FALSE HALO

FALSE HALO Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – Behind the Smile

The filming for the group's content had just ended.

The staff applauded.

"Good job, everyone!"

"Thank you!" the members answered together.

As soon as the cameras turned off, the atmosphere became much more relaxed.

Youngjae stretched his arms.

"I smiled so much my face hurts."

Jihoon laughed.

"You say that every single time."

"Because it's true!"

Dohoon picked up his water bottle and looked at Youngjae with a straight face.

"Then stop smiling."

"...We're idols."

"So?"

Youngjae stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter.

"Hyung, your solutions are always impossible."

Kyungmin shook his head.

"He's serious too."

"I am," Dohoon replied calmly.

Everyone laughed again.

Even Shinyu couldn't hide a small smile.

"You really don't know how to comfort people."

"I wasn't comforting him."

"I noticed."

---

The members headed back to the practice room.

Shinyu checked everyone's schedule on his phone.

"We have vocal practice in thirty minutes."

Youngjae groaned dramatically.

"Can today just end already?"

"No," Shinyu answered softly.

"We still have work."

Youngjae pouted.

"You always sound so calm when you reject people."

Shinyu smiled apologetically.

"Sorry."

"You don't even sound sorry."

Jihoon laughed.

"Our leader is too nice."

---

Hanjin quietly walked behind everyone.

His expression was as gentle as always.

Jihoon slowed his pace.

"Hanjin."

"Yes?"

"Did your family call you yesterday?"

Hanjin smiled warmly.

"They did."

"That's good."

"I miss them sometimes."

Youngjae smiled.

"You should visit them when we get a vacation."

"I'd like that."

His voice sounded sincere.

Kind.

Soft.

Exactly what everyone expected from Hanjin.

---

They're so easy to fool.

Hanjin kept smiling.

People only see what they want to see.

If acting nice makes life easier... why wouldn't I keep acting?

His eyes briefly moved toward the others.

As long as everyone believes this version of me... everything stays under my control.

A second later, the innocent smile returned as if those thoughts had never existed.

---

Back inside the practice room, the members began warming up.

Dohoon watched Jihoon dancing.

"You missed the beat."

"I did?"

"Three times."

Jihoon blinked.

"You counted?"

"I always count."

"That's terrifying."

"It's called paying attention."

Youngjae laughed.

"Hyung notices everything."

Shinyu looked over.

"He's right, though."

Jihoon sighed.

"Fine, let's do it again."

---

After another practice run, the choreographer nodded.

"Much better."

Shinyu gave a quiet clap.

"Good work."

Youngjae immediately sat on the floor.

"I deserve fried chicken."

"You deserve another hour of practice," Dohoon answered.

Youngjae looked horrified.

"You're actually evil."

"No."

Dohoon shrugged.

"I'm realistic."

Kyungmin laughed so hard he almost dropped his phone.

"That's somehow even worse."

Even Hanjin let out a soft laugh.

Dohoon glanced at him for only a second before looking away again.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

To Dohoon, Hanjin was simply another teammate.

The same was true for Shinyu.

Neither of them paid him any special attention.

For now, Hanjin was just the youngest member quietly standing among the others, wearing the same gentle smile everyone had come to trust.

And that was exactly how he wanted it.