Yuna paced back and forth in her room, her thoughts swirling as she replayed the events of the day. It was a simple scene, yet it had left her unsettled. Yeseo, with her gentle smile, had handed Kairo a water bottle after his exhausting rehearsal. A casual gesture, almost meaningless in its simplicity. But it was the look that passed between them—the slight, unspoken warmth in Kairo's eyes—that lingered in Yuna's mind.
How could Yeseo, so quiet and unassuming, slip into Kairo's life so effortlessly? Yuna's fingers clenched at her sides as jealousy flared within her. If small gestures were enough to reach him, then she would do more, much more. She could leave an impact that Yeseo's quiet kindness could never match.
She pulled out her notebook and flipped to a fresh page, her pen hovering over it for a moment before she wrote down a title, underlined twice: The Plan
Her first move involve her connections. Over the past months, she'd cultivated relationships with other fans some dedicated, some simply useful and she had gained a reputation for being a resourceful, well-connected supporter. It wouldn't raise suspicions if she casually asked around for information on Kairo's whereabouts. If she approached it carefully, they would see her as just another curious fan. The mere thought of being able to track his every move made her heart race.
She scrawled quickly in her notebook:
1. Check fan channels tonight for updates on Kairo's schedule.
2. Message reliable sources for discreet information.
It's for his own good, she thought, justifying her actions with ease. No one else understands him like I do.
Yuna paused, a faint smirk tugging at her lips as she thought of the staff member she'd met last week a junior assistant at Starwave Entertainment. He was young, eager to please, and had seemed more than willing to answer her questions about the idols when she flashed a little money his way. Perhaps it was time to test the waters further.
She wrote his name down, circling it. She could approach him under the pretense of being a fan willing to "support" the company and its idols financially. A little cash might go a long way. And if he slipped up, revealing Kairo's schedule or locations… well, it wouldn't be her fault.
Her pen hovered over the page as she began brainstorming ideas, each one carefully crafted to stay with Kairo long after they happened. Simple gestures might charm him, but Yuna wanted something deeper, something unforgettable.
She tapped her pen against her notebook, her mind racing through possibilities.
1. Leave a gift that feels personal.
She recalled a rare vinyl record Kairo had mentioned loving in an old interview. She had searched for weeks before finally finding a pristine copy, just in case she ever had the chance to give him something meaningful. Now, it felt like the perfect time. She would leave it somewhere he'd find it a backstage area, his practice room along with a note that hinted at their "connection." She could already imagine his reaction, the way he'd be struck by her understanding.
2. Arrange an "accidental" encounter.
Perhaps a coffee shop close to his studio. She could make it seem like coincidence, stumbling into him just as he came in. She'd be wearing something special, something that would catch his eye. She would play it cool, act surprised, even shy, and then subtly offer encouragement, the kind only a fan who truly understood his struggles could provide.
Yuna's heart pounded with excitement as she filled the page with ideas. Each one felt more certain, more perfect than the last. She could outshine Yeseo without any effort; she simply had to be close enough for him to see her as she truly was the one who understood him in ways no one else could.
A thought crossed her mind, unexpected but intriguing. She glanced at her phone, Jihun's number still sitting at the top of her recent messages. He had reached out to her that morning, worried after she'd ignored his calls, but she hadn't replied. To him, she was slipping away she knew it. And she also knew that Jihun, for all his sensitivity, was still useful to her.
Perhaps she could let him back in, just a little. His loyalty could be valuable, especially if she needed help creating opportunities to be near Kairo. Maybe he'd drive her to the studio, or wait outside for her while she arranged her "chance" encounters. She'd give him just enough attention to keep him hopeful. It was a small sacrifice, after all, in service of something much bigger.
"This is the path to Kairo," she thought. Anything that brings me closer to him is worth it.
Yuna read over her notes, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. The plan was all in place, a clear path to finally capturing Kairo's attention, to finally making him see her. Tonight, she'd start with the fan network and reach out to her contact at Starwave in the morning. By this time next week, she'd be woven so seamlessly into his life that even Yeseo's quiet charms wouldn't stand a chance.
She shut her notebook and looked at her reflection in the mirror, eyes gleaming with determination. "If small gestures are all it takes," she murmured to herself, "then I'll make him feel me in every single one."
And with that, Yuna stepped away from her desk, her heart filled with a twisted sense of purpose. She was ready to do whatever it took, convinced that Kairo's happiness no, their happiness depended on it.