The final song faded beneath a dazzling shower of silver confetti.
For a heartbeat, the entire arena seemed to hold its breath. Then the stadium erupted into deafening cheers, thousands of voices rising together beneath the glittering lights.
The seven members of TBS stood shoulder to shoulder, bowing deeply toward every section of the audience. They waved, exchanged a few tired but happy smiles, and finally made their way to the front of the stage.
One by one, they settled down, reaching for the bottles of water waiting beside them.
And just like that, the atmosphere changed.
Only moments ago, they had commanded the stage with powerful performances and flawless choreography. Now, sitting casually beneath the spotlights, they looked like seven young men who simply wanted to spend a little more time with the people who had filled the arena with love.
Taehun adjusted his microphone and looked around with an exaggeratedly serious expression.
"First of all…"
He paused.
"Did everyone enjoy tonight?"
The answer came so loudly that the stage itself seemed to tremble.
"YES!"
Taehun immediately broke into a grin.
"Good. I was worried we might have to perform the entire concert again."
Laughter rippled through the audience.
Yomin shook his head, smiling, before lifting his microphone.
"You may have noticed that tonight's concert ended a little earlier than usual."
Curious murmurs travelled through the stadium.
Kim Joon nodded.
"That was intentional. We wanted to spend a little more time with you before saying goodbye."
The audience responded with another wave of cheers.
Hosu gazed across the sea of light sticks, his expression softening.
"Concerts always pass so quickly. We perform, we sing, we dance…"
He paused, looking toward the highest seats.
"And before we even realise it, it's time to leave."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"So tonight, we thought we would slow things down a little."
Taehun suddenly leaned forward, as though he had been waiting for his turn to speak.
"And there's another reason."
His mischievous grin immediately made the other members suspicious.
"You all spend hours making those banners. Some of them are so creative that we barely get a second to read them before the cameras move away."
He gestured toward the colourful signs scattered throughout the arena.
"So tonight, we're going to read as many as we can."
The reaction was instantaneous.
Fans raised their banners higher, waving them desperately in the hope of catching the members' attention.
Kim Joon laughed.
"Please, not all at once. We only have two eyes each."
"Speak for yourself," Minjo interrupted. "I have excellent eyesight."
"You couldn't find your phone yesterday," Yomin reminded him.
"That was a different situation."
"What situation?"
"A private one."
The members burst into laughter while Minjo tried to maintain his dignity.
Taehun shaded his eyes dramatically, scanning the audience as though he were searching for a suspect.
"Alright, then. Let's see who has come here with the greatest intention of embarrassing us."
The giant LED screen moved across the crowd before stopping on a banner.
The words appeared in enormous letters.
"My girlfriend says Taehun is more handsome than me. I've already tried six salons… which one should I visit next?"
For two seconds, the members stared at the screen.
Then the stage erupted.
Taehun slowly rose to his feet, placed one hand over his heart, and regarded the imaginary victim with deep sympathy.
"My brother…"
He sighed.
"I don't think this is the salon's fault anymore."
The arena exploded with laughter.
Kim Joon covered his face, while Yomin shook his head.
"He's offering relationship counselling now."
"Of course," Taehun replied proudly. "I provide many services."
"None of them requested," Jinhun added.
Another burst of laughter followed.
Before the noise had completely settled, the screen moved to a different section.
"Yomin… Marry Me!"
The audience screamed.
Yomin blinked, pointed at himself, and looked around as though searching for another person with the same name.
"Me? Why is it always me?"
He laughed, lifting both hands in surrender.
"I appreciate the proposal, but shouldn't we get to know each other first?"
Taehun immediately leaned toward his microphone.
"Don't answer yet. I've already counted thousands of other proposals."
Yomin stared at him.
"I think I'm in trouble."
"No," Kim Joon replied solemnly. "I think Busan has already planned your wedding."
Even Jeon J., who had remained comparatively quiet, lowered his head with a faint smile.
The camera moved again.
This time, the banner read:
"Hosu, please forgive the members if they miss one dance move tonight."
Hosu stared at it.
Taehun instinctively shifted a little farther away from him.
"I didn't write that."
"Do I really look that frightening?" Hosu asked.
"Only during rehearsals," Minjo answered without hesitation.
The audience roared.
Kim Joon nodded gravely.
"If someone misses a single count, Hosu notices before the music does."
"I was only helping!" Hosu protested.
"And we appreciate your help," Taehun assured him, folding his hands respectfully.
He paused.
"From a safe distance."
The stadium shook with laughter.
Another banner appeared.
"Hosu, blink twice if you've ever wanted to replace Taehun during dance practice."
Everyone immediately turned toward Hosu.
Hosu looked at Taehun, then at the screen.
"I'll exercise my right to remain silent."
Taehun pointed at him.
"That means yes! I knew it!"
Jinhun was laughing so hard that he had to lean forward, one hand pressed against his knee.
He was still recovering when another banner caught his attention.
"Petition to protect TBS from Hosu's dance corrections."
"I don't correct that much," Hosu protested.
"You corrected my finger angle once," Minjo reminded him.
Kim Joon joined in.
"He stopped rehearsal for three minutes because my shoulder was two centimetres too low."
"One centimetre," Hosu corrected.
Silence fell.
The members slowly turned toward him.
Then everyone burst into laughter again.
Taehun looked straight into the camera.
"You see our problem now?"
The next banner was waiting.
"Minjo, please stop flirting with every camera. My boyfriend is getting jealous."
Minjo looked genuinely offended.
"I don't flirt with cameras."
He turned toward the nearest camera.
Smiled.
Then gave it a playful wink.
The arena screamed.
Kim Joon folded his arms.
"You've just proved the banner right."
"The prosecution rests its case," Taehun announced.
Minjo shrugged innocently.
"I was being polite."
"Then please stop being so polite," Yomin muttered.
Their laughter mingled with the audience's as the screen shifted again.
This time, Kim Joon read the banner aloud.
"Jinhun, my mom likes you more than she likes me. Please tell her to love her own child."
Jinhun blinked.
"What am I supposed to say to that?"
"Congratulations," Taehun replied. "You've officially been adopted."
Jinhun looked toward the camera and offered a polite smile.
"Imonim, your child deserves love too."
A collective "Awwww!" rose from the audience.
Minjo nodded dramatically.
"See? That's exactly why everyone's mother loves him."
Jinhun covered his face, shaking his head while the members continued laughing.
The next banner took a little longer to read.
Kim Joon leaned forward, narrowed his eyes, and then smiled.
"Oh…"
He glanced toward the youngest member.
"I think this one's for Jeon J."
The giant screen zoomed in.
"Jeon J., you have abs, silky hair, six protective brothers, a heart-catching smile, a bank balance, and a black empire…
So why are you still afraid of love?"
The laughter that had filled the arena softened.
One by one, the members turned toward Jeon J.
For a brief moment, nobody seemed to know what to say.
The question might have looked playful to the thousands of fans watching from their seats, but the six men sitting beside him knew that there were some questions a person could laugh off only because nobody knew the truth behind them.
Across the arena, Minji watched him intently.
Her fingers tightened around the phone resting in her lap.
A fragile hope rose in her heart.
Would he finally say it?
Would he acknowledge me, even indirectly?
Or would he deny everything?
Around her, three of her closest friends watched the stage just as carefully. They, too, knew that the answer might mean far more than the audience could possibly understand.
Thousands of people waited.
Six members watched in silence.
And somewhere in the middle of it all, Minji waited for a single sentence that might finally give her some clarity.
Jeon J. lowered his gaze.
A faint smile touched his lips, but it held little amusement.
Perhaps life had a strange sense of timing. Sometimes, the questions a person spent years avoiding appeared in front of thousands of strangers, disguised as a joke.
He slowly lifted his microphone.
"There was a time…"
His voice was calm, but the arena quieted almost immediately.
"…when I thought I was afraid of love."
He paused, looking across the audience.
"But I don't think that's true anymore."
The members remained still.
Jeon J. took a quiet breath.
"I've learned that love itself isn't frightening."
His gaze drifted beyond the sea of light sticks, somewhere far away from the cameras and the thousands of eyes fixed upon him.
"What scares you…"
He hesitated.
"…is how deeply it can hurt."
For a moment, the only sound was the faint hum of the arena.
"So, I don't think I'm afraid anymore."
A small, almost helpless smile crossed his face.
"I just know how much it can hurt."
He lowered his eyes briefly before looking back at the audience.
"And if one day, love decides to stay in my heart completely…"
He gave a slight shrug.
"I honestly don't know what will become of me."
The stadium erupted.
Cheers rose from every corner, accompanied by applause and countless voices calling his name.
Some fans screamed with excitement. Others smiled quietly, touched by the unexpected honesty in his answer.
It was not the confession they had imagined.
It was not a denial, either.
It was something more complicated.
Something painfully human.
Minji's smile slowly faded.
He hadn't denied anything.
But he hadn't acknowledged her, either.
She lowered her eyes, unsure whether the answer should have relieved her or hurt her.
Onstage, the members exchanged brief, almost imperceptible glances. They understood the weight hidden beneath his words, even if the audience did not.
But the cameras were still rolling.
Kim Joon cleared his throat dramatically and clapped once.
"Well…"
He turned toward Jeon J.
"I think we've just witnessed the most philosophical answer ever given to a fan banner."
Laughter returned to the arena.
Taehun immediately seized the opportunity.
"So, the lesson of the evening is simple."
He pointed toward Yomin.
"If you want relationship advice, go to Yomin."
Then he pointed toward Jeon J.
"If you want heartbreak advice, come to him."
The members burst into laughter.
Even Jeon J. chuckled, shaking his head.
Jinhun turned back to the audience.
"Before our leader accidentally starts an emotional podcast, let's move on to the next banner before all of us start crying."
The arena filled with laughter once again.
The screen moved to another section of the arena, stopping at a banner that made Kim Joon lean forward to read it.
"Kim Joon, you're TBS's leader, their father, their therapist, their manager, and their full-time babysitter…
BUT WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO ADOPT SIX GROWN MEN WITHOUT A RETURN POLICY?"
For a second, Kim Joon stared at the screen in complete silence.
Then he slowly turned toward the six members sitting beside him.
"Excuse me? Return policy?"
Taehun immediately raised his hand.
"I'd like to file a return request."
"Rejected," Kim Joon replied without hesitation.
Minjo burst out laughing.
"Can we at least exchange him for someone who doesn't lecture us about sleeping on time?"
Kim Joon turned toward him.
"Who was the one texting me at three in the morning because he couldn't find his room key?"
Minjo's smile vanished.
The audience erupted.
Yomin leaned toward his microphone. "I think the banner has a point. You're not our leader anymore. You're our unpaid parent."
Hosu nodded solemnly. "And the job comes with no holidays."
Kim Joon looked toward the ceiling as though asking for divine patience.
"God, please give me strength."
Jeon J. finally joined in, his lips curving into a rare, amused smile.
"Hyung, you could always resign."
Kim Joon immediately turned toward him.
"And leave all six of you in charge of yourselves? I'd rather work until retirement."
The entire arena burst into laughter.
Taehun clutched his chest dramatically.
"Everyone, please give our leader a round of applause. He's suffering for the nation."
Kim Joon shook his head, but he couldn't hide his smile.
Then he looked directly into the camera.
"To whoever made this banner…"
He paused.
"Your application to become our seventh member has been denied."
The stadium exploded with cheers.
Taehun leaned toward his microphone one last time.
"Don't worry. We'll still accept you as our babysitter."
Kim Joon reached for a water bottle beside him.
Taehun immediately scrambled behind Yomin as the members dissolved into helpless laughter.
And gradually, the heaviness dissolved into the familiar warmth of their teasing.
Kim Joon slowly turned his head toward him.
"See? This is exactly what I'm talking about!"
His voice carried the exhaustion of a man who had genuinely spent years looking after six children and was finally approaching retirement.
"These guys drive me crazy! Am I their leader or their full-time caretaker? There's always some new problem!"
Minjo placed a hand over his chest with an innocent expression.
"Hyung, we don't cause you problems. We're just testing your leadership skills."
"Every single day?" Kim Joon asked immediately.
Minjo thought about it for a few moments.
"Actually… multiple times a day."
The arena erupted into laughter again.
Kim Joon covered his face with both hands.
"Oh, God… please give me patience!"
Taehun placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Hyung, at least we're not boring."
"If you guys were boring, I'd finally have some peace in my life!"
"But then you'd miss us," Taehun replied instantly.
Kim Joon looked at him but said nothing, merely shaking his head in disbelief.
Then he brought his microphone back to his mouth.
"And it's not just that they drive me crazy. They don't even let me sleep! When everyone should be sleeping at night, noises come from their rooms as if there's a whole festival happening inside the building!"
Yomin widened his eyes in surprise.
"We're just talking."
"At three in the morning?"
"We lose track of time."
"You only remember what time it is when you have to wake up for the morning schedule!"
Hosu slowly brought his microphone toward himself.
"Technically, we make noise even while we're sleeping."
Kim Joon went completely still for a moment.
"WHAT?"
Hosu explained with absolute seriousness.
"Taehun hyung sometimes talks in his sleep. And Minjo hyung's laughter doesn't even stop when he's asleep."
Minjo immediately sat up straight.
"Excuse me! I'm so charming that people laugh even when I'm asleep."
"You're the one laughing in your sleep, not the people!" Jinhun interrupted.
The members burst into laughter again.
Kim Joon raised a hand, trying to regain control.
"Enough! And listen, you guys can't even open a packet of chips without making a noise!"
Taehun looked at him with the purest expression of innocence.
"Hyung… then how are we supposed to eat chips without opening the packet?"
For one second, the entire arena fell silent.
Then all the members answered together.
"Exactly!"
Minjo immediately raised his hand.
"Thank you! Finally, someone understands our struggle!"
Kim Joon glared at him.
"You too?"
Minjo clasped both hands in front of his chest.
"Hyung, hunger can make a person do anything."
"Opening a packet of chips isn't going to kill you!"
"But it might kill your sleep," Taehun whispered.
This time, even Kim Joon couldn't hold back his laughter. He reached out as if to give Taehun a light smack on the head, but Taehun had already ducked behind Yomin.
The audience couldn't stop laughing.
"And another thing! Whenever I cook for you guys, you always find something to complain about!" Kim Joon asked in curiosity.
Taehun immediately straightened his neck.
"Hyung, when have we ever complained?"
"Who was it who said that the vegetables I'd cut were so perfectly sliced that they should be framed and hung on the wall instead of being eaten?"
Everyone's gaze slowly shifted toward Minjo.
Hosu looked at the others, then at Kim Joon.
With complete innocence, he replied,
"But you cut vegetables so professionally! Every piece is exactly the same size. That level of skill… it's genuinely satisfying to look at."
Taehun immediately picked up where he left off.
"Exactly! I was saying that Hyung should quit cooking and enter a vegetable-cutting competition. A gold medal is guaranteed!"
Kim Joon stared at them in disbelief.
"Are you two complimenting me or making fun of me?"
Minjo blinked innocently.
"Hyung, we don't even know anymore. We're just speaking from the heart."
Yomin turned his face away, trying to hide his laughter from the camera.
Hosu covered his mouth with his microphone.
Jinhun finally gave up trying to hold his laughter in and burst out laughing.
Kim Joon closed his eyes.
"Why did I even bring these guys?"
Taehun immediately answered.
"Because you love us, hyung!"
"When did I ever say that?"
"Say it now!"
Another wave of laughter swept through the arena.
But gradually, Kim Joon's laughter began to fade.
He looked at the members around him.
Taehun was still peeking out from behind Yomin. Minjo was unsuccessfully trying to suppress his laughter. Hosu wore his usual peaceful smile, while Jinhun had his head lowered, still chuckling. Even Jeon J. was smiling as he watched them.
Kim Joon continued looking at them for a few moments.
Then he held his microphone with both hands. This time, when he spoke, the teasing tone had softened into something gentler.
"But… there's one thing that's true."
The members' laughter gradually died down.
Kim Joon lowered his eyes and tried to smile, but a faint glimmer of moisture appeared in them.
"These guys drive me crazy. Sometimes, so much that I wish I could go somewhere far away from all of them and enjoy a little peace."
Taehun's smile softened.
Kim Joon looked at each of them in turn.
"But when I think about what it would be like if they weren't around me anymore… if no voices, no arguments over opening a packet of chips, no complaints about food…"
His voice faltered for a moment.
"…I don't think I'd like that silence at all."
The expressions on the members' faces grew serious, too.
Kim Joon gave a small laugh and touched the corner of his eye.
"Honestly, I can't imagine living without them. I scold them, complain about them, and sometimes get completely exhausted by their antics… but they're a part of my life."
He took a breath and looked at all six of them.
"I'm afraid of losing them. Maybe that's why I worry about them so much. I want them to be happy and safe… and no matter how grown-up they become, I never want them to feel as though they have no one."
For a few moments, a beautiful silence settled over the arena.
Taehun lowered his head and pretended to wipe away tears.
"Hyung… you're getting emotional."
Kim Joon immediately turned toward him.
"I'm not emotional!"
Minjo spoke softly.
"Hyung, there are tears in your eyes."
"That's because of you guys!"
Hosu replied with innocent sincerity.
"But you just said you love us very much."
Kim Joon looked at him, then let out an involuntary laugh.
"You guys can't even let an emotional moment exist in peace!"
Taehun immediately spread his arms wide.
"Because we're your family, hyung!"
This time, Kim Joon didn't make a joke.
He pulled Taehun into a hug. The other members gradually gathered around them, and within moments, all of them were clinging to one another—some with tears in their eyes, others with smiles on their faces.
The audience erupted into applause.
Standing among the members, Kim Joon looked toward the camera.
"See? I can scold them and complain about them all I want… but I could never leave them behind."
Taehun rested his head on Kim Joon's shoulder.
"Good. Because we never gave you the option to return us."
Kim Joon stared at him for a moment.
Then he gave him a light smack on the head.
"GET OFF ME!"
And just like that, the emotional moment turned into laughter once again.
The entire arena filled with their laughter, applause, and excited screams.
__________________________________________
Meanwhile, at Lunelle Harbor,
The restaurant was alive with activity.
Orders continued leaving the kitchen, servers moved swiftly between tables, and the rhythmic tapping of knives against chopping boards blended with the sizzling of pans.
But tonight, something was different.
A large television in the staff area had been switched on well before the concert ended. The official TBS broadcast from Busan played across the screen, drawing curious glances from employees whenever their work allowed them a spare moment.
After all, the performers on that stage were expected to become their guests before the night was over.
"I still can't believe they're actually coming here," a kitchen assistant murmured while arranging freshly cut vegetables.
Without taking his eyes off the grill, one of the chefs replied, "Focus on your station first."
"But—"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I still can't believe it either."
Soft laughter passed through the kitchen.
Near the service counter, two waitresses exchanged excited whispers while balancing their trays.
"Did you see Taehun's reaction?"
"I swear he's even funnier offstage than he is onstage."
The other girl nodded, struggling to contain her laughter before returning to work.
Amid all the excitement, Zoya remained focused on her responsibilities.
She arranged glasses neatly on a serving tray, checked the order tickets, and made sure everything was in its proper place.
She hadn't looked at the screen.
Not once.
It wasn't because she wasn't curious.
Looking was simply harder than listening.
The familiar voices drifted through the restaurant, carrying laughter, cheers, and the members' playful arguments. Even without seeing their faces, she could picture their expressions with an accuracy that unsettled her.
She knew those voices.
She knew the little changes in their tones, the pauses before a joke, the warmth hidden beneath their teasing.
And perhaps that was precisely why she kept her eyes lowered.
Another burst of laughter rose from the television.
Someone had read a particularly funny banner, and several employees laughed together before returning to their work.
Then the atmosphere changed.
Kim Joon's voice came through the speakers.
"I think this one's for Jeon J."
Zoya's fingers tightened around the tray.
For a moment, she forgot what she had been doing.
She forced herself to continue polishing the glasses, keeping her attention on the reflections moving across their surfaces.
Then Jeon J. began to speak.
"There was a time… when I thought I was afraid of love."
Zoya lowered her eyes further.
She did not look at the screen.
She couldn't.
His voice remained calm, measured, almost impossibly steady.
"But I don't think that's true anymore."
Her hand moved over the glass, though she was no longer paying attention to what she was doing.
"I've learned that love itself isn't frightening."
She swallowed.
"What scares you…"
A pause.
"…is how deeply it can hurt."
Her hand stopped.
Only for a second.
But in that single second, the busy restaurant seemed to recede into the distance.
The voices of the other employees faded beneath the sound of his words.
She had not looked at his face.
She had not wanted to.
Yet she had heard every word.
And somehow, hearing him say those things without seeing him made them feel even more personal.
Why did his answer affect her so deeply?
Why did a few sentences spoken to thousands of people make her feel as though something inside her had been quietly disturbed?
Zoya took a slow breath and resumed her work.
Around her, nobody noticed the brief change in her expression. They were too busy listening to the broadcast, laughing at the members' jokes, or preparing the restaurant for its most important guests of the evening.
Only Zoya knew that the laughter on the television had become difficult to listen to.
The broadcast continued for a few more minutes before the members waved goodbye to their fans. The final image of TBS disappeared from the screen, replaced by the restaurant's welcome display.
For a brief moment, the staff area fell quiet.
Then two sharp claps sounded from the dining hall.
Clap.
Clap.
Manager Choi Min-Seok stepped into view, immediately drawing everyone's attention.
"Alright, everyone. The concert is officially over."
He glanced at the television before turning back to the staff.
"They'll most likely leave the venue within the next twenty to thirty minutes. If traffic cooperates, they should arrive here within the hour."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Excitement gave way to concentration as everyone remembered what lay ahead.
Manager Choi gestured toward the entrance, where a sign reading
CLOSED FOR PRIVATE EVENT had already been placed against the glass doors.
"The dining hall is closed to outside customers. No more walk-ins."
He let his gaze travel across the room.
"From this moment onward, our priority is TBS."
The staff nodded.
"I want every table checked again. Every glass polished. Every station spotless."
He paused.
"No shortcuts. No assumptions. If something doesn't look right, fix it."
His expression remained composed, but there was no mistaking the seriousness in his voice.
"We have one opportunity to make a first impression. Let's make sure it's a good one."
"Understood, Mr Choi!"
The response echoed through the restaurant.
Everyone returned to their stations.
Everyone except Zoya.
She remained still for another moment, Jeon J.'s words continuing to echo through her mind.
Love itself isn't frightening.
What scares you is how deeply it can hurt.
She closed her eyes briefly.
Why?
Why had those words affected her so much?
Taking a steadying breath, she picked up her tray and finished the task in front of her. Then, before she could change her mind, she walked toward Manager Choi.
He noticed her approaching.
"Miss Zoya?"
She stopped in front of him and offered a polite smile.
"Mr. Choi, may I ask you something?"
"Of course."
She hesitated.
"Would it be possible for me to leave a little earlier tonight?"
His expression shifted slightly.
"Earlier? Is everything alright?"
"Yes, everything is fine."
She nodded quickly.
"I just realised I forgot to tell my roommate that I would be working late today. I don't want her to worry if I return later than expected."
She kept her explanation simple, her hands resting quietly in front of her.
"I was hoping I could head back before it gets too late."
A nearby waitress overheard the request and turned toward her in surprise.
"Wait… you want to leave now?"
Another employee looked at the television.
"But TBS will be here any minute!"
"People would do anything just to see them in person," a kitchen assistant added. "And you're asking to go home?"
Their reactions weren't unkind. They were genuinely baffled.
Zoya looked at them apologetically.
"I'm sorry. I know they're very popular, and I don't mean any disrespect."
She lowered her head slightly.
"I've heard of them, of course. I'm just not someone who follows celebrities very closely."
For a moment, the group stared at her.
One of the chefs gave a disbelieving laugh.
"I don't think I've ever met anyone in Korea who could say that so calmly."
A waitress smiled.
"Well, everyone has different interests, I suppose."
Manager Choi considered Zoya for a moment before his expression softened.
"Alright. You may leave once you've completed your current responsibilities. I'll arrange for someone to cover the remainder of your shift."
Relief flickered across her face.
"Thank you, Mr Choi."
He nodded, then added with a light chuckle, "I have to admit, though, you're probably the first employee I've met who has asked to leave early on the very night TBS is coming here."
A few staff members laughed.
"If I were you, I'd stay," one of the waitresses said. "You might even get a photograph with them."
"Exactly," another chef agreed. "Not everyone gets a chance to meet artists of their level."
Manager Choi smiled.
"It would certainly make your first day memorable."
He shrugged good-naturedly.
"But I suppose everyone has different priorities."
Zoya offered a small smile.
"Maybe."
Her eyes lowered politely.
"But I think getting home without making my roommate worry is more important tonight."
Manager Choi gave an understanding nod.
"Fair enough. Finish what you're doing, and then you may go."
"Thank you."
She bowed respectfully and returned to her station.
Nobody noticed that her smile faded the moment she turned away.
It wasn't that she didn't want to meet TBS.
It wasn't even that she didn't care.
The truth was much more complicated.
She simply wasn't ready to stand face-to-face with one particular member.
Not tonight.
Not when his voice had already reached places in her heart she had been trying so desperately to keep untouched.
______________________________________________
The members gathered in the waiting room, waiting for their vehicles to be brought around.
For the first time in weeks, the atmosphere felt almost peaceful.
The final Busan concert was over. Their next concert wasn't scheduled until the following month, and although individual activities remained on their calendars, they no longer had the relentless pressure of preparing for another stadium performance.
More importantly, there were no overseas schedules waiting for them in the immediate future.
After weeks of travelling from one country to another, even a few days at home felt like a luxury.
They missed Korea.
They missed the familiar comfort of their own surroundings.
And, above all, they missed being able to wake up without immediately checking the time of their next flight.
Kim Joon threw himself onto the couch with a dramatic groan.
"The second I get back to the hotel, I'm going straight to sleep."
He stretched his arms above his head.
"I'm exhausted."
Jeon J., who had been scrolling through his phone, glanced at the time before slipping it into his pocket.
"No."
Kim Joon opened one eye.
"What do you mean, no?"
"We're going out for dinner first. I've already reserved a table."
Jeon J. stood, apparently considering the matter settled.
"We're leaving in five minutes."
Hosu stared at him in disbelief.
"Absolutely not. I'm eating something at the hotel and going to bed."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"It's already one in the morning. I don't have the energy for a restaurant."
Then he narrowed his eyes at Jeon J.
"And weren't you the one who said yesterday that we were all going to Minji's house after the concert? Where did this dinner suddenly come from?"
Jeon J. remained unfazed.
"We're going to have dinner, then head straight back to the hotel. It's not as if we have an important schedule tomorrow."
He looked around the room.
"Come on. Let's go."
Jinhun, who had been unusually quiet, watched him without saying a word.
Something about this sudden plan didn't make sense.
Jeon J. wasn't the kind of person who arranged a last-minute dinner for seven exhausted men without a reason. After a final concert, he would usually return to the hotel, take a shower, and disappear into his room.
So why tonight?
Yomin let out an exaggerated sigh before pushing himself off the couch.
"You really know how to take advantage of being the youngest."
A few chuckles followed.
Everyone knew that once Jeon J. had made up his mind, changing it was almost impossible.
One by one, the members began gathering their belongings.
Just as they were about to leave, the waiting-room door opened.
Minji walked in.
The moment Jeon J. saw her, his eyes shifted away.
Minji noticed.
She raised an eyebrow and silently gestured toward the door.
Where are you going?
For the briefest moment, Jeon J. looked like a man who had forgotten how to speak.
Kim Joon noticed the awkward exchange and quickly stepped in.
"We finally have a little free time after all these days, so we thought we'd go out for dinner together."
He smiled at Minji.
"That's all."
Jeon J. turned toward him.
Kim Joon shot him a warning look.
Don't say anything.
Jeon J. looked away.
Minji folded her arms.
"What kind of excuse is that?"
Her eyes settled on Jeon J.
"You were all supposed to come to my house tonight. Didn't you tell everyone yesterday?"
"I did," Jeon J. replied honestly. "But the plan was to go to your place after dinner."
Before Minji could answer, Minjo suddenly spoke.
"This dinner was actually Taehun's idea."
Silence.
Taehun slowly turned his head.
"…What?"
Minjo looked from Taehun to Jeon J., apparently unaware that he had just thrown someone directly into the line of fire.
The other members lowered their heads, fighting desperately to contain their laughter.
Realising that there was no graceful escape, Taehun forced a smile.
"Y-Yeah. It was my idea."
He turned toward Minji with exaggerated innocence.
"In fact, you should come with us. Bring your friends, too. The more, the merrier."
Minjo nodded enthusiastically.
"I was the one who suggested making the plan, but do you know how hard Taehun worked to convince everyone that he'd pay the entire bill himself?"
Taehun's smile froze.
Minjo's expression slowly changed as he realised what he'd said.
His mouth fell open.
The room exploded with laughter.
"You traitor!" Taehun exclaimed.
Minji pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Would you two stop having these ridiculous conversations for once?"
She looked around at the others.
"No one is going anywhere."
Then she turned toward Jeon J.
"If all of you leave for dinner, how is Zoya supposed to join us? She'll be finishing work soon. And if I suddenly call her and ask her to come, she won't break Taehun's bones this time."
She paused.
"She'll break mine."
Taehun looked personally offended.
"Why am I always the example?"
Minji winked.
"Because you're available."
Another wave of laughter filled the room.
But Jeon J.'s expression had grown serious.
"I think we should leave."
Minji's smile disappeared.
"Jeon J."
He looked at her.
"You can call Zoya," he said, his voice calm. "If she's free, she'll come. If she isn't, then what's the problem?"
Minji held his gaze.
"Why do you keep avoiding her?"
Jeon J. frowned slightly.
"Why would I waste my time avoiding someone?"
The answer came from every member at once.
"Exactly!"
"Why would you waste your time?"
Jeon J. stared at them.
For a moment, he looked as though he were considering whether it was possible to replace all six of his friends.
Then he rolled his eyes and walked out.
The room fell quiet for half a second.
Minji watched the door before letting out a disappointed sigh.
"What happened to him? Today was supposed to be a celebration. We were going to celebrate Zoya finally getting the job she wanted."
Taehun casually stepped beside her.
"Look, you're pretty."
Minji turned toward him slowly.
"I'm handsome," he continued, pointing to himself. "You're a good girl. I'm a good boy."
He gave her a bright smile.
"So, think about it."
The remaining members immediately started moving toward the exit.
Everyone knew what was coming.
Minji's expression changed.
Taehun took one look at her face and stepped backward.
"…Uh-oh."
Then he turned and ran.
"TAEHUN!"
Minji chased after him.
By the time she reached the parking area, Taehun had already jumped into a van and locked the doors.
He lowered the window just enough to shout.
"I seriously don't understand you!"
"You won't leave that weird guy alone, and now you're saying you won't leave me alone either!"
He threw his hands up.
"What do you actually want from me?"
"TAEHUN!"
Her voice echoed through the parking area.
The other members burst into laughter.
Jeon J. approached Minji, gently took her by the arm, and guided her away from the van.
"Leave him. He's never going to change."
Then he looked at her.
"So, are you coming?"
Minji turned toward him.
"You said you'd come tonight."
Jeon J. met her eyes.
"Minji, I never promised."
She shook her head.
"You don't need to promise. You always keep your word."
"It's just dinner," he replied with a quiet sigh.
"It is just dinner."
She nodded.
"But you're acting strangely."
He gave her a helpless smile.
"Don't start speaking Taehun's language."
"I'm not," she replied. "I'm telling you what I've observed."
"You're overthinking."
Minji's expression softened, but the disappointment in her eyes remained.
"No. For the first time, I think I'm seeing things exactly as they are."
"Minji…"
"Listen to me."
She interrupted him before he could continue.
"Today, you could have introduced me."
Her voice was quiet now.
"But your answer was nowhere near what any of us expected."
Jeon J. remained still.
"It was just a banner."
"No," she replied. "It was an opportunity."
The words settled between them.
For a moment, Jeon J. looked at her without speaking. Then, in the same composed tone he used when discussing ordinary matters, he offered a solution.
"Fine. If that's the only thing bothering you, I can start a live broadcast right now and introduce you."
He meant it.
There was no sarcasm in his voice, no attempt to mock her feelings. To him, it was a practical solution to a problem he didn't entirely understand.
Minji shook her head immediately.
"No. That's not what I meant."
She looked away.
"It's not about introducing me in front of everyone."
Jeon J. glanced toward the parking area, where the others were already waiting beside their vehicles.
"They're waiting for us."
His voice softened.
"Let's not keep everyone waiting."
Minji followed his gaze and sighed.
"Fine."
Jeon J. remained where he was, watching as she walked toward the parked vehicles.
For a moment, he looked as though he wanted to say something more.
But he didn't.
He simply watched until she disappeared beside the others.
"I think this has gone a little too far."
The familiar voice came from behind him.
Jeon J. turned.
Jinhun stood a short distance away, both hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie.
For the first time that evening, a flicker of surprise crossed Jeon J.'s face.
He hadn't expected Jinhun to confront him so directly.
Jinhun smiled faintly.
"What? Did you really think we'd believe you suddenly planned a dinner for all seven of us?"
Jeon J. said nothing.
"We've known you for years," Jinhun continued. "We know what you usually do after the final concert of a tour. You disappear into the hotel and sleep."
He folded his arms.
"So don't expect us to believe this was a random dinner."
Jeon J. looked away.
His silence was answer enough.
Jinhun let out a quiet chuckle.
"Alright, then."
He glanced at his phone before looking back at his friend.
"Are we leaving now…"
He paused deliberately.
"…or are we waiting until Zoya's shift ends?"
Jeon J. slowly turned his head.
His expression remained unreadable, but the look in his eyes said enough.
He stared at Jinhun without answering.
Jinhun laughed under his breath.
"Don't glare at me. I'm not the one you should be preparing answers for."
His gaze shifted toward the parking area where Minji had disappeared moments earlier.
"Save those answers for Minji. She's already asked you more than enough questions tonight."
He paused, his expression turning more serious.
"And judging by the look on her face, this conversation isn't over."
Silence settled between them.
For once, Jeon J. had nothing to say.
He looked toward the parking area one last time, then turned and walked toward his car.
The concert was over.
The laughter had faded.
And the night that was supposed to be a simple celebration was slowly becoming something neither of them could easily control.
To be continued…
Regards,
ZK💌