"Hi! Glad you could make it!" Jiyeon's voice rang out with her usual enthusiasm, but Nabi only managed a tight, uneasy smile as their eyes met. Truthfully, it was her friends who had dragged her all the way to the door backstage. Their squeals had never quieted since they'd learned about their special privileges, and despite finally being at their destination, the excitement still buzzed in the air. They clung to her arms like excited kids, pulling her body—stiff with nerves—through the discreet backstage doors after flashing their passes.
While Jiyeon greeted them with a warm smile, Nabi's expression remained stiff. Her mind spun with anxiety, the weight of her growing feelings for Hansol pressing heavily on her chest. Thoughts of having to act like everything was fine around him after everything that had happened made her stomach churn. She couldn't even focus on the conversation around her. Her friends' voices faded into the background as the thoughts of seeing him, of facing this mess of emotions she didn't even fully understand, consumed her.
Her gaze stayed glued to the floor, her mind a whirlwind of uncertainty, until an energetic voice interrupted her spiraling thoughts.
"Yeon!—Oh, hey!" Mingyu's tall figure appeared, a familiar face in the sea of pop-culture icons that had bombarded her over the past year. His presence was a little intimidating, especially after the relentless media coverage of him and Jiyeon. It was hard to forget their faces, plastered everywhere. She'd seen him in person once before, nearly a year ago, but the authority he carried still made her feel like she was standing in the presence of someone way more important than herself.
Idols were powerful in ways that normal people couldn't even fathom—careers and reputations rested in their hands. One wrong word or misplaced glance could change everything. And Mingyu, with his undeniable popularity and status, held an almost dangerous sway over the industry. The weight of it all made him seem larger-than-life, but then he jogged up to them with a goofy smile, clapping his hands with uncontainable excitement.
"Lovely to meet you...again!" He exclaimed, grabbing Nabi's hand and shaking it firmly—maybe a little too firmly for her liking. His energy was infectious, though, despite her nerves.
"Nabi, right?" He asked, but it wasn't really a question. He clearly knew who she was. He was just looking for an excuse to talk.
She nodded, offering a small, almost-smirk in return, her hand still tingling from his handshake. "Yeah, that's me."
The boy that emerged from behind Mingyu eagerly jumped into the conversation. "So glad Vern invited you!" he said, but before he could go any further, a harsh nudge from Jiyeon made him wince.
"Whoa, Kwan! You're not supposed to let her know that!" Mingyu whispered-yelled, only for his whisper to be loud enough to be heard by everyone within a three-mile radius.
Jiyeon slapped her forehead, the universal sign of "I can't believe this is happening."
"The one time I trust him," she muttered under her breath.
"Wait, no, I—" Seungkwan began, but before he could dig himself deeper, he looked around nervously, his eyes suddenly widening. Everyone followed his gaze.
Nabi turned, only to realize the sudden eerie silence in the air. She could feel it—the quietness that had descended around them.
"I don't even want to know where they went, honestly," she said, shaking her head and dismissing the situation. Her friends were normal—probably off somewhere admiring a poster, or, more likely, in front of a vending machine trying to figure out what snacks to get. No big deal.
Just as she finished speaking, Jiyeon's face lit up with relief, and the boys perked up immediately, their excitement palpable.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway behind her, and before she knew it, a voice called out her name—one she both wanted and dreaded to hear.
"Nabi!" His voice sent a jolt straight through her.
She turned, and there he was: Hansol. In all his glory.
The contrast between the usual composed Hansol and the sweat-drenched, black tank top-wearing version of him before her made her heart flutter in ways she couldn't describe. His hair was tousled, but somehow it still looked perfect, and the chains around his neck—those chains—seemed like a decision he should've made earlier. But it wasn't even his appearance that caught her; it was the way he was looking at her, eyes wide with excitement, his hands fidgeting nervously. His smile was too bright, and for the first time, he wasn't trying to hide it.
Luckily, the 3 men walking behind Hansol had shuffled out conveniently along with Seungkwan, Mingyu, and Jiyeon. Where they'd gone? Who knew. But the clear mischief on their faces was undeniable, even for someone like Nabi who was entirely infatuated with the boy in front of her.
Despite everything, despite the past and the confusion she felt, Nabi couldn't deny the warmth that spread through her chest. She could tell that he was holding back from running over to her, but the happiness in his eyes was undeniable. She tried not to think too much about the small wave of hope that bloomed inside her.
"I'm, uh, really happy you made it!" he said, his voice bubbling with sincerity. His tone was lighter, more cheerful than usual, and his nervous fidgeting told Nabi just how much this moment meant to him.
She smiled, though she couldn't quite meet his eyes. "Of course. And you were great out there. Seriously."
They stood there, two people standing too close but too far apart, unsure of how to bridge the gap between them. The silence grew heavy until Hansol cleared his throat, his voice tentative but earnest.
"You know," he began, his words stumbling out awkwardly, "this venue has a really cool spot I found while looking around yesterday. Would you maybe want to...check it out with me?"
His offer was awkward, but something about it made Nabi's heart race in a way she didn't expect. She met his gaze for the first time, staring into those caramel-brown eyes framed by thick lashes. She took a small step closer to him, her nerves suddenly feeling much more real, much more alive.
"Yeah. I'd like that," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, but her smile was genuine.
Hansol froze for a moment, as if processing the fact that she'd agreed. Then, in a burst of excitement—or maybe just nerves—he reached out, gently taking her hand before pulling back in surprise.
"Sorry, um, do you mind?" he asked, his cheeks tinged with pink.
Nabi glanced around, her therapist's voice echoing in her mind: Take risks. Go for what you want. She took a deep breath and, with a cheeky, shy smile, reached out and grabbed his hand, holding it firmly but gently.
"Not at all," she whispered, looking up at him with a softness she wasn't sure she'd ever shown him before.
For the first time, both of them were acting on something that wasn't just fear or regret—it was something real.
