I need the kpop!added member writers to COME BACK. Don’t let it all end. Give me your OC’s, reader fics, whatever. I just want to stay in that era and never leave…
࣪ ִֶָ☾. synposis: MAMA 2025 and the moment it all went blurry—the lights, the cheers, the confetti, the boys pulling her in like was gravity. five years together melted down into the one moment, where her first reaction was to look at her members—because she always does that—double-checks reality like it’s too good for her.
࣪ ִֶָ☾. timeline: 2025
࣪ ִֶָ☾. word count: 5k
࣪ ִֶָ☾. RAHHH!! I'm still celebrating as if I won the daesang 😭😭 writing this made me so emotional
࣪ ִֶָ☾. masterlist | ࣪ ִֶָ☾. wattpad
࣪the roar of the crowd faded behind them as they stepped off stage, the last echoes of their final chorus still vibrating through their bones. their performance had been the finale of the night—high-pressure, high-energy, the kind that left sweat dripping down their backs and adrenaline rattling in their teeth.
heran felt the exhaustion settle into her muscles only when the corridor swallowed them from the stage lights. staff brushed around them, touching up smudged makeup and tugging at rumpled blazers. her stylist swiped a thumb under her eye, muttering something about “almost perfect but not quite,” and then hurried off.
they made their way back to the artist seating area, all seven boys collapsing into their seats as if the chairs had been sent from God. heran sunk into her own seat with a long exhale, her pulse still racing, her hands still trembling faintly from the thrill of performing.
“bro, I cannot feel my legs,” sunoo groaned, fanning himself with both hands.
“then don’t move,” jay said. “you’ll break the illusion that we’re professionals.”
ni-ki leaned forward, staring up at the huge stage where the next presenter was setting up. “are we still live right now?”
“yes,” heeseung answered without looking. “so stop looking like you’re dying.”
“I am dying.”
“quietly,” heran murmured.
they snickered, but the laughter dissolved quickly into that quiet, heavy anticipation that settled over their section like fog. the daesangs were next. just two left—Song of the Year, and Global Fan Choice.
heran’s stomach tightened.
the final two.
the big ones.
the ones they’d been quietly, secretly hoping for since the moment they debuted.
they deserved it.
God, if anyone asked her, she would say it without hesitation: they deserved it.
five years together.
five years of building something from scratch and praying it mattered.
she took a slow breath and clasped her hands in her lap to stop their shaking.
jungwon noticed. he always did. he leaned slightly toward her. “you okay?”
“yeah,” she lied, eyes fixed on the stage. “just… thinking.”
jake was the one who exposed her. of course he was.
“live footage of three-time melon Song of the Year winner lee heran absolutely sweating over a fan daesang,” he said, leaning back in his seat like a man observing a wildlife documentary.
the others snorted.
heran turned toward him, unamused.
“you know this is different,” she said quietly.
and jake’s grin softened. just a little. because she was right, and he knew it.
her solo achievements were hers—but this? this was the first time she had the chance to win something like this with them. with the group who had become home without trying.
If they won, it wouldn’t be her name on the trophy.
It would be ENHYPEN.
she felt the weight of that more than she expected.
“they deserve this,” she murmured, almost to herself.
jungwon’s head turned. sunoo paused mid-fan flutter. ni-ki glanced sideways. It wasn’t loud, but they heard her. they always heard her.
“we all worked hard,” sunghoon said, shifting his tie. “ENGENEs did too.”
“yeah, but still,” heran whispered. “I just… I want this for us.”
heeseung exhaled through his nose, his bouncing knee betraying the calm expression he tried to wear. “same.”
jay leaned forward, clasping his hands. “we’ll see. whatever happens, we’re proud. right?”
they all nodded.
It should have calmed her, but the anxiety only curled deeper in her chest. the stage lights dimmed slightly as the next presenter walked out. a hush fell across the arena—one of those rare moments where thousands of people held their breath at once.
heran’s heart thudded hard enough to shake her ribs.
“relax,” jake murmured, nudging her foot with his. “we haven’t even lost yet.”
“I swear to god,” she hissed back.
he grinned.
the presenter raised the envelope for the first Daesang of the night.
heran swallowed.
her pulse roared in her ears.
they weren’t on stage anymore, but somehow this felt even more terrifying. because in a few seconds, everything could change.
the presenter lifted the card for Song of the Year, and the arena leaned in as if gravity suddenly tilted forward. on the giant screen behind the MC, the nominations began to cycle one by one, the music snippets echoing through the venue.
heran watched each title appear, nodding slowly, thoughtful.
It didn’t bother her—at least not in the way it used to. not in the way people assumed it did. she had made peace with this category long before she arrived here tonight.
but ni-ki, apparently, had not.
“I still can’t believe you didn’t get nominated,” he said under his breath, eyes locked on the screen like it personally wronged him.
correction—she did get nominated; but just for the wrong song. sure 'whiplash' was huge—caught international attention, started trends, and saved coachella. but it wasn't the one that deserved to be up there. not this year.
heran rolled her eyes so hard they nearly squeaked. “It’s okay. I won it at the KGMA’s. 'rebel heart' wasn’t meant for the charts. It was for the arts.”
jake snorted.
so did half the group.
because of course she said that.
sunoo leaned over, lowering his voice dramatically. “right, and yet it still was, you know… on the charts.” he paused meaningfully. “the top of all the charts.”
she shot him a look, but he only smiled innocently.
“exactly!” ni-ki exclaimed in a whisper, lightly gesturing at the screen like he was presenting a case in court. “so my hate towards the winner will be valid, right?”
he turned to the others for backup. jake nodded immediately. sunghoon raised a brow but nodded too. jay didn’t even look up—he just gave a subtle thumbs up like a dad approving chaos from across the room.
jungwon sighed. “please don’t hate anybody on camera.”
ni-ki put a hand over his heart. “I’ll be subtle.”
"you don’t know what that word means,” heeseung muttered.
the final nominee appeared on screen, the drumroll swelling, lights dimming further. the arena held its breath as the envelope was opened.
the presenter beamed.
“and the winner of Song of the Year… ‘APT’ by rosé and bruno mars!”
the crowd erupted.
the stage lights burst into gold.
a video played on the LED screen.
and ni-ki, god bless him, froze. “I think my eye just twitched.”
heran didn’t think twice—she smacked the back of his shoulder. “behave.”
he rubbed the spot with an exaggerated wince. “what? I didn’t even say anything yet.”
“that’s exactly why I hit you,” she whispered. “preventative measures.”
jake leaned forward, grinning at them both. “honestly, same. I think we all had a collective twitch.”
“mine was emotional,” sunoo added.
“mine was spiritual,” jay said.
“mine was physical,” heeseung admitted, stretching his leg like he’d taken actual damage.
the members fell into soft laughter—quiet enough not to be rude, loud enough to pull heran out of her spiraling nerves.
she glanced at ni-ki again. He still looked mildly betrayed by the universe. “hey,” she nudged him gently, “it’s a good song.”
“I know,” he grumbled. “that’s the problem.”
despite herself, she smiled.
the group straightened in their seats as the video of rosé's speech played. cameras passed over ENHYPEN, and their expressions shifted instantly—professional, polite, supportive. years of training compressing chaos into camera-friendly composure.
but between the poised smiles and straightened postures, their knees still bumped. their elbows touched. their fingers tapped anxiously on thighs. they felt the moment tightening again.
because the next award—the one after this—that was the one that mattered most to them tonight.
Global Fan Choice.
heran inhaled slowly, the air suddenly too thin. she tried to breathe, but the air felt like it had been filtered through three layers of panic and static electricity.
the applause for rosé was still rolling through the arena when she whispered, under her breath but not nearly quietly enough: “voting closed like an hour ago. I’m going to throw up.”
sunghoon didn’t even try to hide his wince. “please don’t."
jay patted her knee with an overly rehearsed optimism. “we’re fine. we’ll be fine. It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine,” heran hissed. “we deserve this one. tthis was our year. If we don’t get this—”
“deep breaths,” heeseung murmured, though his leg was bouncing like it was trying to vibrate through the floor. “In and out. like meditation.”
“you don’t meditate,” jake said.
“I do when I’m stressed,” heeseung shot back, then added, “which is right now.”
ni-ki was hunched forward with his elbows on his knees, hands clasped like a teenage boy forced into prayer during detention. “If we lose,” he muttered, “I’m moving to Fiji.”
“no you’re not,” jungwon said automatically, though his fingers kept dragging along his slacks—nervous, restless, betraying him.
sunoo, on the other hand, looked like he was already halfway to fainting. his eyes were big, glassy, lips pressed together so hard they’d turned white.
heran wasn’t doing much better.
she bowed her head slightly, hands intertwined so tightly her knuckles went pale. she hardly prayed—not this hard, not like this. but tonight? tonight she was bargaining with every higher power she knew. she was begging for certainty in a world determined to give her everything but.
this wasn’t vanity.
It wasn’t ego.
It wasn’t a trophy for a shelf.
this was a year’s worth of sweat and bruises and late-night breakdowns. a year of airports and rehearsal rooms and the world spinning too fast. a year when they found something again—momentum, hope, unity.
“this was our year,” she whispered, voice cracking just enough for jungwon to hear.
he nudged her knee gently. “then trust that everyone knows that too.”
before she could respond, the lights shifted—a spotlight sweeping across the stage.
the presenter returned with an envelope, smiling with the kind of suspense that made audiences want to riot.
“and now,” she said, “the Global Fan Choice Award…”
the arena went silent, a vacuum sealed around their row. heran held her breath. sunoo clutched heeseung’s sleeve. jake mouthed something that was probably a prayer or a threat. ni-ki stared straight ahead like he was waiting for a judge to read his sentence.
the presenter opened the envelope.
a pause.
a smile.
“…ENHYPEN!”
the world exploded.
heran didn’t even hear the scream she let out. she didn’t hear jake shouting “NO WAY!” or ni-ki yelling something in japanese or sunghoon standing up so fast that him and jay nearly toppled.
she only felt it—the sheer force of all seven of them lunging into each other at once. It wasn’t a neat hug. It was chaos—arms everywhere, heads bumping, sunoo sobbing directly into jay’s shoulder.
jungwon grabbed her tightly with one arm and ni-ki with the other.
jake yelled something incoherent in her ear.
sunghoon kept saying, “we did it—we actually did it—”
heeseung was laughing like he’d been holding it in for months.
heran’s hands shook so hard she had to grip jungwon’s blazer to stay steady.
they didn’t want to let go. they could’ve stayed in that messy, tangled embrace forever.
but the stage lights beckoned, so they broke apart reluctantly.
as soon as they straightened, the boys moved without thinking—jake and sunghoon shifting aside, jay gently guiding her forward with a hand at her elbow, heeseung gesturing for her to walk ahead.
she hated walking first. tonight she didn’t. she held her head high, swallowing the wobble in her breath as they stepped into the aisle.
jungwon reached the presenter first and was handed the trophy—his fingers trembling around the gold, his smile wide but trembling. behind him, sunoo was openly crying, wiping his eyes with one hand while still applauding like a proud mom at a school recital.
heran inhaled sharply, blinking hard, trying so desperately to remain professional under the flood of cameras and lights and a cathedral of cheering fans.
this was it.
this was theirs.
and as she walked up onto the stage, heart hammering, she suddenly felt it—the universe wasn’t just listening tonight. It was answering.
they lined up automatically—muscle memory from years of training—but tonight it felt different. tonight, every movement carried weight.
jungwon held the trophy with both hands, the gold catching the lights as if it were glowing from within. jake stood tall beside him, one hand still brushing away the last of his own shock. jay, sunghoon, heeseung, sunoo, and ni-ki fanned out smoothly, leaving the middle spot open for their leader.
heran took her place between sunoo and ni-ki, her heart still thudding from the chaos of the moment. sunoo sniffed loudly beside her, and she couldn’t help the soft laugh that slipped out as she nudged him gently.
“you’re leaking,” she whispered.
sunoo wiped his face aggressively. “I know. don’t look at me.”
she squeezed his arm. “I’m not looking.”
he sniffled again, instantly ruining the moment.
the MC gave jungwon the green light to start his speech. and he didn’t hesitate. “ENGENES!!!!”
the arena detonated.
the roar slammed into them like a wave, loud enough that heran felt it vibrate all the way through her ribs. jungwon laughed a little breathlessly as the cheers rumbled back down, and the sound of it—giddy and disbelieving—made her chest ache.
“this…” he tightened his grip on the trophy. “this means so much to us. more than we can ever say.”
the members listened closely, their expressions softening—each of them wearing some variation of awe, relief, disbelief.
heran glanced at jungwon, expecting him to continue with his usual composed, steady tone.
but then—his voice cracked.
just once.
barely a tremor.
but she heard it like a glass breaking.
her breath caught. because jungwon never cried. not on camera. not on stage. not in public. he saved it for quiet places, for narrow hallways at 3 a.m., for her shoulder when nobody else was awake.
and hearing him crack now—while smiling, while clutching the award like it was both fragile and sacred—hit her so hard her knees almost buckled.
sunoo reached for another tissue. ni-ki blinked rapidly, pretending he wasn’t emotional. heeseung covered his mouth with his hand, shoulders shaking.
jungwon cleared his throat and pushed on. “ENGENES… thank you for giving us this moment. for believing in us this year. we worked so hard, and you—” his breath trembled again. “you made it worth everything.”
the crowd roared. somewhere in the front section, someone was already screaming his name.
heran’s hands curled into fists at her sides. she wanted so badly to reach for him—grab his hand, rub his back, steady him. but cameras were everywhere, thousands of eyes locked on them. she bit the inside of her cheek, holding the line between idol and girlfriend with painful precision.
jungwon finished his part with a bow of his head and a trembling smile. then he stepped back for jay.
jay started smoothly, launching into his thank-yous with his usual eloquence. he always balanced jungwon’s emotion with calm clarity, and tonight was no different.
as he began speaking, jungwon drifted sideways to stand next to heran. he kept his eyes down, wiping under them quickly with the back of his hand—hoping the cameras didn’t catch it.
she angled her body just slightly toward him, giving him enough space to compose himself while still shielding him from the direct glare of the audience.
he gave her a tiny smile. a brave one. a practiced one.
the kind that tried to say I’m okay even though he wasn’t.
heran reached out and placed a gentle hand on his back—slow, grounding, careful. and that was all it took.
he exhaled sharply.
his shoulders dropped.
and then he stepped into her—just an inch, just enough that his forehead brushed her temple, just enough that his hands gripped her forearm, just enough that the composure snapped completely.
he broke. It was quiet and soft, but undeniable.
heran caught him instantly, her other hand coming up to brace his arm, her body angled subtly to block the view. It was a careful, practiced choreography—comfort disguised as stage presence.
jungwon inhaled shakily against her shoulder, trying to keep silent, trying not to shake.
she whispered without moving her lips too much, “you did well. you always do.”
he nodded, swallowing hard, tears slipping down before he could stop them.
on the other side of the line, heeseung was blinking too rapidly to hide anything. sunoo was pretending to air out his face with his hands. jake had the most unhelpful watery grin in history.
jay continued speaking smoothly, unaware—or pretending to be unaware—of the tiny storm happening behind him. sunghoon subtly shifted his posture, creating a visual buffer between the two and the nearest camera.
It was teamwork born from years of knowing each other’s limits and tells.
heran held jungwon steady as he forced one more deep breath, straightened his posture, and nudged her softly to signal he was okay enough to stand on his own.
but the imprint of his weight lingered.
and as the applause rose again for jay’s speech, she realised:
this moment—this exact crack, this exact collapse—was the one she would remember forever.
and she kept her hand braced gently against jungwon's back even as the other members took turns with the mic. It wasn’t obvious—nothing dramatic, nothing that would be caught by a careless camera sweep—but it was steady.
sunghoon spoke next, voice warm but tight. then heeeseung followed, blinking rapidly between sentences. ni-ki cracked a joke through his own watery voice that made the crowd cheer.
the longer she listened, the more heran felt her throat close.
her chest tightened with a slow, familiar ache—the kind that came right before she cried. and she knew she wasn't going last.
which meant she had no choice but to get herself together.
heran breathed in slowly through her nose, fixing her posture, relaxing her jaw. she blinked up at the lights, pretending they weren’t what made her eyes sting.
you’re fine. you’re okay.
five years. five years to get here.
but when ni-ki finished his speech, when she stepped forward in front of the mic—the roar hit her like a full-body wave.
the crowd didn’t just cheer. they screamed.
high-pitched. wild. Immediate.
the kind of reaction she still wasn’t used to, even after half a decade.
It made her laugh—breathless, overwhelmed, teetering on the edge of tears again. she wiped at her eyes quickly with the sleeve of her stage outfit, muttering, “oh god—sorry,” even though nobody could hear her yet.
“uh—” she laughed again, switching instinctively to English. “uhm… my mind just went blank.”
the crowd screamed louder.
someone shouted her name.
she had fans sobbing already, which did not help her emotional stability in the slightest.
she exhaled shakily. "this is… this is crazy.”
behind her, she could feel the boys smiling. sunoo patted her arm encouragingly. to be honest, the only thing keeping her stable was seeing ni-ki bouncing on his heels out the corner of eye.
she steadied her breath—and her voice softened.
“the last five years for us…” she paused, swallowing, “…have been nothing but ups and downs. a lot of learning. a lot of growing. a lot of moments where we wondered if we were doing enough, if we were giving enough.”
jay nodded behind her.
jake hummed quietly in agreement.
“and jake made a joke earlier,” she continued, voice trembling just a little, “about me stressing over this award—even though I’ve won others.” she shot him a playful glare and he mouthed facts with hands raised.
the crowd laughed. she breathed.
“and I told him that this one means more.” her voice wavered. “so much more." she blinked hard, trying to keep the tears at bay, but her vision blurred anyway.
“there’s nothing I’ve wanted more than winning a daesang with my group. as a soloist… it’s an honor. It’s special. but this?” she pressed a hand to her chest without thinking. “this was something I wanted with them. with the seven boys I debuted with. with the people who saw every version of me.”
she paused—and she heard sunoo sniff softly beside her. he wasn’t even trying to hide it anymore.
heran smiled through the tears slipping down her cheeks.
“we’re all… so overwhelmed right now.” soft laughter rippled through the group behind her. “we really are. and I just want to say thank you. to ENGENES—for putting in the effort, for your love, your passion, your endless support. this award is just as much yours as it is ours. probably more, honestly.”
the crowd screamed again.
she wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. “I’m so grateful to everyone who helped us get here—staff, producers, dancers… our families.” she hesitated, voice thinning. “…my members.”
they all turned toward her at once.
“and I’m so proud of them,” she whispered. “because they deserve this. every single one of them deserves this moment.”
jake reached out and squeezed her wrist—subtle, but just enough to keep her at bay.
heran inhaled, steady but trembling. “we’re going to continue to put out music next year,” she said with more strength, “and do everything we can to show everyone how grateful we are. we’re going to work hard—and with passion, and with love in our hearts.”
the arena erupted.
but she didn’t even make it to the last sentence before her voice cracked—loud enough that the mic caught it, clear enough that the whole arena reacted with one collective awwhh that only made it worse.
she tried to laugh it off, but it came out watery. her eyes were already glossed over; now they overflowed completely, tears slipping down her cheeks faster than she could wipe them. she let out a tiny, embarrassed groan and hid her face with her hand for a second.
the members behind her all flinched in sympathy. and that was all it took for jungwon to move.
he stepped forward from the line—not hesitating, not thinking about camera angles, not thinking about the live broadcast. he just went straight to her, slipping one arm around her shoulders and tugging her into his side, leaning towards the mic.
the crowd screamed.
the boys laughed.
heran buried her face in his shoulder because now she was definitely crying.
jungwon laughed into the mic, still holding her close. “okay—” he sniffed, his tear-soaked voice already making sunoo choke out another sob, “we need to get her offstage.”
even the industry seniors laughed at that.
heran hit his chest lightly, still crying, still smiling. but he only hugged her tighter, shaking with a quiet laugh of his own. his eyes were glossy again, but he didn’t bother hiding it.
“thank you, ENGENES!” he shouted brightly, though his voice cracked halfway through and he winced. the audience collectively melted. “we love you! please get home safely!”
the boys joined in with the final chorus of goodbyes—waving, bowing, forming hearts, ni-ki nearly tripping into sunghoon because he was wiping his eyes too aggressively.
and then, as soon as they turned away from the microphones, it hit them all at once.
the high.
the realisation.
the we actually just did that.
they made it down the stairs of the stage with semi-professional composure. but the second they stepped into the pit—out of camera view—it was over.
jay broke first with a full-body exhale, head tipping back as tears spilled down his face.
sunoo launched himself at heeseung, who caught him with both arms and immediately started crying too.
ni-ki grabbed jake’s shirt and tugged him down into a rib-crushing hug, mumbling in a way that he was trying not to sob but failing miserably.
and jungwon—jungwon finally let go.
he turned toward heran, breath shaky, and before she could say anything he pulled her straight into his chest. no hesitation this time. no gentle side hug. he wrapped both arms around her and held her like everything inside him had been waiting for this release.
heran froze for half a second—then melted.
she wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her forehead to his collarbone as her own tears restarted, stronger than before. his hand came up to cradle the back of her head, fingers threading through her hair instinctively.
around them, the boys were a mess—laughing and crying, hugging the staff, hugging each other again, shouting things like:
“WE DID IT!!!”
“I CAN’T BREATHE—WHY ARE WE ALL CRYING—”
“SUNGHOON, ARE YOU CRYING?”
“NO.”
“he’s crying.”
heran pulled back just enough to look up at jungwon, cheeks flushed, mascara slightly smudged, eyes shining.
he laughed through his tears, thumb brushing the corner of her eye before he remembered himself and lowered his hand. but he didn’t let go of her waist.
“see?” he whispered. “told you we’d be okay.”
she shook her head, choking on a soft sound that was half-sob, half-laugh. “I didn’t believe you,” she whispered back.
“I know,” he said. “but that’s alright. I believed enough for both of us.”
behind them, sunghoon yelled something celebratory in a cracked voice, jay declared he needed “ten gallons of water,” and ni-ki announced loudly that he was going to “brag about this every day until I die.”
heran wiped her nose with her sleeve—classy—and leaned into jungwon’s shoulder again.
five years.
seven debutmates.
one daesang, finally theirs.
and in the chaotic, weeping, laughing pile of them backstage—
heran felt it fully for the first time: this was everything she wanted.
this wasn't just their fourth daesang of the year—this was the daesang, from the award show.
when she finally pulled back enough to see his face—nose pink, lashes damp, skin flushed from the adrenaline and crying. he was still smiling, but that smile had cracks in it, trembling at the edges.
she wiped under her eyes and sniffed, then frowned up at him with a tiny pout. “wait—no,” she said, pointing a finger at his chest. “I’m supposed to be comforting you. you were crying first.”
It was such a ridiculous thing to say, so heran, that jungwon barked out a laugh—wet and breathless, the sound of someone who had been holding everything in for far too long.
“sorry,” he said softly, even though he had nothing to apologise for. “I’ll… cry in the right order next time?”
she swatted his arm weakly. “shut up.”
but her smile softened, and her throat tightened again as she looked at him properly—really looked. jungwon, their leader. jungwon, who carried storms inside his chest and still shielded all of them from the rain.
“hey,” she whispered, tugging lightly at the front of his blazer so he’d meet her eyes again. “I’m so proud of you.”
his breath caught. just barely—but she heard it.
“this year was… it was hard on all of us,” she continued, voice softening into something raw. “but you… you had it the worst. there were days when the rest of us were falling apart, and somehow you still found a way to keep us together. to keep us moving.”
his eyes flickered down, as if the praise physically overwhelmed him.
“thank you for being our leader,” she said, and her voice broke. “for being our rock when we’re miserable. for scolding us when we start acting up. for loving us even when we make it impossible.”
he let out a helpless laugh at that, shoulders shaking as he tried to blink back fresh tears.
“we’re so grateful for what you do for us,” she whispered. “we’d be nothing without you. really. I mean it.”
his hands came up to cover his face for a moment, overwhelmed, wiping quickly like maybe he could hide how much her words were getting to him—but the tears still slipped through his fingers.
she smiled in that soft, teasing way she only used for him—equal parts affection and mischief.
“come here,” she murmured, hooking a finger into his sleeve. “they don’t need to see you cry.”
he laughed, sharp and broken and relieved—and then he gave up fighting it entirely.
he stepped right into her arms, burying his face in her shoulder as he wrapped both arms around her waist, holding her so tightly it almost knocked the breath out of her. his body trembled from the leftover adrenaline and emotion, and she cradled the back of his head, fingers running through his hair.
heran held him close, eyes slipping shut. “I’m so proud of you, baby,” she whispered against his ear.
his grip tightened—just for a second, just enough to say everything he couldn’t speak out loud yet.
jungwon let out this half-scoff, half-hiccup. “you’re gonna make it worse,” he mumbled, lips twitching, voice still thick. “If you keep talking like that I’m gonna actually break down and they’re gonna write articles about me sobbing like a toddler.”
heran snorted, actually snorted, cheeks blotchy from crying. “as if they don’t already have that drafted,” she teases, nudging his chin up so he’ll look at her. “ENHYPEN jungwon breaks down after member, and alleged best friend lee heran comforts him backstage. very dramatic. very clickbait. ten out of ten.”
he rolled his eyes but he was smiling—one of those watery, helpless smiles he only ever showed when he was too tired to pretend. “you’re unbearable,” he muttered, and then quieter, like he was scared the moment might shatter if he spoke too loudly: “I missed you so much this year.”
that one hit her right in the chest.
she froze. just for a beat. just long enough for the truth of it to hum between them—everything they didn’t say, everything they swallowed, everything they pretended didn’t hurt.
then she grabbed him by the shoulders. “hey,” she whispers. “I know. me too. we had a rough year of pretending to be okay.”
he huffed a laugh, shaky. “yeah. except you’re better at pretending than I am.”
“duh,” she said immediately, trying for lightness. “I’m the most emotionally repressed member. everybody knows this.”
he laughed—really laughed this time, head tilting back—before leaning forward and pressing his forehead to hers.
and then, softer: “I’m proud of you too, you know.”
she smiled.
“you think you're the only one who watches everyone and holds us together? You think we don’t see what you do?” he continued, voice steadying as he talks, conviction building. “you had one of the most insane year and didn't get a break, yet you still showed up. you give people strength without even noticing. you push yourself so hard it scares me sometimes. and you still… you still manage to be everyone’s safe place.”
heran blinked a few times too quickly. “you’re not supposed to say things that make me cry harder,” she protested weakly.
“too late,” he deadpanned, even as he thumbed a tear off her cheek with a gentleness that contradicted every joke. “you look like a raccoon.”
“wow,” she gasps, offended. “never comforting you again.”
but she was already tucking herself into his chest again, arms wrapping around him, his chin resting on her shoulder. he laughed into her hair—quiet, breathy, exhausted. then, muffled, he added, “I’m really happy we did this together.”
she squeezed him, so tightly he lets out a tiny squeak. “me too,” she murmured. “side by side, remember?”
he nodded against her shoulder.
“and,” he added, lifting his head just enough to meet her eyes, “for the record… baby? really? in public?”
she shrugged, unapologetic. “what? you cried first.”
he groaned, pulling her in again. "please stop talking."
and in the chaos around them—boys yelling, staff clapping, trophies clinking—heran and jungwon stood steady in the center of it all.
two people who had survived five years of noise, storms, growing pains, and victories—and loved each other through all of it.
I love your 10th member fics! I’m here to request for that :) which members do you think would cock block rai from being hit on, which ones doesn’t care, and which one would potentially be jealous 👀 THANK YOU AND KEEP UP THE AMAZING WORK!!!
Honestly...I think all of them would cockblock you at some point, even unintentionally 😭 If we really had to dissect this, though...
✩ Wouldn't care: Fuma, Euijoo, Jo, and Harua.
The most sympathetic out of the group. None of these boys really care if you're getting hit on by a member of another group, because they're just happy to see you connecting with someone else. Harua in particular is very supportive; he's very nosy and wants to hover over your shoulder while you text the other idol! As long as you're safe, they're happy.
✩ Cockblockers: Kei, Taki, and Maki.
Yudai and Maki are just too protective of you. Yudai thinks you're too innocent for the scoundrels in the MusicBank dressing rooms, and Maki's just worried that these people won't really care about you and will break your heart. They don't want you hurt, and if that means appearing from around the corner while you're mid-conversation, or even glaring at the other idol from over your shoulder, they'll do it. Taki is completely unintentional. He's got the worst luck ever and always pops into the conversation when it's just getting flirty, or when you're getting handsy with another idol. Bless his heart. Kei is grateful for it, even if it's always an accident.
✩ Jealous: Nicholas, Yuma.
These kitties bite! Nekoz love to have your attention on them, so when you're being (*gasp*) hit on, especially by another man, they're immediately both on guard. Nico is quietly jealous, shooting looks at everyone else whenever you smile or laugh, but he's not going to say anything unless he feels like he has to. Yuma is the really jealous, switching between ultra-clingy and utterly avoidant faster than a gearshift. He knows it's petty and immature, but what else is he supposed to do when someone else is taking up all of your time?
The two of them wandered through a quiet shopping street in Seoul, tucked away from the busier tourist areas. The air was crisp, late afternoon sunlight reflecting softly off glass storefronts. Hyunjin walked a few steps ahead, hands in his pockets, occasionally stopping to admire clothes he absolutely did not need.
Felix, however, had fallen behind.
His attention had been captured by a small jewelry shop.
It was warm inside—soft lighting, pale wood shelves, and glass cases filled with delicate rings and necklaces.
Nothing flashy.
Nothing loud.
Just… meaningful.
“Hyunjin,” Felix called softly, not even realizing he’d stopped walking.
Hyunjin turned, then followed Felix’s gaze.
“Oh,” he said knowingly, lips curling into a teasing grin. “Danger zone.”
Felix ignored him and stepped inside.
The bell chimed gently above the door.
Almost immediately, his eyes landed on them.
Two rings.
Simple.
Silver.
Thin bands with the tiniest engraving along the outside—nothing ornate, just elegant and understated.
When the shop owner noticed Felix staring, she smiled and opened the case.
“These are couple rings,” she explained kindly. “Very popular.”
Felix felt his chest tighten.
Couple rings.
His fingers hovered above the glass as if touching them might make the feeling too real. His mind instantly filled with Ruby—her laugh, the way her eyes crinkled when she smiled, how she always listened so intently when he talked, like every word mattered.
Hyunjin leaned in beside him. “You’re thinking about her,” he said, sing-song.
Felix nodded, cheeks warming. “I just… I think she’d like something simple. Something that means something.”
The shop owner placed the rings on a velvet tray. “These are worn as a promise,” she added. “Not an engagement. Just a way to say, ‘I choose you.’”
That did it.
Felix swallowed hard.
“I’ll take them,” he said softly.
Hyunjin’s teasing expression softened into something fond as Felix tried one ring on, then slipped the matching one into the small box.
It felt… right. Like he’d just made a quiet promise to himself.
On the walk back, Felix held the bag carefully, as if it were something fragile and sacred.
“So,” Hyunjin said casually. “When are you giving it to her?”
Felix smiled to himself.
“Tomorrow.”
—
The next evening, Ruby had no idea what Felix had planned.
All she knew was that he’d asked her to keep the night free and told her to dress comfortably—but nicely—which immediately made her suspicious.
When she arrived, she found a private rooftop space glowing with soft fairy lights. A small table was set for two, candles flickering gently in the evening breeze. The city stretched out below them, lights twinkling like stars.
Felix stood up the moment he saw her.
For a second, he just stared.
Ruby looked beautiful—effortlessly so. Her hair framed her face perfectly, and she wore a soft smile that instantly made his heart race.
“Hi,” she said shyly.
“Hi,” Felix replied, voice warm and a little nervous.
Dinner was quiet in the best way. Not awkward—just intimate.
They talked about everything and nothing. Laughed. Shared bites of dessert. Felix reached across the table more than once just to hold her hand, grounding himself.
But as the night deepened, Ruby noticed something.
Felix was fidgeting.
After dessert, he stood up and took a breath. “Ruby… can we sit over there for a second?”
She nodded, curiosity blooming.
They moved to a small couch lined with cushions. Felix sat close—so close their shoulders touched. He turned toward her, suddenly serious, eyes soft but full of emotion.
“There’s something I want to give you,” he said.
Ruby’s heart skipped. “Okay…”
Felix reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.
Her breath caught.
He opened it slowly, revealing the ring inside.
“It’s not—” he rushed to say, then stopped, chuckling nervously. “It’s not what your brain might be jumping to. It’s a couple ring.”
Ruby blinked. “A couple… ring?”
He nodded, lifting it carefully.
“In Korea, couples wear matching rings to show they belong to each other. It’s not about marriage—it’s about intention. About choosing someone every day.”
He swallowed, voice growing softer.
“It’s a way of saying, ‘I’m serious about you.’”
Ruby’s eyes shimmered.
Felix continued, brushing his thumb over the ring. “I saw it and immediately thought of you. I wanted something that wasn’t loud, but meaningful. Something just for us.”
Her hand flew to her mouth.
“Felix…” she whispered, overwhelmed.
“I don’t expect anything,” he added quickly. “I just wanted you to know how much you mean to me.”
Ruby didn’t say anything.
Instead, she reached out, fingers trembling slightly.
“Can you put it on me?” she asked.
Felix’s breath hitched.
He carefully slid the ring onto her finger—it fit perfectly.
The moment it settled, Ruby let out a shaky laugh, tears spilling freely now.
“I’ve never had anyone do something like this for me,” she admitted softly. “It’s so thoughtful. So… you.”
Felix smiled, eyes glossy. “Yeah?”
She nodded, then took the other ring from the box.
“Your turn.”
When she slipped it onto his finger, something shifted between them—quiet, steady, real.
Ruby leaned into his chest, wrapping her arms around him.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’ll treasure this. Always.”
Felix kissed the top of her head, holding her close.
“I choose you,” he murmured.
And under the soft glow of city lights, wearing matching rings that held a promise only they fully understood, it felt like the most perfect beginning of something lasting.
The next day, Felix was not being subtle.
He sat in the studio chair, legs bouncing, absently spinning the silver ring around his finger while listening to playback.
Every few seconds, his eyes drifted down to his hand, a soft smile tugging at his lips.
Han noticed immediately.
He always did.
Han squinted from across the room, slowly rolling his chair closer like a detective in a crime drama.
“Felix,” he said carefully. “Why do you look like someone just confessed their love to you in a K-drama… and you said yes?”
Felix stiffened. “I don’t.”
Han leaned in closer. “…Is that a ring?”
Felix tried to casually tuck his hand under his thigh.
“No,” he said too quickly.
Han gasped so loudly Changbin yelled, “WHY are you screaming?!”
“GUYS,” Han shouted, ignoring him. “FELIX HAS A RING!”
Felix groaned. “Han—please—”
Han grabbed Felix’s wrist with zero shame and lifted it up like he’d just uncovered national news. “A COUPLE RING! THIS IS A COUPLE RING!”
Felix’s ears turned bright red. “…It’s not a big deal.”
Han clutched his chest. “Not a big deal? You bought a Korean couple ring for RUBY. This man,” he announced loudly to absolutely no one, “is in LOVE.”
Felix’s ears burned red. “Stop.”
“Oh, I will not,” Han said, grinning. “So? Did she cry?”
Felix hesitated.
Then nodded.
Han squealed.
Actually squealed.
“I knew it!” he said triumphantly. “You planned a romantic dinner, didn’t you? Candles. Soft lighting. Probably city view.”
Felix stared at him. “…How do you know all this?”
Han shrugged. “I know you.”
Before Felix could respond, the door opened.
Ruby walked in.
Felix stood immediately, like his body had a mind of its own. “Hey.”
She smiled softly at him, then waved at Han. “Hi.”
Han’s eyes dropped straight to her hand.
He froze.
Then he let out the most dramatic gasp of his life.
“NO WAY.”
Ruby jumped.
Felix nearly dropped his phone.
Ruby blinked. “What?”
Han rushed over, pointing at her hand like he’d just spotted a shooting star. “THE MATCHING RING! YOU’RE WEARING IT! YOU’RE WEARING THE RING!” And he gently but dramatically grabbed Ruby’s hand. “Let me see. Let me SEE.”
Ruby laughed, a little shy. “Felix gave it to me yesterday.”
Han screamed again. “I KNEW IT.”
Felix muttered, “Why are you like this?”
Han turned to Ruby, deadly serious. “Do you understand how LONG I have waited for this moment?”
Ruby giggled. “Apparently longer than I realized.”
Han placed a hand over his heart. “Ruby. I am your biggest supporter. I have been shipping Luby—no, wait—Rulix—” Felix sighed. “—okay fine, Feluby,” Han continued confidently, “since DAY ONE.”
Felix blinked. “You made that ship name up just now.”
“AND IT’S BEAUTIFUL,” Han shot back.
Ruby laughed so hard she leaned into Felix’s shoulder. Felix wrapped an arm around her automatically, thumb brushing gently against her arm.
Han pointed at them. “LOOK AT THIS. MATCHING RINGS. MATCHING VIBES. EMOTIONAL SUPPORT COUPLE.”
Felix shook his head, smiling despite himself. “You’re impossible.”
Han grinned, eyes softening. “Yeah, but I’m right.”
He looked at Ruby again, sincerity cutting through the teasing.
“Seriously though—Felix is happiest when he’s with you. I can see it.”
Ruby’s expression softened.
She squeezed Felix’s hand.
“I feel the same.”
Han sniffed dramatically. “Great. Now I’m emotional.”
Changbin groaned from across the room. “Can we practice now?!”
Han ignored him completely.
He threw an arm around Felix’s shoulders, pulling him into a half hug.
“I’m your biggest supporter,” he said proudly. “Captain of the Felix x Ruby ship. I’ll defend this relationship with my life.”
Felix laughed, warmth flooding his chest. “…Thanks, Han.”
“Ruby, do you understand what this means?” said Han, still admiring the couple rings.
She smiled softly, glancing at Felix. “That he chooses me.”
Han pointed at Felix. “YOU. You did well.”
Felix ducked his head, smiling.
Han leaned in closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “So when’s the wedding?”
“HAN,” Felix and Ruby said in unison.
Han laughed, holding his hands up. “I’m kidding. I’m kidding... For now.”
Then he smirked. “But just so you know—I expect to be best man.”
Ruby laughed, leaning into Felix’s side. “Deal.”
Felix slipped an arm around her shoulders, thumb brushing gently over her arm.
Han watched the two of them for a moment, his teasing expression softening into something genuine.
“…You really are good together,” he said quietly.
Felix smiled, looking down at Ruby. “I know.”
Ruby smiled, glancing at their matching rings as they caught the light together.
And somehow, with Han loudly declaring himself their number one fan, the promise those rings represented felt even stronger.
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