Bangtan
"Acquainted?" Hyunjin asked.
The world felt so, so heavy on her tongue. It was an awful and disgusting lie. They were more than acquainted, more than just being friends yet less than a lover. However, Nari did not know whether that fact is still the same after years.
Nari nodded brightly. She tried to avoid the fact that Minnie can sense how fake she was being. It wasn't entirely an act. However, she would have loved to meet Minho in a different circumstance and not this one.
"He was a back-up dancer, and I was a producer for Bangtan. We worked together in a few songs." She explained.
She explained simply as if it was just that and nothing more. As if they only spent those days working and not basking in the moonlight as they danced to the hundreds of music Nari never released, reserved for his ears only.
"You two! Good to see you again." Hobi laughed and hugged them.
"Hobi!" Nari greeted back.
Hoseok was one of the members they were the closest with. He is the literal epitome of sunshine. They had no struggle trying to get close to the man. In fact, they didn't even try.
Jimin was looking at her weirdly. It was as if he knew something. Something he shouldn't have known.
"Is it okay if we steal them for a while? We'll promise to drive them back safely." Namjoon smiled at their respective leaders.
"Wait, hold on. I have something for Nari." Jimin said, pulling Nari to the side.
"What is up with you and Minho." He asked as soon as they were out of earshot.
"H-huh?"
"Everyone expected the two of you to date after you leave Bighit but what the hell." Jimin sighed. "I lost a thousand won to Taehyung." He whined.
Nari blinked.
"Nevermind, I wish you two the best." Jimin smiled, his eyes turning crescent moons.
Nari did not know what to feel. Taking a deep breath, Jimin pulled her back towards the others. "We're currently filming Bangtanbomb. Fans have been asking for a reunion with the two of you and we think it would be great, both for you and for the public." Their manager informed.
"That is, of course, if you two are willing to do this? There will be another content in which you two will go to Hybe."
Nari's eyes found Minho's. It has been so, so painfully long since she has seen those hazel eyes. For some reasons, he resembled a cat more than he did before. His face slimmed, obviously. He had also gotten a bit taller than he was before.
His gaze was... different. It almost seemed cold. However, Nari knew that behind that facade was still the Minho who gets excited over ice cream at that one old convenience store.
"I'm okay with it as long as sunbae's okay with it too." Nari smiled and spoke up first. She knew he wouldn't say anything unless she did. She knew she had to initiate it first.
Minho's brow rose at the word 'sunbae'. Nari chose to ignore it, thinking she was imagining things. Her tone was the typical hoobae talking to their sunbae. It was polite yet distant. Kind yet cold.
This Minho was different. The once filled with warmth was replaced by a distant one. Nari couldn't blame him when she too was acting like that. It felt like walking on eggshells, Nari was mindful of her every move. How fast did the time fly. She used to be able to hug him without hesitation and now she can't even hold eye contact with the man.
"I'm okay with it." Minho said politely.
"Then let us go to Hybe for your reunion."
Nari truly did not know if the universe was playing with her. She was still wearing her stage outift and she was cold to say the least. However, she will not speak up about it.
It has been years since she has seen the others and she no longer knew if they were still on the same page of closeness, especially since after her debut. So, she did the most rational choice, and that is to endure the cold. The industry has changed, and the last thing she wants is a dating scandal.
Bangtan had two vehicles. They had to walk towards the location of the vans and the fact that the weather is cold did not help Nari. To her surprise, she felt a coat being placed around her shoulders.
She tensed up before smelling the familiar mint scent she used to smell years ago. "Thank you..." She whispered. She watched as the man walked towards the other vehicle without saying a word.
Nari felt warmer than she did before. "Is it okay if you ride with Le Sserafim? We assumed that you would be more comfortable traveling to the company with girls." Bangtan's manager smiled.
"Yeah, I don't mind." She smiled as she made her way towards the other van.
She minded.
She minded so very much. She is a big 'I'. An introvert at heart. She would be damned at interacting with other people.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped foot into the van and saw five other girls looking at her. "Hello!" Sakura smiled at her.
Fortunately, their journey was fun and memorable. Le Sserafim made her comfortable and Nari enjoyed it immensely. She bid goodbye at the others as they reached Hybe. Nari waited for the others before she entered the building.
"This- this is Hybe?" She chuckled weakly as the others arrived.
"Welcome, to our humble abode."
"This is humble?" Nari said sarcastically, her old personality coming back.
Nari predebut was a menace.
"Oh, come on." Yoongi chuckled.
It took more than thirty minutes to go through all the security. "What the hell?" Nari cursed.
The building was big. Gigantic. Enormous. Nari could not describe it with words. It had everything, several voice training room, dance rooms, make-up rooms, gyms, even their own infirmary. Nari could feel her jaw dropping.
"I shouldn't have left if I knew it would end up like this." Nari mumbled in which she received chuckles.
"Really?" Minho suddenly asked. His tone had a hint of adoration and surprise.
"Really." Nari was too in awe of the place to even process the fact that Minho talked to her for the first time that day. First time in years.
"So, what should we do first?" Nari smiled at them.
They filmed the entire thing quickly seeing as they were all tired. Nari and Minho had a few interactions and the people around them knew it was for the camera more or less.
They were hanging out in the lounge when Namjoon opened up a conversation regarding Kingdom. "So does this mean only boy groups?" He verified. They were no longer getting filmed, so it was safe for them to talk.
Minho let out a smile. "That is what everyone is expecting. For example, the main groups are Straykids, Ateez, The boyz, Ikon, Btob, and Sf9."
"Ikon's participating?" Nari asked, surprised at the revelation. She thought Ikon would no longer participate at these activities, but she was quickly proven wrong.
Minho nodded. "So, there's that. However, each group can 'adopt' other groups or idols they would like. For example, we already have Chaeryoung from Itzy. They might also add a few unexpected rules. Kingdom will be like a survival show but with more freedom meaning we have to sleep there but we can go out anytime we want."
"The other members of Straykids are here."
a/n: double updates for today because we just reached 200 reads:))