The Girl Nobody Expected
The first time Hana walked into the studio, thirteen pairs of eyes turned toward her.
She stopped in the doorway.
For a moment, nobody said anything.
BTS and Stray Kids had been brought together for a massive collaboration—one song, one stage, one project that was supposed to become the biggest performance of the year.
Hana was supposed to be nothing more than the songwriter.
At least, that was what everyone had been told.
She tightened her grip around the folder in her hands.
“Sorry I’m late.”
Her voice broke the silence.
Namjoon smiled first.
“You’re Hana?”
She nodded.
“That’s me.”
“You’re the one who wrote the demo?”
“Yes.”
A few of the members exchanged looks.
Then Han leaned toward Felix and whispered something that made Felix laugh.
Hana looked over.
“Something funny?”
Han immediately straightened.
“Nope.”
Felix covered his smile.
“No.”
Hana raised an eyebrow.
“Okay...”
That was the first mistake.
Because the moment she smiled at them, something changed.
Not dramatically.
Not obviously.
Just enough.
Something that none of them could explain.
The recording session lasted six hours.
By the third hour, Hana had already noticed something strange.
Every time she moved to another side of the studio, someone’s eyes followed.
When she sat beside Jimin to discuss a melody, Jungkook suddenly appeared with a question about the lyrics.
When Hana complimented Taehyung’s voice, Seungmin immediately asked her what she thought of his part.
When Changbin made her laugh, Jin loudly announced that he was apparently the funniest person in the room.
And when Hana reached for a bottle of water—
Bang Chan handed her one before she could.
She blinked.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Hyunjin watched from across the room.
His expression was unreadable.
Until Han whispered, “You’re staring.”
Hyunjin looked away.
“I’m not.”
“You definitely are.”
Hyunjin said nothing.
Across the room, Yoongi noticed.
So did Lee Know.
So did Namjoon.
Apparently, Hana wasn’t the only one paying attention.
By midnight, everyone was exhausted.
Hana stepped outside onto the balcony for some air.
The city stretched beneath her, glowing with thousands of lights.
She rested her hands against the railing.
“You okay?”
She turned.
Jungkook stood behind her.
“I’m fine.”
“You always say that?”
She smiled.
“Only when I’m fine.”
He laughed softly.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Jungkook leaned against the railing beside her.
“You know everyone likes you, right?”
Hana looked at him.
“Everyone?”
He smiled.
“Pretty much.”
She shook her head.
“You’re exaggerating.”
“I’m not.”
Before Hana could answer, the balcony door opened.
Taehyung stepped outside.
His eyes went immediately to Jungkook.
Then to Hana.
“Am I interrupting?”
Jungkook’s smile disappeared.
“No.”
Taehyung smiled.
“Good.”
The silence suddenly felt different.
He walked over and stood on Hana’s other side.
Three people.
One balcony.
And an unmistakable tension hanging between them.
Then the door opened again.
Jimin.
Then Hyunjin.
Then Felix.
Then Chan.
Hana stared at the growing crowd.
“What is happening?”
Jin’s voice came from inside.
“Apparently we’re all terrible at giving people privacy.”
Everyone laughed.
Except Yoongi.
He was standing in the doorway, watching Hana.
And for the first time, she noticed something in his expression.
Jealousy.
Quiet.
Controlled.
But unmistakable.
