Chapter Text
Kim Sejeong sat cross-legged on her bed, laptop open in front of her, but her attention kept drifting to the sound of Lee Jieun unpacking in the corner. Their shared dorm room was small, yet comfortable—a sanctuary they had lived in together throughout their university years. Tomorrow was their graduation ceremony, and while the end of their university life loomed, the atmosphere between them was light, playful.
Jieun had just returned from the most successful tour of her career so far, and Sejeong could feel the buzz of energy that clung to her best friend. The dorm was filled with her chatter about the tour stops, the fans, and the overwhelming love she received. Sejeong, as usual, listened with a soft smile on her lips, her fingers absently scrolling through her emails—mostly business inquiries, the majority about songwriting commissions under her pseudonym, August.
“You wouldn’t believe it, Sejeong-ah,” Jieun said, tossing a hoodie over the back of her chair before flopping down on her bed, “at the last show, I nearly cried when the fans sang my lyrics back to me. Word for word, like a chorus of angels.”
Sejeong chuckled. “You always cry at your concerts. You’re such a softie.”
Jieun shot her a playful glare. “That’s because my fans are amazing. It’s not my fault they make me emotional.”
Sejeong closed her laptop and turned to face her, her smile warm. “I’m proud of you, Jieun-ah. You’ve worked so hard. It’s no wonder your tour was such a huge success.”
Jieun grinned, the compliment softening her expression. “Thanks. But enough about me. You’ve been hiding in this dorm all semester, locked away in your producer cave. What’s next for August?”
Sejeong shrugged, the name of her alter ego always making her feel like she was living a double life—one where the world only knew her voice, but not her face. “I’ve got some new commissions lined up. Probably enough to keep me busy for a while. It’s all I really need.”
“All you really need?” Jieun raised an eyebrow. “You say that, but don’t you ever think about stepping into the spotlight yourself? I’ve read the fan comments, Sejeong-ah. People love August, and they’re desperate to know what you look like. I’m telling you, a fan meeting would break the internet.”
Sejeong tilted her head, her expression thoughtful but not entirely convinced. “I never really thought about it. I mean, I’m doing well enough from the royalties, and the songwriting contracts are more than enough. I don’t need to be famous, Jieun.”
“But you already are famous,” Jieun countered, her tone exasperated in the way only a best friend could manage. “You’re just invisible! If you showed your face, they’d lose their minds. And let’s not even talk about the fact that you’re drop-dead gorgeous. Seriously, Sejeong, you could have every fan under your spell.”
Sejeong let out a soft laugh, shaking her head as she pulled her knees to her chest. “I think you’re exaggerating. I’m just… me.”
“Just you?” Jieun scoffed. “You’re gorgeous, Sejeong. Like, people-stare-at-you-on-the-street gorgeous. You’ve got this whole warm, funny, get-along-with-everyone vibe going on, and on top of that, you’re breathtaking. If the fans ever found out that August looks like you? It’d be chaos.”
“People aren’t staring,” Sejeong said, waving off Jieun’s words as if they were an exaggeration. “They’re just friendly.”
Jieun stared at her, jaw dropping slightly before she rolled her eyes in disbelief. “Oh my God, you really don’t get it, do you? Sejeong-ah, the entire campus has a crush on you, and you don’t even realize it. The girl from the café? Totally smitten. The guy in your Composition class? Could barely keep his eyes off you all semester. And don’t even get me started on the poor freshmen who probably joined the music program just to be near you.”
Sejeong blinked, her brow furrowing in confusion. “They’re just… nice.”
“Nice? Nice doesn’t explain the way they blush when you talk to them!” Jieun threw a pillow at her, which Sejeong caught with a soft laugh. “You’re hopeless. Honestly.”
“It’s not like I’ve done anything special,” Sejeong said, her voice softening, her gaze dropping to the pillow in her lap. “I just write songs. That’s what speaks for me.”
Jieun sighed, her exasperation fading into affection as she leaned back on her bed. “You’re too humble, you know that? You’ve been writing songs since you were sixteen, and they’ve won awards, Sejeong. Not just because of your voice or your talent—but because they make people feel. You connect with people in a way that’s rare.”
Sejeong smiled at that, her heart warmed by the compliment. “Maybe. But I’ve always liked it that way—people hearing me, but not seeing me. I don’t want the pressure of being in the public eye. I’m happy with how things are.”
Jieun hummed thoughtfully, studying her friend with a curious expression. “Still, it wouldn’t hurt to think about it. Even just a small reveal. Imagine the look on their faces when they find out August is this stunning heartthrob who’s been hiding in plain sight.”
Sejeong laughed, shaking her head again. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re oblivious!” Jieun shot back, sitting up on her elbows. “But seriously, Sejeong-ah, you could have the world at your feet if you wanted it.”
“I think I already have everything I want,” Sejeong said, her smile soft, genuine. “I have my music, my best friend, and no pressure to be anyone but myself. What more could I ask for?”
Jieun sighed dramatically, tossing herself back onto her bed. “Fine, fine. But when you finally decide to grace the world with your face, just know I called it first. You’ll be the new ‘it girl’ of K-pop in, like, five seconds.”
Sejeong only laughed, the idea so far from her mind that it felt like an amusing daydream. She knew Jieun meant well, but the truth was, Sejeong didn’t crave the spotlight like her friend did. She loved her music, but she also cherished the normalcy of her life. Besides, she thought with a small smile, the anonymity gave her a certain freedom—freedom to walk through life without being seen, without the weight of expectations.
But maybe Jieun was right about one thing—maybe there was more waiting for her than she realized.
And yet, as she lay back on her bed, Sejeong couldn’t imagine it. For now, she was content to be August, the voice behind the music, and nothing more.
Tomorrow was graduation, and that was more than enough excitement for her.