Stolen Moments | Yang Jeongin

Thirty-Two

The day had finally arrived.

Dazz It's first performance.

I had been running on pure adrenaline since the crack of dawn, making sure every last detail was perfect for the boys. Their stage outfits were prepped, their debut song rehearsed, and everything was in place. The boys, however, were a bundle of nerves.

As I stood backstage, I could see Taejin pacing back and forth, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. Dohyun was muttering under his breath, probably going over the lyrics for the hundredth time. Kyungho kept bouncing on the balls of his feet, trying to shake off the nervous energy. Seongyu sat quietly in a corner, eyes closed, headphones on, while Jisuk fidgeted with the zipper of his jacket.

They were ready, more than ready, but that didn't stop the fear from creeping in.

I wasn't much better. My stomach twisted in knots, but I had to keep it together. If they saw me nervous, it would only make things worse. So, I plastered on a confident smile, determined to keep them calm.

"Alright, guys, I have something for you," I said, reaching into my bag and pulling out small keychains—little silver stars, one for each of them.

The boys looked at me, confused at first, but I smiled softly as I handed them out.

"What's this for?" Taejin asked, turning the keychain over in his hands.

"It's a good luck charm," I explained. "I figured you guys could use a little reminder of how bright you are—like stars. No matter what happens out there, you've already made it this far. Just shine."

Dohyun, who was still nervously pacing, stopped to clip his keychain to his belt loop, followed by the others. One by one, they attached their stars to their outfits, and I could see their spirits lift, even if just a little.

"We'll shine, Minji," Seongyu said quietly, standing up and giving me a determined look. "We won't let you down."

I smiled, feeling a lump in my throat as I clipped my own keychain to my bag. "You never could."

As they headed to the stage, I stayed behind, watching from the wings. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel my hand instinctively reaching for my keychain, clasping the little star tightly. This was it—the moment we had all worked so hard for.

The music started, the lights hit the stage, and Dazz It stepped into the spotlight.

They killed it.

Every move, every note, every beat—they were in sync, pouring everything they had into the performance. The crowd, really big for a first stage, responded with cheers, and I could see the boys feeding off that energy. Taejin's voice rang clear, Kyungho hit his marks, Jisuk nailed the choreography. Seongyu's calm presence grounded them, and Dohyun—well, Dohyun was always a firecracker.

When the final note hit and the boys stood, breathing heavily, faces flushed with the high of their performance, I knew they had done it. I could barely stop myself from running up and hugging them all. Instead, I stayed rooted in place, hand still clenched around my keychain, as they exited the stage.

But then, as the boys hugged me and celebrated, I noticed a figure approaching from the corner of my eye—Soojin.

My stomach turned. I didn't want her here, not now.

"Go ahead, guys," I said quickly, ushering the boys towards the dressing room. "Go change and get some rest."

They hesitated, clearly spotting Soojin, but when they saw the look on my face, they practically bolted. I watched them run off, hearts still racing from the adrenaline of their first stage. I was proud of them, but I could feel the tension rising in my chest as Soojin walked up to me, that ever-present smugness clinging to her.

"Minji," she began, her voice dripping with what she probably thought was praise. "I have to hand it to you. You've done a remarkable job with the promotion of our band. Dazz It has potential, and I'm impressed with how well you've handled everything."

I clenched my jaw, forcing a tight smile as I tried to contain the anger building inside me. I had worked too damn hard for this—for her to swoop in at the last second and take credit for something she barely lifted a finger for.

" Our band?" I repeated, my voice low but filled with venom. "They're not your band. Don't you dare act like they're something you put together."

Soojin blinked, clearly surprised by my tone, but I wasn't finished.

"If they belong to anyone—and they don't," I continued, stepping closer, "it's to themselves. They're their own people, their own artists. And if we're going to talk about whose band they are? They're my band. I'm the one who fought for them, who planned their debut, who made sure they had every opportunity when you wouldn't lift a damn finger. You may sign their checks and provide a budget, but don't you dare act like you care about them or their success."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowing. "You're crossing a line, Minji."

"Maybe I am," I shot back, my pulse pounding in my ears. "But someone had to say it. Dazz It made it to this stage today because we—the boys and I—worked our asses off. Not you."

Soojin stared at me for a long moment, her face unreadable. I didn't care what she thought anymore. I had spent too long holding back, biting my tongue. Not today. Not after what we had just achieved.

Without another word, I turned and walked away, my hand still gripping the star keychain on my bag. I wasn't going to let her ruin this moment.

As I reached the dressing room, I saw the boys emerging, still buzzing with excitement from their performance.

Dazz It had officially taken their first step into the world, and I couldn't have been prouder. No matter what anyone said, this was just the beginning—for all of us.