"Were have you been?"
"Getting you oompa loompas some snacks," Aerin answered, tossing three plastic bags onto the coffee table. Xia's grin spread wide at the sight, though the excitement that would normally accompany their situation was tempered by exhaustion. The tiny waiting room became their refuge, the minutes dragging on with little more to do than wait.
Despite Eclipse's nomination, the weariness of the day held them in a kind of quiet lull. All except Yuna, who was practically vibrating with energy, her enthusiasm infectious. Aerin allowed herself a small, silent applause for her decision to slip the younger girl a handful of candy.
"Rin Rin!"
"Yes, yes?" Aerin responded, amused.
"How much longer?" Yuna's wide-eyed innocence and uncontainable cheer made Aerin chuckle softly. Unaware of the passing time, Yuna leaned in expectantly. Aerin, on the other hand, was the only one with a phone, a privilege she never quite grew comfortable with. As the leader, it was her responsibility to communicate with their manager and handle the logistics for their various commitments, but the other girls didn't seem to mind. They didn't envy her; in fact, Aerin had a habit of avoiding her phone as much as possible, preferring to focus on her members' comfort.
With a gentle sigh, Aerin glanced at the screen. "Fifteen minutes," she replied, her voice steady but carrying a quiet sense of urgency. Yuna's grin widened, and she skipped off to start another round of hand games with Aki.
"Alright, everyone, gather up." Aerin called out, her voice laced with an authority that made the others fall into place. They circled around her, eyes shining with the same mixture of excitement and apprehension.
She met their gazes one by one, her words finding their way into their hearts. "I know we all want that win more than anything. But remember, it's our first stage. Whether we win or not, we've done something incredible together, and today, we proved what we're capable of. Our performance will always be something to be proud of. If we don't win, that's alright. There are more opportunities ahead of us. And if we do win—let's stay humble. Every single one of the groups here has worked just as hard as we have, and winning doesn't make us better than them." She smiled at the group, feeling the weight of her words settle into their hearts.
Without another word, she opened her arms. One by one, they fell into the embrace, a wave of emotion washing over them. "I love you all."
"Girls, it's go time." Manager Yoo's voice cut through the moment like a sharp breeze.
The members slowly pulled away, ready to face the world outside. But just as Aerin turned to lead them toward the stage, her phone beeped, stopping her in her tracks. Her fingers flew over the screen, catching the message.
Seungcheol: Good luck :)
Aerin: Thanks!
The simplicity of his message caused an unexpected joy. His kind gesture made her smile, even as the girls around her began to giggle, curious about her sudden mood shift. She shrugged them off, leading the group towards the stage with her heart fluttering in her chest.
The sea of senior idols waiting in the wings should have intimidated her, but she forced herself to remain calm. This moment was about more than just their debut—it was about showing her members, showing herself, that she could be strong for them.
As they made their way to their spot, Aerin's eyes unexpectedly locked with Seungcheol's across the room. His small, encouraging smile sent a flutter through her heart, and though it was clear he wanted to approach, the crowd held him back. She smiled back before turning away, barely catching sight of Jihoon's curious stare.
Then, it was their turn. The moment Eclipse's name was called, Aerin was so lost in the whirlwind of emotions that she barely registered it. It wasn't until Aki's excited nudge pulled her from her daze that she realized—they had won. Their first win.
As the leader, Aerin stepped forward, taking the trophy with both hands. From the corner of her eye, she saw Yuna's tears glistening. Without a second thought, Aerin pulled the younger girl close, holding her tightly as they stood together before the audience. Her arm tightened around Yuna, and with her free hand, she grasped the microphone.
"I... wow," Aerin began, her voice filled with awe. "This is so surreal. I can't believe we're standing here right now. Thank you to all our Moons for your unwavering support. And to our international fans, we love you more than words can say." She bowed deeply, her heart racing, before passing the microphone to Xia, who spoke in Mandarin, then to Aki, who delivered a heartfelt speech in Japanese. As soon as the microphone left her hand, Aerin turned, wrapping her arms around Yuna in a comforting embrace.
She felt Seungcheol's gaze from the distance, the comfort of his smile never faltering as he watched her. It was a smile that, despite the rules and the pressure, couldn't be hidden. Jihoon was watching, too, and though he was puzzled by his cousin's relaxed demeanor, it was clear that this moment meant something far more than any of them realized.
As the instrumental of their debut song began, the crowd erupted into cheers. Yuna's tears had dried, her smile returning as she sang with all her heart, and Aerin felt a rush of pride for the girl she had always looked out for. Seeing the fans, the idols, the emotions of the moment—all of it felt overwhelming.
She couldn't stop herself from smiling as she took in the scene, the world around her vibrating with energy. The stage was alive with music, and for the first time, she felt the full weight of the love and dedication that had brought them here.
As Aerin moved with grace through her lines, she instinctively shifted closer to Seventeen's side of the stage, her eyes meeting Seungcheol's once more. Their shared connection in that brief moment was electric, though neither of them could voice it aloud.
Seungkwan leaned over to Seokmin with a teasing grin. "She's a great live singer."
"Well, of course," Seokmin responded with a laugh. "She's Woozi's cousin, after all. I heard she even produced this song."
Seungkwan nodded. "She did."
As Aerin hit the powerful chorus, Seungcheol's gaze remained fixed on her, captivated. He couldn't explain it, but seeing her in her element was impossible to look away from.
And when their paths crossed for a brief, shared moment of recognition—a subtle exchange, a handshake between cousins—Seungcheol found himself smiling again. This time, it was more than just a fleeting gesture. It was something he couldn't quite place, but something he couldn't ignore either.
