between the spolight - purinz ✧

watching from afar.

yunjin's pov —

the park meeting with chaewon had left me feeling weightless, filled with the kind of hope i thought i'd lost. the look in her eyes, the warmth of her voice, all of it lingered in my mind, grounding me through every rehearsal, every interview, every moment we were apart. but as much as i wanted to believe that things could return to what they once were, i knew that the world around us wouldn't make it easy.

i wanted to keep that bubble safe from anything and anyone that might burst it. and in the back of my mind, giselle was that persistent threat, lurking in the shadows with a smile that never quite reached her eyes.

i'd started to relax a little, thinking her strange fixation had subsided. she hadn't approached me since that unsettling night in the studio, but her lingering looks hadn't gone unnoticed. i'd catch her watching me at rehearsals, her expression unreadable, and occasionally, she'd send me messages that were strangely cryptic yet innocent enough to brush off if i had to. each message felt like a thinly veiled reminder that she was still there, still watching, always near.

one evening, after rehearsal, i was gathering my things, exhausted from the day and ready to collapse into bed. just as i slung my bag over my shoulder, giselle appeared in the doorway, her gaze fixed on me with a disconcerting intensity.

"heading out already?" she asked, her voice smooth and familiar, but her tone held a strange edge to it.

i forced a polite smile, masking the unease that curled in my stomach. "yeah, long day. i need some rest."

she stepped closer, her gaze never leaving me. "you seem...distracted lately, yunjin. anything on your mind?"

i kept my expression neutral. "just the usual. busy schedules and all that."

her eyes lingered on me, as if searching for a crack in my words, something she could use. "it's not about chaewon, is it?" her voice was low, her tone casual, but there was an implication in her words that made my skin prickle.

i held her gaze, forcing a casual laugh. "chaewon? giselle, chaewon and i haven't spoken in months," i lied, shrugging as if it was no big deal. "what makes you think i'd be thinking about her?"

giselle's smile didn't fade; if anything, it grew sharper, more probing. "you just seem... distant," she said softly, leaning forward as if that would make her words seem gentler. "i'm just looking out for you, that's all. i care."

her tone was sweet, almost too sweet, and it set every nerve on edge. i met her gaze directly. "why do you care so much, giselle?" my voice was soft but firm, and i watched as a flicker of something passed over her face, gone as quickly as it came.

"oh, i just... i want to make sure you're not hurt." she leaned back, her smile unwavering. "i mean, things didn't exactly end well with her, did they?"

her words hit a nerve, but i kept my expression steady. "like i said, chaewon and i haven't spoken in a long time."

giselle shrugged, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. "i guess i just noticed things. that's all."

i tried to ignore the prickle of discomfort, letting out a small sigh as I stood up to gather my things. "well, there's really nothing to notice."

you don't have to be so distant, you know," she said softly, a strange glint in her eyes. "i just want to make sure you're okay. that's all."

i tried to sidestep, offering her a tight smile. "i'm fine, really. just... tired from rehearsals."

she reached out, her hand brushing against my arm, lingering longer than necessary. "i've seen you around chaewon. you're... different when you're with her," she murmured, her voice dropping to a lower, almost intimate tone. "i can be there for you too, yunjin. you don't have to hide from me."

a shiver ran down my spine, but i kept my expression steady, taking a step back to put some distance between us. "giselle, i appreciate your concern, but i think you're reading too much into this."

but instead of backing off, she leaned in closer, her eyes darkening with something i couldn't quite place. "you don't have to pretend with me," she whispered, her hand reaching up to touch my face, her fingers grazing my cheek. my heart rate quickened, a flash of panic sparking as she moved in closer, her gaze dropping to my lips.

"giselle," i said firmly, tilting my head back and stepping away. "this isn't... i'm not—"

but she didn't stop, her eyes locked onto mine as she closed the distance once more, her breath warm against my skin. "you don't have to say anything," she murmured, leaning in as if to press her lips to mine.

at that moment, instinct took over. i pulled back, creating a firm distance between us. "giselle, stop." my tone was steady but final, the discomfort clear in my voice.

my eyes widened, my breathing was rapid—not the way i'd like it. i almost ran out of the rehearsal room. why did she do that? now i understand why she's been weird all this time, why she's been asking me all these questions about my relationship with chaewon.

my mind instantly wandered to chaewon. in that moment, i knew i needed her voice, her calming presence. how could i tell her?

my eyes stared into space all the way to my room. when i arrived, my bag fell to the ground and i had no strength left.

days later, i met up with chaewon again, a quiet coffee shop tucked away from prying eyes. we talked about everything and nothing, losing track of time as we laughed over stories, our hands brushing across the table, fingers lingering just a second too long. for a moment, it felt like the world outside faded, and it was just us, safe from all the noise.

but even there, giselle's shadow haunted me. i couldn't forget what she'd done, i thought about it every day, i even had nightmares about it. i couldn't tell chaewon, i was too ashamed and scared. it was as if giselle were always a step behind, watching, waiting.

by the time i left the coffee shop that evening, a text notification pinged on my phone. it was giselle.

📱 giselle: didn't know you were meeting up with chaewon. looked cozy :) liar.

my heart dropped, the air catching in my lungs. i hadn't told anyone about our meeting, had been careful to keep it private. but somehow, giselle knew.

my fingers hovered over the screen, uncertainty mingling with frustration. there was a darkness to her message, a reminder that she was watching, and as much as i wanted to protect what was growing between chaewon and me, giselle's presence felt like a constant, looming threat—one i didn't know how to escape.