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Chapter 21 : "Blurred Lines"

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Third Person Pov

Morning arrives with excitement and urgency-today is a monumental day for Lykn, the beginning of their world tour, their first concert kicking off in Los Angeles. The entire day is a whirlwind. Everyone is busy, ensuring every detail is perfect.
Backstage, the members are immersed in last-minute preparations. Soundcheck is complete, and now it's time for makeup and final outfit checks. Staff members move swiftly, making final stage adjustments. Outside the arena, fans are already gathered, eagerly waiting to enter. The anticipation is electric.
As showtime approaches, the venue is packed. The atmosphere buzzes with joy and excitement. Amidst it all, Ace captures every moment-the members backstage, the restless yet thrilled fans, the energy. He's determined to preserve every bit of this special day.
Then, the lights dim, and the concert begins. Lykn opens with their latest release, followed by their greatest hits. The energy is intoxicating. Between performances, they interact with their fans, sharing thoughts, joking, making the arena feel like home.
Each member has prepared something special. Lego captivates the audience with a solo dance, his movements fluid and emotional. Tui then performs a heartfelt cover of "24/7, 365" by Elijah Woods. Hong and Nut deliver an electrifying freestyle rap. Lastly, William takes center stage, guitar in hand, and begins singing "With You" by Tyler Shaw.
As William sings, the world seems to fade away. His voice, rich with emotion, fills the arena, touching every heart. There's something special about his performance-an unspoken magic. His members watch with pride, knowing that when William sings, he loses himself in the music, taking everyone with him. It's as if, for those minutes, the audience is transported to another world-a world where only his voice exists.
Standing at a distance, Est quietly captures the moment through his camera, mesmerized. Though he's attended Lykn's performances before, this is different-this is the first time he's heard William sing live, alone, with just his guitar. The sight is breathtaking. But it's the way William sings-how he pours his soul into every note-that strikes him most. The music isn't just a performance; it's a feeling, a story, a moment that lingers.
And in that moment, Est knows-this is something he will never forget.

___

After an electrifying three-hour concert, the night draws to a close. The final song echoes, the stage lights dim, and the cheers of thousands fill the space. Lykn stands together on stage, looking out at the sea of fans who have sung, danced, and shared this unforgettable night.
As the final notes fade, William steps forward, slightly out of breath but smiling. He raises his mic, his voice filled with emotion.
"Tonight is incredible. Thank you, LA, for welcoming us with so much love and energy!"
Lego, still buzzing from adrenaline, grins. "This was our first concert of the tour, and you guys made it so special. Seriously, your energy was unreal!"
Tui nods, his calm voice sincere. "We don't take any of this for granted. Thank you for always supporting us, for being part of our journey."
Hong, usually quiet, takes a deep breath. "We promise we'll be back. This time we're here for a day but next time you'll stay longer."
Nut, ever playful, adds, "So make sure to keep your voices ready, 'cause next time, we're expecting even louder cheers!" He winks, making the fans scream again.
William smiles at his members before turning back to the crowd. "Most importantly, please get home safely. Take care of yourselves, and we hope you all have a good night."
The members take one last bow together, waving as confetti rains down. The sight of their fans, still cheering and holding up banners, fills their hearts with warmth.
As they exit the stage, they can still hear their fans calling their names, a reminder of the unbreakable bond. Tonight is just the beginning, and they know-this journey is going to be unforgettable.

____

It has been a long, exhausting day. The adrenaline from the concert slowly fades, leaving the Lykn members feeling drained yet fulfilled. As soon as they step backstage, they begin removing their makeup, changing into comfortable clothes, and preparing to leave for their hotel. Lego, Nut, and Tui walk ahead, Hong follows a little behind, and William is the last to step out of the dressing room. As he exits, his eyes instinctively search the area-and there, standing a little away from the crowd, is Est. Without hesitation, William walks straight toward him, his face lighting up with happiness. "You guys were amazing on stage," Est says with a genuine smile. "This is the first time in my life I've seen something that incredible." William's lips curl into a soft smile, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. After a brief silence, Est speaks again, his voice gentler. "Are you feeling better now?" William nods. "So, all the nervousness from last night is gone?" Est asks, a hint of amusement in his tone. William lets out a small chuckle. "Yes, Phi. I feel good." Est raises an eyebrow. "And what made you feel better?" William hesitates for a moment before answering, his voice softer now. "I followed what you said last night." Est looks at him intently, waiting for him to continue. "This morning, I talked to my mom," William admits. "And you won't believe it-Dad was there too. We just... talked. Nothing serious, just normal things. But for the first time, I spoke for almost half an hour without stopping. And you know what? I think they were happy to talk to me too." A deep sense of relief washes over him as he speaks, as if a weight has been lifted. "It felt good. And it's all thanks to you." Est smiles, his heart swelling with pride. "I'm proud of you," he says sincerely. "Today, not just because of your performance, but because you took that step. Talking to your parents, making that effort-it means a lot. You should be proud of yourself too." Before William can respond, a staff member calls his name. "Yes, Sophie! I'll be right there!" he answers before turning back to Est. "Let's meet tomorrow?" Est nods. "Yeah, go now. Your friends are waiting." William hesitates for a moment. "You're not coming?" "I'll take a different car," Est reassures him. "Now go, before they leave without you." William gives him one last smile before jogging off to join the others.

_______

It is well past midnight when Lykn finally arrives at their hotel. The members are exhausted, and as soon as they check in, most of them head straight to their rooms. The staff arrives a little later, including Est, who walks in alongside Drake and Ming. Just as Est is about to enter his room, a voice calls out to him. "Phi." Startled, Est turns around and sees Hong standing there, looking serious. "Can we talk for a bit?" Hong asks, his tone unusually firm. Est immediately senses that this isn't just a casual chat. "Sure," he replies. "Let's go outside." The two of them step out into the hotel's garden, where the night air is crisp, and the quiet hum of the city is distant but present. They find a small seating area, away from prying eyes and ears. Hong doesn't waste any time. "I'll get straight to the point," he says, leaning forward slightly. "What do you think about William?" Est blinks, surprised by the question. "What do you mean?" "I mean," Hong continues, "how do you see him? As someone you work with? A friend? Or... something else?" Est is caught off guard. He hadn't expected this conversation, especially not from Hong. He hesitates before asking, "Why are you asking this?" Hong exhales, his gaze steady. "You treat him differently. With Lego, you're playful, like an older brother spoiling his younger sibling. With Tui, you speak maturely, with respect. With Nut and me, we bicker-it's just how we are. But with William... don't you think you're different?" Est frowns slightly. "Different? How?" Hong shakes his head with a small smirk. "You really are clueless." He leans back against the bench, looking up at the night sky. "You treat him delicately, like he's fragile, even when he pretends he's not. It's not just about care-it's something deeper." Est thinks for a moment before responding. "I just feel like he has a lot on his plate. If my words or actions can make him feel even a little better, then I want to do that. That's all." Hong sighs, looking directly at him. "But what if he gets the wrong idea?" Est narrows his eyes. "What do you mean?" Hong straightens, his voice firm. "William acts strong, but we all know he isn't as tough as he seems. He protects us, he carries a lot, but deep down, he's sensitive. You saw how he dealt with Nut's situation-he's ruled by emotions more than he lets on." Est feels his heart clench slightly. "What are you trying to say?" Hong's gaze doesn't waver. "He's started to depend on you emotionally. And that's dangerous if you're not sincere towards him." The words hit Est like a cold gust of wind. "I don't know what exactly is between you two," Hong continues, "but I trust you to be mature enough not to lead him on if you don't feel the same way." Est stares at him, startled. His mind races with thoughts, questioning himself. Had he been giving William the wrong idea? Had he crossed a line he wasn't even aware of? After a long silence, he finally speaks. "That will never happen," he says, his voice steady. "William and I... we don't belong to the same world." Hong studies him for a moment before nodding. "Good that you understand," he says. "That's why I came to you directly-I knew you'd be careful." Standing up, Hong gives him one last glance. "Good night, phi." "Good night," Est replies quietly, watching as Hong walks away.

As the garden falls into silence, Est exhales deeply, rubbing his temples as Hong's words echo in his mind. The weight of the conversation lingers, stirring emotions he hadn't confronted before.

Was he truly crossing a line? Or was he just offering the kind of comfort William needed?

His gaze drifts to the sky, the moonlight casting a soft glow over the quiet hotel grounds. A strange unease settles in his chest-one he can't quite name.

He had always been careful, always maintained a sense of distance where it was needed. But with William... had he unconsciously blurred that line?

And more than anything-did he even understand what William truly felt?

With a quiet sigh, Est leans back against the bench, staring at the night sky. Whatever this was, whatever was unfolding between them, he knew one thing for sure-he needed to be sure of his own feelings before anything else.

Because if Hong was right... then this wasn't just about William anymore.

_____

Is this the beginning of something beautiful? Or ??

Enjoy 💙

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