“Yeah,” he answered, eyes drifting back to the table.

“I’m (some random bitch name),” she added, waiting.

“Cool,” Keeho said.

The silence stretched.

She laughed awkwardly. “You’re not very talkative.”

“I am,” he replied calmly. “Just not right now.”

She tilted her head. “Why not?”

“My girlfriend’s sitting there,” he said, nodding toward your empty seat.

“Oh, I saw,” she said lightly. “She just went to the bathroom.”

“Right,” Keeho said. “She’ll be back tho”

Another pause.

She leaned closer. “You don’t have to look so serious. I just wanted to talk.”

Keeho shifted his chair closer to your seat, posture closing off. “I only talk to my girlfriend, my members and my fans."

Her smile faltered. “Wow. Direct.”

“I try to be clear,” he said evenly.

She crossed her arms. “We’re literally just talking.”

“You are, I am not” Keeho replied.

Her jaw tightened. “You don’t have to be rude.”

Before Keeho could respond, an arm slung across his shoulders.

“There you are,” Theo said, voice pleasant but edged. “I was looking for you.”

Keeho didn’t resist, leaning back slightly. “I didn’t move.”

Theo looked at the girl. “Hey.”

She forced a smile. “Hi. We were just talking.”

Theo nodded. “About how he’s taken?”

Keeho added flatly, “Very.”

Theo pointed toward the hallway. “His girlfriend stepped away for a minute. She’s coming back.”

“I know,” the girl snapped. “I’m allowed to talk to him.”

Theo’s expression hardened. “You’re also allowed to leave when someone tells you they’re not interested.”

Silence.

Keeho said quietly, “I did tell you.”

She scoffed. “Unbelievable.”

Theo gestured politely toward her table. “You should probably head back.”

She turned on her heel and walked away.

Theo dropped his arm. “You okay?”

Keeho nodded once. “I hate situations like that.”

“Handled,” Theo said.

You returned moments later. Keeho’s entire demeanor changed the second he saw you. He reached for your hand immediately.

“Took you long enough,” he said softly.

You smiled, unaware of the tension that had sat in your seat. Theo met your eyes and gave a small nod.

Keeho leaned closer to you, voice low. “Please never leave me again."

♡Theo♡

The club pulsed with color and bass, lights spilling across the floor like liquid neon. Theo stayed close to you as you moved through the crowd, one hand resting lightly at your waist, his head tilted down so he could hear you over the music. When you suddenly lit up and pointed across the room, he followed your gaze.

“My friends are here,” you said, already halfway turned. “I’m gonna go say hi.”

Theo smiled instantly. “Go,” he said. “I’ll be right here.”

You squeezed his hand before slipping into the crowd. Theo stayed where he was, leaning back against a tall table near the bar. He watched you weave through people with practiced ease, laughing when one of your friends pulled you into a hug. His smile lingered, soft and fond, eyes tracking you like the rest of the room had faded out.

“Enjoying the party?”

Theo glanced to his side. A woman stood there, drink in hand, smile sharp and confident.

He chuckled once, polite. “It’s alright.”

She leaned closer. “You waiting for someone?”

He nodded slightly, eyes already drifting back to you. “Yeah.”

She followed his gaze briefly, then looked back at him. “She won’t mind if we talk.”

Theo smiled again, smaller this time. “She’s my girlfriend.”

The woman raised an eyebrow. “That so?”

“Very,” he said simply.

She laughed like it was a challenge. “You don’t look too busy with her tho.”

Theo shrugged. “I am.”

She stepped closer, clearly undeterred. “What’s your name?”

“Theo,” he answered, then added nothing else.

“And you’re always this quiet?”

“Only when I’m not interested,” he replied lightly.

She blinked, then smiled again. “Wow. Straight to the point.”

He chuckled, still calm. “I try.”

She glanced toward you again. “She’s cute.”

“I know,” Theo said, eyes softening as he watched you laugh. He did not look away.

Minutes passed. The woman stayed. She talked. He listened without engaging, nodding occasionally, offering one word answers at best. His attention never truly left you. Each time you glanced his way, he smiled automatically.

“You really don’t want to get to know me?” she asked finally, irritation creeping into her voice.

Theo exhaled slowly. “No.”

She scoffed. “You’re being kind of rude.”

“I was being honest,” he said, jaw tightening slightly. “I told you I’m taken.”

Before the tension snapped, a familiar presence slid in.

Jiung appeared beside him, arms wrapping around Theo’s shoulders in an exaggerated hug. “Brooo, whats up,” Jiung said loudly. “I was looking everywhere for you.”

Theo relaxed instantly, leaning into him. “Hey.”

Jiung pulled back and beamed. “I was just wondering,” he said, looking around theatrically, “where is your beautiful girlfriend?”

Theo tilted his head toward the dance floor. “Over there. With her friends.”

Jiung followed his gaze and smiled knowingly. Then he turned to the woman. “Hi,” he said cheerfully. “I’m Jiung.”

She looked a little startled. “Oh. Hi.”

Jiung gestured between her and Theo. “Do you know him?”

She hesitated. “We were just talking.”

Theo shook his head. “Not really.”

Jiung nodded innocently. “That’s funny. He usually only talks like that with strangers.”

Her cheeks flushed. “I didn’t know you were with someone.”

Jiung smiled sweetly. “Oh, he is. Very happily.”

He tilted his head. “You should probably stick to strangers who are actually interested.”

Silence.

She muttered something under her breath and walked away.

Jiung laughed softly. “People are bold tonight.”

Theo exhaled. “Thank you.”

Jiung bumped his shoulder. “Anytime.”

You returned a moment later, smiling as you slipped back into Theo’s space. His hand found yours immediately.

“Everything okay?” you asked.

Theo smiled down at you. “Perfect. Now that you’re back.”

♡Jiung♡

The mall buzzed with weekend noise, shoes squeaking against polished floors and music drifting out of every open store. You were not there, but Jiung still carried you with him in the way he checked his phone between racks, in the way he smiled when Intak teased him about taking too long.

“This one,” Intak said, holding up a jacket. “Try it.”

Jiung sighed but took it. “You just like watching me struggle with zippers.”

“That too,” Intak replied, grinning.

The store assistant had been hovering since they walked in. She was friendly at first, a little too attentive, but Jiung brushed it off. She handed them sizes, suggested colors, smiled often. Jiung thanked her politely and headed into the dressing room with a small pile of clothes.

He had just pulled on the jacket when the curtain shifted.

“Oh,” the assistant said lightly, stepping closer than expected. “I brought another size.”

Jiung froze, halfway turned, instinctively pulling the jacket closed. “Um,” he said, startled. “A little warning next time?”

She laughed, waving it off. “Relax. I work here.”

He frowned. “Are you even allowed to step into the dressing rooms?”

She leaned against the doorframe like it was casual. “I’m just doing my job. Besides,” she added, eyes scanning him, “you look really good. Honestly, you look good in everything.”

Jiung’s shoulders tensed. “Thanks,” he said stiffly, “but I’m fine.”

She didn’t move.

“You can just leave it outside,” he added, gesturing to the clothes in her hands.

She smiled wider. “No rush. Take your time.”

Irritation crept up his spine. He turned away, clearly uncomfortable, tugging the jacket off. “Seriously, I'm fine”

Before she could reply, a voice cut in behind her.

“Wow,” Intak said, dry. “Didn’t know lurking on customers was part of the job.”

The assistant startled and turned around. “I wasn’t lurking. I was helping.”

Intak raised an eyebrow. “By stepping into the dressing room?”

She opened her mouth. “I just—”

He cut her off, still calm but firm. “He’s changing.”

Jiung exhaled quietly, relief washing over his face.

“And,” Intak continued, tilting his head, “he has a girlfriend.”

The assistant blinked. “Oh.”

“Yeah,” Intak said. “And she has way less patience than I do.”

Jiung shot him a look. “Intak.”

“I’m just saying,” Intak replied, unfazed.

The assistant laughed awkwardly. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Intak held out the clothes Jiung had already decided on. “We’ll take these.”

She hesitated. “Are you sure? I had a few more suggestions.”

Intak smiled, polite but sharp. “We’re good. Just do your job.”

Her cheeks flushed. She nodded stiffly and took the clothes. “Right. I’ll ring these up.”

She walked away quickly.

Jiung let out a breath and leaned back against the mirror. “That was uncomfortable.”

“You looked like you were about to disappear into the wall,” Intak said.

“She just walked in,” Jiung replied, shaking his head. “I didn’t know what to do.”

“You did fine,” Intak said. “You were polite.”

Jiung smiled faintly. “Too polite.”

Intak shrugged. “That’s why you have friends.”

Jiung finished changing and stepped out of the dressing room. He glanced once in the direction the assistant had gone, then looked down at his phone, thumb hovering over your name.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said.

Intak grinned. “After this, I’m never letting you shop alone.”

Jiung smiled, already texting you, already calmer now that the space felt safe again.

♡Intak♡

The practice room felt hotter than usual, air thick with sweat and repetition. Music blasted through the speakers as Intak moved through the choreography again and again, muscles burning, focus sharp. You were not there, but you were never far from his thoughts. He practiced like he always did, fully locked in, trusting his body and the people around him to keep things professional.

One of the background dancers kept drifting closer.

At first, he told himself it was spacing. A misstep. An accident. Her hand brushed his arm once, then again. Fingers lingered at his waist longer than necessary during a formation change.

Intak shifted away subtly, adjusting his position, creating distance. The next run through, she closed it again. Her hand slid along his side under the excuse of timing. His jaw tightened.

He pulled back, voice low. “Hey, can you like...back off a little?”

She smiled like she did not hear him.

The music restarted. Her hand found his shoulder this time, squeezing, guiding. Intak flinched almost imperceptibly and stepped forward early just to get away. His focus cracked. Annoyance curled in his chest, sharp and unwelcome.

By the time the choreographer called for a break, Intak was done.

He grabbed a towel and headed for the water station, shoulders tense, head down. The cool bottle pressed against his palm was grounding. He took a long drink, breathing out slowly.

Footsteps followed.

“Practice is intense today, huh?” the dancer said, stopping a little too close.

Before Intak could respond, someone stepped cleanly between them.

Soul.

Soul stood there like he had always been there, calm expression, hands relaxed at his sides. He nodded once at the dancer. “You’re a really good dancer,” he said evenly. “Your lines are clean.”

Her face brightened. “Oh. Thank you.”

“But,” Soul continued, tone unchanged, “you’re being a little too touchy.”

She laughed, light and dismissive. “What? I’m just following the choreography.”

Soul tilted his head slightly. “The choreography doesn’t include that much contact.”

She crossed her arms. “Are you accusing me of something?”

“No,” Soul said calmly. “I’m reminding you.”

Intak stood just behind him, silent, relieved, still tense but no longer cornered.

The dancer scoffed. “of what?”

Soul met her eyes. “One phone call can change a lot...especially when it comes to dancers.”

Confusion flashed across her face. “What?”

Soul did not raise his voice. He did not smile. “I’m being nice right now.”

The room felt quieter, even though the music had not restarted yet.

She glanced between them, clearly recalculating. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Soul nodded once. “Good.”

Then he added, almost casually, “Also, Intak has a pretty amazing girlfriend.”

Intak blinked, surprised, then felt warmth spread through his chest.

“So,” Soul finished, “you don’t really stand a chance anyway.”

The dancer’s mouth opened, then closed. Her expression shifted from defensive to embarrassed. “I should get back,” she muttered.

She walked away quickly, disappearing into the cluster of dancers stretching nearby.

Soul turned slightly, just enough to look at Intak. “You okay?”

Intak let out a breath he did not realize he had been holding. “Yeah. Thanks.”

Soul nodded. “You don’t have to put up with that.”

“I tried to move away,” Intak said quietly. “She didn’t care.”

“I noticed,” Soul replied.

They stood there for a moment, the noise of the room settling back in. Intak took another drink of water, shoulders finally relaxing.

“You’d tell me if it happened again, right?” Soul asked.

“Yeah,” Intak said. “I will.”

Soul gave a small nod and stepped back into place as the choreographer called them in.

When practice resumed, the dancer kept her distance.

Intak moved freely again, sharp and confident, grounded by the simple truth that he was not alone. And later, when he texted you about rehearsal, he added a small smiley face, thinking of how lucky he was to be loved and protected, even when you were not in the room.

♡Soul♡

The city hummed softly, traffic weaving between laughter and footsteps, storefronts glowing like little stages. Soul walked beside Jongseob with his hands tucked into the sleeves of his hoodie, eyes drifting from window to window. He stopped more often than he meant to, pointing quietly at things he thought you might like. Something soft. Something silly. Something that felt like you.

“This is harder than I thought,” he murmured.

Jongseob grinned. “You just like everything you see. That’s the problem.”

They had barely stepped into the next street when a small group of fans noticed them. The energy shifted instantly. Soul straightened, nerves flickering behind his eyes, but he smiled anyway. He always did. They stopped, greeted everyone politely, took photos, signed albums. Soul bowed a little too deeply each time, cheeks warming under the attention.

One fan lingered.

She stood closer than the others, laughing a little louder, eyes fixed on Soul. When she handed him her phone for a photo, her fingers brushed his wrist. Then her hand stayed there.

Soul froze for half a second.

He smiled, small and uncertain, gently pulling his hand back. “Thank you,” he said softly.

She stepped closer anyway. “You’re even cuter in person,” she said, reaching to adjust the sleeve of his hoodie like it was familiar.

Soul’s smile wavered. He shifted his weight, glancing briefly at Jongseob like he was looking for a line he had forgotten. “Um,” he said, voice barely above the street noise. “Please…”

She laughed, clearly amused. “You’re so shy.”

Soul nodded once, polite, uncomfortable, hands curling into his sleeves again. He did not know how to make her stop without being rude. He looked down, shoulders drawing inward, hoping it would end on its own.

Jongseob noticed immediately.

He stepped closer to Soul, lifting a massive plushie from a nearby shop display and holding it up with exaggerated excitement. “Hey,” he said brightly, cutting cleanly through the moment. “What about this?”

Soul blinked, startled. Then his face lit up.

“That’s…” he said, eyes softening. “She would love that.”

Jongseob smiled at him, then turned casually toward the fan. “We’re actually shopping right now.”

The girl hesitated. “Oh?”

Jongseob nodded, expression friendly but firm. “Yeah. For his girlfriend.”

Soul nodded along quickly. “For her,” he repeated, smiling now, fully genuine.

Jongseob tilted his head. “He loves her more than anyone else.”

The words landed gently but decisively.

The girl’s smile faltered. “Oh. I didn’t know.”

Soul bowed slightly. “Thank you for supporting us,” he said politely, already stepping back toward Jongseob.

She muttered something embarrassed and retreated to the rest of the group. The remaining fans waved and said goodbye, and soon the street returned to its normal rhythm.

Soul let out a quiet breath. “Thank you,” he said, voice small but sincere.

Jongseob bumped his shoulder. “You don’t have to handle everything alone.”

Soul hugged the plushie closer, smiling down at it like it already belonged to you. “She’s going to laugh when she sees this.”

“Then mission accomplished,” Jongseob said.

They continued down the street, Soul calmer now, fingers absently brushing his phone as if resisting the urge to text you immediately. In the middle of the city noise and attention, his thoughts stayed simple and steady.

This was for you. And that was all that mattered.

♡Jongseob♡

The fan event moved like a gentle current, chairs scraping softly against the floor, voices overlapping in excited waves. You stood behind the stage curtain, half hidden, arms loosely crossed as you watched the members greet fans one by one. Jongseob sat near the end of the table, posture straight, smile polite and controlled, pen moving steadily as he signed albums.

You watched him with quiet awe.

He looked smaller from back there, softer somehow, but the way he listened so carefully to each fan made your chest warm. He nodded, thanked them, laughed at the right moments. Professional. Kind. Always respectful.

Then one fan stepped forward and stayed.

She was visibly excited, bouncing on her heels as she slid her album toward him. “I can’t believe it’s really you,” she said quickly. “You’re even cuter up close.”

Jongseob smiled faintly. “Thank you.”

She leaned closer as he signed. Too close. Her fingers brushed his hand, then lingered on the edge of the table. “So...what’s your ideal type?” she asked brightly.

He capped the pen and slid the album back. “Someone kind,” he answered.

She laughed. “That’s it? Come on. Hair color? Personality?”

“Kind,” he repeated, voice calm.

She tilted her head. “Do you like older or younger?”

Jongseob blinked once. “I don’t think about that.”

She reached out, lightly tapping his sleeve. “You’re so mysterious.”

He shifted back slightly, smile tightening. “I just like music.”

You straightened behind the stage, jaw setting.

She did not take the hint.

“Are you dating right now?” she asked, lowering her voice like it was a secret.

Jongseob hesitated for a fraction of a second. “I keep my private life private.”

She pouted. “That’s not fair.”

Before Jongseob could respond, Keeho leaned over from the next seat, resting his elbow casually on the table.

“Hey,” Keeho said cheerfully, glancing past the fan. “See her?”

The fan looked confused. “Who?”

Keeho nodded toward the side of the stage.

“Look.”

Her head turned. Eyes landed on you.

You did not move. You simply raised an eyebrow, lips curling into a knowing smirk as you crossed your arms more firmly over your chest.

Keeho smiled wider. “That’s his ideal type.”

The fan’s mouth fell open.

Jongseob looked up then, following Keeho’s gesture. The moment his eyes met yours, his expression changed completely. His shoulders relaxed. A real smile spread across his face, soft and unmistakable.

He nodded. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “Her.”

You tilted your head slightly, amused.

The fan flushed red. “Oh. I didn’t realize.”

Keeho shrugged lightly. “Now you do.”

Jongseob added gently, “Thank you for coming today.”

The words were polite, but final.

She muttered something embarrassed and moved along to the next member.

From behind the stage, you uncrossed your arms just long enough to give Jongseob a small thumbs up. He laughed under his breath, shaking his head, then focused on the next fan with renewed calm.

Keeho leaned closer to him. “You okay?”

Jongseob nodded. “Yeah.”

“You handled it well,” Keeho said.

Jongseob glanced at you again, still smiling. “It’s easy when she’s right there.”