Chapter 1
Unread Feelings
A Secret That Could Change Everything
14-year-old Yuna Park's POV
"Yuna!"
Mom's voice echoed through the apartment.
Mom: "I've been calling you for five minutes! Are you deaf?"
Yuna: "I'm coming!"
I hurried downstairs, almost tripping over my own feet.
Yuna: "Sorry..."
Mom placed a bowl of rice on the table.
Mom: "You spend too much time in your room."
Dad didn't even look up from his phone.
Dad: "You should focus on your studies instead of wasting time."
Yuna: "I do study."
Dad: "Not enough."
I lowered my head and quietly ate dinner.
No matter what I said...
It was never enough.
...
An hour later.
I closed my bedroom door and locked it.
*Click.*
The only place where I could finally breathe.
I dropped onto my bed and stared at the ceiling.
School... home... study... sleep...
Every day felt exactly the same.
*Buzz*.
My phone vibrated.
It was a message from my classmate, Mina.
Mina
«Did you make Instagram yet??»
I smiled.
Yuna
«No 😭»
Mina
«WHY»
Yuna
«Because I like being alive.»
She replied almost instantly.
Mina
«😭😭»
Mina
«Your parents aren't gonna know.»
Yuna
«Famous last words.»
I laughed quietly.
If my parents ever found out...
My phone would disappear forever.
Maybe I would too.
Another message popped up.
Mina
«Just make an account.»
Mina
«You don't even have to post anything.»
Mina
«Pleaseee.»
I stared at the screen.
Maybe...
Just maybe...
One account wouldn't hurt.
Right?
I sat up and opened the App Store.
A few seconds later...
Instagram finished downloading.
My heart was beating so loudly I could hear it.
Yuna (thinking): Why am I acting like I'm committing a crime?
I opened the app.
Create New Account
Username...
Password...
Birthday...
Done.
I took a deep breath.
My finger hovered over the screen.
Yuna (whispering): "Please don't let Mom walk in..."
Tap.
Welcome to Instagram, Yuna.
Yuna: "I actually did it..."
A tiny smile appeared on my face.
It felt strangely exciting.
Like opening a door to a world I'd never seen before.
I followed Mina.
She immediately followed me back.
Then...
Nothing.
Yuna: "This is it?"
I frowned.
Yuna: "So boring."
Just as I was about to close the app—
Ding!
A notification appeared.
You've been added to a group chat.
Yuna: "What?"
I blinked.
Yuna: "I don't even know anyone..."
Curiosity got the better of me.
I tapped the notification.
The group title made me pause.
✨ ST☆RLIGHT FAMILY ✨
More than fifty unread messages.
People were talking so fast that I couldn't keep up.
Before I could quietly leave...
A new message appeared.
Julia
«WHO ADDED SOMEONE NEW?? 👀»
Another message popped up immediately.
Jaemin
«Congratulations, random person. You've been adopted.»
Soojin
«Ignore him 😭 Welcome!!»
Yuna stared at the screen...
Without realizing it...
She smiled.
Maybe...
This secret account was about to change her life forever.
....The Group That Never Sleeps
I stared at my phone.
The chat refused to slow down.
Every second...
Another message appeared.
Julia
«Guys, stop scaring the new member.»
Jaemin
«I'm not scaring her.»
«I'm welcoming her.»
Dohyun
«That's the scariest part.»
Jaemin
«Wow.»
«Betrayed by my own friends.»
I let out a small laugh.
These people...
They argued over absolutely nothing.
Yet somehow, it was entertaining.
My thumb hovered over the Leave Chat button.
I didn't know any of them.
Maybe joining this group had been a mistake.
Before I could leave...
A new message appeared.
Julia
«Hey, Yuna.»
«Don't mind them.»
«They're all idiots.»
Jaemin
«Excuse me?»
Soojin
«She's not wrong.»
Dohyun
«Finally, someone said it.»
I laughed.
Actually laughed.
Not the fake smile I wore at school.
Not the polite smile I gave my parents.
A real one.
I slowly typed my first message.
Then deleted it.
Typed again.
Deleted it again.
"Why am I so nervous?"
Finally...
I pressed Send.
Yuna
«Hi, everyone.»
«Nice to meet you.»
The chat exploded.
Julia
«SHE REPLIED!!»
Jaemin
«SHE'S ALIVE!!»
Dohyun
«I thought she joined by accident.»
Soojin
«Welcome, Yuna.»
«Don't worry.»
«You'll get used to us.»
Yuna
«I'm not so sure about that...»
Jaemin
«Too late.»
«You've already signed the friendship contract.»
Yuna
«I don't remember signing anything.»
Jaemin
«Terms and conditions.»
«Nobody reads them.»
I laughed so hard I almost dropped my phone.
These people were unbelievable.
---
A few minutes later...
Julia
«Since you're new...»
«Tell us about yourself.»
I stared at the message.
What was I even supposed to say?
I didn't want to sound boring.
Or weird.
Or both.
After thinking for almost a minute, I finally typed.
Yuna
«Hi.»
«I'm Yuna.»
«I like music.»
«Sleeping.»
«Food.»
«And annoying my classmates.»
Almost immediately...
Jaemin
«Food?»
«You're hired.»
Dohyun
«Hired for what?»
Jaemin
«Existing.»
Julia
«Ignore him.»
«He's like this every day.»
Yuna
«Is there an off button?»
Dohyun
«We've been looking for years.»
Everyone reacted with laughing emojis.
Without realizing it...
I was smiling again.
---
Julia
«So...»
«Who's your favorite ST☆RLIGHT member?»
My smile disappeared.
"...Uh-oh."
I only knew two of their songs.
I joined the group by accident.
I wasn't even a proper fan.
I hesitated before answering.
Yuna
«Please don't judge me...»
«I only know two songs.»
For a moment...
No one replied.
I stared at the screen.
"Great."
"Now they're definitely going to kick me out."
Then—
Julia
«That's okay!»
«We'll make you a fan.»
Soojin
«Everyone starts somewhere.»
Jaemin
«Homework for today.»
«Listen to five songs.»
Yuna
«Homework?»
«I already have enough homework.»
Dohyun
«Welcome to the group.»
«We give extra homework.»
I rolled my eyes.
Yuna
«I want a refund.»
Jaemin
«Sorry.»
«No refunds.»
I couldn't stop laughing.
How could complete strangers make me feel this comfortable?
---
Hours passed without me noticing.
I read old conversations.
They celebrated birthdays together.
Stayed awake until sunrise talking.
Comforted each other during exams.
Even argued over pineapple on pizza.
It didn't feel like an online group.
It felt like...
A family.
One I never knew I needed.
Just then—
Mom: "Yuna!"
I jumped and quickly lowered my phone.
Mom: "It's almost ten! Go to bed!"
Yuna: "Okay!"
I locked my phone and placed it beside my pillow.
A second later...
It buzzed again.
One last message.
Julia
«Goodnight, Yuna.»
«See you tomorrow.»
I looked at the message for a long moment.
Then, for the first time in what felt like forever...
I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
Little did I know...
That tiny group chat...
Would one day change my entire life.
....wait for next chapter....
