FALSE HALO Chapter 7
724 Words
Chapter 7 – A Feeling Without a Name
The morning practice was no different from any other.
Music echoed through the room as the members repeated the choreography.
"Again from the bridge," the choreographer called.
Shinyu nodded.
"Everyone, one more time."
The members returned to their positions.
As the music started, Shinyu's eyes naturally swept across the room, checking everyone's movements.
For a brief second...
His gaze stopped on Hanjin.
Hanjin was fixing the sleeve of his hoodie while listening carefully to the instructor.
"..."
"Leader?"
Shinyu blinked.
"Hm?"
"The count."
"Oh."
He quickly looked away.
"Five, six, seven, eight."
---
Practice continued.
A few minutes later, Hanjin laughed quietly at something Youngjae had said.
Without thinking...
Shinyu looked in his direction again.
Just for a moment.
Then again.
And once more.
"..."
Why do I keep looking over there?
He frowned slightly.
It wasn't intentional.
Every time he scanned the room...
His eyes somehow landed on Hanjin first.
---
During the lunch break, everyone sat together.
Dohoon opened his lunch box.
Youngjae immediately leaned over.
"Can I have one?"
"No."
"You didn't even think about it."
"I already did."
Jihoon laughed.
"You two argue like children."
Across the table, Hanjin quietly reached for a bottle of water.
Without realizing it, Shinyu noticed the movement.
He watched Hanjin drink, listen, smile politely, and quietly join the conversation.
Then...
"Hanjin."
Hanjin looked up.
"Yes, hyung?"
"You barely ate."
Everyone turned toward Shinyu.
Hanjin smiled.
"I'm fine."
"You should eat more."
"...Okay."
Only after Hanjin picked up his chopsticks did Shinyu realize everyone was looking at him.
Youngjae grinned.
"Leader, you're sounding like someone's mom."
The table burst into laughter.
Shinyu rubbed the back of his neck.
"I was just reminding him."
Dohoon smirked.
"Sure."
---
That evening, they finished practice later than expected.
As everyone packed their bags, Dohoon walked over to Hanjin.
"Hurry up."
"I'm almost done."
Dohoon casually grabbed Hanjin's wrist.
"Come on."
The touch lasted only a second.
Hanjin followed without resisting.
"...Okay."
Dohoon let go almost immediately.
But something felt...
Strange.
Not uncomfortable.
Just...
Different.
He frowned.
What was that?
He had pulled the other members along countless times before.
Jihoon.
Youngjae.
Kyungmin.
None of those moments had stayed in his mind.
This one did.
---
Outside the building, the members waited for the van.
Youngjae was talking nonstop.
Jihoon was laughing.
Kyungmin was looking at his phone.
Dohoon found himself standing beside Hanjin without thinking.
"...Cold?"
Hanjin nodded.
"A little."
Dohoon silently took off his light jacket and held it out.
"Wear it."
Hanjin looked surprised.
"You'll be cold."
"I'll survive."
"...Thank you."
As Hanjin slipped it on, Dohoon looked away.
Why did I do that?
He wasn't usually this attentive.
Not with anyone.
---
Later that night...
Shinyu was reviewing tomorrow's schedule.
He tried reading the same page three times.
For some reason...
His thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Did Hanjin eat enough?
He stopped.
"..."
Why am I thinking about that again?
He closed the notebook.
A memory flashed through his mind—
Hanjin smiling.
Hanjin quietly thanking him.
Hanjin laughing during lunch.
Shinyu sighed softly.
This is strange.
I've never paid this much attention to one person before.
He couldn't explain it.
There was no dramatic reason.
No sudden realization.
Only the quiet feeling that his eyes kept searching for Hanjin before anyone else.
---
In another room, Dohoon lay on his bed with one arm behind his head.
He replayed the moment from earlier.
The brief touch.
The strange feeling afterward.
"...Weird."
He clicked his tongue.
"I'm overthinking."
He tried to ignore it.
It didn't work.
For reasons he couldn't understand...
His mind returned to Hanjin again.
Not because he wanted it to.
But because it happened on its own.
---
Meanwhile, Hanjin stood alone on the dorm balcony.
The night air was cool.
He remembered every conversation from the day.
Every glance.
Every small change.
A faint smile appeared.
They're starting to notice me.
Not enough...
But enough for the first cracks to appear.
He looked up at the dark sky.
People rarely realize when their feelings begin.
By the time they notice...
They're already much deeper than they intended to be.
He quietly returned inside, wearing the same gentle smile everyone trusted.
No one realized that, for Shinyu and Dohoon...
Something had already begun to change.
- Writer
