"Water break," Haejun announced, his voice cutting through the tension.
The other trainees immediately dispersed, grabbing their bottles and towels from the corner of the room.
Their voices dropped to hushed whispers, but the acoustics of the practice room carried every word.
"Should've picked someone with more experience."
"Beta stamina showing already."
"We're going to lose because of dead weight."
My chest tightened as Haejun approached, and I braced myself for the inevitable dismissal.
The apology was already forming on my tongue—how I'd work harder, how I wouldn't let the team down again, and how he should give me just one more chance.
Instead, he held out a pristine white towel and an unopened water bottle.
"Are you okay?"
The question hit me unexpectedly.
His tone was calm, but there was something startling in its gentleness—a complete contradiction to the sharp authority he'd displayed moments before.
I blinked, thrown completely off balance.
