In a world where dreams and fame collide, Naeun is a hardworking freelance model trying to balance her studies while secretly in love with Taemin, the rising star of SHINee. Their romance began when he was just a trainee and grew stronger as he prep...
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☾ ⋆･ﾟ:⋆･ﾟ:✧⋆.:･ﾟ✧.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ☾
Naeun's POV,
"It's been a while since we last spent time like this," Taemin said quietly, a trace of nostalgia in his voice as he led her toward a nearby bench.
They sat side by side, letting the hush of the park settle around them. A cool breeze rustled the trees above, and for a moment, it felt like the world had paused just for them.
Naeun glanced at him, eyes soft with affection. The calm on his face contrasted with the whirlwind of thoughts racing through her own mind.
"Your debut showcase is tomorrow," she said, tilting her head toward him, her voice laced with quiet pride. "Are you ready?"
Taemin's lips curved into a confident smile, his eyes lighting up with a familiar fire. "More than ready," he said with a low chuckle.
His confidence was magnetic—it always had been. Still, as her gaze dropped to their hands resting close on the bench, a pang of guilt pulled at her chest.
"I might not be able to make it tomorrow," she murmured, almost to herself. "There's a shoot at the same time..."
She didn't need to look up to feel the way he immediately turned toward her. His hand reached gently for her chin, tilting it until their eyes met again.
"Hey," he said, voice warm and reassuring. "Don't worry about it. You can still watch it online—sneak a peek between takes," he added, the corner of his mouth lifting in an encouraging smile.
Something about the way he said it—the calm, the understanding in his tone—eased the tight knot forming in her chest.
Their conversation drifted naturally after that, from light teasing to little updates about their week, and the kind of silence that didn't need to be filled. Their fingers eventually found each other, hands laced in a quiet act of intimacy, grounding them in the moment.
But even then, the question lingering in the back of her mind refused to fade.
She hesitated, watching the moonlight spill across the pavement. "What if people find out about us?" she asked, her voice low. "Apart from Joonwoon and our friends, I mean."
There was a long pause before he answered. A sigh escaped him, one that carried the weight of things left unsaid.
"We'll need to keep this a secret," he said softly. "At least for one or two years."
He turned to her then, his hand lifting to cradle her cheek, thumb brushing along the curve of her face with a tenderness that nearly undid her.
"Until then... I can't reveal you," he continued, his voice tight, sincere. "I'm sorry."
The words landed heavily, even if they weren't unexpected. She understood the risks. She understood the stakes. But hearing it out loud carved a different kind of ache into her chest.
