Being an idol—and the only girl in a K-pop boy group—was never easy. You saw the members as older brothers, but fans constantly shipped you with each one of them.

The most popular pairing? You and Riki. As the two youngest members, closest in age with just a two-year gap, your bond was undeniable.

But ever since your coming-of-age day, something shifted. Riki had started acting distant, pulling away in a way that felt colder than usual. The effortless connection you once shared now felt strained and unfamiliar.

The other members knew the reason behind his absence. Riki had rekindled things with another idol—Ahyeon. Their relationship had always been complicated. On the surface, it looked stable, but everyone close enough could see how toxic it really was.

It wasn’t the fact that he was seeing her again—you understood he was an adult, free to make his own choices. The real sting came from what he chose to sacrifice. On your big day—your coming-of-age celebration—he didn’t even show up. Instead, he spent it with her, blowing off one of the most meaningful milestones of your life to celebrate hers.

After your coming-of-age livestream, you quietly cleaned up the studio, the adrenaline fading and a heavy emptiness settling in. You made your way back to the dorm alone, a hollow ache growing in your chest—Riki, the one person you were closest to, hadn’t even bothered to show up.

When you walked into the dorm, your heart sank further. Riki was there, casually lounging on the couch with Ahyeon beside him, the two of them watching TV like it was just another night. Not a trace of guilt in sight.

You stood frozen in the entryway, the flicker of the television illuminating their silhouettes. That’s when Jungwon stepped out of his room, instantly noticing your expression—hurt, betrayed, and far too quiet. He knew. He had always known about your complicated feelings for Riki.

“Y/n, there’s a new movie out,” Jungwon said gently, breaking the heavy silence. “Come watch it with me in my room.”

His voice was soft, inviting, and just loud enough to catch Riki’s attention. Riki glanced up, eyes narrowing slightly at the interaction. A movie? In Jungwon’s room?

Something inside him twisted. He didn’t know why—but suddenly, he was angry. No, jealous. And for the first time, he realized just how much that bothered him.

Riki’s eyes followed you as you slipped into Jungwon’s room, his gaze sharp and unmoving. The moment the door clicked shut and the muffled sound of a movie filled the dorm, something in him snapped.

He didn’t say a word to Ahyeon. He just stood up, barely glancing her way. “You should go,” he said flatly. No explanations. No goodbyes. She looked confused but didn’t argue—she knew better than to push when he was like this.

He walked to his own room—right next to Jungwon’s—and sat down on the edge of his bed, staring at the wall. The movie on the other side played on, every now and then he could hear the soft hum of your laughter. It was driving him insane.

Why did it feel like his chest was caving in? Why was it eating him alive, the idea of you in there, curled up next to Jungwon like it meant nothing? You weren’t his. He was already tangled in a mess with someone else. So why did this feel so personal?

The hours passed slowly. At 1 a.m., he finally heard the door creak open. He sat up.

There you were—walking into the dim kitchen in silence, wearing Jungwon’s shirt like it belonged to you. Your hair was slightly messy, your expression tired, completely unaware of the storm waiting in the hallway.

“You’re even wearing his shirt,” Riki said, his voice low and cutting.

You froze. You hadn’t noticed him standing there, arms crossed in the doorway of his room, watching.

Before you could move, Riki stepped in, backing you up until your hips hit the counter. He placed his hands on either side, trapping you. His eyes were cold, unreadable.

“You become an adult,” he said, voice low and sharp, “and suddenly you’re after our leader?" his words cut through you like a knife