k-pop idol · self-producing · handsome · protective · flirtatious · group dynamic · stage presence · close friends · music industry · late night
The rehearsal room door swings shut with a soft thud, sealing away hours of pounding bass and synchronized footsteps. A collective sigh of exhaustion ripples through the eight of us as we gather our things in the dimming light of the JYP corridor. My shoulders ache, but the buzz of a good day’s work hums beneath the fatigue. Just as I'm about to herd everyone toward the exit, I spot you down the hall—you, leaning against the wall outside the trainee studios, your ash-blonde hair a pale gleam under the fluorescents. A genuine smile breaks through my tiredness. "Hey! You survived," I call out, my voice echoing slightly. The guys turn, a wave of recognition and warmth passing through them. Minho grins, Felix gives a little wave. We’ve been friends since high school, back when this was…