Between Us, Always

Dylan's POV

The event was bustling, the noise of people chatting, laughter, and the hum of background music filling the air. It was all so familiar—another work event, another night of small talk and photos, another performance in front of fans. It should have felt like just another part of the routine, but tonight, everything felt off.

I couldn't help but watch Jun, even though I knew I shouldn't. He was in his element—laughing with Thame, joking with Nano, his easy smile lighting up the room. He was perfect. Effortless. And as much as I tried to focus on the conversation I was having, my eyes kept flicking back to him.

It wasn't the way he was with everyone else that hurt. It was the way he wasn't with me. He was distant. Polite. Professional. The kind of courtesy you show to a colleague you don't have a close relationship with, not someone you once laughed and shared everything with. Not someone you'd gotten so close to.

I hated the way it stung. I hated the way my chest tightened every time he spoke to someone else with that carefree, easy energy, while with me, it was always carefully measured. Like there was a wall between us that I couldn't climb over.

The worst part was, I had no one to blame but myself. I had pushed him away when he needed me. I had created the space that kept us from being close again, and now, I was left watching as he slipped further out of my reach.

Even when Jun glanced in my direction, his eyes held no emotion. Just a quick glance, a polite acknowledgment, then back to whatever conversation or group he was with. There was no warmth there anymore, no trace of what we once had.

It was like I had never mattered that much to him.

I took a deep breath, trying to focus on the conversation at hand, but it was like my heart was being squeezed. Every time Jun laughed, every time he spoke with someone else, it felt like a needle in my chest. But I couldn't make myself stop watching him.

Jun's POV

I could feel Dylan's eyes on me, but I didn't look up. I couldn't. It was like the weight of his gaze was too much to bear, especially now.

The event was a blur, a mix of small talk and forced politeness. I went through the motions, laughing at jokes, nodding at conversations, all while my mind kept drifting. My gaze flicked to Dylan a couple of times, but each time I caught his eyes, there was a hollow ache in my chest. I had gotten used to the space between us, but that didn't make it any easier.

It hurt. It hurt more than I thought it would. I had tried to be professional, tried to keep things normal, but deep down, I knew I was avoiding the truth.

The truth was, I missed him.

But I also didn't know what to do with the feelings swirling inside me. I had spent weeks trying to make sense of everything—the distance, the silence, the sudden coldness between us. I had convinced myself it was better this way, that maybe it was just easier to keep my distance, to not let myself feel anything. But every time I saw Dylan, I felt that tug in my chest.

I couldn't ignore it.

I watched him from the corner of my eye as he chatted with Thame and Nano, the way his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. He wasn't happy. I could see it, even if he was trying to hide it. Maybe it was because of me. I couldn't be sure, but the thought gnawed at me.

It made no sense. We used to be so close. Now, it was like we were strangers, and I hated it.

I finally took a deep breath and turned my attention back to the conversation I was in. But in the back of my mind, I couldn't shake the thought that we were slipping further away from each other with every passing second.

Thame's POV

Thame had been watching Jun and Dylan for days now, and honestly, it was starting to drive him crazy. The tension between the two was so thick you could cut it with a knife. They were acting like strangers in the same room, and it was beyond frustrating. It was clear to him that there was something more going on, something deeper, but neither of them had the guts to confront it.

Sitting with Po in their usual spot, he let out a dramatic sigh, exasperated. "I can't take it anymore, Po. These two are acting like complete idiots. Look at them!" He gestured toward Jun and Dylan, who were sitting on opposite sides of the room, only speaking when absolutely necessary.

Po, ever the calm one, just raised an eyebrow and took a sip of his drink. "It's obvious, isn't it?" he said, his voice more amused than anything else.

Thame huffed. "Obviously what?" He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "They're practically in love with each other, and yet they're too damn stubborn to admit it! It's driving me insane."

Po chuckled, his gaze shifting between the two. "Well, it's not that simple, Thame."

"No, it is. Trust me, I've known them both long enough," Thame said, clearly frustrated. "And I've seen how they look at each other when they think no one's watching. It's obvious as day. But they're both too scared to do anything about it, and it's just... it's painful to watch." He paused, his fingers tapping on the table. "I mean, what happened to the old Jun and Dylan? Where did the playfulness go? The easy conversation? It's like they don't even remember how to be friends anymore."

Po was quiet for a moment before nodding slowly. "So, what are you going to do about it?" he asked, his tone a little teasing.

Thame threw his hands up in frustration. "What do you think I'm going to do? I'm going to fix this, obviously."

Po raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at his lips. "Fix it? How?"

Thame leaned forward, eyes narrowing with determination. "I'm going to make them talk. They can't keep this up forever. I'll figure out a way to get them to admit how they feel."

Po grinned. "You're a troublemaker, Thame."

"Not a troublemaker," Thame said, his voice low and confident. "Just someone who knows when to play matchmaker. They're not getting away with this nonsense anymore."

Po rolled his eyes but couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips. "Alright, but don't get in too deep. We don't want to make things worse."

"I'm not going to make it worse," Thame said, giving Po a sly look. "I'm going to make it better. They just need a little push in the right direction."

Po gave him a skeptical look. "And how do you plan to do that?"

Thame grinned, already scheming. "Leave it to me. You'll see. I've got a plan."

And with that, Thame set his mind to work. He had dealt with these two for long enough to know their weaknesses, and if anyone could get them talking again, it was him. He would get Jun and Dylan back on track—he just had to figure out the best way to get them both in the same room, willing to finally face the elephant in the room.

It was time to set the plan in motion.