⏳ One Week Later — Announcement Hall
The auditorium was packed.
"Attention everyone!"A senior stood on stage.
"As part of the annual festival—we're hosting a couple dance competition."
The crowd reacted instantly.
Cheers. Whispers. Excitement.
You sat with Hana and Minji.
"Oh this is gonna be fun," Minji grinned.
"Not for me," you muttered.
"Why? You dance well."
"I don't compete."
Hana smirked."You do now."
⏳ Rules announced
"Participants will be paired randomly."
You froze.
"Wait—random?"
"Yes. Names will be picked. No changes allowed."
Minji gasped dramatically."OHHHH this is messy already."
You felt something shift.
Not excitement.
Something else.
⏳ Name selection begins
One by one—
names were called.
Students walked on stage.
Pairs formed.
You tried not to think.
Not to look around.
Not to expect anything.
"Y/N."
Your name echoed.
Your heart skipped.
You stood up slowly.
Walking toward the stage.
Then—
"Lee Junho."
A guy stepped forward.
Tall. Confident. Smiling.
He looked at you.
"Guess we're partners."
You forced a small smile.
"…Guess so."
⏳ In the crowd
Jimin sat frozen.
"…Junho?" he muttered.
Taehyung stood at the back.
Watching.
Expression unreadable.
⏳ More names
"Park Jimin."
Jimin stood up.
His eyes flicked toward you.
Just for a second.
Then—
"Kim Ara."
A girl joined him.
Bright. Energetic.
She smiled at him instantly.
"Hi! I've seen you perform before."
Jimin smiled back.
But it didn't fully reach.
⏳ Final name
"Kim Taehyung."
The room reacted again.
You looked up.
Without thinking.
"Choi Nari."
A girl walked up.
Elegant. Graceful.
She bowed slightly.
Taehyung nodded.
Simple.
Calm.
⏳ The moment
All three of you—
on the same stage.
But not together.
Not even close.
You looked at them.
Jimin.
Taehyung.
Both—
standing beside someone else.
And for the first time—
you felt it.
Not confusion.
Not overthinking.
Just…
👉 displacement.
⏳ Practice Day 1
"Okay, let's start simple," Junho said.
You nodded.
He placed his hand out.
You hesitated for a second.
Then took it.
"Relax," he smiled."I don't bite."
You gave a small laugh.
⏳ Across the room
Jimin practiced with Ara.
She was laughing.
Talking.
Close.
Too comfortable.
Jimin followed steps.
Focused.
But—
his eyes drifted.
Toward you.
⏳ Another side
Taehyung and Nari.
Perfect synchronization.
No unnecessary talk.
Just movement.
Clean.
Precise.
Nari smiled at him.
He nodded.
Professional.
But his gaze—
shifted.
To you.
⏳ Back to you
"Look at me," Junho said.
"Huh?"
"You're thinking too much."
You blinked.
"…Am I that obvious?"
"Yes."
You exhaled slightly.
⏳ The shift
"Again," Junho said, pulling you slightly closer.
This time—
you didn't hesitate.
You followed.
Focused.
Moved.
And slowly—
you forgot.
Not everything.
But enough.
⏳ Break Time
You stepped aside, drinking water.
Sweat. Music. Noise.
You glanced up.
Jimin.
Talking to Ara.
She touched his arm lightly.
He didn't move away.
Your grip on the bottle tightened slightly.
⏳ Another glance
Taehyung.
Standing with Nari.
Discussing steps.
She leaned closer.
He adjusted her posture.
Calm.
Natural.
You looked away.
⏳ Inner thought
Why does this feel… wrong?
You had no claim.
No right.
And yet—
👉 it didn't sit right.
⏳ Later
"Good job today," Junho said.
You nodded.
"Yeah… you too."
"You're improving fast."
"Thanks."
Simple.
Easy.
No complications.
⏳ Final Scene — Walking Out
All participants exited together.
You walked ahead.
Alone.
Footsteps behind you.
You turned.
Jimin.
"…You did well," he said.
"Thanks."
Pause.
"You and… Junho," he added.
Something in his tone.
You noticed.
"…You too," you said.
Another pause.
"Yeah," he replied.
⏳ A few steps later
Taehyung joined.
"You're off-beat in the second half," he said.
You blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
"You rush."
You stared at him.
"…That's what you noticed?"
He looked at you.
"What else should I notice?"
Silence.
Jimin glanced between both of you.
Tension.
Unspoken.
⏳ Final moment
Three of you.
Walking together.
But not the same.
Not like before.
Now—
👉 you belonged to different pairs👉 different spaces👉 different rhythms
And somehow—
👉 it felt like you were drifting…even while walking side by side.