The cold truth came with morning.
Kael and Klan hadn't spoken much after that quiet moment in the studio. They'd simply stayed there—fingers still intertwined, backs resting against the wall, not needing to say what their hearts already knew.
But now, the illusion was broken by reality.
Their company had announced a surprise collaboration with Aurora.
Klan stood frozen in the hallway, reading the headline from the staff group chat on his phone:
> "Kael & Eira to release romantic duet MV, 'Starlight Fever' – scheduled for global premiere next week."
A duet. A romantic MV.
Another public display to keep the illusion alive.
Kael appeared a few seconds later, pulling off his in-ear monitors after vocal practice. He saw the look on Klan's face and stopped in his tracks.
"You saw it?" he asked, breath uneven.
"I did," Klan replied, voice colder than he intended.
Kael looked away. "They didn't tell me until this morning. They already scheduled the shoot. Said it'll 'rekindle fan interest in our couple image.'"
Klan forced a nod. "Of course. Gotta protect the brand."
"Klan, I didn't—"
"I know," Klan snapped, then lowered his voice. "I know it's not your fault. It never is."
Kael stepped closer. "Then look at me and tell me you believe that."
Klan met his gaze, but behind his calm exterior, the pain trembled like a violin string about to snap. "Do you?"
Kael reached out, placing his hand over Klan's chest. "What we have... this thing between us—it's the only real thing I have left. The rest of it—Eira, the company, the image—it's all fake."
"Then fight for it," Klan whispered. "Don't just protect me in secret. Choose me in public."
Kael was silent.
For a moment.
Then: "Okay."
Klan blinked. "What?"
"I'm done hiding." Kael's voice shook, but it carried steel beneath the tremor. "If we burn for this, then let it be together."
His phone buzzed again—another manager message. This time Kael ignored it.
"We'll tell the others first," he said. "Then we tell the fans. On our terms."
Klan stared at him. "You're serious?"
Kael smiled, a rare, defiant spark in his eyes. "Dead serious."
That night, Kael called an emergency dorm meeting. Eren raised an eyebrow. Sion looked worried. Tavi already had snacks like it was going to be a drama.
But when Kael said the words—"Klan and I are together"—time seemed to stop.
And then... Eren was the first to speak.
"Finally," he muttered, grabbing a soda. "I thought I'd die of secondhand tension."
Tavi threw popcorn in the air. "It's about time! OTP confirmed!"
Even Sion, who usually played the role of calm mediator, smiled. "We've got your backs. Whatever storm's coming... we'll face it as LUMINA."
Kael turned to Klan, his hand once again finding his.
And in that moment, under the fluorescent glow of the dorm ceiling, a new kind of spotlight began to shine.
One not forced by fame, but lit by truth.