The melody lingered in Minji’s mind long after she left the rehearsal room.
Even as she sat in the makeup chair while stylists adjusted her hair, she could still hear every note.
It wasn’t just familiar.
It felt like home.
“Minji?”
Her makeup artist smiled.
“You’ve been staring at the mirror for five minutes.”
“Oh…
sorry.”
“You seem distracted.”
“I just heard a song.”
“A song?”
Minji nodded.
“I feel like I’ve known it my whole life.”
The makeup artist laughed softly.
“Maybe it’s a sign tonight will be unforgettable.”
Minji smiled politely.
If only it were that simple.
Outside the stadium, more than forty thousand fans had already gathered.
Light sticks painted the evening sky in shades of pearl white and soft lavender.
Some fans had traveled from Japan.
Others from Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Germany, Brazil, and the United States.
The festival had become one of Korea’s biggest music events.
Inside the artists’ lounge, excitement filled every corner.
Groups greeted one another respectfully.
Managers hurried from room to room.
Cameras captured behind-the-scenes footage.
LUNA5 tried to remain calm despite the enormous crowd.
Sora peeked through the curtain.
“There are so many people.”
Yuri laughed nervously.
“My knees suddenly forgot how to work.”
Hana placed her hands together.
“Everyone.”
The members looked at her.
“No matter what happens tonight…”
“…let’s enjoy this stage.”
Five hands met in the center.
“LUNA5!”
Together they shouted,
“Let’s shine!”
Elsewhere in the stadium, Aurora finished their final rehearsal.
Joon stepped off the stage, wiping sweat from his forehead.
His manager approached.
“LUNA5 looks ready.”
Joon smiled proudly.
“They’ve worked hard.”
The manager noticed the warmth in his expression but said nothing.
Instead, he handed Joon a small envelope.
“This was delivered to our office.”
“There wasn’t a sender.”
Joon frowned.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
Some promises should stay forgotten. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
No signature.
No explanation.
Only those five words.
His smile disappeared.
Minutes later, Minji’s manager hurried into LUNA5’s dressing room.
“We’re changing your schedule.”
The members looked confused.
“Why?”
“Security reasons.”
“What happened?”
“We received an anonymous message.”
Minji immediately felt her heart sink.
The manager didn’t want to worry them, but the concern on his face said everything.
“Security has increased around the venue.”
“No one leaves the backstage area alone.”
Everyone nodded.
Even cheerful Yuri became unusually serious.
As the festival officially began, fireworks exploded above the stadium.
The audience erupted into cheers.
One by one, artists delivered spectacular performances.
From backstage, Minji watched in amazement.
“This used to be my dream,” she whispered.
Joon, who had just finished Aurora’s stage, happened to pass by.
He heard her.
“And now?”
She smiled without taking her eyes off the stage.
“Now it’s my reality.”
Joon laughed softly.
“I like that answer.”
Before either of them could continue, staff members called them in opposite directions.
Their schedules never seemed to give them enough time.
Near midnight, the final collaboration stage began.
Dozens of artists gathered backstage, waiting for the cue to enter.
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement.
As Minji adjusted her microphone, she heard it again.
The piano.
The same melody.
Slow.
Gentle.
Hopeful.
She quietly followed the sound through a side corridor.
This time, she found the rehearsal room before the music ended.
The door was slightly open.
She carefully pushed it wider.
A young man sat alone at the grand piano.
His fingers rested lightly on the keys.
He wasn’t performing.
He was simply playing.
The melody came to an end.
The room fell silent.
Without turning around, the pianist spoke.
“I knew you’d recognize the song eventually.” Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Minji froze.
Her breath caught.
That voice…
Calm.
Warm.
Familiar.
The young man slowly stood and turned toward her.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
He looked older now.
Taller.
His features had changed with time.
But his smile…
It was exactly the same.
The same smile from the faded photograph.
The same smile from her childhood memories.
The friendship bracelet around his wrist caught the light.
It matched the one tucked safely inside Minji’s jewelry box at home.
His eyes filled with emotion.
“Hello, Minji.”
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“…Jiho?”
He nodded gently.
“You remembered.”
The years between them seemed to disappear in an instant.
Minji took one hesitant step forward.
Then another.
“I thought…”
Her voice trembled.
“I thought I’d never see you again.”
Jiho smiled, though his own eyes had become red with tears.
“I wanted to come back.”
“I just couldn’t.”
Before either of them could say another word, someone outside the rehearsal room began running down the hallway.
A security guard’s voice echoed through the corridor.
“Lock down this section!”
Another shouted,
“Someone has entered the backstage area without authorization!”
Jiho’s expression changed immediately.
He looked toward the hallway.
“They found us.”
Minji frowned.
“Who?”
Jiho looked back at her.
“The people who never wanted Project Starlight’s story to be told.”
The lights in the rehearsal room suddenly went out.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Only the faint glow from the hallway remained.
Somewhere outside…
Footsteps were getting closer.
Very slowly.
Very deliberately.