Between Spotlight and Shadows (NewJeans x M!Reader/OC)

Chapter 9 - Hearts at a Crossroad

October 30th, 8:30pm @SOLANIS Dorm - Taejin POV

"I—I missed you, Taejin."

It had been two days since she said those words, and I still couldn't shake the memory of her voice. As I lay in my bed, staring up at the faint glow of the ceiling light, tossing and turning even though I knew I needed sleep for tomorrow's schedule. My mind wouldn't let go of that moment. It kept circling back, replaying it like some old TV show rerun that refused to end. I'd tried counting down the hours until I had to get up, hoping the weight of our early start would finally knock me out. But every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face and heard her voice. It was all I'd been able to think about since the day we spoke—how her eyes looked, how uncertain her voice sounded, and how those simple words made something inside me twist and ache. I clenched my fist in the blanket, my jaw tightening with each breath, trying to release some of the tension thrumming under my skin.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I stared at the ceiling. The dorm was eerily quiet tonight, the usual muffled sounds of the others absent. Even the city outside seemed subdued, like the world was conspiring to force me to confront the thoughts I'd been avoiding. A distant car horn reminded me life was moving on outside these walls, even if I felt stuck here inside my head.

Why now, Danielle?

The question sat heavy in my chest. I couldn't shake the image of her walking away, shoulders slumped, head bowed. For all my anger, there was a part of me that wanted to call her back, to hear her out, to believe her words. I pressed the heels of my hands against my closed eyes, feeling the faint burn of exhaustion and frustration mingle behind my lids.

"I need some air."

As the words left my lips, they felt final, like they carried more weight than just needing air. Maybe it wasn't air I needed, but clarity—something to untangle the mess Danielle had left behind. Quietly, I pushed the blankets aside and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. The cold floor against my feet jolted me, grounding me just enough to stand and grab my hoodie.

The dorm hallway was dim, the faint hum of the air conditioner the only sound. Everyone else was either asleep or too wrapped up in their own late-night routines to notice me slipping out. I didn't bother leaving a note. As I reached the front door, I paused, exhaling slowly, as if leaving a bit of my restless energy behind.

October 30th, 9:00pm @Streets of Seoul - Taejin POV

Outside, the October air felt crisp against my face. I slipped the mask on more from habit than necessity, stuffing my hands into my hoodie's pockets and taking a slow breath. The street near the dorm was quiet—only a distant hum of traffic a few blocks away. A stray cat darted under a parked car, and a lone streetlight flickered slightly as if unsure whether to stay awake or give in to the night. I headed toward the small convenience store around the corner, the one the guys and I would sometimes hit up after late-night practices. Tonight, I wasn't hungry. I just needed to walk, to feel the pavement under my feet and let my mind settle. My shoulders hunched slightly, as if bracing against an unseen weight, but I kept moving.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it for now. It could be a member of the team confirming tomorrow's schedule, or maybe just a social media notification. Either way, I wasn't in the mood to scroll through endless feeds. Tonight was about clearing my head, or at least trying to.

Halfway down the block, I paused under a streetlamp. I leaned against it, looking up at the hazy moon. Two days had passed and I still didn't know what to do with Danielle's words. I'd been so sure I'd moved on—had accepted her silence and tried to find my footing without her. Then she showed up and reminded me of a feeling I wasn't ready to confront.