Chapter 13 — The Moment the Night Remembered
Night settled over the dormitory like a held breath.
The building that had roared with noise earlier now whispered instead—soft footsteps, distant murmurs, the occasional creak of beds adjusting under restless bodies. The trainees were finally inside their assigned rooms, exhaustion pressing down on everyone in different ways.
Some laughed too loudly, as if humor could keep fear away.
Some scrolled endlessly on their phones, rereading messages that gave them courage.
Some lay flat on their beds, staring at the ceiling, silently questioning every decision that had led them here.
In one room, William sat still.
Too still.
He was perched on the edge of his bed, elbows resting on his thighs, hands loosely clasped together. His gaze was unfocused, fixed somewhere beyond the wall, beyond the building, beyond the night itself.
Tomorrow.
The word repeated in his mind like a slow, relentless echo.
Tomorrow meant standing on stage again.
Tomorrow meant facing people who knew him—not as a trainee, but as William.
Tomorrow meant eyes that would measure him, judge him, remember him.
What if they expected too much?
What if they expected nothing at all?
His chest tightened.
He swallowed hard, breath shallow.
"What am I even doing here…" he murmured under his breath.
Suddenly—
Smack.
"Oy!"
William jolted forward as a hand landed on the back of his head.
He turned sharply.
Wang stood behind him, grinning, eyes bright with mischief.
"In which thoughts are you so busy, huh?" Wang said, laughing. "You looked like you were planning your funeral."
William blinked, then forced a weak chuckle. "Huh… oh. Nothing. Really."
Wang raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but shrugged anyway. "Well, whatever it is, don't overthink it. At least we're on the same team now."
William nodded slowly. "Yeah… that's good."
There was a brief silence.
Too heavy.
William stood up abruptly.
"Oh—wait," he said quickly. "Buddy, I need to go to the restroom."
Wang frowned. "Now?"
"Yeah. Now."
William didn't wait. He grabbed his hoodie and headed straight for the door.
"Hey!" Wang called after him, pointing. "The restroom's that way!"
William didn't turn back.
The door closed softly behind him.
Wang stared at it for a long moment. "Weirdo…"
The corridor outside was quiet, the kind of quiet that made every sound feel louder than it should. William walked quickly, his footsteps echoing against the polished floor. He didn't know where he was going—only that staying in that room felt impossible.
His chest felt tight.
Too tight.
He pushed open the exit door leading to the garden.
Cold night air rushed in, brushing against his face, sliding down his neck, filling his lungs.
He inhaled deeply.
Once.
Twice.
The garden was dimly lit, moonlight spilling softly over stone paths and trimmed hedges. Shadows stretched long and gentle, the world hushed as if even time had slowed.
William walked aimlessly, hands in his pockets.
"Get it together," he muttered. "You're not a kid anymore."
He stopped near the center path, tilting his head up toward the sky. The stars were faint, but they were there.
Then—
A sudden movement.
A sharp stumble.
A body losing balance.
William turned instinctively.
And saw him.
A tall figure ahead slipped slightly on the edge of the stone path, his body tilting forward—too fast, too sudden.
For a split second, the world froze.
Then instinct took over.
William lunged forward.
His arms wrapped around the man's body just as gravity tried to pull him down. The impact was strong, knocking the air from William's lungs as he stumbled back half a step—but he held on.
Firmly.
Protectively.
For one breathless moment—
They were locked together.
The man's weight rested against William's chest. Strong. Solid. Real. William's hands found purchase instinctively, one arm around his back, the other gripping his waist to steady him.
And that was when William felt it.
The power in that body.
Broad shoulders under thin fabric.
Muscles firm and controlled.
A narrow waist that fit shockingly well into William's grip.
It startled him.
Not because it was inappropriate—
But because it felt right.
William suddenly became painfully aware of the difference between them. He wasn't small—but next to this man, he felt it. Smaller. Lighter. Almost fragile.
The thought sent a strange shiver through him.
The man stiffened instantly.
"Let go."
The voice was deep. Calm. Controlled.
But beneath it—sharp irritation.
William blinked.
He slowly looked up.
And his breath stopped.
Sharp, dark eyes stared down at him—eyes that seemed to see through everything. The moonlight caught on defined features, a strong jawline, lips pressed into a thin line of restraint.
Recognition hit like lightning.
"…What?" William breathed.
Producer.
Mentor.
East.
Realization crashed into him all at once.
"I—" William released him instantly, stepping back in shock. "I'm so sorry—I didn't see—you almost fell—I just—"
East straightened slowly, brushing invisible dust from his jacket. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were cold, assessing, distant.
"What are you doing here?" East asked.
William's thoughts scattered.
"I—I just needed air," he said quickly. "I didn't mean to—"
East didn't respond.
Not to the apology.
Not to the explanation.
Not to the fact that he had almost fallen.
He simply walked past William, his shoulder barely grazing William's arm.
And that was it.
Gone.
William stood frozen in the moonlit garden, heart pounding violently in his chest.
His hands tingled.
As if they still remembered.
The warmth.
The weight.
The way East's body had fit into his arms for that single, dangerous moment.
"What the hell…" William whispered.
He clenched his fists, forcing himself to breathe.
Why did that feel so intense?
Why couldn't he forget it?
Back in the room, Wang looked up immediately.
"Where did you go, dude?" he asked. "You disappeared."
William didn't answer.
Wang stood and shook his shoulder lightly. "Hey. You okay?"
No response.
William turned off the light and climbed into bed, pulling the blanket up as if it could shield him from his thoughts.
The darkness came fast.
Too fast.
He closed his eyes—
And saw it again.
East stumbling.
His body falling forward.
William's arms catching him.
The closeness.
William's eyes snapped open.
"What the hell…" he whispered, sitting up.
He lay back down.
"Focus," he told himself. "Just sleep."
He closed his eyes again.
This time—
The waist.
That narrow waist under his hands.
The strength beneath his fingers.
William bolted upright and slapped his own cheek.
"Oh—!" He groaned softly. "What is wrong with me?!"
He stared at the ceiling, breathing hard.
Why did he fall?
Why did I catch him?
Why does it feel like something changed?
Sleep came late—and when it did, it was restless.
Morning arrived without mercy.
All trainees gathered in the hall once again. The air was thick with tension, anticipation clinging to every breath.
All the mentors stood on stage.
William's eyes found only one.