Behind The Spotlight - [Jakewon]

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The café near the edge of Seoul University’s sprawling campus was quiet for once, the usual hum of students chattering about assignments replaced by the occasional clink of cups and the soft tapping of a keyboard. Jake Sim didn’t mind the stillness. In fact, he welcomed it. His political science paper was due in two days, and between juggling classes, club meetings, and his part-time job at the bookstore, he barely had time to breathe.

He stretched in his seat, looking up from his laptop to give his eyes a break. A glance around the café confirmed what he already suspected—this wasn’t the hangout spot for the mid-afternoon crowd. Aside from a few scattered students and a barista who looked ready to clock out, the place was nearly empty.

The bell above the door chimed, and Jake’s attention was drawn to a figure entering. Dressed in a plain black hoodie, ripped jeans, and a black baseball cap pulled low over his face, the newcomer looked like he was trying a little too hard to go unnoticed. Jake chuckled softly to himself. He’d seen enough of Seoul’s celebrity culture to know that kind of outfit screamed, Don’t look at me; I’m famous.

The stranger scanned the room before choosing a seat in the corner, as far from the other patrons as possible. He pulled out his phone, his posture stiff, as if he were afraid someone might approach him. Jake shrugged and returned his focus to his laptop. It wasn’t any of his business.

---

On the other side of the café, Jungwon felt a trickle of sweat run down his temple. Even after years in the spotlight, navigating crowds of fans and cameras, this part never got easier. The constant need to be invisible when all he wanted was a break, a moment to feel normal.

But normal wasn’t something he could afford. Not as Yang Jungwon, leader and youngest member of ILLUSION, one of the biggest K-pop groups in the world. At only 20 years old, his life was a blur of schedules, rehearsals, and interviews. His agency kept tight control over his every move, and slipping away for even an hour required meticulous planning.

Today, he’d just wanted some peace—a quiet café where he could enjoy a coffee without being Jungwon, the idol.

His phone buzzed on the table, and he quickly checked the screen. It was a text from Sunoo, one of his bandmates.

Sunoo: You’re gonna get caught, you know.
Jungwon: Not if you stop texting me.
Sunoo: Fine, but don’t blame me if Dispatch posts your location in 3...2...
Jungwon rolled his eyes, slipping his phone face-down on the table. Sunoo was probably lounging in the dorm, laughing at his own joke. Despite his teasing, Sunoo was the only one in the group who knew about Jungwon’s secret escapades into the city. The others wouldn’t understand.

Taking a sip of his coffee, Jungwon glanced around the café, his gaze landing briefly on a guy hunched over a laptop. His dark hair fell over his forehead, and he wore a casual hoodie and jeans. He looked... ordinary, in the best way possible.

Jungwon’s lips twitched into a small smile. Must be nice to live like that, he thought. No cameras, no endless scrutiny, no hiding.

---

Jake noticed the stranger glancing his way. He didn’t think much of it, but when their eyes met, there was a flicker of recognition he couldn’t place. He shrugged it off and returned to his paper.

“Excuse me,” a voice said, soft but clear.

Jake looked up to find the hoodie-clad guy standing awkwardly next to his table, holding a coffee cup.

“Sorry to bother you,” the guy said, his voice calm yet somehow guarded. “Is this seat taken?”

Jake frowned, glancing at the many empty seats in the café. But something about the guy’s expression—an odd mix of confidence and vulnerability—made him nod. “Go ahead.”

“Thanks,” the guy said, sliding into the chair across from him.

Jake tried to focus on his work, but it was hard to ignore the stranger’s presence. It wasn’t just his quiet demeanor; there was something oddly magnetic about him, as if he were holding back something big.

“Do you come here often?” the guy asked suddenly.

Jake raised an eyebrow. “Uh, yeah. It’s close to campus.”

The guy nodded, his fingers tapping against his coffee cup. “You’re a student, then?”

“Yeah,” Jake said slowly. “Seoul U. Political science.”

The guy hesitated, as if debating whether to say more. Finally, he said, “That’s cool. I, uh, don’t really go to school.”

Jake laughed. “That’s one way to say you’re unemployed.”

The guy smiled, but there was something distant in his eyes. “Something like that.”

---

From that moment, their conversation was like a slow unraveling thread. Jake found himself oddly intrigued by the stranger’s cryptic answers and soft-spoken demeanor. The guy—who introduced himself simply as “Won”—was clearly holding back a lot, but Jake didn’t press.

By the time the café began to fill with the evening crowd, Jake realized they’d been talking for over an hour.

“I should get going,” Won said, standing abruptly.

Jake nodded, feeling an unexpected pang of disappointment. “Yeah, same. It was... nice talking to you.”

Won hesitated, then pulled his cap lower over his eyes. “Maybe I’ll see you around.”

Jake watched as he slipped out of the café, disappearing into the bustling streets. There was something about Won that didn’t quite add up, but for reasons he couldn’t explain, Jake found himself hoping they’d cross paths again.

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