**Uncharted Connections**

The JYP trainee lounge was abuzz with relaxed chatter, the air thick with the scent of fresh coffee and snacks. Ryujin sat on a bench, sipping water, her eyes scanning the room as she listened to the gentle hum of conversation. Yeji walked over, a snack bar in hand, her confident stride commanding attention. Chaeryeong, Lia, and Yuna were nearby, engrossed in a discussion. "I swear, I'm so hungry I could eat a whole pizza by myself," Yuna said, her eyes wide with excitement. Lia chuckled, her calm demeanor a soothing presence. "You're going to make yourself sick one of these days." Chaeryeong nodded in agreement, her shy smile peeking through. "We should order some food soon. I'm starving." Yeji approached Ryujin, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "Hey, mind if I join you?" she asked, plopping down beside Ryujin on the bench. Ryujin smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Not at all." Yeji asked, her voice light and curious, "So, what's your favorite dance style?" Ryujin thought for a moment, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I think I love hip-hop the most. There's something about the energy and the beats that just gets me pumped up." Yeji nodded enthusiastically. "I can see that. You're so good at it. Where are you from, by the way?" Ryujin replied, "Chuncheon-si. How about you?" "Jeonju," Yeji said, her eyes lighting up. "I've always loved my hometown. The food is amazing." As they chatted, Yeji casually leaned her head on Ryujin's shoulder, a gesture that seemed as natural as breathing. Ryujin felt a flutter in her chest, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she laid her head on Yeji's, and they sat there, talking and laughing together. Yeji's hand brushed against Ryujin's, a light touch that sent shivers down Ryujin's spine. Ryujin looked at Yeji's hand on her arm, her heart skipping a beat. Yeji noticed and quickly apologized, "Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude." Ryujin smiled, her voice husky. "It's okay, I don't mind." As they sat there, their legs touched, a gentle pressure that neither acknowledged nor moved away from. The conversation flowed easily, their laughter mingling with the others. Yuna jumped into the conversation, her voice boisterous. "Ryujin, you're like the coolest one here. I'm so intimidated." Chaeryeong nodded in agreement, her eyes shining with admiration. "Yeah, you're amazing. Yeji, where did you learn to dance like that?" Yeji blushed, her smile sheepish. "Just lots of practice, I guess." Lia grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "So... you two seriously didn’t date?" The group laughed, expecting a joke. Ryujin playfully laughed it off. "Nah, I was joking earlier. We didn’t date. I've never actually dated anyone." Yeji's smile faltered for a moment, a flicker of disappointment that she quickly masked. Ryujin clocked the look, but pretended not to notice. As they left the lounge, they decided to grab a coffee at a nearby café. The quiet, stylish atmosphere enveloped them, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and plants filling the air. Over drinks, the conversation flowed easily, their laughter and jokes mingling. Yuna dominated the conversation, her chaotic energy infectious. Lia remained calm and mature, a soothing presence. Chaeryeong's dorky comments had them all giggling. Yeji turned to Ryujin, her eyes curious. "What scares you the most about debuting?" Ryujin hesitated, her voice thoughtful. "I think it's the pressure to maintain a certain image. The constant scrutiny... it can be overwhelming." Yeji nodded, her eyes understanding. "I know what you mean. Sometimes I worry about eating disorders and dating rumors. It's a lot to handle." Ryujin hinted at a secret, her voice low. "Yeah, it's just... there are things that can get really tough. But I'm not sure I'm ready to talk about it yet." Yeji's eyes sparkled with curiosity, but she didn't press the issue. As they chatted, their hands almost touched on the table, a spark of electricity that they both felt. Yeji asked, her voice sincere, "Would you ever want to write your own lyrics?" Ryujin's eyes lit up. "Yes, I love writing. I think it's a great way to express myself." Yeji grinned, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. "Me too! I love writing about my emotions and experiences." Their legs touched, a gentle pressure that they both acknowledged, but didn't move away from. Ryujin felt Yeji's warmth, her softness, and her heart skipped a beat. As they laughed and joked, Ryujin watched Yeji, her eyes studying her. She caught herself smiling at Yeji, her heart fluttering in her chest. Yeji felt drawn in, but told herself it was just strong friend chemistry. She didn't want to read too much into it. As they prepared to leave, Yeji looked over at Ryujin, her smile lingering. Ryujin noticed, her heart skipping a beat. She smiled back, her eyes locking onto Yeji's. As they parted ways, Ryujin went in for a hug, her face close to Yeji's. Yeji's eyes flashed back to their kiss at the club, the memory still fresh in her mind. The club had been dimly lit, the music pulsating through their bodies. They had kissed, their lips touching, their hearts racing. Ryujin had whispered, "I've wanted to do that for so long." Yeji's face was a little too close to Ryujin's, but they laughed it off, the tension between them palpable. As they pulled away, Yeji smiled, her eyes sparkling with happiness. Ryujin smiled back, her heart heavy with emotion. They parted ways, the unspoken question lingering between them. Would their friendship blossom into something more? Only time would tell.