Unspoken Words (Minjae and Seeun)

                                    

                                          
The studio was eerily quiet that evening, a stark contrast to the usual buzz of chatter and laughter that filled the room whenever Xikers finished practice. The members stretched and gathered their things, visibly worn out after a grueling day. Their moves had been rehearsed to exhaustion, every step and beat drilled into their bodies to the point of aching. As they packed up, Seeun, feeling the usual mischievous impulse that brightened even the most tiring days, glanced over at Minjae.
Minjae was standing by the mirrors, his shoulders slouched, eyes dim with fatigue. Seeun loved teasing Minjae — he was, after all, their leader, always stoic and focused, but surprisingly patient when it came to Seeun's jokes. It had become something of a ritual between them. Seeun would poke fun, and Minjae would usually respond with a weary grin or a long-suffering sigh. It was Seeun's way of lightening the load on everyone, of bringing a smile to his leader's face.
Today, though, Minjae seemed different. He looked drained, as though the weight of leadership was pressing on him harder than ever. But Seeun, eager to lighten the mood, missed these cues. A grin spread across his face as he sidled up to Minjae and gave him a light poke on the shoulder.
"Hey, Minjae-hyung, don't you think you're slipping a bit? You're not as sharp as you used to be," he chuckled, nudging him again. "Are you getting old already?"
The air around them seemed to grow tense, and Minjae froze, his face darkening in a way that Seeun had never seen before. He didn't return the grin or even sigh in exasperation. Instead, Minjae's eyes, clouded with a mixture of frustration and exhaustion, met Seeun's.
"Could you just stop, Seeun?" Minjae's voice was sharper than a blade, each word dropping like a stone between them. "Not today."
The coldness of his tone startled Seeun, leaving him fumbling for words as he realized he had touched a nerve. "I... I didn't mean to..." he stammered, trying to find a trace of his usual Minjae in the man standing before him. But Minjae had already turned away, his gaze fixed on the ground as he clenched his jaw.
A heavy silence blanketed the room, so thick it felt like it would take more than words to break. The other members exchanged uncertain glances, caught off-guard by the unexpected tension. Some of the older members—Junmin, Hyunwoo, and Sumin—stepped forward, frowning as they took Minjae's side. They spoke up, saying that Seeun's teasing had finally gone too far, that Minjae was under too much pressure for these kinds of jokes. On the other hand, Hunter, Yujun, Jinsik, and Yechan defended Seeun, insisting he hadn't meant any harm and that his teasing was always in good fun.
Seeing the division in their team only added to Minjae's frustration. He drew a deep breath, then turned to the group, his expression stern. "If you want to back Seeun," he said, his voice cool and controlled, "fine. But if you do, you'll be putting in extra hours of dance practice. I won't have anyone slacking off."
The weight of Minjae's ultimatum hit everyone like a punch to the gut. Seeun's heart sank as he realized his playful nature had inadvertently fractured the team. His gaze shifted to the floor, feeling a pang of guilt that felt all too heavy to bear. "Guys, don't worry about me," he murmured, barely able to meet the eyes of those who had defended him. "Just do what Minjae says. I'll be fine."
With a collective nod, they agreed, though reluctance hung in the air like a storm cloud. The following practice session was gruelling. Seeun's usual energy was nowhere to be found, replaced by a dull, almost lifeless expression as he pushed through the motions. Each step felt heavier, his body unwilling to match the vigor of the others. The elder members—Minjae and Junmin—noticed, their frustration spilling over into scolding as they urged him to keep up. Sumin and Hyunwoo snapped at him as well, accusing him of slowing them down and prolonging the session for everyone.