The studio lights had been turned off for over an hour, but the traces of exhaustion still lingered on the practice floor. The stage, which had been filled with cheers just hours earlier, now sat in silence, accompanied only by the low hum of the air conditioner gently calming the room. In one corner, Kim Sunoo sat in front of the mirror, wiping off the remaining eyeliner beneath his eyes while staring at his own reflection. The face that looked back at him felt unfamiliar. The smile that usually bloomed like sunshine was gone, replaced by a tired gaze that barely blinked. He pulled off the headband that had been holding his hair back and let out a deep sigh.

On screen, Sunoo was known as the sweet boy. Cheerful, bubbly, full of energy, always smiling. The ideal member to place at the center of a group, to lighten the mood, to draw laughter from fans. But not everyone knew that all of it was just a shell, carefully polished and shaped over time by unwritten scripts from the agency. A role he had to play flawlessly, without cracks. But once the cameras were off, he became his true self again. An ordinary guy who disliked small talk. Who preferred speaking only when necessary instead of acting cute. Who preferred black hoodies over pastel cardigans. And who, for the past six months, had been quietly in love with someone.

His girlfriend wasn't an idol, wasn't an actress, wasn't anyone of importance to the world. But to Sunoo, she was the only place where he could truly be himself. When he was with her, Sunoo changed. His voice deepened, his demeanor turned firm. He was no longer the sweet boy doing aegyo, but a man who knew how to protect and make his partner feel safe. He held her hand without hesitation, looked into her eyes without fear, and embraced her without any permission from a script. He laughed more freely, got angry more honestly, and loved without pretending.

No one knew about their relationship. Not even his manager. He kept it hidden like a state secret. All to protect the only thing that still felt real in a life full of filters. That night, after practice ended and the other members had gone home, Sunoo checked his phone. One message had come through. One sentence that made all the day's exhaustion feel worth it. Sunoo held his phone, then smiled. For the first time that day, it wasn't an agency smile. It was real.

"I promise, you're not dating the fake version of me."

**[ WELCOME TO AU ENHYPEN! KIM SUNOO IS HERE! HAVE A NICE DREAM<3 ]**