The auditorium was dimly lit, with only a few overhead lights casting a warm glow over the space. The faint scent of fresh paint and paper lingered, mixing with the distant hum of the janitor's vacuum in the hall. The community festival was only a few weeks away, and Ara and Chenle were working late to finalize the decorations and presentation setup.
At the front of the stage, Ara carefully adjusted a poster, smoothing out the edges with focused precision. Across the room, Chenle tinkered with the sound system, his fingers lazily adjusting the levels.
"Okay, sound check number... I've lost count. How's it sounding?" Chenle asked, rubbing his eyes.
"Better than the last five times," Ara called back, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Chenle chuckled, his usual easygoing demeanor softened by exhaustion. With a sigh, he dropped into one of the auditorium seats, sinking into the cushion. Ara finished taping the last corner of the poster, then walked over and plopped down beside him, stretching her arms over her head.
For a moment, they just sat there, breathing in the quiet.
Chenle stared up at the ceiling. "You ever feel like you're doing too much?"
Ara turned her head slightly. "Too much?"
"Like... everyone expects you to be a certain way, and you just go along with it because it's easier than letting them down." His voice was quieter now, less teasing, more thoughtful.
Ara tilted her head, studying him. It was rare to see Chenle this serious.
"I know what you mean," she murmured.
Chenle glanced at her, intrigued. "You? You always seem like you have everything together."
Ara exhaled softly. "That's the thing. I seem like it. But sometimes, I feel like if I drop the ball even once... everything will fall apart."
Chenle nodded, understanding more than he expected.
"People always think I don't take anything seriously," he admitted. "They don't see the stuff I stay up thinking about, like, what happens if I actually try... and still fail?"
Ara's eyes softened. She hadn't realized how much Chenle hid behind his carefree attitude.
"I guess we're both better at pretending than we thought."
They shared a quiet, knowing smile.
After a moment, Chenle spoke again. "So... what's the dream for you? If you didn't have to worry about all this?"
Ara thought for a second, her expression shifting, almost wistful.
"I've always wanted to travel. Just pack a bag, go somewhere new, and figure it out as I go."
Chenle's eyebrows lifted. "That doesn't sound like the Ara I know. The queen of planners, just 'figuring it out'?"
Ara laughed softly. "That's the point."
Chenle chuckled, the sound light and genuine.
"I'd probably do music," he admitted. "Not just for fun, like, really do it. But I don't think I have the guts to tell anyone."
Ara turned to him, her voice steady. "Why not? You're talented. You should go for it."
Chenle blinked, caught off guard. Most people brushed off his music as just another hobby, something he did for fun. But Ara said it like she actually believed in him.
He smirked, half-teasing, "Careful, Ara. You keep talking like that, and I might start believing it." But there was real warmth behind it.
A comfortable silence settled between them.
After a beat, Ara spoke, her voice softer now. "You don't have to pretend with me, you know."
Chenle looked at her, something unspoken passing between them.
"Same to you."
Something about the night felt different. They had started as classmates, but this conversation deepened the connection between them.
After a beat, Chenle clapped his hands together. "Alright, one more sound check, and then we call it a night."
Ara smiled. "Deal."
As they stood and returned to their work, the air between them felt lighter, filled with the quiet promise of something new.
From the hallway, they could hear Winter and Karina whispering to each other, likely plotting some mischief for the festival. But Ara and Chenle didn't let it distract them. They had their own focus... and their own small, growing understanding.
Ara adjusted a row of chairs, while Chenle tested the microphone one last time. He glanced at her and gave a little nod of approval.
"You really have a way of keeping everything together," he said quietly.
Ara shrugged, smiling. "Someone has to."
Chenle smirked, leaning back against the stage. "Good thing I've got you, then."
Ara laughed softly, shaking her head. "Don't get used to it."
But neither of them minded. Together, they continued working, finishing the night's tasks, their small conversation lingering in the space between them.. quiet, warm, and filled with trust.
By the time they packed up and switched off the lights, the auditorium felt calm, ready for the festival, and somehow, the world seemed a little brighter for both of them.
A.N :-
- They are so sweet I can not...
