stars × cnblue kangminhyuk

21 : Time is Running Out

The shooting studio buzzed with controlled chaos, the kind that only came with idol concept photos. Lights flared against the pristine white backdrop, camera shutters clicked in quick succession, and the faint hum of stylists adjusting outfits blended with the beat of background music.

Hyojin stood among the organized whirlwind, makeup pouch strapped to her waist, brushes in hand. She'd been running on muscle memory all day—powder, touch-up, hairspray, lip tint. Her fingers moved steadily, her face calm. But inside, she was a mess.

Especially when it came to him.

"Chin up just a little," she murmured, tapping the side of Minhyuk's jaw with the soft edge of her sponge. He tilted obediently, but his eyes flicked toward her, searching her expression. Too long. Too intent.

She pretended not to notice.

"Better," she said quickly, stepping back to study the effect of the light on his skin.

Minhyuk gave a small nod, but the corner of his mouth tightened. The air between them felt taut, like a thread stretched thin, ready to snap. He didn't say much—he never did during shoots—but the silence was different today. Watchful. Heavy.

From across the set, Jungshin was supposed to be focusing on his solo frames. The photographer clicked his tongue.

"Jungshin-ssi, your shoulders—relax them! And don't look over there, look here. Eyes on me."

Jungshin blinked, quickly snapping his gaze back to the camera. "Ah—sorry," he muttered, shifting into another pose.

The photographer frowned, lowering his lens. "What's distracting you today? You keep drifting."

"Nothing," Jungshin replied too quickly, lips twitching as if to cover. He forced a smirk. "Maybe I'm just hungry."

That earned a chuckle from Yonghwa, who was leaning against the prop ladder, waiting for his turn. "You're always hungry. Excuse, excuse."

"Hyung, I'm serious," Jungshin shot back, exaggerating a groan. "Stylists starve us on shoot days. Can't even sneak tteokbokki in peace."

Laughter rippled across the staff, easing the tension for a brief moment. Even Jonghyun cracked a faint smile while Hyejeong adjusted the collar of his jacket.

But Jungshin's eyes—when the photographer turned away again—slid right back to where Minhyuk sat under Hyojin's careful hands. The way Minhyuk's shoulders stiffened whenever her fingers brushed too close, the way Hyojin avoided his gaze like it burned. To anyone else, it was routine. To Jungshin, it screamed of something deeper.

Sooyoung, the stylist team leader, clapped her hands as she strode past, her sharp eyes scanning every detail. "Okay, next set! Yonghwa, you're up for solo after this. Jonghyun, get ready. Everyone else—stay sharp. We're on schedule, let's keep it that way."

"Yes, noona," the boys chimed in unison, though Yonghwa added a cheeky salute that made Sooyoung swat at him with her clipboard.

Hyojin pressed one last dab of powder against Minhyuk's cheekbone. "Done," she said softly.

He looked at her then, properly. Not the quick glances from before, but steady, unblinking. Hyojin froze for a beat under his stare, then quickly stepped aside, pretending to fuss with her brushes.

Minhyuk stood, walking toward the set without a word.

Her chest tightened. He knows something. He must know.

Meanwhile, Jungshin shifted again under the hot lights, ignoring the photographer's repeated instructions. His jaw clenched as he stole one more glance at Hyojin. He didn't like what he saw. Not at all.