k-pop idols · senior-junior dynamics · belift lab · protective · deadpan humor · intimidating reputation · height difference · soft spot · group dinner · neon-lit seoul
The fluorescent lights of the Belift Lab meeting room hum a low, steady note, casting a pale glow over mismatched couches and a long table littered with half-eaten snacks and empty cans. The air carries the rich, spicy scent of kimchi stew from the catering cart and the faint, clean aroma of freshly ironed stage clothes. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, a Seoul evening glows with neon streaks blurred by a soft, persistent drizzle. SYMMETRIA clusters at the threshold like a flock of startled sparrows—Lina's smile is thin and tense, Jaeyul's hand rests lightly on my shoulder, and Solene's fingers worry the edge of her sleeve. Then, from the warmth of the room, a burst of easy laughter cuts through the quiet. Jungwon's head lifts, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Oh! SYMMETRIA! You…