Zoya was dressed simply.
A black short shirt fell loosely over matching wide-leg trousers, paired with clean white sneakers. Her hair was lightly lifted from the front, brushed backward and secured with a few pins before being tied into a low ponytail.
As always, there was one small detail on her face that had been part of her since childhood—a tiny black dot between her eyebrows.
She usually lined her eyes with black kajal too.
Not today.
Today, she had left her eyes completely bare. Only the little dot remained, accompanied by a soft pink lip balm.
Some habits could be changed.
Others simply waited for you to forget you were trying to change them.
She picked up her shoulder bag and checked its contents one last time.
Charger.
Power bank.
Phone.
Wallet.
Everything was there.
She came downstairs first and settled onto the sofa in the hall, scrolling absentmindedly through her phone while waiting for the others.
A few minutes later, Minji appeared.
White jeans.
A soft blue top.
Blue sneakers.
Her shoulder bag hanging casually from one shoulder, her hair falling freely down her back.
Zoya looked up.
For a moment, she simply stared.
Allah… You made Minji so beautiful.
Her eyes softened.
Please protect her from every evil eye.
She simply kept looking at her friend with quiet admiration, praying for her in the privacy of her heart.
"How long will the other three take?" Zoya finally asked.
"Hopefully within an hour," Minji replied.
Zoya stared at her.
"Within an hour?"
Minji laughed.
"You know them."
Zoya smiled.
Then Minji looked at her from head to toe.
"You look really good in black, my light-golden princess."
Zoya blinked.
"Light golden?"
Minji pointed toward the mirror hanging on the wall.
"I mean your skin tone. Most Asian people have a golden tone like yours. Our skin is white. Look."
Zoya glanced at the mirror.
Their reflections sat side by side.
Minji really did look beautiful.
And beside her, Zoya's complexion appeared slightly deeper.
But Minji wasn't comparing them.
She was admiring the difference.
"You know something?" Minji said, pointing toward Zoya's reflection.
"I really like this skin tone.
Zoya looked at her.
"But why?"
Minji frowned.
"What do you mean, why?"
"Don't you like your own color?"
"I do."
Zoya smiled.
"I really like my color too. Allah made me this way, so why wouldn't I?"
She paused, then laughed.
"But you like golden."
"Yes."
Minji shrugged.
"So?"
Minji laughed again.
"Nothing. It's just funny. Most people try so hard to become white."
Minji's smile faded slightly.
"Who does that?"
Zoya stared ahead.
"Who does it…?"
Her voice became quieter.
"No one wakes up one morning and willingly decides they hate themselves."
Minji listened.
"People teach them to."
Zoya's fingers slowly stopped moving over her phone.
"Especially girls."
"What do you mean?"
Zoya looked at her.
"It's like this in our society."
Her voice had lost its playful tone.
"Girls are judged by their skin before people even ask who they are."
She leaned back against the sofa.
"When women come to see a girl for their brother or son, sometimes the first thing they look at is her complexion. If she's light golden or dark golden, they reject her."
She gave a bitter little smile.
"And the funny thing is… sometimes their own son isn't even fair."
Minji stared at her.
"And even if they don't reject her before marriage, the punishment can begin afterwards."
Zoya's expression became heavier.
"Because she isn't white enough."
She paused.
"She becomes the girl who isn't beautiful enough. The wife who isn't good enough. The daughter-in-law who needs to improve."
Her eyes lowered.
"She spends years trying to please everyone around her until she slowly forgets herself."
Minji remained silent.
But Zoya continued.
"And it's not just skin."
Her voice became almost painfully calm.
"If she's tall, she's too bold."
"If she's short, she lacks presence."
"If she's thin, she's weak."
"If she gains weight, she's careless."
"If her features are sharp, she's intimidating."
"If she's soft-spoken, she's powerless."
"If she talks, she has no manners."
"If she stays quiet, she has no personality."
She gave a small, humourless laugh.
"Basically, a girl is expected to adjust everything."
Her eyes lifted.
"Her clothes. Her voice. Her laughter. Her silence. Her body. Her dreams."
She swallowed.
"She sacrifices herself piece by piece until one day she looks into the mirror and doesn't even recognize the person staring back."
Minji's expression changed completely.
"What kind of people think like that?"
Zoya shrugged.
"People."
"That's dangerous."
"It is."
"What does color even have to do with marriage?"
Zoya looked at her seriously.
"So their children will be born white."
There was a beat of silence.
Then Zoya's lips twitched.
Minji stared at her.
Zoya stared back.
And suddenly—
Both of them burst out laughing.
They laughed so hard that Zoya had to cover her mouth.
"Yes!" Zoya said between laughs. "Apparently, these people exist!"
Minji shook her head.
"But I'm not one of them," Zoya added proudly. "I love my color."
She paused.
"I just don't want pimples."
Minji winked.
"I like your color—even with pimples."
Zoya slowly turned toward her.
Her eyes narrowed playfully.
"Why are you showing me so much love?"
Minji raised an eyebrow.
"What do you want?"
Minji lightly punched her arm.
"Crazy."
They both laughed again.
Then Minji suddenly became serious.
"But you said if the girl is white, her children will be white."
Zoya nodded.
"What if the boy is dark?"
Minji frowned.
"Then how will the children be white?"
Zoya froze.
"Oh."
She thought about it.
Then laughed.
"I never asked them."
"Who?"
"The people who make these rules."
She grinned.
"They study science. When I go back, I'll ask them and call you."
Minji's smile disappeared.
Zoya noticed.
"Why did you get sad?"
Minji didn't answer.
Zoya studied her face.
Then she understood.
"Oh…"
Minji looked down.
"When you go…"
Her voice was small.
"Will you not come back?"
The laughter disappeared from Zoya's face.
"How can I come back?"
She tried to smile.
"After I complete my studies… I'll have to go."
"Don't go."
Minji leaned closer.
"I'm getting used to you."
She rested her head against Zoya's shoulder.
"Your words."
A pause.
"And especially your disappearing."
Zoya looked down at her.
"Then think I've just disappeared."
Minji lifted her head.
"But after disappearing, you come back."
Zoya's smile was faint.
"Not everyone comes back after disappearing."
Before Minji could answer, a voice echoed from upstairs.
"We're ready too!"
The mood shifted instantly.
Sophia appeared first.
She wore high-waisted black jeans with a soft lavender top, the sleeves slightly loose around her wrists. A white shrug rested casually over her shoulders, while silver sneakers completed the outfit.
Her hair was tied into a neat low bun, with a few strands deliberately left loose around her face.
She stopped beside the mirror.
Turned once.
Checked herself.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
A pause.
"Acceptable."
Ruhi came down next.
Olive-green cargo pants.
A fitted white T-shirt tucked in casually.
Black cross-body bag.
White sneakers.
Her high ponytail swung confidently behind her.
She looked at Sophia.
"You look like you're going to a café to read poetry."
Sophia glanced at her.
"And you look like you're about to argue with the waiter."
Ruhi smiled.
"Fair."
Then came Hana.
Late.
As usual.
She appeared in light-blue ripped jeans, an oversized grey hoodie, and chunky sneakers. Her hair was tied into a messy bun, with loose strands escaping everywhere. Earphones hung around her neck like they were part of the outfit.
She stretched.
"Comfort first."
Ruhi looked her up and down.
"You look like you could sleep anywhere."
Hana shrugged.
"Talent."
Sophia added calmly,
"Or disappear."
Hana grinned.
"That too."
The three stood together.
Lavender calm.
Olive confidence.
Grey chaos.
Ruhi crossed her arms.
"So… who looks the most put-together?"
Sophia raised an eyebrow.
"Define put-together."
Hana smirked.
"None of us."
She spread her arms.
"And that's the point."
Ruhi laughed.
"Perfect. Let's go before someone changes again."
Minji raised her wrist dramatically.
"If the three of you are finally finished with your modeling session—"
She pointed at her watch.
"We're already late."
Hana leaned closer.
"Wait…"
She squinted at the watch.
"It's one o'clock already?"
Her eyes widened.
"But the people who told us nine o'clock… what if they've already left the studio?"
"They haven't."
Minji calmly picked up her phone.
"I already called Jeon J. They're still there."
Hana exhaled.
"Okay."
She nodded rapidly.
"Okay, okay."
Ruhi clapped her hands.
"Come on. Move."
The girls rushed toward the door.
Hana and Ruhi nearly collided.
"Careful!"
"You're the one walking into me!"
"I'm walking normally!"
"You've never walked normally in your life."
Minji shook her head, grabbed the car keys, and followed them.
"We're going by car."
A few moments later, everyone was inside.
The engine started.
Hana clicked her seatbelt into place.
"I swear, every time we're late, it somehow feels like an adventure."
Ruhi rolled her eyes.
"That's because you're always late."
"I'm not late."
Hana looked offended.
"I just arrive… emotionally on time."
Minji laughed as she pulled the car onto the road.
"Next time, we're leaving without you."
Hana gasped.
"Betrayal."
Laughter filled the car.
The city moved around them.
They were late.
But together.
And somehow, that made everything feel perfectly on time.
They entered the studio together.
The moment they stepped inside, Zoya suddenly stopped.
"Minji."
Minji turned.
"What happened?"
"I'll stay here for a little while."
Zoya hesitated.
"But I want to go to the Central Mosque."
Minji's eyes widened.
"What?"
She lowered her voice.
"Are you crazy again today?"
Zoya smiled innocently.
"Today, stay here with us. Enjoy."
Minji grabbed her hand.
"Just be quiet and come."
She pulled her inside.
The others had already stopped near the entrance.
"Why are you standing there?" Hana asked.
"We were waiting."
"One minute."
Minji lifted her phone.
"Hello? Where are you all?"
She listened.
"Okay. Fine."
She ended the call and immediately started toward the stairs.
"Wait!"
Ruhi stopped near the entrance wall.
"At least let us look at this."
The walls were covered with photographs and memories of TBS RAMY.
Concerts.
Behind-the-scenes moments.
Handwritten notes.
Fan memories.
Frame after frame.
The entire wall seemed alive.
Hana's eyes widened.
"Wait!"
She pointed excitedly.
"Look! These are RAMY fan letters!"
She moved closer.
"Maybe ours are here too!"
Zoya laughed as Hana grabbed her hand.
"You guys look."
She gently pulled her hand free.
"I'm not even a fan. I've never written a letter."
She looked up.
And froze.
The staircase.
Jeon J.
And Teahun were coming down.
Zoya's eyes met Jeon J's for barely a second.
She immediately looked away.
Then her eyes landed on Teahun.
She sighed under her breath.
"Not again…"
Teahun heard her.
He reached the last step and stopped.
"Oh?"
A slow smile appeared.
"So you're not our fan?"
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Teahun blinked.
"Wow."
He laughed.
"That was painfully honest."
"I believe in honesty."
Zoya looked at him.
"It saves time."
Teahun crossed his arms.
"Good. Because I don't look like someone who needs fake fans."
"I wasn't planning to become one."
His eyebrow lifted.
"Then why do you keep showing up wherever we are?"
Zoya tilted her head.
"Maybe you should stop showing up wherever I am."
Ruhi covered a smile.
"This conversation is getting interesting."
Hana leaned toward her.
"I'm sensing future arguments."
A pause.
"And future headaches."
Teahun smiled.
"You talk a lot for someone who claims not to care."
Zoya met his eyes.
"And you assume a lot for someone I just met."
Silence.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Teahun stepped aside.
"Well… welcome to the studio."
"Thanks."
Zoya walked past him.
"I'll try not to ruin your peace."
Teahun laughed.
"Too late."
Behind them, Jeon J stood quietly.
He hadn't said a word.
But he had noticed everything.
The teasing.
The pauses.
Ruhi looked entertained.
Hana looked like she had just discovered free entertainment.
Minji, however, knew better.
She leaned toward Zoya.
"Why are you wasting your energy? Don't take him seriously."
Zoya only smiled.
"Come on."
Minji took her wrist.
"Enough drama."
She started pulling everyone toward the stairs.
Zoya followed.
But halfway up—
She looked back.
Teahun was already watching her.
Their eyes met.
Neither smiled.
Then Zoya turned away.
Her Scarf had slipped slightly from her shoulder.
With every step, the loose fabric slid lower.
Lower.
Until suddenly—
It slipped beneath her foot.
Zoya stopped.
Her hand immediately flew to her head.
For a moment, the playful girl from downstairs disappeared.
Her expression became composed.
Quiet.
Serious.
She carefully lifted the scarf.
Placed it back over her head.
Adjusted it around her neck.
Secure.
Neat.
Intentional.
No panic.
No embarrassment.
Just control.
Teahun and Jeon J had both stopped behind her.
They watched silently.
Something about that small gesture changed the way they saw her.
Zoya didn't explain herself.
She simply turned and continued upstairs.
The practice hall occupied most of the second floor.
Large mirrors covered the walls.
Exercise equipment lined one side.
Chairs were scattered around a table.
The room carried the tired energy of people who had just finished practicing.
Everyone began settling down.
Minji entered.
Zoya followed.
Teahun was right behind her, both hands still comfortably inside his pockets.
Then—
Zoya crossed the doorway.
Turned.
And closed the door.
Firmly.
Teahun stopped.
He stared at the door.
His mouth remained slightly open.
For once—
Nothing came out.
Behind him, Jeon J smiled.
Slowly.
"She's impossible."
Teahun turned.
Jeon J continued,
"When she's in her active mood."
Teahun blinked.
Then laughed under his breath.
"…Unbelievable."
Inside the room, Zoya had already moved forward.
Calm.
Composed.
As if she hadn't just left a grown man standing outside a closed door.
A moment later, Teahun opened it himself and entered.
His eyes immediately found her.
He stared.
Zoya noticed.
She stared back.
No shyness.
No smile.
Just a steady look.
Teahun blinked once.
Then looked away.
As if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, Hana, Ruhi, and Sophia were practically glowing with excitement.
"I still can't believe we're actually here," Hana whispered.
Ruhi nodded.
"When we tell people, they'll think we're lying."
"But it's true," Sophia said happily.
"We're actually inside the studio."
"Don't tell anyone," Minji warned.
"They won't believe us anyway."
Yomin smiled.
"Coming here was never impossible."
Everyone looked toward him.
"We all love RAMY. But not everyone can visit the studio or take pictures whenever they want."
He gestured around the room.
"That's why people watch lives, listen to their music, and meet them after concerts."
Kim Joon smiled.
"Whatever we are today is because of RAMY."
He looked around.
"And more than friends… RAMY are our seniors. They understand us."
The moment was warm.
Until—
"Come on, everyone!"
Hosu's voice filled the room.
He entered with Jea, both carrying several packed food bags.
"Delivery is here."
Everyone cheered.
"Let's eat!"
They settled onto the floor together.
The room quickly transformed into a casual floor-dining setup.
Bags opened.
Boxes appeared.
Laughter returned.
One lunch bag was placed directly in front of Zoya.
Minji was already mixing spices into her noodles.
Nearby, Jeon J and Hosu opened their meals and began mixing sauces.
Hosu looked around.
"Is one bag missing?"
"No."
Minji checked.
"Everything's here."
Minjo suddenly raised his voice.
"Then where's my lunch?"
He looked dramatically around the room.
"I ordered the same thing as yours!"
He pointed at Jeon J.
"His is here too."
Then he looked at Minji.
"Where is mine?"
"There are so many bags."
Minji sighed.
"Just look."
She searched again.
Then froze.
Minjo's bag was in front of Zoya.
The food name was written in Korean.
He looked at Zoya carefully.
"Zoya… do you want to eat this?"
Zoya looked at the bag.
She didn't understand the writing.
"No."
She smiled politely.
"You take it. I'll get something else."
"No, no."
Minjo quickly waved his hand.
"I'll take something else."
He moved beside Hosu.
Zoya opened the bag.
Inside were neatly packed boxes.
Noodles.
Meat.
Vegetables.
She didn't know what was inside.
She simply assumed it was the same meal everyone else was eating.
She took out a fork and spoon.
Chopsticks were unfamiliar to her, so she chose the fork.
She straightened the empty paper bag beneath the box and carefully opened the spice packets.
Around her, everyone continued eating.
Talking.
Laughing.
Sharing small pieces of gossip.
Zoya twirled the noodles around her fork.
She lifted the box.
Opened her mouth—
And suddenly—
Hana's hand shot forward.
She knocked the box from Zoya's hand.
The fork was snatched away.
The box flew across the floor.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Everyone froze.
Hana stared at the bag.
Everyone stared at Hana.
"What happened?"
Minji's voice was quiet.
But the room was so still that everyone heard it.
Hana pointed.
The name on the bag.
Everyone looked.
The girls understood immediately.
Glass noodles with mixed vegetables and pork belly meat cubes.
Zoya didn't.
She looked at Minji.
Her eyes silently asked:
What happened?
"Nothing."
Minji immediately reached for another bag.
"Hana's hand slipped."
She handed Zoya another box.
"Take this instead."
Her voice was gentle.
"Fried chicken noodles with vegetables."
Minjo tried to laugh.
"That food was really good."
He looked toward Jeon J and Hosu.
"Glass noodles with pork belly cubes. They smoke the meat before mixing it with vegetables."
He laughed lightly.
"These two ate theirs, and one got dropped."
He looked at Hana.
But Zoya had stopped moving.
She looked at the bag.
Then at Hana.
Then at Minji.
Something inside her had already broken loose.
She slowly placed the new food down.
She stood.
Walked to her bag.
Picked it up.
Slipped it over her shoulder.
Everyone watched.
Her hands were trembling.
"Zoya…"
Minji stood halfway.
"I'm leaving now."
Zoya's voice shook.
"I told you already."
Jeon J looked at Minji.
Minji's face fell.
"Zoya, listen—"
"I'll go by myself."
Zoya didn't turn around.
"I remember the address."
She reached the door.
"It's okay."
She opened it.
And walked out.
As the door closed, the edge of her dupatta caught in it.
Zoya pulled it hard.
The fabric tore slightly.
A small piece remained trapped inside.
The door closed.
And she was gone.
Inside the room, nobody spoke.
Minji slowly sat back down.
Kim Joon looked around.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
Minji forced a smile.
"Come on. Eat."
Her voice sounded normal.
But her eyes weren't.
"The food will get cold."
She looked at the others.
"Actually… lunch is really good. Thank you for arranging everything."
Everyone slowly resumed eating.
But the room wasn't the same anymore.
The laughter was gone.
The girls sat quietly.
Jeon J noticed.
Immediately.
Then Minji's phone vibrated.
She looked down.
A message from Zoya.
She read it.
And unexpectedly—
smiled.
Yomin noticed.
"Why are you smiling?"
"Zoya."
Hana immediately looked up.
Ruhi and Sophia did too.
Minji read the message aloud.
"I'll call you when I'm free. Just tell me where you are, and I'll come there. I'm okay, but leaving was necessary for me. I couldn't control myself.
Enjoy lunch.
I'll eat something at the mosque anyway. I'm not hungry.
Tell Hana, Ruhi, and Sophia to take fewer pictures with TBS.
She paused.
Then continued.
"And absolutely no pictures with Teahun.
You know… pictures might get ruined.
Phones might hang.
Enjoy."
Silence.
Then—
Hana burst out laughing.
Ruhi followed.
Sophia covered her mouth.
Even Minji laughed.
Hana's eyes were still wet.
But she laughed anyway.
The tension finally cracked.
"That girl is… strange."
Jeon J's smile was crooked.
"Most of the time, she's quiet. Almost invisible."
He looked down at the cup.
"She suddenly becomes completely different."
"And then today…"
His voice softened.
"Nothing even seemed wrong."
He looked toward the door.
"Food spilled. Someone dropped something. It wasn't a big deal."
A pause.
"Then she grabbed her bag and left."
He gave a confused laugh.
"Just like that."
His eyes narrowed.
"And then she sent a message afterward casually announcing that she was feeling 'active.'"
He stared at the coffee.
"What kind of problem is this?"
Minji watched him for a moment.
Then answered calmly.
"There's nothing wrong with her."
"If you don't provoke her, she's actually very innocent."
Teahun scoffed.
"Innocent?"
He looked genuinely offended by the word.
"That's a big lie."
Minji raised an eyebrow.
"Have you heard the weight of her words?"
He continued.
"They don't sound innocent at all."
"That's because everyone else sees the innocent side of her."
Minji held his gaze.
"Teahun, Zoya reacts to you for a reason."
He went quiet.
Minji smiled faintly.
"Listen to your own words."
Then she added,
"And if she doesn't even follow TBS, why are you so determined to turn her into a fan?"
A few people smiled.
But then Minji's expression changed.
The teasing disappeared.
"And about today's lunch…"
Her voice softened.
"What happened was necessary."
Teahun frowned.
"Zoya is Muslim."
The room became quiet again.
"Muslims don't eat pork."
Teahun's eyes widened slightly.
"That's why she left."
Minji looked down.
"She panicked."
Her voice became heavier.
"If Hana hadn't noticed in time, she might have eaten it."
She swallowed.
"And if she had…"
She couldn't finish the sentence immediately.
"It would've been a huge mistake for her."
Teahun said nothing.
"We can't even imagine what she would have gone through afterwards."
Minji's voice dropped.
"What happened today shook her badly."
"But I asked her," Minjo interrupted.
"She happily took the food bag."
Minji looked at him.
"Because she doesn't know Korean yet."
She sighed.
"She couldn't read what was written on the package."
Everyone became silent.
"We thought it was the same food everyone else was eating."
She looked at the untouched lunch.
"It was just a misunderstanding."
Her voice lowered further.
"Today was a real safe zone."
Hana looked down.
"If it hadn't been stopped in time…"
She didn't finish.
Minji continued.
"She rarely eats outside."
"She only goes out with us."
"Never alone."
She paused.
"And this happened on her first day here."
Sophia's voice was quiet.
"Ruhi was with her that day."
Everyone looked at her.
"Since she arrived… something keeps happening."
Hana looked away.
"Everyone has their own story."
Her voice was sad.
"But Zoya's story…"
She shook her head.
"No one knows."
"We never asked."
Ruhi nodded.
"We didn't want to disturb her."
"Everyone thinks their pain is the heaviest."
He looked around the room.
"But when you actually listen to other people's stories…"
His voice became softer.
"You realize your own pain may have been much smaller than you thought."
Minji gave a sad smile.
"Exactly."
She looked toward the door.
"Zoya's only problem is that she doesn't share."
A pause.
"And asking her doesn't feel right."
She smiled faintly.
"When she feels safe…"
"She'll tell us herself."
Silence settled over the room.
Then—
Jeon J finally spoke.
He had been silent throughout everything.
"So…"
His eyes moved toward Minji.
"Where is she now?"
"At the mosque."
Minji answered.
"Before coming here, she already told me she wanted to stay for a while and then leave."
She looked down.
"After everything that happened…"
"She went straight there."
Outside the studio, Zoya walked alone toward the mosque.
Toward silence.
Toward a place where she could breathe again.
And behind her, inside the studio—
her presence remained.
Quiet.
Unexplained.
Impossible to ignore.
To Be Continued…
Regards
ZK 💌