The Making

As Rhys navigated the bustling studio, a sense of unease settled over him. Elizabeth's intense gaze and suggestive comments lingered in his mind, a subtle yet persistent discomfort.

He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something about her behavior felt off, a shift from their usual professional interactions.

He found Emmett, Henry, Jess, and Dave waiting near the exit, their expressions mirroring his own weariness.

"Ready to head out?" he asked, his voice subdued.

"Finally," Emmett groaned, stretching his arms above his head. "I'm starving. And my back is killing me from all those poses."

"Tell me about it," Henry agreed, massaging his neck. "I feel like I've been contorting my body into unnatural positions for hours."

Dave, bounced on the balls of his feet. "I'm ready for some food!" he declared, his eyes sparkling. "Where are we going?"

"I'm thinking that new Korean BBQ place downtown," Jess suggested, his voice calm and even. "I heard they have amazing galbi."

"Sounds good to me," Rhys agreed, his mind still preoccupied with Elizabeth. "Let's get out of here."

They piled into their waiting van. The conversation flowed easily, a mix of lighthearted banter and shared exhaustion.

As they drove through the city, Rhys found himself glancing out the window, his gaze drawn to the vibrant lights and bustling streets.

Later that evening, as he lay in bed, the image of Elizabeth's intense gaze flashed through his mind again. He rolled over, his thoughts swirling, and grabbed his phone from the nightstand. He decided to send Heather a message.

Just finished the photoshoot, he typed, his fingers moving across the screen. Long day, but it went well. How was your day with your aunt and baby Dave?

He pressed send and waited for a reply, his eyes fixed on the screen. He needed to hear her voice, to feel the reassurance of her presence.

A few moments later, his phone buzzed with a notification. Heather's name lit up the screen, and he quickly played the voice message.

It was good, she replied. Aunt Maggie made her famous stew, and we spent the afternoon playing with Dave.

Sounds like a perfect day, he replied, a smile spreading across his face.

How about you? she asked. Anything interesting happen at the photoshoot?

Rhys hesitated, unsure whether to mention Elizabeth's behavior. He decided to keep it to himself, not wanting to worry her.

Just the usual, he typed. Long hours, lots of posing.

Okay, she replied. Well, I'm glad it went well. I miss you.

I miss you too, he typed back. I'll see you soon.

He set his phone aside, a sense of relief washing over him. Heather's message had grounded him, reminding him of the love and connection he shared with her.

He closed his eyes, the image of her smile filling his mind, and finally drifted off to sleep.

The following morning, the buzz of their group chat jolted Rhys awake. He groaned, reaching for his phone to silence the notification, his eyes still heavy with sleep.

The screen illuminated a message from their manager.

Lux, morning! Radio show promo for the new album today. Be at the station by 9:30 AM. They're expecting the full group. Wardrobe is already at the location.

The lingering unease from the previous day had faded somewhat, replaced by the familiar routine of his demanding schedule.

He replied with a simple "Got it," and rolled out of bed.

He showered and dressed and as he prepared to leave, he checked the group chat again. Emmett was already complaining about the early call time, Henry was sending a string of sleepy emojis, Jess was simply confirming his attendance, and Dave was asking if they'd be playing games on air.

The drive to the radio station was a blur of city traffic and muted conversations. Rhys, still wrestling with the lingering unease from the past few days, found himself retreating into his own thoughts.

He tried to focus on the upcoming interview, to prepare himself for the questions about the album, but Elizabeth's presence lingered in the back of his mind, a persistent shadow.

They arrived at the station and were ushered into a brightly lit studio. Lux settled into their seats, facing the two hosts.

The hosts, Jay and Max, were themselves well-known idols from a different entertainment company, their easy companionship filling the room. The atmosphere was relaxed, a friendly exchange between fellow artists.

"Welcome, Lux!" Jay greeted, his voice warm and enthusiastic. "We're so excited to have you here before your album drops! Everyone's been talking about it."

"Thanks for having us," Rhys replied, offering a polite smile.

"So," Max began, leaning forward, "the anticipation is huge. Can you give us a little peek behind the curtain? What was the process like for this album?"

"It was intense," Emmett chimed in, a grin spreading across his face. "We really wanted to push ourselves creatively. Lots of late nights in the studio, experimenting with new sounds."

"Yeah," Henry added, his voice thoughtful. "We wanted to make sure every song felt authentic, like it came from a real place."

"And the songwriting?" Jay asked, his eyes curious. "Did you all contribute?"

"We did," Jess confirmed, his voice calm and steady. "Everyone brought something to the table. It was a collaborative effort."

"Dave even wrote a verse for one of the tracks!" Emmett teased, ruffling Dave's hair.

Dave blushed, but grinned. "It was just a little bit," he admitted. "But it was fun."

"That's awesome!" Minho exclaimed. "It sounds like you guys really poured your hearts into this album. Now, about the promotions…what can fans expect?"

"We've got a lot planned," Rhys said, his voice firm. "We're going to be doing a full tour, hitting major cities across the country. Plus, some special online events, fan meet-ups…we want to connect with everyone as much as possible."

"And the music videos?" Jae asked, his eyes sparkling. "We've heard they're going to be cinematic."

"We'll start filming soon," Henry replied. "But they'll be more than just music videos; they'll short films. We wanted to create something that would really capture the emotions of the songs."

"Wow, that sounds incredible!" Max said, "I'm really excited to see the music videos now!"

"We're excited too," Jess added, a smile gracing his lips.

"Now, before we wrap up," Jay said, his eyes twinkling, "we have a question from a fan. They want to know, what's the one thing you're most looking forward to about this comeback?"

Rhys paused, his gaze momentarily drifting to the studio window, then back to the hosts. "Connecting with our fans," he said, his voice sincere. "Seeing their reactions, hearing their stories…that's what makes it all worthwhile."

"Beautifully said," Minho concluded, clapping his hands together. "Lux, thank you so much for joining us. We wish you all the best with your album release!"

"Thank you," the group replied in unison, the energy in the studio still high. They exited the studio, the sound of the hosts' voices fading as they prepared for the next segment.

As Lux filed out of the radio station, Rhys pulled out his phone. He quickly typed a message to Heather, his fingers flying across the screen.

Just wrapped the radio show. Heading back to the company now for the music video shoot meeting. Miss you already.

He hit send and slipped his phone back into his pocket, a small smile playing on his lips. Moments later, a soft chime signaled a reply. He retrieved his phone, his smile widening as he read Heather's message.

I was listening to the radio show earlier! You guys sounded great. Miss you too.

He rejoined his bandmates, who were already settling into the van.

"Alright, everyone," their manager announced, his voice cutting through the chatter. "We've got the production meeting for the music video in about an hour. They're going to walk us through the storyboard and the shooting schedule."

The van fell into a comfortable silence as they made their way back to the company headquarters. Once they arrived, they were ushered into a conference room, where the production team was waiting.

The room was filled with storyboards, concept art, and detailed schedules, a visual representation of the ambitious project they were about to undertake.

"Alright, Lux," the director began, his voice enthusiastic. "We're really excited about this video. We wanted to create something that would really capture the emotional depth of the song."

He gestured to the storyboards, which depicted a series of dramatic scenes, filled with intense emotions and striking visuals.

"As you can see, we're going for a cinematic approach. We want to create a short film that will leave a lasting impact."

The production team walked them through the intricate details of the video, explaining the concept, the characters, and the emotional arc of the narrative. They discussed the locations, the costumes, and the special effects.

"We'll be filming for two days," the director explained, pointing to the schedule. "We've blocked out specific scenes for each day. We'll be working long hours, but we're confident we can capture everything we need."

"And the co-star?" Rhys asked, his voice carefully neutral. "Have we finalized the casting?"

"Yes," the producer replied, nodding. "Anya Sharma. She's a fantastic actress, very professional. We think she'll be a great fit."

Rhys felt a sense of relief. He had worked with Anya before, and he knew she was a talented and respectful artist. He was confident that they could create a powerful and moving video together.

The meeting continued, the team discussing the finer details of the production. Rhys listened attentively, his mind focused on the project.