dreamscapes - yunjin

chapter 11: close harmony.

it had been two months since yunjin and aerin first met, and their connection had only grown stronger. late-night texts turned into longer conversations, and now, for the first time, they were going to collaborate directly on a new song. yunjin had invited aerin to her studio to help her work on a new track, and both were eager to see how their creative energy might flow in person.

yunjin's side —

the door to the studio clicked open, and yunjin greeted aerin with a grin. "you made it! ready to dive into some music?"

aerin stepped in, her notebook in hand, smiling warmly. "of course. i've been excited about this all week."

after some casual pleasantries, the conversation shifted to the music. yunjin sat by the mixing board, motioning for aerin to join her. "so, i've been working on this melody. it's still rough, but i want your input—especially with lyrics."

aerin nodded and sat down closer to yunjin, their proximity catching her off guard. leaning over the desk to glance at the sheet music, their shoulders brushed lightly. yunjin's breath hitched for a moment, but she quickly redirected her focus.

"play it for me," aerin said softly, her voice carrying a tone of quiet concentration.

yunjin hit play, and the room filled with a gentle yet driving melody, a mix of soft guitar and ambient synths. the song had an emotional weight to it, something yunjin often gravitated toward, but it still felt unfinished. as the music played, aerin closed her eyes, nodding along with the rhythm, listening intently.

when the melody faded, aerin glanced over, her face thoughtful. "it's beautiful. there's this feeling of longing in the melody... but i think the lyrics need to reflect that. maybe something about searching for answers, but not knowing where to find them?"

yunjin looked at her, genuinely impressed. "exactly what i was thinking. you've got a real knack for understanding the vibe."

aerin smiled, their shoulders still brushing as they leaned closer over the keyboard. yunjin typed in a few notes on the laptop, trying to adjust the sound slightly. as she did, aerin's hand accidentally brushed against yunjin's, lingering for a moment longer than necessary. both of them froze, the air thick with an unexpected tension that left yunjin's heart racing. she was used to feeling attracted to guys, but there was something different about aerin—something that made her question what was happening.

clearing her throat, yunjin smiled to break the moment's tension. "okay, so let's try to come up with some lyrics. want to work through it together?"

aerin nodded and opened her notebook, scooting even closer so they could share the same space. yunjin felt the warmth of aerin's presence beside her, and though they'd worked together on ideas before, something about being in the same room—this close—made the collaboration feel more intense.

they began brainstorming, tossing lines back and forth, their voices growing more excited as they found a rhythm. aerin jotted down words while yunjin hummed a few melodies. as they created together, yunjin became increasingly aware of the way their arms brushed against each other. each touch sent a spark of electricity through her, making her shy and uncertain.

"you're really good at this," yunjin said, her voice quieter than before, almost as if she were sharing a secret.

aerin glanced over, their faces mere inches apart now. "thanks. but you're the one making it sound good. i'm just adding some words."

yunjin smiled, her gaze lingering on aerin's for a moment longer than usual. it wasn't anything romantic—at least, not yet—but the undeniable closeness between them made yunjin's heart flutter in a way she hadn't anticipated when they'd first started working together.

as they continued refining the song, aerin's hand rested briefly on yunjin's arm—a casual gesture that felt natural in the moment, yet both of them seemed to hold their breath. neither pulled away, instead allowing the closeness to linger, fueling their creative energy. yunjin's mind raced as she processed the warmth radiating from aerin's touch, questioning her own feelings for the first time.

"okay, i think we've got it," yunjin finally said, her voice filled with satisfaction as she leaned back. "let's record a quick demo."

aerin nodded, watching as yunjin moved into the vocal booth, her heart racing not from nerves but from the warmth of their time together. the physical closeness had been subtle, but it had added a new layer to their friendship, something neither had expected when they started collaborating.

yunjin's voice filled the studio as she sang the new lyrics they'd crafted together. aerin sat back, listening with a smile, feeling proud of what they'd created. yet, beyond that, she couldn't shake the deepening sense of connection—a bond that felt special and unique. they were growing closer in ways neither had anticipated, and though neither was thinking about it in romantic terms yet, there was something undeniably beautiful about what they were building—both musically and personally.

when yunjin finished, she stepped out of the booth with a wide grin. "what do you think?"

aerin's smile widened. "it sounds amazing. you brought it to life."

they shared a look, filled with mutual respect, admiration, and something else—a closeness that felt both new and exciting. whatever this was, it was only the beginning.