Between two hearts 💕
662 Words
A D O
Chapter 1 – A New Beginning
The dorm was unusually quiet for a Saturday morning.
Only the sound of someone cooking breakfast echoed through the kitchen.
"Who stole my orange juice?"
Junseo, the eldest of the group, crossed his arms while looking around the table.
"I didn't."
Leo answered without even looking up from his tablet.
Gunwoo laughed.
"Hyung, you ask that every week."
"It disappears every week."
Everyone chuckled.
Just then, the dorm door opened.
Xinlong walked inside after finishing an early dance practice, wearing headphones around his neck. His slightly messy hair and tired smile immediately caught everyone's attention.
"Morning."
"Morning!"
The members greeted him together.
Sanghyeon, the youngest, quickly stood up.
"Hyung, I'll get you breakfast."
Xinlong smiled warmly.
"Thank you."
---
Arno watched Xinlong quietly.
He didn't realize he had been staring until Gunwoo nudged his shoulder.
"What?"
Gunwoo smirked.
"You've been looking at Xinlong for almost a minute."
Arno immediately looked away.
"I wasn't."
"You definitely were."
Before Arno could answer, Xinlong sat beside him naturally.
"Morning, Arno."
"Morning."
Their conversation was simple.
Yet somehow...
They looked strangely comfortable together.
Xinlong casually took Arno's juice without asking.
"I'm borrowing this."
Arno smiled.
"Keep it."
"You don't want it?"
"I can buy another one."
Leo noticed the interaction but simply smiled.
"They're close."
Junseo nodded.
"They've always been."
---
Across the table...
Sangwon silently watched everything.
He wasn't jealous.
Not yet.
Instead...
He found himself noticing little things.
Why did Xinlong always smile so naturally around Arno?
Why did Arno always move his chair closer?
Why did Xinlong never seem uncomfortable?
Sangwon frowned slightly.
Strange...
Why am I paying attention to this?
He shook the thought away.
Maybe he was just curious.
Nothing more.
---
Meanwhile...
Anxin walked into the kitchen carrying fresh fruit.
"Xinlong."
"Hm?"
"You skipped breakfast again, didn't you?"
"...Maybe."
Without saying another word, Anxin placed a bowl of cut fruit in front of him.
"Eat."
Xinlong laughed softly.
"You're acting like my mom."
"And?"
"You'll get sick if you keep forgetting meals."
Xinlong smiled.
"Okay."
Anxin smiled back.
Simple.
Gentle.
Comfortable.
Everyone in the dorm was already used to seeing Anxin quietly taking care of Xinlong.
---
Leo clapped his hands.
"Practice starts in thirty minutes."
Everyone stood up.
Gunwoo stretched.
"I'm going back to sleep after practice."
Junseo laughed.
"No, you're cleaning the dorm."
"I suddenly don't want to sleep anymore."
The members burst into laughter.
---
Practice Room
The eight members stood in formation.
Leader Leo watched carefully.
"Again."
Music started.
Everyone danced perfectly.
Halfway through the choreography...
Xinlong slightly lost his balance.
Before anyone else reacted—
Arno instinctively reached out and held his arm.
"You okay?"
Xinlong nodded.
"I'm fine."
"Careful."
Their eyes met for only a second before they returned to practice.
No one said anything.
But Sangwon noticed.
Again.
He didn't know why...
His attention kept drifting toward Xinlong.
Why am I watching him so much today?
He sighed quietly.
Maybe I'm just worried because he almost fell.
That explanation sounded reasonable enough.
So he accepted it.
---
Practice ended after several hours.
Everyone collapsed onto the floor.
"I'm dying."
Gunwoo dramatically lay flat on the wooden floor.
Junseo laughed.
"You say that every practice."
Sanghyeon handed everyone bottled water.
"Good job."
Leo nodded proudly.
"We improved today."
---
As everyone packed their bags...
Arno naturally walked beside Xinlong.
"You hungry?"
"A little."
"Let's grab something on the way home."
"Sounds good."
They left the practice room talking comfortably.
A few steps behind them...
Sangwon watched silently.
He looked away almost immediately.
They're just friends.
Why am I even thinking about it?
Without realizing it...
His eyes searched for Xinlong once again.
Anxin noticed.
He glanced at Sangwon for a brief moment before looking back at Xinlong.
A thoughtful expression crossed his face.
He didn't say anything.
Not yet.
Some feelings...
Needed time before they could be understood.
And perhaps...
This was only the beginning.
- Writer
