late night melodie and accidental confessions

The practice room lights hummed, casting a stark glow on the six members of AURORA, their synchronized movements a testament to countless hours of sweat and dedication. Their comeback was just weeks away, and the pressure was a palpable thing, thick in the air. As the music finally cut, a collective sigh of exhaustion filled the room.

"Alright, one more run-through of the chorus!" their leader, Minjun, called out, ever the taskmaster.

But a chorus of groans met him. "Hyung, my legs are going to detach!" Jiwon, the group's usually energetic maknae, flopped onto the floor dramatically.

Minjun just sighed, but even he looked ready to collapse. "Fine. Ten-minute break. Don't wander off too far."

As the others dispersed, grabbing water bottles or collapsing against the mirrored walls, Yoonhyeok found himself drawn to the small, dark corner where Seojun usually retreated. Seojun, the group's main vocalist, was often quiet, a calming presence amidst the group's boisterous energy.

He had a habit of finding solace in music, even after hours of practice.

Sure enough, Seojun was there, headphones on, humming softly to himself. He wasn't listening to their latest track instead, a gentle, unfamiliar melody drifted from his lips, accompanied by the quiet strumming of an acoustic guitar he'd somehow conjured from behind a stack of speakers.

It was a sweet, melancholic tune, something intensely personal.

Yoonhyeok leaned against the wall, just listening, a peaceful calm settling over him.

He watched Seojun's fingers dance on the fretboard, his eyes closed in concentration. Seojun's usually reserved face held a softness Yoonhyeok rarely saw, etched with a raw emotion that tugged at something in his chest.

After a minute, Seojun's humming stopped, and he softly sang a few lines in English, barely a whisper

"And darling, when you smile, the stars all lose their light... "

He trailed off, shaking his head slightly, as if embarrassed by his own creation. He strummed a final, lingering chord, then slowly opened his eyes. They widened slightly when he saw Yoonhyeok.

"Oh! Yoonhyeok-ah," Seojun said, a faint blush creeping up his neck. He quickly took off his headphones and placed the guitar beside him. "How long have you been there?"

Yoonhyeok pushed off the wall, a genuine smile playing on his lips. "Long enough to hear that. It's beautiful, Seojun-ah. Is it new?"

Seojun's blush deepened. "Just… something I've been messing with. Nothing special." He averted his gaze, fiddling with a loose string on his guitar. "It's just… it's really personal. Like, embarrassingly so."

Yoonhyeok felt a sudden urge to make him comfortable. "Not at all. It sounds like something from a dream. The lyrics too. 'Stars all lose their light'… who's it about?" The question slipped out before he could properly filter it, born more from genuine curiosity than any conscious thought.

Seojun froze. He slowly turned his head back to Yoonhyeok, his hazel eyes wide and searching. For a long moment, the only sound was the distant murmur of the other members. Then, a ghost of a smile touched Seojun's lips, and his gaze seemed to soften, almost melt, as he looked directly into Yoonhyeok's eyes.

"You," Seojun whispered, so quietly Yoonhyeok almost didn't hear it over the sudden pounding of his own heart. The word hung in the air between them, fragile and profound, an accidental confession disguised as a casual answer.

Yoonhyeok's breath hitched. He stared at Seojun, who suddenly looked incredibly vulnerable, his eyes shining with an unspoken truth. The practice room lights seemed to dim, the sounds of his groupmates fading into the background. All that mattered was the quiet hum of the air conditioning and the silent, electrifying space between him and Seojun.

The ten-minute break was definitely over.....

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