The Other Member
1254 Words
The morning sun streamed through the practice studio’s high windows, painting the wooden floors with gold and highlighting the quiet buzz of the ECLIPSE members as they gathered for yet another long day of rehearsals.
Minho sat cross-legged on the floor near his makeup station, organizing his brushes while sipping an iced Americano. The caffeine barely took the edge off his tiredness, but it was enough to get him through the early call time.
Jaemin’s voice floated across the room. “Minho-hyung! Coffee already? You’re gonna vibrate through the floor.”
Minho grinned. “Yah, I need the energy to deal with all of you.”
Seojun, lounging on the couch, snorted. “He’s got a point, hyung. We’re a handful.”
Minho shook his head, chuckling. “I’ve met more chaotic rookies than you guys, believe it or not.”
Daehyun, ever the steady leader, clapped his hands together, signaling the start of their day. “Alright, everyone. Let’s get ready for warm-ups. Hyunwoo, you good?”
Hyunwoo looked up from his phone, a soft smile playing at his lips. “네, 형. Just checking the setlist for tomorrow’s show.”
Minho’s eyes lingered on Hyunwoo for a moment. The vocalist had a presence that felt like warm sunlight—gentle, reassuring, and effortlessly kind. He was the type who offered a shoulder to lean on, a comforting smile when the day was too heavy.
“Minho-hyung,” Hyunwoo called, his voice warm. “Mind helping me with a touch-up? I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Of course,” Minho said, standing. He grabbed his small makeup kit and moved closer.
Hyunwoo’s eyes crinkled in that signature, heart-stopping smile. “You’re a lifesaver, hyung.”
Minho shook his head as he opened a compact. “I think you’ve got that backwards. You guys are the ones putting on a show for millions.”
“Yeah, but you’re the one who makes us look good,” Hyunwoo teased, eyes twinkling.
Minho felt a warmth spread through his chest as he worked, brushing concealer gently beneath Hyunwoo’s eyes to erase the evidence of a restless night. Up close, he noticed the tiny lines of fatigue around Hyunwoo’s eyes—lines that spoke of the constant pressure, the endless schedules, the weight of expectations.
“You should rest more,” Minho murmured, his voice low. “You push yourself too hard.”
Hyunwoo’s smile softened. “I know. But I want to give my best, you know?”
Minho nodded, his hands steady. “I get it. Just don’t forget to take care of yourself, too.”
Their eyes met, and for a moment, the air between them felt charged, fragile. Hyunwoo’s gaze held a quiet vulnerability that made Minho’s chest tighten.
“Thanks,” Hyunwoo said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “You always know what to say.”
Minho cleared his throat, focusing on the finishing touches. “That’s what I’m here for,” he said, though his heart felt like it was pounding out of his chest.
Just then, Jace’s voice cut through the quiet, rough and annoyed. “Hyunwoo, you’re up next for warm-ups.”
Hyunwoo pulled back, his smile back in place. “네, 형,” he called, standing and giving Minho a small, grateful nod.
Minho watched him go, an uneasy feeling settling in his stomach. He’d always been careful to keep his work and his personal life separate, but the way Hyunwoo looked at him—it felt like lines were beginning to blur.
He turned to pack away his kit, but before he could finish, Jace appeared behind him, arms folded and eyes dark.
“Hyunwoo’s getting a lot of attention from you lately,” Jace said, his voice low, almost challenging.
Minho blinked, surprised. “He just needed a touch-up,” he replied evenly.
Jace’s jaw tightened. “Right.”
Minho raised an eyebrow. “Is there a problem, Jace-ssi?”
Jace hesitated, his gaze flickering to the practice room where Hyunwoo was warming up. “No,” he muttered finally, though his tone said otherwise.
Minho sighed. “Look, I’m just doing my job. That’s all.”
Jace’s eyes met his, and for a brief moment, something raw and unguarded flashed across his face. But it disappeared as quickly as it came.
“Whatever,” he muttered, turning away. “Don’t let him distract you from your work.”
Minho watched him go, his mind spinning. He’d seen the way Jace’s eyes followed Hyunwoo when he sang, the subtle tension whenever they interacted. It wasn’t jealousy—at least not the kind most people expected. It was something deeper, more complicated, and Minho couldn’t pretend he didn’t feel the tangled threads between them all.
After the warm-ups, the group moved on to choreography. Minho found a quiet corner to sit and watch, his kit by his side. The music pulsed through the room, the members’ movements sharp and precise.
Hyunwoo’s voice soared above the beat, clear and warm, and Minho felt a flutter in his chest. His voice had a way of wrapping around a melody like a gentle embrace, drawing people in.
Jace, on the other hand, moved like a storm—sharp, powerful, every step radiating a fierce confidence. But even as he commanded the room, his eyes kept darting to Hyunwoo, watching him, measuring him.
During a break, Jaemin collapsed next to Minho with a dramatic groan. “I’m dying, hyung. Save me.”
Minho laughed. “You’re not even sweating.”
Jaemin pouted. “Hyung! My poor legs.”
Minho rolled his eyes, handing him a towel. “Drama queen.”
Seojun joined them, plopping down and sighing. “Hyung, what’s with Jace today? He’s all glary and intense.”
Minho glanced at Jace, who stood with his back to them, arms crossed. “Maybe he’s tired,” he offered, though he wasn’t convinced.
“Hyunwoo’s been getting on his nerves lately,” Seojun said, half-joking. “You’d think they’re fighting over something.”
Jaemin snickered. “Maybe they’re fighting over you, hyung.”
Minho’s face flushed. “Yah! Don’t tease like that.”
But Jaemin’s words lodged in his chest, unsettling him.
After practice, Hyunwoo approached Minho, his smile warm but his eyes tired. “Hyung, can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” Minho said, packing away his kit.
Hyunwoo hesitated, then looked down. “Do you ever feel like you’re standing in the middle of something… complicated?”
Minho froze, his heart thudding. “What do you mean?”
Hyunwoo met his gaze, his eyes searching. “I mean… sometimes I feel like there’s something between Jace and me that I don’t understand. And then… you’re here, and it feels like everything’s changing.”
Minho swallowed hard. “Hyunwoo…”
Hyunwoo’s lips curved into a sad smile. “It’s okay. I just… I wanted to be honest.”
Before Minho could reply, Daehyun called them over for a group meeting.
Minho watched Hyunwoo walk away, feeling a storm brewing in his chest. The lines between them all were blurring, the boundaries dissolving.
And at the center of it all stood Jace—untouchable, unreadable—and Hyunwoo, whose warmth could thaw the coldest heart.
Minho exhaled shakily. He’d come here to do a job, but somehow he’d found himself caught in a web of emotions he couldn’t untangle.
And for the first time, he wasn’t sure he wanted to.
- Writer
