At first glance, Lee Wonhee looked completely unapproachable. She had a blank, poker-face stare that people easily mistaken for cold indifference, framed by thick, dark hair that fell perfectly past her shoulders. But it was all a front. Behind that...
The practice room mirrors were fogged up at the edges, a testament to the hours ILLIT had spent running through their choreography. The rest of the members had already headed back to the dorms, but Wonhee had stayed behind to perfect one specific transition in the chorus.
She sighed, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead, and queued up the music on her phone for the tenth time. Before the track could start, the heavy studio door clicked open.
Moka walked in, holding two iced matcha lattes from the café down the street. She didn't say anything at first; she just walked over to the sound system, paused the music, and handed one of the cold cups to Wonhee.
"You've been at it for an extra hour," Moka said, her voice soft and gentle in the quiet room. "You're going to wear yourself out, Wonhee-ya."
Wonhee took the drink, the cool plastic refreshing against her palms. "I just want it to be perfect, unnie. I kept losing my balance on the spin."
Moka smiled, a warm expression that instantly made the tension leave Wonhee's shoulders. She reached out, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind Wonhee's ear. "Your balance is fine. You're just tired. Come here."
Moka sat down on the polished wooden floor, leaning her back against the mirror, and patted the space next to her. Wonhee hesitated for a second before sitting down close enough that their shoulders brushed.
They drank in comfortable silence for a few minutes. The bustling noise of the city felt miles away, leaving just the two of them in their own quiet world. Wonhee looked over at Moka, admiring the calm, steady presence she always brought whenever things got overwhelming.
As if sensing her gaze, Moka turned her head and set her drink down. She reached out and wrapped her fingers around Wonhee's hand, squeezing it gently.
"You're doing amazing," Moka whispered, looking directly into her eyes. "Don't be so hard on yourself. I'm always right here behind you on stage, remember?"
Wonhee felt a warm flush creep up her cheeks that had nothing to do with the practice. A small, genuine smile broke across her face as she squeezed Moka's hand back.
"I remember," Wonhee said softly, leaning her head onto Moka's shoulder.
Moka rested her chin on top of Wonhee's head, the familiar scent of her shampoo comforting and grounding. They stayed like that for a long time, content to just share the quiet space together, the rest of the world completely forgotten.
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