The flowerbed - Aespa's Giselle x M!Reader

The stormy horizon

Sunlight filtered through unfamiliar curtains for the second time this week, though this time it wasn't stress that had led to my overnight stay at the dorm. Scattered streamers and empty cake boxes from last night's Whiplash celebration were still visible from my position on the couch. The party had gone late, everyone riding high on the success of the release, deliberately pushing aside thoughts of Jung's threats for one night of pure joy.

The dorm was unusually quiet. No Ningning's morning aegyo, no Winter shuffling around looking for sweet potatoes, no Karina's leader-voice organizing everyone's schedules.

"Oh, you're awake!"

Giselle emerged from the kitchen area, already dressed in casual clothes, her hair slightly damp from a morning shower. She carried two mugs, and the familiar scent of our usual coffee order filled the air.

"I tried to recreate the café's blend," she said, looking slightly embarrassed as she handed me a mug. "Probably not as good as theirs..."

The coffee was actually perfect – she'd clearly been paying attention to my order all these months. "Where is everyone?"

"Karina took Ningning to her vocal lesson, and Winter had a photoshoot." She settled into the armchair across from me, tucking her legs under her. "They tried to wake you earlier but..." A small smile played at her lips. "You were pretty deeply asleep."

"Sorry about crashing here again."

"Don't be. It's nice having you here." The words seemed to slip out without her meaning them to, and a faint blush colored her cheeks. She quickly took a sip of coffee, then brightened as if remembering something. "Actually, I was wondering..."

"Hmm?"

"I need to go shopping today. For the music show tomorrow." She fiddled with her mug. "Usually one of the girls comes with me, but since they're all busy... maybe you'd want to come? We could grab lunch too?"

The invitation hung in the air, carrying more weight than a simple shopping trip should. This wouldn't be a staff member helping an idol with show preparations. This would be...

"I'd love to."

Her smile could have lit up the whole city.

An hour later, we were wandering through a quiet shopping district, carefully chosen for its lack of crowds. Giselle had her hair tucked under a cap, mask in place, looking like any other young woman out shopping. Without the usual staff and managers around, it felt... different. Special.

"Look!" She pulled me toward a small accessories shop, eyes bright with excitement. The owner, an elderly woman who clearly didn't recognize Giselle, just smiled at our entrance.

"AHHHH!" Giselle's sudden shriek made me jump as she darted behind me, her hands gripping my shoulders. The startled shop owner looked up in concern.

"What's wrong?" I asked, trying to turn around, but her grip kept me firmly in place.

"Bee," she whispered, pressing closer to use me as a human shield. Despite the public setting, I couldn't help but notice how perfectly she fit against my back, her fingers curled into the fabric of my jacket. "Don't move - it's right there."

Sure enough, a tiny honeybee was hovering near the shop entrance, seemingly as startled by Giselle's reaction as I was. The professional thing would have been to step away, to maintain appropriate boundaries. Instead, I found myself standing perfectly still, selfishly savoring these few seconds where she trusted me to protect her from something so small.

"The fearless Giselle of aespa, scared of a bee?" I teased gently, trying to lighten the moment before it became too intimate.

"Shut up," she mumbled against my shoulder, but I could hear the embarrassed smile in her voice. "Just... wait until it leaves."