The train slid out of the tunnel, and for a moment the sudden burst of neon between the night towers blinded us.
"I never thought our group would make it this far," K murmured, chin resting on his hand as he stared out at the flashing skyline. "From little trainees to taking our first step as rising stars."
"It's because we're unique," I said with a grin. "That's why we've managed to build such a fresh fanbase."
He chuckled softly. "That's true. Hard to believe this is already our third year." With his left hand he dragged his coffee cup closer and took a sip.
"Ahh… smooth." His eyes softened. "You know, I've always had this dream. That someday people will see my heart through music."
"I've got one too," I teased. "Every time I see you and the others singing together, it feels like a lullaby that pulls me into a good dream."
"Don't cling too much to the group, Seokjin." His gaze sharpened, though his voice was gentle. "You need to believe in yourself too. If the band ever falls apart, you'll need something to hold on to. For me, it's music and the fans. Music is the heartbeat that keeps me alive thump, thump, like a soundwave rising and falling and the fans are what push it into motion… full throttle."
I laughed under my breath. "You really do take everything too seriously."
"That's just me," he said, lips quirking into a crooked smile. "Always chasing the horizon." His eyes flicked toward me. "Hey, there's something dark under your eye hold still."
Before his hand could reach me, the train screeched to a halt. Yeeeeeet! The jolt sent me flying forward. Our faces collided, hard enough to leave us both reeling.
"Ugh!" I groaned, half-dazed. In that dizzy instant, I realized I was sprawled right on top of him.
"Damn…!" My eyes burned, suddenly glowing with a faint pink light. His gaze met mine his irises shimmered too, but in a soft blue glow.
"I-It's fine," he stammered, squirming beneath me. "The train must've hit the station."
Heat pulsed beneath his damp shirt as my hand brushed against him while I scrambled up. The warmth lingered on my skin, unsettling and strange. I pulled him to his feet with a sharp tug.
"Thanks," he muttered, clapping my shoulder with a crooked grin.
"I think we've got ourselves a new title now 'Mister Kay and the Clumsy White.' What do you say, Sanghye?" I teased, using his real name.
"Such a silly name…. but i kinda like it." His laugh broke the tension.
And just like that, the butterfly, still clinging to my arm, slipped free. Its wings caught the moonlight as it drifted away, fluttering over the neon city. With each beat of its wings, time seemed to accelerate, like the spinning of a clock's hands.
It rose above the streets jammed with traffic, gliding past the towering building of TAOS Tech. The enormous clock mounted there marked the date and time precisely: February 4, 2069.
All across the city, holographic billboards flared with breaking news. A clip of "Jang Jun-Ho"
Aka. "Iris," member of the famed boy band D8 played on repeat. His tearful resignation followed the scandal of being spotted kissing a man in a renowned club, an incident that had ignited a storm of controversy online.
Rumors spread in the same breath: whispers of a grand-scale entertainment alliance about to be revived. A bold headline flickered across the skyline: THE SHIFT 교환
An exchange of members between girl groups and boy bands, reshaping the industry once again.