between the spolight - purinz ✧

hidden.

laying* or wtv (i know it's eunchae with yunjin but pretend it's not for the plot)

chaewon's pov —

days blurred together as the promotional cycle for "you & me" hit full stride. between vocal sessions, dance practices, and interviews, everything felt like a whirlwind. the music video had finally been released, and the anticipation for the live performance was growing. yunjin and i were rehearsing nonstop, perfecting every step, every harmony.

the morning of the live performance arrived, and the atmosphere was electric. there was a different kind of energy backstage—nerves mixed with excitement. it was always like this before a big show. this was the first time we'd be performing the song in front of our fans. even though we had performed countless times, there was something about this moment that felt different—more intense. maybe it was the song, the anticipation, or maybe it was just that yunjin was standing next to me, as always, but everything felt heightened.

i glanced at her from the corner of my eye. she was adjusting her mic, looking focused, but i could see the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. we'd been careful, especially lately. no one knew what was really going on between us, and we planned to keep it that way. but it was hard to ignore the small moments, the way my hand always seemed to brush against hers when we were standing side by side, the way we made each other laugh a little too easily.

"ready?" yunjin asked, turning toward me with that easy smile of hers, the one that always made my heart skip a beat.

"yeah," i nodded, smiling back at her, but keeping it casual. the energy between us needed to stay light. no one could suspect anything. we had to be careful.

we were close enough, though, that i could feel the warmth of her presence beside me. even a simple smile from her had a way of grounding me. i felt more at ease, the tension in my shoulders loosening just a little. it was just a performance, like we'd done hundreds of times, but knowing she was right there made it easier to breathe.

our manager appeared from around the corner, signaling that it was almost time. we would be going out soon.

"let's do this," yunjin said with a grin, holding out her hand in front of me.

i grinned back and took it, squeezing lightly before letting go just as quickly. no one would think anything of it. we were friends, after all—idols who had spent weeks together, performing and supporting each other. a friendly gesture, nothing more.

as we made our way toward the stage, the sound of the fans grew louder, their cheers and excitement filling the venue. i could feel the adrenaline starting to rush through my veins, the familiar thrum of pre-performance nerves mixed with excitement.

we were greeted by the stage crew as we reached the wings. i caught yunjin's eye again, and she gave me a small nod of encouragement. no words needed—just that quiet, shared understanding we always had. no matter what, we had each other's backs out there. that was all that mattered right now.

as we stepped onto the stage, the lights blinding for a brief second, the screams from the crowd hit me like a wave. it was overwhelming in the best way, and suddenly all my nerves melted away. this was our moment.

yunjin and i moved into position, standing close to each other as the intro of "you & me" began to play. the energy was palpable. we exchanged another quick look, our smiles barely contained as the first few notes filled the venue.

i took a deep breath, focusing on the music, the crowd, and yunjin by my side. the moment felt surreal, like all the months of practice and hard work had built to this one performance.

as the song went on, we moved seamlessly through the choreography. there were moments where yunjin's hand would brush against mine during the dance, our touches fleeting but electrifying. each time, it sent a rush of warmth through me, but i kept my focus, determined to keep everything looking natural, just like we always did.

toward the end of the performance, there was a moment where yunjin and i stood closer than usual, our faces inches apart as we locked eyes. it was part of the choreography, part of the performance, but the intensity in her gaze made it feel like so much more. my heart raced, and for a split second, i wondered if anyone could see through the act—if they could sense the truth behind it.

but then the song ended, and the crowd erupted in cheers, pulling me back to the present. i let out a breath i didn't even realize i was holding, turning to face the fans with a beaming smile. yunjin was right there beside me, her own smile just as bright, and together we bowed, thanking the crowd.

as we made our way off stage, the adrenaline still pumping through my veins, i felt yunjin's hand briefly touch my back—a small, comforting gesture, hidden from the cameras and the crowd. it was quick, subtle, and perfectly timed.

and just like that, we were back to being idols, back to pretending that nothing had changed.

"good job out there," yunjin said as we walked backstage, her voice casual, but i could hear the pride in it.

"you too," i replied, my heart still racing from both the performance and the unspoken connection between us.

no one knew our secret, and for now, that was how it had to stay. we could share these moments quietly, hidden behind the music, the performances, and the smiles we gave to the world.

as we reached the dressing room, i let out a long breath, the high of the performance finally starting to fade. yunjin bumped her shoulder against mine, and i couldn't help but smile. we were in this together, even if no one else could ever know.