Sunoo sighed as the concert lights dimmed, his voice still lingering in the air as the final note of their latest ballad faded into the crowd's cheers. The arena roared with adoration, but nothing matched the intensity of the gazes boring into him from the six other members on stage.
Heeseung approached first, wiping sweat from his brow, but his eyes never left Sunoo. "You really outdid yourself tonight, Sunoo-yah. That high note? Perfection."
Sunoo smiled shyly. "Thanks, hyung. Everyone did amazing."
Jay slung an arm around his shoulder, a casual gesture that felt anything but. "You're too humble. You carried this performance, as always." His voice was low, intimate, meant just for Sunoo.
Sunghoon handed Sunoo a bottle of water, brushing his fingers lightly against his. "You need to stay hydrated. Can't let our star get tired."
Sunoo laughed nervously, trying to ignore the heat rising to his cheeks. "I’m fine, really."
Jungwon, ever the responsible leader, joined in, but his expression was softer, almost tender. "Still, let us take care of you. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard."
Jake and Niki hovered close by, their eyes filled with a possessiveness that made Sunoo’s heart race.
"Sunoo-hyung, don’t forget you promised to sit next to me on the ride back," Niki interjected, his tone bordering on a plea.
Jake frowned, his hand casually resting on Sunoo’s shoulder. "Actually, I think he needs to sit with me. I downloaded that show he loves."
Sunoo’s head swiveled between them, unsure how to respond. Their arguments over him had become a regular occurrence, each one more transparent in their desire to claim his attention.
As they moved backstage, the tension only grew. Each member found excuses to hover near Sunoo, their eyes lingering on him as if he were the center of their universe.
In the dressing room, Sunoo finally spoke up, his voice light but firm. "Okay, what’s going on? You’re all acting... intense."
Heeseung stepped forward, his usual confident demeanor replaced by something raw. "We’re just worried about you. You mean so much to us."
Jay nodded, his usual playfulness gone. "You don’t see it, do you? How much you light up our lives, how much we need you."
Sunoo’s breath caught in his throat. This wasn’t just camaraderie or friendship—it was something deeper, something overwhelming.
Sunghoon’s voice was barely a whisper. "We’re not just teammates, Sunoo. Not to us."
Jungwon added, "You’re the one thing we all agree on, the one person who holds us together."
Jake and Niki stood behind them, their eyes pleading. "Please don’t push us away," Jake murmured.
Sunoo looked at each of them, his heart pounding. He had always felt their affection, their protectiveness, but this was different. It was consuming, unyielding.
"I don’t know what to say," he admitted, his voice trembling.
Heeseung stepped closer, gently taking Sunoo’s hands in his. "You don’t have to say anything. Just let us be by your side."
As the others nodded in agreement, Sunoo felt a mix of emotions—fear, awe, and a strange, undeniable warmth. For better or worse, he was their sun, their obsession, and there was no escaping their orbit.
And maybe, just maybe, he didn’t want to.
_______________
Sunoo had been trying to relax after the overwhelming confession backstage. He sat at the dorm’s dining table with Jungwon, casually scrolling through his phone while munching on a snack. Their conversations were always light, a comforting balance to the intensity of the others.
