Chapter Text
“Hey, Moon!”
The sound was light, almost teasing, but filled with warmth.
For a moment, Park Moondae froze. His phone screen lit up with the name “Sun ☀️”.
He glanced toward the door—quiet. No members yet. Good.
“...You’re early,” he murmured, answering softly.
A laugh came through the speaker. “You sound half asleep.”
“I just finished practice.”
“Of course you did.” A small sigh. “Still overworking yourself, huh, Moon?”
He didn’t reply, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward.
It had been months since they last talked like this. Even through the screen, her voice carried that same brightness — like sunlight sneaking into the dark room he tried so hard to keep closed.
Ten minutes later, when TeSTAR’s dorm living room filled with noise and energy, the peace vanished instantly.
“Moondae, hyung! You’re smiling at your phone!” Eugene practically leaped onto the couch beside him, eyes wide with mock shock. “What’s this rare event? Who texted you? A girlfriend A secret fan club?”
“It’s just a message,” Moondae said flatly, locking his phone.
“Liar.” Eugene narrowed his eyes. “That was definitely a fond smile.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
But it was too late. The others had noticed.
“Did someone actually make Moondae hyung smile?” Raebin asked from the dining table, blinking like he’d witnessed an eclipse. “That’s statistically improbable.”
“Wait, wait—someone screenshot that face!” Lee Sejin scrambled for his phone. “Proof of Moondae’s happiness!”
“Stop.”
“Name?” Chungwoo leaned against the counter, half amused, half curious. “We’ll find out eventually, you know.”
Lee Sejin gave a calm chuckle. “Maybe it’s a family member.”
“Or a secret crush,” Eugene added dramatically. “Oh, this is good. Finally, something juicy to uncover.”
Moondae sighed and stood up, heading toward his room. “It’s none of your business.”
“Ah! Suspicious! The Moon runs from the light!” Eugene cried.
The rest burst into laughter as Moondae closed his door behind him.
He leaned against it, exhaling quietly.
They really had no idea.
Later that night, while everyone else prepared for bed, Raebin scrolled through social media.
“There’s a rumor circulating,” he muttered suddenly.
Eugene, who was lying upside-down on the couch, perked up. “Rumor?”
“Someone posted that Moondae used to sing duets online before debut. Apparently, there’s an old video floating around—unconfirmed, though.”
Silence fell.
Then Eugene grinned. “Oh. My. God. He has a mysterious duet partner?!”
Ahyeon gasped. “So the message earlier—could that have been—”
“His duet partner?!”
Bae Sejin chuckled. “You’re all reading too much into it.”
Chungwoo, however, crossed his arms thoughtfully. “Still… if it’s true, I’m curious. We’ve known Moondae for over a year and barely know anything about his life before debut.”
“That’s because he’s an enigma,” Eugene declared, striking a pose. “A beautiful, stoic enigma who hides a secret love story!”
“Stop narrating like you’re in a drama,” Sejin said, deadpan.
But the seed of curiosity had already taken root.
The next morning, Moondae came out for breakfast, only to find the members sitting around a laptop.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Research,” Eugene said innocently.
Raebin spun the laptop toward him. “We found an old duet cover on an account that might be yours.”
On the screen, an audio track played — two voices, perfectly blending together. One unmistakably his. The other, soft and bright, dancing through his notes like sunlight through leaves.
Moondae froze.
“Oh my god, that is your voice!” Eugene gasped. “You sounded… so sentimental!”
“Wait, who’s the other person?” Ahyeon leaned closer, wide-eyed. “Their voice is so pretty.”
The username glowed on-screen: ‘H ☀️’
“Just ‘H’? That’s it?”
Chungwoo frowned. “Could be male or female.”
“That’s the point!” Eugene clasped his hands dramatically. “A mysterious partner known only by the letter H… the secret of the Moon deepens!”
Raebin looked thoughtful. “They harmonize unusually well. Their tone alignment suggests familiarity — they’ve sung together often.”
Moondae reached forward and closed the laptop firmly. “Stop digging.”
“But hyung—”
“No.” His tone was final, quiet but sharp. “That’s private.”
The others exchanged glances.
Even Eugene, usually unstoppable, stayed quiet for a moment.
Moondae stood, set his mug down, and left the room.
When his door closed again, Ahyeon whispered softly, “He looked… sad.”
Eugene flopped back on the couch, still clutching the laptop. “Sad and mysterious. I’m telling you—this ‘H’ person is important.”
Chungwoo sighed. “Let’s give him space.”
“Sure, sure.” Eugene nodded. “But if I happen to accidentally find another clue…”
“Eugene.”
“Okay, okay, I’m kidding!” (He wasn’t.)
Inside his room, Moondae sat at his desk, staring at his silent phone.
Then a message appeared.
Sun ☀️: They found the duet, didn’t they?
He let out a breath, half a smile tugging at his lips.
Moon 🌙: Yeah.
Sun ☀️: You in trouble?
Moon 🌙: Not yet.
Sun ☀️: Tell them I said hi.
He stared at the last message, then typed slowly.
Moon 🌙: Maybe someday.
He set the phone down, a soft hum escaping his lips — the same melody from that old duet, now years old but still echoing in his heart.
Outside, laughter filled the dorm again. The world of TeSTAR moved on in its noisy, bright rhythm.
But for the Moon, one quiet secret continued to orbit in silence — the light that once reached him across an ocean.
The Sun.
End of Chapter One ☀️🌙