It was another long day of rehearsals for ENHYPEN. The tension from hours of practice in the studio was starting to wear on the younger members, but it was something they had all grown used to. They knew they had to keep going—no matter how exhausted they were.
The staff had prepared snacks for the group, and they took a brief break, catching their breath and chatting. The sound of laughter echoed through the room as Sunoo and Niki joked with Jungwon. Despite the long hours, Sunoo was still his cheerful self, his bright smile the center of attention.
But it was then that something changed.
As they made their way out of the studio for a brief break, a fan—who had somehow slipped past the barricade—approached them. She was visibly upset about something. At first, the members didn’t think much of it. They were used to fans approaching them and asking for pictures or autographs.
But the fan’s words were sharp, her tone cold and accusatory.
“You think you’re so special just because you’re pretty?” she spat at Sunoo, her words harsh. “I bet the only reason you’re even in this group is because of your looks. You’re nothing without that.”
The words stung, hitting Sunoo hard, even though he tried to brush it off with a smile. He knew how to handle rude comments, but this felt different.
His smile faltered for a second, and his heart sank. He wasn’t prepared for that kind of hostility, especially from someone who was supposed to be a fan.
Before anyone could respond, the atmosphere shifted. The hyung line—the older members of the group—were suddenly standing in front of Sunoo, their expressions dark and unreadable.
Jay, Heeseung, Sunghoon, and Jake's aura had all changed in an instant. They were no longer the playful, teasing hyungs that the maknae line had known and loved. They were the embodiment of anger.
Heeseung’s voice, usually calm and collected, was low and dangerous. “Do you think you can just say whatever you want to him?”
Sunghoon's usual stoic demeanor was replaced by an intimidating glare. “Apologize. Now.”
Jake, usually the peacemaker, had a fire in his eyes that was hard to miss. “You’ve got a lot of nerve saying that to him. You don’t know anything about him.”
Niki, who had been standing behind them, looked at the scene unfolding with wide eyes. He had always known how protective the hyung line was of Sunoo, but this was different. This was rage.
Jay, his usual composed self, stepped forward, his voice unwavering. “You don’t talk to Sunoo like that. Ever.”
The fan, now realizing the gravity of the situation, took a step back, clearly frightened. She opened her mouth to say something but faltered under the combined glare of the hyung line.
It was PD-nim who stepped in, his usually laid-back nature replaced with authority. “Enough.” He said, his voice sharp. “You’re banned from this building. This behavior is unacceptable.”
The staff moved quickly, ushering the fan away, and the tension in the room was palpable. The maknae line—Sunoo, Jungwon, and Niki—stood frozen in place, still processing what had just happened. They had never seen the hyung line like this before. They knew the older members were protective, but they didn’t realize how far they’d go to defend Sunoo.
When the fan was finally gone, Heeseung exhaled sharply, his anger slowly dissipating. Jay ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident on his face. “I hate seeing him hurt. It makes me sick.”
Sunghoon, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke, his voice cold. “No one gets to treat him like that. No one.”
Sunoo, still a little shaken, looked up at them, his lips trembling slightly. “You guys… you didn’t have to… I can handle it.”
