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

Chapter 10 - Where Lines Start to Blur

November 2nd, 12:00pm @EDICTA ENT – Taejin POV

I could still feel my heart pounding from the short run I'd taken on the treadmill when Jihoon-hyung barged into the rehearsal studio. His grin practically stretched ear to ear, and he seemed to have a small brown envelope in his hands.

"Guys," he called out, voice brimming with excitement. "Gather around—I've got news."

Minho, our ever-attentive leader, paused whatever notes he was scribbling in his little black notebook. Jaeyoung and Jisoo, who'd been goofing off with the vlog camera, immediately snapped to attention. Sungjin looked up from tuning the guitar he'd been messing with, while Ryu and Hyunwoo exchanged curious glances, strolling over to form a loose circle around Jihoon.

"You look like you hit the lottery," Jaeyoung joked, eyeing the envelope.

Jihoon-hyung gave a small laugh, flipping it open. "Well, in a sense, I think we did. We've received an official invitation to perform at the Melon Music Awards on the 26th."

An electric current seemed to buzz through the air. Sungjin nearly dropped his guitar pick; Jisoo let out a small whoop; Jaeyoung shouted, "No way!" so loudly that Ryu nudged him in the ribs. I just stood there, momentarily speechless, letting the magnitude sink in. MMA—one of the biggest stages in Korea. And us, SOLANIS, barely months after our debut.

Minho's eyes flicked across each of us, as if checking to confirm this wasn't some elaborate prank. "They really want us there?" he asked quietly, though his face glowed with excitement.

Jihoon-hyung nodded, pulling out a printed letter with it written in bold letters. "Absolutely. Two songs. Of course, they want 'CROWN.' That's non-negotiable. But they're letting us pick a second performance. We need to finalise it ASAP for stage planning."

Two songs. My mind spun with possibilities—and anxieties. We're getting more than just a cameo or a rookie corner. They trust us enough to do two full pieces? At the same time, a knot of anticipation coiled in my gut at the thought of who else might be there. NewJeans, likely. Danielle... I swallowed hard, forcing my face to stay neutral. But then another thought crept in. LESSERAFIM as well. So Yunjin... and Chaewon-noona. I couldn't help but feel a small heat creep up on my face as I thought about her. Relaxing, as a smile crept across my face.

Jaeyoung, unable to contain his energy, hopped in place. "We gotta blow everyone's minds," he declared, flashing a bright grin. "We're not letting this chance go to waste."

Hyunwoo gave a small but resolute nod. "It'll be a lot of work. But we can do this."

Jisoo, practically bouncing with excitement, looked to Minho for direction. "So we'll do 'CROWN.' But what about the second song, hyung? We have a few tracks from our mini-album, or we could do a cover, right?"

Minho pressed his lips together, thoughtful. "We'll talk it through after practice. Let's just enjoy the moment for now." He turned to Jihoon-hyung, his calm composure edged with pride. "Thanks for letting us know, hyung. We won't disappoint."

Jihoon-hyung smiled and tucked the envelope back under his arm. "I'm sure you won't. And just between us, I'm already feeling the hype. Good luck, boys."

With that, he left as quickly as he came, the studio door clicking shut behind him. For a moment, we all stood in silence—charged with excitement, a touch of fear, and an unspoken sense of triumph.

I gazed around the room, catching Sungjin's wide-eyed grin, Ryu's small, satisfied smirk, and Jisoo's unstoppable bounce. My pulse thrummed like a drum line in my ears, an exhilarating reminder that we were truly on our way. MMA. Another landmark in our journey—one I'd never imagined would come this fast.