Chapter 10
The day before the final competition was nothing short of chaotic. From early morning rehearsals to outfit fittings and last-minute adjustments, Team Rhythm barely had time to breathe. JL should have been too exhausted to think about anything else.
But even with the overwhelming schedule, his mind kept drifting back to the night before.
(Flashback: The Park – Confession Night)
JL stood frozen as Steven’s arms tightened around him.
A confession was the last thing he had expected, especially now, right before the finals. He had barely processed his own feelings, let alone figured out how to respond to someone else’s.
Slowly, JL lifted his hands and gently pried Steven’s arms away. He took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes, this time with certainty.
“I… I want to debut with you,” JL started, his voice steady. “I want us to go through all the challenges together. That’s why…” He smiled softly, “I want us to stay as we are now.”
Steven’s expression faltered for a moment. He looked down, his shoulders tensing.
JL continued, “You’re like family to me. You, the rest of the team… I don’t want anything to get in the way of that.”
Steven let out a quiet chuckle, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I already knew that,” he admitted. “But I thought maybe… just maybe, you’d take pity on me and say yes.”
JL laughed lightly, shaking his head. “You really think I’d date you out of pity?”
Steven smirked. “Well, worth a shot.”
They shared a brief, lighthearted moment, the tension easing just a bit. But then, Steven’s tone shifted.
“I still like you,” he admitted, more serious this time. “But I know who you like.”
JL’s breath hitched. He didn’t deny it. He couldn’t.
“So what are you going to do about it?” Steven asked.
JL exhaled, looking up at the night sky. “For now… I just want to focus on the competition.”
Steven studied him for a moment before nodding. “Fair enough.”
(Back to the Present – Practice Room)
JL was lost in thought, barely paying attention to what was happening around him, when suddenly—
A towel smacked him in the face.
“What the—?!” JL yanked the towel off, glaring at Steven, who was smirking at him from across the room.
“You were zoning out again,” Steven said, crossing his arms. “Thinking about him?”
JL rolled his eyes. “I was thinking about the competition.”
Steven raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.
JL sighed, but before he could say anything, Steven grinned and patted his shoulder. “You’ll figure things out soon.”
JL stared at him for a moment before smiling back. “Yeah… I hope so.”
(Dressing Room – Late Afternoon)
JL stood in front of the mirror as the stylist adjusted his final competition outfit.
“You have such a great body proportion, JL,” she praised while making a few last-minute adjustments. “Everything fits you so well.”
JL chuckled, slightly embarrassed. “Thank you, noona.”
The stylist suddenly gasped, as if remembering something. “Oh! I forgot to bring the accessories for your outfit. Wait here, I’ll be right back!” She rushed out, leaving JL alone.
With a small sigh, JL glanced at himself in the mirror. Humming softly, he started to sing a few lines from their final performance song, letting the melody calm his nerves.
Then…
A pair of arms wrapped around him from behind.
JL froze.
A warm breath brushed against his ear as a familiar voice murmured, “You sing really well.”
JL’s eyes widened. That voice—
His gaze darted to the mirror in front of him, and his breath caught in his throat.
It was Yangyang.
His mentor.
His heart pounded as he met Yangyang’s gaze in the reflection, completely stunned.