The backstage area was too brightly lit for his liking. Min Yoongi sat in front of the mirror, his back straight, his hands resting on his thighs, while the stylist adjusted his hair with quick, precise movements. There was still time before the concert. You could feel it in the air: there was no rush, just preparation. That exact point where everything is under control, but nothing has started yet.

Around him, everyone occupied the space in their own way. Namjoon reviewed a sheet of paper with a concentrated expression, murmuring ideas that no one had asked him for yet. Jin recounted an exaggerated anecdote to get a laugh. Jimin watched his reflection as they adjusted his costume, as if looking for something beyond the fabric. Taehyung hummed softly, almost distracted. Jungkook moved from side to side, containing his energy, stretching his shoulders as if the stage were already calling him. Hoseok practiced smooth steps in front of the mirror, smiling without realizing it.

Yoongi watched them without turning his head, taking it all in through the reflection.

“Lift your chin a little,” the stylist instructed.

He obeyed without saying a word.

He knew that moment well: the silence before the noise, the calm before the storm. It wasn't nerves, not exactly. It was constant pressure, one that didn't go away even when everything seemed to be going well.

He carefully rested his elbow on the arm of the chair, trying not to ruin the work he had just done, and slid his hand into his pocket. The familiar weight of the phone gave him back a slight sense of control. Outside, thousands were waiting. Inside, time was passing slowly.

“Not yet,” he thought.

The screen lit up under his fingers.

Yoongi looked down and checked his phone.