Her Song, His Heart

Under One Roof

The atmosphere in the apartment felt different that night. It wasn’t just the usual hustle and bustle of the guys coming back from practice or the sounds of laughter over a meal. Tonight, everything was a bit more subdued—slightly tense, but not uncomfortable.

Mannon had returned from her walk with Hyunjin a little earlier than expected, her heart still racing, her mind swirling with the weight of the moments she had shared with him. The air between them had shifted; the connection was undeniable, but it felt like a tightrope walk, a delicate balance between friendship and something deeper.

She stepped into the living room, her heart still beating faster than it should. The guys were all sprawled on the couches, watching TV, but as soon as she entered, the noise and movement paused. Chan, who had been sitting at the far end of the room, raised an eyebrow at her. His sharp gaze flicked over her, taking in the subtle flush on her cheeks and the slight shift in her demeanor.

"Everything alright?" Chan’s voice was steady, but his eyes narrowed slightly as if searching for something he couldn’t quite place.

Mannon’s eyes flickered to Hyunjin, who was standing by the kitchen counter, looking at her with an unreadable expression. She didn’t know how to explain the emotions that had just passed between them, but she tried to shake them off. The last thing she wanted was to make things awkward with the guys.

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” she said, her voice a little more upbeat than it had been just moments ago. She quickly brushed her hair behind her ear and turned her focus to the guys. “You all just look... relaxed tonight.”

Jisung let out a soft chuckle. “What can we say? We’ve been working hard. A night in sounds perfect.”

Mannon forced a smile, her heart still doing little flips as she sank into the armchair next to Felix. She tried to act casual, but her mind was still on Hyunjin—the way his voice had echoed in her chest as he sang to her, the way his presence seemed to ground her. And now, with Chan so close, she was hyper-aware of how everything felt too... real.

She pulled her knees up to her chest, burying her face in her arms. But it didn’t help. The feelings that had been slowly bubbling to the surface felt too overwhelming now.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Hyunjin glancing over at her, his expression soft but unreadable. He was standing near the counter, his posture relaxed but his gaze fixed on her. The way he’d been looking at her all night made her feel like he was waiting for her to say something, to admit something she wasn’t ready to face.

Chan, however, didn’t miss the exchange. His brow furrowed, his lips pressing into a tight line as he observed the interaction between Hyunjin and his younger sister. He hadn’t missed the tension, the subtle flickers of something unspoken between the two of them.

“What’s going on with you two?” Chan’s voice broke the silence, his gaze locking onto both Mannon and Hyunjin.

The room grew still, the guys exchanging curious glances. Mannon’s breath hitched, her body tensing. She hadn’t expected him to notice, but of course, he did. He always noticed.

Hyunjin seemed to sense the tension rising and took a step forward. “It’s nothing, really,” he said, his tone casual but not convincing. “We were just talking.”

Chan didn’t look convinced, his eyes narrowing as he looked between them. “Talking, huh?”

Mannon shifted in her seat, desperate to change the subject. “Yeah, about the photoshoot tomorrow. Nothing serious.”

Chan’s gaze lingered for a moment longer, but he didn’t press. He turned back to the TV, though Mannon could feel his watchful eyes on her, like he knew something was off.

She sighed inwardly, grateful for the temporary reprieve. But even in the safety of her room later that night, she couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to change. She had felt it in the air with Hyunjin tonight. The connection was undeniable, but it scared her. She wasn’t sure she was ready for it.

---

Back in the living room, Hyunjin watched her closely, his thoughts running wild. He had sung to her tonight, not just to pass the time or to be playful. He had meant it. He had sung from his heart, the words that had long been buried within him. It wasn’t just the song; it was the way she looked at him, the way her eyes softened when their gazes met. For a split second, he had imagined what it might be like to not hide behind their friendship—what it might be like to reach out and finally close the distance between them.

But the moment had passed too quickly, leaving him standing in the kitchen alone with his thoughts, wondering if he had done the right thing, if he had let something slip that wasn’t supposed to happen.

As the night stretched on, the tension between them became harder to ignore, especially as the others began to settle down for bed. Hyunjin stayed behind, his mind swirling with thoughts of Mannon. She was always so strong, so composed. But he had seen the cracks tonight—the subtle hints that she was struggling, that something was holding her back.

When Chan finally disappeared into his room, the silence in the apartment grew heavier, and Mannon found herself wandering to the living room window, staring out into the night. The city lights were blurring together, and for a moment, she felt disconnected from everything.

Just then, Hyunjin stepped into the room. He didn’t speak immediately, just walked up behind her and leaned against the window, close enough that she could feel the warmth of his presence.

“You okay?” he asked softly, his voice breaking the silence.

Mannon closed her eyes for a moment, the weight of the past few days pressing down on her. “I’m not sure,” she admitted, turning to face him. Her heart seemed to race as she looked into his eyes, and the distance between them seemed to shrink with every second. “I think I’m scared of what happens next.”

Hyunjin gave her a soft, reassuring smile, his gaze tender. “Whatever happens next… we’ll figure it out together.”

And just like that, for the first time in a long while, Mannon felt like everything might just be okay.