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Chapter 35: New Faces, Unspoken Bonds
As the group continued their casual conversation, trying to adjust to the unexpected appearance of Yunna, another figure appeared at the door—this time, not as confident or comfortable in the room, but with an aura of curiosity and quiet determination.
Seulbi stepped in, holding a coffee cup and looking a little out of place amidst the tight-knit group. Her dark eyes scanned the room briefly, then fixed on the faces she was supposed to interact with, though none of them were familiar to her. She was a member of LUNAR, just like Yunna, but where Yunna had charm and ease, Seulbi had a sense of quiet mystery, her presence almost blending into the background.
Seulbi hesitated at the door, unsure of how to enter the conversation, but Yunna, noticing her, quickly waved her in.
Yunna (with a grin):
"Ah, there you are! This is Seulbi, another member of LUNAR. Seulbi, meet the Eclipse team."
Seulbi gave a soft, polite bow, her fingers wrapped tightly around the coffee cup, a silent shield against the crowd of unfamiliar faces.
Seulbi (calmly):
"Nice to meet you all. I've heard a lot about Eclipse. You guys are impressive."
Jaemin, who had been quiet until now, lifted his gaze from his phone, intrigued by her calm demeanor. She wasn't flashy or overly loud, unlike most idols who made their entrance with grand gestures. Something about her steadiness caught his attention.
Jaemin (half-smiling):
"Thanks, nice to meet you too. You're part of LUNAR, right?"
Seulbi nodded, but didn't smile much. There was a certain distance about her, an air of professionalism mixed with something unspoken.
Seulbi (softly):
"Yeah, I'm a new member. We've been training for a while."
Hyunwoo glanced over at Jaemin, sensing his quiet interest in the new girl. But Jaemin, as usual, was hard to read, his expression not giving much away.
Jisoo, trying to ease the awkwardness, leaned in a little.
Jisoo (with a grin):
"So, what's your role in LUNAR, Seulbi?"
Seulbi (after a brief pause, with a measured smile):
"I'm a vocalist... and a bit of a dancer. I mostly keep to myself, though. I've always preferred focusing on the music and not too much on the spotlight."
Her words were precise, not bragging, but not shy either. There was something striking about her restraint, as if she wasn't playing the idol game in the way most people did.
Soyeon observed quietly from the side. She didn't need to say anything for people to sense her thoughts—there was a flicker of skepticism in her eyes. Seulbi, unlike Yunna, didn't seem to fit the usual mold of being an immediate competitor. She wasn't charming or flirtatious.
But that, in some ways, made Soyeon even more cautious. Seulbi was the kind of person you had to watch carefully.
Jaemin's gaze lingered for a moment longer on Seulbi than anyone else in the room. The quiet curiosity in his eyes was almost imperceptible, but it was there—something about her calmness, about the way she didn't immediately fall into the patterns of others.
Seulbi, noticing the attention, gave a polite nod but then shifted her gaze quickly toward Yunna.
Seulbi (softly, to Yunna):
"Sorry for being late. I got caught up with some last-minute adjustments for our upcoming events."
Yunna (with a teasing smirk):
"No worries. Just showing off your cool, mysterious aura, right?"
Seulbi's lips quirked slightly, but she didn't respond to the teasing. Instead, she stepped further into the room, offering a respectful nod to Soyeon and the others.
Yunna and Seulbi—despite being from the same group—were clearly very different. While Yunna had an easy-going, almost flirtatious energy, Seulbi radiated a quiet, grounded presence, like someone who had seen it all but kept the pieces of herself hidden away. Jaemin noticed it instantly and felt an unfamiliar pull. She wasn't like the other idols he had encountered, and for some reason, that made her more intriguing.
The moment lingered, hanging in the air.
Soyeon continued to observe the new dynamic with growing unease. She didn't like the subtle shift in Jaemin's focus, the way he seemed genuinely interested in Seulbi—just as he had once been with Hana. Soyeon had learned to read his attention, and she didn't like what she was seeing now.
The quiet tension between Seulbi and Jaemin began to bubble under the surface, unnoticed by most, but very present for those who were paying attention. The way she avoided direct eye contact with him, and the slight blush that tinged her cheeks when Jaemin spoke, told a different story than the one she was giving.
As the conversation continued, Seulbi became a fixture in the room. While her presence was understated, it was undeniable—especially when it became clear that her calm was something Jaemin wanted to understand. For once, he wasn't as interested in the loud personalities or easy smiles. He wanted to know what made Seulbi tick.
Jaemin (casually, with a teasing edge):
"So, you're not the type to party, huh?"
Seulbi's eyes flickered up at him for a moment before she replied.
Seulbi (with a small, amused smile):
"Not really. I like a quiet night, maybe with a book or something. But I guess you could say I'm... unpredictable."
Jaemin chuckled, intrigued by the subtle confidence in her words.
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End of Chapter 36
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