Zoya slipped out through the backstage exit before the concert had even ended, with Jae helping her get through the security area.
The moment she stepped outside, she stopped.
For the first time in what felt like hours, she could breathe.
She took a slow breath in.
Then another.
Behind her, the stadium was still alive.
Lights flashed through the entrances. Fans crowded the walkways. Staff hurried back and forth, security guards tried to keep people moving, and distant cheers still rolled through the night.
Zoya walked farther away.
Just a little.
Then she stopped and looked back at the stadium.
So many people.
So much noise.
So much attention.
She lowered her eyes.
Just being counted among TBS's friends was already making it hard for me to breathe.
Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.
I don't even know how those seven live with all of this around them every single day.
The thought stayed with her.
She closed her eyes.
Inhaled deeply.
And slowly breathed out.
Some of the tightness in her chest finally loosened.
Maybe this was what trauma felt like.
Success was beautiful.
Everyone dreamed of it.
But sometimes...
Success could become a cage.
A cage so crowded with people that even breathing became difficult.
Zoya looked back toward the stadium again.
Thinking about TBS made something inside her ache.
Maybe they were happy.
Maybe, for them, this was normal.
Maybe they had learned how to live inside that kind of chaos.
A tiny shrug lifted her shoulders.
Maybe they're happy in it.
She let the thought go.
Then she spotted an empty bench nearby.
She sat down.
She still had to wait for her TBS fan friends.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
At least she could sit here quietly until they came.
She opened her laptop.
Put in her earphones.
And started typing.
To anyone passing by, she looked completely normal.
Just another girl sitting outside a concert venue, listening to music and working on something.
But there was no music playing.
She had put the earphones in only so no one would interrupt her.
And people had already assumed she was working on some university assignment.
She wasn't.
It was something much more personal.
Something she had been writing for a very long time.
In the beginning, she had written it by hand.
Page after page.
Then, after getting her laptop, she had started typing it instead.
It was almost like a private world she could disappear into.
And the farther she stayed from the noise of the stadium, the calmer she became.
Her fingers moved steadily across the keyboard.
Every sentence brought a little more peace.
Every word made the noise inside her quieter.
Inside the stadium, the concert finally came to an end.
The members returned backstage one after another.
And just as always, the transformation was immediate.
On stage, they had given everything.
Every ounce of energy.
Every smile.
Every movement.
Every note.
Backstage, there was almost nothing left.
Some were lying on the floor.
Others had collapsed onto couches.
One was drinking water.
Another had his head against the wall.
Nobody looked like the energetic idols the audience had just watched.
They looked exhausted.
Completely exhausted.
The backstage doors opened.
Minji entered with Sophia, Hana, and Ruhi.
"Hello, everyone!"
Her voice immediately drew a few tired smiles.
Minji looked around.
Then her eyes stopped on Jeon J.
He was lying on the floor beside Wally, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Minji smiled and walked toward him.
"Where's our friend?"
She looked around.
No Zoya.
Jae glanced up.
"She left before the concert ended."
Hana frowned.
"What?"
"Why?"
Jae shrugged.
"That... only she knows."
Sophia immediately gave him a sharp look.
Jae caught it.
He forced a small smile.
"Anyway..."
He looked away.
Minji didn't question it.
"Oh, right."
She suddenly remembered something.
"Which one of you invited those two guests?"
The moment she said it, the atmosphere changed.
"They came backstage with us. I was going to stop them, but Hana said maybe they were one of your guests because they were sitting in the VIP area with us."
Every exhausted member suddenly sat up.
One by one.
They looked at each other.
Minji's smile faded.
"What?"
No one answered.
"Why do you all look so worried?"
She looked directly at Jeon J.
Hosu answered.
"They're not ours."
Minji blinked.
"Then whose?"
Hosu exchanged a glance with the others.
"They're Zoya's."
He paused.
"Actually... not even hers."
Minji's eyebrows lifted.
"She gave them her tickets."
Everyone was listening now.
"She asked Jae to let them in because they're newlyweds. She felt bad for them."
"Oh..."
Hana's expression changed.
"That's why they kept saying they wanted to thank the girl who got them inside."
She looked at Minji.
"We didn't understand what they meant."
Minji slowly nodded.
Then Kim Joon suddenly asked,
"Where are they now?"
Hana opened her mouth.
"I don't know. They were with us, but then..."
She stopped.
Her expression changed.
Minji noticed.
"What's wrong?"
Hana looked at her.
"It's Zoya..."
She swallowed.
"Wait. I..."
The words wouldn't come.
But that single name was enough.
Jeon J sat upright so quickly that everyone turned toward him.
His face had changed.
"Not again."
He was already getting to his feet.
Minjo frowned.
"What happened?"
Kim Joon looked between them.
"Minji?"
Minji swallowed.
"I really hope I'm wrong..."
She looked at everyone.
"But what if..."
No one spoke.
Jeon J stared at her.
He could already feel something was wrong.
He had wanted distance from Zoya.
He had told himself again and again that staying away from her was the right thing.
He had tried to convince himself that her problems were no longer his concern.
But the moment he heard that she might be in trouble—
none of that mattered.
He couldn't sit still.
He couldn't ignore it.
He hated that.
Hated how helpless it made him feel.
Hated that no matter how hard he tried to push her away...
Some part of him still reacted the second something happened to her.
And somewhere deep inside, he knew exactly why.
She had a place in him.
A real one.
One he didn't understand.
One he didn't know how to get rid of.
"Jae!"
His voice cracked through the room.
Jae immediately stood straight.
"I want those two found."
Jeon J pointed toward the door.
"Right now."
Jae nodded.
"Inform security. Hurry."
A little while later, Jae returned.
"Jeon J..."
Jeon J turned immediately.
For a split second, hope flashed in his eyes.
But Jae's expression killed it.
"I asked security."
He hesitated.
"There are problems checking the CCTV right now. The crowd is still too heavy. They're managing the exits and—"
"Where are they?"
Jeon J cut him off.
Jae stopped.
"Both of them."
His voice was sharper now.
"Where are they?"
Jae took a breath.
"They're not outside."
He looked at the others.
"I checked everywhere."
Then, carefully—
"I think they may have already left the stadium."
Jeon J took two slow steps backward.
No one spoke.
The room had gone completely silent.
If the couple had been dangerous, security would have handled it.
And Zoya had already been outside.
So technically...
what was there to panic about?
Nothing.
And yet—
everyone felt it.
Something wasn't right.
Even Minji.
Especially Minji.
She looked at Jeon J.
"Jeon J..."
He looked at her.
"What happened?"
His jaw tightened.
"Ji-won wasn't arrested."
Minji blinked.
"What?"
"Your foolish friend suddenly met a couple outside in a crowd that huge."
His voice was cold.
"Why her?"
Minji stared at him.
"And why did she bring them inside?"
He took a step forward.
"Without telling anyone?"
No one interrupted.
"Then she disappears."
His eyes shifted toward Jae.
"And him..."
He pointed at Jae.
"...he let her go."
Jae lowered his eyes.
Jeon J turned toward Teahun.
"And he backed up the story she made."
Teahun's expression changed.
Jeon J looked around the room.
"And now no one knows where that couple is."
A pause.
"Or where your foolish friend is."
Minji went silent.
Jeon J's breathing had become heavier.
Then he looked directly into her eyes.
"And listen carefully."
His voice dropped.
"We are idols."
Everyone froze.
"You brought your friends here with you."
His eyes moved toward Sophia, Hana, and Ruhi.
"These three are fine."
The girls looked at him.
"They know how to manage themselves."
His voice softened for only a second.
"They're confident."
Then his expression hardened again.
"Girls should be like that."
The girls lowered their eyes.
"But your fourth friend..."
He stopped.
His jaw clenched.
"...ever since she entered our lives, we haven't had a single tension-free day."
Kim Joon's expression tightened.
Jeon J continued.
"Should we focus on our concerts?"
His voice rose.
"Or solve your friend's problems every single day?"
A few backstage workers turned toward them.
Jeon J didn't care.
"If she can't even take one step alone, why did she leave home at all?"
"Jeon J."
Kim Joon grabbed his arm.
"Enough."
Jeon J pulled his arm free.
"No."
He was breathing hard now.
"We already deal with stalkers and fans every day."
His eyes stayed on Minji.
"We barely have time for ourselves."
He shook his head.
"And somehow she's dragged us into more problems than anyone else ever has."
His voice dropped.
"She's mentally exhausting."
Kim Joon stared at him.
Jinhun's expression changed.
Even Teahun stopped moving.
Jeon J looked at Minji.
"Keep her away from us."
A beat.
"Away from me."
His voice was low now.
But somehow that made it worse.
"And if possible..."
He swallowed.
"...you stay away too."
He dragged a hand roughly through his hair.
Kim Joon immediately looked at Jinhun.
A silent warning.
Stop him.
Jinhun moved slightly.
But then—
Kim Joon's eyes shifted toward the doorway.
His face changed.
Jinhun followed his gaze.
And froze.
Zoya was standing there.
She had heard everything.
A short while earlier...
Zoya had been sitting outside for so long that she finally got bored.
She closed her laptop.
Slid it carefully into her bag.
Then she stood and adjusted the strap over her shoulder.
She had waited long enough.
Maybe her friends would come out soon.
She decided to go back inside.
Normally, security wouldn't have let her enter again.
But they had seen her leave with Jae earlier, and she had a VIP guest card.
So when she approached the entrance, no one stopped her.
She walked inside.
And just as she passed through the corridor—
The same couple appeared in front of her.
The young girl smiled brightly.
"There you are!"
Zoya stopped.
"You were looking for me?"
The girl nodded.
"Thank you."
Her eyes were shining.
"We wanted to thank you properly."
The boy smiled beside her.
"Because of you, our dream came true."
The girl laughed softly.
"This is a wedding gift I'll never forget."
Zoya's expression softened.
"No, really..."
She shook her head.
"It's okay."
She smiled.
"I didn't need the tickets anyway."
Then she added softly,
"I'm happy for you."
The couple thanked her again.
Then they walked away.
Zoya watched them for a moment before continuing down the corridor.
Someone told her the members and Minji were inside the Artists' Hall.
She nodded.
She was about to enter.
Then she heard a voice.
Loud.
Angry.
Jeon J.
She stopped.
Several backstage workers had already gathered near the doorway.
Nobody dared to move.
Jeon J had never spoken like this before.
Not to staff.
Not to security.
Not even when things went wrong.
But tonight...
His anger was impossible to miss.
He was speaking in English.
Those who understood every word stood frozen.
Those who didn't understand still knew something was terribly wrong from his tone.
Zoya took one small step closer.
Then she heard it.
"Your foolish friend..."
Her fingers tightened around her bag strap.
She already knew.
He was talking about her.
She stayed still.
Then—
"Minji, if she stays around us any longer, there'll be new problems every day."
Zoya's eyes filled instantly.
She didn't blink.
Didn't move.
She just listened.
"We already deal with stalkers and fans every day."
Jeon J's voice continued.
"We barely have time."
Zoya's lips parted slightly.
"And somehow she's dragged us into more problems than anyone else ever has."
Her eyes burned.
"She's mentally exhausting."
That one hurt.
She lowered her eyes.
Her fingers slowly tightened around the strap of her bag.
"Keep her away from us."
A pause.
"Away from me."
Zoya's breathing became shallow.
Then—
"And if possible..."
Jeon J's voice sharpened.
"...you stay away too."
Her heart dropped.
Kim Joon immediately looked toward the doorway.
And there she was.
Zoya.
Standing completely still.
Her face had gone pale.
Kim Joon's expression changed instantly.
Jinhun followed his gaze.
Teahun stopped breathing for a second.
Hosu's eyes widened.
Even Minji turned.
But Jeon J was still facing away.
He hadn't seen her.
"Keep her—"
Then he turned.
His eyes met hers.
Everything stopped.
His face froze.
The anger disappeared.
For one second, there was nothing in his expression except shock.
Zoya looked at him.
Her eyes were wet.
But she didn't cry.
She didn't give him that.
Jeon J looked away.
Immediately.
As if he couldn't bear seeing what his words had done.
The tiny bit of courage Zoya had walked back inside with...
broke.
Completely.
But somehow, she still made herself move.
One step.
Then another.
She walked into the room.
Everyone moved aside.
No one knew what to say.
No one dared to look directly at her for too long.
Zoya stopped beside Minji.
Her voice was so quiet that everyone had to listen carefully.
"Minji..."
Minji looked at her.
"Let's go."
That's all she said.
Minji stared at her.
Then she looked toward Jeon J.
But he was already gone.
He had walked out through the opposite door.
The moment he disappeared, the others quickly scattered.
Staff returned to work.
Members lowered their eyes.
No one knew how to fill the silence he had left behind.
Minji slowly stepped toward Zoya.
She forced a small smile.
"Zoya..."
Her voice softened.
"Where were you?"
She looked at her carefully.
"We were worried."
Zoya stood there silently.
Her laptop was still inside her bag.
Her work was still unfinished.
But somehow, the peaceful feeling she had found outside...
was gone.
Completely.
She looked at Minji.
And for the first time that night—
She had no idea what to say.
To be continued...
Regards,
ZK 💌