Chapter 2: Late-Night Messages
The next few days passed in a blur for both Kang Jisoo and Lee Minjae. Their lives were consumed by relentless schedules—dance practices, vocal lessons, variety show tapings, and interviews. In the whirlwind of their overlapping yet isolated lives, idols rarely had time to pause, but Jisoo found his mind wandering back to that rainy evening at the practice studio more often than he expected.
He hadn’t realized how much he craved genuine moments like that—unscripted conversations that made him feel seen beyond his persona on stage. And, strangely enough, Minjae kept popping into his thoughts, like a melody that refused to leave his head.
It wasn’t until late one night, when Jisoo was sprawled out on his couch, exhausted from a long day, that his phone buzzed with a message. His screen lit up, showing a notification from an unknown number.
Unknown: Hyung, it’s Minjae from LUNAR! I hope this is okay… One of the staff gave me your number.
Jisoo smiled before typing a reply.
Jisoo: You better not be a sasaeng. 😅
Minjae: 😱 No way! I swear I’m not.
Jisoo chuckled, shaking his head. The image of Minjae’s startled expression from their last encounter flashed through his mind, and he found himself grinning more than he should.
Minjae: I just wanted to say thanks again for the other night. It meant a lot.
Jisoo: No problem. How’s practice going?
Minjae’s response was quick, like he’d been waiting by his phone.
Minjae: Tough, but I think I’m getting better. I keep trying to copy your moves from that routine. 😂
The messages flowed easily between them. What started as a quick check-in turned into a late-night conversation that stretched for hours. They talked about everything—practice struggles, the pressure of meeting expectations, and funny behind-the-scenes stories about their members. It felt natural, like talking to an old friend rather than a fellow idol Jisoo had only recently met.
At one point, Minjae sent a blurry selfie of himself lying in bed, his hair messy and eyes half-lidded with sleep. Jisoo couldn’t help but laugh, feeling a strange warmth in his chest.
Minjae: I look awful, right? Long day. 😩
Jisoo: You look like someone who just got hit by choreography. 😆
Minjae: Accurate.
For the first time in a long while, Jisoo felt himself relax completely. Talking to Minjae was easy, free of the exhausting pretense that usually came with industry friendships.
But as the conversation drifted into more personal territory, something about it began to feel different—gentler, maybe, or more meaningful than either of them had intended.
Minjae: Do you ever feel… lonely?
Jisoo stared at the message for a moment. He knew exactly what Minjae meant, but it wasn’t a topic idols discussed lightly. Loneliness was a constant shadow in the industry, an unwelcome guest that slipped into every hotel room and rehearsal space.
Jisoo: All the time.
Minjae: Me too.
The simple honesty of Minjae’s response made Jisoo’s chest tighten. It was rare to find someone who would admit that so plainly.
Jisoo: If you ever feel like that again… you know where to find me.
Minjae: Same for you, hyung. Anytime.
Jisoo didn’t reply immediately, just stared at the screen for a long moment, feeling the weight of Minjae’s words settle over him like a warm blanket. Anytime. It was such a small word, but it meant everything in a world where no one was ever truly available.
And before he could overthink it, Jisoo typed:
Jisoo: We should hang out sometime. In person, I mean. Outside the studio.
Minjae: I’d like that. 😊
Two days later, their schedules miraculously aligned, and they decided to meet at a small coffee shop tucked away in a quiet corner of Hongdae. It wasn’t the kind of place where idols would usually hang out—no cameras, no flashing lights, just cozy booths and the soft hum of conversation.
Minjae arrived first, sitting nervously by the window with a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes. He fidgeted with the hem of his hoodie, checking his phone every few seconds to see if Jisoo had messaged him.
Just as he was about to send another text, the door swung open, and Jisoo stepped inside, wearing a black hoodie and a matching cap. Despite his casual clothes, he looked effortlessly cool, like someone who had been born to be in the spotlight.
“Hey,” Jisoo greeted, sliding into the seat across from Minjae. “Hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”
Minjae shook his head, a small smile forming on his lips. “No, I just got here.”
They ordered their drinks—an iced Americano for Jisoo and a matcha latte for Minjae—and fell into easy conversation. The coffee shop felt like a little bubble, separate from the hectic world they were used to, and for the first time in a while, Jisoo felt like he could breathe.
“So,” Jisoo began, swirling the ice in his drink, “tell me the truth. How’s life in LUNAR treating you?”
Minjae hesitated for a moment, then leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “It’s… hard. A lot harder than I thought it would be.” His voice was soft, almost like he was afraid to admit it aloud. “Sometimes I feel like I’ll never be good enough, you know?”
Jisoo’s expression softened. “I know exactly how that feels.”
Minjae glanced up, surprised by the honesty in Jisoo’s voice. For a moment, their gazes locked, and something unspoken passed between them—something fragile and electric, like the first spark of a fire waiting to catch.
“Thanks for meeting me today,” Minjae said quietly. “I know you’re probably super busy.”
Jisoo shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I wanted to see you. Busy or not.”
Minjae’s cheeks flushed a soft pink, and he ducked his head, pretending to focus on his drink. Jisoo found the gesture oddly endearing.
They spent the next couple of hours talking about everything and nothing, losing track of time in the warmth of each other’s company. And as the sun began to set, casting golden light through the windows, Jisoo realized that he didn’t want the moment to end.
When they finally left the coffee shop, the streets were bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. They walked side by side, their shoulders brushing occasionally, neither of them in a hurry to say goodbye.
“Hey,” Minjae said suddenly, glancing up at Jisoo. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” Jisoo replied, shoving his hands into the pockets of his hoodie.
Minjae hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, “Why were you so nice to me that night in the studio?”
Jisoo thought about it for a moment, then smiled. “Because you remind me of myself. And… because I like you, Minjae.”
The words hung in the air between them, heavy and uncertain. For a moment, Minjae just stared at him, his eyes wide with surprise. Then, slowly, a shy smile spread across his face.
“I like you too, hyung,” Minjae whispered.
And just like that, under the quiet glow of streetlights, something between them shifted—something real and undeniable, like the first step toward a story neither of them had planned to write.
NEXT CHAPTER
How do you feel?
