between the spolight - purinz ✧

all that we are.

yunjin's pov —

the interviews felt like a blur. i sat through question after question, the excitement in the air bubbling around me, yet my mind was only half present. all i could think about was chaewon—the way her smile lit up the stage, the bittersweet sound of her voice reverberating in my ears long after she'd finished singing. each laugh from the interviewers faded into background noise as memories of our time together washed over me.

i tried to focus, to engage, but my heart was still lingering in the moment we'd shared backstage. our brief exchange had ignited something inside me, an ache i had thought i could suppress. i missed her more than i could express, and every question only served to remind me of the distance that had grown between us.

after what felt like hours, i finally excused myself from the final interview, my legs moving on autopilot as i made my way back to the backstage area. the adrenaline of the showcase still lingered in the air, but all i could think about was the look in chaewon's eyes, the warmth of her voice. i needed to see her again, needed to feel that connection that seemed to spark between us like a live wire.

as i entered the backstage area, the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement, but i was hyper-aware of where chaewon might be. i scanned the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. and there she was—leaning against the wall, looking a bit lost in thought, her features soft in the dim light. my heart skipped a beat.

"chaewon," i said, unable to hide the smile that spread across my face.

"yunjin," she replied, her voice warm, yet a hint of uncertainty lingered in her eyes. her brows furrowed, she was probably wondering what i'd come back here to do.

"i was hoping i'd find you here," i confessed, taking a step closer. the space between us felt electric, charged with everything we hadn't said before.

she looked at me, and for a moment, we were both silent, allowing the weight of our shared history to settle around us. the memories hung thick in the air, a palpable force that made it hard to breathe. i knew we shouldn't be having these feelings, that we had both agreed it was better this way. but seeing her again after so long awakened a yearning inside me that i couldn't ignore.

i took her hand, leading her away from the bustling backstage area toward a quieter corner. i knew there was a small storage room nearby, mostly forgotten and unused, but perfect for a moment away from the prying eyes of the world. as we entered, i closed the door behind us, the world outside fading away as the space became just ours for this brief moment.

the room was cramped, filled with boxes and old equipment, but i didn't care. all that mattered was the air between us, thick with unspoken words and unfulfilled desires. i could feel the warmth radiating off her skin, the intoxicating scent of her shampoo filling my senses. i stepped closer, my heart racing as i looked up at her.

"yunjin..." chaewon began, but i didn't let her finish.

in a rush of emotion, i closed the distance between us, pressing my lips against hers. the kiss was tentative at first, a gentle exploration that quickly ignited into something much more intense. i felt her hands slide around my waist, pulling me closer as if she were afraid to let me go.

fuck, i had missed this. i had missed her. the world outside faded away, and all i could feel was the warmth of her body against mine, the softness of her lips moving in perfect harmony with my own. i lost myself in the kiss, needing to feel everything—her hands on my body, the way her fingers tangled in my hair, the soft sighs escaping her lips.

when we finally broke apart, we were both breathless, our foreheads resting against each other as we tried to regain our composure.

"you shouldn't have done that," chaewon whispered, but i could see the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

"why not?" i asked, my heart pounding in anticipation. "i've wanted to kiss you for so long."

"but what about everything we agreed on? what about the distance?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly as she pulled back, creating space between us.

"i don't care," i replied, my eyes locking onto hers with intensity. "i don't want to be apart from you. i miss you too much."

chaewon bit her lip, her gaze dropping for a moment as she processed my words. "i've spent so many months trying to convince myself that i can move on, that it's better this way. but every day without you feels like a part of me is missing."

"then why are we still standing here pretending?" i urged, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me.

something shifted in chaewon's expression. her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and before i could process it, she turned her face away from me, as if she were trying to suppress the emotions rising to the surface.

"chaewon?" i asked, my heart tightening at the sight of her distress. i stepped closer, wrapping my arms around her, drawing her into a comforting embrace.

"i miss you so much, yunjin," she whispered, her voice breaking as tears finally spilled down her cheeks. "i've felt so lonely and sad since we... since everything happened. i've never experienced anything like this before."

i held her tightly, feeling the weight of her sorrow against my chest. "i know baby," i murmured softly, my heart aching for her. "i've felt it too. it's been so hard without you."

"i thought i could handle it," she continued, her voice muffled against my shoulder. "but every day, the emptiness just grows. i keep thinking about you, about us, and i feel so lost without you."

"chaewon," i said gently, pulling back just enough to cup her face in my hands. "i'm not going anywhere."

she looked up at me, her eyes searching mine as if looking for a lifeline. her lips quivered into a small smile, and i felt a flicker of hope in my heart. "i just feel so scared," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "scared of losing you again."

"you won't lose me, i promise," i said firmly, pulling her back into my embrace.

in that moment, as we clung to each other, i could feel chaewon's heart racing against my chest.

"i'm in love with you, yunjin" she said softly, pulling back again, her gaze locking onto mine with unwavering intensity.

my breath caught in my throat, and i felt a rush of warmth spread through me. "you mean it?" i asked, searching her eyes for confirmation.

"yes," she said, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "you're my first love."

tears sprang to my eyes as the truth of her words washed over me like a tide. "chaewon, i'm in love with you. i love you too. i've always loved you."

my heart pounded as i reached for her hands, my thumbs tracing soft circles over her knuckles. "i love you, i always will." i repeated, savoring the weight and truth of the words.

a tear slipped down her cheek, and i reached up to gently wipe it away. she looked at me with that same vulnerability, the tenderness in her gaze a testament to all the moments we'd silently pined for each other. i pulled her into a warm embrace, feeling the rise and fall of her breathing as we clung to each other. every emotion—fear, hope, love—poured out in that silent embrace, until there was nothing left.

we stayed like that for a long time, letting the weight of our confessions settle in, until finally, i leaned back, holding her gaze. "i miss you, yunjin," she admitted, her voice shaky. "every single day."

before i could think twice, i stepped forward again, capturing her lips with mine once more. this time, it was filled with a sense of purpose and urgency, a promise that we would find a way back to each other, no matter the obstacles in our path.

in that cramped little room, surrounded by memories and whispers of what could have been, i finally felt whole again. i wanted her, and i would do everything in my power to make sure we didn't lose this connection again.

as we pulled away, breathless, i couldn't help but feel that this was just the beginning of something beautiful. the world outside could wait; for now, it was just the two of us, reclaiming what we thought was lost.