Chasing You | Jaeyoung

I never imagined we'd end up working together.

Not officially, not on some huge project—just something small. A friend of ours was putting together a creative piece: visuals, music, writing... a sort of artistic blend. Somehow, both Jaeyoung and I got pulled into it.

It was strange how quickly the awkwardness melted once we had something to focus on. When we talked about music, or ideas, or how a certain lyric made us feel, it felt easier. Real.

"What kind of music do you listen to when no one's watching?" I asked him once, half-joking.

He raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Classical. Chopin. Or jazz when I can't sleep."

I blinked. "That's... unexpected."

He shrugged. "People expect idols to be loud, exciting. Always in performance mode. But sometimes I just want quiet."

That stuck with me.

We started spending more time together. In group meetings, yes, but also... outside of that. Late-night messages. Coffee runs. Long conversations about things that didn't feel surface-level anymore.

He told me about growing up. About the pressure. About the days when he didn't feel like smiling but had to anyway.
He didn't say it like he was looking for sympathy—just honesty.

"You ever feel like you're performing even when no one's watching?" he asked me once, eyes focused on the coffee cup in his hands.

"All the time," I whispered.

He looked at me then, really looked. And I think that was the first moment I felt it—real connection. Not just attraction or curiosity. But something deeper. Like maybe we weren't just two people crossing paths by chance.

Maybe we were starting to understand each other.

And the more I saw of him—the quiet moments, the serious ones, the soft smiles when he didn't think I was looking—the more I realized how much he kept hidden.

He wasn't just the idol everyone watched on stage.
He was layered. Complex.
A little lost, maybe.
And somehow, that made him even more real to me.

But in the back of my mind, one question still lingered:
If I was starting to open my heart to him...
Would he be brave enough to do the same?