"Dohyun~."
A playful, sing-song voice echoed through the empty café, still wrapped in morning silence before opening.
"Dohyun?" the girl repeated, her tone sharper this time, as if her coworker hadn't heard her—or worse, had simply ignored her.
"Doohhhyuuun!!" she shouted at last, her voice bouncing off the walls like an alarm.
Kang Dohyun finally snapped out of his daze, turning with an irritated look.
"What? Why are you shouting?!" he shot back, his tone more like someone speaking to an old friend than a coworker.
The culprit, Seo Yuna, crossed her arms with a pout. Her short, slightly messy black hair framed her sharp yet striking features—features that could easily put lesser celebrities to shame. Even in a plain uniform, she had a natural radiance that drew eyes without effort.
The two of them were the only ones inside the small café—a cozy shop just outside campus. It wasn't large, fitting about twenty-four customers at most, each table paired with two chairs. The arrangement looked almost intentional, as if the café's charm lay in luring couples and students in with the promise of intimacy.
The digital clock on the wall flickered 9:50 AM. With ten minutes left before opening, there was still time to spare for idle chatter. Preparations had already been mostly handled—except for the occasional finishing touches and, of course, Yuna's insistence on pestering her coworker.
"What do you mean, why I shouted? I've been calling you for a hundreeeead times!" Yuna exaggerated, puffing her cheeks like a sulking child.
"I... I'm sorry," Dohyun muttered quickly, realizing how absentminded he had been. His apology carried that awkward stiffness of someone half-aware that they'd been in the wrong.
Yuna, however, wasn't convinced. She leaned forward, her dark eyes narrowing as she peered straight into his face.
"What's with you? You look way too serious. Doesn't suit that 'dying face' of yours."
"Hey, that's rude," Dohyun shot back with a weak glare. "I just... had something on my mind, that's all."
"Oh?" Yuna's lips curved into a mischievous grin.
"Care to share with this cute girl?"
It wasn't an empty boast. Yuna wasn't just lively—she was well-known around campus, often called one of its goddesses. Her beauty wasn't arrogance; it was fact, no matter how much Dohyun tried to ignore it.
"...Ugh, no. It's nothing. I was just... wondering if I locked my door or not."
It was a clumsy excuse. A lie, plain as day.
Because the truth was far heavier.
Behind Dohyun's distracted gaze lay an old scar—a memory from his senior year. Graduation day. The day he was left waiting... and the day his heart had fractured. That trauma had long since buried itself deep inside him.
Yet now, without warning, it clawed its way back into his mind.
Dammit... why is that memory coming back now?
Dohyun muttered inwardly, but he had no answer.
Yuna's sharp gaze lingered on him for a moment. She clearly didn't buy his excuse, but instead of pressing further, she let out a sigh and said,
"It's fine. You were never that clumsy, anyway."
She knew better than to push. Whatever was bothering Dohyun, it wasn't something he wanted to talk about. And if she kept pressing, she'd only risk tearing at the fragile balance of their friendship.
But Dohyun's lips suddenly curved into a sly smirk.
"Oh~? So the campus goddess knows my personality that well? I'm honored."
The words were bold, especially coming from him, and paired with his gloomy, deadpan expression, it only made Yuna's brow twitch in annoyance.
She lightly punched his arm.
"Shut up and go flip the opening sign."
Three months of working together had carved out a natural rhythm between them. Sharing the same shifts had pulled them close, though not in the dramatic, romantic way people might imagine. For Seo Yuna—who had spent her university life suffocating under endless attention and shallow flattery—Dohyun was a relief.
While others praised her beauty as if it were the only thing that mattered, Dohyun treated her like any other person. To him, she wasn't some goddess perched on a pedestal—just a flower among countless others. Beautiful, yes, but still part of the same field.
And it was that simplicity, that lack of pretense, which made her comfortable around him.
They also shared the same major—Science Computer—often taking the same classes except when their chosen electives forced them apart. Their differences, however, showed in extracurriculars: Yuna thrived in the theater club, always chasing the spotlight, while Dohyun buried himself in the quiet corner of the reading club, where silence was the only performance required.
With the café sign flipped to "OPEN," their playful masks faded. Both slipped into their roles seamlessly—professional, efficient, as though the teasing moments earlier had never happened.
The familiar chime of the café doorbell rang out, mixing with the hum of chatter. Students poured in, some alone with their laptops, others with friends or partners. The lunchtime rush had begun, and the little shop buzzed with life.
At the counter, Dohyun managed orders with practiced ease.
"One chocolate drink, and a lasagna."
"That'll be 8,500 won."
The receipt printed, followed by the round pager device he handed to the customer. Behind him, another receipt was pinned to the order board where Yuna could snatch it up and prepare the request. Their teamwork was smooth, mechanical—born from repetition.
But then—
The bell chimed again.
A woman entered, her beauty striking enough to tilt the flow of the room. Heads turned, conversations slowed, and even Yuna briefly glanced up from the machine.
Her hair, dyed a soft blend of blonde and light brown, gleamed under the café lights. Her sharp chin and confident smile gave her the aura of someone who knew she would be noticed. Eyes the color of warm amber—hazel, almost golden—swept the room with natural command.
She walked with ease, her steps carrying the same confidence that drew every gaze. Without hesitation, she made her way to the counter where Dohyun stood.
"The usual," she said simply, her voice light yet commanding.
Clearly, a regular.
"That'll be 6,200 won," Dohyun replied without missing a beat, fingers already tapping in the order. He knew exactly what she wanted—almost too well.
"Ah.. Haaaariiiin!~"
A sudden voice echoed behind Dohyun. Yuna's voice was loud, yet not shouted—just enough for Dohyun, Harin, and the woman nearby to hear. Attractive and lively as always, it carried a tone of familiarity, as though someone close to her had arrived.
"Ah, Yuna... loud as always," the woman replied with a smile, arms crossed. She tucked back a stray lock of long hair and stepped closer to the counter, meeting Dohyun's eyes.
"Still lingering around beauty, eh?"
Though she didn't mention Dohyun's name, her words pierced directly at him, showing that she, too, was acquainted with him.
Dohyun, expression gloomy as ever, answered flatly:
"Beauty? This gorilla?"
Although he faced forward, it was obvious the remark was aimed at his only part-time coworker, Seo Yuna. Known by many as a goddess-like beauty, she was now being casually labeled something completely opposite. To outsiders this might sound harsh, but those close to Yuna knew her real personality—carefree, playful, and far from the elegant image she carried.
"Dooohyun~"
Yuna's voice echoed again, this time in a drawn-out tone that carried both annoyance and warning. Her expression made a chill run down Dohyun's spine. His instincts screamed danger.
"I-I mean... here's the receipt," he quickly said, using work as an escape route from the conversation.
"Pfft. Alright, I'll head to my table then. Oh—when do you guys get off work today?"
"Oh, it's 2 p.m. Since we've got class at 3, we need to finish quickly today."
"Alright, let's go together then."
The conversation ended as Harin walked to her seat. Yuna busied herself with preparing orders, leaving Dohyun with free space to catch his breath.
The girl—Yoon Harin—was in the same department as Dohyun and Yuna. Their closeness was natural, though in truth, it was Yuna who had pulled Dohyun into their circle of friends, finding him more comfortable to be around than most men with ulterior motives.
After all, two recognized beauties in the same group was already eye-catching. While Yuna was often called a goddess, Harin stood on equal footing with her—her fashion sense giving her an almost artistic aura. Even with nothing more than lip balm and bare skin, her face drew attention not just from their department but the entire university. On trips, even students from other campus were left breathless.
Placed among such dazzling figures, Dohyun stood out—but not in the same way. His sharp features might have matched theirs in another life, but his perpetually gloomy expression tilted the balance, leaving him the odd one in their group.
***
"Heya, good luck!" Yuna, with a bright expression, cheered for the next coworker arriving for their shift. Dohyun, in contrast, simply bowed politely, his quiet gesture carrying the same wish of good luck. Each of them had their own style of formality.
Both slipped into the staff changing room, shedding their work uniforms for their usual campus attire. Dohyun emerged first, wearing a plain black shirt and carrying a bag that looked like it had survived from his high school days. Simple, unbothered, and unchanging—that was Kang Dohyun. Extravagance had never been his style; to him, flashy accessories and unnecessary effort were nothing but hindrances. Perhaps that was why, even with two university goddesses by his side, his eyes never once wandered.
By the time he stepped out, the clock ticked exactly 14:04—the official end of their shift.
Phew.
A long breath escaped Dohyun as he stretched, shoulders cracking as if declaring his battle against stiff muscles was finally won. Yuna, meanwhile, was still inside, carefully retouching her makeup that had worn off during the rush hours of work.
Dohyun headed toward the far end of the café, where table 9 sat quietly occupied. There, Yoon Harin lounged with her phone in hand, her casual yet effortlessly elegant presence drawing glances despite being alone. Pulling out the chair opposite her, Dohyun made just enough noise to catch her attention.
"May I sit here, milady?" he asked, his tone mock-formal.
Her lips curled. "Asking permission after already seizing the throne? Quite bold for a low-born." She rested her chin on her hand, golden-brown eyes glimmering with amusement.
Dohyun only smirked back. "Oh? Have you seen the latest Captain Mimica movie yet?"
The question shifted the air instantly. Captain Mimica—a worldwide hit franchise. Harin was an avid fan, and so was he. Their conversations often spiraled into hours whenever the series was brought up. Between the films, spin-off manga, and global hype, there was always more than enough fuel for their banter.
"Not yet," Harin groaned, dropping her phone on the table dramatically. "They released it last week, but I've been drowning in assignments! I swear, I'm cursed."
"Same here," Dohyun admitted with a shrug. "I was planning to go this week—if I can finish at least two of our group projects first."
"Oh, those? Ugh, don't remind me." She leaned back, sighing. "I haven't even started. My brain just refuses to function..."
Her voice trailed off as her gaze locked onto the faint curve of Dohyun's lips. He'd been smiling ever since the topic started. She tilted her head, smirking mischievously.
"What?" Dohyun blinked at the sudden pause, the playful glint in her eyes sending a chill down his spine. This girl is plotting something.
"Oh? So you're telling me you—the great Kang Dohyun, gaming addict extraordinaire—don't have time for a movie? That's rich."
His face stiffened. "T-that's..."
Caught red-handed, Dohyun's usual gloomy mask faltered, leaving an awkward expression that screamed I fell into her traps.
"Fufufu~," Harin chuckled behind her hand. "Don't tell me... you're actually asking me on a date? You? The Dohyun who's never shown interest in a woman before?"
His cheeks burned instantly. "H-hey! I'm human too, you know! And besides, with us in the same major, how could I not be busy when even you are?"
"Oh? Trying to argue back now?" Harin teased, her voice lilting with amusement. "My, my, this is rare."
But before she could finish her sentence, a sudden shriek escaped her lips. "Ah—?! H-hey, s-stop—!"
The culprit revealed herself immediately—Seo Yuna, fresh from the changing room, now in a simple shirt with a tote bag slung over her shoulder. With a sly grin, she had snuck behind Harin and launched a merciless tickle attack.
"I could not hear you just now," Yuna teased, her fingers dancing along Harin's sides.
"A-ahahaha! Stop—! Y-Yuna, I'm serious!" Harin squirmed, laughter spilling out uncontrollably.
Dohyun only watched, a bead of sweat forming on his temple. These two are demons...
Finally, Yuna pulled away, crossing her arms with mock severity. "Alright then, what were you guys talking about that even the faceless Dohyun started stuttering?"
"Ah, that?" Harin smirked, instantly recovering. "Our Dohyun here was just inviting me on a date."
"H-huh?! T-that's not—!" Dohyun shot up in protest, his face turning redder by the second.
"What?! Really?!" Yuna gasped, cutting him off before he could explain. "Dohyun, really?"
"See? I was blushing so much when he asked," Harin piled on dramatically, clutching her chest like a maiden in distress. "What do I do, Yuna? Should I accept?"
"I-I said I wasn't!" Dohyun snapped back, flustered beyond saving. His thoughts scrambled in panic. It was just a simple question...
Why are these women twisting it into this nonsense?!
***
Amidst the chaos of class hour, students rushed in every direction. Some clutched laptops as they darted through hallways, while others struggled to finish half-eaten buns dangling from their mouths.
In the middle of this noisy bustle walked three figures: Yuna, Dohyun, and Harin. The two girls, radiant as ever, drew countless stares—so much so that a few students even walked straight into walls, entranced by their beauty. Many looked on with envy at Dohyun, the lone boy who walked between them.
Feeling the countless glares stabbing into his back, Dohyun's expression sank into something even gloomier.
Ugh... this is why I prefer walking alone.
It wasn't the first time. Young men drooling over Yuna and Harin was only natural—just a healthy reaction of youth, he told himself. At first, the unwanted attention during their group meetings had been unbearable. But as time passed, and as the goddesses refused to let him slip away, Dohyun found himself surrendering. If he had to choose, he would rather endure the stares of others than the sharper wrath of those two.
There was even a time when he tried arriving early to class just to avoid them—only for Yuna to catch him later and beat him for daring to run away.
When they finally reached their classroom, the clock read 2:45 p.m.—early enough to prepare. As always, the trio claimed their "safe" seats: the second row from the back. It was a tactical choice. The lecturer had a notorious habit of forcing students to sit in the front row first, and then targeting anyone who dared sit all the way at the back. Their chosen spot was a perfect compromise, one they protected like a secret strategy.
Dohyun sat on the far right, Harin in the middle, and Yuna to the left. Only a handful of students had arrived so far; most would drift in at the last minute, or later still.
Breaking the quiet, Harin scrolled through her TookTick feed and grinned.
"Hey, hey—look! It's the current singer star!"
"Oh? Is that Jaisy?" Yuna leaned closer. On Harin's phone screen appeared a girl with short black hair, her eyes sharp yet captivating. The mysterious artist whose real name was still unknown. She had debuted two years ago and, in what felt like a single night, conquered the music scene. With her striking looks, mesmerizing voice, and self-written songs, she had carved her place among the greats.
Jaisy...? Dohyun muttered, almost to himself.
"You know her?" Harin raised a brow, noticing his reaction.
"Yeah... she was already famous when she debuted. Even now, her songs sit at the top of WeTobe's charts."
To Dohyun, artists like her weren't strangers. Topping WeTobe was a feat even seasoned stars struggled to achieve, yet Jaisy had done it effortlessly—as if the world itself had opened a path for her.
"Fu? You sound knowledgeable. Don't tell me you're secretly into idols?" Harin teased.
"No. She's just... too famous not to know. Same as with other big stars—you can find all sorts of background info easily. But Jaisy..." His voice dropped. "Her real name has never been revealed."
Indeed, Jaisy's identity remained a complete mystery. Almost no personal information about her had ever surfaced. Those who tried digging into her past were shut down instantly, some even arrested, as though she had some unseen power shielding her. Ever since her sudden appearance two years ago, people had described her rise as if a sage had appeared out of nowhere—an enigma dazzling the world with brilliance and authority.
Even Dohyun hadn't been immune. Her songs had melted his heart more than once, and though he never considered himself more than a casual fan, her music had left a mark deep within him.
But little did they know... this very moment, Jaisy wasn't just a name on a chart. She was live—streaming on TookTick right now.
"Eh? Wait, seriously?" Harin blinked at the notification banner flashing across her screen. "She's live! Look, look!"
Without hesitation, she tapped the stream, and the phone filled with a shaky handheld camera angle. The chat was already exploding, comments racing faster than the eye could read. Thousands—no, hundreds of thousands—of people were tuned in.
On-screen appeared Jaisy herself. Short black hair framed her pale face, her expression calm yet piercing, the kind of presence that made it hard to look away. She wasn't on stage, nor in a studio. Instead, she sat by a plain desk, guitar in hand, as if she had invited the entire world into her private room.
"Whoa... no way," Yuna leaned closer, her eyes sparkling. "She never streams like this. Isn't this... rare?"
"Rare? Try impossible," Dohyun muttered. "She hasn't done a casual live since her debut year."
His words were quiet, but the truth of them made his chest tighten.
And then—Jaisy strummed the guitar. Just once. A soft note that lingered in the air like a whisper, silencing even the bustling noise of their classroom. For a moment, it felt like the melody had slipped past the phone speaker and stolen the atmosphere around them.
Dohyun found his gaze locked on the screen.
Why... does this feel different from her usual songs?