Chapter Text
Chapter1: The Quiet Before the Beat
The restaurant was quiet that night—quieter than usual. Y/N wiped down the already spotless counter for what felt like the hundredth time, more out of habit than necessity. The hum of the overhead lights mixed with the soft, lo-fi playlist trickling from the speakers, creating a calm, almost sleepy atmosphere. Only two tables were occupied: an older couple near the window, sharing a steaming pot of 참치김치찌개, and a lone student hunched over a textbook, periodically scribbling notes while absentmindedly poking at their 돌솥비빔밥.
It was one of those shifts where time seemed to stretch thin, each minute crawling by at a painfully slow pace. Y/N couldn’t help but steal glances at the clock every few minutes, counting down the hours until closing. Nights like these always made the restaurant feel more spacious than it was, the empty tables and dim lighting amplifying the sense of stillness.
Y/N leaned against the counter, folding a fresh stack of napkins, and tried not to let her mind wander too far. These quiet nights were usually perfect for daydreaming, but lately, her thoughts had been circling the same topic: music school. She could picture it vividly—long practice sessions, crowded rehearsal rooms, and late nights hunched over a MIDI controller, trying to piece together melodies and chord progressions.
It was a dream that felt just a little out of reach, no matter how much she practiced on her small controller at home. The keys were just enough to learn basics, but every time she tried to replicate complex progressions from her favorite songs, it felt like something was missing—both from the keyboard and, maybe, from her confidence.
Her coworkers often teased her for zoning out during shifts, her fingers unconsciously tapping out rhythms on the counter or her pen. Music wasn’t just a hobby; it was woven into every part of her routine, from the morning bus rides where she mentally dissected melodies to the evenings spent tweaking synth presets from the latest Xdinary Heroes live stream.
The band had been on her mind a lot recently. Ever since she saw them live last Saturday, their songs had been stuck in her head, looping through her thoughts whenever she had a quiet moment. She hadn’t expected their performance to hit her so hard—especially O.de’s energy on stage. Something about the way he switched between instruments and seamlessly joined harmonies had left an impression.
Her lips curled into a small smile, recalling how the crowd had shouted the lyrics to “Beautiful Life” in unison. It was one of those moments that made everything else—work stress, late-night practice, the uncertainty of the future—fade away.
A sudden clang from the kitchen broke her from her reverie, and Y/N turned to see one of her coworkers, Jiwoo, balancing a tray full of banchan dishes. “Zone out again?” Jiwoo teased, raising an eyebrow.
Y/N shrugged, feeling a bit sheepish. “Just thinking.”
“About music school?”
“Yeah.” She didn’t bother denying it. Jiwoo knew her too well by now.
Jiwoo smiled, nudging Y/N with her elbow. “You’ll get in. Just keep practicing. And stop stressing so much. You’re way too good to worry.”
Y/N gave a grateful smile, though doubt still lingered. It wasn’t just about getting in—it was about proving to herself that she belonged there.
As she folded the last napkin, Y/N glanced at the clock again. Still a couple of hours to go. She sighed, adjusting the cuff of her long-sleeved shirt where her bracelets peeked out—a grey one from Xdinary Heroes’ “Live and Fall” merch, a few neon colored ones from “Closed Beta” and others she collected throughout the years. They were small reminders of the things she loved, even on quiet nights like this.
She was just about to grab a fresh pitcher of water when the door chime rang out, startling her from her thoughts. Automatically, Y/N looked up, ready to greet the new customers with a polite smile.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Three figures walked in, heads slightly bowed as they adjusted their masks and beanies. Even without seeing their faces clearly, she knew exactly who they were. The familiar way they moved, the subtle energy they carried—it could only be Xdinary Heroes.
Y/N froze, the pitcher nearly slipping from her hand. Keep it together, she thought, forcing her heartbeat to slow. She couldn’t afford to lose her composure, not now. After all, she was just a restaurant worker, and they were—well, them.
Taking a deep breath, she grabbed a few menus and approached their table, pasting on her best professional smile. “Good evening. Welcome. Can I get you started with some water?”
Her heart was still pounding as she caught a glimpse of O.de adjusting his cap. His eyes briefly met hers, and despite the mask, she could tell he was smiling.
“Water sounds great,” one of them said in accented but clear English—Gunil, she realized.
She nodded, forcing herself to act normal. As she set the menus down, her long sleeve rode up slightly, exposing the bright pink bracelet. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jungsu nudge O.de and whisper something, and before she could fully process it, Jungsu pointed at her wrist and blurted out, “빌란즈!”
Y/N’s face heated up, but she managed a small, sheepish smile. “Yeah. I’m a fan.”
O.de’s eyes widened a fraction, his curiosity piqued.
Gunil grinned, switching back to English. “Are you a villain?”
Y/N couldn’t help but laugh, her nerves easing just a bit. “Yeah. I went to your concert last Saturday. It was amazing.” She responded in Korean.
O.de raised his eyebrows, clearly interested. “Which song is your favorite?”
For the first time that evening, Y/N didn’t have to force her smile. “There are too many to choose from, but I really love ‘Supernatural.’”
Gunil chuckled, and Jungsu gave an exaggerated nod.“오 너무 좋다,” approving her taste for his song.
Y/N shifted her weight from one foot to the other, trying not to seem too nervous. “Honestly, I was a little sad you didn’t play Supernatural,” she admitted with a light laugh. “But I get it—setlists are complicated.”
O.de’s eyes crinkled in amusement above his mask. “You really like Supernatural that much?”
Y/N nodded, feeling a bit braver now that the conversation was flowing. “Yeah, it’s one of those songs that just… hits different, you know? But I also love Pluto, Beautiful Life, 나비엔, Diamond, and Xymphony.”
Jungsu let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. “That’s a pretty diverse mix. You really know your stuff.”
Gunil gave a satisfied nod. “You’ve been listening for a while, huh?”
“Since debut,” Y/N admitted, a little shy now that all their attention was on her. “Your music’s been a big inspiration to me, actually.”
O.de chimed in with a soft smile. “That’s really cool. Thanks for supporting us.”
The sincerity in his voice made Y/N’s heart skip a beat. “Of course,” she replied quickly. “Your songs just… resonate. Especially when I’m working or practicing.”
Gunil tilted his head curiously. “Practicing?”
Y/N’s eyes widened slightly, realizing she’d revealed a bit more than planned. “Oh, um… I’m hoping to get into music school. Still working on my skills.”
Jungsu gave an encouraging nod. “That’s awesome. What do you play?”
“Mostly keyboard and a bit of MIDI programming,” Y/N explained. “It’s kind of basic right now, but I’m learning.”
O.de’s eyes lit up with interest. “MIDI programming? That’s not easy. Respect.”
Y/N’s cheeks warmed at the unexpected praise. “Thanks. I’ve actually tried to copy some of your presets from that live you did, but I just can’t figure it out.”
O.de chuckled softly, clearly amused. “Maybe I can give you a few tips sometime.”
For a moment, Y/N wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly. Did O.de just offer to help her with MIDI programming? She couldn’t help but laugh softly, unsure if he was joking or not. “Yeah, right,” she teased, but O.de just shrugged as if it were no big deal.
Gunil leaned back in his seat, giving Y/N an approving smile. “You’ve got good taste in music.”
Y/N couldn’t help but grin back, feeling a little more at ease. “Thanks. You guys just… make it easy to be a fan.”
There was a brief silence, one that felt surprisingly comfortable. Jungsu leaned over to whisper something to Gunil, who just smiled in response. O.de, meanwhile, was still watching Y/N with that curious, thoughtful expression, as if trying to piece together something about her.
Before the moment could stretch too long, Y/N cleared her throat. “I should probably get back to work. Let me know if you need anything else.”
Gunil nodded with a grin. “Sure thing. Thanks, Villain.”
Y/N chuckled softly at the nickname, gave them one last polite bow, and headed back toward the counter, her heart still racing from the unexpected interaction.
As she walked away, she could hear Jungsu whisper, “She’s cool,” and O.de quietly agreeing.
Y/N made her way back to the counter, carefully setting down the empty water pitcher and exhaling a shaky breath. She couldn’t help but press a hand to her chest, trying to slow her racing heart. Did that really just happen?
The reality was slowly sinking in: she had just served ½ of the Heroes. Not only that, but they had actually talked to her—like, really talked to her. About music, no less.
She tried to push the thought aside, reminding herself that they were just customers tonight. Still, her brain refused to cooperate, replaying the brief conversation on a loop. O.de’s casual, almost amused tone when he offered to help with MIDI programming kept echoing in her mind. Was he joking? Half-joking? Did he even realize how much that small offer meant to her?
Shaking her head, Y/N grabbed a few more napkins to fold, trying to ground herself. Stay professional. That was the mantra now. She couldn’t afford to get too flustered, especially not when her shift wasn’t even over yet.
As she worked, she couldn’t help but sneak a few glances toward their table. The group seemed at ease, chatting quietly as they sampled the banchan she’d just delivered. Jungsu was excitedly gesturing about something, his hands moving animatedly while Gunil nodded along with a fond, amused smile. Fiddling with his phone, likely looking up something they’d been discussing, while O.de leaned back comfortably, one hand still resting on the edge of the table.
At one point, O.de looked up, catching Y/N’s gaze for a split second. Her stomach flipped, and she immediately looked down at the napkin in her hand, pretending to be intensely focused on folding it just right. Way to act natural, genius.
She tried to distract herself by taking care of the other two occupied tables. The older couple waved her over, asking for more tea, and she hurried to the kitchen to refill the pot. As she poured the steaming liquid, her mind kept wandering back to the unexpected encounter.
Of all the nights for them to walk in, why tonight?
Y/N tried to calm the flutter of nerves dancing through her chest. Sure, she was a fan—more than a fan, really—but this was work. They probably got recognized all the time, and she didn’t want to make them uncomfortable. The last thing she needed was to come across as another overly excited fan when they were just trying to enjoy a quiet meal.
Back at the couple’s table, she placed the tea down carefully. The older woman gave her a warm smile. “Busy night?”
Y/N managed a polite laugh. “Not too bad, just a bit unexpected.”
The woman chuckled knowingly. “Ah, youth. Always full of surprises.”
As Y/N made her way back to the counter, she couldn’t help but notice a soft laugh coming from the guys’ table. Jungsu was mimicking an exaggerated drum move, clearly teasing Gunil, who rolled his eyes and retaliated with a playful swat. Y/N couldn’t help the small smile that formed—seeing them relaxed like this was different from how they appeared on stage, and somehow, it made them feel more real.
She busied herself wiping down the counter for the fourth time that night, telling herself that keeping her hands moving would distract from the jittery energy still buzzing through her veins.
Every so often, she caught snippets of their conversation when she passed by—something about new compositions and tour schedules. Despite her efforts to act normal, she couldn’t help but feel a bit self-conscious whenever she sensed one of them looking her way. Once, while refilling the water pitcher, she glanced back to see O.de absentmindedly tapping his fingers on the table in rhythm with the lo-fi track playing overhead. He was staring off in her direction, almost as if lost in thought, but quickly looked away when Jungsu nudged him with an elbow.
Her pulse quickened at the thought that he might actually be paying attention to her. No, you’re imagining things, she scolded herself. He’s just relaxing. They probably don’t get many quiet nights like this.
As the night continued, Y/N found herself constantly aware of their presence. Every laugh, every shift in conversation, it was all magnified in the otherwise quiet restaurant. The guys seemed happy—O.de’s laughter was surprisingly soft compared to Jungsu’s louder, brighter chuckles, and Gunil’s voice carried a reassuring calm.
After wiping down a few tables that didn’t really need it, Y/N busied herself with organizing the counter area. It was a flimsy excuse to stay in their line of sight without seeming like she was watching them. It was almost like a game—trying to keep her composure while being hyper-aware of every little movement from their corner.
She couldn’t help but feel a bit silly. They were just guys having a late-night meal, and here she was, acting like it was some kind of movie moment. Still, it wasn’t every day that your favorite band just walked into your workplace.
At one point, when Y/N bent down to grab a fresh stack of to-go containers, she felt that unmistakable sensation of being watched. When she straightened up, O.de’s eyes were already back on his food, but she swore she saw Jungsu smirking at him like he’d caught something interesting.
Her heart fluttered again, and she forced herself to look anywhere but their table. Get a grip. It’s just your imagination.
By the time she checked the clock again, she realized it was already past 8:30. The kitchen would be closing soon, and the last of the other customers had just left, leaving Xdinary Heroes as the only ones left in the dining area. Y/N hurried to clear the vacated tables, stacking dishes as quietly as possible so as not to disrupt their conversation.
When she passed by their table again, Jungsu gave her a friendly nod. “Food’s great, by the way,” he said with a grin.
Y/N managed a soft smile. “Glad you liked it.”
Gunil leaned back, stretching his arms over his head. “This place is nice. 조용해.”
She couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Usually is around this time.”
Before she could retreat to the counter again, O.de spoke up, his voice quieter than before. “Do you usually work this late?”
Y/N blinked, caught off guard. “Yeah, most of my shifts are evening ones. It’s kind of peaceful when it’s slow.”
He nodded thoughtfully, and for a second, Y/N wondered if he was trying to keep the conversation going or if it was just a polite question. Either way, she could feel her face heating up under his gaze, and she quickly excused herself to grab the cleaning supplies.
Back at the counter, she stole one last glance over her shoulder and caught O.de leaning forward, listening intently as Jungsu spoke. But just as she turned back, she saw O.de glance her way again, his expression curious and almost… thoughtful.
Y/N bit her lip to suppress a smile, trying not to let herself overthink it. As much as she wanted to believe that O.de found her interesting, she knew better than to read too much into it. They were idols, after all—used to fans and polite interactions.
Still, as she continued tidying up, a small, hopeful thought lingered in the back of her mind. Maybe tonight wasn’t just ordinary for them, either.
The hum of conversation grew softer as the night stretched on, and the restaurant settled into that familiar calm that always came before closing. Y/N moved around the dining area with practiced efficiency, wiping down the already clean tables and making sure the chairs were evenly spaced. The low, mellow music playing overhead was barely noticeable under the faint clatter from the kitchen as the staff began their end-of-shift cleanup.
Keep her focus on wiping down the nearby table, but their voices carried just enough for her to catch bits and pieces of their conversation.
“So we’re really not stopping in Frankfurt?” Jungsu asked, sounding a bit miffed.
Gunil shrugged. “Not this leg. They want to save it for the winter shows.”
He pouted. “I was looking forward to the sausages.”
O.de chuckled. “We’ll have to get some during our next free day. I’m not missing out again.”
Y/N couldn’t help but smile to herself. Even their casual banter was entertaining, and it was almost surreal to hear them talking so freely. She forced herself to concentrate on scrubbing a particularly stubborn stain on the table, hoping her ears weren’t visibly straining to listen in.
As she moved on to the next table, she heard Gunil’s voice cut through the low murmur. “Excuse me?”
She looked up, and Gunil gave a small wave to catch her attention. “What time do you guys close?”
Y/N stepped closer, maintaining her professional smile. “The kitchen closes at nine, but the building itself stays open until around 9:30.”
Gunil nodded. “Cool, thanks.”
Jungsu snorted. “Lucky for us. We almost went to that barbecue place down the street, but it was packed.”
Gunil nodded in agreement. “This place has a nice vibe. Good food too.”
A warmth spread through Y/N at the compliment. “I’m glad you liked it.”
She could feel O.de’s gaze lingering, and before she could retreat to finish cleaning, he spoke up again. “What do you do your MIDI programming on?”
Y/N, surprised at the sudden question. “I’m still a beginner, but I use an Arturia MiniLab III at home, but it’s a little tricky since it only has 24 keys.”
O.de’s eyes lit up with interest. “That’s a good starter keyboard. The pads are good for beat mapping.”
Her face brightened. “Exactly! I’ve been trying to practice more complex progressions, but it’s tough since the keys are so limited. Plus, learning piano on it is… well, a challenge.”
Jungsu laughed softly. “Sounds like it’s more of a workout than a practice session.”
Y/N chuckled, rubbing the back of her neck. “Pretty much. I’ve been watching some of your lives for tips, but I still can’t figure out how you get your presets to sound so full. I think I’m missing something fundamental.”
O.de smiled, and it was softer this time, more thoughtful. “Layering, mostly. Sometimes I stack different sounds with subtle variations in attack and reverb. It makes the sound richer.”
Y/N nodded, taking mental notes. “That makes sense. I guess I’ve been focusing too much on individual synths instead of layering them.”
He gave a small, approving nod. “Yeah, that’s a common mistake. It’s a tricky field, and I know how frustrating it can be when you’re just starting out.”
Her mind raced, trying to process that O.de was already giving her advice—after offering to help her with music production. “That… is very true. Thanks, I really appreciate it.”
He tilted his head, his expression relaxed but sincere. “It’s no problem. If you’re serious about music school, it might help.”
Y/N felt her face warm under his steady gaze. “I… I really appreciate that. I’ve just been kind of stuck lately, you know? Sometimes it feels like no matter how much I practice, I’m not getting anywhere.”
O.de’s expression softened. “Yeah, I get that. You just have to push through the stuck moments. They’re usually right before a breakthrough.”
She couldn’t help but smile, the encouragement making her chest feel lighter. “Thanks. That actually makes me feel better.”
Gunil raised an eyebrow, giving O.de a look that made the younger member shrug, almost like he was trying to play it cool. Jungsu, meanwhile, looked between them, a knowing grin forming on his face.
The restaurant was finally quiet, the kind of calm that always settled after a long evening shift. Y/N wiped her hands on her apron one last time before heading to the back to change. As she moved through the familiar routine—hanging up her uniform, grabbing her bag—her mind kept replaying the night’s events in a loop.
Meeting half of Xdiz. Chatting with them like it was no big deal. O.de offering to help with her music. It felt like a strange, wonderful dream she wasn’t quite ready to wake up from.
She took a moment in front of the mirror, brushing her fingers through her hair. The adrenaline that had fueled her through the evening was finally fading, leaving behind a buzzing excitement and a growing sense of disbelief. Y/N couldn’t help but wonder if she’d imagined the whole thing.
“What just happened?” she whispered to herself, shaking her head with a laugh.
As she pulled on her hoodie, her phone vibrated—a notification from one of her friends. She made a mental note to call them on the bus ride home. They were going to freak out.
Taking a deep breath, Y/N slipped her phone into her pocket and headed out to the dining area. Just as she reached the counter, she spotted Jungsu and Gunil wrapping up their payment.
Jungsu noticed her first, flashing a bright smile. “Oh, hey! You’re done?”
“Yeah,” Y/N replied with a nod. “Thanks for coming in tonight.”
Gunil gave her a warm smile. “Food was great. You did a good job handling everything.”
Jungsu grinned. “Seriously. It was a nice way to end the night.”
Her heart swelled at the compliments, and she managed to smile back. “I’m glad you guys enjoyed it.”
Jungsu’s expression softened, his tone more sincere. “Good luck with your music, by the way. I hope you make it into that school.”
“Yeah,” Gunil agreed. “It sounds like you’re working really hard. Keep at it.”
Y/N’s chest warmed at their encouragement. “Thanks. That really means a lot.”
With a final wave, she stepped outside, the cool night air brushing against her face. As she adjusted her bag on her shoulder, she noticed someone leaning casually against the wall just a few steps away.
It was O.de.
He looked up when he heard the door, offering a small smile. “Done for the night?”
“Yeah,” Y/N replied, still a little stunned that he was waiting outside. “It’s been a long shift.”
He nodded. “I bet. I didn’t think we’d keep you so late.”
She laughed lightly. “It’s fine. You guys were really chill.”
There was a brief, comfortable silence before O.de spoke again. “How long have you been in Korea?”
“Oh, about a year now,” Y/N said, shifting on her feet. “Still getting used to some things, but it’s starting to feel like home.”
He nodded, looking genuinely curious. “That’s cool. Moving so far on your own can’t be easy.”
“It wasn’t,” she admitted, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “But I really wanted to study music, and I knew this was the place to be. It’s been… a lot of hard work, but I don’t regret it.”
“That’s brave,” O.de said simply, his eyes catching hers. The way he said it—so straightforward and without a hint of irony—made her pulse quicken.
Before the moment could stretch too long, he pulled out his phone. “Hey… can I get your Kakao?”
Y/N blinked, momentarily frozen. “Oh. Yeah, sure.”
She pulled out her phone and opened the app, bringing up her QR code. He scanned it, the faint beep marking the connection.
“I’ll send you some tips when I get a chance,” he said, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
Y/N bit back a smile. “Thanks. You really don’t have to—”
“It’s no trouble,” O.de interrupted with a light shrug. “I know it’s a tough field. Any bit of help counts, right?”
“Yeah,” Y/N agreed, feeling warmth spread through her chest.
Then, almost casually, O.de tilted his head. “By the way… who’s your bias?”
Her brain stalled. “Uh…”
Before she could even attempt a response, the door swung open, and Jungsu stepped outside, immediately catching the tail end of the conversation.
“Yah, Seungmin!” Jungsu called out, eyes narrowing in mock accusation. “You can’t just ask her that!”
O.de looked completely unbothered, shrugging as if he hadn’t just put her on the spot. “왜 안돼?”
Jungsu sidled up next to Y/N, giving her a conspiratorial grin. “Is it him? Is he your bias?”
O.de turned to give Jungsu a look, muttering, “Seriously?”
Jungsu didn’t let up, eyes twinkling mischievously. “It’s not him, right? You can tell me. I’m pretty sure it’s me.”
O.de scoffed, crossing his arms. “You’re always convinced it’s you.”
Gunil, who had just joined them outside, glanced between the two, clearly amused. “You two are so annoying. Leave her alone.”
Y/N couldn’t help but laugh at the playful back-and-forth, the tension from earlier melting away. Jungsu shot her a grin, clearly pleased with himself, while O.de just looked mildly exasperated.
Finally, Y/N shook her head with a smile. “Maybe I’ll just keep it a secret.”
Jungsu looked dramatically offended. “비밀야? No way. I’ll figure it out eventually.”
Gunil clapped him on the shoulder. “Or you could just leave her alone. Ever thought about that?”
Jungsu pretended to think about it before shrugging. “Nah.”
As the group’s van pulled up to the curb, Y/N felt a small pang of disappointment. It was silly, really—she’d just spent the past few hours in the same space as them. Still, the idea of the night ending left her feeling wistful.
Before they could climb into the van, Y/N cleared her throat, gathering her courage. “Um, would it be okay if we took a quick picture? Totally fine if not—I know you’re not on schedule or anything.”
O.de looked at her with a small, reassuring smile. “It’s fine.”
Jungsu grinned. “Of course! Come on.”
Gunil waved her over, and Y/N hesitated for just a second before stepping closer, pulling out her phone. She flipped it to selfie mode, trying to ignore how shaky her hands felt.
Jungsu leaned in with his signature bright smile, O.de stood slightly to the side with a relaxed, almost shy expression, and Gunil flashed a peace sign, his eyes crinkling in a soft smile.
“Ready?” Y/N asked, holding her breath.
“Yep!” Jungsu said, leaning in just a bit closer.
Click.
Y/N checked the photo, her cheeks aching from how wide she was smiling. It was perfect—a snapshot of a surreal, fleeting moment that she couldn’t wait to cherish.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice quiet but sincere.
“No problem,” Gunil replied, giving her a small wave as he moved toward the van.
Jungsu winked. “Next time, tell me if I’m your bias!”
O.de shot him an incredulous look. “You’re never going to let that go, are you?”
Jungsu just shrugged. “A guy can dream.”
The manager waved them over, clearly signaling that it was time to leave. The three members offered one last goodbye before piling into the van. As the door slid shut, Y/N stood at the edge of the curb, trying to hold back the smile that kept creeping onto her face.
She made her way to the bus stop just as the van started to pull away. To her surprise, as they drove past, the window rolled down, and Jungsu leaned out to wave dramatically.
“Bye, Y/N!” he called, his voice bright even over the hum of the engine.
O.de gave a smaller, more subtle wave from his seat, but his smile was no less sincere. Gunil offered a brief nod of farewell.
As they disappeared down the street, Y/N let out a shaky breath, the reality of the situation finally sinking in. She couldn’t believe how natural it had felt—how, despite the initial shock, she’d actually managed to hold a conversation with them.
She sat down on the bus stop bench, pulling out her phone to look at the photo again. The excitement was finally catching up with her, buzzing under her skin and making it impossible to keep still.
Her thoughts tumbled over each other in a dizzying rush. O.de asked for her Kakao. Jungsu teased her about her bias. They took a picture together. It was more than she’d ever dared to hope for—more than she’d ever imagined when she’d clocked in for her shift that evening.
The bus pulled up, and Y/N climbed on, still in a daze. As she settled into her seat, she replayed every little detail in her mind—the way they smiled, the teasing banter, the way O.de had looked genuinely interested when she talked about her music.
With her headphones on, Y/N leaned her head back against the window, a quiet laugh escaping as she finally texted her best friend:
“You will NOT believe what just happened to me.”
Her friend’s reply was instant, a string of question marks and exclamation points. Y/N couldn’t help but grin, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she typed out the story, still half-expecting to wake up from the best dream she’d ever had.
As the city lights flickered past the bus window, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this night was just the beginning of something unexpected—and maybe, just maybe, something wonderful.