#ahof steven

ꞝ 𖥻ahof 𔘓

Hbd Steven ‧₊˚ ⋅ ౨ৎ ‧₊ .ᐟ

I also have an insta now!

The Space Between

Synopsis:

Two hearts, a cat, one domestic life… and a single email that might break them. Can they hold on to what they have?

(Written for Hanki shippers, by a Hanki shipper. No refunds if you cry. DEFINITELY NOT A SMUT *wink* *wink*)

Dedicating this Hanki fic to my faves @purrhani & @meowoongki 💖 thank you for always being my inspiration for all the fluff, angst, and everything in between… and for matching my freak hahahaha 🥹

Chapter 1

Woongki’s POV

The smell of grilled beef was already curling through the apartment when I padded out of the bedroom in my socks.

I rubbed my eyes with the heel of my hand, hair a mess, Cookie trotting behind me like a tiny furry shadow.

Han was in the kitchen — grey sweatpants hanging low on his hips, white shirt clinging to his back — flipping slices of galbi on the grill pan. The morning sun was coming in through the blinds, striping him in gold and shadow. He didn’t see me at first, too focused on turning the meat with his tongs like it was some life-or-death mission.

“You’re seriously making galbi for breakfast?” I asked, voice still hoarse from sleep.

Han glanced over his shoulder, mouth twitching into the faintest smile. “Galbi and jajangmyeon ,” he corrected. “Your favorite.”

“That’s a dangerous combination for someone who’s supposed to fit into sample sizes,” I teased, sliding into one of the kitchen stools. Cookie immediately jumped up onto my lap, tail swishing like she owned me — which, honestly, she did.

Han didn’t bite at my joke, just reached over to stir the bubbling pot on the stove. The rich scent of the black bean paste sizzling in the pan, mixing with browned meat and sweet, soft onions filled the air. My stomach growled, loud enough for him to hear.

He turned, holding a piece of beef. “Taste.”

I leaned forward, mouth open, and he slipped the galbi in without breaking eye contact. Warm, tender, a little smoky — and maybe I made a noise that was way too close to obscene.

“Mm,” I managed, chewing slowly just to annoy him.

“You’re getting good at this, Hani-yah. I might keep you around.”

He rolled his eyes, but there was the smallest crinkle at the corner — his version of a full-blown grin. “Eat first. Tease later.”

While he cooked, I watched and helped around.

Han wasn’t the type to chatter in the mornings. He moved with this quiet, grounded focus, like the rest of the world didn’t exist. When he’s on stage with the band, he’s loud, straight-up hot as hell, magnetic, pulling the crowd into his orbit — felt miles away here in our kitchen.

I loved both versions. But this one… this was mine.

“You’ve been up for a while?” I asked, reaching over to steal another slice of galbi when he wasn’t looking.

“Since eight,” he said, glancing at me in that sharp way that meant don’t think I didn’t notice you stealing that.

“Band rehearsal’s at three. I thought we could have breakfast together before you… whatever you’re doing today.”

“Design work.” I waved vaguely. “Some sketches for the Spain project.”

The words slipped out before I could stop them. My chest tightened. I hadn’t told him the full story yet — that it wasn’t just a project. That it was a job offer. A year in Madrid.

Han didn’t react, just nodded, stirring the jajangmyeon like it was the only thing that mattered. I wondered if he knew more than he let on. With him, it was hard to tell.

We ate at the small table by the window, knees brushing under the wood. The jajangmyeon was perfectly chewy, the sauce was savory, glossy enough to make my lips shine. Han ate quietly. I slurped and made noises just to annoy him.

Halfway through, he reached over and wiped the corner of my mouth with his thumb, totally unbothered, like it was the most natural thing in the world. My ears went hot.

“Messy,” he murmured, and went back to eating.

Cookie sat between us on the table, her tail flicking dangerously close to the bowls. Han gently nudged her away every time she leaned forward to sniff the galbi, muttering, “Not for you,” like she understood.

It was so ordinary, so small, and yet…

I felt the moment sinking into me like an anchor.

Later, maybe even later today, I’d have to tell him.

But for now, I let the comforting noodles, the sizzle of beef, and the weight of his knee against mine keep me here — in this kitchen, on this morning, before anything could change.

Han’s POV

Woongki was never still. Even when he was sitting, he was moving — tapping his fingers on the table, swinging one leg, running his hands through his hair.

But this morning, between the bites of galbi and his deliberately obnoxious slurps, there were moments where he’d just… pause.

Like now. His chopsticks hovered in midair, eyes distant for a fraction too long before he caught me looking.

“What?” he asked, mouth curling in that way that dared me to say something sappy.

“Nothing,” I said, but I didn’t look away.

We cleaned up together, the familiar choreography we’d fallen into over the years. I rinsed; he dried. He sang under his breath something bright and catchy that I didn’t recognize — while I stacked the dishes in the rack.

I liked watching him when he thought I wasn’t paying attention. The way his hair fell into his eyes, the way his fingers flicked the towel over the rim of the bowl like it was a precision job. People always thought I was the intense one in this relationship, but Woongki was the one who could obsess over getting something just right.

“You’ve been sketching a lot lately,” I said casually, passing him another plate.

He froze for a second. “That’s… good, right?”

“Depends,” I said. “Sketching for who?”

His eyes flickered, the smallest thing, but I caught it. I always did.

We finished in silence, but not a heavy one. He tossed the towel onto the counter and leaned against it, arms folded. His blue button-down shirt was slipping off one shoulder, and I wondered if he did that on purpose. Probably.

“You’re staring,” he said, smirking.

“I always stare,” I replied, stepping closer until there was barely a hand’s width between us.

I unbuttoned his shirt, my fingers brushing lightly against the fabric, careful, almost reverent, until it fell open to reveal the soft white shirt beneath. God—how can someone so perfect be this precious? He looked at me with that small, unguarded smile, the kind he doesn’t give to anyone else.

It wasn’t planned. I didn’t think about it. My hand just moved — lifting his body to the kitchen counter, sliding to the back of his neck, thumb brushing his hairline. His smirk faltered, but his eyes softened in that way that killed me every time.

“Han—” he started, but I kissed him before he could finish.

It was slow, almost lazy at first — the kind of kiss you could sink into for hours. His lips were warm and soft, and when he tilted his head just right, I deepened it without meaning to.

Woongki made this small sound in the back of his throat, and it pulled something tight in my chest.

My other hand found his waist, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. He leaned into me, pressing close, and for a second, the world shrank down to the heat between us and the faint meow of Cookie somewhere near our feet.

When we finally broke apart, he was grinning — that bright, reckless grin that made me forget every bad thing in my life.

“Kitchen make-outs?” he teased, voice a little breathless. “Very domestic of you, Park Han.”

“Shut up,” I said, but I couldn’t hide my smile.

Even as we went about the rest of the morning, I kept catching him in the corner of my eye — distracted for half a second before covering it up.

Something was coming. I didn’t know what.

But I knew I’d fight it, whatever it was, if it meant keeping mornings like this.

(More cookie cameo)

Author’s Note: Yeah, this is technically Chapter 1. It’s short. I cry every time. Six hours of work went into this, mostly me staring at my laptop. This is my first fanfic pls give lots of love mwa.

Next chapter will be linked here:

(Chapter 2: https://www.tumblr.com/parkhanimnida/791979879880130560/the-space-between)

written by Wifieeyy, November 6, 2025

Hey, FOHAs! I finally finished doing my “homework” — trying to crack the code behind the meaning of AHOF’s latest track, Pinocchio.

I think we all know by now that AHOF’s new song uses the story of Pinocchio as a metaphor for:

Idols wanting to be seen as real humans, not perfect dolls

The fear of being judged, lying, or hiding emotions

The pains of growth — insecurity, longing for authenticity, and wanting to be loved for our true selves

The journey from artificial (puppet/wood) → honesty (growth) → alive (human)

You’ll see these concepts unfold as we go through the scenes in the MV. I’ll be very detailed in this blog and try my best to answer almost all the questions you might have after watching it. So yes, this video is quite long — I hope you’re seated comfortably and ready to dive deep into this story.

Oh... before we start, a quick disclaimer: this is my personal interpretation of the music video and the song. Feel free to disagree — art is meant to be interpreted in different ways, and that’s what makes it fun. It’s the conversations and emotions it opens up that make it special. So, please don’t come at me, okay? 😅

Also, I’m guessing the writers took inspiration from Carlo Collodi’s original Pinocchio (1883), not the Disney version. I watched a summary of the original book and realized it’s actually quite dark — if I had read it as a kid, I probably would’ve been traumatized.

Scene Analysis

In the first scene, we have Woongki, a white bow, an arrow, and the moon. At first, it was confusing for me — and a lot of fans were confused too — but if you connect it to the Pinocchio story, it makes sense.

In the original book, there’s a scene where Pinocchio wishes on the moon and talks to it when he feels lonely. I think the arrow represents Woongki’s wish. Instead of saying his wish out loud, he shoots it toward the moon.

Based on the main concept, his wish is to become real — the real version of himself.

As the arrow travels, it looks like a shooting star. In the original tale, the Talking Cricket tells Pinocchio that good wishes and actions “shine like stars,” confirming that Woongki made a good wish.

When the arrow (or shooting star) reaches the moon and explodes, it’s as if the illusion of the fake world is destroyed. That explosion represents the start of his transformation — his wish to become real is coming true.

Then JL begins the song:

“You know, I smile at you and greet you every day. But behind the curtain, I’m just a lonely doll.”

This line hits hard. Why start with something so heavy? TT__TT It’s the very first line, and it already makes its listeners emotional. It’s relatable not just for idols, but for anyone who hides pain behind a smile — even ordinary people who show a very cheerful side despite feeling down.

You can see JL standing on a circular platform or stage, which might symbolize a repetitive cycle or ongoing expectations. The hole in front of him, which he jumps into, could represent truth — the unknown consequences of breaking free.

By jumping, he chooses honesty over the “stage”.

Next, Juwon falls onto glass, which cracks — symbolizing a broken façade or shattered self-image. He raps:

“This trembling that won’t fade, the time that feels like a lie, it’s not just a growing pain, is it?”

He’s questioning whether his pain is real or just a part of growth — or maybe he’s been suppressing his emotions for so long that even real pain feels fake.

Then we see the members reaching for a pear while Steven, glowing in his elegant vampire aura, just watches like a member of the Addams Family — wait, I’m getting distracted. 😆

Anyway, the pear references a moment in the original book when Pinocchio learns humility and gratitude after being given three pears. So here, the pear could symbolize maturity, truth, and emotional growth — things the members want but struggle to achieve.

Maybe they’re fighting over it because of the competitiveness in the idol industry. Or from another perspective, perhaps they’re not fighting, they are just reaching at the same time, but unable to grasp it because of their painful past, insecurities, or the need for validation. Either way, it’s what stops them from becoming their real selves.

Steven, standing alone with lightning behind him, might be the only one aware of how difficult the truth journey is. His line:

“On that folded page, I wrote down my feelings, hoping they will reach you.”

A folded page symbolizes a hidden confession. He wants to be understood, even if he hides his feelings. Steven, you’re complicated — but YES, I DO.

Some fans joke that Shuaibo wasn’t in the pear scene because he’s tall enough to just grab it, and honestly, I agree. 😆

But in his solo scene, he’s sitting by the pond... or a puddle. The water likely represents reflection or emotion. When he touches it, he slightly disturbs it — as if he wants to face the truth but is still afraid.

His line:

“Even if I don’t know when, even if the fear won’t end,” shows that he's curious, but he's also scared.

Now, unlike Shuaibo, Jeongwoo here didn’t have a choice. When the pear fell, he was forced to face reality when he fell into the water. As you can see, the pear fell, but no one was able to touch it, because in the story, Pinocchio falls into the water after making bad choices. This could mean that people (or idols) must confront uncomfortable truths before becoming real.

Now for the chorus.

“Hold me just once.” Maybe this hug means reassurance — wanting comfort to speak honestly.

“Even through lies, I still smile.” This echoes JL’s opening line.

“It hurts, my love.” For him, it hurts to lie to his loved one.

“I’ll tell you everything I’ve hidden, because my truth has always been you.” He wants to open up what he's hiding, even though he wasn't being 100% honest about what he's going through; what he feels toward that person is real.

The hook — “Pinocchio hates the lies. That little Pinocchio whose nose grew long — was it only fear he felt?” — reinterprets the fairy tale profoundly. It suggests:

Pinocchio didn’t lie because he was bad.

He lied because he was scared and insecure.

Lies were his coping mechanism.

So the song reframes lying as fear of truth, not deception. Idols hide their feelings not to deceive fans but to protect themselves. Everything they do can be judged or misinterpreted. Unfortunately, even their own fans can be controlling, not just their critics.

Then we have Steven’s rap, starting with his “Pinocchio poem.” In this scene, you can see that they are on a set. Here, they are wearing the best clothes, rehearsing lines, perfecting an image. It’s the puppet world/artificial/fake world itself. He raps:

“I can’t escape this moment now, but I’ll try for you. As I’ve grown taller, I think I understand a little more. Honesty takes more courage than hiding ever could. I’ll show everything without hiding a thing. The restless heart, the trembling. In the shadow of unreal yesterday’s, tell me I’m not alone. Among the faded scribbles, one single truth remains, hoping it will reach you in the end.” And that part speaks for itself.

It reflects emotional growth — courage, maturity, and readiness to show their true selves. Faded scribbles in Juwon’s line could be his “old feelings” he kept trying to forget or deny; he’s hoping that the truth could reach us.

I'm sorry, but this reminds me so much of those twins from The Shining TT___TT

Hahahaha :D

Seriously, what can't this man do? ... Win a game :)

Sorry, let's continue.

When the stage starts collapsing, JL runs toward it — not away. That symbolizes confronting the destruction of their fake world. Even when everything falls apart, he keeps performing — representing the pressure idols face to always smile and keep going.

Then Hani falls into a hole. This scene could be that this is the unavoidable path to growth or becoming "real". It’s like he’s surrendering to growth or inevitable transformation, which makes sense because the next scene shows us a natural world.

The grass symbolizes healing, the sunset means transformation, and this straight path is their journey towards the truth.

Were you able to notice the Pinocchio reference here?

Jeongwoo sees nine birds — in Pinocchio, birds often represent guidance. Here, the nine birds could symbolize the nine members guiding one another. After seeing the bird, he says,

“I’ll awaken that blue wish,” it shows he’s ready to become real.

Finally, Hani tosses a flower into the air — maybe symbolizing truth finally being expressed. I tried looking for a reference to the red flower, but based on my research, this flower has no direct connection to Pinocchio.

After cutting the flower, they are now healing together, no longer competing, but walking side by side toward authenticity. They’re no longer afraid to show who they truly are. The running scene represents freedom — they’ve become “real boys.”

The snowy ending scene likely symbolizes rebirth — they’ve overcome fear and now live as their true selves. They are no longer puppets, and because of that, they can show us how crazy the beat change and choreography is (^_^)

For me, the message of the last chorus is:

“Life forces you to be a performer, but love allows you to be honest.”

It’s the completion of their emotional transformation.

I hope you guys enjoyed my interpretation of this song. I spent about 10 hours researching, writing, getting frustrated, confused, then finally being able to finish this blog. Please continue supporting AHOF so that they will be inspired to keep using the "sound" that they have now.

Hani’s weverse update