In the competitive world of K-pop, where dreams are made and broken every day, So-young's journey is one filled with hardship, self-discovery, and unexpected turns of fate. Once a bright-eyed trainee in a small entertainment company, she faced relen...
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The sound of their synchronized footsteps filled the practice room as Lee Know executed the final move of their routine. He breathed heavily, the rhythm of his heartbeat slowly coming down from the adrenaline high of their intense practice. They were perfecting their performance, and he felt the familiar burn of satisfaction in his muscles. It was during moments like this, when they were completely immersed in their craft, that he felt most at peace.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the practice room door slowly creaking open. He had caught the movement instantly, even while they were mid-routine. New faces peeked in-girls. He recognized them from earlier announcements as Starlight, JYP Entertainment's newest girl group. They were the talk of the company lately, and he had heard snippets of conversations about their promising debut. But this was the first time he had seen them in person.
His gaze swept over them briefly before locking onto one particular girl. She stood at the front, looking slightly unsure yet unable to tear her eyes away from their performance. Her eyes were wide, almost in awe, and Lee Know could tell immediately that she was analyzing every move. He felt a small smirk tug at the corner of his lips-he was no stranger to the effect his dancing had on people, and he couldn't deny he enjoyed the attention, even just a little.
As they finished their performance, the girls remained frozen at the door, their expressions a mix of shock and admiration. Lee Know took a step back, catching his breath, and turned toward the water cooler. He grabbed a bottle, twisting off the cap and taking a long gulp of water. His gaze flickered back toward the girls. They were chatting excitedly among themselves now, clearly impressed by what they had just witnessed.
He noticed her again, the girl who had been staring at him intently. Her eyes were filled with admiration-no, something more. Curiosity, maybe? He couldn't quite place it, but it was different from the usual looks of admiration he got. This girl was paying attention not just to the performance but to him specifically. He found himself stealing a few more glances her way.
She was cute, he mused. There was a spark in her eyes that intrigued him, even if he wasn't one to get caught up in the idea of attraction. He didn't find himself drawn to people in the typical sense-not girls, not boys. He'd always felt strangely disconnected from the concept of romantic interest. It just wasn't something he found necessary or appealing in his life, given his focus on his career and passion for dance.
Bang Chan, ever the leader, took the initiative and approached the girls, smiling warmly. The rest of the boys followed suit, but Lee Know hesitated, watching from the sidelines as they exchanged introductions. The room buzzed with excitement as the girls stammered out greetings and fangirled over their favorite members. He noticed the girl-So-young, he remembered-standing a bit apart from the others. She seemed shy, almost as if she wanted to step back but was caught between excitement and nerves.
Lee Know took another sip of his water, letting the cool liquid soothe his dry throat. He wasn't usually one to engage in these meet-and-greet moments; he found it draining and unnecessary most of the time. However, he couldn't ignore the fact that the girls were their new label mates and would likely be around often. With a resigned sigh, he finally made his way over to the group, casually slipping into the conversation.
"Hey, great job on your debut," he said, his voice calm and indifferent. He noticed So-young looking up at him, her cheeks tinged pink. He gave her a brief nod, acknowledging her without giving away too much.
The girls erupted into a chorus of thank-yous, expressing how much they admired Stray Kids and how they hoped to follow in their footsteps. He listened half-heartedly, his mind elsewhere. He found himself glancing at So-young a few more times, but he quickly brushed off the thoughts. It was just curiosity, he told himself. Nothing more.
After exchanging a few more encouraging words, Bang Chan gestured for the boys to leave, giving the girls room to start their practice. They bid their farewells and left the room, the air still buzzing with the energy of the encounter.
As they made their way back to their dorms, Chan and Changbin were deep in discussion about their upcoming schedule. Lee Know trailed behind slightly, lost in thought. He couldn't shake the image of the girl who had been staring at him. He didn't usually notice fans or other idols like this, but something about her had caught his attention. Maybe it was the look in her eyes-the admiration mixed with a hint of something he couldn't quite place.
His thoughts were interrupted by Han, who jumped on his back playfully. "Hi, hyung!" Han grinned, locking his arms around Lee Know's neck in a mock chokehold.
Lee Know rolled his eyes but couldn't help a small smile. "Why are you acting like we didn't just see each other a minute ago?" he replied, pushing Han off gently.
Han laughed, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "The girls...," he started, lowering his voice as if he was sharing a big secret.
Lee Know raised an eyebrow, already sensing where this was going. "Who?"
"Starlight," Han clarified with a cheeky grin. "What do you think? They're cute, right?"
Lee Know shrugged nonchalantly. "They're fine," he said, feigning disinterest. He had no intention of admitting that one of them had caught his eye, even if only for a moment.
Han's grin widened. "Come on, hyung. Don't lie. They're hot, especially the one with the long hair... what was her name? Ah, So-young! Or their Maknea Ah-reum!"
The name hung in the air, and Lee Know felt an involuntary reaction in his chest. He stayed quiet, his expression unreadable as Han continued to talk. He could still picture her face, the way she looked when she was staring at him. Cute and... yes, maybe even a bit hot. But he wasn't going to admit that, especially not to Han.
"I don't really care," Lee Know said casually, brushing off Han's teasing. "I'm not interested in anything like that."
Han pouted dramatically. "You're no fun, hyung. I swear, sometimes I think you're a robot. How can you not be interested in anyone?"
Lee Know just shrugged. It was true-he wasn't interested. He didn't feel the need for romance or infatuation. His world was focused on dance and music. That was all he needed. Or so he thought.
He left Han to his own musings and headed to the bathroom for a quick shower. The warm water cascaded down his back, soothing his sore muscles. As he lathered up, his mind wandered back to the practice room, to the moment when he'd caught So-young staring at him. It was strange-he had never cared for attention like that, but something about her gaze had lingered in his mind. He pushed the thought aside, rinsing off and finishing his shower.
Once he was dressed, he made his way to the kitchen. As always, he took on the role of cooking for the boys. It was something he enjoyed-an act of service that made him feel grounded. He chopped vegetables with practiced ease, the rhythmic sound of the knife on the cutting board calming his thoughts.
Dinner was a lively affair, with the boys joking and laughing around the table. Lee Know stayed mostly quiet, listening to their banter as he ate. He didn't mention the girls again, even when Han brought them up, raving about how cute they were. Lee Know just rolled his eyes, letting the conversation wash over him.
After dinner, they all headed back to their dorms. He shared a room with Han, who was already sprawled out on his bed, scrolling through his phone and humming a tune. Lee Know slipped into his bed, pulling the covers up and letting out a deep breath.
As he stared at the ceiling, his mind drifted back to So-young once more. He found himself wondering if she was still practicing, or not. He shook his head, trying to clear the thoughts. It didn't matter. He wasn't interested in her, or in anyone. It was just a fleeting moment of curiosity, nothing more.
With that thought, he closed his eyes, letting the exhaustion of the day pull him into sleep. For now, he could ignore the strange flutter in his chest. But he had a feeling that this was just the beginning, and whatever was stirring inside him wouldn't be so easy to ignore the next time they met.
