[Minho's POV]
The dressing room smelled of hairspray, leather, and nerves. My bandmates in Syndicate were buzzing — Taeyoon was adjusting his collar for the hundredth time, Jisoo was cracking jokes to keep the mood light, and Hyunwoo… Hyunwoo just leaned against the mirror with that smug, unshakable expression.
Me? My chest was pounding. Tonight wasn't just another stage. It was a joint showcase. Syndicate… and Ara.
I had seen her perform last night — her solo debut. Her voice, her moves, her control… it was like fire wrapped in velvet. Even I couldn't deny it. And yet, every time the crowd screamed her name, I felt a knot twist tighter inside me.
Not jealousy. No. Something else.
A pull I couldn't afford.
"Minho," Hyunwoo's voice cut through my thoughts. He adjusted his mic headset, eyes narrowing. "Don't embarrass us out there. The CEO may think you're a miracle, but this stage is ours. Don't think Ara's shine will save you if you stumble."
His words landed like knives, but Taeyoon quickly jumped in, patting my shoulder. "Ignore him. We've got this. Right, Minho?"
I nodded, though my throat was dry.
"Yeah," I lied.
---
[On Stage – Syndicate's Performance]
The stage lights exploded into crimson and gold as our intro track blasted through the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for SYNDICATE!"
The crowd erupted. Fandom banners waved, glowsticks lit like stars, and for a moment, the fear melted away.
We launched into "Burn the Night (밤을 태워)," one of our fiercest tracks.
---
🎶 Syndicate – "Burn the Night (밤을 태워)" 🎶
[Verse 1 – Hyunwoo]
"불길처럼 번져가 (spreading like flames),
이 무대 위, we'll never stop,
Every shadow, every scar,
We turn it into fire, into stars."
[Pre-Chorus – Minho]
"Step closer, feel the heat inside,
운명을 거슬러, we'll never hide (defying fate, we'll never hide),
This fire won't fade away."
[Chorus – All Members]
"Burn the night, 태워버려 (burn it all away),
Shine so bright, break the chains today.
No regrets, we rise, we fight,
Together we will burn the night."
[Bridge – Taeyoon & Minho harmonizing]
"깊은 어둠 속에도 (even in deep darkness),
We find the light, we'll never let go.
Scream my name, don't be afraid,
Our fire will guide the way."
[Final Chorus – All]
"Burn the night, 태워버려,
Hearts collide, we're warriors,
We rise, we fight,
Together we will burn—
Burn the night!"
---
The final beat hit, smoke machines fired, and the crowd's roar thundered through my bones.
For a moment, I caught Ara standing at the side stage, arms crossed, watching. Not clapping. Not smiling. Just watching.
And suddenly… I wanted her to clap. I wanted her to see me.
---
[Backstage – Transition]
The MC barely gave us time to breathe before announcing her.
"And now… the siren of the stage, the rising star — ARA!"
We moved backstage, sweat dripping, lungs burning. Jisoo and Taeyoon gave each other fist bumps, grinning.
But me? I couldn't take my eyes off the monitor as Ara took the stage in a black diamond-studded outfit that glittered with every step.
The crowd's screams reached another level. Some were Syndicate's fans, but most? Hers. Already hers.
---
[Ara's Performance – POV shifts briefly to her on stage]
Her voice flowed like silk, but cut like a blade. Every lyric of "Venus Trap" sounded sharper tonight, almost as if she was singing directly at me.
When she hit the line:
"You can't resist, it's your only choice, and—"
Her gaze found mine on the monitor.
And she smirked.
My heart kicked against my ribs.
---
[Backstage – After Ara's Stage]
When Ara returned backstage, her makeup untouched by sweat, her stride regal, everyone parted for her like the Red Sea.
She passed by Syndicate's side of the hallway — her perfume lingering, a faint sweetness laced with power.
"Good job out there," Taeyoon said politely.
She tilted her head, giving him a half-smile. Then her eyes flicked to me. "Minho."
Just my name. Nothing else.
But the way she said it — like a challenge, like a secret — made Jisoo snicker quietly and elbow me.
"형 (hyung), she's got her eyes on you."
"Shut up," I muttered, face burning.
Hyunwoo, of course, caught it. His smirk was venom. "Don't get distracted, Minho. Girls like her? They'll chew you up and spit you out. Remember why you're here."
I clenched my fists. He wasn't wrong. But something inside me rebelled at his words.
---
[Later That Night – The Joint Encore]
The program's producer announced a surprise: Syndicate and Ara would share the stage for an encore finale.
The fans went wild.
But we hadn't rehearsed together. Not once.
The staff rushed around, handing us shared mics, giving frantic signals. Ara looked completely unfazed, as if she'd known all along this would happen.
When the music began — an upbeat remix mashup of Syndicate's "Burn the Night" and Ara's "Venus Trap" — chaos turned to instinct.
We moved. We sang. We collided.
At one point, Ara stepped right into my space, close enough that the lights reflected in her eyes like molten stars.
Her voice overlapped mine on the line:
"Together we will burn— / Venus trap, forever my game!"
The crowd screamed like the world was ending.
And for a heartbeat, it felt like it was.
[Minho's POV – Closing Scene]
After the curtain call, when the confetti fell and the lights dimmed, Ara leaned close as the crowd still screamed our names.
"잘했어, Minho," she whispered. Good job.
But her smile was sharper than glass.
"Don't fall behind."
Then she walked off, leaving me frozen under the lights, heart pounding louder than any fan chant.
Because I realized something terrifying.
This wasn't just rivalry.
It wasn't just attraction.
It was war.
And I didn't know if I could win.