"How old are you guys?" a little girl with braids shouted from the second row. Her voice was so small, yet it carried across the room.
The members glanced at each other, smiling.
"How old are we?" Tae-yang repeated, crouching down a bit. "I'm twenty."
"I'm also twenty," I added.
Minho raised his hand dramatically. "Me and Seunghyun—the one with the slicked-back hair—we're both nineteen."
Seunghyun's lips twitched in annoyance.
"And Diego and I are sixteen," Jiwoo added brightly.
A wave of surprised murmurs went through the audience.
Then the little girl gasped. "So—so you guys are three sets of twins!"
The crowd erupted in laughter.
"Basically," I said, crossing my arms with a grin.
"We have age twins," Seunghyun clarified, smirking. "But God forbid I'm actually related to this one." He jerked his thumb toward Minho.
The audience laughed harder.
Minho scoffed. "Oh, please. I also want nothing to do with you."
Their playful bickering made the atmosphere warm and lively. Cameras flashed. Parents chuckled.
"Who's your favorite member?" another fan called out from the middle rows.
A ripple of "Ooooohhhh" echoed through the small venue.
"We don't have favorites," Tae-yang said quickly, waving his hands. "We like each other equally—"
"Kai-hyung," Diego cut in immediately.
The room exploded in laughter.
I shot him a grin. "Me too."
Minho arched his brows. "Wow, you're that obsessed with yourself?"
The audience roared again.
I instantly realized my mistake.
"Oh wait—no!" I stuttered. "I meant I like Diego!"
Everyone led out a collective awwww.
Diego winked at me.
I winked back with a grin.
"Woooooow," Jiwoo and minho shook their heads in disappointment.
"I'm honestly hurt," jiwoo said dramatically clutching his heart.
Minho raised his pinky at me, since raising the middle finger was very inappropriate he substituted it by raising his pinky. "Loser"
"Why?" another fan asked teasingly from the audience.
I shrugged with a playful smile. "We just get along really well. I mean, I love all my members equally, but Diego and I... I guess we just clicked faster."
"They did," Tae-yang agreed with a nod.
"Do you guys get jealous?" another fan piped up, leaning forward with curious eyes.
Minho didn't miss a beat, he even scoffed. "Not really—because they're too touchy."
A loud OHHHHHHH! rippled through the audience, followed by laughter.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mom raise an eyebrow while my dad rubbed the back of his neck, pretending not to hear.
My brother suppressed his smile as he quickly took in our parents' reaction.
Tae-yang quickly stepped in. "Hold on, hold on—he means they're affectionate! Like, they like hugging! That's all!"
The crowd's laughter softened into cheers and clapping.
Diego pulled his mic ever so slightly closer and added, "We just have a lot of love for each other. Family kind of love."
"Awwww!" the audience cooed.
"What about you guys?" a fan shouted from the second row.
"They're all my favorites," Tae-yang said smoothly, flashing his bright stage smile.
"Awwww," the fans groaned in playful disappointment.
Another voice called out, "Who do you guys think is the most handsome?"
Laughter rippled through the audience.
"Who do you think is the most handsome?" Minho shot back, leaning forward with a teasing grin.
"Kai-oppa!" the fan blurted without hesitation.
The room burst into laughter.
From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of my mother grinning proudly—her expression saying everything.
Minho nodded, giving a thumbs-up. "Valid. Very valid answer."
I laughed quietly, rubbing the back of my neck as the fans giggled.
"What are your guys' heights?" another fan asked curiously.
A chorus of "Oooooo~" came from both the fans and the members.
We all exchanged glances, smirking.
"Then at least tell us who's the shortest!" the fan insisted.
We all laughed.
"You guys really want to know, huh?" Seunghyun said with a mischievous grin.
The crowd shouted back, "YES!"
Minho folded his arms, tilting his head. "Well… the tallest is kind of obvious."
He pointed straight at me.
Immediately, the whole group followed—six arms shooting toward me like it had been choreographed.
I nodded.
The audience burst into laughter by the scene.
Jiwoo raised his mic proudly. "Kai is 188 centimeters!"
A wave of impressed gasps echoed through the room.
Then a girl in the front row lifted her hand. "Honestly… we already knew."
More laughter erupted.
"Yeah," another fan added, "He is towering over everyone right now."
I glanced at my members.
I could see the tops of their heads from above.
"…Okay, fair," I said. "But to be fair… they're all pretty tall."
"I agree with that," Minho joined in. "I'm 181 cm, guys—I'm not short! If you want our heights: Tae-yang is the second tallest at 182, then it's me, then Seunghyun—"
"—Not true!" Jiwoo cut in. "I'm taller than Seunghyun."
A loud "OOOOOOHHHHH!" rolled through the crowd.
Minho blinked. "Did you get measured?"
"Yes! I'm 179 cm," Jiwoo announced proudly.
Seunghyun pressed his lips together, clearly pained.
Minho clicked his tongue and looked at him. "He beat you." Then he continued, "So it's Jiwoo at 179, Seunghyun at 178… and Diego… is Diego."
Diego rolled his eyes. "Guys, I'm still growing—I'm not done!"
Everyone laughed.
"Anyway," Jiwoo said, "we're all taller than average. It's just that Kai-hyung is so tall he makes us look short."
Tae-yang lifted his chin. "Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to a lamppost."
"That's crazy," I said. "I'm only—"
"—A skyscraper," Minho cut in.
"A walking tree," Seunghyun added.
"A tall glass of agua," Diego chimed in flawlessly.
The crowd exploded with laughter.
Then a young boy from the back shouted, "So how short is Diego?!"
All of us looked at each other.
Before anyone could answer, a staff member at the side of the stage gave a subtle signal.
Tae-yang clapped his hands together, smiling at the audience. "Alright! It looks like it's time for our first performance!"
The crowd cheered excitedly.
"Our debut song is called Numb," Tae-yang began, his voice steady and warm. "It's a song about battling loneliness and life's challenges. About how, sometimes, the world overwhelms us so much that we grow numb—until we forget what it means to feel."
A quiet hush settled over the crowd.
As he spoke, I glanced toward the front row. Diego's family sat together, beaming with pride. His little brother, Alejun, had his arms pinned by their parents… and a strip of tape plastered across his mouth.
My lips twitched immediately.
I ducked my head, lowering my face mic and covering my mouth with my hand to stop the laughter bubbling in my chest.
Jiwoo noticed and shot me a confused look. What are you laughing at?
I shook my head quickly, shoulders trembling as I tried to compose myself.
By the time Tae-yang finished his speech, I'd managed to keep a straight face again.
The audience clapped warmly.
Tae-yang turned to us, nodding once.
I clapped along—and then the lights dimmed.
A low hum filled the air as fog crept across the stage floor. The soft glow of blue lights illuminated our silhouettes. The crowd went quiet, anticipation rising.
We took our positions.
The music started.
The track pulsed through the speakers—soft, dreamy, almost like DJ beats melting into the room. The members moved as one, heads dipping in unison as if weighed down by invisible fears.
Seunghyun started the song.
His voice was clear:
"Numb… that is all I feel."
His tone cracked on feel—raw and unpolished in a way that pierced.
The audience was caught off guard by the emotion behind the song.
"Sunset to sunriiiiseee…"
He held the note, trembling, before snapping back into rhythm.
"How. Can. I. Break. Free?"
Each word struck with precision, his body hitting every syllable.
We surrounded Seunghyun, his hands cutting through the air like he was summoning a spell. His words collided with movement in perfect sync. The vulnerability in his delivery spilled into every corner of the room.
Even Alejun was still—eyes fixed on the stage, completely absorbed. The lyrics, music, and choreography captured his every sense.
The way the blue light hit us, everything else fading into darkness, made each expression hauntingly blank.
Kai's mother felt her eyes mist over.
She'd seen her son go through so much—from a rebellious teen who skipped school, to a hardworking trainee whose dreams once crumbled. She'd heard him cry at night, unseen and heartbroken. Now, watching him perform this song, her heart ached and swelled at once. She was proud—terrified, too. She wanted nothing more than for him to be happy. Even if Starlite could never rival the giants like HY-PE, she had faith in his talent… and she knew the world would one day see what she did.
The song carried on—aching lyrics wrapped in soft, pulsing beats. Each member bore the weight of every note, their movements filled with longing.
Then Tae-yang's deep voice took over. He spun, arms outstretched as if reaching for the stars.
"I can't feel your loooovvveee… nor can I loooove you."
Grief flashed across his face.
Bum bumm da da dunnnnn.
"Truly. I. feel. Noth—ing…"
His voice dipped lower.
"Nothing, nothing, nothing."
Our bodies moved in sync, every hit perfectly timed with his words.
Tae-yang lifted his gaze to the audience.
The music went quiet—anticipation thick enough to taste.
Then it swelled.
Jiwoo stepped forward, voice bursting like a cry:
"'Cause I'm so numb!"
"Heyyyyeeeaaaah!" Diego's voice tore through the silence from the side, raw and desperate.
We moved together, our arms and legs slicing through the air in perfect synchronization.
The formation shifted—Jiwoo in the center now, his chest rising and falling with the beat.
"Numb… numb… numb…"
The choreography breathed sadness—slow, sharp, every line clean. It wasn't flashy. It was human. Every beat clung to the hypnotic rhythm like sorrow made visible.
As the song neared its end, I stepped forward.
"But I'm still numb," I sang, my voice breaking through the softness like a sudden crack in still water.
The beat hit harder—deep, relentless—yet still wrapped around the fragile melody.
"Ohhhhhhh—hoyaaa," Jiwoo echoed, his voice a haunting reply.
We moved in perfect sync, faces hollow, drained of emotion. Our bodies rolled and twisted like we were fighting something invisible, every motion heavy with pain. It wasn't seductive—it was real. Raw.
And then—stillness.
Heads tilted to the right.
Frozen.
For a heartbeat, the room was silent.
Then the lights deepened to blue.
Applause.
I looked up and saw tears in my mother's eyes, my older brother appeared to be misty eyed while my un-emotional father clapped with a smile.
The kids weren't really listening to the lyrics but admired our voices, since they clapped.
"It's a good song but it's also not," the little girl friend whispered.
Most boy kpop songs had heavy electronic music or a catchy song but this song was unique, it had a nice beat and nice music but it was very soft and not exciting.
Yes it was boring. She didn't care, she is Kai's fan, so she was going to force herself to like it.
—
After we finished performing—dance covers, fan interactions, all of it—we finally left the stage.
Backstage, staff members congratulated us as we walked in.
A recent memory flashed through my mind.
I snorted. Hard.
All my members froze, staring at me.
Then I threw my head back and burst into laughter.
"I don't get the joke," Diego said, glancing at his hyungs.
"I don't get what's funny," Minho added, completely lost.
"Yeah… I don't know either," Jiwoo said when everyone turned to him.
"He finally lost it," Tae-yang muttered, looking genuinely uncomfortable. "Kai, are you okay?"
The staff looked just as confused.
I laughed even harder, slapping my thigh over and over until I collapsed onto the floor.
My laughter echoed through the room—loud, uncontrollable, absurd.
When I finally opened my eyes, my members were staring at me like I had gone insane.
I lifted an arm and pointed at Diego.
"Yo—" was all I managed before dissolving into another fit of laughter.
"What?!" Minho demanded, now more curious than concerned.
"What did you do, Diego?" Jiwoo asked suspiciously.
Everyone turned to him.
Diego lifted his brows. "I didn't do anything." Then he turned back to me. "Kai-hyung, what is going on?!"
"Your—your—your—" I tried to speak. "Your… brother… ha—had tape on… his… mouth—" I wheezed out.
Diego's eyes widened in sudden realization.
He doubled over. "BWAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA!"
Everyone flinched at the sheer volume.
A full minute of uncontrollable laughter passed.
Jiwoo crossed his arms. "If you don't tell us what you're laughing about, I swear I'm going to get mad."
My laughter finally calmed into small breaths.
"Guys, you know Diego's brother, right?"
They all nodded.
"And you know how he… says things he can't always control."
"I didn't know that but okay?" Minho said, impatient.
I grinned. "Diego's whole family was in the audience—including his brother. So his parents put tape over his mouth to keep him from shouting anything… and each of them was holding onto one of his arms."
Jiwoo nodded, then immediately covered his mouth and looked away, shoulders shaking.
Minho looked disappointed. "That's not funny."
A quiet giggle escaped Jiwoo.
"I agree," Seunghyun said flatly. "Jiwoo, it is not funny."
Jiwoo pressed his lips together, fighting a laugh. "I love Alejun so much."
"Me too!" I laughed. "The things he does… and the lengths his parents go to subdue him."
Jiwoo clapped once and giggled. "Yesterday he sent me a video of him twerking against the wall."
I laughed harder.
Diego finally stood up, his face beet red from laughing too hard.
Tae-yang licked his lips, unamused, then turned to the staff and bowed. "Thank you for your hard work."
We all bowed and expressed our gratitude.
Soon our parents arrived backstage.
Mine came first.
My mother pulled me into a tight hug, followed by my father.
In English
"I'm so proud of you, my baby!" my mom said, joy and pride overflowing in her voice.
I shut my eyes, tears stinging as I sank into her embrace.
"Heavenly Father, thank you for this special day," my father prayed, one hand on my shoulder. "Thank you for being there and giving strength to my son to get this far…"
I opened my eyes and saw my brother smiling at me.
My father finished the prayer. "In the name of the Holy Father and the Son. Amen."
My parents let go, and my brother hugged me tightly next.
"Hello," Minho said hesitantly as he approached.
"Hello," my family greeted him warmly.
"My name is Minho. It's nice to finally meet Kai-hyung's family." For once, he sounded proper—and polite.
Jiwoo, Seunghyun, Diego, and Tae-yang joined us, exchanging greetings.
"Your son looks like you," Seunghyun observed, glancing at me and my mother. His English was heavily accented but understandable.
My mother smiled. "Thank you."
In Korean
"You guys did good out there," my brother said.
"Thank you," my members all bowed respectfully.
"Make sure you take care of my little bro," he added jokingly. "I know he's older than you, but he has the mentality of an eight-year-old." He winked at me.
My members laughed. "We will!"
In English
I clicked my tongue. "He's already giving me a bad reputation."
"You're Diego, right?" my father asked, pointing at him.
Diego nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Thank you so much for letting my son stay at your house," my father said sincerely.
"Oh yes! Thank you!" my mother added. "You've saved me so many headaches."
"We actually prepared something," my father said, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out an envelope thick with money.
"Oh—no, no, no!" Diego waved his hands frantically. "There's no need for that. If anything, my family benefits from having Kai over. My mom's happy there are no leftovers for once, and he helps deal with my brother's personality."
"Take it," my father insisted.
Diego shook his head. "Trust me, the honor is ours."
"Take it." My father's tone sharpened as he pressed the envelope into Diego's hands.
"Th-thank you," Diego said awkwardly.
The members cracked up at his flustered expression.
"You speak really good English," my mother complimented.
"Thank you! I'm glad to hear that," Diego replied, ears turning pink. "I actually lived in the States for a couple years."
"And you lived in Mexico too, right?" my mother recalled from one of my conversations about him.
"Yes."
"Which language is easier for you—Korean, English, or Spanish?"
Diego rubbed his chin. "Oooo, good question." He paused. "I'd say I'm good at all of them, but… I got really good at Korean since not many people speak English fluently, and no one speaks Spanish here. I want to say Spanish is easiest and English is a close second. Either way, I'm comfortable with all three."
Minho, Seunghyun, and Jiwoo looked genuinely impressed as Diego smoothly continued the English conversation.
A commotion erupted near the entrance.
Diego's family—along with three women—arrived.
Two of them ran straight to Seunghyun, handing him flowers.
"Congratulations!"
"THAT WAS SO GOOD!" Alejun shouted.
He sprinted forward, jumped, and did a full Cristiano Ronaldo pose mid-air.
He landed with a dramatic stomp. "SIIIIII!"
Diego burst into laughter, clapping hands with him.
His family immediately swarmed him, and his mother wrapped him in a massive bear hug.
At the same time, a woman awkwardly approached Minho and gave him a stiff hug.
A middle-aged woman walked up to Tae-yang.
Probably his mother, I guessed as they shared a brief, warm embrace.
A hand rested on my shoulder.
I turned around.
In English
"You finally did it," my brother said softly, smiling.
"Thank you… but it's not over yet. I don't have the connections I used to," I said realistically.
"I know. Just remember—I'm here to support you," Macky said.
My mother rubbed my back. "Don't worry about unnecessary things. For now, be happy and proud. You worked eight years for this."
In Spanish
"Kai, ¡felicidades! ¡Lo hiciste increíble!" Gloria—Diego's mother—approached with a bright smile.
"¡Gracias!" I said, giving her a big hug.
In English
"This is Diego's mom," I introduced her to my family.
My mother immediately hugged Gloria. "Thank you so much. I appreciate everything you've done for my son."
Gloria smiled warmly. "Not at all—my pleasure!" Her English was clear, tinted with her Latina accent.
In Spanish
"Duuude, you were so sexy!" a familiar voice said.
I grinned, already knowing who it was. "¡Gracias!"
We hugged.
In English
"I can't believe they actually put tape over your mouth," I said, patting his back before bursting into laughter.
In Spanish
"They're ignorant," Alejun complained. "I had MANY wise things to say but they cut me off instantly."
I rested my chin on top of his head.
In English
"No but bro—" He stepped back, eyeing me from head to toe. "You look really handsome. I mean, you're always handsome, but TODAY? You look like an anime character!"
My ears burned. "Thanks. I actually put effort into it for once—well… the staff did."
Alejun stared at my face with such intensity that I wanted to look away.
"Make sure you stay humble and Godly," he said, voice suddenly serious.
"'Course, buddy," I said, ruffling his hair.
"I truly admire you," he continued. "You're gonna make it big. And when that happens, women will flock to you—don't fall into temptation."
"Dude, I told you—I've never had a girlfriend before. Don't worry."
"No but LISTEN, Kai," he insisted. "A lot of temptresses will try to seduce you. Who wouldn't, when you're sharp, handsome, and well-mannered? Remember—"
He tapped the front of my pants, right where he really shouldn't.
"This is for marriage. Stay away from women, clubs—all the bad people. Stay in God's path. That's where life has meaning."
I snorted. "I will, Dad," I said, ruffling his hair again.
Alejun didn't laugh. He nodded approvingly.
"Pinky promise me," he said, holding up his pinky.
I linked mine around his.
In Korean
"This is my member, Kai-hyung," Minho said.
A young woman stood beside him.
She bowed immediately.
I bowed in return.
Looking closer, I noticed her resemblance to Minho—the eyes, the mouth, the nose.
I smiled. "Hello. It's nice to meet Minho's sister."
She shyly averted her gaze. "It's nice to meet you too."
"Hey Kai-hyung, meet my sisters," Seunghyun said.
Two short women waved shyly at me.
One of them held out her hand. I took it, and we bowed to each other.
The other stretched her hand out next, and we bowed again.
"These are my older sisters," Seunghyun added with a smug grin.
"You really look alike," I said, studying them.
Seunghyun gave me a sharp glare. "Do you wanna die?"
I laughed.
"Anyway, they were anxious to me—"
His sister jabbed her elbow into his stomach.
Seunghyun doubled over with a pained groan. "Ooff!"
Alejun giggled.
Then, switching to Spanish on purpose, he murmured, "Looks like the temptation's already started."
I leaned down and whispered, "You and your absurd thoughts."
"Sure, sure," Alejun giggled—before suddenly slipping into one of his tics.
"HU HU HU HU HU HU."
Minho, Seung-hyun, and their sisters all stared at Alejun with confused, slightly alarmed expressions.
Then they slowly shifted their eyes to me.
I pretended not to notice and calmly patted Alejun's back.
After a moment, Alejun's tic faded, and he flashed me a bright grin before sprinting toward his family.
Everywhere I looked, someone was smiling—my members surrounded by their families, my parents talking animatedly with Diego's mom. The tiny venue buzzed with warmth, the air thick with laughter and camera flashes.
For the first time in eight years, everything felt… real.
Minho nudged my shoulder. "Hyung," he whispered, "Congratulations! We debuted."
I blinked at him.
Right. We did.
The weight of those words sank into me all at once—like a warm, heavy blanket dropping over my chest.
Tae-yang clapped his hands loudly. "Alright!" he shouted. "Eclipse—group hug!"
Before I could react, all five of them slammed into me, arms wrapping around my torso, shoulders, neck—too tight, too chaotic, too familiar.
I laughed into the mess of limbs.
Our families and the staff watched us, their smiles soft and proud, as if witnessing something sacred.
--