HIBISCUS | Bang Chan of Stray Kids

Track 21

"Don't know why I'm like this. Even if I pretend it doesn't, my heart races like it'll burst."

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Track 21

          Hey, you wanna come in?

          Hwayoung feverishly tapped her thumb against the higher volume button of her phone until her phone sent warnings of possible audible damage. Jisung's opening verse played loudly into both ears as she carelessly jammed to the song for the millionth time. As much as Hwayoung was having fun, the makeup artist trying to apply Hwayoung's eyeliner was having a much harder time. Normally, Hwayoung was always respectful to her staff; however, Hwayoung was unable to help herself from dancing whenever the repackaged album shuffled in her playlist.

          "We gon do it right now, do it right now, baby! Woo!"

          "Miss Hwa-"

          "Make you say wow, wow, wow, aye!" Hwayoung attempted to mimic Felix's hand movements, but naturally proceeded awkwardly. "Three, two, o-!"

          A hand hitting the back of Hwayoung's head unwillingly knocked her back into reality. Rubbing her scalp to ease some of the pain, Hwayoung took out her earbuds and turned to glare at the culprit, "What was that for?"

          "Stop moving so they can finish your makeup. If you keep flailing like a fish out of water, we might as well skip the Boys Before Bouquets premiere entirely," Manager An lectured, making his way to sit in the empty studio chair next to Hwayoung.

          "Who cares if we're a little late? It's not like we're the main cast anyways, nobody's going to know," Hwayoung pouted, checking the time on her screen, "But we still have like another two hours before the red carpet."

          "Actually, we have four," Manager An snorted, "I anticipated you to show up late, hence the reason why I asked you to show up extra early. Looks like efforts still go in vain even if you came hours earlier."

          "It's not like I was going to be late! This is a betrayal of deceit, Manager An. I'll remember this even to your grave," Hwayoung's frown deepened, "But still, my head was undeserving of your torment."

          "Yeah, yeah. You'll be fine. If anything, you'll send me to my grave early anyways," Manager An wordlessly apologized by handing her a fruit jelly to which Hwayoung greatly accepted, "You nervous for tonight? It is your first big premiere after all."

          Hwayoung calmly closed her eyes, letting her makeup artist finish sharpening her eyeliner, "A little, I guess, but I'm more excited."

          "For?"

          "Is it not obvious? I get to see Stray Kids again! The last time I saw them was at the music video recording."

          "I don't get it. Didn't y'all exchange numbers or something?"

           "We did," Hwayoung opened her eyes to apply mascara, "But they've been busy preparing for their repackage, so we haven't had time to hang out much."

          "Sure, sure," Manager An dismissed her, not really that interested.

          Hwayoung playfully rolled her eyes at the elder, "What about you? I thought you and Manager SKZ were becoming really good friends. I saw you guys getting soju the other day. Don't lie to me."