The Midnight Star

Unfamiliar Faces, Familiar Feelings

The morning sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, bathing the small apartment in a warm glow. Matthew blinked against the light, his mind still reeling from the night before. He turned his head and saw Taerae sitting at the desk, staring at an open textbook.

"You've been up this whole time?" Matthew asked, his voice still groggy.

Taerae didn't look away from the book. "I couldn't sleep. This is all... too weird."

Matthew rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the lingering confusion. Everything around them was so ordinary, so normal, yet none of it felt real. The wish they'd made was supposed to give them a break from their busy lives as idols, but this wasn't what they expected.

"So, university students, huh?" Matthew said, trying to lighten the mood. He stood up and stretched, walking over to the desk. "You find anything useful in there?"

Taerae sighed, closing the book. "Not really. Just some notes for a class I don't even remember signing up for."

Matthew chuckled and sat on the edge of the bed. "Well, we did wish for a normal life. This is about as normal as it gets."

Before Taerae could respond, a loud knock echoed from the door. Both of them froze.

"Are we expecting someone?" Matthew whispered, looking toward the door.

Taerae shook his head, standing up cautiously. The knock came again, more insistent this time.

"Should we answer it?" Matthew asked.

"I guess we have to," Taerae replied, moving toward the door.

He opened it, revealing two familiar faces on the other side—Zhang Hao and Sung Hanbin. The sight of them was comforting and strange all at once. But there was something different. They were both dressed in casual clothes, backpacks slung over their shoulders, and they had the easy familiarity of a couple.

"There you are!" Hanbin said with a bright smile, brushing his hand against Hao's as he stepped inside without hesitation. "We thought you overslept. You're going to be late for class!"

Matthew and Taerae exchanged bewildered looks, not quite sure what to say.

"Class?" Matthew asked, standing awkwardly by the bed.

Zhang Hao rolled his eyes, slinging his arm casually around Hanbin's waist. "Yeah, class. You know, the thing we've been doing for months? University? You really need to stop staying up so late, Matthew. It's messing with your head."

Matthew blinked, trying to wrap his mind around the situation. Zhang Hao and Hanbin seemed so... normal. There was no hint that they remembered their idol lives. The way they interacted, the way they teased each other—it was like this was the only life they had ever known.

"You two okay?" Hanbin asked, noticing the awkward silence. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Taerae quickly shook his head, forcing a smile. "We're fine. Just... rough night. Didn't sleep much."

"That's what happens when you stay up cramming," Zhang Hao teased, tugging Hanbin toward the door. "Come on, let's go. We'll walk to campus together."

As they followed Zhang Hao and Hanbin out into the hallway, Matthew leaned closer to Taerae, whispering, "They don't remember anything. It's like they've always been university students."

Taerae nodded, his eyes darting around nervously. "Yeah, and did you notice? They're... together here."

"I did," Matthew said softly, glancing at Zhang Hao and Hanbin, who were walking hand-in-hand down the hallway. "It's like their relationship was always this way. What do we do?"