Offstage Secrets
Friendship Route – Juwon
Juwon is the comedian of AHOF, always full of energy and laughter. His presence makes even the hardest days feel lighter, and JL quickly finds himself drawn to Juwon’s infectious enthusiasm.
Their friendship is built on spontaneous adventures—midnight snack runs, impromptu dance-offs, and endless laughter. Juwon is always pushing JL to loosen up, to enjoy the moment rather than constantly stress about the future. But beneath the cheerfulness, JL starts to notice the exhaustion in Juwon’s eyes, the quiet moments where he seems lost in thought.
One night, after a long day of practice, JL steps out onto the dorm’s small balcony, hoping to get some fresh air before crashing into bed. He expects the space to be empty, but instead, he finds Juwon sitting on the floor, knees pulled up to his chest, staring out at the city skyline. The glow of neon lights reflects in his eyes, but there’s a weight to his expression that doesn’t match the vibrance of the world below.
JL UNIVERSE
JL hesitates for a moment before stepping closer. “Couldn’t sleep?”
Juwon startles slightly, as if he hadn’t noticed JL was there. He forces a small smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Something like that.”
JL leans against the railing, letting the night air cool his skin. He doesn’t push, but he doesn’t leave either. After a long moment, Juwon finally exhales and speaks, his voice quieter than usual. “Do you ever feel like… you’re not good enough?”
JL turns his head, eyebrows furrowing. “What?”
Juwon rubs the back of his neck, looking away. “Like no matter how hard you try, it’s not enough? Everyone else seems to have it together, but me… I don’t know. I feel like I’m always playing catch-up. And what if—” he swallows, hesitating before finishing, “what if I let everyone down?”
JL blinks, taken aback. Juwon—the guy who always lifts the mood, who makes everyone laugh even when they’re exhausted, who somehow manages to make the hardest choreography look easy—doubting himself? It doesn’t seem right.
Without thinking, JL nudges his shoulder. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Juwon lets out a surprised laugh. “Wow. Thanks.”
“I’m serious.” JL sits down beside him. “You work hard every single day. You care about the team. You care about the music. That’s what matters. You think you’re the only one who feels this way? Everyone struggles. Everyone worries. But I can tell you this—none of us could do this without you.”
JL Universe
Juwon doesn’t respond right away, but his fingers tighten slightly against his knee. JL doesn’t need him to say anything; he can tell that the words have hit home.
For a while, they just sit there, the sounds of the city filling the silence between them. Eventually, Juwon exhales and leans back on his hands. “You’re weirdly good at pep talks.”
JL smirks. “It’s a gift.”
Juwon tilts his head, mock serious. “Okay, so if you’re so wise, what should I do right now?”
JL thinks for a second before grinning. “Dance battle. Right here, right now.”
Juwon stares at him. “On the balcony?”
“Yep.”
“We could fall to our deaths.”
“Not if you believe in yourself.”
Juwon groans but laughs anyway. “Fine. But if I slip and die, my ghost is haunting you forever.”
“Deal.”
With that, Juwon stands up, shaking off the doubt from earlier. They blast a song from JL’s phone, and under the moonlit sky, they dance—badly, playfully, completely carefree. And just like that, the weight lifts a little.
From that night on, their bond grows stronger—not just as teammates, but as friends who remind each other that even the brightest lights sometimes need someone to shine for them.
THE END.