Between Two Hearts ❤️

Between two hearts 😇😈🩷🩷

A D O

Chapter 4 – A Heart That Couldn't Look Away

The concert was only a week away.

The practice room stayed busy from morning until late at night as the members perfected every detail of their performance.

Leo stood in front of the mirror with his notebook.

"One more full run."

"Let's make today's performance clean."

"Yes, hyung."

The music filled the room.

Eight members moved in perfect synchronization.

Junseo watched everyone's positions carefully.

Gunwoo quietly focused on his own parts.

Arno danced beside Xinlong during the second verse.

Anxin stood on the opposite side.

Sangwon's eyes...

Kept drifting toward only one person.

Xinlong.

---

"Cut!"

Leo clapped once.

"Ten-minute break."

The members immediately relaxed.

Sanghyeon sat on the floor, breathing heavily.

"I'm exhausted."

Junseo laughed.

"You say that every practice."

Gunwoo tossed him a bottle of water.

"Drink first."

---

Xinlong was checking the dance recording on his phone.

Anxin naturally walked over.

"How's your ankle?"

Xinlong looked up in surprise.

"It's much better."

"You were putting too much pressure on it earlier."

"I'll be careful."

Anxin smiled softly.

"Good."

He wanted to say more.

He wanted to tell Xinlong to rest.

To eat properly.

To stop overworking himself.

Then he suddenly froze.

...Since when do I worry this much?

The question echoed in his mind.

He thought back over the past few weeks.

Every morning, the first person he searched for was Xinlong.

Whenever Xinlong looked tired, he noticed immediately.

Whenever Xinlong smiled, his own mood became lighter.

Whenever Xinlong wasn't around...

The day somehow felt incomplete.

Anxin lowered his eyes.

A quiet smile appeared on his lips.

"So..."

"I really like him."

The realization didn't frighten him.

It simply made one truth clear.

He wanted to stay by Xinlong's side.

Not because he had to.

Because he wanted to.

But another thought soon followed.

What if someone reaches him before I do?

That single thought made his heart feel unexpectedly heavy.

---

Across the practice room...

Sangwon stood silently with a towel around his neck.

His eyes unconsciously searched for Xinlong again.

There he is...

Talking with Sanghyeon.

Smiling.

Laughing.

Helping the maknae fix a dance move.

Sangwon watched for several seconds before looking away.

Why can't I stop watching him?

He had asked himself the same question countless times.

Today...

He finally stopped avoiding the answer.

Because every explanation led to the same conclusion.

Whenever Xinlong laughed with someone else...

His chest felt strangely tight.

Whenever Xinlong was tired...

He wanted to be the one taking care of him.

Whenever Xinlong walked into a room...

His attention naturally followed.

Sangwon let out a quiet breath.

"...I like him."

The words were almost whispered.

He smiled helplessly.

"So that's what this feeling is."

Everything finally made sense.

He wasn't just interested.

He had fallen for Xinlong.

Completely.

---

Sangwon looked toward Xinlong once more.

This time...

Instead of staying where he was...

He walked over.

"Xinlong."

Xinlong looked up.

"Yes, hyung?"

"I noticed something during practice."

"What is it?"

"Your turn during the bridge becomes stronger if you shift your weight first."

"Oh?"

"Here."

Sangwon demonstrated the movement.

Xinlong copied him.

"...That actually feels easier."

Sangwon smiled.

"I thought it might help."

"It did."

"Thank you."

"It's nothing."

Neither of them realized...

The conversation continued even after dance practice.

They started talking about stage formations...

Favorite performances...

Songs they wanted to perform in the future...

It was the longest conversation they had ever shared alone.

Sangwon found himself smiling more than usual.

He liked hearing Xinlong laugh.

He liked making him laugh even more.

---

From across the room...

Anxin quietly watched.

He noticed something immediately.

Sangwon...

He's getting closer to Xinlong.

The realization made his heart sink.

Not because he disliked Sangwon.

But because...

For the first time...

Someone else was walking toward the place where he wished to stand.

Still...

He simply smiled to himself.

Then I can't keep standing still forever.

He wasn't the type to compete aggressively.

He wouldn't force Xinlong's attention.

But he also wouldn't hide forever.

If he wanted Xinlong to understand his feelings someday...

He first had to become someone Xinlong naturally relied on.

---

Practice resumed.

The choreography required constant position changes.

Several times...

Sangwon intentionally chose the spot beside Xinlong whenever the formation allowed it.

Not enough for anyone to notice.

Just enough to stay close.

When Xinlong struggled to remember a transition...

Sangwon quietly reminded him.

"The next count starts on seven."

"Oh."

Xinlong smiled gratefully.

"I almost forgot."

Later...

When everyone sat down for another short break...

Sangwon placed a cold bottle of water beside Xinlong.

"You didn't bring one."

Xinlong blinked.

"When did you buy this?"

"On the way here."

"You remembered?"

Sangwon nodded casually.

"I noticed you forgot yesterday too."

Xinlong smiled warmly.

"Thanks, hyung."

Those simple words stayed with Sangwon much longer than they should have.

---

Arno returned after speaking with one of the staff members.

He naturally sat beside Xinlong.

"What are you two talking about?"

"Dance formations."

Xinlong answered.

Arno laughed.

"Don't practice during the break."

"You'll tire yourself out."

Xinlong chuckled.

"You sound like Anxin."

Everyone laughed.

Anxin smiled too.

But inside...

He quietly wished Xinlong would depend on him just a little more.

---

As practice came to an end...

The members gathered their bags.

Xinlong bent down to lift one of the heavier equipment cases.

Before he could pick it up...

Sangwon reached it first.

"I'll carry it."

"You don't have to."

"I know."

Sangwon answered with an easy smile.

"But I want to."

Xinlong looked at him for a moment before smiling back.

"Thank you, hyung."

The three words made Sangwon's heart beat faster.

He simply nodded and walked beside Xinlong toward the exit.

A few steps behind them...

Anxin quietly caught up and joined the conversation naturally.

Junseo and Leo exchanged a brief glance.

Neither of them said anything.

But they had both noticed something.

Sangwon, who usually kept a comfortable distance from everyone, had started looking for Xinlong without realizing it.

And Anxin...

Had begun doing the same.

Neither of them had confessed.

Neither of them intended to rush.

But from that day onward...

Whenever practice began...

Both of their eyes searched for the same person first.

Xinlong.