Under the burning sun of another heat wave in South Korea, Na-Rae found herself navigating through the bustling streets of Seoul. The news had warned everyone to stay indoors, but the reality of the traffic painted a different picture. Determined to reach her destination at Bighit, she spent an hour and a half inching forward in her car, finally securing a spot in the underground parking lot of BigHit.
The decision to drive instead of opting for the subway or bus lingered in her thoughts. She acknowledged that her choice of booking the studio in the early afternoon wasn't that great of a choice. Reflecting on the situation, she contemplated using Namjoon's bicycle, yet the unbearable heat from outdoors would kill her. Each step felt like moving through an oven, making even a short trip seem unbearable.
As Na-Rae strolled toward the dance studio, she exchanged quick greetings with a couple of workers, and some new trainees, even spotted Soobin from TXT dashing past in a hurry, likely running late for his vocal or dance training. Glancing at her phone, she realized she had a good fifteen minutes before the studio became available. Unsure of whom to approach in the building, she found herself pressing the fifth-floor button in the elevator, already making her way through the familiar corridors.
Thinking about who to talk to, Na-Rae quickly decided to visit her older Oppa. Without much thought, she entered the code to his room and walked in. She knew he was busy working on the opposite side, but their close sibling bond made dropping in without notice feel normal and comfortable.
As she stepped into the room, she noticed her oppa's concentration on his computer screen. His sleek black hair peeked out from above the chair, and his hands gracefully danced between the keyboard and the mouse, navigating through an array of files filled with musical notes and waveforms.
Curiosity getting the better of her, Na-Rae couldn't resist pulling a chair next to him, settling in with a casual air. "What are you up to?" she asked, her voice cutting through the hum of musical notes and clicks of the mouse. The boy, deeply focused on his work, hadn't turned to look at her yet. She didn't mind, though; he was fully absorbed in what he was doing, and she had known him for longer than just today.
"I'm trying to fix this new song; something's missing at the end, but I can't figure out what. So I'm listening to other parts we recorded, but my head is blocking," Yoongi said, still not bothering to look up at the girl. Her presence in and out of the room was so routine for him that it didn't faze him anymore. "I just can't figure out what's missing, Nara."
"Can I listen to the song?" As she asked, Na-Rae took a sip of Yoongi's lukewarm coffee. However, the moment the bitter liquid touched her lips, she made a face of pure disgust. It was evident that there was no trace of milk in the coffee, making the experience far from enjoyable.
Carefully listening to the song playing, she detected some glitches. Moving a bit closer to the keyboard, she added new notes between the existing ones. While some notes were a bit off, she trusted that her Oppa could tweak them. Her fingers danced over the keyboard for a few more minutes, and she was done.
"See, I believe this is what's needed. The build-up needs a subtle delay for impact. In this section, I introduced an additional bassline to enhance the rhythmic foundation of the beginning, creating a harmonious blend. And to build anticipation in the ending, I reintroduced the same bassline as from the beginning. That gives it a pop sound. Now, when you play it, you'll hear a pop-like sound." While Na-Rae spoke, Yoongi found himself genuinely listening to her, impressed by her insights. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride seeing how much the 'once-young' girl had grown into a skilled musician. Her understanding of musical nuances and the way she explained them revealed a level of sophistication that pleasantly surprised him.
From the first to the last note, both of them had broad smiles on their faces. This song had become a real earworm, something that could stick in your ears for days if the right lyrics were written on it.
"D*mn Nara, you did wonders with this. This song is amazing!"
Na-Rae, a hint of shyness in her smile-, said, "Well, I didn't do much. You made the song; I just added some details. It's your talent that made it all come together, it was smooth like butter to add some finishing touches."
"Smooth like butter?" the boy laughed at how the girl came up with the weirdest phrases sometimes.
"Yeah, we even work as smooth as butter." With a smile, the girl straightened her back and stood up. "But now I need to go; I've got a new challenge from ARMY, and for that, I need the dance room."
Yoongi walked Na-Rae to the door of his studio, looking curious. "So, a new challenge, what are you going to work on?" he asked, interested in what she might share. But Na-Rae, lost in her thoughts, didn't mention the challenge she was facing, keeping it to herself. "Okay, I know enough, I would know your challenge once you published it. So, off you go, and don't be late tonight," Yoongi said, smiling a bit. "Since you helped me out, I'll make you kimchi jjigae."
Before he could shut the door, the girl excitedly jumped at him. "You will? Oh, thank you, thank you, Oppa! I can give you a ride after I'm done practicing."
"Yeah, sure. Just shoot me a text when you're done, and I'll give you the heads up when I'm finished!" The girl grinned with enthusiasm, waving him goodbye as she dashed towards the practice room. Fortunately, no one was waiting for her, sparing her from being even later. Yoongi chuckled at her enthusiasm, the sound of her excitement echoing briefly in the studio.
°°°
Opening the door to the practice room, Na-Rae tossed her backpack onto the floor. With a quick flip of the light switch, the room illuminated, revealing its emptiness without her fellow members. Although this was not a new experience, practicing alone always felt like the first time, she missed the light atmosphere, running around, and joking with other members. She approached the music setup, plugging her phone in, there was no time to waste here, she thought. The song chosen by ARMY was a departure from the previous dance battle. She briefly considered asking Jimin for help but decided against it, not wanting to burden him with more work. Even though she knew he wouldn't mind.
Diving into her dance routine, Na-Rae lost herself in the rhythm, carefully crafting each move. In front of the mirror, she checked that the moves looked right practiced each step, and turned very carefully. She paid close attention, concentrating hard to get the routine just right.
However, as she tried to execute the dance battle version, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, the steps weren't right or didn't feel good, and she couldn't lay her finger on it. This particular style posed a challenge for Na-Rae; the intricate moves and rapid transitions tested her usual dance comfort zone. Despite the difficulty, she tried to find the right combination that matched the beat and showcased her skills.
Not knowing how long she'd been dancing, Na-Rae sighed and flopped down on the ground like a starfish. She let the music play, hoping it might spark some creative ideas. However, the creak of the door made her look up. To her surprise, there stood Yeonjun.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Noona. I thought this room was free," he apologized, bowing with slightly flushed cheeks.
A little caught off guard, Na-Rae fidgeted with a strand of her hair trying to look at her best, feeling a sudden rush of shyness. She mumbled a soft response, "No problem," as she tried to act nonchalant, but her heart was doing a little dance of its own. Unsure of where to direct her gaze, she fumbled with the edge of her shirt, avoiding eye contact with Yeonjun. The unexpected interruption had disrupted not only her dance routine but also her usual composure.
It was a usual thing for them to act this way, and even strangers could sense the unspoken attraction between them. Everyone at Bighit who worked with both groups was aware of Na-Rae and Yeonjun's connection. The stolen glances they shared, the subtle blushes that colored their cheeks, the adoring looks whenever they were together – it was something known to all.
Teasing was a part of their routine. They would often get teased about it, not just a little, even the fans, both ARMY and MOA, were full into this two. But despite the awareness, shyness always kept them at a distance. Yet, there was a feeling that fate might bring them closer, and maybe that day was just around the corner.
"Yeah, I booked this place yesterday evening," Na-Rae admitted, looking up at Yeonjun with a sense of anticipation, knowing deep down she might regret it the moment she looked into his eyes.
"I think we might have a double booking, actually. I did the same thing," Yeonjun chuckled, making Na-Rae smile at him, 'he's so cute' she thought but shook her head, trying to refocus.
"Oh-uh, I'm so sorry. I really need to practice a new song today. Maybe we can find another free room for you?" Na-Rae switched into professional mode, reaching for her phone to sort out the situation.
Yeonjun, shaking his head, decided to take action. As Na-Rae busied herself with her phone, he approached, gently taking it out of her hands. "No need for that. I was just planning to dance for fun. I was done with practice today, and I needed to wait for Soobin and Beomgyu to go home. So, I thought I'd practice some dance moves. But I can do something else now."
"Uh," was all Na-Rae could manage to say. She couldn't help but recall the old times when her group faced similar situations. Although they still met occasionally, most of them had cars or different schedules. If they didn't have group activities, they usually caught up at home or in the studios.
"Hey, are you okay?" Yeonjun asked, gently touching her cheek to see if she was feeling well. "You seem a bit tense. You mentioned you're learning something new, right?" he continued, asking her several questions and savoring the time alone with her.
Na-Rae's heart fluttered, and she tried to calm her brain down, which was working in overdrive. She nodded a little, attempting to hide her rosy cheeks, but it was already too late, the touch of his hand on her cheek made it look like it was on fire.
'Well, might as well make the best out of it,' she thought. "Y-yes," she managed, attempting to hide any signs of nervousness but failing miserably. "I'm trying to create a new choreography. Do you know the challenging game I do with ARMY? Well, now they want me to do something on this song." The melody of "One in a Million" by Rex Orange County played softly in the background. "I only need to make a 1-minute choreography, but still, I'm not Hobi or Jimin Hyung. It feels like I suck at this. I've tried so many moves, but it just wouldn't work out," she sighed, looking insecure about her skills.
Yeonjun chuckled, and Na-Rae couldn't help but glance up at him. His laughter had a way of making her feel warm inside. "I believe you'll come up with something amazing, and I'll be proud of whatever you create," he said, his words carrying a confidence that brought a faint blush to her cheeks again.
'Ugh, stop doing this, Yeonjun,' Na-Rae's brain scolded herself, feeling her thoughts spiral a bit too far. 'He'll be proud, that's all. Keep it together.'
"If you say so," she sighed, glancing down. It was clear she didn't know how to navigate this situation, leaving Yeonjun to clear his throat awkwardly.
"Noona, well..." Na-Rae looked up, catching Yeonjun struggling with his words a bit. But as soon as his eyes met hers, he gained confidence. "Noona, I'm free now, and I was ready to dance. Maybe I can help you out with this?" Na-Rae's head shot up, surprised by Yeonjun's offer.
Did he just offer to help? Did she hear that right? She felt like she could slap herself for not being able to contain her excitement. No, that was a bit too much, but how could she not smile and jump and say yes? That's what her heart and body wanted to do, even though she knew better. "Do you want to help me?" she asked.
Yeonjun chuckled softly at how adorable Na-Rae looked in that moment. He had secretly hoped for a long time to share a moment like this alone with her, and now it was happening. Being two years younger, he found it hard to believe that someone as amazing as Na-Rae could fall in love with him. Or maybe it was just his feelings, and he was reading too much into her reactions? Without a second thought, he took her hand, hoping that she could feel the same sparkles in her fingers from their touch. With a gentle tug, he led her to the center of the studio, where he quickly connected her phone to the speakers.
Did you already have some moves or thoughts on how to begin?" he asked, bringing her back to reality from the bubble she had been in.
"It's not like I've been lying here for hours. I did come up with some moves, but they just don't look good at all," Na-Rae confessed, her self-doubt creeping in. On the other side, she cursed herself internally for sounding so insecure. How could she doubt herself? After all, she had been dancing for almost 8 years
Yeonjun shook his head, wanting to deny her self-critical remarks, but he knew Na-Rae too well. She was talking herself down, convinced she wasn't doing well. He could tell her she was doing great and insist she was wrong, but that wouldn't truly help her. She might only dismiss his words, thinking he was saying them just to make her feel better.
Walking over to the music installation to restart the song, he said, "It's okay. Let me see what you already have, and then I can provide some feedback."
Na-Rae tried to focus on her body, attempting to push away the self-doubt. She concentrated on the movements and the lyrics of the song, but it was challenging not to let thoughts of Yeonjun distract her. At this moment, it felt as if her body was reaching out to an invisible partner who wasn't so invisible, and Yeonjun understood that dynamic all too well
Midway through, the music abruptly stopped, and she heard him clap. "You came up with all of this in how many minutes?" he asked, making Na-Rae blush again. She was certain she'd leave the room looking as bright as a tomato.
"To be honest, I just did something. I don't even know what I did," she admitted, concealing the fact that her thoughts had revolved around him, and she had simply followed what felt right.
"Lucky you then. I'm a master at remembering choreographies. Let me help you." Yeonjun said, making Na-Rae laugh and acknowledge her luck. "Let's start with the beginning?" he suggested, launching minutes, or rather, an hour of repetition.
In the studio filled with music and laughter, the unspoken connection between them continued to grow, painting a picture of two people acting like a couple, a perfect match made in heaven.
°°°
Lost in the rhythm, their bodies moved in perfect harmony as they crafted a flawless duet challenge for ARMY and maybe MOA too now. Dancing together, the room was charged with electricity, and the connection between them was undeniable. They decided to stop the challenge at 1 minute and 26 seconds, but the last 6 seconds approached, and a magical tension filled the air.
Their faces drew closer, eyes locked, and the world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them. In that moment, it felt like time stood still. Was this the moment they had both been waiting for over two years? Could it finally be happening? The air buzzed with a sweetness that hinted at something more between these lovebirds who weren't yet officially together.
Just as their lips were about to meet, The studio door swung open, and Na-Rae quickly jumped out of Yeonjun's arms, standing next to him as if nothing had happened. Yeonjun tried to hide his disappointed expression. "There you are," Beomgyu said, entering the room with Soobin, Jimin, and Jungkook, their loud chatter filling the space.
"There you are!" Jungkook exclaimed, flashing his famous bunny smile as he ran towards Na-Rae.
"What are you guys doing here alone?" Jimin questioned, looking at both of them with suspicion, sensing the tension in the room. "Did we interrupt something, maybe?" A cheeky smile spread across all four faces in front of them.
Na-Rae couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and disappointment. The interruption saved her from a potentially awkward situation, but there was a part of her that wished they could have had a few more moments alone. The playful teasing from her friends added to the whirlwind of emotions she was feeling.
"Actually, yes, you interrupted my ARMY challenge. Yeonjun-ah was kind enough to help me out, and you interrupted our filming progress," Na-Rae expressed a subtle twinge of disappointment, noticeable in her tone and manner of speaking. As she pointed towards the camera, which continued to record, she couldn't deny a small part of her felt relieved by the interruption – the thought of being caught on camera kissing was unnerving. Imagining tabloids speculating about a new couple, featuring members from both BTS and TXT, made her cringe. Despite there being nothing between her and Yeonjun at this point, the potential for rumors lingered in the air.
"Oh, no, we're sorry. We didn't know you were filming," Soobin stammered, feeling the blood drain from his head. Beomgyu's eyes widened in realization, teasing Yeonjun was one thing, but they didn't mean to upset their Noona. They respected her, not just because she was older, but also for everything she had been through. Despite facing challenges, she still carried herself like a true queen. Na-Rae and Yeonjun couldn't help but hold in their snickers as they watched Soobin and Beomgyu struggle to find the right words to apologize to her.
"It's nothing," Na-Rae sighed, shaking her head. "We can film it again, but if you don't mind, it will take 10 minutes of your time if you all leave now." The two youngsters nodded and rushed out, but her members weren't paying attention. Were they talking about them too? They still stood there, crossing their arms and turning to each other a bit, seemingly wanting to discuss something.
"Oppa, please, you can't stay in here too. These challenges are a secret before publishing. You know the rules," she said, crossing her arms over her chest and giving some attitude. Of course, this attitude was only directed towards Jungkook, who played the intruder, taking Jimin with him in his plan.
"Right, Ok, Kook! Let's go. If we want to eat Kimchi Jjigae tonight, we need to leave in peace," Jimin joked, giving Na-Rae a wink. Na-Rae's brain went into overdrive, seeing him winking at her. He knows it, he knows it – these words were playing in Na-Rae's head. Despite that, her face showed nothing but a scowl towards Jungkook, who started to complain.
"Know that Yoongi hyung sent us to pick you up; he told us we would leave with you, so you better be ready when he's finished. I'll give you ten minutes." Jungkook tried to sound strict with her, but Na-Rae rolled her eyes, knowing how much he was trying to play the role of the big brother who always had the last word in these matters.
"Ten minutes? Ok, thank you, Appa!" The girl smiled, reaching on her tiptoes to pat his head. "Now leave, or I can't promise I'll be there in ten minutes. I'll meet you at Hyung's booth."
Jimin nodded, leaving with a sulking Jungkook, his threat didn't work. Glancing over toward Yeonjun, Na-Rae felt the awkwardness settling in. Great, they made it awkward now. "Don't mind Jimin hyung and Jungkook-ah, they were just being brothers, you know." Yeonjun nodded and stretched out a little. "Are you ready to film it again?" she asked him. "Okay. 1, 2, 3."
It took them only two takes to film the challenge, and Na-Rae was bubbling with excitement to post it on her YouTube channel. She knew ARMY would go nuts seeing her dance with Yeonjun; the two had fantastic chemistry, and this challenge was the perfect showcase.
After disconnecting everything, Na-Rae walked over to her bag and pulled out another bottle of water. "Do you want to drink first?" Yeonjun took the bottle, putting his lips to it. Na-Rae was a bit surprised, but when he finished drinking, she couldn't hold herself back.
Na-Rae felt the adrenaline rushing through her veins as she stepped gracefully closer to him, her gaze locked with Yeonjun's intense eyes. The air around them seemed to crackle with electricity, and every heartbeat echoed in the silence of the room.
Yeonjun's shoulders tilted down ever so slightly, and the magnetic pull between them strengthened. Each step toward the other was deliberate as if drawn together by an invisible force that neither could resist. Their breaths mingled, creating a shared moment of anticipation that hung in the air like a sweet fragrance.
Their eyes spoke volumes, conveying emotions that words could only attempt to capture. Na-Rae could feel the heat glowing from Yeonjun's presence.
As they inched closer with their faces, the room seemed to shrink, increasing the intensity of the moment. Na-Rae's heartbeat echoed in her ears, drowning out any lingering doubts or hesitations. She could sense Yeonjun's breath on her skin, a gentle caress that sent shivers down her spine. Before she knew she felt their lips connecting, it felt like their lips were made of each other, melting together with sparks igniting all around. This sensation felt undeniably perfect.
Those few seconds seemed like minutes, and as quickly as it began, it already came to an end. Their eyes were still locked, forehead against each other, the only thing she could hear was his breathing. A small smile crept onto her face, biting her lip slightly to hide her smile. In response, Yeonjun's expression shifted from a mere smile to a look that echoed his deep affection for her.
a little sigh parted her lips again, "I need to go now, but I hope you know now that I like or better love you too." she bent down and took her backpack leaving a perplexed Yeonjun behind.
Closing the door behind her, Na-Rae stood still, her heart racing. She let out a little yell of triumph, a burst of pure joy escaping her lips. She couldn't help but jump a little in victory, her excitement taking over. However, she soon calmed herself down, realizing that her excitement might attract attention.
Na-Rae's fingers brushed against her lips, savoring the lingering warmth of Yeonjun's touch. The world around her blurred, and she found herself lost in a whirlwind of emotions. It was as if she had stumbled upon a hidden treasure, a secret garden of feelings that she never knew existed. But her daydream was interrupted by a sudden burst of enthusiastic yelling from inside the practice room.
"YES!" The exclamation echoed through the walls, reaching Na-Rae's ears. She looked up, surprised by the outburst, and then burst into laughter, attempting to muffle it with her hands. Clearly, Yeonjun inside the room shared the same joy as her.
Regaining composure, Na-Rae knew it was time to meet her brothers. She pushed herself off the door, floating through the hallway with her backpack feeling light as a feather. It carried the weight of her unspoken confession, a secret she now held close to her heart. Each step seemed infused with the sweet fragrance of budding romance, and the air around her hummed with an enchanting energy. She enjoyed the magic of the moment, knowing that something beautiful had unfolded.
°°°
Meanwhile...
"Hyung, she didn't even see us when she came out of that practice room," Jungkook told Jimin and Yoongi, who came to find them after telling him it only took them five minutes to come back.
"I think we lost her, Jungkook-ah," Yoongi commented, giving the younger member a reassuring pat on the back. Jungkook looked up, more confused than ever.
"But she's right over there," Jungkook pointed in her direction, not grasping the hidden meaning behind Yoongi's words.
Jimin, recognizing Jungkook's confusion, shook his head and explained, "What Hyung means is that we lost our girl; she found her soulmate."
"Of course, she found him; she's known me for over 8 years." Jimin and Yoongi exchanged glances, suppressing their laughter, pondering whether they should explain the word: love to Jungkook in more detail.
"Jungkook-ah, she found her love soulmate, not a friend-soulmate," Yoongi clarified, trying to contain his amusement while Jimin pressed his lips together to stifle his laughter.
Understanding dawned on Jungkook. "Oh, okay," he muttered, but as the realization set in, he abruptly halted. "You mean she has a boyfriend?" Both Hyungs nodded in affirmation. "Yah! Nara-shi!" Jungkook exclaimed, chasing after Na-Rae, who stood frozen in surprise. She hadn't expected the boys to come from behind her when she was on her way to Yoongi's studio.
"Hyung, maybe we didn't need to tell him yet," Jimin whispered to Yoongi.
"He knows more about her than we do. Probably tonight, he'll know all the details." Jimin shot Yoongi a disapproving look, signaling to halt the discussion right there and now.
"Jungkook-ah! Stop!" Na-Rae's voice rang out, catching the attention of the two men. They watched as Jungkook playfully put her in a headlock, giving her a hard time, questioning what she had done to be so happy. They could hear her yelling to stop and leave her alone.
"Before he knows everything, they'll, of course, be themselves, right?" Jimin chuckled, earning a sigh from Yoongi.
"Of course, they will. Let's help her and make dinner," Yoongi suggested, leading the way with Jimin towards the two youngsters.
"Jungkook-ah, give her a break!" Jimin intervened, unable to contain his laughter. Jungkook finally released Na-Rae.
"Thank you, oppa!" Na-Rae expressed her gratitude, quickly sidestepping Jungkook before he could playfully pounce on her again. "You're so not normal!" she teased, sticking out her tongue while standing next to Jimin, who casually draped an arm around her shoulders.
"Me not normal? You look like you just won the Olympics or something," Jungkook retorted, conveniently avoiding the topic of love soulmates.
"Ah, both of you, just stop it. Let's go home and eat some food. It's been a long day, so let's end it peacefully, right?" Yoongi suggested, not in the mood for another round of their childish bickering.
"He/she started," they both chimed in at the same time, leaving the older duo shaking their heads. No matter what happened, the two younger ones always found a way to conclude their arguments with this familiar refrain.
______________
A/N: Here's the first chapter of Yeonae! What are your thoughts on their dynamic? Personally, I enjoyed writing this chapter. Romance isn't typically my forte, but I hope I've captured the essence of our couple. I've also found some illustrations that I believe will complement their relationship. Stay tuned for more chapters featuring both of them. Thank you for your likes, comments, and shares! Sending virtual hugs your way. See you in the next update! - Charlie