Enchanted (Bbangsaz)

5

Hanni and Minji returned to the heart of the party, but this time, something felt different. The two walked side by side, going through the flashing lights and steady rhythm of music, but neither seemed particularly eager to join the crowd. Their conversation from the rooftop still lingered between them, giving everything a warmer, more personal feel.

Minji took the lead, her eyes scanning the room for their friends. As they passed by a waiter holding a tray of drinks, Minji reached out and grabbed two glasses of champagne, handing one to Hanni with a small smile.

"Thought you could use this," Minji said casually, her voice just loud enough to be heard over the music.

"Thanks," Hanni responded, her fingers brushing against Minji's as she accepted the glass. She took a sip, appreciating the slight buzz that helped take the edge off.

They found a quieter corner, out of the main flow of the party, and for a moment it felt like they were back on the rooftop, away from everything. The rest of the room blurred into the background, and Hanni couldn't help but notice how at ease Minji seemed compared to before.

"You're pretty good at handling these parties," Hanni said, her curiosity getting the best of her.

Minji raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, really? I used to be terrible at them. I used to hide behind Jennie unnie all the time."

Hanni blinked in surprise. "You? Hiding? That's hard to picture."

Minji laughed softly, the sound easy and warm. "I know, right? But yeah, I'd let her take the lead. She's always been the confident one, pulling me into conversations, making sure I didn't disappear."

Hanni shook her head in disbelief. "You don't seem like someone who'd disappear."

"Well, not anymore," Minji admitted. "But it took time to get comfortable. Now, I feel like I can handle it. Doesn't mean I like all the attention, though."

Hanni took another sip of her champagne, the soft glow of the lights making her feel more relaxed. "I get that. It's a lot of pressure, having everyone look at you all the time."

Minji nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, but I guess we learn to adapt. You find your own way of making it work. Like with songwriting for you. You'll get through the block, you just need to give yourself some space."

Hanni smiled, grateful for the reassurance. "I hope so. Maybe I need to take a page from your book and stop worrying so much about what people expect."

Minji leaned in slightly, her voice lowering conspiratorially. "Exactly. People will always have expectations. But if you keep chasing them, you'll never get the chance to figure out what you want."

Hanni met her eyes, feeling a warmth in Minji's words. It wasn't just advice, it was understanding—someone who had been in her shoes and knew the weight of those expectations.

Before either of them could say more, they were interrupted by Danielle and Haerin making their way over, followed closely by Hyein.

"There you two are!" Danielle greeted them cheerfully, her arm already slung around Haerin's shoulders. "We thought you disappeared on us."

"Yeah, you've been gone for a while," Hyein teased, giving Minji a playful nudge. "What were you two up to?"

Hanni felt her cheeks flush, but Minji responded smoothly, "Just catching up. You know how these events can get."

The group settled into easy conversation, but even in the crowd, Minji kept finding small ways to check in on Hanni. A quick comment here, a casual touch there—nothing overt, but enough for Hanni to notice. The others seemed to notice too, though they didn't say anything. There was a quiet understanding among the group, a recognition of something unspoken.