It started with a text.
A very suspicious text.
[ Kaelira 🐰💫 ]
what are u doing tonight?
👀
Aria stared at her phone while sipping her honey latte, surrounded by buckets of tulips she was prepping for a wedding.
She typed back:
[ Aria 🌸🌼 ]
Working a bit. Why?
A beat. Then:
[ Kaelira 🐰💫 ]
totally casual totally chill not a big deal but
would you maybe
want to come to dinner
with me
and my members
👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
Aria choked on her latte.
She stared at the text like it might explode.
Members. As in idols. As in Kaelira groupmates. As in famous, gorgeous, super cool people who probably wore luxury sweatpants to bed.
Aria typed and deleted five different versions of a response before finally landing on:
[ Aria 🌸🌼 ]
…You sure they won't mind?
[ Kaelira 🐰💫 ]
they might scream
but in a friendly way
not like horror movie scream
[ Aria 🌸🌼 ]
that doesn't make me feel less nervous 😭
[ Kaelira 🐰💫 ]
you'll be fine
wear something soft and comfy
also
don't bring flowers this time
unless you want them all to fall in love with you and steal you from me
Aria blinked at that last line.
Then blinked again.
From me?
Her heart tap-danced in her chest.
She typed:
[ Aria 🌸🌼 ]
so you're claiming me now huh
And Kaelira, without missing a beat, replied:
[ Kaelira 🐰💫 ]
florist rights 😌
i gave you a bouquet first remember
Aria set her phone down and pressed both hands to her face.
Her cheeks were on fire.
⤹ ❀
That Night
Aria stood outside a cozy little restaurant tucked behind a quiet alley in Yeonnam-dong, bundled in a cream knit cardigan and jeans, clutching her tiny tote bag like it was a shield.
Kaelira greeted her at the entrance with a huge smile, dressed in a hoodie and joggers, long hair pulled into a messy bun under her cap.
"You look like a dream," Kaelira said softly, eyes sparkling.
Aria rolled her eyes, trying not to melt. "You literally look like a model off-duty."
"Yeah, but I like the way you look better."
Aria's brain blue-screened.
Kaelira gently grabbed her wrist. "C'mon, I'll protect you."
They stepped inside to the sound of laughter and chopsticks clinking against bowls. The room was warm, filled with low lighting and casual vibes — nothing intimidating.
Until Aria was hit with four pairs of very curious eyes.
"YOU'RE REAL?!" a voice shrieked.
Aria jumped.
A girl with short, blonde-streaked hair and round glasses stood up and immediately gasped. "She's cuter than your Instagram bouquet made her seem!"
"Yah, don't scare her," said another member — tall, chill energy, sipping barley tea. "Hi Aria, right? I'm Ryu. Ignore Yuki."
"I didn't scream that loud," Yuki mumbled.
"You did," said another voice — soft and angelic. "But I get it. She's adorable."
Aria didn't know where to look or how to breathe.
Kaelira leaned close and whispered, "Do you want to leave? We can make up a fake emergency."
Aria swallowed. "No. I want to stay."
And she meant it.
Despite the nerves, something about being next to Kaelira made it easier to breathe.
Kaelira grinned. "Brave."
⤹ ❀
Somehow, dinner turned into a blur of side dishes, laughter, and embarrassing Kaelira stories.
"So wait," Aria asked between bites of kimchi pancake, "she really walked into a sliding glass door?"
"She bounced," Ryu said, deadpan.
"It made a thunk," Yuki added.
Kaelira groaned and buried her face in her hoodie. "I regret this already."
"But she didn't drop her bubble tea," said Hestia, smiling faintly. "So. Impressive."
Aria was laughing so hard her stomach hurt.
At one point, Kaelira handed her a pair of chopsticks without asking, helped her scoop more rice onto her plate, and gently plucked a piece of lint off her sleeve.
Nobody missed it.
Ryu raised an eyebrow across the table.
Yuki mouthed "omg" and nudged Hestia.
Hestia just nodded like she'd known this would happen since the dawn of time.
⤹ ❀
Later, after hugs and thank-yous and Yuki whispering, "Don't break her heart, she's soft on you," Aria found herself walking beside Kaelira under the glow of street lamps.
They strolled past quiet cafés and sleeping flower carts, hands brushing slightly, both of them pretending not to notice.
Until Kaelira gently reached out and linked their pinkies.
Aria glanced up.
Kaelira's eyes were soft. "I wanted you to meet them."
"I liked them," Aria said quietly. "They're… warm. Loud. In a good way."
Kaelira smiled. "They like you, too. I think they were all just waiting for you to be real."
Aria tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
Kaelira hesitated. Then: "You're the first person in a long time who sees me without the extra stuff. Without the makeup and photoshoots and choreo and filtered captions. Just… me."
Aria's voice was gentle. "I like that version of you."
"I like the version of me around you."
The air went still.
And for a second, Aria thought maybe, maybe Kaelira was about to lean in. Just a little.
But then a scooter zoomed past, making them both jump, and the moment scattered like flower petals in wind.
They laughed, flustered.
Kaelira squeezed her pinky. "Next time, remind me to pick a quieter street."
Aria grinned. "Next time?"
Kaelira nodded, eyes twinkling. "Yeah. Definitely a next time."