𝙚𝙪𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘 ♪ 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙮 𝙠𝙞𝙙𝙨

ᴇᴜᴘʜᴏʀɪᴄ - 38

𝚡𝚎𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚒 𝚛𝚢𝚞

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

As I walked into the concert venue with Teagan and Hyunjin by my side, the energy was palpable. It had been a long time since I've been in this kind of environment, surrounded by excitement and anticipation. The sounds of crew members setting up, the distant hum of fans gathering, and the flashing lights all blended together, creating an atmosphere that was both thrilling and nerve-wracking.

We headed to the green room first, where the guys were already waiting. As soon as we entered, the mood shifted from the buzz of the outside world to a quieter, more intimate gathering. Felix was the first to greet me, his bright smile cutting through any lingering awkwardness.

"How's the hiatus been treating you?" He asked, settling into a chair across from me. His question was simple, but the concern in his voice made it clear that he genuinely wanted to know.

"It's been... necessary." I replied, offering a small smile. "I've had a lot of time to think and sort through things."

Changbin, who was leaning against the wall nearby, nodded thoughtfully. "Sometimes stepping back is the best way to move forward." He added.

I appreciated their understanding. Everyone had been so supportive, yet I could still feel the tension in the air—the unspoken questions, the worries. It was evident in the way Minho stayed on the opposite side of the room, his gaze occasionally flickering in my direction but never quite meeting mine. Chris was next to him, talking in low tones, while the rest of us tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy.

Han and Jeongin seemed to sense the unease too. They made an effort to keep me engaged in light conversation, discussing everything from new music projects to random, funny stories that had happened while I was away. They were sweet, and I could tell they were trying to keep my spirits up, but it was hard to fully relax when I could feel the divide within the group.

Teagan, meanwhile, had struck up a conversation with Seungmin and Changbin. Her laughter rang out occasionally, a bright spot in the otherwise subdued room. Hyunjin, who had been chatting with Felix, eventually made his way over to me, as if drawn by some invisible force.

As he sat down next to me, the tension between us softened slightly. There was something about being near him that always seemed to calm my nerves, even when everything else felt overwhelming. We started talking quietly, catching up on how we'd both been despite seeing each other a couple of times since he's been here in Canada.

"Are you doing okay?" He asked gently, his eyes searching mine for any sign of distress.

"Yeah." I said, nodding. "I mean, it's been rough, but I'm managing."

Hyunjin's smile didn't quite reach his eyes, and the concern there was unmistakable. "I think Minho's struggling a bit." He said softly, his voice so quiet that only I could hear it above the muted hum of conversation around us. He cast a discreet glance in Minho's direction, where he stood with Chris, their heads bowed in what seemed like a serious discussion. Minho's posture was slightly tense, his body angled away from us as if to create as much distance as possible without leaving the room.