Idol-ized Lovers || Choi Soobin [Rewritten]

03

Ho Yeon hasn't stopped smiling ever since you agreed to go on that fan date. And honestly, you're glad she's happy. Really, you are. But what you're not glad about? The fan date itself. The whole thing intimidates you.

Sure, if it were Park Chanyeol or Choi Minho, you might've even been excited. You knew them. You were a fan. You could probably hold a half-decent conversation about their music, their variety show appearances, their fashion choices.

But this? Choi Soobin? Leader of some new group called TxT? Tallest member of the group? You don't know a thing about him—other than the fact that your six-year-old niece wants to marry him one day.

Your ideal Sunday usually starts at 11 a.m., coffee in hand, scrolling through "office-sucks" reels on Instagram while your brain slowly comes back online. Then comes a long, warm bath. A self-indulgent meal. A good movie or two. No pressure, no dress codes, no deadlines. That's your version of heaven. But this Sunday?

You've got TxT's discography playing on a loop. You're memorizing member names like you're cramming for finals. You're researching Choi Soobin's MBTI (ISFP, by the way), figuring out what the hell a fan date even means, deciding what to wear, what to say, and how not to make a complete fool of yourself.

This Sunday really did have to end this way. Fuck.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

The next morning, you're up, dressed, and make it to the office before 10. A small win. "So, how was your Sunday?" Yoo Jin asks, sipping his coffee as the two of you unwind post-lunch. "Don't even get me started," you groan, flopping into your chair dramatically. "That only makes me want to hear it more," he grins, scooting closer with cartoon-level enthusiasm.

You roll your eyes. "Well... Ho Yeon signed me up for a date with her favorite K-pop idol. Choi Soobin." Yoo Jin blinks. "Who?" You sigh. "Some guy from TxT." He squints. "Is that the group that's kind of like BTS but... not BTS?" He asks. "Something like that." You pull out your phone and show him a few photos of Soobin.

Yoo Jin leans in, eyes widening. "Damn. He's hot. You should go." He says, tapping your arm. "As if I have a choice," you reply dryly. "No, but seriously—he's really hot. If I were you, I'd go and never come back," he says, still scrolling through Soobin's pictures like he's found a new religion.

You chuckle. "Yeah, he is hot. But it's a fan date. And I'm not a fan. I'm terrified I'll say something stupid or offensive or just sit there like a dead fish while he talks about things I don't even understand." Yoo Jin stops scrolling and looks up at you, his voice softening. "Hey. It's alright. I seriously doubt he'll care." You glance at him. "Really?"

"Of course. These things are just PR. Celebrities do them because they have to. He's probably gonna sit there counting the minutes until it's over." He shrugs. "So chill, girlie. You got this." You exhale. He's right. He's so right. You really do got this.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

You stand in front of the mirror, finally dressed. Red bodycon dress, nude pencil heels, a slim silver bracelet on your right wrist, hoop earrings. Hair falling in soft waves down your back. You look good. Not like idol good—but you good. And for once, that might be enough.

"You look amazing, Imoya!" Ho Yeon says with sparkling eyes. You smile and gently cup her cheeks. "Thanks, baby." You're scared. Nervous. Your stomach feels like it's hosting a concert of its own. But Yoo Jin's voice echoes in your head: These things are just PR. He won't care. You got this. It's just a few hours. You'll survive. And next time? You'll make sure Ho Yeon never signs you up for anything without permission.

You take one last look at yourself in the mirror. Straighten your posture. Inhale. Exhale. You got this.