The flowerbed - Aespa's Giselle x M!Reader

The warm sunlight paints a picture

Seoul, Korea

It's the crack of dawn in Seoul, the birds chirping, and the sun has risen. The morning rush hour commutes have begun, as the working class rushes to the subways to make it to work on time.However, this story isn't about Seoul or the typical rush hour commutes many take. Instead, it's about love.

SM Entertainment Practice Rooms

The practice room was bathed in early morning light streaming through the tall windows, the polished wooden floors reflecting the glow of dawn. In front of the mirror, Karina moved with fluid grace, marking the steps of their latest choreography. Even in practice clothes, their leader carried herself with an elegance that made every movement look effortless. She caught my reflection in the mirror first, offering a professional nod that somehow still felt welcoming.Near the corner, Winter was methodically stretching, her silver-blonde hair pulled back into a perfect bun, not a strand out of place. She had that focused look I'd seen in their performance videos - the one that earned her the ice princess nickname. But when she turned to greet me, there was a subtle warmth in her smile that the cameras rarely caught.

Ningning sat by the speaker system, one leg stretched out as she reviewed something on her tablet, humming quietly to herself. The youngest member's presence filled the room with an infectious energy, even in these quiet morning moments. She looked up at my entrance, her face brightening with curiosity.

And then there was Giselle. She stood by the window, the morning light creating a soft halo around her as she practiced her rap verses under her breath, completely absorbed in her own world. When she finally noticed me, she stopped mid-verse, and the smile that spread across her face made my heart skip. There was something about her that the screens and stages hadn't captured - a genuine warmth that radiated from her entire being.I'd seen all their performances, studied their moves, prepared myself for this job. But nothing had prepared me for this moment, for her smile, for the way my professional resolve began to waver the instant Giselle stepped forward with an extended hand and that gentle "Hi, I'm Giselle" that would replay in my mind for days to come.

It was my first day as aespa's new manager, and already my heart was racing. My nerves had betrayed me the moment I stepped foot into their practice room for our introductions.

I'd seen all their performances, i've listened to their music, of course. Everyone in the industry knows aespa. But, nothing had prepared me for seeing them in person, *especially not her*.Karina made the introductions, every bit the graceful leader I'd expected. Winter's gaze was piercing, and cold (ironic) but not unkind, while Ningning bounced around the practice room, at 7 in the morning.

But when Giselle stepped forward, extending her hand with that gentle smile that never quite made it to the press photos, time seemed to slow down.

"Hi, I'm Giselle," she said, her voice softer than it sounded on stage. The moment her hand touched mine, I knew I was in trouble. Up close, she was even more captivating - the way she tucked her hair behind her ear, the slight tilt of her head as she waited for my response, the genuine warmth in her eyes.

I'd promised myself to stay professional, to maintain boundaries. After all, I was here to help them throughout their idol activities, not to get lost in one member's smile. But as Giselle laughed at something Winter whispered, glancing back at me with those bright eyes,

I realized some promises are harder to keep than others.

*3 hours later...*

I had been watching them practice for the past two hours, their determination unwavering. "Ok girls, that should be good for today's session! Good job, you all did well." the choreographer paused. "Giselle, work on the transition from floor to standing - it needs to be a bit sharper."

The moment the words left her mouth, I saw something shift in her expression. While the others began packing up, Giselle remained frozen in place, her eyes fixed on her reflection in the practice room mirror.

"Giselle? Let's go," Ningning said softly, tapping her shoulder.

"You guys go ahead, I need to practice more." Her voice was tight, controlled.

"You've been practicing enough," Karina stepped in, leader instincts kicking in. "Any more and you might injure yourself."

"I need to perfect that part..." Giselle's voice cracked slightly. "I'm not good enough yet," she whispered, so quietly I barely caught it. The words squeezed at my heart.

Karina hesitated, exchanging concerned glances with Winter and Ningning. Finally, she sighed. "Ok, but please don't overwork yourself, Aeri."

As the others filed out, I lingered by the door, torn between my duty to supervise and her obvious desire to be alone.

"You should go, manager-nim," she said, not meeting my eyes. "I need to practice this."

"It's fine, I'll stay," I said, settling back onto the practice room couch. She looked like she wanted to protest but instead turned back to the mirror, determination etched into every line of her face.

An hour passed. Then another. I watched as frustration began to replace determination, as her movements grew sharper, more aggressive.

"How can I not get this?" she finally exploded, dropping to her knees. "I've done way more intensive dances before!" Her voice echoed off the practice room walls, raw with emotion.

"I've been watching you go at this for the last five hours," I said gently. "You need to take a break."

"No, I can't," she snapped, but I could hear the exhaustion beneath the fire.

I stood up slowly, my mind racing. Direct suggestions wouldn't work - not with how deep she was in her perfectionist mindset. But maybe...

"Aeri," I said softly, moving to stand beside her. "I noticed something. When you're coming up, your right foot is tucked inward. That's what's throwing off your timing."

She turned to look at me, really look at me, for the first time in hours. Her makeup had long since worn off, her practice clothes were damp with sweat, but somehow she looked more beautiful than ever - raw and real. "Here," I demonstrated the movement. "Instead of rising like this, bring your feet out... then up, like this." She watched intently, her eyes following every detail of my movement. The intensity of her gaze made my heart race.

"Let me try..." She positioned herself, took a deep breath, and executed the move. This time, it was perfect - fluid, sharp, exactly on beat.

"Y/n... what- how?!" Her eyes were wide with amazement, all the previous frustration replaced with joy.

"I have some experience with dancing," I said, suddenly shy under her bright-eyed gaze. The way she was looking at me made it hard to remember I was supposed to be her manager.

"Why didn't you say something earlier?" she asked, stepping closer."You needed to figure it out yourself first," I said honestly. "Sometimes the best way to learn is to struggle a little."

She was quiet for a moment, considering this. "Thank you," she finally said, and the sincerity in her voice made my chest tight. "Not just for the help, but also... for staying."