Chapter 12: Welcome to Apollo

The days seemed to blur together, filled with motorcycle rides, teasing, and late-night movies. Iris was starting to feel more at home in South Korea than she ever thought she would. But everything was about to take a new turn as Luke had something special planned for her today.

It was a typical morning when Iris woke up to the sound of Luke's voice on the other side of her door. He knocked before poking his head in, his hair still messy from sleep, and his eyes twinkling with excitement.

"Hey, sunshine," he greeted her, leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed. "You've got a big day ahead."

Iris groaned from the bed, blinking sleepily. "A big day? What are you talking about?"

Luke smirked. "You're meeting the rest of Apollo."

Her eyes widened at the mention of his boyband, though she'd heard nothing about them until now. She had no idea what to expect, but she couldn't deny the mix of curiosity and nerves building in her chest.

"Wait," Iris said, sitting up a little, still trying to shake off the drowsiness. "Apollo? Is that the name of your group?"

He nodded, stepping into the room. "Yeah, it is. I've told you a bit about them before. Apollo's my band. It's me and six other guys. They're all… different, but they're like my family."

Iris raised an eyebrow. "Should I be scared?"

Luke chuckled and shook his head. "Not at all. But they are a bunch of characters, so be ready."

With that, he stepped back, giving her space to get up and get ready. "I'll pick you up in an hour. We're going to dance practice first, so wear something comfy."

When Iris arrived at the studio later that day, she was already nervous, though she tried not to let it show. Luke had sent her a simple message with the address, and she couldn't help but wonder what Apollo would be like. She had only known Luke in his personal space, so the idea of meeting his friends and bandmates was… different.

As she stepped inside the practice space, her gaze immediately landed on seven figures, all moving in sync, their bodies flowing with the music as if they had been born to perform. They didn't notice her at first, too caught up in their routine.

The first to notice her was a tall guy with sharp features and an effortless smile. His eyes locked onto hers, and without missing a beat, he raised a hand in greeting.

"You must be Iris," he said smoothly, his voice deep and friendly.

"Uh… yeah, that's me." Iris smiled awkwardly, her heart racing a little as she took in the whole group. "I didn't realize you guys were so… coordinated."

The group laughed, and Luke walked over to stand beside her.

"Meet the members of Apollo," Luke said with a grin. "Guys, this is Iris."

Iris felt a little self-conscious under their intense stares, but Luke's presence beside her eased her nerves slightly.

The first guy, the one who had noticed her, extended his hand with a warm smile. "I'm Leo," he said. "The leader."

Iris shook his hand, a bit surprised at how firm his grip was. "Nice to meet you."

A guy with platinum blond hair and a mischievous smile waved next. "And I'm Kian. The cheeky one, obviously."

"You're the troublemaker, huh?" Iris teased, making Kian laugh.

"You could say that," Kian replied, winking at her.

Another member with striking blue eyes smiled at her, his voice soft yet sincere. "I'm Noah."

"Iris," she said, giving him a small nod.

"And I'm Jae," a shorter guy said, his energy electric as he bounced on his feet. "The one who keeps them all in check."

There was a guy who looked almost serious, with dark brown hair and an aura of intensity around him. He glanced at Iris before offering a nod. "I'm Kai," he said simply, his voice low but friendly.

"Nice to meet you," Iris replied, trying to keep the conversation light.

Two other guys stood off to the side, one with a quiet presence and the other a big grin.

"I'm Zeke," the first one said, giving her a warm, reserved smile.

"Nice to meet you."

The last member, the one with the grin, winked at her. "And I'm Eli. The most charming one of the bunch."

Iris laughed. "I'll take your word for it."

Dance Practice and a Little Teasing

Once the introductions were out of the way, Luke led Iris to the side to watch them practice.

The moment the music started, Iris was captivated. The way they moved together, the sharp precision in their choreography—it was obvious these guys weren't just any ordinary performers. Apollo was a well-oiled machine, their chemistry undeniable.

Luke was front and center, as usual, leading the formation. His movements were fluid but strong, showing off the power in his legs, the grace in his arms, and the intense focus in his gaze. Iris couldn't help but watch, her heart skipping a beat as she admired his effortless presence.

She didn't know when she started leaning against the wall, but Luke's eyes flickered toward her mid-routine. There was a brief moment where he smiled, though his face remained focused as they continued their routine.

The song ended, and the guys all collapsed in a heap of sweaty laughter and high-fives.

"Good job, everyone," Leo said, clapping his hands. "Let's take a quick break."

Luke jogged over to Iris, his usual smirk in place. "So, what do you think? Pretty impressive, huh?"

"I had no idea you guys were so good," Iris admitted, her eyes wide. "You make it look easy."

"Because it is." Luke winked, then leaned in closer. "I'm the best, of course, but don't tell the others."

Iris laughed, rolling her eyes. "No one could ever accuse you of being humble."

They took a short break, during which Iris was pulled into conversation with the members of Apollo. It wasn't long before she felt like she'd known them for ages. Each of them had a distinct personality, but all of them shared a warmth and camaraderie that made her feel welcomed in their space.

Zeke leaned toward her during the break. "So, you've known Luke for a while?"

Iris shrugged. "A little bit. We met not long ago, actually."

Kian smirked, nudging her with his elbow. "Doesn't seem like it. You two seem really comfortable with each other."

Iris blushed slightly but played it off with a casual smile. "We're just friends."

Noah, who had been quietly observing, added, "Just friends, huh? I'll believe it when I see it."

The Gym and the Tease

Later that day, Luke took Iris to the gym, where the rest of Apollo was going for their workout. Iris had grown accustomed to being around them, but this was a whole new environment. It was funny to see the members of Apollo sweating it out with dumbbells, grunting through their sets, all while wearing the same serious expressions they had when they were performing.

Luke, unsurprisingly, was a beast at the gym, lifting weights like it was nothing. Iris had never really seen him in this element, and the sight of his muscles working, the concentration in his face, made her stomach flip.

She tried to keep her mind on the workout, but every now and then, she caught herself sneaking glances at Luke as he flexed and moved. His arms were thick with muscle, his legs strong from years of dancing. She couldn't deny how impressive he was.

At one point, Luke glanced over at her, catching her eye.

"What?" he teased, a cocky grin on his face. "You like what you see?"

Iris rolled her eyes, trying to hide the warmth creeping into her cheeks. "Please. I'm just trying to keep up."

"Oh, I'm sure," Luke said, lifting another set of weights with ease. "Just don't get distracted watching me too much."

"Like I could," Iris replied, her voice flat but a teasing smile tugging at her lips.

She wasn't sure why she felt so lighthearted around him, but it was undeniable. There was something about Luke—his confidence, his charm—that made her heart race without even trying.