It had been years—long enough that the memories felt distant and almost surreal. Back when she left, everything between them seemed to crumble overnight. She was her own person now, busy building a new life away from the spotlight, from the band, from the whispers of the past. Sometimes, Soobin wondered if she even thought of those days anymore.

He remembered how tightly they'd been bonded, the honest, raw energy of those high school days—until everything unraveled. Yeonjun's playful flirtation with her, the unwelcome feelings stirring inside him, and the heated arguments that followed. Things that were supposed to be simple fights over music and pride turned into something darker—misunderstandings, accusations, pride preventing them from talking honestly. Eventually, she had walked away, and with her, the band as they'd known it.

Now, years later, the past haunted him. Sometimes he wondered if they'd ever find their way back or if it had all been lost forever.

Taehyun had been the one to suggest it first. His words came with a mischievous tone, and his eyes sparkled with cleverness. The real intention as clear as water.

"Let's do a little reunion. Just a casual lunch. Nothing fancy. What do you guys think?"

Beomgyu immediately jumped in, grinning wildly and wiggling his eyebrows beneath his hair.

"Hahaha, this is going to be hilarious. I want to see their faces—especially hers—when they both realize who's actually gonna be there."

Yeonjun, always the observant one, leaned back and smirked.

"I'll definitely record everything just in case. You never know when we'll need proof of old times."

Kai hesitated briefly, fidgeting with his phone, then looked up nervously.

"Hyungs, are you sure it's okay? What if she doesn't want to see him? Or what if this just makes things more awkward?"

Yeonjun chuckled softly.

"Relax, Kai. It's not about forcing anything. We just want to see if there's anything left of what they once had."

And with that, they arranged the meet—believing it would be a simple, harmless way to reconnect.

When she arrived, she was nervous but hopeful. She never expected a trap, nor did she anticipate her old friends turning into a crowd of scheming bandmates. She thought she'd walk into a casual gathering, maybe exchange some laughter, share memories.

But then she saw him first—Soobin—sitting alone at a table, his face as if he'd seen a ghost. His eyes widened with shock, then darkened with anger, as if they had caught him off guard in a moment he wasn't prepared to face. His expression was tense, his jaw clenched, and it was clear—he was furious and confused, feeling betrayed by his friends' meddling.

His entire body tensed up. For a split second, it looked like he was about to say something, but he hesitated—shutting down whatever words he had in mind. The confusion and frustration washed over his face, transforming it into a mixture of shock and disapproval. Too uncomfortable to speak first.