Syncing Dream [Aespa x M!Reader] (COMPLETED)

31. Fashion Statement

A few days after Aespa's international tour finale, Y/n had hoped for a bit of downtime—maybe a quiet day at the dorm, catching up on sleep and reorganizing the chaos that was his schedule. But, fate had other plans. Specifically, Winter's newly appointed role as a luxury brand ambassador, which meant one thing: a high-profile fashion show.

"Ambassador? Seriously?" Y/n muttered, his phone buzzing with the latest update from the agency. He glanced through the itinerary, his eyes widening. This was no small event. It was huge—VIPs, celebrities, the whole deal.

"Damn, this crybaby's face card do land her a lot of products, huh..."

And of course, he had to be there, making sure everything ran smoothly for Winter.

Standing outside the stylist's room, Y/n found himself waiting while Winter got her makeup done. He tried not to dwell on the growing tension between them after her unexpected confession a few days ago. That prank that turned serious had left him scrambling to figure out his feelings—something he wasn't quite ready to confront.

As the door to the room opened, Y/n straightened up, his eyes landing on Winter. Dressed in a sleek black ensemble designed specifically for the show, she looked effortlessly stunning. Her usually casual demeanor was replaced by an elegant, almost intimidating air. For a moment, Y/n blinked, caught off guard by the transformation.

"You okay there?" Winter's voice broke through his thoughts, snapping him back to reality. She smirked, noticing the slight daze on his face. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Y/n cleared his throat, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "No, no ghost. Just... didn't expect you to look so..." He struggled for words, finally settling on, "fancy."

Winter raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Fancy, huh? Sounds like a compliment to me."

"It IS a compliment, Minjeong." Y/n replied, trying to regain his usual cool. "You're definitely gonna steal the show tonight."

Winter's smirk softened into a small smile, but her eyes held something more—a depth that Y/n hadn't really noticed before. "Thanks," she said, her voice quieter now. "It means a lot, especially coming from you."

Y/n chuckled, brushing it off with a casual wave. "Well, I'm the certified moral support—and to make sure you don't trip on the runway."

"Yaaa, I don't trip." Minjeong pouted.

"Don't get me started."

As Winter was whisked away by a swarm of stylists and event staff, Y/n lingered in the backstage area. Watching her interact with designers and coordinators, he couldn't help but notice something had shifted. Winter wasn't the crybaby childhood friend he'd known all his life. Sure, she still had that playful, sometimes bratty attitude, but now, there was a different side to her—one that was composed, poised, and... captivating.

As the show began, Y/n found himself standing at the edge of the backstage area, nervously bouncing on the balls of his feet. Bright lights flashed on the runway, and the music pounded through the speakers as models glided out in extravagant outfits. Y/n kept his eye on the lineup, waiting for Winter's turn.

And then, there she was.

Winter stepped onto the runway, the crowd's murmur softening into an appreciative hum. She moved with an elegance and grace that Y/n hadn't quite expected. Her expression was cool, almost detached, yet there was a confidence radiating from her that left him mesmerized.

The way she carried herself—shoulders back, head high—it was like she belonged on that stage. For the first time, Y/n saw Winter not just as the girl who would whine when she didn't get her snacks or pull pranks just to get a reaction out of him, but as someone who was growing into a remarkable and self-assured woman.