❛ 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐚𝐧. 𝗇𝖼𝗍 𝖺𝖽𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝗆𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋

◎ The New Stylist ◎

"Lachlan, oh my god stop drooling over the NEW stylist!" Johnny yelled particularly loud so basically have of the room could hear, including her. Chaehyun's dark brown eyes popped out of his head as he kicked his Hyung in the shin.

"You know, some day you'll go far," Lachlan smiles causing Johnny's heart to swell, however, as soon as the glare appeared on Chaehyun's face, the smile dropped from Johnny's. "And I really hope you fucking stay there, loud mouth!"

Johnny rolled his eyes and ruffled the younger boy's hair, pushing him slowly in the direction of one of the other stylists who had called his name. Ignoring the eyes of the new employee, who couldn't have been older than nineteen, he sat down in the seat and folded his arms, letting out a tired yawn as the familiar lady walked towards him.

"You gonna cooperate with me today?" She asked playfully, running her hands through his dark hair.

Chaehyun grinned. "For you? Always."

The young girl rolled her eyes playfully, slapping his head gently as she gathered her things. Through the mirror, Chaehyun saw the new girl watching the two closely, a scowl evident on her face.
Giving her a kind grin, her face changed almost instantly as she returned it, but her eyes lingered on the stylist now messing with Chaehyun's hair.

The staff and Nct were close, they had to be since they were together almost 24/7. The girl could clearly see that Chaehyun and the stylist known as June, had particularly close friendship and though she hadn't even said one word to Chaehyun, she felt jealous.

She watched carefully as Chaehyun avoided any product from coming near him, playfully moving out of the way to gain a reaction. The stylist giggled along, playfully holding his head in place. A few of the other stylists had joined in too and the girl could only assume this is something that happened often. She felt a little left out, having only just started, she wasn't yet trusted with the proper job and was still being taught, by June herself.

"Kim Chaehyun if you do not keep still I will tape you to the chair!"

Chaehyun clicked his tongue as a smirk formed on his face, eyebrows wiggling in the mirror. "Kinky."

June's eyes flew open wide, red faced whilst the other stylists laughed, along with Ten and Taeil who had been listening to the conversation the entire time. Ten and Chaehyun did a handshake, and the smirk never dropped, his eyes locked with the new employee and suddenly, she was blushing too.

"You know I love you, Junie!" Chaehyun said in a rather cute voice.

June giggled. "Then show me by doing as you're told."

And so he did.

___________

Sweaty, breathless and tired, the eighteen members emerged into the dressing room loudly, Chenle on Chaehyun's back as he ran into the room and dropped the younger boy on the couch. Immediately, staff congratulated the members on a fantastic job and even cheered some up who thought they hadn't done well. Chaehyun looked around the room as a few staff fussed over him, placing ice packs on him and wiping away his sweat.

One of the ice pack holders happened to be the girl from before. Chaehyun furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Aren't you supposed to be a stylist? I haven't seen you style a single person."

She looked up rather startled by the directed question and flushed a deep red. Chaehyun couldn't help but find it cute.

"M-me? Me. Uh, yes! I am but I uh, June Unnie is still training me..." she seems unsure whether she should be formal or not, since none of the other stylists had and Chaehyun noticed.

"Call me Chaehyun or Lachlan. No need to be formal. That's not my style." He offered her a toothy grin which managed to pick up her heart rate.

She shyly returned it and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, awkwardly holding the ice pack to his neck, she bit her lip and looked around.

"Aren't you gonna introduce yourself?" He asked with a single smirk.

She nodded slowly. "I'm uh, Lee Hyunbae, it's a pleasure to meet you." She bowed.

"Pleasure is all mine, Miss Lee."