Left Out Friend

4

Everyone was ready. Each member had dressed uniquely, their outfits reflecting their individual styles. Their makeup was on point—flawless and striking under the bright dressing room lights. Excitement buzzed in the air, but an underlying tension lingered as well.

The manager’s voice cut through the noise. “You have ten more minutes to prepare!”

Sunoo stood in the farthest corner of the room, facing the mirror. But instead of looking at himself, his gaze lingered on the reflection of his members. They were huddled together, taking pictures in pairs—laughing, striking playful poses, capturing the moment before stepping onto the stage.

Their expressions were a mix of nerves and anticipation.

—Hah. Don’t get them wrong. It’s not like it’s their first time performing in front of a screaming crowd. They’re just… well, nervous as always. One mistake, and people will never let them forget it.—

Sunoo let out a quiet sigh.

He wanted a picture with them, too.

But no one approached him.

Instead of dwelling on it, he hummed a soft tune to himself, his fingers absentmindedly adjusting the sleeves of his outfit. Just then, his phone buzzed with a notification.

[Eunwoo]

Eunwoo:
Hey, Sun
Good luck!!

Sunoo’s lips curled into a small smile as he read the message. He quickly typed back a reply.

Sunoo:
Thank you!
Good luck to you too!

Eunwoo’s group had also made a comeback just three weeks ago, so they were here as well. Knowing that made him feel a little lighter.

Minutes later, their staff called for them. It was time.

Jungwon, always the energetic leader, grinned and shouted, “GOOD LUCK!” while flashing a finger heart.

The stage was waiting.

***

The performance went smoothly.

Their months of practice paid off—their movements were sharp, synchronized, and powerful. The audience’s cheers filled the venue, roaring their names, their excitement vibrating through the stage floor.

Sunghoon was the ending fairy.

The cameras zoomed in on him as he stared into the lens with a cool, intense gaze. The crowd erupted even louder at the sight, their screams echoing through the hall.

A successful performance.

A well-deserved moment.

As they walked down the backstage hallway, wiping the sweat off their foreheads, an easy conversation sparked among them.

“Hey guys,” Jake started, a smirk playing on his lips. “Wanna celebrate the success?”

“Who the hell doesn’t want that?” Jungwon scoffed, stretching his arms. “Of course! What should we do?”

Sunghoon chuckled, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. “How about we meet someone new?”

The others glanced at him curiously.

“I have a friend from our agency, but I won’t tell you who.” His smirk deepened. “I want y’all to meet her.”

“She?” Ni-ki raised a brow. “So it’s a girl?”

Sunghoon nodded.

“I don’t want to get caught up in a dating rumor,” Ni-ki muttered under his breath, making Heeseung roll his eyes.

“Relax,” Sunghoon scoffed. “She’s not into you. I promise.”

“You—”

“Alright, that’s enough,” Jay interjected, cutting off the brewing argument. “Since our manager gave us free time after the performance, why not?”

“Yeah, these past few days have been exhausting,” Jungwon agreed.

Everyone seemed on board, but Jake was still skeptical. “Why, though? We could just go to a restaurant or something.”

“It’s my treat,” Sunghoon replied with a shrug. “And besides, she invited me, but I figured it’d be awkward if it was just the two of us.”

Jay and Ni-ki exchanged knowing glances. Sunghoon rolled his eyes.

“Dude~ okay, I got ya,” Ni-ki teased.

“What do you mean ‘I got ya’?” Heeseung smirked, throwing an arm around Sunghoon’s shoulder and giving him a hearty pat. “We got ya, Sunghoon.”

Ni-ki chuckled. “Hope she’s not the annoying type.”

“Bro~”

Sunoo, who had been silently listening the entire time, couldn’t help but smile to himself. The idea of meeting someone new sounded… nice. It had been a long time since he made a new friend. With their packed schedules, there was barely any time to talk to anyone outside of work.

Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

***

When they finally arrived back at their dorm, the energy from earlier faded almost instantly.

One by one, they dragged themselves to their respective rooms, exhaustion settling into their bones.

Sunoo entered his room, shutting the door behind him with a quiet sigh.

Well, wasn’t it obvious? They were all dead tired.

Without another thought, he locked the door and collapsed onto his bed.

Tonight had been eventful. But tomorrow…

Tomorrow would be a new day.

To be continued...