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

Morning light filtered softly through the curtains as the three of them stirred awake. The quiet of the apartment felt peaceful, but the day ahead held its own buzz of anticipation. 


Hyunjin and YoungBok prepared to leave together in the company van, dressed sharp yet casually, while Sherri opted for the bus, waving them off with a warm smile. 


As they shared quick glances—fleeting moments filled with unspoken feelings—their hearts silently connected despite the physical distance that would grow throughout the day. 


At the company, everyone dove into work with focus and determination. Sherri immersed herself in her tasks, her mind busy but always aware of Hyunjin and YoungBok somewhere nearby. 


During the break, YoungBok, exhausted from the early morning and practice, found a quiet corner on the floor and dozed off, his breathing even and peaceful. 


Hyunjin, however, slipped away quietly for an urgent errand. He headed back to the apartment, heart pounding with excitement. 


Chapter 22: The Proposal