closer | sung hanbin

02

Yuna adjusted her outfit for the third time that day. Today's shoot was a collaboration with a skincare brand, and she was seated in front of a soft, pastel backdrop, showcasing a clean, dewy look that matched the brand's aesthetic. As the camera rolled, Yuna smiled effortlessly, talking about the benefits of the product, her words flowing naturally as she leaned into her influencer role.

"This one's perfect for sensitive skin," she explained, holding up the bottle for the camera. "I use it every night, especially after a long day of shooting."

The photographer adjusted the angle, and Yuna smoothly switched poses, maintaining her bright, bubbly energy. Despite the intensity of the shoot schedule, she never let it show—keeping the same vibrant energy that had earned her such a loyal following online.

After the final takes were done, Yuna collapsed onto a couch, scrolling through her notifications. Even with the fatigue setting in, she couldn't let her guard down. Keeping her content fresh and engaging was part of the job, and her followers expected constant updates.

"Just one more vlog," she muttered to herself, switching to selfie mode on her phone. "Hey guys! I'm done with today's shoot, and it was amazing! Can't wait for you to see the final shots. I'll keep you posted!"

She ended the clip with her signature peace sign, her phone immediately buzzing with notifications after posting it. Even though she was exhausted, the constant flow of likes and comments gave her a strange comfort.

🎮

Meanwhile, across town, Hanbin was setting up for another stream. His daily routine had become almost automatic at this point—preparing his setup, checking his mic, and greeting the viewers who were already piling into the chat. Today's game was PUBG, and he was excited to team up with Yujin and Taerae for a few rounds.

"Alright, let's see how many chicken dinners we can get today," Hanbin said into the mic, his voice smooth and calm.

Taerae's voice crackled through the headset. "I'm in. Just make sure Yujin doesn't blow up the car this time."

"Hey! That was one time!" Yujin protested, his voice full of mock indignation, causing the chat to flood with laughing emojis.

The three of them dropped into the game, and Hanbin quickly got into his rhythm, leading the team through tense firefights and tactical retreats. His streaming persona was different from how he was in person—more animated, more engaging, yet still grounded.

As they wrapped up their last round with a win, Hanbin leaned back, stretching. "Good game, guys. I'll catch you both later."

He signed off from the stream but stayed on his computer, thinking back to his recent conversation with Yuna. He found himself considering some of her advice more seriously than he expected. Maybe he could experiment with his video edits, add a bit more personality, a bit more of himself.

Before logging off, Hanbin pulled up Yuna's Instagram, finally deciding to hit "follow." He chuckled to himself—he'd never imagined he'd be following someone like her, but she had been unexpectedly helpful.

🎮

Later that week, Hanbin found himself in the same convenience store as before. He was grabbing snacks after a long day of editing when he noticed Yuna again, this time browsing through the instant coffee section.

"Hanbin, right?" Yuna greeted, recognizing him immediately.

"Yeah," he smiled. "Looks like we're meeting here a lot lately."

Yuna laughed, grabbing a coffee can. "Maybe this place is just good luck. How's the editing going?"

"Better, actually," Hanbin replied. "I tried some of the stuff you mentioned, like the text overlays and adding more humor. It's working out pretty well."

Yuna's eyes lit up with interest. "That's awesome! Send me the link, I'd love to see how it turned out."

"Sure," Hanbin said, pulling out his phone. "Do you mind if you follow me on Instagram? I'll just send it to you there."

Yuna grinned. "Just followed you before I came here," she said, holding up her phone to show she had already followed him.

Hanbin's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Oh, really?"

"Of course. I gotta keep up with all the cool streamers, right?"

They exchanged a few more jokes before heading off their separate ways, but Hanbin couldn't shake the growing curiosity he had about Yuna. There was more to her than the influencer persona she put on for the world, and for some reason, he found himself wanting to know more.

🎮

Back in her apartment, Yuna's phone buzzed with a text from her boyfriend, Jeong Jaehyun.

"Why didn't you reply earlier? I saw you posting on Instagram. I don't get why you have time for that but not for me."

Yuna stared at the screen, feeling the familiar pit form in her stomach. She had only been hanging out with her friends after class—was that really such a crime?

"I was busy, Jaehyun. I'm working too, you know."

"Yeah, but you're never too busy for those random guys you hang out with."

Yuna sighed, her frustration building. This was always how it went—Jaehyun's possessiveness creeping in, making her feel guilty for living her life outside of their relationship. He never understood her work, always reducing it to "posting pretty pictures" while making snide comments about how much attention she got from other guys.

"Can we talk about this later? I have a lot on my mind right now."

"Whatever. Just remember who's been there for you since the beginning."

Yuna put her phone down, the uneasy feeling in her chest lingering. She was tired of these constant arguments, tired of feeling like she had to justify herself. But every time she thought about ending things with Jaehyun, he found a way to make her stay.

🎮

The next day, Yuna met up with her friends Dohee, Yurim, and Somin at their usual spot on campus. They were lounging under a tree, discussing their plans for the weekend.

"So, how's Jaehyun?" Dohee asked, though her tone was less curious and more concerned.

Yuna hesitated, knowing what they were all thinking. "Same as always."

Somin exchanged a look with Yurim before speaking up. "You know you deserve better, right?"

Yurim nodded. "Yeah, Yuna. He's been acting like this for months. He's controlling, possessive—honestly, it's getting worse."

Yuna sighed. "I know, but... it's complicated. We've been together for so long. And he wasn't always like this."

Dohee frowned. "That doesn't mean you should put up with it now. You're amazing, Yuna. You shouldn't be with someone who makes you feel like you have to constantly explain yourself."

Somin leaned forward, placing a hand on Yuna's arm. "We're just saying, you're better off without him. You've got so much going for you, and he's just... dragging you down."

Yuna listened to her friends' words, knowing deep down they were right. But breaking up with Jaehyun wasn't as easy as it sounded. There were so many memories, so much history—and part of her still hoped things could change.

🎮

As the day wound down, Yuna checked her social media and saw that Hanbin had followed her back. For a moment, she thought about messaging him, asking him for more advice on video editing. Anything to take her mind off Jaehyun and the weight of her friends' words.

Little did she know, the more she connected with Hanbin, the more complicated things would become.

🎮