Itwas a rare day off, a break from the relentless schedules and flashing cameras. The air in Seoul was crisp, the skies clear with the gentle warmth of a fall afternoon. Jade and the idol had planned this for a while—a simple date, just the two of them. Somewhere far from the public eye, somewhere they could just be themselves.

They had agreed to meet at a small café tucked away in a quiet neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city. The café was charming, with ivy crawling up the stone walls and large windows that let the golden afternoon light spill inside. It was one of those places where people rarely paid attention to who was coming and going, perfect for the two of them.

Jade arrived first, wearing a comfortable but stylish outfit—an oversized beige sweater, a plaid skirt, and her iconic heeled boots. Her long hair was tied loosely into a ponytail, the kind of casual look she rarely had the chance to wear outside of her idol persona. She had a coffee in hand, waiting nervously at a corner table that gave her a view of the street.

A few minutes later, the door opened, and he walked in, wearing a simple baseball cap and a dark hoodie, trying to blend in. But even in his attempt to go unnoticed, Jade couldn't help but smile when she saw him. There was something effortless about the way he carried himself, always calm, always making her feel at ease.

He spotted her immediately, and his face lit up in a small, private smile. He walked over to the table, sliding into the seat across from her. "You've been waiting long?" he asked, his voice low and casual.

Jade shook her head, smiling. "Not really. I got here early. Just wanted to be sure we'd have a good spot."

He chuckled softly, looking around the café. "This place is perfect. Quiet."

She nodded, feeling a sense of relief. The café was far from the bustling streets, a small haven where they didn't have to worry about being recognized or followed. "Yeah, I thought it'd be nice to just... relax for once. No one's going to find us here."

He leaned back in his chair, a content expression on his face. "Exactly what we need."

For a while, they just talked—about everything and nothing. It was the first time in a long time that they could have a conversation without checking over their shoulders, without the fear of being overheard. They laughed about their crazy schedules, teased each other about dance practices, and shared stories from their trainee days that neither of them had known before.

The conversation flowed effortlessly, the kind that made time slip by unnoticed. They ordered a couple of light snacks and sipped their drinks, savoring the rare freedom of the moment. At one point, Jade leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes twinkling as she looked at him.

"You know," she said softly, "I didn't think we'd ever get to do this. Just... hang out. Like normal people."

He smiled at her, his eyes warm and affectionate. "Yeah. It's kind of surreal, isn't it?"

She nodded. "But I like it. I wish we could do this more often."

He reached across the table, his hand brushing lightly against hers. "We will. We'll find time. Even if it's rare, I think that makes it more special."

Jade looked down at their hands, her heart fluttering at the simple touch. She turned her hand over, letting her fingers interlace with his. They sat there for a moment, both of them taking in the feeling of just being together, no pressure, no expectations.

As the afternoon began to slip into the evening, they decided to take a walk along the narrow streets. The sun was starting to set, casting a soft, golden glow over the city. With his cap pulled low and her scarf wrapped around her neck, they walked close but not too close, always careful in public. Yet, even with the distance between them, there was a quiet intimacy that hung in the air.

They wandered through a small park, where the autumn leaves were just starting to fall, crunching softly beneath their feet. It was quiet, with only the occasional passerby. Jade stopped at a bench and turned to him, her eyes soft with a mix of happiness and caution.

"This... it's risky, isn't it?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He stepped closer, standing just in front of her, his expression serious but gentle. "It is. But I think it's worth the risk."

Jade looked up at him, searching his eyes. "You really think so?"

He nodded without hesitation. "I do. It's not going to be easy, but if we're careful, if we trust each other, I think we can make it work."

She smiled, feeling a warmth bloom in her chest. "I trust you."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They just stood there, the world around them fading into the background as they shared this quiet moment together. He reached up, brushing a strand of hair away from her face, his touch light but lingering.

"I'm glad we did this," he said softly.

"Me too," she whispered back.

As the last light of the day faded into twilight, they continued walking, their footsteps in sync, knowing that for now, in this small, stolen moment, everything felt just right.

As the twilight deepened, the city around them seemed to grow quieter, wrapping Jade and her anonymous idol in a comforting bubble of privacy. The crisp autumn breeze rustled the leaves, and they walked in step through the nearly empty park, lost in their own little world.

But that fragile sense of peace was shattered when Jade heard the faint sound of giggling behind them.

She glanced over her shoulder, her heart skipping a beat as she spotted a small group of girls lingering near the park entrance, smartphones in hand. They weren't close enough to have seen anything too personal, but the realization hit her like a wave—someone had noticed them. One of the girls had her phone up, and although they weren't acting aggressive or overtly intrusive, it was clear they recognized the two idols walking together.

Her heart raced as she turned to her companion, her eyes wide with worry. "They saw us," she whispered, her voice tight.

He followed her gaze, his face tensing when he saw the group of fans standing there, looking shocked but excited. He quickly pulled the brim of his cap lower, instinctively stepping closer to Jade but not enough to draw too much attention. "Stay calm," he said in a low voice. "Maybe they didn't see anything important."

Jade's mind was racing. It had all been going so well—the perfect day, just the two of them. But now, all she could think about was what would happen if this got out. If rumors started spreading, if the media got wind of it. Everything would change.

Before they could decide on what to do, one of the girls cautiously approached, phone still in hand but held down to her side. Her friends trailed behind, exchanging glances, as if trying to work up the courage to speak. Jade felt her breath catch in her throat, but she forced a small, polite smile as they got closer.

"Hi," the girl said, her voice trembling slightly. She seemed nervous but not malicious. "Sorry to bother you... we just... I mean, we're huge fans."

Her companion quickly picked up on the situation. He kept his voice low and calm, flashing the fans a smile that was friendly, though a little guarded. "Thanks. We appreciate it," he said. "But you know... it's kind of a personal day."

The girls exchanged glances, clearly aware that something was going on. The one who spoke first hesitated, her eyes flicking between them, piecing together what she'd just witnessed. She opened her mouth as if to say something, then stopped, a conflicted look crossing her face. "We didn't mean to interrupt... or anything."

Jade took a small step forward, feeling the need to say something before things got out of control. "Listen," she said softly, "we'd really appreciate it if you could keep this... between us. It's kind of private, you know? We're just trying to enjoy a normal day."

The girls' eyes widened slightly. They exchanged glances again, clearly processing the gravity of what they had stumbled upon. For a long, tense moment, there was silence. Jade felt like her heart was pounding so loudly, they could probably hear it.

One of the girls, the one who hadn't spoken yet, stepped forward, her face serious. "We understand," she said quietly. "It's just... we were really surprised to see you both together like this. But we won't tell anyone, I promise."

The girl with the phone nodded quickly, her hands trembling as she tucked it back into her bag. "Yeah, of course. We get it. No one else needs to know."

Jade let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. The tension in her shoulders eased just a little, and she gave the girls a small, genuine smile. "Thank you. It means a lot."

Her companion stepped forward as well, his eyes meeting the fans'. "We trust you," he said sincerely. "We just want to keep this quiet, for now at least."

The girls all nodded in unison, their excitement tempered by a newfound sense of responsibility. They were fans, after all—dedicated, loyal, and, in this moment, deeply understanding of what it meant for their idols to be caught in such a private situation.

"We won't say anything," the first girl repeated. "Promise."

Jade and the anonymous idol both exhaled in relief, exchanging a quick, grateful glance with each other. "Thank you," Jade said softly. "Really, thank you."

One of the girls smiled shyly, clearly still a little starstruck. "We should probably go... and let you enjoy your day."

The group of fans gave them a quick wave before turning to leave, walking away with whispers and excited smiles but, as promised, no phones raised to snap any more photos or videos. Jade and her companion stood there, watching until the group disappeared around the corner, the tension finally fading as the quiet of the park returned.

He turned to Jade, a small smile playing on his lips. "That was close."

Jade let out a nervous laugh, running a hand through her hair. "Too close."

"Think they'll keep their promise?" he asked, his tone light but cautious.

Jade thought for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I think so. They seemed... respectful. And they didn't take any pictures of us together, just seeing us."

He chuckled softly, relieved. "Guess we've got some good fans, huh?"

Jade smiled, stepping closer to him, feeling a new kind of warmth between them. "Yeah, we do."

As they resumed their walk, the weight of what had just happened lingered, but it didn't feel as heavy anymore. They knew the risks, but somehow, knowing that their fans were willing to protect their secret made it feel just a little bit easier.

The evening breeze swept through the park, and as they walked side by side, they both felt grateful—grateful for the moment, for their understanding fans, and for each other.

I was literally at uni when this was made, like and comment pls🫶