Left Out Friend

25

The room was brightly lit, with sleek cameras set up on tripods and cables running along the edges of the floor, carefully taped down to avoid tripping anyone. A long, modern sofa sat in the center, positioned perfectly in front of a camera. The backdrop behind it displayed a colorful logo for the live session, along with subtle decorations like plants and LED lights that gave the room a cozy yet professional vibe. Staff bustled around, checking microphones, adjusting lighting, and placing small cue cards on the table in front of the sofa. A quiet hum of conversation filled the air as they finalized preparations, occasionally glancing at their watches to ensure everything stayed on schedule.

The 7 members were already there, scattered around the room as they prepared for the live. Sunghoon stood near a mirror, fixing his hair with a focused expression, while Heeseung adjusted his mic pack with the help of a staff member. Jungwon and Jake were casually chatting by the table, occasionally glancing at their reflections to check their outfits. Ni-ki leaned against a wall, scrolling through his phone, looking completely relaxed, while Sunoo stood off to the side, moving slower than the others, his hands nervously fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.

“All right, everyone, take your seats. The live starts in five minutes,” one of the staff announced, clapping her hands to get their attention.

The members exchanged quick glances and began deciding where to sit on the sofa. Jungwon, as the leader, naturally gravitated to the center. Jake and Sunghoon took the seats next to him, with Ni-ki sliding into the spot at the other end of the sofa. Heeseung shrugged and took the remaining spot near the center-left.

Sunoo hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting toward the corner of the sofa where he felt safest.. at the farthest end, slightly away from the others. Slowly, he made his way there and sat down, his shoulders slightly hunched as if trying to make himself smaller. Just as he thought he’d found a moment of peace, Jay calmly walked over and sat down right next to him. Sunoo’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his gaze fixed on the floor, unsure of what to say or do.

The room grew quieter as the members settled in their seats, their focus now shifting to the upcoming live. Staff members moved quickly to finish their final checks, the countdown ticking closer, the atmosphere buzzing with anticipation.

The live began with Jungwon leading the conversation, a cheerful smile lighting up his face as he greeted the fans.

"Hello, ENGENEs!" Jungwon said brightly, waving at the camera. "We’re so excited to be here with you all tonight to talk about our latest album!"

Jake chimed in, leaning slightly forward to get closer to the camera. "It’s been such a journey working on this album. So many sleepless nights, but honestly, it was all worth it because of you guys."

“Right,” Heeseung agreed, nodding enthusiastically. “We really wanted to show a new side of us with this comeback. It wasn’t easy, but I think we’ve grown a lot through the process.”

Ni-ki smirked, sitting back comfortably. “Yeah, especially the choreography. I’m not going to lie—it’s tough. But we practiced every day, and now it feels like second nature. What do you guys think? Did you enjoy the performances so far?”

The chat buzzed with reactions, and Sunghoon chuckled softly, glancing at the tablet screen that displayed fan comments. “They’re saying the new choreography is their favorite so far. Thanks, ENGENEs! You make all the hard work worth it.”

Throughout the conversation, Jay’s eyes kept darting to the far corner of the sofa, where Sunoo sat quietly, slightly apart from the others. His glances were brief and subtle, but frequent enough that Sunoo noticed. Sunoo, however, chose to ignore it, keeping his expression neutral as he nodded along with the others’ words.