His friends were busy gossiping and gobbling down the gimbap and soft tofu his mother had prepared for them.

But he had not a care. 

Those serene, doe eyes were only glued to the 214th problem he was solving.

"Yah! Will you study to death?" 

He had a dry expression at Jung won's words. "At this rate, you'll become a hermit for sure if not the top scorer in CSAT," he added. 

His mother chuckled.

"Mrs. Kang. Tell this jerk to give in already!" 

"Taehyun-ah, don't upset me now. Join them tomorrow, okay?"

"We know you like the band already," Niki stuck his tongue out at Taehyun.

"But Hyung, we can't make it on time if we go after coming home!"

Kai, who was in the same year as Taehyun, asked Jung won.

"We'll be there directly after school. Taehyun, give a reminder to Sunoo as well."

Taehyun nodded.

--------------------

"Did you doll up all for Yeonjun?" Beomgyu playfully hit her shoulder. 

"Yah! Do you how much Eomma chided me for this? She says she's only letting me go if I promise to solve 150 problems today itself!"

"Ari-ah, don't be mad. At least she let you out of the house, right?"

"I know. What would I do without you?" Ari pinched her best friend's cheek to which he chuckled.

Just then there was a commotion up ahead. A camera crew was emerging from the backstage surrounding a young man who was a VJ from the music television station. 

"Alright there's some time until they come up and meanwhile I'd like to talk with some TREASURE MAKERS!" He cooed and the audience went crazy. 

"That guy initially was an influencer," Ari turned to Beomgyu as he spoke. 

"Jinja? I've only seen him today." 

Beomgyu shook his head, "Are you on this planet, Ari? He's is really popular!"

"Whatever. And why is Yeonjun not here yet? Did you call-"

"Now we have here is one pretty young lady! Are you excited?" Her words were cut off by none other than the VJ himself! 

"Y-Yes." She stammered after turning. The crowd was moving toward them now, with anticipation.  

"Sing a few lines from your favourite song of the boys!" 

Her eyes widened and cheeks flushed. 

She'd never been this nervous before. She turned to Beomgyu only to find him clapping with excitement. 

"B-But I-"

"Wooo! Go Ari!" He gave her a slight push as the VJ handed her the mic. 

"Uhm..." She stuttered out before taking a breath. Deep one. 

With her eyes closed, she began,

'I'm dyeing you orange today...

I'll regret it if I go home, I still want to be with you. 

I'll see you tomorrow so that it will rise again even if the sun goes down...

I wonder if I'll go home alone again. Unfortunately, I started to see the sunset again...' 

Gasps around her made her slowly open those hazel eyes.

She thought she'd messed up until there was a loud, roar of applause deafening her ears. 

"Daebak!" The VJ shook his head in disbelief and she could hear Beomgyu giggling. 

"You sing crazy! Are you a trainee by any chance?" 

A crimson hue warmed her cheeks at his earnest reaction. She shook her head quickly. 

No one in the house acknowledged her singing, ever. 

Soobin's been always too busy with studies to care for any other thing. 

Her parents would've never let her have music lessons. 

So now, she couldn't help but.....smile. 

--------------------

They still had a while until the concert started. 

Head down, and earbuds lodged firmly in place, he wandered aimlessly towards the nearest large speaker tower. 

The world blurred into a canvas of faces, muted and unimportant.

It gave him peace. Like a temporary retreat from reality. 

Suddenly, a different melody snagged his attention, weaving through the gaps in his chosen soundtrack.

'I'm dyeing you orange today...'

He paused, finally pulling out his earbuds. 

...I'll see you tomorrow so that it will rise again even if the sun goes down...

I wonder if I'll go home alone again. Unfortunately, I started to see the sunset again...' 

It wasn't like he'd never heard the song before. But to him, this was something else.

This was.... singing. 

He found himself rooted to the spot, confused of his own response to that soothing essence of a voice. 

'Soulful..' 

He couldn't help but think this one word...

---------------------------

EARBUDS ARE LOML.