Shut up

The first rays of morning light spill gently into the room, warming the soft curves of the furniture, casting a golden glow over everything. Yujin stirs, still nestled in the warmth of Jin-woo’s embrace from the night before. A smile plays on her lips as she shifts slightly, waking him up

“It’s time to wake up Jin-woo. It’s already 10:15, we need to meet your friend.” Whispers Yujin into his ears as she sits up.

“I’m too lazy.” Grumble Jinwoo trying to pull her back down

“Ya, come on we need to get ready. If you wake up now, I’ll let you pick my outfit.” Bargains Yujin

Sitting up straight, Jin-woo stretches and lets out a loud yawn and gets up and goes straight to the bathroom. 

“I hope you are ready for my pick.” Says Jin-woo

She shivers as she stretches, she then glances over to see Eunchae still curled up under her blankets, her face peaceful and serene. Yujin smiled, reaching over to nudge her awake.

“Eunchae, wake up,” she said gently. “We’ve got a lot to do today.”

Eunchae groaned, pulling her blanket tighter. “Too early…” she mumbled.

“Come on, Jin-woo’s already up,” Yujin teases, her voice playful as a grin appears on her face. “If you don’t hurry, he’s going to pick out something ridiculous for you to wear.”

That did the trick. Eunchae shoots up, her messy hair sticking out in every direction. “He wouldn’t!” she exclaims, eyes wide with mock horror.

“Wouldn’t I?” Jin-woo calls from across the room, leaning casually against the doorframe. Arms crossed and his signature sunglasses perched on his nose despite the soft indoor light.

Eunchae pouts. “Oppa, you have no fashion sense. You can’t pick my outfit!”

“Try me,” Jin-woo said with a grin, walking toward the closet. “What’s the occasion today? Casual, semi-formal, or ‘Eunchae tries too hard to look cute’?”

Eunchae stuck her tongue out at him while Yujin giggled. “Something casual but nice,” she suggested.

“Maybe I should also do her hair as well, pigtails sound great doesn’t it.” Comments Jin-woo much to Eunchae’s horror, falling back on to her couch.

Jin-woo rifled through the closet with surprising precision, pulling out a blue jacket and sky blue lace sleeveless crop top and bralette with a matching light blue skirt. “This works,” he said, holding it up. “Clean, comfortable, and not overdone.”

Eunchae squints at the outfit. “Huh… okay, not bad.”

“And for Yujin,” Jin-woo continued, moving to her side of the closet, “I’d say… this.” He picked out a white graphic tee with a tailored black blazer and a black mini skirt.

Yujin blinks in surprise. “Wow, not a bad choice. You’re actually good at this.”

“Of course I am,” Jin-woo said smugly, handing the clothes to them. “Now hurry up and get ready. Breakfast isn’t going to eat itself.” 

As the two scurries off to change, Eunchae glances back at him. “Thanks, oppa.”

Jin-woo smirks, leaning back against the wall. “That’s what I’m here for.”

Living Room

Mostly everyone has already woken up and is in the kitchen waiting for breakfast to finish. BM is already sitting down, doom scrolling through his phone until he sees the trio. Putting down his phone he dabs Jin-woo up and greets the others.

“Yo, when are we heading out?” asked BM

“ We should head out now. You ready?” ask Jin-woo as he makes himself some hot chocolate.

“Hot chocolate in the morning? Are you trying to get diabetes.” Scold Yujin as she tries to take it away but couldn’t as he out maneuvers her while taking a sip of his drink.

“Nothing beats a good hot chocolate in the morning. Anyways, BM, have you eaten anything yet?” ask Jin-woo

“Not yet, I was planning to finish some leftovers. Why? You want some?” Replies BM pointing at the container of leftovers on the table.

“ Good, because you’d regret eating anything when we are going to my friend’s place. We will be eating there at his restaurant.” Explains Jin-woo

“OHH Snap, thanks for telling me in time.” says BM as he quickly puts them back in the fridge.

“No problem, come on, let's go, our ride is here.” Says Jin-woo as he looks up from his phone before walking towards the exit with the others in tow.

“Jin-woo, what restaurant does your friend own?” Asks Yujin as she puts on her heels.

“I believe it’s called Dresa or something. Some fancy restaurants here in Madrid. I don’t remember.” Said Jin-woo as he exits out the door.

“Dresa? You mean THE Dressa? Dude that’s a 2 Michelin star restaurant and you’re saying that your friend owns it. I can’t wait.” Says BM as he jumps over the railing onto the ground in front of the gate door.

“Relax, it's gonna be like any other restaurant.” Says Jin-woo as he slowly walks towards the gate with Yujin and Eunchae

“Oppa, how often do you go to these fancy places for you to be so nonchalant.” Ask Eunchae

“It seems like nothing can faze you anymore, wait a sec, why is there a 3 Lamborghini in front of the gate?” Asked Yujin in surprise as they walked through the gated doors of their home. In front of them were 3 Lamborghini hurricanes in red, blue and black with 2 people standing in front of the blue and black ones.

“Well, these are your rides so just pick one and your drivers will drive you to our location.” Says Jin-woo as he nods to the drivers before one of them tosses a pair of car keys towards him as he catches it without a single glance as he walks towards the red lambogini.

“Oppa are you gonna drive one?” ask Eunchae

“Yea, so who’s gonna join me.” says Jin-woo as he enters the Lamborghini. “I promise to drive you there in one piece.”

“ Uh, Yujin-unnie can.” Says Eunchae as she quickly enters the blue Lamborghini with a large smile. Leaving BM to get into the Black one.

Yujin sighs as she walks towards the red Lamborghini and enters it, putting her seatbelt on.

“Please drive safely.” Requests Yujin as she holds onto her seatbelt tightly facing forward.

“Hehe, oh I will.” Grins Jin-woo as he starts the car quickly launching Yujin back a bit causing her to yelp loudly.

“YA HONG JIN-WOO!”

Arriving at the restaurant

The trio of luxury cars pulled into the parking lot of Deessa Restaurant, their engines purring like content predators. Jin-woo’s red Lamborghini led the way, sliding smoothly into a prime parking spot near the entrance. He steps out with a satisfied smirk, only to wince as Yujin gripped his arm in a vice-like squeeze.

“Hong Jin-woo,” she hissed, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “If you ever drive like that again, I swear”

“Okay, okay! I get it!” Jin-woo chuckled nervously, prying her hand off. “But hey, we’re here in one piece, aren’t we?”

“Barely, I’m telling auntie.” Yujin mutters, brushing herself off as she steps out of the car.

Eunchae, who had just hopped out of the blue Lamborghini, clapped her hands together and spun around to face the grand entrance of the restaurant. “Whoa! This place is so fancy!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she admired the golden accents and soft lighting. “Oppa, You have very fancy friends.”

“Having connections is key in this world,” Jin-woo replies smoothly, adjusting his jacket. 

BM stepped out of the black Lamborghini with a composed demeanor, giving the restaurant a once-over. “Not too shabby,” he remarked. “Definitely a step up from the places we usually go.”

“Not bad?” Eunchae scoffed, her hands on her hips. “It’s amazing! Look at those chandeliers!”

Yujin folds her arms and gives Jin-woo a sidelong glance. “Let’s just hope the food matches the décor. I’m not letting you off the hook if it doesn’t.”

Jin-woo grinned and gestured toward the entrance. “Come on, let’s find out. Don’t worry, I promise it’ll be worth it.”

Walking deeper into the restaurant, more amazing decorations can be seen, especially the statues. They then hear the footsteps from hitting the marble floor, turning towards the sound they see a tall handsome Spanish man in a tuxedo walking towards him.

“ Hey Jin-woo, Long time no see.” Says the man as he spreads his arms for a hug

“ It hasn't been that long, Quique. We saw each other earlier this year when I was here for Masters Madrid.” Replies Jin-woo as he reciprocates the hug.

“Sure, whatever man. Oh, I see you brought some friends. Let me guess the star struck one is your sister Eunchae. Sorry but I’m not too invested in the Korean industry.” Says Quique

“ ah, my name is Ahn Yujin from IVE. Thank you for having me here.” Says Yujin with a bow and a handshake

“I’m BM or Matthew from KARD. Thank you for having me here as well.” Says BM with a handshake and a bow as well.

“ Nice to meet you guys, I am Quique Dacosta, and I am the owner of Deessa. Please follow me to our table, our first course is ready for us there.” Say Quique as everyone follows him as he walks through the elegant restaurant. 

Walking through the restaurant, they can see the amount of effort put in to design the restaurant. It was very luxurious yet modern with large chandeliers hanging from the golden ceiling. There is a section of the wall where it’s a showcase of different wine bottles. 

Arriving at their table, there were a couple of waitresses standing on the side ready to be of service, each holding a bottle of red wine. The table already has their first dish ready to be consumed, with everyone all sitting down at their seat Quique motion for the waitress causing them to move towards the table. One stood beside Quique, handing over the bottle of wine while the other went around the table pouring a bit of wine to everyone. BM was a bit excited seeing them pour the wine into his glasses,it's been a while since he stopped drinking alcohol to discipline himself. For Eunchae, she was excited as since she recently turned 18, she would Legally be allowed to drink alcohol. Once the waitress finished pouring her glass Eunchae was quick to pick it up and smell. Seeing this cause Yujin to side glare at her and give her a quick nudge indicating her to act properly though it was very much ignored. 

“Eager aren’t you Eunchae, by all means go ahead. This is Marqués de Murrieta Castillo Ygay, one of the finest wines from the Rioja region of Spain. This exceptional wine represents the very essence of traditional Spanish winemaking, crafted by the historic Marqués de Murrieta estate. Made primarily from the renowned Tempranillo grape, with a touch of other varietals, which has a rich yet balanced taste with ripe dark fruits and subtle tobacco” Explain Quique as everyone takes a sip of the wine. Everyone was very satisfied with the taste though Eunchae did scrunch her face a bit at first though she quickly enjoyed her second sip.

“Haven’t tasted this one for a while. Spain has always made good wine, always very dedicated to the art of brewing.” Says Jin-woo as he puts the glass down, leaning back a bit.

“You should move to Spain my friend. Drink as much of Spain’s greatest wine as you want.” Amused Quique

“Nah, I’d still prefer my good old Root Bear.” Says Jin-woo, with his signature grin and locking eyes with Quique.

“Always one with the weird taste, Jin-woo. Now let me introduce you to our dish today.” Says Quique as he explains the dish in front of everyone. Everyone listens as they enjoy the food, intaking the flavor from the dish and listening to the idea behind Quieque.

Everyone was having a good time talking about different subjects as new meals were brought towards them. They spent almost 2 hours there talking and eating until Jin-woo speaks up

“Alright, It’s about time we head out, we still have some places to hit before we need to meet with the others. Quique it was nice seeing you again and thank you for the bottle, I’m sure the others would enjoy it.” Says Jin-woo as he stands up along with the others. He shakes Quique’s hand while holding a bottle of  Marqués de Murrieta Castillo Ygay in his other hand.

“No problem, make sure to visit me again when you visit, or I’ll call you whenever I’m in America or Korea.” Says Quieque as he retracts his hand from the shake before heading towards the others and giving them hugs and a handshake saying his goodbye.

Walking out of the restaurant, the others couldn’t help but feel a bit full. Hands on their stomach, messaging it softly trying to make themselves feel better. Jin-woo was the only one not affected by the amount of food eaten, he looked like he wasn’t even half full. Looking around at the busy streets and looking at the others he couldn’t help but smile seeing their expression.

“Ok guys, why don’t we walk to the market so we can burn away our food.” Propose Jin-woo

“Yea sure, man when you think of fancy restaurants you wouldn’t think of being full but goddamn am I full.” Say BM

“My tummy is bulging.” Comments Eunchae as she pats her unusually roundish stomach.

“Gotta burn it all away. Don’t want to be caught by reporters with your round stomach.” Jokes Yujin as she pats Eunchae’s stomach causing her to giggle and flinch backwards.

“Come on lets….go.” says Jin-woo as he turns towards the direction of the market before stopping a bit looking towards the side. The others walk past him as Yujin tugs his arm, looking at him and seeing him stare off at the side.

“What’s wrong?” Questions Yujin as she follows the directions of his eyesight which leads to an empty construction site. Looking down at Yujin, Jin-woo smiles and says 

“Nothing, just saw a small snake. Let’s go.” As he starts to walk forward wrapping Yujin’s with his.

Weird, oh well its Jin-woo  Though Yujin

“Weirdo, you know the reporters will have a field day if they see this.” Says Yujin, as she looks around the streets watching people walking around, friends talking to each other and the screams of children having fun.

“Let them. What can they do.” Replies Jin-woo nonchalantly as he continues to walk forward without a single care in the world.

“They can destroy my career, you bozo.” Say Yujin 

“Yet, you are still holding on.” Replies Jin-woo, motioning to the arm loop between his arm and body, holding on to his arm tightly.

“Whatever. Remind me to find some snow globes, I need to add to my collection.” Says Yujin as she holds on to him tightly.

“Snow globes? You collect snow globes.” Questions Jin-woo 

“Yup, I’ve been collecting them since I was a kid. I even got one from every state we performed at in the US.” Says Yujin with a cute tone in her voice.

“I even got one this big.” Says Yujin using her hand to demonstrate how big the snow globe she got.

“ That’s cute, now why don’t we go around looking for the snow globe and do some shopping before it’s time to go karting.” Says Jin-woo as they arrive at the open market.

“BM and Eunchae, why don’t you both go find something and meet back here in an hour to go karting.” Says Jin-woo

“Sure, and we’ll meet back here at 3?” ask BM.

Jin-woo nods his head as they all disperse to their separate ways.

Scrolling through the markets, they walk past many small stands and stores filled with many different items ranging from organic foods to stuffed animals. Nothing really piqued their interests apart from the occasional products that got Yujin’s eye causing her to drag Jin-woo over. Looking around, Jin-woo sees a street artist drawing realistic pictures of a couple. Nudging Yujin, he grabs her attention, and points towards the artist in front of them. Nodding in agreement, they walk forwards, standing behind the artist watching him drawing the couple in front of him. The drawing of the couple was extremely impressive, capturing every minute detail from the smiles on their faces to the leaf falling down behind them 

“Did you want to get a picture drawn?” questions Yujin as she watches the artist finish his drawing.

“Yea why not. Give us another thing to remember after the trip.” Replies Jin-woo as he walks towards the artist asking if he could draw them. Jin-woo also asked if they could move to the middle of the street where there was a bench in front of the island of plants dividing the street. The artists agreed so they moved towards the bench, sitting down Jin-woo lay backward with his arms wrapped behind Yujin’s shoulder pulling her closer with his signature smirk and lowered glasses. Yujin gives him her signature pouty glare before leaning backwards as well wrapping her left arm around his waist and with her right hand, she grasps his hand that is wrapped around her shoulders. Both are smiling and giving their signature smirks towards artists, both tilting their heads towards each other touching. 

Children running down the market street without care, as parents stroll through looking at each stall looking through the merchandise. The already bright background seems to be illuminated by Yujin and Jin-woo sitting on the bench as if it was the only light source around. This was what the artist was able to capture onto its canvas.

“Oh, my its absolutely gorgeous, he is amazing. He made me look so much better.” Exclaims Yujin as she examines the picture before rolling it back up and putting it back into the container.

“Yea, it wasn’t bad.” Replies Jin-woo as they continue to stroll down the street away from the market as they want to see if there’s anything they want from the stores before it was time to return to the meetup place.

“No, that's bad? How can you say that! You should appreciate their work.” Complains Yujin scrunching the side of her mouth at Jin-woo.

“Yea, yea.” Dismiss Jin-woo “oh would you look at that, a snow globe “ 

Forgetting what she was annoyed about she said “ooh where” walking towards the store beside them she looks through the glass window and sees multiple snow globes in a variety of sizes.

“Come let’s go in” says Yujin rushing in through the door.

Entering the shop, she head straights towards the aisle of snowglobes. Three shelf full of snow globes on each side, ranging from size to size. The store was your average antique store playing music from the 90’s, and only a single employee, a woman in her 60s, was sitting behind the counter reading the newspaper only glancing at Yujin and Jin-woo before returning to her newspaper. Jin-woo walks around checking out the different antiques ranging from creepy masks to pots and drawers. 

Slowly walking past each item, he randomly picks up a medium sized music box and opens it to a silver ballerina in an attitude derriere pose slowly spinning, playing an old classical song that Jin-woo doesn’t recognize He stares at the ballerina for a moment, then begins fiddling with the box, inspecting it closely. When he presses down on the ballerina, it pushes back up with a soft click, revealing a hidden compartment beneath it.

Inside, there’s a small red box. He lifts it out and opens it.

“Interesting,” Jin-woo murmurs, eyes narrowing as he studies the contents. After a moment, he carefully replaces the red box, closes the hidden compartment, and shuts the lid of the music box.

Carrying it with him, he walks over to the counter. The old woman behind it lingers on the music box as he sets it down, then looks up at him.

“Good choice… fifteen dollars,” she says, placing the box into a small bag. Jin-woo hands her the money and takes the bag in return.

With his purchase in hand, he heads over to Yujin, who is still carefully, almost painstakingly, deciding which snow globe to get. Currently, she has a turtle globe in one hand and a snow globe of a dog in the other, staring at each one alternatively.

“Still deciding?” asks Jin-woo

Pouting in indecision, Yujin looks up “yea, I don’t know what to choose. This cute turtle or this adorable puppy.” 

“Well, if you ask me, I’d choose this penguin one.” Says Jin-woo as he takes a penguin globe from the shelf and shows it to her. 

“Thankfully, I didn’t ask.” Yujin says, looking back at the two globes in her hand, head shaking in disappointment.

“I don’t understand how you can like such boring animals.” Retorts Jin-woo, placing the penguin back on the shelves.

“Do you really want to start this argument again?” threatens Yujin glaring at him 

“What argument? The one that I won at the aquarium?” grins Jin-woo

“Ya, wanna die?” threats Yujin, eye wide glaring at him pump faking him

“You wish, I love my life. Tormenting you is one of my hobbies.” Grins Jin-woo “Now come on, get the turtle globe. We don’t have all day.”

“Don’t rush me.” Says Yujin as she stands up and went towards the lady at the counter to pay for the globe.

“What did you get?” ask Yujin, realizing that he is holding a bag. 

“Nothing special.” Replies Jin-woo

“Okay, but what is it?” questions Yujin. To which Jin-woo replies “Secret”

Annoyed, Yujin grunts, and picks up her bags and exits the store with Jin-woo following.

“Where do you want to go?” ask Jin-woo walking beside Yujin

“Not sure, we still got 30 mins so let's just keep walking until it's time to turn back.” Said Yujin

Continuing down the sidewalk, they pass by a variety of shops, some colorful, some vintage, each briefly catching their eyes. For Yujin, it feels like a rare moment of freedom, a quiet escape from the chaos of her everyday life. But even as she walks, a similar yet different nagging feeling creeps into her. She can’t shake the sense that she’s being watched. Glancing around, nothing seems out of place, no strange faces, no lingering stares and no cameras and yet, the unease lingers. She takes a quiet breath and tries to brush it off.

“Something wrong?” Questions Jin-woo without looking at her.

“I don’t know, It just feels like someone is watching us.” Explains Yujin as she hugs herself looking around.

“Hmm, we are being watched indeed. Though you’ll be fine, because they aren’t here for you.” Says Jin-woo, dropping a bomb without care as Yujin takes a sharp turn as she stares at Jin-woo.

“What do you mean we are being watched?” asks Yujin

“Eh nothing important, just some low lives trying to make it big.” Says Jin-woo as he smiles wildly. Although he was looking forward, if you could see through his glasses, you’d see his eyes staring straight through a tinted window across the street of the 2nd level of the building. Behind said windows were 2 men staring at him right back, one of them was frightened while the other leaned back to drink his cup of coffee.

“Yip, he was able to see us.” Squirm one of the men

“ It's Hong Jin-woo, nothing can escape his senses. It’ll just make this even more fun, especially when he has that idol girl with him.” Says the other men

“ Are we gonna do it now?” ask the first man

“Eh maybe later, we already planted the seed. Just gotta let it grow.”

“Ya, Jin-woo. That’s not an explanation and you know that.” Says Yujin as she tugs his shirt backwards trying to get him to explain.

“Come on, it's nothing to worry about I promise. Besides, they’re probably just reporters since I’m kind of a big deal.” Says Jin-woo nonchalantly though it didn’t make Yujin feel better.

“Come on, it’s time to meet back up with the others.” Says Jin-woo as he drags Yujin back towards the meeting area. After some resistance, she complies and continues walking to the meet up area.

Jin-woo and Yujin arrive back at the marketplace where the market is more alive than before as more students are seen walking around in the uniform after school. The scent of fresh roasted chestnuts lingering in the cool afternoon air, blending with the faint melody of a street violinist playing near a cluster of artisan stalls. People bustled around them, voices overlapping as vendors called out their deals and tourists snapped photos of the scenic cobblestone streets.

Standing at the meeting spot, Jin-woo holds a lazy expression scanning the area as he stands there waiting for the others. Yujin, by his side, clutching the strap of her crossbody bag, her eyes drifting all over the marketplace. Though the energy was cheerful, she couldn’t shake the tension and uneasiness in her chest, a nagging feeling she hadn’t voiced. Knowing that they are being watched and Jin-woo's poor explanation didn’t help.

“They should be here by now,” Yujin mutters, her voice laced with worry as she anxiously scans the street.

Jin-woo glances at his watch and shrugs. “They’re only five minutes late. That’s practically early for Eunchae.”

“Yes, but that was before I realized we’re being watched by a bunch of so-called low lives,” Yujin snaps at him, her tone sharp with unease.

Jin-woo exhales through his nose and hands in his pockets. “I said it’s fine. No need to stress over it.” His voice is laced with growing irritation.

“Fine? FINE?! How can you just say it’s fine?!” Yujin’s voice rises, eyes blazing as she steps closer. “We’re alone in a foreign country with no bodyguards, no backup, nothing. What if they have Eunchae right now? What the hell are we going to do then?”

Her words come fast, laced with fear and barely contained anger as she glares at him, but Jin-woo remains unfazed, his posture lazy, his expression unreadable.

The indifference in his gaze only fuels Yujin’s frustration. 

“I don’t understand why you’re acting so nonchalant about this! Do you not care at all? She’s your sister for God’s sake! Do you not care?” she shouts, her voice cutting through the night, startling passersby who glance over at the scene.

Jin-woo doesn’t flinch. Instead, he calmly tilts his head, his icy blue eyes locking onto hers with an unnerving stillness. Then, in a voice so low and cold it sends a chill down her spine, he murmurs

“Shut up.”

The two words slice through the air, sharp and commanding.

Yujin stiffens. A lump forms in her throat, but she forces it down, straightening her posture despite the way his stare seems to pierce right through her.

“No,” she says firmly, her voice unwavering, though her fingers twitch at her sides.

Right on cue, a familiar voice called out.

“We’re here!”

Eunchae came jogging toward them, a wide smile on her face, bundled in her navy hoodie with a Real Madrid scarf still snug around her neck. BM followed behind her, holding a paper cone of churros, half-eaten, and looking just as relaxed as ever.

“Sorry, sorry!” Eunchae puffed, catching her breath. “Someone” she jabbing a thumb toward BM “ had to stop for churros.”

BM grins unapologetically, waving the cone toward them. “You guys want some? They’re still warm.”

As if nothing happened Jin-woo smiles and takes one. “Thanks. So, are we ready?”

BM nodded, finishing his last bite. “Yeah, let’s go. Time to see if you guys can keep up.”

Jin-woo gave a small, knowing smirk. “I already called ahead for our reservation.”

“Unnie, you, okay? How was walking with Oppa?” questions Eunchae, seeing Yujin a bit quiet.

“Yea I’m fine, it was okay, you know how it is with your Oppa.” Says Yujin with a fake smile.

The group start moving toward the go-karting facility, and the hum of engines and the smell of gasoline greets them as they arrive at the expansive outdoor track. The sun cast sharp shadows across the twisting course, the barriers painted red and white while a few other racers zipped along in the distance.

Jin-woo handled the check-in while the rest suited up in matching navy and gray racing suits, gloves, and helmets stacked nearby.

BM flexed his gloved hands dramatically. “Oh yeah, this is my element. Prepare to witness greatness.”

Eunchae squints at him. “You say that about everything.”

BM shrugged. “It’s only because I’m actually great at everything.”

Yujin, tying her hair back before grabbing her helmet, glances at Jin-woo, before looking at Eunchae. “We can’t let BM win, Eunchae-ah.”

Eunchae excitedly zips up her racing suit. “Nope.”

Walking past Jin-woo without a single glance she move toward their karts, but as Yujin adjusts her gloves, a strange, prickling sensation returns.

That feeling again…

She pauses, her gaze shifting subtly toward the chain-link fence lining the track's perimeter. Beyond the barriers, the lot stretched mostly empty except for a few parked cars and staff walking between the garages.

Yet, for the briefest moment, she thought she saw someone standing just behind the fence.

A figure. Unmoving. Facing straight at her.

She blinks and they are gone.

You’re imagining things again. Focus. Calm down.

Shaking it off, she slides into her kart, gripping the wheel tightly.

The starting lights flicker

3...2...1...GO!

Engines roared as all four karts launched forward.

Jin-woo takes the lead immediately, his kart hugging the inside line with near-perfect precision, while BM floors the accelerator with too much force, causing his kart to fishtail.

“WOOO!” BM yells, trying to steady himself. “I meant to do that!”

Eunchae zips after them, laughing as she barely manages a wide turn. “Try not to flip over, BM-oppa!”

Yujin focuses, the wind whipping past her face as she leaned into the speed. The track blurred around her, adrenaline finally pushing back that discomfort from earlier.

For a while, it felt good.

Until the sensation returns.

Stronger.

A shiver running from head to toe.

That same, persistent feeling of being watched. 

It wasn’t the crowd; they were far behind the barriers watching the race. It wasn’t the cameras mounted near the track for safety footage either.

It’s just in your head.

Yet, as she passed the next corner, her eyes flicked toward the fence again.

A shadow.

This time, she sees it clearly, someone standing just beyond the chain-link, face obscured under a dark hood showing their sharp grinning jaw.

Gone.

Her grip tightens, and for the first time, she falters, slowing just enough for Eunchae to overtake her.

“Yujin-unnie! Stay focused!” Eunchae called, half-laughing as she passes her

Yujin blinks hard, forcing herself back into the moment.

Focus. You’re fine.

Jin-woo crosses the finish line first. His kart glide smoothly into the pit, as effortless as his usual demeanor.

Eunchae followed closely behind, raising both arms victoriously. “Silver! I’ll take it!”

BM spun in next, scowling beneath his helmet. “Okay, no way. I demand a rematch.”

Yujin came in last, slower than she knew she could’ve gone. She exhaled deeply as she removed her helmet, the rush of cool air not quite easing her nerves.

Jin-woo noticed.

His head tilted slightly, the sunglasses still obscuring his eyes, putting his hand on her shoulder. “You were distracted.”

Yujin shakes his hand off her, completely ignoring him. Jin-woo sighs and follows her to the others.

Eunchae bounces up and down, grinning. “That was awesome! Can we go again? I think I’m getting the hang of this!”

BM grumbles. “I need a redemption. One more race.”

But Jin-woo didn’t say anything, keeping his focus on Yujin. 

Yujin ignores his gaze and forces a smile. “Maybe next time, it’s time to head to the stadium now. We’re already pushing it with time.”

Jin-woo nodded slowly but said nothing more.

Yet, as they left the karting facility, Yujin couldn’t shake the lingering chill at the back of her neck.

Like someone had been there.

Watching.

Nonetheless the night air continues to buzz with excitement as the group approaches the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Floodlights illuminated the colossal structure, and the rhythmic chanting of fans echoed through the streets. The sea of white jerseys and scarves waving in unison created an electric atmosphere.

“There they are!” Eunchae pointed ahead, her Real Madrid scarf bouncing as she waves enthusiastically.

Near the entrance, Seojin, Seojoon, Wooshik, and Eunseo stood waiting. Seojoon was the first to notice them, nudging Wooshik with a grin.

“Look who finally decided to show up,” Seojoon teases as they approached.

Seojin adjusted his blazer, giving them a calm nod. “How was go-karting?”

"It was awesome!" Eunchae beams. "I almost beat Oppa!"

"Almost," Jin-woo smirks, crossing his arms.

"Yeah, it was really fun," BM added, stretching. "I felt like an F1 driver."

“Calm yourself buddy. You were as fast as a snail.” jokes Jin-woo

Eunseo chuckled. "That good, huh?"

“Yujin how was it?” asks Yumi

“It was fine.” Mutters Yujin, still feeling a bit shaken up and paranoid.

Wooshik laughed. "Sounds like someone didn’t enjoy it."

"You have no idea," Yujin mutters under her breath, causing Jin-woo to sigh a bit but still kept quiet.

Jin-woo motions for them to follow. "Come on, let’s head to the VIP section and get our hospitality tickets. Bye Woo-shik Hyung"

“Bye Woo-shik”

With that, he led the way through the crowd, weaving through the real madrid fans.

They approach a VIP entrance, where security checks their tickets. 

"Uh... these say VIP seating. Oppa, I thought we had general seatings”

Jin-woo, with his usual smirk, reaches into his coat pocket and reveals a fresh set of tickets. The bold letters on them read VIP Executive Box.

"I thought we deserved better seats tonight. Afterall We're not here for just any game."

BM's grin widens as he leans in to examine the tickets. "Man, you really went all out. Does this box come with butlers or what?"

"And champagne?" Eunseo adds teasingly, arching a brow. "Don't forget the champagne."

"Only the best for us," Jin-woo replies, tilting his head slightly downward, his sunglasses shifting just enough for a glimpse of his confident eyes. “We can drink as much as we can!”

The security guard scans the VIP tickets with a nod of approval, and the group are ushered through a separate entrance reserved for VIP guests.

As they step into the VIP suite, a collective gasp filled the room. The space was pure luxury, plush leather seats, a private bar with a crystal-clear ice bucket chilling bottles of champagne, and an expansive window giving a perfect, unobstructed view of the pitch. A large flat-screen TV mounted on the wall, already displaying the pre-match analysis. A waiter in a sleek black uniform greeting them, offering refreshments.

Eunseo spun around wide-eyed. "Okay, we’re officially spoiled. Look at this view!"

Seojin adjusts his jacket, his gaze sweeping over the private bar. "I could get used to this. Does this mean I can skip the beer lines now?"

BM grinning widely, already eyeing the tapas spread. "Man, this is levels above the nosebleeds I’m used to."

Jin-woo settles into one of the front-row seats, arms crossed, the corner of his lips curling up as he took in their reactions.

"Nothing but the best."

The group settles into the plush seating. Yumi grabs a plate of tapas from the catering section while Seojoon and BM load up on drinks, exchanging jokes about who could cheer the loudest.

Standing out on the balcony, the group takes in the breathtaking view of the pristine field below.

"I can't believe we’re watching from up here. This view is insane!" Eunchae exclaims, her eyes wide with excitement.

"You mean far," Eunseo mutters, crossing her arms. "The players look like ants."

BM chuckled. "Hey, at least we’re not packed in with the crowd. This is the real VIP treatment."

"I still feel like I should try waving," Eunchae said, half-joking.

Seojoon smirked. "Yeah, I’m sure Vinícius Jr. is scanning the upper levels just for you."

"Let me live my dream, Seojoon-oppa," she huffed.

Seojoon leaned back in his seat. "As long as your dream doesn’t involve banging on the glass and getting us kicked out."

The stadium buzzed with energy as the teams warm up on the field, the match moments away from beginning.

Sitting on the sofa, Yujin rests her elbows on the couch, her forehead pressed against her palms. She massages her temples, letting out a sigh of exhaustion as her mind replays the figure she saw.

I did see it, right? I’m sure I saw someone there… or maybe it was something else. Stupid Jin-woo, not telling me anything.

She feels the cushion dip beside her, snapping her out of her thoughts. Turning her head slightly, she sees Jin-woo sitting next to her, holding a plate of mac and cheese.

“Here, have some,” he says, nudging the plate toward her.

Yujin completely ignores him, Jin-woo tries again, bringing the plate in front of her.

“No, I’m fine,” Yujin replies, not even sparing him a glance. 

Before she can react, a spoonful of mac and cheese is suddenly shoved into her mouth. She flinches but swallows it, nonetheless.

“Ya! What are you doing?!” she yells, wiping her mouth with her hand.

“Making you eat,” Jin-woo says matter-of-factly, scooping up another bite. “I need to get my money’s worth, so everyone has to finish the food, including you.”

“No! How can I eat when --mmph!” Yujin’s protest is cut short as Jin-woo stuffs another spoonful into her mouth.

“An Yujin, calm down and enjoy the game,” Jin-woo says, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. “I promise you; nothing is going to happen when I’m here. I swear.”

Swallowing her food, she mutters, “And what if you’re not here?”

“I guess we’ll never know,” Jin-woo says with a grin. “After all, I’ll be kidnapping you.”

“You never take anything seriously, do you?” Yujin sighs, shaking her head and leaning further back into the couch.

“Who said I was kidding, huh?” Jin-woo smirks.

“You know I’ll still be paranoid,” Yujin says.

“I know.”

“And I’ll make your life hell.”

“I know.”

“For telling me to shut up.”

“I know.”

“I’ll kill you if anything happens.”

“I know.” Jin-woo smiles softly.

Staring at the two on the couch is the rest of the group all with vastly different facial expressions.

“Aish, these guys are disgusting, I really want to hit them.” Says Eunchae with a disgusting facial expression

“They are gonna get married one day.” Says Seojin, sipping a cup of champagne.

“They are so cute, I wish I had someone like that.” Says Eunseo, staring at them a small pout

“Don’t worry I’m sure you’ll find someone.” Says Yumi with a small smile

“You too unnie.” Says Eunseo

“This guy is really making me feel lonely.” Says BM

“Not as lonely as Woo-shik.” Laugh Seojoon, causing everyone to laugh out loud as he would be missing this experience, and they’ll never let him live it down.

Although they were having their moment, the camera was still rolling, capturing the entire interaction between Yujin and Jin-woo. However, parts of their conversation weren’t fully recorded, leaving gaps that only added to the mystery.

When the episode aired, the reactions and online comments went wild.

[Online Comments]

•  "HELLO??? Did Jin-woo just casually pull her in like that??"

•   "The way he keeps feeding her… I’m sick. Someone get me a boyfriend like this."

•   "Yujin saying ‘I’ll kill you if anything happens’ while being wrapped in his arms is so on-brand for her LMAO."

•  "The mics didn’t catch some parts, and now I’m losing my mind trying to lip-read."

•   "Seojin sipping champagne like he’s at their wedding is sending me."

•  "BM: ‘I feel lonely’ – bro, me too."

•   "Not Seojoon dragging Woo-shik even when he’s not there 😭."

• "If they don’t get married, I’m suing.”

Although some fans were not pleased but were quickly delt with.

•   "Why is Jin-woo so touchy with Yujin? It’s making me uncomfortable."

  • "Yujin’s a grown woman. She can decide who she wants to be close to. Jin-woo’s just being playful, nothing wrong with that."

  • "Why does it matter? They’ve known each other for a while now, and she seems completely comfortable with him."

•   "I don’t get why Yujin has to be so close to him all the time. She’s a star, not his girlfriend."

  • "Honestly, some of you need to relax. They’re friends, and they’re having fun. Let them enjoy their moment."

  • "I’m a fan of Yujin too, but if she’s comfortable with Jin-woo, why does it bother you so much?"

•   "Jin-woo acting like he’s her boyfriend is just weird. Please, Yujin deserves better than this."

  • "Yujin and Jin-woo have great chemistry. Not everything has to be ‘romantic’ for it to be cute."

•  "I’m a fan of Yujin, not this cringe-worthy over-the-top stuff with Jin-woo."

  • "Get over yourselves. Jin-woo respects Yujin, and they clearly enjoy each other’s company. What’s so wrong about that?"

•  "Can we get Yujin away from him? It’s giving off some bad vibes, and I don’t like it."

  • "Stop projecting your own insecurities. Yujin’s having a good time, and that’s all that matters."

  • "It’s not bad vibes; it’s called a comfortable friendship. Maybe you should try it."

• "She’s way too close to him, and honestly, it feels forced. She deserves someone who treats her with more respect."

  • "The way you’re acting like Yujin is a victim here is gross. She’s doing just fine, and if she wanted to distance herself from Jin-woo, she’d do it."

  • "Let’s not pretend we know more about their relationship than Yujin does. She seems happy, so why shouldn’t she be close to him?"

The match began with a roar from the crowd, the stadium trembling with excitement as Real Madrid took control of the ball. The sound of drums and chants filled the air, blending perfectly with the energy in the VIP box.

"And we're underway here at the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid hosting Borussia Dortmund in what promises to be a thrilling clash," echoed the commentator's voice from the TV.

BM leans forward; eyes fixed on the action. "Look at that movement! Madrid's pressing hard already."

Eunseo shrugged while munching on churros. "I still don’t get half the rules, but I like the vibe."

Seojin chuckle. "Basically, kick the ball into the net. That’s all you need to know."

The first goal attempt came early, with Madrid launching a powerful shot that Dortmund's goalkeeper barely deflected.

"That was so close! Come on!" Eunchae shouts, springing to her feet.

Jin-woo remained calm, sipping a glass of sparkling water while the others erupted into cheers and gasps. He leans toward Yujin with a knowing smirk.

"Wanna bet who wins?”

“In your dreams.”

In the 25th minute, Real Madrid finally breaks through. A precise cross into the box was met with a stunning header, sending the ball straight into the net. The stadium exploded in cheers, and the entire VIP box jumped up in celebration.

"YES! WHAT A GOAL!" BM shouted, punching the air.

"Hala Madrid! Hala Madrid!" Eunchae screams, waving her scarf like a victory banner.

Seojoon claps with genuine excitement. "That was good, The precision on that pass…"

Even Seojin's stoic expression shifted slightly, the faintest smile forming as he gave a nod of approval.

"Okay, now I get why people lose their minds over this," Yumi admitted, grinning.

Halftime arrived with Madrid leading 1-0. The group relaxs, with BM and Seojoon debating the best plays of the half while Eunseo and Yumi scrolled through their phones, filtering their best shots for Instagram.

"Hey, we should call Wooshik," Yujin suggests, smirking. "Rub this in."

"Yes! I bet he’s sulking somewhere dark and gloomy," Eunchae added, already unlocking her phone.

They FaceTime Wooshik, who appears on screen sitting in a dimly lit bar with a half-finished beer in front of him. The noisy background only made his sour expression more comical.

"You called just to mock me, didn't you?" he groaned.

Jin-woo tilted his head just slightly downward, letting his eyes peek out from under his sunglasses. "You brought this on yourself when you bet against Madrid."

"Okay, okay. Fine. But I have beer, what do you guys have?" Wooshik countered.

Eunchae grinned while holding up a churro. "Churros. And victory."

Wooshik scowled. "I hate you all."

Dortmund comes out strong in the second half, pressing hard. Tension in the box grew as a Dortmund counterattack resulted in a stunning goal, tying the score 1-1.

BM slammed his drink down. "Oh, come on!"

Eunseo bit her lip. "This feels bad. They’re gaining momentum."

Eunchae clasped her scarf tightly, shifting in her seat. "They can’t lose... right?"

Jin-woo, however, remains unshaken. His voice, calm and steady, broke through the tension. "They won’t. Watch."

The clock ticks into the 88th minute. Madrid launched a last-ditch attack. The crowd roars as a perfect through-ball split the Dortmund defense. The striker took one touch, then fired.

"GOOOOOOOAL! Real Madrid takes the lead in the dying moments!" the commentator screamed as the stadium erupted in absolute chaos.

BM jumps to his feet, pumping his fist. "YES! OH MY GOD!"

Eunchae, Eunseo and Yujin scream together, hugging and practically bouncing out of their seats.

"HALA MADRID!"

Seojin claps hard, shaking his head in disbelief. "That’s how you finish a game!"

As the group exited the stadium, still buzzing from the victory, the city lights sparkled around them.

"Best night ever!" Eunchae declared. "Can we come back next week?"

"If Jin-woo keeps upgrading our seats, I’m in," BM laughed.

Jin-woo adjusted his sunglasses, smirking. "We’ll see. If Wooshik apologizes, maybe he can join next time."

"Or we let him sit in general seating while we stay here," Yujin added with a mischievous grin.

The group laughed, the energy still high from the unforgettable match, already planning their next adventure together as the Madrid night wrapped around them in celebration.

Time skip Home

After a quick meeting to discuss, everyone disburses to do their own thing before heading to bed. As Yujin leaves Jin-woos taps her on the back.

“Hey, follow me.” Requests Jin-woo as he guides them to the backyard.

It was dark outside with only the moonlight as the sole source of light. The sky is clear enough, where you can see the stars shine through the black skies. Although everything look perfect, it is still chilly and being in her pajamas, Yujin didn’t feel like being outside.

“Jin-woo, why did you bring me out here? It’s freezing, you know," Yujin complains, rubbing her arms and pulling her nightgown tighter around herself.

Jin-woo, seemingly unfazed by the cold, simply smiles. "It’s a beautiful sight, isn’t it?"

“I don’t care. I’m going back inside," she huffs, turning on her heel. But before she can take a step, she yelps as she is suddenly lifted off the ground.

"What are you doing, you idiot?!" she screeches, instinctively clinging to him.

Jin-woo holds her effortlessly in his arms, meeting her wide-eyed gaze. "Do you trust me?"

Yujin stares at him. "Kind of, but what are you-AHHH!"

Before she can finish, Jin-woo takes off running. In one swift motion, he leaps onto the backyard fence, then onto a tree branch beside their house, bounding higher and higher before landing smoothly on the slanted rooftop. They land on the portion of the roof where under it is their room, putting Yujin down and stabilizing her on to the roof he lets go.

“Ya, how the FUCK did you get me up here! How are you able to jump like that?” screams Yujin in adrenaline, before a finger is press against her lips causing her to become quiet.

“I exercise a lot, now why don’t we lay down on the blanket that I brought and wrap ourselves in this heated blanket.” Says Jin-woo as he points at the blanket place on the roof and a thicket blanket beside it.

“Where did that come from?” Questions Yujin, feeling a headache forming. Rubbing her hands against her forehead, she doesn’t know what to do anymore.

“Come on, let’s go.” says Jin-woo, dragging her to the blanket and pushing her down onto the blanket, before joining her and putting the heated blanket over them negating the cold. 

Now they are just lying there staring at the sky filled with stars as the cool wind blows against their face. Looking at the sky, Yujin becomes awed by the beautiful sight just like when they visited the waterfall. It is beautiful.

“Did you know that the light we see from the stars are actually from around 10,000 years ago? Which means that we can basically see something from 10,000 years ago every night. Cool huh?” explains Jin-woo with a smile and a voice filled with enthusiasm.

“Uh huh, that sounds cool.” Respond Yujin in an interesting yet not really tone, snugging in to the hot blanket.

“It is, you know the universe is expanding every second of every day of the year and we haven’t explored even 5% percent, we’ve discovered galaxies billions of light years away, and we’ve only understood the basic fundamentals of the world. This excites me Yujin, exploring and uncovering the secrets of the universe, learning about other sentient beings and uncovering the laws of the universe. It’s fascinating!” preaches Jin-woo with such passion that Yujin hasn’t seen anyone she met and that’s something as she meets a bunch of people passionate in achieving their dream of being an idol.

"Did you know that black holes are some of the most mysterious and powerful objects in the universe?" Jin-woo says, his gaze fixed on the night sky.

 "They have gravity so strong that not even light can escape, and anything that crosses the event horizon is lost forever. Scientists think they might even hold the key to understanding the fabric of space and time itself. Some theories suggest they could lead to other universes or act as shortcuts through space, wormholes, basically. Can you imagine? A single point in space that could bend reality as we know it. It’s mind-blowing!" His eyes shine with excitement, and for a moment, Yujin forgets about the cold, caught up in his wonder. Turning her head to the side, she stares at Jin-woo as he continues to passionately talk about the universe.

‘He looks so passionate and invested. It makes him look…cute.” thinks Yujin, seeing Jin-woo talk.

“Jin-woo, if you love space so much, why didn’t you become an astronomer instead of a gamer?” asks Yujin

“Hmm, good question, although it’s just a passion that I have. I don’t want to limit myself doing something for too long or it’ll become a job. I want to live my life to the fullest, living it a moment at a time without constraints. To be free and unshackled.” Says Jin-woo staring at the sky with a smile.

“To be free and unshackled? That would feel great wouldn’t it.” Says Yujin subconsciously snuggling closer to Jin-woo, still staring at the stars in the sky.

“I’m sorry for yelling at you. I was just paranoid that something would happen since you know we are being watched.” Says Yujin 

“It's okay, I guess I’m sorry for not explaining anything but trust me it’s better if you don’t know.” Says Jin-woo

“Is it really that bad?” questions Yujin, as she turns her head back to him.

“Depends, but you’ll be perfectly fine.” Says Jin-woo in a soft tone

Yujin stares at him in silence, her thoughts and feelings running overtime.

“Jin-woo.”

“Yes?”

“I-I don’t know how to say this but although we’ve known each other for a short time. You’ve changed my life, a lot. I don’t know how, why or what exactly, but I feel things change and I like it.” Says Yujin, feeling the beat of her heart pound loudly as she expresses her roller coaster of emotions since Jin-woo enters her life.

“You won’t leave right? Because I don’t think I can handle it. Every day, I feel like I’m walking on a thread and I’m one whisper away from falling down. No matter how hard I try.” Whispers Yujin quietly as the strong walls around her built from years of training and being an idol crumble down to a guy she met roughly 8 months ago.

“Don’t worry, I won’t leave you An Yujin.” says Jin-woo with his eyes closed and a smile on his face.

“Please don’t.” whispers Yujin tears slowly flowing down her face.

“Hm, get over here,” Jin-woo says, sitting up and turning toward Yujin. He moves over her, his legs straddling her sides as his hands settle on her waist. A smirk plays on his lips as he locks eyes with her.

“What are you doing?” Yujin asks, her gaze steady but laced with concern, unsure of what’s going through his head.

He doesn’t answer. Instead, in one swift motion, he flips them over. Yujin lets out a startled squeal, landing perfectly against his chest.

“More comfortable this way?” Jin-woo murmurs, wrapping his arms around her waist and stroking her back with slow, soothing movements though it kept getting lower with each stroke.

“Hmm, you big pervert.” Yujin smiles, pulling on his cheeks with her hands. Whether it’s her being tired or a demon possessing her, she doesn't stop him and slowly leans forward, her hand reaching towards his glasses and removes it. Holding on to the glasses, she wraps her arms around his neck and continues leaning forward feeling his breath against her face, she presses her lips against his, with her eyes closed. 

At that moment, she couldn’t feel anything but her heart beating against her chest, the warmth of his lips against hers. Everything feels so comfortable, as if a weight has been lifted from her chest. Being up on the roof at night, under the clear sky filled with stars, leaning and held by someone who just makes her feel safe and secured yet so free, just as much as he makes her angry.

“Hmm, you have soft lips puppy.” Comments Jin-woo as he breaks apart from the kiss with a smile. “I think I need more of it.”

Staring at his blue eyes, Yujin couldn’t help but just smile, showing her dimples letting a small chuckle. “Of course it is, the softest lips you’ll ever feel.” States Yujin in a soft confident tone.

“Hmm I don’t know.” Jokes Jin-woo

“Ya, what did you say? Do you not want more?” asks Yujin, squishing his face with the palm of her hands as she tilts her head with a glare.

“I said you have the softest lips in the world.” mumbles Jin-woo as his face is being squished

“and how would you know unless? Did you kiss a bunch of people.” Says Yujin with a raised eyebrow and pouty lips.

“Aish.” Groans Jin-woo causing Yujin to giggle.

“Time to go to sleep now, yeobo.” says Yujin, laying her head against his chest and closing her eyes.

“Yeobo huh. And where’s my kiss?” Says Jin-woo earning a small slap by Yujin and a long kiss.

“Muah! 잘자.” Says Yujin falling asleep

“잘자,여보.” Whispers Jin-woo as he stares at Yujin sleeping against the chest before laying his head back against the blanket staring up at the sky with a small smile on his face. Counting the stars in the sky as he feels his eyelids slowly close with a final thought going through his head.

‘Hopefully this will last.”