Siniz, an Indian manager at BigHit, hides her secret crush on Jungkook by ignoring him, determined not to let her feelings grow. Jungkook, BTS's golden maknae, who never thought about love, becomes intrigued by Siniz's distance, sparking an unexpect...
Siniz stood in front of the mirror in the restroom, staring at her reflection as she splashed cold water on her face. It had been a long day. The weight of her responsibilities was always there, but she had learned to handle it—until now.
Voices drifted in from the far end of the restroom, and Siniz instinctively quieted her movements. She could hear two staff members, their voices sharp with judgment, unaware of her presence.
"I don't get why Jungkook would date her. She's not even Korean, and honestly, she doesn't seem like his type," one of them said, a mocking tone in her voice.
"And Shanaya? With Jimin? Please, she's always hanging around, but she's not one of us. They both just don't fit," the other chimed in, as if discussing gossip over coffee.
Siniz felt her stomach twist. She could feel the sting of every word like a knife.
"They're just using their jobs to get close to the members," the first voice continued. "It's obvious."
She squeezed her eyes shut. It felt like the air had been knocked out of her. Every word made her feel more like an outsider, someone who didn't belong. Even though she had earned her place at BigHit, it suddenly felt like all her hard work meant nothing to them.
Unable to hear more, she quickly left the restroom, the door closing behind her without a sound.
---
Later that day, Siniz sat with Shanaya in their shared apartment. Shanaya was painting her nails, but as soon as Siniz sat down, her best friend noticed something was wrong.
"What's up with you?" Shanaya asked, her brow furrowing. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Siniz hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not to say anything. But she and Shanaya had never kept secrets from each other. With a sigh, Siniz finally spoke.
"I overheard some people talking today... about us," she began, her voice quiet.
Shanaya put her nail polish aside and turned to face her. "What did they say?"
Siniz bit her lip. "They said we don't belong. That we're just using our jobs to get close to the members."
Shanaya's eyes immediately flashed with anger. "What? Who said that? Tell me right now."
Siniz placed a hand on Shanaya's arm, trying to calm her down. "It doesn't matter who said it. What matters is how we respond."
"I'll tell you how I want to respond," Shanaya said, her tone fiery. "I want to march right up to them and give them a piece of my mind!"
Siniz shook her head, though she understood the anger swirling inside Shanaya. "That's not going to help. We can't let them see us get worked up over their opinions. We knew this would happen. People were always going to have something to say."
"But that doesn't mean we should let them talk about us like that," Shanaya muttered, still visibly upset.
Siniz sighed, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on the table. "I know. But think about it—we're with Jungkook and Jimin. Of course people are going to be jealous. It's not easy being in the spotlight, even when it's just by association. We knew that getting involved with them would bring challenges."
Shanaya stared at her, her anger slowly dissolving into something softer. "I just hate that you had to hear them talking like that. It's not fair."
"I know," Siniz said gently. "But we have to be strong. We can't let their opinions break us. If we do, they win."
---
A few hours later, Bora and Mia dropped by, immediately sensing that something was off. Bora gave Siniz a knowing look, while Mia flopped onto the couch beside Shanaya.
"Okay, spill," Mia said, crossing her arms. "Something's going on."
Siniz exchanged a glance with Shanaya, who sighed before explaining what had happened. As Shanaya spoke, the anger in Mia's expression deepened, while Bora listened quietly, her brows furrowed in thought.
"Those people are idiots," Mia said, her voice brimming with irritation. "You don't have to listen to a word they say. You've worked hard to be where you are. You've both earned your places, and no one can take that away from you."
Siniz smiled, grateful for Mia's fierce loyalty. "Thanks, Mia. But... it's hard, you know? Knowing that some people don't think we deserve to be here."
"Let them hate," Bora said firmly. "It's jealousy, plain and simple. You're dating global stars. It's not going to be easy. You knew that going in."
"We did," Shanaya muttered, still simmering with a bit of anger. "But it doesn't make it any easier to hear."
Bora leaned forward, her voice gentle but filled with conviction. "Look, people are always going to find reasons to talk, to hate. You're dating global artists like Jungkook and Jimin—it comes with the territory. But don't let their words affect you. You've got each other, you've got us, and more importantly, you have Jungkook and Jimin."
Mia nodded in agreement, her voice softening. "And don't forget, Jungkook and Jimin chose you. That says everything. They wouldn't care what others think."
Siniz felt a wave of warmth wash over her. She had always appreciated the close bond she shared with her friends, but moments like this reminded her just how lucky she was to have them in her corner.
"You're right," Siniz said, her voice steady. "We can't let this get to us. We've come too far to let a few people's opinions tear us down."
"Exactly," Bora said, smiling warmly. "We all believe in you. Don't forget that."
Siniz nodded, her resolve strengthening. She glanced at Shanaya, who was still fuming but slowly calming down.
"Okay," Shanaya finally said, exhaling deeply. "You're right. We can't let them win."
---
The next day, Siniz and Shanaya walked into the office with their heads held high. They could feel the eyes of some of the staff on them, but they didn't flinch. They wouldn't give those people the satisfaction of seeing them affected.
Later, when Siniz and Shanaya were sitting at their desks, Bora and Mia walked over, giving them knowing smiles. It was a silent but powerful show of support. They didn't need words to communicate that they were all in this together.
As Siniz settled into her work, she felt a quiet sense of peace. She knew there would be more challenges ahead, but she also knew she had the strength to face them. And with her friends, her career, and her relationship with Jungkook, she was determined to move forward, no matter what anyone said.
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