"Nice outfit," Sehun casually comments, successfully managing to ignore the crazy rapid heartbeat thumping in his temples. The stage jitters were definitely getting to him now that the rehearsals were over and the real competition would be starting in half an hour. And the way Chaeryeong was looking right now wasn’t helping him either, clad in a tight black lace top and velour wide leg trousers with a belt cinching her narrow waist. She definitely had her game on today (not that she didn’t look good in her usual joggers and loose t-shirts), but there was something sensual and dangerous in the way her kohl-lined eyes glittered beneath the backstage lights.  

Chaeryeong gives him a small, nervous smile. "Thanks, you’re looking good too.” She pokes at his hip, chuckling at his tight leather pants. “Be careful not to rip them.”

Sehun laughs, about to push her by the shoulder like they always do when they joke around, but thinks twice about it for some reason. He shifts his weight on his feet and his lips. “Hey, don’t jinx it, alright?”

“It’ll be fine. I know you’re going to be great out there too. Best of luck to the both of us.” Chaeryeong reaches out for a hug, and Sehun embraces her whole-heartedly, his long limbs and tall frame almost fully covering her in a bear hug. He can feel how her forehead rests on his chest, and how her arms give his waist a reassuring squeeze, but somehow, it feels as if there’s distance between them.

The hug doesn’t give him colorful butterflies in his stomach like it always does. Today, it gives him a colony of bats.

“Yeah. Best of luck to the both of us.”