It was nearly 1:30 a.m.
Everyone was gathered backstage before leaving for the hotel.
They sat together in the open lounge area, still surrounded by the lingering excitement of the concert.
Outside, the crowd had not completely dispersed yet—some fans were heading home while others continued waiting, hoping to catch one last glimpse of the members.
Minji and her friends were there as well.
Jeon J. lounged comfortably on the sofa, eyes closed, leaning back as the others chatted around him from nearby chairs.
But Taehun, as always, couldn't stay quiet for long whenever Zoya was around.
"You're looking different today," he said suddenly.
At once, every gaze shifted toward Zoya.
A faint blush crept across her cheeks as she lowered her eyes.
"N-No... I'm just..."
Her words faded away.
She looked at Taehun, but he merely burst into laughter, completely shameless about teasing her. The others exchanged knowing smiles, while Jeon J. kept his eyes closed, offering no reaction at all.
Then Hosu suddenly spoke.
"Ah... the bracelet again."
His eyes landed on the bracelet around Zoya's wrist.
Instantly, Jeon J.'s eyes snapped open.
He straightened up, his gaze fixed on the bracelet.
His jaw tightened.
He remembered it clearly.
The day they had visited Ji-ho's office, he had seen the matching bracelet resting on Ji-ho's wrist.
And now...
The same bracelet was wrapped around Zoya's wrist.
A wave of irritation rose within him.
He stood up abruptly.
"Where are you going?" Minji asked, catching his hand before he could leave.
Zoya's eyes instinctively fell upon Minji's hand holding his.
Jeon J., who had been watching Zoya all along, noticed her gaze drift toward their joined hands.
A faint, bitter smile tugged at his's lips.
Jeon J. slowly turned back, gently squeezed Minji's hand, and said,
"It's late. The cars are ready outside. We'll meet again tomorrow."
Zoya watched as Minji clasped his hand warmly.
Something inside her shattered.
Her eyes burned.
She looked away, trying desperately to stop the tears gathering within them, but they refused to listen.
Quietly, she stood up.
Slipping her bag onto her shoulder, she raised her phone to her ear, pretending to be on a call so no one would notice.
But Jeon J. noticed everything.
The way she stood.
The way she blinked repeatedly.
The way she fought against the tears threatening to spill.
He pulled Minji slightly closer, hugged her goodbye, and smiled.
That was enough.
Zoya hurried outside before anyone could see her break.
The cool night air greeted her as tears finally escaped, sliding down her cheeks.
She inhaled deeply.
"Zoya... hold on."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"You can't lose control like this. Just one more day... Once everything is settled, you'll leave. You won't have to stay with them anymore. You won't have to face him again."
But another thought pierced her heart.
"How can I leave these beautiful friends behind? They've protected me as if someone entrusted me to their care. How can I forget such loyal people? How can I walk away from them?"
Exhausted, she sat down on the entrance stairs.
For a few minutes, she remained there, gathering herself, forcing her emotions back behind a composed expression.
Eventually, she stood up and walked back inside.
And there they were.
Still standing close together.
Hands intertwined.
Zoya approached them with a calm face and a gentle smile.
But the moment Jeon J. saw that smile on her face—
Something inside him ignited.
The smile that had moments ago been directed at Minji disappeared from his own lips.
The calmer she looked, the more it unsettled him.
The more he tried to hurt her, the more composed she seemed.
And somehow...
That calmness burned him far deeper than any reaction ever could.
What he couldn't understand was why.
Why did he want to hurt her?
And if seeing her in pain hurt him just as much...
Then why was he doing it?
It had become a vicious cycle—one that was slowly exhausting him.
"Minji, shall we go? It's getting late. Tomorrow is my first day at work, and I'd like to get some proper sleep," Zoya said softly, stopping a few steps away from them.
The moment her voice reached him, Jeon J. quietly let go of Minji's hand and stepped aside.
From across the room, Jinhun noticed every tiny change in his expression.
Not just Jinhun.
Tonight, every member had been watching Jeon J. far more closely than usual.
A fact that irritated him beyond measure.
For the first time, he regretted ever sharing his feelings with them.
Now they analyzed every glance, every sigh, every reaction.
"Congratulations! You actually got the job!" Yomin exclaimed with a bright smile.
Zoya smiled politely.
"Thank you."
One after another, everyone congratulated her, and she thanked each of them with the same quiet sincerity.
"Where did you get hired? You didn't even tell us!" Ruhi pouted dramatically, crossing her arms.
Zoya chuckled.
"I only told Minji because I wasn't sure I'd get it. I didn't want to say anything until it was confirmed. Alhamdulillah... it worked out."
"Wow..." Taehun nodded dramatically. "Talented girl."
She laughed softly and shook her head.
"I'm not talented. I just kept trying. Finding a part-time job as a student isn't easy." She smiled modestly. "I should thank Ji-ho. He's the one who told me about the opening, so I applied."
The atmosphere changed.
The moment Ji-ho's name left her lips...
Every head slowly turned toward Jeon J.
His expression darkened instantly.
His jaw tightened.
The corners of his lips pressed into a thin line as he silently fought to control the anger rising inside him.
Taehun let out a tiny laugh—
—but the second he caught sight of Jeon J.'s face, it died in his throat.
He cleared his throat awkwardly.
Zoya frowned, assuming Taehun was laughing at her.
"So..." Taehun said carefully, glancing sideways at Jeon J. before looking back at her, "Ji-ho lives in Seoul... so how did he manage to find you a job here in Busan?"
Ironically, instead of looking at Zoya...
Jeon J. looked at Taehun.
As if he wanted to hear the answer just as badly.
Zoya blinked once.
"I... actually don't know."
It was the quickest escape she could think of.
She immediately turned toward Minji. "Come on, we should leave."
Taehun wasn't done.
"But you'll come tomorrow, right?" he asked with a grin. "It's the last concert."
Zoya looked back at him, one eyebrow lifting slightly.
"It's the last day of your concert," she replied with a small smile, adjusting the strap of her bag.
"...not the last day of your life."
For a second...
Silence.
Then Taehun dramatically clutched his chest.
"Ouch... she rejected me so politely."
The room burst into laughter.
Even Ruhi covered her mouth to hide a giggle.
Yomin shook his head.
"Taehun, one day your curiosity is going to get you kicked out."
"I was just making sure she'd miss us!" Taehun protested.
"Oh, she'll miss us," Hosu teased. "Whether she'll miss you is a completely different question."
Another wave of laughter echoed through the lounge.
Everyone laughed...
Except for one person.
Jeon J. remained completely silent, his unreadable gaze fixed only on Zoya.
"Alright, at least tell us where you got the job."
Taehun's endless questions were beginning to test everyone's patience.
Kim Joon laughed, shaking his head.
"Leave the poor girl alone."
Hosu glanced outside through the glass doors.
"The cars are here."
He and Kim Joon headed out first to make sure everything was ready for everyone to leave.
Inside, Taehun was still far from giving up.
Zoya folded her arms and narrowed her eyes at him.
"What would it take for you to stay quiet?"
Taehun gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his heart as though he had been waiting his whole life for that question.
"Just one post."
She raised an eyebrow.
"A post?"
"Yes," he grinned proudly. "Write that you're Taehun's biggest fan."
Zoya didn't even need a second to think.
"Not even in your dreams."
The room instantly erupted with laughter.
Taehun clutched his chest again.
"You really know how to break hearts."
"At least I'm not someone's daily headache."
Her comeback landed perfectly.
This time, even Zoya couldn't stop herself from laughing.
The members laughed so hard that Ruhi had to lean against Minji, while Yomin covered his face, trying—and failing—to contain his laughter.
Taehun pointed at her dramatically.
"See? She's bullying me in front of witnesses!"
"Because you never stop talking," Minji replied between laughs.
Taehun sighed in defeat.
"I deserve better friends."
"You deserve a mute button," Yomin called from outside, making everyone laugh even harder.
As the laughter slowly settled, Minjo's eyes drifted back to the bracelet on Zoya's wrist.
His smile softened.
"By the way..."
He pointed toward it.
"Where's the second piece of that bracelet?"
Minjo's question stopped Zoya just as she reached the door.
She paused, then slowly turned back.
Her eyes fell to the bracelet on her wrist before a gentle smile appeared on her lips.
"Ji-ho has the second piece."
"Ouch..." Taehun sighed dramatically. "So you're not single anymore?"
Zoya shot him a warning glare.
Without giving him the satisfaction of a reply, she simply turned around and walked out.
Minji pinched Taehun's arm.
"Will you ever stop teasing her?"
Ruhi, Hana, and Sophia burst into laughter.
"I wish we could pinch him too," Hana giggled.
Taehun's eyes widened.
Immediately, he grabbed his own arm and hid it beneath his coat as if protecting it from a coordinated attack.
"Violence... I'm surrounded by violence," he complained, making everyone laugh again.
But unlike the others...
Jeon J. barely heard any of it.
Zoya had walked away without answering Taehun's last remark.
For some reason...
That unsettled him.
A few minutes later, everyone gathered beside the waiting cars.
One by one, they began saying their goodbyes.
Minji pulled out her phone.
"I'll book a cab."
Before she could finish, Taehun leaned out of the car window.
"We'll drop you."
Minji shook her head immediately.
"You should leave before Zoya actually breaks your bones."
Everyone chuckled.
Taehun grinned shamelessly.
"Come on! We should celebrate. Zoya got a job."
"The job hasn't even started yet," Zoya replied, giving him an unimpressed look. "And you've already arrived for the free food."
"Exactly," Taehun nodded confidently. "Professional eaters never miss an opportunity."
Another round of laughter followed.
Jeon J. was about to get into the car with Taehun when Minji lightly caught his wrist.
"Tomorrow, after the concert, all of you are coming to our place."
She smiled brightly.
"We're throwing a party for Zoya's new job."
Both Taehun and Zoya froze at the same moment.
Their mouths literally fell open.
"You already planned a party without asking the person it's for?" Taehun laughed.
"That's because she'll say no if I ask first," Minji answered proudly.
Zoya opened her mouth to object.
She hadn't even told them her working hours yet.
What if she had to work?
How could she attend a party?
But before she could say anything...
She suddenly remembered.
Tomorrow's concert will end late at night.
By then...
She quietly closed her mouth again, realizing she had worried for nothing.
Because for the first few days, her working hours were on the second shift, and she assumed there was no way she'd be able to make it to the party.
To be continued...
Regards,
ZK