stone heart, wings of gold

he glances up at the sky, violet and gold swirling together above you. he wishes he could capture the sight in front of him, show it to you as he sees it, so you could see how the skies matched your smile. bright and beautiful.

"sungho!"

he shivers, the sound of your voice sending chills down his spine. the field is vast, scattered flowers popping up from the ground in small bunches, and you're far - a tiny hand waving to him with a huge smile on your face. he smiles back, stepping forward into the grass and making his way towards you.

as he approaches you, you kneel on the ground, disappearing into the grass. it almost feels comical, watching you pop up a few moments later with a small red flower in your fingers. he comes to a stop just in front of you, and you reach for his hand. "look", you whisper, tugging him closer and tucking the flower into the front pocket of his dress shirt. "doesn't it match your shirt?"

sungho looks down at the small red flower and his dark crimson shirt. "it's the exact same shade."

you smile, and sungho leans forward to kiss your cheek. "you like it?"

"like it? i love it, sungie. how did you even manage to find this place? it's huge. there's no one out here." you look past him at the wide expanse of green dotted with colorful bunches of flowers, the swaying grasses mirrored in your crystal eyes. 

smiling, he turns you around and slips his arms around your waist, resting his chin on your shoulder. "entirely by chance, to be honest. but when i saw this… i knew you’d love it," he whispers into your ear. you shiver against him, and something flutters deep in his chest.

"well, you guessed right. is this even seoul anymore?"

"no, it's not."

you hum, resting your hands on his. "no wonder."

you stand in silence for a moment, swaying in time with the grass and the wind and the clouds. the skies have turned purple, he thinks. just the lightest shade of lilac.

"y/n?"

you lean back, glancing over at him. "yeah?"

he fiddles with the jeweled band on your left ring finger, tilting his head ever so slightly to rest on yours. "i love you."

you laugh softly, turning around in his hold to hug him properly. "why so suddenly?"

sungho shrugs, looking up at the purple sky and the pink clouds. only a sliver of the sun remains, and faint stars have begun to pop out in the darkening sky. "just because."

you exhale, hugging him tighter. "they look like flowers."

"what does?"

"everything. lilac skies, cherry blossom clouds, sunflower stars."

sungho pulls back, a smile tugging at his cheeks. "of course you see flowers everywhere, silly."

you laugh, resting your forehead against his. the world is silent for a moment, one single moment that feels like a lifetime.

no matter. he'd spend all his lifetimes in this world with you if he could.

"sungho?"

he hums, looking into your eyes. "yeah?"

"i love you too."

٠ ࣪⭑ © starriniqhts 2025, all rights reserved.

you sigh, picking at the food in front of you. not that the boy across from you notices. he’s too absorbed in his phone, scrolling with a small smile on his face.

what is so interesting?, you wonder. what is so interesting that it takes precendence over talking to me for just a bit?

“y/n”, he laughs a bit, looking up at you with a small smile. and despite all your inner turmoil, you can’t help but smile back at the sight of the boy you’ve been crushing on for years looking so happy.

but not because of you.

“hm?”

“onedoor are so funny. look,” he shows you his phone screen. on it is a meme of him, edited to look like a pepper.

you nod, exhaling slightly. “mm. very funny.”

he chuckles to himself and settles back into his chair, no doubt typing out a reply. he’s been like this the whole day. first at the movies, now at this restaurant. always ignoring you.

when did this happen?

so many years ago, he had looked at you like you hung the stars in the sky. when you had told him he should go for his dream of becoming an idol, he’d thanked you for believing in him.

where had that gotten you now?

“today was nice,” riwoo hums as the two of you approach your home. the neighborhood that riwoo grew up in as well. you remember running back from school with him, laughing as you raced down the street, shouts of who would get a sweet treat first echoing in your mind.

“yeah,” you say, but your chest feels hollow.

riwoo stops in front of your walkway, and you stop too. he stares at your face for a moment, dark eyes studying your features, before his gaze dips down to your lips. he steps closer, hands coming up to cup your cheeks, leaning in, coming closer and closer and closer-

“riwoo!” you snap, pushing him away, stumbling back. your chest is heaving, your heartbeat is pounding in your ears, and you’re sure you’re wearing a matching look of bewilderment as the one on riwoo’s face.

“what- y/n?” he sputters, eyes wide.

“was that- were you trying to kiss me!?”

“no- yes- i just- at the end of the first date, don’t people usually,-”

“god,” you groan, pinching the bridge of your nose. “this isn’t a stupid movie, riwoo.”

“i’m trying to make this a good date for you!”

“you’re trying?” you scoff. “listen. when i confessed to you, did you accept my feelings just so you wouldn’t hurt my feelings?”

he’s silent. and that’s all the confirmation that you need.

“you’ve changed, riwoo. if you don’t like me,” you begin, crossing your arms over your chest, “you could have at least been honest with me.”

riwoo shakes his head, eyes wide. “no, y/n, that’s not true. i do like you!”

“then why didn’t you treat me like you do?”

“i…”

“and i thought… oh, forget it,” you sigh. “we’re done.”

“what?”

“we’re done.”

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ want to check out the planetarium's other exhibits?

You sat across from him in a sweater one of your new girl friends had helped you pick, sleeves properly ending at your wrists now. It was one of those details he still noticed too much. Clothes that fit you. Shoes you chose yourself. Hair tucked back because you liked the feeling of your neck being free.

You were becoming someone who belonged to yourself.

He should’ve been happy about that.

Instead, he kept staring at the menu like the words were going to rearrange themselves into something easier.

“Dongmin.”

He looked up.

You were watching him carefully, head tilted slightly. “You are quiet.”

He huffed a small laugh. “I’m always quiet.”

“Not like this.”

Of course you’d know. You always knew the difference now.

“I’m just thinking.”

“Bad thinking?”

His throat tightened. “Not bad.”

You waited.

He wished you still needed him to explain everything. It was cruel—maybe, to think that, but there had been a time when your confusion gave him more room to delay. Back then, he could say “later” and you would accept it because later was still a shape you were learning.

Now, you knew when something was being hidden.

Now, you know the difference between silence and avoidance.

The food arrived before he could answer properly. Steam rose between you both, briefly hiding your face. You smiled faintly at your plate, pleased by the warmth of it, and for one terrible second Taesan thought he might not say anything at all.

Maybe he could just let this be dinner. Maybe he could let you enjoy it. Maybe he could let himself pretend.

You picked up your fork, then paused.

“Are we celebrating?” you asked.

He froze.

“What?”

“You said dinner is for something,” you said. “Sometimes for hungry. Sometimes for sorry. Sometimes for happy.”

Taesan stared at you and his chest hurt.

“You remember that?”

You nodded. “This feels like something.”

He looked down at his hands.

It was so unfair, how much you had learned.

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “It’s something.”

The sounds of the restaurant continued around you. Plates being set down. People laughing. A chair scraping somewhere behind him. Life moving like nothing was ending.

“I talked to Stella,” he began.

You brightened a little at her name. Riwoo’s cousin, who liked the same shoes you liked. Someone you got to know last week. “Stella.”

“Yeah. Stella.” He swallowed. “She’s going to Star Uni too.”

“I know.”

“And Riwoo said her apartment has another room. It’s close to campus, and she already said she’d help with forms and schedules and everything.” He spoke carefully, slowly, like if he arranged the words neatly enough, they wouldn’t cut. “So when school starts, you can stay with her.”

You looked at him. Your fork lowered slightly.

“With Stella?”

He nodded once, you blinked twice.

“But I live with you.”

There it was.

Taesan’s fingers tightened around his glass.

“I know.”

You stared at him for another second, waiting for the rest of the sentence. Waiting for the part where he explained that it was only temporary, or convenient, or because Stella was closer.

He couldn’t give you that.

“Why,” you asked slowly, “will I not live with you?”

The silence after that felt too large for the table.

He opened his mouth.

Closed it.

You watched every movement of his face, and he hated that he had taught you how to read him so well.

“Dongmin?”

He exhaled shakily.

“I got accepted by BND university.”

Your eyes changed.

Not understanding yet, but sensing the shape of it.

“To the university I told you about,” he said. “The one abroad.”

You were very still.

“The dream one?” you asked.

He nodded.

For a moment, your face softened. You understood dreams. He had explained them to you once as wanting something for a long time, even when it was far away.

“That is good,” you said quietly.

His eyes stung.

“Yeah.”

“Then why…” You looked down at the table, brows drawing together. “Why do you look…sad?”

Taesan laughed once, but it barely held together.

“Because if I go, I’ll be gone for four years.”

You blinked, and he watched the number reach you slowly.

Not as a number first. As distance.

As mornings without him in the kitchen. As lights you would turn off alone. As someone else waiting by the door. As someone else saying your name when you came home.

“Four years,” you repeated.

He nodded.

“You will come back after dinner?”

“No.”

“After summer?”

His jaw tightened.

“No.”

Your lips parted slightly.

“When?”

The question was so small.

He wished he could lie. He wished he hadn’t taught you what lies were, because now both of you knew exactly what it would mean if he used one.

“Not for a few years,” he said.

Your face crumpled before you could stop it.

Taesan saw you try to hold it. Saw the effort move across your expression like a hand pressing down on water. You looked away quickly, blinking too fast.

“Hey,” he said softly.

You shook your head once. Not at him—at yourself.

“I know,” you whispered. “I know dream is good.”

That broke his heart.

“I’m sorry.”

You wiped under your eye with the back of your hand, almost angry with the tear for existing.

“I know Stella,” you said, voice uneven. “Stella is nice.”

“She is.”

“And Star Uni is close.”

“Yeah.”

“And I can do forms.”

“I know you can.”

“And I can turn off lights.”

His throat closed. You looked up at him then, eyes wet and shining under the restaurant light.

“I can do many human things now.”

Taesan couldn’t speak.

Because that was almost the worst part.

You could.

You could live without him now. You had learned enough to survive the world he had pulled you into. You could eat without copying him, speak without borrowing his words, choose clothes that fit, lock doors, answer questions, keep secrets, lie when you needed protection.

You could do all of it.

And he still wanted you to need him.

He hated himself for that.

“I know,” he said, voice cracking. “I know you can.”

You nodded like you were trying to convince yourself too.

The food between you had gone mostly untouched. Taesan looked down at it, ashamed suddenly of the restaurant, the warm lights, the pretty table—like he had wrapped heartbreak in something gentle and expected it to hurt less.

“I didn’t tell you sooner because I was scared,” he admitted.

You sniffed quietly. “Of me?”

“No.” He shook his head immediately. “No, never of you.”

“Then?”

He stared at you.

“Of leaving.”

You went very still again.

He pressed his thumb against the side of his glass, grounding himself. “I wanted it for so long. Before you. Before everything. And then you came here, and suddenly leaving felt…” He swallowed hard. “Wrong.?”

Your voice was barely audible. “Then don’t go.”

The words landed between you.

Neither of you moved.

Taesan’s vision blurred.

You seemed to realize what you’d said only after it existed. Your face shifted—guilt, panic, love, all things you had learned too well.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered quickly. “That was selfish.”

“No.” His voice came out rough. “No, it wasn’t.”

“It was,” you said, wiping your cheek again. “Dream is important. You said.”

“It is.”

“And I want you to have it.”

He looked at you, and for the first time that night, a tear slipped down his face too.

You saw it instantly. Your expression changed, softened through the hurt.

“Dongmin,” you said.

He looked away, but it was too late.

“I’m sorry,” he said again.

You reached across the table, hesitant at first, then placed your hand over his. Your fingers were warm.

“You are allowed,” you said.

He stared at your hand.

“To go?”

You nodded, though your mouth trembled. He turned his hand over and held yours properly. For a moment, that was all either of you could do.

Hold on.

The walk out of the restaurant was quiet. He paid. You thanked the staff because you remembered that was what people did. He nearly cried again at that.

Outside, the night air was cold enough to turn your breath visible. You stood beside him under the small awning, both of you not quite ready to move toward home.

Home.

The word felt cruel now. You hugged yourself, sleeves pulled over your hands.

Taesan looked at you.

“I’ll call,” he said, uselessly. “And text. All the time.”

You nodded.

“I know.”

“And I’ll come back when I can.”

You nodded again.

“I know.”

But knowing had never made anything hurt less. A tear slipped down your cheek again, quieter this time.

Taesan couldn’t take it. He stepped closer.

“Can I hug you?”

You looked up at him.

For a second, you just stared, like the question itself hurt.

Then you nodded.

He pulled you into his arms carefully, like if he held too tightly, he might make a promise he couldn’t keep.

You folded into him immediately with no hesitation.

Your face pressed into his coat, hands curling weakly at his sides. He felt your breath shudder against him and closed his eyes.

“I don’t want to go,” he whispered.

Your fingers tightened.

“But you will,” you said.

He nodded against the top of your head.

“Yeah.”

You were quiet for a long time. Then, muffled against him, you said, “I will miss you before you leave.”

Taesan’s breath caught and held you a little tighter.

“I’ll miss you too.”

The city moved around you. Cars passed. Someone laughed down the street. The restaurant door opened behind you, spilling warmth for a second before closing again. Neither of you let go.

Not yet. Not while he was still here.

Not while you could still pretend that four years was only a number, and not the shape of everything changing.

wanna see more blog posts? prev | masterlist | next

a/n: taesan’s blog is ending soonnnnn

TAGLIST: @ja4hyvn @flwoie @sulkygyu @xiaoderrrr @ineedaherosavemeenow @teddywonss @taerae-verse @bbangbies @voucearse @ruuroom @wensurr @tofu-kmi @leehanaholic @delirioastral @todorokiskitten @cherryblossomlovesblog @pluslandminun @ivehan @coerbnz @gorgeoustimetravler @angelyseo @hollyoongs @starriniqhts @riuscheri @letwiiparkjay @lookingforsnacks @started-with-f-ends-with-uck @waldorfiles @yesongi @fayepz @orbitsofyours @wonuziex @wiihan @wnouzi @daramgyu @lovesckaiwenn @w3willris3 @ziziforsan @woonhakfeet @txtsoobean @hollxe1 @kyunari @kazuxiao @beomtomie @elysianssoul @ru-lin @yumimeimi @corydorrys @skepvids

You sat across from him in a sweater one of your new girl friends had helped you pick, sleeves properly ending at your wrists now. It was one of those details he still noticed too much. Clothes that fit you. Shoes you chose yourself. Hair tucked back because you liked the feeling of your neck being free.

You were becoming someone who belonged to yourself.

He should’ve been happy about that.

Instead, he kept staring at the menu like the words were going to rearrange themselves into something easier.

“Dongmin.”

He looked up.

You were watching him carefully, head tilted slightly. “You are quiet.”

He huffed a small laugh. “I’m always quiet.”

“Not like this.”

Of course you’d know. You always knew the difference now.

“I’m just thinking.”

“Bad thinking?”

His throat tightened. “Not bad.”

You waited.

He wished you still needed him to explain everything. It was cruel—maybe, to think that, but there had been a time when your confusion gave him more room to delay. Back then, he could say “later” and you would accept it because later was still a shape you were learning.

Now, you knew when something was being hidden.

Now, you know the difference between silence and avoidance.

The food arrived before he could answer properly. Steam rose between you both, briefly hiding your face. You smiled faintly at your plate, pleased by the warmth of it, and for one terrible second Taesan thought he might not say anything at all.

Maybe he could just let this be dinner. Maybe he could let you enjoy it. Maybe he could let himself pretend.

You picked up your fork, then paused.

“Are we celebrating?” you asked.

He froze.

“What?”

“You said dinner is for something,” you said. “Sometimes for hungry. Sometimes for sorry. Sometimes for happy.”

Taesan stared at you and his chest hurt.

“You remember that?”

You nodded. “This feels like something.”

He looked down at his hands.

It was so unfair, how much you had learned.

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “It’s something.”

The sounds of the restaurant continued around you. Plates being set down. People laughing. A chair scraping somewhere behind him. Life moving like nothing was ending.

“I talked to Stella,” he began.

You brightened a little at her name. Riwoo’s cousin, who liked the same shoes you liked. Someone you got to know last week. “Stella.”

“Yeah. Stella.” He swallowed. “She’s going to Star Uni too.”

“I know.”

“And Riwoo said her apartment has another room. It’s close to campus, and she already said she’d help with forms and schedules and everything.” He spoke carefully, slowly, like if he arranged the words neatly enough, they wouldn’t cut. “So when school starts, you can stay with her.”

You looked at him. Your fork lowered slightly.

“With Stella?”

He nodded once, you blinked twice.

“But I live with you.”

There it was.

Taesan’s fingers tightened around his glass.

“I know.”

You stared at him for another second, waiting for the rest of the sentence. Waiting for the part where he explained that it was only temporary, or convenient, or because Stella was closer.

He couldn’t give you that.

“Why,” you asked slowly, “will I not live with you?”

The silence after that felt too large for the table.

He opened his mouth.

Closed it.

You watched every movement of his face, and he hated that he had taught you how to read him so well.

“Dongmin?”

He exhaled shakily.

“I got accepted by BND university.”

Your eyes changed.

Not understanding yet, but sensing the shape of it.

“To the university I told you about,” he said. “The one abroad.”

You were very still.

“The dream one?” you asked.

He nodded.

For a moment, your face softened. You understood dreams. He had explained them to you once as wanting something for a long time, even when it was far away.

“That is good,” you said quietly.

His eyes stung.

“Yeah.”

“Then why…” You looked down at the table, brows drawing together. “Why do you look…sad?”

Taesan laughed once, but it barely held together.

“Because if I go, I’ll be gone for four years.”

You blinked, and he watched the number reach you slowly.

Not as a number first. As distance.

As mornings without him in the kitchen. As lights you would turn off alone. As someone else waiting by the door. As someone else saying your name when you came home.

“Four years,” you repeated.

He nodded.

“You will come back after dinner?”

“No.”

“After summer?”

His jaw tightened.

“No.”

Your lips parted slightly.

“When?”

The question was so small.

He wished he could lie. He wished he hadn’t taught you what lies were, because now both of you knew exactly what it would mean if he used one.

“Not for a few years,” he said.

Your face crumpled before you could stop it.

Taesan saw you try to hold it. Saw the effort move across your expression like a hand pressing down on water. You looked away quickly, blinking too fast.

“Hey,” he said softly.

You shook your head once. Not at him—at yourself.

“I know,” you whispered. “I know dream is good.”

That broke his heart.

“I’m sorry.”

You wiped under your eye with the back of your hand, almost angry with the tear for existing.

“I know Stella,” you said, voice uneven. “Stella is nice.”

“She is.”

“And Star Uni is close.”

“Yeah.”

“And I can do forms.”

“I know you can.”

“And I can turn off lights.”

His throat closed. You looked up at him then, eyes wet and shining under the restaurant light.

“I can do many human things now.”

Taesan couldn’t speak.

Because that was almost the worst part.

You could.

You could live without him now. You had learned enough to survive the world he had pulled you into. You could eat without copying him, speak without borrowing his words, choose clothes that fit, lock doors, answer questions, keep secrets, lie when you needed protection.

You could do all of it.

And he still wanted you to need him.

He hated himself for that.

“I know,” he said, voice cracking. “I know you can.”

You nodded like you were trying to convince yourself too.

The food between you had gone mostly untouched. Taesan looked down at it, ashamed suddenly of the restaurant, the warm lights, the pretty table—like he had wrapped heartbreak in something gentle and expected it to hurt less.

“I didn’t tell you sooner because I was scared,” he admitted.

You sniffed quietly. “Of me?”

“No.” He shook his head immediately. “No, never of you.”

“Then?”

He stared at you.

“Of leaving.”

You went very still again.

He pressed his thumb against the side of his glass, grounding himself. “I wanted it for so long. Before you. Before everything. And then you came here, and suddenly leaving felt…” He swallowed hard. “Wrong.?”

Your voice was barely audible. “Then don’t go.”

The words landed between you.

Neither of you moved.

Taesan’s vision blurred.

You seemed to realize what you’d said only after it existed. Your face shifted—guilt, panic, love, all things you had learned too well.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered quickly. “That was selfish.”

“No.” His voice came out rough. “No, it wasn’t.”

“It was,” you said, wiping your cheek again. “Dream is important. You said.”

“It is.”

“And I want you to have it.”

He looked at you, and for the first time that night, a tear slipped down his face too.

You saw it instantly. Your expression changed, softened through the hurt.

“Dongmin,” you said.

He looked away, but it was too late.

“I’m sorry,” he said again.

You reached across the table, hesitant at first, then placed your hand over his. Your fingers were warm.

“You are allowed,” you said.

He stared at your hand.

“To go?”

You nodded, though your mouth trembled. He turned his hand over and held yours properly. For a moment, that was all either of you could do.

Hold on.

The walk out of the restaurant was quiet. He paid. You thanked the staff because you remembered that was what people did. He nearly cried again at that.

Outside, the night air was cold enough to turn your breath visible. You stood beside him under the small awning, both of you not quite ready to move toward home.

Home.

The word felt cruel now. You hugged yourself, sleeves pulled over your hands.

Taesan looked at you.

“I’ll call,” he said, uselessly. “And text. All the time.”

You nodded.

“I know.”

“And I’ll come back when I can.”

You nodded again.

“I know.”

But knowing had never made anything hurt less. A tear slipped down your cheek again, quieter this time.

Taesan couldn’t take it. He stepped closer.

“Can I hug you?”

You looked up at him.

For a second, you just stared, like the question itself hurt.

Then you nodded.

He pulled you into his arms carefully, like if he held too tightly, he might make a promise he couldn’t keep.

You folded into him immediately with no hesitation.

Your face pressed into his coat, hands curling weakly at his sides. He felt your breath shudder against him and closed his eyes.

“I don’t want to go,” he whispered.

Your fingers tightened.

“But you will,” you said.

He nodded against the top of your head.

“Yeah.”

You were quiet for a long time. Then, muffled against him, you said, “I will miss you before you leave.”

Taesan’s breath caught and held you a little tighter.

“I’ll miss you too.”

The city moved around you. Cars passed. Someone laughed down the street. The restaurant door opened behind you, spilling warmth for a second before closing again. Neither of you let go.

Not yet. Not while he was still here.

Not while you could still pretend that four years was only a number, and not the shape of everything changing.

wanna see more blog posts? prev | masterlist | next

a/n: taesan’s blog is ending soonnnnn

TAGLIST: @ja4hyvn @flwoie @sulkygyu @xiaoderrrr @ineedaherosavemeenow @teddywonss @taerae-verse @bbangbies @voucearse @ruuroom @wensurr @tofu-kmi @leehanaholic @delirioastral @todorokiskitten @cherryblossomlovesblog @pluslandminun @ivehan @coerbnz @gorgeoustimetravler @angelyseo @hollyoongs @starriniqhts @riuscheri @letwiiparkjay @lookingforsnacks @started-with-f-ends-with-uck @waldorfiles @yesongi @fayepz @orbitsofyours @wonuziex @wiihan @wnouzi @daramgyu @lovesckaiwenn @w3willris3 @ziziforsan @woonhakfeet @txtsoobean @hollxe1 @kyunari @kazuxiao @beomtomie @elysianssoul @ru-lin @yumimeimi @corydorrys @skepvids

even though it’s dark outside, the curtains on the windows are wide open. there’s remnants of an evening snack all over the kitchen countertops, a stray plate and crumbs on the dining table. the television has been left paused on some youtube video, the bright screen casting the room in a pale glow. he glances down - your shoes are lined up neatly next to his own feet. so you must be home.

“y/n?” he calls out, blinking in confusion when he hears no reply.

well. that’s strange.

he says your name again, stepping further into your shared home with slow, careful steps. when you reply, your bright voice carrying mutely from the bedroom, something in his chest loosens.

taesan’s feet pad softly across the floor as he makes his way over to where you are - yet when he turns into the bedroom’s doorway, the sight of you makes him pause. there you are, perched precariously on the edge of your bed, pressing your fingers to the ceiling. you must hear him leaning against the doorframe, because you turn to him with a smile. “you’re finally home!”

he nods, smiling back. “hi, darling.”

“hi,” you say, but your gaze is intense as you scan his face. he looks away after a moment, eyes settling on a few sheets scattered on your bedside table underneath soft lamplight.

“what have you been up to?”

you sit down on the bed, shaking your head. “nothing much. sit down,” you say, patting the space next to you. taesan obliges, letting out a small sigh when he settles on the soft mattress. you watch him, tilting your head slightly. “how was work?”

he’s silent for a moment. “tiring,” he says. “i… i wanted to work on songs today. but i just couldn’t.”

you hum softly, and taesan feels yet another knot unravel, deep in his chest where his soul must be. he hadn’t quite realized how tired he was until you’d asked. he reaches out to tuck a strand of your hair behind your ear, smiling when you look up at him with wide eyes.

“i just wanted to see you,” he says quietly, his fingers trailing down your arm before finding your hand. he intertwines his fingers with yours, and he watches as your features soften, your lips curving up and rounding your cheeks.

“i’m here,” you murmur as taesan pulls you towards him. his palm settles on your waist as both of your hands come up to cup his face. then he’s kissing you, or you’re kissing him. who knows? not him. all he knows is that you’re warm, you’re solid underneath his fingertips, you’re real and here and he gets to feel the softness of your lips against his. you pull away after a moment, your fingers sliding into his hair as you press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. but taesan chases after your lips, kissing you again, smiling against your skin when you giggle softly.

when he finally pulls away from you, it’s not to anywhere far. he lets go of your hand to place his palm on your back, pulling you down with him as he leans back. you let out a small yelp as you fall onto the mattress beside him, and taesan laughs, for the first time in what feels like a while.

that’s when he notices it.

a soft, green glow from the ceiling. glow-in-the-dark stars. he looks at you with a small smile. “when did you do that?”

you grin. “just today. i was putting up the last of them when you came in. do you like them?”

taesan looks up at the ceiling again. the stars are scattered in constellations across their new sky, and he thinks he can recognize a few. he turns back to you, to your bright eyes and wide smile. to you, who has quite literally hung the stars in the sky.

his sky.

“i love them,” he whispers, brushing your hair out of your face to see the reflection of the stars in your eyes. “thank you, darling.”

as you snuggle closer to him, taesan thinks he can barely remember why he was so tired. here, with you, under a ceiling full of stars, he’s perfectly content. he’s perfectly content to just lie here and do nothing with you.

٠ ࣪⭑ © starriniqhts 2026, all rights reserved.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ want to check out the planetarium's other exhibits?

even though it’s dark outside, the curtains on the windows are wide open. there’s remnants of an evening snack all over the kitchen countertops, a stray plate and crumbs on the dining table. the television has been left paused on some youtube video, the bright screen casting the room in a pale glow. he glances down - your shoes are lined up neatly next to his own feet. so you must be home.

“y/n?” he calls out, blinking in confusion when he hears no reply.

well. that’s strange.

he says your name again, stepping further into your shared home with slow, careful steps. when you reply, your bright voice carrying mutely from the bedroom, something in his chest loosens.

taesan’s feet pad softly across the floor as he makes his way over to where you are - yet when he turns into the bedroom’s doorway, the sight of you makes him pause. there you are, perched precariously on the edge of your bed, pressing your fingers to the ceiling. you must hear him leaning against the doorframe, because you turn to him with a smile. “you’re finally home!”

he nods, smiling back. “hi, darling.”

“hi,” you say, but your gaze is intense as you scan his face. he looks away after a moment, eyes settling on a few sheets scattered on your bedside table underneath soft lamplight.

“what have you been up to?”

you sit down on the bed, shaking your head. “nothing much. sit down,” you say, patting the space next to you. taesan obliges, letting out a small sigh when he settles on the soft mattress. you watch him, tilting your head slightly. “how was work?”

he’s silent for a moment. “tiring,” he says. “i… i wanted to work on songs today. but i just couldn’t.”

you hum softly, and taesan feels yet another knot unravel, deep in his chest where his soul must be. he hadn’t quite realized how tired he was until you’d asked. he reaches out to tuck a strand of your hair behind your ear, smiling when you look up at him with wide eyes.

“i just wanted to see you,” he says quietly, his fingers trailing down your arm before finding your hand. he intertwines his fingers with yours, and he watches as your features soften, your lips curving up and rounding your cheeks.

“i’m here,” you murmur as taesan pulls you towards him. his palm settles on your waist as both of your hands come up to cup his face. then he’s kissing you, or you’re kissing him. who knows? not him. all he knows is that you’re warm, you’re solid underneath his fingertips, you’re real and here and he gets to feel the softness of your lips against his. you pull away after a moment, your fingers sliding into his hair as you press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. but taesan chases after your lips, kissing you again, smiling against your skin when you giggle softly.

when he finally pulls away from you, it’s not to anywhere far. he lets go of your hand to place his palm on your back, pulling you down with him as he leans back. you let out a small yelp as you fall onto the mattress beside him, and taesan laughs, for the first time in what feels like a while.

that’s when he notices it.

a soft, green glow from the ceiling. glow-in-the-dark stars. he looks at you with a small smile. “when did you do that?”

you grin. “just today. i was putting up the last of them when you came in. do you like them?”

taesan looks up at the ceiling again. the stars are scattered in constellations across their new sky, and he thinks he can recognize a few. he turns back to you, to your bright eyes and wide smile. to you, who has quite literally hung the stars in the sky.

his sky.

“i love them,” he whispers, brushing your hair out of your face to see the reflection of the stars in your eyes. “thank you, darling.”

as you snuggle closer to him, taesan thinks he can barely remember why he was so tired. here, with you, under a ceiling full of stars, he’s perfectly content. he’s perfectly content to just lie here and do nothing with you.

٠ ࣪⭑ © starriniqhts 2026, all rights reserved.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ want to check out the planetarium's other exhibits?

even though it’s dark outside, the curtains on the windows are wide open. there’s remnants of an evening snack all over the kitchen countertops, a stray plate and crumbs on the dining table. the television has been left paused on some youtube video, the bright screen casting the room in a pale glow. he glances down - your shoes are lined up neatly next to his own feet. so you must be home.

“y/n?” he calls out, blinking in confusion when he hears no reply.

well. that’s strange.

he says your name again, stepping further into your shared home with slow, careful steps. when you reply, your bright voice carrying mutely from the bedroom, something in his chest loosens.

taesan’s feet pad softly across the floor as he makes his way over to where you are - yet when he turns into the bedroom’s doorway, the sight of you makes him pause. there you are, perched precariously on the edge of your bed, pressing your fingers to the ceiling. you must hear him leaning against the doorframe, because you turn to him with a smile. “you’re finally home!”

he nods, smiling back. “hi, darling.”

“hi,” you say, but your gaze is intense as you scan his face. he looks away after a moment, eyes settling on a few sheets scattered on your bedside table underneath soft lamplight.

“what have you been up to?”

you sit down on the bed, shaking your head. “nothing much. sit down,” you say, patting the space next to you. taesan obliges, letting out a small sigh when he settles on the soft mattress. you watch him, tilting your head slightly. “how was work?”

he’s silent for a moment. “tiring,” he says. “i… i wanted to work on songs today. but i just couldn’t.”

you hum softly, and taesan feels yet another knot unravel, deep in his chest where his soul must be. he hadn’t quite realized how tired he was until you’d asked. he reaches out to tuck a strand of your hair behind your ear, smiling when you look up at him with wide eyes.

“i just wanted to see you,” he says quietly, his fingers trailing down your arm before finding your hand. he intertwines his fingers with yours, and he watches as your features soften, your lips curving up and rounding your cheeks.

“i’m here,” you murmur as taesan pulls you towards him. his palm settles on your waist as both of your hands come up to cup his face. then he’s kissing you, or you’re kissing him. who knows? not him. all he knows is that you’re warm, you’re solid underneath his fingertips, you’re real and here and he gets to feel the softness of your lips against his. you pull away after a moment, your fingers sliding into his hair as you press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. but taesan chases after your lips, kissing you again, smiling against your skin when you giggle softly.

when he finally pulls away from you, it’s not to anywhere far. he lets go of your hand to place his palm on your back, pulling you down with him as he leans back. you let out a small yelp as you fall onto the mattress beside him, and taesan laughs, for the first time in what feels like a while.

that’s when he notices it.

a soft, green glow from the ceiling. glow-in-the-dark stars. he looks at you with a small smile. “when did you do that?”

you grin. “just today. i was putting up the last of them when you came in. do you like them?”

taesan looks up at the ceiling again. the stars are scattered in constellations across their new sky, and he thinks he can recognize a few. he turns back to you, to your bright eyes and wide smile. to you, who has quite literally hung the stars in the sky.

his sky.

“i love them,” he whispers, brushing your hair out of your face to see the reflection of the stars in your eyes. “thank you, darling.”

as you snuggle closer to him, taesan thinks he can barely remember why he was so tired. here, with you, under a ceiling full of stars, he’s perfectly content. he’s perfectly content to just lie here and do nothing with you.

٠ ࣪⭑ © starriniqhts 2026, all rights reserved.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ want to check out the planetarium's other exhibits?