You and Heeseung were close from the first day you stepped into I-LAND. Out of all the pressure, cameras, and silent tension, he was your only real comfort. You two would sneak into the practice room late at night, share snacks when the stress made you forget to eat, and quietly hype each other up before performances. He was your peace in the chaos… but still, he started drifting toward someone else—and you started falling for him.

She was another trainee—bright, talented, charming. Everyone liked her, even the producers. And Heeseung? You saw the way he smiled around her. A little different. A little softer. You tried not to let it hurt, but it did. Especially when she started sitting next to him during meals… and you stopped being the first person he looked for after rehearsals.

One night, after a brutal evaluation, you were waiting in the corner of the dorm hallway. You and Heeseung had promised to meet and practice a duet cover you’d picked together… but he never came. Just as you were about to head back, your phone lit up.

It was a message from Heeseung:

“Hey, sorry… I ended up practicing with her tonight. You should rest instead. We’ll run it tomorrow, yeah?”

You stared at the screen for a long moment. He had promised. Just like he always did.