Under the Spotlight

Chapter 3: Stolen Moments

The day was overcast as the group filed into the company van, heading back to their shared dorm. Aeri and Yizhuo bickered in the backseat, their voices rising and falling like waves in the quiet space. Jimin sat silently, her head leaning against the cool window, her eyes following the rain streaking down the glass. Minjeong sat beside her, watching her in quiet concern, unsure how to bridge the distance between them.

When they arrived at the dorm, the group filed in with varying levels of energy. Aeri and Yizhuo immediately disappeared into the kitchen, resuming their endless argument about pudding flavors. Minjeong lingered near the door, her gaze drifting to Jimin, who had paused in the living room, staring out the rain-streaked window.

"You're not hungry?" Minjeong asked softly, breaking the silence.

Jimin turned slightly, her lips curling into a faint smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Not really."

Minjeong hesitated for a moment before nodding toward the front door. "Come on."

Jimin frowned. "Where?"

"Just out. For some air," Minjeong said, shrugging. But her tone carried a quiet insistence.

Without further protest, Jimin grabbed her jacket, and the two of them slipped out into the rainy evening. The cool drizzle kissed their faces as they walked down the quiet street, their steps falling in sync. The hum of the city felt distant, muted by the rain and the comfort of being together.

They found themselves at a small park a few blocks away. The playground was deserted, its swings swaying slightly in the breeze. Minjeong walked over to one of them and sat down, pushing herself gently. Jimin stood nearby, leaning against the swing set's frame, her arms crossed.

"You're going to get sick," Jimin remarked, but her voice was soft, without the usual edge.

"Worth it," Minjeong replied with a playful grin. "Besides, maybe a cold will get me out of rehearsals for a day."

Jimin huffed a laugh, the sound surprising even herself. "You're ridiculous."

Minjeong's grin softened as she watched Jimin, her expression unreadable. "You've been quiet all day. What's going on?"

Jimin hesitated, her gaze dropping to the wet ground. "I just..." She took a deep breath, the words heavy in her chest. "Sometimes it feels like I'm suffocating. Like no matter how hard I try, it's not enough."

Minjeong stopped swinging, her hands tightening around the chains. "You know that's not true, right?"

Jimin shook her head, frustration flickering in her eyes. "You don't get it. If I mess up, it's not just me. It's all of us. The group. The fans. Everyone."

Minjeong got up from the swing and stepped closer, her voice steady but gentle. "You're not carrying all of this alone, Jimin. We're a team. Aeri, Yizhuo, me—we're all here, even when you feel like you're not enough."

Jimin looked up, meeting her gaze. Minjeong's eyes were earnest, filled with a warmth that felt like sunlight breaking through the rain. "It's not that simple," Jimin said quietly.

"No, it's not," Minjeong admitted. "But it's real. And you don't have to handle everything by yourself. You have us. You have me."

The rain continued to fall softly around them, but Jimin didn't seem to notice anymore. For the first time in weeks, the tension in her shoulders began to ease. She nodded slowly, her lips curving into the faintest of smiles. "Thanks, Minjeong."

"Anytime," Minjeong replied, her smile bright and genuine.

By the time they returned to the dorm, the rain had lightened to a mist. They stepped inside to find Aeri and Yizhuo sprawled on the couch, a half-empty pudding cup sitting victoriously in Aeri's hand.

"Look who decided to come back," Aeri teased, raising an eyebrow. "What's this, a secret leaders' meeting?"

"We're not leaders," Minjeong shot back, rolling her eyes. "Unlike you, self-proclaimed pudding queen."

"That's because I am the pudding queen," Aeri replied smugly, holding up her empty spoon like a scepter.

"Don't let her fool you," Yizhuo cut in, smirking. "She almost cried when I ate the last chocolate one yesterday."

"Excuse me!" Aeri gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. "I did no such thing."

Minjeong grinned at the antics, but Jimin only managed a small smile before sinking onto the couch beside Yizhuo. "What's wrong, unnie?" Yizhuo asked, leaning closer. Her voice was quieter, more perceptive than her usual playful tone.

"Nothing," Jimin said quickly, but Yizhuo wasn't convinced. She glanced at Minjeong, who gave a subtle shake of her head, signaling not to push.

Aeri flopped onto the other couch, sighing dramatically. "You're all such buzzkills tonight. What we need is a team-building exercise."

"Like what?" Yizhuo asked skeptically. "Braiding each other's hair?"

"No, something fun," Aeri said, sitting up. "Like karaoke! Or a dance battle."

"Please, no more dancing," Minjeong groaned. "My legs are about to fall off."

"Well, if you kept up with me, maybe you'd—" Aeri began, but she was cut off by a pillow to the face, courtesy of Minjeong.

As the group dissolved into laughter, Jimin found herself relaxing. The tension that had gripped her all day was finally fading, replaced by the warmth of her members' teasing and laughter. She wasn't sure what the future held—whether she could truly let go of her burdens—but for now, she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time: hope.

Later that night...

When everyone else had gone to bed, Jimin stayed behind in the living room, her thoughts swirling. The rain had stopped, leaving the city outside glittering under the streetlights. She barely noticed Minjeong enter until she sat down beside her.

"Can't sleep?" Minjeong asked.

Jimin shook her head. "Just... thinking."

"About what?" Minjeong leaned back, her voice soft, patient.

Jimin hesitated before answering. "About you. About all of this."

Minjeong turned to her, her expression open but curious. "What about me?"

Jimin's eyes flickered to hers, vulnerability shining through. "You make everything feel less... heavy."

Minjeong's breath caught, her heart pounding in her chest. She reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against Jimin's. "Then let me help you carry it."

Jimin's gaze softened, and for a moment, the world outside faded away. In the quiet of the dorm, as the city lights flickered in the distance, Jimin felt a new kind of weight—not a burden, but something warm and unfamiliar. Something that made her want to stay in this moment forever.

And for the first time, she let herself believe that
maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to face it all alone.