Between Two Hearts ❤️

Between two hearts 💯🔥🫥

A D O

Chapter 6 – Rivals

Practice had finally ended.

Most of the members had already left the practice room.

Leo and Junseo were talking with the manager about the concert schedule.

Sanghyeon had gone to change.

Arno waited outside while checking his phone.

Only two people remained inside.

Sangwon.

Anxin.

For a few moments, neither of them spoke.

The room was unusually quiet.

---

Anxin broke the silence first.

"...Can I ask you something?"

Sangwon looked up.

"Sure."

Anxin hesitated.

He chose his words carefully.

"You've been spending a lot more time with Xinlong lately."

Sangwon gave a small smile.

"Have I?"

"I think everyone has noticed."

Sangwon shrugged.

"We're teammates."

"I just wanted to know..."

Anxin paused.

"...is there another reason?"

For a second, Sangwon simply looked at him.

Then he smiled casually.

"I just think he's fun to be around."

"You know Xinlong."

"Everyone likes being around him."

His answer sounded natural.

But it didn't really answer the question.

Anxin understood immediately.

He's avoiding it...

---

Anxin lowered his eyes.

Then, after taking a quiet breath, he spoke honestly.

"...I don't think I can hide it anymore."

Sangwon's expression changed ever so slightly.

"What do you mean?"

"I like Xinlong."

The words were calm.

Steady.

There was no embarrassment.

No hesitation.

Just honesty.

"I don't know when it started."

"But somewhere along the way..."

"He became someone I wanted to protect."

"I want him to smile because he's happy."

"I want him to rely on me."

"And..."

A small smile appeared on Anxin's face.

"I hope that someday..."

"I'm the person he chooses."

The practice room became completely silent.

---

Sangwon stared at him.

For a brief moment...

He couldn't say anything.

His chest tightened.

He had expected many answers.

But not this one.

So...

It's true.

I'm not the only one.

---

Anxin continued quietly.

"Right now..."

"Xinlong doesn't seem to like anyone."

"So neither of us has an answer."

He looked toward the practice room mirror.

"That means..."

"I'll do my best."

"I want to become someone who stays beside him."

"Someone he can trust."

"And if one day..."

"He starts seeing me differently..."

"I'll be happy."

---

Sangwon felt his jaw tense.

He forced himself to stay calm.

Outwardly...

His expression barely changed.

Inside...

His thoughts were anything but calm.

Anxin likes him too...

So every time he brought fruit...

Every time he reminded Xinlong to eat...

Every time he stayed beside him...

It wasn't just because he was kind.

The realization hit harder than he expected.

A sharp feeling of jealousy settled in his chest.

Not because Anxin had done anything wrong.

But because...

The person standing in front of him wanted the same future.

---

"...You're serious."

Sangwon finally spoke.

"I am."

Anxin nodded.

"I won't force Xinlong."

"I won't make him uncomfortable."

"If he never returns my feelings..."

"I'll respect that."

"But..."

"I don't want to regret never trying."

---

For the first time...

Sangwon smiled.

It wasn't a teasing smile.

It was the smile of someone who had accepted a challenge.

"I understand."

He stepped closer.

"Then I'll tell you something too."

Anxin quietly waited.

"I like Xinlong."

"I've already realized it."

"And just like you..."

"I'm not planning to give up."

His voice remained calm.

"But don't expect me to step aside."

"I want to become the person standing next to him."

The two looked at each other.

Neither was angry.

Neither raised their voice.

But the determination in both of their eyes was unmistakable.

---

Anxin gave a small nod.

"Then..."

"I guess we'll both do our best."

"For Xinlong."

Sangwon answered immediately.

"Yes."

"But in the end..."

"I hope I'm the one he chooses."

---

Outside the practice room...

Xinlong laughed at something Arno had said.

The sound reached both of them.

Almost instinctively...

Sangwon turned toward the door.

The jealousy in his chest returned the moment he heard Xinlong laughing with someone else.

He let out a quiet breath.

Arno... Anxin...

There are already two people close to him.

His determination only grew stronger.

I'm not giving up.

No matter how long it takes...

I'll become someone Xinlong naturally wants to be with.

Anxin watched Xinlong through the glass as well.

A soft smile appeared on his face.

He whispered so quietly that only he could hear it.

"I hope one day..."

"You'll look at me the way I already look at you."

Neither of them knew what Xinlong's heart would choose.

But from that day on...

The quiet rivalry between Sangwon and Anxin had truly begun.

And neither of them intended to stop trying to win Xinlong's heart.