Episode 4: Midnight Confessions
Three days after the fanmeeting, the dorm was tense.
They had no schedule. Just practice. And silence.
Jaewon spent the day in the corner of the dance studio, perfecting spins no one asked him to do. Avoiding Seon had become a second routine. Necessary. Exhausting.
It wasn't like they didn't talk at all. On camera, they spoke. Joked. Breathed the same air like professionals. But once the cameras shut off, so did Seon.
Or maybe it was Jaewon who shut first.
"Jaewon," Jun called from across the studio. "Coming to dinner?"
He shook his head, towel around his neck. "Not hungry."
Jun sighed, not pushing. "Suit yourself."
When the others left, the room fell into silence again.
Then came the footsteps.
Seon.
He stood near the mirror, arms crossed.
"You need to eat," he said plainly.
Jaewon didn't answer.
"I said you need to eat."
Jaewon turned, breath heavy from practice. "And what? Sit across from you pretending we're okay?"
Seon's jaw twitched.
"I'm not pretending," he said.
"Oh, right. You're always honest, aren't you?"
"Don't do this."
Jaewon dropped the towel to the floor. "Do what? Speak?"
"You're twisting everything into a fight."
"Because that's the only way you respond!"
They stared at each other. The air buzzed with unsaid things.
Seon took a step closer. "I still notice everything about you."
"Then why did you leave me back then?"
A breath. A pause.
"I didn't have a choice."
"Bullsh—"
"I was scared," Seon cut in. Voice quiet, raw. "We were nobodies. We were trainees. I was scared of losing everything. And I thought I could live without you."
Silence.
"You were wrong," Jaewon whispered.
Seon looked at him. "I know."
He stepped even closer, the gap between them shrinking.
Jaewon backed up until his shoulders touched the mirror.
"You're too close," Jaewon muttered.
Seon reached up and placed a hand beside his head, leaning in.
"Then push me away."
Jaewon didn't.
The air between them crackled. Memories hung in the space like smoke.
Their lips were inches apart when—
The door slammed open.
Jun stood frozen. "Oh… oh crap. Sorry. I forgot my water—"
Jaewon shoved Seon away. "We were just—"
Seon didn't move. Just turned his head. "Practicing lines."
"Uh-huh." Jun raised an eyebrow, grabbed his bottle, and left without another word.
The door clicked shut again.
Jaewon pressed a hand to his chest. His heart felt like it was trying to escape.
Seon didn't speak again. Just stared at the mirror.
Jaewon turned to leave.
But as he grabbed his bag, Seon's voice came, low and final:
"You asked why I left."
Jaewon paused.
Seon's reflection met his in the mirro
r. "It's because I was in love with you."
Jaewon stood frozen.
"And I still am."
---
To be continued...