You Belong With Me | Jeongcheol Fanfic

Chapter 18

The next day, Jeonghan stood in front of the choir room, the sound of people warming up behind the door filling his ears. His heart pounded in his chest, and he found himself glancing down the hallway, hoping—no, expecting—to see Seungcheol. And, just as if fate was listening, there he was.

Seungcheol appeared, a relaxed smile on his face as he approached Jeonghan. "Hey," he said casually, though his eyes showed something deeper. "You ready?"

Jeonghan felt his heart skip a beat at how easy Seungcheol made everything seem. "As ready as I'll ever be," he replied, trying to sound confident but knowing full well that he was nervous.

Seungcheol reached out and squeezed Jeonghan's shoulder, a small but reassuring gesture. "You're going to do great. I'm not worried."

Jeonghan laughed softly. "You're too calm for this."

"That's because I know you, Jeonghan. You don't mess up. You're practically perfect." Seungcheol's tone was teasing, but there was something about the way he said it that made Jeonghan's chest tighten.

Before Jeonghan could respond, the door opened, and a choir member popped out, calling his name. It was time.

Jeonghan took a deep breath, gave Seungcheol one last glance, and nodded. "Wish me luck."

Seungcheol's smile widened, his eyes softening as he said, "You don't need luck. But I'll be cheering for you."

With those words echoing in his mind, Jeonghan stepped into the audition room, ready to face whatever came next.

~

As Jeonghan entered the audition room, he felt the familiar nerves tightening in his stomach. A panel of judges sat at a long table, their expressions neutral as they scribbled notes. He recognized a few familiar faces from the choir club and felt a wave of familiarity wash over him. Taking a deep breath, he focused on the task at hand.

"Next up, we have Jeonghan," one of the judges called, and the others shifted their attention toward him.

Jeonghan approached the center of the room, trying to ignore the flutter of anxiety in his chest. He could feel the weight of their gazes on him, but he also imagined Seungcheol outside, waiting and watching, and that thought ignited a small spark of confidence within him.

"Whenever you're ready," the judge said, giving him a reassuring nod.

Jeonghan took a moment to collect himself. He closed his eyes, envisioning the warmth of Seungcheol's embrace, the way he made him feel special just by being himself. With a deep breath, he opened his eyes and began to sing.

As the notes flowed from his lips, he felt himself lose track of everything—the judges, the bright lights, the pressure. The melody wrapped around him like a warm blanket, and he poured his heart into the song. He focused on the emotion behind each lyric, remembering the late-night practices in his room, the encouraging words of his friends, and the moment he shared with Seungcheol.

When he finished, there was a brief pause before the judges erupted in applause, their expressions genuinely impressed. Jeonghan beamed, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. He had done it.

"Thank you, Jeonghan," one of the judges said, smiling. "That was beautiful. We'll be in touch."

As he stepped out of the room, the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders. Jeonghan walked down the hallway, ready to find Seungcheol. As he turned the corner, he spotted him leaning against the wall, a proud smile stretching across his face.