Her Song, His Heart

Between the Lines

The following days passed in a blur for Mannon. Between the concerts and the chaos of being on the road with Stray Kids, there was little time for rest or personal space. She spent most of her time keeping to herself, finding small moments to retreat into the quiet of her room. Being around the group was comforting, but it also reminded her of things she wasn’t ready to face.

The sun was barely rising when she found herself wandering the hotel lobby again, unable to sleep despite the late hours spent on stage the night before. She pulled her hoodie tighter around her shoulders, her curls loosely wrapped up as she made her way to the hotel café for some tea.

She wasn’t surprised to see Hyunjin there, his familiar presence already filling the space. His hair was damp, his face relaxed, as though he had woken up early just to find peace. When he saw her, his lips lifted into a lazy smile.

“You too?” he asked, his voice still carrying the rasp of sleep.

Mannon tilted her head slightly, offering a small nod. “Yeah. Couldn’t sleep again.”

Hyunjin pushed a cup of coffee toward her across the table. “Tea? I thought you were a coffee drinker.”

Mannon’s lips quirked up, though it was faint. “Change of pace.”

She sat down, and they fell into an easy silence for a moment, the only sounds the occasional clink of cutlery from the staff preparing for breakfast. Hyunjin studied her from across the table, noticing the slight fatigue under her eyes.

“Long night?” he asked gently, his tone casual but there was an underlying curiosity.

Mannon hesitated, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup. “A bit. Just… hard to wind down after everything. You know how it is.”

“Yeah, I get that,” Hyunjin said, leaning back in his chair. “Sometimes I just need to clear my head, take a walk or something.” He paused before adding, “I don’t think you really get enough credit for how calm you are. You don’t let the craziness get to you.”

Mannon looked up, surprised by the observation. “What do you mean?”

He shrugged, his gaze steady. “You’re around all this energy, all the time. But you never seem overwhelmed. You have this way of handling everything without breaking a sweat.”

Mannon thought about it for a moment, then laughed softly. “It’s just practice. Knowing when to stay out of the way.”

Hyunjin’s eyes didn’t leave hers, a flicker of something deeper in his expression. “That’s not all of it.”

There was an undeniable tension between them, something unspoken but heavy. They were both aware of it, but neither knew how to address it.

Before Mannon could respond, the sound of footsteps interrupted their moment, and a few of the other members filtered into the café, chatting among themselves. As they sat down, the atmosphere shifted, the lighthearted banter filling the room.

Mannon pushed her cup aside, standing up. “I’ll leave you to it,” she said, her tone light but her smile more guarded now. She was already halfway to the door when Hyunjin’s voice stopped her.

“Wait, Mannon.”

She paused, glancing over her shoulder. Hyunjin was standing now, his gaze uncertain.

“I… I just wanted to say I didn’t mean to make things weird the other night,” he said, his words coming out quickly. “I didn’t know you didn’t want to talk about singing. I didn’t mean to push.”

Mannon studied him for a long moment. There was something about his sincerity that made her relax a little, a small sense of relief washing over her.

“I know,” she said quietly. “It’s just… not something I like to bring up. It’s complicated.”

Hyunjin nodded, a quiet understanding passing between them. “Okay. I won’t push. Just… if you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.”

Mannon gave him a soft smile, the first real one in days. “Thanks, Hyunjin. I appreciate it.”

She left him standing there, her thoughts swirling, a quiet ache settling in her chest. There was something about Hyunjin—his intensity, the way he seemed to see through her—that made her feel both exposed and safe at the same time.

---

The following days were more of the same—constant traveling, rehearsals, and shows. But Mannon couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between her and Hyunjin. It wasn’t like they were suddenly best friends, but there was a quiet understanding between them now. She found herself noticing little things about him: the way his eyes would light up when he smiled, the way he was always the first to crack a joke when the mood got too serious.

One afternoon, after a particularly long rehearsal, Mannon found herself sitting alone backstage, her earbuds in as she scrolled through her phone. She was so absorbed in the screen that she didn’t notice Hyunjin approaching until he was standing right in front of her.

“Hey,” he said softly, not wanting to startle her.

She pulled the earbuds out, glancing up. “Oh, hey. What’s up?”

Hyunjin scratched the back of his neck, looking slightly uncomfortable. “I was wondering if you’d want to grab a bite later, maybe? After the show?”

Mannon raised an eyebrow, surprised. “With the whole group?”

Hyunjin shook his head quickly. “Just the two of us. If you’re not busy.”

Mannon’s heart skipped a beat, but she masked it with a casual shrug. “Sure, why not. I’ll see you later.”

There was a flicker of something in Hyunjin’s eyes, a quiet anticipation that made Mannon’s chest tighten. But she forced herself to look away, to keep the conversation light. She wasn’t sure why, but there was something about Hyunjin that made her feel like she was on the edge of something she wasn’t sure she was ready for.

---

That evening, after the show, Mannon met Hyunjin in the hotel lobby. They headed to a nearby café, just the two of them. The atmosphere was completely different from the chaos of the group—it felt… easy. Casual.

They talked about everything and nothing. Hyunjin joked about his terrible attempts at cooking, Mannon teased him about his fashion choices, and they laughed more than they had in days. The ease between them was undeniable.

But as the night went on, Mannon couldn’t help but notice the way Hyunjin would glance at her when she wasn’t looking. Or the way his smile lingered just a little longer than necessary. She wasn’t sure what it meant, but something in her gut told her this wasn’t just an innocent dinner between friends.

“I’m glad we did this,” Hyunjin said after a while, his voice quiet, the laughter in his tone fading. “I feel like… I don’t know. Like I’ve known you a lot longer than I have.”

Mannon blinked, startled by the intensity in his voice. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better,” she joked, but her heart wasn’t in it.

Hyunjin shook his head, his eyes serious now. “No. I mean it.”

The words hung in the air between them, and for a long moment, neither of them spoke.2q