Minji barely slept.
The photograph remained on the hotel desk all night.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw it again.
The rooftop.
Her and Joon talking.
The sunset behind them.
And the note.
Next time, I won’t stay silent.
Whoever had taken the picture wanted her to be afraid.
Unfortunately, it was working.
The next morning, Minji arrived at breakfast looking exhausted.
Hana immediately noticed.
“You didn’t sleep.”
“I slept.”
“For two hours.”
Minji sighed.
“Maybe.”
The members exchanged worried looks.
She wanted to tell them everything.
The photograph.
The note.
The fear growing in her chest.
But something stopped her.
Maybe she didn’t want to ruin the excitement of the festival.
Or maybe she was scared of making the situation worse.
That afternoon, LUNA5 attended a press conference.
Dozens of reporters filled the room.
Questions came rapidly.
Most were harmless.
Questions about music.
Performances.
Future goals.
Then one reporter raised a hand.
“Minji, there have been many rumors connecting you to Aurora’s leader, Lee Joon.
Would you like to comment?”
The room instantly became silent.
The members stiffened.
Minji felt every camera turn toward her.
Every eye focused on her.
For a split second, panic threatened to take over.
Then she remembered her training.
Smile.
Stay calm.
Stay professional.
She took a breath.
“I’m grateful to all senior artists who have supported LUNA5 since our debut.”
It wasn’t a lie.
But it wasn’t the whole truth either.
The reporter looked disappointed.
The manager looked relieved.
The conference continued.
Yet Minji couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her.
That evening, as she walked through the festival grounds, her phone vibrated.
A message.
Not from Joon.
Not from her members.
An unknown number.
Her stomach tightened.
Slowly she opened it.
Meet me behind Hall C.
Alone.
No explanation.
Nothing.
Every instinct told her to ignore it.
But curiosity won.
Half an hour later, she carefully made her way behind Hall C.
The area was quiet.
Almost deserted.
A few equipment trucks stood nearby.
The distant sounds of music echoed through the night.
Then she saw someone.
A young woman wearing a staff badge.
She looked nervous.
Very nervous.
“You came,” the woman said.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Seo Ara.”
Minji had never heard the name before.
“I work with the festival media team.”
“Why did you contact me?”
Ara glanced around carefully.
As if checking whether someone was listening.
Then she lowered her voice.
“Someone is following you.”
A chill ran down Minji’s spine.
“What?”
“The rooftop photograph wasn’t an accident.”
Minji’s heart started racing.
Ara continued.
“I’ve seen someone paying photographers to collect pictures of you and Joon.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know the full story.”
Ara shook her head.
“But I know you’re being watched.”
For several seconds Minji couldn’t speak.
The situation was suddenly much bigger than rumors.
Much bigger than gossip.
Someone was actively trying to gather information.
Someone wanted evidence.
Meanwhile, across the city, Joon was having a conversation of his own.
Aurora’s manager had called an emergency meeting.
The atmosphere was serious.
One of the company staff members placed several photographs on the table.
Joon’s expression darkened immediately.
There were more pictures.
Different locations.
Different days.
Different angles.
Some were blurry.
Some were clear.
But all of them showed the same thing.
Him.
And Minji.
Nothing inappropriate.
Nothing scandalous.
Yet enough to fuel endless speculation.
“We’ve identified multiple photographers following both of you,” the manager said.
“Who hired them?” Joon asked.
“We don’t know yet.”
Because it meant the threat was still out there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Planning.
The following day was the festival’s closing ceremony.
Artists gathered backstage before the final performances.
The atmosphere should have felt exciting.
Instead, Minji felt uneasy.
Her eyes constantly scanned the crowd.
Every stranger seemed suspicious.
Every camera felt threatening.
As she walked through a backstage corridor, she suddenly heard voices around the corner.
One voice was familiar.
Cha Yuna.
The other belonged to someone she didn’t recognize.
“…I need more than photographs,” Yuna said.
More than photographs?
Minji froze.
The stranger replied.
“Then you’ll have to pay more.”
Yuna crossed her arms.
“I don’t care about the cost.”
Minji’s heart pounded.
She didn’t hear the rest.
A staff member walked past, forcing her to move before she was discovered.
But she had heard enough.
Enough to know that Cha Yuna was involved somehow.
Enough to know that the situation was far from over.
That night, after the festival ended, Minji stood alone outside the venue.
The stars glittered above.
The crowd had mostly disappeared.
For the first time in days, the world felt quiet.
Then footsteps approached.
She didn’t need to turn around.
She already knew who it was.
Joon.
Neither spoke immediately.
The silence felt heavier than usual.
Finally, Minji looked at him.
“I think someone is trying to expose us.”
Joon’s expression grew serious.
“Me too.”
For a moment, neither knew what to say.
The danger felt real now.
Closer than ever before.
Then Joon made a decision.
One that would change everything.
“I’m done pretending this isn’t happening.”
Minji looked up.
“What do you mean?”
Joon met her eyes.
And for the first time since they met, he said the words neither of them had dared to speak.
“I care about you, Minji.”
The world seemed to stop.
The wind.
The noise.
The city.
Everything.
Only one question remained.
What would Minji say?
To be continued…