Changbin was scrolling through his phone during a short break between rehearsals when ILLIT’s new MV for Tick-Tack dropped.

He paused mid-scroll, eyes narrowing at the screen. “Wait… is that…?”

The camera panned to a silhouette labeled as Jiji’s crush. The shape—broad shoulders, that unmistakable posture—looked suspiciously like him.

He shook his head, trying to convince himself. “Nah… probably just casting. They could’ve made it anyone. Totally random.”

But when the behind-the-scenes clips came out a few days later, revealing that each member got to pick what their crush looked like, Changbin’s phone exploded with notifications. Fans were buzzing: “That’s definitely Changbin!” “Jiji likes Bin?” “Her crush is him? No way!”

Changbin’s cheeks heated. Could it really be him? After all these years… since trainee days, those long nights practicing together, all the little glances they shared.

Later, in the studio, he spotted Jiji adjusting her microphone by the window.

“Hey,” he said casually, trying to sound calm, though his heart was racing.

She looked up, a faint pink creeping across her cheeks. “…Hey.”

“So… I saw the MV,” he began, swallowing hard. “The silhouette… was… um…”

Jiji fiddled with her bracelet, avoiding his gaze for a moment. “Yeah,” she whispered.

“…Yeah?” His stomach twisted nervously.

She nodded, biting her lip. “I picked… someone I like.”

Changbin’s eyes widened. “…Wait. That’s… me?”

Her small, shy nod made his chest tighten in a mix of relief, disbelief, and happiness.

“I… like you too,” he admitted, a teasing sparkle in his eyes despite the blush creeping across his cheeks.

Her grin widened, shy but radiant. “Really?”

“Really,” he said, stepping closer, voice low so only she could hear. “Guess we’ve been holding this secret for too long.”

And in that quiet moment, the years of unspoken feelings finally found their place—between shared smiles, quick glances, and the knowledge that neither of them had to hide anymore.