between the spolight - purinz ✧

you & me.

chaewon's pov —

the announcement of my mini-album evie was finally out. it felt like a weight had lifted, but also like a new one had landed on my shoulders. fans were buzzing about the tracklist—five songs that i had poured everything into. evie was my story, my voice. the title track was everything i wanted to show the world, but the one thing i wasn't prepared for was the reaction to "you & me," the song featuring yunjin.

it was supposed to be a highlight, fans were ecstatic to see her name on the tracklist, but i knew the reality behind it wasn't nearly as perfect.

today was the day we were set to record the song. i hadn't seen yunjin since our last brutal practice session, and now we were expected to sound perfectly in sync in the studio. the idea felt almost ridiculous, considering we couldn't even get through a dance without biting at each other.

as i walked into the recording booth, i saw her already there, leaning against the console, her arms crossed and her face as unreadable as ever. no smile, no greeting this time. just her usual cold demeanor.

"you're late," she said flatly, her eyes flickering up to meet mine.

"by three minutes," i muttered, setting my bag down. "let's just get this done."

yunjin didn't respond, but the tension in the room was thick. the producer waved us over, oblivious to the weird energy between us, and handed us the lyrics sheet. it was strange seeing our names on the same paper, like we were some kind of duo.

"okay, ladies," the producer said, clearly excited about the track. "this song is a duet, so i need you to feel the connection between you two. it's intimate, almost like you're talking directly to each other. so bring that chemistry out in your voices, yeah?"

i almost laughed at the irony. chemistry? we barely tolerated each other.

yunjin didn't say anything, just nodded, as if the tension didn't bother her at all. maybe it didn't. she was always so composed, so in control. i envied that about her, even if i couldn't stand the way she always seemed to look down on me.

we stepped into the booth, side by side, the glass separating us from the producer. the instrumental began to play softly through the headphones, a slow, emotional melody that wrapped around us like smoke. the lyrics were sweet, almost too sweet for what we had between us. you & me, the title repeated over and over, as if trying to convince us it was real.

i started with my verse, my voice a little shaky at first. the lyrics were vulnerable, talking about trust and longing, emotions that felt foreign when yunjin was standing right next to me. i tried to block her out, focusing on the music, on the feeling i wanted to convey to the fans.

when my part ended, it was her turn. her voice slipped in smoothly, effortlessly. she sounded perfect, as always. every note was rich, every word dripping with emotion. it was frustrating how easy she made it look, but i couldn't deny how good she was. i couldn't help but feel like i was trying to match something that was way out of my league.

then came the chorus, where we had to harmonize. the producer had been right—it was intimate. our voices blended together, and for a brief moment, i felt something click. our tones meshed in a way that almost surprised me.

i glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, and for a split second, i thought i saw her expression soften. but just as quickly as it came, it was gone, replaced by that same distant mask she always wore.

the second verse followed, this time yunjin's part first. as she sang, her voice filled the booth with this warmth, a warmth that had never been there when she spoke to me. it was almost like i was hearing a different version of her, one who wasn't cold and distant. i wondered if she could ever be like that off-stage.

when it was my turn again, i tried to match her intensity, pushing past the nerves. the more i sang, the more i started to understand why people paired us together, even if i didn't feel that way. our voices did something special together, something i hadn't expected.

but then the moment ended, and as soon as the music stopped, the tension came rushing back. yunjin took off her headphones, glancing at me briefly before turning her attention back to the producer.

"good first take," she said, her voice back to its usual cool tone. "but we can do better."

i didn't say anything, just nodded. she was right. we could do better, but working with her was making everything so much harder.

"let's run it again," the producer called out, clearly impressed with our initial performance but wanting to push it further.

we went through the track a few more times, each take smoother than the last. but no matter how good it sounded, there was still this wall between us. yunjin was distant, and no matter how much i tried, i couldn't break through to her.

after we finished the final take, the producer clapped his hands, smiling wide. "that was perfect. you two are going to kill it with this one."

yunjin nodded, not saying a word as she gathered her things, preparing to leave. i could feel the tension still hanging in the air, unspoken but heavy. i wasn't sure if it would ever go away.

as she headed for the door, i finally spoke up, surprising even myself. "yunjin."

she stopped, turning slightly, her expression unreadable.

"thanks... for helping with this," i said, my voice softer than i intended. "i know it's not easy."

she stared at me for a moment, her eyes flickering with something i couldn't quite read. then she nodded, once, before walking out without a word.

i stood there for a moment, the silence in the studio deafening. this song was supposed to be about connection, but right now, it felt like we were worlds apart.