"Today was so much fun!"
Hana threw herself dramatically onto the bed, still smiling from the concert.
"Thank you, Minji. Seriously. All of this happened because of you. We went to a concert for the first time in our lives—and not just any concert."
She sat up, eyes widening.
"A TBS concert! Oh my God!"
Ruhi laughed and wrapped her arms around Minji, who was sitting near the edge of the bed.
"Seriously, Minji. Thank you so much."
Minji smiled faintly.
Sophia, however, wasn't smiling.
She glanced toward the two girls sitting unusually quietly.
"Why are you both so silent?"
Hana followed her gaze.
"Yeah…"
Her smile slowly faded.
"When the three of us went outside looking for Zoya, everything seemed fine. What happened after that, Minji?"
She looked at her carefully.
"And why is Zoya so quiet too?"
Minji didn't answer immediately.
After Jae had told them that Zoya was outside and that the couple had already left, Hana, Sophia, and Ruhi had rushed out of the stadium.
Minji had stayed behind.
She wanted to hear what Jeon.J had to say.
The three girls had searched around the stadium, checking one place after another, but there had been no sign of Zoya.
And when they finally returned toward the entrance, they found Minji standing with her.
Hana had been furious.
They had spent so much time searching for Zoya that they hadn't even gotten the chance to properly say goodbye to the TBS members.
They hadn't even taken proper pictures.
But Zoya had said nothing.
"Nothing happened," she said casually.
She picked up her clothes.
"Go to sleep. I have a lot of work tomorrow."
And before anyone could question her again, she disappeared into the bathroom to change.
A little while later, she slipped beneath her blanket.
The others didn't think much of it.
They quickly returned to talking about the concert.
They watched the reels they'd recorded, laughed at their own reactions, replayed certain moments, and uploaded some of the videos online.
Minji changed into her night clothes too.
She was about to lie down when she suddenly stopped.
Her eyes moved toward Zoya.
After a moment, she walked over and sat beside her bed.
She glanced behind her.
Hana, Sophia, and Ruhi were still too busy talking to notice.
"Zoya…"
Her voice was soft.
From underneath the blanket came Zoya's sleepy-sounding reply.
"Minji, go to sleep. If you wake up late tomorrow, you'll start making noise again."
Minji stared at the blanket.
Then she reached over and pulled it down.
"How can you act normal?"
Zoya blinked at her.
"You're not normal."
"I'm fine, Minji."
"No, you're not."
"You're worrying for no reason."
Minji's expression softened, but her voice didn't.
"You're pretending to be normal."
Zoya slowly pushed the blanket aside and sat up.
For a few seconds, she said nothing.
Then—
"Minji…"
Her voice was quiet.
"He's right."
Minji's expression changed.
"Ever since I came into your lives, I've only created problems for all of you."
"Zoya—"
"And every time something happens, all of you leave your own work behind just to deal with me."
She gave a small, painful smile.
"That makes me feel bad."
"No."
Minji shook her head immediately.
"That's not true."
"You're taking his words too seriously."
She hesitated.
"I don't even know why he became so rude today. He's never like that."
Minji looked genuinely confused.
"I've never seen him get that angry before. I don't know what happened."
Zoya looked down at her hands.
"Minji…"
She forced another smile.
"He was right."
Minji went quiet.
"He's an idol. He has his own responsibilities. He can't keep leaving everything behind just to solve problems I create."
She looked up.
"You should understand him."
A beat.
"I already have."
The smile remained on her lips.
But her eyes didn't match it.
Every word Jeon J had spoken earlier was still lodged somewhere inside her.
Every sentence.
Every harsh tone.
Every word she wished she could forget.
Minji's jaw tightened.
"I'll talk to him."
"What?"
"I'll talk to him."
Her voice became firmer.
"He had no right to speak to you like that."
"And I have no right to disturb all of your lives either."
Zoya's answer came immediately.
Minji stared at her.
"He wasn't like this before," she said quietly.
"The truth is, I don't know what's happening to him."
She lowered her voice.
"You probably haven't watched many TBS videos, but if you had…"
A small, confused smile appeared.
"You'd know Jeon J is different from everyone else."
Zoya's eyes lowered.
I know.
She didn't say it.
I know he's different from everyone else.
Minji continued.
"I seriously don't understand why he's been getting so angry lately."
Zoya remained silent.
It's not anger.
He's running away.
From himself.
From the things changing inside his own heart. She thought.
Minji was about to stand when she suddenly stopped.
She stared at Zoya.
Something in her expression changed.
Zoya noticed.
For one terrifying second, she felt as if Minji could see straight through her.
She quickly forced herself to remain calm.
"What happened?"
Minji didn't answer.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"He never used to get angry."
Her voice was slower now.
"And he would never insult anyone."
Zoya's fingers tightened around the blanket.
Minji continued watching her.
"But these past few days…"
A pause.
"He's only been angry with you."
Zoya's heart skipped.
"And every single time…"
Minji's eyes narrowed slightly.
"He's insulted only you."
Zoya forced a smile.
"What is so surprising about that?"
She shrugged.
"I have no confidence. I create problems instead of solutions."
She looked away.
"And somehow, every time, I end up becoming a problem specifically for him."
Her voice became softer.
"So his behavior toward me is completely normal."
She pulled the blanket higher.
She couldn't look at Minji.
Because she knew that if she looked into her eyes, she wouldn't be able to keep pretending.
Minji studied her for several seconds.
She clearly didn't believe the answer.
But she didn't push further.
Eventually, she stood.
"Fine."
She returned to her bed.
"Go to sleep."
Zoya nodded.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
The room slowly became quiet.
One by one, the girls fell asleep.
Hana.
Ruhi.
Sophia.
Minji.
Everyone.
Except Zoya.
Under the darkness of her blanket, her eyes remained open.
She stared into the darkness.
Minji's question wouldn't leave her alone.
Why only you?
Zoya swallowed.
She turned onto her side.
But sleep still wouldn't come.
Back at the Hotel
"Jeon J."
Kim Joon's voice cut through the silence.
Jeon J didn't move.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
The room was quiet.
All members had gathered in Kim Joon's hotel room after the concert.
Jeon J sat on the sofa, his head lowered.
Kim Joon stood in front of him.
His voice wasn't loud.
That somehow made it worse.
"How could you say something like that to her?"
Jeon J's fingers tightened.
Kim Joon continued.
"And don't try to deny it."
He took a step closer.
"I saw you."
Jeon J slowly looked up.
"You used those words even after you knew Zoya was standing near the door."
Silence.
"You knew she could hear you."
Jeon J looked away.
"What I don't understand is…"
Kim Joon's expression hardened.
"Why?"
Nobody spoke.
"If you didn't like her, you could've simply told Minji."
He paused.
"That's it."
His voice became quieter.
"Any one of us could have found another solution."
Kim Joon stared at him.
"But what you've been doing lately…"
He shook his head.
"None of it makes sense."
Jeon J remained silent.
"In Seoul, you let them stay at your house."
Jeon J's eyes lowered again.
"You even allowed them to stay when the security system could only be accessed with your fingerprint."
Hosu glanced toward Jeon J.
Kim Joon continued.
"Minji wanted to go back to her own place."
A pause.
"But you added her fingerprints to the system so they could stay."
Nobody moved.
"If your only concern was Zoya's safety, Minji's house was secure too."
Kim Joon folded his arms.
"Ji-Won couldn't have gotten inside there either."
He tilted his head slightly.
"So why did you insist they stay at your house?"
No answer.
"And after we came here…"
Kim Joon's gaze sharpened.
"You've been checking the cameras continuously on your phone constantly."
Jeon J's jaw tightened.
"Watching the house cameras."
A pause.
"Or should I say…"
Kim Joon looked directly into his eyes.
"You've only been checking the cameras where Zoya was most likely to be."
The room went completely still.
Jeon J slowly lifted his head.
His eyes widened.
The others exchanged glances.
Hosu looked at Teahun.
Teahun looked at Yomin.
Jinhun's face had gone completely blank.
Jeon J looked around the room.
Everyone was staring at him.
For the first time, there was nowhere to hide.
He lowered his head.
His shoulders dropped.
Like a secret had finally been dragged into the light.
Kim Joon's voice was quiet.
"You like her."
Jeon J didn't answer.
"You really think none of us noticed?"
Still nothing.
"We've all seen where your attention has been these past few days."
Jeon J swallowed.
"If your silence means yes…"
Kim Joon paused.
"Then explain something to me."
His eyes remained fixed on him.
"Why did you propose to Minji?"
Jeon J froze.
The question hit harder than anything else.
Kim Joon didn't stop.
"And if your silence means no…"
He gestured toward him.
"Then explain all of this."
"Why is your attention always on her?"
"Why are you worried about her?"
"Why can't you stand seeing her talk to Ji-Ho?"
"Why does every little thing involving her affect you?"
Jeon J sat completely motionless.
His head remained lowered.
Nobody dared interrupt.
Because everyone knew Kim Joon was asking the questions they had all been too afraid to ask.
"And I know someone here understands a lot more than he's willing to admit."
Kim Joon's gaze shifted.
Straight toward Jinhun.
Jinhun immediately looked away.
Yomin quietly released a breath.
Thank God.
Kim Joon stared at Jinhun for another second.
Then looked back at Jeon J.
"People call us one soul."
His voice softened.
"But I don't think that's just something people say."
The room grew quieter.
"I believe all of us helped shape your soul while you were growing up."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"The age difference between us isn't even that great."
He looked at Jeon J.
"But we've always treated you like our youngest."
Jeon J slowly lifted his eyes.
Kim Joon's smile disappeared.
"And today…"
He took a slow breath.
"After seeing you like this…"
His voice cracked slightly.
"It makes me wonder if we failed somewhere."
Jeon J's eyes widened.
Kim Joon continued.
"Maybe we never became the kind of people you could trust."
That did it.
Jeon J suddenly stood.
Nobody understood what he was doing until he dropped down beside Kim Joon.
He rested his head in Kim Joon's lap.
And hid his face.
The room froze.
"Jeon J…"
Kim Joon's expression immediately changed.
Then he felt it.
Jeon J's shoulders were shaking.
He was crying.
Not quietly.
Not trying to hide it anymore.
He was trembling.
Kim Joon quickly pulled him upright.
"Hey…"
He wrapped his arms around him.
"It's okay."
Jeon J buried his face against Kim Joon's chest.
And finally broke down.
No one joked.
No one moved.
The room that had been filled with questions only moments ago was now painfully silent.
They simply watched.
Their youngest was hurting.
And none of them had realized how badly.
Much later, Jeon J sat beside Kim Joon again.
His breathing had finally steadied.
His eyes were still red.
Kim Joon glanced toward Jinhun.
"Jinhun."
Jinhun immediately looked up.
"Do I need to personally invite you to start talking?"
Jinhun swallowed.
The room went silent again.
"What exactly is going on here?"
Kim Joon leaned back.
"I don't want any more distractions."
His eyes moved across the room.
"There was already enough disturbance during today's concert."
A pause.
"Tomorrow, I don't want any of this happening again."
Nobody spoke.
"That is why all of you are here."
Kim Joon's voice became firm.
"Whatever has been happening between you and Jeon J these past few days…"
He looked at Jinhun.
"I want everything explained."
A beat.
"Unless all of you have secretly been working together and hiding things from me."
"We don't know anything!"
Minjo immediately raised both hands.
"Seriously. We're hearing half of this for the first time too."
Hosu nodded.
"I did notice something during the performance."
Everyone looked at him.
"But I thought he was looking at Minji."
He shrugged.
"How was I supposed to know he was actually searching for someone sitting in the guest section?"
Teahun immediately pointed at himself.
"And searching for the same person who blackmailed me into giving away my ticket!"
He looked personally offended.
"And another extra ticket!"
Hosu burst out laughing.
Teahun frowned.
"Don't laugh."
"You're still complaining about that?"
"Of course I am!"
A few chuckles escaped around the room.
Teahun crossed his arms.
"I was innocent."
"Oh, please."
Yomin rolled his eyes.
"Innocent?"
"Yes."
"You?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Absolutely."
Hosu shook his head.
"Why does this always happen to you whenever she's around?"
Teahun sighed dramatically.
"Because I'm the innocent one in this group."
He pointed toward the others.
"And somehow, I can never understand her tricks."
Yomin scoffed.
"That's because you're not innocent."
"I'm extremely innocent."
"You gave her the tickets."
"She manipulated me!"
A few more laughs filled the room.
For a moment, the tension broke.
Then—
"What happened?"
Kim Joon's voice cut through the room.
Everyone immediately went quiet.
He looked around.
"Why didn't everyone go quiet?"
Silence.
Teahun slowly lowered his hands.
Kim Joon sighed.
"So…"
His eyes moved toward Jinhun.
"Jinhun."
Jinhun straightened.
"Are you going to explain?"
He paused.
"Or will Jeon J do it himself?"
Jinhun opened his mouth.
But before he could speak—
"I'll do it."
Everyone turned.
Jeon J took a slow breath.
His eyes dropped to the floor.
Then he began.
"I don't know how to explain this."
Nobody interrupted.
"I started hearing words in my dreams."
The room became completely still.
"Strange words."
He swallowed.
"At first, I thought they were just dreams."
His fingers moved nervously.
"But they kept coming back."
He told them about waking up frightened.
About the words he couldn't understand.
About the fear that followed him even after waking.
Then he told them about the Central Mosque in Seoul.
About hearing those same words again.
From Zoya.
Exactly the same words.
The members exchanged glances.
Jeon J continued.
He told them about the letter.
About finding it inside Bamson's sweater.
About the bracelet.
About discovering another bracelet that looked exactly the same.
Zoya's bracelet.
Then the initials.
"MJ."
He explained the connection to the letter.
And finally—
Spring Song.
Everything.
Every detail he'd kept hidden.
Every strange coincidence.
Every moment that had made him question himself.
Nobody interrupted.
Nobody even moved.
By the time he finished, the room felt completely different.
A strange silence settled over everyone.
Hosu finally broke it.
"Then…"
He looked at Jeon J.
"Why did you propose to Minji?"
Jeon J stared at the floor.
"I don't know."
Everyone exchanged glances.
"I felt like…"
He rubbed his face.
"She was starting to notice."
"Notice what?"
"The feelings."
He hesitated.
"The feelings growing inside me."
His voice became quieter.
"That day, after the stalker incident, she had returned and was resting in her room."
He looked down.
"Minji went to call her for dinner."
His expression tightened.
"I was angry because she'd called Ji-Ho for help."
Several members exchanged knowing looks.
"But even then…"
He paused.
"I wanted to see her."
Nobody spoke.
"I didn't understand why."
He rubbed his palms together.
"I couldn't understand why her tears bothered me so much."
He took another breath.
"When I was about to enter the room…"
His eyes lowered.
"I heard her voice."
Everyone leaned forward slightly.
"She had already seen me standing at the door."
A bitter smile touched his lips.
"And while looking directly at me…"
He swallowed.
"She started advising Minji."
"What did she say?"
Jeon J's jaw tightened.
"She told Minji she should confess to me."
The room froze.
"She knew Minji liked me."
He gave a small, humorless laugh.
"But what hurt was…"
He looked down.
"She said it while looking straight at me."
Nobody moved.
"I couldn't understand how she could knowingly say something like that."
His voice cracked slightly.
"So before Minji could say anything…"
He stopped.
"I proposed."
Silence.
Kim Joon studied him.
"You're confused."
Jeon J looked up.
"You don't know what you're feeling."
Jeon J didn't argue.
"You don't even know what you actually want."
A long pause.
"I don't know."
The admission was almost a whisper.
Kim Joon sighed.
"You're confusing all of us too."
A faint smile appeared on Jeon J's lips.
"Nothing makes sense to me either."
Silence returned.
Then Jeon J spoke again.
"I only know one thing."
Everyone looked at him.
"Her tears…"
He paused.
"They put me in difficult situations."
A sad smile appeared.
"It's like she somehow knows whenever I'm struggling."
His eyes lowered.
"And maybe that's why she cries so much…"
He gave a tiny, broken laugh.
"Just to make my life harder."
Nobody laughed.
Because the joke wasn't really a joke.
The pain behind it was too obvious.
For the first time that night, every member understood something.
Jeon J wasn't simply angry.
He wasn't simply confused.
He was lost between something he couldn't name…
and something he was desperately trying not to feel.
And somewhere across Seoul, beneath a blanket in a quiet room, Zoya was lying awake for exactly the same reason.
To be continued...
Regards,
ZK 💌