For the fifth time this week, Nabi walked into the office, and for the first time in what felt like ages, her mood was actually a little lighter. Her shoulders, usually tense and tight, had softened, and as she typed out a message to her newest friend, a small smile tugged at her lips. The last few months had been a whirlwind, but maybe—just maybe—things were starting to look up.
It helped, of course, that the office was unusually quiet today. Most employees had taken advantage of their once-a-week company-issued "sick day," leaving the space eerily calm and empty. Even her brother, a man who had made it his personal mission to be the embodiment of a corporate villain, wasn't around. But that didn't mean things were perfect. In fact, it was hard to forget how their relationship had devolved over the years. Her brother, Nathan, wasn't a complete asshole—he was just a product of their parents' archaic, misogynistic mindset. They had grown up in a house where tradition ruled all, and in that house, women were meant to be seen and not heard. Naturally, Nathan had inherited those views. It was no surprise that he would be the one to carry on their parents' outdated ideals into adulthood, while Nabi fought to break free from them.
Turning a corner, she collided with someone, and for a moment, her world tilted. A strong hand grabbed her arm before she could completely lose her balance. "Nabi?" The voice was unmistakable, but it still sent a ripple of annoyance through her chest.
She looked up to meet the familiar gaze of her brother. "Hey, Nam," she muttered, the use of his childhood nickname slipping out without thinking—something she desperately wished would just leave her vocabulary.
Nathan flashed that infuriating smirk of his, his perfectly tailored business suit only adding to his CEO aura. In an attempt to escape the encounter, Nabi nodded at him, preparing to walk past him. But of course, that was when her world came to a grinding halt.
Her wrist was seized with a sudden, firm grip.
"Wait, what's the rush?" he teased, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
Nabi gritted her teeth. "You know I dislike you, right?"
"Of course," Nathan replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "But you know who doesn't? Mom and Dad~"
That was it. The words alone were enough to send heat rushing to her head. The threat was subtle, but it was always there—an unspoken warning. If word ever got out that she hated her brother, especially from him, her position could be at risk. Her parents wouldn't hesitate to pull her strings, and Nathan... well, he had a special way of manipulating things to make her life miserable.
The silence between them was suffocating, until a familiar ping from her phone broke it.
Hansol.
A smile tugged at her lips as she eagerly read the text about his group's antics during their European tour. The weight of the world seemed to lift off her shoulders, even if just for a moment. She typed out a quick reply, her heart lightening with each word.
But before she could hit send, a voice boomed from behind her.
"Who's Hansol?" Nathan asked, his tone casual but his eyes scanning the conversation on her phone with an unsettling intensity.
Nabi swiftly shoved her phone into her pocket, irritation bubbling up. "None of your business, Namjoo."
"Ooo~ and she whips out the government name. How charming!" he teased, but there was a sudden shift in his demeanor. His voice grew dry, almost calculating. "You've been happier recently."
Nabi scoffed. "And?"
"If you have a boyfriend, you should tell Mom and Dad." The words were clipped, his tone as cold as the iced coffee in his hand.
Nabi shot him a disgusted look. "Oh please, Nathan," she said, using his English name, a rare and pointed reminder of their strained relationship. "I'm not dating anyone, and even if I were, there's no way in hell I would tell any of you."
The scowl on her face was more than enough to deter him.
Turning to leave, she thought the conversation was finally over, but of course, Nathan had to get in the last word. "Suit yourself. Just remember who the boss here is~"
With those words hanging ominously in the air, he walked off, leaving Nabi to simmer in her frustration. She stood there for a moment, breathing deeply, trying to shake off the bitter taste his presence always left behind.
Meanwhile, halfway across the world, in the middle of Seventeen's post-tour downtime, Hansol found himself in the middle of his own set of complications.
The group was lounging in their hotel's massive living room after their London shows. Most of them were lounging or playing games, though Seungkwan couldn't help but dig into Hansol about his cryptic interactions with Nabi.
"Back to the group chat conversation!" Seungkwan demanded.
Kwan, always the instigator, couldn't let it go. "Come on, Hansol, you know we'll support you if you are dating, right?"
The other members laughed, teasing him, but Hansol only smiled, trying to deflect.
Joshua, ever the calm one, leaned in, his voice low enough to be barely above a whisper. "Hey, we've got your back. If you really are dating her, we'll support you."
Hansol nodded, feeling a weight on his chest, but he also knew he wasn't ready for that conversation. "We're just friends," he said, trying to sound convincing. "I would tell you guys if something was happening, but I'm not looking for a relationship right now."
Joshua didn't press any further, sensing Hansol's hesitation. "Well, if she's really a friend, you should invite her to the dorm sometime. Touring makes it hard to meet new people, you know?"
Hansol thought about that. "I'll ask her," he said with a soft smile.
For once, he felt a little lighter. At least there were people who cared.
But as his phone buzzed in his pocket, Hansol couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this story. The line between friendship and something more with Nabi was starting to blur, and that scared him. But for now, all he could do was wait—wait for the moment when everything would finally fall into place.
If it ever did.
