Her Song, His Heart

Unspoken Truths

The days blurred together like the constant hum of a city at night. Mannon had long since gotten used to the fast pace of life with Stray Kids, but there was still something about it that left her feeling… unsettled. Despite the fun moments, the laughter, the excitement—it never quite felt like it was her world. Not entirely.

But there was one thing she couldn’t ignore.

It had started to feel like there was something between her and Hyunjin. He had a way of making her heart race just by being around. It wasn’t just his looks—though he was undeniably handsome—it was the way he saw her, the way he seemed to understand her without needing to pry. He made her feel like she could breathe, like she could exist without the pressure of her own secrets weighing her down.

But it was also terrifying.

Mannon had been around the block enough times to recognize when someone was interested in her. And Hyunjin’s looks, his smiles, the way he made the effort to be close to her, to talk to her, made her heart question her own instincts.

They had spent more time together since their quiet dinner, though not in the way she had expected. After that night, there were small moments here and there—casual conversations backstage, brief exchanges before and after shows, the kind of things that left Mannon feeling like she was walking a tightrope.

---

It was late one night, after a particularly long rehearsal, when Mannon found herself alone in the hallway, her thoughts scattered. She had gotten lost in her own head, replaying the events of the day, when she heard footsteps approaching from behind.

Turning, she came face-to-face with Hyunjin.

He was standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—a quiet intensity. He didn’t say anything at first, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them thickening.

“You alright?” Hyunjin asked softly, his voice cutting through the silence.

Mannon gave him a half-smile, her nerves creeping up on her. “Yeah, just a bit tired. You know how it is.”

Hyunjin took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “I know. You’ve been working really hard lately.” His voice dropped slightly, as if the words were meant only for her.

Mannon’s pulse quickened at the softness in his tone. “Thanks,” she said, her voice almost a whisper.

There was a brief silence before Hyunjin spoke again. “I’ve been meaning to ask you… about your singing.”

Mannon’s heart skipped a beat. The very topic she’d avoided for days, the one thing that always made her uncomfortable, was now hanging in the air between them. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Hyunjin noticed her hesitation, and the look in his eyes softened. “I didn’t mean to push you. It’s just… I’ve heard you sing before, and honestly, I think you have an incredible voice. I don’t know why you don’t share it more.”

Mannon’s gaze dropped to the floor, her throat tightening. She had known this day would come—she just hadn’t expected it to be so soon, or from someone like Hyunjin.

“I don’t like to talk about it,” she finally said, her voice low and guarded. “It’s not something I want to do.”

Hyunjin tilted his head slightly, confusion flickering in his expression. “But you’re good. Better than good. Why wouldn’t you want to sing?”

Mannon’s fingers clenched at her sides, the weight of his words settling in her chest. She wanted to explain, wanted to tell him the truth. But how could she? How could she explain the complicated history of her voice, her family, everything that made her so afraid of being seen for who she truly was?

“I… it’s not that simple,” she murmured, glancing up at him through her lashes. “It’s just… complicated.”

Hyunjin looked at her, his gaze intense, as if he could see right through her. For a long moment, he didn’t say anything.

Then, his lips parted, and his voice was barely a whisper. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. But I think you should sing. If you want to. You don’t have to hide your talent from the world.”

Mannon’s heart fluttered in her chest, the sincerity in his words making her want to run and hide all at once. She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself.

“I can’t,” she said, the words coming out more firmly than she had expected. “You don’t understand.”

Hyunjin reached out, his hand hovering near hers, but he didn’t touch her. His eyes softened as he spoke again. “I may not understand completely, but I know you don’t have to do this alone. You don’t have to hide away.”

Mannon’s breath caught in her throat. The tenderness in his voice, the way he was looking at her—it made her feel something she wasn’t sure she was ready to acknowledge.

But before she could say anything else, they were interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming down the hallway. Mannon stepped back instinctively, putting distance between them. She glanced up, only to see Chan approaching.

Hyunjin took a step back, giving Mannon a quiet, understanding smile. “Think about it,” he said softly, before turning to leave.

Mannon stood there for a moment, her pulse racing, trying to regain her composure. Her thoughts were swirling in a whirlwind of confusion.

Chan walked over, sensing the shift in the air. “What was that about?”

Mannon forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Nothing. Just talking.”

Chan studied her for a moment before nodding, but his eyes didn’t leave her. “You okay?”

Mannon nodded, the familiar weight of his protective gaze making her feel both comforted and suffocated.

“Yeah. Just… thinking,” she said softly, not fully meeting his gaze.

---

The next day, things felt different. The tension between her and Hyunjin lingered in the background of every interaction, their quiet moments together, the subtle shifts in their conversations. Every time she caught his eye, her heart skipped, and she couldn’t help but wonder what this all meant.

But for now, she had to focus on the present.

She couldn’t afford to get distracted. Not when there were still so many things left unsaid.