Chapter 5: Closer Than a Whisper

The rain had finally stopped.

Morning sunlight filtered through the wide studio windows, casting golden streaks across the practice room floor. It was choreography day, and the air buzzed with motion, sweat, and effort. But something in the atmosphere was different.

Lia stood at the front of the room, arms crossed, eyes sharp as always—but today, there was something deeper lurking behind them. Her gaze lingered longer. Her silence was heavier.

Jae-hyun noticed. He always noticed.

During every break, his eyes flicked toward her. She hadn't teased anyone. No sarcastic remarks. No joking threats of extra rounds. Just quiet. Watching. Guarded.

"Take five," Lia finally called out.

The group exhaled in collective relief and scattered for water and rest. But Jae-hyun didn’t move away. He stepped closer to her, brushing his hand lightly across her arm to get her attention.

“You okay?” he asked.

She kept her eyes forward. “I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not.”

She turned slowly to meet his gaze. “Maybe you’re just paying too much attention.”

He raised an eyebrow. “And maybe you’re not hiding it as well as you think.”

Lia’s lip quirked slightly, the barest trace of a smile. “You’re persistent.”

“And you’re impossible.”

“Good combination,” she murmured.

Without another word, she turned and walked toward the rooftop stairwell. But before she reached it, she looked back over her shoulder.

“If you want to know the truth… follow me.”

Rooftop Confessions

The rooftop smelled like fresh rain and cold wind. Lia leaned against the rusted railing, her hoodie pulled up, her hair swaying in the breeze. Jae-hyun followed, shutting the door quietly behind him.

“I don’t usually do this,” she said softly.

“Do what?”

“Let people in.”

He leaned beside her, close enough that their arms brushed. “Why not?”

“Because people leave. Or betray. Or worse—stay and get hurt because of me.”

Jae-hyun looked at her, his eyes burning with intensity. “I’m not scared.”

“You should be.”

“I’m not.”

Lia turned toward him. “When I first met you, I thought you were just another overconfident idol.

Charismatic. Cocky. All charm, no depth.”

Jae laughed. “You’re not wrong.”

“But then you kept surprising me. You’re loyal. Kind. You pay attention when no one else does. And it scared me how easy it was to trust you.”

Her voice was barely above a whisper now.

“You're dangerous, Jae. Because you make me feel safe.”

He stepped closer. His hand reached up and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Then let me be that safe space.”

Lia’s breath hitched.

And before either of them could second guess it, their lips met.

It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t desperate. It was slow and uncertain, like testing waters after a long storm. A question more than a statement. A kiss full of fear, hope, and electricity.

When they finally pulled away, Lia looked into his eyes.

“That’s all I can give right now,” she said.

Jae-hyun didn’t push.

“I’ll wait,” he said simply. “No matter how long it takes.”

Watching from the Shadows

But they weren’t alone.

Unseen from the door that led to the roof staircase, Ren stood frozen.

He had come looking for Lia, only to witness something he had feared—and yet never admitted to himself.

The kiss.

He didn’t mean to eavesdrop. But once he saw them, he couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.

His stomach twisted.

He had always known there was something about her. Something beyond the title of "manager." She wasn’t just smart and capable—she was mysterious, powerful, unreachable. But he had tried to reach anyway.

In secret.

In silence.

He told himself he admired her. That it was just respect. Then admiration. Then… affection.

But the truth?

He was in love with her.

And now, watching her kiss someone else—the leader of their group—Ren felt something crumble inside.

He turned and slipped back down the stairs, unnoticed.

Later That Night

Ren sat alone in the dorm’s shared lounge, fingers running through his hair, laptop glowing dimly in front of him. He stared at the screen, not really seeing the lines of code or the documents flashing by.

He had always kept his emotions tucked away behind his cold demeanor. No one suspected how deeply he felt things. Especially not Lia.

He pulled out the photo again—the same one Jae had caught a glimpse of before. It wasn’t his sister this time. It was Lia. From early days. A stolen shot when she wasn’t looking. Before the walls went up. Before the world got darker.

He traced her face with his thumb.

You don’t even know, do you?

That he’d been watching over her.

That he’d been quietly feeding false data to NOVA to keep her off their radar.

That he’d nearly destroyed his own record to protect her.

And now, she was choosing Jae-hyun.

He hated himself for being jealous.

He hated himself more for still wanting to protect her.

Kai’s Discovery

Meanwhile, Kai watched the security logs on his triple monitor setup. One feed had captured Ren sneaking out onto the rooftop… and then leaving.

He didn’t miss the pain in Ren’s face.

“Damn,” Kai muttered. “Love triangle confirmed.”

Lia walked into the tech room just then.

“What's that face?” she asked.

Kai turned his chair slowly. “Your boys are catching feelings, Boss.”

She frowned. “What?”

“Jae kissed you.”

Lia froze. “…And?”

“Ren saw.”

She paled. “What?”

Kai stood up, serious now. “I’m telling you because you need to be careful. Ren’s emotions aren’t stable right now. Between NOVA pressing him and his feelings for you…”

“I didn’t mean to hurt him,” she said quietly.

Kai gave her a sympathetic look. “You didn’t. But sometimes the truth hurts all by itself.”

Midnight Conversations

Jae-hyun stood on his balcony later that night, phone to his ear.

He didn’t know why he called her. Maybe just to hear her voice again. Maybe to make sure the kiss had been real.

“Lia?”

“Yeah.”

“That thing earlier…”

“Yeah.”

He smiled faintly. “Should we pretend it didn’t happen?”

“No.”

One word. Gentle. Honest.