The crisp air lingered between them as they slowly pulled away,their breaths mingling in the quiet night. Mingyu rested his forehead against Yunjin's,his hands still gently cradling her face.

"We can't let anyone know about this," Yunjin whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Mingyu nodded solemnly,understanding the weight of her words. "I know. The fans, the media... they wouldn't understand. But this moment what just happened feels real to me."

Yunjin smiled faintly, though her eyes still reflected traces of sadness."I don’t regret it, but we both know what this world is like. Our careers, our teams... we can't risk everything for how we feel right now."

Mingyu sighed deeply, his hands falling to his sides. "You're right. But it doesn’t mean we have to ignore this, Yunjin. We just need to be... careful."

As the two stood in the dim light of the patio, their resolve was interrupted by a voice from the doorway. "Mingyu? Are you out here?"

It was Isa.

Panic flashed in Yunjin's eyes, and she instinctively stepped back, blending into the shadows. Mingyu turned, trying to compose himself.

"I'm here," he called out, his voice steady but clipped.

Isa stepped outside, her arms crossed. "Why did you storm off earlier? And what's with this sudden attitude? We need to talk."

Mingyu glanced back briefly at where Yunjin had been standing, giving her a subtle nod to leave. Without hesitation, Yunjin slipped away silently, her heart pounding as she disappeared into the night.

Isa approached Mingyu, her gaze sharp. "What's going on with you? You've been acting strange since that photo with Yunjin went viral. Don't tell me there's actually something between you two."

Mingyu squared his shoulders, his jaw tightening. "I told you, Isa, it was just a photo. Why does everyone have to blow everything out of proportion?"

Isa frowned, her frustration growing. "Because people care, Mingyu! You’re an idol your every move is scrutinized. And if you’re not careful, this could blow up into something much bigger. Do you want to jeopardize everything you’ve worked for?"

Mingyu’s patience wore thin. "I’m human too, Isa. I deserve to have friends, to live my life without constant judgment.And if people can’t handle that, it’s their problem not mine."

Isa stared at him, taken aback by his defiance."Fine," she said coldly. "But don’t expect me to clean up the mess if this backfires." She turned and walked away, leaving Mingyu alone once again.

Back in her dorm, Yunjin sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone. The flood of hateful messages had lessened since she disabled comments, but the hurt lingered. Her mind replayed the events on the patio, Mingyu's touch, his words, and the kiss that had shaken her to her core.

A soft knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts. She hesitated before getting up to open it, revealing Chaewon, her closest friend and fellow group member.

"You’ve been quiet all night," Chaewon said, stepping inside."What’s going on?"

Yunjin hesitated, debating whether to share what had happened. She trusted Chaewon, but the stakes were high.

"Just... the usual drama," Yunjin said with a weak smile."You know how it is."

Chaewon tilted her head, unconvinced. "Yunjin, I know you better than that. Is this about the photo with Mingyu? People have been saying horrible things online."

Yunjin’s facade crumbled, and she sank onto the bed, tears welling up again. "It’s more than that, Chaewon. I don’t know how to handle it anymore. Every little thing I do feels like a mistake, like I’m not allowed to just be me."

Chaewon sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders."You don’t have to go through this alone. I’m here for you, no matter what. And if Mingyu’s a part of this... well, I just hope he’s worth it."

Yunjin looked up, startled. "What do you mean?"

Chaewon smiled knowingly. "You’re not as good at hiding your feelings as you think. Just be careful, okay? This industry doesn’t take kindly to secrets."

Meanwhile, Mingyu sat in his room, staring out the window.He replayed the kiss in his mind, the way Yunjin had fit so perfectly in his arms.It was more than just an attraction he was sure of that now.

But the reality was clear: their lives were not their own.And if they were going to navigate this, they’d have to tread carefully.

For now, their connection would remain a secret a fragile,forbidden bond in a world that demanded perfection.

To be continued...