22

As SEVENTEEN was just casually hanging out in Han River, it was already late at night, and they had just finished filming a Going Seventeen episode.

The air is crisp, and a gentle breeze flows from the Han River. SEVENTEEN is gathered on mats and blankets spread over the grass—snacks everywhere, along with half-finished drinks and leftover props from filming. The night is quiet except for their laughter.

"So...hyung, want to explain why you suddenly turned into a gentleman the second. Heyoung-noona showed up on the set today?" Mingyu grins as he lays on his stomach.

"Do you need a chair, Heyoung-ya? Can I get you water, Heyoung-ya?" Hoshi said in a mocking voice.

Scoups laughed but with a slight annoyance. "Yah! I was being nice; her brother is our manager, and I'm also courting her—what was I supposed to do, ignore her?"

"But you were practically sparkling, Coups-hyung. I saw it in your eyes—Disney Prince behavior." Seungkwan smirked.

Dino suddenly chimed in. "And you fixed your hair like three times in one minute when Heyoung-noona stood next to you."

"Don't act like you all weren't showing off too," Scoups said, throwing a snack at Seungkwan.

Vernon deadpan, "Sure...but you looked like you were about to propose."

"Is that why you ain't focused earlier?" Woozi teased.

"Alright, alright...Y'all had your fun, but if we're talking about distractions—maybe Jeonghan should explain why he suddenly volunteers to go to the styling tent when he doesn't need to." Scoups grins.

"OOOHHHH!!!

"Another whipped hyung!"

"Shua-hyung, you're the only 95 liner who isn't smitten yet!"

Jeonghan innocently blinked his eyes. "Me? What? I don't—what are you even talking about?"

Scoups smirked. "Don't play dumb. You think we don't notice the way your whole mood changes and changes to full flirting mode whenever our new stylist walks in?"

"He even starts fixing his sleeves, fixing his smile, and magically needs help putting on his jacket." Joshua laughed.

"He doesn't even blink when she talks. He literally just stands there like he's in a perfume commercial," The8 said.

Jeonghan sputtered. "That's because I respect our staff!"

Seungkwan grins. "Respect, huh? Is that what you call the heart-eyes?"

"So this is why he takes so long getting ready...the styling room romance—we always suspected."

"Why am I even here...I should've just gone home," Jeonghan said, covering his face with his hoodie.

Scoups raised his drink, "To my Heyoung, to the stylist that Jeonghan likes, and to the chaotic hearts of SEVENTEEN!"

All of them raised their drinks, "Cheers!"

=====

The cafeteria buzzes quietly with staff from various departments enjoying their lunch breaks. The light filters through tall windows and the scent of coffee and fresh food lingers in the air. At a corner table, Heyoung and Ayun carry their trays, looking for a place to sit.

Heyoung scans the room, looking for a table. "Ugh, the usual tables are all full, eonni."

Ayun spots a young woman in a black blazer, earbuds in, poking at her salad with a distracted look. A neatly folded clipboard sits beside her.

Ayun gently nudged Heyoung. "Over there by the window, isn't that the new stylist of SEVENTEEN?"

Heyoung looked at where her Ayun-eonni pointed out and smiled. "Yeah, I think her name is Arin—she's been the stylist since the start of the year."

"She looks kinda lonely, though. Should we...?" Ayun said.

"Let's join her, eonni."

They walk over.

"Hi! You don't mind if we sit here?" Heyoung gently said with a polite smile.

"Oh—sure! Please, go ahead." The stylist said, removing one earbud.

They take seats across from her. There's a small pause as they settle in.

"Hi! I think it's our first time meeting each other. I'm Choi Ayun, working on the production team." Ayun said.

"And I'm Lee Heyoung, I also work at the production team, and I'm kinda related to one of the managers of SEVENTEEN, Lee Jaehyuk," Heyoung said.

The stylist is smiling now, a little more relaxed. "Ah, right! I think I saw you yesterday on the set? Uhh...sorry I forgot to introduce myself; I'm Jang Arin, one of the stylists of SEVENTEEN."

"Yup, that's me—and I definitely saw you and how Jeonghan kept on pretending to need help with his shirt, didn't he?" Heyoung playfully said.

Arin's eyes widened, and her cheeks turned pink. "Wh-What? N-no, he just...he said the collar was weird..."

"And how brave Jeonghan said the other time, when Scoups and I were waiting for the elevator," Heyoung said.

"W-wait! Are you the girl that Scoups likes?" Arin asked.

Heyoung nodded at her.

The three of them continued their lunch with a little chit chatting, bursting into laughter, the awkwardness now gone.

Around them, the cafeteria hums on, but at their table, something new starts to settle—a mix of friendship, curiosity, and the unmistakable scent of upcoming chaos.

=====

The sun has dipped below the skyline, casting a golden hue through the lobby's tall windows. Most staff have clocked out, and the building has quieted down. Heyoung steps out of a staff hallway, adjusting her bag on her shoulder, scanning her phone absently.

"Finally done..." Heyoung muttered to herself

She looks up—and stops short.

She saw someone leaning against a nearby column, arms folded, none other than S.COUPS, dressed casually in a hoodie and joggers. He straightens when he sees her.

"Long day?" Scoups asked

Heyoung was a little bit surprised, trying not to smile. "You're still here?"

Scoups shrugs. "Yeah...I had some stuff to wrap up."

Heyoung suspiciously raised her eyebrow. "Oh really? Because I heard from Arin and Jaehyuk-oppa that you guys were off schedule for the rest of the day."

"Okay, fine...maybe I stayed to see if you wanted to grab something before heading home." Scoups grins sheepishly.

Heyoung was amused. "You really stayed an hour just to ask me that?

A brief pause. It's quiet. It's not awkward, just... unspoken things hanging in the air.

"You really waited?" Heyoung curiously asked.

Scoups nods at her and turns serious. "Yeah, I mean—you were around yesterday...it was nice. I haven't laughed like that with the guys in a while—it felt...lighter, you know?"

Heyoung looks at him for a moment, then grins. "They did roast you pretty hard."

"They always do...but they were right about one thing." Scoups chuckled.

"What's that?" Heyoung asked.

"I did want to impress you," Scoups said as he locked eyes with her.

Heyoung was startled but she was trying to hide it with a little laugh.

"You really are a leader—bold and embarrassing."

"You said that like it's a bad thing." Scoups teased.

"...It's not." Heyoung softly said.

Another pause. This time, it's a little warmer. Scoups gestures toward the doors.

"So...want to get some ramen or something before the shops close?" Scoups asked.

"Hmm..." Heyoung pretends to think. "Depends if you are paying for it."

"I mean...I did wait an hour, didn't I?" Scoups smirked as he opened the door for her.

They step outside together, laughter fading into the soft sounds of the city. Somewhere between an awkward friendship and something more, the night begins.