Mah-e-Tanha 

Between Two Hearts

Sherri was never meant to be part of the story.

At 31, she leaves behind a life of routines and expectations, boarding a one-way flight to Seoul with nothing but a suitcase and a dream — not of stardom, but of proximity. To the stages, the music, the voices that once lifted her through the darkest seasons of her life. Seoul, she believes, will be her sanctuary. A quiet chapter where she can finally breathe, finally feel, finally live.

But fate, as always, has other plans.

It begins with a chance internship at SKY Entertainment, the powerhouse behind global sensation Slay Kids — eight young idols lighting up the world with synchronized perfection and smiles that hide more than they reveal. Sherri keeps her head down, grateful just to be close to the music. Until a late night in the practice room changes everything.

There, beneath flickering fluorescent lights and trembling breaths, she meets Hyunjin — the group’s most magnetic performer. Beautiful, intense, unknowable. He sees her, really sees her, in a way that startles them both. And behind Hyunjin stands YoungBok, steady and observant. A soft-spoken soul who watches every move Hyunjin makes like it could be their last.

As days turn to weeks, the truth begins to shimmer at the edges of her reality. There’s something between Hyunjin and YoungBok — something old, something sacred, something the world isn’t meant to see. A touch too lingering. A gaze too charged. Sherri feels the weight of it long before she understands it. And when Hyunjin starts looking at her the same way… she knows she's stepped into something dangerous.

She never meant to be the reason Hyunjin hesitates.

She never meant to stir the still waters between two people bound by more than just music.



Between the hearts

The soft sunlight bathed the apartment in a warm, golden glow as Hyunjin moved around the kitchen, humming softly to himself. The smell of freshly cooked pancakes and coffee filled the air, making the apartment feel like a home rather than just a new space. YoungBok stood at the counter, casually sipping his juice, eyes following Hyunjin's every move with a smile that didn’t leave his face. 


“You’re a chef now?” YoungBok teased, leaning against the counter, his voice low and warm. “Making pancakes like you’ve been doing this for years.” 


Hyunjin flashed him a playful look, flipping the pancake expertly. “You better be careful, or I’ll start making you my sous chef.” 


YoungBok chuckled, taking a step closer. “I’m already a sous chef. I follow you everywhere.” 


There was a quiet pause as their gazes met, a moment where time seemed to slow down just for them. Hyunjin set the spatula down, his lips curling into a tender smile. 


Chapter 19: Morning Smells Like Home