𝐻𝒶𝑒𝒷𝒶𝓁𝒶𝑔𝒾 ~ Johnny Suh ff

Chapter Four

The scene shifted as the gathering grew louder, with members from different groups converging around Johnny, Julia, and the others.

 "Uh, yeah... we were childhood friends back in Chicago before my debut," Johnny replied, his eyes never leaving Julia. The years had passed, but he could still see her as clearly as if it had been yesterday.

Julia's eyes widened slightly as she processed the connection, still unsure of how to react. Jaehyun, who had been standing off to the side, glanced between them, an amused grin forming as he stepped in.

"Wait, is he the ex-friend that ghosted you when he became an idol?" Jaehyun's voice carried a teasing edge.

"You told him that?" Johnny's voice was a mix of surprise and frustration.

Before Julia could say anything, a tall, blonde girl with an overly confident air approached, her arms sliding possessively around Johnny's.

"Hey, babe," she greeted him with a saccharine smile, as if the world revolved around her.

"Hyuni," Johnny sighed, acknowledging her with a weariness that Julia didn't miss.

The blonde eyed Julia with a calculating gaze, sizing her up like a puzzle to be solved. "Who's the girl?" she asked, her voice sharp.

"Apparently she's Johnny's old friend from Chicago," Haechan piped up, his tone playful but also a bit dismissive.

"Really?" Hyuni's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Well, don't be rude, Johnny. Introduce us properly."

Johnny hesitated, clearly uncomfortable, but Julia didn't wait for him. She took the lead, her hand extending in a polite but firm gesture. "I'm Julia," she said smoothly, her voice steady despite the tension.

Johnny wasn't surprised. He knew Julia well enough to know she would take matters into her own hands, regardless of the situation.

Hyuni looked at her hand for a moment before reluctantly shaking it. "Jeon Hyuni," she replied, her eyes flicking over Julia with a sense of thinly veiled competition.

"Hyuni is a part of HeartLock," Taeyong added casually, trying to break the tension. "They debuted a few months ago."

Julia nodded, her mind already racing with the information. Jaehyun, ever the smooth operator, casually placed his arm around Julia's shoulder, a move that Johnny noticed immediately. His expression tightened for the briefest moment, but only Mark and Julia caught it.

"Julia is Jaehyun's video game friend," Mark chimed in, his voice light, but the way he said it was enough to make the atmosphere shift slightly.

"And you came all this way just for him?" Hyuni's smile was pure sugar, but there was a bite behind it. "He must be pretty special to you."

"Yeah, he's something," Julia replied, nudging Jaehyun playfully, hiding the discomfort she felt from Hyuni's attention.

Johnny's curiosity got the best of him. His eyes flicked between Julia and Jaehyun. "Are you two dating?"

The question hung in the air as both Julia and Jaehyun shared a moment of silent communication, both unsure how to handle the weight of Johnny's question. Neither of them had really discussed their relationship status, and neither wanted to make assumptions about the other's feelings.

Finally, they both nodded in unison. "We're just friends," they said, their voices matching perfectly.

Johnny let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, and for a moment, Julia thought he looked relieved.