jiyeon
Hey! You free later today?
Like, in the evening?
nabi
I guess so,
but we could also just meet
right now.
jiyeon
I'd rather wait, if that's okay with you?
nabi
Um, okay, sure.
Where do you wanna meet up??
jiyeon
How about the HYBE café, around 7pm?
On me.
nabi
Oh, I mean... is it okay for me to be
there?
jiyeon
Of course!! You've been there for rockst4r before.
Plus, you're with me. But regardless,
you've got all of Seventeen behind you.
nabi
Okay, then, 7pm. :)
Hansol's steps echoed in the empty hallway, his thoughts drifting back to his conversation with Jiyeon and Jeonghan. He wished, just for a moment, that it could be just him and Nabi, that he could keep their little world to himself.
"I just... I wish we could have a little more time, you know? Just us," Hansol muttered, running a hand through his hair, a frustration he couldn't quite explain bubbling inside him.
Jiyeon glanced at him, her arms crossed over her chest. "Look, I texted her already. Don't freak out," she teased, watching as Hansol's eyes widened in panic. She couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
"Don't worry, dude, I just invited her to the café for 7pm. I didn't say anything more than that." Hansol breathed out a sigh of relief, his body language visibly relaxing.
"I just don't want to overwhelm her," he admitted, voice quiet.
"I get it," Jiyeon replied, her tone softening. "But how about you feel out the vibe with Coups today? If it feels right, pull him aside and tell him. Then, the rest of the members can stay in the dark. If you still want, I can debrief with her later."
Though Hansol wasn't typically an anxious person, he felt the weight of his nerves in that moment. His posture was hunched, shoulders tight with the weight of something unsaid. It was like everyone could see the tension, though they chose to pretend they didn't.
Hansol pulled his hoodie over his beanie, a subconscious gesture signaling to Jiyeon that they had arrived at their destination—the studio, a floor beneath where Jiyeon had to go. He stopped, taking a deep breath before turning to face her directly.
He didn't like taking advice, but he had to admit—this? This was his best shot.
"Okay, I'll do it. Thanks, Jiyeon," he said, the frustration in his voice barely hidden. She waved him off, a quiet wish for things to go smoothly hanging in the air between them as he walked into the studio.
Seventeen had enough on their plate already, and Hansol couldn't afford more tension, especially with another comeback on the horizon.
"Yo, where the hell were you? You're up to record," Seungcheol's voice cut through the air, sharp and impatient. Hansol winced, putting on a half-hearted smile as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Sorry," was all he could muster before heading straight to the booth, doing his best to avoid the prying gazes of his members.
His eyes flicked to Jihoon, who caught his gaze. The curiosity in Jihoon's stare was almost palpable, and Hansol could already feel the weight of it pressing on him. There was no way he was going to bring up his relationship to him—Jihoon wasn't a part of the plan yet. He had enough to handle with Seungcheol.
"You got some lyrics?" Jihoon's voice cut through the silence, but Hansol's mind was elsewhere, memories of Nabi's face flooding his thoughts.
He pulled his phone out, unlocking it quickly and going to the notes app where he'd jotted down a few sentences that had flowed out of him this morning.
"Yeah," he said, his voice almost distant as he glanced over the words one last time. He sent a thumbs-up to the guys, trying his best to avoid Wonwoo and Mingyu's eyes. They were... too perceptive. He didn't need their questioning stares right now.
Jihoon whispered something to Seungcheol, but Hansol didn't hear it. He tuned them out, waiting for his turn to record. The music started, and Hansol felt a rush of inspiration as the beat filled his ears. The words he'd written earlier this morning, at Nabi's apartment, slipped through his mind as if they had always belonged to the song.
"Love's got so many paradigms. Won't let that go confuse your mind. You know what I need is only you.Love is one word I'm sure about. No lies, no doubt, look at me now. Just trust me once, baby. I'll never let you down, baby"
He improvised a little, letting his feelings guide him. Those lines, they weren't just lyrics. They were his way of telling Nabi everything without actually saying the words. He may not be the one singing it in the final song, but he wrote it nonetheless.
His heart softened as he sang, a quiet smile tugging at his lips. He wondered if he'd ever be able to say it to her, or if the music was the only way he could communicate his emotions.
As soon as he finished his part, Jihoon's voice broke the moment. "That was... sweet, actually. Wow." He grinned, clearly amused.
Seungcheol gave him a look, his expression unreadable. Hansol's stomach churned, unsure whether the leader had figured something out.
"That was really good, Vern," Jihoon added, a slight smirk on his face. "Surprisingly."
Hansol chuckled awkwardly, a hint of tension still clinging to the air. "You got anything else?" He asked, hoping to lighten the mood.
Jihoon raised an eyebrow but nodded. Hansol pulled up some other lyrics he'd hastily written down, reformatting them quickly to fit the vibe. As soon as the music resumed, he dove back into it, the inspiration flowing freely.
"I don't need money or fame.
To me, that don't mean a thing,
Just need your love, that's more than enough."
Once he finished, he heard Jihoon clap, a smile on his face. "That was... really good. So, I guess that's it for today?" He turned to the others. "You guys are free."
The rest of the members stood up, their eyes glancing at each other. Hansol could already feel the storm brewing—their teasing, the questions they would throw at him once they had the chance. He wasn't ready for it, but he knew it was coming.
He pulled off his headphones and walked past Jihoon, only for Jiyeon's words to ring in his head. Her advice had been a lifeline, but now it felt like an annoying buzz in his mind.
Taking a deep breath, he made his way toward Seungcheol, who was packing up. His palms were sweaty, his heart hammering in his chest. He was terrified, but it had to be done.
"Hey," Hansol called, and Seungcheol turned around, his eyes cold but curious.
"Hi," Seungcheol replied, his voice flat. Hansol could feel the weight of it all.
"I—um, wanna talk. Privately."
Seungcheol checked his phone briefly before nodding. "Meet me in my room at 6."
The dread that settled in Hansol's chest only deepened.
