"I need a number."
Jeonghan sighed dramatically, flipping through a book he wasn't even pretending to read. "Someone we know, or someone we need Jihoon to find?" he asked, clearly unbothered, like he hadn't just dropped a bombshell of a question.
It was an odd little secret that everyone knew: Jeonghan seemed to know everyone. He had a remarkable knack for making friends, and it wasn't just the K-pop scene that was in his contact list. Non-idols, parents, distant cousins—his phone was an entire ecosystem. If you needed a connection, Jeonghan was your guy.
But then there was Jihoon. The boy was a walking search engine, a mastermind of the keyboard, and with a last name, he could dig up everything, and I mean everything. It was borderline creepy how well Jihoon could play FBI with just a few clicks. The power was both impressive and terrifying.
Jiyeon tapped her foot impatiently. "Someone you definitely know."
"Ooh, can I guess?" Jeonghan's face lit up, abandoning all pretense of intellectual activity as he tossed the book aside, leaning forward eagerly.
Jiyeon rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "You're going to guess anyway, aren't you?"
"Yup!" Jeonghan grinned, settling in for the game. "Uh... Hyungwon?"
"Nope."
"Your brother?" he asked, brow furrowing.
Jiyeon blinked. "Wait—why do you have my brother's number?" she asked, equal parts confused and amused.
Jeonghan smirked, flipping his bangs out of his eyes in a way that screamed "I have secrets." "That's none of your business."
"You're seriously gonna leave it at that?" she shot back, eyebrows raised.
He dramatically gasped. "Oh, I know! Is it Nabi?"
Jiyeon stared, eyes widening before she burst into laughter. "Yup," she confirmed, still snickering. "I wanna invite her to your concert next week."
Jeonghan practically clapped his hands with delight. "Genius! I'll text you her number, just tell her you got it from me," he said, tossing his phone to her in excitement.
Jiyeon grabbed her phone and started for the door, but before she could leave, Jeonghan's voice stopped her mid-step.
"Oh! And make sure you offer her the backstage pass!" he added, his eyes twinkling with mischievous excitement.
They both giggled. "Will do!" Jiyeon waved over her shoulder, her excitement building for the next step in this unexpected plan.
Unknown Number
Unknown Number
Hi! This is Jiyeon,
Jeonghan gave me your number because I wanted to invite you to Seventeen's concert next week!
Nabi
Oh wow, hi!
Um, dang, a concert?
Jiyeon
Don't worry, I totally understand if you don't want to, but I have an extra VIP ticket and I'd really love to have you there!
Nabi
I'm actually really honored!
But is there like... a reason for inviting me?
We haven't talked much at all 😭
Jiyeon
I was chatting with Vernon earlier and he mentioned how you and him are chill, if I'm correct?
If you're close with Jeonghan and Vernon, I'm sure we'd get along well too! I'd like to meet you, casually this time!
Nabi
Yeah, I was talking to him earlier.
He already invited me to the concert, actually 😭😭
Jiyeon
HE DID?
Nabi
Yup.
Jiyeon
THAT'S GREAT OMG, SO ARE YOU COMING???
Nabi
I guess so!
Jiyeon
AHH YAY!! CAN'T WAIT TO PROPERLY MEET YOU!! <3
Nabi
Likewise!
Jiyeon smiled as she put down her phone, her mind racing back to her earlier conversation with Hansol. His voice had been calm, but there had been a slight tremor to it, something she hadn't expected. She had asked him why, exactly, he wanted to meet up, and his answer had taken her by surprise.
Why had he asked?
The moment his words had left his mouth, she'd been caught off guard. His sudden request for her free days over the next few weeks had seemed casual enough, but there was something in his tone—a slight crack, like he was hoping she'd say yes.
Then came the moment of truth, when he'd confessed he'd been hoping she'd come to the concert. His admission had been simple, but she could feel his anxiety through the phone. And yet, somehow, it was the kind of vulnerability she hadn't expected from him.
Had something changed between them?
She sat back, replaying the conversation in her head.
"Hey, I got your text, thanks for responding." His voice was calm, but there was a slight edge to it, a nervousness he couldn't entirely conceal.
She smiled into the phone, knowing he was probably overthinking it. "No problem. But uh...why? Like, why did you ask?"
Hansol paused, his mind racing. Was this really a good idea? Was he overstepping? But once he had asked, there was no going back.
"I uh... have a concert coming up next week," he said, the words slipping out with a small tremor.
She blinked, caught off guard by the sudden invitation. He cleared his throat. "Our managers let us invite someone personally. I was wondering if maybe, like, possibly you'd want to come? It's totally okay if you don't want to or anything—"
She cut him off, already feeling her heart race. "I'd actually be down."
Hansol let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. Relief flooded him in an instant. He had tried so hard to ignore the idea, but the truth was, he wanted her there. He didn't just want her there; he needed her there. And for once, he didn't have to keep his feelings bottled up.
A sudden quiet filled the space between them, but this time, it didn't feel awkward. Instead, it felt like the beginning of something new. Something they'd never expected.
