???????: ?? [LEE KNOW]

Isac

Harin often wondered why some idols decided to shift their focus from being idols to pursuing acting full-time. To her, it seemed perfectly feasible to juggle both careers, balancing the vibrant energy of idol activities with the depth and artistry of acting. However, her perspective changed the moment she experienced the grueling demands of both worlds herself.

Acting wasn't just about memorizing lines and showing up on set; it required emotional investment, long hours, and a level of vulnerability that could leave her feeling drained. Pair that with the already hectic life of an idol, constant rehearsals, performances, and fan engagements, and it quickly became clear why some chose to step away from one to fully embrace the other.

That thought lingered in her mind as they entered the brightly lit gymnasium, where a small crowd of Midzys—their loyal fans—were waiting to cheer them on. The energy in the room was electric, with banners waving and shouts of encouragement echoing off the walls.

"Harin! Have you been getting enough rest lately?" A fan called out from the sidelines, their voice laced with genuine concern.

Harin turned toward them, flashing a bright smile and giving a quick thumbs-up. She knew how much her fans worried about her well-being. In an industry infamous for its relentless pace and occasional mistreatment of artists, their concerns were more than valid. It warmed her heart to see how deeply they cared, even as she tried to reassure them that she was okay.

Once they reached the center of the gym, the girls settled on the floor, stretching and chatting as they prepared for the games ahead. The anticipation in the air was almost tangible, with cameras from the production crew circling them, capturing every candid moment for their latest variety show appearance.

As Harin leaned forward to touch her toes, Chaeryoung suddenly smirked, her expression a mix of amusement and mischief. "Oh, right. I almost forgot." She began, glancing sideways at Harin. "I saw the video Yeonjun sent to Changbin."

Harin's head shot up immediately, her eyes narrowing. "What video?" Ryujin asked, curiosity piqued as she paused mid-stretch.

"Don't!" Harin exclaimed, glaring at Chaeryoung with a mix of panic and exasperation. "I'm begging you—don't say anything! Just wait for the official release in the drama!"

Chaeryoung chuckled, clearly enjoying Harin's reaction. "Okay, okay. I won't spoil it. But seriously, it's so good. You're gonna blow people away."

Harin sighed in relief, though her cheeks burned slightly. She knew exactly which scene Chaeryoung was talking about, and the thought of her members teasing her over it before the drama even aired was almost too much to handle.

Ryujin raised an eyebrow, looking from Chaeryoung to Harin with a grin. "Now I really want to know."

"Patience, Ryujin." Harin muttered, shaking her head as she tried to focus on her stretches. She could already hear the teasing comments that would inevitably follow once they all watched the episode together.

Throughout the day, Harin spent most of her time with Midzy, catching up and enjoying the company of her groupmates and fans. She had only signed up for one event: Archery. Since there was still some time before her turn, she decided to entertain herself by chatting with her members and observing the other idols' antics.

The bustling energy in the venue was suddenly heightened when the MC's voice echoed through the speakers. "I have a question for all of you!" The female MC began, drawing everyone's attention. "Who is the idol you'd want to wait for you at the finish line?"

The idols in the audience perked up, some laughing and nudging each other. The male MC chimed in, his tone playful.

"It looks like the male idols voted for a female idol, while the female idols chose a male idol. Some of them look pretty nervous right now."

The camera panned over the crowd, showing idols fidgeting or playfully reacting to the statement. When the female MC finally revealed the results, the venue erupted in cheers.

"The female idol male idols want to wait for them is... (G)-IDLE's Soojin!"

As Soojin appeared on the screen, her smile was greeted with an explosion of applause and cheers. She waved gracefully, clearly amused.

"And now..." The male MC teased, drawing out the suspense. "The male idol female idols want to wait for them is... Stray Kids' Lee Know!"

The venue's noise reached a fever pitch. The camera zoomed in on Minho, who looked both flustered and amused. Bang Chan was vigorously shaking his shoulder, while Han Jisung repeatedly tapped his arm, laughing all the while. Minho's ears turned a bright shade of red as he bowed slightly, mouthing a shy "Thank you."

Soogeun, one of the MCs, leaned into his microphone with a cheeky grin. "Looks like we have a '98-liner couple for this year's ISAAC!"

Hyeri, the other MC, lightly smacked his arm. "Yah! What are you saying—"

Before she could finish, the cameras shifted to Harin, who was obliviously tying her shoelaces on the floor. The audience screamed louder as the unexpected attention caught Harin completely off guard. 

It wasn't until Yeji nudged her with a sly grin that Harin looked up to see her face on the screen. Realizing the situation, Harin blinked in confusion, then broke into a soft smile and gave a small bow toward the camera.

The reaction among the idols was immediate. Soojin burst out laughing as TXT's Yeonjun, ever the dramatic one, scooped up Doyoung and Riwoo, creating an entourage that caused waves of laughter across the venue.

By the time the group reached Harin, Lia had already explained what was happening. Harin, quick to catch on, decided to play along with the theatrics, holding a hand over her chest as though overwhelmed by emotion.

The skit escalated when Yuqi whispered something to Soojin, prompting her and Minho to exchange a glance before launching into a mock argument. Soojin wagged her finger at Minho, pretending to chastise him for 'breaking Harin's heart.' Minho, in turn, raised his hands in exaggerated innocence, earning more laughter and cheers from the crowd.

Finally, Minho stood up and made his way toward Harin, the commotion growing louder with each step. The crowd's excitement reached its peak as he stopped in front of her and knelt dramatically.

"Our story was beautiful. You left me with a memory." He recited with a playful smirk. "Please don't forget that it means more than this. Wander through a long day. The night begins again. There are many things that I can't say."

Recognizing the lyrics to 'Limbo,' the OST from Harin and Minho's fictional drama, fans from both fandoms erupted into song, belting out the tune with enthusiasm.

To cap off the moment, Minho pulled out a flower crown one of the fans had thrown earlier. Carefully placing it on Harin's head, he adjusted her hair with an exaggerated seriousness that left both idols and fans laughing.

"Aigoo... kids these days." Soogeun quipped, shaking his head in mock exasperation.

When the cheers finally died down, Harin made her way to the Archery event. She focused on her target and, with a steady hand, released her arrow, scoring a perfect ten.

Hyeri seized the moment, turning to Minho with a sly grin. "Lee Know-ssi, if you and Harin ever fight, just make sure bows and arrows are out of reach!"

The playful remark caused another ripple of laughter among the idols, with Minho giving an awkward laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck. Harin, meanwhile, simply flashed a proud smile, the flower crown still perched on her head.