badder love

So Minkyu rolls with it, as naturally as breathing. Maybe it’s the soft, melancholic swell of the Ghibli soundtrack playing in the background that wraps around them like mist, adding just the right touch of dramatic flair. His hand reaches out, fingers curling gently around Haneul’s unoccupied one, voice thick with an exaggerated sniffle.

“This,” he declares, tone laced with mock gravity, “this is the bond that holds us together. No matter the distance, no matter the time ... there’s no way we’d ever let each other fade into memory.”

He shakes his head slowly, theatric and wistful, a sigh slipping past his lips. “But you know you can call me. Text me. Anytime. Night or day. For you,” his eyes lift to meet Haneul’s, sincere beneath the play, “I’ll always make room.” And while it’s all part of their little scene, that part is nothing but the truth.

Nodding, Haneul feels that underneath the lightheartedness of it all, Minkyu really means what he says about bonds and always having room for Haneul in his life. And it's the same for Haneul as well. No matter how busy he gets, he'd drop it all for Minkyu as fast as he can.

"I'm afraid you're stuck with me, Minkyu." Haneul chuckles as he catches Minkyu's weight, letting them both fall onto the couch. This is something Haneul only does with people he knows he can trust."

As I said on Soyoun's and Jinseo's accounts, now that I'm off hiatus, I think it's time to post this. As always, feel free to claim what you like and we can also plot if nothing catches your attention. My Twitter and Discord are available upon request.

@MZSD.JPG just posted a photo!

[#EDEN] There's a gift waiting for the first paying customer to give my mom the right password at her salon back home in Iksan. HINT: 🌍 🍃 🔥

as he approached haneul while he was speaking, minjun was still smiling. he didn’t have many good memories about his time at college, besides his swimming competitions, and most definitely preparing for exams wasn’t one of them. “oh man, i see. i used to hate those moments, but i guess i was lucky exams didn’t clash with debut, i quit before that”

Chuckling, Haneul shakes his head. "I'm in my final year now," he says. "My parents would have my head if I quit now. Not when the finish line is within reach." Haneul has already submitted his thesis proposal and is just waiting for his adviser's approval. He's thankfully managed to get the practical courses done by the time this term ends. Most of his classes for the fall term will be theory and can be attended online.

How long had it been since they last sat like this: tucked away from the noise of the world, a Ghibli movie casting soft light across the room and an overflowing table of popcorn, chocolates, and chips scattered in beautiful, chaotic abundance? It feels like a lifetime and yet also like no time at all, slipping back into this easy comfort with Haneul beside him.

More than once, Minkyu catches himself stealing glances at @lgchxneul, a small knot in his chest loosening each time he confirms he's really there. Because for all his playful bravado, all his public smiles and jokes, the truth is:

Minkyu doesn’t have many he calls real friends. Not the kind who stick around when the cameras turn off. The ones he does have, though? He holds onto them fiercely, cherishes them in a way words could never quite touch.

“I can’t believe you’ve forgotten about me now that you’re super famous.” Minkyu declares with all the dramatic flair he can muster, pressing a hand to his chest like a tragic hero mid-monologue. The other hand, however, betrays the seriousness of the act, stuffing a handful of sweet butter popcorn into his mouth without pause.

After all, this is all about cherishing what he has while he still has them in his life.

This is how he finds himself at Minkyu's place, making himself comfortable on the couch, prefering to stick to some plain popcorn and water. After all, it's back to work again tomorrow, and Haneul can't look less than perfect.

"Excuse me?" Haneul clutches his chest, matching Minkyu's theatrics, emotion by emotion. His acting isn't as good as Minkyu's, but he likes to think he can catch up. "I'm not the award-winning actor in the room. You're the one who's too famous to hang out with commoners like me now!"

New boy group MZSD makes a powerful and bold entrance with “Earth, Wind & Fire” and “ME=”

The much-anticipated 8-member boy group MZSD, from the newly established label USGEN, has officially made its debut with the release of its dual-title singles, “Earth, Wind & Fire” and “ME=.” Comprised of members BK, NOEUL, MK, SAEM, WENJUN, JAZZ, EDEN, and YICHEN, it is projected to be one of the leaders of 5th-generation boy groups through its bold performances, relatable music, and unity.

Formed under the creative guidance of DBSD’s CHOI DAEHYUN, founder of USGEN, MZSD is a project rooted in intention, individuality, and identity. DBSD and MZSD members were involved in both songs’ music and performance production.

Their name, MZSD, symbolizes a split yet connected generational narrative: the “Z” side, full of boundless energy and youthful defiance, and the “M” side, a reflection of the slow but sure path toward adulthood. With each comeback, they aim to tell a different chapter of this coming-of-age story through music. The Z-side title, “Earth, Wind & Fire,” captures the unfiltered, raw, confusing, and somehow chaotic throws of youth’s first loves. Meanwhile, “Me=” represents their M-side: a more introspective, emotionally rich, and confident expression of one’s feelings.

Before its debut, MZSD was introduced through the year-long YouTube series “NEWKIDS NEWDREAMS,” which premiered on May 1, 2024. The series documented the team’s formation, the training process, and the dreams the team carried into the practice room each day. Over the past year, they also released seven pre-debut tracks, offering fans a first look at their artistry and raw potential.

Now, with their official debut underway, they are ready to be the soundtrack of a generation growing up in real time.

[ + / - ] FINALLY! mzsd has finally debuted and i’m so hyped to hear their songs!! i watched their series and i’m so attached to these boys that i’m so excited to see them grow and dominate everything! fighting, mzsd!! [ + / - ] another group is debuting?? isn’t there anything worthwhile to talk about besides that because this happens so often in this industry lmao

#USGEN #DBSD #MZSD

it was past ten that night, and minjun was trying to catch his breath. he wasn’t too far from the legacy building, but that particular night, his stamina was so bad that he didn’t think he could complete his running schedule for the night. yet he forced himself to complete the last kilometers, only stopping when the convenience store nearby came into sight.

The place brought back memories, both good and bad, and when he decided to stop by to get an energy drink, he saw a familiar face outside. He hardly had any contact with @lgchxneul, but he used to see the former trainee always working hard, especially when it came to dancing. 

As he waits for the boys to reply, a familiar face greets him. "Minjun sunbaenim," Haneul greets him with a bow. Although Haneul joined the company first, Minjun debuted first. It's a weird hierarchy, but whatever.

“i do wish we had more time with the chocolatier too,” minki sighs, agreeing with the other boy. “it feels like i’m stepping into a lion’s den with no guidance,” he whispers under his breath, hoping his lack of confidence can only be heard by haneul and no one else. “what did you end up picking, by the way?” minki questions, curious to see what someone else would choose. “i felt like my pick is kind of boring, to he honest. i was just playing it safe.”

Haneul and the chocolatier had gone back and forth, trying to figure out how to make something edible while still satisfying Haneul's desire to come up with something far from basic. "I ended up with a milk tea-flavored chocolate, based on my stories of getting milk tea as a college student and inspired by a Taiwan trip where I first tried it. I might have also asked to incorporate the brown sugar tapioca pearls if they could... and make look like a sky just for fun. I'm not sure how much of my wishes came true."