examine her reflection in the classroom window. "Good."
From behind them, Dohoonâwho had once again appeared at Hanlim for a scheduleâcaught sight of Y/N's cat clip. He looked at Kyungmin. Then at the clip. Then back again.
"Maknae." He whisper-yelled when Y/n left.
Kyungmin already knew what was coming. "Yes, hyung?"
"Did you just become her personal hair clip supplier?"
Y/N whisper-yelled behind Dohoon. "He did."
Dohoon threw his head back dramatically, running away from Y/nâs glare. Alone, he pulled out his phone and typed into the group chat:
Dohoon: Kyungmin isn't buying albums anymore.
Dohoon: He's investing in hair accessories.
A few seconds later, Hanjin replied:
Hanjin: đ Tell him to buy matching ones for himself too.
Y/N burst into laughter as she reads it from Kyungminâs phone Kyungmin buried his face in his hands. "...I'm never living this down, am I?"
"Nope," Y/N said, slipping her hand into his beneath the desk where no one else could see.
"And honestly?" She gave his fingers a tiny squeeze. "I kind of like that."
The TWS dorm had become one of Y/N's favorite places. Not because it was luxurious. Far from it. It was loud. Someone was always singing off-key on purpose. Someone was always stealing snacks. And somehow it felt warm.
Tonight, the living room was unusually quiet. The older members had either gone to their rooms or were still out finishing schedules. Kyungmin lay across the sofa with a blanket over his legs. Y/N rested comfortably against his side, one arm lazily wrapped around his waist while he absentmindedly played with the ends of her hair.
"...Your Dohoon hyung is weird."
Kyungmin laughed. "What did he do now?"
"He looked at my strawberry hair clip."
"...And?"
"He said, 'I wonder who bought that.' While staring directly at you."
Kyungmin buried his face into the top of her head, laughing. "I told you he knows."
"I know." She sighed dramatically. "I think he enjoys making me embarrassed."
"He definitely does."
"Mhm." She poked his side. "And Hanjin."
"What about him?"
"He keeps smiling at me."
"...That's just Hanjin."
"Oh. Okay, then he's forgiven."
Kyungmin chuckled, gently rubbing circles against her back.Â
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence wasn't awkward. It never was. Y/N shifted closer until she was practically curled into him. "...You're warm."
"So are you."
"Makes a good pillow."
"...I'm a person."
"Barely."
He gasped dramatically. "I'm telling your boyfriend."
She looked up at him with the tiniest smile. "...You are my boyfriend."
"Oh right! And you are my girlfriend." He couldn't stop grinning.
Another quiet minute passed."Our math teacher almost cried today."
Kyungmin blinked. "...Why?"
"Someone submitted a worksheet."
"Okay?"
"Written entirely in blue glitter pen."
"Honestly?" He burst into laughter. "I would've cried too."
"I know." She laughed with him, the sound muffled against his hoodie.
Eventually, their laughter faded. Kyungmin rested his chin lightly on top of her head.
"...Thanks for coming today."
"To the dorms?"
"Mhm."
"I'm glad youâre here."
Y/N hummed softly. "I'm glad you invited me." He smiled.
Neither of them said anything else. There wasn't a need to. Wrapped in a shared blanket, trading quiet stories about school and laughing over the ridiculousness of teenage life, they found comfort in the ordinary.
For Kyungmin, the stage would always be exciting. But moments like these...
Coming home, holding the girl he loved, and ending the day with silly conversationsâ
A week had passed since the confession. And somehow they really had stayed friends.
There were no awkward greetings. No avoiding each other in the hallways. No pretending the conversation beneath the zelkova tree had never happened. Y/N still waited by the vending machine after class. Kyungmin still bought two drinks without asking. She still called him "annoyingly nice." He still apologized too much.
On the surface, nothing had changed. Only the tiny pauses between their conversations betrayed that something had.
One afternoon, as they walked toward the school gate together, Kyungmin suddenly stopped. "...Y/N."
"Hm?"
He hesitated. "...Do you have plans this Saturday?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Our group's performing at a university festival."
"...Congratulations?"
He laughed. "No, I mean..."
He scratched the back of his neck. "I have guest passes."
She blinked. "...You're inviting me?"
"If you want to."
"You don't have to come. I just..." He looked away, suddenly shy. "...thought it'd be nice."
Y/N stared at him for a second before smiling. "Sure."
"I've never watched a university festival before." His shoulders visibly relaxed. "...Really?"
"Mhm."
"Then I'll show you one."
Saturday arrived quicker than either of them expected. The university campus buzzed with life. Students carried department jackets over their shoulders. Clubs handed out flyers. Music echoed from every corner.
The smell of food trucks drifted through the air. Y/N slowly looked around. "...Whoa."
Kyungmin smiled. "First time?"
"This is..."
She watched a group of engineering students laughing over a broken robot. Another group sat on the grass painting banners. Nearby, seniors were taking graduation photos with bouquets.
"...Lively."
"Right?"
She nodded. "I kind of get why everyone says university is fun."
Backstage was far more chaotic. Staff hurried between dressing rooms. Microphones were checked. In-ear monitors were adjusted. Managers called everyone's names. The members immediately noticed Y/N.
Dohoon grinned. "So this is Y/N."
Kyungmin's ears turned pink. "...Hyung."
Shinyu smiled warmly. "It's nice to finally meet you."
Y/N bowed politely. "Thank you for inviting me."
Youngjae nudged Kyungmin with his elbow when she wasn't looking. "She's exactly how you described."
Kyungmin pretended not to hear him.
The performance began. The crowd exploded. Thousands of university students screamed as TWS appeared on stage. Y/N had seen performances online before. It was different in person. Kyungmin looked happy. Confident. Like the stage had always belonged to him. She found herself smiling. He's really good.
After nearly an hour, the show ended. The members waved goodbye. Confetti drifted through the air. The audience slowly dispersed across campus. Y/N waited backstage like she'd been told. "...He's taking a while."
A staff member passed by. "Oh."
"Kyungmin?"
"I think he went downstairs."
"Downstairs?"
"He said he needed some air."
Meanwhile, Kyungmin wandered aimlessly through one of the quieter academic buildings connected to the venue. His performance clothes still clung to him. His breathing had become strangely shallow. He stopped near a staircase. Above him, voices echoed. University students.
"...Our midterm was impossible."
"I still have two reports due."
"What are you doing after graduation?"
"I'm applying for an exchange program."
"I got accepted into the internship!"
Their laughter bounced through the concrete stairwell. Kyungmin slowly sat down beneath the stairs. Hidden from view. He stared blankly at the floor. "Next year..."
Next year, he would've graduated from Hanlim. Maybe, he would've walked through a campus just like this. Complained about assignments. Pulled all-nighters before exams. Joined a club. Made friends outside the industry. He would've just⊠been another student. Instead, he'd spent his teenage years memorizing choreography, filming, traveling, practicing until dawn, smiling in front of cameras.
He loved being an idol.
He really did.
So, why did it suddenly hurt?
His breathing became quicker, too quick. He pressed a hand against his chest. "Why can't I breathe?" His fingers trembled. "No. Not now."
He curled forward. The noise upstairs felt louder. Closer. His vision blurred. "What's wrong with me?"
A shaky breath escaped him. Then another. "...I'm..."
His voice cracked. "...I'm fine..."
"Kyungmin?" Footsteps echoed through the stairwell. "...Kyungmin?"
Y/N.
She rounded the corner and froze. He sat on the floor beneath the stairs, shoulders shaking. One arm wrapped around himself. The other covered his face. "...Kyungmin."
She hurried over, kneeling beside him. His breathing was uneven. His eyes were red. The moment he noticed her pink bow hair clip he gave beforeâ everything he'd been holding back spilled over.
"...I'm sorry." His voice broke. "I'm sorry."
"...Hey."
"I'm sorry." His hands shook harder. "I don't know why this is happening. I'm sorry."
"I..." He couldn't finish the sentence.
Y/N had never seen him like this. Not the cheerful classmate. Not the confident idol. Just an eighteen-year-old boy trying desperately to hold himself together. She wasn't good with comforting people. She never had been. So she did the only thing she knew. She stayed, quietly.
Until his breathing slowed enough for him to hear her. "...Kyungmin."
He looked up weakly. "...Not everyone's perfect."
"..."
"Just like me."
He gave a tiny, confused laugh through his tears. "...What?"
She shrugged. "SorryâI don't know how to comfort people, so I'm just saying what I think."
He sniffled. "...Okay."
She leaned back against the wall beside him. "I think, everyone's carrying something. You just don't always see it."
She glanced toward the ceiling. "You looked at those university students, didn't you?"
His eyes widened. "...How did you know?"
"You have that face."
"What face?"
"The one where you're comparing yourself to everyone else."
He lowered his head. "...I kept thinking, that could've been me."
She nodded. "I know."
"I love being an idol. I really do. But today, I wondered what I missed."
His voice cracked again. âDoes that make me ungrateful?"
Y/N answered immediately. "No. It makes you human."
Silence settled between them. For the first time since sitting beneath those stairs, Kyungmin's breathing became steadier.
After a while, Y/N spoke again. "...Do you remember asking me why I rejected you?"
He looked over. "...Yeah."
"I never answered."
"You didn't have to."
"I want to now." She stared at the floor. "My first relationship..."
She smiled, but it wasn't a happy one. "...Started with my best friend."
Kyungmin stayed quiet. "We were inseparable. We liked each other. So we dated. For a while...It was nice." Her fingers absentmindedly traced invisible circles on the concrete. "But when we broke up, he just ignored me. No calls. No texts. No 'how are you?â after passing by each other in the hallway. Nothing."
She swallowed. "I didn't just lose someone I liked. I lost my best friend. The person I told everything to." Her voice became quieter. "And that⊠hurts more than the breakup."
Kyungmin listened without interrupting.
"So when you confessed..." She laughed softly.
"...All I could think was 'What if it happens again?'"
She finally looked at him. "I'd rather have you as my friend, than risk losing you completely."
The words hung in the air. Kyungmin felt something in his chest loosen. He understood now. It had never been because she thought he wasn't enough. It had been because he mattered too much. Without thinking, he reached for her hand. She let him.
"I won't do that."
She looked at him.
"No matter what happens. If you never like me back, if you do someday, if we stay friends forever..." He squeezed her hand gently. "...I'm not disappearing. I don't want a world where you're suddenly a stranger."
His voice was still rough from crying. "So...I promise. I'll never let that happen."
Y/N stared at him for a long moment. She searched his face, as if trying to convince herself that he truly meant every word.
Her eyes slowly softened. Before Kyungmin could say anything elseâ She took a small step closer. "...Y/N?"
Without giving herself time to overthink it, she lean closer. A soft, fleeting warmth brushed against his lips. Just a peck. Gone almost as quickly as it happened.
Kyungmin froze. His eyes widened.
"..."
"..."
Y/N stepped back immediately, her own eyes just as wide, as though she couldn't believe what she'd done. "...I..."
For once, the girl who always had something to say couldn't find a single word. Kyungmin instinctively touched his lips. "...You..."
She looked away, ears burning. "That wasnât meâ" Her voice came out much quieter than usual. "...I acted before I thought." A nervous laugh escaped her. "...Which is... embarrassing."
Kyungmin couldn't stop staring at her. Then, slowly⊠A smile spread across his face. Not because of the kiss itself. But because, for the first time since he'd confessed beneath the zelkova tree. That tiny, impulsive kiss said more than any confession ever could.
Y/N stared at him for a long moment. Then, without warning, she leaned forward. Her forehead rested lightly against his shoulder. Very carefully. Almost as if she was afraid he'd move away. Kyungmin hesitated only for a second before wrapping his arms around her. The hug was quiet. No dramatic declarations. No racing heartbeat. Just warmth. The kind that said, "I'm here."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Outside, the muffled sounds of the university festival continuedâstudents laughing, music playing, life carrying on. Beneath the quiet stairwell, however, the world felt impossibly still.
Kyungmin rested his cheek lightly against the top of her head. His own eyes stung again, though this time the tears came for a different reason.
âI hate myself,â She mumbles in his shoulder. âBut I loâ no likeâ you.â
He caressed her hair with his free hand as she continued. âWhat should I do
He smiled through them. "...Then..." His voice was gentle enough to match the moment. "...We'll figure it out together."
Y/N didn't answer.
She simply held onto him a little tighter.
And for the first time since the day they met in a crowded school hallway neither of them felt quite so alone.
There was a saying that floated around the dorm. âWhen Kyungmin starts thinking too much, he'll either write lyrics in his notes app... or make a life-changing decision."
Unfortunately this time...
It was the second one.
For nearly two weeks after that conversation about love, Kyungmin couldn't stop replaying it.
"Love doesn't happen at first sight. It grows. One day you realize you've fallen."
Every time he heard Y/N laugh. Every time she teased him for apologizing too much. Every time she handed him half of her drink because she'd accidentally bought the wrong flavor.
His feelings only became clearer.
Maybe she was right. Maybe it wasn't love at first sight. Maybe it had started with admiration, curiosity. A desire to know the brave girl who had yelled at an entire hallway without blinking.
But now,
Now he knew her.
He knew she hated mushrooms. He knew she always bought peach juice when she was in a good mood and iced americano whenever she had exams. He knew she drummed her fingers whenever she was impatient. He knew she'd rather receive practical gifts than flowers because, according to her, "Flowers die. Give me snacks instead."
He knew she never sugarcoated her opinions. He knew she always returned lost pens because, "Someone probably misses this."
He knew she pretended not to care whenever she was tired, but the dark circles beneath her eyes betrayed her. He knew her. And he loved her.
"So?" Dohoon leaned over the dining table. "When are you confessing?"
Kyungmin nearly choked on his cereal. "...What?"
"You've been staring into space for three mornings."
Youngjae nodded. "I think the cereal box knows your feelings before she does."
Hanjin laughed. Jihoon looked up from his phone. "You've already decided."
It wasn't even a question.Â
Shinyu smiled knowingly from the kitchen. "You have."
Kyungmin looked around the dorm. "...Is it that obvious?"
"Yes." Six answers came at once.
He sighed. "...I think it really is today."
Dohoon clapped dramatically. "FINALLY!"
The members, naturally, became far more invested than Kyungmin would've liked."What kind of confession?"
"Romantic. Not too dramatic, not too boring."
"Handwritten letter?"
"No."
"Flowers?"
"She literally said she doesn't like flowers."
"Oh."
"Candy bouquet?"
"...Maybe."
By the end of breakfast, everyone had accidentally become his planning committee. Kyungmin decided on something simple. Not flashy, or overwhelming. Just things that reminded him of her.
Monday.Â
He arrived at school earlier than usual. Standing in front of Y/N's locker, he hesitated.
Is this weird?
Probably.
Too late now.
He carefully taped tiny colorful sticky notes across the locker door. Each one carried only a few words.
Don't skip breakfast today.
Good luck with your presentation.
Don't bully the vending machine.
Have a good day :)
He smiled to himself. Then carefully hung a tiny plush keychain she'd once pointed at in a convenience store. "Cute. Too expensive though."
When Y/N arrived twenty minutes later "...What." She stared at her locker.
Students nearby immediately noticed. "Who did this? It's adorable!"
Y/N carefully peeled one sticky note off. "...Don't bully the vending machine?"
She laughed despite herself. "...Idiot." She already knew.
That afternoon, Kyungmin casually walked beside her.
"So...Nice locker?"
Y/N looked at him sideways. "You wrote like forty sticky notes."
"Only twenty-three."
"You counted?"
"I wrote them."
"...Fair point." She smiled. "...Thank you."
His heart nearly stopped.
Tuesday.
He quietly filled one pocket of her backpack while she was talking to her teacher. A peach juice, her favorite chocolate, gummy bears, a tiny packet of almonds because she'd once complained she always forgot to eat between classes.Â
When she reached into her bag laterâ "...Huh?"
One snack, then another, then another. She looked around. "...Lee Kyungmin."
He immediately looked away. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"...Really?"
"...No."
She laughed. "...Thank you."
Again. That smile. It was becoming dangerous.
Wednesday.
Their homeroom teachers both happened to assign stacks of worksheets. Y/N carried nearly half of Class 3-A's papers by herself. "...Why do teachers hate trees?"
Kyungmin blinked. "What?"
"They keep murdering them."
Before she could protest, he took half the stack from her arms. "Hey!"
"You'll drop them." He said
"I won't."
"I know."
"So give them back."
"No."
"...Kyungmin."
"I'm helping."
She sighed dramatically. "...You're annoyingly nice."
"I've been told."
"...Mostly by me."
"I know."
They walked together through the hallway. Students openly stared. The famous TWS maknae carrying worksheets behind a girl from another class.
Y/N noticed.
"...Are people staring for another reason."
"So?"
She shrugged. "Let them."
Just like always. She genuinely didn't care.
Thursday.
The rumors had spread.
"They're dating."
"No way."
"Maybe they're just friends?"
"He's always around her."
One girl asked Y/N directly. "Are you and Kyungmin...?"
Y/N answered without hesitation. "We're friends." Simple. Confident. Without embarrassment. Kyungmin heard it from across the hallway, he smiled, friends, for now. He finally made up his mind.
Friday.
School ended beneath a sky painted in warm shades of orange. Students poured out through the gates in noisy groups. Y/N adjusted her backpack. "I'm going home."
Kyungmin swallowed. "...Wait."
She turned. "Hm?"
"...Can we talk?"
She noticed how unusually serious he looked. "...Sure."
He led her away from the busy entrance. Past the gymnasium. Past the practice building. To the oldest part of campus.
There stood a giant zelkova tree. Its branches stretched across nearly half the courtyard, casting cool shadows over the benches beneath. It was quiet there. Only the rustling leaves filled the silence.
Y/N looked around. "...Why does this feel suspicious?"
Kyungmin laughed nervously. "...Does it?"
"A little." She leaned against the trunk. "So? What happened?"
He suddenly forgot every sentence he'd rehearsed. Every speech. Every carefully chosen word. Gone. His hands felt cold. His heart pounded so loudly he wondered if she could hear it.
"...Y/N."
"Hm?"
"Do you remember...the hallway?"
She smiled softly. "When we met?"
"...Yeah."
"You looked terrified."
"I was."
"I could tell."
He laughed quietly. "Ever since then⊠I've been really grateful to have met you. But..."
He looked down. "It stopped being just gratitude a long time ago."
Silence. The leaves above them swayed gently, passed through her hair with kiwi hair clips
"I like talking to you. I like walking to class with you. I like hearing your opinions even when you completely destroy mine."
She let out a tiny laugh.
"I like how honest you are. I like that you don't treat me differently because I'm an idol. I like that you're brave. You make me want to become braver too."
His voice trembled.
"Somewhere along the way...I fell for you."
Y/N's smile slowly faded. She had expected many things. Not this.
"I know you said you don't believe in love at first sight."
"..."
"I don't know when mine started anymore. Maybe that hallway. Maybe the vending machine. Maybe somewhere in between."
"But..." He took a shaky breath. "I know how I feel now. I like you. I really do."
He put his hand out as he uncurls his fingers revealing a pink bow hairclip
"Would you...give me a chance?"
Silence. Long and heavy.
Y/N lowered her head. "...Kyungmin."
He immediately noticed. She wasn't smiling anymore. She wasn't meeting his eyes. "I'm sorry."
His heart sank before she'd even continued. "...You're... one of my favorite people. And I care about you. A lot. But..."
She closed her eyes. "I can't say yes."
The words landed gently. But somehow they hurt even more because of it. Kyungmin forced himself to smile. "...Can I ask why?"
She stood there quietly, now fumbling with her fingers while continuing to look at her shoes. She was uncomfortable. And Kyungmin noticed this. He understood.
Y/N took one hesitant step closer. "I don't want to lose you. I know that's selfish. Butâ I really hopeâ we can still be friends."
She looked at him with glossy eyes full of sincerity. No pity, no discomfort. Just genuine regret. Kyungmin stayed silent for several seconds. The breeze carried a few leaves between them.
Finally, he smiled, small, a little shaky.
"...You know, You really are honest."
She looked down. "You shouldâve known I always am."
He laughed through the ache in his chest. "Yeah. I know."
He took a slow breath before offering a hand. "...Friends?"
Y/N stared at it. Relief slowly filled her expression. She accepted it. "...Friends."
Their hands shook once. Briefly, before letting go.
The walk back to the school gate was quieter than any conversation they'd ever had. They still talked. About homework. About an upcoming exam. About how the vending machine still owed Y/N another drink.Â
As if nothing had changed.
But everything had. At the intersection where their routes home separated, Y/N stopped. "...Get home safely."
"You too."
She gave him one last small smile before walking away. Kyungmin watched until she disappeared around the corner. Only then did he let out the breath he'd been holding. His chest ached. His vision started to blurry. He knelt down holding his knees as he lets out a little sigh. Not because she'd been cruel.
She hadn't.
Not because she'd looked down on his feelings.
She hadn't.
It hurt because she'd respected them enough to answer honestly. He looked up at the orange sky. A bittersweet smile tugged at his lips. "...Maybe you were right."
Chapter 3: Who Even Believe In Love At First Sight?
The vending machine had somehow become their place. Not officially. No one said it aloud. But if Kyungmin had a break after class, he'd find himself wandering there. More often than not, Y/N was already there.
Sometimes drinking peach juice. Sometimes coffee. Sometimes just leaning against the wall because she had no intention of going home early. Particularly today though, she was wearing a strawberry hair clip.
"Question." Y/N suddenly spoke.
Kyungmin looked up from the can he had just bought. "Hm?"
"Do you believe in love at first sight?"
He nearly dropped his drink. "...What?"
"I saidâ"
"I heard you."
She frowned. "Why are you reacting like I proposed?"
"I just..." He cleared his throat. "It came out of nowhere."
"I was watching a drama yesterday."
"Oh."
"They fell in love after looking at each other for five seconds." She looked unconvinced. "I don't buy it."
Kyungmin tried to sound casual. "...Really?"
"Mhm."
"You don't think it exists?"
"No." She answered without even thinking. "I think people mistake curiosity for love. You can think someone's pretty, or interesting, or cool. But love?"
She shook her head. "You don't know anything about them."
Kyungmin quietly listened. She continued,
"I think love grows. It doesn't suddenly appear. You meet someone, you get to know them, you learn how they laugh, how they get angry, what they're scared of, the little habits no one else notices."
She smiled faintly. "Then one day...you realize somewhere along the way you've fallen. Now THATâS love." She looked over at him. "Not one glance. That's just attraction."
Kyungmin stared at the vending machine. "...I see."
"What about you?"
"Hm?"
"You haven't answered."
"..."
He opened his can. "I...don't know."
Y/N grinned. "That's the most diplomatic answer ever."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
But on the walk home...
He couldn't stop thinking about it. "You don't know anything about them. Love grows. Not one glance.
Later that evening. In the TWS' dorm. The living room was unusually lively. Shinyu sat on the couch reading through tomorrow's schedule. Dohoon was sprawled across the floor with one earbud in, absentmindedly tossing a plushie into the air.Â
Youngjae had somehow convinced Hanjin to help him assemble a tiny bookshelf they'd bought online. "...This screw is wrong."
"It's not."
"It is."
"It isn't."
Jihoon walked past carrying a bowl of cut fruit. "You've been arguing over that one screw for ten minutes."
Meanwhile Kyungmin sat quietly at the dining table with his headphones on. Staring, not at anything. Just...
...thinking.
Dohoon caught it first. "...Guys." Everyone looked over. "Our maknae is buffering."
Jihoon followed Dohoon's gaze. "...You're right. He hasn't moved."
Youngjae waved a hand in front of Kyungmin's face. "Hello? Earth to Kyungmin?"
Nothing. Hanjin tilted his head. "Did school assign impossible homework?"
That finally got Kyungmin's attention. "...Huh?" he pulled down his headphones.
"There he is." Shinyu smiled. "You've been awfully happy these past few weeks."
"You come home smiling."
"You even hum while taking your shoes off." Dohoon gasped dramatically. "Which is terrifying."
Kyungmin blinked. "...I do?"
"You do," Jihoon nodded.
"And today..." Youngjae pointed. "...you look like someone canceled your birthday."
Kyungmin sighed. "...It's nothing."
Six pairs of eyes stared at him. Dohoon folded his arms. "It's school. It's definitely school."
Hanjin nodded. "Maybe someone confessed."
Jihoon looked intrigued. "...Or maybe he confessed."
Kyungmin immediately sat up. "I didn't!"
The room erupted. "Aha!"
"We got him!"
"So there is someone!"
His ears turned bright red. "You guysâ"
Shinyu chuckled, his calm demeanor making the teasing feel gentler. "Tell us. If you want to."
Kyungmin looked around.
The excitement on their faces slowly softened into genuine curiosity. After a long pause "...There's someone."
Dohoon slapped the floor dramatically. "I KNEW IT!"
Youngjae laughed. "I knew those random smiles meant something."
Hanjin leaned forward. "Is she pretty?"
Jihoon added, "Does she know you're an idol?"
Kyungmin rubbed the back of his neck. "Yes....And yes."
"What's she like?"
He thought for a moment. "Confident. Very confident. We met when she shouted at some of my classmates for crowding me. She says whatever she's thinking. Doesn't really care what people think of her. She could shout at people when things get out of hand. And sheâs gorgeous likeâ a firework!"
Youngjae smiled. "Sounds cool."
"She is." The words escaped so naturally that everyone noticed.
Dohoon slowly grinned. "...You like her."
Kyungmin looked down. "...Yeah."
No one teased him this time. His answer had been too sincere. Shinyu smiled knowingly. "So what's wrong?"
Kyungmin hesitated. "...We were talking today."
"About?"
"...Love at first sight."
Jihoon raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"She said she doesn't believe in it."
Youngjae tilted his head. "And?"
Kyungmin laughed quietly to himself. "I think⊠I did."
The room fell silent.
"I think⊠the first time I saw her⊠I liked her."
He remembered that hallway. Her voice cutting through dozens of students. "If he's saying he needs to leave, then let him leave. You're all his classmates. So act like classmates."
She hadn't looked impressed. She hadn't looked nervous. She'd simply seen someone struggling and stepped in. Kyungmin smiled to himself. "...I think I fell for her right there. And now..."Â
He looked at his hands. "I'm wondering if I'm wrong. Because she says that's impossible."
For a moment, no one spoke. Then Shinyu, who had been listening quietly the whole time, set his schedule down. "I don't think either of you is wrong."
Kyungmin looked up.
Shinyu continued, his voice as steady as ever. "Maybe what happened that day wasn't love yet. Maybe it was the moment your heart decidedâ I want to know this person.'"
Youngjae nodded in agreement. "You didn't fall in love with everything about her in one second. You couldn't. But you did become interested enough to keep thinking about her."
Jihoon smiled. âAnd then every conversation after that gave your feelings somewhere to grow."
Hanjin laughed softly. "So maybe, it started at first sight. But became stronger little by little."
Kyungmin sat quietly. That actually made sense.
Dohoon, who had been suspiciously quiet, suddenly leaned forward with a mischievous grin.
"So..." Kyungmin looked up warily.
"...When are we meeting her?"Â
Kyungmin buried his face in his hands. "...Hyung."
"What?"
"I don't even know if she likes me."
The room erupted into laughter. Even Kyungmin couldn't help laughing along. For the first time all evening, the heavy thoughts in his chest eased. Maybe Y/N was right. Maybe love didn't happen in a single glance. Or maybe it was in multiple glance, but it started from that first glance, like it was simply the page where his story with her had quietly begun.
The hallway had finally settled into its usual afternoon rhythm. Teachers were finishing classes. Students lingered in groups before club activities. Kyungmin had gotten used to unconsciously scanning the hallways now. Not in a desperate way. Justâ
Maybe I'll see her again.
The one whose face he'd only seen for a few seconds before she'd sprinted away.
He still didn't know her name.
"...I'm thirsty." One of his friends pointed toward the vending machines near the practice studios. "Wanna grab something?"
Kyungmin nodded. "Sure."
The pair walked down the quieter hallway, relieved to be away from the crowded main corridors. Before they even reached the vending machinesâ
Thunk.
Thunk. Thunk.
"...Seriously?"
Kyungmin looked up. Standing in front of the vending machine was the very girl he'd been wondering about. She had one hand on her hip. The other repeatedly smacked the side of the machine. Sheâs wearing a green crochet seedling hairclip today. Inside a peach juice bottle hung halfway over the spiral, refusing to fall.
She stared at it. The bottle stared back.
"...You paid for that." He tried to talk to her
"...Yes." She stared it down. "It won't come down."
Another shove. Thunk.
Still nothing. She sighed dramatically.
"I respect your determination." Kyungminâs friend tried to lighten.
" I paid 1,500 won." Y/n muttered, Another shove. "If you're going to scam me, at least do it properly."
Kyungmin couldn't stop himself. He laughed. It escaped before he could hide it.Â
The girl turned. "Oh."
Recognition flashed across both their faces at the same time.
"Hallway?"
"...Hi," Kyungmin said.
"...Hi."
She looked back at the bottle. "I'm currently losing a battle."
"I can see that."
"It's winning." Kyungmin chuckled before stepping closer. "Can I?"
She moved aside dramatically. "Be my guest."
He gave the machine a careful shake. Nothing.
She folded her arms. "Told you."
"...Maybe..." He crouched slightly before giving the lower corner a firmer kick with the side of his shoe.
Clunk.
The bottle finally dropped.
Y/N immediately raised both hands. "YES!" She grabbed the drink like she'd won the lottery. "I knew violence would solve this."
"...I don't think that's the lesson." his friend whispered.
"It worked."
She opened the bottle and looked at Kyungmin once again "...Thanks."
"No problem." Kyungmin shrugged off.
There was an awkward pause.
Kyungmin rubbed the back of his neck. "I never got to thank you."
"Hm?"
"The other day."
"Oh." She shrugged. "It wasn't a big deal."
"It was to me."
She blinked. "...You're welcome then."
Another silence.
Then, "I'm Kyungmin."
"I know."
"...Right."
She smiled a little. "It's kind of hard not to."
He laughed. "...True."
She took another sip. "I'm Y/N, Nice to see you again"
There it was. Finally. A name.
His friend, sensing an actual conversation happening, quietly excused himself. "I'll head to the convenience store."
Kyungmin blinked. "Ohâ"
But his friend was already halfway down the hallway, grinning to himself.
You're on your own.
"So..." Kyungmin asked. "You really didn't know who I was?"
Y/N tilted her head. "I knew you were Kyungmin from TWS."
"...That's all?"
"...Should there be more?"
He looked genuinely surprised. Most conversations started with,
"I've been a fan since predebut!"
"Can we take a picture?"
"Can you sign this?"
Instead...
Y/N simply asked, "So..."
"Did you end up making it to class?"
"...Eventually."
"Good."
"...That's your concern?"
"Well..." She shrugged. "If I yelled at everyone and you still ended up late, that would've been embarrassing."
Kyungmin laughed again. "...You're funny."
"I've been told I'm weird."
"I think funny fits better."
They began walking without realizing it. Neither really had anywhere urgent to be.
"So you're in 3-A?" he asked.
"Mhm."
"You?"
"3-B."
"I guessed."
"...You know?"
"Our classrooms are almost opposite."
Kyungmin blinked. "They are?"
"You really don't notice your surroundings."
"..."
"You walk while looking at the floor?"
"..."
She nodded confidently. "Iâts alright, I sometimes do that too. Iâm sure you have your own quirky reasoning, Iâll just need to look on it more."
"You make me sound like a nature documentary."
"'Observe the rare idol in his natural habitat...'" She lowered her voice dramatically. "'Notice how he avoids eye contact to prevent another hallway ambush.'"
Kyungmin nearly doubled over laughing.
As they continued talking, Kyungmin realized something. Y/N wasn't trying to impress him. She interrupted him without hesitation. Teased him like they'd known each other for years. If she disagreed, she'd simply say so.
"You overthink."
"...I do?"
"Very much."
"You've known me for twenty minutes."
"I've decided."
"...That's unfair."
"It's accurate."
At one point, a group of junior girls walked past. They immediately recognized Kyungmin.
"Oh my gosh."
"It's him."
One nudged another. "Should we ask for a photo?"
Before Kyungmin could even tense, Y/N looked over. "If you ask nicely and not become a nuisance he'll probably say yes."
The girls blinked. "...Really?"
Kyungmin smiled. "Sure."
They politely asked, took one quick picture, thanked him, and left. Y/N continued drinking her peach juice. "...See?"
"...See what?"
"People usually copy the energy you give them. If you're calm...They're calmer."
Kyungmin thought about it. "...I've never looked at it that way."
She shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe I'm just making things up."
"You sound pretty confident for someone making things up."
"I usually am."
By now, Kyungmin had noticed something else about her.
She was unpredictable.
One moment she'd be joking about losing a fight to a vending machine. The next she'd bluntly point out something he'd never realized about himself. She never seemed worried about sounding rude. If something crossed her mind, she simply said it.
"You care too much about what people expect." She said it so casually that he almost missed it.
"...What?"
"You apologize a lot."
"...I guess."
"You don't need to."
He looked at her. "What if people think I'm rude?"
Y/N looked genuinely confused. "...Then let them. I can't spend my whole life making sure strangers approve of me."
She took another sip of her drink. "If I know I wasn't trying to be mean, then that's enough for me."
She glanced at him with a small grin. "You, on the other hand..."
"...Hmm?"
"...Need to stop saying sorry every five minutes."
Kyungmin blinked. Then laughed sheepishly. "...Sorry."
Y/N stared at him for two seconds before letting out an exaggerated sigh. "...You're hopeless."
"I just proved your point, didn't I?"
"You absolutely did."
For the first time in a long while, Kyungmin found himself talking to someone who saw him not as TWS' Kyungmin, but simply as Kyungmin.
And strangely enough it was refreshing.
From that afternoon on, it wasn't unusual to see the idol and the outspoken girl from Class 3-A standing by the vending machines after schoolâone always holding a peach juice, the other laughing because she'd somehow turned an ordinary conversation into an unexpected debate.
The more they talked, the more Kyungmin realized something.
Y/N's moods shifted like the weather. Some days she was bright and endlessly chatty, other days she answered with one-word replies while staring out the window. Yet whether she was playful or quiet, one thing never changed.
She never pretended to be anyone else.
And for someone who spent so much of his life adapting to the expectations of others, that honesty was quietly becoming one of his favorite things about her.
Here is Kyungmin's Love Story that I've made in my own! Please understand that this is fiction and not real :) Let's hope for the next special is the next member of your choice.
-Zhan
0.1: How We First Met
0.2: Nice To See You Again
0.3: Who Even Believe In Love At First Sight?
0.4: I Believe In Love At First Sight
0.5: I Hate Myself, But I Like You
0.6: Youâre My GirlfriendâŠ
0.7: Seven Minutes In Heaven
0.8: Merry Christmas!
0.9: Grandma! Meet The Boyfriend!
1.0: How Can One Handle This Much?
1.1: Relationship Moments
1.2: Iâll Handle It For You
If anyone wants to be tagged, please comment here!
The lunch bell had barely finished ringing before the hallways of Hanlim Multi Art School filled with voices. It happened almost every day. The moment Kyungmin stepped out of his classroom, whispers spread faster than the bell itself.
"Kyungmin's outside."
"Let's ask for a picture."
"I just want one selfie!"
His classmates weren't strangers, they saw him every weekday, but being classmates didn't stop many of them from being fans first.
"Kyungmin!"
"Can you sign my notebook?"
"Just one picture!"
The hallway narrowed almost instantly. His own friends sighed. "Guys, move," one of them said, trying to make space. "Seriously, he has to get to class."
Nobody listened. Another student squeezed in with her phone already raised. Someone else tugged lightly at Kyungmin's blazer sleeve. "Oppa, look here!"
Kyungmin smiled politely out of habit. "Sorry... I really have to go."
He bowed once. Twice. The crowd only shuffled closer. His smile slowly became more strained. His friends tried forming a wall around him, but there were simply too many students.
"Can everyone back up a little?"
"Please."
No one moved.
At the other end of the hallway, a girl from Class 3-A hugged a stack of worksheets against her chest while speed-walking. I'm already two minutes lateâŠ
She turned the corner and nearly ran into the crowd. "...What's going on?"
She peeked between shoulders.
In the middle stood a boy she vaguely recognized. Oh. TWS, Kyungmin. She'd seen him during assemblies. Their classes shared the same floor. She also saw something else. He wasn't smiling as usual. But he looked scared.
One of his friends kept saying, "Please let him through."
Another laughed awkwardly. "Guys, enough."
Still nothing.
Y/N frowned. "...Seriously?"
She looked at the classroom clock through the window beside her. Three minutes late now. She sighed. "...Whatever."
Without thinking twice, she squeezed into the crowd. "Excuse me."
Nobody reacted. "Excuse me."
Still nothing.
"Can you all MOVE?" Her voice rang through the hallway. It wasn't screaming. It was the kind of voice teachers used when a class got too loud. Everyone froze. "If he's saying he needs to leave, then let him leave."
Silence.
She looked around at the students surrounding him.
"Unlike you guys, there are OTHER PEOPLE who have places to be!."
Another pause.
"And for god sakes! Heâs a student! So act like classmates."
One student awkwardly lowered her phone. Another stepped back. Y/N continued before anyone could argue.
"If someone surrounded you during every passing period, would you like it?"
"..."
"He came here to study too."
The hallway became so quiet that even Kyungmin blinked. She pointed toward the open space behind everyone. "Make a path."
They gently guided him through the opening before the crowd had time to reform. As Kyungmin passed their eyes met. Only for a second. She wasn't smiling. She wasn't starstruck. She only mouthed, "...You okay?"
He nodded automatically. "...Yeah."
"Good."
That was all. She glanced toward the clock again. "...Ah. My class."
She adjusted the worksheets in her arms. Then took off running. "Oh no, Mrs. Choi is going to kill me!"
Her footsteps echoed down the hallway before anyone could stop her.
Kyungmin turned instinctively. "Waitâ"
But she'd already disappeared around the corner.
His friend looked at him. "...Do you know her?"
Kyungmin stared toward the empty hallway. "...No."
"Never seen her before?" "I don't think so."
He frowned slightly. "...She wasn't even from our class."
One of the students nearby muttered,
"I think she's from 3-A."
"Really?"
"I've seen her walking with students from class 3-A."
"...What's her name?"
Everyone looked at each other. "...I don't know."
Meanwhileâ
Y/N skidded to a stop outside the teacherâs office. She straightened her uniform in three frantic seconds before knocking. "I'm sorry I'm late!"
The teacher looked over her glasses. "...Reason?"
Y/N caught her breath. "...Traffic."
"...Inside the school?"
"..."
"..."
"...Human traffic?"
Some of the teacher burst into laughter. Mrs. Choi pinched the bridge of her nose before waving her in. "Sit down."
"Thank you!"
She hurried to sit in front of her as if nothing unusual had happened.Â
By the next lesson...
She had already forgotten about the hallway incident.
Kyungmin hadn't. That afternoon, as he packed his bag, he found himself glancing toward the corridor outside. His friends noticed. "You looking for someone?"
"...No." A pause. "...Maybe."
"The girl?"
Kyungmin quietly zipped up his backpack. "I didn't even get to thank her."
"And you don't know her name."
He looked once more toward the classrooms of the neighboring wing. Somewhere in Class 3-A, there was a girl who had stepped into a crowd without hesitation, spoken up for someone she'd never met, and then vanished before he could even ask who she was.
All he knew was that she'd been carrying a stack of worksheets, wore the same Hanlim uniform as everyone else with a grape clip on her hair, and had run away muttering about being late to class.
For the first time since entering Hanlim, Kyungmin found himself hoping he'd bump into a stranger again.
Y/n rolled her eyes with a smile. "You're biased."
"Obviously."
Before either of them could continue, tiny footsteps thundered across the room. "Appaaaa!!"
Sinwoo came running into frame wearing dinosaur pajamas despite it being afternoon.
In one hand was his beloved green dinosaur plushie. The other held...a toy spoon.
Nobody questioned it.
He stopped in front of the camera. "Hello!"
The comments went wild.
"SINWOO GREW SO MUCH."
"HE'S SO CUTE."
Sinwoo bowed politely. Then immediately forgot the camera existed. He started dancing. Not to any music. Just...
Dancing.
Little hops. Tiny spins. Random arm movements. Shinyu couldn't help laughing. "What are you dancing to?"
"My song!"
"What song?"
"The dinosaur song!"
"There isn't any music."
Sinwoo gasped. "There is."
"...In my head."
A minute later, y/n played his song on speaker and he immediately sprinted toward y/n. "Mama!"
"Hm?"
"Come play!"
Y/n groaned dramatically. "My knees..."
"No!"
"My back..."
"No!"
"My soul..."
Sinwoo giggled before grabbing both her hands anyway. "You dance."
"I don't know..."
"Please?"
Shinyu smiled knowingly. "He already won."
"I know."
The next ten minutes became complete chaos. Sinwoo danced. Y/n copied him dramatically. Sometimes she'd pretend to be a dinosaur. Sometimes she'd purposely dance terribly just to make him laugh.
Whenever Sinwoo laughed so hard he stumbled she'd immediately catch him. "There you go."
Then she'd ruffle his hair. "My handsome boy."
He giggled before throwing himself into another hug.
The comments couldn't stop pointing it out.
"SHE'S SO NATURAL WITH HIM."
"SHE'S SUCH A MOM đ."
"LOOK HOW SAFE SINWOO FEELS."
Even while laughing herself, Y/n never stopped keeping an eye on him. Every time he ran too close to the coffee table, she gently redirected him. "Careful."
Every time he got too excited "Slow feet."
Without even realizing it, every instinct she had was that of a mother.
MeanwhileâŠ
Shinyu had become an expert at multitasking. Areum slept peacefully against his chest. One hand gently supported her tiny back. The other somehow still managed to high-five Sinwoo every time he ran past.
"Again!"
High five.
"Again!"
High five.
"Again!"
High five.
Y/n laughed. "Your arm must be tired."
"It's training."
"For what?"
"Being Sinwoo's playground."
About halfway through the livestream, a comment caught Shinyu's attention.
"Y/N!! DO A DANCE FROM YOUR LAST VIDEO!!"
The comments immediately agreed.
"PLEASE!!"
"JUST ONCE!"
Y/n's eyes widened. "...No."
Shinyu looked at her. "No?"
She immediately shook her head left right. "No no no. I'm embarrassed. I look awful."
The comments started teasing her lovingly.
"PLEASEEEE."
"JUST ONE DANCE."
She laughed, continuing to shake her head. "Nope. No. No."
Sinwoo had been quietly watching the entire exchange. He looked at his mom. Then tilted his head.
"...Oh." Everyone watched him curiously.
Suddenly, he planted his feet firmly on the floor. Then enthusiastically copied y/n. Left, right, left, right. Shaking his head with complete confidence. "No No No."
He was convinced that was the dance.
The room fell silent for exactly one second. Then, Shinyu burst into laughter so hard he had to hold Areum carefully with both hands.
"Oh no!"
Y/n covered her face. "SINWOO!"
"What?"
"That's not the dance!"
He blinked. "...It isn't?"
"No!"
"You do this!" He proudly demonstrated the head shake again. Left, right, left, right.
The comments exploded.
"HE THOUGHT SHE WAS DANCING đđđ"
"I'M CRYING."
"PLEASE TELL HIM THAT'S THE CHOREOGRAPHY."
Y/n was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. "Oh no. My baby..."
Sinwoo looked confused. "...Was I good?"
She immediately opened her arms. "You were amazing."
He happily ran over. She scooped him into a hug. "My cutest dancer."
Seeing the two of them together, Shinyu smiled to himself. Sinwoo curled comfortably into y/n's side, still clutching his dinosaur plushie. Areum remained peacefully asleep against his chest.
He looked around the room. His son. His daughter. His wife, still laughing over the misunderstanding. His heart felt impossibly full.
A comment appeared just then:
"SHINYU, WHY ARE YOU SMILING LIKE THAT?"
He glanced at the camera before looking back at his family. Then answered honestly. "...Because..."
He watched Sinwoo proudly teach y/n his new "dance" while she dramatically copied every head shake to make him laugh. "...I think this is my favorite view."
Y/n looked over. "What?"
He smiled. "You three."
She couldn't help but smile back. â...You're cheesy."
"I know."
"But I'm also right."
Without another word, she leaned over and rested her head briefly against his shoulder, careful not to wake Areum.
Sinwoo looked up at them. Then grinned. "I hug too!"
He squeezed himself between his parents, wrapping his little arms around both of them as best as he could.
The camera captured the slightly squished family hug, with Areum still sleeping peacefully through all of it.
The comments flooded by so fast they were impossible to read, but one message managed to catch y/n's eye:
"This doesn't even feel like we're watching celebrities anymore."
She smiled softly. "It isn't."
She gently kissed the top of Sinwoo's head. "It's just us being a family."
