closer | sung hanbin

03

The soft murmur of the café filled the air as Hanbin and his friends gathered around a large table. Jiwoong, Hao, Taerae, Ricky, Gyuvin, Gunwook, Matthew, and Yujin had all managed to sync up their schedules for an offline hangout, something they hadn't done in a while. Between streaming, university, and life in general, it was rare for all of them to meet face-to-face like this.

Gyuvin slurped his drink, eyes focused on Hanbin, who was unusually animated. "You've been acting different lately, hyung," he said with a grin, leaning back in his chair.

Hanbin, mid-sip of his iced coffee, raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you seem more... lively? You've been smiling a lot more recently, even during your streams," Gyuvin teased, his tone playful but laced with genuine curiosity.

The rest of the group chimed in, nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, you've been in a better mood lately," Ricky added, "especially during our games. You usually get more stressed."

Hanbin shrugged it off, laughing nervously. "I guess I've just been in a good headspace lately."

Jiwoong shot him a knowing look but didn't press further. "Good headspace, huh? That's always a good thing."

While the conversation shifted toward their next hangout plans and Taerae's latest music project, Hanbin stayed quiet, not letting on what was really going on. He hadn't mentioned his growing connection with Yuna to any of them yet. Not because he didn't trust his friends, but because it was still too new. Too uncertain. Besides, Yuna was still dating Jaehyun, and Hanbin didn't want to complicate things before they had even begun.

🎮

That evening, Yuna found herself standing in front of a massive LED screen, bathed in bright lights and surrounded by fellow influencers, celebrities, and brand representatives. She was at the *Influencer Awards*, one of the biggest events in her career so far. It was surreal, to say the least. The red carpet, the flashing cameras, the constant buzz of recognition in the air—everything felt heightened.

Dressed in a stunning black gown, she posed for photos and mingled with people in the industry, though her mind was half elsewhere. Jaehyun had been distant again, barely acknowledging her achievement tonight despite knowing how much it meant to her.

As the night progressed, Yuna's category was announced. Her heart pounded in her chest as the host opened the envelope.

"And the award for Best Beauty Influencer of the Year goes to... Park Yuna!"

Applause erupted around her, and Yuna stood, smiling brightly as she made her way to the stage. Accepting the award, she thanked her fans, her team, and the brands that had supported her. But deep down, a part of her wished Jaehyun had been there, cheering her on.

🎮

Back at home, Hanbin was scrolling through his phone when he saw Yuna's Instagram story pop up, showing a photo of her holding the award with a bright smile. He paused, then decided to reply to the story.

"Congrats! That's huge!  You deserve it."

It didn't take long for Yuna to reply.

"Thank you!! 😄 It still doesn't feel real."

That simple exchange turned into a full conversation. At first, they talked about the award show—Yuna giving Hanbin a behind-the-scenes look at the glitz and chaos of it all—but slowly, their conversation drifted into other topics. They talked about everything from their high school days, to their future plans, to random topics like their favorite foods and movies. It was easy, comfortable. Neither of them noticed how quickly time was slipping away, until Hanbin's phone buzzed with a call from Jiwoong.