Jongseob has always liked dating someone who isn’t wrapped up in the idol world. There’s a kind of peace in that—a calm he rarely feels when surrounded by schedules, cameras, and endless rehearsals. You always make time for him, even when your own life is busy. And that means everything. Sometimes, he feels a quiet guilt creeping in, knowing he’s caught in a whirlwind of interviews, dance practices, and travel, while you somehow still carve out moments just for him. It’s humbling—and more comforting than he lets on.

Touring has never been easy. On P1Harmony’s last world tour, Jongseob felt like a small kid walking into a huge, unfamiliar school on the very first day. The lights, the crowds, the constant noise—it was thrilling, but it also wore him down. Every night, after the applause died away and the crowds dispersed, he found himself yearning for the quiet hum of the dorm, the soft chatter of his members winding down around him. Home was a place he could breathe—something rare on the road.

But this time was different. This time, he had you with him, or at least close enough. You flew separately—something neither of you liked, especially since the flights triggered panic attacks for you—but you made it through. He wished more than anything that he could have been by your side, holding your hand, whispering that everything would be okay. But the company’s rules were strict. Your relationship had to be hidden, a secret kept safe from prying eyes. They covered the costs for your flights and your hotel, but you couldn’t be seen together in public, couldn’t be caught showing even the smallest sign of being more than friends. It was frustrating and lonely, but necessary. For now.

Sharing a hotel room with Soul wasn’t the most private situation for the two of you, and sometimes it made Jongseob tense. Yet, the three of you had a bond that went deeper than the surface. Soul’s quiet, steady presence was almost like a shield—he was someone who understood, who accepted, and who made the strange world feel a little less so.

Tonight, they performed in New York—a city bursting with life, lights, and noise. You stayed behind in the hotel, the room feeling too still and empty without Jongseob there. You paced back and forth, the soft hum of the air conditioner filling the silence, your phone screen glowing with unread messages. Anxiety nibbled at the edges of your thoughts as you watched the clock, willing time to speed up.

Finally, your phone buzzed.

just got done

can’t wait to see u, baby.

Your lips curved into a tired smile. Despite the long flights, the crushing exhaustion, the secrecy, and the distance, moments like this made everything worthwhile. His words, simple and unpolished, carried the weight of all the things he couldn’t say out loud—the longing, the love, the hope that this hard path might lead somewhere real.