Rio Cael’s apartment was still and dark, lit only by the purple glow from her studio lights. Her phone buzzed non-stop on the edge of the desk—notifications flooding in like waves. Twitter. Instagram. TikTok. Mentions piling up as the world reacted to her newest single, "Afterclub."
She leaned back in her chair, oversized hoodie half-zipped, soft curls tucked under a black cap. Her voice—the one that could melt through any speaker—had been pouring into the mic just hours ago. Now she was quiet again, watching the screen as streaming numbers ticked up.
100k.
130k.
Trending.
A song she barely talked about in interviews. One that came from a night she barely remembered, yet couldn’t forget.
The beat was slow, thick with reverb. Her lyrics whispered like secrets from velvet lips. “She kissed me like the world was ending / in the backseat, her hand on mine / nothing left but heavy breathing and the sound of neon dying.”
Rio bit her bottom lip and minimized the window.
Too many eyes now. Too much noise. She loved singing about the things she was scared to say—but it never made it easier.
She picked up her phone to check her group chats, brushing away more notifications. Her closest friend, Manon, had already posted the link to “Afterclub” in their shared group thread:
MANON: 🔥🔥🔥 girl WHAT was that bridge??? I need to know who she was 👀
RIO: chill 😂
MANON: nah 'chill' nothing. I’m putting this on our live later. Prepare yourself.
Rio raised an eyebrow.
Live? As in, the Katseye Live?
She loved Manon. Genuinely. Out of all the artists she’d met early on, Manon had been the most grounded. But Rio wasn’t built for the chaos that came with six personalities streaming at once.
Her thumb hovered over the chat.
RIO: you want me on?
MANON: not YET 😏 just playing your song, girl. We’re promoting OUR comeback too.
MANON: but soon 👀 don’t be shy.
RIO: I am shy.
Before Manon could reply, Rio tossed her phone to the couch and groaned.
---
Meanwhile…
The Katseye dorm was its usual mess of chaos and camera flashes.
“WHO put a banana in the fridge again?” Daniela yelled from the kitchen.
“I thought it would ripen slower!” Yoonchae defended, voice muffled as she climbed onto the counter looking for snacks.
Sophia, their leader, sat coolly on the couch, one brow raised. “You're all too loud. The live starts in ten minutes.”
Lara walked in with glitter under her eyes and her phone in hand. “Already started it. We’re live, idiots.”
Six heads turned to the phone. “WHAT?!”
And just like that, chaos bloomed.
Comments flew up the screen:
“Yoonchae is on the counter again 💀”
“Lara please turn off the filter”
“WHERE’S MEGAN”
“IS THAT A BANANA IN THE FRIDGE AGAIN??”
Megan appeared last, hair loose, hoodie sliding off one shoulder. She blinked into the camera, then smirked. “What did I walk into?”
“I played Rio’s new song,” Manon said casually.
Megan blinked. “Who’s Rio?”
Manon grinned. “R&B artist. Super lowkey, real talent. We’ve known each other a while. Her new single just dropped—Afterclub. You’d like it.”
Lara added with a wink, “It's... sensual. Like, you kinda music, Megan.”
Megan scoffed, laughing off the comment. “Sensual music doesn’t mean I’m the one who made it.”
The camera caught a flash of interest in her eyes anyway.
Katseye played the song in the background as they answered fan questions, joked about their outfits, and teased one another over choreography. But when Rio’s voice filled the room, something shifted.
It was smooth. Heavy. Intimate.
Even Megan—who had just claimed she didn’t know her—leaned forward like the lyrics were pulling her in.
“She kissed me like the world was ending...”
Megan tilted her head. “Damn. Who writes like that?”
“Rio,” Manon answered softly.
Sophia looked at her knowingly. “You’re gonna meet her soon. Just wait.”
The fans didn’t miss a thing.
“Megan liked that voice 👀”
“Yoonchae vibing HARD”
“Drop the @ we need more Rio”
“Imagine her collabing with Katseye…”
---
Back at home, Rio scrolled through the live replay—then paused.
Her face flushed at the sight of Megan leaning in during her song.
“…Who’s that?” she whispered to herself, barely audible.
The screen showed Megan biting her lip slightly as her voice played in the background.
Rio’s heart kicked once in her chest.
YOU ARE READING
Unspoken
RomanceRio is a rising R&B singer with a sensual vibe and a shy heart, dropping her latest single Afterclub and catching the attention of many - including Megan, a member of Katseye who's quietly drawn to Rio's magnetic presence. As their worlds slowly beg...
