The teasing from their members never really stops, but it's all playful. Still, as the days go by, Y/N starts to wonderâwhat happens now? She and Lara haven't actually talked about what they are. Was this just something temporary, or did it mean more? The excitement of stolen glances and secret touches hasn't faded, but in the quiet moments between them, uncertainty lingers.
Then, one evening after a long practice, Lara sends her a text.
Lara: Can we meet? Just us.
Y/N: Where?
Lara: Meet me at the Han River. The spot near the bridge.
It's late when Y/N arrives. The city lights shimmer on the water, and the air is cool with the first hints of autumn. The riverbank is quiet, aside from the occasional cyclist or couple passing by. She spots Lara sitting on a bench, hood pulled up, hands tucked into her jacket pockets. She looks nervous.
Y/N sits beside her, the space between them heavy with unspoken words. "You're cold," Y/N murmurs, nudging Lara's arm.
Lara lets out a soft laugh, though there's something uncertain in it. "You always say that."
For a moment, they just sit there, listening to the gentle sound of water lapping against the river's edge. Then, Lara takes a deep breath.
"I don't want this to be temporary," she says quietly, her voice almost lost in the wind. "I don't want to be scared about what people will say or if this will ruin things. I just... I want to be with you."
Y/N turns to look at her, heart racing.
"Lara..."
"I know it won't be easy," Lara says, finally meeting Y/N's gaze. Her eyes shine under the soft glow of the streetlights. "But I've spent too much time pretending my feelings aren't real. I don't want to hide anymore. I don't want to be afraid of loving you."
The words steal the breath from Y/N's lungs. Loving her. She never thought she'd hear Lara say it out loud.
Y/N swallows hard. "You're not scared?"
Lara exhales. "I am. But I'm more scared of losing you."
The weight of those words sinks deep into Y/N's chest. And for the first time in a long time, fear isn't the thing holding her back. She reaches for Lara's hand, hesitatingâuntil Lara closes the distance, slipping her fingers through Y/N's like it's the easiest thing in the world.
"Then let's stop hiding."
And for a moment, nothing else matters. Not the industry. Not the cameras. Not the world watching. Just them.
Lara smiles, some of the tension melting from her shoulders. Then, before Y/N can overthink, Lara leans in. Their lips meet, soft and careful at first, like testing something fragile yet inevitable. But then Lara sighs into the kiss, and Y/N pulls her closer, gripping the front of Lara's hoodie, needing her near. The warmth of it chases away the night's chill.
When they finally pull apart, Lara rests her forehead against Y/N's, breathless.
"I've wanted to do that for so long," she murmurs.
Y/N grins, brushing a strand of hair from Lara's face. "Me too."
The next morning, Y/N is scrolling through her phone when she sees it.
A blurry paparazzi photo.
Her and Lara. Near the Aespa dorm. Close. Smiling.
Her stomach drops.
Within seconds, her phone buzzes nonstop. The group chat is already blowing up.
Giselle: Yo, have you seen Twitter?
Sophia: They're talking about you and Lara. You guys okay?
Manon: LMFAO welcome to hell, babe ð
And thenâ
Lara: Don't freak out.
Before Y/N can even process, her phone rings. She picks up instantly.
"Laraâ"
"Listen," Lara says, voice steady despite everything. "If people are already talking, then maybe... we stop hiding."
Y/N's breath catches. "Are you sayingâ"
"I'm saying let's stop waiting for the right moment. Let's make our own."
Something in Y/N clicks into place. It's real. It's terrifying. But it's also freeing.
She doesn't hesitate. "Okay."
That night, Lara posts a photo to her Instagram story.
A close-up of her hand intertwined with Y/N's. No caption. No explanation. Just them.
Y/N reposts it.
The internet explodes.
Fans speculate. Some celebrate. Some question. Some don't know what to think. Their companies scramble, but it's too late to undo it. The truth is already out.
The next few days are chaosâmeetings, calls, press control. But in the end, they win. The rumors had been there for months. Now, they just own them.
The groups adjust fast. The teasing only gets worse.
At Katseye's dorm, Manon fake-wipes a tear watching them cuddle on the couch. "My little babies are all grown up."
Daniela grins. "So... couple name?"
Megan groans. "Please, not this again."
Karina laughs. "You guys are just mad because this is the best dating scandal I've ever seen."
Giselle smirks at Lara. "Good luck. Y/N's a handful."
Winter and Ningning exchange a glance before sighing at the same time, "You're both insufferable."
Lara and Y/N just look at each other, barely holding back laughter. It's loud. It's ridiculous.
But it feels like home.
One evening, after another exhausting day of meetings and media buzz, Y/N finds herself curled up on Lara's couch, a blanket over her legs, a half-finished cup of tea cooling on the table. Lara sits on the floor between her legs, resting her head against Y/N's knee as they watch some random drama on TVâneither of them really paying attention.
Y/N runs her fingers through Lara's hair, slowly, gently. The tension in her shoulders fades, little by little. It's peaceful here. Just them.
Lara sighs, tilting her head up slightly. "I swear, if I have to sit through one more meeting about how we should be handling our personal lives, I might actually lose it."
Y/N hums, still tracing circles in Lara's hair. "Let them talk. They will anyway."
Lara turns just enough to glance up, amusement flickering in her tired eyes. "Since when are you the calm one?"
Y/N smiles, tugging lightly at a strand of Lara's hair. "Since I realized nothing they say changes this." She gestures between them. "Us."
Lara's expression softens. She shifts, climbing onto the couch beside Y/N, slipping under the blanket. Y/N pulls her close without hesitation, an arm around her waist, warmth sinking into her skin.
For a while, neither of them says anything. The TV hums in the background. Lara traces light patterns on Y/N's wrist. Then, softly, she asks, "Do you regret it?"
The question surprises Y/Nânot because she doesn't know the answer, but because she never thought Lara would ask.
She turns, meeting her gaze. "No. Not for a second."
Something in Lara relaxes, like she finally believes it. She laughs, small and relieved. "I used to think keeping this a secret was the only way to keep you." She pauses. "Like the moment we let the world see us, we'd lose everything."
Y/N cups her cheek, thumb brushing over her skin. "And now?"
Lara exhales. "Now, I don't care." A beat, then, steady and sure: "If this is the cost of loving you, I'll pay it."
Y/N feels something catch in her throat. Instead of answering, she leans in, pressing their lips together in a slow, steady kiss.
It's not rushed. Not hidden. Not uncertain.
It's real. It's theirs.
When they pull away, Lara smiles sleepily. "You're stuck with me now."
Y/N grins, brushing hair from Lara's face. "Good. Because I'm not going anywhere."
The city hums outside, the world still watching.
But here, wrapped up in each other, none of it matters.
Here, they are just two people in love. Unafraid.
Together.
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I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sad this book ended. Lmk if you all want more, I'll gladly take your recommendations if anyone even has any! ððð