Episode 1: The Comeback Stage
The stage lights burned brighter than Jaewon remembered.
Three years. That's how long it had been since he stood beside Seon under a spotlight. Three years since they trained past midnight, shared ramen with chopsticks between them, laughed under the mirrored walls of a practice room. Three years since their lips touched like it meant something. Like they meant something.
Now, they stood next to each other again. Not as lovers. Not as friends. Just two members of AX1, South Korea's newest five-member boy group.
The crowd roared as their comeback show began. Cameras swept across screaming fans, catching lightsticks waving in synchronized waves. Jaewon adjusted his mic with trembling fingers. He could feel the heat of Seon's presence beside him. Cold, quiet, perfect Seon. The same Seon who hadn't looked him in the eye since rehearsals began last month.
"Five minutes, boys," their manager called from behind the curtain. "Don't mess this up. Especially you two."
Jaewon didn't reply. He didn't need to. Neither did Seon.
---
The music blasted. The beat dropped. AX1 came alive.
Jaewon lost himself in the rhythm. Every movement was muscle memory, every lyric carved into his bones. But during the dance break, the choreography shifted—for the first time in AX1's history, Jaewon and Seon were sharing center stage.
And in that exact second—
Seon's hand wrapped around
Jaewon's waist. Pulledhim close.
Too close.
Their faces hovered a breath apart.
Jaewon froze.
The fans screamed. The music swelled. Cameras zoomed in.
It wasn't in the choreography.
Seon's eyes met his. Blank. Or burning. Jaewon couldn't tell.
Then it was over. The moment passed like a spark before fire. The performance continued, seamless, electric.
But Jaewon's heart kept stumbling.
---
Backstage was chaos. Staff members praised the performance, makeup artists rushed in, and the manager held up his phone.
"Look at this," he said, eyes wide. "#SeonWon is trending. That close-up? Instant fan edit material."
Jun, the group's rapper, laughed. "You two planning on debuting as a couple?"
Seon didn't answer. He tugged off his earpiece and walked past everyone without a word.
Jaewon didn't laugh either.
---
Later, in the dressing room, Jaewon sat alone.
He stared at his reflection. Same soft eyes, same tired mouth. But something inside him felt different. Shaken.
The door creaked open. Seon entered, face blank, as always.
He didn't speak.
Neither did Jaewon.
Not at first.
"Why did you touch me like that?" Jaewon asked quietly.
Seon looked at him through the mirror. "It was for the stage."
"No, it wasn't."
A pause.
"You froze," Seon said.
"Because it felt real."
Seon's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes. Regret? Pain? Jaewon would never know. Not unless Seon let him in. And Seon never did.
"If I wanted to kiss you," Seon said, voice low, "I would've done it. Don't flatter yourself."
Jaewon smiled, bitter.
"You already did," he said. "Three years ago. Remember?"
---
FLASHBACK — PRACTICE ROOM, 3 YEARS AGO
It was late. The dance studio smelled of sweat and hope. Jaewon was lying on the floor, panting. Seon stood above him, hands on hips, laughing softly.
"You're hopeless," Seon said.
"You love it," Jaewon replied.
Seon leaned down. Brushed a hair from Jaewon's forehead.
Then kissed him.
Slow. Certain.
Like a promise.
---
BACK TO PRESENT
Seon said nothing. Just turned and left the room.
Jaewon closed his eyes.
Outside, fans screamed. His phone buzzed again and again.
> "#SEONWON COMEBACK??"
"DID YOU SEE THAT LOOK?!"
"They're not acting. That was REAL."
Jaewon turned off the phone.
He didn't need the world to tell him what he already knew.
They never stopped being real.
They just stopped talking about it.
---
To be continued...