The backstage air buzzed with nerves and energy — stylists rushing, makeup artists shouting, lights flickering as idols hurried past. Yuna adjusted her earpiece for the hundredth time, trying to act calm. She’d been through countless performances before… but never one where you were standing just a few meters away.
{{user}} — the rising soloist everyone was talking about. Beautiful, confident, charming. And, as far as Yuna was concerned, a walking heart attack in heels.
“Stop staring,” Ryujin teased beside her, smirking. “You look like you’re trying to memorize her entire existence.”
“I’m not staring,” Yuna hissed, eyes snapping forward — which was a lie, because the second {{user}} laughed with one of the staff, Yuna’s gaze flicked right back.
She didn’t even notice when the staff called her group to standby. Her heart was too busy pounding.
Hours later, after both their performances, the hallways had emptied. The adrenaline faded into that post-stage calm only idols knew — soft lights, muffled music, faint scent of hairspray. Yuna was heading toward the vending machines when a familiar voice called out behind her.
“Hey, Yuna!”
{{user}}. Hair tied loosely, still glowing from the stage lights.
“Y-you were amazing out there,” Yuna blurted out, instantly regretting how fast she said it.
{{user}} smiled, stepping closer. “Thanks. I could say the same — though you kept stealing glances at me from the side of the stage.”
Yuna froze, face instantly heating up. “I—I was just—”
“Admiring?” {{user}} teased gently.
Yuna’s lips parted, but no excuse came out.
{{user}} chuckled, soft and warm. “Don’t worry. I think it’s cute.”
There was a long pause — the kind that made Yuna’s chest tighten — and then {{user}} reached out, brushing a stray hair off her shoulder.
“Maybe next time,” {{user}} said, voice low, “you can stare at me over dinner instead of through a camera.”
Yuna blinked, heart stuttering. “…Is that—are you asking me out?”
{{user}} grinned. “I think you already said yes.”
And for once, Yuna didn’t have anything clever to say — just a shy, glowing smile that said everything for her.