Chapter 23: Shifting Lights and Silent Echoes
The Eclipse dorm buzzed with activity as preparations began for the group's next big concept shoot—a dramatic rebranding from soft charm to bold intensity. Black leather, crimson lighting, and a theme based on duality: light and shadow. Hana sat on the couch with her tablet, notes open, coordinating with the stylists and visual directors.
She rubbed her temple. The headache hadn't fully gone away since her fall, but she pushed through. Soyeon had given a clipped apology, nothing more than a tight-lipped, "Sorry about that," and walked away. Hana didn't expect warmth. She was used to Soyeon's emotional distance—even now that they knew they were sisters.
"Need help?" Jisoo's voice interrupted her thoughts. He walked in holding two heat packs and a cup of ginger tea.
Hana smiled. "I'm okay. But I won't say no to tea."
He handed it to her and gently placed a pack behind her neck. "Next time, don't go chasing managers who forget their files mid-shoot," he teased.
She laughed. "Noted."
From across the room, Taehyun observed the two quietly, seated at the piano. His fingers hovered over the keys, but he didn't play. There was something unreadable in his eyes as he watched Jisoo pat Hana's shoulder before heading to the kitchen.
The Eclipse members were slowly trickling into the living area. Minjun, always the mood-setter, plopped down beside Hana and peered over her tablet.
"So, the shoot's in three days, and guess who we're sharing the studio lot with?"
"Don't tell me," Hana sighed.
He grinned. "Titan."
Jaemin, emerging from his room, groaned. "Seriously? We just passed them on the charts."
"Exactly why this feels like a setup," Jaemin muttered.
Titan—the rookie group who launched their debut album on the same day as Eclipse's comeback. Their music was decent, visuals sharp, but it was the undercurrent of passive jabs on social media that rubbed Eclipse the wrong way.
"Everyone, quick meeting in the studio room!" Soyeon's voice cut through the air.
The members filed in, and Hana followed, still clutching her tea.
Soyeon stood near the monitor, arms crossed. "We've just received confirmation that Titan will be filming on the adjacent lot. I don't want drama. I don't want unnecessary interactions. Keep it professional."
Jisoo raised an eyebrow. "You think we're gonna start a fight?"
"No," she replied flatly, "but fans love spinning narratives. The last thing we need is a hashtag war before our live tour."
Hana was quiet, but her mind was spinning. Titan wasn't just competition—they were watching. During a recent interview, one of their members subtly implied Eclipse was "safe and outdated." And while it hadn't been an official dig, the fandoms took it and ran with it.
Later that night, as everyone was winding down, Hana sat beside Jaemin while he flipped through sketchbooks.
"I still want that bakery," he muttered, almost to himself.
"You will," she said softly. "After the tour, we'll figure out how to start planning it. Maybe a collab with the agency. Make it a pop-up."
His eyes lit up. "You mean it?"
She nodded. "I promised, didn't I?"
They bumped shoulders, and Jisoo, watching from the hallway, smiled faintly. He walked in just as Taehyun entered from the balcony.
"Meeting tomorrow with the Titan team's manager," Soyeon said, walking in without knocking. "They want to 'foster healthy competition' and do a joint press clip. Probably damage control."
Taehyun muttered, "Great. Fake smiles and fake compliments."
Soyeon's eyes flicked to Hana, then Taehyun. "Try not to look like you're being held hostage, Taehyun."
He grunted, clearly uninterested.
After she left, Hana whispered to Jisoo, "Do you think this will help or make things worse?"
He leaned close. "Depends on who loses their cool first."
As the house quieted down, Hana slipped into her room, but her thoughts lingered on the pressure building—between groups, within Eclipse, and between the shifting lines of friendship, loyalty, and something she couldn't quite name.
She didn't notice Taehyun outside her door, hands in his pockets, until he softly knocked.
"You okay?" he asked.
She nodded. "I will be."
He looked like he wanted to say more but didn't. "Good night."
"Night, Taehyun."
As he walked away, she wondered—was the storm ahead coming from outside, or was it already forming within their own house?