The night wore on, the awards show moving seamlessly between performances, speeches, and glitzy presentations. Yunjin sat with her members, her expression composed, but her mind was far from the stage. Her lips still tingled from Mingyu’s kiss, and the memory of their stolen moment in the storage room replayed like a melody she couldn’t shake.

Mingyu, seated with his group on the other side of the room, was equally distracted. Though his outward demeanor was polished and charming, his gaze often drifted toward Yunjin. Their earlier encounter burned in his mind, filling him with equal parts exhilaration and longing.

As the final award of the night was announced, the audience erupted into applause for the winning group. Mingyu stood with his members, clapping politely, but his attention flicked to Yunjin once more. She caught his eye briefly, a subtle glance that sent his pulse racing.

Backstage, the chaos of the night began to settle as idols and staff prepared to leave. Mingyu lingered in the hallway, his gaze scanning for any sign of Yunjin. He knew it was reckless, but the pull was too strong to ignore.

He didn’t have to wait long. Yunjin appeared, walking with her members toward the exit. Her head was slightly bowed, her expression thoughtful. Mingyu felt his heart lurch at the sight of her, and without thinking, he stepped forward.

“Yunjin.”

She froze, her eyes widening as she turned to find him standing just a few feet away. Chaewon, noticing the interaction, hesitated but quickly ushered the other members ahead, giving them a sliver of privacy.

“What are you doing?” Yunjin whispered, glancing around nervously.

“I had to see you,” Mingyu said, his voice low but insistent. “Just for a moment.”

Yunjin sighed, her resolve wavering. “Mingyu, we can’t keep doing this. Someone’s going to notice.”

“I don’t care,” he replied, stepping closer. “Let them. I’m tired of pretending you don’t mean anything to me.”

Her breath caught, his words breaking through her defenses. “It’s not that simple. You know it isn’t.”

“I know,” he said softly. “But I also know what I feel when I’m with you. Doesn’t that mean something?”

Yunjin’s gaze softened, her walls crumbling under the weight of his sincerity. She glanced around once more before letting out a soft laugh. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re worth it,” he said, his lips curving into a small smile.

Against her better judgment, she let him take her hand, their fingers intertwining in a way that felt both forbidden and perfect.

“We only have a few minutes,” she said quietly.

“Then let’s make them count,” he replied, his voice a promise.

They found a secluded corner backstage, far from prying eyes. The dim lighting and faint hum of distant voices created a cocoon around them, shielding them from the outside world.

Mingyu cupped her face gently, his thumb tracing the curve of her cheek. “Yunjin,” he murmured, his voice filled with a quiet intensity. “I don’t want to spend another day wondering what if. I want this. I want you.”

She looked up at him, her heart pounding. “I want you too, Mingyu. But how do we hold onto this without losing everything else?”

“We figure it out,” he said, his forehead resting against hers. “One step at a time. As long as we’re together, we’ll find a way.”

His lips brushed against hers, a kiss that was both a declaration and a vow. Time seemed to stop as they melted into each other, the weight of their fears momentarily lifting.

When they pulled apart, Yunjin smiled faintly, her fingers tracing the lapel of his jacket. “You make it so hard to think straight,” she teased.

Mingyu chuckled, his hand sliding down to lace with hers. “Good. Maybe thinking’s overrated.”

A distant call of her name shattered the moment, pulling them back to reality. Yunjin sighed, reluctantly stepping back.

“I have to go,” she said softly.

“I know,” Mingyu replied, his grip on her hand tightening briefly before letting go. “But this isn’t the end. We’ll find a way to meet again.”

As Yunjin disappeared into the bustling hallway, Mingyu leaned against the wall, a mix of longing and determination etched across his face.

Both of them knew the path they’d chosen wasn’t easy. Their world demanded perfection, obedience, and sacrifice. But as they returned to their separate lives, their hearts beat with the promise of something worth waiting for.

To be continued...