The rest of the week had been the same for Minjae.

After the quiet and grounding energy from the seminar, something had changed in him. It wasn't sudden or loud—just subtle.

Wha the learned there was very valuable. Now, he tried his best to no longer skim his script the way he did when he was too tired or rushing between schedules. Instead, he realized that he should look at it more thoroughly.

That's also the time he realized that he should step up his game. Now, he was underlining certain phrases and labeling them of what possible actions he could do or emotions to express while saying the lines.

In his quiet apartment, Minjae's mornings began with a black coffee and the rustle of script pages rather than the usual scrolling through his phone. He spent long stretches on the couch or at the kitchen table, sometimes reading aloud to hear how the lines sounded in his voice.

On the other times, he simply stared out the window, thinking of how Joon would react—not just to the words, but also through actions.

It became part of his everyday routine.

Of course, there were still some das where he had to go out and do somethings on his own, but whenever he had a moment alone, he returned to the script.

He even found himself rewatching a few documentaries and interviews of real writers—not to mimic them, but to understand them and know how they live their lives.

It was truly tiring, but satisfying.

And then, after a few more days, Friday arrived.

He woke up earlier than usual without an alarm, as if his body knew what day it was. It was the day of Episode 15. The day the turning point of their drama would air. It will be the first big emotional break between Minjae and Yura.

But unlike other Fridays, Minjae barely touched his phone.

He didn't check the usual noise of trending tags on social media. He also didn't open the group chat, though he could already imagine Jihoon sending dramatic gifs and countdown messages.

Instead, he focused.

He sat at his desk with his script for Winter's Ending, flipping through the upcoming scenes that would soon begin filming. Every word mattered more now.

Time passed quietly. The sun shifted across the floor of his apartment as hours slipped by. It wasn't until the late afternoon that Minjae finally looked up, his stomach reminding him that he hadn't eaten anything all day.

Stretching his arms over his head, he stood and headed to the kitchen.

He cooked dinner slowly, half on autopilot. He chopped some vegetable and grilled some chicken. He also made a simple sauce. When he was done, he plated it neatly, like he always did when he needed to calm his mind.

He ate quietly in front of the window, watching the city begin to light up in preparation for the evening. From above, it looked peaceful. He could see people rushing home from work, traffic lights flickering from green to red.

It was life, moving on as usual.

But he knew online, the world wasn't quiet.

Because tonight was Episode 15.

After washing his dishes and wiping down the counter, Minjae finally reached for his phone.

It was the first time he'd checked it all day.

And the moment he unlocked it, he couldn't help but laugh.

His notifications were flooded. Not just dozens, but there were hundreds of tags, mentions, and messages.

#StarsSecretEp15

#BraceYourself

#MinjaeYouBetterExplain

#YuraPlease

#NotTheMisunderstanding

Screenshots of the teaser preview had gone viral—. It was Yura walking away from Minjae and a vague voiceover line about how "sometimes, loving someone isn't enough."

Memes were everywhere.

"Me, 5 minutes before episode 15: Calm.

Me, 5 minutes after: emotionally wrecked and yelling into my pillow."

"I know it's a misunderstanding arc but WHY DO THEY LOOK SO SAD???"

"Minjae didn't post anything all day. He's letting us suffer in silence 😭"

"This is our Roman Empire. We will never recover."

Minjae scrolled with one hand, covering his mouth with the other to stifle his laughter. His fans were so dramatic—and he loved them for it.

He couldn't believe how they were crying over something that hadn't even aired yet.

He opened his messaging app and sure enough, Jihoon had sent him a storm of messages.

[Jihoon:] WHY HAVEN'T YOU POSTED ALL DAY

[Jihoon:] Is this your villain arc??

[Jihoon:] I already hate you and the episode hasn't even started.

[Jihoon:] If you and Yura break up in this drama I'm suing.

[Jihoon:] I'm serious hyung. Don't test me.

Minjae let out a small laugh and typed a reply.

[Minjae:] You're being dramatic. It's just acting. Also, why are you messaging that when you know what will happen to the drama?

[Jihoon:] EXACTLY!!! IT FEELS TOO REAL

[Jihoon:] You made it feel too real

[Minjae:] Then I did my job 😌

[Jihoon:] 😭😭😭😭

Minjae just shook his head before leaving Jihoon on read.

After that, he finally opened the official drama page and saw that the broadcaster's channel was running a premiere countdown. Thousands of fans were already in the live chat.

Some were begging the writer not to hurt them. Others were joking that they'd block Minjae for the weekend.

He shook his head with a grin.

This is what it meant to be part of a story people cared about. The pain, the joy, the confusion—all of it was proof that something had landed deeply.

Minjae walked over to the couch, grabbed his drink, and settled in just as the familiar music of the opening credits began to play.

He took a deep breath, his heart steady as he readied himself.

The episode opened sweetly. It started with Minjae's character, Taeyung, and Yura's character, Jiwoo, having a quiet morning in the kitchen. She was making coffee. He was half asleep, leaning against the counter.

There was laughter, gentle teasing, and soft smiles.

But as the minutes passed, the tone began to shift in the drama.

Taeyung became busy. Scenes showed him rehearsing late at night, missing dinner, forgetting small things. Yura waited. And waited.

They never fought about it at first.

But Jiwoo's smile began to strain at the half of the episode.

She visited him once at the studio, and he didn't notice her waiting outside. She left without saying a word.

The scenes were subtle, but effective.

A cup of coffee turning cold. A phone left unread. Missed calls. Silence.

And then, the fight.

As the argument began to unfold onscreen, the live chat on the broadcast channel exploded.

The camera pulled in slowly.

It started with Yura standing in the middle of Minjae's apartment, her arms folded, eyes shadowed by exhaustion.

"You said you'd be home by nine," she said quietly.

"I know. I—practice ran late," Minjae answered, brushing past her to drop his bag on the table.

Yura's gaze followed him.

"That's what you said last week."

Minjae froze for half a second. "It's just how things are right now. I'm preparing for a comeback."

"I know," Yura said, her voice low and almost audible. "And I've tried to be patient. But Taeyung… you've stopped showing up."

He turned to her then, brows furrowing. "I'm still here, aren't I?"

"No," she whispered. The camera angle shifted, giving a slow pan of the apartment. Half-packed bags. Sheets of music spread across the dining table. A half-eaten sandwich still wrapped in paper on the counter.

Minjae exhaled, frustration creeping in. "I thought you understood what this life is like."

"I do," Yura said, raising her voice for the first time. "But just because I understand doesn't mean it doesn't hurt."

Silence.

"I've supported you. I've waited. I've watched you run toward the stage with everything you have. But Taeyung… I feel like I'm standing still while you disappear."

Taeyung blinked. His expression shifted, barely, but enough.

The silence that followed was painful. Real. Devastating.

And then, Jiwoo stepped back.

"We're not the same anymore, Oppa."

"You're wrong," he said.

But she was already walking toward the door.

And the moment her hand reached for it, the panic in his chest exploded.

"Jiwoo," he said, rushing after her. "Don't do this."

She turned to look at him one last time.

Her eyes were glassy. Her expression was unreadable. But still, it was evident how hurt she was.

As the camera focused on her, the internet lost its mind.

"WHAT DID I JUST WATCH?!?"

"I can't breathe. I'm crying. I want to fight the writer."

"The way they acted like they didn't want to say the words but still did 😭"

"No music… no cut… just pain."

"This is not a drama this is a heartbreak simulation."

"I KNEW episode 15 was going to wreck us but THIS???"

"Minjae's acting. He didn't even cry loudly. That quiet sobbing?? RUINED me."

"Yura delivered that 'I don't belong in your world' line like it was HER own story. Chills."

"Give them the Daesang already. No, give them two."

Trending hashtags shot up in real time:

#StarsSecretEp15

#TaeyungAndJiwoo

#MinjaeCriedWeAllCried

#YuraPleaseComeBack

#NotTheDoorScene

#TheyWereSoClose

#EmotionalDamageUnlocked