Chapter 35: New Faces, Old Tensions
The morning after the tense dinner, the members of Eclipse gathered in the agency's common lounge, scattered around the room, each with their own thoughts. The hum of a fresh day mixed with the quiet click of laptop keys and the occasional sound of a phone vibrating.
Soyeon, standing near the door with her arms crossed, cleared her throat, grabbing everyone's attention. Her presence alone was enough to pull focus. She could be charming when she wanted to, but today, she had the air of someone ready to deliver a report, or perhaps even a verdict.
Soyeon (with a hint of sarcasm):
"So, the big meeting went well, I guess. New collaborations, new challenges. And, of course, we'll have to accommodate the LUNAR group from the next floor—they're definitely going to be under our radar now." She paused, letting her words linger in the air. "Apparently, we'll be working with them more than we thought."
There was a brief silence as the members exchanged looks, unsure of how to feel about the news.
Jisoo (looking up from his phone, frowning):
"We're working with them more? What does that mean exactly?"
Soyeon (almost too casually):
"I mean, they're joining us for more promotional events, performances, and possibly a collaboration track down the line. We'll have to get used to them being around."
Taehyun (raising an eyebrow, his tone distant):
"And how do you feel about that?"
Soyeon's eyes flickered toward him. There was something more behind her cool response. Hyunwoo was sitting across from her, and as he caught her gaze, she shifted her weight, then looked back at the group.
Soyeon (forcing a smile):
"I'm fine. It's just another group, right?"
She didn't wait for a response, turning to face the door. The tension in her voice lingered a bit longer than necessary.
Minjun (quickly trying to smooth things over):
"New groups, new energy. Let's just see how it goes. We've got experience handling this."
Before anyone could speak further, the door opened and in walked Yunna, with her easy-going demeanor and confident smile. She wasn't alone; her group members from LUNAR followed, but it was clear that all eyes were on her. Yunna's presence was magnetic, drawing attention without any effort.
Yunna (greeting the room casually):
"Good morning, everyone. Hope you all had a restful night."
Her eyes briefly scanned the room, and for a moment, they lingered on Hyunwoo, the familiarity between them unmistakable. Jisoo noticed the slight exchange and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Taehyun, on the other hand, simply looked over with interest, his gaze shifting back to his phone.
Hyunwoo (smiling warmly, standing up from his seat):
"Yunna. Long time no see. Didn't expect you to pop in today."
Yunna (teasingly):
"Well, I have to make my presence known. Don't want to get lost in the crowd."
The way she said it made the atmosphere shift just a little. Hyunwoo chuckled softly, clearly at ease with her. It was natural, comfortable, like old friends slipping back into the same rhythm. Soyeon, however, could feel the tiny knot of irritation in her chest, a little tighter than before.
Soyeon (forcing a smile, but her voice was cold):
"You two know each other?"
Yunna (with a light laugh):
"Yeah, we go way back. Our trainees crossed paths a lot back in the day. You could say we're childhood friends."
The words hung in the air, and Soyeon's grip on the coffee cup in her hand tightened. Childhood friends. The phrase lingered, and for some reason, it felt like it was aimed directly at her. She shifted uncomfortably, but her smile never wavered.
Jisoo (half-smiling, half-serious):
"Is that so? Well, that's an interesting twist. Looks like we've got some familiar faces around."
Yunna (looking around, her voice light):
"Yeah, it's been a while. I'm glad to be back in this space. But, Hyunwoo," she added with a little teasing edge, "I didn't know you were so... reserved these days. You used to be the one pulling all the pranks."
Hyunwoo (smiling softly, but there's a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes):
"I guess I've grown up a little."
The comment stung more than Soyeon wanted to admit. She quickly sipped her coffee, trying to hide the discomfort. The ease between Hyunwoo and Yunna only seemed to reinforce something Soyeon didn't want to acknowledge. She felt herself pulling away mentally, her thoughts racing. There was something about Yunna that made her uneasy—something in the way she moved, spoke, and looked at Hyunwoo.
The conversation continued, with Yunna taking the lead in discussing LUNAR's upcoming promotions and how their schedules were aligning with Eclipse. Meanwhile, Soyeon felt her emotions twisting inside. She had to keep it together. Hyunwoo was still her teammate, wasn't he? But Yunna, with her confident smile and subtle charm, was slowly starting to blur the lines.