Third(last) day Of Busan Concert
The final song came to an end beneath a shower of silver confetti.
For a few moments, the arena echoed with nothing but deafening cheers.
The members stood side by side, bowing deeply toward every section of the audience before slowly making their way to the front edge of the stage.
One by one, they sat down, each taking a bottle of water.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
The powerful performers who had dominated the stage only moments ago...
Now looked like seven young men simply enjoying a conversation with the people who had supported them all night.
Taehun leaned closer to his microphone.
"First of all..."
He looked around the arena before smiling.
"Did everyone enjoy tonight?"
The answer came instantly.
A thunderous—
"YES!"
—shook the entire venue.
Taehun laughed.
"I'll take that as a good sign."
Yomin glanced toward the audience.
"You may have noticed that tonight's concert ended a little earlier than usual."
Curious murmurs spread through the arena.
Kim Joon nodded.
"That was actually intentional."
He smiled warmly.
"We wanted to spend a little more time with you before saying goodbye."
A loud cheer followed.
Hosu lifted his microphone.
"Concerts always go by so quickly."
He looked around the sea of light sticks.
"We perform..."
"We sing..."
"And before we realize it..."
"It's already time to leave."
He smiled softly.
"So today we thought..."
"Why not slow things down a little?"
Another wave of applause filled the arena.
Taehun suddenly pointed toward the audience.
"And there's another reason."
He grinned mischievously.
"You all spend hours making those banners..."
He gestured toward the countless colorful signs filling the arena.
"...and most of the time we only get a second or two to read them."
Laughter spread through the crowd.
"So tonight..."
Minjo continued.
"We decided to properly read as many of them as we can."
The cheers instantly became louder than before.
Several fans excitedly raised their banners even higher.
Some even started waving them wildly, hoping to catch the members' attention.
Kim Joon laughed.
"Please..."
He held back a laugh.
"Not all at once."
"We only have two eyes."
The audience laughed with him.
Taehun shaded his eyes dramatically as he pretended to search through the crowd.
"Alright..."
He pointed randomly.
"Let's see who's trying the hardest to embarrass us tonight."
The giant LED screen immediately zoomed into a section of the audience.
Thousands of fans erupted into excited screams.
The banner read:
"My girlfriend says Taehun is more handsome than me. I've already tried six salons... which one should I visit next?"
For a second...
The members simply stared.
Then the entire stage burst into laughter.
Taehun slowly stood up, placing a sympathetic hand over his heart.
"My brother..."
He sighed dramatically.
"I don't think this is the salon's fault anymore."
The arena exploded with laughter.
Kim Joon covered his face, trying not to laugh too hard.
Yomin shook his head.
"He's offering relationship counselling now."
More laughter followed.
Before the noise had completely settled, another banner appeared on the giant screen.
"Yomin... Marry Me!"
The audience screamed even louder.
Yomin blinked before pointing at himself.
"Me? Why always me?"
He laughed awkwardly.
"I appreciate the proposal..."
"...but shouldn't we get to know each other first?"
The crowd laughed.
Taehun leaned toward his microphone without missing a beat.
"Don't answer yet."
He pointed toward another section of the arena.
"I've already counted at least thousands more marriage proposals."
As if on cue...
"I think I'm in trouble," Yomin said.
Kim Joon chuckled.
"No..."
He looked around the arena.
"I think Busan has already planned your wedding."
Even Jeon J., who had remained mostly quiet until now, lowered his head with a faint smile before shaking it ever so slightly.
The laughter echoed throughout the arena as the giant screen slowly searched for the next banner.
The giant screen stopped on another banner.
"Hosu, please forgive the members if they miss one dance move tonight."
For a second...
Hosu simply stared at it.
The audience burst into laughter.
Taehun immediately took a cautious step away from him.
"I didn't write that."
More laughter echoed through the arena.
Hosu sighed.
"Do I really look that scary?"
Without hesitation, Minjo answered,
"Only during rehearsals."
The members laughed.
Kim Joon nodded seriously.
"He's right."
"If someone misses one count..."
He pointed at Hosu.
"...he notices before the music does."
Even Jeon J.'s lips curled into a faint smile.
Hosu looked completely speechless.
"I was only helping..."
Taehun folded his hands dramatically.
"And we appreciate your help."
He paused.
"...from a safe distance."
The arena erupted into another round of laughter.
The camera moved again.
A new banner appeared.
"Hosu, blink twice if you've ever wanted to replace Taehun during dance practice."
The members instantly turned toward Hosu.
The audience screamed in anticipation.
Hosu looked at Taehun...
Then calmly looked back at the banner.
"I'll exercise my right to remain silent."
The stadium exploded.
Taehun pointed at him.
"That means yes!"
"I knew it!"
Another banner caught Jinhun's attention.
He read it aloud.
"'Petition to protect TBS from Hosu's dance corrections.'"
Jinhun couldn't stop laughing.
Hosu covered his face with one hand.
"I don't correct that much..."
Minjo immediately interrupted.
"You corrected my finger angle once."
The audience laughed.
Kim Joon added,
"He paused rehearsal for three minutes..."
"...because my shoulder was two centimetres lower."
Hosu defended himself.
"It was one centimetre."
For a moment...
Complete silence.
Then the members burst into laughter.
Taehun slowly looked at the audience.
"You see our problem now?"
The cheers were deafening.
The giant screen slowly shifted to another corner of the arena.
A bright blue banner instantly caught Yomin's attention.
He leaned forward, squinting his eyes before reading it aloud.
"Minjo, please stop flirting with every camera. My boyfriend is getting jealous."
The entire arena burst into laughter.
Minjo looked genuinely offended.
"I don't flirt with cameras."
Before anyone could respond...
He instinctively looked toward the nearest camera.
Smiled.
Then gave it a playful wink.
The audience screamed.
Kim Joon slowly folded his arms.
"...You just proved the banner right."
Taehun sighed dramatically.
"The prosecution rests its case."
Even Jeon J. lowered his head, hiding a small smile.
Minjo shrugged innocently.
"What?"
"I was only being polite."
As the laughter settled, Kim Joon spotted another banner.
The moment he read the first line...
He froze.
"Jinhun, my mom likes you more than she likes me. Please tell her to love her own child."
The members immediately started laughing.
Jinhun blinked in confusion.
"What am I supposed to say to that?"
Taehun leaned into his microphone.
"Congratulations."
"You've officially been adopted."
The audience erupted into laughter.
Jinhun looked straight into the camera.
"Imonim (이모님),
He smiled politely.
"Your child deserves love too."
A loud chorus of "Awwww!" echoed through the arena.
Minjo nodded dramatically.
"See?"
"That's exactly why everyone's mom loves him."
Jinhun covered his face in embarrassment while the members continued laughing.
The laughter had barely settled when Kim Joon suddenly noticed another banner.
He leaned forward, narrowing his eyes before reading it aloud.
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Oh..."
"I think this one's for Jeon.J"
The giant screen immediately zoomed in.
The banner read—
"Jeon.J, you have abs, silky hair, six protective brothers, a bodybuilder physique, a heart-caught smile, a bank balance, black empire....
So... why are you still afraid of love?"
For a brief moment...
The arena laughed.
Then...
Almost instinctively...
Every member turned to look at Jeon J.
The smiles on their faces slowly faded.
Because unlike the audience...
They knew.
They knew exactly why that question wasn't as simple as it sounded.
Across the arena...
Minji's eyes watched him quietly.
Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the phone resting in her lap.
A small hope flickered inside her.
Would he finally say it...?
Would he introduce me...?
Or...
Would he simply deny it?
The entire arena waited.
Thousands of eyes.
Six members.
Four girls in the audience.
Everyone...
Waiting for the same answer.
Jeon J. lowered his gaze for a brief second.
A faint smile touched his lips...
Not because the banner was funny.
But because life had a strange sense of timing.
He slowly lifted the microphone.
"There was a time..."
"...when I thought I was afraid of love."
The arena fell completely silent.
He looked toward the audience.
His voice remained calm.
Gentle.
"But I don't think that's true anymore."
Another brief pause.
He let out a quiet breath.
"I've learned..."
"...that love itself isn't frightening."
His eyes drifted somewhere far beyond the sea of light sticks.
"What scares you..."
"...is how deeply it can hurt."
Silence.
"So..."
He smiled faintly.
"I don't think I'm afraid anymore."
A tiny pause.
"I just..."
"...know how much it hurts."
His gaze returned to the audience.
"And if one day..."
"...it decides to stay in my heart completely..."
He gave the smallest shrug.
"I honestly don't know what will become of me."
The arena exploded into cheers.
Thousands of voices filled the stadium.
Some fans screamed.
Others simply smiled.
The answer wasn't what anyone had expected...
Yet somehow...
It felt painfully honest.
Minji remained still.
The smile on her face slowly disappeared.
That wasn't the answer she had imagined.
He hadn't denied it.
But...
He hadn't acknowledged her either.
She quietly lowered her eyes.
Unable to understand whether she should feel relieved...
Or disappointed.
On the stage...
The members exchanged almost invisible glances.
For a fleeting second...
Sadness crossed their faces.
They understood every unspoken word hidden behind Jeon J.'s answer.
But just as quickly...
They smiled again.
The cameras were still rolling.
The audience didn't need to see the weight behind those words.
Kim Joon cleared his throat dramatically before clapping once.
"Well..."
He looked toward Jeon J. with an exaggerated nod.
"I think we've just witnessed the most philosophical answer ever given to a banner."
The audience laughed.
Taehun immediately joined in.
"So basically..."
He looked at the crowd.
"The lesson today is..."
"If you want relationship advice..."
He pointed at Yomin.
"If you want heartbreak advice..."
He pointed at Jeon J.
The members burst into laughter.
Even Jeon J. let out a chuckle, shaking his head.
Kim Joon smiled warmly before looking back at the audience.
"Alright..."
"Before our leader accidentally starts an emotional podcast..."
He laughed.
"Let's save the next banner before everyone starts crying."
The arena instantly filled with laughter once again.
And just like that...
The heaviness quietly melted away.
While the final moments of the concert unfolded inside the stadium...
On the other side...
The atmosphere inside Kang Hyun-Woo's restaurant had changed completely.
Since the restaurant had received a call that TBS would be dining there after the concert, the management had turned on the large television in the staff area long before the show ended.
The official TBS live broadcast from the Busan Concert was playing across the screen.
Not because the staff had forgotten their work.
But because tonight...
Their future guests were performing on that very stage.
The restaurant remained as busy as ever.
Orders continued leaving the kitchen.
Servers moved swiftly between tables.
The rhythmic sound of knives against chopping boards blended with the sizzling of pans.
Yet now and then...
Someone would steal a glance at the screen.
A kitchen assistant laughed while arranging fresh vegetables.
"I can't believe they're actually coming here."
One of the chefs, without taking his eyes off the grill, replied,
"Focus on your station first."
"But..."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"...I still can't believe it either."
Soft laughter spread through the kitchen.
Even the female chef found herself smiling as another funny banner appeared on the screen.
Near the service counter...
Two waitresses quietly giggled while balancing trays.
"Did you see Taehun's reaction?"
"I swear he's funnier off-stage than on stage."
The other nodded, trying not to laugh.
Meanwhile...
Zoya remained focused on her work.
She arranged glasses neatly onto a serving tray before checking the order tickets once again.
She hadn't looked at the screen.
Not once.
It wasn't because she wasn't curious.
It was because looking...
Still wasn't easy.
The voices from the concert echoed throughout the restaurant.
Laughter.
Cheers.
The members teasing one another.
Even without seeing the screen...
She could picture every expression.
Every smile.
Every familiar voice.
Another burst of laughter filled the restaurant.
Someone had read another hilarious banner.
Several staff members laughed together before quickly returning to work.
Then...
Everything grew quieter.
A different voice filled the restaurant speakers.
Kim Joon.
Zoya instinctively paused for the briefest moment.
Without meaning to...
She listened.
"I think this one's for Jeon."
Her fingers tightened ever so slightly around the tray she was holding.
She still refused to look.
The restaurant fell unusually silent.
Even some of the chefs unconsciously slowed their movements as the banner was read aloud.
Then...
Jeon J.'s voice followed.
Calm.
Steady.
Quiet enough to make every word impossible to ignore.
"There was a time..."
"…when I thought I was afraid of love."
Zoya lowered her eyes.
She continued polishing the glasses in front of her.
Anything...
To keep herself from looking.
"I've learned that love itself isn't frightening..."
"What scares you..."
"...is how deeply it can hurt."
Her hands stopped moving.
Only for a second.
She swallowed quietly before forcing herself to continue.
Around her...
No one noticed the subtle change in her expression.
They were too busy listening.
Or smiling.
Or waiting for the next joke.
Only Zoya understood why those words refused to leave her heart.
She never looked at the screen.
Not even once.
But somehow...
She heard every single word.
And for reasons she couldn't explain...
They unsettled her far more than she wanted to admit.
The restaurant slowly fell silent as the live broadcast came to an end.
The final image of TBS waving goodbye to their fans disappeared from the giant screen before it switched back to the restaurant's welcome display.
For a brief moment...
No one spoke.
Then—
Clap.
Clap.
Manager Choi Min-Seok stepped into the center of the dining hall, drawing everyone's attention.
"Alright, everyone."
His voice carried the same calm authority as before.
"The concert is officially over."
He glanced toward the television before looking back at the staff.
"They'll most likely leave the venue within the next twenty to thirty minutes."
"Our estimates say they could arrive here within the hour."
The atmosphere instantly became serious.
"The dining hall has already been closed for outside customers."
He gestured toward the entrance, where the CLOSED FOR PRIVATE EVENT sign had already been placed against the glass doors.
"No more walk-in guests."
"From this moment onward..."
"Every member of staff focuses only on one thing."
"TBS."
The kitchen staff nodded immediately.
Manager Choi continued.
"I want every table checked again."
"Every glass polished."
"Every station spotless."
"No shortcuts."
"No assumptions."
"If something doesn't look perfect..."
"Fix it."
His eyes slowly moved across every employee.
"We only get one first impression."
"So let's make sure it's unforgettable."
"Understood?"
"Yes, Mr Choi!"
The answer echoed through the restaurant.
Everyone immediately scattered back to their stations.
Only...
Zoya remained standing.
Jeon J.'s words still echoed somewhere inside her mind.
"Love itself isn't frightening..."
"What scares you..."
"...is how deeply it can hurt."
She closed her eyes for the briefest moment.
Why...
Why did those words affect her so much?
Taking a slow breath, she forced herself to move.
Before she could change her mind...
She walked toward Manager Choi.
He noticed her almost immediately.
"Miss Zoya?"
She offered a polite smile, though it barely reached her eyes.
"Mr Choi..."
"I was wondering..."
She hesitated.
"...would it be possible for me to leave a little earlier tonight?"
A few nearby staff members instinctively looked toward her.
Manager Choi frowned slightly.
"Earlier?"
"Is everything alright?"
"Yes."
She nodded quickly.
"I just realised I forgot to tell my roommate that I'd be working late today."
"I don't want her to worry."
"I was hoping I could head back before it gets too late."
For a moment...
No one spoke.
Then one of the waitresses blinked in surprise.
"Wait..."
"You want to leave now?"
Another staff member couldn't hide his disbelief.
"But..."
"TBS will be here any minute."
Even one of the kitchen assistants laughed softly.
"People would pay just to see them in person."
"And you're asking to go home?"
Their reactions weren't rude.
Only genuinely confused.
Zoya looked at them apologetically.
"I'm sorry."
She smiled politely.
"I know they're very popular."
"I've heard of them..."
"But..."
She paused, choosing her words carefully.
"I'm not really someone who follows celebrities."
"I hope that doesn't sound disrespectful."
She immediately bowed her head slightly.
"I truly don't mean it that way."
"I just..."
"...don't know much about them."
The restaurant grew quiet for a second.
No one looked offended.
If anything...
They looked even more surprised.
One of the chefs let out an awkward laugh.
"I've never met someone in Korea who says that so calmly."
Another waitress smiled.
"Well..."
"I guess everyone has different interests."
Manager Choi remained silent for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.
"Alright, Miss Zoya."
His expression softened into a small smile.
"You may leave once you've finished your current responsibilities."
Relief flickered across Zoya's face.
"Thank you, Mr Choi."
He gave a slight nod before adding with a light chuckle,
"Though..."
"I have to admit..."
He folded his arms.
"You're probably the first employee I've met who's asking to leave early on the very night TBS is coming."
A few staff members laughed in agreement.
One of the waitresses smiled.
"If I were you, I'd stay."
"You'd get to meet the biggest band in the country."
Another chef nodded enthusiastically.
"You might even get a photo with them if you're lucky."
Manager Choi smiled.
"Exactly."
He looked back at Zoya.
"It would've been quite a memorable first day."
"Not everyone gets the chance to meet artists of their level."
"But..."
He shrugged good-naturedly.
"I suppose everyone has different priorities."
Zoya simply smiled.
A calm..
Almost unreadable smile.
"Maybe."
She lowered her gaze politely.
"But I think getting home without making my roommate worry is more important tonight."
Manager Choi gave an understanding nod.
"Fair enough."
"I'll have someone cover the last part of your shift."
"Thank you."
She bowed her head respectfully before quietly returning to finish her remaining duties.
No one noticed...
That her smile had never quite reached her eyes.
Because if they had...
They might have realized—
It wasn't that she didn't want to meet TBS.
She wasn't ready...
To stand face to face with one particular member.
On the other side...
The members were gathered inside the waiting room, quietly waiting for their vehicles to be brought around.
For the first time in weeks...
Everyone looked completely at ease.
Today had marked the final Busan concert.
Their next concert wouldn't be until next month. Although each member still had individual schedules during the break, none of them carried the same pressure as preparing for another stadium performance.
That alone made everyone feel noticeably lighter.
But perhaps the most comforting part was knowing that none of them had any overseas schedules until next month.
After constantly flying from one country to another, they always found themselves missing home after just a few days.
Missing Korea.
Missing the familiar comfort of their own country.
Still...
No matter how tired or homesick they became, they had never once allowed it to affect their work.
The stage always came first.
Kim Joon threw himself onto the couch with a dramatic sigh before lazily stretching his arms.
"The second I get back to the hotel..."
He closed his eyes.
"...I'm going straight to sleep."
"I'm completely exhausted."
Jeon.J, who had been quietly scrolling through his phone, glanced at the time before slipping it back into his pocket.
"No."
His calm voice immediately caught everyone's attention.
"We're all going out for dinner first."
"I've already reserved a table."
"We're leaving in five minutes."
Hosu looked at him in disbelief.
"Absolutely not."
"I'm just going to eat something at the hotel."
He rubbed the back of his neck with a tired groan.
"And besides..."
He looked directly at Jeon.J.
"Weren't you the one who said yesterday that we were all going to Minji's house after the concert?"
"So where did this dinner suddenly come from?"
"It's already one in the morning."
"I seriously don't have the energy."
Unlike everyone else...
Jinhun remained silent.
He didn't complain.
He didn't ask any questions.
He simply kept staring at Jeon.J.
Something about this sudden dinner didn't sit right with him.
Jeon.J wasn't someone who made last-minute plans without a reason.
"We're going."
Jeon.J stood up as if the discussion had already ended.
"I've already booked the table for everyone."
"We'll have dinner..."
"...and then head straight back to the hotel."
"It's not like any of us have an important schedule tomorrow."
"So..."
He looked around at the others.
"Let's go."
Yomin let out an exaggerated sigh before standing.
"You really know how to take advantage of being the youngest."
A few chuckles echoed through the room.
Everyone knew exactly what that meant.
Once Jeon.J had made up his mind...
Changing it was almost impossible.
One by one...
The members got to their feet.
Just as they were about to leave...
The waiting room door opened.
Minji walked inside.
The moment Jeon.J saw her...
He instinctively looked somewhere else.
Minji raised an eyebrow.
Without saying a word, she simply gestured with her eyes.
Where are you going?
Jeon.J blinked.
For a second...
He genuinely didn't know how to answer.
Kim Joon noticed the awkward silence almost immediately.
Before Jeon.J could say anything suspicious...
He stepped in with a smile.
"We've finally got some free time after so many days."
"So we thought we'd go out for dinner together."
"That's all."
Jeon.J slowly turned toward Kim Joon.
Kim Joon immediately shot him a warning look.
Don't say anything.
Jeon.J quietly looked away.
Minji folded her arms.
"What kind of excuse is that?"
"You were all supposed to come to my house tonight."
She looked directly at Jeon.J.
"Jeon.J..."
"Didn't you tell everyone yesterday?"
"I did."
Jeon.J answered honestly.
"But the plan was to go after dinner..."
I'd preserve your dialogue and humor while making it read naturally in cinematic English.
"What do you mean?"
A hint of annoyance crept into Minji's voice as she folded her arms.
"You were all supposed to come over to my house tonight."
Her eyes landed on Jeon.J.
"Jeon.J..."
"Didn't you tell everyone yesterday?"
"I did."
Jeon.J answered calmly.
"But the plan was to go to your place after dinner."
Before anyone else could say another word...
Minjo suddenly spoke.
"This dinner was actually Taehun's idea."
The room fell silent.
Taehun slowly turned toward Minjo.
"...What?"
His eyebrows shot up in disbelief.
Minjo, completely clueless, looked back at Jeon.J before looking at Taehun again, as if nothing unusual had happened.
No one said a word.
The others simply lowered their heads, desperately trying to hold back their laughter.
Realizing there was no way out...
Taehun forced a smile.
"Y-Yeah."
"It was my idea."
"In fact..."
He looked at Minji with an innocent grin.
"You should come with us."
"And where are your friends?"
"Call them too."
"The more the merrier."
Minjo nodded enthusiastically.
"I was the one who suggested making the plan..."
He pointed proudly at Taehun.
"But do you know how hard this guy worked just to convince everyone that he'd pay the bill himself?"
For a second...
Minjo smiled proudly.
Then the meaning of his words finally sank in.
His mouth slowly fell open.
The room instantly erupted with laughter.
Taehun stared at him in complete disbelief.
"You traitor..."
Minji pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Would you two stop your stupid conversations for once?"
Then she looked at everyone.
If you free join us, Jeon.J added.
"No one is going anywhere."
"If all of us leave for dinner..."
"Then how is Zoya supposed to come?"
"She'll be getting off work soon."
"And if I suddenly call her and ask her to join us..."
"This time she won't break Taehun's bones..."
"She'll break mine."
Taehun immediately looked offended.
"Why am I always the example?"
Minji winked mischievously.
"Because you're free."
Another wave of laughter echoed around the room.
Jeon.J hesitated for a brief moment before speaking.
"I think..."
"...we should leave."
Minji slowly turned toward him.
The smile on her face disappeared.
"Minji." Jeon.J called her.
"You can call her."
"If your friend isn't busy..."
"She'll come."
"If she can't..."
"Then what's the problem?"
Minji kept looking at him.
"Why do you keep avoiding her?"
Jeon.J frowned slightly.
"Why would I waste my time avoiding someone?"
The second he finished speaking...
Every member answered in perfect unison.
"Exactly."
"Why would you waste your time?"
Jeon.J slowly looked around at all of them.
Then rolled his eyes.
Without saying another word...
He walked out.
The room fell unusually quiet.
Minji watched him leave before letting out a disappointed sigh.
"What happened to him?"
"Why is he behaving like this?"
"Today was supposed to be a celebration."
"We were going to celebrate Zoya finally getting the job she wanted."
Taehun casually walked over and stood beside her.
"Look..."
"You're pretty."
"I'm handsome."
"You're a good girl."
"I'm a good boy."
He gave her an exaggerated smile.
"So..."
"Think about it."
The remaining members immediately started walking outside.
Everyone knew exactly what was about to happen.
Sure enough...
Minji slowly turned toward Taehun.
The smile vanished from his face.
He instinctively took one step backwards.
Then another.
"...Uh-oh."
Without wasting another second...
He turned around and ran.
Minji chased after him immediately.
"TAEHUNNNNNNN!"
Her voice echoed throughout the parking area.
Taehun jumped inside the van before quickly locking all the doors.
Through the window, he shouted dramatically,
"I seriously don't understand you!"
"You won't leave that weird guy alone..."
"And now you're saying you won't leave me alone either!"
"What do you actually want from me?"
"TAEHUN!"
Minji shouted even louder.
The rest of the members burst into laughter.
Jeon.J simply walked over, gently held Minji by the arm, and guided her away from Taehun's van.
"Leave him."
"He's never going to change."
Then he looked at her.
"So..."
"Are you coming?"
Minji looked straight into his eyes.
"You said you'd come tonight."
Jeon.J met her gaze without hesitation.
"Minji..."
"I never promised."
She shook her head.
"You don't need promises."
"You always keep your word."
Jeon.J sighed softly.
"You're taking this too seriously."
"It's just dinner."
"It is just dinner."
Minji nodded.
"But you're acting strange."
He looked at her with a helpless smile.
"Don't start speaking Taehun's language."
A small smile appeared on Minji's lips.
"I'm not."
"I'm just telling you what I've observed."
"You're overthinking."
She slowly shook her head.
"No..."
"For the first time..."
"I think I'm seeing things exactly as they are."
"Minji..."
Jeon.J began quietly.
"Jeon.J, listen to me."
Minji cut him off before he could say another word.
Her voice wasn't loud.
But there was disappointment hidden beneath it.
"Today..."
"You could've introduced me."
She held his gaze.
"But your answer..."
"It was nowhere near what any of us were expecting."
Jeon.J remained calm.
"It was just a banner."
Minji shook her head.
"No."
"It was an opportunity."
A brief silence settled between them.
Jeon.J looked at her for a long moment before speaking in his usual composed tone.
"Fine."
"If that's the only thing bothering you..."
"I can start a live broadcast right now and introduce you."
His words carried no sarcasm.
He genuinely meant them.
Minji immediately shook her head.
"No..."
"That's not what I meant."
She lowered her eyes for a moment.
"...But..."
Jeon.J glanced toward the parking area where every member had already settled inside their vehicles.
"They're waiting for us."
His voice remained gentle.
"Let's not keep everyone waiting."
Minji followed his gaze before letting out a quiet sigh.
"Fine."
Jeon.J stood there silently...
Watching her walk away until she disappeared beside the parked vehicles.
"I think this has gone a little too far."
A familiar voice spoke from behind him.
Jeon.J slowly turned around.
Jinhun stood there with both hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie.
For the first time that night...
A flicker of surprise crossed Jeon.J's face.
Almost as if he couldn't understand how Jinhun had figured it out.
He didn't ask.
He already knew asking would be pointless.
Jinhun smiled faintly.
"What?"
"You really thought we'd believe you suddenly planned a dinner?"
He folded his arms.
"You planned it for all of us."
"But we've known you for years."
"We know exactly what you do after the final concert of a tour."
"You disappear into the hotel..."
"...and sleep."
"So don't expect us to believe this was some random dinner."
Jeon.J quietly looked away.
His silence only confirmed Jinhun's suspicion.
A knowing smile appeared on Jinhun's face.
"So..."
He glanced toward the restaurant's location on his own phone before looking back at Jeon.J.
"Are we leaving now..."
"...or are we waiting until Zoya's shift ends?"
Jeon.J slowly turned his head.
His expression remained unreadable.
But his eyes...
Said enough.
He stared at Jinhun without saying a single word.
Jinhun chuckled softly.
"Don't glare at me."
"I'm not the one you should be preparing answers for."
His gaze shifted toward the parking lot where Minji had disappeared only moments earlier.
"Save those answers for Minji."
"She's already asked more than enough questions tonight."
"And judging by the look on her face..."
"This conversation isn't over."
Silence.
For the first time that evening...
Jeon.J found himself with nothing to say.
He simply looked toward the parking lot once more...
Before quietly walking toward his own car.
To be continued...
Regards,
ZK