#send recs

You weren’t supposed to be here.

The soft glow of the city lights filtered through the curtains, casting shadows across the dimly lit penthouse. The world outside was still awake—fans scrolling through social media, reporters hunting for the next big story—but inside this room, time had slowed. Hyunjin lay beside you, his arm draped lazily over your waist, holding you close even in sleep. His breath was steady, his lips slightly parted, strands of hair falling over his closed eyes.

You wished moments like these could last forever.

But they couldn’t.

Your phone vibrated against the nightstand, and your stomach tightened at the sight of the message from your manager.

"Where are you?"

A sharp inhale caught in your throat. You had snuck out of your dorm just to see him, fully aware of the risk. If anyone found out, it wouldn’t just be your career on the line—it would be his, too.

Hyunjin stirred beside you, his brows furrowing as he blinked awake. "What’s wrong?"

You hesitated, then showed him the screen. His expression darkened as he sat up, running a hand through his messy hair.

"You should go before they start looking for you," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.

You didn’t want to. Leaving him always felt like tearing away a piece of yourself. But you nodded anyway. "I’ll text you when I get back."

Hyunjin cupped your cheek, his thumb brushing gently across your skin. "Be careful, okay?"

You gave him a small, wistful smile before slipping out of bed, grabbing your hoodie and mask before disappearing into the night.

---

You had barely made it back to your dorm before everything spiraled out of control.

The next morning, the internet was in chaos.

"Stray Kids’ Hyunjin Spotted with Mystery Girl—Dating Rumors Explode!"

Your breath caught in your throat as you stared at the blurry photo splashed across the news sites. It was you—leaving his apartment, hood pulled low over your face. It wasn’t a clear image, but it was enough to send fans into a frenzy. The speculation was endless. The comments brutal. Some were supportive, but many weren’t. Accusations of betrayal, of being unprofessional, of using Hyunjin for clout flooded every platform.

You barely had time to process it before your manager stormed in, shoving a phone into your hands. "We’re handling this, but you need to keep quiet. Do you understand?"

You swallowed hard. "What does that mean?"

"It means the company is denying everything. No statements, no explanations. If it gets worse, we might have to… rethink things."

Rethink things.

You knew exactly what that meant.

Your hands trembled as you scrolled through the articles. You hadn’t even gotten the chance to talk to Hyunjin yet, but you already knew his company would be forcing him to do the same—deny, deflect, pretend.

That was how the industry worked.

---

The days that followed were a blur of headlines, whispers, and confusion. The pressure weighed heavily on you. You found yourself scrolling through the comments on your posts, some encouraging, some hateful. The messages from fans were mixed—some praised you, others cursed your name. One thing was clear, though. No matter what you did, no one seemed to want to see the truth.

One night, as you sat in your dorm room, the door creaked open, and there he was.

Hyunjin. Standing in the doorway, looking every bit the idol he was. But tonight, he didn’t have the usual glimmer of confidence in his eyes. His gaze was soft, weary, and filled with concern.

"Can I come in?" His voice was gentle, as though afraid his presence would break something fragile.

You nodded, your throat tight as you pushed aside the unease gnawing at you. "Of course."

He closed the door behind him and slowly crossed the room, settling beside you on the bed. You could see the tension in his posture, the weight of everything resting on his shoulders.

"I hate this," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "The way everything’s being handled. I don’t want you to think that I’m trying to push you away."

You shook your head quickly. "You’re not," you whispered, voice cracking. "I just... I don't know what to do anymore."

Hyunjin reached for your hand, holding it between his. His touch was warm, grounding. "We’ll figure it out. I promise."

Tears welled in your eyes. You didn’t want to lose him. You didn’t want to lose everything you had worked for, either. The two of you had kept things under wraps for months now. The late-night phone calls, stolen glances, hidden dates—it had all felt worth it. But now, with the world watching, things felt more complicated than ever.

"They’re making us deny it, Hyunjin," you said, your voice trembling. "Your company is probably going to make you say it was all a misunderstanding. Mine, too."

He let out a long breath. "I don’t want to deny you. I don’t want to lie about what we have."

You squeezed his hand. "Then we won’t. We’ll handle this together. Even if it means we have to keep it quiet for a while. I don’t care about the rumors. I care about you."

Hyunjin’s eyes softened. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to your forehead. "You’re the only thing that matters."

---

Days turned into weeks, and the situation didn’t improve. The tabloids buzzed with new rumors, but there was always a lingering uncertainty. Both of your companies continued to deny any romantic connection, and you and Hyunjin both played along with the narrative. Fans continued to speculate, but the two of you stayed silent. Every time you found yourselves in public together, it was like walking on eggshells. Even the smallest touch had to be carefully hidden. Each glance was a stolen moment. But every time your eyes met across a crowded room, a spark ignited in your chest.

You never stopped fighting for him, even if the world wanted you to stay apart.

One evening, when the two of you finally had a rare break from your hectic schedules, you found yourselves alone in a quiet café away from prying eyes. The buzz of conversation and clinking of mugs around you felt comforting, almost like a small slice of normal.

Hyunjin leaned back in his chair, taking a sip of his coffee. "Do you ever wish we could just... disappear for a while? Go somewhere where no one knows who we are?"

You smiled, your heart aching at the thought. "All the time. But I think we both know that’s not an option."

He reached across the table, his fingers brushing yours. The simple touch sent a wave of warmth through you. "Maybe not. But I’d go anywhere with you, if it meant we could be ourselves."

You held his hand tighter, the weight of the world outside slipping away. "We’re not giving up on this, Hyunjin. We’re stronger than they think."

His eyes sparkled, a glimmer of hope dancing in them. "As long as I have you, I’ll fight for us."

---

In the end, the rumors eventually died down. The industry had moved on to the next scandal, and the two of you were left to pick up the pieces. But the love you shared never wavered. No longer bound by the shadows, you and Hyunjin found your way back to each other, slowly but surely.

The moments you shared, though once fleeting, became more real, more powerful. Late-night walks without the fear of being seen. The stolen kisses that had once been carefully hidden became public, as you learned to let go of the fear that had kept you both in hiding.

And for the first time, you allowed yourselves to just be.

Love was worth the wait. Even when the world tried to pull you apart, you stood by each other, knowing that what you had was worth more than any spotlight could ever offer.