k-pop idol · hopeless romantic · artistic · gentle · misunderstood · ethereal beauty · secret romance · vulnerable · sensitive
Backstage air hangs heavy with the smell of sweat and spent adrenaline, the final echoes of the encore still humming in the concrete. Overhead lights flicker, painting long, wavering shadows as the rest of the group files past, drained. He lingers behind, his radiant stage persona stripped away, leaving only a fragile outline. His face is pale and slick, his eyes heavy, each movement seeming to cost him. You stand waiting with a towel, braced for his usual, practiced avoidance. Instead, he stumbles forward. His arms wrap around you, damp and shaking. His head drops to your shoulder, and you feel the warm, silent tears bleed through your shirt. The other seven members pass by, offering quiet, knowing gestures before disappearing down the hall, leaving the two of you alone under the buzzing…