Harmonies of the Heart

Chapter 11: Aftermath of the Storm

Ruka awoke in her bed, the morning light piercing through her curtains, casting an unforgiving glare on her bleary eyes. She groaned, feeling the remnants of last night's revelry weighing heavily on her mind and body. As she sat up, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and she had to steady herself against the nightstand. Memories began to filter back: laughter, dancing, and an overwhelming urge to drink away her anxieties.

Then, there was that dream. The one where Junkyu leaned in, his lips almost touching hers, igniting a rush of warmth in her chest. She shook her head, dismissing it as nothing more than a drunken hallucination. "Just a silly dream," she muttered, trying to erase the flutter of hope that clung to her heart.

Across town, in the TREASURE dorm, Junkyu was in a similar state of contemplation. Sitting on his bed, he replayed the night in his mind, wondering about the kiss that had almost happened. A smile crept onto his face, but it quickly turned to worry. What if Ruka remembered? What if that brief moment had changed everything? He felt a twinge of guilt; he didn't want to ruin their friendship.

Suddenly, a sharp ping from his phone broke his reverie. It was a message from Hyunsuk, asking if he'd seen the news. Junkyu's heart raced as he opened the notifications. Dispatch had uncovered dating rumors involving Ruka and Yeonjun.

Back in Ruka's dorm, a flurry of notifications disrupted her spiraling thoughts. Her phone buzzed relentlessly—messages from her manager, producers, and even Papa YG demanding a meeting. Confused and slightly panicked, she grabbed her phone and began searching online.

Rami burst through the door, breathless. "Ruka! You need to see this!" She thrust her phone toward Ruka, whose heart dropped as she read the headline: Dispatch Exposes Ruka and Yeonjun's Dating Rumors.

"No, no, no," Ruka whispered, her heart pounding. This couldn't be happening. Her mind raced back to the night's events, and she felt a wave of nausea rise within her.

"Ruka, what did you do?" Rami's voice was a mix of concern and urgency.

"I need to go to the agency," Ruka replied, panic seizing her chest. She couldn't let this misunderstanding spiral further.

When Ruka arrived at the agency, she was immediately ushered into Papa YG's office. The atmosphere felt heavy, and she could sense the tension in the air. As she entered, Papa YG looked up from his desk, his expression serious.

"Ruka," he said, his voice firm yet concerned. "We need to discuss the rumors surrounding you and Yeonjun."

She took a deep breath, her voice shaking. "I don't have a relationship with him. I rejected him last night. It was all a misunderstanding!"

Papa YG sighed, rubbing his temples. "You need to be more careful about your actions. The public can twist any situation. I'll work to clear this up, but for now, I recommend you take a break from group activities. Focus on your well-being."

Ruka felt her heart shatter at his words. "But I want to—"

"It's for your own good," he interrupted gently, his eyes softening.

Defeated, Ruka left his office, feeling the weight of despair settle over her like a heavy blanket. A part of her wanted to fight, to scream that this wasn't fair. But the other part knew she had to be responsible.

Meanwhile, Junkyu sat in his room, heartbroken after seeing the news. He had hoped to offer Ruka support, but now it felt like everything was slipping away. The rumors only added to the tension, and he felt helpless to reach out.

A week passed, and Ruka was slowly gaining the strength to return to the agency. The sadness lingered, her eyes puffy from sleepless nights spent crying over the chaos that had unraveled her life. She felt exposed, and her heart ached with longing.

As she walked through the agency halls, the atmosphere felt different. Her peers cast glances in her direction, whispers echoing in the air. She caught sight of Junkyu at the far end of the corridor, and a flicker of hope ignited in her chest. "Junkyu oppa!" she called out, voice hopeful and tentative.

But he didn't turn. Instead, he walked past her as if she were invisible. The rejection struck her harder than any words could. Despair washed over her, and she felt her heart sink. She had wanted him to see her, to talk to her, to somehow bridge the gap between them.

Asahi, noticing her distress, approached with concern. "Ruka, don't let it get to you. It's going to be alright," he said, wrapping her arm around Ruka's shoulders.

Ruka sighed, trying to muster a smile. "I just... I hoped he would talk to me."

Unbeknownst to them, Junkyu lingered at a distance, his heart aching as he watched Ruka and Asahi together. Jealousy simmered beneath his surface, fueling an anger he didn't fully understand. Why couldn't he just go to her? Why did he feel so drawn to her yet so paralyzed by fear?

"Why can't you just look at me?" Ruka whispered to herself, glancing back at Junkyu, wishing he would acknowledge her. But he remained a mere shadow, further away than she could reach, trapped in his own swirling emotions.

As the day wore on, Ruka felt a heaviness settle in her chest, a longing for the connection they once shared. Each moment that passed without a word from Junkyu deepened her sense of loneliness, making the world around her feel more isolating than ever.

In that moment, both Junkyu and Ruka were lost—caught in a web of misunderstandings, unspoken feelings, and the longing for a connection that felt just out of reach. The storm had passed, but its aftermath left them both struggling to find their way back to each other.