Under the Spotlight

Chapter 7: Fractures and Healing

The aftermath of the performance lingered in the air like an invisible weight. Back at the company the next day, the group gathered in the practice room for yet another grueling rehearsal, but the energy was different. A tension that none of them could quite name hovered between them, threatening to crack under the slightest pressure.

Jimin stood at the front of the room, her usual calm replaced with visible unease. She was acutely aware of the group's movements, scanning for even the smallest mistake. Her perfectionism, fueled by the mounting expectations, was beginning to wear thin.

"Again," she said, her voice sharp as the music cut off. "The transitions are still off."

Minjeong sighed softly, wiping sweat from her brow. "Jimin, we've done this six times already. It's fine."

"It's not fine," Jimin snapped, turning to face her. "It needs to be perfect."

Minjeong's brows furrowed, frustration flickering across her face. "We're exhausted. Maybe if we take a break—"

"We don't have time for breaks," Jimin interrupted, her tone colder than she intended.

"Okay, enough," Aeri said, stepping between them. "We're not robots, Jimin. We can't just keep going until we break."

Jimin's jaw tightened as she looked away. "If we don't push now, we'll regret it later."

Yizhuo, sitting on the floor with her knees tucked to her chest, finally spoke up. "You mean you'll regret it."

The room fell silent, Yizhuo's words cutting through the tension like a blade. Jimin's lips parted slightly, but no words came out. She didn't know how to respond, because deep down, she knew Yizhuo was right.

The group dispersed for lunch, but the air remained heavy. Minjeong followed Jimin to the rooftop, where she found her pacing back and forth, her arms crossed tightly.

"Jimin," Minjeong called out softly.

Jimin stopped but didn't turn around. "I shouldn't have snapped at you."

"You shouldn't have," Minjeong said, her tone firm but not unkind. She stepped closer, her gaze steady. "But I get it. You're carrying so much on your shoulders. It's no wonder you feel like this."

"I just..." Jimin's voice faltered as she sank onto a nearby bench. "I don't know how to stop. Every time I try to let go, it feels like everything will fall apart."

Minjeong sat beside her, their knees brushing. "It won't. You have us, Jimin. But you need to trust us, too."

Jimin looked at her, her eyes filled with a vulnerability that made Minjeong's chest ache. "I do trust you."

"Then let me help you," Minjeong said softly. She reached out, her fingers brushing against Jimin's. "You're not alone in this. You never were."

Jimin exhaled slowly, the weight in her chest easing slightly. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Always," Minjeong replied, her voice steady and sure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Aeri and Yizhuo stayed behind in the practice room, sitting on opposite ends of the room. The silence between them was thick, but neither seemed willing to break it.

"You didn't have to say that to Jimin," Aeri said finally, her voice low.

Yizhuo frowned, crossing her arms. "Why not? It's true."

"Maybe," Aeri admitted. "But she's trying her best. We all are."

"And you think I'm not?" Yizhuo snapped, her voice rising. "Just because I don't act like everything's fine doesn't mean I'm not trying."

Aeri flinched at the sharpness in her tone. "I didn't say that."

"But you implied it," Yizhuo said, standing abruptly. "You're always so quick to defend everyone else, but the second I speak up, it's a problem."

"That's not fair," Aeri shot back, her voice growing louder. "I care about you just as much as anyone else."

"Then why don't you show it?" Yizhuo challenged, her eyes narrowing.

Aeri froze, her words catching in her throat. For a moment, she didn't know how to respond. Finally, she stepped closer, her voice softer now. "I do. I just... I don't always know how."

Yizhuo blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in her voice. The tension in her shoulders eased slightly as she looked away. "You're frustrating, you know that?"

Aeri chuckled softly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You're not exactly easy, either."

Yizhuo sighed, but there was a faint curve to her lips. "I guess we're a good match, then."

"Maybe we are," Aeri said, her voice warm.

They fell into a comfortable silence, the earlier tension replaced with a quiet understanding. Aeri reached out hesitantly, her fingers brushing against Yizhuo's for just a moment before pulling back. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

~~~~~~~

By the end of the day, the group reconvened in the living room of their dorm. The tension from earlier still lingered, but it was softer now, like a wound beginning to heal.

"I'm sorry," Jimin said suddenly, breaking the silence. Her gaze moved from Minjeong to Aeri and Yizhuo. "I've been too focused on trying to make everything perfect, and I forgot that we're a team. That we're in this together."

Aeri smiled faintly. "Took you long enough."

"Better late than never," Yizhuo added, her tone lighter than it had been earlier.

Minjeong reached for Jimin's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "We'll figure it out. Together."

The group sat in silence for a while, the weight of the day slowly lifting. For the first time in weeks, they felt like they could breathe again. The road ahead was still uncertain, but in that moment, they knew they had each other. And that was enough.

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