Chapter 12
The day had finally arrived.
The competition. The moment they had all been working tirelessly for.
JL barely had time to think, everything was a blur of final rehearsals, makeup touches, and outfit checks. The energy in the air was electric, excitement and nerves buzzing through everyone like a live wire.
In the midst of the chaos, Steven caught JL’s eye and smirked. “We got this.”
JL nodded, determination settling in his chest.
As Steven turned to leave, he suddenly paused and grinned. “Let’s go, 3-pick.”
JL rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at his lips. “Seriously, are you still calling me that?”
Steven only chuckled.
With a playful punch to Steven’s arm, JL’s expression softened into something more serious. “No matter what happens… I want to debut with you. With all of us.”
Steven’s teasing demeanor shifted, his eyes warm with understanding. “Me too.”
Together, they stepped onto the stage with their team.
As the MC introduced Team Rhythm, JL’s heart pounded in his chest.
He took a deep breath, glancing toward the mentors’ section, and there he was.
Yangyang.
Standing there, smiling proudly at him.
Their eyes met, and Yangyang gave him a small nod of encouragement. You can do this.
JL’s chest tightened with something unspoken, something deeper than just gratitude. He smiled back, the silent exchange fueling his confidence.
Yangyang was still staring at him, smiling wide—until he suddenly felt a sharp kick to his shin.
“Not here,” Ten hissed, shooting him a warning glance.
Yangyang winced but kept his cool, casually rubbing his leg as he turned back toward the stage.
The performance was a success.
No, it was more than that, it was phenomenal.
JL poured every ounce of his soul into it, his movements precise, his presence commanding. The entire team gave their all, delivering a performance that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
When it ended, the cheers were deafening.
Then—
The announcement.
Team Rhythm had won.
The moment their name was called, JL felt his chest tighten, his vision blurring as pure emotion washed over him.
They did it.
They won.
Steven tackled him in a hug, the rest of the team joining in, laughing and crying at the same time.
JL barely had time to register anything beyond the overwhelming feeling of happiness, but when he looked toward the mentors’ section again…
Yangyang and Ten were on their feet, clapping proudly. Yangyang had never felt this kind of overwhelming admiration before, his chest swelled with pride as his eyes immediately sought out JL.
There he was.
Tears welled in JL’s eyes, a mix of exhaustion and pure joy.
Yangyang’s heart clenched. He wanted to run to him, wanted to pull him into his arms, to hold him close…
But he held back.
For now.
After the competition.
The team had barely finished their post-competition duties when the staff informed them of a surprise.
“Mentor Ten and Mentor Yangyang prepared a special midnight snack for you all.”
Excited cheers erupted from the team . After a long, exhausting day, nothing sounded better than food and a chance to finally breathe.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Ten and Yangyang were already waiting for them.
“Congratulations!” Ten beamed, clapping as they entered.
Yangyang’s eyes, however, were on JL.
JL felt it.
Felt the weight of that gaze.
And suddenly, despite the delicious spread of food before him, he couldn’t taste a thing.
He picked at his meal, his mind consumed with the way Yangyang was staring at him.
Ten leaned toward Yangyang and whispered, “At least let the poor kid eat first.”
Yangyang scoffed, pretending to be indifferent. “I’m not even doing anything.”
Ten shot him a knowing look. “Sure.”
Yangyang rolled his eyes, but the small smirk on his lips betrayed him.
JL eventually excused himself, mumbling something about the restroom.
But after stepping out, he found himself wandering toward the counter. Maybe a coffee would help clear his mind.
Just as he was about to ask the waiter, a hand gently grabbed his wrist.
Before he could react, he was being led toward a quieter corner of the room.
JL didn’t even need to look up to know who it was.
Somehow, he already knew.
“…Do you like things like this?”
JL finally met Yangyang’s gaze, slightly breathless from the sudden movement.
Yangyang’s voice was low, teasing, but there was something underneath it. Something heavier.
JL felt his heartbeat stutter.
“Maybe,” Yangyang answered, tilting his head slightly.
Yangyang chuckled. “I figured you’d like it.”
Their eyes met.
Silence settled between them.
Not the awkward kind.
The kind that meant something.
The kind that made the air feel heavier, thicker, like a tension they had both ignored for too long.
Yangyang’s thumb lingered against JL’s skin, tracing lightly over his cheek.
“Congratulations,” he murmured.
JL’s heart stuttered in his chest.
“…Thank you.”
They didn’t need words.
They didn’t need to define whatever this was.
Because in that moment, they just knew.
Yangyang leaned in, closing the space between them, his movements slow… deliberate.
JL’s heart pounded. Was he really…?
Should he close his eyes? Should he—?
A quiet chuckle left Yangyang, warm and knowing, like he could hear every thought racing through JL’s mind. But instead of rushing in, he tilted his head and brushed a soft kiss against JL’s cheek.
JL sucked in a breath, his skin tingling where Yangyang’s lips had been. It was so tender, so careful, like he was savoring the moment.
And then—before JL could even process it, before he could decide what to do with the warmth spreading through his chest, Yangyang pulled back just enough to meet his eyes.
For a beat, they just looked at each other.
And then Yangyang moved again.
This time, he kissed him.
Slow. Certain. Unmistakably real.
JL stilled for half a second before everything else faded, the noise in his head, the hesitation, the world around them. Without thinking, his fingers curled into Yangyang’s jacket, pulling him closer, chasing the warmth of his lips.
Yangyang responded in kind, his hands sliding to JL’s waist, anchoring them together as he deepened the kiss… unhurried, as if they had all the time in the world.
It wasn’t just a kiss.
It was a quiet confession. A promise.
And JL?
He let himself fall.
Let himself lean in, let himself get lost in the way Yangyang kissed him like he meant it. Like he felt it.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, JL knew there would be questions later. Conversations. Maybe even uncertainty.
But right now?
Right now, none of that mattered.
There was only this.
Only them.
THE END.
