โ โWhen you drop a glass or a plate to the ground it makes a loud crashing sound. When a window shatters, a table leg breaks, or when a picture falls off the wall it makes a noise. But as for your HEART when that breaks it s completely silent.
(Yvette. She / Her.ย )ย ย โธบย ย ๊ฅย ย โย ย helloย !ย Introducing JAEJIN CARTER,ย He's the TWENTY TWOย ย year old who just went from idol wannabe to actual idol. itโs been a rocky roadโfilled with self-doubt, sweat, and way too many late-night practicesโbut he made it.
I will leave this pinned to the top of his page, so if anyone would like me to send them a message for brainstorming you can like this post at any time.
Jaejin hadnโt meant to fall asleep on the practice room floor, but the way his body ached told him he hadnโt exactly fought it either. When he woke, the lights were dim, and his hoodie was bunched awkwardly under his head like a pillow that had given up on life. He stretched out, wincing at the crack of his shoulders, and then sat up to blink around the empty space.
Almost empty, anyway.
His bag was still in the corner, half-unzipped with a juice box peeking out like it had been waiting for him. He laughed softly, rubbing his eyes. โEven my snacks look disappointed.โ The words came out scratchy, half-asleep, but it felt better to say something than sit in silence.
Pushing himself to his feet, Jaejin padded across the room and leaned against the mirror wall, hair mussed and curls sticking in too many directions to count. He knew he should pack up and head back, but instead he lingered, staring at the scuffed floor where hours of rehearsals had worn it down.
When the door creaked, he looked up, wide-eyed like heโd been caught doing something he shouldnโt. A crooked grin spread across his face before he could stop it. โOh. Hey. I, uhโฆ wasnโt sleeping here. Totally justโฆ meditating. Very advanced idol stuff.โ
Jaejin could already tell the day wasnโt going to be productive the moment he woke up with his throat scratchy and his head heavy. He didnโt bother fighting it. For once, he let himself stay curled up under the blanket, cocooned in warmth with the curtains drawn just enough to let a soft strip of light across the room.
Usually he hated lying still for too long, but being sick gave him an excuse. His body felt heavy in a way that made even rolling over feel like a victory. He stared at the ceiling, listening to the faint hum of the dormโs air conditioner. Every so often, someone passed in the hall, but no one came in, and he liked it that way.
He reached for his phone and scrolled a little, but the screen made his head throb, so he tossed it onto the nightstand and just listened instead. The quiet was almost comforting. He could hear his own breathing, uneven but steady, and the faint rustle of his blanket whenever he shifted. It was rare that he let himself rest without guilt.
There was a kind of guilty pleasure in it, really. Not needing to practice, not needing to talk, not needing to look a certain way. Just Jaejin, sick and wrapped up in his own little world. He thought maybe, if being sick always felt this calm, he wouldnโt mind it so much.
Jaejin sat cross-legged on his bed, notebook open in front of him, pen hovering like it might bite. He had read somewhere that journaling was supposed to help get your feelings out, like a mental detox. He wasnโt sure if that was true, but it felt worth a try.
โOkayโฆ hi, notebook,โ he muttered under his breath before writing the same thing down. The words looked silly on paper, but at least the page wasnโt blank anymore. He tapped the pen against the margin. What exactly was he supposed to write? He wasnโt about to pour out something dramatic just to prove a point to himself.
He ended up writing about rehearsal. How his voice cracked once and he had to laugh it off. The choreographer gave him a nod for finally landing a step cleanly.
Still, he wasnโt convinced this whole โjournaling thingโ was some magical cure. He stared at what he had written, then added at the bottom: โNot sure if this helps. But maybe itโs like stretching before practice. You donโt see the difference right away, but it keeps you from falling apart later.โ
He set the pen down, closed the notebook, and shrugged to himself. Maybe tomorrow heโd try again. Or maybe heโd forget. Either way, it didnโt feel like a waste of time.
The studio was warm and still, that late-summer kind of warm that sticks to your skin even inside. The faint smell of wood and old leather hung in the air, mixed with the soft echo of music drifting in from somewhere down the hall. Jaejin stepped inside, his heart beating a little faster, not from nerves exactly, but from something like excitement. Vocal practice had always been his favorite part of training. He took a seat on the bench and glanced at the trainer, who gave him a small nod and pointed toward the microphone.
No audience. No script. Just him and his voice. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let the first notes come out. His voice was not perfect, sometimes shaky, sometimes soft, but it was honest. It filled the room like something he had been holding in for too long. He moved a little without thinking, swaying to the sound only he could hear, fingers twitching like they wanted to reach out and grab the music.
When he finished, the trainer nodded and gave a few straightforward pointers about breath control and putting more feeling into the notes. Jaejin listened, taking it in without saying much. He looked out the window where the sun was low, casting long shadows across the city streets. For a moment, he just watched the light shift and fade.
Itโs a quiet Tuesday, and Jaejinโs curled up on the dorm balcony with a half-melted popsicle and a pile of laundry slowly sun-drying beside him. The rest of the group is scattered. Some are at the studio, some out running errands. For once, the dorm feels still. Heโs not used to the silence, but itโs not unwelcome either.
The air smells like soap and the neighborโs early dinner. Somewhere, a pigeon is cooing on a roof. He stretches out his legs, letting the sun hit his bare ankles, and mindlessly scrolls through his phone. His thumb is slow and sticky from mango flavor.
Then he sees it. An old trainee photo someone reposted. His hair was different then, darker and uneven, his jaw still soft, eyes tired. He doesnโt look cool. He doesnโt look like someone destined to be on stage. The fan caption is sweet: โHeโs really grown up, huh? We believed in you, Jaejin!โ
He knows they mean well. He appreciates it. But the photo makes his stomach twist. He remembers exactly how that day felt. The stress. The bad lighting. The way his shirt sat weird on his shoulders. He doesnโt look like himself, or maybe he does and he just doesnโt want to admit it.
Jaejin taps the like button anyway, even if he canโt look at it too long. Itโs part of it all, he reminds himself. Growing. Failing a little. Becoming someone. You donโt get to pick which pieces people remember.
The washing machine beeps from inside, and he hauls himself up with a dramatic sigh. โOkay, okay,โ he mutters to the clothesline. โCelebrity laundry boy is clocking back in.โ
He lingers one last second in the sun, just long enough to really soak it in.
The stream opens with a glittery silver backdrop and soft blue fairy lights, casting a calm, dreamy glow over Jaejin. A large, slightly lopsided โ23โ balloon floats cheerfully behind him, and in front of him sits a table lined with snacks, neatly stacked fan letters, a birthday crown heโs refusing to wear (for now), and a water bottle that heโs already knocked over twice before the five-minute mark.
โOkay, hi! Hello! Wait...can you guys hear me? Can someone type a green heart if the audioโs working?โ His voice is bright and a little rushed as he leans in, scanning the chat with wide, sparkling eyes. โOh! I see them! Okay, weโre good. Whew.โ
Heโs dressed comfortably, hoodie sleeves pushed up to his elbows, curls still damp like he rushed straight from practice. โFirst of all, thank you to everyone who remembered... not that Iโd be offended if you didnโt. I mean... a little offended, maybe?โ He grins, clearly joking. โItโs my first birthday livestream, so I was nervous, but you guys are making it feel like a giant FaceTime call.โ
He waves again, a bit more polished this time, the smile on his face big enough to hide the nerves still fluttering underneath. โI really thought no one would show up. But look at this. Youโre all here. Itโs real. Iโm real.โ
He adjusts the camera and laughs at himself. โAlright, letโs do questions โ
Q&A Segment
Fan Comment: What was the first thing you did this morning?
โBrushed my teeth,โ he replies with mock seriousness. โEven on my birthday, I live in fear of my dentist.โ
Q: What's something youโre proud of this year?
Jaejin pauses, smile softening. โJoining Type Zero. Being part of this team... I still canโt believe it sometimes. Every day feels like I accidentally unlocked a bonus level.โ
Q: Do you still cry watching animal rescue videos?
He groans, dramatically fanning his face. โWHO TOLD YOU...okay yes. Next question. Iโm sensitive, sue me.โ
As the comments scroll faster, a few negative ones slip through:
โWhy is he even in the group?โโSo fake lolโโHeโs just a filler member.โ
His hand falters on the mouse for half a second, eyes flicking sideways. But then he sits up straighter, smile still intact ,gentler now, but steady.
The chat explodes in his defense: hearts, cake emojis, messages of support flying in. He leans in again, squinting exaggeratedly. โOkay, wow. You all drank caffeine today, huh? Love the energy. Letโs keep going!โ
Q: What was your birthday wish?
He folds his hands like heโs making a wish. โCanโt tell you or it wonโt come true! But letโs just say... puppies are involved. And naps. And maybe a Type Zero world tourโ
Q: If you could switch parts with a member for a comeback, who would it be?
He gasps. โTrying to start drama on my birthday? Okay... maybe Baek? Everything he does looks ten times cooler. I wanna know what that feels like for once.โ he laughs and continues reading
A quick scroll and another not-so-nice comment flies by. His smile flickers briefly, then recovers.
Q: Favorite Type Zero memory so far?
He thinks for a moment, fingers tapping his cheek. โWe filmed something earlier in the year that was super fun. I can't say more than that, but once its out you'll see what i'm talking aboutโโ
The chat floods again with birthday wishes. He lifts the unworn crown and gives a dramatic little bow. โThanks for spending a piece of today with me. Iโll keep doing my best. one day at a time.โ
"Time." Security officer Seyoon looked up. "Maybe we should keep the time in mind." He asked, wincing as pain once again radiated throughout his leg. Gently, he tapped his flashlight against his calf, trying fruitlessly to bring relief.
"If we can't solve the mystery in time, should we start thinking about evacuation?" Was Seyoon breaking character? Probably juuuuust a tad. Look, if he were in a situation like this in real life, the first thing he would want to do would be to run the hell away. Mystery be damned. The bomb be damned. Anybody can go up in flames as long as they can find a way out.
"I can't think of anything else out of the ordinary from my patrol." He forced himself to snap back into his serious 'security guard' Seyoon expression. "You got anything else, Hyoseop? You love the park the most."
kai speaks and hyoseop simply crosses his arms, he remains silent, a bit of anger in him as the other speaks. theyโre a team, kind of, why would hyoseop start blaming anyone here? and why was his guesses and thoughts so out of the ordinary? was he really stupid for thinking it might be someone else than the six people sitting here? working here for so long, hyoseop just canโt seem to find a reason for why any of them would do this, perhaps, he doesnโt know them as well as he thought he did.
so, he looks around. could it be parker? heโs the least suspicious, but perhaps that makes him the most suspicious, nobody would think it was him, right? so that might just mean it is him. jaejin? jaejin is partly annoying but also often lifts the mood, hyoseop would honestly say thereโs a bigger chance itโs parker than jaejin. next, baekhyun. yeah, that would make sense, though hyoseop wouldnโt admit it out loud, isnโt baekhyun the smartest here? heโd know how to pull this off. kai and seyoon then, part of hyoseop wants to blame kai, but thatโs simply for the otherโs accusations, in the end, he doesnโt think itโs kai, nor does he thinks itโs seyoon.
so, he suspects parker and baekhyun he supposes. he looks as seyoon asks a question, decides to remain quiet, if it really is someone here, maybe the most reliable person to figure this out is himself.
Jaejin perks up when he hears his name, eyes widening a little like a deer caught in the gentle beam of a flashlight...not because he's guilty, but because he's suddenly more aware of the weight in the room. His hand tightens around the juice box heโs mid-offering, frozen in the act of passing it toward someone, probably Kai or maybe Parker, though heโs not sure anymore.
โWha, uh, oh! Yeah. The panel.โ He blinks a few times, trying to steady himself. โThere was a scratch. Like, right near the lower lock panel. I thought maybe one of the kids did it earlier, you know? Sometimes they get rowdy waiting and start kicking the base or pressing buttons.โ He winces a little, aware that it sounds like a weak excuse. โI didnโt really think much of it at the time... but now it does seem kinda weird.โ
He shifts, glancing around nervously, catching Hyoseopโs silence and the tension that hangs heavier than usual. Jaejinโs eyes flicker toward Baekhyun, grateful for the quiet support, but the doubt in the room makes him swallow hard.
โI swear I didnโt see anyone messing with it,โ he says quickly, voice softer now, almost apologetic. โThere were a lot of people moving around during the second parade run, and I was just trying to make sure no one snuck an extra loop on the wheel.โ He trails off, then reaches into the cooler again, pulling out a small packet of crackers and offering it hesitantly, like trying to bridge the gap in the room.
โBut I can double-check the logs again. Maybe look for anything odd? I label everything so I should be able to spot if somethingโs off.โ He clears his throat and forces a small, hopeful smile. โAnd, um, still got fruit punch and apple if anyone needs to... think better under pressure.โ
Jaejin sat comfortably in front of the camera, already giggling before the first question even dropped. โAlright, listen,โ he began, holding up both hands like he was about to reveal some deep, dark secret. โI need to formally apologize to everyone who believed I was a detective, because, uhโฆ yeah, that was a total mistake.โ He burst into laughter, scrunching his nose in an exaggerated expression. โI was so confident! I was over here piecing clues like I was on some crime show, walking around like, โIโve got the vibe, trust me,โ and then, bam. Wrong. Twice!โ
He paused for a moment, briefly covering his face with his hands before peeking out between his fingers. โCase one? I genuinely thought Runaway Groom Cha was innocent. Had those sad, puppy-dog eyes! I fell for the sad eyes! I pretty much cursed myself right then and there.โ He shook his head with a grin, clearly amused. โAnd for case two, I was so sure Kai and Won were just your average, chill, rich guys. Like, โTheyโre too relaxed to be scheming,โ and turns out, they were relaxed because they were actually winning. Classic.โ
Leaning closer to the camera as if sharing some secret inside info, Jaejin added, โIโve learned a few things today. First, that never trust me around a mystery without snacks and someone smarter than me guiding the way. My talents are better suited elsewhere, like cheering from the sidelines or carrying the groupโs emotional baggage. Or maybe just being the official snack distributor.โ
He shrugged with a relaxed grin. โNext round, Iโm going in with zero expectations. Just vibes. Maybe a magnifying glass for aesthetic reasons, got to keep it stylish, right? Honestly, though, I had a blast being wrong. Itโs kind of my thing now. Soโฆ maybe one more case and then Detective Jaejin's retiring early with dishonor.โ He laughs and winks at the camera.
Jaejin didnโt realize heโd missed Fatherโs Day until a couple days later, when someone offhandedly joked in the hallway, โHope your dad liked his gift.โ The words hit harder than they were meant to, peeling his attention away from everything else he was juggling. Meetings, practice, the blur of work and barely-there sleepโit was easy for one day to slide into the next until dates lost meaning.
It was only when he scrolled through his phone that night, watching old texts stack up, that he realized heโd let it pass by. A slow clench of guilt worked its way through his chest. He hadnโt meant to forget. The days were just so loud, packing in from all sides, and heโd been swept along by them.
Bits of memory drifted in anyway: his dad at the kitchen counter, steam curling up from instant coffee, the crinkle of newspaper under his palm. How he'd always let Jaejin "win" epic Mario Kart roundsโat least until it stopped being an act. The dry jokes and the comfortable, wordless silences, a steady hand on Jaejinโs shoulder when he was more lost than he could ever admit out loud.
He hovered over the message window, typing and deleting, starting with an apology, scrapping it, trying again. Everything felt flat or forced. โHappy (belated) Fatherโs Dayโ looked cheap on the screen. But silence felt worse.
Eventually, he sent:
Sorry I missed the day, Dad.
Hope you had some time for yourself anyway.
Next time Iโm upgrading your busted Switch controller, I promise.
He stared at what heโd sentโawkward, late, not enough. But it was honest, and in the end, that was all he had.
After months of just messing around and practicing by himself, Jaejin finally gave in to his trainerโs advice and went back to acting class. The trainer told him he looked stiff on stage, like he wasnโt actually feeling anything, and maybe being back in class would help. Jaejin honestly didnโt know if it would work, or just make everything more awkward, but he figured it was worth a shot.
Walking into the studio wasnโt as terrifying this time. It was still weird, sure, but the anxiety felt sort of muted, buzzing in the background instead of overwhelming him. He took a seat in the circle, doing his best to keep calm and ignore how his heart sped up whenever anyone even glanced his way.
He didnโt feel totally lost anymore. There was this tiny bit of hope, like maybe he wouldnโt screw everything up. The instructor started walking around, calling names for roll. She did it with this chill energy, making the room feel almost comfortable, like sheโd done this a million times before.
When it was his turn, Jaejin barely managed a soft โhere," barely above a whisper. His heart thudded like crazy, but nobody actually stared too long. That somehow made it easier to breathe again.
The class hadnโt started yet, so he slouched a little in his chair, planning to just listen and lay low. Those comments from that article, the ones calling him empty and โnothing special,โ kept bouncing around in his head. But looking around the room, he realized everyone else seemed just as nervous, messing with their notebooks or staring at their phones.
He focused on breathing, listening to the low background chatter. Maybe, if he tried really hard, he could ditch some of that baggage at the door this time and actually figure out what was real for him, something that wasnโt just noise from everyone else.
Kai had always been naturally outgoing, effortlessly striking up conversations and forming connections with others. Yet, when it came to breaking down barriers and moving beyond surface-level interactions, he sometimes faltered.
It was his lingering worry about not being truly liked that held him back; especially with Jaejin, his first roommate after an entire year of having his own private space. Kai wanted to grow closer to his new bandmate, but the whirlwind of comeback preparations, concerts, and constant traveling left little room for deeper bonding.
So when a knock at the door and Jaejin's familiar voice pulled him from his focus on the video game in his hands, it was a welcome interruption. Setting the Switch aside, Kai hopped up from his bed, opening the door to greet Jaejin with a warm grin, tender and genuine. "I'd love to, actually," he responded cheerfully. "I donโt think Iโve even eaten today."
Playfully nudging Jaejin toward the kitchen, Kai sniffed at the air with an exaggeratedly content sigh. "Smells amazing. Now that I think about it, itโs been forever since I had mac and cheese. Is it your go-to dish to make?" His curiosity was genuine, tone light and inviting. Cooking had always been a small passion of hisโa way to care for the people around himโso the topic felt natural.
Kai took a seat at the table, his excitement as pure and childlike as someone opening gifts on Christmas morning. "Next time, Iโll cook for you. Your favorite dish."
Jaejin grinned, shoving another forkful of mac and cheese into his mouth while considering how to answer. "Scotch eggs, huh? That's seriously professional. I don't think I've ever actually had a real one, just a convenience store versions when my family had a layover in London, and I feel like those don't count, right?" He let the question hang there, genuine curiosity mingling with a teasing undertone. "Youโre really selling it, though. I might have to put in a special request for the full English treatment one day. ."
He set his fork down for a second, elbows on the table as he turned his attention fully to Kai. "Honestly, anything that feels like home for you, I want to try. Itโs a big deal, actually sharing something so close to your roots." He pauses, then flashes a crooked grin. "Just, uh, letโs keep it nut-free. Or, you know, not secretly a salad pretending to be food. I have a strict anti-rabbit diet policy." The corners of his mouth lift with the joke, but itโs clear from his expression that he genuinely means it, heโs here for whatever Kai wants to share.
He glanced down, fiddling with his napkin, the laughter fading into a softer, more earnest energy. "If itโs a real taste of your home, Iโm in. I want to see the side of London you grew up with, not just the touristy popular stuff ." After a beat, he looks up, eager again. "Is scotch eggs something youโd eat when you missed home, or more of a family tradition thing? I always wonder what makes food comforting-sometimes itโs just nostalgia, or maybe who you eat it with."
He nudged Kaiโs foot gently under the table, eyes bright. "Letโs make a deal. Next time, you cook, then we swap. Best comfort meal wins, loser does dishes. What do you think? And, uh, if you want to throw in Marmite, just warn me. Iโll try anything at least once."
Lead Pyrotechnics Technician Baekhyun... Lead still, because his promotion was given to someone else. Someone clearly less qualified if they let things get to this point. This was always what he has done, after all, cleaning after mistakes someone else's responsible. But this is bigger. They want to blow up his park!
LPT Baekhyun is nothing if calm and collected though, especially in front of his fellow colleagues. No one needs to know how badly he wanted that promotion, but was ignored once again. So he keeps an stoic face, though his body language is open. No crossed legs and no crossed arms. He observes. He knows everything. Or well, almost everything since the mystery of letter and the alleged bomb still hangs in the air between them.
At Manager Parker's inquiry, he doesn't even flinch. Of course. It makes sense. It's not an insensible guess, and he has his grudges, of course, but making an spectacle out of it? So dramatic. "I believe everyone here was extremely busy with preparations for the event, I'm no exception. I was overseeing the Midnight Lights Parade," he says instead of going straight with it. He then turns to their Ferris Wheel Operator Jaejin because who else would he turn to if not the person who looks up to him the most out of everyone? "FWO Jaejin, you're probably one of the staff who has the most contact with the public given your position at the feris. Haven't you seen anything or anyone suspect? Anyone particularly shifty or who looked like they were carrying more than they should?"
Jaejin blinks, caught mid-thought by Baekhyunโs even-keeled call. He perks up a little, tugging his small blue cooler closer, an anchor in uncertain waters. โOh, um, right! Sorry - just, yโknow, itโs a lot.โ He fumbles open the lid, the familiar hiss of cold air breaking some of the tension. Digging around with practiced clumsiness, he finds what heโs looking for. โBaekhyun, juice box? Itโs fruit punchโ His grin is sheepish as he holds it out, gaze flickering to Baekhyun with open admiration. โYou, uh, you need energy for all that pyrotechnics wizardry, right?โ
Without missing a beat, he almost bounces over to Seyoon, extending a chilled apple juice with both hands. โOfficer Seyoon, for you. Canโt let security run on empty.โ Thereโs a nervous little chuckle. โYouโve been patrolling non-stop, havenโt you?โ Jaejin straightens, trying to mirror Baekhyunโs calm, but his voice still carries a soft, apologetic lilt. โHonestly, I didnโt see anything. Nothing outside the parades. Just regular families, parade crew in a rush, some kids asking for more spins.โ He presses his lips together like heโs replaying each moment of the night, then shakes his head, curls bouncing. โI did see one of the custodian carts parked closer than usual, but that could be nothing. I mostly made sure everyone buckled in safe, and, well, handed out snacks.โ
He lifts a grape box from the cooler, holding it out. โAnyone else? Thereโs orange, too. And some crackers. oh- and chips or fruit snack if you prefer thatโ His voice softens as he nudges the snacks forward. โNobody should be hungry for this kind of thing.โ Another fruit punch is offered in Kaiโs direction, and Jaejin turns to Hyoseop, adding with a small nod, โAnd for you, Maintenance Crew Lead. Canโt have the whole place falling apart because you skipped dinner.โ
Finally, he pivots back toward Seyoon, worry and hope mixing in his eyes. โOfficer Seyoon, youโre probably the only one whoโs had eyes on most corners tonight. Was there anywhere near the Ferris wheel or along the parade route that seemed off to you? Maybe someone hanging around too long, or any spot that made you feelโฆ uneasy?โ His hopeful gaze lingers, still flicking back to Baekhyun now and then, like heโs searching for approval or maybe just permission to keep handing out snack in the face of impending disaster.
