A Song for You

Chapter 9

The next day, Bang Chan woke up feeling overwhelmed with stress. He had just received the news that one of his members, Han, had fallen ill, likely due to the intense rehearsals leading up to the upcoming competition.

As the leader, he couldn't help but blame himself for pushing them too hard. Bang Chan paced around the dorm, running his hands through his hair in frustration. He had been so focused on perfecting their performance that he had neglected to prioritize his members' well-being.  

Now, with the competition just days away, he was faced with the daunting task of taking care of  Han while also ensuring the rest of the team was in top shape. As the day wore on, Bang Chan found himself consumed by his worries. He barely ate, barely slept, and barely responded to the messages flooding his phone. Aera's name popped up a few times, but he couldn't bring himself to reply, not wanting to burden her with his problems.

Aera's POV

The past couple of days had been a whirlwind of emotions. I had been riding high after the rehearsal, feeling a spark of excitement every time I thought about Bang Chan. But now, with each passing hour without a message from him, that excitement was slowly being replaced by disappointment.

I had sent him a few texts, casual and light-hearted, hoping to keep the connection we had started. But all I received in return was silence. It was hard not to take it personally. Had I said something wrong? Did he lose interest?

I tried to shake off the negative thoughts as I went about my day, but it was difficult. I found myself glancing at my phone every few minutes, willing it to light up with a message from him. Instead, I was met with nothing but the dull ache of waiting.

As I walked to class, I couldn't help but replay our last conversation in my mind. The way he smiled at me, the warmth in his voice—it felt so genuine. I had thought we were building something special, but now I was left feeling uncertain.

I knew he was busy; he had a lot on his plate with the competition coming up. But I couldn't help but wonder if he was okay. What was going on in his life that was keeping him from reaching out? I wanted to be there for him, to support him, but I felt like I was on the outside looking in.

Later that day, I sat down with Yeonjun and Soobin at lunch, trying to distract myself from my thoughts. They were both animatedly discussing their plans for the weekend, but I found it hard to focus. My mind kept drifting back to Bang Chan and the silence that had settled between us.

"Hey, Aera, you okay?" Soobin asked, his brow furrowing with concern. "You seem a bit out of it."

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, forcing a smile. "Just...thinking about some stuff."

"Thinking about Bang Chan?" Yeonjun teased, a knowing grin on his face. I felt my cheeks flush, and I quickly shook my head. 

"No! I mean, not really. Just, you know, school stuff."

"Come on, you can tell us," Soobin pressed, leaning closer. "We're your friends. We want to help." I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and longing. 

"I just wish he would text me back. I thought we were getting closer, but now it feels like he's just...gone." Yeonjun exchanged a glance with Soobin, and I could tell they were both thinking the same thing. 

"Maybe he's just really busy," Soobin suggested gently. "You know how demanding his schedule can be."

"Yeah, but it's been three days," I said, my voice tinged with disappointment. "I just wish I knew what was going on with him."

"Give it time, Aera," Yeonjun said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "If he's truly interested, he'll reach out when he can. Just don't lose hope."

I nodded, but deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty. I wanted to be there for him, to support him through whatever he was dealing with, but I felt helpless. All I could do was wait and hope that he would come back to me when he was ready.

As I sat there with my friends, I realized that no matter what happened, I had to stay true to myself. I couldn't let my feelings for Bang Chan consume me. I would be patient, but I wouldn't let my heart be locked away forever. If he wanted me, he would have to find a way to reach out, and I would be here, waiting for him.

'_'