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Chapter 28: "The Night He Sang Her to Sleep"

  Minra lay in bed, phone pressed to her ear.

  Shuun’s voice—low, smooth, comforting—filled the silence.

  They talked.

  About nothing.

  About everything.

  About her work.

  About the trip.

  And Shuun?

  Shuun listened.

  Answered.

  Gave her advice that was so strangely accurate.

  Like he knew exactly what was happening in her workplace.

  Which, of course, he did.

  But she didn’t know that.

  And Minra?

  Minra just thought, he understands her so well.

  And that?

  That made her chest feel too warm.

  .

  The conversation slowed.

  Minra’s voice became softer, sleepier.

  "You’re still awake?" Shuun murmured.

  "Mmm." she hummed. "But I’m getting tired."

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  Shuun hesitated.

  Then—without thinking, without stopping himself—

  He started to sing.

  Softly.

  Gently.

  A song he had never released.

  A song he had written for himself—a song he never thought anyone else would hear.

  But now, he was singing it for her.

  And he didn’t even notice he was smiling.

  Didn’t notice how easily he let his guard down.

  Didn’t notice how much she had already changed him.

  Until—until—

  She mumbled.

  And his entire body went still.

  .

  "You’ve always been good to me, Shuun…"

  Her voice was soft, drowsy.

  She was already half-asleep.

  "Are you also like this to other fans…?"

  Shuun—HyunSeong—froze.

  His breath hitched.

  Because that.

  That hit something deep inside him.

  Because she wasn’t wrong.

  Shuun—the faceless singer—had never given this much attention to anyone else.

  He had never texted back this often.

  Never cared this much.

  Never let someone take up this much space in his mind.

  But with her?

  With her, it was different.

  And he hadn’t even realized how different it was until now.

  And then—then, she mumbled again.

  And this time?

  This time, it completely shattered him.

  "What do I do if I start liking someone else beside you, Shuun…?"

  Shuun’s entire body stiffened.

  The warmth in his chest?

  Gone.

  The ease in his smile?

  Gone.

  Because she liked someone else.

  And suddenly, he realized.

  He was just someone she talked to when she needed comfort.

  Just a voice on the phone.

  Just a faceless name she relied on.

  And that?

  That shouldn’t bother him.

  It shouldn’t.

  But—

  But it did.

  More than he wanted to admit.

  .

  Minra woke up slowly.

  Groggy.

  Sleepy.

  And then—her eyes widened.

  Because.

  Because she had fallen asleep while still on the phone with Shuun.

  And worse?

  She had no idea what she last said.

  Her stomach dropped.

  And her hands flew to her phone.

  She opened the chat.

  Saw that Shuun had read her last message.

  But hadn’t replied.

  And not just that.

  His messages?

  They weren’t as frequent anymore.

  Not as immediate.

  Not as engaged.

  Minra swallowed.

  Because.

  Because did she say something weird?

  Did she—

  Did she somehow push him away?

  And suddenly, for the first time, she realized.

  She didn’t just like Shuun’s music.

  She didn’t just like talking to him.

  She needed him.

  And now?

  Now, she was afraid she had ruined everything.

  .

  HyunSeong, meanwhile, sat in his hotel room.

  Phone in hand.

  Finger hovering over the chat.

  And yet—

  Yet, he didn’t reply.

  Didn’t text first.

  Didn’t check in like usual.

  Because what was the point?

  She already had someone she liked.

  And he—he was just Shuun.

  Just the voice she went to for comfort.

  Nothing more.

  And so, for the first time, he did what he had never done before.

  He distanced himself.

  And Minra?

  Minra noticed immediately.

  And suddenly, she didn’t know why that hurt so much.

  .

  Chapter 29: “The Distance That Shouldn’t Hurt”

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