the next morning, Minji woke up to twenty-three missed messages.
Her phone wouldn’t stop vibrating.
Half asleep, she opened the group chat.
The first thing she saw was a photo.
It was her.
Standing backstage.
Smiling at her phone.
The photo had already spread across social media.
Thousands of comments filled the post.
“Who was she texting?”
“Does Minji have a boyfriend?”
“That smile looks suspicious.”
“A rookie idol already dating?”
Minji’s stomach dropped.
“What is happening?” she whispered.
A few minutes later, LUNA5 was called to an emergency meeting.
The manager looked serious.
“Right now, this is only a rumor,” he said.
“But rumors spread fast.”
The members exchanged nervous glances.
“What do we do?” Hana asked.
“For now?
Nothing.”
Minji stayed quiet.
The message from Joon still sat on her phone.
No matter what happens tonight, I’m proud of you.
Nobody knew it was from him.
But what if they found out?
That afternoon, LUNA5 attended another music show recording.
Minji tried to focus on rehearsals.
Unfortunately, not everyone was supportive.
Near the dressing rooms, she overheard a familiar voice.
Cha Yuna.
A popular idol from another group.
“And suddenly she’s everywhere,” Yuna said with a laugh.
“I wonder why.”
The meaning behind the words was obvious.
Minji kept walking.
She refused to react.
But the comments still stung.
Sometimes success attracted admiration.
Sometimes it attracted jealousy.
Later that evening, LUNA5 received unexpected news.
They had been nominated for first place again.
The members exploded with excitement.
Even the manager looked emotional.
“Whether you win or not,” he said, “you’ve already achieved something incredible.”
As they prepared for the live broadcast, Minji stood alone near a window overlooking the city.
The lights of Seoul sparkled below.
A message appeared on her phone.
Joon: “Nervous?”
Minji smiled despite herself.
Minji: “Very.”
A reply came almost immediately.
Joon: “Good.”
Minji: “Good?”
Joon: “It means you still care.”
She laughed quietly.
Leave it to Joon to make nervousness sound inspiring.
For a moment, she forgot about the rumors.
The pressure.
The criticism.
Everything.
Then another message arrived.
Joon: “Whatever happens tonight, remember where you started.”
Minji looked out at the city again.
She remembered the small bedroom where she practiced dance moves after school.
She remembered watching music videos late at night.
She remembered believing that standing on a real stage was impossible.
And now she was here.
Living the dream she once thought was out of reach.
The live broadcast began.
LUNA5 delivered their best performance yet.
Every move was sharp.
Every note was strong.
When the stage ended, the audience erupted into cheers.
Then came the announcement.
The host opened the envelope.
The entire venue fell silent.
Minji grabbed Hana’s hand.
The members held their breath.
“And the winner is…”
The pause felt endless.
Minji’s heart pounded.
“…LUNA5!”
For a second, nobody moved.
Then the girls screamed.
Tears filled Minji’s eyes.
Their first win.
Their very first win.
As confetti fell from above, she looked into the crowd.
And among hundreds of people, she spotted a familiar face.
Lee Joon.
Standing backstage.
Clapping proudly.
Their eyes met for only a moment.
But in that moment, Minji realized something she had been trying very hard not to admit.
She wasn’t just grateful to him anymore.
She liked him.
And that realization was far more terrifying than any rumor.