Zoya came out through backstage before the concert had even ended, with Jae helping her get outside.
The moment she stepped out, it felt like she could finally breathe again.
She turned back and looked toward the stadium.
Even outside, there were still so many people around.
She walked a little farther away before stopping and looking back again.
Just being counted in the same category as TBS's friends was making it hard for me to breathe… I don't even know how those seven live with all of this around them every day.
The thought crossed her mind.
She closed her eyes, took a long breath, then slowly let it out.
A little calm settled in her chest.
This felt almost like trauma.
Success was beautiful… but the kind that could turn into a cage… the kind that made even breathing difficult.
Thinking about TBS made her feel a quiet sadness.
But maybe… they were happy in it.
With that thought, she gave a small shrug.
She sat down on a nearby bench because she still had to wait for her TBS big fans; she smiled.
Pulling out her laptop, she started typing again.
To everyone around her, it looked like she was listening to music through her earphones.
But no song was playing.
She wore them only so no one would disturb her.
Even now, people assumed she was working on some assignment.
But it wasn't an assignment.
It was a heartfelt piece she had been writing for a very long time.
In the beginning, she used to write it by hand.
Then, after getting her laptop, she
started typing instead.
The calmer she felt out here, away from everything, the more she enjoyed writing.
And with every word she typed, that quiet peace inside her grew a little deeper.
On the other side, as the concert ended, TBS returned backstage.
Meanwhile, Minji, Sophia, Hana, and Ruhi were crossing through the rows of seats, heading backstage too so they could meet everyone.
The two people sitting beside them started following as well.
Minji stopped and turned sharply.
"Where are you going?"
"We… uh…" the girl stammered, unable to answer. She glanced nervously at the man beside her.
"We wanted to thank the girl who made our dream of coming to this concert come true," the man quickly explained when he saw her struggling.
"What do you mean? Who sent you? Which girl?" Minji asked.
"Minji, they were sitting with us. Maybe they're guests of another member. Don't interrogate them like this—we're heading backstage too," Hana said, tugging on her arm.
"But Jeon.J invited us," Minji replied sharply.
"Then maybe another member invited them. And proof is—they were in the VIP area with us. Don't create drama," Hana tried to calm her.
The man and woman stood awkwardly to the side, watching them. They couldn't hear exactly what the girls were saying, but from their expressions they were starting to hesitate.
"We're sorry," Hana said to them with a polite smile. "Security has made my friend a little too alert. Come on, let's go meet whoever invited you."
She led them along.
Minji, Sophia, and Ruhi walked ahead.
Then Hana suddenly remembered.
"You said you wanted to thank a girl… which girl?"
"Hana, we need to hurry. Can you walk a little faster?" Minji called sharply.
Hana sighed and moved forward, leaving her question unanswered.
Inside the backstage hall, all the members were exhausted.
An idol could pour every ounce of energy onto the front stage… but backstage they became completely drained.
"Hello, everyone," Minji greeted.
She walked toward Jeon.J, who was lying on the floor beside Wally while the others exchanged greetings.
"Where's our friend?" Minji asked, glancing around when she didn't see Zoya.
"She left before the concert ended," Jae answered.
"What? Why?" Hana asked.
"That… only she knows," Jae muttered.
Sophia gave him a sharp look.
Feeling it, Jae forced a smile and shrugged.
"Oh right," Minji said casually. "Which one of you invited those two guests? They came backstage with us. I was going to stop them, but Hana said maybe they were one of your guests since they were in the VIP area with us."
At her words, every member who had been sprawled out in exhaustion suddenly sat up straight.
They looked at one another.
Minji noticed immediately.
"What happened? Why do you all look worried?" she asked, turning to Jeon.J.
"They're not ours," Hosu answered.
"They're Zoya's… actually, not even hers. She gave them her ticket and asked Jae to let them in because they were newlyweds. She felt bad for them."
"Oh…" Hana blinked. "That's why they kept saying they wanted to thank the girl who got them inside. We didn't understand and ignored it."
"Where are they now?" Kim Joon asked immediately.
"I don't know—they were with us, but then…"
Minji stopped mid-sentence.
Her eyes widened.
Everyone noticed.
"Minji?" Ruhi said.
"It's Zoya… wait… I…" Minji couldn't get the words out.
But at Zoya's name, Jeon.J sat upright so fast everyone stared.
"Not again," he muttered, already on his feet.
"What happened?" Minjo and Kim Joon asked.
Minji swallowed hard.
"I really hope I'm wrong… but what if…"
Everyone turned to her.
Jeon.J's gaze stayed locked on Minji.
He couldn't bear seeing Zoya hurt again.
He wanted distance.
He kept telling himself he had to stay away.
But he also couldn't stand the thought of her in trouble.
And in that moment he was forced to admit something he hadn't wanted to.
She had a place in him.
A real one.
He didn't understand what he was thinking anymore.
He only felt helpless.
"Jae!" Jeon.J shouted.
Jae snapped to attention.
"I want those two found right now. Inform security—hurry!"
________________________
"Jeon.J…?"
A little while later, Jea came back.
Jeon.J turned toward him instantly, hope flashing in his eyes.
But Jae's expression said something else.
"I asked. There's trouble checking the CCTV. The crowd is too heavy right now. Until the stadium clears out, they're busy managing everything and—"
"Where are they both?" Jeon.J cut in sharply.
No one understood his anger.
Yes, everyone was worried.
But he was more disturbed than anyone.
Even Minji looked at him in surprise.
"They're not outside anywhere. I checked everywhere." Jea answered carefully. "I think… they may have already left the stadium."
The second Jae finished—
Jeon.J stepped back two paces.
No one spoke.
If the couple were dangerous, security would handle it.
And Zoya had already been outside.
What was strange about that?
But somehow—
Everyone standing there felt it.
Even the girls.
Even Minji, who didn't want to think anything bad.
"Jeon.J… what happened?" Minji finally asked.
He looked straight at her.
"Ji-won wasn't arrested."
Minji blinked.
"Your foolish friend suddenly met that couple outside in a crowd that huge? Why her? And why did she bring them inside? Without telling anyone? Then she disappeared. And him—"
He pointed at Jae.
"He let her go."
Then toward Teahun.
"And he backed up the story she made."
"And right now no one knows where that couple is. Or where your foolish friend is."
The cold sharpness in his voice silenced Minji immediately.
Everyone went still.
Then Jeon.J looked straight into Minji's eyes again.
"And listen carefully."
His voice dropped lower.
"We are idols."
The entire room froze.
"You brought your friends here with you."
His stare didn't move.
"These three are fine. They manage themselves. They're confident. Girls should be like that."
The girls lowered their eyes.
"But your fourth friend…"
His jaw tightened.
"…ever since she entered our lives, we haven't had a single tension-free day."
His voice rose.
"Should we focus on our concerts? Or solve your friend's problems every day?"
A few backstage workers turned at the sound.
"If she can't even take one step alone, why did she leave home at all?"
Kim Joon grabbed his arm.
Because now it sounded too harsh.
Too insulting.
And at the doorway—
Kim Joon saw Zoya standing there.
And he knew instantly—
she had heard every word.
A while earlier—
Zoya had been sitting outside typing for so long she'd gotten bored.
She finally closed her laptop, slid it into her bag, and lifted the strap onto her shoulder.
Then she headed back toward the stadium.
Security usually wouldn't have let her in.
But because they'd seen her leave earlier with Jae, no one stopped her.
As soon as she entered—
the same couple she had given tickets to appeared in front of her.
"Thank you," the girl said brightly. "We were looking for you."
"Because of you our dream came true."
She smiled, emotional.
"This is a wedding gift I'll never forget."
Zoya smiled softly.
"No, really… it's okay. I didn't need them anyway. I'm happy for you."
They thanked her again and walked away.
Zoya went further inside.
Someone told her the members and Minji were in the hall.
But the second she neared the door—
Jeon.J's raised voice reached her.
Several backstage workers had already stopped there.
Everyone looked stunned.
Because before today—
Jeon.J had never reacted like this.
He had never even raised his voice at a spot boy.
But now—
his anger was impossible to ignore.
He was speaking in English to Minji.
Those who understood English knew exactly what he was saying.
Those who didn't still stood frozen because of his tone.
And from every word—
Zoya understood.
The "foolish" one wasn't anyone else.
It was her.
Her eyes filled instantly.
Then she heard him again—
"Minji, if she stays around us any longer, there'll be new problems every day."
Kim Joon tried to stop him.
He pulled his arm free.
"We already deal with stalkers and fans every day."
"We barely have time."
"And somehow she's dragged us into more problems than anyone else ever has."
"She's mentally exhausting."
His breathing turned uneven.
"Keep her away from us."
His eyes stayed on Minji.
"Away from me."
"And if possible…"
his voice sharpened.
"…you stay away too."
Then he dragged a hard hand through his hair.
Kim Joon immediately looked toward Jinhun.
A warning.
Stop him.
Then both of them looked toward the door—
and saw Zoya standing there.
Their faces changed instantly.
Jeon.J kept speaking—
"And our—"
Then he turned.
Saw her.
And stopped.
His expression froze.
Then he looked away at once.
The little courage Zoya still had—
broke.
But somehow—
she still made herself walk inside.
"Minji… let's go."
Her voice was quiet.
Everyone turned.
Minji looked at her—
then toward Jeon.J.
But he had already walked out.
The moment he disappeared outside, everyone quickly scattered back to work.
Silence remained.
Then Minji stepped toward her, trying to smile.
"Zoya…"
Her voice softened.
"Where were you? We were worried."
To be continued...
Regards,
ZK