If I Can't Have You, No One Can
by Jaewon
Summary:
In the ruthless spotlight of K-pop, producer Park Wonwoo has spent years crafting every hit song for ITZY’s Yeji — each lyric dripping with his hidden obsession. When she turns to him for emotional refuge while secretly dating Stray Kids’ Hyunjin, the lines between love and possession blur. As Yeji falls for the man who truly seems to understand her, she makes a devastating choice. But obsession always has a price. When the truth of Wonwoo’s betrayal surfaces, everything shatters. Years later, alone at the peak of success, he hears her song about the monster she wishes she’d never met. A dark angst romance of jealousy, betrayal, forbidden desire, and tragic regret.
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Prologue: Shadows in the Melody
The practice room pulsed with sweat, bass, and exhaustion. Twelve idols moved in perfect sync under the harsh lights — ITZY and Stray Kids combined for a massive joint stage that had the whole company on edge. Park Wonwoo stood in the corner, laptop open, pretending to tweak the track while his eyes stayed locked on her.
Hwang Yeji commanded the front of the formation, sharp and elegant even as fatigue lined her face. Next to her, Ryujin danced with that signature cool swagger, Lia softened every move with graceful expressions, Chaeryeong hit every angle flawlessly, and maknae Yuna pushed through with bright energy that never seemed to fade completely. Their bond was obvious — quick glances, encouraging touches, the kind of sisterhood built through years of shared pressure.
Across from them, Stray Kids matched their intensity. Bang Chan called quiet corrections, Changbin powered through the choreography, Han matched the rhythm with effortless flow, Felix’s deep voice carried encouragement, Lee Know adjusted Seungmin’s posture with a teasing shove, and I.N. bounced between takes with youthful spark. Hyunjin moved like liquid charisma, his long hair tied back, stealing secret soft smiles toward Yeji whenever the choreographer wasn’t looking.
Wonwoo’s grip tightened on the edge of the table. *He doesn’t deserve her.*
“Five-minute break!” the choreographer shouted.
Yeji immediately dropped against the mirrored wall. Her members swarmed her — Yuna sliding down with a worried pout, Lia offering a towel, Ryujin teasing lightly about her “late studio nights,” and Chaeryeong defending her with a gentle nudge. Across the room, Hyunjin approached discreetly, squeezing her hand and whispering something that made her lips curve. The rest of Stray Kids laughed and regrouped — Bang Chan reminding everyone to hydrate, Lee Know exchanging jabs with Ryujin, the maknaes Yuna and I.N. chatting animatedly.
Wonwoo watched it all from the shadows. The big, chaotic family everyone envied. But he knew the cracks. He had been widening them for months.
Later that night, after the groups exchanged tired goodbyes and headed to their separate vans, Yeji found her way back to his studio. Just like always.
She stepped into the vocal booth, still in practice clothes, hair messy and beautiful. Wonwoo played the new track he had written — every word soaked in his obsession.
*“In the silence between the lights… I found someone who sees the dark in me.”*
Her voice cracked perfectly on the high note, raw and aching. When she stepped out, tears glistened in her eyes.
“Wonwoo-oppa… it’s like you know exactly what I’m feeling,” she whispered, collapsing onto the couch beside him. “With Hyunjin, the constant hiding, the pressure from the group… everything feels so heavy lately. But your songs… they make me feel seen.”
Wonwoo turned to her, keeping his expression gentle, the perfect mask of understanding. “Because I do see you, Yeji. Not the leader of ITZY. Not the secret girlfriend of the golden boy. Just you. The real you.”
She leaned into his touch when he brushed a tear from her cheek. The contact sent fire through his veins. For months she had been coming to him — crying after arguments with Hyunjin, confessing the exhaustion of their hidden relationship, finding comfort in the late-night sessions where only his music seemed to understand her pain. The rest of ITZY had noticed her lighter moods after these nights. Stray Kids had started sensing the growing distance in Hyunjin’s focus.
He had already begun the destruction.
Anonymous tips about Hyunjin’s “attitude issues.” Carefully planted rumors reaching managers and members. Forged messages that would soon fracture the perfect image. Bang Chan would try to protect his group. Lee Know would grow suspicious. But it was working. Slowly. Surely.
“You deserve someone who would burn everything down just to keep you safe,” he murmured, voice low.
Yeji looked at him, conflicted longing swirling in her gaze. She lingered a second longer than she should have before pulling away. “I should go. The girls are waiting.”
At the door she paused, glancing back with that soft, trusting smile. “I don’t know what I’d do without you these days.”
The door clicked shut.