The sun rises and the moon hides.
The opposite of a comforting night is a joyous sparkling blue sky that stretches to the other side. The sun radiates a golden glow, gently seeping through the windows.
Still sound asleep, a woman lies in bed, Minji. The bed is large, spacious enough for two adults, yet Minji sleeps alone, curled up in one corner. She looks peaceful, completely at ease, wrapped in the quiet warmth of morning light. The scene is soft, serene, almost like a dream.
The room is silent, save for the faint rustle of sheets and her gentle breath. A moment so still and serene, it resembles the glassy surface of a tranquil lake.
But nature, ever persistent, has other plans.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sharp sound echoes through the room, followed by a familiar voice.
"Minjiii-yaah! Wake up!!"
Stirred from sleep, Minji sluggishly rises from bed. She glances toward the window, catching sight of the glowing sun.
A soft smile forms.
"Yes, Yuna-unnie, I'm waking up," she calls back, her voice still laced with sleep.
Today is no ordinary day. It's LUNAE's biggest event yet.
A massive stadium awaits them, a sea of fans ready to witness their performance, possibly their most significant moment to date.
With that thought weighing on her, Minji can't help but wonder how far her career will go or how much longer she can endure it. But she pushes the thought aside, slips out of her room, and heads downstairs.
There, around the dining table, sit the other members, already dressed and ready to eat.
"Minji-unnie, hurry up! Let's eat!" Mirae chirps.
"Sorr-yyy," Minji replies, sliding into her seat.
Before they dig in, Yuna, chopsticks in hand, takes a breath and addresses the group.
"Let's do what we always do tonight. We've come a long way. Don't be nervous, okay, everyone?"
Her speech might seem simple, but it's the kind of reassurance only a true leader can give.
Though Minji is the official leader, the role is shared in spirit with Yuna, the eldest. The company made the wise decision not to burden the oldest member with both roles, and together, they balance the responsibilities well.
"Don't worry, unnie. I'll perform like I'm going to die tonight!" Sera says with a playful grin.
Sera, the main dancer of LUNAE, is a living icon. With her stunning movements and bold personality, she draws attention wherever she goes. The most extroverted of the group, she's loved for her fan interactions and charisma.
With Yuna's reassurance and Sera's fire, the tension in the room dissolves. Laughter bubbles up. Spirits lift. The girls dig into their breakfast.
Until—
Creeeeak.
The front door opens, its sound slicing through the chatter.
All heads turn to see a man stepping inside.
"Kim sunbaenim!" Yuna calls out.
In unison, the members rise and bow.
It's Manager Kim, the man behind the scenes. He oversees their schedules, finances, promotions, everything. Small in stature with glasses, a two-block haircut, and a stern but kind face, he looks to be in his thirties.
"LUNAE, let's move. The stage is ready. The organizers want you at rehearsal now," he says, voice brisk.
"Yesss, Manager!" they chorus.
The members scatter to prepare, each heading to their bathrooms, except one.
"Minji, come here before you shower."
Minji approaches without a word. She already knows she's in trouble.
"Minji, next time I won't let this slide," he says, voice low.
"I'm sorry, Manager Kim," she replies, barely above a whisper.
He sighs, frustrated, but unwilling to press further, not today. Not with so much riding on tonight.
"Next time, bring a bodyguard. Did your sister receive the ticket?" His tone softens, like a concerned father.
Minji forces a small smile.
"Yes, Manager. She got it."
But that's not the truth. The ticket didn't go to her sister, it went to a random stranger. A stranger who somehow left an impression deep in Minji's heart.
Still, that moment was special. Special enough to lie about.
"Alright. Now go get ready."
"Yes, sir."
Minji hurries upstairs.
Meanwhile, Jinha, the group's stylist, leans casually against the wall.
"Aren't you going soft, Kim? That's not like you," she teases.
"She's lucky today's a big event. Any other day, I'd have punished her."
"You're scary sometimes," Jinha chuckles. "See you at the stadium."
"Yeah," he replies, already checking his clipboard.
Jinha, the mastermind behind their iconic looks, is in her forties, with shoulder-length blonde hair and a sharp eye for what makes a star shine.
Soon, the girls finish getting ready. One by one, they gather in the living room.
"Yuna?""Here!""Minji?""Here!""Sera?""Here!""Nari?""Here!""Mirae?""Heeere!"
With everyone accounted for, Yuna steps forward, placing her hand palm-down in the center.
One by one, the others follow, stacking their hands together.
"Born from stardust?""Made to shine!""LUNAE!"
Their unified voices echo with the fire of warriors heading into battle.
The energy is palpable. The moment is real.
Tonight, the world will watch.
But one things for sure, The stars will witness the brightest light.