Knowing you - Heeseung x Minji

Chapter 1: The Unwanted Pairing

"Yah! Minji-unnie, did you hear?"

Hanni's excited squeal snapped me out of my Instagram scrolling trance. I looked up from my phone, my eyebrows raised in question. The girls were gathered around, their faces alight with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.

"Hear what?" I asked, my voice slightly hoarse from the endless hours of vocal training we had endured earlier in the day.

Danielle clasped her hands together and leaned forward, her eyes wide with glee. "¡We're doing a special project with Enhypen!" she announced, her voice barely containing her excitement.

A collective gasp filled the room, followed by a flurry of excited chatter. Hyein, our sweet maknae, clapped her hands in delight. "That's amazing!" she exclaimed. "I've admired their music since their debut."

Haerin nodded in agreement. "I love their choreography," she said. "It's so powerful and unique."

I forced a smile, trying to mirror their enthusiasm. "That's great news," I said, my voice sounding hollow even to my own ears. "It'll be a good opportunity for us to collaborate with our labelmates."

But as I spoke the words, a sense of dread crept into my heart, a cold chill that had nothing to do with the air conditioning blasting in the practice room. I knew what this meant. It meant more late nights, more grueling rehearsals, more pressure to live up to the sky-high expectations that came with being a HYBE artist. And, most importantly, it meant interacting with Heeseung.

Lee Heeseung. The mere thought of him sent a shiver down my spine. I had never forgotten our first encounter, a brief but impactful moment that had left a lasting impression on me.

Flashback

The fluorescent lights of the building buzzed overhead as I navigated the labyrinthine corridors, The cheers and applause of the crowd still echoed in my ears as I navigated the labyrinthine corridors. NewJeans' debut performance had been a whirlwind of adrenaline and exhilaration, a dream come true for all of us. The weight of the moment, the realization that we had finally made it, left me feeling both giddy and exhausted.

As I rounded a corner, I collided with a solid figure, my momentum sending me stumbling backward. A pair of strong hands steadied me, their warmth a stark contrast to the cool air conditioning.

"Watch where you're going," a voice said, its tone sharp and impatient.

I looked up, my eyes meeting a pair of deep black ones. It was Heeseung, the main vocalist of Enhypen, his face etched with a familiar scowl. He was even more striking up close, his features sharp and angular, his gaze piercing.

I bowed instinctively, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I-I'm sorry," I stammered. "I wasn't paying attention."

Heeseung released me, his hands dropping to his sides. "Clearly," he muttered, his eyes raking over me with a disdain that cut like a knife.

I straightened, mustering what little composure I had left. "I'm Minji," I introduced myself, bowing again. "I'm a member of NewJeans. We just finished our debut performance."

Heeseung looked at me for a moment, a flicker of recognition passing through his eyes. But instead of returning the bow, he simply scoffed. "Congratulations," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm sure your little performance was... adequate."

My heart sank. So much for making a good first impression.

"Well," Heeseung continued, his tone dismissive. "I have better things to do than chat with rookies."

He turned on his heel, his long strides carrying him away as quickly as he had appeared. I watched him go, a mixture of anger and hurt churning within me. How could someone so talented be so arrogant, so dismissive?

I clenched my fists, a surge of determination rising within me. I would not let his words define me, his disdain discourage me.

As I walked away, the echoes of his harsh words still rang in my ears, a bitter reminder of the challenges that lay ahead.

End Flashback

The door to the practice room swung open, interrupting my unpleasant reverie. Our manager, Mr. Choi, stepped inside, his face a mask of practiced professionalism. He surveyed the room, his gaze lingering on each of us for a moment before finally settling on me.

"Minji," he said, his voice a low rumble that commanded attention. "I need to speak with you in my office."

My heart sank. I knew what was coming.

I rose to my feet, my legs feeling heavy as I followed Mr. Choi out of the practice room and down the dimly lit hallway. The silence between us was thick with unspoken words, a tension that crackled in the air like static electricity.

When we reached his office, Mr. Choi gestured for me to sit down. I perched on the edge of the leather chair, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. He leaned back in his own chair, his fingers steepled in front of him, his eyes boring into mine.

"I have some news," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "For the Enhypen project, you'll be partnered with Heeseung."

My heart plummeted to my stomach. This was my worst nightmare come true.

"Why me?" I asked, my voice barely a croak.

Mr. Choi shrugged. "The higher-ups believe that the two of you have the most chemistry," he said, as if that explained everything.

I wanted to argue, to protest, to scream that they were wrong. But I knew it was futile. The decision had been made, and I was powerless to change it.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the challenge ahead. "I understand," I said, my voice barely masking the bitterness I felt. "I'll do my best."

Mr. Choi nodded, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. "I'm sure you will," he said. "You're a professional, after all."

I rose to my feet, my legs trembling slightly as I walked out of his office and back into the brightly lit hallway. As I made my way back to the practice room, I couldn't shake the feeling that this unwanted pairing was more than just a professional collaboration. It was a test, a trial by fire. And I was determined to emerge from it stronger than ever.

When I returned, the excitement in the room had reached fever pitch. The girls were buzzing with anticipation, their voices overlapping as they speculated about the details of the project. I took a deep breath and plastered a smile on my face, determined to put on a brave front for the sake of my team.

"So," I said, my voice surprisingly steady. "Who's ready to meet Enhypen?"

A chorus of cheers erupted, and we made our way to the designated meeting room, a sense of nervous anticipation hanging in the air. As we entered the room, my eyes immediately locked onto Heeseung. He was standing in the center of the room, surrounded by his fellow members, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable.

He met my gaze with a cool indifference that sent a shiver down my spine. The air crackled with unspoken tension as we stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills. I knew then that this project was going to be more than just a challenge.