Chapter 7: A Step Closer to Forever

The week had passed like a whirlwind.

Promotions for Dreamer’s upcoming comeback were in full swing, and the buzz was everywhere. Posters, teaser clips, fan countdowns—it was all happening. But while the world saw perfection and smiles, behind the scenes, emotions simmered beneath the surface.

Ren had changed. Not in a loud or dramatic way, but in quiet glances, in longer silences. He still teased the members and laughed at Kai’s ridiculous jokes, but his eyes didn’t shine quite the same. Only Lia noticed. Only she knew why.

And Jae-hyun?

He was trying his best to play it cool. To not look at Lia for too long when cameras were around. To not reach for her hand in hallways. But every time she was near, his entire world zeroed in on her.

They were playing a dangerous game of shadows—of glances stolen and words left unsaid.

A Quiet Night In

The dorm was unusually empty.

The other members had gone out for ramen after practice, leaving Lia alone with Jae-hyun for the first time in days.

He found her curled up on the couch with her tablet, hair in a messy bun, wearing one of the oversized Dreamer hoodies—his, actually. She didn’t seem to realize it.

“You planning on stealing more of my clothes or just that hoodie?” he asked with a smirk.

Lia looked up, blinking. Then her lips curved. “It’s comfortable.”

He crossed the room, his hands sliding into his pockets. “It looks better on you anyway.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You flirting with your boss?”

Jae-hyun leaned over, face close. “No. Just stating facts.”

Lia’s breath caught, her eyes flicking to his lips, then quickly away. “You should be careful,” she whispered. “Flirting with me could get you in trouble.”

“Only if you’re worth the trouble.”

Their eyes met.

Something shifted.

He sat down next to her, not too close—but closer than he should have. Silence settled between them, thick with tension. The only sound was the soft hum of the fridge and the distant noise of traffic outside.

Then, slowly, Jae-hyun reached for her hand. His fingers grazed hers gently, giving her the choice.

She didn’t pull away.

“I’ve never liked someone this much,” he said quietly.

Lia looked down at their intertwined fingers, her walls trembling. “You shouldn’t,” she murmured. “Not someone like me.”

Jae-hyun’s voice was firm. “Why not?”

“Because I come with secrets,” she said. “With risks. I can’t promise you normal. I can’t promise safety.”

He cupped her cheek, turning her to face him. “I’m not asking for safety, Lia. I’m asking for you.”

And this time, when he kissed her, it wasn’t hurried or stolen.

It was slow. Real.

The kind of kiss that says I see you—even the parts you hide.

The Hacker's Instinct

Meanwhile, in a dark corner of the city, a screen blinked to life.

Lines of code ran like a river, too fast for most eyes to track. But to the person at the keyboard, it was second nature.

Ren’s little brother—known to the online world only as Zero—sat with headphones on, eyes locked on the encrypted file he had just intercepted. It wasn’t the first suspicious file aimed at Nova’s internal systems this week.

But this one?

This one mentioned Lia’s old alias.

“Someone’s digging,” Zero muttered.

He spun in his chair and reached for his phone.

“Ren, we have a problem.”

The Next Day – Press Event

Bright lights. Flashing cameras. Fans screaming from behind barriers.

Dreamer arrived at the press event in perfect form—smiling, waving, flawless. Lia stood at the side with her assistant clipboard and professional façade, but her eyes kept flicking to Jae-hyun.

His hand had brushed against hers before they exited the van. A silent reassurance. A whisper of last night’s moment still burning between them.

Ren stood nearby, sunglasses hiding his conflicted gaze.

As reporters called out questions, Lia scanned the crowd.

And then… she saw him.

Just for a flash.

A man in a dark grey coat, holding a camera—but not with the other reporters. He wasn’t aiming at Dreamer. He was aiming at her.

Her pulse spiked.

She turned away quickly, murmuring to Kai, “Get security to review that man over there. Second row from the back. Don’t draw attention.”

Kai nodded, understanding instantly.

Jae-hyun noticed her shift, his brows drawing together in concern. But she shook her head subtly. Not here. Not now.

But deep inside, she knew…

Someone had found a piece of her mask.,

And they were starting to pull.

Later That Night – The Hidden Room

After the event, Lia pulled Ren and Zero into her private security room.

The walls were lined with screens, live footage from Nova’s buildings and dorms blinking across them. Zero was already typing furiously.

“He used a scrambled press ID,” Zero said. “But I got his footage. He wasn’t recording Dreamer at all.”

Ren leaned forward. “He’s targeting Lia.”

Lia exhaled. “The timing’s not random. Someone from my father’s world might be trying to expose me. Or worse… someone from the industry.”

“I can shut it down,” Zero said. “Erase him completely.”

Lia looked at him. “No. Not yet. Let’s track first. I want to know who he reports to.”

Ren stepped beside her. “If anything happens, you don’t face it alone.”

She gave him a grateful look.

Then Jae-hyun walked in.

The tension thickened.

Lia turned toward him. “We might have a problem.”

“I figured,” he said. “Your eyes gave it away.”

She hesitated. “It’s not just my problem, Jae. If they expose me, you—Dreamer—could be dragged into it.”

“I don’t care,” he said without missing a beat.

“I do,” she said, voice shaking.

He stepped forward, cupping her face gently. “Then let me stand beside you. Whatever comes.”

Ren watched from the side, heart tight but steady. He turned away before he could feel more than he already did.

Kai walked in with mugs of coffee, breaking the moment. “Okay, so who are we deleting from the universe today?”

Lia almost laughed. “Maybe later.”

Late Night – Balcony Again

Lia stood alone again, watching the stars. Jae-hyun joined her, wordless.

They leaned against the railing, shoulder to shoulder.

“I hate that you’re in danger,” he murmured.

“I’ve always been in danger,” she replied. “You just didn’t see it before.”

“I do now. And I’d do anything to protect you.”

She turned to him, heart in her eyes. “I never asked for your love.”

He smiled faintly. “Then it’s a good thing I gave it freely.”

She rested her head on his shoulder.

And for the first time in a long time, she let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—someone could love all of her. Even the parts shrouded in secrets.

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