The room had barely settled, but Jeon J sat unusually quiet.
His phone rested in his hand, but he wasn't looking at the screen. He kept turning it over between his fingers, once... twice... again and again.
His jaw was tight.
Across the room, Minji watched him.
She had been watching him for a while now.
She had noticed it months ago.
Ever since she had come to Seoul with her friends, something about Jeon changed whenever Zoya was around.
At first, Minji had ignored it.
Maybe she was imagining things.
Maybe Jeon J was just having a bad day.
But then it happened again.
And again.
One moment, he would be completely normal.
Then Zoya would walk into the room—
and Jeon's entire attitude would change.
His eyes would follow her without him realizing it.
He would notice who she was talking to.
Who was making her laugh.
How long she was sitting with Ji-ho.
And for some reason, whenever another man got too close to her, Jeon J's mood would change even faster.
He would become impatient.
Cold.
Irritated.
Sometimes unnecessarily rude.
Minji had seen it too many times now.
Tonight, after everything that had happened, she couldn't pretend she hadn't noticed anymore.
She leaned slightly toward him.
"Jeon J..."
He looked up.
"Is there... some kind of problem between you and Zoya?"
Jeon J's head lifted sharply.
For a second, he simply stared at her.
The question had caught him completely off guard.
The room seemed to notice it at the same time.
Hosu stopped moving.
Teahun lowered his phone.
Jinhun's eyes immediately went to Jeon J.
Even Kim Joon went still.
They all knew.
They had known for a while.
They just hadn't expected Minji to say it out loud.
Jeon J swallowed.
"No."
Too quick.
"I don't have any problem with Ms. Problem."
His eyes dropped back to his phone.
Then, almost under his breath—
"...Ms. Problem."
Teahun heard it.
A laugh escaped him.
He immediately covered his mouth.
Minji slowly turned her head.
One look.
Teahun straightened.
He raised one finger to his lips.
"Shh."
Minji turned back to Jeon.
"Then explain something to me."
Jeon J said nothing.
"You've been acting strange with her."
Her voice wasn't teasing anymore.
"You were like this when we first came to Seoul. Then, for a few days, you suddenly became nice to her."
Jeon J's fingers stopped moving.
"But then you went right back to the same attitude."
His jaw tightened.
"In Busan, you practically insulted her in the restaurant."
Jeon J looked away.
"And tonight..."
Minji glanced toward the door.
"You were doing it again."
She looked back at him.
"So what is it?"
Silence.
"There has to be something."
"There isn't."
Kim Joon stepped in.
"Minji, you're thinking too much."
Minji looked at him.
"No, Joon."
She shook her head.
"I'm not."
Her eyes returned to Jeon.
"He's behaving strangely."
A pause.
"He is."
Jeon J finally looked up.
His expression had hardened.
"Yeah."
A beat.
"I am."
Nobody moved.
Jeon J leaned back against the sofa.
His grip tightened around his phone.
"Because she irritates me."
Minji frowned.
"Why?"
Jeon J let out a short, humorless breath.
"Why?"
He looked at her as if the answer should have been obvious.
"Because she gets on my nerves."
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
"No, it isn't."
Something flashed across Jeon J's face.
Frustration.
Jealousy.
Anger.
All of it tangled together.
"You want to know why?"
He sat forward.
"Fine."
His voice grew sharper.
"Because every time she's around, everyone suddenly forgets there's anyone else in the room."
Teahun's eyebrows lifted.
Jeon J continued before anyone could interrupt.
"She walks in, and suddenly it's her, this her, that her."
His eyes hardened.
"Ji-ho comes running for her."
He gave a bitter laugh.
"Teahun wants her cooking. Hosu wants her to sit down. Everyone wants her attention."
He looked away for a second.
"And she acts like she doesn't even notice."
Minji stared at him.
"You're angry because people like her?"
Jeon's eyes snapped back to hers.
"I'm angry because she keeps acting like she's above all of it."
His voice rose.
"I hate it when she keeps putting that religious label on everything."
The room went silent.
Jeon's anger was no longer controlled.
"She acts like she's so pure. So righteous. Like she's better than everyone else."
Teahun's smile disappeared.
Hosu slowly lowered his gaze.
Jinhun's expression hardened.
Minjo and Yomin exchanged a quick glance.
Minji simply stared at Jeon J.
"No."
Her voice was quiet.
But firm.
"I don't believe that."
Jeon J looked at her.
"We've been living together for almost eight months."
She gestured around the room.
"All of us."
Her voice grew more serious.
"We've shared the same space. We've eaten together, argued together, laughed together. We've seen each other's habits, values, beliefs..."
She paused.
"And not once have any of us felt that way about her."
Jeon J said nothing.
"We don't agree on everything."
Minji's voice softened.
"But we respect each other's values. We know how to live together."
She was about to continue—
when the glass door opened.
No one noticed at first.
Zoya stepped inside.
One hand remained on the handle as she took a quiet step forward.
Then she stopped.
Completely still.
Jeon J's next words reached her before anyone turned around.
"That's because she's only staying here because she has no choice."
Zoya froze.
Her fingers tightened around the door handle.
Jeon pushed himself to his feet.
His anger had carried him too far now.
"If she had a problem with our lifestyle, she would've left."
He turned slightly.
And then—
his eyes found hers.
Everything stopped.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Zoya stood in the doorway.
Her face had gone completely still.
Jeon J stared at her.
The anger drained from his face so quickly it almost looked painful.
His breath caught.
He hadn't known she was there.
He hadn't expected her to come back so soon.
And suddenly, every word he had just thrown into the room came rushing back to him.
Every cruel sentence.
Every accusation.
Every bitter word.
She had heard all of it.
Zoya didn't say anything.
That somehow made it worse.
Jeon J's lips parted.
"Zoya..."
She looked at him.
Only for a second.
Then her eyes lowered.
Jeon J's chest tightened.
He wanted to explain.
He wanted to take it back.
But how?
He had said exactly what he had been trying not to say for months.
He had wanted to push her away.
Wanted her to stop getting under his skin.
Wanted her to stop making him jealous.
Wanted her to stop smiling at other people like she didn't know what it did to him.
And now that he had finally pushed too hard—
he didn't know how to pull her back.
His voice came out quieter.
"Then where would she go?"
Nobody answered.
Jeon J kept looking at Zoya.
"Where would she find friends like us?"
"Jeon J."
Minji's voice cut through the silence.
But he didn't look at her.
His eyes remained on Zoya.
Minji stood.
"You're crossing a line."
Jeon J's jaw tightened.
"What is happening to you?"
Still nothing from Zoya.
She didn't defend herself.
Didn't argue.
Didn't even look angry.
She simply pulled the glass door shut.
Click.
The tiny sound echoed through the room.
Then she turned—
and walked away.
Jeon J watched her disappear.
His shoulders dropped slightly.
Jinhun had seen everything.
His eyes followed Zoya's disappearing figure.
Then he looked at Jeon J.
And something in his expression changed.
Because this wasn't anger anymore.
It was something else.
Something Jinhun had seen too many times.
Jeon J remained standing.
He stared at the empty hallway.
His hands slowly curled into fists.
He had done it again.
Pushed her away.
Provoked her.
Said things he knew would hurt.
And every time, he had convinced himself it was because he needed distance.
But he knew better now.
The problem wasn't that Zoya irritated him.
The problem was that she mattered too much.
And whenever someone else got close to her—
he hated it.
Whenever Ji-ho made her smile—
he hated it even more.
Whenever she chose someone else's company—
his mood changed before he could stop it.
And that jealousy had been eating at him for months.
Kim Joon finally broke the silence.
"I think we should go."
His voice was firm.
"We've got a lot to do in the morning."
The boys understood immediately.
No one argued.
One by one, they reached for their caps and masks.
Jeon J followed them without saying a word.
But just before he reached the door, he stopped.
His eyes went once more toward the hallway where Zoya had disappeared.
Then he turned away.
Within minutes, they were gone.
The door closed behind the last of them.
Only Minji, Sophia, Hana, and Ruhi remained.
Minji dropped onto the sofa and leaned her head back.
Ruhi looked at her.
"Why did you ask Jeon J that?"
Minji turned her head.
"Ask him what?"
"About Zoya."
"Oh."
She hesitated.
"I don't know."
A small pause.
"I just... feel like there's something between Zoya and Jeon."
Silence.
Sophia blinked.
Hana's mouth fell slightly open.
Ruhi stared at her.
Minji immediately raised both hands.
"Yes, I know."
A small, embarrassed laugh escaped her.
"I'm probably overthinking it."
A voice came from near the door.
"You're not."
Everyone turned.
Zoya stood there.
Minji's eyes widened.
"Zoya?"
Zoya walked inside slowly.
She looked directly at Minji.
"You're not overthinking it."
Minji stared at her.
"What?"
A faint smile touched Zoya's lips.
"You're actually thinking too much."
Minji frowned.
"What does that even—"
The glass door moved again.
This time, Jeon J had come back.
He had already reached the entrance when he stopped.
He had felt bad about the way he'd spoken to Minji.
He had wanted to come back and apologize.
But then he heard their voices.
So he remained outside the partially open glass door.
Listening.
And then Zoya spoke.
"Minji, how could you even think that?"
Her tone was calm.
Almost incredulous.
"There's nothing between us."
Jeon J's fingers tightened around the door handle.
Zoya continued.
"And there never could be."
His grip tightened so hard his knuckles turned pale.
For a moment, he couldn't breathe properly.
There never could be.
The words repeated inside his head.
Again.
And again.
"Zoya, if—"
"Minji, please."
Zoya gently stopped her.
"Don't say that again."
She took a small breath.
"Please. I don't feel good hearing it."
Behind the half-open door, Jeon's fingers curled harder around the handle.
The veins on the back of his hand slowly became visible.
He stared through the narrow opening.
He should have walked away.
He knew he should.
But he couldn't.
Minji opened her mouth.
"I just—"
"Minji..."
Zoya's voice softened.
"It's almost been a year."
Minji fell silent.
"Another year will pass, and then..."
Zoya gave a small, tired smile.
"We'll all go our separate ways."
Jeon J's expression changed.
She continued.
"Everyone will have their own life. Their own work. Their own place to be."
Her smile faded slightly.
"So while we're still here..."
She paused.
"While we still have each other..."
Her eyes moved from one girl to another.
"Let's just stay together properly."
A quiet breath.
"Let's enjoy this time."
She lowered her eyes.
"After that, who knows when we'll all get to meet again?"
The room fell silent.
Sophia lowered her eyes.
Hana swallowed.
Ruhi looked away.
Even Minji's expression softened.
They all knew she was right.
But hearing Zoya say it out loud made it hurt.
Behind the door—
Jeon J stood completely still.
Her words had reached somewhere inside him that he hadn't been prepared for.
Another year.
Then everyone would leave.
Zoya would leave.
She would go back to her own life.
And he...
He had spent months trying to convince himself that was exactly what he wanted.
Distance.
Space.
Nothing between them.
So why did the thought of her actually leaving feel like someone had just pulled the ground out from under him?
His eyes hardened.
The hurt disappeared from his face.
Something colder took its place.
He slowly released the door handle.
For several seconds, he stood there.
Then he turned around.
And walked away.
But this time—
he wasn't walking away to escape the feeling.
He was walking away because he had finally made a decision.
He was going to do something.
Something he had been fighting himself about for far too long.
What exactly?
No one knew.
Not even the boys.
And no one would find out yet.
But the next four hours would change everything.
_______________________________
Minji, Hana, Sophia, and Ruhi stayed behind a little longer.
They had all decided to go to Mr. Donghyun's house with Zoya and help Mrs. Donghyun prepare for the last ten nights of Ramadan.
There was far more to do than they had expected.
And since they were all planning to stay until Eid, none of them wanted Mrs. Donghyun carrying the responsibility alone.
By the time they reached the house, the dining table was already covered with lists, notebooks, and scattered papers.
Mrs. Donghyun came in from the kitchen carrying cups of green tea.
"Here. Take these."
She handed them out one by one.
Zoya was already sitting at the table, going through the guest list.
She counted once.
Then again.
Then a third time.
Her eyebrows slowly rose.
"Ninety-five…"
She looked down at the names again.
"Ninety-five girls."
She added herself and Ji-hye.
"Ninety-seven."
Hana leaned forward.
"Ninety-seven?"
Zoya nodded slowly.
"That's… a lot."
Mrs. Donghyun smiled as she sat down.
"Allah's guests are coming to our home for the last ten nights of Ramadan."
She lifted her tea.
"That's an honor."
"But it's also a lot of work," Zoya said.
Mrs. Donghyun laughed softly.
"Yes."
She looked around at the girls.
"But I'm not alone."
Ruhi immediately put her cup down.
"Exactly."
Everyone looked at her.
Ruhi pointed toward herself.
"I'm here."
Sophia laughed.
"And I'm here too."
Hana raised her hand.
"Me too."
Minji looked around.
"Obviously, I'm not going anywhere."
Zoya smiled.
Mrs. Donghyun looked at them, slightly touched.
"You girls…"
"We're staying until Eid anyway," Hana reminded her.
"So we might as well work."
Ruhi nodded.
"Exactly."
Mrs. Donghyun shook her head with a smile.
"Fine."
She looked at the lists.
"Then let's divide everything properly."
Zoya pulled the papers closer.
Minji looked over the long list of names again.
There were far more than any of them had expected.
She slowly looked up.
"Ramadan comes every year…"
Her eyes moved around the table.
"So what's different this time?"
Mrs. Donghyun smiled.
"Yes. Ramadan has come before."
She glanced at the list in front of her.
"But this time…"
Her smile grew softer.
"I can see more determination in people."
Everyone became quiet.
Mrs. Donghyun continued.
"This year, the girls are staying for i'tikaf during the last ten nights."
Minji listened carefully.
"That's the biggest difference from previous Ramadans."
She pointed toward the mosque list.
"And this time, the mosque has also arranged proper spaces for i'tikaf."
A small pause.
"That has made people even more eager."
She shook her head with a quiet laugh.
"To be honest, we never expected the numbers to grow this much."
Zoya glanced at the list.
Neither did anyone else.
Mrs. Donghyun tapped the papers lightly.
"You've seen it yourselves."
"We announced the i'tikaf arrangements only three days ago."
She looked at Minji.
"And by the second day, the list had already started growing."
Minji's eyes widened.
"That quickly?"
Mrs. Donghyun nodded.
"Very quickly."
She smiled.
"And it wasn't only the girls."
She pointed toward another list.
"The number of men increased too."
Everyone exchanged glances.
Mrs. Donghyun continued.
"Before this, Ji-ho mainly had to focus on the customers who came to the restaurant."
"But this time…"
She gave a small, almost apologetic laugh.
"His work has nearly doubled."
Sophia smiled.
"Still, his staff is helping a lot."
"Yes."
Mrs. Donghyun nodded.
"They've been very cooperative."
She paused.
"And Minho even brought some of his own friends to help."
Hana looked surprised.
"He did?"
Mrs. Donghyun smiled.
"He did."
She looked around the table.
"Because whatever the work is…"
Her voice softened.
"When people are fasting, helping them rest and making things easier for them is one of the greatest blessings."
The room went quiet.
Everyone listened carefully.
Hana, however, frowned slightly.
She looked genuinely confused.
"But why?"
Mrs. Donghyun looked at her.
Hana gestured toward the endless lists spread across the table.
"I mean… we're asking other people to do things for us."
She looked at the laundry list.
"Someone has to wash clothes."
"Someone has to prepare food."
"Someone has to arrange rooms."
"Someone has to make sure everyone gets what they need."
She hesitated.
"So…"
Her brows pulled together.
"Isn't that a burden?"
For a moment, Mrs. Donghyun said nothing.
Then she smiled.
"No."
Hana waited.
Mrs. Donghyun gently placed her cup down.
"I think you're looking at it from one side."
Hana tilted her head.
"The one side?"
Mrs. Donghyun nodded.
"You're thinking about what you're giving."
She glanced around the table.
"Allah looks at why you're giving it."
The room became still.
Mrs. Donghyun continued.
"Think about someone who has been fasting all day."
"She's tired."
"She may need water."
"Maybe she needs a clean blanket."
"Maybe she's too exhausted to wash her clothes."
She smiled gently.
"You might think you're only giving her a glass of water."
"But for her…"
She paused.
"That glass of water might be exactly what she needs at that moment."
Hana's expression slowly softened.
Mrs. Donghyun leaned back.
"And none of us are being forced to do these things."
"You could go home."
"You could say you're tired."
"You could say someone else will handle it."
She looked at all of them.
"But when you choose to stay…"
"When you choose to help…"
Her voice became warmer.
"That choice itself has meaning."
Zoya watched her quietly.
Mrs. Donghyun continued.
"When someone is fasting for Allah…"
"When someone leaves their comfort, their home, their normal routine…"
"When they spend these days praying and remembering Allah…"
She looked at the girls.
"And you make even one small part of that easier for them…"
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
"Then you are helping someone worship."
Hana looked down at the list in front of her.
Mrs. Donghyun noticed.
"So don't think…"
She smiled.
"'I'm doing someone else's work.'"
Hana slowly looked up.
"Think…"
"Allah gave me the opportunity to serve one of His fasting guests."
Silence.
No one moved.
Mrs. Donghyun picked up her cup again.
"And that's why I call it a blessing."
She looked toward the long list of names.
"Because we don't know which small thing Allah may accept from us."
Her eyes moved from one girl to another.
"Maybe it's the meal you helped prepare."
"Maybe it's the room you cleaned."
"Maybe it's the water you carried."
"Maybe…"
She glanced at Hana.
"Even the laundry you didn't want to do."
A few smiles appeared around the table.
Hana finally laughed.
"So even my laundry can become a blessing?"
Mrs. Donghyun laughed softly.
"If your intention is right…"
She nodded.
"Even that."
Ruhi smiled.
"Okay, Hana. Now you have no excuse."
Hana immediately looked at her.
"Don't push your luck."
Everyone laughed.
The tension in the room broke.
Mrs. Donghyun looked around at them, her smile warm.
"These ninety-seven girls are not just guests."
She glanced at the list again.
"They are people Allah has brought to our door."
"And for these ten nights…"
She placed her hand gently over the papers.
"We have the chance to make their stay easier."
Her eyes softened.
"That is not a burden."
A small pause.
"That is an opportunity."
The girls looked at one another.
And suddenly, the long list of work sitting between them didn't seem quite as heavy as it had a few minutes ago.
After dividing the responsibilities, Zoya pulled the list closer.
"Okay."
Everyone leaned in.
Mrs. Donghyun would be staying at the restaurant during the ten nights. Ji-ho had arranged a small rest area for her there so she could sleep and rest whenever needed.
"She'll still come here," Zoya explained. "But during the day, she'll mostly stay at the restaurant."
She looked toward the main hall.
"Tomorrow, we'll cover the entrance and the whole hall with white fabric. We'll hang it like curtains so the girls have privacy."
Ruhi nodded.
"And the small things?"
"We'll handle those ourselves."
Zoya pointed toward the entrance.
"For example, if something comes from a girl's home—clothes, food, or anything she needs—whoever receives it will open the entrance, bring it inside, and leave her name with it."
She tapped the list.
"That way, we know exactly who it belongs to."
Ruhi raised her hand slightly.
"Will families actually send things from home?"
Zoya smiled.
"They don't have to."
Her voice softened.
"But some of the girls live nearby. Their parents might send something simply because they miss them."
She shrugged gently.
"You know how parents are."
A small smile passed around the room.
"They'll send something for their daughters just because they can."
Minji nodded.
"That makes sense."
Zoya continued.
"But we need to keep it organized."
She pointed toward the clock.
"We'll set specific times for deliveries. If someone's family wants to send something, they can bring it during those hours."
"And the laundry?" Hana asked.
"We'll handle our own."
Zoya smiled.
"Nothing complicated. Everyone can take care of her own clothes."
She glanced around.
"And if someone needs something during the night—water, medicine, food, anything—we'll help each other."
Ruhi nodded.
"Okay."
Zoya turned toward Sophia and Ruhi.
"You two will help Ji-ho at the restaurant."
The girls looked at her.
"There are ninety-seven girls here and ninety-five men at the mosque."
She continued counting on her fingers.
"Two meals every day."
"Sehri and iftar."
"And iftar needs completely separate preparation."
She shook her head.
"That's a lot of work for one restaurant."
Ruhi nodded immediately.
"We'll help."
Sophia agreed.
"Of course."
Zoya smiled.
"Good."
She pointed toward the entrance.
"Just bring everything here and leave it at the entrance. I'll take care of everything inside."
Sophia nodded.
"And the boys?"
"Mr. Donghyun will handle that side."
Zoya paused.
"They can manage the men's area themselves."
Minji looked at her.
"I can help inside."
Zoya turned toward her.
"Ah—"
She smiled.
"No."
Minji blinked.
"No?"
"We'll meet again on Eid Moon night."
Minji stared at her.
"Wait."
She looked confused.
"Meet again?"
Zoya nodded.
"On the night before Eid."
Minji frowned.
"Meaning… we won't come inside?"
Zoya laughed softly.
"No."
"All of us will meet together on Moon night."
Minji still looked unconvinced.
"But why?"
Zoya looked around at the others.
"Because these ten nights aren't for us to keep moving around between rooms, houses, and people."
Her voice became quieter.
"They're for prayer."
She looked toward the hall.
"For the girls who are staying here, this place needs to become their space."
"A place where they can pray, rest, read the Qur'an, make dua… without constantly having people coming in and out."
Minji slowly nodded.
Zoya continued.
"And you all have responsibilities here too."
She smiled.
"You'll be busy."
"Very busy."
Ruhi laughed.
"That's true."
Zoya looked at Minji again.
"And when the ten nights are over…"
Her smile returned.
"We'll all meet again after ten days."
"Together."
Hana smiled.
"So that's when we finally get to celebrate?"
"Exactly."
Zoya nodded.
"After the last ten nights are over, we'll have one night together."
She looked around at them.
"No lists."
"No schedules."
"No deliveries."
"No running between the restaurant and the mosque."
A small laugh escaped Ruhi.
"Finally."
Zoya smiled.
"Just all of us."
Zoya stood and gathered the papers.
"Alright."
She looked at everyone.
"Enough talking."
Ruhi laughed.
"Back to work?"
"Back to work."
They all got up.
And just like that, the house filled with movement again.
Lists were folded.
Rooms were checked.
Curtains were measured.
Responsibilities were divided.
The last ten nights were almost here.
And they were going to be ready.
The house had slowly grown quieter.
After dividing the responsibilities, Zoya and Minji stepped outside for a short walk.
The cool night air felt different from the warmth inside.
For a few moments, neither of them spoke.
Then Minji looked back toward the house.
"Zoya…"
"Hm?"
"There's something I've been thinking about."
Zoya glanced at her.
"What?"
"All of this."
She gestured toward the house.
"The food. The rooms. The supplies. Ten days…"
She frowned slightly.
"Who's paying for all of this?"
Zoya smiled.
"You're worried about the money?"
"Of course I am."
Minji looked genuinely concerned.
"I heard the restaurant is even giving out free iftar boxes before dinner."
"And now there are this many people staying here."
She shook her head.
"That must cost a lot."
"It does."
Zoya didn't deny it.
Minji looked at her.
"Then how are they managing everything?"
Zoya walked a few more steps before answering.
"In Ramadan, people become more willing to spend from what they have."
Minji listened.
"Many people believe that spending their wealth for good during this month brings blessings to what remains."
She smiled softly.
"So they contribute."
"Some give money."
"Some give food."
"Some give their time."
"Some simply bring whatever they can."
Minji looked thoughtful.
"And people really do that?"
"All the time."
Zoya nodded.
"And somehow…"
She smiled.
"When something is given sincerely, Allah finds a way to make it enough."
Minji looked at her.
"So anyone can do it?"
"Yes."
"Anyone?"
Zoya nodded.
"Anyone."
Minji hesitated.
"Even a non-Muslim?"
Zoya slowed down.
"Yes."
Minji looked at her in surprise.
Zoya smiled gently.
"Giving for Allah's sake requires sincerity."
"If someone's intention is to do something good and seek Allah's pleasure, they can choose to give."
Minji didn't answer.
She seemed to be thinking about that.
They continued walking.
Then—
A ringtone broke the silence.
Zoya turned toward Minji.
Minji quickly pulled her phone from her pocket and answered.
"Hello?"
She listened.
Her expression changed.
"No, Mom… I don't know what you're talking about."
Zoya slowed down.
Minji turned slightly away.
"When did you see that?"
A pause.
"No, that can't be right."
Her brows drew together.
"Mom, we were together just a few hours ago. Nothing like that happened."
She looked confused.
"I honestly don't know what to say."
Another pause.
"Okay… I'll check."
Minji lowered the phone.
"I'll call you back."
She ended the call.
For a moment, she simply stared at the screen.
Zoya watched her carefully.
There was something strange about her face.
She looked happy.
Almost.
But her eyes had begun to shine with tears.
Zoya's smile faded.
"What happened?"
Minji looked up.
"Hm?"
"Are you okay?"
Minji didn't answer.
Instead, she reached for Zoya's hand.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"Inside."
She gently pulled her along.
They returned to the house.
Minji immediately went to her laptop.
She opened it.
The screen took a few seconds to load.
Or perhaps it only felt longer because Minji was in such a hurry.
She logged into her account.
"There."
She opened the latest uploaded video.
The moment the thumbnail appeared, she stopped.
Her hand froze above the trackpad.
Everyone nearby looked over.
Hana noticed first.
"What happened?"
Then she looked at the screen.
"Oh…"
Her lips curved into a teasing smile.
"Jeon."
Ruhi leaned closer.
"Hmmm."
She looked at Minji.
"Why are you suddenly shy?"
Minji gave her a look.
"I'm not."
"Then why did you stop the video?"
"I…"
She didn't finish.
Zoya looked toward the laptop.
Her heart gave a strange little beat.
She didn't know why.
Maybe it was simply because she had heard his name.
Maybe it was the way Minji was looking at the screen.
She forced herself to look away.
But then Minji pressed play.
The video began.
Jeon appeared on the screen.
He was wearing the same black shirt and black trousers he'd worn earlier that evening.
But now he looked completely different.
Fresh.
Composed.
His hair was styled carefully, and he looked as though he had taken the time to prepare specifically for this video.
Zoya stopped moving.
Jeon's face filled the screen.
He looked directly into the camera.
"I'm Jeon from TBS."
He smiled.
"Today, I wanted to tell you all something."
He lowered his head slightly.
"First, to our fans, RAMY…"
His expression softened.
"We love you all so much."
"Your support is the reason we've been able to come this far."
He paused.
"And that's why I wanted you to hear this from me first."
Zoya's fingers slowly tightened around the edge of the table.
Jeon looked down for a second.
Then back into the camera.
"Once, during an interview, a reporter asked who would get married first?"
A small laugh escaped him.
"Everyone said it would probably be me."
He shook his head.
"Even though I'm the youngest."
The members had laughed about it back then.
Jeon smiled at the memory.
"But today…"
His smile became quieter.
"I think maybe what they said wasn't completely wrong."
Zoya's breathing changed.
She didn't know why.
Jeon continued.
"There's a girl."
The room became completely silent.
"She's also my friend."
Zoya's eyes remained fixed on the screen.
"And…"
Jeon took a small breath.
"I'm starting to date her."
Zoya froze.
No one spoke.
Jeon lowered his head slightly, almost shyly.
"I wanted to tell you first because you are important to me."
"You've supported me for so long."
"And I hope you'll accept this."
Zoya couldn't move.
Her eyes remained on him.
But something inside her had already started falling apart.
Jeon smiled gently at the camera.
"Her name is…"
A pause.
Zoya's fingers slipped from the edge of the table.
"Minji."
The name landed like a blow.
Zoya stopped breathing for a second.
Then another tear slipped down her cheek.
She quickly turned her face away.
Nobody noticed.
Everyone was still staring at the screen.
Zoya grabbed the nearest list and lifted it in front of her face.
One tear.
Then another.
Then another.
She tried to hold them back.
She couldn't.
She quietly stood.
No one stopped her.
She walked toward the kitchen.
One step.
Then another.
The moment she reached the kitchen, she moved around its side, toward the narrow space hidden from the others.
She sank down onto the floor.
Her hand covered her mouth.
And then—
she broke.
The tears came harder now.
She pressed her palm against her face, trying desperately to keep herself quiet.
But her shoulders began to shake.
Because somewhere between all those words—
she finally understood.
There was nothing left to misunderstand.
Nothing left to hope for.
Nothing left to wait for.
Jeon had chosen someone.
And today…
it had finally ended.
For her.
"What the hell are you doing, Jeon?"
Jinhun stared at him.
"The video went up, and it's already everywhere."
Jeon didn't answer.
He was still sitting in the same place, staring at nothing.
Kim Joon walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You're making your own life harder."
Jeon didn't move.
"If there's something in your heart," Kim Joon continued quietly, "then do something about it."
Still nothing.
Minjo watched him for a few seconds.
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
Jeon remained silent.
Teahun had been watching him too.
Then suddenly—
"Her food is terrible."
Everyone turned.
Teahun shrugged.
"I'm serious."
Jinhun blinked.
"What?"
"Today's food."
Teahun pointed toward the table.
"Completely tasteless."
Nobody said anything.
Teahun looked around at them.
"What?"
Minjo stared at him.
"Seriously? Right now?"
"I'm just saying."
Teahun leaned back.
"If I were Jeon, I'd send her back to her country."
Silence.
Everyone stared at him.
Teahun frowned.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Jinhun's face tightened.
"Teahun…"
"What?"
Teahun suddenly understood.
"Oh."
He waved a hand.
"I mean her cooking."
He sighed dramatically.
"That dish was a crime."
A tiny smile finally appeared on Minjo's face.
Even Kim Joon looked away to hide his reaction.
Teahun nodded, satisfied.
"Exactly. That's what I'm talking about."
Then his smile faded slightly.
He looked at Jeon.
"But…"
His voice became quieter.
"She really is too innocent for this."
Nobody interrupted him this time.
Teahun rubbed the back of his neck.
"Remember what happened with her during the stalker attack?"
Jeon's eyes lowered.
"She was already struggling after that."
Teahun paused.
"She looked confident on the outside, but…"
He shrugged.
"You could tell it got to her."
Jinhun looked at him.
Teahun sighed.
"Minji knows how to deal with our world."
He glanced at Jeon.
"She can handle the attention. The cameras. The fans. All of it."
A beat.
"Zoya shouldn't have to."
Jeon's eyes lifted sharply.
Teahun met his stare.
"So… stop thinking about her."
Jeon's expression hardened.
Teahun didn't back down.
"I'm not saying she doesn't matter."
He looked away for a second.
"I'm saying you know how this ends."
Jeon said nothing.
"She'll stay for a year."
Teahun shrugged.
"Maybe two. Maybe three."
Then he looked back at him.
"But eventually, she'll leave."
The words landed heavily.
Because Jeon had already heard them once tonight.
From her.
Teahun leaned back.
"And you know that's the part you don't want to think about."
Jeon's jaw tightened.
He looked away.
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Jeon finally raised his head.
"I'm fine."
His voice was flat.
"I don't need anyone's sympathy."
He looked around at them.
"And stop making me look like some helpless idiot."
Nobody answered.
Because they all knew he wasn't fine.
And they also knew he didn't want them to say it.
Kim Joon slowly nodded.
"Alright."
He looked around the room.
"Then that's it."
His leader's voice returned.
"No one brings this up again."
He glanced at Jeon.
"From tomorrow, we focus on the next album."
Everyone nodded.
Yomin looked at Jeon for a moment longer.
He slowly shook his head, then looked away.
Teahun said nothing this time.
For once, even he knew when to stop joking.
Jeon remained seated.
Quiet.
Still.
And somewhere beneath that silence was the one thing none of them could fix for him.
To be continued...
Regards,
ZK 💌