Chapter 1 - The Girl Who Wrote Us
The rehearsal studio at Reyes Entertainment was winding down for the night. Sweat still glistened on the mirrors, the faint hum of speakers fading as Nova packed up cables and Asher checked the lights.
Then the air quivered. A pulse of blue light rippled across the floor, and in the center of the room a portal bloomed swirling and bright like liquid glass.
Dongmin froze, eyes wide. “Whoa… what is that?” Curiosity overpowered reason, and before anyone could stop him, he reached out. The moment his fingertips touched the edge, the portal expanded with a sound like a breath being drawn, and he was gone.
“Dongmin!” Minjae’s calm cracked. Without hesitation, the leader lunged forward. “Hold on!” But the vortex caught him too, pulling him in with a flash.
Taeyul stumbled back, shock flashing across his usually composed face. “What the hell was that?!” His voice trembled, half awe, half fear.
Eunwoo grabbed Jisung’s arm. “Stay behind me!” he shouted, though his own hands were shaking.
Jisung barely spoke his lips moved soundlessly as if he were trying to reason with the impossible. His gaze darted to Nova, looking for some kind of anchor.
Asher’s voice cut through the chaos. “Form a chain! Someone hold on to something!”
Haesoo grabbed Nova’s wrist while Taeyul reached for Asher, the rest clinging together as if unity could fight physics. But the force pulling from the portal was relentless. The floor tilted, light fractured, and their screams tangled in the roar of the wind.
The studio blinked out of existence.
Silence.
They hit warm sand, the crash of waves echoing nearby. The air smelled of salt and sunlight.
Dongmin was the first to groan, sitting up with sand in his hair. “Okay… did we just time travel or die?”
Minjae was already scanning the horizon, steady but pale. “Everyone here?”
Taeyul kicked at the sand, disbelief turning into nervous laughter. “A portal. Of course. This is exactly how horror movies start.”
Eunwoo brushed sand off Jisung’s shoulder. “At least it’s a nice beach?”
Haesoo turned toward Nova, her eyes wide and trembling. “Where are we?”
Nova stared out at the endless sea, her expression unreadable. “That’s what I’m about to find out.”
The group began walking along the shoreline, their clothes still damp from the ocean spray. The air was cool, tinged with salt and the distant scent of fried food. A boardwalk appeared ahead, lined with pastel houses and flickering streetlights that glowed against the early evening sky.
Haesoo folded her arms tightly, glancing around. “This doesn’t look like anywhere in Korea.”
Nova’s gaze swept the quiet street. Cars rumbled past on the road above, palm trees swaying gently. “Stay close,” she said, her tone calm but alert. “We need to figure out where we are.”
As they turned a corner, Nova spotted an elderly couple sitting on a bench near an ice cream shop. She approached them carefully, brushing sand from her hands. “Excuse me,” she said with a polite smile. “We’re tourists, and we’re a little lost. Could you tell me what city this is?”
The older woman looked up from her melting cone. “You’re in Seaside, dear. Seaside, California.”
Nova blinked, her composure flickering for the first time. “Thank you,” she said softly, nodding before returning to the others.
Taeyul’s mouth dropped open. “California? As in… the United States?”
Eunwoo rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at the neon-lit storefronts. “That explains the signs in English.”
Minjae exhaled, trying to stay composed though his voice wavered. “We didn’t bring passports. We don’t have IDs, money, nothing. How are we supposed to get back to Seoul?”
Dongmin raised an eyebrow. “You’re assuming we can even explain this to customs.”
Haesoo kicked at the pavement, muttering under her breath. “Great. We get sucked into a cosmic vacuum and end up in California.”
Nova crossed her arms, her expression sharpening as she looked at the horizon glowing orange with sunset. “First, we find shelter. Then, we figure out who opened that portal.”
The others fell silent. The sound of the waves rolled in again soft, constant, impossible to ignore.
As the group stood under the dim streetlight, Asher pulled his phone from his pocket. The screen flickered to life, but only for a second before the signal bars vanished. He frowned and tried again. “I don’t have service,” he said quietly.
Haesoo grabbed her phone next, tapping the screen in disbelief. “Me neither.”
One by one, the others checked. Minjae shook his head, Taeyul swore under his breath, and Dongmin tilted his phone toward the sky as if that would help. “Nothing. No Wi-Fi, no data, not even emergency calls.”
Eunwoo sighed. “That’s not possible. We’re in California, there should be some kind of signal.”
Nova took out her own phone, the reflection of the dark screen glinting in her eyes. “Someone doesn’t want us reaching anyone.”
The words hung in the air. Even the sound of the ocean seemed to pause.
Minjae looked at her carefully. “You think this wasn’t an accident.”
Nova’s gaze hardened. “Portals don’t open by accident. Someone sent us here.”
Haesoo swallowed, her voice small but steady. “Then they can send us back… right?”
Nova didn’t answer. She slipped her phone into her pocket and started walking again. “Let’s find somewhere safe before the night does.”
As they walked deeper into the quiet town, the sky deepened into twilight. Streetlights flickered on one by one, their glow spilling over shuttered shops and parked cars.
Asher glanced around, thinking quickly. “We need information,” he said. “Let’s find a library. We can use the computers there.”
Minjae nodded. “Good idea. Maybe we can figure out what happened—or at least find a map.”
They spotted a man locking up a surf rental shop and hurried toward him. Asher stepped forward politely. “Excuse me, sir,” he said. “We’re trying to find a library. We need to use a computer to look something up. Is there one nearby?”
The man looked at them, amused but kind. “A library?” He chuckled softly. “That’s a bit far from here, maybe fifteen minutes by car.”
The group exchanged worried looks.
“But,” the man added, tilting his head toward the main street, “you might have better luck at one of the electronics stores around the corner. All their demo computers have internet. Just act like you’re testing them out—they won’t stop you.”
Asher nodded gratefully. “Thank you.”
“No problem,” the man said with a friendly wave. “Welcome to Seaside.”
Asher turned back to the group. “Alright. Let’s move before it gets dark.”
Taeyul smirked faintly. “So our plan is to pretend we’re shopping for laptops in California?”
Dongmin grinned. “Honestly, that sounds like something I’d do anyway.”
Nova gave a small, approving smile. “Then let’s make it convincing.”
They followed Asher down the glowing street, the sound of the ocean fading behind them as the night began to close in.
The electronics store hummed with soft music and the glow of neon displays. Rows of laptops blinked to life as they stepped inside, their reflections splintering across the polished floor.
Asher approached a demo laptop and tapped the keyboard. “Alright, let’s see if this guy was right.” The browser opened easily. Relief flickered across his face—until he typed.
“Reyes Entertainment,” he muttered, fingers flying. The search results loaded… and then his expression hardened. “What?”
Nova leaned over his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
He turned the screen toward her. “It doesn’t exist. Nothing. No company records, no website, not even old articles.”
“That’s impossible,” Taeyul said, leaning in. “Reyes has been trending for months. Everyone knows that name.”
Nova’s voice was calm but her pulse quickened. “Try my name.”
Asher typed Nova Reyes. The search bar spun for a moment before the same empty page appeared—no images, no profiles, no trace.
“Not even one photo,” Jisung whispered, eyes wide.
Eunwoo frowned. “That doesn’t make sense. You’re everywhere—social media, interviews, the company site—”
Nova cut him off. “Look up SOL7. They’re debuting soon. Try that.”
Asher entered it. The screen stayed blank except for a list of irrelevant links. He stared at it, jaw tight. “Nothing. No group, no music, no name match.”
The silence that followed was heavy.
Nova took a slow breath, then sat at the keyboard. “Let me try something.” Her voice softened, but there was a sharpness underneath. She typed carefully: ‘Reyes Entertainment Nova Reyes SOL7.’
The results appeared—one single link.
A chill ran through her. She clicked.
The page loaded to a white background with the title Glass Empire across the top. Below it was a short summary:
In a world built on secrets and technology, Nova Reyes serves as a covert agent under HQ. Her right hand, Asher Vale, manages her missions and guards her silence. Together, they build SOL7—a team of rising stars born from code, deception, and loyalty.
No photos. No company listings. Just text.
Dongmin broke the silence first. “A book series?”
Minjae blinked. “It’s describing us.”
Haesoo’s voice trembled. “No… it can’t be.”
Taeyul gave a shaky laugh. “Okay, that’s creepy. Like, fanfiction-level creepy.”
Eunwoo crossed his arms. “Maybe someone’s writing about us. A coincidence?”
Jisung shook his head. “There’s no way this much detail is coincidence.”
Asher stared at the screen, every muscle in his jaw tightening. “It says I’m your right hand.” He looked at Nova. “This isn’t random.”
Nova didn’t answer at first. Her eyes scanned the summary again, slower this time, her reflection ghosted over the glowing words.
Finally, she whispered, “If this world thinks we’re fiction…” She looked up at them all. “Then whoever wrote it is real.”
No one spoke. Outside, the wind rattled the glass doors, carrying the faint echo of waves from the unseen shore.
Nova clicked on the single link. The screen shifted to a plain white page with elegant lettering that read: Glass Empire — Written by Luly Reyes.
A hush fell over the group.
Asher leaned closer, his reflection framed beside hers in the glow of the monitor. “Luly Reyes,” he read aloud. “That’s not you?”
Nova’s brow furrowed. “No.” Her tone was sharp, unsettled in a way none of them had ever heard before.
“Look her up,” Asher said quietly. “See if anything pops up.”
Nova’s fingers hesitated over the keyboard for a moment, then began typing: Luly Reyes.
The results appeared instantly this time. A few links—one local directory, a profile, a faint trail of a person who was real. Nova clicked the first one.
At the top of the page was an address. Salinas, California.
She blinked. “Salinas,” she murmured. “That’s… close.” She opened a map, her pulse thudding faster as she dragged the screen outward. A blue dot marked their current spot near the Seaside pier. She traced the route with her fingertip. “It’s only twenty-five minutes from here.”
The room went silent again, the faint hum of the store’s ceiling fans the only sound.
Taeyul exhaled, incredulous. “You’re telling me there’s someone here—right now—in California—writing about us before we even debut?”
Dongmin whistled low. “So what, she’s the one who… wrote us into existence?”
Haesoo’s voice cracked. “No. That’s insane. We’re real. We have lives. Memories. Families.”
Eunwoo rubbed the back of his neck. “Unless this world isn’t the one we started in.”
Minjae looked at Nova, his voice firm but low. “What do we do?”
Nova stared at the screen again. Her reflection overlapped the author’s name as if the two were merging, one reality bleeding into another.
Finally, she spoke. “We find her.”
Asher nodded without hesitation. “Then we go to Salinas.”
Taeyul raised an eyebrow. “And what exactly do we say when we get there? ‘Hi, we’re your fictional characters, thanks for creating us’?”
Nova closed the laptop gently. “We’ll figure that out when we see her.” Her tone was quiet, almost reverent. “But if this woman wrote our lives… she might be the only one who can send us back.”
The group exchanged wary looks. Outside, the sky was darker now, clouds sliding over the moon. Somewhere in the distance, a train horn echoed lonely, hollow, almost like a warning.
The glow of the store screens faded behind them as they stepped back into the street. The air had cooled, the breeze carrying the scent of the ocean and street food. Neon signs buzzed faintly in the distance.
Asher checked his phone again out of habit, though he already knew there was no signal. “We need money if we’re going to Salinas,” he said. “It’s too far to walk, and even if we find a cab, we won’t know which direction to go without GPS.”
Nova looked at him, then at the glint of gold around his wrist. “Your watch,” she said.
He blinked. “What about it?”
“We’ll pawn it.”
For a second, he said nothing. The watch had been a gift from Nova herself months ago, engraved with his initials something that marked loyalty and trust. He gave a small sigh, meeting her eyes. “Fine.” His tone was even, steady. “It’ll get us what we need.”
Minjae nodded approvingly. “There’s probably a pawn shop nearby.”
Taeyul pulled out one of the demo phones he had secretly pocketed from the electronics store and searched offline maps. “There’s one ten minutes from here,” he said.
“Then let’s move,” Nova said.
They walked through quiet blocks lined with palm trees and dim cafés. The streets were mostly empty now, the sound of their footsteps the only rhythm between them.
When they reached the pawn shop, its lights were still on but the metal gate was half-pulled down. The shopkeeper a man in his sixties with reading glasses and a wrinkled denim apron was counting bills behind the counter.
Nova stepped forward quickly, voice urgent but calm. “Please wait,” she said. “We’re tourists. We’re lost and we don’t have any money. We just need to pawn this.” She gestured toward Asher’s wrist.
The man hesitated, glancing up from his counter. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
Asher took off the watch and placed it on the glass. The faint click echoed in the small shop. “It’s real gold,” he said simply. “We just need enough for a cab.”
The shopkeeper studied them all the mismatched clothes, the exhaustion in their faces, the trace of sand still clinging to their shoes. Something softened in his expression.
He picked up the watch, examined it under the light, then looked at Nova. “You said you’re lost. Where are you trying to go?”
“Salinas,” she said.
He nodded slowly, setting the watch down. “That’s not far. About twenty-five minutes inland. I can give you a couple hundred for this enough for a cab and maybe a meal.”
Nova exhaled quietly, relief slipping through her composure. “Thank you.”
“Be careful out there,” the man said as he handed over the cash. “You all look like you’ve been through something.”
Asher gave a faint smile. “You have no idea.”
They stepped back outside, the cash folded neatly in Nova’s hand. The lights of the pawn shop dimmed behind them, leaving the street washed in the silver glow of moonlight.
Minjae looked at her. “Now what?”
Nova tightened her grip on the bills. “Now,” she said, “we find a way to meet the woman who wrote our lives.”
The cab slowed along a quiet street lined with palm trees and porch lights glowing faintly in the dusk. The air smelled of jasmine and warm pavement. When the driver stopped, Nova glanced at the address glowing on the screen.
“This is it,” Asher said quietly.
Before them stood a small, one-story house painted in soft beige with white trim. A wind chime tinkled by the doorway, and potted succulents sat neatly on the porch rail. The scene was peaceful, ordinary—too ordinary for what they had just lived through.
They stepped out of the cab. The rest of SOL7 lingered on the sidewalk, whispering nervously as Nova and Asher approached the porch. Nova took a breath, steadied her hands, and knocked.
After a moment, the door opened. An older woman appeared, wearing a floral apron and holding a kitchen towel. Her eyes were warm but cautious as she studied them.
“¿Sí? ¿A quién buscan?”
(Yes? Who are you looking for?)
Nova answered gently, her Spanish calm and practiced. “Buenas noches, señora. Buscamos a Luly Reyes.”
(Good evening, ma’am. We’re looking for Luly Reyes.)
The woman’s eyebrows lifted. “¿Eres su amiga?”
(Are you her friend?)
Asher stepped closer, his voice steady. “Sí, señora. Somos amigos.”
(Yes, ma’am. We’re friends.)
The woman hesitated, then nodded, softening. “Ah… está bien. Un momento, por favor. Ya casi se va, déjame llamarla.”
(Alright. One moment, please. She’s about to leave, let me call her.)
She turned back into the small house, calling down the hallway, “¡Luly! ¡Tienes visitas!”
(Luly! You have visitors!)
Nova’s breath caught. She looked at Asher, her expression a blend of disbelief and something almost fragile. “She’s here,” she whispered.
Footsteps echoed from inside slow, deliberate, drawing closer.
Haesoo and the others watched from the sidewalk, their faces half-lit by the porch light. The air seemed to hold its breath.
Asher’s voice was low, steady. “When she opens that door… everything changes.”
Nova’s gaze never left the doorway. “Then let’s see who she really is.”
The sound of footsteps grew louder, soft against the tile floor. The porch light flickered once before steadying. Then the door opened wider.
A young woman stepped out.
She had long, black wavy hair that fell past her shoulders, skin pale under the warm porch glow, and large brown eyes that seemed to hold both curiosity and caution. Her features were delicate, almost unreal, like a porcelain doll brought to life.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Taeyul blinked, then whispered under his breath, “She’s… pretty.”
Nova didn’t answer. She only watched, frozen, her thoughts spinning faster than she could grasp. The woman standing before them was the name on that screen the author of their world.
Luly tilted her head slightly, glancing between them. “My mom said you were looking for me?” she said, her voice gentle but edged with uncertainty.
Asher stepped forward, trying to steady his tone. “Yes. We’re sorry to come so late. We needed to find you.”
Luly frowned faintly. “Find me? Do I… know you?”
Nova met her gaze. For a heartbeat, the two women simply stared at each other the creator and the creation, mirror and reflection.
“No,” Nova said softly. “But you will.”
The air between them thickened with a strange silence. Behind Nova, the others stood still, watching as if afraid to breathe.
Luly blinked again, the confusion in her expression deepening. “I think you should come inside,” she said quietly. “You can tell me what this is about.”
Nova nodded once. “Thank you.”
As Luly stepped aside to let them in, the porch light caught in her hair, and for just a moment, Nova could swear the glow bent toward her like it recognized its source.
They stepped inside the house, the soft scent of vanilla and freshly washed laundry in the air. Family photos lined the walls—Luly as a child in a school uniform, her parents smiling in front of a Christmas tree, a graduation picture with gold tassels. Everything about the space felt alive and human in a way that made Nova’s chest tighten.
Her mother gestured politely toward the living room. “Siéntense, por favor.”
(Please, have a seat.)
They settled onto the beige couch, the fabric worn but comfortable. Taeyul and Dongmin sat side by side, still whispering about how unreal this felt. Minjae stood behind the sofa, protective, silent.
Luly hovered awkwardly by the hallway until her mother gave her a pointed look. “Ofréceles algo de tomar, mija.”
(Offer them something to drink, sweetheart.)
“Sí, mamá,” Luly said softly, then turned to the group. “I’ll get you something.”
She disappeared into the small kitchen, the sound of a refrigerator door opening breaking the stillness. A moment later she returned, carrying a small tray with cold sodas Coke, Sprite, a few bottles of water. The metal cans clinked gently against the tray.
“Here,” she said, setting them down on the coffee table. “I wasn’t sure what everyone liked.”
“Thank you,” Asher said with a faint nod.
Haesoo reached for a Coke, her fingers trembling slightly. “This feels so normal,” she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.
Luly sat across from them, folding her hands in her lap, studying their faces. Something about them tugged at her memory, like a dream she’d once had and forgotten.
“So,” she said carefully, her tone soft but curious, “you said you were looking for me. Why?”
Nova leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. Her gaze was steady, unreadable. “Because,” she said quietly, “we think you might be the reason we’re here.”
Luly tilted her head, studying them with cautious curiosity. The room was still, the only sound the faint tick of the wall clock and the fizz of an unopened soda. Then she spoke.
“What are your names?” she asked, her voice light and unexpectedly high-pitched sweet, almost childlike, with a squeaky lilt that made the question sound innocent despite the tension in the room.
Haesoo blinked, surprised by how soft she sounded. Nova met Luly’s eyes and spoke first.
“I’m Nova Reyes.”
Luly’s brows drew together. “Nova…” she repeated quietly, the name familiar yet impossible.
Asher leaned forward slightly. “Asher Vale.”
Her gaze flicked to him, confusion deepening.
Then one by one, the others spoke.
“Taeyul.”
“Dongmin.”
“Minjae.”
“Jisung.”
“Eunwoo.”
“Haesoo.”
And finally, “Joon.”
The last name made Luly blink faster, her lips parting as if she’d been struck by a memory she couldn’t quite catch.
“Wait,” she whispered, her small voice trembling. “Those… those are my characters’ names.”
Nova’s tone stayed calm, but her words carried weight. “We know.”
Luly gave a small laugh that sounded like disbelief breaking. “That’s not possible. You’re from my story. You’re not supposed to be real.”
Asher’s voice was steady, his eyes sharp. “We were at Reyes Entertainment, in our world. Then a portal opened. We fell through it. Now we’re here standing in front of the woman who wrote us.”
Luly shook her head, pressing her palms together as if grounding herself. “I must be dreaming,” she said, her squeaky voice cracking slightly. “You can’t be real. You’re just words. You’re just names on pages.”
Nova leaned forward. “And yet here we are.”
The room seemed to contract around them, the air thick with something indescribable. Luly’s mother called faintly from the kitchen, asking if her guests needed more soda, but neither side answered.
Luly looked at them again, her big brown eyes wide and frightened. “If you’re real,” she whispered, “then what does that make me?”
Luly sat very still, her small hands clasped in her lap. Her voice trembled when she finally spoke again. “If you’re real, then how?”
Nova leaned forward slightly, her tone gentle but firm. “When did you write Glass Empire?”
Luly hesitated, her big brown eyes darting between them. “This summer,” she said softly. “I’ve been working on it for months. But I haven’t finished the series yet.” She gave a nervous little laugh, almost like a child caught off guard. “I stopped before SOL7 debuted. I hadn’t written that part yet.”
Her words fell into the air like a slow drop of water, spreading ripples through the silence.
Taeyul leaned forward from the couch, staring at her. “You mean… you never finished writing us?”
Luly shook her head. “No. The story ends right before your debut stage. I was still outlining the next book.”
Dongmin frowned. “So you didn’t even finish our beginning?”
Asher’s expression tightened. “Then how do we exist here?”
Nova’s eyes didn’t move from Luly’s face. Her voice was quiet but filled with certainty. “Because something finished it for you.”
Luly blinked, lost. “What do you mean?”
“You wrote the foundation,” Nova said slowly. “The world, the people, the moments. But someone—or something—decided your words weren’t enough. They made them real.”
The color drained from Luly’s face. “That’s not possible.”
Asher’s tone softened, though his gaze stayed sharp. “Neither is a portal in the middle of a dance studio.”
Luly’s eyes flicked between them, then down at her trembling hands. “So if I didn’t finish writing you…” she whispered, “how does your story end?”
Nova looked at her for a long time before answering. “That’s what we came to find out.”
Before anyone could speak again, footsteps sounded down the hall. Luly’s mother appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Mija,” she said gently, “ya se está haciendo tarde. Tienes que irte.”
(Sweetheart, it’s getting late. You need to head out already.)
She held a tall plastic cup filled with a deep purple drink. “Tómate esto antes de irte,” she added.
(Drink this before you go.)
Luly looked at the cup and sighed. “Ay, mamá, sabe feo.”
(Mom, it tastes nasty.)
Her mother gave her a playful frown. “No exageres, llévatelo y te lo tomas en el camino.”
(Don’t exaggerate, take it to go and drink it on the way.)
She leaned forward, kissed her daughter’s forehead, and brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Ándale, se va a hacer más oscuro.”
(Come on, it’s going to get darker.)
“Está bien,” Luly said softly, smiling a little. “Okay.”
She turned back to Nova and the others. “Come on,” she said in English. “You can all ride with me.”
They followed her out into the cooling night air. The sun had almost vanished beyond the rooftops, the last streaks of orange and violet stretching across the California sky. Luly unlocked a white SUV parked by the curb, its paint reflecting the porch light.
Everyone climbed in quietly, still trying to process what was happening. Nova and Asher sat in the middle row, Minjae and the others squeezed in the back. Haesoo slid into the passenger seat beside Luly.
As Luly started the engine, Haesoo glanced at the cup sitting in her holder. The liquid was dark, thick, and faintly red under the dashboard lights. “You actually drink that?” he asked, wrinkling his nose.
Luly smiled shyly, taking a small sip before grimacing. “My mom says it’s good for me,” she said, her high, squeaky voice soft. “It’s beet juice. She makes me drink it because I have anemia.”
Haesoo chuckled. “You’re brave. That stuff smells like dirt.”
She laughed, her shoulders relaxing a little for the first time since they arrived. “Trust me, it tastes worse.”
From the back seat, Dongmin whispered to Jisung, “We fell through a portal into another universe and this girl’s biggest problem is beet juice.”
Nova glanced out the window, the glow of the neighborhood fading behind them. “Don’t underestimate ordinary things,” she murmured. “They’re the most real.”
Luly glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror, her big brown eyes catching Nova’s gaze for just a second before she looked back at the road. “So,” she said quietly, “where do we even start?”
The SUV rolled quietly through Seaside’s narrow streets, headlights cutting soft paths through the mist rising from the coast. The ocean disappeared behind them as the road curved inland.
Nova leaned forward from the middle row, her voice calm but curious. “Where are we going?”
Luly kept her eyes on the road. “Fresno,” she said. “With traffic, maybe three hours if we’re lucky.”
Nova frowned slightly. “Fresno? For what?”
“I go to college there,” Luly replied, glancing at the dark highway ahead. She reached for the cup in the holder, took a small sip of her beet drink, and made a face. “I have classes in the morning.”
Asher crossed his arms, studying her. “Not to offend,” he said, “but you sound and look like a kid. How old are you?”
Luly’s squeaky, childlike voice came quiet but sure. “Seventeen.”
Haesoo, sitting in the passenger seat, turned sharply toward her. “Seventeen? Really?”
Luly nodded. “Yeah.”
From the back seat, Nova leaned forward again, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Haesoo and I are seventeen too.”
Luly smiled faintly without looking away from the road. “I know.”
Asher’s tone sharpened with disbelief. “You know?”
Luly nodded again, voice soft and steady. “Haesoo’s birthday is September fifth. Nova’s is September fifteenth.”
Haesoo froze, her hand tightening on her seatbelt. “How do you know that?”
Luly’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, knuckles pale under the dashboard lights. “Because mine is September twenty-seventh.”
The car fell silent. Only the sound of the tires humming against the asphalt filled the space.
Dongmin muttered from the back, “That’s… way too close.”
Taeyul exhaled. “Three birthdays, same month. That’s not coincidence.”
Nova’s gaze fixed on Luly’s reflection in the mirror. “You didn’t just write us,” she said quietly. “You’re part of us.”
Luly’s lips parted slightly, her eyes flickering with unease. “Maybe,” she whispered, “I didn’t just create you.” Her voice trembled, childlike yet heavy with something older. “Maybe I created the version of me who could.”
The rest of the car stayed silent, the weight of her words filling every corner as the headlights stretched across the empty road toward Fresno.
The road stretched out before them, dark and endless. Streetlights flickered past like brief stars, and the steady hum of the engine filled the quiet spaces between thoughts.
After a while, Luly broke the silence, her voice soft and airy. “So… how long have you been here?”
Nova glanced at Asher, then back at her. “Maybe three hours,” she said. “Long enough to realize this world isn’t ours.”
Luly nodded slowly, tapping her fingers lightly against the steering wheel. “Three hours,” she repeated under her breath, as if testing the sound of it. Then a small smile tugged at her lips. “And knowing my creations,” she said, her squeaky voice brightening a little, “you guys must be hungry by now.”
Haesoo looked over, caught between confusion and a laugh. “You even know that?”
Luly grinned, keeping her eyes on the road. “Of course I do. I wrote Dongmin’s obsession with snacks, Jisung’s thing for chocolate, and Taeyul’s coffee addiction. Trust me, I know what I made.”
From the back seat, Dongmin groaned dramatically. “Okay, yeah, she’s not wrong.”
Jisung sighed. “If this is real, does that mean every embarrassing thing you ever wrote about us is true too?”
Luly giggled, covering her mouth for a second. “Maybe.”
Nova studied her reflection in the window, her tone soft but thoughtful. “You talk about us like we’re still characters.”
Luly’s voice lowered just slightly. “Maybe I have to, or I’ll start realizing what that really means.”
Asher leaned forward, eyes on her. “And what does it mean?”
She glanced at him in the rearview mirror. “That you’re not supposed to exist.”
No one spoke after that. The hum of the car seemed louder, the stars above them unfamiliar, and yet the faint smile on Luly’s face lingered like she knew something they didn’t.
The SUV pulled off the highway into a small roadside plaza glowing under a row of flickering lights. A red neon sign read Tony’s Pizza & Grill, the letters buzzing faintly in the evening air. The smell of baked dough and melted cheese drifted through the open windows even before they parked.
Luly shut off the engine and unbuckled her seatbelt. “Jeon, follow me,” she said, glancing toward the passenger seat.
Haesoo blinked, surprised. “Me?”
“Yeah,” she said with a smile. “You look like you know how to carry stuff.”
He laughed under his breath, then followed her out. The others stayed in the car, watching through the windows as the two disappeared inside.
The small pizza shop was nearly empty except for a man cleaning the counter and the faint hum of a radio playing old pop songs. Luly walked up to the register with quiet confidence, her long hair swaying behind her.
“Hi,” she said brightly. “Can I get six boxes of pizza—three pepperoni, two cheese, one veggie—and ten sodas?”
The cashier looked up, impressed. “That’s a lot of food.”
Luly smiled, the childlike pitch of her voice making her sound both polite and certain. “I’m feeding a group.”
Haesoo tried not to stare as she swiped her card like it was nothing. “You didn’t have to buy all that,” he said softly.
“It’s fine,” she replied. “I know you all haven’t eaten since… well, since before you existed here.”
The cashier laughed awkwardly, thinking she was joking.
When the food was ready, Luly took the soda trays while Haesoo balanced the pizza boxes in his arms. They walked out together, the warmth of the boxes fogging in the cool night air.
Back at the SUV, Luly began passing the sodas around. “Here—one each,” she said, handing them back row by row.
Haesoo followed beside her, passing out the pizza boxes carefully. “Don’t drop them,” he muttered at Dongmin, who was already grinning with excitement.
Dongmin tore into a box like he hadn’t eaten in days. “This might actually be better than Seoul pizza,” he said with his mouth full.
Luly laughed, her high voice soft against the quiet night. “See? I told you my creations would be hungry.”
Nova took a slice, studying her over the rim of her soda can. “You keep saying ‘my creations.’”
Luly looked at her with a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Because if I start saying ‘my friends,’” she said softly, “I’ll have to believe this is real.”
Once everyone had their food, Luly climbed back into the driver’s seat, balancing her drink in the cup holder. The smell of pizza filled the car, warm and comforting against the cool night outside.
She started the engine, pulling back onto the highway. The road stretched out ahead, dark and open, the stars faint through the windshield.
Haesoo balanced the boxes on his lap, careful not to spill them as the car rolled forward. “You should eat too,” he said, opening one of the boxes and holding it toward her.
Luly glanced over, hesitated for a second, then reached out with one hand to grab a slice while keeping the other on the wheel. “Thanks,” she said softly.
She took a small bite, her cheeks puffing slightly as she chewed. The others could hear the faint crunch of the crust between the hum of the tires. When she finished, she wiped her fingers with a napkin and smiled. “That’s enough for me. I get full with one slice.”
Haesoo turned his head, amused. “Just one?”
Luly nodded. “Yeah. My mom says I eat like a bird.”
From the middle row, Asher let out a low laugh. “Great,” he said dryly. “We’ve got another Nova here.”
The car filled with soft laughter. Even Nova cracked a faint smile, sipping her soda without looking up.
“Hey,” Dongmin said from the back, grinning. “At least this one actually eats something.”
Luly giggled, her high, squeaky voice lightening the tension that had hung over them since Seaside. For a brief moment, it felt almost normal a group of friends on a late-night drive, sharing pizza and jokes under the California sky.
But then Nova’s gaze drifted toward the window, watching the reflection of the stars slip by. Her smile faded slightly. “Normal doesn’t last long for us,” she murmured.
Luly heard her but didn’t respond. Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel as the highway sign ahead came into view: Fresno – 97 Miles.
The night highway stretched out in front of them, dark and endless. The lights of Salinas faded behind, replaced by the quiet hum of tires on asphalt and the low rustle of wind through half-open windows. The smell of pizza still lingered, warm and comforting against the cool night air.
Asher leaned forward from the middle row, his voice casual but curious. “So,” he asked, “you’re entering college?”
Luly shook her head, eyes steady on the glowing stretch of road. “No,” she said. “It’s my junior year. I finished high school early.”
Haesoo turned to her in surprise. “You’re seventeen and already a junior in college?”
She nodded with a shy smile. “Yeah. I’m working on my Bachelor of Science in Animal Science—Livestock Production Management—and my Multiple Subject Credential.”
Dongmin nearly choked on his soda. “Hold on. That’s a lot of words. And a lot of school.”
Taeyul laughed. “She’s a prodigy.”
Luly blushed a little, her voice soft and squeaky. “Not really. I just didn’t want to wait. I love animals, and I want to teach someday. So I figured… why not do both?”
Asher raised a brow. “So you’re seventeen, a writer, a college student, and training to teach. You don’t sound like most teenagers I’ve met.”
Luly giggled quietly. “That’s because I don’t really fit anywhere. I guess that’s why I write to make worlds where I do.”
Nova’s gaze lingered on her reflection in the window. “Ambitious,” she said quietly. “You remind me of someone I know.”
Luly glanced at her through the rearview mirror, meeting her eyes. “And you remind me of someone I built.”
The rest of the car fell silent, the hum of the road filling the space where words didn’t belong. Outside, a green highway sign flashed past Fresno 82 Miles as the line between fiction and reality blurred a little more.
The road stretched quietly ahead, headlights tracing silver lines across the dark asphalt. The hum of the tires filled the space between them until Haesoo spoke up, curiosity clear in his voice.
“So,” he said, turning toward Luly, “you’re seventeen… how did you even pay for all that pizza?”
Luly smiled, her eyes still fixed on the highway. “I’m a live-streamer,” she said simply.
Dongmin leaned forward, instantly intrigued. “Wait, like games and stuff?”
“Sometimes,” she said with a light laugh. “I do dance challenges, open PR boxes, review makeup, or play on my PC. Depends on the day.”
Taeyul blinked. “You’re serious?”
Luly nodded. “Yeah. I have around ten million subscribers.”
The car went completely still.
Haesoo’s eyes widened. “Ten million?”
Luly giggled, her high, squeaky voice making the number sound even more unreal. “Mm-hm. They pay for memberships, send me gifts digital ones that turn into money and I get brand deals, too.”
Dongmin’s mouth fell open. “So you’re basically famous.”
She shook her head modestly. “Not really. I just got lucky. I like creating things that make people smile. I save most of what I earn anyway. College isn’t cheap.”
Taeyul leaned back, impressed. “You’re a college junior, a streamer, a writer, and a high school graduate at seventeen.”
Luly grinned. “Yeah, I get bored easily.”
Nova watched her reflection in the window, voice quiet but thoughtful. “You don’t just create content,” she said. “You create worlds.”
Luly glanced at her through the rearview mirror, smiling faintly. “Maybe that’s why you exist,” she said softly. “I didn’t just write about you I imagined you like I imagine everything else. And somehow, that was enough.”
The car went silent again, the highway stretching endlessly beneath them as the California night deepened around their strange, shared reality.
The highway stretched out in front of them, endless and quiet. The only sounds were the hum of the tires and the soft rustle of wind sneaking through a cracked window.
Luly glanced at the mirror, her big brown eyes reflecting the faint glow of the dashboard. “So, in your world,” she asked curiously, “SOL7 hasn’t debuted yet?”
Nova shook her head. “No. They’ll debut next month.”
Luly nodded thoughtfully, tapping her fingers against the steering wheel. “So that means… it’s been about two months since everything started moving for them?”
Nova’s gaze stayed on the dark horizon. “Yes.”
Haesoo leaned back, smiling a little. “Feels like forever.”
Luly giggled softly, her high, squeaky voice filling the quiet. “I know,” she said, eyes still on the road. “I wrote it that way.”
Nova’s expression didn’t change, though something flickered in her eyes. “You remember every detail, don’t you?”
“Of course,” Luly said with a small smile. “They’re mine. Every song, every heartbeat, every moment I built it. I just don’t understand how any of you are sitting in my car.”
The car fell silent again. Outside, the dark fields rolled by like waves, and the green highway sign ahead read: Fresno – 65 Miles.
The car moved steadily through the night, headlights slicing across the dark highway. Empty fields stretched out on either side, and the quiet hum of the engine filled the space between their thoughts.
Minjae leaned forward slightly from the back seat, his calm voice breaking the silence. “So where do you live? Like in a dorm or something? We don’t really have anywhere to stay.”
Luly glanced at him through the rearview mirror, her expression thoughtful. “No, not a dorm,” she said. “I live in a house.”
Dongmin raised his eyebrows. “A whole house? By yourself?”
She nodded. “Yeah. My parents bought it near campus so I could focus on school and streaming.”
Taeyul whistled softly. “You’re seventeen and already have your own place. Impressive.”
Luly smiled shyly, her voice small but matter-of-fact. “It’s not big. Just one bedroom, a kitchen, and an office where I live-stream. You can stay if you want, but…” She paused, glancing around the car. “You’ll have to sleep on the floor. I only have my bed and a couch.”
Dongmin grinned. “Floor’s fine. Beats getting pulled into a cosmic portal again.”
Haesoo laughed quietly from the passenger seat. “Yeah, as long as it’s not sand.”
Luly giggled, her high voice soft and cheerful. “Good. I have plenty of blankets, at least.”
Nova, sitting quietly in the middle row, gave her a small nod. “Thank you,” she said. “For trusting us.”
Luly smiled again, her eyes briefly meeting Nova’s in the mirror. “I think I was always meant to.”
The car rolled on, the sign for Fresno – 40 Miles glowing faintly ahead as the night deepened around them.
The bright lights of Fresno finally appeared on the horizon, breaking through the long stretch of dark highway. Neon signs and storefronts shimmered against the night sky as the city unfolded around them.
Luly pointed toward the glowing skyline. “We’re almost there,” she said. “I live behind the mall.”
Dongmin pressed his face against the window. “A mall? Now that’s more like it.”
Luly laughed softly, her high, cheerful voice carrying through the car. “You’re in luck,” she said. “I have money, so I can buy you clothes. You all need a shower.”
Taeyul groaned dramatically. “Finally, someone said it.”
Haesoo sniffed his sleeve and made a face. “Yeah… we smell like saltwater and chaos.”
Nova smirked faintly. “That’s one way to describe falling through a portal.”
Asher leaned forward slightly. “How late is it?”
Luly checked the clock on the dashboard. “Almost ten,” she said, turning into a brightly lit parking lot. “If we hurry, the stores should still be open.”
She pulled the SUV into a spot near the mall entrance and shut off the engine. The glow from the overhead lights reflected on the windshield, painting all their faces in soft gold.
“Come on,” she said, unbuckling her seatbelt. “Before they close.”
They climbed out together, the night air warm and humming with faint music from the nearby stores. For a brief moment, it almost felt normal—like a late-night shopping trip instead of an impossible crossing between worlds.
Luly adjusted her bag on her shoulder and smiled at them. “Let’s get you looking like you belong here.”
The automatic doors slid open, releasing a wave of cool air and soft pop music. The mall glowed under bright white lights, polished floors reflecting the colors of shop signs and window displays.
Luly walked ahead with an easy bounce in her step, her long wavy hair swaying as she turned back to the group. “I’ll take you to my favorite store,” she said cheerfully, her high, squeaky voice echoing faintly through the near-empty corridor.
They followed her past rows of boutiques and food stalls until she stopped in front of a store filled with colorful posters, racks of graphic tees, and walls lined with hoodies. Neon letters above the entrance read Galaxy Threads.
“This one,” she said with a grin. “Pick some T-shirts and hoodies—something comfortable.”
Dongmin’s eyes lit up immediately. “This place is awesome.”
Haesoo wandered toward a rack of soft sweatshirts, running his fingers over the fabric. “It’s weird,” he murmured, “everything feels so… normal.”
Minjae was already checking sizes for the others, his usual calm slipping into focus mode.
Luly turned to Asher, who still stood near the entrance, hands in his pockets, his usual black suit looking far too formal under the fluorescent lights. “Asher,” she said teasingly, “you’re finally going to get out of that suit.”
She giggled, the sound light and bright like a bell.
Asher gave her a long look, the corner of his mouth curving faintly. “Don’t get used to it,” he said, his tone dry but amused.
Nova smirked. “You should listen to her. You might actually pass as human for once.”
Dongmin laughed so hard he nearly dropped the hoodie he was holding. “Oh, this trip is already worth it.”
Luly smiled wider, watching them scatter through the store, blending in among rows of color and light. For the first time since the portal, it felt like the two worlds weren’t so far apart.
Luly wandered through the aisles, her arms already full of shirts—some with cartoon cats, others plain black with small logos or funny sayings. She held one up with a wide-eyed kitten wearing sunglasses and grinned. “This one’s too cute to leave behind.”
Taeyul laughed. “You really like cats, huh?”
“I love them,” she said proudly. “They’re chaotic and adorable like Dongmin.”
Dongmin froze mid-bite of a sample cookie the store clerk had handed him. “Wait, what?”
Luly giggled, the sound soft and high-pitched. “Nothing. Just a compliment.”
After everyone had picked something, she went to the register and paid for everything without hesitation, tapping her card with practiced ease.
“Alright,” she said, balancing the bags in her arms, “next stop pants.”
They followed her down the mall, still laughing and teasing each other. She led them into another store lined with denim and soft lounge wear, the kind of place that smelled faintly of fabric and cedar.
“Okay,” Luly said, spinning once in the middle of the aisle, her long hair catching the light. “Get jeans, sweats, and” she lowered her voice playfully, “underwear.”
She winked at them.
The boys immediately froze.
Dongmin choked. “Wait, what”
Taeyul burst out laughing. “She’s serious.”
Haesoo hid his face behind a rack of hoodies, cheeks pink. “Oh my god.”
Luly giggled, clearly enjoying their reactions. “What? You can’t wear the same clothes forever. You’ll thank me later.”
Nova smirked from where she stood near the entrance, arms crossed. “She’s not wrong.”
Asher sighed quietly, shaking his head. “This is officially the strangest mission I’ve ever been part of.”
Luly handed him another shopping bag. “You’re welcome,” she said sweetly. “Now go find your size.”
The others scattered through the aisles, muttering and laughing as Luly trailed after them with that bright, mischievous smile that made the impossible night feel just a little more human.
Luly was browsing through the men’s section, humming softly to herself as she flipped through a rack of clothes. Then she froze, eyes lighting up.
On the display in front of her hung a pair of boxers covered in tiny cartoon cats—some wearing sunglasses, others holding slices of pizza.
A mischievous smile spread across her face.
She held them up proudly and called out, “Jeon!”
Haesoo, who was trying to decide between two pairs of jeans, looked up instantly. “What?”
Luly waved the boxers in the air like a flag. “These are perfect for you!”
Haesoo’s face turned red so fast Dongmin nearly dropped the stack of hoodies he was holding. “What—why me?”
“Because you like cats,” she said innocently, her voice squeaky and bright. “And because you look like you’d actually wear something this cute.”
Taeyul leaned against a nearby rack, grinning. “She’s not wrong.”
Haesoo rubbed the back of his neck, trying not to smile. “You’re unbelievable.”
Luly giggled, holding the boxers against his chest to measure them. “Medium should fit,” she said seriously, then added with a wink, “Maybe.”
Nova, watching from a few steps away, hid a smile behind her hand. “He’s never going to live this down.”
Dongmin laughed so hard he had to sit on the bench by the fitting rooms. “This is officially the best shopping trip of my life.”
Haesoo groaned, taking the boxers from Luly’s hands just to stop the teasing. “Fine,” he muttered. “If it makes you happy.”
Luly beamed. “It does.”
She turned toward the counter, tossing the boxers into the growing pile of clothes. “Trust me,” she said cheerfully, “you’ll thank me later.”
After they finished in the men’s section, Luly handed the last shopping bag to Minjae and turned toward the group. “Alright,” she said brightly, “wait here, boys.”
Dongmin blinked. “Why?”
She giggled, her high, squeaky voice playful. “Because where I’m going next is not for you.”
Nova raised a brow, half-smiling. “I’m guessing we’re talking about something with lace.”
Luly nodded, amused. “Exactly. Come on, Nova. You’re with me.”
The two slipped out of sight, their steps echoing lightly against the polished mall floor as they approached a soft pink storefront glowing under warm lights. The sign above the entrance read Luna & Lace.
Inside, the air smelled faintly of vanilla and fabric softener. Pajamas in pastel shades hung neatly on one wall, while displays of bras and underwear shimmered in soft tones of cream, blush, and black.
Luly turned to Nova with a gentle smile. “Get what you need,” she said. “Bras, underwear, pajamas comfortable stuff. I don’t think those clothes from your world are exactly sleep-friendly.”
Nova let out a quiet laugh, her expression softening. “You’ve thought of everything.”
Luly shrugged, flipping through a rack of silky pajama sets. “I try to be practical,” she said lightly. “Besides, you deserve to feel normal for once.”
Nova’s gaze lingered on her, something like gratitude flickering in her eyes. “You’re not what I expected,” she said quietly.
Luly smiled, her voice soft and bright. “Good. I like surprising people.”
They picked out a few things comfortable, simple, human. For the first time since the portal, Nova felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time: calm.
When they finished, Luly paid at the register, thanking the cashier politely. As they stepped back into the quiet corridor, she glanced at Nova with a grin. “Ready?”
Nova nodded. “Let’s go rescue the boys before they start trying on cat boxers again.”
Luly giggled, the sound light and bright as they walked back toward the group.
When Nova and Luly returned, the boys were sprawled across a bench near the fountain, surrounded by shopping bags. Dongmin was tossing a soda cap into the water, while Taeyul pretended to model a hoodie for Jisung’s nonexistent camera.
Luly stopped in front of them, arms crossed but smiling. “Alright, everyone up,” she said. “We’re not done yet.”
Dongmin groaned dramatically. “You’re kidding. What now?”
“Shoes,” Luly said simply. “You can’t walk around California in soaked sneakers from another world.”
Haesoo laughed as he stood. “Fair point.”
She led them down the corridor to a bright, modern store lined with shelves of sneakers in every color imaginable. The scent of new rubber and clean fabric filled the air.
“Okay,” Luly said, clapping her hands once. “Pick some sneakers—whatever fits and feels good. Don’t overthink it.”
Dongmin’s eyes went wide at the variety. “This is heaven.”
Taeyul grabbed a pair of sleek black trainers and smirked. “Stylish and comfortable. Perfect.”
Joon crouched near a wall of high-tops, testing the soles with quiet focus. “These will work.”
Haesoo found a pair of white ones and looked up at Luly with a grin. “You sure about this? You’ve already done a lot.”
Luly shrugged, her squeaky voice cheerful. “You can’t blend in if you don’t look the part. Besides, I like taking care of what I make.”
Nova raised a brow. “You make us sound like your art project.”
Luly smiled faintly. “Maybe you are.”
When everyone had their boxes, she headed toward the register, paying for everything without hesitation. The clerk bagged the shoes while Luly gathered the receipts, efficient and calm, as if guiding people from another reality was just another errand on her list.
“Alright,” she said once everyone had their bags in hand. “Now we’re done. Let’s head home.”
The group followed her toward the exit, their arms full of new clothes and shoes that still smelled like factory paper, unaware that the real story waiting for them in Fresno was only beginning.
They loaded the last of the shopping bags into the SUV and climbed in, the quiet hum of the engine blending with the low murmur of late-night traffic. The bright lights of the mall faded behind them as Luly turned down a side road lined with small houses and quiet parking lots.
She slowed and pointed ahead. “Told you,” she said with a grin. “I live right behind the mall.”
Eunwoo peered out the window, impressed. “You weren’t kidding.”
A minute later, Luly pulled into the driveway of a small modern house with white siding and warm light glowing through the windows. She parked neatly and unbuckled her seatbelt. “Okay,” she said, turning to the group, “everyone out. Grab everything.”
They piled out of the car, juggling bags and boxes as they followed her up the short path to the front door. Inside, the air was cool and faintly sweet, like vanilla candles and laundry detergent.
The living room opened into a cozy, modern space with wood floors, a long gray couch draped with a pink throw blanket, a soft rose-colored rug beneath a glass coffee table, and a mounted TV glowing quietly against the wall. The kitchen sat open to the side, silver appliances shining under warm light.
Joon wandered in first, setting down a bag on the counter. He paused, noticing several small amber bottles neatly lined up beside the sink. “Why so many medicine bottles?” he asked curiously.
Luly’s squeaky voice floated from behind him. “Because I’m sick,” she said simply.
Jisung looked up from where he was removing his shoes. “Sick?”
Luly nodded, heading toward the hallway. “Yeah. Too lazy to explain right now.”
The group exchanged quiet glances, the lighthearted mood dimming just a touch.
Luly stretched, shaking off the tension in her shoulders. “I’m going to shower,” she said casually. “Bathroom’s down the hall if you need it. There are extra toiletries in the cabinet.”
“Got it,” Nova said, her tone soft.
Luly gave her a small smile before disappearing down the hall, the sound of her bare feet fading against the wood floor.
For the first time since arriving in this world, the group stood still bags on the floor, the smell of pizza and detergent in the air trying to understand the strange girl who had created them and now shared her home.
Steam still clung faintly to the air from the showers. The group had changed into their new clothes, scattered across the living room in quiet comfort. Some sat cross-legged on the gray couch, others leaned against the pink rug, the TV casting soft light across the room.
Down the hall, a door opened.
Luly emerged, her long black hair damp and curling at the ends, wearing soft plaid pajama pants and a loose white T-shirt. Her arms were piled high with blankets—so many that she could barely see over them.
“Okay,” she said in her squeaky voice, muffled behind the stack. “I brought enough blankets for everyone, I think—”
Before she could finish, her foot caught the edge of the pink rug.
There was a small yelp, a soft thud, and the blankets scattered like feathers around her.
Everyone turned instantly.
Haesoo was the first to move, halfway off the couch. “Luly, are you okay?”
From the floor, surrounded by the heap of blankets, Luly’s voice came out muffled but cheerful. “At least I had a soft landing.”
Dongmin started laughing so hard he nearly fell off the armrest. “You’re fine. You’re built for this.”
Luly peeked up from the pile, her cheeks pink but smiling. “I meant to do that,” she said, trying to sound serious.
Taeyul grinned. “Sure you did.”
Nova shook her head, her expression softening as she crouched to help gather the blankets. “You really don’t stop, do you?”
Luly giggled, folding one over her arm. “Nope. I trip with style.”
The laughter that followed filled the small house, warm and easy. For the first time since the portal, it felt like something close to home.
Once the laughter faded, everyone helped Luly gather the last of the blankets. She spread them neatly across the floor in front of the couch, fluffing the corners while Haesoo and Nova arranged pillows.
When everything was finally settled, Luly stood with her hands on her hips, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Alright,” she said, “that should do it.”
Dongmin stretched out on his makeshift spot on the rug. “Not bad,” he said, already halfway to sleep.
Luly giggled, brushing a strand of damp hair from her face. “Good. Because I have class tomorrow morning.”
Taeyul raised a brow. “You’re still going to class after all this?”
She nodded firmly. “Of course. Portal or not, attendance still counts.”
Jisung chuckled. “You’re something else.”
Luly looked around the living room, her high, squeaky voice softening. “I don’t have much food here right now, though,” she admitted. “So after my class, we can go grocery shopping together.”
Eunwoo smiled from his blanket. “That sounds nice. Normal, even.”
“Exactly,” Luly said, pulling the pink rug straight with her foot. “We’ll need breakfast, snacks, and something for dinner. You guys eat a lot, don’t you?”
Dongmin lifted his hand without opening his eyes. “Guilty.”
Luly laughed quietly. “Then I’ll make sure we get enough. For now, just rest. It’s been a long day.”
She turned off the living room light, leaving only the soft glow of the TV as she walked down the hall toward her room. The others settled in under their blankets, the quiet of the house wrapping around them like a sigh.
For the first time since they’d fallen through the portal, it felt like the night might actually let them sleep.
The living room was quiet except for the soft hum of the TV. Most of the group had settled into their makeshift beds, the glow of the screen casting pale light across the gray couch and pink rug.
Asher lay on his blanket near the corner, one arm tucked behind his head, staring at the ceiling. After a long pause, he finally spoke. “Anyone else a little concerned that we’re… living with a minor?”
Haesoo, curled up near the couch, peeked over the blanket. “Hey,” he said defensively, “Nova and I are her age.”
Nova, sitting cross-legged against the couch, smirked. “Exactly. Seventeen isn’t a crime, Asher.”
He turned his head slightly toward them. “No, but it’s not exactly comforting either. Just saying, out of all of us, only you two are her age. The rest of us are technically adults.”
Taeyul, half-asleep on the rug, opened one eye. “Wait, what are you implying, exactly?”
Asher sighed. “I’m not implying anything. I’m just saying—Taeyul and Dongmin are nineteen, Eunwoo, Jisung, Minjae, Joon, and I are twenty-one. She’s seventeen. We just walked into her house with no plan.”
Dongmin propped himself up on an elbow, grinning. “You make it sound creepy when you say it like that.”
Joon, flat on his back, muttered dryly, “It is kind of weird.”
Minjae glanced at the hallway where Luly had disappeared earlier. “She invited us,” he said calmly. “And she saved us, technically.”
Eunwoo nodded in agreement. “Yeah. Besides, it’s not like we had many options. She’s the only one who understands what’s happening.”
Asher rubbed his temple, clearly torn between logic and unease. “I know. It’s just… surreal. She’s seventeen and somehow taking care of us.”
Nova smirked faintly. “Welcome to my world. You get used to it.”
Haesoo chuckled. “She’s smarter than half the adults we know, anyway.”
Jisung, sitting cross-legged near the coffee table, spoke softly. “She didn’t hesitate to help. That says more about her character than her age.”
Dongmin yawned loudly, already sinking back into his blanket. “If she feeds us tomorrow, I don’t care if she’s seventeen or seventy. She’s family now.”
That earned a laugh from Taeyul. “You’d say that to anyone with food.”
Asher shook his head but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at his mouth. “You’re all impossible.”
Nova leaned back, her voice quiet but sure. “She might be young,” she said, “but she built worlds. That’s more than most adults can say.”
The room fell into a comfortable silence after that, only the faint rustle of blankets and the soft hum of the TV filling the air.
Somewhere down the hall, Luly’s door clicked shut, and the little house in Fresno settled into stillness eight strangers from another world finding strange peace under the same roof.
