Her Song, His Heart

Whispers of the Future

The song lingered in Mannon's mind as she sat in Hyunjin's car on the way back to the dorms. Her emotions were a chaotic mix of excitement, fear, and longing. The melody, the lyrics—it all felt so personal, as though it had been written for her.

“Did you write that?” she finally asked, her voice soft against the hum of the engine.

Hyunjin glanced at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I did. But it wasn’t complete until tonight.”

“What do you mean?”

“I needed you to hear it,” he said simply, his tone gentle yet firm. “You’re the missing piece, Mannie.”

Her heart skipped a beat. The weight of his words pressed into her, leaving her both elated and uneasy. The idea of stepping into this world—of sharing her voice—felt monumental. But the thought of doing it with him... that felt different. It felt right.

---

When they returned to the dorms, it was late. The lights were dimmed, and the silence was only broken by the faint sound of someone snoring. Mannon tiptoed through the living room, her mind still spinning.

As she passed Chan’s room, the door creaked open, and her brother’s head peeked out.

“Hey, you’re back,” he whispered. “How was it?”

Mannon hesitated. She didn’t know how to put everything she was feeling into words. “It was... amazing.”

Chan stepped into the hallway, closing the door quietly behind him. His eyes searched her face, as if he could sense her turmoil. “Hyunjin’s idea, huh?”

She nodded.

“I thought so,” Chan said with a small chuckle. “He’s been working on that track for weeks. He didn’t tell you?”

“No,” Mannon admitted, leaning against the wall. “He said he wanted me to hear it first.”

Chan smiled, but there was a protective edge to his expression. “You know, Mannie, if this is something you want to do, I’ll support you. But you have to be sure. This industry—it’s not easy. And you’ve already got so much on your plate.”

Mannon looked down, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “I don’t know if I’m ready, Channie. I love singing, but... what if I can’t handle it?”

Chan stepped closer, resting a hand on her shoulder. “You’re stronger than you think. But don’t let anyone, not even Hyunjin, push you into something you’re not ready for. Okay?”

She nodded, appreciating his advice more than she could express.

---

The next morning, breakfast was a lively affair. The group gathered around the table, laughing and teasing each other as they passed around plates of food. Mannon sat quietly, sipping her coffee and watching the boys with a faint smile.

“Someone’s been up late,” Felix teased, nudging her with his elbow.

“Yeah, you and Hyunjin disappeared last night,” Seungmin added with a smirk. “Care to share?”

Mannon rolled her eyes, though her cheeks flushed slightly. “It’s nothing. We just... went to a studio.”

“Studio?” Jisung perked up, his eyes lighting with curiosity. “Are you working on something?”

The room fell quiet, all eyes on her. Mannon hesitated, feeling the weight of their attention. She glanced at Chan, who gave her a subtle nod of encouragement.

“Maybe,” she said cautiously. “Hyunjin showed me a song he’s been working on. It’s beautiful.”

Hyunjin, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, looked up from his plate, meeting her gaze. There was something unspoken in his eyes, something that made her heart race.

“It’s not finished yet,” he said, his voice calm but purposeful. “But if Mannon wants to, we could make it something special.”

The table erupted in chatter, the boys excitedly throwing out ideas and suggestions. But Mannon felt a pang of doubt. Could she really do this? Could she share this part of herself with the world?

---

Later that afternoon, Mannon retreated to her room, needing a moment to herself. She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling as her mind raced. The voices that often haunted her during moments of stress began to creep in, whispering doubts and fears.

You’re not good enough.
What if you fail?
They’ll all see you for what you really are.

She sat up abruptly, shaking her head as if to physically dispel the thoughts. Her breathing quickened, and she pressed her hands to her temples, willing the voices to stop.

A soft knock on the door broke through her spiraling thoughts.

“Mannie?” Chan’s voice came from the other side.

“Come in,” she managed to say, her voice shaky.

Chan entered, his expression immediately softening when he saw her. He closed the door behind him and sat beside her on the bed.

“Bad day?” he asked gently.

She nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. “It’s just... everything. The singing, the pressure, the voices... I don’t know if I can do this, Channie.”

He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into a comforting hug. “You don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for, Mannie. And you’re not alone. You’ve got me, and you’ve got the boys. We’ll get through this together.”

His words were a balm to her frayed nerves, and she clung to him, letting the tears fall freely.

---

That evening, Mannon sat in the living room, her journal open on her lap. She began to write, pouring her thoughts and emotions onto the page. The words came easily, flowing like a song.

When she finished, she looked at the lyrics she had unknowingly written. They were raw, honest, and full of the pain and hope she carried within her.

For the first time, she felt a spark of confidence. Maybe, just maybe, she could turn this into something beautiful.

And maybe she didn’t have to do it alone.