The day had been grueling - constant rehearsals, practice routines, and the pressure to perform at their best. But now, after hours of hard work, it was time for a break. The trainees gathered in the training courtyard, their tired faces lit up with a mix of exhaustion and relief. The weather had cooled down a little, and the breeze was a welcome relief after the heat of the day.
JL slouched down against the brick wall of the courtyard, wiping sweat from his brow. He'd been on his feet all day, and now that he had a moment of stillness, he felt the weight of it all pressing on him. He glanced over at Chih En, who was standing off to the side, taking a drink of water.
Chih En, as usual, looked effortlessly cool, but JL could tell something was different today. It wasn't just the way he smiled at him or the glint in his eyes - it was the way he'd been acting around JL all day, more open, more approachable. There was something unspoken hanging in the air, and JL couldn't quite put his finger on it.
After a moment of hesitation, JL pushed himself off the wall and made his way over to Chih En, who looked up as JL approached.
"Hey," JL greeted, giving him a small smile.
"Hey, you okay?" Chih En asked, his voice genuine.
"Yeah, just... tired, I guess," JL admitted, glancing at the group of employees milling around, talking, and laughing. "It's been a long day."
"I know the feeling," Chih En said, chuckling softly. "But you did great today. You were on fire out there."
JL's cheeks tinged pink, and he laughed, shaking his head. "I don't know about that. I still feel like I'm stumbling through half of it. But thanks. I guess I'm getting better."
"Of course you are," Chih En replied with confidence. "You've got it in you. It's just about finding that flow."
They stood there for a moment, just watching the others. The sounds of laughter and chatter filled the air, but it was oddly peaceful, like the calm before a storm. JL felt his nerves ease slightly, though the weight of his thoughts didn't quite leave him. The pressure of being a global supergroup.
"You know," JL began, glancing at Chih En, "I didn't think I'd be able to get through this. But with all the members around... I guess it makes it easier."
Chih En smiled, that familiar easy grin. "It's all about the people you're with, right? Helps the stress go away. But I have to admit, I'm not as good at letting go as you."
JL raised an eyebrow. "Really? You seem pretty good at hiding it."
Chih En shrugged nonchalantly. "I've had a lot of practice. But I don't always have it together. You're not the only one who gets stressed."
There was a brief silence, comfortable and unforced. JL couldn't help but feel a little lighter, even though he had no idea what had gotten into Chih En today. The tension from earlier - when he had avoided JL after their moment during training - seemed to have evaporated.
"I'm glad we're on the same team," JL said softly. "You know, even if we don't always see eye to eye, it's... it's good."
Chih En nodded, his smile softening. "Same here. I think we balance each other out. I've got the calm, you've got the chaos."
"Chaos, huh?" JL laughed. "You're not wrong."
The two of them shared a laugh, and JL felt something inside him shift. It wasn't just the exhaustion, or the pressure of the competition - it was the way Chih En's presence made everything feel a little more manageable. For once, JL allowed himself to sink into the moment.
But just as things seemed to settle, a voice interrupted their peace.
"Hey, JL! Chih En!"
It was Shuaibo, jogging up to them with an exaggerated grin. He was out of breath from the sprint, and his eyes sparkled with energy. "Come on, we're starting the dance-off! You guys can't be left out!"
JL's heart skipped a beat. A dance-off. The idea seemed ridiculous, but also... fun. The group had been joking about it all day. It was their way of letting off steam, especially after so much tension in the air.
"I'm not sure I'm in the mood," JL said, rubbing the back of his neck, still trying to shake off the exhaustion.
"Oh, come on," Shuaibo insisted. "This is exactly what you need. A little fun to get you back in the rhythm!"
Chih En shot him a look. "He's right. Let's at least give it a try. A little fun won't hurt, will it?"
JL hesitated for a moment, then let out a reluctant laugh. "Alright, alright. I'll join, but don't expect me to win."
Chih En smirked. "We'll see about that."
The next few minutes were a whirlwind of laughter and energy. The dance-off turned out to be exactly what they needed. Even the most serious of the group - like Jeongwoo and Daisuke - couldn't resist getting swept up in the madness. Everyone was laughing, cheering, and trying their best to outdo each other. Even JL, who had felt so tense before, couldn't help but laugh as he broke into an impromptu hip-hop move.
And then, just when JL thought he could finally breathe easy, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, expecting a message from his father or a quick update on their future performances. But instead, his eyes caught sight of a text from an unknown number. His thumb froze over the screen as he read the message:
"I know what you're hiding, JL. You can't escape the truth. Meet me at the rooftop of the training building in 30 minutes if you want to know more."
His stomach dropped. The words hit him like a punch to the gut.
"What's wrong?" Chih En's voice broke through his shock, his tone now laced with concern.
JL quickly stuffed the phone back in his pocket, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's... nothing. Just some weird spam message."
But even as he spoke, his heart was racing. His thoughts were consumed by the cryptic words and the promise of the "truth."
Before Chih En could say anything else, the sound of footsteps behind them made them both turn. A figure emerged from the shadows at the edge of the courtyard, moving toward them.
It was someone JL had never expected to see again.
The figure's eyes locked on JL's, a smirk forming on their lips as they drew closer.