[POV. Naina]
I never thought Kilin would actually do it.
When he sent me a text saying, "Pack a small bag. Be ready in an hour," I thought he was joking. But then he called, his voice quieter than usual, almost desperate.
Kilin: Trust me, Naina. Just this once.
And so, I did.
I packed a small bag, slipped out of my apartment, and found Kilin waiting in a black car, his hoodie pulled low, a cap shielding his face. The driver was someone I didn't recognize—not his usual staff, which meant he was being careful. As soon as I got in, he exhaled a breath of relief.
Kilin: You came.
Naina: Well, you did ask nicely.
I tried to sound playful, but there was an edge to my voice. I didn't know where we were going, and that made my heart race. The last time we met, we were almost caught. His agency had been watching him too closely, his every move dissected.
Naina: Where are we going?
He glanced at me before looking back out the window.
Kilin: Somewhere no one will find us.
---
[POV. Kilin]
I didn't care where we went. I just knew we had to leave.
For weeks, my agency had been tightening their grip, watching my every step. I had to leave my phone behind, use a different car, and even ask a friend outside the industry to drive us. It was risky, but at this point, I didn't care.
I needed a break. I needed her.
We drove out of the city, past the blinding lights of Busan, past the suffocating walls of fame. Naina didn't ask any more questions. She simply sat beside me, looking out at the dark road ahead. Maybe she understood. Maybe she felt it too—that craving for freedom.
Two hours later, we arrived. A quiet coastal town, far from the chaos. It was simple, peaceful. A place where no one would recognize me. I finally breathed properly for the first time in weeks.
Naina: It's beautiful.
She stepped out, pulling her hoodie up against the cool sea breeze. The waves crashed against the shore, the scent of salt and fresh air filling the night.
I watched her as she stretched her arms, smiling at the sky. She had no idea how much this moment meant to me.
Kilin: You like it?
She turned to me, grinning.
Naina: I love it.
And just like that, all the stress, all the worries… faded.
---
[POV. Naina]
We spent the next few hours walking along the beach, shoes in hand, letting the cold water touch our feet. For the first time in a long time, Kilin wasn't looking over his shoulder. He wasn't hiding behind a mask, wasn't checking his phone for calls from his agency. He was just Kilin.
At some point, we stopped by a tiny street vendor, buying fish cakes and hotteok. He paid in cash, careful not to draw attention.
Naina: You look suspicious.
I teased, watching him as he kept glancing around.
Kilin: I'm just making sure no one recognizes me.
I rolled my eyes.
Naina: Relax. No one cares here.
He took a bite of his food and sighed.
Kilin: I wish that were true.
And there it was—the reminder that this wasn't permanent. That this escape had an expiration date.
Kilin: Do you ever think about running away?
His voice was quiet, thoughtful.
I looked at him, really looked at him. His dark eyes, usually filled with energy, seemed exhausted. He always carried so much weight on his shoulders.
Naina: Sometimes. But I wouldn't know where to go.
He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Kilin: If you ever decide to, let me know.
I swallowed, pretending I didn't hear the longing in his voice.
---
[POV. Kilin]
As the night deepened, we found ourselves on a small hill overlooking the ocean. The stars were brighter here, unpolluted by city lights.
I lay down on the grass, staring at the sky.
Naina: You're going to ruin your hoodie.
She said, but she lay down beside me anyway.
I turned my head, watching her as she stared at the stars. She looked peaceful, like she belonged in this quiet world instead of the one I dragged her into.
Kilin: Thank you.
She turned to me, frowning.
Naina: For what?
I sighed, looking back at the sky.
Kilin: For being here. For not treating me like… them.
She didn't respond right away.
Then, she reached over, her fingers lightly touching mine.
Naina: You don't have to thank me for that, Kilin.
I didn't move, didn't speak. I just let the moment settle around us, let myself feel something I wasn't allowed to feel.
I was supposed to be careful. I was supposed to keep my distance. But here, under the stars, I didn't want to.
Kilin: What if I don't want to go back?
My voice was barely a whisper, almost afraid of the answer.
She sighed.
Naina: You have to.
I clenched my jaw, closing my eyes.
Naina: But at least we had this, right?
I turned to her, meeting her gaze.
She was right. We couldn't stay. But at least for tonight, we were just two people under the stars. No cameras, no fans, no rules. Just us.
---
[POV. Naina]
We fell asleep on that hill, the ocean waves lulling us into peace. When I woke up, the sun was barely rising, casting a soft glow over the world.
I turned to see Kilin still asleep beside me, his face relaxed for once. No tension, no exhaustion. Just him.
I wanted to stay in this moment forever.
But reality wasn't that kind.
His phone, the one he had left in the car, was vibrating. And I knew. I knew it was over.
I reached out, shaking his shoulder gently.
Naina: Kilin… we have to go.
His eyes fluttered open, groggy and confused. But when he saw my expression, he knew too.
Without a word, we got up and walked back to the car. The ride back was silent, heavy.
As we neared Busan, Kilin finally spoke.
Kilin: No matter what happens next…
I held my breath, waiting.
Kilin: I don't regret this.
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat.
Naina: Me neither.
And with that, our sweet escape came to an end.