𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀 — y/n, a rising music producer, has built her dream career while keeping her personal life under wraps. karina, aespa’s leader, is preparing for a huge comeback with a mini album produced and written by the one and only y/n.
karina knows this is the opportunity of a lifetime, and she has to nail it. the only problem is, she may be a bit distracted by her producer.
something about their connection feels different—like maybe it's worth the risk of prying eyes. but how much will they give up to chase after what they want?
𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 — includes texts, fluffy, tiny time skip, suggestive jokes aha, and i think that's all.
𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 — 2.5k
𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲— tiktok is down so now im forced to stop procrastinating and update this series
series masterlist. main masterlist. prev. next. extra content.
"when are you gonna teach me the choreography for your solo?" you mutter, breaking the silence between you and jimin. yes, that's correct. jimin. she basically began forcing you to call her by her first name barely two hours after you'd agreed to start over.
she doesn't reply right away. instead, she lets out a faint, breathless laugh, the kind that sounds half-conscious, as if her mind isn't fully caught up with her body. you glance at your phone and notice her eyebrows knit together, her eyes fluttering slightly as she fights to stay present. through the camera, your eyes meet, and for a moment, it's like she's trying to focus on you but can't quite manage it.
"sorry," she apologizes, a shy smile on her face. "i'm listening."
you take in a deep breath, plopping your head back against the headboard of your hotel room bed. "mhm," you reply, a small smile forming on your own lips. it was getting late; you can't blame her if she's a little sleepy.
"so, when are you gonna teach me the choreography?" you repeat, this time a bit slower.
she giggles. "i can't right now."
"why not?"
"because i'm in my underwear."
let's backtrack.
after meeting with jimin, aeri, minjeong, and yizhuo (yes, you're also on a first-name basis with them) for dinner, you and jimin exchanged the correct numbers (after checking five times to make sure you put the right number in).
you and she have been texting each other since and have met in person on numerous different occasions, whether that be because smtown called you both in to finalize the lyrics and final ideas or if it was to simply hang out.
jimin's solo is coming along nicely, and she's been working hard to get it perfect. she's so passionate and driven, and she's always ready to try new things. and even though she's a professional, you can tell she gets nervous sometimes, which is understandable. it's not an easy job, and these past two months have been hectic for everyone.
she didn't even officially record the demo yet that she, you, and her entire team worked on. but the day was coming, and it was coming fast.
"i didn't need to know that," you laugh, rubbing the tiredness from your eyes.
she laughs, the sound muffled by her hand. "i'll teach you next time, okay?"
"i'll hold you to that," you say, pointing at the camera with mock seriousness, though the grin on your face betrays you.
jimin leans closer to her phone, squinting as if trying to look more intimidating. "you think you can handle it?" she teases, raising an eyebrow.
"please," you scoff, reclining further into the pillows. "i have rhythm, you know. don't act like you haven't seen my moves."
she has indeed "seen your moves" because she loved your music, as she admitted to you the first time you met. so, she's seen your music videos, performances, and a couple of interviews. you were great at what you did—music, interacting with fans, and just being... yourself.
it was confusing why you were producing and writing songs for other artists instead of focusing on your own music career.
"your dance moves aren't half bad," she concedes.
"half bad?" you repeat, pretending to be offended. "my dancing is better than half bad."
"really? then show me," she says, her tone daring.
"i'm in my underwear." you playfully mock her earlier statement, your eyes locking on the front camera. she's still in the frame, her head resting against the palm of her hand, the phone propped up against a pillow on the bed.
"so?"
this girl.
you narrow your eyes at the screen, trying not to laugh. "so? what do you mean, so? the hell?"
jimin laughs loudly at the pure shock in your voice, so loudly that she moves out of the camera's view to cover her mouth, trying to keep it down so as not to wake up her roommates.
when she reappears, she's still covering her mouth, and her eyes are watering with unshed tears.
"what?" you laugh, and she shakes her head, lowering her hand and waving it in dismissal.
"nothing, nothing. i just like teasing you," she says, a smile spreading across her face.
"and why is that?"
"because you make it so easy," she replies, and you roll your eyes, not able to contain the smile tugging at the corners of your mouth.
"you should sleep," you whisper; it kind of feels like you didn't want to say the words that had left your lips. it was nice being here with her, even if it was just on a video call. it was almost like you didn't want the night to end, but you had both been up for a while now, and the fatigue was setting in.
"i don't want to," she says softly, her voice sounding more vulnerable than usual. "not yet."
you watch her, and she looks away from the camera, biting her lip. a few moments pass in silence, and then you speak, breaking the quiet. "me neither. but i don't want you to be tired when you wake up tomorrow."
"my schedule's free tomorrow," she says, turning back to face the camera.
"mine too," you respond.
another moment passes, and then you break the silence once more.
"wanna do something tomorrow?"
your legs are beginning to hurt.
a lot.
"i need a bench!" you whine, stretching out your lower back. "i need a place to sit!"
jimin laughs, and her hand flies up to her mouth as if trying to stop herself, but it's no use. she does that a lot, you've noticed. so cute.
you're in a park, the one near the hotel where you're staying. the two of you were going for a walk when suddenly, in the middle of nowhere, you've been walking for quite a long time now. talking about whatever came to mind, and now, your legs are giving out.
"we could just stop and sit down anywhere, you know."
"no, no," you protest. "the bench will come."
jimin snorts. "okay, okay. if you say so."
the two of you continue walking, your steps slowing as you glance around for this mythical bench you're so convinced will magically appear. jimin keeps laughing softly under her breath, her amusement growing with every dramatic sigh you let out.
her gaze rises to the hat on your head, smiling to herself.
"i'm too young to feel this old," you groan, stretching dramatically. "is this what you feel like, unnie?" jimin doesn't respond, shooting you a glare, and you laugh, throwing up your hands in surrender.
finally, she reaches out and tugs it off your head, putting it on her own. "hey," you exclaim, reaching for it, but she dances away.
jimin places the hat on her head, adjusting it with a playful smirk as she steps just out of your reach. "what do you think?" she asks, spinning on her heel dramatically, her hands on her hips.
you pause, crossing your arms with a mock frown. "i think you're a thief, and i want my hat back."
"it suits me better, doesn't it?" she teases, tilting the brim slightly as if she's modeling it for a camera.
yes.
"you wish," you reply, stepping closer, but she takes another step back, grinning.
as she settles into a more natural stance, her fingers brush over the fabric. "you really like this hat, huh?"
you shrug, "it's a good hat."
"it must be," she says, raising her eyebrows. "i mean, you never take it off."
"i barely wear it!" you protest, which was semi-true; it was one of your favorite hats, but you wore it a lot less than others.
"you were wearing this the first time i saw you walking around the company building," she says, and then pauses. "and the second time."
"well, like i said, it's a nice hat."
she laughs, shaking her head.
"do you wanna keep it?" you ask.
jimin blinks, surprised. "keep it? like, keep it forever?"
you nod, a grin spreading across your face. "sure. keep it safe for me."
jimin hesitates, studying your expression. "you're serious?"
"why not? it looks better on you, right?" you say, repeating her own words with a slight shrug.
a slow smile creeps across her face as she adjusts the hat.
she walked a little closer to you for the rest of the day, her shoulder brushing against yours more often, her hand occasionally bumping yours. it wasn't intentional, you were sure, but that didn't mean it didn't make you feel something.
the day passed quicker than you wanted, slipping away before you could really grab hold of it. you kept glancing at her when you thought she wasn't looking, wanting to see the way the light hit her skin, the way her eyes crinkled at the corners when she laughed, the way her nose scrunched up whenever you said something a little too silly.
and she caught you staring, multiple times. but she didn't say anything, didn't point it out, didn't make you feel embarrassed.
just smiled, and smiled, and smiled.
at some point, you ended up at a small café near the edge of the park. it was quiet, tucked away from the busier streets, a perfect little hideaway. you sat across from each other, the table small enough that your knees brushed under it if either of you moved even slightly.
you talked—about anything, everything. you told her about growing up as an artist, how much it took out of you some days, how exhausting it could be to pour so much of yourself into your work and still feel like you weren't enough. and she listened, really listened, her chin propped on her hand as her fingers idly brushed the brim of the hat she still hadn't given back.
you wanted her to keep the hat. you wanted her to have something of yours, something that showed you cared, even if it was just a simple hat. and maybe you were getting ahead of yourself. maybe you were overthinking, reading into things too much.
she made you feel something, something different, something exciting, something that had been missing for so long. and maybe you were being naïve, hoping for something more than what was actually there.
but you couldn't help yourself.
eventually, it was time to part ways. she had her dorm to return to, and you had your hotel room waiting for you. the two of you were still giggling and whispering and talking as you made your way down the street, the sun already starting to set.
your hotel room feels emptier than usual after you part ways with jimin. it's not like there's anything missing, really; everything is just as you left it. the bed is neatly made, your suitcase is half-open in the corner, and your phone sits charging on the nightstand.
you sit on the edge of the bed, running a hand through your hair, and check your phone. no new messages. you don't know why you were hoping for one. she probably went straight back to the dorms, tired but smiling—at least, you hope she's smiling.
you sigh, flopping back onto the bed. the ceiling stares back at you as if mocking the restless thoughts running wild in your head.
"stop overthinking," you mutter to yourself, dragging a pillow over your face. you're trying not to admit how much you've started to like her—because liking her feels... complicated.
and you don't want to complicate things.
but maybe it's not as complicated as you're making it.
who knows?
your phone buzzes on the nightstand, breaking the silence. your heart skips a beat as you lunge for it, nearly knocking it to the floor.
the beach is quiet, almost deserted. the sun's long gone, leaving the sky dark, with the moon hanging high, its pale light spilling over the sand. the waves crash softly, the sound blending with the gentle wind. everything feels calm, peaceful.
you sit on the bench, beside her, neither of you saying anything. the stillness isn't awkward, though—it feels good, like it's just the two of you and the ocean. the air smells like salt, the breeze ruffling your hair. you take a deep breath, savoring it, letting the quiet sink in.
jimin's beside you, her back resting against the bench. she hasn't said much since you got here, and you're okay with that. she's content with just having your presence around.
her eyes are closed, her hair fluttering in the wind, strands falling across her face. everything about her seems so effortless, like she belongs here, like this place is where she's supposed to be.
you catch yourself watching her, and it's impossible not to. there's something about the way she seems so at peace, so in tune with everything around her.
it makes you wonder what's going through her head—if she's thinking about work, home, or maybe something completely different. you just wish you could know what's in her mind, even though it doesn't matter. you just like being here, in this moment, with her.
she's so beautiful, and you can't help but think it. the moonlight makes her look even more stunning, softening the sharp lines of her face, highlighting the way her hair catches the light. her lips are slightly parted, like she's lost in her own thoughts.
and then, without thinking, your hand reaches out, brushing a strand of hair off her face. your fingers linger a little longer than necessary, and when you pull back, her eyes open and meet yours.
your heart jumps in your chest, and you pull your hand away, embarrassed. "sorry," you mumble, suddenly feeling awkward. you can't meet her gaze, your eyes shifting to the ground.
"it's fine," she says softly, her voice barely louder than the sound of the waves. she looks at your hands, resting awkwardly in your lap. "your hands are cold," she adds, smiling, and before you can say anything, she takes your hand in hers.
you freeze, a little caught off guard. her hand feels warm against yours, the contact so simple yet so grounding. her fingers curl around yours, and you just sit there, unsure of what to do, but not really wanting to move. it feels right, even if your thoughts are racing. the only thing that matters is that you're here with her, and she's holding your hand.
you sit like that for a while, neither of you speaking, just holding on to each other, feeling the quiet surround you. eventually, jimin leans her head against your shoulder, letting out a soft sigh. "this is nice," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "i don't get to do this very often."
you smile a little, your heart softening at her words. "you make things feel... easy," she adds quietly, her thumb brushing over the back of your hand. "like i don't have to think so hard about everything."
without thinking, you reply, your voice quiet but sincere. "you don't have to think so hard around me. just be yourself."
she looks up at you, her smile small and shy, and then she rests her head on your shoulder again. "i'll try," she says, squeezing your hand gently.
you squeeze her hand gently, offering her a smile that reassures both of you. "good."
series masterlist. main masterlist. prev. next. extra content.
in which — y/n is a valorant streamer who loves trolling and chasing a spot on the top 10 valorant clutches list. when katarinabluu, a high-ranked player, takes the #1 spot, y/n throws shade during their stream—only for katarina to clap back online.
pairing ! —streamer!karina x streamer!gn!reader
genre ! — smau w a little bit of written text, enemies to lovers, comedy
warnings ! — kys/kms jokes, swearing, this is very bad 😕
featuring ! — aespa, yunjin (le sserafim), keeho (p1harmony), minji (newjeanz), and more
a/n: this isn’t a long series just a 2 part (maybe) series (part two)
it was a routine you followed every month: react to the top 10 valorant clutches of the month video, hope to see one of your clips make the cut, and play it cool if it didn’t. at this point, it was less about the recognition and more about the banter with your chat.
you weren’t the most well known valorant pro out there—your channel had a decent amount of subscribers, but it was nowhere near the top 100. you had a pretty loyal following that you had worked hard to build since your first few days on youtube and twitch.
and as the months passed, your fan base was only getting bigger.
today was no exception. you had set a stream up for your regular wednesday afternoon time slot. you were going to try and squeeze in a few rounds with a few friends before you had to get ready for your night classes.
but first, you needed to react to the new list. it had dropped the night before, and your notifications had been buzzing ever since.
your fans loved hyping you up every time these compilations came out, spamming your inbox with messages like “this has to be your month!” or “if you’re not on this list, we riot.” it was all in good fun, but deep down, you couldn’t lie—it’d be nice to finally see your name make the cut.
“alright, chat,” you said as the stream went live, your usual intro music playing softly in the background. “you know the drill. top 10 valorant clutches of the month. place your bets now: am i finally on this one, or are we adding another ‘rigged’ tally to the scoreboard?”
username: no way they missed that icebox play last week right?
username Manifesting y/n at #1 this time!
username if you don’t make it we ride at dawn
username 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀
username they’re saving your clip for a ‘top fails’ compilation 😭
you chuckled, rolling your eyes. “hilarious. let’s just get into it, yeah?”
you pulled up the video and hit play. as the countdown began, your commentary started up right away.
clip #10 was decent, a 1v4 clutch with some clean sheriff shots. “not bad,” you admitted, nodding approvingly. “but let’s be real, chat. i’ve done better.”
clip #9 featured an insane operator flick. “okay, now that’s spicy,” you said, impressed. “still waiting for my clip, though.”
by the time it got to the top three, you hadn’t seen your name, but you weren’t surprised. “alright, here’s the moment of truth. if i’m not in the top three, i’m officially calling this list a scam.”
then, the #1 clip began to play. the name on the screen caught your eye immediately: katarinabluu.
your face froze for a second as the clip began—an ace on icebox, clean headshots, and a flick with an operator that sealed the round. it was an undeniably impressive play, but your competitive streak refused to give in.
“that’s it?” you said, pausing the video. you shrugged. “but let’s be real—if that’s #1, this list is definitely rigged.”
username who the hell is that
username y/n who???
username: HELLO??? KARINA’S GONNA SEE THIS
username not you dragging her when she’s literally better than you ☠️
username 😭😭
you leaned back in your chair, smirking at the chat’s chaos as the messages flew by faster than you could read.
“what? i’m just saying!” you said, raising your hands in mock defense. “she’s good, but if that’s the best clutch of the month, then clearly the editors need to broaden their horizons. my icebox clip was cleaner.”
the chat exploded even more.
username oh you’re done for
username: why are you here starting beef w karina i can’tttttt
username: Plz she’s gonna roast you so bad
username 100% she’s gonna watch this later and go feral
username you done fucked up 💀
you laughed at their reactions, brushing it off as just another day of trolling with your viewers.
𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀 — y/n, a rising music producer, has built her dream career while keeping her personal life under wraps. karina, aespa’s leader, is preparing for a huge comeback with a mini album produced and written by the one and only y/n.
karina knows this is the opportunity of a lifetime, and she has to nail it. the only problem is, she may be a bit distracted by her producer.
something about their connection feels different—like maybe it's worth the risk of prying eyes. but how much will they give up to chase after what they want?
𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 — small tension w a tad bit of angst.
𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 — 1.7k
𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲— this is the last filler chap before things start heating up lol. if this does well quickly i'll drop the next chap immediately
taglist (open) — @sunshinez4 @gtfoiydlyj @yuyuy90
series masterlist. main masterlist. prev. next.
what? what was that noise?
it takes a second for you to register the sound, the left side of your cheek pressed against the soft white pillow on your bed as your eyes lazily blink open.
the buzzing continues.
you sigh, reaching a hand out from under the blanket, and pat the nightstand in search of the culprit. your fingers brush against the device, and you pull it towards you, holding it over your face and squinting.
the bright light momentarily blinds you, but when you open your eyes fully, you hit the green accept button and bring the phone to your ear, muttering a groggy hello.
"y/n," your manager's voice came through, far too cheerful for 1:07 a.m. "wake up! i got some big news!"
"obviously i'm up." you groan, rolling over onto your stomach and closing your eyes. sassiness wasn't really something you could control before your morning coffee. "what's the news?"
"karina wants you to help write and produce her solo," your manager blurts out, his excitement practically vibrating through the line. "she personally asked for you."
your eyes snap open. whatever sleep fog still remained vanishes in an instant. "wait, what?" you ask, sitting up so quickly the blanket falls off your shoulders.
"you heard me. sm called. she wasn't happy with the last version of her single and asked for your help. she loves working with you, y/n."
your heart races. karina. asking for you. specifically.
"but—but—" you sputter, still not quite believing his words. "no buts," your manager interrupts, clearly on a roll. "sm is flying you out first thing this morning."
you blink, your brain still playing catch-up. "wait, this morning? like, in a few hours?"
it was around 5 am when your plane finally took off, your headphones over your ears, and eyes covered by a frog sleeping mask that your mom got you for christmas.
the flight was long; it didn't help that you kept twisting and turning in your seat, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in. only fully submitting to the exhaustion once your head fell against your manager's shoulder, who was fast asleep and didn't mind.
the plane touches down with a soft jolt, and you push yourself upright, immediately regretting it. the frog mask from your mom's christmas gift sits comically on top of your head, and a long yawn escapes your lips as you stretch your stiff muscles.
your manager, ever the morning person, doesn't seem to notice your exhaustion as he watches security gather your things and move toward the exit. "you ready?"
you nod, rubbing your eyes. the realization of being back in korea hasn't fully hit you yet, and the reason you're back again isn't for personal enjoyment this time but for business.
with...karina.
you hadn't seen her in weeks (because you were in la), hadn't even spoken to her since that one fateful day when she gave you her number after pulling slightly on your arm. so much time had passed since then, and now, suddenly, the dark-haired girl was the topic of all your thoughts.
your manager and the security guards walk a little ahead, talking amongst themselves as they lead the way toward the exit of the airport. then there's a shutter, a faint shutter sound. then another.
you glance up to see a few people hovering near the arrivals area, some pointing in your direction. the whispers turn into excited squeals as you walk by; phones start popping up like whack-a-moles, flashes of professional cameras going off.
and you instinctively cover your face with the frog-shaped sleep mask, which causes a couple of laughs to erupt from the growing crowd. but you quickly pull it back when you realize you can't see out of it.
you hear your manager talking with the security team, and suddenly there's an arm wrapped around your shoulders, leading you outside, the warm sunlight hitting your skin. you're ushered into a waiting car, and your manager sits next to you, giving you a reassuring smile before explaining the next steps of your busy schedule for the day.
"wait, what? lunch?" you ask, a bit incredulous, a bit shocked. your manager chuckles and nods, "they want to treat you to lunch as a thank you for your hard work."
huh.
you sink back into the plush seat, twisting your lips. "and, um, all the girls are gonna be there?"
"yep," he replies. "everyone, including their manager. so make sure to rest when you get to your hotel room, okay?"
your heartbeat picks up speed.
"okay."
you really love your hats.
karina thinks to herself, watching you from the corner of her eye as you sit across the table from her, laughing about something aeri said. instead, this time you're wearing a red balenciaga hat with your brown hood pulled up over it.
you seem so comfortable, laughing and chatting with the others. they each had mentioned having fun that day in the recording studio and how you're one of the easiest people they've ever worked with, along with the most patient and caring.
the way you interact with her members is just the sweetest thing; karina's heart clenches, a soft smile playing on her lips as she watches you. your eyes widen, then you quickly nod your head, agreeing with yizhuo on how mogu mogu is one of the best drinks you've ever tasted.
the truth is, karina did request that you help her with her solo. it seems bad; it really does. her asking you to take down her number was a bold move, only to never receive a text from you, then asking you to come all the way to seoul for her own benefit.
she did it, though.
it wasn't just so she could see you; she truly did want your help. although she was happy to see you again.
the days after the first meeting, karina would replay your conversation in her head.
"ah, i didn't think of that. let's do it again!"
"for sure!"
karina doesn't even understand why the interaction stuck with her; it wasn't anything special, just a quick moment. yet, it stayed. karina was never one to act like a lovesick fool, and she prided herself on her professionalism. she had always been able to keep her personal and work life separate, and she knew the importance of keeping her relationship status private.
she knows how that turns out; she's experienced it firsthand before.
but something about you made her throw all caution out the window. she wanted to know more. wanted to spend more time with you.
"unnie? are you feeling alright?" minjeong asks, a tiny smile cracking through her concern. karina blinks, realizing she had been lost in thought.
"i'm fine," she replies with a forced smile, taking a sip of her water.
"i saw fortune cookies near the register. anyone else want one?" you suddenly ask, a wide smile on your lips as you stand from your seat. karina's eyes linger a second too long.
you earn a few yeses from the group before making your way to the counter, and karina gets up to follow you, excusing herself.
you glance over your shoulder as karina steps beside you. swallowing a lump in your throat, you turn back to the counter, your hands digging in the bowl of fortune cookies, trying to ignore the discomfort of karina's sudden presence beside you.
"how have you been?" karina asks softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"fine," you reply curtly, not looking at her. "busy." she pauses, and you can feel her studying you.
"you seem upset with me." you let out a small, humorless laugh, finally turning to meet her gaze.
"upset? no, i'm not upset. i just want to get this over with."
her brows furrow, her lips parting in confusion.
was she really trying to act like she had no idea why you were acting this way?
"get what over with?"
you stare at her. is she serious?
when it's clear that karina's waiting for an answer, you let out a frustrated sigh, stepping a little closer to her.
"this whole thing," you say, gesturing vaguely. "helping you with your solo. i don't even know why you asked me when you haven't bothered to talk to me since the day you gave me your number."
karina's expression shifts, her lips parting slightly as if to respond, but she doesn't. instead, she just stares at you, processing your words. "i didn't talk to you because you didn't text me," she says finally, her voice a little louder than before.
"what are you talking about? i did text you," you counter, swapping the handful of fortune cookies to your other hand before pulling out your phone. "i sent you a message right after you gave me your number. and then another. you never replied."
you open your messages, scrolling to the thread and showing her the unsent texts, demonstrating that you did, in fact, reach out to her. karina takes your phone, her brows furrowed as she inspects the screen.
her lips press into a thin line before she lets out a quiet laugh. "y/n," she says, holding the phone up. "you put a 3 instead of a 4 in my number."
"what?" you reply, confused. your mouth opens again, then closes. "no way," you mutter, snatching the phone back to confirm.
sure enough, there it is. the tiny typo that had caused months of silence. "oh my god."
karina bites her lip, her eyes shining with amusement. "i thought you ghosted me," she says, a giggle escaping her lips; she immediately brings her hand up to hide her huge smile, her shoulders shaking with laughter.
you groan, running a hand over the material of your hoodie. "i thought you were ignoring me!" you exclaim. you can't help the small laugh that slips past your lips.
you feel stupid, embarrassed. "i—this is so stupid. i feel so stupid."
"hey," she says gently, her smile softening. "it's not your fault. just... a miscommunication."
you exhale sharply, shaking your head. "yeah, but still. all this time, i thought—" you stop yourself, a sigh escaping your lips.
karina studies you, her gaze searching, curious.
"whatever. at least now i know."
karina tilts her head slightly, her eyes searching yours. "so... can we start over?" her question catches you off guard, and for a moment, you just stare at her.
then, slowly, you nod. "yeah. i guess we can."
she smiles, a genuine one that makes your heart flutter. "good."
hiii. bookie... im ngl i been checking ur tumblr everyday like a fucking loser checking for an update on the Karina series... No pressure like at all, but do u have an update schedule?
hope the new years been treating u well <3
hiiiiii
i do not have an update schedule yet but once the next update is out (which will be sooner than u think) i’ll try to update weekly!
i’m almost finished with the book, but every now and then i’ll change a few things in earlier chapters so that’s kind why i’ve been holding off a bit
𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀 — y/n, a rising music producer, has built her dream career while keeping her personal life under wraps. karina, aespa’s leader, is preparing for a huge comeback with a mini album produced and written by the one and only y/n.
karina knows this is the opportunity of a lifetime, and she has to nail it. the only problem is, she may be a bit distracted by her producer.
something about their connection feels different—like maybe it's worth the risk of prying eyes. but how much will they give up to chase after what they want?
𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 — none.
𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 — 1.9k
𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲— one more tiny lil chapter after this that i hate before it gets good, stick w me.
taglist (open) — @sunshinez4 @gtfoiydlyj
series masterlist. main masterlist. prev. next.
aespa's comeback was coming quicker than ever. it had been two weeks since the meeting about the concept and choreography—two weeks since they all heard the demo for "whiplash," written and produced by none other than you. they loved it, honestly. it was bold, raw, futuristic, and, in aeri's words, "a cooler version of supernova."
when the group found out you'd be joining the usual directors in the recording studio, karina felt the familiar pang of nerves. working with someone new always came with its anxieties—different expectations, different ideas.
that was, until about ten minutes ago when she finally met you. her eyes went wide, flickering with recognition, her gaze landing on the black baseball cap that sat perched on your head.
she can't believe it.
you.
her eyes then drifted to your face, and your heart started to beat even faster than it was three seconds ago.
jesus christ... did she know how intensely she was staring at you?
those sharp, catlike eyes seemed to pin you in place. it didn't help that she looked like an ai brought to life, with her perfect features even in a bare face and messy bun.
karina's mouth opens and closes a few times, but no words come out. you watch her carefully. you can tell she's struggling to find her words, and the way her cheeks redden only adds to your growing confusion.
"hi," you say, breaking the awkward silence, bowing slightly as a sign of respect. karina's eyes widen in surprise, and a small smile tugs at the corners of her lips and she quickly copies your gesture, reciprocating the respect.
"i love your music," she admits, laughing a bit, her hand resting on her chest as she tries to calm her nerves. she's so cute. you laugh lightly, a smile gracing your features.
"i love yours," you return. "it's an honor to work with you and the rest of the group." karina's smile grows wider. she nods, brushing her bangs out of her eyes.
once introductions were out of the way, everyone got into their positions and began recording, you behind the glass of the booth with other directors and sound engineers, watching karina through the window as she took a sip of her water, mentioning the way the lights of the studio keep changing colors.
karina stood in the recording booth, the microphone poised inches from her lips, her headphones snug against her ears and glasses perched on the bridge of her nose.
"shall we start?" the main director asks, and karina nods in response, but not even a second later she takes in several breaths, the smile on her face making everyone relax because half the room thought something was truly wrong.
"what happened?" the main director asks, looking at karina, smiling slightly, her mouse hovering over the red record button on the control panel.
karina chuckles softly, "i feel nervous." she earns a few laughs from the crew, but she quickly composes herself when the familiar instrumental comes through her headphones, signaling the start of the recording.
she transforms in an instant. gone is the slightly shy, bashful girl who fumbled her words earlier. in her place stands karina, the leader of aespa—poised, professional, and utterly captivating. the next few takes go smoothly, with karina pushing herself further with each one.
occasionally, she glances toward the glass, her eyes catching yours for the briefest of moments. it's subtle but enough to make your breath hitch every time it happens.
the session wrapped up with a round of fist bumps. karina smiled as she made her way around the room, lightly tapping knuckles with the staff and finally. . .you.
your knuckles collide, and as you pull away, you can't resist adding an explosion sound, wiggling your fingers with a playful grin. the moment it leaves your mouth, regret washes over you like a tidal wave.
did you really just do that?
if only you had a neuralyzer from men in black to erase the memory of everyone in the room.
karina freezes, her mouth falling open slightly, and for a second, you brace yourself for judgment. then, unexpectedly, a soft laugh escapes her lips. her smile widens, and her laughter ripples through the room.
she looks at you for a second, and when you notice her mouth fall open, a soft laugh escapes her lips. she smiles widely at you, and her laughter is infectious. you can't help but laugh, too.
when being an idiot pays off.
"ah, i didn't think of that." she says, still giggling. "let's do it again!"
your face lights up. "for sure!"
the rest of the room chuckles along, and she taps her fist against yours again, this time with a little more force. you repeat the explosion sound with the same exaggerated enthusiasm, and this time, she joins in, wiggling her fingers and mimicking the sound.
karina, being the last one out of the group to record, some of the staff began grabbing their belongings and preparing to leave. some of them stayed put, though, but you weren't a part of the staff, so, of course, you sat up from your seat, packing your own stuff.
even though you were the one who got ready first, karina ended up leaving the room before you. you weren't able to catch a glimpse of her. she left as quickly as a bat out of hell. as you walked out of the recording room, your phone began ringing in your pocket, the familiar ringtone indicating it was your best friend.
"hey," you answer.
a sniffle comes through the phone, followed by a shaky voice. "i—I miss you," ian says, and you stand in the middle of the hallway, rolling your eyes. he was faking; he does this every time you answer his calls.
"i miss you too," you say, laughing as you continue down the hall, waving goodbye to some of the staff.
"what are you doing? where are you? are you cheating on me?" all of his words rush out in a panicked tone. you stop again, leaning against a wall, the hand not holding the phone resting on your hip.
"yes, ian, i'm cheating on you," you deadpan, rolling your eyes again. "you caught me."
"i KNEW IT!" he yells into the phone.
"jesus," you breathe, pulling the phone away from your ear a bit. are your eardrums okay? maybe you should book a doctor's appointment just to be safe.
"what are you actually doing right now, loser?" his tone half-serious, half-teasing.
"just left a recording session. it went well; i think i might spoil myself with a nice dinner tonight," you reply, a small smile playing on your lips.
ian gasps.
"oh, my god, you mean the recording session with aespa was today? and you didn't even think to remind me? was winter there? what did she smell like—" ian's crazy, but he's your best friend. he's also a tad bit the reason why you're even where you are today. he was always pushing you and giving you that little extra bit of encouragement.
he's the best hype man.
you furrow your eyebrows at the words that just left his mouth with no sort of filter. "did you just ask me—"
"wait, wait, hold on," he cuts you off, and you hear a bunch of shuffling and muffled cursing on his end. suddenly a staff member steps in front of you, fiddling with her id badge nervously.
you lower the phone from your ear.
"i'm sorry, but we're recording a behind-the-scenes video, and your voice is being picked up in the audio. we need you to keep it down, please." you nod apologetically, feeling a flush of embarrassment creeping up your neck.
"okay, sorry. it won't happen again."
the staff member offers a kind smile. "thank you."
as the woman walks away, you bring the phone back to your ear. "what the hell, ian?!" you whisper harshly.
"yeah, hi, sorry, i'm here. i was joking, by the way. i don't wanna know what winter smells like..."
he goes silent before adding, "...that badly."
you don't even give him a warning before hanging up the call. the last thing you need is for someone else to overhear your embarrassing conversation. once you make it to the front of the elevator, a figure steps besides you, causing you to freeze in shock.
"hi," karina greets, that same smile from earlier appearing on her lips.
"oh, hey," you say, a smile forming on your own lips, the nerves still present but not as prominent as earlier. a ding is heard as the elevator doors open, the two of you stepping inside in sync, both avoiding eye contact as the elevator begins to descend.
"what are you getting for dinner?" the woman asks, breaking the silence, leaning forward a bit to attempt to make eye contact. "you are treating yourself, right?"
you open your mouth to reply but stop yourself. how did she know you were treating yourself? with a slight furrow in your eyebrows, you turn your head to look at her. karina's face is slightly tilted up, a smirk gracing her lips.
"how do you know about that?"
the smirk turns into a laugh. "you were the one talking loudly near my interview." your mouth falls open. oh, god. "i'm so sorry."
karina giggles, the sound so cute and light. "no worries, i didn't hear much anyway," she reassures, and the silver doors of the elevator slide open with a soft ding.
as you both step out onto the floor of the lobby, "um, probably sushi," you reply, referring to her previous question, and the thought makes your mouth water.
karina hums.
"that sounds good," she replies. "i might get that myself."
"maybe we can get it together." karina's eyes widen a fraction.
did you really just say that out loud?
"i—uh," you stutter, clearing your throat. "if you want, of course."
she does want to, but would it really be a good idea to hang out alone with her producer? not just any producer, but one that would definitely cause gossip and rumors among herself if the paparazzi were to get a picture. she's the group's leader; after all, she has to set an example.
and sometimes that means taking away from her own personal desires.
"i have a schedule, unfortunately," she lies, biting her lip. "but thank you for the offer. i appreciate it."
"oh, no problem," you say, nodding. "sorry if i came on too strong. that was uncalled for."
"no, no, no, no, no," karina says quickly, shaking her head. she felt like she just kicked a puppy, your lips pouting ever so slightly and your pupils visibly shrinking. "not at all. i would've loved to, really."
your lips curve into a small, grateful smile.
"well, i'll let you go now," you say, gesturing towards the exit, which is only a few feet away.
karina's eyes follow your gaze, her own smile never leaving her lips. she nods, and you take it as a cue to go ahead and leave.
"wait," karina says, suddenly grabbing your arm. her fingers are cool against the warmth of your skin, and you have to fight back the urge to shudder.
she lets go as soon as you turn around, her hand resting awkwardly by her side. "uh, sorry, it's just... do you want my number? by chance...?"
her heart pounds as she waits for your response.
"oh, yeah, for sure," you say, and pulling out your phone, you type in the new contact information that she recites to you. you smile once again when she's finished, locking your screen and placing the device back into your pocket.
"okay, bye," karina says, the smile not leaving her lips.
pairing. yandere!kim minjeong x gender!neutral!reader
synopsis. at a busy college campus, one small meeting changes everything. kim minjeong is happy with her girlfriend yu jimin. she thinks the two of them will stay together forever—until she meets someone from karina's past. what starts as simple curiosity slowly grows into something deeper and darker, consuming minjeong and threatening the happiness of everyone around her.
genre. written series, non!idol!winter, thriller, strangers to (?) to (?)
warnings. dark themes (stalking, manipulation, obsession, violence, blood, etc.), sexual content (aka smut), mentions of suicide and drug/alcohol use, cheating, implied death.
authors note. made reader gn so everyone could enjoy this. i was listening to tyler and my fingers just started moving???!! that was scary... gif made by me!!
𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀 — y/n, a rising music producer, has built her dream career while keeping her personal life under wraps. karina, aespa’s leader, is preparing for a huge comeback with a mini album produced and written by the one and only y/n.
karina knows this is the opportunity of a lifetime, and she has to nail it. the only problem is, she may be a bit distracted by her producer.
something about their connection feels different—like maybe it's worth the risk of prying eyes. but how much will they give up to chase after what they want?
𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 — none.
𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 — 1.3k
𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲— dude, i've been writing this series like crazy to the point im almost finished. and i HATE the first 3-4 chapters because they're kinda boring bruh. but happy new years guys! enjoy!
taglist — open!
series masterlist. main masterlist. next.
the first few months back in seoul were nice.
actually, more than nice, it was everything you hoped for after being on the road bouncing from city to city.
you had just gotten off a mini u.s. tour, with a big emphasis on mini because it was only around seven cities in total. but even that small stretch was a whirlwind of airport terminals, crowded venues, and late nights in hotel rooms that all started to blend together.
you had missed seoul, specifically your grandmother's house, because that is where most of your childhood memories took place.
born in new york, you were adopted by two of the kindest people you'd ever known. your parents met in the city, fell in love, and decided to start a family through adoption. your mom, who was korean, made sure you spent every summer in seoul with your grandma so you could stay connected to your roots—learning the language and culture firsthand.
it was her way of preserving what mattered, and you were grateful for it. those summers with your grandma was something you'd cling onto till eternity.
your parents did an amazing job of raising you—big props to them.
now, at 22, you were five years into your career in music. producer, singer-songwriter, performer—if it involved music, you were all in.
things had moved fast: two grammys out of the four nominations, three spotify 1 billion streams plaques that all hung proudly in your studio, and countless music festivals under your belt. you had done everything, from coachella to lollapalooza to bonnaroo and a slew of others.
though you were proud of all you'd achieved, the constant performing was beginning to take its toll. you needed a break from the spotlight, from the endless cycle of promotions and tours. you loved the hell out of your fans, but man you were tired.
so, when you told your management you wanted to step back from performing and focus on writing and producing, they were hesitant. they had their plans for you, but they knew better than to argue when you were so adamant. they respected your decision, and now here you were, doing exactly what you wanted. helping others create music, being behind the scenes rather than on stage, where you could breathe easier.
after months of your team sending your demos out to various artists, you finally got a callback from smtown. saying you were nervous was an understatement. the nerves had settled in your chest and stayed there, a heavy weight that didn't want to go away.
you had written this demo with a friend a few months ago, and it was one of your favorites. it was a little different from the usual songs you produced, and it was a risk. but when the call came, your team couldn't have been more supportive. you were excited but terrified at the same time.
that brings you to today, a month later, sitting in the lobby of the smtown building.
your legs bounced uncontrollably as you stared at the clock on the wall, counting down the minutes until the meeting started. you were early—not too early—but the wait was killing you. the lobby was quiet, which was unusual since the building was constantly buzzing with artists coming and going. the company was big on privacy, though. they always tried to make sure no one was photographed, and you respected them for it.
your manager sat beside you, cool as always, one hand scrolling through his phone while the other rested casually on his knee. you had known him since you were 19, fresh to the music scene and pretty much a mess. he was assigned to keep your career on track, and while he took his job seriously, he didn’t have the whole uptight vibe that most other people in the industry did. he was cool, collected, and a little sassy, which you appreciated more than you'd like to admit.
"seriously, can you stop moving so much?" he said, not even looking up from his phone. "you're making me dizzy just watching you."
"i'm just... excited," you mumbled, forcing yourself to sit still. "i can't help it."
he rolled his eyes dramatically and shook his head. "excited? you look like you're about to pass out. you do know that they already liked your song, right? they called us in."
"yeah, i know," you replied, trying to shake the jitters. "but, you know... they could change their minds. or something."
"or something," he mimicked. a glare shot his way, one that he didn't seem to mind at all. he was used to your glares. he had dealt with them for the last three years, after all. "please. just relax, okay? i'm sure it'll go well."
you nodded, taking a deep breath.
glancing down at your phone to see your mom's text, smiling to yourself. she always knows how to make you feel at home, even from halfway across the world.
mom ❤️: tell your dad that he's too old for tiktok. he keeps trying to dance.
you snicker. a response from your father quickly comes, adding another grey bubble to your screen from your family's group chat.
dad 💙: tell your mom to mind her own business and to get off my phone!
you slip your phone back into your pocket as your manager taps your shoulder, his hand lingering on your shoulder before he gestures for you to follow him.
you rise from the seat, following behind him as another figure begins leading him. lots of leading. so many twists and turns. and then an elevator, which the three of you step into, where you immediately blow a quick raspberry, the sound loud and a little childish. the corners of your mouth twitch as you try to stifle a laugh.
you glance up at your manager, who doesn't seem to mind the odd noise at all—he's used to you and your little ways. when you look at the other man, he looks surprised but intrigued. you think he's trying not to laugh as well.
stepping off the elevator and rounding a corner of the building, you pull the brim of your hat down a bit more with your right hand, hoping to cover a little more of your face. it's a nervous habit that's stuck with you since the beginning of your career.
your manager, walking just ahead, casts a quick glance back at you. his expression is neutral, but there's a certain glint in his eyes that tells you he's as excited as you are, if not more. the other man—a member of the smtown staff, you assume—keeps pace, a very fast pace, as he's much taller than either of you.
curse tall people and their long legs.
the three of you finally stop outside a room marked 115.
your manager turns to look at you, a smile on his face.
"this is it," he says. "are you ready?"
silence.
karina's eyes are unfocused, staring after your footsteps that are moving further and further away. it's an early morning, and the group has been called into the company's building for an important meeting revolving around their upcoming comeback. it had been a long couple of months since their last project, and everyone was eager to dive into new material.
the sound of her manager's voice, calling her name, pulls her out of her reverie.
"karina?"
she blinks, her gaze snapping back toward the voice that is holding the boardrooms' main door open, awaiting her entrance. karina blinks a few more times, her eyes refocusing as she shakes off the lingering thoughts of the stranger she had just seen.
she's usually good at recognizing people in this building, but she doesn't know who the person is. the black new york yankees hat was pulled so low over their face that she couldn't make out any features.
"karina," her manager calls again, a little louder.
"yes, sorry, i'm coming."
she steps into the boardroom, a small room with a long, sleek table and a whiteboard at the front of the room. several of her fellow members are already seated at the table, along with their managers and a couple of other staff members.
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