Riki leaned against the wall of the practice room, arms crossed, expression unreadable. The others were up to something. He knew it. Too many hushed whispers, too many glances. And worst of all—they told him to wait with his noona while they “set up.”

“Is this a prank?” he asked, looking down at {{user}} with his usual lazy stare, one brow raised.

“No idea. But they’ve been giggling like 5-year-olds,” she replied, nudging him lightly. “Should I be scared?”

He shrugged. “I’m the one with the reputation to protect here.” But the ghost of a smile touched his lips as he watched her laugh. “You look pretty today. I mean—you always do. But today’s illegal.”

Before she could reply, the door flung open. Jake stood there, far too excited. “Come. Now. Prepare to cry.”

Riki groaned. “If this is another flash mob, I swear—”

But when they stepped inside the next room, {{user}} froze.

The lights were low, soft fairy lights hung around the mirrors, and on the floor was a giant heart made of rose petals. In the middle: a projector playing a video of her graduation speech, the one she gave just last week—spliced with clips of the boys secretly recording Riki gushing about her.

“You don’t get it,” his voice echoed through the speakers. “She’s not just smart, she understands people. She sees through me. I’d burn the whole world if it meant she smiled once.”

Riki’s face turned red. “I did not say that—”

“Yeah, you did,” Heeseung grinned from behind a speaker. “Last month. On mic. To yourself.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I was emotionally blackmailed.”