𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳
The breeze off the Han River was warm, carrying the faint scent of spring flowers and street food from vendors down the road. Somewhere in the distance, a busker was playing an acoustic cover of an old ballad, his voice blending with the hum of the city as evening settled in.
Nabi stood on the rooftop terrace of her company's new office, watching the city lights flicker on one by one, stars reflected in glass and steel. The space behind her still smelled faintly of fresh paint, though Hyeri had made sure it was filled with flowers and greenery so it felt less like a company and more like... home.
"You're staring like it's a masterpiece," Kenji teased, setting two coffee cups down on the ledge beside her.
She smirked but didn't look away. "Because it is."
Hyeri joined them, pulling her hair up into a messy ponytail as she leaned against the railing. "You're not wrong," she said, surveying the skyline with something like pride. "We did good, huh?"
Nabi finally turned to them, her gaze soft. "We did great."
A year ago, they were three people clinging to the pieces of old dreams. Now, they stood here, partners in something they had built from the ground up. The label was still small, but they had talent on their roster, a reputation for creativity and fairness, and a waiting list of artists who wanted in on something that finally felt different.
It wasn't perfect. It wasn't always easy. But it was theirs.
"Speaking of great," Hyeri said, glancing toward the stairwell with a grin, "look who finally made it."
Nabi turned just as Hansol appeared at the top of the steps, holding a paper bag in one hand and his phone in the other. His tie was already loosened, and his sleeves were rolled up, the casual ease of him still enough to make her heart skip.
"You're late," Nabi said, her voice warm as he crossed the terrace to her.
Hansol just shrugged, offering her the bag. "Blame Seungcheol. He insisted I stay late for a meeting." He tilted his head in amusement. "And then Kwan showed up, just to be smug about being early for once."
Kenji smiled. "Nothing new."
Hansol laughed, but his focus was on Nabi as she opened the bag and pulled out her favorite pastries. "I told them we had plans," he said simply.
"And they didn't give you hell about leaving?"
"Oh, they did." He smiled. "But I told them they'd have to get in line."
Nabi's grin softened into something quieter as he took his place beside her, his hand finding hers like it always did, their fingers lacing together without thought.
They stood like that for a long moment, watching the lights move across the water.
"So," Hansol said after a beat, his thumb brushing over the back of her hand, "how does it feel? First year of the label in the books."
Nabi exhaled slowly, looking around. At Hyeri, still sketching ideas on her tablet; at Kenji, humming to himself as he scrolled through something on his phone; at the offices behind her, already filling with possibility. At Hansol, steady and sure.
"Like we're just getting started," she said softly.
Hansol smiled. "I like the sound of that."
Nabi leaned into his side, resting her head on his shoulder. "I think I do too."
They stayed like that until Hyeri cleared her throat loudly. "Not to interrupt your moment," she said, "but we have a launch party to get ready for. And some of us still need to rehearse their speeches."
Kenji gave a dramatic sigh. "Don't remind me."
Hansol chuckled, pulling Nabi a little closer before releasing her hand. "You'll be fine," he said to Kenji, then glanced at Hyeri. "You both will."
Hyeri smirked. "Says the man who once froze during his first awards speech."
"I was eighteen," Hansol replied smoothly. "And Kyeom wouldn't stop humming random song melodies into my ear."
Nabi laughed. "Some things never change."
But a lot of things had. And as they gathered their things and headed downstairs together, Nabi felt it again—the sense that the future was wide open. Not in the scary, uncertain way it had once been, but in a way that felt hopeful. Full of promise.
As they stepped out into the street, Hansol tugged her back for a moment, just before they crossed the road.
"Hey," he said quietly, and when she looked up, he tapped the pendant still resting against her collarbone. The tiny star gleamed under the city lights.
"Still there," he said.
Nabi smiled. "Always."
He kissed her then, soft and slow, right there on the sidewalk with cars rushing by and people going about their lives. And when they pulled apart, she felt something like peace settle over her.
She didn't need to chase anything anymore.
She was already home.
They crossed the street hand in hand, the others waiting on the other side. Hyeri was already calling out instructions for the party tomorrow, Kenji was negotiating setlists with their new artist over the phone, and Hansol was telling her about Jeonghan's latest ridiculous bet.
It was messy and chaotic and noisy.
It was perfect.
And above them, the stars watched quietly, right where they'd always been.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 ( 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 ) 𝘌𝘯𝘥 !
