Kian sat in the van, his phone resting in his hand, his fingers hovering over the screen. The noise of the other members talking, laughing, and the faint hum of the engine in the background did nothing to distract him. His thoughts kept drifting back to Asiya and that strange feeling in his chest when he walked away from her the day before.
He had meant to just keep things casual, to joke around, maybe mess with her a little. But something about her—the way she looks at him, the way she smiles... it had made everything feel different. She was supposed to be just another fan, just a face in the crowd, but with Asiya, it felt like something more.
He glanced down at his phone again, his thumb hovering over the text screen.
"Hey, what are you up to?"
It was simple. Casual. But did he want to be too casual? Maybe it came off as… too forward?
"So, I owe you a meal, right?"
No, no, that sounded way too much like he was trying to trap her into something.
"You okay?"
But that felt weird too.
Kian sighed and ran a hand through his hair, biting his lip. Should he keep it light? Should he reference the VIP tickets again? No, that might be too awkward.
He could hear the voices of his bandmates in the background, but they were irrelevant right now. This was about him, sitting alone in the van, trying to figure out what to say to Asiya. Why was he hesitating so much? He'd sent thousands of texts to people before—why was it so hard with her?
Just as he was about to put the phone down and forget about it for now, his thumb moved on its own.
"I'm free Friday evening. Does that suit you?"
It was simple. Straightforward. He could feel the nervous energy in his stomach, but at least it wasn't too much. He wasn't asking for anything, just… putting it out there.
He hit send before he could second-guess himself.
A few seconds passed. No response.
Kian stared at his screen, holding his breath. What if she didn't reply? What if she thought he was being too forward?
And then, the text bubble appeared.
"That works. So 8 p.m.?"
He quickly typed back.
"Yeah. Okay."
"Be careful. Don't let anyone see you."
Kian laughed, a grin spreading across his face as he read the message. It was Asiya.
"I'll try."
As he hit send, he finally relaxed back into his seat, feeling the weight lift from his shoulders. Maybe this wasn't so hard after all.
The café bustled around them, but inside their little corner booth, it was just laughter, chatter, and clinking cups.
"So," Yasmine said, tapping her straw against her glass, "after this, do we keep exploring? I heard there's a street full of cute little shops nearby."
"I'm in," Farah said immediately. "I need souvenirs for everyone back home."
"And skincare!" Mira added, practically bouncing. "We're in Seoul — it's a crime not to buy skincare."
Asiya smiled and nodded along, but her mind was still spinning. Her phone sat heavy in her bag, like a secret she wasn't sure she was ready to share yet.
"Ya, Asiya," Hanin nudged her gently. "You're kinda quiet."
"Huh? No, I'm good!" she said a little too fast.
The girls exchanged looks. Mira squinted suspiciously. "Did someone text you?"
"No!" Asiya said "I mean, yes, but it's not important."
Sana raised an eyebrow. "Suuure."
"You'll know when the time comes," she smirked, and before they could push further, Asiya grabbed her bag and stood up. "Let's go check out those shops before it gets dark!"
Farah and Mira cheered, and the attention shifted.
But Sana and Yasmine lingered for a second, eyeing her with that older-cousin instinct that said I know you're hiding something.
Asiya pretended not to notice, letting herself be swept out into the cool afternoon air.
The streets were lively, neon signs blinking to life as evening crept in. Stalls lined the sidewalks with accessories, art prints, street food... and endless opportunities to lose herself among the crowds.
Three days crawled by in a blur of rehearsals and stolen glances at his phone. By Friday, Kian's patience had worn thinner than his manager's smile. Kian had never hated a calendar more.
Asiya and her cousins spent their time hopping between crowded shopping streets and cozy cafés, arms full of bags and laughter echoing through subway tunnels. There were photos taken, skincare hauls that turned into mini beauty rituals in their Airbnb, and even one rainy afternoon spent indoors, binge-watching a drama with way too many plot twists.
But even as she smiled and joined in, Asiya caught herself drifting. Not constantly—just in flashes. A glance at her phone.
For Kian, time dragged. interviews, and fan events filled his schedule. He caught himself zoning out during meetings, earning a few raised eyebrows from Hyun woo. ("You good, man?" "Yeah. Just tired.").
By Friday afternoon, Asiya wandered through a local market after lunch, her scarf wrapped tight against the breeze as she picked out ingredients with careful thought. She weaved through the market crowd, her fingers checking off ingredients with quiet focus. She decided to do some dishes from home.
Back at the apartment, she dropped the bags on the kitchen counter and called out casually, "Hey, just a heads-up — we've got someone joining us for dinner."
"Who?" Rahma asked without looking up from her phone.
"Just… a friend," Asiya said, keeping her voice light.
"Ohhh," Mira teased, drawing out the word. "That kind of 'friend'?"
"No, not that kind," she replied quickly—maybe a little too quickly—as she started unpacking groceries. "Just be nice, okay?"
The cousins exchanged looks but didn't press. Yet the curiosity hung in the air like steam over the stove.
Meanwhile, across town, Kian stood in front of the mirror in their shared dorm room, fidgeting with his hoodie strings.
"Too casual?" he murmured, switching to a denim jacket, then switching back. He didn't want to look like he was trying too hard—but he definitely didn't want to show up looking like he rolled out of rehearsal either.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaled, and picked up the small bag he'd packed earlier. Just a small thank-you—nothing dramatic. But even he wasn't sure why he felt the need to bring it.
By the time the dorm door creaked shut behind him, the hallway was empty.
Not long after, Hyun woo poked his head into the room.
"Yo, Kian—"
He stopped mid-step.
The room was empty.
Hyun woo frowned, checking the time.
"Where'd he go without telling anyone…?"
He lingered a second longer, staring at the neat room with a strange feeling creeping into his gut.
Hyun woo stepped out of the room, brow furrowed, and made his way down the hall.
He spotted Ray in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee in one hand and his phone in the other.
"Hey," Hyun woo called, "you see Kian?"
ray looked up lazily, taking a sip. "Yeah. He left like twenty minutes ago."
"Did he say where he was going?"
A shrug. "Just said he was heading out for a bit."
Hyun woo raised an eyebrow. "Maybe for a walk?"
"I don't know," ray answered, putting down his cup. "He looked like he cared a little too much about his outfit. Even fixed his hair twice."
Hyun woo stood there for a beat, then let out a quiet chuckle. "So he is up to something."
ray smirked. "Guess we'll find out soon enough."
Hyun woo leaned against the wall, still chewing the thought over. Something about the way Kian had moved lately—the distracted look, the quiet smiles to himself—it all clicked into place.
But he didn't say anything more. He just pulled out his phone, typing a message.
He watched the screen for a few seconds, then locked it and turned toward the living room without sending the message.
The scent of garlic, warm spices, and slow-simmered sauce filled the apartment. Asiya moved with practiced ease between the stove and the counter, her hair tied up and sleeves rolled, focused but not rushed.
She tasted the sauce with a wooden spoon, nodded to herself, and turned off the heat. The table was almost fully set.
From behind her, Yasmine peeked over her shoulder.
"That smells so good. Are we adopting this friend of yours?"
Asiya smiled without turning around. "We'll see."
She was just wiping her hands on a towel when her phone buzzed on the counter.
Kian: I'll be there in 5 minutes.
Her heart skipped. Just five minutes.
She stared at the screen for a second, chewing her bottom lip. Then she turned around to face the room, where the girls were casually chatting and nibbling on some sliced fruit Mira had laid out.
Asiya cleared her throat. "Uh… okay, so I may have forgotten to tell one teeny tiny detail."
They all turned to her at once.
"What detail?" Sana asked slowly, eyes narrowing.
....
The silence stretched. Then—
Whaaaat !!!!!!
Mira screamed.
Sana lunged for Asiya's phone. Farah knocked over a glass.
And the doorbell rang."