A Backstage Love I Han Jisung x Reader

Venom

I raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Cheater? Care to elaborate?"

"I heard you've already worked with a K-pop group," she sneered, her voice dripping with venom. "And that you were way too close with one of the idols." She made air quotes around "way too close," her eyes flashing with judgment.

I felt the tension rise, but before I could say anything, Yoojin stepped forward, her stance suddenly strong and unyielding. "You better back off, Yuna. If you've got something to say, say it without being a coward."

Jiwon, who had been silently standing behind Yoojin, spoke up in a quiet but firm voice. "She's just trying to get in your head."

Yuna hesitated, clearly taken aback by the unified front. Her eyes flickered nervously, and she tossed her hair back over her shoulder before walking off with an exaggerated scoff. "She'll get in just because of her relationship with that idol."

Yoojin turned to me with a grin, her confidence never wavering. "Don't let her get to you. She's just jealous."

Jiwon nodded in agreement, her voice calm and reassuring. "She won't be a problem."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. With these two by my side, I wasn't just going to survive—I was going to thrive.

The practice room was bathed in the soft glow of the overhead lights, the only sound the rhythmic beats of the track we'd been rehearsing to. I felt the sweat on my skin as I executed the moves, Jiwon and Yoojin perfectly in sync with me. It wasn't just about the choreography anymore—it was about the three of us pushing each other to be better, to get closer to that debut.

I wasn't sure how much time had passed, but the world outside the practice room had faded into the background as we kept going, sweating and laughing between takes. We were so focused that I didn't notice the sound of footsteps approaching until they stopped just outside the glass door.

It was only when Yoojin's sharp gaze flicked toward the door that I realized we weren't alone. I turned to see the silhouettes of Chan, Felix, and Seungmin standing just outside the door, peering in at us with amused expressions.

"Hey, what's up?" Yoojin asked, her usual cool tone making it clear she wasn't surprised to be watched. Still, her voice carried a hint of amusement, probably because of how easily we had slipped into our routine, forgetting anyone else was around.

I froze for a moment, realizing we'd probably been so wrapped up in our practice that we hadn't even noticed the Stray Kids members walking by. I glanced at Jiwon, who was still focused on the routine, her movements flawless as always, but I could see her blush slightly under the gaze of the three members. She was always so modest.

Felix raised a hand, his bright smile evident even from the other side of the door. "You guys are really good, huh?" His voice carried through the glass, moreso talking to Yoojin and Jiwon than me, considering we'd been practicing together secretly. "You look like you're ready for the audition already."

Seungmin, who had been standing next to Felix, chuckled, clearly impressed. "You've got some serious moves," he added, his tone sincere. "Didn't realize the trainees were this serious already. You've definitely got the passion."

"Thanks," I said, giving them a small smile, still out of breath from the intense practice. "We're just trying to be prepared."

Chan, who had been standing back a little, leaned closer to the door, eyes scanning the movements. "I can tell. You guys have a solid connection. It's impressive." He shot a glance at Felix and Seungmin, then back to us. "Keep it up. You've got this."

It was strange, hearing them compliment us so openly. There was an easygoing vibe to the way they spoke, like they were genuinely rooting for us, even though we were still a step away from being one of them.

"Thanks, Chan," Yoojin said, her usual cool demeanor in full force, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "We'll make sure to keep up the hard work."

Felix waved playfully before turning to the others. "Alright, we'll let you get back to it. Don't want to interrupt your flow." He gave us another cheeky grin and nodded. "Good luck with the audition!"

With a few final smiles and waves, the three of them walked off down the hallway, leaving us to our practice. For a moment, I stood still, letting the sound of their footsteps fade into the distance.

Jiwon was the first to speak up, her soft voice breaking the silence. "Do you think they were impressed?"

Yoojin shrugged, her lips curling into a confident grin. "Doesn't matter if they were. What matters is that we keep pushing. And I think we've got something that's going to blow them away."

I smiled at her words. There was no doubt in my mind that Yoojin was right. We weren't just practicing to impress—we were practicing to become something more than just trainees. We were training to debut.

And with Jiwon and Yoojin by my side, I had no doubt we would.

We got back to the routine, focused and determined, ready for whatever came next.

But somewhere, in the back of my mind, the words from Chan, Seungmin, and Felix kept echoing: You've got this.

The sound of Jiwon and Yoojin's footsteps faded down the hallway as they made their way to the elevators. The practice room was quiet again, save for the low hum of the overhead lights and the faint sound of music coming from another room down the corridor. I let out a breath, leaning back against the wall for a moment, letting the adrenaline from practice settle.

"See you tomorrow!" Jiwon had called out with a wave as she disappeared down the hallway, her soft voice lingering in the air like a warm embrace. Yoojin had given me a quick nod before following her, both of them heading home for the night.

But I wasn't ready to go home yet. Not yet.