Third person POV
A few weeks have passed since the double date and the two girl groups have both been working on new comebacks that will happen after their show together. They have been working day and night on writing and recording their songs and also on practices of dance, rap and vocals. Y/N requested her manager to find a private trainer, who is also trustworthy and appropriate, and asked if the company can hire them which was approved almost instantly because music companies are suckers for thin and fit singers. Y/N said she could pay for them since it was requested by her, but the company decided to do it instead.
The rest of the members were not the biggest fans of working out so they did not ask for a private trainer. Soyeon would join Y/N a few times but that was it. Isa and Wonyoung went to pilates sometimes, but that wasn't anything Soyeon or Y/n were interested in trying.
During these few weeks, Y/n did not get the chance to hang out with her friends outside of her group as much as she would have liked. This included Ryujin. She was also busy with her group's comeback. They texted sometimes but it was always short because whenever they were done with their schedules for the day, they just went straight to bed.
The only ones Y/n got to hang out with besides her group members were of course their staff but also the guys of TXT because they were finishing up the song she was a feature on. They finished both the writing and the recording of the song, so that song was ready for their next comeback.
Ryujin had also gotten closer to Beomgyu, which Y/n found out through Yeji over text but also Beomgyu himself. She still saw the members of TXT around in the hallways of their company, and they always took the opportunity to catch up with each other. One time Y/N couldn't help herself and asked Beomgyu when she saw him alone how it was going with Ryujin, to which he just replied;
"It's going great, I'm happy. Thank you for your help with everything."
That was all Y/n needed to hear. She put herself in this situation and she decided to do so only if it meant one of her best friends would be happy. Even if it meant breaking her own heart.
Even though the two girl groups are busy with their comebacks, they still had to start rehearsals for their upcoming special stage together. The lines for the song and everything have been distributed, and the recording for the song was finished, so now all that is left is practicing the choreography together. This also meant that the two groups would gather at one of the companies' dance studios and be filmed during the first time they meet and during the rehearsals.
They would practice together from the morning until late in the evening where each group would then go to their respective studios and keep working on their own comebacks. ITZY is preparing for the release of their first full album whereas Luna is preparing for the release of their second album.
"Ah we're finally at the famous JYPE company building." Soyeon sighed out as she looked up at the tall building in front of them while the staff set everything up and recorded the group Luna entering the company building to greet ITZY.
"Oh look it's a picture of Twice sunbaenim!" Wonyoung squealed out as she pointed at the picture displayed on the side of the company building of the girl group Twice.
"Wow," Y/n simply let out as Isa stood silently beside her looking at the company building.
"I know you're friends with ITZY but have you ever been in the company building with them?" Isa asked as she turned to the maknae.
"No, we never hung out here."
"Let's go inside, girls." Soyeon said as the rest followed her and talked about how happy they were for this opportunity. Isa went behind Y/n and had her arms around her shoulders as she basically dragged along while hanging on to Y/n. So Y/n stopped up and motioned for Isa to jump on her back so she could get a piggy back ride to the dance studio.
They started making conversations about how amazing this is and that the fans should be excited for it because they were.
And finally they were in front of the dance studio ITZY were in. They couldn't really hear much except for some muffling sounds from music. Y/n let Isa down as they had to look a little more presentable for their "first meeting" as a group.
The group already knew that cameras would also be waiting on the other side of the door, besides their own crew here, so they knew that they had to start off in a respectful manner and bow and greet the girls of ITZY and introduce themselves with their group intro. Of course they were always respectful but since it's the first time the two groups are meeting on camera they had to do these things and not just run up and hug their friends. That could happen after the group introductions.
After they knocked on the door and interacted with the camera for a bit, they entered the dance studio to see one of ITZY's managers standing by the computer set up for music while a camera crew was around them and the girls of ITZY were dancing to a song. They were just practicing for one of their older songs, since it was just an act for the camera. The manager by the computer turned off the music as the two groups faced each other and bowed while greeting each other, before they did their group greetings.
After the group greetings, Yuna was the first one to run up to Y/n and squeeze her in a hug while squealing. This made the others laugh before doing the same and going up to each other to hug and greet each other how they usually would.
When Yeji and Y/n hugged, Yeji had a teasing look on her face which Y/n chuckled at before she was punched on her arm by a pouting Yeji.
"Ow! What was that for?" Y/n yelled out as she rubbed her shoulder and was about to hit Yeji back but she quickly dodged it.
"That's for not replying to my texts, pabo-yah." Yeji pouted at her as Y/n chuckled and hugged her again.
"I'm sorry, I've just been busy and not using my phone these days. You know I'm awful at replying to texts." Y/n said softly as she pulled back from the hug as Yeji only raised her eyebrows at her and hummed before moving on to hugging Soyeon.
Suddenly Ryujin appeared in front of Y/n and Y/n grew nervous almost instantly but she tried her best not to show it since cameras were everywhere around them.
"You know, you haven't replied to my messages either. Yeji isn't the only one that's mad at you." Ryujin said as she gave a pointed look to Y/n, while Y/n panicked slightly and tried to explain herself while stuttering which only made Ryujin laugh.
"It's okay, don't worry about it. I know you've been busy." Ryujin pulled Y/n into a hug and squeezed her in a tight hug before she mumbled by her ear. "But you're still a pabo."
Ryujin pulled away while smirking and winked while Y/n rolled her eyes at her playfully with a slight blush on her cheeks.
"I missed you too, Ryujin-ah."
Ryujin was about to reply when she was pushed aside by Lia who yelled out excitedly to Y/n.
"Y/N!!"
"Lia unnie!!" Y/n yelled out with the same enthusiasm while Ryujin pouted on the side and once Lia noticed, she laughed at her and pulled her into a hug while apologizing and saying that it was just a joke.
The two groups got ready to start dance rehearsals together as their choreographers stood in the front explaining everything, and showing a video as an example for how they want everyone to stand and dance. The filming of the two girl groups continued on, with some private interviews recorded sometimes.
"Yeah I'm happy to join ITZY for a collaboration. I've always liked their music and dance, so I can't wait to see how this special stage goes. They are all my close friends and to be able to work with close friends is an honor." Y/n said during her private interview which was being recorded on the side of the dance studio, a little further away from the rest.
Soon enough Y/n got the clear that she could go join the others, and that Chaeryeong would take her place for a private interview next. She got up and joined the others right when they were told to have a break. Y/n noticed how Ryujin was sitting with her phone in hand in a corner while she was texting someone. It was likely to be Beomgyu, as she knew they had been texting each other constantly.
Y/n couldn't help her eyes going in Ryujin's direction almost all the time throughout the break and the rest of the rehearsal.
Whenever there was a break, Ryujin would sit with her phone in hand and texting someone. She would join the others one or two times but once a notification would go off from her phone, she would leave them to check it. Y/n had been observing her throughout everything and she couldn't help her jealousy showing. But what Y/n didn't notice was that Ryujin was acting all nervous around her and staring at her from afar whenever she had the chance. But somehow they never caught each other's eye.
The other girls from the two girl groups seemed to have noticed the stares between Ryujin and Y/n, and they can't help thinking about how stupid the two of them were. Those two never seemed to catch each other's eyes and somehow they were blind to the obvious touches and almost intimate talks shared between each other. It was obvious to the rest of the girls but them, that they liked each other.
The recordings for the rehearsal and private interviews had ended so now they were still rehearsing the choreography with the choreographers before they had to leave in a few hours.
"So, will you be my roommate when we have to stay in the house together for our show?" Ryujin heard Yeji ask Y/n, as she approached the two.
"I'm pretty sure we can't just choose-"
"No, because she'll be my roommate." Ryujin quickly interrupted Y/n as she wrapped her arm around her and smiled cheekily at Yeji while Y/n raised a brow at Ryujin.
"Oh really now?" Yeji asked as she smirked and chuckled at Ryujin, while she only hummed in return.
"What if I don't want to be any of your roommates?" Y/n pointed out as the two of them turned to look at her.
"Well why wouldn't you want to be my roommate?" Yeji asked as she flipped her hair to the side playfully and Y/n rolled her eyes in return before Yeji made a dramatic gasp. "Who are you cheating on me with?"
This got a laugh out of Y/n as Ryujin just smiled awkwardly on the side.
"Chaeryeong will be my roommate, and you and I were never a couple Yeji." Y/n said as she shook her head at Yeji's playful antics.
Just as the conversation was about to go on, Ryujin heard the sound of a notification coming from her phone. She pulled her arm away from Y/n as she pulled her phone out of her pocket, and Yeji and Y/n just watched her do so.
"Who is it?" Yeji asked curiously even though she had a hunch about who it was.
Ryujin stayed quiet as she checked her phone before she glanced at both Yeji and Y/n who were just watching her.
"...Beomgyu."
"Ahh... okay." Yeji replied as she awkwardly glanced in Y/n's direction to see her clenching her fists together and putting on a fake smile.
"Are you guys a couple yet?" Y/n asked as she unclenched her fists and still had on a fake smile directed at Ryujin.
Ryujin glanced up at Y/n and she hesitated for a bit before she replied.
"I-... uhm not yet. We're still in the talking stage and going on dates."
"Hm okay, well I hope you guys are happy together." Before Y/n could continue what she wanted to say, she had to swallow the lump in her throat. "You look like a cute couple."
Y/n squeezed Ryujin's shoulder gently and smiled softly at her before she walked away from the two ITZY members and joined Wonyoung who was talking to the choreographer.
Each step she took made her heart shatter a little bit, but she only had herself to blame for this.
Sometimes it might be a good idea to be a little selfish, and that's probably what she should've been when Beomgyu asked for help.
***
A/N:
Hey guys! I'm a year late but hopefully this makes up for it just a tiny bit. I'll try to update more often so I can finish this book.
I have so many ideas and sooo many drafts waiting to be published. But I learned from my mistake with this book, so I'll finish the chapters for the other books I have planned before I publish them.
But I will still update this book whenever I can and not once I've finished it because otherwise you'll have to wait forever for a new chapter.
Hope you liked the chapter! 🫶🏼
- M