untitled ; 2024

adjusting to change

The practice room felt unusually tense that day. The usual banter and light-hearted jokes among the members of Super Junior 05 were replaced by hushed whispers and anxious glances. Hyun-jeong couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she could sense that something significant was about to happen.

She sat quietly in her usual spot, stretching her legs while keeping an eye on the other members. Donghae, usually the most cheerful of the group, was uncharacteristically subdued. Even Heechul, who never missed an opportunity to tease someone, seemed distracted. The atmosphere was thick with uncertainty.

The door to the practice room opened, and their manager, Young-joon, entered, followed by a young man Hyun-jeong had never seen before. The room fell silent, all eyes fixed on the newcomer.

"Everyone, I have an important announcement," Young-joon began, his voice carrying a weight that immediately commanded attention. "This is Kyuhyun. He's going to be joining Super Junior 05 as our newest member."

The announcement landed like a bombshell. Hyun-jeong's heart skipped a beat as she quickly glanced around the room. The other members looked just as shocked as she felt. There was no excitement in their expressions—only confusion and anxiety.

Another member? Hyun-jeong thought, struggling to process the news. They had barely adjusted to being a group, and now they were expected to welcome someone new? The implications were unsettling, especially given the rumours that their group wasn't meant to be permanent.

Kyuhyun stepped forward, his posture tense and his eyes darting nervously around the room. He looked as uneasy as everyone else felt.

"Hello, I'm Cho Kyuhyun," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll do my best to learn quickly and keep up with everyone. Please take care of me."

The silence that followed was deafening. The usual polite greetings were absent; instead, there was a palpable tension as the members exchanged uneasy glances. No one seemed to know what to say, and for a moment, Hyun-jeong felt a pang of sympathy for Kyuhyun.

Finally, unable to bear the awkwardness, Hyun-jeong stood up and offered a small bow. "Welcome, Kyuhyun," she said, forcing a smile. "I'm Hyun-jeong. It's nice to meet you."

Kyuhyun returned the bow, but there was no mistaking the awkwardness in the air. He seemed painfully aware of the cold reception, and Hyun-jeong's heart went out to him. She knew what it was like to be the odd one out, and she could see that Kyuhyun was already struggling with that reality.

As practice resumed, the tension lingered. The usual playfulness was absent, replaced by an uneasy silence that hung over the group like a dark cloud. Hyun-jeong found herself constantly aware of Kyuhyun's presence, watching as he tried his best to keep up with the choreography. He was diligent, but there was a noticeable stiffness in his movements, as if he was afraid of making a mistake.

During a break, Hyun-jeong approached Kyuhyun, who was standing off to the side, sipping water. "You're doing well," she said, hoping to offer some encouragement.

Kyuhyun looked at her, his expression a mix of relief and uncertainty. "Thanks," he said quietly. "But I can tell... I don't think everyone's happy about me being here."

Hyun-jeong hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She couldn't deny that the atmosphere had changed since Kyuhyun's arrival, and it was clear that the others were struggling with the news. "It's not about you personally," she finally said. "I think everyone's just... surprised. We've been through a lot together, and this is a big change."

Kyuhyun nodded, though he still looked troubled. "I understand. I just hope I can prove myself to everyone."

Hyun-jeong offered him a small smile. "You will. Just give it time."

But even as she said the words, a part of her couldn't shake the unease that had settled in her chest. The group had been built on the idea that they were temporary, a project that could end at any moment. Kyuhyun's addition only made that uncertainty more real, and it was clear that everyone was grappling with what it meant for their future.

As the day wore on, the mood in the practice room remained strained. The members continued to go through the motions, but there was a noticeable lack of energy in their movements. Even the usually spirited Shindong seemed subdued, his usual jokes and laughter absent.

Later that evening, after the practice session had ended, Hyun-jeong lingered in the room, watching as the others slowly gathered their things and left. She noticed that no one had really interacted with Kyuhyun beyond the bare minimum, and the thought made her feel uneasy.

This isn't how it's supposed to be, she thought, staring at her reflection in the mirror. We're a team... but right now, we don't feel like one.

Eunhyuk, who had been unusually quiet all day, walked over to her, his expression serious. "You okay?" he asked, leaning against the mirror beside her.

Hyun-jeong sighed, crossing her arms as she looked at him. "I don't know. Everything feels... off. I can tell everyone's anxious about Kyuhyun joining, but no one's talking about it."

Eunhyuk nodded, his gaze distant. "Yeah, it's weird. I think we're all just trying to figure out what this means. We've heard the rumours, and now with Kyuhyun here... it's hard not to worry."

Hyun-jeong bit her lip, feeling a wave of uncertainty wash over her. "Do you think... this could be the beginning of the end for us?"

Eunhyuk was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "I don't know. But I do know that if we let this tension fester, it's only going to make things worse. We need to talk about it, all of us."

His words made sense, but Hyun-jeong couldn't shake the fear that had taken root in her heart. She nodded slowly, realizing that they had a long road ahead of them. "You're right," she said quietly. "We need to face this head-on, together."

As the last of the members left the practice room, Hyun-jeong made a silent promise to herself: she would do whatever it took to help the group navigate this new chapter. Kyuhyun might have been the catalyst for their anxiety, but he didn't have to be the cause of their downfall.

With renewed determination, Hyun-jeong headed out of the practice room, ready to confront the challenges ahead. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she also knew that they were stronger together—even if it didn't feel that way right now.