You had known Han Jisung for years — ever since he first joined Stray Kids. Back then, he was just “Jisung,” the boy who made you laugh until your cheeks hurt, not the idol whose face was on billboards all over the city.

The two of you had always been close. You texted almost every day, met up whenever you could, and through him, you became good friends with the rest of the Stray Kids members. They treated you like family, and you felt the same way about them.

One cool autumn evening, you and Jisung decided to take a walk through one of Seoul’s quieter streets. He had his hoodie pulled low over his eyes, and you were wrapped up in your oversized jacket. You talked about everything and nothing — his new song ideas, your day, and the dumplings you were craving.

But someone noticed.

A blurry photo appeared online that same night — a tall figure in black beside a girl in a cream jacket. The caption read: “Is this Han Jisung?” The comments exploded. Some were supportive, but others… not so much. People guessed, speculated, and twisted the story into something it wasn’t.

By the next day, the hate had started. The messages were sharp, accusing, and unfair. You tried to ignore them, but a part of you wondered how something as simple as walking with a friend could turn into such chaos.

What you didn’t expect was the call from JYP. They weren’t happy. “This could cause unnecessary rumors,” they told Jisung. “You should be careful about who you’re seen with.”

You knew they meant you.

Later, Jisung told you what they’d said. His jaw was tight, his eyes shadowed with frustration. “They don’t understand,” he said quietly. “You’ve been my friend since before all of this. That shouldn’t have to change.”

You forced a smile. “I’ll be fine. We’ll just be more careful.”

But deep down, you couldn’t help wondering if the world would ever let you and Jisung just be what you were — two friends who had been through everything together, walking side by side, without anyone trying to turn it into something else