Enchanted (Bbangsaz)

11

Happy Hanni's day!

-

The steady beat of the music pulsed through the studio as Hanni finished the final take of her song, her voice trailing off as the melody softened. She took off her headphones, her heart still racing from the emotions she'd poured into the song. Singing always helped her clear her mind, but today, the tangled mess of feelings swirling inside her was harder to shake off.

She walked over to the couch, grabbing a bottle of water. Just as she sat down, the studio door creaked open. Danielle stepped inside, wearing her signature bright smile.

"That sounded lovely." Danielle beamed, giving her a quick side hug before plopping down beside her.

"Thanks, Dani." Hanni managed a small smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. She took a deep breath, her chest tightening. She'd been holding something in, and it was getting harder to keep it to herself.

Danielle tilted her head, noticing the shift in her friend's energy. "Hey... what's going on? You seem off." Her voice was soft, filled with concern.

Hanni hesitated, biting her lip as she looked down at her hands. "Something happened the other night."The words felt heavy as they left her mouth.

Danielle's eyes widened a bit, her curiosity piqued. "Okay... What's goin' on, honey?" She shifted on the couch, turning to face Hanni fully.

"Minji tried to kiss me." The words came out in a rush, and Hanni quickly looked down, fiddling with the hem of her sweater. "And I... I didn't let her."

Danielle blinked, taken aback. "Wait, what? Why not?"

"I don't know, I just... We were hanging out, and..." Hanni's voice faltered as she tried to find the right words. "It was just the two of us, and things got kind of... close. We were under the rain and... she was going to kiss me." Her face flushed slightly as she remembered how intense the moment had been.

Danielle leaned in, her eyes wide with interest. "Wait, but did she kiss you or not?"

Hanni shook her head, fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. "No, I... I pulled away before she could. I panicked. I wasn't ready. It just felt like too much, too soon, and now..." Hanni sighed deeply, her voice softening. "She's been distant ever since. She barely replies to my messages, and when she does, it's short and... I think I really messed things up, Dani."

Danielle's expression softened, her heart breaking for her friend. She placed a comforting hand on Hanni's arm. "Hanni, you didn't mess anything up. You did what felt right to you in the moment. But you have to talk to her. You can't let this awkwardness grow on— if you wait too long, you might miss your chance." Her voice was gentle, but there was an urgency in her tone that Hanni couldn't ignore.

Hanni looked up at her, worry etched on her face. "But what if she doesn't want to talk? What if I pushed her away for good?"

Danielle shook her head firmly. "You won't know unless you try. Minji's... well, she's Minji. Everyone loves her, but you're different, Hanni. She wouldn't have gotten that close to you if you didn't mean something to her. Trust me. You've got to act fast, though, because—" Danielle gave her a playful nudge, "you know how many people have a crush on her. You don't want to lose her to someone else."

Hanni's chest tightened at the thought. She nodded slowly, feeling the weight of Danielle's words. "You're right. I... I need to talk to her. I just hope it's not too late."

Danielle smiled softly, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "It's never too late. Just be honest with her. You've got this."

Meanwhile, Minji lay curled up in bed, her body feeling heavy and sluggish. The cold she'd caught from being out in the rain had hit her hard, and now she was stuck under layers of blankets, her head pounding. She let out a groan as her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She glanced at the screen, seeing her sister Jennie's name flash across it.