Beyond the Facade

The warm glow of the café's lights began to fade as Taehyun and Soobin stepped back into the bright afternoon sun. For a moment, Taehyun felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, like he could finally breathe again. But as they walked back to the dorm, he couldn't shake off the feeling that things would go back to normal once they got back to the group. As they entered the dorm, the other members were busy lounging around the living room, engaged in a heated game of Mario Kart. Yeonjun and Beomgyu were arguing over who was the better driver, while Hueningkai was cheering them on with a bowl of popcorn in hand. The atmosphere was lively, but Taehyun felt a pang of anxiety as he wondered if things would go back to the way they were before. Soobin seemed to sense Taehyun's unease and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Hey, let's join the game," he said with a smile. "We can use a fresh perspective." As they sat down to play, Taehyun was surprised to find that the others didn't treat him like one of the youngest members. They didn't baby him or try to protect him; instead, they included him in the conversation, teasing him good-naturedly about his gaming skills. Yeonjun chuckled as Taehyun made a mistake. "Taehyun, you're such a rookie," he said with a grin. "You need to step up your game if you want to keep up with us." Taehyun bristled slightly at the jab, but Soobin intervened before he could respond. "Hey, don't be too hard on him, Yeonjun. He's still learning." The game continued, with Taehyun slowly getting into the swing of things. Beomgyu offered him tips and advice, while Hueningkai provided encouragement. For the first time in a long while, Taehyun felt like he was part of the group, like he belonged. As they took a break from gaming, Sanbin walked into the room with a tray of snacks. "Hey guys, I brought some food," he said, distributing the snacks among the members. "Help yourselves." Taehyun was touched by the gesture, feeling grateful for the kindness and consideration. Maybe, just maybe, he was more than just the maknae; maybe he was a valued member of the group. As they munched on snacks and continued their conversation, Taehyun realized that he had been given a rare gift – a glimpse into a different reality, one where he was treated as an equal, not just the youngest member of the group. And he wasn't sure if he was ready to go back to the way things were before. The fluorescent lights in the dorm seemed to hum at a softer pitch, casting a warm glow over the group. For a moment, Taehyun felt at peace, like he had finally found his place in the world. But as he glanced around the room, he wondered if this was just a facade, a temporary illusion that would shatter as soon as they stepped back into the harsh realities of the K-pop world.