Lost in conversation, Ahn Hae was startled when the car stopped in front of her alley. It was time to say goodbye. A slight sense of reluctance settled in her heart.
"Let's go. I'll walk you inside," Leo said as he quickly got out of the car and walked around to open the door for her.
"It's already late, you should go home and rest."
It was past three in the morning. They had been filming for over four hours, and Ahn Hae didn't want to affect Leo's health or schedule.
"But I want to talk to you a little longer."
Leo meant it. This wasn't an act for the cameras. It had been a long, long time since someone made him feel so at ease, so comfortable in conversation. That made him greedy, unwilling to let go just yet.
Faced with the sincerity in his voice, Ahn Hae had no way to refuse. She could only reluctantly nod and let him walk her in.
But truthfully, she was overjoyed.
She was the one clinging to this moment the most. Who knew when she would get to be this close to him again? Nothing guaranteed that Leo would even remember her after tonight.
Leo's world was dazzling, a throne admired by millions. Ahn Hae's world was just a fish struggling in a stagnant pond. The gap between them was too vast, and the chance of meeting again was painfully slim. So this moment felt like a fleeting dream—one she never wanted to wake up from.
The road was empty, not a single soul in sight. Only the cold streetlights illuminated their steps. Leo walked beside Ahn Hae, keeping a distance—not too far, not too close. Just enough to make her feel safe.
"Do you ever feel lonely, walking home like this every day?"
His sudden question caught her off guard. Ahn Hae looked up, meeting his gaze. His eyes were warm, like a gentle stream from the mountains, making her too shy to look directly at him. She averted her gaze, staring down at her lone shadow stretching along the pavement.
Of course. Every day. Every night.
When darkness fell, swallowing her whole, when her heavy eyelids sought the refuge of sleep, loneliness was always there—waiting, lurking, ready to tear her apart like a starving beast. Those were the moments she wished for eternal slumber the most. No matter how much she tried to embrace positivity, deep down, behind her cheerful smile, lay doubts, burdens, and a quiet sorrow.
But perhaps loneliness had become such a familiar part of her life that when asked, she could only shake her head and laugh it off.
"I'm used to it."
"Is that so?"
Leo's response was nonchalant, but Ahn Hae knew he had already seen through her. He just chose not to call her out on it.
"What about you?" she asked. "Do you ever feel lonely on your way home?"
Her question made Leo freeze for a moment, the smile on his lips fading slightly. A flicker of sadness flashed through his eyes before he quickly masked it.
"Not really. I usually go home with my members or my manager, so how could I be lonely?"
The familiar smile returned to his face, as if it had been carefully trained to hide everything beneath it.
But Ahn Hae saw through him.
In the entertainment world, filled with challenges and traps, maintaining optimism and the purity of a dream was almost impossible. The loneliness, the feeling of being lost amid all the glitz and glamour—those were scenes never shown to the audience. They remained buried deep, only surfacing when one was at their weakest, exposing the ugliest parts of themselves.
Even so, she didn't want to bring it up, just like how Leo had overlooked her clumsy lie.
Because, in some way, they were the same. Two lonely whales, drifting in the vast ocean.
Ahn Hae looked up at the dim yellow streetlights, their glow pushing back against the biting cold.
"Do you know why they use yellow for streetlights?"
Leo, unsure where she was going with this, shook his head.
"Why?"
She smiled at him. "It's to keep people like us warm—those who come home late. To comfort restless souls, reminding them they're not alone. The lights are here, witnessing all their efforts."
For a moment, Leo found himself lost.
Was it her story?
Or was it Ahn Hae herself—radiating warmth, her gentle smile glowing under the streetlights—that made him feel this way?
He couldn't tell.
"Oh, we're at my apartment building already."
Ahn Hae's voice rang out, clear and bright like church bells, pulling Leo from his daze. He lifted his gaze to the quiet apartment complex in front of him—it looked a little run-down.
Ahn Hae suddenly felt embarrassed, letting her idol see where she lived. She quickly turned around and said,
"Thank you for walking me home. You must be tired. I had such a great time today."
Leo knew this was where their journey for the night had to end. Even though he didn't want it to, he put on his usual bright smile and said,
"Thank you for spending time with me today. I had a really great experience."
"Me too. Getting to be this close to you feels like a dream."
* * *