𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗥

𝗑𝗑𝗑𝗏𝗂

Jiwon had been informed by Hyunwoo that if she wanted a brief respite from the relentless chaos caused on Instagram, she needed to meet with Seventeen for their initial collaborative meeting. A chuckle escaped her lips as she assured him she would indeed attend. Dressed in a sleek leather jacket over a crisp white crop top, paired with form-fitting blue jeans and stylish boots, Jiwon slid into her BMW and made her way to the HYBE studio, her heart thrumming with excitement.

She and Joshua had decided to keep their blossoming relationship a secret, although the rest of the members had already started to piece things together after seeing her recent post. Joshua, ever the charming trickster, denied all allegations with a cheeky grin. "Nah, bro, that was just a blind date who happened to show up," he quipped to Seungkwan, who shot him a bemused sideways glance before returning to his (slightly concerning) threats directed at Soonyoung.

As evening approached, Jiwon returned from her studio, which felt more like a second home than a workplace. She had been busy preparing tracks for her upcoming mini-album, alongside a few collaborative pieces for the Seventeen project. Jihoon had asked her to meet them at PLEDIS at six, and with the clock reading 5:41 PM, she quickly sent the tracks to him via email, followed by a quick text. Gathering her lyric sheets, glasses, and laptop, she stepped outside a strange sensation of being watched creeping over her.

Shaking off the unsettling feeling, she sipped her iced tea from HYBE's café, relishing the refreshing taste. The BMW hummed smoothly beneath her, offering a welcome distraction from her racing thoughts. There was something invigorating about being busy again; crafting music was a passion she cherished deeply. Just then, her phone buzzed. It was Jeonghan, checking in to inform her, "We'll be in Room CF2."

Upon arriving at the designated room, Jiwon was greeted by the lively chatter and laughter of Seventeen. Everyone was animated, save for Jihoon, who sat focused with his laptop open in front of him. An array of professional instruments adorned another empty table, their polished surfaces gleaming under the studio lights. As Jiwon entered, the boys stood in unison, offering her a respectful nod. She returned their warm smiles, taking a seat opposite Jihoon, nestled between Joshua and Soonyoung.

Seungkwan was enthusiastically recounting some recent K-drama he was set to sing an OST for, his animated gestures and chatter going above Joshua's head as he stole glances at Jiwon. She looked effortlessly beautiful, her clear-frame glasses delicately perched on her nose bridge, her long hair cascading around her shoulders. It felt nostalgic and exhilarating to think of her as his girlfriend.

"So, shall we get started?" Jiwon suggested, her voice cutting through the playful banter. Seungcheol initiated the meeting, laying out the vision for their album, the overarching theme, and the storyline they were aiming to capture. It was information he had already shared with Joshua that very morning, but Joshua found himself lost in admiration as he watched Jiwon engage with the group. She exuded professionalism, her glasses framing her focused gaze as she meticulously arranged the sheets scattered around her.

As the discussions progressed, Joshua's attention drifted back to Jiwon. An hour into the meeting, Jeonghan caught his eye, his expression revealing that he had pieced together the connection behind Jiwon's recent post. Joshua loved Jeonghan like a brother, but it irked him that Jeonghan had made a move on Jiwon, especially when Joshua knew how delicate their relationship had become. Jiwon had confided in him about the kiss they shared in the kitchen just before Jeonghan's departure. Although she assured him they were on good terms and that she no longer saw Jeonghan as a romantic prospect, the thought still gnawed at him.

What mattered most, however, was that Jiwon was now his, and nothing could come between them. After about fifteen minutes of other discussions, Jiwon stood up and joined Jihoon at the projector, diving into details about the song production. Meanwhile, Seungcheol, Vernon, Mingyu, and Wonwoo moved to another room to brainstorm their unit's song for the album, while Soonyoung, Minghao, Jun, and Chan headed to the dance studio to choreograph their performance.

With Jihoon part of the Vocal Unit, Joshua, Jeonghan, Seungkwan, and Seokmin remained in the same room to focus on their song. Yet, despite trying to concentrate, Joshua found himself increasingly distracted. Jiwon had removed her jacket, settling into one of the chairs as Jihoon leaned over her shoulder, closely listening to one of her compositions. Frustration bubbled within Joshua at the apparent closeness between them.

Jeonghan caught his eye again, this time with an unreadable expression. The rest of the group continued their discussions, blissfully unaware of the tension simmering beneath the surface. It was nearly half-past ten when the others returned, the HH unit looking serious while the Performance Unit appeared slightly out of breath from their energetic dancing.

"I think we should adjourn the meeting until tomorrow," Seungcheol proposed, his voice steady. Jeonghan, Joshua, Seokmin, and Seungkwan nodded in agreement, but Jihoon and Jiwon were still deep in conversation. "We should definitely incorporate an electric guitar in the background, just like you did for Track forty-seven," Jiwon was animatedly suggesting to Jihoon, her low ponytail swaying slightly as she spoke. Jihoon's hair was ruffled a clear sign of his frustration from the evening's efforts.

"Guys," Seungcheol reiterated, raising his voice slightly to capture their attention, "I really think you should take a break. We can reconvene tomorrow." Jiwon and Jihoon looked up, nodding in acknowledgement of his suggestion. "Oh, yes, sure," Jiwon replied, stretching slightly as she began gathering her things. She exchanged farewells with the other members, who were already starting to filter out of the room.

Joshua, feeling a twinge of irritation at the lack of attention Jiwon had given him, decided to make his presence known. "Seungcheol, I'll be meeting a friend tonight. I'll be back tomorrow morning," he announced, purposefully catching Jiwon's eye. Seungcheol raised an eyebrow but refrained from questioning him, simply responding, "Sure, text me if you need a ride," before making his exit. Jihoon was the last to bid farewell to Jiwon.

Finally noticing Joshua leaning against the back of a chair with a slight smile, Jiwon sighed wearily and made her way over to him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. "God, I'm exhausted," she admitted, burying her face in his neck. Joshua hugged her back warmly, whispering, "Come on, let's get you home," before planting a gentle kiss on her cheek, his heart swelling with affection.