The day of the party arrived faster than I’d expected. LuminX, which was our group name, had a packed schedule, and most of it was spent grinding through dance practice. By the time we hit the showers, I was hoping the guys would wrap things up quickly and head home. No such luck. They were still loitering when Milk walked into the locker room, already dressed for the evening.

Milk looked stunning in a simple, knee-length black dress, effortlessly polished as always. She handed me a change of clothes, picked from the closet we kept at the company. As I took the neatly folded outfit, I couldn’t help but marvel—again—at how unfazed she always seemed around us. None of the chaos or half-dressed states we threw her way ever rattled her.

The CEO liked to joke that Milk was the only person alive capable of handling the five of us. She’d been our manager since the beginning, steering us through the whirlwind of fame with an iron will wrapped in calm professionalism. Though Milk always wore long sleeves and conservative outfits, I knew beneath the fabric were muscles honed during her years as a bodyguard. I couldn’t help but wonder what it would take to finally catch her off guard.

“What the hell are you two up to?” King asked bluntly, narrowing his eyes as he watched me and Milk.

“What King meant to ask,” God interrupted smoothly, “is whether you’re going out tonight.”

“We’re going to a party,” I said with a shrug. “Low-key. No celebrities. Milk’s just tagging along to chaperone.”

“Anyone we know?” Day asked, his usual upbeat tone putting a more friendly spin on the question.

“No,” Milk answered curtly before I could respond.

My gaze flicked to God, whose slight frown spoke volumes. He wasn’t buying the excuse. Of course, he’d figured it out—there was only one person I’d go to a party for, and God knew it wasn’t someone the guys would know.

“Just doing someone a favor,” I muttered, rolling my eyes at God in the hopes he’d drop it.

Instead, he smiled—a pleasant, disarming smile that hid his real intent. “Well then, there’s room for a few more, surely.”

Day grinned, catching on immediately. “Yeah, let us join! We could use a night out to unwind.”

I sighed heavily, realizing I was cornered. I could have made up an excuse to keep them away, but Song had texted earlier saying I could bring friends as a thank-you for convincing Milk to come. So, I nodded reluctantly.

And that’s how all six of us ended up standing on the steps of a small nightclub. The party was already in full swing, but the crowd didn’t seem to notice us—or, if they did, they were polite enough to leave us alone.

It didn’t take me long to spot Song. He stood out effortlessly, dressed in sharp black slacks and a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. The top buttons were undone, and the absence of a tie gave him a relaxed elegance. I was used to seeing him in hoodies and jeans, so this look had me staring, caught off guard.

Song turned, catching my gaze, and the smile that lit up his face sent a flutter through my stomach.

“You made it,” he said, walking toward me with barely contained excitement.

“Of course,” I replied, feigning offense. “I keep my promises.”

His smile widened, but his eyes flicked to the group behind me. “Didn’t think you’d bring an entourage.”

“They invited themselves,” I admitted with a sheepish grin. “Hope you don’t mind.”

God stepped forward, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I promise we’ll keep a low profile,” he said with a warm smile.

“Not at all,” Song replied graciously. “You’re all welcome. I’m Song, by the way. My friend Pink is the birthday girl—she’s around here somewhere.”

“We don’t get out much,” Day said with a chuckle, resting a hand on King’s shoulder. King, meanwhile, looked like he was ready to dive headfirst into the nearest group of women.

“Make yourselves at home,” Song said, amusement flickering in his voice.

Before anyone could respond, a shriek erupted from behind him. Pink came barreling over, grabbing Milk’s hand with unrestrained glee. “I’m so happy you’re here!” she exclaimed, practically bouncing on her heels.

The guys all froze, stunned—it wasn’t every day someone ignored us to fan over someone else. Milk, meanwhile, looked taken aback for once, clearly unaccustomed to being the center of attention.

“We have drinks! Come!” Pink said, dragging Milk away before anyone could process what was happening.

Laughter bubbled up behind me—Day, of course. “Well, that hit the ego a little,” God teased. “You should’ve told us the birthday girl has a crush on Milk.”

“Pink’s my best friend,” Song said with a shrug. “Milk’s in good hands.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, reminded of my own first chaotic encounter with Pink.

“Well,” God said, glancing at the others, “let’s party.” With that, he grabbed Ice, and the two of them disappeared into the crowd, Day and King trailing close behind.

That left just me and Song standing at the entrance.

“How are you?” I asked softly.

Song’s cheeks tinted pink as he looked away, clearly flustered. It was adorable. Unable to help myself, I stepped closer.

“I’m fine,” he muttered, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably. His expression softened, and he added, “Thanks for bringing Milk. It means a lot—Pink’s been dreaming about this moment forever.”

The genuine gratitude in his smile nearly undid me. If we weren’t in such a public place, I would’ve kissed him right then and there. Instead, I bit back the impulse, though my body betrayed my thoughts.

“Are you horny all the time?” Song asked suddenly, his bluntness catching me so off guard that I burst out laughing.

“Stop looking edible,” I whispered back with a cheeky grin, “and I’ll stop wanting to eat.”

“You’re so corny,” Song muttered, frowning as he gave me a gentle shove before walking off toward his friends.

I followed behind him, chuckling.

_______________

The night stretched into the early hours of the morning, with the crowd dwindling until it was just Song, his friends, and my group left. The energy had shifted; some were drunk beyond coherence, others, like me, held their alcohol well. Milk, ever responsible, had stuck to one drink before switching to water. She lingered nearby, poised to take us home when we were ready. Despite her role as the designated driver, she seemed genuinely entertained by Pink’s relentless flirting. Milk kept her cool, as always, but even I could tell that Pink’s charm was starting to wear down her defenses. It was intriguing—Milk, our unshakable manager, actually softening. I had never seen her take an interest in anyone, and Pink’s boldness seemed to be working magic.

Day, on the other hand, was oddly quiet. His usual vibrant energy was muted, his focus fixed on Song’s friend Big. It wasn’t obvious—Big probably hadn’t noticed—but knowing Day, I could tell something was different. Still, it wasn’t my place to pry, so I let it be.

What wasn’t subtle, however, was King’s disastrous night. Used to women and men fawning over him, he was completely unprepared for the apathy of this crowd. Most people here didn’t recognize us, and those who did clearly didn’t care about idol fame. His overly eager approach backfired, leaving him sulking in a corner. Benz had taken it upon himself to cheer King up, though without much success.

Benz himself was interesting. His carefree demeanor was disarming, but the way his eyes lingered on Song irked me. It was like seeing a reflection of my own feelings, and I hated it. I didn’t trust him, especially when it seemed Song was oblivious to Benz’s not-so-subtle admiration.

Meanwhile, Ice had been cornered by Turbo, who was practically buzzing with enthusiasm. Turbo was a fan of Ice’s music and had spent the night bombarding him with questions, which Ice answered with uncharacteristic patience. Ice rarely indulged people, but Turbo didn’t seem fazed by his intimidating aura—or perhaps he just didn’t care. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was Ice’s version of flirting, though I’d never seen him show much interest in anyone before.

Watching all these dynamics unfold felt like observing animals in a zoo, each interaction more fascinating than the last. But no matter how much my attention wandered, my gaze kept drifting back to Song.

God had monopolized him for most of the night, trying to convince him to produce a song for us. Song, tipsy and struggling to keep up with God’s relentless logic, was fighting a losing battle. No one could win an argument with God—his leadership skills were rooted in his unmatched ability to out-debate anyone. But watching him dominate Song like that was grating on my nerves. Between God’s persistence and Benz’s longing glances, my patience was wearing thin.

When God reached out to ruffle Song’s hair, I acted on impulse. My hand shot out to grab his wrist, my quiet stare daring him to challenge me. God met my eyes, his expression unreadable, before finally relenting. “Fine. Don’t do anything stupid,” he muttered, squeezing my shoulder as he walked away.

I turned back to Song, who was clearly drunk. His focus wavered as I swapped his drink for a glass of water, offering him a smug grin. He pouted but obediently took the water without complaint. A few drops slid down his collarbone, catching the light and drawing my attention in a way that was almost hypnotic. Was he teasing me on purpose, or was it unintentional? Either way, it was driving me insane.

I tore my gaze away, only to lock eyes with Benz, who was glaring at me with barely concealed jealousy. A smirk tugged at my lips as I draped my arm over the back of Song’s chair, silently claiming my territory. The look on Benz’s face was deliciously satisfying.

Milk’s voice cut through the tension. She appeared with a very drunk Pink leaning heavily against her. “I’m taking Pink home,” she announced, her tone brooking no argument. “Stay put. I’ll come back for you all.”

We mumbled our goodbyes to the birthday girl as Milk led her out. Pink clung to her, slurring sweet nothings, while Milk wore an expression so soft it caught me off guard. I had never seen her like that before. Was that all it took—attention and a cute face? Love seemed simpler than I thought. Not that I had time for it.

“How’d you end up in LuminX?” Song’s question pulled me back. He was watching me with a thoughtful expression.

“I became a trainee at 14,” I said with a shrug, leaning back in my seat. The memories of those grueling years were bittersweet. “A recruiter found me at an underground dance competition. It took four years before we debuted. God was with me from the start; the others joined later.”

I smiled, thinking of those early days. God had been my anchor, always pulling me back from the edge. “If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be here.”

Song glanced at God, who was now entertaining Ice and Turbo with stories that had Turbo laughing and Ice glaring daggers. “Is God really as good as they say?” Song asked, surprising me.

I raised an eyebrow, curious who had been talking about God to Song. Jealousy flared as I grabbed Song’s chin, forcing him to look at me instead. “He’s better than they say,” I replied earnestly. “But aren’t you staring a little too much?” I leaned in closer, unable to resist.

Song’s ears flushed red. “I’m not,” he muttered, pushing me away.

“Only look at me, Song,” I whispered impulsively. The words surprised even me, and I hung my head slightly, embarrassed by my own boldness.

Song’s soft voice brought me back. “Not here,” he murmured, his cheeks pink. He had definitely picked up on my emotions, and I cursed my inability to play it cool.