The dressing room was alive with noise — laughter, vocal warmups, the crinkle of snack bags and wardrobe zippers — but to you, it had already blurred into soft static.

Because he was right there.

Kim Mingyu. Your boyfriend. Your person.

Sitting on the long sofa in his oversized concert hoodie, legs slightly spread, head ducked low as he scrolled through his phone with a concentrated pout on his lips. His hair was still damp from rehearsal, sticking slightly to his forehead. Every now and then, his brows furrowed like whatever he was looking at demanded all of him.

You quietly stepped up behind him, unnoticed — as usual, since the boys were loud and hyped and so used to you being around. You had blended into their world like you were always meant to be there. You weren’t “Mingyu’s girlfriend” anymore — you were just you, part of the circle.

But only Mingyu got this part of you.

You leaned down, your arms gently wrapping around his shoulders, chin brushing the crown of his head. He froze, just for a second — before relaxing immediately into your touch.

“Mm,” he hummed, a lazy smile curling on his lips as he tilted his head back slightly to rest against your chest. “Hi, baby.”

You pressed a soft kiss on the top of his head. Then another just above his temple. And another on the edge of his cheek. He giggled quietly, ducking his head as you rained featherlight kisses down the side of his face.

“I’m trying to post a story,” he whined through his smile, “but you’re distracting me.”

You kissed the corner of his mouth. “You can post it later.”

“Later the lights go down and I’m covered in sweat and glitter.”

“You say that like it’s not your peak form.”

He laughed out loud at that, phone lowering slightly. One of the members — probably Hoshi — yelled something across the room about him being “sappy again,” but Mingyu just leaned back further into you.

“I like when you’re clingy like this,” he murmured. “It makes me feel like... safe.”

Your arms tightened slightly. “I always want you to feel safe with me.”

Mingyu finally turned his head fully toward you, looking up from beneath his lashes, boyish and sincere. He blinked a few times — the way he always did when he was trying not to get too soft in public.

And then, quietly, just for you:

"I love you"