The stage was dim. Lights nearly gone. The only thing echoing through the arena was the breathless anticipation of thousands of fans.
Eunwoo walked slowly. His eyes weren't on the crowd, but lost in the void. Something inside him was trying to break free… but still restrained.
He grabbed the microphone. His voice trembled—a quiet storm escaping from within.
"This song… I wrote it myself. And tonight… you'll hear it for the first time."
A piano began. Soft. Fragile.
And then, the lyrics slipped from his lips.
🎶🎶🎶🎶
Elsewhere… a body was dragged across a concrete floor.
Yuna's wrists were tied with rope. Her hair disheveled, her face bruised. She was struggling to breathe. Her former boss's shoe pressed against her chest, pinning her to the ground.
"Who do you think is coming to save you, huh?" the man screamed.
"You humiliated me! You made me kneel in front of that lowlife and apologize. Now… who's above who?"
A slap. Then another.
🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
Yuna's head was yanked up. He stared into her eyes… then dumped a bucket of freezing water over her.
Her body trembled. Lips sealed shut. Eyes empty.
Back on stage, Eunwoo held the mic with both hands, proudly continuing his song.
🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
The crowd was silent. Frozen. Only his voice echoed. Each word felt like a lump in their throats.
When the song ended, silence took over the arena.
Eunwoo lifted his head. And then, his voice rang clear and firm:
"I wrote this song for the only woman in my life."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"You didn't accept her. But she accepted every part of me.
She stayed silent. She endured… for my sake.
I just hope, one day, you'll let me love her freely."
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I love you, Novans."
At first, scattered applause…
Then waves of cheers and sobs. Some fans were crying. One by one, the NOVA members joined him on stage. None of them spoke. They just stood by his side—silently saying, You're not alone.
The concert ended.
Backstage, Eunwoo was panting, drenched in sweat. He opened his phone.
Minji – 14 missed calls
His chest tightened. He called back, hands shaking.
"Eunwoo?!"
Minji's voice was panicked.
"They took Yuna! Armed men came! They destroyed everything—we couldn't stop them…"
He didn't need to hear more. He hung up and bolted out.
"Eunwoo?! Where are you going?!" shouted the others.
"To Yuna!"
"Wait! We're coming too!"
A black van sped away from the arena. The air inside was heavy. But something had changed.
This was no longer just about love.
It was a rescue.
-----------
A pitch-black, damp basement… rusty chains hanging from the walls, a faint beam of light cast over a filthy concrete floor.
Minji pushed the rusty door open with trembling hands. Her breath caught at the sight.
Yuna—barely conscious, black and blue, wrists tied, curled in the corner. Her breathing was so faint, she seemed barely alive.
"Yuna!" Minji cried and tried to rush to her, but two men stepped out of the shadows, guns gleaming in their hands.
"One more step and you're both dead," said one coldly.
Suddenly, footsteps thundered outside. NOVA members had arrived, storming out of the van. Their leader quickly scanned the room and gave Eunwoo a sharp nod.
"Now, Eunwoo!"
Everything happened fast.
As the men raised their weapons, NOVA's leader tackled one of them while Eunwoo struck the other in a single motion. Guns clattered to the floor. A brief scuffle—then silence.
Both attackers were down.
Eunwoo rushed to Yuna. He gently pulled her into his arms. She barely opened her eyes.
"Eun…woo… how… did you… find me?" she whispered, then her head dropped again. Unconscious.
Tears streamed down Eunwoo's face as he bolted outside with Yuna in his arms.
Minji followed—until a harsh voice rang out behind them.
"Not one more step!"
Yuna's ex-boss stood in the doorway. Hands in his pockets. Eyes blazing.
He chuckled darkly.
"None of you are leaving alive. She dies first—then the rest of you."
Eunwoo slowly turned around. Holding Yuna tightly, his voice was cold and unshaken.
"If you have the guts… come and get her."
Raging, the man raised his gun.
But just then—Minji stepped in front.
"Take Yuna! Now! I'll buy you time!" she whispered, standing tall before the man.
He sneered. "You think you can stop me? Pathetic."
He shoved her aside and pointed the gun again.
Minji hit the ground hard—but she'd bought them a few precious seconds.
Eunwoo had already laid Yuna in the back seat of the van. He started the engine.
The boss roared: "You can't escape!"
He jumped into his car and the chase began.
Headlights sliced through the night. Tires screamed against asphalt.
Suddenly, the man accelerated—ramming into Eunwoo's vehicle.
CRASH.
Eunwoo's van spun out and slammed into a tree. Windows shattered.
Darkness.
Yuna's limp body slid across the seat. Blood on her lips. Silence.
Bleeding from his forehead, Eunwoo crawled toward her.
His fingers reached…
And found her hand.
He gripped it tightly. One final smile.
And with his last breath, he whispered:
"I'm… sorry…"
At that moment, the song he had sung that night…
began to play in the distance.
Notes echoing into the stars…
as two weary souls drifted into the sky.
🎶🎶🎶🎶