♡ hi, I go by Lotus, I'm a 20 year old college student who writes for fun, mainly to pass the time and to distract myself from my depressed mind.
♡ I'm latina! and I speak Spanish and English.
♡ I'm genderqueer, but mainly use she/her. I don't mind what pronouns you use on me!
♡ I'll listen to anything k-pop that's girl group related, as long as it has a nice rhythm. (I also stan some boy groups but those are very few)
♡ I love minecraft, pokemon and other cozy games, and on the not so cozy games I like, there's danganronpa.
For the masterlists with open requests: I write virtually any storyline, except unsanitary kinks like piss kink or scat, smut for minors, or r@pe. Anything related to those topics is NOT gonna exist in my blog.
My ask box is open to talk about any of the following groups, so if you want to leave ideas and suggestions go ahead!! don't be shy!!
leave me Megan x OC/Reader x Yoonchae ideas pls... I'm trying to write something for my OC but have no idea what plot to do... (I'm also not dead, I just have midterms and they're killing me... 🫠)
(Y/N) in everyone's eyes vs. (Y/N) in Lara's eyes:
Masc!Reader x Lara, Childhood friends to lovers, oblivious!Reader, Loser!Reader (but she's highkey a baddie) both are in love with each other but deny it, Protective!Lara fic in the making, thanks to the person who requested, sorry for taking so long in beginning it, but college is legit ending me right now. 😭 (may have forgotten some tags but anyways.. Y'all will see!!!)
I'm staying up all night anyways, so might as well do something fun and enjoyable!!! :D and might as well advance the requests I've gotten.
What are some of y'all eating that you guys can write 10k words in less than a week? and I don't mean AI, I've been seeing this for years with people! Especially Russian, Brazilian and Chinese writers. y'all write so good and so much.... how??? I try my best to write, and instead of coming out poetic, logical, and with great storytelling, it comes out like a 5 year old tried to string some words together lmaooooo, my brazilian friend literally can write 20k and not sweat, I write 200 words and already feel like I ran a marathon 😭
anyways, progress report with my fics:
[KATSEYE, Sophia] Missing Bonds part 3: currently sits at 2k (unedited, probably will cut some scenes), it's my attempt at angst that makes you cry for realsies (not with sophia so don't worry y'all!!) this one has been sitting in my ellipsus drafts for LONG, and now I've decided to finally begin writing it again.
[ILLIT, Wonhee, requested fic] fic is at 600 words... I've been watching super illit to get some moments out of it, but it's mostly just descriptions of what they're doing with minimal dialogue, so I'm fixing that!! I wanna add more interactions between them😼 this one is gonna be cuteee (or I hope so)
SPOILER SCREENSHOT:
most of what I have is like this... and I don't like it 😭
[ILLIT, Iroha, requested fic] Haven't begun writing this one, but this is the one I will do after I publish the Wonhee one!!! <3 thanks for the person who requested it haha, I haven't forgotten about you!! (this one is gonna be fluff like the wonhee one 👁️)
I also would tease something else, but don't trust me on these ones, these ones are not even planned fully yet, and I don't even know if I'm gonna do them or when I'm gonna do them, they're just ideas I have!!
[???, Spider-Woman AU] Spider-Woman!Megan x Reader. This one was gonna be a oneshot, but I kinda like it so much that I wanna make it into a series but idk if that's gonna be possible. I'm slowly developping the plot and ideas to add to it.
[???, Vampire AU] Megan x Reader. I fell in love with a vampire-focused books, and now I wanna write something like them. 👅I might end up writing Twilight-level trash tho, except for the racism and the mormon stuff 😭
Thanks for reading this if you got to this part... <3
hiii not a request but I js wanted to talk cuz I think you're really cool 🥹
I lwk requested something a few days ago and I'm interested to see if you'll do eventuallyyy
anyways byeee ur so cool
- 🙈
Someone thinks I’m cool? ME? Hell is gonna freeze over….
Also, I’ll do it!! Which request was it? (Spoilers: I’m writing outlines for some fics I’ve got planned + requests I got so your request is definitely among them)
Dreams are easy to have, easy to think about, easy to fantasize about. Making them become real, that's the hard part but with the right people beside you, it all might just be worth it.
This is my Dream Academy/Katseye 7th Member fanfiction!! This story is gonna be with my oc Mia! but feel free to imagine it as an x reader if you'd like!
The idea is to write Mia's journey through Dream Academy and then afterwards during Katseye. I have no full structure as of right now just going with the flow as i write! Suggestions, Thoughts and Ideas all welcomed! (No guarantees/promises I'm gonna use any tho!)
- As of writing this Mia dosen't have a chosen S/O but it's between Daniela, Lara, Manon or Adéla.
* My first language is not English!! Sorry for any and all grammar or spelling mistakes!
Warnings: angst, fluff, hurt/comfort, anxiety mentions, possibly anxiety & panic attacks, verbal confrontations, mental health talks, harsh & strict practice environment, online haters, homesickness. -more warnings to be added, if needed, as the story continues-
Notes: Someone ordered toxic yuri? Rockstar (Y/N) x Daniela. Also I didn't proofread so if there's any typos pls excuse me... this was inspired by a fic I read last year, I tried searching for it but couldn't find the account and I think they deleted it... THANKS TO @jinseesyou !!! for the wonderful ideas you gave me for this fic!!
Tags: Homophobia (in future parts), awful parents (y/n's parents), smoking, angst angst angst (Y/n makes Dani cry) . Sodani crumbs (kinda?). protective katseye (of Daniela) Okay, y/n is an asshole in this one, but she'll be better, I PROMISE.
Word Count: 5.7k
The town looked much bigger in the summer, with people from other states or countries coming over, maybe to visit family, maybe to have a nice vacation, (Y/N) didn’t know, what she did know though, is that there was no other place she’d rather be, as long as she had her best friend by her side.
Speaking of both of them, they were walking down the same cracked sidewalks, passing by stores with faded paint and bright titles, the same ones they grew up around, and hadn’t closed or gone broke in years, as the community was strong, and would never let that happen.
Daniela walked a step ahead from (Y/N), who kicked a pebble down the sidewalk.
“Hey, isn’t that the park you almost broke your wrist at?” She asked, a small smile on her face.
(Y/N) snorted. “I didn’t break my wrist, at least.”
Daniela laughed at the memory, the sound bouncing around the warm summer air, making (Y/N) feel like a tsunami was forming inside her stomach.
They passed an old man with a weird hairstyle, which prompted (Y/N) to make an insensitive comment about him, which he didn’t hear, thankfully, but it made Daniela shove her shoulder slightly, smiling at her friend who was laughing at her own joke.
Then, a woman started yelling to her husband in Spanish, which made Daniela look, and made (Y/N) flinch. Daniela noticed, even if the action was small and rather quick.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, just surprised that the Ramirez’s are still together” she said too fast. “Why?”
Daniela slowed a little, studying her face. “You flinched.”
“I did not, dude.”
“You literally jumped.”
(Y/N) rolled her eyes, forcing out a laugh. “I just got distracted.”
“By a married couple arguing over mangos?”
“They sounded aggressive.”
Daniela hummed, unconvinced.
The couple kept yelling behind them, loud enough for their voices to echo between buildings. (Y/N) shoved her hands deeper into the pockets of her hoodie.
“You still hate yelling that much?” Daniela asked carefully. The question was light, casual enough to miss if someone wasn’t paying attention. But Daniela always paid attention.
(Y/N) shrugged. “Doesn’t everybody?”
“You know what I mean...”
For a moment, neither of them spoke. A car rolled past them slowly, music vibrating through the open windows. Somewhere nearby, kids screamed around a basketball court: normal summer sounds for a normal town during a normal evening. (Y/N) wished she actually believed that.
Daniela bumped her shoulder gently. “You’ve been weird lately.”
“Wow. Thanks...”
“You know what I mean.”
"That your new favorite phrase?" (Y/N) kicked the pebble harder this time. It bounced off the curb and disappeared into the street. “I’m fine.” She answered after a moment of silence, which prompted Daniela to give her a look, which (Y/N) could feel on her. “You don’t believe me?” (Y/N) lifted her gaze from the pavement, only to stare at Daniela.
Daniela looked ahead instead of at her. “I think you say that because you don’t want people asking questions.”
That landed too close to home, (Y/N) smiled anyway. “Since when did you become a therapist?”
“Since you started looking like you sleep three hours a night.”
“Hey! I sleep.” (Y/N) protested.
“Sure...”
“I do.” She insisted.
Daniela finally looked at her again, softer this time. “You can tell me if something’s wrong.”
The sincerity in her voice almost cracked something open. (Y/N) looked away first, before confessing. “My parents are just annoying lately,” she muttered.
“Annoying how?”
“Just…” She exhaled through her nose. “On my shit about everything.”
Daniela frowned slightly. “More than usual?”
(Y/N) didn’t answer immediately, and that silence said enough.
Daniela’s expression shifted, concern slipping through before she could hide it. “Did something happen?”
“No.” She answered too quickly again. (Y/N) immediately regretted how sharp it sounded.
Daniela noticed too, but thankfully, she didn’t push. She just nodded slowly. “Okay,” she said quietly.
They walked another block before Daniela pointed at the little convenience store near the corner. “Want something to drink?”
(Y/N) almost said no automatically, but Daniela was already looking at her expectantly. “…Fine.”
“Wow. A summer miracle.”
“Shouldn't it be a Christmas one?”
Daniela grinned and pulled open the door, and for the next fifteen minutes, things felt normal again. They argued over candy, Daniela made fun of (Y/N)’s terrible taste in drink flavor, and for a little while, the knot in her chest loosened enough for her to breathe.
By the time the sky started turning orange, Daniela walked home, and as (Y/N) insisted to accompany her halfway there, they kept chatting for a while.
“You sure you’re okay?” Daniela asked again before leaving.
(Y/N) forced a smile. “I’m okay.”
Daniela hesitated like she wanted to say more. Instead, she just nodded. “Text me later?”
“Yeah.”
They lingered for a second too long before Daniela finally walked away.
(Y/N) waited until she disappeared around the corner before turning toward her house, and immediately knew something was wrong.
The porch light was on. Hell, all the lights were on.
Her stomach dropped, making an uneasy, disgusting feeling creep onto her. Slowly, she walked up the front steps, every creak of wood suddenly too loud beneath her shoes. The front door was unlocked already.
“Mom?” she called carefully. There was no answer, so she decided to step inside. The house felt tense. Silent in the kind of way that wasn’t really silence at all.
Then, her father spoke. “Get in here. Now.” Sharp like a knife, and completely furious.
(Y/N)’s pulse stumbled.
The living room lights were blinding when she entered. Her mother stood near the couch, arms crossed so tightly it looked painful. Her father was standing instead of sitting, jaw clenched hard enough to twitch.
And sitting on the coffee table between them? Her diary, open in the last entry.
(Y/N) stopped breathing.
Her mother looked at her like she didn’t recognize her anymore.
“What,” her father said slowly, “is wrong with you?”
Several years later…
The first time (Y/N) hears of KATSEYE, it’s in the middle of a cigarette.
She was busy writing lyrics for their next album ‘DELIRIOUS’, after their last album had been a total hit. Everything else was background noise, as she scribbled down ideas for compositions, arrangements, and interesting concepts for the clothes they’d wear in performances.
One of the crew has a phone propped up on an amp, some brightly lit performance playing too loud for how polished and pop-esque it sounds. From afar, (Y/N) could see the visuals: the costumes that matched but also gave them individuality, the coordination and the energy of the dance; everything was how it was supposed to be, and where it was supposed to be.
It was all manufactured.
She hated it.
She exhales slowly, smoke curling into the already suffocating air of the backstage room. “Turn that off,” she mutters, not even looking at her crew.
“No way, bro!” The drummer, Elias, shot back, half-laughing. “These girls are blowing up right now. You’ve seriously never heard of them?” He got up too close to the crew’s phone, making the girl who was watching the performance somewhat uncomfortable.
(Y/N) flicks ash onto the floor, “Don’t care.” She said, taking another puff. She means it. At least, right now she does.
The music kept playing, and (Y/N) felt her eyebrows come together in a frown. That type of sound was like grating a board with long nails, not because it was bad, but because it wasn’t allowed to be anything other than a safe pop song.
“Is that KATSEYE?” Someone else asks. “They’ve been everywhere lately. Charts, interviews, all of it. People are calling them the next big thing.”
(Y/N) rolls her eyes, dragging the cigarette between her lips again. “There’s always a ‘next big thing.’ Give it a year and their popularity will dwindle.”
“Damn” Victoria, the bassist, snorts. “Someone’s in a mood today.”
“What do you mean? I’m always in a mood.” That gets a few laughs from the crew.
The performance ends, and right after, the girl from the crew plays another video. This time, it’s an interview, and the cameras are closer to the faces of the members of KATSEYE, a different angle from the other more centralized one, which allowed the viewer to see them all during the choreography.
(Y/N)’s gaze flickers up absentmindedly, and that’s when she sees her. Just a second was enough.
The screen catches a close-up of a girl, her makeup is sharp and precise, as if she rolled out of bed like that, effortlessly. There’s something in her expression, a certain brightness and cheerfulness that seems to be only directed at the people who matter.
(Y/N)’s fingers still. It’s so quick, and barely noticeable.
“What?” Elias asks, catching the shift in her attitude.
“Nothing.” She says flatly, crushing the cigarette out harder than necessary. She attempts to scurry away, but then Victoria speaks up.
“Hey,” She says, rewinding the clip from the crew’s phone, who by now looks done with this. “This one, she’s pretty. What’s her name?”
“Daniela.” The girl from the crew answers. “Daniela Avanzini.”
The name hits (Y/N) like a cold shower. Her jaw tightens. “Turn it off.” She says again, in that tone that can only mean one thing: the decision is final. There’s a pause, then the screen goes dark and the crew member puts her phone in her pocket. No one pushes it.
They’ve learned not to.
(Y/N) leans back against the wall, arms crossing over herself like she’s trying to seal off something. The room falls back into the usual chatter, banter and managers asking questions here and there, but it doesn’t sound the same anymore.
Daniela Avanzini.
She hadn’t heard that name in years. Not since…
No.
(Y/N) pushes the thought down hard, like she always does. It has to be a different person. There’s no way it’s her.
Still, the feeling doesn’t go away. It settles somewhere under her ribs, heavy and unwelcome, pulling at something she buried a long time ago and never bothered to dig back up.
“Next time,” she mutters under her breath, more to herself than anyone else, “don’t play that shit around me.”
No one dared to ask why.
And (Y/N) doesn’t bother to explain.
Daniela knew that JINX would be performing at Coachella ever since the announcement dropped.
“Again, from the top.” The choreographer said, clapping her hands twice.
Daniela nodded before she was even told what to do next, already moving back into position. The music restarts, and her body follows without hesitation, every step landing with strength, coordinating with her member’s movements.
“Good!” The choreographer said, “Keep that energy going.”
Daniela might have been there in spirit, but her mind was elsewhere completely. It kept drifting back to that stage she hadn't even seen yet, to a voice she hadn’t heard in years, and to a name she wasn’t supposed to hear again.
“Dani.” Lara calls her.
She snaps back to reality. “Yes?”
“Can you help me with this step?”
After a while, the practice time comes to an end, everything going back to normalcy: staff moving around, voices overlapping, her members talking cheerfully. Then, unexpectedly, in the corner of the practice room, music starts playing. Not their music. Daniela notices it first.
It’s louder than it should be. The distorted guitar cutting through the clean atmosphere, drums hitting harder than anything they’ve rehearsed to. It’s messy, but it has identity. She turns slightly to see Yoonchae sitting on the floor nearby, nodding along to the music coming from her phone, completely absorbed in it.
“What are you listening to?” Sophia asks.
Yoonchae looks up, bright and casual. “JINX. They’re performing at Coachella too, right?”
Daniela’s grip tightens around her water bottle slightly, barely noticeable.
“They’re really good,” Yoonchae adds, turning the volume up a bit without thinking. “I like their sound! It’s… different.”
That’s one way to say it.
Daniela forces her expression to stay neutral. “It’s loud.”
Yoonchae laughs. “That’s the point.”
Daniela looks away before anyone can notice the shift in her face.
“Coachella setlist is finalized,” the manager says, cutting through the moment.
“They’re on the same days as us!” Yoonchae comments.
Then, the voice comes. Daniela’s eyes flick back to Yoonchae’s phone before she can stop herself. The screen shifts to a live performance clip, filled with chaos, smoke and shifting stage lights, and then… her. (Y/N).
There’s no doubt it’s her. The makeup and the hair are extravagant and strong, but she has the same face she did back when they were kids, the same air of rebellion and confidence she always carried was still there. It almost made Daniela smile. Almost.
Daniela looks away.
“Okay, time to run it again.” Says the choreographer, clasping her hands together.
Yoonchae puts her phone near her bag, but the music lingers in Daniela’s ears as they all step into position. She wants to tell Yoonchae to turn it off, but she can’t bring herself to. A part of her wants to listen to (Y/N)’s voice again, but another part of her dreads the feeling it brings.
The backstage as Coachella is louder than the girls expected.
It wasn’t just the music, but everything that was going on all at once. Voices overlapping, staff calling names, the constant movement of people who all seem to know exactly where they’re going. It’s chaotic in a way she’s not used to, unstructured and unpredictable.
Daniela hates it.
“Stay close, everyone!” A manager tells them, already walking ahead.
Everyone nods. Daniela adjusts her in-ears, not because she needs to, she just wants something to do with her hands, something that keeps her grounded. They take a turn near the main corridor.
“A band just cleared this area. JINX, I think…” Someone says as they pass, barely paying attention. “You guys are good to go, though!”
Daniela stops, just for a second.
Lara notices first. “Dani?”
She moves again immediately. “Sorry.” ‘Too late’ is all Daniela can think. ‘I’m too late.’ She shakes her head a little. Too late for what, exactly?
Her eyes flicker around the space as she walks. There’s a guitar leaning against the wall, half-empty bottles of water, and a black jacket thrown over a chair. Her chest tightens slightly.
“They were here?” She asks before she can stop herself.
“Yeah, different set times.” The manager says.
Of course. She thinks, she knows that. She memorized the schedule, the time they would arrive, the time they would perform, and the time they would leave. Everything should be safe now. So why does it feel like she just missed something?
She walks by a door, hearing a voice that sounds abstracted by the distance, but something inside her freezes as she listens to it.
“Daniela, hurry!” Sophia says, urging the dancer to get out of her reverie and speed-walk to her members.
Daniela doesn’t mean to end up alone after the performance. One moment she’s surrounded by staff, by her members, by pure noise, and the next she’s completely alone in the quiet parts of the backstage.
She exhales slowly, pressing her fingers into her palm. The air feels heavier here, like everything is happening all at once. She coughs, as smoke is filling the area. She should go back, she knows she should, but for a second, she lets herself stand still to breathe, to think.
That was her first mistake.
“Wow.” The voice is familiar, but the tone isn’t. Daniela freezes. “You really do look the same in person.”
Daniela’s heart stops for a second, and slowly, she turns around. (Y/N) is leaning against the wall, arms crossed, like she’s been watching for longer than Daniela wants to believe. There isn’t a trace of softness in her expression, just something sharp, something mean.
Daniela’s throat tightens. “(Y/N)-”
“Don’t say my name like that.” She says, clear disgust dripping from her tone.
Daniela flinches. “I- I didn’t know you were-.”
“Of course you didn’t.” (Y/N) cuts in, pushing herself off the wall. “Why would you? You’ve always been good at not noticing things that don’t fit your perfect little world.”
“That’s not-”
“What?” (Y/N) steps closer, eyes locked onto Daniela’s. “Not true?” She lets out a laugh, half-mocking Daniela, half-bitter. “Of course, keep trying to convince yourself of that.”
“I-” Daniela hesitated to bring up the topic, but right now, she wasn’t thinking rationally, she just wanted to defend herself. “Your parents- they told me-” She glanced at the floor, trying her best not to get emotional. “They told me you didn’t want to see me anymore.”
Silence fell around them. (Y/N) just stared at her, then, after a humorless-chuckle escaped her lips, she asked: “Are you serious right now?”
Daniela swallowed the lump in her throat. “That’s what they said.”
“And you just… believed that?” (Y/N)'s voice rises, incredulous. “You just thought, ‘oh okay, guess she doesn’t want to see me anymore,’ and that was it?”
“I was a kid!” Daniela says quickly, “I didn’t know what else to-!”
“So was I!” The words came out raw and angry. “And I still waited,” (Y/N) continues, stepping even closer, anger spilling over. “I still thought you’d show up. Or call. Or do something, anything, that didn’t look like you just dropped me the second it got difficult.”
“I didn’t drop you, I-”
“You disappeared!”
Daniela flinches at the tone of her voice.
“I went to your house,” she says, voice cracking slightly. “I tried to…”
“And when that didn’t work?” (Y/N) fires back immediately. “What, you gave up? That’s it?”
Daniela’s silence answers for her.
(Y/N) lets out a harsh breath, shaking her head. “God,” she mutters. “You’re exactly the same as everyone.”
Something in Daniela’s chest twists. “What does that mean?”
“You take the easiest option and pretend it’s the only one you had,” (Y/N) snaps, her eyes staring straight into Daniela's soul, making her feel like filth. “It means you don’t fight for things unless they’re convenient.”
“That’s not fair-”
“No, what’s not fair,” (Y/N) cuts in, voice dropping but somehow getting worse, “is watching you build this perfect little life while I’m sitting there wondering what the hell I did wrong.”
Daniela’s eyes sting. “I didn’t have a perfect life,” she says quietly.
(Y/N) scoffs. “Right.”
“I didn’t,” Daniela insists, more desperate now. “I thought you hated me. I thought you didn’t want me around anymore.”
“Then you should’ve checked.”
The words are cold and simple, yet they devastate Daniela, making her crumble down as her composure slips further. “I didn’t know how-”
“You knew me,” (Y/N) shoots back. “Or at least I thought you did.”
That lands deep inside her heart. Daniela’s voice wavers as she speaks up. “I did know you.”
“Clearly not.” A thick and suffocating silence crashes between them, until (Y/N) breaks it. “You know what the worst part is?” she says after a moment, quieter, but not softer. “You didn’t even try hard enough for me to be mad about it properly.”
“I-” Daniela shakes her head, her vision starting to blur. “That’s not true. I cared about you. I still-”
“Don’t.” She speaks with finality. "Don't even try." (Y/N)'s expression hardens instantly. “Don’t say that like it means something now.” The words cut straight through, without hesitation, without mercy.
Daniela goes still.
(Y/N) nods slowly, like she’s proven something. “Yeah,” she says. “That’s what I thought.”
Daniela’s eyes are glassy now, her composure slipping in ways she can’t control anymore. “I tried to find you later,” she says weakly. “I just didn’t know where you were.”
(Y/N) laughs again, cold and sharp. “Must’ve been really hard for you,” she says, clearly mocking the woman in front of her.
Daniela’s vision blurs completely now.
“You don’t get to come back into my life and act like this is something we can fix,” she says. “You made your choice.”
“I didn’t-”
“You did,” (Y/N) cuts her off. “You just didn’t care enough to question it.” The words land like a final blow.
Daniela’s breath hitches. And this time, she can’t stop herself as tears begin to spill over, silent at first, but then she gasps for air, hugging herself as she cries harder.
(Y/N) sees it. Of course she does. Her expression flickers, and just for a second, something in her cracks. But she doesn’t take it back. She doesn’t soften, either. “Yeah,” she mutters, quieter now, almost to herself. “That’s what I thought.”
Footsteps echo in the distance, as voices get closer. (Y/N) turns away. “Don’t worry,” she throws over her shoulder, her tone slipping back into something detached, almost mocking. “I won’t ruin your image.”
Daniela doesn’t answer, as she feels like she can’t. Her chest feels too tight.
(Y/N) pauses for a second, and then, without even looking back: “I got over you.” It was a lie, an extremely cruel one, but delivered as truth, so much so that both of them believed it.
And then she walks away, leaving Daniela standing there, shaking, and crying in a place where no one is supposed to see her break.
“Dani?” The voice cuts through the silence too suddenly.
Daniela doesn’t react at first. She’s still standing in the same spot, shoulders tense, breath uneven, tears slipping down faster than she can stop them.
“Daniela?” Quick, uneven footsteps approach her. “Hey, what-” Sophia stops mid-sentence. Lara is right behind her, along with Megan and Manon. Yoonchae too. They all see it at the same time.
Daniela... crying. Not quietly, these aren't the kind of tears she can hide behind a smile five seconds later. Something that they’ve never seen before.
Daniela doesn’t answer. She can’t, even if she wanted to tell. Her throat feels too tight, like the words are stuck somewhere between coming out and falling apart.
Sophia’s gaze flicks past her and down the hallway just in time to catch the back of someone walking away. Her expression hardens instantly. “Did they do something to you?”
Daniela stiffens.
Yoonchae follows her gaze. “That’s... that’s JINX's (Y/N), right?”
No one answers, as they don’t need to.
Lara’s jaw tightens. “Did she do something to you?”
Daniela shakes her head quickly. “It’s nothing,” she says, but her voice betrays her immediately.
“It’s not nothing,” Sophia snaps, already moving past her. “She made you cry.”
“Sophia, wait-” Daniela reaches out, but her hand drops before it can actually stop her. She’s already halfway down the hall.
“Hey!” she calls out sharply. “You! Stop.”
(Y/N) pauses just for a second, then she turns, unimpressed. There’s something in her expression, something cold and icy, something that doesn’t even try to hide the fact that she doesn’t care. “You got a problem?” she asks.
Sophia steps closer, anger clear in every movement. “Yeah. What the hell did you do to her?”
(Y/N)’s eyes flicker past Sophia for a split second, back to Daniela, who is still standing there, crying. Something unreadable crosses her face, but it's gone just as fast.
“I didn’t do anything,” she says flatly.
Sophia scoffs, stepping even closer. “Right. Because she just started crying for fun.”
(Y/N) shrugs slightly, like this conversation already bores her. “Maybe ask her.”
Lara steps in now, calmer but no less tense. “We are. We’re asking you too.”
(Y/N) lets out a quiet breath, tilting her head. “I didn’t touch her. Didn’t do anything you’re probably imagining.”
“Then why is she crying?” Yoonchae asks, softer, but there’s something sharper underneath now, both confusion and disappointment that her idol would hurt one of her friends.
(Y/N)’s jaw tightens, her gaze flicks back to Daniela again, longer this time.
“She’s just a crybaby,” she says, shrugging. The words are careless and dismissive, but also, there's a hint of a hidden intention behind them.
Sophia’s expression darkens instantly. “Watch your mouth.”
“Or what?” (Y/N) replies, raising a brow.
For a second, it feels like something worse could happen.
“Sophia, stop...” Daniela’s voice breaks through from behind them, weak and shaking. They all turn. She’s standing closer now, though none of them saw her move. Her face is still wet with the remnants of tears, her breathing uneven, her hands trembling slightly at her sides. “It’s not like that,” she says quickly. “Please, just... just drop it.”
Sophia frowns. “Dani, she literally-”
“I said drop it!” There’s something different in her voice this time, not strength, but desperation, which makes the members of KATSEYE hesitate.
(Y/N) watches the whole thing in silence. Her expression doesn’t change. But her eyes? They linger for a second too long. Then she looks away first, and says: “Yeah,” she mutters in detachment. “Listen to her.”
Sophia turns back to her, still angry. “You don’t get to...!”
“I’m done here,” (Y/N) cuts in, already stepping back like none of this matters.
“I don't want to see you close to her again, you hear?” Lara says, quieter, but it lands just as hard.
(Y/N) pauses just for a second, then she glances over her shoulder. “Wasn’t planning on getting close.” And then, just as if she was just a specter, she walks away, disappearing into the darkness of the hallways, leaving behind an uncomfortable silence that engulfs KATSEYE.
“What the hell was that?” Megan mutters under her breath.
Sophia exhales sharply, running a hand through her hair. “I swear, if she tries anything again-”
“It wasn’t her.” Daniela says, quiet and fragile. They all turn to her. “It wasn’t like that,” she repeats, even though nothing about this looks like it.
Yoonchae frowns. “Dani…”
“I’m fine,” Daniela interrupts quickly, her voice cracking slightly.
Daniela shakes her head, taking a small step back instead. Right now, what she needs is distance. “I just...” she exhales a shaky breath. “I need a minute.”
Sophia hesitates. “We shouldn’t leave you alone.”
“I’m not alone,” Daniela says, even though she feels it. “I just… I need to breathe.”
They don’t look convinced, but they also don’t push it.
“Okay,” Lara says softly. “We’ll be right outside.”
Daniela nods.
They step away slowly, casting glances back at her before disappearing down the hall.
And then it's quiet again, almost too quiet for her liking. Daniela exhales, but it comes out uneven, her chest tightening all over again the second she’s alone. Her hands come up to her face automatically, pressing against her eyes like that might stop the tears from coming.
The tears come harder and messier this time. Her breathing stutters, shoulders shaking as everything she tried to hold together finally slips.
You could’ve tried harder.
Those cruel and mocking words echo inside her head, louder now.
Daniela slides down the wall slowly, knees pulling in as she tries to make herself smaller. The worst part? She doesn’t know if (Y/N) was wrong or not, and the thought that she could have prevented their falling apart? It hurts more than anything else she could have said.
Outside, voices come and go, the festival and the music keep going on, like nothing happened.
(Y/N) doesn’t slow down until she’s far enough away that no one can see her anymore. Only then do her steps falter. She exhales hardly, and uses her hand to wipe something invisible off her face. Maybe frustration, maybe anger…
…or something else entirely she refuses to name.
The first post doesn’t look like much; it’s blurry, cropped badly, and posted to an account that nobody recognized, which has little following too. The post is simple, there’s three photos, each one getting less blurry, enough that people can make out the faces of the individuals in them.
Three photos is all it takes.
The first one has someone with a big mass of curly hair, obviously it’s Daniela, photographed mid-breath, her face slightly turned away from the person in front, you can see it in her face that she’s either crying or about to do so.
The second one has a taller figure, (Y/N), standing close to Daniela. Too close, even. Her expression is as sharp as a knife, unreadable from the angle the picture was taken from, but clear enough that people can still make out her face.
Then the third one has the members of KATSEYE in the background, Lara is recognizable due to her deep brown skin setting her apart from the others. She’s got her hand on Daniela’s shoulder, and Sophia, the one most visible, is stepping between (Y/N) and Daniela, her hands raised, as if to push the taller woman away.
The post is captioned with: “uh???”
And for a few minutes, nothing happens.
Then someone quotes it on Twitter.
Then another person shared it to Instagram.
Then a bigger account posts it.
And before they knew it, it had already spread like a disease.
By the time Daniela sees it, it’s already everywhere. Her name is trending on every social media platform possible. Her hands tremble slightly as she scrolls, the glow of her phone too bright in the dim room.
user01: #ProtectDaniela
user02: she looks TERRIFIED wtf
user03: who even is that girl yelling at her????
user04: this is so uncomfortable to watch............
Her chest tightens. Terrified? No, that’s not...
Another post pops up, and this time it's a slowed-down clip zoomed in on her face as she cries. (Y/N)’s proximity, turned into something aggressive; Sophia stepping forward, framed as intervention… It's like the narrative writes itself in real time.
Daniela swallows hard. Her thumb hovers over the screen before she opens a blank post. For a moment, she just stares at it. Then, slowly, she types: “Please don’t attack her. You don’t understand what happened”
She stops, catching her breath, because the next part? She would have to explain it. Explain why she was crying, explain who (Y/N) really is to her, and explain what they were. Her grip tightens around the phone.
That’s not just hers to say. Not anymore. Not after everything…
Daniela inhales shakily, then presses down, dragging her thumb across the screen. Select all, and delete, and the words disappear like they were never there.
She stares at the empty space for a long moment before locking her phone and setting it down beside her, like it burned her hand, which she sets on top of her heart, thinking for a few seconds about how (Y/N) was going to react to all of this.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town…
(Y/N) is laying on the floor, staring at the ceiling, thinking about her life choices and about her desire to continue being an artist, when Elias, her bandmate, who has been looking at Twitter for the past 30 minutes and playing videos at an obnoxiously loud volume, suddenly says:
“Yo, dude, you’re trending.”
(Y/N) doesn’t look up at first. “I’m always trending.”
“Not like this…” Elias retaliates.
Something in his tone makes (Y/N) lift her head to look over as he turns the screen towards her direction. She sees what he was staring at for so long: three pictures. She recognizes the scenery and immediately the flashes of her conversation with Daniela start playing over in her mind. Her expression doesn’t change.
“People are saying you made her cry,” Victoria adds from somewhere behind them, less amused now. “Like, seriously, I mean like… actual tears.”
(Y/N) scoffs, reaching for the phone. She scrolls past many posts, fast at first, then she slows down to read the comments.
User01: she looked scared of her…
User02: This is actually disgusting behavior
User03: JINX needs to address this immediately
“Wait!” Elias says, “I need to show you my favorite ones.” He takes the phone back and taps quickly, then gives it back to (Y/N), and instructs her to scroll down the list of saved posts he had on his phone’s camera roll.
User01: I literally can't stand jinx... they're all performative people trying their best to look edgy and progressive.
User02: u literally stan bts...
User01: UNPROVOKED?????
User01: tell me your toxic trait as a part of stan twitter 🍵
User02: I strongly dislike at least one member of any girl group for no valid reason
Userkatseye4life: who in katseye? I won't cancel you
The next was an article that a K-Pop based news site had made about the situation.
User01: FLOP anyways stan katseye
User01: WAIT this is katseye omg
Elias was giggling at (Y/N)’s face as she was reading all the tweets, which was a mix between disbelief and… disgust? (Y/N)’s jaw tightened slightly in anger, not at the accusations, not at the hate, since those are things she’s used to…
Daniela’s face is zoomed-in, teary-eyed and looking destroyed. A user underneath the picture posts were filled with comments pitying her:
User01: poor dani :( she didn’t deserve that…
(Y/N)’s thumb pauses over the post. Everything about this was making her angrier and angrier. “Poor Dani” “She didn’t deserve that” “Victim.” Her fingers tighten around the edges of the device, whitening her knuckles.
They don’t know her. They don’t know anything. And yet, once again, it seems like the world won against (Y/N). Daniela had been reduced to something small, fragile and deserving of protection, something that couldn’t stand up for herself on her own, like (Y/N) had…
Her thoughts stop for a moment as she shoves the phone back into Elias’ hands. “It’s the internet, they’ll comment about anything.”
Elias watches her for a second, looking like he wants to say something, but he refrains from doing so.
Meanwhile, (Y/N) leans back, her gaze fixed on the ceiling again. She tries her best to look unbothered, or as unaffected as she can, but the look in her eyes gives her away, so she covers them with her forearm, sighing heavily.
a/n. - this is my comeback fic, sorry if it's eh. mwah mwah. no grammar check!!!!!!
word count - 2923
It was a cold, rainy Sunday, one where the people in the small town avoided going outside, staying holed up until the storm passed over, taking in the warmth and coziness of their homes.
However, you were working at the record store yet had no customers to stop by. The owner happened to be an older gentleman, one who happened to hire you the second he heard your passion for the musical world and niche artists that would rock in your headphones.
Today, he promised you an easy shift, knowing it would be dead, and you could just hang out in the store to make some money.
You organized the new albums that were in storage, shelving the new releases while you hummed absentmindedly to the Radiohead song currently playing as the rain could be heard rhythmically tapping against the storefront located in the heart of the city.
The chime of the bell on the door breaks through the hazy comfort you created in your workspace.
You briefly look over your shoulder, peering over at the unexpected visitor, an outlier to the stormy Sunday.
The visitor wore an oversized jacket, one of a niche indie band that a store frequent would try to put you on, a hazy shoegaze genre, as it was engulfed in dreamy cursive texts and cyber sigilism-esque patterns. Her jeans were well-loved, faded, and worn as they loosely sat along her hips, unbothered and authentically herself.
The woman carefully tucks her umbrella away in the holder near the door as she effortlessly enters the store, as if she were a regular.
Before she can fall into her classic mysterious cool girl routine, you hum out a smooth “welcome in” before turning back to the records you were setting on the shelves, now in an attempt to distract yourself from the frighteningly cool customer.
The girl looks in the direction of the voice, smirking once she sees the sight of the more minimalist and softer-looking worker, wearing a plain sweater that was slightly off the shoulders and jeans that seemed more tailored and cleanly flowing than her own, a contrast to the vibrant environment of the store and the world Giselle was used to.
And for the first time, Giselle found herself interested in something other than music.
As you finished organizing, you hummed softly, taking a step back and admiring your work. However, your thoughts were cut short when the mystery customer spoke up.
“Is it always this dead in here?” the voice bluntly questions as she starts to sift through some of the records in the alternative rock section.
You hummed softly, finally gracing the girl with your full attention before responding, “Mmm… no, you just chose a bad day,” you mumbled, as you watched her pay no attention to you as she focused on the musical titles in front of her.
“Unfortunate,” she responds in a flat tone, not giving it any second thought as she continues her search.
You hummed in acknowledgement, giving her space as you returned to the counter, leaning against it as you queued some songs in the meantime, letting the mysterious girl be unbothered.
The girl finally decides to speak up again, after a while, as she glances over at you, “You look like you’d rather be anywhere else.” She smirks, catching you briefly scrolling on your phone.
You peer up at her, finally meeting her gaze for the first time since she entered the shop, as your cheeks tint a light pink at the acknowledgment.
“Is it obvious?” you manage to snark back lightly, standing up straight now as your fingers rhythmically tap amongst the counter, as you notice the woman’s growing album stash.
She smiles at your sass, nodding, as her fingers work diligently as she continues her task, speaking up, “If you’re so bored, why don’t you recommend something to me then?” opening the space for conversation, ridden with her flirty advances.
You hummed at the question as your tapping stopped, and your brain began to work, coming up with numerous albums and artists, but looking at the girl, you grumbled, “You seem like you’ll be hard to please.”
She lets out a genuine laugh at that, not disagreeing with your statement, as she said, “You’re not wrong, but I'm sure you entertain the customers by looking pretty and giving out mainstream recommendations.” She teased comfortably, unafraid of your response, as she peered up jokingly, “That’s how you keep the store in business, right?”
Taken aback by her comment, you audibly gasp before defending yourself, “You’re bold for someone stopping by…” as you pout playfully before continuing "I could kick you out, you know that, right?”
She just smiles, owning her cool girl energy as she hums, “You won’t.”
In response, you roll your eyes and huff, “If I pick something, you’re going to go home and listen to it. Got it?” you playfully order as you leave the counter, immediately heading to a known good section as you sift through albums quickly, searching.
Giselle watched you with awe, surprised at the sudden bossiness, as she leaned over to watch the titles fly by with ease, carefully humming “yes, ma’am.” with the smallest smirk, “and if I don’t?” she questions.
Before the idea can run a lap in her head, you quickly shut it down with a “don’t test me” before pulling out your holy grail album and showing it to her.
Giselle was completely taken aback by the album you were holding.
She carefully admires it, staying quiet as she gently takes it into her hands, accidentally brushing against yours and lingering a little longer than necessary before completely taking the record into her own hands.
She analyzes the cover before glancing over at you, a little shocked. “This is a little too heavy for someone as pretty as you; don't you think?” she mumbles, curiosity mixed with slight worry.
The two of you were closer now, her eyes taking in your every move as you responded effortlessly, as if the roles were reversed, “I can handle it.” A small smile graced your features.
She shook her head, laughing breathlessly as she mumbled “...wow”, before adding it to the other albums she planned on buying today, “you’re something else.” She smiled, already down bad for the record store girl.
You shrug, as if the admittance didn’t mean the world to Giselle, before humming a “you’ll survive” as you offer her a cheeky smile, heading back to the counter and leaving the girl stunned.
While Giselle continued looking through the records, she couldn’t get you out of her mind and focus on the music in front of her, so she decided to cut her shopping trip short to talk to the pretty worker more.
Giselle walks over with a handful of records, placing them carefully on the counter and breaking you from your spaced-out trance, humming softly at the sight of the girl. “Is this all for today?” you questioned, as she failed to respond.
“What’s your name?” she asks, slightly awkward and blunt, as if the question were bursting to escape from her.
You smiled charmingly, responding, “y/n. And you?”
“Aeri… but you can call me Giselle.” She hums as she watches you start scanning the records and bagging them for her, offering a soft “nice to meet you…”
The store became a little too quiet for Giselle's liking, wanting to hold onto every minute with you before she had to leave back into the dreary outside world.
“...do you always work Sundays?” she murmured, a little too quiet in comparison to her cool girl aura, looking at you as she awaited answers.
“Mhm.” you hummed naturally before continuing, “planning on coming back for more recommendations?” you tease, which earns you a smile from the customer.
“And the pretty worker.” She smoothly responds as she quickly pays for her stuff, swooning as she notices a blush crawl across your face, before she could let you say something snarky and get the upper hand, “I'll see you Sunday,” as she rushes out of the store less nonchalant than when she entered.
The girl was excited to return home, listening to your recommendation as she lay out on her bed, thinking of your plush lips and soft eyes.
She got it bad.
The rain continues to patter as the melody carries through her apartment, the girl counting down to the next Sunday, even having the sudden urge to learn a few chords from the album on her bass guitar in order to impress you one day.
Soon comes next Sunday, much brighter and hot outside, as Giselle wore something more casual, oversized distressed jorts with a baggy band tee, showing off some of the tattoos scattered across her skin, and the wired headphones dangling outside of her neckline.
She enters confidently, a smile on her face as she sees you behind the counter, helping a guest with a checkout. You still had your simple, minimalistic style, rather going for a white T-shirt and some dark denim, but stood out through the stacks of jewelry gleaming.
For a second, she simply watches you until the customer leaves, so she can make her presence known.
“Missed me?” she boldly jokes as she takes over your counter space, leaning over to get a better look at you.
You simply laugh, brushing her off with a simple, “Who are you again?”
“Ouch!” she huffed playfully before getting straight to the point, knowing how to win the worker's heart back into her good graces, “I listened to your recommendation…”
That caught your attention, as you looked away from the monitor, looking at her as you smiled, “and?”
She hesitates at first, under your full attention, stuttering slightly as she gets her words out “It was a masterpiece,” she admitted breathlessly, before going on “The lyrics, the melody, the way the band can carry their emotions and the seamless transitions between each song…” she began to ramble, but was broken out of the trance by your giggle.
She blushes deeply, standing up straighter, as she tries to recover her cool girl persona, “...what?” the questioning coming out a little more defensive than necessary, but you just brushed it off.
“You're cute,” you mumbled to the girl, making her roll her eyes.
“Oh, whatever….” she mumbled awkwardly, not knowing how to take the compliment and fumbling to grab hold of her words. “SOOO you really enjoy music like that?” she hummed as she anticipated your response.
Instead of teasing her, you decided to give her a real response "I do! I try to find new bands and artists that fit the genre everyday…” you hummed absentmindedly, as Giselle just nodded along. " Why try to get more recommendations out of me?”
She shook her head no before bursting out, "I'm in a band!” a little too loud to be cool, but she tries to recover once again by continuing “I think you would like our music… Uhm, it has similar vibes…” she mumbles, avoiding eye contact.
“Oh?” you question, taken aback, but smiling softly, opening the room for her to share more about her band as you continued, “What kind of band?”
She answers a little too quickly, excited that she gets to share her passions with the pretty worker. “It’s like alternative rock… I play bass,” she reveals, as she taps her fingers along the counter out of nervousness, "I was wondering if you would like to come to a show?”
Without a doubt, you just smiled along, nodding “I would love to!” making Giselle beam brightly, and nodding along “cool, cool, cool…” as she fumbled around reaching for her phone in her pocket, “can I have your number?” she questions.
At her sudden awkwardness, you laugh with a teasing smile, taking her phone from her hand while you type out your number, “Are you sure you can handle me?”
“You’re annoying…” she mumbled softly, snatching her phone back as she was getting ready to talk to you more, before the store’s doorbell chimes again, signaling new customers. A frown slightly appeared on Giselle’s face, yet instead of your eyes heading towards the customers, they were still cast onto her.
“You better not go around abusing my number now,” you joked, reassuring the girl as she scoffed slightly, playfully mumbling, “as if.”
But before she could leave, she mumbled a rehearsed, “See you next Sunday?”
In response, you nodded and replied honestly, “Wouldn’t want to miss it.”
And that’s how a small routine formed between the two of you.
Giselle made it a habit to visit the store every Sunday, bugging you, bringing you sweet treats, even her band's merch occasionally, while chatting up a storm with you, a mixture of flirting and silly little conversations.
The two of you grew closer than ever, hanging out outside of Sundays and outside of the record shop.
She would fight for reservations to the city's most popular restaurants or show you the quieter side of the town, as she charmed her way into your heart with her charisma and charm.
The two of you were currently sitting at one of the finest restaurants in the city, overlooking the skyline as she ordered for the two of you with grace, before the waiter left the two of you alone.
“Have I ever told you how nice you cleanup?” you joked to the girl as you had a sip of wine, placing the glass down as a smile graced the woman's features.
“Many many MANY times…” she playfully jests, as her elegant dress matched yours, the one she gifted to you, “… but you like me wearing anything,” she teased back, something you couldn’t deny.
“Mmm, it’s just a nice change every now and then,” you admit, which the girl nods along to it.
The two of you shared a soft and romantically charged conversation, even though the two of you had yet to give yourselves a proper label. In the middle of the meal, Giselle spoke up boldly, “I learned the chords on the bass.”
“What chords?” you hum back softly, curious about what your musician was going to reveal.
“When we first met… the album you recommended? I learned the chords of every song on it, in hopes of impressing you one day,” she reveals with a light smile, as if she couldn’t believe she was admitting this right now.
“You’re telling me this now?” you questioned softly, surprised she would go the lengths for you as you watched her carefully, her gaze finally meeting yours, a lovesick smile adorning her features, “I asked the band if we could cover it at our show next Sunday, I was hoping you would come? I’ll pick you up after your shift, get you something to eat, and then play my heart out for you.” she hummed the plan that was made weeks in advance. “How’s that sound?” She questioned, confidence radiating from her tone.
“I’ll be there,” you hummed quickly, as if there was no question about it, a similar smile matching your features, before you hummed softly, “but only on one condition.”
“You’re really trying to negotiate with me after I tell you my whole plan to win you over?” she laughs, as she knew this was very on brand for you. “Mmm, go on, tell it to me, babe.” She waited patiently, leaning back against the chair.
“You take me as your partner,” you mumble boldly, watching her get excited in real time.
“I am not passing up the opportunity of a lifetime,” she hums in response, quickly interlocking one of your hands over the table with hers, her thumb carefully caressing the skin as if it were a promise, as she hums out, “I would love for you to be mine, I've been waiting for a while now.” She cheesed.
You softly squeeze her hand as you hum a careful "I'm glad it was me.”
And next Sunday?
She was already waiting for you outside the store to take you into her hands and take you away to her musical oasis.
You wore one of her band's tees, catered to your style, as you let her achieve all of her promises to you as official partners.
Her band manages to conclude with the cover, Giselle watching down upon you the whole time, as she admires how pretty you look under the lights and tries not to fumble the chords due to her baby’s gaze.
As the last note lingered and the sky got dark, she found her way to you, hidden away from the crowd, finally grasping your figure and pulling you in a tight hug. “How was it?” she asked with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
But before answering with real worlds, you pull the woman into a deep kiss, demonstrating your love as you hum softly against her lips before pulling away, “I love you.”
Giselle smiled like never before, the world fading behind her as she beamed, “I love you too.”
And as the girl rose to superstar status, she would have you by her side, one day helping you open your own record store that became a staple in the music industry, fans traveling all over to discover the story and sharing their love for music.
But for now?
The girl will walk you home like she promised, keeping you safe in her arms and sharing sweet little kisses and compliments every other minute.
Notes: The wait has finally come to an end! Here is part 2!! I copied it from Ellipsus so if the format is wonky it's because of that. If you see a typo, no you didn't 😀Also, this isn't proof-read, so be aware of that.
Tags: Red String of Fate, Supernatural elements, kinda soulmate AU. Angst(? (Or my attempt at it). Jealousy. Happy Ending. Useless gays being useless gays.
Word Count: 8.0k
Part 1 Here!
The world stopped being darkness, and came back slowly, but fragmented, like pieces of broken glass someone had tried to put together in an attempt to make them whole again.
(Y/N) stirred. Her body felt heavy, like it didn’t fully belong to her. Her chest rose slowly, uneven at first, before settling into something steadier. The pain from earlier was gone… or at least, it had dulled into a distant echo.
She frowned slightly. Something felt… different. It didn't feel wrong, just... open.
Her eyes fluttered, then they opened slowly. The ceiling above her was unfamiliar. It was plain, white, and a little too clean: it was a medical room.
Right, she had collapsed…
Her fingers twitched faintly against the blanket covering her. The memory of what happened came back in flashes. The studio. The sudden pull. The pain in her chest. Someone's hands catching her before she hit the ground.
Her breathing stilled for a moment. Then she turned her head slightly.
Sophia was there.
She was slumped forward in the chair beside the bed, one arm resting near (Y/N)’s side, her head tilted slightly as she slept. Her hair had fallen messily around her face, and her breathing was slow and steady.
She hadn’t left...?
For a long moment, (Y/N) just… looked at her.
There was no immediate irritation, or instinctive rejection. There was just… a quiet feeling.
Something in her chest shifted, and this time, it was soft, not painful or sharp. It was just a pull, something that guided her towards Sophia. Her gaze traced the small details without meaning to. The way Sophia’s fingers were loosely curled near the edge of the mattress. The faint crease between her brows, even in sleep, like she had been worrying.
About her.
(Y/N)’s throat tightened suddenly, like something broke inside of her. It wasn’t violent like before. It also didn’t hurt. It just… gave way. Her breath hitched, vision blurring. She blinked, confused at first, then she felt something warm sliding down the side of her face.
A...tear?
(Y/N)’s brows furrowed immediately, like her body had done something wrong. Her hand lifted weakly, brushing against her cheek, and when she touched it, she immediately recoiled, as if she had touched burning coal.
She stared at her fingers. Another breath came in, shaky this time.
Then another tear followed. And then another, followed by a tsunami of them.
Her chest tightened, not in pain, but in something far more overwhelming. It rose too fast, too uneven, like she couldn’t quite control it anymore. “What…?” Her voice came out barely above a whisper as more tears fell.
Her breathing started to break apart, small, uneven inhales that didn’t quite reach her lungs properly. Her fingers curled weakly into the blanket.
This wasn’t normal.
She didn’t cry.
She had never...
A soft sound escaped her throat before she could stop it. Her hand flew to her mouth immediately, like she could shove it back in. But it didn’t stop, as the tears kept coming.
Years of quiet detachment, of empty reactions, of emotions that had never fully formed... they crashed down all at once.
Her shoulders trembled, and her chest rose sharply as something deep inside her finally surfaced, raw and unfiltered. She didn’t even understand what she was feeling, since there was no clear sadness, no single reason. Just… everything was so overwhelming right now. A broken, quiet sob slipped through her fingers.
That’s what woke Sophia.
She shifted slightly, brows pulling together before her eyes slowly opened. It took her a second to register where she was or what she was doing there, but then she saw (Y/N), and her back straightened instantly. “Hey-” Her voice softened immediately.
(Y/N) froze like she had been caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to.
Their eyes met.
Sophia’s expression changed in an instant. The leftover sleep vanished, replaced by something much sharper: concern. “…You’re crying.”
(Y/N)’s breath hitched again. She shook her head weakly, even as more tears slipped down her face. “I’m not-” Her voice broke, stopping her from continuing.
Sophia didn’t move right away, as if she was afraid that if she did, (Y/N) would break down even worse. “…Hey,” she said again, softer this time. “It’s okay.”
(Y/N)’s fingers clenched tighter into the blanket.
No, this wasn't okay. Nothing about this felt okay. Her chest felt too full, too open, like something had been forced apart inside her and now she couldn’t close it again. “I don’t-” she tried again, but her voice trembled. “I don’t know what this is...!”
Sophia’s heart tightened at the sound of that.
She leaned forward slightly, careful and slow. “I’m here,” she said quietly.
It was those simple words that made something inside (Y/N) react immediately.
The pull returned, stronger this time. Her breath caught, but this time it wasn’t painful. It was… different. Warm and soft, and the most terrifying part? She knew that this was how it was supposed to feel from the beginning.
Her eyes flickered toward Sophia’s hand, still resting near the edge of the bed. She was close. Too close for comfort.
Her chest tightened again, but not in the way she had learned to hate, this time it felt like the pull inside her chest was the gravity holding her down. Her fingers loosened their grip on the blanket.
She didn’t think, and she didn’t analyze, she didn’t stop herself. She just moved.
She moved slowly, like she wasn’t entirely in control of it, (Y/N) pushed herself up slightly, her body still weak but responding to that pull without resistance.
Sophia’s eyes widened just a little. “Hey- be careful,”
But (Y/N) didn’t stop, in fact, she leaned closer. And closer. Close enough to feel Sophia's breath.
Speaking of her, Sophia went completely still.
Their faces were inches apart now...
(Y/N)’s tears had slowed, but her eyes were still glassy, unfocused in a way that made her look vulnerable in a way she had never allowed herself to be before. But then, her gaze dropped briefly to Sophia’s lips. Her breath caught, releasing a slight gasp that made Sophia blush.
The pull tightened as her chest rose sharply.
What is this…?
She didn’t understand it, and she didn’t have a word for it. And she also didn’t have the instinct to stop it.
So she leaned in, and then...
Footsteps and voices, right outside the door.
(Y/N) froze, reality rushing back all at once. Her eyes widened slightly, like she had just woken up from something she didn’t want to wake up from. She pulled back abruptly, too fast for her already weakened body's liking.
Sophia blinked, still frozen in place for a second longer before she quickly sat back in her chair, her own heartbeat suddenly loud in her ears.
Neither of them spoke. The air between them felt… different now. It was charged with an unspoken feeling.
Then the door handle turned.
(Y/N) looked away immediately, wiping at her face quickly, like she could erase what had just happened, but she still felt open, still felt vulnerable, and still felt the pulling of her heart towards the girl across from her.
Speaking of which, Sophia couldn’t stop thinking about how close they had just been.
Or why part of her hadn’t wanted to move away.
The door opened, as voices spilled into the room quickly.
“Is she awake?”
(Y/N) flinched at the sudden noise, her body going rigid as if she’d been caught doing something wrong. The warmth that had lingered in her chest seconds ago twisted sharply, shrinking inward, tightening again, but not the same as before. Not empty, but rather, hidden.
Sophia stepped back immediately, too fast and careless.
Her chair scraped lightly against the floor as she put distance between them, like the last few seconds hadn’t just happened. Like she hadn’t been close enough to feel (Y/N)’s breath.
Like she hadn’t almost...
She swallowed the thought before it could finish forming.
The medical staff moved in quickly. One of them stepped beside the bed, checking the monitor, another gently guiding Sophia further aside.
“Let us take a look.”
Sophia nodded quickly, stepping back without protest. “Yeah, yeah, of course.” But her eyes didn’t leave (Y/N), not even for a second.
(Y/N) turned her head away almost immediately, her gaze fixing on the opposite wall. Her fingers curled tightly into the thin hospital blanket, knuckles paling. Her face felt hot. Too hot for her liking.
“Can you hear me?” one of the staff members asked gently, leaning slightly into her line of sight.
(Y/N) forced her expression to flatten. “Yes.”
“Do you know where you are?”
“Medical room.”
“Good. Do you remember what happened?”
A pause. (Y/N)’s fingers tightened into the blanket again. “…I felt dizzy” she said finally. “Then I collapsed.”
It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the truth either.
The staff member nodded, jotting something down on a clipboard. “Any chest pain now?”
(Y/N) hesitated. For a split second, her eyes flickered slightly to where Sophia stood. Their gazes almost met. She looked away first. “…No,” she said.
Sophia’s brows pulled together faintly. That wasn’t true. She had seen it, almost felt it when she touched her. That reaction hadn’t been dizziness. It was-
Her thoughts cut off again.
The staff continued their checks, routine questions, measuring vitals, shining a small light briefly into her eyes.
“Your heart rate’s stabilizing,” one of them murmured.
“Probably overexertion,” another added. “You’ve been training pretty intensely, right?”
(Y/N) nodded once.
That explanation settled into the room far too easily.
“Stress can do that,” the doctor one continued. “Especially under pressure. Lack of sleep, dehydration…”
Their voices blurred slightly as they spoke. (Y/N) stared straight ahead. Stress? Overexertion? Dehydration? Those words should have made sense. Except they didn’t. Because none of those things explained-
Her throat tightened suddenly, but she swallowed it down. “…I’m fine,” she said quietly.
The staff exchanged brief glances.
“We’ll keep you here for a bit longer just to be safe,” one of them said. “But if everything stays stable, you should be able to return later today. Just take it easy.”
(Y/N) nodded again. “Okay.” Simple, normal... like nothing had happened.
Behind them, the door creaked open again, slower this time. A few familiar voices slipped in.
“Can we come in?”
“Is she okay?”
Karlee, Emily and Megan. Their faces filled with concern, curiosity and anxiety. They hovered near the doorway at first, waiting for permission before stepping inside.
“Just for a minute,” one of the staff allowed.
They rushed in immediately.
“Oh my god, you scared us!” Emily said, already halfway to the bed.
“Are you okay?” Megan added quickly.
Karlee held up the water bottle like an offering. “Here, drink this.”
(Y/N) blinked once, the sudden attention washing over her in a way that felt… unfamiliar. Not overwhelming. Not irritating. Just… there.
Her fingers loosened around the blanket as she reached out and took the bottle. “…Thanks,” she said quietly. She didn’t realize it at first, but there was a slight lift at the corner of her lips. Small, barely even there.
Karlee froze.
Megan blinked.
Emily's head tilted slightly.
There was a pause. A long and strange one.
“...Wait,” Emily said slowly.
(Y/N) looked up, confused. “…What?”
Karlee leaned in a little, squinting at her face like she was trying to confirm something. “Did you just…?”
Megan's eyes widened. “You’re smiling.”
(Y/N)’s expression changed to one of confusion. “…No, I’m not.”
“You literally are,” Emily said, pointing at her like she’d just caught her doing something illegal.
“I’m not-”
“Yes, you are!” Emily cut in, half laughing now, half confused. “I’ve never seen you smile before.”
“That’s not-” (Y/N) stopped. Because she didn’t have a response. Her fingers tightened slightly around the water bottle. Her chest felt… warm. Not tight or painful, just warm. That wasn’t normal.
Karlee leaned closer, narrowing her eyes. “Okay, hold on. This is weird.”
Emily nodded immediately. “Yeah, no, something’s off.”
(Y/N)’s brows pulled together slightly. “What are you talking about?”
“You,” Megan said simply. “You’re talking.”
“…I always talk.”
“Not like this,” Emily shot back.
Karlee tilted her head, studying her more carefully now. “Are you feeling okay?”
That word made something shift faintly inside her chest. Different.
(Y/N) frowned slightly. “I’m not.”
Emily reached forward suddenly, pressing the back of her hand lightly against (Y/N)’s forehead.
(Y/N) blinked in surprise. “What are you doing?”
“Checking if you have a fever,” Emily said seriously.
“I don’t...”
“You’re smiling,” Emily repeated, like that alone was proof of something being medically wrong.
Megan nodded. “Yeah, that’s not normal.”
Karlee crossed her arms. “You might be delirious.”
“I’m not delirious.”
“Then explain the smile.”
(Y/N) opened her mouth, then closed it, because she couldn’t explain it. Her chest tightened slightly, but not in pain. Her fingers loosened their grip on the bottle.
“You just passed out and now you’re smiling for no reason,” Karlee pointed out. “That’s suspicious.”
(Y/N)’s brows furrowed deeper.
For a brief second, her gaze flickered, just slightly, past them and towards Sophia. Their eyes met, and there it was again. That pull, soft and warm. Her breath caught. Without realizing it, the small smile returned, softer this time, but unintentional.
Sophia went completely still.
Behind her, Emily made a noise like she’d just witnessed something shocking. “...Oh my god, she did it again!”
(Y/N)’s eyes snapped away immediately. The warmth in her chest flickered, unstable now. Her fingers tightened into the blanket again.
Karlee exchanged a look with the others. “Yeah… you’re not fine,” she said quietly.
The room fell into a brief, uneasy silence.
Because now, it wasn’t just concern, it was confusion. Something had changed in (Y/N) and everyone could see it, even if none of them understood why.
The staff cleared their throat. “Alright, let’s give her some space.”
Reluctantly, the girls began to leave.
“Text us if you need anything,” Megan said.
“Yeah, don’t just disappear again,” Emily added.
Karlee lingered for a second longer, then nodded. “Please, rest.”
The door closed behind them. That's when the same uncomfortable silence returned.
(Y/N) stared down at the bottle in her hands. For a moment, there was nothing. But then, the same awareness, slow and persistent, came rushing back in, like a bullet going through her chest.
She knew where Sophia was without looking: left side of the room, near the wall. She was a few steps away, but not close enough. Her fingers twitched.
“…You smiled.” She heard Sophia's voice say.
(Y/N) went still. She didn’t look up. “…No, I didn’t.”
“You did.”
“I didn’t.” There was a pause. “It doesn’t mean anything,” she added quickly.
“I didn’t say it did.” Sophia said.
Her chest pulled again. Annoying... She thought. (Y/N) finally looked up. Sophia was closer now, not by much, but enough that the tension in her chest eased slightly. She noticed that immediately, and hated it. “I’m fine,” (Y/N) said.
“That’s not what I’m asking.” Sophia said.
“Then don’t ask.”
Sophia frowned slightly. “Earlier, when you-”
“Don’t.” The word came out sharp and immediate. (Y/N)’s grip on the bottle tightened again.
Sophia shifted slightly, taking a step back. Her arm rubbing her shoulder, as if she had been defeated by something.
(Y/N) reacted instantly. “…Stay,” she said suddenly, the word slipping out before she could stop it. Silence followed, one that made her feel flustered.
Sophia blinked. “…What?”
(Y/N) froze, like a deer caught in headlights. Her mind had caught up too late. “I didn’t-”
Sophia didn’t move. “…You want me to stay?” she asked quietly.
(Y/N)’s jaw clenched. “No.” A second passed. Then it was followed by: “You’re just… in the way!” The excuse was laughable, even to herself.
Sophia didn't call her out, she just tilted her head to the side, and proceeded to step closer. One torturous step at a time, she got closer to (Y/N). The distance between them closed slowly.
Something about the way (Y/N) had said 'stay' lingered in the air, quiet but heavy, like it had meant more than she was willing to admit. So Sophia moved carefully, watching her, giving her time to pull back if she wanted to.
She didn’t.
(Y/N)'s shoulders tensed, then dropped too quickly, like her body couldn’t decide what it was supposed to do. Her fingers tightened around the bottle, then loosened again, her gaze flickering everywhere but where it should. Not at Sophia. Anywhere but at Sophia.
"…You’re doing it again,” Sophia said softly.
(Y/N)’s brows pulled together, but she still didn’t look at her. “…Doing what?”
Sophia stopped just beside the bed. “You won’t look at me.”
“I am,” (Y/N) muttered immediately. Her eyes darted up for half a second, just enough to meet Sophia’s, and then dropped again like she’d been burned by the mere sight of her.
Sophia noticed everything.
The way her fingers kept twitching. The way her breathing wouldn’t settle. The way she kept trying, and failing, to act normal, to go back to her usual aloof and cold nature.
“…Can I?” Sophia asked quietly.
(Y/N) frowned. “…Can you what?”
Sophia hesitated, then slowly reached out. Her hand hovered for a moment before gently wrapping around (Y/N)’s wrist. (Y/N)’s breath caught sharply, her entire body stilled. She didn't relax, she didn't lean in, as she was completely frozen in place. Her eyes widened slightly as she stared down at where Sophia was touching her, like she couldn’t process it. Her grip on the bottle slackened completely.
(Y/N) swallowed, as her throat felt dry. “…I-” she muttered, but there was no force behind it. (Y/N)’s fingers twitched. (Y/N)’s gaze drifted again, slower this time. From Sophia’s hand, up to her arm, to her face... then immediately away again, her cheeks feeling warm. Her brows furrowed slightly, like she was irritated at her own reaction.
This was stupid. Why was she reacting like this?
“…You’re too close,” she said under her breath.
Sophia tilted her head.
(Y/N) finally looked at her properly this time, and immediately regretted it. Sophia was right there. Her expression softer than usual, but her eyes… focused. Watching her carefully, like she was trying to understand something.
(Y/N)’s breath hitched again. Her stomach twisted as she caught a glimpse of Sophia's lips. She looked away so fast it almost hurt. The silence stretched again, heavy, but not uncomfortable.
Sophia’s eyes drifted, even if it was just for a second, to (Y/N)’s lips then back up. “…(Y/N)…?” she said softly.
No response. (Y/N) was staring at her now, with an intense lack of confidence, but she didn't look away either. Sophia hesitated. Just for a second. Then, she made a decision.
Slowly she inched closer. Close enough that there was almost no space left between them.
(Y/N)’s eyes widened slightly, her body going completely still. “…Sophia-” she started, but her voice faltered immediately.
Sophia’s free hand lifted, hesitating for only a moment before gently brushing against (Y/N)’s cheek, warm and soft. (Y/N) froze, her breath caught sharply. She didn’t move, didn't lean in, or pull away; she just... stayed. Sophia watched her carefully, waiting for her to stop Sophia from what she was about to do.
She didn’t. And that was enough.
Sophia leaned in, their noses brushed. Sophia hesitated for half a heartbeat, then closed the distance, and their lips met, softly and tentatively, like she wasn’t sure if she was allowed to do this.
(Y/N) didn’t react. Her entire body felt locked in place, like her brain had short-circuited. That was enough for Sophia.
Sophia’s hesitation broke. Her hand at (Y/N)’s cheek shifted slightly, steadying her as she leaned in again, firmer this time, more certain.
Sophia felt it. She felt her chest pulling her towards (Y/N) further, as if she desired to become one with her. That was the moment something shifted. Her hand slid slightly, more secure now, holding her there as the kiss deepened just a fraction more...
...Before they heard the doorknob rattle.
Sophia reacted first and pulled back. Not abruptly, but fast enough to break the connection, her hand slipping from where it held (Y/N), like she had suddenly remembered where they were. Her breath hitched slightly as distance rushed in all at once.
(Y/N) didn’t move, and stayed exactly where she was.
Lips parted slightly, eyes unfocused, her body still leaning forward just enough to show she hadn’t been the one to end it. The warmth that had flooded her chest lingered, but now it felt incomplete.
"Miss, visiting hours are over." A nurse said, urging Sophia out of the room.
The moment shattered completely.
Sophia stepped back, putting just enough distance between them to look normal, but not enough to steady her own heartbeat. (Y/N) didn't move still, completely stunned.
Sophia grabbed her backpack and her phone, rushing out the door before the nurse could get suspicious about them. She looked back at (Y/N) before she left, closing the door carefully behind her.
The room felt different after she left…
The door had closed minutes ago, voices fading down the hallway until there was nothing left but the faint echo of her own breathing.
(Y/N) didn’t move at first. She stayed exactly where she had been, sitting upright in the bed, eyes fixed somewhere ahead but not really seeing anything.
Then, slowly her hand lifted. It hovered for a second, like she wasn’t entirely sure what she was doing… before her fingers brushed lightly against her lips. She froze, her breath hitched. The warmth was still there, faint and unmistakable.
Her fingers pressed slightly, as if testing it, like she expected it to disappear if she didn’t hold onto it.
It didn’t.
Her pulse quickened. Her brows furrowed faintly, confusion flickering across her face… but it didn’t last long. Because beneath it, something else was forming. Her fingers traced the spot again, slower this time.
A small smile appeared, but it felt wrong and unfamiliar on her face, like something had clicked into place inside her. Her fingers pressed harder against her lips, her pulse jumping, faster now.
Now, there was only that feeling, looping, replaying... her eyes flickered, unfocused for a moment. Then sharpened. Her smile widened just a fraction. “I…” she started, then stopped, the words dying in her throat.
But the feeling didn’t.
Her smile returned. “…I want…” she whispered, but didn’t finish it. She didn’t have the words for it yet, but the thought was already there.
…And for the first time in her life, (Y/N) didn’t try to push it away.
The training room felt too loud.
Not in the way it usually did, with music blasting and people moving in sync. No, this was different. The noise pressed in, unfocused, like it didn’t belong anywhere. Voices overlapped, laughter bounced off the walls, shoes squeaked against the floor.
(Y/N) stood near the mirrored wall, arms loosely crossed, her reflection staring back at her like it was someone else entirely.
She wasn’t paying attention, when she should have been. The instructor had already called counts twice. Karlee had nudged her once. Emily had said something she didn’t catch when they both went to get water. None of it stuck.
Because...
Her eyes shifted, neither consciously nor intentionally, just… drawn cross the room.
Sophia stood near the far side, her back half-turned, talking to someone.
(Y/N)’s gaze settled.
Yoonchae.
They were close. Closer than necessary.
Yoonchae said something, speaking in a quiet tone so only they could hear, and Sophia laughed. Her laugh was loud and boisterous; it was real.
Something in (Y/N)’s chest tightened, her fingers curled slightly against her arms.
Yoonchae leaned in a little, nudging Sophia’s shoulder lightly. “You’re so annoying,” she said, smiling.
Sophia bumped her back. “You started it.” Another laugh.
(Y/N)’s jaw tightened. Her focus narrowed, the rest of the room blurring at the edges. The mirror didn’t matter. The music didn’t matter. The people didn’t matter. She was so focused on them she forgot to even breathe.
Her chest pulled again, but it wasn’t soft this time. It wasn’t warm, and it felt wrong, too sharp at the edges, pressing inward like something was folding in on itself.
Why...?
Her brows furrowed slightly. Why was she standing so close to her?
Her grip tightened. The faint crinkle of fabric under her fingers went unnoticed.
Sophia smiled again.
(Y/N)’s breath slowed, uneven.
She doesn’t smile like that… the thought came uninvited, but it sat there, heavy, as her gaze sharpened, proceeded by a: …not with me.
A voice called from somewhere. “Positions!”
No response.
“(Y/N)?” Karlee’s voice this time, sharper.
(Y/N) didn’t move. Her eyes were still locked across the room.
Yoonchae said something else, quieter this time. Sophia leaned in to hear her, their shoulders brushing again. Too close...
The dance instructor called them all once again, and (Y/N) bitterly took her place in the Antifragile formation. She felt herself become poisoned by the feeling in her chest, and it didn't help that whenever she took a peek at the other side of the room, Sophia and Yoonchae were still talking.
The music started, loud and chaotic.
"Five, six, seven, eight!"
(Y/N) moved how she knew how to: based on pure instinct. Her body followed the choreography, steps hitting when they where supposed to, turns landing barely on time. But it felt off, disconnected, like she was watching herself from somewhere outside her own body.
Her eyes kept drifting, even if she didn't mean them to, and even if she wasn't trying to, but they did. Again and again, across the room.
Sophia laughed, the sound counting through everything else.
(Y/N)'s steps faltered.
"(Y/N), focus." The instructor snapped.
She corrected her position immediately. "Sorry" She muttered, but her voice sounded distant, even to herself.
Her chest tightened again, sharper now, uncomfortable. Her fingers curled slightly as she moved into the next sequence, as if she wanted nothing more than to grab the air itself; her muscles were stiff, too controlled and too rigid for her to execute the moves properly.
Why is she still there…?
Her gaze flickered back to Yoonchae again, who was now leaning against Sophia. Like it was nothing. Like it meant nothing. On her part, Sophia didn't move away, she smiled. (Y/N)'s breath hitched.
"Stop."
The music cut, the sudden silence ringing in her ears.
The instructor sighed, rubbing his temple. “Again. From the top. And (Y/N),” his eyes landed on her, “if you’re going to be here, then be here.”
A few of the girls shifted awkwardly.
(Y/N) nodded once. “Yes.” But her hands had already curled into fists.
Her chest felt wrong, like something was tightening around her heart, constricting it, making everything else feel like a sensory nightmare.
“Positions.”
Everyone reset.
(Y/N) stepped back into place, her reflection staring at her from the mirror. It looked the same, but it didn’t feel the same.
“Five, six,”
Her eyes moved again, straight to Sophia. She didn’t even fight it this time.
And, then... Yoonchae leaned in again. Sophia tilted her head, listening, her lips curving into something softer this time. Something that made (Y/N)’s chest snap.
The pull twisted violently, her breath cutting off. Her foot missed the step entirely. The next movement came too late, taking her balance with it.
Her ankle twisted slightly as she landed wrong, her body pitching forward before she could stop it, but before she could land flat on the ground, she felt hands around her, warm and familiar, catching her before she hit the floor. Everything stopped.
(Y/N)’s fingers instinctively grabbed onto the fabric beneath them, tightening as her balance steadied against... Sophia. Of course. At this point the world had an unfunny way of mocking her.
“Careful,” Sophia said softly, her voice right there, too close to her ear.
(Y/N)’s breath hitched. Her fingers didn’t let go.
“…I’m fine,” she muttered, but she didn’t move away.
Sophia didn’t either.
For a second or two, neither of them did anything. The room had gone quiet again, enough that people were watching.
“Take five,” the instructor called, clearly done. “Reset.”
The others used this opportunity to go outside and buy snacks, Emily calling out to Yoonchae to accompany them, leaving Sophia and (Y/N) alone in the coldness of the dance studio.
(Y/N) was still holding onto her, her grip loosened slowly. then, as if it was inevitable, Sophia noticed something.
“…You’re shaking,” she said quietly.
(Y/N)’s brows furrowed immediately. “I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I said I’m not.” But her fingers twitched again, betraying her.
Sophia hesitated for a moment, then gently adjusted her hold, steadying her more properly this time instead of letting go.
“…Why were you staring?” Sophia asked, softer now.
Sophia tilted her head slightly, studying her. “You only mess up when you look at me.”
That made something in her chest twist violently.
“…Then I just won’t look,” (Y/N) said flatly.
She moved to step back, but Sophia’s hand caught her wrist. (Y/N) stopped immediately, her breath stuttered.
“…Don’t,” Sophia said quietly.
(Y/N)’s fingers curled slightly. “…Don’t what?”
“Don’t do that,” she said. “Act like nothing’s happening.”
“Nothing is happening.”
Sophia’s grip tightened just a fraction.
(Y/N) felt it. Her pulse jumped.
“Then why do you look like that?” Sophia pressed.
“…Like what?”
“Like you’re about to-” she stopped herself, her brows pulling together slightly. “I don’t know.”
(Y/N)’s jaw clenched, because she didn’t know either. Her chest felt too open again.
“…You’re annoying,” she muttered under her breath.
Sophia blinked. “…What?”
“You keep-” (Y/N) stopped, her voice catching unexpectedly. Her brows furrowed deeper, frustration flashing across her face. “You keep doing things.”
Sophia frowned. “Doing what?”
(Y/N) didn’t answer, because she couldn’t. Her gaze dropped, then lifted again...
...to Sophia’s lips.
Her fingers tightened slightly against Sophia’s wrist now instead. Sophia noticed immediately.
“…(Y/N),” she said softly.
(Y/N) didn’t respond, it was like she was frozen in time. Sophia stepped closer. (Y/N)’s breath stuttered again, her body didn't retreat nor did it resist. It just stayed frozen.
Sophia’s free hand lifted slowly, hesitating only for a second before brushing lightly against the side of (Y/N)’s face, fingers grazing her cheek. (Y/N)’s eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t stop her.
Her lips parted just a little.
Sophia noticed that too. Her own breath softened.
“Tell me to stop,” she whispered.
(Y/N)'s throat tightened. The word sat there, heavily pressing against her heart. She didn't know how to move past this.
Stop. That's what she should say. She knew she should have opened her mouth to say it, but she just… couldn't. Here, with all these people just outside the practice room… (Y/N) was practically frozen in place.
Her breath came uneven, shallow, her gaze flickering once to Sophia’s lips before snapping back up, like she’d been caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to.
“I…” she started, but nothing came out.
Sophia didn't move, instead, she watched (Y/N). She remembered how aloof she used to be, and how she always had a permanent scowl on her face, deterring people from getting close to her. But, now?
The young woman felt the back of her neck become hot, her face feverishly so, emanating a heat that was impossible to mask. Her gaze broke away from Sophia, darting towards the floor, as if she was searching for an immediate exit from the situation. Her eyes narrowed slightly, blinking rapidly against the sting of self-consciousness that attacked her.
This was almost laughable. The (Y/N) who was so high and mighty, the (Y/N) who everyone saw as a cool girl… was now this?
Sophia laughed slightly, a genuine smile forming on her face. (Y/N) didn't take that well.
"What are you laughing about?" She said, her face becoming even more heated.
Sophia smiled at that, and said: "You're cute." She leaned in, pressing a chaste kiss to (Y/N)'s cheek.
What followed was Sophia pressing her forehead against (Y/N)'s tenderly, looking at her in the eyes, waiting. She waited for (Y/N) to push her away, to protest, to do something. But that never came. (Y/N)'s body had gone completely still, acting like if she moved, everything would shatter around them.
"Sophia…" Was everything that came out. It wasn't a protest, nor was it a warning, but rather, a plea.
Sophia responded by leaning in, meeting (Y/N)'s lips, soft and tentative, like the first time hadn't been enough to confirm it was real.
(Y/N) was still frozen in place, but this time, she gathered up the courage to move her fingers, which tightened around Sophia's wrist, pulling her closer. It was a small gesture, but it gave Sophia permission to continue. That changed everything. Her breath caught against the kiss, hesitation breaking completely as she leaned in just a little more, her hand at (Y/N)’s cheek steadying her.
The warmth came back, stronger and overwhelming.
(Y/N)’s chest tightened, but it didn’t hurt. It spread instead, fast and unfamiliar, filling everything, making it hard to think, hard to breathe, and even harder to pull away.
So she didn’t.
Her lips parted slightly without meaning to, and a soft, unsteady gasp slipped between them. Sophia stilled from a fraction of a second. Careful and slow, like she was testing something fragile, she introduced her tongue inside (Y/N)'s mouth.
(Y/N)'s grip let go of her wrist, only to take Sophia's hand, as if she were grounding herself, as if gravity itself was about to disappear and take her with it. She didn't let go, as her mind had gone completely blank, no thoughts dared to pass.
And just for this time, she leaned in, just barely.
The kiss deepened, not in a forceful or rushed way, but certainty now. No hesitation left, just a quiet growing intensity that made the world around them feel empty, and the air surrounding them feel too thin. (Y/N)’s breath broke again, her chest rising sharply as that feeling surged, stronger than before, almost too much.
"Okay, break's over!" The dance instructor's voice cut through the room.
Sophia pulled back immediately, fast and confident, she went towards the others, asking them what they had brought back from their snack run.
(Y/N) didn’t move. Her body stayed exactly where it was, leaning forward slightly, lips parted, eyes unfocused like she hadn’t fully come back yet. Reality rushed in all at once; voices, her fellow trainees, eyes, people.
Her chest felt full with that weird sentiment again, but it was mixed with something else now. She had noticed how quickly Sophia had stepped back from her, as if nothing had happened. Again, like she hadn't just…
(Y/N)'s chest hurt as it tightened sharply. It wasn't warm or soft, this time it hurt. It hurt like nothing she had ever experienced before, and weirdly enough, she wanted more of it.
Sophia entered her room, the door shutting behind her with a quiet click, followed by a silence that felt too loud. She stood there for a second, her hand resting on the handle, chest rising unevenly like she had just run a marathon.
"What the hell was that…?" She muttered under her breath.
Her hand dropped form the handle slowly, dejected. She looked around her room, which felt smaller than usual, the air heavier, giving it all a claustrophobic feel. Everything felt out of hand and messy, and she couldn't fix it.
Sophia exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down her face before letting it rest at the back of her neck, fingers pressing in like she could ground herself there. None of it helped, since, when she closed her eyes, it came back: the image of (Y/N), her gripping her hand, the way she hadn't said stop, they way she had actually pulled her closer…
Her hand dropped immediately.
"Nope," she said quickly, shaking her head as if she could get all her thoughts out that way. "No, we're not doing that." She began pacing across the room, combing her fingers through her hair again and again, not knowing what to do to calm her nerves. "That doesn't mean anything." She murmured.
Except it obviously did.
Her gaze dropped to the floor. Feeling ashamed of herself, she released a groan.
The sound of the door opening made her head snap up.
Lara stepped in like she owned the place, closing the door behind her without a word.
Sophia blinked once. “…Do you how to knock?”
“I do,” Lara said casually, already walking further into the room. “Didn’t feel necessary.”
Sophia straightened slightly, immediately defensive. “What do you want?”
Lara shrugged, leaning back lightly against the wall. “Came to check if you were okay.”
"I'm fine." Sophia said, sitting down on her bed, the sound of the mattress dipping under her weight the only sound in the room.
"Mhmm…" Lara hummed, crossing her arms.
"I know you don't believe me, but I won't argue with you." Sophia said.
"I believe that you think you're fine." Lara answered back, earning herself another groan from Sophia.
"You're annoying." Sophia complained.
"I've been told so." Lara said. Sophia could hear the smile on her face.
There was a pause, then, Sophia let herself drop onto the bed, staring at the bottom of the bed above. Her fingers fidgeted slightly with the sleeve of her hoodie, tugging at the fabric without realizing it. Lara noticed.
Of course she did.
“…So,” Lara said after a moment, tone still light, “you gonna tell me what happened, or are we pretending you always act so angsty?”
"I'm not angsty." Sophia retaliated. "I just need some air."
"In your room?" Lara asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sophia exhaled through her nose. "You're not funny…" There was a pause there, which Sophia used to think over what she was going to say next, or if she was even going to speak to Lara. She slowly shifted her weight on the bed. "…She's acting weird."
Lara didn't react much to that. "You mean (Y/N)?"
Sophia shot a look at Lara that asked 'who else could it be?' then proceeded to run a hand through her hair, sitting up on the bed. "She's been… acting different since earlier."
"Different how?"
Sophia hesitated, because if she said it out loud, it meant she had to acknowledge it. "She looks at me…" She said after some deliberation.
Lara blinked once. "Okay?"
"No, like-" Sophia frowned, frustrated. "Not in a normal way. It's like she doesn't even realize she's looking at me."
Lara hummed softly in acknowledgement. "And that bothers you?"
"No…" Sophia said immediately, almost too fast, making Lara's brow lift again. "It's just weird." She continued. "And she only does it with me…"
The corner of Lara's lips twitched slightly. "Really?"
Sophia noticed. "What…?" She narrowed her eyes at her friend.
"Nothing," Lara said, as if she had been caught stealing. "Go on."
Sophia stared at her for a second longer before looking away again. “…She keeps messing up when I’m around. And then she gets mad about it. At me.”
“That does sound like a very (Y/N) thing to do.”
“…And she told me to stay.” That slipped out quieter.
Lara didn’t miss it. "And you stayed?"
"…Yeah." Sophia sighed.
Another pause. Then Lara spoke: "So what's the problem?"
Sophia blinked. “…What do you mean, what’s the problem?”
“You’re acting like something’s wrong.”
“Something is wrong,” Sophia said, letting out a small, incredulous laugh. “She’s not like that.”
“People can change.”
“Not overnight!” Sophia argued back.
Lara shrugged. “Sometimes they do.”
Sophia shook her head. “No, this is different.”
“How?”
Sophia opened her mouth, then stopped, because the answer was right there. Her chest tightened again. “…She kissed me,” she said finally.
The words settled into the room.
Lara was quiet for a second. "Okay?" She said simply.
"…That's all you have to say?" Sophia blinked once.
"What were you expecting? Do you want me to panic for you? Because I feel like you're already doing a good job at that." Lara let out a small smile, then asked: "Did something else happen?"
Sophia hesitated again, her fingers curling slightly on her sleeve. “…She didn’t stop me,” she said, softer now. “I told her to tell me to stop.”
“And?” Lara asked, failing to see the problem.
“She didn’t.”
Lara nodded once. “And that’s… bad?”
“I don’t know!” Sophia snapped, frustration breaking through. “She doesn’t do that. She doesn’t feel things like that. She barely even-” she cut herself off, exhaling sharply. “And now she’s looking at me like that and I don’t know what that means.”
Lara watched her quietly.
Then, she said something that made Sophia stop in her tracks: “…What do you want it to mean?”
Sophia looked down, slightly ashamed, slightly embarrassed. "I don't know…" she admitted.
Lara nodded slightly, like that answer made more sense than everything else. “That’s fine,” she said.
Sophia frowned faintly. “…That’s not helpful.”
Lara replied easily. “You’re not asking the right question yet.”
“…Then what is it?”
Lara tilted her head slightly. Her voice softened, just slightly. “Are you trying to figure her out… or yourself?”
Sophia didn’t respond to that. She didn’t need to.
Lara hummed quietly, pushing herself off the wall. “You don’t have to decide anything right now.”
Sophia glanced up.
“You just have to stop pretending nothing happened,” Lara added.
Her gaze lingered for a second, then she turned, heading for the door. She paused just before opening it. “…For what it’s worth,” Lara said without looking back, “I don't think she's confused about you, I think she's confused about your intentions.” Lara exited to room, the door clicking shut softly, and just like that, Sophia was alone again.
The silence returned, heavier, and far more uncomfortable than before. Because her thoughts were louder and messier, and no matter how she tried to push them down, one thing didn't go away: the way (Y/N) had held her hand like she didn’t want her to leave.
Sophia exhaled slowly, sitting down on the edge of her bed, her hands resting loosely in her lap.
“…I’m in trouble,” she muttered under her breath.
The door room was quiet. (Y/N) sat on the edge of her bed, elbows resting on her knees, fingers loosely intertwined. She hadn’t changed out of her training clothes. Her hair was still slightly damp at the ends.
She had be dissociating for a while.
The sudden knocking on the door was what pulled her out of her reverie.
Sophia stepped in, pausing just inside the doorway like she wasn’t sure if she was allowed to come in. For a second, neither of them spoke.
“…Hey,” Sophia said.
(Y/N) nodded once. “…Hey.”
Silence followed, long and heavy.
Sophia shifted her weight slightly. “I can...uh, come back later if you’re-”
“Don’t.” The word came out quick and automatic.
Both of them froze.
(Y/N)’s brows furrowed immediately, like she hadn’t meant to say it like that. “Just... don’t,” she repeated, quieter this time.
Sophia didn’t move. “…Okay.”
Another wave of silence, but this one felt different. (Y/N)’s fingers tightened slightly against each other. Then loosened. Then tightened again. “…This is annoying,” she muttered under her breath.
Sophia blinked. “…What is?”
(Y/N) exhaled sharply, like the answer was obvious and frustrating all at once. “You.”
Sophia almost smiled. “Yeah, I figured.”
“That’s not-” (Y/N) stopped, jaw tightening. “…That’s not what I mean.”
Sophia didn’t interrupt this time. (Y/N)’s gaze dropped to the floor. Her fingers curled slightly against her palms. “…Something’s wrong,” she said finally.
Sophia’s expression softened. “With you?”
“…No,” (Y/N) said immediately. Then, after a pause: “…Yes.”
That made Sophia’s chest tighten just a little.
(Y/N) frowned deeper, like she was trying to force the words out and they just wouldn’t cooperate. “…I don’t know what this is,” she admitted. Her hand lifted slightly, pressing lightly against her chest. “It keeps… doing that,” she said, quieter now. “Every time you’re there.”
Sophia didn’t speak. She didn’t move.
“…And I don’t like it,” (Y/N) added quickly. A second went past. “…But I don’t want it to stop.”
That last sentence hung in the air, heavy, but also real.
Sophia’s breath softened. “…Okay.”
(Y/N)’s brows pulled together. “…Okay?”
Sophia nodded slightly. “Yeah.”
“That’s it?” (Y/N) frowned.
Sophia let out a quiet breath. “I mean… I don’t understand it either.”
That caught her attention. (Y/N) looked up.
“For me,” Sophia continued, softer now, “it’s not confusing in the same way… but it’s still a lot.” She hesitated, then added: “But I meant it." She looked at (Y/N), “The kiss,” Sophia added simply.
(Y/N)’s breath hitched slightly. “…Oh.” She felt herself become a mess, but still, she managed to form a coherent sentence amidst her dissolving thoughts. “…Stay.” She said it quietly and clearly, since this time, it wasn't hidden behind signals or confusing actions.
Sophia didn’t hesitate.
“…Okay,” she said. She stepped closer slowly, as if she was worried (Y/N) would disappear into thin air if she did it any other way. She got close enough that the space between them felt intentional.
(Y/N) didn’t look away this time. Her fingers moved first.
Reaching out, hesitating for only a second before wrapping lightly around Sophia’s wrist. Her grip tightened just slightly.
Not to hold her in place... but to keep her there.
Sophia’s breath softened. “…You’re doing that thing again,” she murmured.
(Y/N)’s brows furrowed faintly, expecting an answer.
Sophia smiled, just a little. “Looking at me like that.”
“…Shut up,” (Y/N) muttered, but she didn’t look away. Not this time.
Sophia’s hand shifted, gently turning in her grasp, their fingers brushing, then fitting.
(Y/N)’s breath caught. The feeling came back, making everything feel overwhelming. But this time? She didn’t fight it. Her grip steadied. Her shoulders relaxed. And slowly… she leaned in.
Not because she didn’t understand it. But because she didn’t need to.
Sophia met her halfway. Their lips touched, soft and certain. There was no hesitation this time. There wasn't an interruption. No one pulled away. And when they parted, just slightly, (Y/N) didn’t move back, her forehead rested lightly against Sophia’s.
Her breath was uneven, but somehow calmer. “…This is still annoying,” she muttered.
Sophia laughed softly. “Yeah?”
“…Yeah.” There was a pause. Then, quieter: “…Don’t go anywhere.”
Sophia’s hand tightened gently around hers. “I won’t.”
I'll only take 5 at a time, cuz I'm slow as hell for writing, and I lack ideas also, so I need people to be detailed in what they want!! Please write in detail, I love it when y'all do that!! I'll update this as the people request something and the slots fill.
WHAT CAN I REQUEST?
SMUT IS OKAY FOR OT5 (no Yoonchae until she's AT LEAST 19)
I can refuse kinks I don't like, but dont' worry, I'll tell you so you can request something else!!
I won't write r@pe, or conversion therapy, those are the only storylines I refuse to write, anything else is fair game for me.
