Falling in Silence: Love Left Unspoke

Later that night, Hong stared at his phone for a few seconds before finally typing.

Hong: What were you guys talking about there? I was about to come, but Lego stopped me. He said it was personal. Did something happen to Nut?

A moment later, Tui replied.

Tui: Nah, it’s nothing. Just a normal talk.

Hong read the message.

But didn’t put his phone down.

Instead, he kept staring at the screen… thinking.

Then slowly, he typed again.

Hong:

Okay… but you know something? I think I’ve started liking Nut.

He paused.

Then continued.

Promise me you won’t tell him. I won’t tell him either… I’m not ready.

My past still hurts. I’m scared.

Another pause.

His fingers hovered before typing again.

But… I think I felt something even back in trainee days. I just didn’t notice it then.

Now that we’re in the same group… I keep noticing him.

Hong exhaled, then added one more message.

And remember when Lego said we make a good match? My heart started beating so fast.

I thought Nut would react badly… like he’d feel uncomfortable or judge it… but he didn’t.

Still… he looked a little uncomfortable.

A few seconds later, Tui replied.

Tui:

Hmm… then maybe you should stop talking about him like this.

And stop noticing him… if you’re not going to tell him.

Hong stared at the message.

Longer this time.

Then he typed back:

Hong: Hmm… you’re right.

A pause.

Okay, good night. Let’s meet tomorrow for practice.

He sent the message.

Then slowly locked his phone.

But even after that…

His mind didn’t stop thinking about Nut.

That night, sleep didn’t come easily to either of them; their thoughts kept drifting back to each other...

The next morning, the practice room was back to its usual noise.

Music. Movement. Voices.

Lego suddenly clapped his hands loudly.

“Guys, guys! Listen—next song, we’re doing a collaboration with a famous actor, Phi’Flim!”

William smiled immediately. “Yeah, I already know.”

Hong looked up. “So… who’s the main lead for that?”

Tui glanced toward Nut.

“Ahh… I think Nut,” he said calmly. “Are you okay with that?”

All eyes turned to him.

Nut blinked once, then nodded with a small smile.

“Yeah, sure. I’d be happy. Why not?” he said lightly. “Plus, Phi’Flim is really famous… and beautiful. Who wouldn’t want to be her main lead?”

He laughed a little.

But this time—

Someone didn’t laugh.

Hong.

He stayed quiet, his expression unreadable.

But something tightened inside him.

Beautiful.

Main lead.

Close scenes…

The thoughts came without permission.

And he didn’t like them.

A strange feeling settled in his chest.

Sharp.

Uncomfortable.

Jealous.

But he couldn’t show it.

He had no right to.

Not when he was the one who said he wouldn’t get involved.

Not when he told himself to stay away.

So instead—

Hong just looked away.

Pretending it didn’t bother him.

But for the first time…

It did.

“Tui noticed everything and just shook his head.”

He walked toward Hong and leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice.

“You’re trying to act like you don’t care,” he whispered, a hint of teasing in his tone,

“but it’s all over your face. Next time… try a little harder to hide it.”

Tui chuckled softly and stepped back like nothing had happened.

Hong froze for a second.

Tui’s words hit him harder than he expected.

His eyes shifted slightly, almost instinctively looking for Nut—but he stopped himself midway.

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said quietly.

Tui raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue.

Hong looked away, crossing his arms like he was trying to hold himself together.

But his expression betrayed him.

That small tension in his jaw…

The way his eyes kept drifting back without permission…

It was obvious.

“Tch,” Hong clicked his tongue softly, more to himself than anyone else.

“I said I’m not interested.”

But even as he said it—

His gaze found Nut again.

Nut was laughing with William, completely unaware.

Or maybe…

Just pretending to be.

Hong quickly looked away again.

This time faster.

Like he got caught.

Behind him, Tui just sighed quietly.

Because at this point—

Hong wasn’t fooling anyone.

Except himself.

few days later

The filming set was bigger than they expected.

Lights everywhere. Cameras moving. Staff calling out instructions.

And in the center of it—

Nut.

He stood beside Phi’Flim, going through the scene with the director. She smiled warmly at him, saying something that made him laugh.

Natural.

Easy.

Too easy.

From the side, Hong watched.

Quiet.

Still.

“Okay, positions!” the director called.

Everyone got ready.

The music started.

It was a close scene.

Nut had to sing while looking at her… step closer… hold her hand.

Simple for the camera.

But not for Hong.

His jaw tightened slightly.

His eyes didn’t leave them.

Not even for a second.

Phi’Flim leaned in a little, saying her line.

Nut followed perfectly.

Their timing… their expressions…

Everything matched.

“Cut! That was great!” someone shouted.

Staff clapped lightly.

William smiled. “Nice one.”

Lego nodded. “Yeah, that looked real.”

Real.

That word stayed in Hong’s head.

He looked away, running a hand through his hair.

Why does this bother me so much…?

He already knew the answer.

He just didn’t want to accept it.

Meanwhile, Nut stepped away from the scene, still smiling.

But when his eyes accidentally met Hong’s—

The smile faded just a little.

Because Hong didn’t look away this time.

He just…

Stared.

Not angry.

Not cold.

But something else.

Something Nut couldn’t understand.

And that made it worse.

From the side, Tui noticed everything.

Again.

He sighed quietly and shook his head.

Because this time—

Hong wasn’t even trying to hide it anymore.

Hong’s Rap (MV Scene)

I said I wouldn’t feel, but I’m losing control

Every time you smile, yeah, it messes my soul

Tryna play it cool, but it’s all on my face

You’re right there with her, now I’m out of my place

I don’t wanna care, but I’m stuck in this loop

Every move you make got me watching you

Say it’s just a scene, yeah, I know it’s fake

Then why does it feel like my heart gonna break?

I built up these walls, thought I’d never fall

But you walked right in, didn’t knock at all

Now I’m caught in between what I feel and fear

Wanna stay away… but I want you near.....

After hours of filming, retakes, and endless adjustments—

“Cut! That’s a wrap!”

The director’s voice echoed across the set.

For a second, no one reacted.

Then—

Cheers.

Claps.

Relief.

“It’s finally done!” Lego said, stretching his arms dramatically.

William laughed. “About time.”

Staff members started packing up. The lights slowly dimmed, and the noise of work turned into soft conversations.

Nut let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

“It actually turned out well,” he said, a small smile forming.

“Of course it did,” William replied. “We carried it.”

Lego rolled his eyes. “We carried it? Please.”

Tui stood a little aside, watching everyone quietly.

And then—

His eyes shifted.

To Hong.

Hong wasn’t celebrating.

He wasn’t talking.

He was just standing there…

Looking at Nut.

Not openly.

But not hiding it either.

Nut felt it.

That gaze.

Again.

He turned slightly—

And their eyes met.

This time, neither of them looked away immediately.

No music.

No camera.

No acting.

Just them.

A few seconds passed.

Too long.

Too quiet.

Then someone called Nut from behind—

“Hey, we need you for a quick check!”

The moment broke.

Nut looked away first.

“Coming!” he replied, forcing a normal tone.

He walked off.

And Hong…

Stayed where he was.

Because even though the MV was finished—

Something between them had just started....

Nut stood there for a moment, thinking.

I should tell him…

But we’ve been so busy these days…

He exhaled.

No. I’ll tell him today.

With that thought, he started walking toward Hong.

His heart was racing, but for once, he didn’t stop himself.

“Nut!”

He turned.

Phi’Flim was walking towards him with a bright smile.

“You’re on Instagram, right? Nong?” she asked casually.

Nut nodded. “Yeah.”

“Give me your ID,” she said.

Nut hesitated for a second… then gave it to her politely.

From a distance—

Someone was watching.

A few seconds later, Nut turned again and finally walked up to Hong.

“I… I want to talk to you,” he said, a little nervous.

“Alone.”

Hong glanced at him, expression unreadable.

“Say it here,” he replied.

Nut shook his head quickly. “No… let’s go somewhere else.”

Without thinking, he reached out and lightly grabbed Hong’s arm.

That was a mistake.

Hong immediately pulled his arm away.

“Idiot—don’t touch me,” he said sharply.

The words hit harder than they should have.

Nut froze.

For a second, he just stood there, looking at him.

Then slowly…

He let his hand fall back to his side.

“…Okay,” he said quietly.

No anger.

No argument.

Just… silence.

He stepped back.

Turned around.

And walked away.

Hong stayed where he was.

But something about that moment didn’t feel right.

Because this time—

Nut didn’t look back.

Nut didn’t stop walking.

Not when someone called his name.

Not when William asked, “Where are you going?”

He just kept going.

By the time he reached the empty hallway, his steps slowed.

Then stopped.

He leaned against the wall, staring at nothing.

His chest felt tight.

'Idiot… don’t touch me'

The words replayed again.

And again.

“…Right,” he whispered to himself, forcing a small laugh that didn’t feel real.

“Of course.”

He looked down at his hands.

The same hands that had almost confessed.

Now they just felt… empty.

“I shouldn’t have tried,” he muttered.

Back inside—

Hong stood frozen.

The moment kept replaying in his head too.

The way Nut looked at him.

Not angry.

Not even hurt in an obvious way.

Just… quiet.

“Tch,” Hong clicked his tongue, running a hand through his hair.

“Why did I say that…”

“Because you’re scared.”

Tui’s voice came from behind.

Hong turned.

Tui was standing there, arms crossed, expression serious.

“You didn’t have to say it like that,” Tui added.

Hong frowned. “He grabbed me suddenly.”

“And?” Tui stepped closer. “So you pushed him away like that?”

Hong didn’t answer.

Tui’s voice softened, but his words didn’t.

“He came to talk to you. Alone about something.”

Hong looked away.

“…I didn’t ask him to.”

Tui sighed.

“No. But you didn’t have to hurt him either way.”

Silence.

For the first time—

Hong didn’t defend himself.

Tui watched him for a moment, then said quietly,

“You’re not protecting yourself anymore… you’re just hurting someone else now.”

That line stayed.

Hong’s expression shifted.

Because deep down—

He knew it was true.

Meanwhile—

Nut sat alone on the stairs outside, head lowered.

The noise from inside felt distant now.

His phone buzzed.

A message.

But he didn’t check it.

“I don’t think I can do this…” he whispered.

For the first time since trainee days—

Nut felt like running away.

Not from his feelings.

But from the person they were for.

Back inside—

Hong suddenly moved.

Tui noticed. “Where are you going?”

Hong didn’t stop.

“…To fix it,” he said quietly.

Because this time—

He knew he couldn’t just stay silent.

When Hong was walking toward him, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. From a distance, he saw Phi’Flim and William talking with Nut. Before he could step closer, Nut suddenly hugged Phi’Flim.

Hong stood still, unable to move. He kept watching them without realizing it, his eyes slowly filling with tears. In a broken whisper, he said to himself, “I think I’ve lost him...."

The next day, Hong couldn’t take the silence anymore.

He approached Nut, his expression stiff but his eyes carrying something softer than before. After a moment of hesitation, he finally said, “Sorry… about yesterday.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was honest.

Nut looked at him, a bit surprised. He didn’t reply immediately, as if trying to understand whether Hong really meant it or not. Hong, feeling a little awkward, quickly added a casual tone to cover his emotions, acting a bit rude like he usually did when he was nervous.

There was a short silence between them.

Then Nut gave a small, quiet smile—one that didn’t ask too many questions. He stepped closer and gently pulled Hong into a friendly hug.

It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t loud. But it was enough to ease the tension between them, even if only a little.

Hong stood there for a second, stiff at first, then slowly relaxed. He didn’t say anything else.

But both of them understood one thing without words—nothing between them was completely over, even if everything was still unsaid...

That moment changed everything for them. Hong didn’t tell him what he felt and kept his pain hidden deep inside. At the same time, Nut also kept his feelings for Hong a secret—neither of them knowing how close they really were, yet how far apart they had become. The feelings were still there, but now they were kept in secret.... ( Only William, Lego, and Tui knew about Nut’s feelings, and only Tui knows about Hong’s feelings.)

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