25

SEVENTEEN's comeback is near—making everyone in the group practice to their fullest.

The practice room is filled with loud music, the sweats of 13 people, and shouting coming from the choreographer or from the chaotic

SEVENTEEN.

The heavy beat of "Ready to Love" pulsed through the practice studio, sweat dripping down every member's jaw, shirts clinging to their backs, limbs moving with mechanical precision. They had been at it for hours, but no one complained — this comeback was too important.

"Alright! From the top!" Hoshi shouted, already dropping into the intro position.

They started again, tighter, sharper. Energy burned bright... until the song faded out mid-chorus.

Jaehyuk stood by the speaker system with his arms crossed. "Take a break! Water break! You're all too tense."

The members groaned in relief.

Just as they were catching their breath, the door clicked open.

A familiar voice called, "I hope you're all hungry."

Aerum stepped into the room, holding two large trays packed with cold drinks and snacks.

Her soft smile lit up the room — or at least, it felt that way to Jaehyuk.

The group perked up.

"Ah, Aerum-noona!" Dino chirped, hopping over. "Are you seriously this perfect?"

"I just thought you guys could use some fuel," Aerum laughs as she sets the food down.

Jaehyuk was already by her side, brushing Dino aside.

"You always show up right when we need you," Jaehyuk said, flashing her a smile that was clearly more than friendly. "Maybe I should start calling you our official energy booster."

Aerum smiled politely, but her gaze drifted elsewhere.

To Scoups — seated near the mirrors, wiping sweat from his brow.

She walked past Jaehyuk like he wasn't even there and crouched down beside the SEVENTEEN leader.

"Yours," she said softly, handing him an iced Americano with a lemon wedge — exactly how he liked it. "I remembered."

Scoups blinked. "Aerum-noona, you didn't have to—"

"I wanted to," she cut in, brushing a hand near his but not touching. "You looked like you needed it."

A few of the members exchanged looks.

Jeonghan sipped from his drink. "That's not suspicious at all."

"Right?" Mingyu muttered. "Special delivery to the hyung who's... already taken."

Joshua gave Seungkwan a warning glance. "Don't."

Seungkwan shrugged. "I'm just saying. Someone should let her know."

Meanwhile, Jaehyuk stood frozen at the back of the group. His smile had faded. His hands were shoved into his pockets, jaw tight.

He wasn't just a manager. He was Heyoung's older brother. Watching Aerum — the girl he quietly liked — offer such gentle attention to the man dating his sister felt like a punch to the gut.

What made it worse?

Scoups didn't stop her.

He didn't pull back. He didn't reject the coffee. He didn't even look guilty.

Jaehyuk finally spoke, a little louder than he needed to:

"Are you always this generous, Aerum-ya? Or is that just for Scoups?"

The room stilled.

Aerum straightened, startled by his tone. "I... I brought something for everyone."

"Yeah, but you brought his exact order. With lemon," Jeonghan added casually, not bothering to look up from his drink.

Aerum flushed, suddenly too aware of the eyes on her.

Scoups stood slowly, brushing past her as he walked over to the rest of the group.

"We should get back to practice."

"Should we?" Seungkwan said under his breath, nudging Minghao. "Before she finds out she's been flirting with her crush's girlfriend's brother?"

Minghao raised a brow. "Messy."

No one said what they were all thinking.

But it was hanging there, heavy.

Aerum liked Scoups.

Scoups was dating Heyoung.

Jaehyuk — Heyoung's older brother — liked Aerum.

And SEVENTEEN had front-row seats to the slow unraveling of it all.

=====

Heyoung hadn't planned to stay long.

She only had a short office break, but knowing SEVENTEEN was in the middle of comeback prep — and that he was there — she decided to swing by with a few drinks and snacks. Nothing over the top. Just enough to say I'm thinking of you.

When she entered the practice room, the familiar energy hit her instantly: music pulsing through the walls, sweat-drenched shirts, exhausted but smiling faces.

Scoups's eyes lit up the second he saw her — just for a split second, quickly masked with his usual leader calm.

No one else in the world knew what that look meant, but Jaehyuk did.

And so did the rest of SEVENTEEN.

"Hey," Heyoung greeted casually, raising the small bag. "Thought I'd drop these off before heading back."

Some of the members smiled, waving thanks, but the energy was a bit...tense.

Aerum was there too, which was unusual. She wasn't on schedule to work today. Yet there she was — laughing softly at something Scoups had said, sitting way too close.

Heyoung didn't react.

But Jaehyuk noticed everything.

Especially how Aerum hadn't even acknowledged Heyoung's presence. No hello. No glance. Nothing.

And Scoups — kind, clueless Scoups — was just trying to be nice to everyone. As always.

That's when Jaehyuk moved.

He crossed the room quickly and tapped Heyoung's arm. "Come here."

She turned, surprised. "What? I just got here—"

"Just for a minute," he said. "Please."

She frowned but followed him out. The door clicked shut behind them.

Heyoung leaned against the wall, arms folded. "Oppa, I have like ten minutes left on the break. What's going on?"

Jaehyuk didn't answer immediately. His eyes were on the door — the one separating them from the silent storm building inside.

"You noticed how she's been acting lately?" he asked.

"Who?"

"Aerum."

Heyoung's face tightened. "We're not exactly close if you haven't noticed."

"I have. That's why I'm asking."

Heyoung shifted. "She's been... I don't know. Different. Dumping extra tasks on me at work. Making me stay late to redo minor things. Acting like she's helping, but she's really just piling on more."

Jaehyuk's jaw tightened. "It's intentional."

Heyoung looked at him sharply. "You think she's doing it on purpose?"

He hesitated, then nodded. "Because she's trying to get close to Scoups."

Heyoung blinked. "What?"

"She brought food earlier, right?" Jaehyuk said, voice calm but firm. "But she made a point of giving him special treatment. His drink order. His towel. His spot on the couch. It's subtle, but it's there. And you wouldn't see it unless you knew what to look for."

Heyoung frowned. "Why would she even—?"

"She doesn't know you're dating him," he cut in. "None of the staff does. Not even her."

That made Heyoung go quiet.

The secrecy was their decision. Safer this way. Cleaner.

But now it felt suffocating.

"She's overstepping," Jaehyuk continued. "And I don't think it's by accident. She's not your friend, Heyoung. And from what I've seen? She never was."

Heyoung's expression shifted — from confusion to disbelief to something colder.

"She really likes him?" she asked quietly.

"She does," he said. "And the worst part? He has no idea."

The words landed like stones in her stomach.

She thought of the past few weeks — Aerum asking to switch tasks, volunteering to "help" with the group schedules, suddenly appearing at studios she had no reason to be at.

"I didn't want to believe it," Heyoung murmured.

"But now you do?"

She nodded.

Jaehyuk softened. "You don't need to confront her now. Just... pay attention. Before it gets out of your hands."

Heyoung exhaled and looked back toward the door.

Inside was a man who loved her — she believed that.

But outside, the world didn't know it. And neither did the girl quietly try to take her place.

=====

Back inside the practice room, the members tried to focus on the choreography — but the air was dense with everything left unsaid. Every glance and every breath felt louder than the music.

Scoups stood in front of the mirror, silently adjusting his shirt, trying to shake off the uneasiness.

He couldn't pinpoint why the room felt weird, or why Jaehyuk kept looking at him like he was holding back an explosion.

He glanced toward Aerum, who now sat stiffly in the corner, her hands tightly gripping an untouched bottle of water.

He walked over casually, offering a soft smile.

"Hey, thanks for the coffee earlier. You always bring the right thing at the right time."

Aerum looked up, startled — like she'd forgotten he was capable of being nice after everything.

She hesitated. "Of course. I... I pay attention."

Scoups smiled, genuinely. "I've noticed. You're thoughtful."

Her heart clenched.

He doesn't know.

He really doesn't know.

To him, it was kindness. Friendship. Nothing more. Every moment they'd shared — every late-night practice chat, every quiet exchange — she'd built it up in her mind.

And now, as he stood there smiling without a clue, it hurt more than if he'd rejected her.

Across the room, Joshua nudged Jeonghan.

"He really has no idea, does he?"

Jeonghan sighed. "Not a clue. That's what makes it worse."

Then the door opened again. Jaehyuk returned, eyes heavy with whatever had just happened outside.

Scoups turned to him. "Hey, is Heyoung okay? She seemed—"

"Don't," Jaehyuk said quietly, but firmly.

Scoups blinked, confused.

"She's fine. For now," Jaehyuk added, staring right through him. "But you might want to start paying attention before someone really gets hurt."

Aerum flinched at that.

Scoups looked between Jaehyuk and Aerum, and for the first time, he realized — something was going on.

Something he hadn't seen.