Chapter 6: The Heart That Stays Silent

Ren had never been the emotional type.

He was methodical, calm, a thinker first and always. Among the Dreamer members, he was known for being a quiet observer, a calculated mind who rarely let anything or anyone ruffle him.

But tonight, everything inside him was chaos.

He hadn’t meant to see it.

He had followed Lia to the rooftop intending to ask about the vocal training schedule—nothing more. But as soon as he’d pushed the stairwell door open, he’d frozen.

There they were—Jae-hyun and Lia.

Kissing.

And not just any kiss. That kind of soft, gentle, almost reverent kiss that wasn’t about passion—it was about emotions. It meant something.

He backed away quietly, pressing the door shut behind him with trembling fingers.

It wasn’t supposed to hurt this much.

Hours Later

Ren sat alone in the tech room, the glow of the monitors reflecting in his tired eyes. The cursor blinked on a blank line of code, but he didn’t type. His fingers hovered over the keys, frozen.

He had known for a while that his feelings for Lia were more than just admiration.

It had started with subtle things—the way she adjusted their jackets before a shoot, how she remembered his coffee order even when he didn’t ask, how she spoke gently when she thought no one was listening.

Then came the protectiveness.

He found himself watching over her. Researching her name out of curiosity. Patching through NOVA's firewalls when something about her background felt... off. And when he finally pieced together the truth, it stunned him.

She wasn’t just their manager.

She was a shadow cloaked in secrets. The hidden owner of the entire entertainment empire. The daughter of a man who ruled both justice and darkness. A girl wrapped in layers no one saw.

And yet, despite all of that, she smiled at him like he was just Ren.

Not the top hacker in the world. Not the one person who could expose her.

Just… Ren.

Ren’s Dilemma

He should have been angry. Or bitter.

But he wasn’t.

Because Jae-hyun wasn’t just anyone.

Jae-hyun was his leader. His brother in all the ways that mattered. The one who gave him confidence onstage, who defended him in interviews, who put an arm around his shoulders when the weight of expectations crushed him.

Ren couldn’t hate him. Even now.

So why did it still ache?

“Still awake?” a voice came from behind.

It was Kai, holding a mug of something warm and probably caffeinated.

Ren didn’t answer.

Kai sat beside him, sliding the mug across the table. “You saw them?”

Ren didn’t ask how he knew. Kai always knew.

“I wasn’t spying,” Ren said quietly.

“You never do,” Kai replied.

For a long moment, the only sound in the room was the hum of the computer fans.

Then Kai added, “You love her, don’t you?”

Ren didn’t deny it.

“Yeah.”

Kai let out a sigh. “You’re not alone, you know. A lot of people fall for someone they can’t have.”

Ren looked over, eyes filled with restrained pain. “But why Jae-hyun? Out of everyone—”

“Because he sees her too,” Kai said gently. “The real her. Just like you do.”

Ren clenched his jaw. “He’ll get her heart. I’ll just... guard her secrets.”

The Next Morning

The atmosphere was different at breakfast.

Lia sat quietly at the counter, scrolling through her tablet, a coffee in hand. Jae-hyun walked in moments later, bumping shoulders with her softly.

She smiled—just a flicker.

Ren saw it.

He looked away.

“You good?” Jae-hyun asked, dropping into the chair next to him.

Ren nodded. “Didn’t sleep much.”

“Same,” Jae chuckled, yawning. “Weird dreams.”

Ren forced a small laugh, but his chest tightened.

He wanted to tell him. Everything.

He wanted to confess his feelings, his hurt, the truth about what he saw—but he couldn't. Not when Jae-hyun looked so damn happy for the first time in weeks.

So instead, he said, “Thanks for always looking out for me.”

Jae gave him a confused grin. “That’s what brothers do.”

Ren looked down at his plate, hiding the flicker of sadness in his eyes.

“Yeah,” he whispered. “Exactly.”

Later That Day – Practice Room

The group moved through another intense dance session, Lia watching from her seat with a pen between her fingers and her mind clearly elsewhere.

Ren caught her eye once. Just briefly.

It was like time paused.

He could see the guilt in her expression, even if she tried to hide it. She knew. Maybe not everything, but enough.

And in that second, he nodded.

A silent message.

I’m okay. I’m still here.

Lia blinked, a breath catching in her throat, before she looked away.

Private Conversation – Ren & Lia

That evening, Ren found her on the balcony alone, staring out at the city lights. No rooftop this time. Just the quiet hum of Seoul and a sky scattered with stars.

He approached, hands in his pockets.

“Hey.”

Lia turned slowly, almost startled to see him. “Ren…”

“I know.”

She didn't speak.

“I saw it. You and Jae.”

Lia’s shoulders tensed.

“I didn’t mean for that to happen,” she said.

“I know,” Ren replied.

He leaned against the railing beside her, not too close.

“You don’t have to explain,” he continued. “I’m not mad. I just…”

He stopped. Swallowed hard.

“I care about you, Lia. More than I should. And it hurts. But I’d rather hurt quietly than see you unsafe or unhappy.”

Lia turned to him fully now, eyes wide and glossy.

“Ren…”

“I just want you to know,” he said with a bittersweet smile, “that even if I’m not the one standing next to you, I’ll still be standing behind you. Always.”

For a moment, Lia didn’t say a word. Then she reached out and wrapped her arms around him tightly.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “You’re one of the strongest people I know.”

Ren let himself hold on for just a second longer than he should’ve. Then he stepped back, eyes glinting in the city light.

“Besides,” he said with a small smirk, “someone’s got to keep an eye on Jae-hyun.”

Lia laughed softly, wiping her eyes.

Ren turned to go.

As he walked away, he felt lighter—not because it hurt any less—but because now, at least, it wasn’t a secret anymore.

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