JL sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind was still caught in the afterglow of yesterday's unexpected adventure at Namsan Tower.
The wind had been cold, but Park Han's presence had felt warm-warmer than he had expected.
He could still hear the soft tone in Park Han's voice, the way he had almost said something important before changing his words at the last moment.
JL sighed, shaking his head. Maybe he was just overthinking things.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand. A message from Steven popped up in the group chat.
"Meeting in the lounge in 10 minutes. Be there. Important."
JL frowned. It was unlike Steven to be this vague. Usually, he'd at least throw in a joke or a snarky remark, but this was all business. Whatever it was, it had to be serious.
He grabbed a jacket and headed out.
---
The lounge was already buzzing when JL arrived. The entire team was there, spread out across the couches and chairs, some standing, some leaning against the walls. The tension in the air was subtle, but it was there.
Steven stood in the middle, arms crossed, looking every bit the leader.
"Alright," he started, his voice cutting through the murmurs.
"I know we've all had a lot on our minds lately, but we need to focus. Jay Park delivered the news."
Everyone straightened at the mention of the national director's name.
"The name of our group," Steven continued. "It's official now."
A brief silence followed. Then, Shuaibo grinned. "Oh, finally. I was starting to think we'd just go out there as 'no-name squad' or something."
A few chuckles rippled through the room, but Steven remained serious. "I'm about to say it. And before anyone starts complaining, just listen."
He took a breath.
"This is the name the NPAC chose for us."
He said it.
The reaction was instant.
"Huh?"
"You're joking."
"But I like it!-"
"What does that even mean?"
Laughter, confusion, and skepticism filled the air. Some of them raised eyebrows, others exchanged looks. A few sat there, deep in thought, trying to process it.
JL blinked. It didn't sound completely unfamiliar, but something about it felt strange. Not wrong, but... unexpected. Like he had heard it before, but never thought it would be tied to them.
Shuaibo tilted his head, scratching his chin. "I swear I've heard this somewhere..."
Juwon frowned. "It's not bad, but it's... different."
Steven let them talk for a moment before raising a hand. "I get it," he said, cutting through the noise. "It doesn't sound like what you expected. Some of you might not like it right away. But listen-"
The room quieted down again.
"This isn't just about how it sounds. It's about what it means. And once we start moving forward, once we start owning this name, you'll get it. You'll feel it. It will grow on you."
The confidence in his voice was hard to ignore.
Some nodded in understanding. Others still looked unsure, but they didn't argue.
JL found himself staring at Steven, trying to read him. He knew Steven well enough by now to know when he was bluffing. But this time, he wasn't. He really believed in this.
Park Han, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke. "I don't hate it."
It was a simple statement, but coming from him, it carried weight.
Shuaibo sighed dramatically, waving a hand. "Fine, fine. I'll give it a chance. But if people make fun of us, I'm blaming Steven."
Steven rolled his eyes but smirked. "You do that."
The room settled down. The name wasn't fully accepted yet, but it wasn't rejected either. It lingered in the air, waiting for them to claim it.
JL let the words sink in.
"It will grow on you."
Maybe it would. Maybe it already did.
---
As the meeting ended and the boys started to drift out, JL stayed behind for a moment, lost in thought.
He didn't notice Park Han standing nearby until he spoke.
"What do you think?"
JL turned to him. "About the name?"
Park Han nodded.
JL hesitated. "I think... it's different. But different isn't bad."
Park Han hummed in agreement. "Yeah. Guess we'll just have to make it ours."
Their eyes met for a brief second before JL gave a small smile. "Guess so."
Park Han looked like he wanted to say something more, but instead, he just nodded and turned away.
JL watched as he walked off, a strange feeling settling in his chest.
The name of their group was still a mystery to him in many ways. But maybe, just maybe, it wasn't about the name itself.
It was about the people who would carry it.