Ch.8686. Labyrinth

“Alright~ Now we’ll have our second original song appreciation session!”

*Clap clap clap clap clap*

As Seo-eun clapped as if she were an MC, Juyeon and Choigang also applauded with their own distinct rhythms.

“Composer! What’s the concept for this song?”

Being in the band club, Seo-eun had actually brought a microphone and held it out in front of Suhyeok’s mouth.

“The lyrics are about a heartbreaking unrequited love as I showed you before, and the session is, um…”

Suhyeok glanced slightly at Hana sitting beside him.

Perhaps it would be better if Hana explained this?

“Hey. You do it. It’s your song.”

Hana pushed his back as if telling him not to be afraid.

“It has a slow tempo in the style of 2000s rock ballads. The song itself isn’t that difficult, so Juyeon will have to carry hard with the vocals…”

Seo-eun, who had been listening to the explanation, burst into laughter.

Asked to explain the song, he was putting pressure on Juyeon to crush it with her vocals.

“So, you can do well, right? Juyeon?”

Suhyeok, who had already recorded once, turned his head toward Juyeon.

“…Yeah.”

Juyeon, with a puzzled expression, answered briefly.

“…I think I can do really well.”

“Oh…”

Short exclamations escaped from the 23rd generation members.

It was surprising.

Because Juyeon’s answers to such questions always followed a set repertoire.

‘I’ll try my best’ was the default response.

Juyeon wasn’t someone who would say confident things like she could do really well.

“Um… then since we have a recorded version, should I just play that? Juyeon?”

Suhyeok, who hadn’t expected such a bold statement, pulled out his phone.

“No. Just play the instrumental.”

“Okay. Then this is just the session.”

“I want to sing it here, right now.”

Juyeon cut off Suhyeok’s words.

Her eyes were filled with Suhyeok.

“I think I can sing it better than before.”

The corners of Juyeon’s lips turned up ever so slightly.

Suhyeok felt that today’s Juyeon seemed increasingly distant.

“Alright. Then I’ll play the MR, everyone listen carefully.”

“Is this good enough to win an award! Lee Suhyeok!”

“…Sorry. I don’t know about that.”

The instrumental began to play.

Juyeon decided to focus on the song with her back deliberately turned to the members.

Suhyeok’s lyrics that melted his own pain.

Now those lyrics were no longer his alone.

[Your refreshing smile]

[At ordinary, silly jokes]

[I find myself wavering]

Juyeon closed her eyes.

She imagined the face of that person sitting right behind her.

[The fingertips that touched]

[And the unripe night]

[Become traces that won’t disappear]

[I’m watching you like this]

Even though she had practiced this song alone at home countless times.

Now that she was singing in front of Suhyeok, she felt emotions welling up.

Next came the chorus.

Juyeon’s hand gripped the microphone tightly.

[This already tilted heart]

[Words I couldn’t speak]

[Whenever I see you, my head goes blank]

[An endless maze]

[I’m trapped in your frame]

[Unable to wither]

[Intoxicated by your kindness, I’m withering away]

The instrumental that had been playing for the first verse suddenly stopped.

Juyeon couldn’t turn around immediately.

Her eyes felt a bit moist.

“…Applause!”

At Seo-eun’s voice, applause erupted all at once.

Both Hana and Suhyeok couldn’t hide their surprise.

They had heard the demo before, but they didn’t expect Juyeon to perform it this well.

If the previous version felt like a guide track made on commission, now it was…

“Juyeon! This is totally your song!”

Hana jumped up and hugged Juyeon tightly.

“Ueh…?”

Before she could collect her emotions, Juyeon let out a rather cute sound as she was subjected to such aggressive skinship.

“Why are you so good! What are you? Are you a singer?”

Seo-eun also ruffled Juyeon’s hair vigorously as if proud of her.

“Hey. We’re going to win an award! Us! What do we do!”

“Excellent! Park Juyeon!”

Choigang, who was behind them, didn’t hold back his praise.

Suhyeok slowly approached Juyeon.

An indelible, pleased smile remained on his lips as well.

“You really did well. Juyeon.”

The creator’s praise made Juyeon both happy and sad.

“…Thank you.”

She didn’t want to thank him for making her feel this way.

“But Lee Suhyeok! Honestly, the drums are too easy!”

“Hey, Choigang. If we go any harder here, it would break the genre. This is the best.”

“I mean there’s not much to practice!”

This was something Suhyeok was well aware of.

The sound definitely wasn’t rich enough to showcase at a competition that valued flashiness.

“Honestly, I was worried about that too.”

Suhyeok smiled broadly at Juyeon.

“But I think it’ll be fine because Juyeon sang so well.”

Juyeon bit her lip slightly.

Her heart was showing abnormal reactions again.

Praise from someone you like.

So this is how sweet it is.

It was a more stimulating taste than strawberry candy or sugar-filled cream puffs.

“Good, good! So the sheet music is done up to here, right?”

Seo-eun needed to plan the next steps.

“Yeah. Just need to fix a few things, and hey, Choigang, can you handle it on your own? After hearing this.”

There was sheet music for the drums too, but Hana had no understanding of it.

“Are you taking me for an amateur!”

“Then that’s settled. I’ll send you and Seo-eun unnie’s parts by the weekend.”

“Okay! Sounds good!”

With that, the long-awaited meeting seemed to be coming to an end.

“Ah, right! Suhyeok!”

As they were all about to go eat together.

Seo-eun stopped Suhyeok.

“Yeah?”

“So what’s the title of this song?”

The members had only been told it was a love song, but hadn’t heard the title.

“The title of this song is…”

Suhyeok’s eyes turned to Hana.

“Maze.”

* * *

Despite eating together, there was no time to talk separately with Juyeon.

More precisely, they did talk, but there was no timing to bring up the broadcast.

After all, it was a top-secret matter shared only between the two of them.

Just as he was considering contacting Juyeon.

-Riiiing

A call came in from the very person he was thinking about.

[Hello?]

[Hi. Suhyeok.]

[I was just thinking about contacting you.]

Seeing that she called, he thought she might be inviting him over again.

Grabbing his closet door handle to prepare to go out, Suhyeok was taken aback by what she said next.

[You don’t have to watch my broadcasts anymore, Suhyeok.]

[…Huh? Suddenly?]

Just a few days ago, she was suggesting they look for games to play together and try them out in advance.

She had even said there was a song she wanted to show him and invited him over…

[Yeah. I’ve been thinking a lot…]

The trailing words.

Suhyeok couldn’t guess what Juyeon was thinking.

[I think it’s better if I get used to doing it on my own from now on.]

A statement that completely contradicted her behavior up until now.

Finding it difficult to accept this announcement that felt like a notification, Suhyeok needed to find a reason for it.

[…Is this because of what I said about not confessing to you?]

[If that’s the case, I’m really okay with it. Juyeon. Really, you don’t have to worry about it.]

Suhyeok guessed that day might have been the root cause.

[…No. Suhyeok.]

If only it were that.

If it were that, I would have called you over right now.

Juyeon bit her nail.

[Then why are you doing this…]

On the other end of the phone.

Suhyeok’s voice sounded disappointed.

Although it was Juyeon’s channel, Suhyeok was someone who had been by her side throughout her growth story.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Streamer Yeon was a character they had built together.

Because of this, Juyeon could understand Suhyeok’s feelings to some extent.

[Suhyeok.]

[Yeah.]

[You said you’re going to confess to her, right?]

[…Yeah.]

The answer remained unchanged.

With a bitter heart, Juyeon carefully laid out the words she had prepared.

[I’ve never been in a relationship, so I don’t know well.]

[But I don’t think a girl would want to date a guy who keeps going in and out of another girl’s house.]

[Until now, I thought it was okay because you said you weren’t going to confess…]

[But you said you’re going to confess.]

[And I’m your friend.]

I should be supporting you.

This is how the story should go.

[I think this is right. Suhyeok.]

Juyeon’s declaration resembled a lover’s breakup notice.

Suhyeok didn’t know how to respond to her words.

Is this really necessary…?

But is it right to tell Juyeon not to do this…?

What happens if the confession to Hana fails?

If I get rejected and go back to Juyeon… that would be too…

Suhyeok’s pupils trembled.

[See you at practice. Suhyeok.]

Juyeon hung up without waiting for an answer.

Juyeon, who had succeeded in pouring out all the words she had written in her notepad.

The sound of sniffling filled the room where she was left alone.

…My heart hurts so much.