There was a different light in Seo Jun's face tonight, restless, maybe even hopeful.
"She's... different," he said, almost to himself. "She doesn't want anything from me."
The assistant raised a brow but said nothing.
Seo Jun reached for the mic again, adjusting the levels. A melody slipped under his breath. Lyrics scribbled in front of him. One line circled three times:
You. Don't leave.
Just as he opened his mouth to record, his assistant cleared his throat.
"By the way, your perfume endorsement came in. Full billboard rollout. Your manager's been calling."
Seo Jun didn't look up. "Later."
"They want an answer tonight."
"I said later."
Because right now, only one thing mattered.
Her name was Ha-eun.
And he was seeing her tomorrow.
*********
Ha-eun slammed the gate shut behind her, the metallic clang echoing down the quiet street. The morning air held a faint chill. She tugged her hoodie tighter and scanned her surroundings. People loitered at the corners, pretending not to look. A group of girls passed by, whispering. She caught her name, or something like it, muttered under a breath.
Her stomach twisted.
She walked faster, head down, clutching her tote bag as she neared the taxi stand. She hadn't expected anyone to recognize her, not like this: old leggings, worn sneakers, and the hoodie from that night, the night everything changed.
Rina had left hours ago, bursting into her room at dawn and bouncing on the mattress like a kid on Christmas morning.
"You're insane if you don't come," she said, shaking Ha-eun's shoulder. "He's going to be there. Millions of fans. We'll lose our spot!"
Ha-eun had barely opened one eye. "You go," she mumbled. "I'll pass."
What she didn't say was that Seo Jun had invited her personally.
And now, standing there, she regretted everything.
A taxi was just coming into view when a sleek black van pulled up in front of her, its tinted window sliding down.
Seo Jun.
His face, radiant, like it had been carved from a magazine cover, smiled up at her. Clean jawline, soft eyes, that gentle warmth he never showed the cameras. He looked exactly like the world imagined him. Except she knew better: shy, awkward, uncertain.
"Ha-eun," he said, voice low and steady.
She froze. "Seo Jun?" she whispered, glancing around.
"Get in." He smiled again, just for her.
She hesitated, then climbed in without another word.
Inside, the air smelled like him, woodsy, expensive, unfamiliar. The leather seats gleamed. Between them: bottled water, breath mints, his phone lighting up with messages she didn't try to read.
He was watching her.
She turned. "What?"
Seo Jun raised his hands, feigning innocence. "Nothing," he said, biting back a smile.
Ha-eun rolled her eyes and leaned toward the window. Safer to look out at the city than meet the warmth in his gaze.
As the van slipped through early traffic, Seo Jun picked up his phone and texted his manager.
Yoon-woo:
We have four other brands waiting. We need to close this deal today.
Seo Jun:
Tomorrow.. Im busy all throughout today.
He dropped the phone. It immediately rang.
Min Jae. His assistant.
"Hyung," Seo Jun answered.
Min Jae's voice crackled through the speaker. "That runner-up from Miss Korea? She flew back. Wants to meet. She called asking for you."
"Tell her I'm not available."
A pause.
"Yoon-woo's losing it. Says you're stalling the perfume deal over some girl."
Seo Jun glanced at Ha-eun, still watching the city roll by. "Maybe I am," he murmured.
"She's just a seat number," Min Jae said. "E14."
"She has a name," Seo Jun snapped.
He hung up.
"How's Rina?" he asked, trying to ease the silence.
"She's probably screaming her lungs out," Ha-eun said with a faint smile. "She left before sunrise just to get front row. Said if I didn't come, she'd miss her one shot at getting a wink."
Seo Jun chuckled. "She'll get one."
"I wouldn't be here if not for her," Ha-eun added quietly. "Maybe you'd never know my name. Or me. Maybe my life would still be... quiet."
He heard the ache behind her words. He wanted to ask what she meant, but the driver cut in.
"We've arrived."
Outside, chaos.
Thousands of fans. Screaming voices. Flashing lights. Placards with his name, his face, hearts in every language. Security everywhere. Stickers on cheeks. Handmade signs declaring love.
Seo Jun turned to her and reached for her hand.
"I'll be right back. Then we'll go somewhere quieter. My grandma's place, she had a garden you'd love."
Ha-eun softened. "She passed?"
He nodded. "Years ago."
"I'm sorry."
"Thanks." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and stepped out.
The moment he did, the screams swelled like a wave.
Security surrounded him. Cameras exploded. Someone shouted his name again and again. "Seo Jun! Over here!"
A girl burst forward, eyes wide with tears. "You're even more handsome in person!"
Another voice rose: "Don't date the girl in seat E14! I'm your soulmate!"
He smiled, signed a few autographs, and tried not to let it show. This was the performance. The mask.
One he didn't want to wear today.
Back in the van, Ha-eun watched, heart pounding too fast. Her bladder ached with nerves.
She knocked on the divider. The driver turned.
"I need to use the restroom," she said quickly.
He stepped out and opened her door.
Just as she set one foot outside, she saw it—a shadow to her left. A woman. Holding a camera. The lens aimed directly at her face.
Panic.
"Can you drive a little further?" she whispered. "Anywhere. Now."
He nodded and got them moving.
Meanwhile, in the crowd, Rina was a mess. Tears streaked her cheeks. She clutched a photo of her cousin and screamed Ha-eun's name.
Seo Jun turned. Their eyes met.
He smiled, and winked.
Rina nearly fainted.
⸻
Elsewhere, Ha-eun sat in the quiet corner of a café lounge. She had finally used the restroom, bought a drink, and tried to breathe.
On her screen, the headlines were already spiraling:
SEO JUN SIGHTING CAUSES FAN RIOT
E14 Girl Spotted Near Idol's Van?
Superstar Dating a Civilian?
She didn't even have social media. It didn't matter. The internet always found a way.
Minutes later, Seo Jun steps in, damp with sweat, black jacket clinging to his frame. Even drained, he looked unreal, like someone had drawn him too perfectly.
"Guess who I saw?" he said, chugging water from a plastic bottle he got in the car.
"Rina," Ha-eun guessed. "I'm not surprised."
"I did," he grinned. "Now come on. I want to show you something."