Min Yoongi - Idol's love

Chapter XXVI

Chapter 26: The Weight of Secrets

The next morning arrived with an air of uncertainty, a fragile stillness that felt more oppressive than comforting. Sunlight filtered weakly through the curtains of my hotel room, casting pale streaks across the carpet. Rosé was already awake, perched cross-legged on her bed with her laptop resting on her knees. The hum of her playlist filled the silence, but even the soft beats couldn't drown out the chaos in my mind.

I sat at the edge of my bed, staring at my phone. No messages from Yoongi. No explanations, no reassurances. Nothing. My fingers hovered over the screen, tempted to text him, but what would I say? After last night, after the CEO's meeting, everything felt tangled in a way that no simple conversation could fix.

"Morning," Rosé said, breaking through my haze. She glanced up from her screen, her eyes scanning my face. "You look like you didn't sleep."

"I didn't," I admitted, rubbing my temples. My voice felt raw, my chest heavy. "I just... couldn't shut my brain off."

Rosé gave me a sympathetic look, closing her laptop and shifting to face me. "Are you still thinking about the meeting?"

"I can't help myself," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

She nodded, leaning back against the headboard. "You will figure this out, I'm sure of it."

I wanted to believe her. "What's the schedule today?"

Rosé's brow furrowed slightly, but she didn't push. "Same as usual. Rehearsals, soundcheck, and then the show tonight. We leave for the next city right after."

I nodded, grateful for the distraction. Routine had always been my anchor, and right now, I needed something to hold onto.

The morning dragged on in a blur of preparations. Breakfast in the hotel dining room was subdued, and the boys scattered across the table in varying states of wakefulness. Yoongi was there, sitting a few seats away, but he didn't look at me. Not once. His expression was unreadable, his focus entirely on his plate.

The coldness between us was new, and it stung more than I wanted to admit. I forced myself to join in on the small talk, laughing when Hoseok cracked a joke and nodding along to Namjoon's updates about the schedule. But inside, I felt like I was unraveling, thread by thread.

When it was finally time to head to the venue, the bus ride was quieter than usual. Yoongi sat near the back, his headphones on, his gaze fixed out the window. I sat with Rosé, pretending to scroll through my phone, but my mind was elsewhere.

Why hadn't he said anything? Was he angry? Hurt? Or was he trying to protect me in his own, distant way?

By the time we arrived at the venue, the tension had grown unbearable. I kept myself busy, diving into my tasks with laser focus.

The boys went through rehearsals like clockwork, their professionalism masking any cracks in the group's dynamic. But even as they laughed and joked onstage, I could see their gazes flickered toward Yoongi when they thought no one was looking. They were still piecing things together, trying to know what had been revealed.

And then there was Yoongi. He moved through the motions effortlessly, his calm demeanor never faltering. But I could see the weight he was carrying—the same weight I felt pressing down on my chest.

As the day wore on, I found myself alone backstage, organizing equipment while the boys finished another rehearsal. The quiet was a welcome reprieve, giving me a chance to breathe. But just as I began to feel a semblance of calm, I heard a familiar voice behind me.