Chapter 18: Chapter 16

Balancing the Weight

It was another long day at the studio, and as usual, Y/N was the first to arrive. As the leader, she felt the unspoken pressure to be the one who set the tone for the group. She stood in front of the mirror, practicing the new choreography by herself, her movements sharp and deliberate.

The others trickled in—Rosé, Lisa, and Madison—all chatting and joking as they warmed up. Duru arrived last, carrying a coffee cup and settling onto a chair near the corner of the room. She wasn’t part of the group but loved watching their rehearsals, always ready with words of encouragement.

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Leadership in Action

Y/N clapped her hands, calling the group to attention.

Y/N: "Alright, let’s go over the new routine from the top. Madison, focus on hitting the beats during the second verse, and Lisa, don’t forget to emphasize the arm movements during the chorus."

Rosé: teasing "And what about me, oh fearless leader?"

Y/N: smirking "You’re perfect, as usual."

The group laughed and got into position, but the atmosphere quickly grew tense as they struggled with the new choreography. Madison kept missing her mark, Lisa looked frustrated, and even Rosé seemed distracted.

Y/N: taking a deep breath "Okay, stop. Let’s break it down. Madison, let’s work on your steps first."

Madison: groaning "I don’t know why I can’t get this. It’s so frustrating."

Y/N: stepping beside her "You’ve got this. Let’s slow it down."

Y/N led her through the steps, her voice calm and patient despite her own growing fatigue. After a few tries, Madison finally nailed the sequence.

Madison: grinning "Thanks, Y/N. I don’t know how you stay so calm."

Y/N: smiling faintly "It’s part of the job."

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Duru’s Observations

During a break, Duru walked over to Y/N, handing her a bottle of water.

Duru: "You’re doing great, but you look exhausted."

Y/N: shrugging "I’m fine. It’s just a lot to manage sometimes."

Duru: sitting beside her "You don’t have to do it all by yourself, you know. The girls look up to you, but they’re also your teammates. Let them help."

Y/N: quietly "It’s not just the team, Duru. It’s everything. The pressure to be perfect, to keep everything together... and then there’s Kenan."

Duru raised an eyebrow, leaning closer.

Duru: "Kenan, huh? What about him?"

Y/N hesitated, glancing at the others to make sure they couldn’t hear.

Y/N: "He messaged me last night, and I replied. But... I don’t know how to handle it. He’s so... steady, and I feel like I’m barely holding it together most of the time."

Duru: "Y/N, you don’t have to be perfect for him. He clearly likes you for who you are, messy feelings and all."

Y/N: "But what if I let him in and it all falls apart? What if I’m not enough?"

Duru placed a reassuring hand on Y/N’s arm.

Duru: "You’re enough. And if Kenan can’t see that, then that’s on him, not you. But from what I’ve seen, he already does."

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Kenan’s Message

Later that evening, as Y/N sat in her room, she reread Kenan’s message from earlier in the day.

Kenan: "I hope you’re not pushing yourself too hard. Don’t forget to take a break, okay?"

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before she finally replied.

Y/N: "Thanks, Kenan. Today was tough, but I made it through. How about you?"

His reply came almost instantly.

Kenan: "Busy, but manageable. You always make it through, though, don’t you? I mean it—don’t forget to take care of yourself."

Y/N smiled softly, his words bringing a small sense of comfort. She typed back quickly.

Y/N: "I’ll try. Thanks for checking in."

Kenan’s next message was simple but made her heart flutter.

Kenan: "Always."

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Reflections with Rosé

As Y/N set her phone aside, Rosé walked into her room, flopping onto the bed uninvited.

Rosé: "So... how’s Kenan?"

Y/N: glaring "Why does everyone keep bringing him up?"

Rosé: grinning "Because it’s obvious you two have something going on. What did he say?"

Y/N: sighing "Just checking in. He’s... kind. Steady. And that scares me."

Rosé: "Why?"

Y/N: "Because I don’t know if I can give him what he deserves. What if I let him in and everything falls apart?"

Rosé reached out, taking Y/N’s hand.

Rosé: "Y/N, you’re not giving yourself enough credit. You’re stronger than you think, and Kenan sees that. But you’ve got to let yourself believe it too."

Y/N: quietly "I’m trying."

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Ending Note

As the night wore on, Y/N allowed herself to sit with her feelings, no longer shoving them aside. She didn’t have all the answers yet, but Kenan’s quiet patience and her friends’ unwavering support were starting to make the walls around her heart feel a little less insurmountable.

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