The studio door pushed open with a soft click, and Teahun and Jeon.J walked inside, Bamson trotting between them.
The little dog paused for a heartbeat… then gently pressed his head against Jeon.J's leg, rubbing his face against the fabric—
as if saying:
"This is my castle."
The warmth of that tiny gesture spread across the entire room.
Inside, the other five members of TBS were scattered around, relaxing between practice and schedules.
Minjo shot up from the chair instantly.
"Baby!! You're finally back!"
He hurried to Bamson and gave him two soft pats on the head.
Yomin — expressionless but quietly affectionate — got off the sofa, squatted down, and gently held one of Bamson's paws.
"You good?"
Bamson touched his palm with a tiny nose-tap.
Kim Joon closed his book and walked over calmly.
"Bamson-ah… you scared all of us, you know."
His tone was calm, but his eyes were warm.
Jinhun, leaning against the door frame, smiled softly.
"Come here, handsome boy… give me one smile."
Bamson wagged his tail.
Jinhun dramatically clutched his chest.
"I'm healed."
Hosu practically ran to Bamson.
"BAMMIII!"
He lifted him and spun once in a small circle.
Teahun snapped,
"Yah! You'll drop him!"
Hosu shot back,
"I'm a professional!"
The room erupted in laughter.
For a moment, the studio felt alive—
full of warmth, full of home.
From the corner, Jea finally walked in.
Bamson saw him and wagged his tail so hard his whole body shook.
Jeon.J handed the leash toward Jea.
"Jea… take care of him today.
We're going out for some… normal-people wandering."
Jea blinked.
"I'll come with you."
Teahun nearly choked on air.
"NO. It's only TBS.
Staff-free day.
Go sit somewhere."
Jea stubbornly,
"No. I'm coming."
(Just to annoy him.)
Teahun threw his hands up.
"Why does he turn ON at the worst times?!"
Everyone tried not to laugh.
"You two act like an actual couple.
Stop making it weird."
Jea smirked.
Teahun glared.
Jinhun casually suggested,
"Should we take Bamson with us?"
Teahun shook his head violently.
"No! People will recognize him.
He's more famous than all of us combined."
Hosu suddenly lit up.
"Wait… If we disguise him,
zero chance anyone will know it's Bamson."
Teahun teased,
"Yes yes… stylist Appa. Go make magic."
Jea rolled his eyes.
"I'll do it. You keep quiet."
He lifted Bamson gently.
"Come on prince… let's make you undercover."
Jeon.J had already told Jea,
"Make him wear a light sweater. It's cold outside and Bamson just recovered."
Jea nodded. "Okay Jeon.J, I'll take care of him."
It was the same light sweater Minji had bought — the one Zoya had put on him the day Jea came to the hostel to pick him up.
Bamson gave a tiny 'hmmm' sound,
as if saying:
"I was undercover before it was cool."
After ten minutes, the boys gathered again, each in their "normal Seoul boy" look:
Jeon.J — silver-rimmed glasses, vintage grey coat.
Teahun — long grey overcoat, light brown beanie, fake specs.
Minjo — white hoodie, beige cap, pouch bag.
Hosu — yellow padded jacket, big cozy scarf.
Yomin — black beanie, oversized navy jumper, mask.
Kim Joon — black sweatshirt, minimalist coat.
Jinhun — denim jacket, oversized muffler.
Bamson — fluffy brown winter sweater and a tiny puppy cap.
---
The wind was cool as they stepped into the heart of Digital Media City, the streets buzzing with lights, chatter, and memories from their trainee days.
They walked like any group of friends wandering on a casual night—
laughing softly, teasing one another, finally feeling free.
---
The girls stepped out of Minji's gate and followed the narrow lane leading toward the main road. Evening deepened, and Seoul's sky took on a lavender hue — that magical moment between sunset and night.
Minji raised her arm to call a taxi, but Hana stopped her gently.
"Let's walk a little.
Seoul's evening feels… different. Peaceful."
So they walked.
Tall apartment buildings surrounded them, quiet and modern. Street lamps lit up one by one. For the first time since arriving in Korea, Zoya felt light — really light.
At the bus stop, Minji checked the screen.
"Next bus to DMC… three minutes."
The breeze carried soft scents — fresh bread, roasted sweet potatoes, spring flowers.
The bus arrived with a gentle hiss. They climbed in and took window seats.
As the bus rolled forward, the world outside changed:
From cafés…
to local stores…
to quiet streets…
Then, as they neared Sangam-dong:
glass towers
bright LEDs
wider roads.
And then the glowing sign:
DIGITAL MEDIA CITY (DMC)
Zoya's heart skipped.
It didn't feel like a city — it felt like a dream.
The bus stopped at DMC Gallery Station, the most famous part of the district.
They stepped out into a plaza lined with enormous screens playing music videos, ads, promotional clips. Futuristic sculptures surrounded them.
The air buzzed.
With footsteps.
With voices.
With music memories.
With idol energy.
Minji whispered proudly,
"Welcome to DMC… the place where idols breathe."
Zoya looked around, her duptta(Scarf) fluttering.
"Hana… this looks like a sci-fi movie."
"Not just sci-fi," Hana whispered.
"This is where TBS records their main stages."
Ruhi suddenly screamed,
"GUYS— THAT BUILDING — LOOK!!"
TBS Media Hall — DMC Branch
stood gleaming under the street lights.
Sophia gasped.
"This place is unreal…"
Zoya didn't speak.
Her heart was busy remembering something else —
that smile, that gesture, that moment with Jeon.J.
She touched the corner of her dupatta unknowingly.
And right then—
From the opposite end of the DMC plaza…
A familiar black Hyundai Palisade slowly entered the street.
---
Jea stood quietly in the corner as the boys scattered.
"You think I'm letting you roam alone?" he whispered.
"No. It's my duty to protect you."
Two plain-clothes security members stepped beside him.
"Ten meters behind each pair. Rotate every twenty minutes.
They shouldn't notice you.
But don't lose them."
They nodded and vanished into the crowd.
Jea walked after the boys —
never too close to be seen,
never too far to lose them.
A silent guardian of seven reckless brothers who believed they'd shaken him off.
---
Before they took another step, Kim Joon raised his hand.
"Everyone listen.
Roam anywhere you want — eat, explore, shop. But…"
They all stopped. Even Bamson tilted his head.
"We meet at the exit point in exactly two hours.
No excuses.
Match your watch time with mine."
They adjusted their watches.
Jeon.J smirked.
"Hyung, you sound like a principal."
Kim Joon rolled his eyes.
"Good. Then behave like students."
Teahun saluted dramatically.
"Yes sir."
And like birds breaking formation, they split.
---
Yomin approached Jinhun and Jeon.J.
"Let me take him," he said softly.
"You? Alone?" Jinhun blinked.
"I want to explore with him.
He'll keep me company."
Bamson wagged his tail immediately.
Jinhun laughed,
"He likes quiet people."
Yomin took the leash gently.
"Let's go, baby."
Bamson barked softly — a tiny "okay."
Yomin walked away calmly, Bamson trotting beside him.
---
DMC Street was glowing with steam, colors, and snacks.
Minji handed a plate of tteokbokki to Zoya.
Zoya stared at it like it was an exam she didn't prepare for.
Under her breath she whispered:
"Allah… give me sabr."
"Zoya?" Minji blinked.
"No, no… I'm just mentally preparing myself."
She took a deep breath, lifted the bite, and placed it in her mouth.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Her eyes froze.
Ruhi waved her hand.
"Zoya? Are you alive?"
Zoya swallowed bravely.
Then handed the plate back:
"Minji… listen…
Let's just explore DMC.
Please don't order food for me.
My tongue gets confused —
it can't decide if it's sweet, spicy, sour,
or everything at once!"
The girls burst into loud laughter.
Nearby, Teahun and Minjo — both disguised — were eating tteokbokki too. They froze at her line.
Teahun whispered,
"Did she say her tongue gets confused?"
They tested it themselves…
took a bite…
closed their eyes…
And suddenly opened them at the same time:
"My tongue is confused!"
Both broke into silent laughter.
The girls turned at the sudden giggles.
Hana whispered,
"I think… their tongues also got confused."
Zoya blinked.
"They only took one bite…"
The boys hid their smiles under their masks —
but they had heard every word.
Minjo whispered,
"They're funny…"
Teahun nudged him,
"This whole group is confused."
They shared a quiet hidden smile.
And in that noisy DMC street,
five girls and two disguised boys shared the same silly moment —
connected by nothing more than confused taste buds.
To be Continue...
Regards
ZK💌