The next morning came too fast.
Soorin's alarm screamed at 5 AM.
She groaned. Slapped it off.
Her eyes felt swollen from crying.
She dragged herself to the bathroom. Splashed cold water on her face.
Stared at her reflection.
Blonde hair falling in messy waves. Dark circles under her eyes.
'I look like hell.'
Her phone buzzed.
Text from Manager Park.
[Fan meeting today. All staff must wear surgical masks and tinted glasses. Health protocols. Be there by 8 AM.]
Soorin snorted.
'Health protocols my ass.'
Everyone knew why.
They were hiding her.
Hiding all the staff.
Because someone out there was hunting for faces.
She grabbed her kit. Double-checked everything.
Foundation. Brushes. Setting spray.
Her hands shook as she zipped it up.
Downstairs, her parents were already awake.
Her mom handed her a travel mug of coffee.
"You sure you want to go?"
Soorin nodded.
"I have to."
Her dad frowned.
"The bodyguards will be in position."
"I know."
"And if anything feels wrong—"
"I'll call. Promise."
Her mom hugged her tight.
"Be safe, Soorin-ah."
Soorin squeezed back.
Then left before her resolve crumbled.
★☆★☆★☆
The venue was massive.
A convention center downtown.
Already buzzing with activity when Soorin arrived.
Gleams lined up outside. Clutching lightsticks. Photo cards. Banners.
Their excited chatter drifted through the air.
Soorin kept her head down.
Mask on. Cap pulled low.
She slipped through the staff entrance.
Showed her ID to security.
Inside, the backstage area was chaos.
Staff rushing everywhere. Setting up equipment. Testing mics.
Soorin found her station.
A small table near the dressing rooms.
She unpacked her kit methodically.
Tried to focus on the routine.
But her hands wouldn't stop shaking.
"Hey."
She jumped.
Turned.
Daehyun stood behind her. Also masked.
But she recognized his eyes.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
She nodded.
"Liar," he said.
She almost smiled.
He squeezed her shoulder.
"You've got this. And I'm right here if you need anything."
"Thanks, Dae."
He started setting up his own station beside hers.
The hair styling area.
They worked in comfortable silence.
Until the venue doors opened.
★☆★☆★☆
The sound hit first.
Screaming.
High-pitched. Excited. Deafening.
Thousands of fans flooding into the main hall.
Soorin's stomach twisted.
She glanced through the gap in the curtain.
Rows and rows of seats filling up.
Gleams everywhere.
Holding signs.
"HAEL WE LOVE YOU"
"RYU MARRY ME"
"JAY OPPA NOTICE ME"
But there were others too.
Signs that made her blood run cold.
"PROTECT HAEL FROM FAKE FANS"
"MYSTERY GIRL LEAVE HIM ALONE"
"REAL GLEAMS ONLY"
Daehyun followed her gaze.
"Don't look at those."
But she couldn't stop.
She listened to the chatter nearby.
Fans gossiping as they found their seats.
"Did you see the latest analysis? Someone matched the hair color to AUREYA's new staff list."
"I heard she's American. Probably doesn't even care about K-pop."
"Why would Hael even look at someone like that?"
Soorin's nails dug into her palms.
Daehyun grabbed her hand.
"Hey. Breathe."
She sucked in air through her mask.
"They're talking about me."
"They don't know it's you."
"Not yet."
He squeezed tighter.
"We'll get through this. One hour. That's all."
She nodded.
But her heart wouldn't stop racing.
★☆★☆★☆
The LUMEN members arrived like royalty.
Flanked by security.
Manager Park leading the charge.
Fans outside screamed even louder when the van pulled up.
Inside, the members filed into the dressing room.
Haejin first.
Black turtleneck. Perfectly styled hair.
His face unreadable.
Then Doyun. Grinning despite the tension.
Minjae. Calm and composed as always.
Taekyung. Earbuds in. Already tuned out.
Jisoo. Bouncing with nervous energy.
They took their seats.
Soorin approached Haejin's chair.
Her mask felt suffocating.
She could feel his eyes on her before she even looked up.
His gaze swept over the masked staff.
Lingered on her.
On her blonde hair poking out from under her cap.
Her pulse spiked.
'He knows.'
But he didn't say anything.
Just tilted his head back.
Silent permission to start.
Her hands trembled as she picked up a brush.
She worked quickly. Efficiently.
Blending foundation. Setting powder.
Trying to ignore how close he was.
How his jaw tensed under her fingers.
Then he murmured something.
So quiet she almost missed it.
"Why hide beautiful hair like that?"
Her hand froze.
She glanced at him.
His eyes were closed.
Like he hadn't spoken at all.
She finished the last touches. Stepped back.
"You're done."
He opened his eyes.
Met hers in the mirror.
For a second, something flickered there.
Then it was gone.
He stood without a word.
Walked away.
Soorin exhaled shakily.
Daehyun leaned over.
"What did he say?"
"Nothing."
But her face burned.
★☆★☆★☆
The other members were easier.
Jisoo babbled the whole time she worked on him.
"Noona, do you think the mystery lady is okay? I hope she's not sad. People are being so mean online."
Soorin's throat tightened.
"I'm sure she's fine, Sion."
"I don't think she did anything wrong. People fall asleep all the time."
She managed a weak smile behind her mask.
"You're sweet."
He beamed.
Doyun was next.
He smirked as soon as she approached.
"Hey, masked stylist noona. You single?"
Minjae smacked his arm.
"Ryu, stop."
"What? I'm just asking."
"You're being inappropriate."
Doyun pouted.
But his eyes were teasing.
Soorin rolled her eyes.
"Hold still."
"Yes, ma'am."
He did. For about five seconds.
Then started again.
"You know what I think? I think the mystery girl is probably cute. And Hael hyung is just in denial."
Minjae groaned.
"Doyun—"
"I'm just saying. He's been extra cranky. Which means he's thinking about her."
Soorin's hand slipped.
Smudged his contour.
She cursed under her breath.
Fixed it quickly.
Doyun grinned.
"Ooh. Touched a nerve, noona?"
"Could you please shut up, Ryu."
He laughed.
But thankfully dropped it.
Minjae was apologetic when she moved to him.
"Sorry about him. He doesn't know when to stop."
"It's fine."
"No, it's not. This whole situation is hard enough without people making jokes."
She glanced at him.
His expression was sincere.
"You're too nice, Jay oppa."
He smiled softly.
"Someone has to be."
Taekyung barely acknowledged her.
Just sat there. Earbuds in. Eyes closed.
She worked in silence.
Which was honestly a relief.
★☆★☆★☆
The fan meeting started.
Soorin watched from backstage.
The members filed out to deafening screams.
They took their seats at the long table on stage.
Mics in front of them.
Gleams lined up. Clutching albums for signing.
Each fan got thirty seconds.
A brief interaction.
A signature.
Maybe a quick photo.
Then security ushered them along.
Haejin smiled at every single one.
His idol mask firmly in place.
Warm. Kind. Perfect.
But Soorin saw it.
The way his eyes kept drifting.
Scanning the backstage area.
Looking for something.
Or someone.
Her stomach flipped.
Daehyun nudged her.
"He's looking for you."
"No, he's not."
"Yes, he is."
She ignored him.
Focused on organizing her kit.
But she could feel it.
That pull.
Like an invisible thread between them.
★☆★☆★☆
An hour in, a fan asked the question.
The one everyone was thinking.
"Hael oppa, is the mystery girl real?"
The room went silent.
Even the other members froze.
Haejin's smile didn't falter.
"There's no mystery girl. Just rumors."
The fan persisted.
"But the photos—"
"Were taken out of context," he said smoothly.
"Please don't believe everything you see online."
The fan nodded. Satisfied.
Moved along.
But the damage was done.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
Soorin's nails bit into her palms.
'Taken out of context.'
Like she was nothing.
Like that night meant nothing.
She shouldn't care.
But it hurt anyway.
★☆★☆★☆
After the event, the members returned backstage.
Exhausted.
Jisoo collapsed into a chair.
"That was intense."
Doyun stretched.
"You think? I thought someone was going to jump the barricade."
Minjae wiped his forehead.
"Security handled it."
Taekyung finally pulled out his earbuds.
"Is it over?"
"For now," Haejin said.
His voice was tight.
Manager Park appeared.
"Hael. CEO wants to see you. Now."
Haejin's jaw tightened.
"What about?"
"He didn't say. Just said it's urgent."
The other members exchanged glances.
Soorin felt the tension spike.
Manager Park's expression was grim.
"Something big is coming. Be ready."
He turned. Left.
Haejin followed.
But not before glancing back.
His eyes found Soorin's.
Held for a beat.
Then he was gone.
★☆★☆★☆
Soorin started packing up her kit.
Hands moving on autopilot.
Daehyun leaned over.
"You okay?"
She nodded.
"I'm fine."
"You're a terrible liar."
She almost smiled.
"I just want to go home."
"Soon."
But as she zipped up her bag, her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Her stomach dropped.
She opened the message.
[Enjoy the fan meeting? Don't worry. The real show starts tomorrow.]
Her blood turned to ice.
Daehyun frowned.
"What's wrong?"
She showed him the screen.
His face darkened.
"We need to tell Manager Park."
"No."
"Soorin—"
"They'll just blame me again."
"This is a threat."
"I know."
She deleted the message.
Shoved her phone in her pocket.
"Let's just go."
'Appa will take care of it tonight.'
But as they left, she couldn't shake the feeling.
Someone was watching.
★☆★☆★☆
Haejin followed Manager Park down a dim corridor.
Away from the main backstage area.
To a private office at the far end.
The door was closed.
Park knocked twice.
"Come in."
The voice was deep. Authoritative.
Park opened the door.
Gestured for Haejin to enter.
Inside, the lights were off.
Only a desk lamp illuminated the room.
A figure sat behind the desk.
Silhouetted in shadow.
Haejin couldn't make out features.
Just the outline of a man.
Broad shoulders. Expensive suit.
"Sit," the figure said.
Haejin sat.
Manager Park hovered by the door.
The CEO leaned forward slightly.
Still obscured by darkness.
"We have a problem."
Haejin's jaw tightened.
"I'm aware."
"Are you?"
The CEO's tone was sharp.
"Because from where I'm sitting, you've endangered this entire company."
Haejin said nothing.
"The leaked photos. The mystery girl. The fan speculation."
The CEO's fingers drummed on the desk.
"It's a PR nightmare."
"I didn't ask for any of this."
"No. But you allowed it to happen."
Haejin's fists clenched.
The CEO continued.
"So here's what's going to happen. Aggressive damage control. Starting tomorrow."
"What does that mean?"
The CEO's smile was audible.
Even in the dark.
"You'll see."
He leaned back.
Disappearing further into shadow.
"Dismissed."
Haejin stood.
Left without another word.
But his hands wouldn't stop shaking.
★☆★☆★☆
Outside, Manager Park caught up to him.
"What did he say?"
Haejin's voice was hollow.
"Damage control."
Park frowned.
"What kind?"
"He didn't specify."
But Haejin had a sinking feeling.
Whatever was coming.
It wasn't good.
Park's phone buzzed.
He glanced at it.
His face went pale.
"What?" Haejin asked.
Park turned the screen.
An email.
From the CEO's office.
Subject line: EMERGENCY PRESS CONFERENCE - TOMORROW 9 AM.
Haejin's stomach dropped.
"What are they announcing?"
Park's expression was grim.
"I don't know. But whatever it is…"
He met Haejin's eyes.
"It's going to change everything."