Hundred Broken Hearts (Not Our Fate)
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Masterlist
Chapter 9
Genre: Idol Aue, Poly OT7, Strangers/Freiends/Soulmates/Lovers, Slow Burn, Romance, Slice Of Life, WLM, MLM
Pairing: Poly Ot7 x Female Oc
Warnings: Pov switches, Medically impaired character (not mc), Death (Not Mcs), Mental Trauma, depression, slow burn, like a crazy slow burn, soulmate bonds, drama, tension, money problems, children, contracts, idol world, mlm, NO SMUT!mtba...
Summary: In a quiet town on a sprawling Korean ranch, 22 year old Naye lives a simple life, caring for her family's land after a tragic accident and her mother's coma. But when seven strangers arrive at her doorstep after a storm damages her rental home, her world is turned upside down. The men, secretly a famous idol group, find themselves drawn to Naye in ways they never expected. As they spend weeks together, a bond forms, but Naye remains unaware of the powerful connection they share. When their time together ends abruptly, Naye is left heartbroken, but fate has other plans. The men return, determined to find her again, and this time, nothing will keep them apart. Not even their broken hearts.
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Naye
The late afternoon sun stretched golden fingers across the sky, tinting everything in the soft blush of summer's edge. The air was warm humming gently with cicadas. And Naye rode steady in the saddle the creak of the leather beneath her in rhythm with the slow clop of her horse's hooves. She wasn't in a rush. Not today.
She adjusted her hand on the reins as her phone buzzed in the small satchel tied to the saddle horn. With a small click of her tongue, she guided the horse to a slow stop and pulled the phone out, thumb swiping across the screen.
Uncle Jinhwan.
She answered, already grinning. "Well if it isn't the second most dramatic person in town."
His chuckle came through the line like a gust of wind. "Second? I'm hurt."
"You'll live," she teased.
"Anyway, I'm calling 'cause tonight's line dance night down at the old barn, and I want you to get your pretty self down there. Bring the boys, too, the ones who're always walking around your place looking like a boot company advertisement. I like those dudes."
Naye laughed, loud and unfiltered, her fingers curling tighter around the phone. "You only like them 'cause they made you laugh so hard you spit out your corn dog last weekend."
"Exactly. Anyone who can do that deserves an invite. Food, games, dancing, the whole town's coming. You will be there."
"Yes, yes, I'll be there. I haven't danced in a while anyway," she said softly, the smile still playing on her lips as a hint of nostalgia washed over her. "Thanks for calling, uncle."
"Of course, sugar. See you tonight."
She hung up and tucked the phone away again, giving her horse a gentle nudge with her heels. They began a slow loop around the edge of the back field the tall grass brushing against her boots.
Naye closed her eyes for a moment, letting the wind tug at her hair the sun warm her skin.
Her heart was full. And broken. And messy.
Her mother lay in a hospital room, her voice a fading memory. Her father was gone. The land was in danger. Everything should have been unbearable.
But instead, something strange had taken root in her chest.
Joy.
Messy, inconvenient joy.
It came in spurts. Like when she found a pair of socks in the freezer because Riki thought it'd be funny. Or when Sunoo insisted they replant a whole row of strawberries because he thought one looked sad. Or when Jungwon brought her tea during her period without her asking, then left the cup outside her door with a note that read "You're scary, but I got you."
They were her boys now. And when had that happened?
When had her house once quiet and heavy with grief, turned into a revolving door of clanging pans, music in the halls, and boots tracking in mud no matter how many times she scolded them?
She couldn't pinpoint the exact moment, but she could remember the small pieces.
Like the time she and Heeseung had driven to town together to get fencing supplies. The ride had started quiet, filled with soft country music and the occasional eye contact. But halfway there, they'd gotten caught behind a chicken truck and Heeseung, in his dramatic flair, started narrating the chickens' lives like it was a soap opera. She'd nearly crashed from laughing.
Or when Jay had found her in the barn loft crying, not because of anything new, just the usual aching weight, and instead of asking questions, he'd climbed up next to her and wordlessly handed her half of a cookie. "My last one," he'd whispered. "Don't tell the others." She'd eaten it through tears and laughed until her nose ran.
When Jake demanded her to let him give her a piggy back ride, because he noticed her falling asleep as they were walking from the rental home back to the house. And their giggles were so loud as he raced up hill with her on his back, and he collapsed to the ground dramatically taking her hand with him.
There was the time she'd gone to weed the west field and found Sunghoon already out there. Shirtless. Hair messy. Grumbling under his breath about manual labor being a scam. She'd handed him a bandanna and dared him to out weed her. He lost. And he'd never looked at her the same way again.
The time Jungwon and Sunoo woke her up at two am in the morning. Softly knocking on her door until she answered. And without a word they dragged her outside, the three of them sitting on the back porch making 2 am wishes to the shooting stars. She never found out what they wished for, but she had wished that this feeling would never disappear.
And Riki. Oh god, Riki. Her chaos gremlin. They'd once spent two hours looking for his phone only to realize he was using it as a flashlight the whole time. She threatened to duct tape it to his chest.
Then there was the walk.
All of them had gone into the woods after dinner, laughing, joking, until they'd gotten so deep the sun had dipped. The boys panicked a little, unsure of the winding trails, but she'd just tilted her head and said, "I know the way." They'd followed her without question. They'd trusted her. And something in her chest had shifted that night.
They'd trusted her with their safety. With their stories. With their messy, real selves.
And she'd given them her world in return.
She tugged lightly on the reins as the horse turned back toward the barn. Her lips curled into a soft contemplative smile. These three weeks had been chaos. Work and aching backs and sugar highs and pancake batter in her hair. But they'd also been magically beautiful.
She'd never laughed this much in her life. Never felt this seen.
And god help her, she felt so protective of them now. She made sure Riki drank water. She smacked Sunghoon's arm when he skipped meals. She braided Sunoo's hair one morning just because he looked tired and she thought he deserved to be pampered. She walked slower around Jungwon because he always hung back to check the fences one last time. She laughed harder at Heeseungs jokes even if they were stupid because she loved to see him smile bashfully. She made sure Jake had strawberry jam for his toast because he wouldn't say it but he always looked disappointed when it was gone.
They were hers. Not in a possessive way.
Just in that quiet gentle way that shows she would take care of them. And maybe, just maybe she had a little crush on every single one of them.
Nothing she'd act on. Of course not. They were all together. That was obvious, right? Seven guys, living together, vibing perfectly, soulmates, gay. All of them. No question. She wasn't delusional.
Still. She could appreciate the scenery.
Heeseung shirtless with flour on his cheek? Art. Jake lifting hay bales with those arms? Justice. Jungwon in that fitted button up at the strawberry stand? Illegal. Sunoo in a backless apron? A threat. Riki speaking Korean with his low ass voice while pulling weeds? Painful. Jay with his jawline of doom and sleepy eyes? Cruel. And Sunghoon. God, Sunghoon with the rolled up sleeves and forehead kisses to the baby goats? Arrest him.
She sighed, full of chaos and affection.
They had wiggled their way into her life like stubborn vines, wrapping around every corner of her broken heart and pulling her toward the light. She didn't know how she was supposed to let them go in a week.
She wasn't sure she could.
But for now, she'd line dance. She'd laugh. She'd memorize every second.
Because for once, life didn't just feel survivable.
It felt sweet.
Jungwon
The sun had long dipped below the edge of the hills, painting the sky in soft bruises of violet and gold. The house glowed in patches, lamplight from the living room the dim hue of the hallway, and the subtle flicker from the boys' shared bedroom where Jungwon was sitting cross legged on the floor, pretending to scroll his phone but actually just trying to remember how to breathe.
The room was loud of course-Ni-ki was ranting about something dumb Jake did, Sunghoon was curled on the bed watching a video with half lidded eyes, and Jay was shirtless and trying on cologne like he was going to a blind date in Paris.
Knock knock.
Three sharp raps.
Everyone turned toward the door.
"Come in," Heeseung called out lazily.
And the door opened.
And she walked in.
Jungwon forgot how lungs worked.
Naye stood in the doorway, hand on the knob, one hip cocked, her silhouette haloed by the hallway light like the setup of some fever dream Jungwon didn't sign up for. But he was here, and holy hell, was he paying attention now.
She was glowing. Glowing like moonlight and reckless confidence.
Her long legs were sunkissed and strong, perfectly wrapped in a pair of ripped jean shorts that cut off mid thigh riding just high enough to make Jungwon question if God had favorites. A slim, rustic belt hugged her hips with a silver emblem glinting in the center.
But it was the top that really murdered him.
A black corset style crop top hugged her body like it was custom fitted for every dangerous curve she had. The fabric was ruched and clung to her like a second skin, the neckline soft but structured, hugging her ribs and drawing the eye. Crisscrossing strings lined the sides from rib to hem, tied into bows that somehow made the whole thing even more alluring. Sleeveless and daring, it framed her collarbones and shoulders in a way that made Jungwon's brain short circuit.
A pair of thin braids framed her face, woven into the fall of her long hair. Her sharp eyeliner cut through her soft eyes like rebellion dipped in honey. The cowboy hat perched on her head pulled it all together with the cruel precision of someone who knew she was drop dead gorgeous.
She had the audacity to grin.
"Get your dancing shoes on, boys," she said, twirling her keys on her finger like she hadn't just dismantled their entire nervous systems. "We're going out."
She winked. She actually winked.
And then she turned..turned, Lord help him, and strutted down the hallway with the kind of confidence only women with zero mercy had. Her hips swayed casually, like she didn't know the power she wielded, like her boots weren't stomping directly over Jungwon's grave.
There was silence.
Heavy, stunned, stupid silence.
Until Jake let out a low whistle and muttered, "We're so fucked."
Jungwon was still staring at the open door. He wasn't blinking. His soul had just yeeted itself out of his chest and face planted in the strawberry field.
"Bro," Sunoo whispered, nudging him. "You okay?"
"Do I look okay?" Jungwon croaked throat dry hand pressed against his chest like he'd just been tased.
"She's hot," Ni-ki said bluntly. "Like. Hot, hot."
Heeseung groaned and flopped backward on the bed. "This is a test from God, and we are failing."
Jungwon dragged a hand down his face, his ears burning so bad he felt like someone had lit matches in his skull.
He'd seen her every day. In flannels. In hoodies. In the same dirt covered jeans she worked in. He had seen her sweaty, laughing, barefoot in the kitchen with flour on her cheeks.
But nothing, nothing prepared him for this.
"Lord, have mercy," he muttered under his breath, standing up in a daze. "We're gonna need holy water."
And he meant it.
Because that wasn't just their friend. That was a walking, stomping sin in cowboy boots.
And she had just told them to go out dancing.
He wasn't sure if he was terrified or thrilled.
But one thing was certain.
They were all done for.
The old dark green truck rattled down the winding dirt road, its tires kicking up little clouds of dust as the music blasted through the open windows. Naye was driving her hand resting lazily out the window, rings glinting under the soft orange light of the setting sun. Her boots tapped the rhythm against the pedal, singing along under her breath.
Jungwon sat in the passenger seat, doing his best not to stare. Which was very difficult.
Sunoo was wedged comfortably in the middle squished but unbothered, phone out to record snippets of their drive switching between front and rear cameras to capture the chaos in the back seat and the blur of fields outside.
Behind them in the second row, Ni-ki, Jake, and Jay were harmonizing terribly to a country pop track playing from the aux, Jake waving his arm out the window and Ni-ki stomping his boot against the floorboard like they were auditioning for a hoe-down boyband.
And in the truck bed hair whipped by the wind through the back window, Heeseung and Sunghoon sat propped up against a pile of hay bags occasionally sticking their heads through the glass to yell commentary or crack jokes.
Jungwon felt his heart pounding.
This was a lot. A whole, glittering lot.
All seven of them were decked out for the night. And it was almost comedic how good they looked. Fitted jeans, dusted cowboy boots, crisp white tees tucked just right, denim jackets hanging off broad shoulders, silver chains catching the fading light, and perfectly styled hair that screamed boyband, but make it Western. If any of them were walking clichés, they were somehow the hottest ones alive.
And Naye? Naye was the sun they orbited.
She had them wrapped around her finger and didn't even know it.
It was then that Jungwon had a flashback. A vivid, stupid, soul jolting flashback.
Earlier that afternoon, all seven of them had piled into the room, spiraling in a full blown crisis after she walked out looking like a fantasy in boots and a corset top. There had been arm slapping, incoherent yelling, multiple declarations of "WE'RE GONNA DIE," and Ni-ki had actually curled into a ball on the floor while Jay prayed in three different languages.
They had lost it. Fully and embarrassingly.
And now they were trying to act cool.
"Easier said than done," Jungwon muttered under his breath, glancing sideways as Naye smiled at something on the road ahead.
"You say something?" she asked.
"Just thinking," he answered quickly, biting the inside of his cheek.
She chuckled. "Careful. That sounds dangerous."
Sunoo snorted beside him, and the boys in the back cackled.
"You'll like the barn," Naye said, raising her voice to speak over the wind. "Everyone will be there. I mean, you guys basically met the whole town already, but it's different when there's karaoke and line dancing and spiked punch."
Ni-ki perked up like a meerkat. "Wait. Karaoke?"
Jay turned around in his seat. "What kind of songs?"
"Country classics," she said with a grin. "But there's always one guy who sings a BTS ballad and makes everyone cry."
"Respect," Heeseung called from the truck bed. "Ballads are manly."
Sunghoon rolled his eyes and mumbled something that made them all laugh.
"Oh, and the line dance is super easy," Naye added with a glance toward the rearview. "If you guys can manage the dance, you'll survive this."
"Are you challenging us?" Jake asked, brows raised dramatically.
Naye grinned. "Not at all. I just know Riki can do the worm, but I'm not convinced any of you can actually dance."
"I-" Ni-ki clutched his chest. "That was a personal moment. I wormed with passion!"
She cackled. "Sure you did."
Jay leaned forward. "So...are you dancing tonight?"
"Obviously," she said, with an easy shrug. "It's my favorite time of the year."
There was a pause. A little quiet that stretched in that soft way it does when everyone's thinking the same thing.
Follow her lead. Right. Like that wasn't the most dangerous invitation they'd ever heard.
"The kids'll be excited to see you," Naye added after a beat. "Oh, and by the way, Samchon Jinhwan's the one who invited you guys before I even got the chance. He loves you."
"Oh my God," Sunoo laughed. "We love him too. A king."
The truck turned down another dirt path, the golden orange barn peeking up over the field, already strung with fairy lights. They could see the silhouettes of people gathered, music drifting faintly through the air, voices and laughter swirling up like smoke.
Jungwon leaned his elbow against the door, watching Naye with barely concealed admiration as she pulled into the gravel lot.
He didn't know how they'd gotten here..really gotten here. From collapsing rental roofs to stolen heartbeats in kitchens and strawberry fields. From Seoul's gray city skyline to this little pocket of warm air and southern charm. But as the truck came to a halt and Naye smiled at them like they were just a normal group of boys on a summer night, Jungwon felt it again.
That same flash in his chest.
This can't be real.
And yet here they were.
And they were absolutely not ready.
Naye
The sky was already dipped in shades of dusky orange and bruised lilac by the time Naye pulled the truck up near the old barn. The engine rumbled low headlights casting long shadows across the dry summer grass. From inside, the echo of laughter and guitar twangs bled through the open doors of the barn, and warm string lights blinked like lazy fireflies overhead.
It was already in full swing.
She hadn't even fully unbuckled her seatbelt before a flurry of noise erupted outside.
"HE'S HERE! FOX OPPA'S HERE!" came a shriek of joy from somewhere off to the left.
A flash of pink jelly sandals and wild black pigtails burst through the field, tearing toward the truck with terrifying speed.
Sunoo didn't even get the chance to open his door.
Ara slammed into it instead, flinging it open and nearly tackling him before he even set one foot on the ground. Literally climbing over Jungwon as if he was just a obsticule in her way.
"Fox Oppa!! You came back! I knew you would!" she declared, wrapping her little arms around his waist like a barnacle as everyone got out of the car. "I made you a drawing of my chicken and her babies, but the umma is actually a goat, okay? It's a crossover story."
Sunoo blinked, clutching the doorframe for balance. "I..uh..thank you?"
"You owe me three dances, remember?" Ara added seriously, already dragging him toward the barn before anyone could react.
"Wait what?" Too late. Fox Oppa was kidnapped.
Naye barely had time to laugh before more happened.
"COWBOY CHALLENGE!!"
Yejun shot out from behind the cotton candy booth, finger guns blazing, doing a full somersault roll through the dirt and popping up like a scrappy action hero.
"Which one of you thinks you can take me?" he barked. "Because I was born for this ranch."
"Yejun," Naye tried to warn, but he was already lunging.
Heeseung, startled but good natured caught the boy mid air and lifted him effortlessly upside down by the ankles.
"I got a wild one," heeseung shouted to no one in particular.
"PUT ME DOWN, STRANGER! OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!"
The consequences, as it turned out, were mostly more finger guns and lots of kicking.
By now, a crowd of amused onlookers were gathering just to witness the chaos.
"NAYE!! JAKE!! I NEED YOU!!"
Enter: Minchan.
Five years old. Full dramatics. Both shoelaces untied, arms pinwheeling like a drunk windmill, and shouting like someone was stealing his cattle.
Jake turned just in time to catch the small boy, who tripped over absolutely nothing and launched himself forward. Jake caught him before he fell crouching with the kind of reflexes that proved he was indeed a lifelong athlete.
"I tripped for you," Minchan whispered with full sincerity.
Naye snorted, covering her mouth. "You alright there, boss?"
"No. I'm dying. Only way I'll survive is if you both dance with me right now."
Jake looked at her, one eyebrow raised. "You heard the man."
"I did."
"Together," Minchan added firmly. "We're a package deal. You two or nothing. That's the law."
"Yes, sir," Jake said, mock saluting the tiny dictator as he and Naye joined hands, letting Minchan clutch both their palms and lead them into the barn like a prince escorting his royal court.
Uncle Jinhwan emerged from the grill station a few minutes later, wiping his hands on a dish towel and bellowing in delight when he saw the rest of the guys stepping cautiously into the party.
"BOYS!" he boomed, arm slung over Jay's shoulder (clearly her uncles favorite) before he could even blink. "You came just in time. C'mon, food first, we dance better on full stomachs. That's science."
Jay didn't even get a word in before Jungwon, Riki, and Sunghoon were all being herded with exaggerated enthusiasm toward the rows of buffet tables like stray cattle.
"Ranch rule," Uncle Jinhwan added to them, voice full of mirth. "You eat good, you dance better, and you don't ask about the mysterious punch."
Back inside the barn, chaos reigned supreme.
Ara had dragged Sunoo into a full blown dance routine, feet stomping and pigtails flying. She shouted the steps, and Sunoo God bless him followed with such committed confusion it was starting to look choreographed.
"Fox Oppa!" she shrieked joyfully, spinning under his arm. "You're getting GOOD!"
"I have no idea what I'm doing!" he called back, breathless and grinning.
Yejun was now locked in a dramatic cowboy duel with Heeseung, both of them strutting in circles like it was a Wild West movie. A crowd had gathered. Bets were being placed. Someone handed Yejun a pool noodle as a sword.
Minchan, meanwhile, was contentedly dancing with one foot on each of Jake's and Naye's boots, holding their hands tightly and swaying side to side like he was king of the barn.
"I own this place now," he muttered to himself.
"You sure do," Jake smiled, lifting him gently into the air for a spin as Minchan screamed in delighted terror.
And Naye, well.
She was laughing. Hard.
But her eyes kept drifting.
To each of them. All seven.
Jay, reaching across the table to hand Uncle Jinhwan a plate with a grin. Sunghoon sneaking bits of fried corn into his mouth and pretending not to be impressed. Riki bobbing his head to the music while sipping whatever the hell was in the mystery punch.
They looked like they belonged.
Like this wasn't just a visit, it was a pause in the world. A breath. A moment.
She watched them, one hand resting lightly on Minchan's head as he babbled about opening a candy factory when he grew up and hiring her and Jake to run it.
And her chest ached.
In the best way.
Because this right here, this moment, was everything good. Everything warm.
And she wasn't letting a single second of it go unnoticed.
Heeseung
The barn had shifted into something that felt almost enchanted.
The music boomed from the speakers, the fiddle slicing through the air like lightning, feet stomping and clapping in rhythm as laughter bounced off the wooden beams. Long tables pushed aside, lanterns and string lights casting a warm gold glow across the room, and the entire town seemed to fall into step like a well-oiled machine. Country magic.
And here they were.
Seven men and one girl.
The last row of the line dance.
Heeseung stood beside her because of course he did, and felt the way her arm bumped his lightly as she adjusted her stance, settling in with a cocky little smile on her lips.
"You ready to show me what you city boys can do?" she teased, hands on her hips, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet.
"Aw, darlin'," Jay drawled from her other side in a deep, fake Southern accent. "You're gonna eat those words."
Sunoo snorted, "Please, she's gonna mop the floor with us."
"You sure you can keep up?" she asked, narrowing her eyes in challenge, and Lord, she really was something else.
Every man in that back row shifted like a livewire had gone off. Like the only answer was of course.
"Woman," Heeseung said, voice warm and teasing as he leaned just a little closer, "I was born to boot scoot."
The laugh she let out? God. He wanted to trap that sound in a bottle and drink it like honey.
"Okay, okay," Naye grinned, her hand brushing against the back of his arm as she shook her limbs out. "Follow the steps. Watch the feet. Don't embarrass me in front of the locals."
"You say that like we're not secretly professionals," Ni-ki mumbled on her other side, already half popping his shoulders to the music.
"Yeah," Sunghoon added with a smirk, "we're just undercover."
No one here knew who they were. Not really.
Except for Uncle Jinhwan, of course, who somehow knew everything. He had winked at them during dinner and promised not to say a damn word.
Heeseung liked it this way. Liked that for once they weren't being seen as idols, or artists, or performers, they were just men in boots. Men laughing too hard. Men standing too close. Men stealing glances at a girl in the middle of their universe.
The dance kicked off.
A few claps, a shuffle, step step turn, clap again. Easy enough.
The whole barn shifted as the rows moved as one, bodies flowing through the pattern like water. Feet stomped in rhythm, the wooden floor creaking beneath the beat, hands flying out to spin and dip in unison.
It was chaos. Glorious, joyful chaos.
Naye?
A goddess.
Hair bouncing in waves down her back, cheeks flushed, a smile so wide it crinkled her nose. She moved effortlessly, hips in those dangerous clothes twirling, her boots hitting the floor with perfect timing.
She didn't even need to try.
And all around her, Heeseung's boys.
Jungwon focused and serious, mouthing the steps under his breath with that deep crease between his brows. Sunghoon, suddenly loose and laughing flicking his wrist when he turned. Jake and Jay full of mischief, egging each other on and elbowing each others steps.
Riki?
A demon. That brat pulled off a body roll during a grapevine and Heeseung almost threw his hat at him.
Sunoo elegant and precise, like a fox on the prowl. He kept throwing finger hearts at Ara who was screaming from the sidelines.
And then there was her again.
When the band struck a fast fiddle riff, Ni-ki reached for Naye's hand with no warning and spun her into a twirl.
And she let him.
Her laugh exploded out of her like sunlight cracking the clouds bright, wild, free and it hit Heeseung square in the chest.
He stumbled. Just for a second. Just enough to nearly miss a step.
She was beautiful.
Not the 'pretty girl in a dress' kind of beautiful. But the kind that soaked into your bones. The kind that carved itself into you when you weren't looking.
She affected all of them.
He could feel it in the stillness that hit the back row when she laughed.
The way Jake glanced at her in that quiet soft way. The way Sunghoon's smile pulled a little higher. The way Jungwon's eyes flicked to her with that protective edge. How Sunoo bit his lip like he didn't want to smile, but couldn't help it.
She was the glue of the moment.
The storm and the silence. The tether and the lightning.
And they were all, every single one of them so goddamn wrapped around her finger.
Heeseung's heart twisted as he turned and clapped in rhythm.
Because he knew it wasn't going to last.
This was temporary. A dance in a barn. A beat in a song.
But oh, what he would give to play it on repeat.
After the chaos of the line dancing the crowd shifted toward food and conversation. Long wooden tables covered in platters of grilled meat, buttery corn, foil wrapped sweet potatoes, and bowls of kimchi and coleslaw. There was even a cooler full of soda cans and a few too many open beers passed around.
And at the longest table near the corner of the barn eight seats were taken by seven very full, very content men and one oblivious woman.
The kids had claimed spots between them all. Minchan was in Jake's lap, holding a rib nearly the size of his head. Ara sat cross legged beside Sunoo sharing a chair, feeding bits of chicken to a goat plushie she'd brought. Yejun was bouncing between Ni-ki and Sunghoon, challenging them both to a watermelon seed spitting contest.
And Naye?
She sat between Heeseung and Jungwon, her hair a little tousled from dancing, cheeks flushed, and hands sticky from barbecue sauce. Her eyes were crinkled in laughter as she teased Riki for almost dropping a whole sausage on his boot, her voice loud and bright and undeniably alive.
Heeseung couldn't stop looking at her.
There was something about how she existed. How she threw her head back when she laughed, how she spoke with her hands, how she always, always made sure the kids had napkins, drinks, enough food.
She was a whirlwind. A hurricane of kindness and snark and sunshine.
And she didn't even see it.
Heeseung reached for his drink just as a new presence entered the fold, a woman, maybe in her early forties, with lipstick brighter than the moon and a knowing gleam in her eyes.
She approached with a polite bow toward the boys her earrings swinging dramatically before she turned her entire attention on Naye.
"Aigoo," she said, hands on her hips, "It's been too long, hasn't it, Naye-yah?"
Naye, quickly swallowing her food, blinked. "Uh..Miss So-young...hi."
That gleam in the woman's eyes sharpened. "You thought you'd come here, eat my cousin's brisket, and not do the thing?"
All seven men paused in unison.
The thing?
Naye went stiff, slowly setting down her corn on the cob. "I think I'll sit this one out..."
"Ohhh no, no, no," the woman tsked, already turning away, and then loudly, so the entire barn could hear called out. "We have a very special show tonight! The one! The only! Cho Naye!"
Chaos.
Pure, joyful chaos.
The barn exploded.
Cheers, whistles, whoops. Beers clinked against wood. Someone let out a cowboy style yeehaw that echoed off the rafters. Children jumped up and down in their chairs screaming "Naye noona! Naye noona!" while her uncle laughed so loud from the front table it made Heeseung jump.
And right in the eye of the storm?
Naye.
Face bright red. Hands outstretched like she could physically shove the attention away. "Uncle Jinhwan I will set your barn on fire I swear..."
"Oh, come on!" Jinhwan hollered back, tears in his eyes from laughter. "You owe us!"
Before she could protest again, Ara climbed out of Sunoo's lap and grabbed her hand. Then Yejun latched onto her other arm, and Minchan dramatically pointed toward the front like a general leading a charge. "TO THE STAGE!"
The men could barely hold in their laughter as the children her cousins, apparently dragged her away, ignoring her flailing and the "I'm sticky, I'm not even cute right now, I swear to God!" that came from her mouth.
They marched her toward the little makeshift stage with a mic stand and a few scattered instruments, a mic already squealing to life.
Sunghoon was grinning into his cup. "What do you think 'the thing' is?"
"No clue," Jungwon murmured.
"God, I hope it's singing," Jake whispered.
Heeseung didn't say a word.
He just watched her. Watched the way she stood under the barn lights, nervous but glowing, tucked under a cowboy hat and surrounded by laughter and warmth she didn't even realize she'd earned.
She didn't know how adored she was.
But he did.
They all did.
And as she stepped up to the mic, brushing her hair behind her ear with that same bashful smile that had first cracked their walls, Heeseung's heart felt a little too loud in his chest.
Yeah.
She was gonna wreck them.
And she hadn't even started yet.
From their spot at the long table seven pairs of eyes were trained on the small stage at the front of the barn where Cho Naye stood with her hands up in surrender and a smile of resignation tugging at her lips.
The kids had long since abandoned their food and rushed to the front of the stage, planting themselves cross legged in the dirt like it was the front row of a world tour. They were bouncing in excitement while clapping their hands with swinging legs and shouting her name like she was a legend.
Honestly? She kind of was.
So-young, the glamorous woman from earlier took the mic first clearly reveling in the chaos she had created. "It's been a few years since Naye-ssi has graced us with a song," she announced dramatically, making the crowd go wild again. "But I know y'all want it, right?!"
The barn roared back in affirmation and laughter, cheers, stomping boots. Heeseung let out a low whistle. "Is it just me, or is she...like...the main character of this entire town?"
"Not just the town," Jungwon murmured, still stunned. "I think the whole universe is circling her right now."
And it just seemed so fitting. The girl who grew up in the dirt of this fine town, who's familys farm supported the markets and its people would be a star. It was just right.
Up on the stag an older man in a cowboy hat chuckled into the mic, strumming lightly at his guitar. "We still remember the lines to your song, Naye-yah. If you think you still got 'em."
Naye grinned bashful but confident and stepped toward the mic. "Please. I wrote that thing when I was thirteen, I still sing it in the shower."
A wave of warm laughter rolled through the barn. The boys couldn't stop smiling. She was magnetic.
So-young waved her hands dramatically, stepping back. "Alright, alright, let's give the girl some space. Grab your dance partners everyone! You know the steps!"
The band began to strum a little louder, bass tapping in from the corner and the lights above flickered golden.
Naye grabbed the mic in both hands. "Okay," she said, eyes twinkling as she looked out across the crowd. "If you remember the dance, get your boots moving. And if you don't, just find someone cute and fake it."
Laughter. Whistles. Applause.
And then...she sang.
And the men, every single one of them felt their bodies go still. The only sound from them was the seven hearts pounding to the beat of the rhythm.
Her voice wasn't just good. It wasn't just decent. It wasn't passable or 'for a small town girl.' It was insane. Smooth like honey, warm like bonfire light, rich with character and the slightest rasp that made every lyric feel lived in.
She sang with her whole heart her face alight with joy, her body swaying slightly to the rhythm like this was second nature. Like she had never stopped.
And the song, God, the song was fun. Sweet. Fast paced. Playful. Perfect for line dancing but charming enough that you couldn't help but sway along, even without knowing the steps.
"Well, he brought me roses with thorns still on Didn't mind I wore 'em like a crown. Said I'd never ride no bull again, Till I met one that made me settle down.
Taught me how to lasso pride, Now I two-step when I used to hide, Dancin' through the mess we made. Boy, this wild heart might just stay.
So spin me round 'til we see stars, Laughin' under moonlit barns, Boots and hearts and tangled limbs, Let's get lost where it begins."
Couples started rising pulling each other into the familiar steps of a partner line dance. Hands touched hips, boots stomped in unison, and the barn began to sway like one living organism.
And at the table, all seven boys were still staring.
Jake was slack jawed. Jungwon was dead. Jay was whispering, "What the actual hell-?"
Ni-ki whispered with awe, "She should be the idol."
Sunoo nodded slowly with his eyes shining under the lights. "Like. Actually."
Heeseung didn't even blink. His eyes were on her like he was watching a firework in slow motion. This girl, this woman with her dusty boots and cheeky grins and quick hands was full of more surprises than they'd ever seen from anyone in their industry.
She was dazzling.
And she had no idea.
"She's...amazing," Jungwon finally said, voice so soft the others barely heard it.
"Yeah," Sunghoon muttered. "Like, really."
Naye twirled herself under her own arm on stage, laughing into the mic between lines her voice barely faltering. Her long hair swung behind her as she added a playful stomp at the end of a verse, and the crowd roared again.
Kids were dancing. Adults were cheering. Her uncle was practically crying with laughter as he tried to find his wife for a partner.
And the boys?
The boys were falling a little harder than they already had. Because she wasn't just beautiful, or kind, or smart, or funny.
She was a star.
And none of them had seen it coming. Not like this.
The barn was still electric from the rush of Naye's first song. The applause hadn't even fully died down when the chant began.
"Encore! Encore! Encore!"
It started with the locals then So-young, the band, even Naye's uncle howling like he'd just won the lottery. But then the boys joined in. Seven voices louder than they meant to be, caught in the moment, swept up in the wild wonder of it all.
"NAYE! ENCORE! ENCORE!"
She turned flushed and laughing, finger gunning directly at them, and they all melted into one synchronized swoon.
God, she was unreal.
But when the band started playing again, it wasn't fast.
The notes that rose next were soft. Lazy. Romantic. A slide of steel guitar, the warm pluck of a banjo, the steady thump of a slow drum beat like a heartbeat.
And Naye.
Naye changed.
She didn't laugh this time. Didn't tease. Her expression softened like silk in moonlight, and her fingers gripped the mic just a little tighter.
The crowd hushed instantly.
Couples leaned into one another. Hands reached. Swaying began. Eyes shimmered in the glow of the barn's twinkling string lights. The kids had all passed out near the stage, tucked under light blankets or dozing against each other's shoulders.
And then she sang.
"He said I was a pretty little thing In boots and braids and wild sun rings, Hand on my waist, heart on his sleeve, Lord, I never wanted him to leave.
Keep those cowboy eyes on mine, Don't let 'em wander, not this time. Every word you ain't said yet, I hear it all when our hearts connect.
Spin me slow, pull me near, Let the world just disappear. Out here in the porchlight shine, Keep those cowboy eyes on mine."
The boys didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't breathe.
Because Naye wasn't just singing. She was weaving a spell. Her voice was soft as sugar and smooth as honey, dripping from note to note like she was baring her soul under those glowing lights.
She didn't look at the crowd much. Just the mic. The floor. The band.
But then, occasionally, barely, heartbreakingly, she looked at them. Those quick glances. Like sparks in the dark. Like she was checking to see if they were still listening.
God, were they listening.
Jungwon sat perfectly still, hands clasped on the table chest so tight he swore it would burst. Sunghoon blinked slower than usual like time had melted. Ni-ki leaned forward, chin on his folded arms eyes wide and full of something he couldn't name.
Jay had his lips parted slightly. Heeseung was frozen. Sunoo was clutching his necklace like it anchored him. Jake didn't even know what to do with himself. He stared like she was the only thing left on earth.
At some point during the song, a few local women had walked over. Pretty girls in dresses and boots soft eyes and shy smiles.
One asked Heeseung if he wanted to dance. Another touched Jake's arm. "You too handsome to be sittin' here." One of them even tugged lightly at Jay's sleeve.
But each one of them gently turned them down. Polite. Grateful. Smiling. But they couldn't look away from her.
Because Cho Naye. Farm girl, baker, animal whisperer, fixer of roofs, secret superstar. Was singing about love in a way none of them had ever heard before.
Not from anyone.
It wasn't flashy. It wasn't perfect. But it was her.
And when she got to that final verse, her eyes flitted toward them again. Just for a second.
"You don't gotta say you'll stay, But darlin', dance with me anyway. Out here where the stars align, Keep those cowboy eyes on mine."
The barn burst into applause as the final notes lingered in the air like perfume.
But the boys stayed quiet. Still caught in the moment. Still staring.
Somewhere in the back of their minds, they knew it was supposed to be them on the stage. Supposed to be them dazzling the world.
But watching her, really watching her they realized something unspoken.
She was the show.
And somehow, she had them all wrapped around her voice, her laugh, her damn finger guns and she didn't even know it. Or maybe she did.
Naye
The moment Naye hopped off the stage, her cheeks were pink from more than just the barn's warm lighting. Applause still buzzed in the air like the aftershock of a storm, and hands warm, calloused, familiar reached for her from all directions.
"That voice, Naye-ah, where've you been hiding it?"
"You sound just like your mama used to back in the day."
"You need to get up there more often, girl!"
She smiled, bowed a few times hugged old family friends and nodded through the chorus of praise. Her heart was racing, but not because of the crowd. No.
She was still reeling from the way those seven men had looked at her while she sang.
Like she was singing just for them.
Which honestly she kind of was.
God, she was so stupid.
She hadn't planned it. Hadn't even thought about the song since she wrote it with her mom years ago, just a little country daydream melody about slow dancing with someone who made your heart feel safe. But standing up there, guitar strumming in the background, barn lights gleaming like stars above her, her gaze had wandered.
To them.
To their dumb matching denim jackets. Their boyish grins. The way Riki twirled her and made her laugh. The way Jungwon watched her like she might fly away if he blinked. The way Heeseung's fingers tapped the beat on his thigh like he needed to hold onto something.
The song had been written with someone else in mind. But singing it tonight?
It felt like theirs.
Which was terrifying. And beautiful. And stupid.
She scanned the barn now, weaving through bodies in search of a familiar face. Specifically, a tall one.
"Where's Riki," she mumbled to herself, standing on her toes. "He's like a walking flagpole. Where'd they go?"
But the long wooden table they'd all been lounging at was empty. The kids had been scooped up by a few sleepy family members and taken to nap piles by the back wall. Plates were half eaten. Beer cups still sweating. Their boots were gone.
Her boots. Her boys.
Damn it.
She spun on her heel and made her way through the barn's central walkway, the sound of another band warming up in the background. She should have expected to get stopped. She just didn't expect it to be by them.
"Hey, Naye-ah!"
The voices were sweet but saccharine, and she turned with a forced smile to see two local girls her age, both in low cut flannels and tight jeans, grinning at her like they were already halfway through gossip hour.
"Oh hey, Yura. Kija," she greeted, polite as ever.
"Girl," Kija said with a sly smile, "we need to talk. Who are those fine ass men you brought tonight?"
Naye blinked. "Oh, they're just friends," she said with a wave of her hand.
"Just friends?" Yura laughed. "You sure? Because I swear the one with the moles and pale-"
"Sunghoon," Naye said instinctively.
"...yeah, him. And that one with the pretty doe.."
"Heeseung."
"Yeah. Those two," Yura said, sharing a look with Kija. "They're so hot. We were thinking of inviting them down to Blue River this weekend. You know, for a little stargazing."
Her jaw clenched. Blue River Lake. Everyone knew what that meant. That was where locals went to hook up under the stars, not 'gaze' at anything except each other's necks.
Naye didn't even think. "That won't happen," she said tightly. This rage of protective instinct was creeping up on her faster than she could think. No no, absolutely not.
Kija's brow rose. "Oh? Why not?"
"They're dating," Naye said, the lie slipping out before she could stop it. "People."
"Oh." The two girls glanced at each other.
Then Yura squinted. "Are you sure? Because they were definitely watching you like-"
"They're dating....me" Naye repeated. "And the other boys."
Kija paused. "Wait, all of them?"
Naye's mouth opened. Closed. Oh God. What are you doing? "Yes," she said. "It's..it's a poly relationship."
The silence was immediate. Yura blinked. Kija's jaw slowly dropped.
"All of them?" Kija repeated. "So you're dating seven guys?"
"...Yes."
WHAT.
"I mean, we're all happy. It's consensual. Very mutual. And I don't appreciate people trying to, like...go after my men."
Yura let out a huh, and Kija simply said, "That's kinda hot, honestly," before the two exchanged a final look and wandered off muttering something about competition and fairness and the guy with the chain necklace.
And Naye?
Naye stood there.
Frozen.
Face burning.
Brain dead.
Stomach absolutely flipping.
She ran her hands down her sides like that would calm the panic bubbling up inside her. "You're so stupid," she whispered to herself. "So stupid. So stupid."
Why had she said that?
Why couldn't she have just laughed it off?
Why did she blurt out that she was dating seven gay men like it was the plot of a teen drama?
Well, okay. The gay part was an assumption. A very fair assumption. All seven of them were obviously dating each other. She'd seen the cuddling. The whispered things in the kitchen. The knowing glances. The matching necklaces. The way Jake stared at Sunoo like he painted the moon. And they told her already.
They were soulmates. She knew it.
And she? She was the straight country girl with a barn full of goats and a mouth full of bad decisions, currently fantasizing about each of them like some lovesick idiot.
Honestly, at this point?
Just add her to the cast of the fake poly romance. She was already halfway there in her head.
Cho Naye: the girl who caught feelings for a whole gaggle of lovers. Send help.
Still flustered, she shoved her hands into the pockets of her jean shorts and muttered, "Just find the boys. Don't tell them what happened. Act normal. Don't even think about...oh my God, I can't believe I said that-"
With a final breath, she turned on her heel and stalked off through the crowd, doing her best to shake the embarrassment off her shoulders like dust.
If she walked fast enough, maybe she'd find them before her brain imploded.
Jay
The night air was warm with late summer breeze and sweet hints of hay and barbecue smoke drifting lazily through the trees. Crickets chirped a lazy chorus. The barn still pulsed in the distance with music and laughter. But by the old green truck at the edge of the parking field, the seven of them stood relaxed, leaning or sitting around in a quiet orbit of each other.
Jay was leaned back against the side of Naye's truck, arms crossed and still grinning over something dumb Ni-ki had said about Minchan trying to arrest an old lady for not letting him eat six brownies.
"She told him no," Ni-ki wheezed, "and he stomped away yelling, 'I hate old people, This is why I don't trust adults!'"
They all cracked up again, the kind of loose belly deep laughter that only comes after a perfect night.
"Tonight was actually amazing," Jake said, his voice warm. "It didn't feel real."
"It didn't," Jungwon agreed. "It felt like we slipped into someone else's dream."
"Fairy tale barn edition," Sunghoon added, smirking. "Complete with chaotic children and a goddess who sings like honey."
Jay laughed, nodding. "Seriously. Naye just keeps...doing things. Like surprise! I'm also a country superstar. What's next? She can fly?"
"She probably rides dragons," Ni-ki deadpanned.
Jay shook his head. His heart felt too full. He didn't want to think about time running out yet, didn't want to count the days. So he kept thinking about tonight instead. About their jeans and boots, the line dance, Naye's laugh, the way she winked at them during the encore like they were in on a secret together.
He was just about to say something else- omething dumb, to hear the guys laugh again when he heard hurried footsteps.
They all turned.
And there she was.
Naye.
Flushed cheeks. Wild eyes. Hair slightly messy. A little breathless. A lot embarrassed.
Jay blinked. "Hey, you good-?"
"I LIED!" she blurted, hands up like she was mid arrest.
They all froze.
Naye's hands dropped to her hips as she paced in front of them, rapid firing words like she was trying to outrun her own mouth.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to lie! But it just happened and I couldn't stop it. The girls, Yura and Kija...ugh, they wanted to ask Hee and Hoon to Blue River Lake, which ew, that place is a hook up spot, and they wouldn't stop pushing even when I said y'all weren't interested and I didn't know if you wanted me telling people about your...you know, soulmate poly relationship, so I panicked and told them you were all dating me, and now they think we're in a relationship and one of them winked at me and I think she thinks I'm some girlboss poly queen when really I was just trying to protect you and I didn't want to make it weird but I think I did and. OH MY GOD I'M SO STUPID I'M SORRY!!"
She finally stopped. Breathing hard. A silence fell over the group. Then Sunghoon smirked. "Wait. You told them you were dating all of us?"
Naye groaned, covering her face with both hands. "Yes."
"Like all seven of us."
"Yes!"
A pause.
"Iconic," Jake said, nodding solemnly.
Sunoo let out a cackle and wrapped his arms around her shoulders from the side. "Naye-ah. Breathe. You're fine."
Jay was still standing in the same spot, lips twitching. It had all happened so fast he hadn't even had time to process it. Her rant, her flustered eyes, the way her voice cracked like a kettle about to boil.
And damn.
His brain traitorous as always wandered where it shouldn't.
If she actually was dating all of them...
His gaze dropped for a moment. The corner of her mouth. Her bare shoulders under that killer crop top. The way she laughed with Sunoo now as she rubbed her face.
Jay shook his head, exhaling hard.
Get your mind out of the gutter, Park.
Sunghoon gently patted her head like she was a panicked baby deer. "Honestly, Naye, it's not a big deal. You did it to help us."
Heeseung nodded. "Yeah, we've all lied to get out of worse."
"And technically," Sunoo added with a wink, "you're not wrong."
Naye blinked up at him. "Huh?"
Jake coughed into his fist, clearly hiding a smile. Ni-ki smirked. Jungwon, ever the calm center, shrugged one shoulder. "We don't exactly advertise it, but all of us are...not exactly gay."
"Oh," she blinked.
"We're all together, yeah," Heeseung said, "but we're also bi."
Jay stepped closer, sliding his hands into his back pockets. "Just so you know. In case it ever comes up again. Or, you know...you wanna make your lies more convincing."
Naye made a sound between a laugh and a groan, throwing her head back. "Y'all are evil."
Sunoo leaned his head on her shoulder, pouting. "You started it."
Jay grinned, watching her carefully.
But she didn't look panicked anymore. She looked relieved. And maybe a little too giddy. The stars lit her eyes like fireflies. Her breath had evened out.
"You guys are too much," she huffed shoving Sunoos arms off her as he chuckled.
"You love it," Jungwon teased.
She rolled her eyes placing her hands on her hips. "Yeah, yeah. Come on, troublemakers. Let's head home."
Jay's heart did something stupid at the way she said that.
Home.
Yeah.
He liked the sound of that.
A lot.
Sunoo
Jake offered to drive.
Naye had protested at first saying "It's my truck, don't scratch her!"
But she'd said it through a yawn, slumped between Ni-ki and Jungwon in the backseat like her bones had finally run out of energy.
They drove home with the windows down and country music playing low. The warm wind brushed through the cabin like a lullaby. Laughter came in occasional waves, but even that grew quieter as the night settled around them.
By the time they pulled into the gravel driveway of the ranch, Naye was asleep. Her head had tilted to the side, resting against Jungwon's shoulder lips slightly parted her hat resting in her lap. Ni-ki had his chin in his hand gazing out the window. But Sunoo saw the way he glanced at her once or twice like he was checking she was still breathing.
None of them wanted to wake her.
"I'll carry her," Ni-ki offered softly.
No one argued.
Jake killed the engine and the headlights blinked out leaving only the moon to light their path. They all moved like shadows, silent, gentle, not wanting the night to end.
Ni-ki carried her with care. Her arms tucked close to her chest her face peaceful against his collar. Inside, the house was dark and quiet. Crickets chirped outside the windows. Heeseungs carefully opened her bedroom door ahead of them.
Ni-ki laid her down on the bed like she was spun from silk.
Heeseung crouched near her feet and started unlacing her boots. He didn't say anything, but he was gentle and careful not to scuff the floor or wake her. When he slid the boots off, Naye murmured something and turned onto her side, still fast asleep.
Sunoo stepped forward with a soft towel in hand and the wipes he'd grabbed from the bathroom. He crouched next to the bed, brushing her hair behind her ear with featherlight fingers. Her eyeliner was slightly smudged, glitter still dancing beneath her lashes.
He held his breath as he cleaned her skin. When she shifted a little under his touch, he froze but she only sighed and stilled again.
"You're too pretty to be real," he whispered so quietly only the air heard him.
Sunghoon came in last with the softest throw blanket she always used the lavender one with little crescent moons. He draped it over her slowly and tugged it up to her chin before smoothing her hair down once.
They stood around her bed for a moment, watching her sleep for just a moment.
Their friend.
Their sunshine.
Their chaos and calm all in one.
Then they slipped out one by one and closed the door gently behind them.
The boys' room was dim and quiet when Sunoo stepped inside, towel around his neck and sleep tugging at the corners of his mind.
Jake was in the bathroom rinsing off, humming something under his breath. Ni-ki was shirtless on his bed, scrolling through his phone. Sunghoon sat at the foot of his own bunk towel drying his hair, and Heeseung was fiddling with the little Bluetooth speaker, playing a soft playlist of chill acoustic covers.
Jay and Jungwon had already changed, curled up with books they weren't really reading. All curled in the bunked room this time, since they cant sleep without each other.
Sunoo padded over to his bed, dropping the towel and grabbing his sleep shirt. One of Naye's actually, an old oversized Montana Rodeo 2019 tee she gave him when he spilled juice on his only clean top last week. It still smelled like vanilla and pinewood soap.
"Tonight was...insane," Jay said finally, flipping his book closed.
"That woman dragged her by the arm," Jake added as he came out of the bathroom with steam curling behind him. "Like full on possessed. And then she sang like she had a record deal."
"She should have one," Jungwon muttered.
Sunghoon raised a brow. "I still can't believe she told those girls she was dating all of us."
"Honestly iconic," Sunoo said as he rubbed lotion into his hands. "I love her."
"I think we all do," Ni-ki said softly from his bed. Silence fell for a second. Not the kind that felt awkward. The kind that made your chest full.
Sunoo plopped back onto his pillows, hair still damp.
"She was singing to us," he whispered. That got a few blinks. "Second song," he clarified. "You heard it too, right? The way she looked at us?"
Heeseung rolled onto his side, facing him from the next bed. "I thought I imagined that."
"Nope," Jay said, voice quiet. "I felt it too."
Jake, ever the sentimental one, stretched out his legs and stared at the ceiling. "I don't wanna leave."
"Me either," Ni-ki added, voice barely above a whisper.
Sunghoon said nothing. But he nodded. Jungwon pulled his blanket over his chest. "We have six days."
"Let's make them count," Jay said again.
They all nodded in agreement.
Sunoo smiled up at the ceiling. "She's really wrapped around our fingers, huh?"
"No," Heeseung murmured.
"She's got us triple wrapped around hers."
Sunoo chuckled.
"Touché."
And then the lights went out, and their room was quiet. But their hearts?
Their hearts were wide open.