As soon as he opened the practice room door, Flea felt the air was different.
No one raised a voice,
The atmosphere wasn't particularly cold.
Somehow it was a little difficult to breathe.
A low humming sound from the amplifier,
The sound of a guitar string being plucked while being tuned....
All the sounds were familiar,
Today, each and every one of them sounded particularly clear.
Flea sat on a chair prepared next to the stage.
It was a seat that was designed to allow you to stretch your legs.
I was both grateful and a little suffocated by that fact.
“Is Flee here??”
Yejun greeted Flee,
Flee looked up and smiled.
"yes..!"
It was a pretty decent expression.
At least, that's what it seemed like.
Bambi came over and asked quietly.
“How are you feeling today?”
Flea hesitated for a moment and then said.
“..It’s okay. Hehe..”
It's okay.
No problem.
You can do it.
Eunho was watching the scene from a little distance away.
Without saying anything, I slowly scanned Flee's expression and breathing.
Flea knew, but he didn't avoid that gaze.
The rehearsal began as scheduled.
“Then, let’s just match the sound once.”
Flea grabbed the mic.
I felt my hands tense, but I thought it was okay.
‘This much.’
MR came out.
Flea took a deep breath and began to sing.
🎶I'm missing your lips ~"
The first verse was steady.
There were no major problems with breathing or pitch.
Flee felt a sense of relief inside.
‘After all, practice makes it better...’
Before that thought could even finish, a problem arose.
Just before moving on to the chorus,
The inside of my throat suddenly tightened.
It was suffocating, as if a very thin film was blocking my breathing.
Flea instinctively gave more strength.
Then, very subtly, the sound shook.
It was really brief.
So much so that most of them might have passed by.
But Eunho raised his head.
' ....? '
Flea felt the gaze again, but pretended not to notice and continued singing.
Second high note time, this time I was a little out of breath.
I dragged it out to the end, but the last note wasn't clean.
🎶 "When two clock hands touch, their gazes overlap~"
The song ended, and the practice room became quiet thanks to the finished performances.
It was so quiet that Flea thought she could hear herself breathing.
“Fly.”
Eunho called Flea, and Flea raised her head.
“Yesterday… did you practice too hard again?”
The question was more of a certainty than a doubt.
Flea shook his head reflexively.
“Uh... No??”
It was too fast.
Eunho looked at Flea without saying anything.
For a moment, it was really just a moment.
"You really didn't do it? You said you didn't do it before, but you overdid it."
“…Yes, I didn’t…! Really...”
Flea didn't turn his gaze.
I thought that would look more natural.
There was a brief silence, and in the meantime...
Bambi opened his mouth cautiously.
“In your current state… the stage might be a little difficult, Flea.
“Is your throat feeling a bit sore? Your pitch is a bit off. I’m not trying to say anything...”
The moment those words fell,
The corners of Flea's mouth hardened just a little.
“Then you don’t have to do it.”
The words came out faster than I thought.
“Huh??”
"sorry"
Flea put the mic down.
The handle creaked slightly as I tightened my grip.
“Everything changed because of me.”
As I was talking, my pace gradually picked up.
“The stage layout, the flow of movement, the direction...
“Everything that changed from the original plan...”
Bambi stopped as he was about to say something.
Meanwhile, Eunho spoke in a low voice.
“That’s not something you can handle alone.”
Fleet raised his head.
"no."
This time, he was firm.
“Everyone is doing this because of me.”
I took a deep breath.
Even though I was breathing in, I felt like my heart was pounding.
“I’ll try to find another vocalist… I’ll go,”
Eunho's expression hardened.
“Kimply.”
“You said you were saving me? I won’t get hurt.”
My voice was shaking slightly
Someone tried to say something, but Flea didn't stop talking.
“If I’m not there, everyone is comfortable.”
At that moment, Eunho took a step forward.
“If you think about it that way.”
His voice trembled lowly.
“If you think about it that way, does that make you feel better?”
Flea bit her lip.
"that…."
I couldn't continue speaking.
Eunho came closer.
And said.
“I never told you to endure it alone.”
"but…."
“Do you think that taking on everything is the solution?”
At those words, Flea's eyes turned red.
“Then what do you want me to do...?
I can't even practice properly because my throat is not feeling well.
“You want me to watch you all suffer because of me?”
Eunho was speechless for a moment.
"First of all... let's go back to the sickroom. Your condition has gotten a lot worse."
"..."
Inside the hospital room,
Eunho sat Flee down on the bed and spoke seriously.
"Flya, you can find another vocalist. Just like you said."
"...?"
"So... what I mean is
It means don't feel burdened."
"..."
"Do whatever you want, anything is fine.
I am
.
.
.
I'm on your side lol"
"..."
"Were you really upset earlier?"
Eunho looked at Flee, who was speechless.
He quietly hugged Flee.
Flea lost the breath he had been holding in her arms in an instant.
“……. Black”
I didn't say anything,
Tears poured down.
“I… really want to work hard.”
Flea said.
“I don’t want to be a nuisance... sob...”
Eunho's arms became a little stronger.
"It's absolutely not a nuisance. Why are you saying such things?"
"Ugh... uhhh..."
"are you okay"
Those words, for the first time, sank deep into Flea's heart.
From a little distance away,
Yejun was watching the scene.
Eunho's hand holding Flee,
Looking at Flea crying inside
Yejun knows where he stands
I felt it clearly for the first time.
'ah….'
.
.
.
‘You’re late... haha’
Flee held the yogurt Eunho had given him and remained silent.
The crying had stopped, but her eyes were still red.
“Tell me if your throat hurts?”
Eunho said.
Flea nodded.
"…sorry."
“Don’t even say that.”
Eunho comforted Flee with affectionate eyes.
Outside the hospital room,
Eunho stood leaning against the wall.
Flea's tears from a little while ago still lingered in my mind.
"…now."
Eunho muttered to himself.
“Now, I can’t pretend not to know anymore.”
.
.
.
.
.
Continued in the next episode >>