In the soft glow of an evening in Seoul, Jade and the male idol sat comfortably in his apartment, a cozy space filled with warm tones and subtle decorations that reflected his laid-back personality. The faint hum of city life drifted in through the window, but inside, the atmosphere was calm and intimate. A light rain had started outside, tapping against the windowpanes.

Jade, with her long, dark hair cascading over her shoulders, was leaning against the couch, laughing softly at something he'd said earlier. She was wearing an oversized sweater that slightly fell off her shoulder, paired with casual jeans. The comfortable, familiar atmosphere between them had made the entire day feel effortless. They had been spending more time together lately, with excuses like "practice" or "help with a song," but both knew that it was something more.

As the conversation lulled, the idol glanced over at her. His heart raced. He'd always admired her confidence and the way she carried herself on stage, but tonight, in the dimly lit room, he felt something different. It wasn't just admiration anymore. The realization had hit him days ago, but he'd been too scared to act on it.

Jade shifted her gaze to him and raised an eyebrow, catching his prolonged stare. "What?" she asked playfully, a small smile tugging at her lips.

He hesitated for a moment, debating whether to speak his mind or let the moment pass. But the silence between them was too thick, and the beating of his heart too loud. Finally, he took a deep breath, his voice low and sincere. "Jade... there's something I've been meaning to say."

Her smile faltered, curiosity and a touch of nervousness flickering in her eyes. She sat up straighter, giving him her full attention. "What is it?"

He looked down, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I don't know when it happened exactly, but... lately, I've realized I feel different around you. I mean, I've always cared about you as a best friend, but it's more than that now."

Jade's eyes widened, and she remained silent for a moment, processing his words. He rushed to explain, afraid of the silence.

"I like you, Jade. Not just as a friend ... I really like you. I've been scared to say it because I didn't want to mess things up between us, but I can't pretend anymore."

The rain outside seemed to quiet as if the world itself was holding its breath for her response. Jade's heart pounded in her chest. She had always felt a connection with him, but hearing his confession made her realize she'd been feeling the same way for a while now. All the little moments they'd shared, the way her heart fluttered when he smiled at her, it all clicked into place.

Jade's lips curved into a soft smile. She leaned in slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm glad you said something... because I feel the same way."

The anonymous idol blinked, his breath catching in his throat. "You do?"

Jade nodded, her cheeks flushing. "Yeah, I've liked you for a while too, but I didn't want to ruin what we had. I was scared you didn't see me that way."

For a moment, they both sat there, the weight of their confessions settling between them. Then, almost instinctively, he reached out and gently took her hand in his. The warmth of his touch sent a jolt through her, and she smiled, squeezing his hand back.

"I guess we've both been scared for nothing," he said with a small laugh, relief washing over him.

Jade laughed softly, her eyes bright as she looked at him. "Yeah, I guess so."

As the rain continued its rhythmic dance outside, they sat together, hands intertwined, knowing that this was the start of something new—something that had always been there, waiting for the right moment.

The room seemed warmer now, their confessions lingering in the air like a melody that played just for them. Jade's fingers laced with his felt natural, as if this was how it was always meant to be. Both of them shared a quiet smile, savoring the moment, but reality soon nudged at the back of their minds.

As idols, the weight of their careers, fans, and the public's expectations was always there, a constant shadow. The world wasn't always kind to love stories between idols. They both knew that well.

Jade glanced at their joined hands, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "You know... this is going to be complicated," she said softly, her voice tinged with a hint of worry.

He sighed, nodding in agreement. "Yeah. Our agencies, the fans... everything could change if this got out."

Jade pulled her hand away slightly, not out of rejection but to create space for the conversation they needed to have. She leaned back against the couch, looking up at him with seriousness in her eyes. "I don't want to lose this, though. I want us to work... but I don't want it to affect our careers. The pressure... it's a lot."

He understood completely. The love between idols wasn't something you could share with the world so easily, especially when it was new and fragile. His voice was gentle as he spoke, trying to reassure her. "I know. I've been thinking about that too."

Jade tilted her head, her dark hair falling to the side. "Do you think we should... keep it secret? Just between us for now?"

He thought for a moment, then nodded. "I think that's the best way, at least for now. We don't have to rush anything. We can take our time, see where this goes, and if we decide to tell people later... we'll figure it out."

Jade exhaled softly, as if a weight had lifted from her. "Yeah, that makes sense. It'll be easier to focus on us without all the noise from the outside world."

He smiled, relieved that they were on the same page. "Exactly. We don't need anyone else's opinions about us. We can just enjoy being together... in our own way."

Jade looked at him, her eyes soft but determined. "It's our secret, then."

He nodded, his gaze steady. "Our secret."

They both smiled, feeling a sense of calm settle over them. It wasn't perfect, and it wouldn't be easy, but they both knew that this was the right decision for now. Their relationship, in its earliest stages, was something precious, something worth protecting from the harsh lights of public scrutiny.

As the rain outside began to taper off, Jade reached for his hand again, intertwining their fingers once more. "I'm really glad you said something tonight," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, his eyes warm. "Me too."

And in that quiet moment, under the dim lights of his apartment, they shared a silent promise—no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, even if for now, it would be in secret.