Siwon took a sip of the cold water, her hand still trembling slightly from the choreography. Her eyes wandered the corridor, casually scanning until something made her freeze mid-sip.
Ryan.
But he wasn't just walking.
His usual swagger, the lazy grace in his step — gone. This was different. Sharp. Urgent. He was moving down the hallway like someone about to explode, jaw clenched, shoulders tense. It didn't look like a dance practice kind of mood.
She blinked. For a moment, she tried to shake it off — tell herself he was probably just tired or irritated. But the pace of his steps, the way he shoved the next practice room door open without even checking if someone was inside… it unsettled her.
Her curiosity twisted into something heavier.
What if he was angry?
What if something had happened?
What if he—
She didn't even finish the thought.
Siwon set the water bottle on the table and followed him — quickly, quietly, but her heart was pounding in her chest like a warning bell. The hallway seemed longer now, her steps echoing softly. She reached the door he'd gone through just as it was beginning to swing shut, and slipped in.
Inside, the room was dimly lit, mirrors reflecting the tension in the air.
Ryan was pacing — short, quick strides — hands in his hair, muttering something under his breath. His jacket was tossed on the floor, and he kicked it aside without a glance.
"Ryan?" she said, her voice small.
He froze.
And when he turned, his eyes locked onto hers — wide, almost disbelieving.
"You followed me?" he asked, his voice low and sharp.
She hesitated. "You looked… upset. I thought— I didn't know if—"
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
He scoffed, running a hand down his face. "What, you're checking on me now? I thought you were busy dancing with Sim Jae."
That stung more than she expected.
"Why are you mad?" she asked carefully. "This wasn't my decision."
"You looked fine with it," he said bitterly. "Smiling. Laughing. Talking to him like you've known him forever."
"Ryan," she said, stepping closer, confused, "why does it matter if I talk to him?"
"Because you don't talk to me like that."
She blinked, stunned. "What are you talking about?"
"You act like I'm some danger you have to stay away from. You flinch every time I get close. You barely look at me unless it's necessary. But with him? You're comfortable."
Siwon's lips parted, but no words came.
Ryan's voice dropped, raw and frustrated. "And don't act like you didn't feel anything the last time we danced together. Don't act like that didn't mean something."
"I didn't say it didn't but not the way you are thinking," she whispered.
"Then what is it, Siwon?"
Silence.
He took a step forward, then another — each one laced with something heavy. He looked like he wanted to say more, something big — something dangerous — but he stopped himself. His jaw clenched, eyes stormy.
He exhaled sharply. "I shouldn't say it."
"Say what?" she asked before she could stop herself.
He turned away, pacing again. "Forget it. You wouldn't believe me anyway."
"Try me," she said softly, her voice trembling now.
He looked at her again — this time with something in his eyes that almost broke her.
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to ignore you?" he said suddenly, quietly. "The way you walk in like you don't know how you light up a room? Like you don't even know you're being watched?"
She didn't breathe.
"I texted you because I couldn't get you out of my head," he added. "Not because I wanted to mess with you. Not because I was bored. I don't talk to anyone the way I talk to you. But you… you looked at me like I was doing something wrong."
"You're a big artist," she whispered. "You're… Ryan. You're not supposed to talk to girls like me."
"Girls like you?" he repeated, a laugh escaping, bitter and disbelieving. "You think I care about all that?"
"You should."
"I don't."
A long pause.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, barely audible now.
"Because it pissed me off," he shot back. "Seeing you laugh with Sim Jae like that. Watching you smile at someone else. I hate it."
Her throat tightened.
"But I get it," he said, stepping back, raising his hands slightly. "I'm not someone you're supposed to talk to. So don't worry. I'll back off."
"No—" she said quickly.
But he was already turning toward the mirror, gripping the bar like he needed something to hold himself upright.
She took one hesitant step forward. "You're not being fair."
"And you're not being honest."
Another beat of silence. The air between them was thick with everything unspoken.
Finally, she whispered, "Then tell me. Be honest. Say it."
Ryan turned his head just slightly.
But he didn't.
He let the silence drag, then gave her the faintest shake of the head. "Not today."
And with that, he walked past her — out of the room, out of the moment — leaving Siwon standing alone, completely breathless.
Siwon stepped back into the practice room like she hadn't just been torn apart in the other one.
The air felt heavier now.
The mirrors caught her reflection too clearly — the pink in her cheeks, the slight tremble in her fingers, the chaos she'd tried to leave behind but somehow brought back with her.
The music was playing again, members stretching or chatting between sets, but it all felt distant — like her body had returned but her mind hadn't caught up yet.
"Hey," Sim Jae's voice broke through the haze.
She turned — too quickly — and found him standing just a few feet away. His hair clung slightly to his forehead from sweat, his T-shirt rumpled from the last round of choreography. He held out a water bottle.
"You forgot this earlier," he said with a small smile.
Siwon blinked. "Oh. Thanks."
She reached out, their fingers brushing briefly. Too brief for him to notice — too long for her not to feel the shift.
"You okay?" he asked, stepping a little closer. "You've been quiet."
"I'm fine," she said, too fast.
Sim Jae didn't press — not yet — but he stayed close. When they went through the choreography again, he didn't let the space between them go unnoticed. His hand lingered a second longer on her back during positioning. His gaze held a question every time they locked eyes.
At first, it was comforting.
He'd always been steady — quieter than the others, thoughtful, warm. Someone she didn't need to pretend around. But today, that steadiness began to feel like a weight. The warmth began to burn.
Because he was seeing her.
And she didn't want to be seen — not right now, not by anyone.
Especially not while her chest still echoed with Ryan's words.
They finished the last round of choreography, breathless and flushed. Sim Jae walked over with her towel and bottle without asking, his quiet attentiveness now bordering something else.
"You really danced well today," he said as she wiped her face. "Especially during that second half. It's like you unlocked something."
She smiled faintly. "Thanks."
"I mean it."
He looked at her like he wanted to say more. Like he was waiting — for a signal, for a door to open. But Siwon couldn't bring herself to step toward it.
She didn't have space for this.
"Sim Jae," she started, cautiously, "I really appreciate how kind you are. I just… I've had a long morning. I think I need some time to breathe."
He looked taken aback — not hurt, just surprised.
"Oh. Of course. I didn't mean to—"
"No, no," she cut in gently, "you didn't do anything wrong. I'm just—processing a lot right now."
He nodded slowly, lips pressing into a line. "If you ever want to talk or just hang out, I'm around."
She gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you."
But when he turned away to return to the group, Siwon exhaled deeply — not from relief, but from guilt.
Why did something that used to feel sweet now feel so suffocating?
She sat down at the corner of the room, sipping water quietly as her gaze drifted toward the hallway again — the one Ryan had disappeared down.
He hadn't returned.
And now, Sim Jae was offering attention she didn't know how to hold. Her heart was caught in the space between two people — one who made her feel safe, and the other who made her feel everything.
The studio emptied slowly.
One by one, the members filtered out for a break. Some laughed on their way out. Others sprawled across the floor, too tired to move.
Siwon stayed seated at the far end of the room, pretending to scroll through her phone. In reality, she was just avoiding everyone.
Especially the two people she could no longer look at the same way.
Ryan hadn't returned. Not even after rehearsal officially wrapped. And she hadn't dared ask where he'd gone.
But someone else noticed.
Sim Jae lingered by the door, hesitating for a second before stepping into the hallway. He walked a little too fast, as if chasing a thought he didn't quite trust yet.
He found Ryan exactly where he expected — in the smaller practice room two doors down. He was seated on the floor, back against the mirrored wall, a towel slung around his neck. Head tilted back. Eyes closed.
But he wasn't resting.
He looked wrecked.
Sim Jae stepped inside without knocking. "You good?"
Ryan opened one eye lazily. "Peachy."
"Didn't look peachy when you stormed out."
Ryan chuckled dryly. "Was it that obvious?"
Sim Jae sat down across from him, stretching out his legs. "A bit."
They sat in silence for a while, the hum of the ceiling light buzzing above them.
Then, casually — too casually — Sim Jae said, "So… you saw the new pairing?"
Ryan didn't move. "Yup."
"You cool with it?"
Ryan's jaw flexed slightly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Sim Jae shrugged, eyes steady. "I don't know. Thought I should ask. We've all been training for weeks. It's a pretty big switch."
Ryan finally turned his head, meeting Sim Jae's gaze. "You mean you thought I should care."
Sim Jae didn't flinch. "Do you?"
Ryan stared at him for a long beat. Then smirked. "You're asking if I'm okay watching you and Siwon dance together?"
"You guys seemed close. I didn't want it to get awkward."
Ryan scoffed lightly, sitting up straighter. "We're just teammates. Nothing awkward."
"Right." Sim Jae's voice was quiet. "Just teammates."
Ryan pushed off the floor and stood, his smirk fading into something harder to read.
"Besides," he said, voice sharper than before, "she looks happy dancing with you. Why mess with that?"
Sim Jae stood too. "You don't sound convinced."
Ryan paused at the door, hand on the knob. "Doesn't matter what I sound like."
And with that, he walked out — leaving Sim Jae standing in the center of the empty room, his own thoughts now louder than ever.
Because for the first time, Sim Jae had a suspicion.
Ryan wasn't just teasing Siwon.
He cared.
And maybe… so did Sim Jae.