Genre: Soft Romance, Late-Night Feels
It was just past 7pm, the time when everything seemed to slow down. The kind of evening where the golden sunset spills through the window, filling the room with that soft, warm glow. And somehow, you ended up in Dino’s studio again, like you did every night after practice.
But, you always seemed to find yourself here when the world outside felt quiet. Just the two of you. No distractions, no pressure. Just… talking. And sometimes, not even that.
Dino was adjusting his headphones, his usual goofy smile softened by the tranquility of the evening. You liked this side of him — the one that wasn’t wrapped up in rehearsals or chaotic BSS shenanigans, the one who let the world feel smaller, quieter.
“You sure you’re okay with staying here?” Dino asked, glancing at you with a teasing yet concerned look.
You shrugged, “Yeah. It’s nice here.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Nice or… you’re just trying to escape the awkward silence at your place?”
You chuckled, “Maybe both. But mostly because this feels comfortable.”
It was a simple truth. The way he always made you feel like everything was okay, even when the world felt too loud. Dino’s studio had a warmth to it, with music playing softly in the background, a soft lamp casting long shadows over the instruments scattered around.
“Comfortable, huh?” he repeated, eyes twinkling with that usual mischief. But there was something else in them, something a little deeper than the playful teasing you were used to. “You sure? ‘Cause I kinda… like the idea of us being more than just comfortable.”
Your heart skipped, a strange sensation pooling in your chest. He had a way of making words sound like they meant something else, like he was trying to say something without saying it directly.
The music changed, and with it, the atmosphere shifted too. The quiet sound of 7pm by BSS and Peder Elias began to fill the space, the lyrics a subtle mix of nostalgia and longing. You were suddenly hyper-aware of how close you were sitting to him, the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air.
“Chan,” you started, the words slipping out before you could stop them, “What do you mean by that?”
He didn’t answer right away, instead letting the music play for a moment longer, as if letting the song take over his thoughts. When he turned to face you, there was no teasing in his eyes, just honesty.
“I mean,” he said softly, voice uncharacteristically calm, “We’ve been hanging out a lot, and I feel like… there’s more between us. Something that’s been growing but hasn’t been said.”
You didn’t know what to say at first. Part of you wanted to laugh, brush it off like you always did with him. But another part of you… wanted to stay in this moment. Wanted to hear him say it, to see if what you were both dancing around was the same thing.
“I don’t know if you feel it too,” Dino continued, his voice a little softer now, “But I think there’s something more here. Something I want to explore. Maybe… you’d want to too?”
You swallowed, your heart beating just a little faster now. You turned to look at him, eyes searching his face for any sign of hesitation. But there was none. Just sincerity.
“Chan,” you breathed, your voice catching in your throat, “I think I do.”
And just like that, the quiet evening turned into something entirely different. The energy between you shifted, becoming more than just the comfortable silence you had both come to love. It was filled with possibilities, with words that didn’t need to be spoken — just felt.
Dino leaned in just slightly, his voice low and full of promise. “I’ve been waiting for you to say that.”
As the night stretched on and the song played in the background, you realized that sometimes, the best moments come when you least expect them — just past 7pm, when everything feels calm enough for new beginnings.
