I didn't plan on seeing anyone today, especially not him.
I woke up earlier than usual, skipped coffee, grabbed my camera and a protein bar, and left my unit before the city started buzzing.
There was something about Seoul in the morning, especially when you're higher up in the hills, that made it feel like the world was still asleep and only you were allowed to exist for a little while.
I hiked past the usual path, ignoring the marked trails, chasing the kind of view that looked untouched.
The air smelled like pine and something sweet i couldn't quite name.
It felt like the kind of place that didn't care who you were before you got here.
I liked that.
I was halfway through snapping a panoramic shot when someone moved in the corner of my lens.
I blinked.
Paused.
Zoomed.
And nearly dropped my camera.
Sebastian.
Sebastian freaking Gutierrez.
And not just him, his entire group. SOLSTICE.
All of them were there, in all their perfectly styled, annoyingly flawless glory.
The wind didn't even dare mess up their hair.
It made sense now, why the trails were emptier than usual, why there were faint neon signs and orange cones a few turns back.
A closed set.
They were filming.
A music video.
I lowered the camera and instinctively stepped behind a tree like a child caught eavesdropping.
What the hell was i doing?
Icould just leave.
Walk away like i hadn't seen anything.
But my legs didn't move.
Instead, I peeked again.
He was laughing at something the guy beside him said.
Eyes crinkled, hand on his stomach.
It was a real laugh, the kind you never see in interviews or on stage.
The kind that made you feel like you were witnessing something you weren't supposed to.
God, why was i still standing here?
A breeze passed, and for a second, I wondered if the world was playing a trick on me.
Because then… he looked up.
And saw me.
Shit.
My stomach dropped to my knees.
But then, he smiled.
Not a performance smile.
Just… soft.
Familiar.
I hesitated, but i raised a hand and waved, awkward and uncertain.
Like some lost tourist caught in the wrong place.
He waved back.
And started walking toward me.
Oh no.
Oh god.
Abort mission.
Hike away.
Run into the woods and never look back.
But i didn't.
I waited.
He stopped a few feet in front of me, still smiling.
His skin glistened slightly from the sun, or sweat or maybe both but somehow he still looked like he walked out of a music video even off-camera.
"Hey," he said, breath a little uneven. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"I could say the same," I managed. My voice felt weird. Tight in my throat. "This spot's usually quiet."
"We scouted it last week," he explained.
"Figured it'd be the best place for the concept. The locals helped keep it lowkey."
I nodded. "Well… it worked. I almost thought i was hallucinating."
He chuckled. "Maybe you are."
There was a pause, one of those weird in-between moments where you're not sure whether to keep talking or just say goodbye.
"You look different today," he said suddenly.
My brows lifted. "Is that good different or… scary different?"
His eyes flicked to my camera strap, then to my coat, then to the way my hair was tied messily. "You look like yourself."
I blinked.
Didn't know what to say to that.
He scratched the back of his neck, suddenly self-conscious. "Sorry. That sounded weird."
"No, it didn't," I said quickly. "Just… surprising."
Another silence.
But not the awkward kind.
The type that feels like both of you are standing on the edge of something, but neither wants to jump first.
Then, from behind him, a voice called, "Hyung!"
He glanced back, then motioned to me. "Come on. I'll introduce you."
Panic surged. "Oh, no, you don't have to—"
But he was already walking ahead, and before I knew it, I was being led down a dirt path toward a group of men i had only ever seen through screens.
"Guys," Sebastian said, turning to them as we approached. "This is Margaux. My neighbor."
The way he said that, my neighbor, like it meant more than it did.
Like we shared something only we knew.
I offered a polite wave, heart racing. "Hi. Sorry if I'm interrupting."
"You're not," one of them said immediately, grinning. "Nice to meet you. I'm Ryeo."
The others introduced themselves one by one, all warm and welcoming in that intimidating, ethereal K-pop star way.
"She's a photographer too," Sebastian added. "Saw her camera earlier."
I flushed. "Not professionally."
"Still," another one said, "anyone who wakes up early enough to catch this view must be serious."
We talked a little, nothing too long, just friendly banter about the weather and the hike and how Koreans are obsessed with good hiking shoes.
I laughed more than i expected to.
Eventually, they had to get back to filming. I said i'd leave them to it.
But as i turned to go, Sebastian stepped beside me again.
"Hey," he said, low enough so only I could hear. "Thanks for saying hi."
I looked up at him. "Thanks for not pretending you didn't see me."
His smile was crooked.
Boyish.
Way too endearing for someone who wasn't supposed to date anyone.
"See you around?" he asked.
"Only if you keep walking in front of my lens," I teased.
He laughed and that same warmth from earlier flickered in his eyes again. "Deal."
I walked away then, heart doing stupid things it had no business doing.
I didn't believe in signs.
But maybe… just maybe…
The universe did.