Siren Song | KNJ ✅

Chp. 18: My Heart, My Heart, Oh My God

Ari's POV 🌸

Walking around the studio, I quietly snap pictures of Namjoon and video clips. It's becoming increasingly more challenging to hold the camera steady because watching him perform is staggering.

He's standing in front of the microphone in a fitted pair of navy joggers and a white v-neck t-shirt that stretches across his sculpted chest. A navy blue beanie covers his dark locks, and I'm taken aback that he looks casually sexy and in his element. I shouldn't be surprised at how well he performs after hearing snippets of him rapping and seeing him work on lyrics over the past few weeks, but alas, here I am trying to catch my breath.

Seeing Namjoon create his art makes me beam. I feel like I'm seeing him in the midst of what he is passionate about, and I equate it to if he walked into a room and witnessed me painting or drawing something I cared about. I feel privileged to watch this creativity in progress.

I back up and focus my camera back on Yoongi. He has this fantastic smirk on his face, but it isn't condescending -it's a smirk that reads like a man who knows his friend is making magic. Like he was expecting the work to be good, and Joon is proving him right.

Namjoon stops and catches his breath for a moment, "What do you think?"

"It was amazing!" The words come out of my mouth before I can stop myself, and I want to die of embarrassment. He was asking Yoongi and Lily, obviously not me; I don't know my ass from my elbow when it comes to music production.

Lily starts to belly laugh, "Our key demographic seems to love it," Lily says, and I can feel the blush rise from my chest up over my face.

Namjoon chuckles shooting a dimpled smile my way, making me look down at my feet shyly.

"On that note, I'm going to go take a break for a bit while you discuss," I laugh, trying to make light of my own embarrassment. Yoongi smiles over at me and nods as they begin to discuss what they think is working and what might be tweaked.

I close the studio door quietly behind me and take a deep breath. My hands are still shaking, and I feel like I just need a few minutes to calm down.

Why is he so hot?

I wander around the hallways, relieved I'm starting to know my way around and decide to head toward the little balcony and get some fresh air.

As I turn a corner, I hear something unusual. I scrunch my nose up and follow the sound until I see a figure alone in a back hallway looking out a window. His shoulders are moving up and down, and I recognize the unmistakable sound of muffled crying. As I come closer to the figure, I recognize his impeccable profile.

"Oh, Hobi, are you okay?" I ask gently, and he startles, trying to straighten his frame while wiping an errant tear from his cheek.

"Ari! Umm, yes, I umm, was just checking out the view...." He tries to smile, but he knows I can clearly see what is happening.

"I'm so sorry I didn't mean to interrupt you. It's just that you were so kind to me the other day. You know, if you need an ear. I'm here, and I've signed alllllll kinds of NDA's," I say lightly with a bit of humor to try and make him feel more comfortable.

"I don't like to burden others with my personal stuff..." Hobi smiles gently as he gazes back out the window.

I appreciate his point of view, but the amount of pain reflected in his eyes draws me in. I can't walk away from someone drowning in this much hurt. The plate-glass window has a wide sill that can be used as a bench, and I sit down.

"Maybe you'd just like to chat about some other subject with me then? You don't have to tell me what's wrong." I say gently.

Hobi slides down on the opposite end of the sill glancing over me. His eyes read he's cautious of me, but his body language says he's in need of comfort.