The studio lights were warm, soft, almost like the sunrise filtering through clouds. Monarch lounged in the rehearsal space, stretching and sipping water, scattered lyric sheets at their feet, the faint scent of sweat and energy lingering in the air.
Jiwon stood near the mirrored wall, eyes scanning every reflection, every angle, making mental notes of each member's placement. He flexed his fingers over the microphone, then let them fall, brushing a lock of hair from his eyes.
Zayn clapped his hands sharply. "Alright. Let's run it from the top. No distractions, no second-guessing. Remember, this is the rehearsal showcase—fans are watching, but we own the room."
Kai grinned, already bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. "I've been waiting to show off my killer rap bridge. No mercy."
EO twirled once, landing perfectly on the beat, a shy smile tugging at his lips. Min leaned against the mirrored wall, eyes closed, listening—not the music, but something beneath it, something pulsing through the floorboards.
As the beat dropped, Jiwon stepped into the center. His posture was calm, almost regal. The spotlight above him caught the faint shimmer on his wrist—the edge of the charm sewn under his sleeve, hidden but alive.
The song began: soft piano chords and subtle synths, building toward the first verse.
Kai's voice sliced through first:"Fell from the sky with a starlight grin,Didn't ask why, just let you in…"
EO's falsetto floated above, harmonizing with Min's gentle undertones. Every movement was precise, a push and pull of energy—hands brushing, spins syncing perfectly, the choreography a living organism of light and rhythm.
Jiwon's turn came. He lifted the mic, voice steady at first, then dipping into a subtle vibrato that made the hairs on everyone's arms stand up. The words were layered, seemingly just part of the song, but each phrase whispered secrets no one else knew:
"밤하늘 속에 나를 봐,숨겨진 마음 여기 있어."
("Look at me in the night sky,My hidden heart is here.")
His eyes flicked for a fraction of a second toward the VIP livestream camera—toward Yul, if he was watching. A faint flicker, almost imperceptible, but it carried everything Jiwon had been holding back: longing, fear, desire.
Zayn's choreography snapped perfectly around him, catching him mid-spin, hands landing where they needed to, crowding the space like protective wings. Kai's rap bridge hit, aggressive and sharp, cutting through the harmonies:
"Crash through the shadows, break the chains,No more whispers, only flames…"
EO hit the falsetto again, Min circling the center like a gentle wind, brushing against Jiwon during a delicate handoff. Every movement was calculated yet instinctive, a silent language the five had spoken for years.
The final chorus hit. Jiwon's voice soared over the others, pure and golden, carrying the song's secret message in every subtle inflection. His eyes closed for a beat, every note a confession he wouldn't say aloud.
Fans in the VIP chat were flooding the stream with emojis, hearts, gifs—comments popping faster than anyone could read:"Did Jiwon just… look straight at me?!""His voice… I can't—he's unreal.""The way EO and Min move with him… it's like magic."
When the final beat faded, Jiwon dropped the mic, a small, almost shy smile tugging at his lips. Sweat dampened his hair, his chest rising and falling, but his eyes were steady, almost luminous.
Zayn clapped, breaking the spell. "Damn it. That was perfect. All of you. But Jiwon… you've got something else going on. That was… you."
Jiwon only nodded, brushing past him toward the side of the studio, letting the others chatter and laugh around him. Inside, his chest thumped—not from exertion, but from the weight of everything he had just sung and the one person he hoped was listening.
Kai threw an arm around EO's shoulder. "Rehearsals like this? I could die happy. Seriously."
Min, still near the mirrors, muttered softly, almost to himself, "It feels… like fire and starlight. All at once."
Jiwon caught the words, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. Fire and starlight, indeed.
He stepped back, looking at the group. Their laughter, their movements, their perfect chaos—it was grounding. A reminder that even with the world outside pressing in, even with the shadows threatening, this was theirs.
And tomorrow, when they took the live stage, it would all ignite.