A/n: mayhaps I really miss this dork :(

Kim Jinsol aimlessly walked about the park, her mind pulsating with too many thoughts. The skies may be clear this simple Saturday afternoon, but not her brain. She had let herself have a couple more days to think about the major Film project, however, it only lead her into deep anxiety and panic.

How can she be so out of ideas for something this big?

Jinsol had already walked around the park's manmade lake two—no, three times to get her creative juices flowing. But still nothing. Nothing except the initial idea that Haneul had brought up. The whole first-person, boyfriend video series would have been a fun and interesting thing to shoot, but she always gets stumped whenever she remembered she didn't have an actor to help her.

What made things worse was that she couldn't help but already imagine the scenarios for this idea. She had first meeting prepped out, as well as first date, and maybe the break-up. Jinsol was undoubtedly frustrated how this idea was too deeply engraved in her brain. She needs something else, an idea that could bring out her creativity and passion.

Jinsol knows she can do it. She can create something amazing with her skills. But with this deadline and the possibility of an internship weighing on her, her brain just wants to be useless.

And she didn't have Haneul to help bounce ideas from, as the younger girl was currently at a study group meeting.

So here she was, at the park, her trusty camera in hand, making her fourth round around the lake.

Jinsol had taken a couple pictures around the park, hoping it would spark something. Pretty flowers, swimming ducks, nonchalant bystanders. And again, nothing. All she has were pretty pictures saved in her camera.

The pigtailed-girl slowed her walk into a halt, when she actually spotted something unusual in the distance.

Did she not notice them before, or did they just arrive?

Right in the open field by the lake, there was a small team of people. They had equipment prepped up, cameras, audio, and lighting, everything that the girl was very much familiar with. Jinsol blinked in surprise, not expecting someone to film.

However, as she approached closer and got a look at who the people were, she grimaced.

"Oh, Jinsol-ah, hello!" Coming from behind, a male voice called out to her. With a flinch of surprise, Jinsol whipped her head around for the owner of the voice, and saw it was her sunbae.

She quickly gave a small bow to the older boy. "Taewoon-sunbae, h-hello."

Taewoon gave such a warm and welcoming grin, Jinsol was internally threatening her own heart to not race fast. But she was failing herself. All she could do was try to keep a straight face in his presence.

"What are you doing here, sunbae?" Jinsol asked.

"Nari and I started filming."

Jinsol felt her chest constrict. "A-Already?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Nari had such an amazing idea to start with, also with a script to go off on. So, we had to get the ball rolling as soon as we can." Jinsol bared a glance at the very girl, who seems to be the director of the whole project. She was busy talking to her actors to notice the two of them talking. Taewoon's eyes pierced into Jinsol's soul, as he questioned next, "What about you? You must've started already too, right? You've always made such great works."

Jinsol definitely wasn't expecting those words. This was not the day she wanted a compliment from her sunbae. She gave a weak smile.

"Oh... well, yeah. Just trying to get everything in order first before I start shooting," Jinsol lied. She could feel her face burning. She wouldn't be surprised if Taewoon figured out that nothing she said were true. But she just had to hope. "I'll get everything going by tomorrow."

"As expected from you, Jinsol," Taewoon brightly beamed. The girl had to sigh in relief, seeing he didn't catch on. "What's your video going to be about?"

Ah great.

"O-Oh, I can't just tell you, sunbae." Jinsol's mind was absolutely spinning. How does one abort mission? Fast. "If you knew, then it wouldn't be so interesting when you all see it later."

A chuckle left his lips, as he unexpectedly reached over and ruffled her bangs. Jinsol cursed inside her mind, her poor heart doing somersaults against her ribcage. This again? She knew her sunbae does this all the dang time, with his playful and friendly personality. Why can't her hormones just calm down for once?

Jinsol took a step back, away from her sunbae's touch. She doesn't want Nari to catch them in... a situation. "I better leave you guys to it. I don't want to keep you for much longer—" Jinsol blinked in surprise at her own words. "I m-mean, like, take up any more of your time!"

Taewoon gave a nod, seemingly oblivious to the younger's franticness. "Well, me to you too, then," he replied. "You probably don't need it but if you need any kind of help, you can always ask me, alright? We might be competitors right now, but we are still students who want to pass the class. Got it, Jinsol-ah?"

"Yeah. Got it."

Awkwardly, Jinsol turned her heel and began to walk away from the scene, waving her goodbyes to her cute sunbae. Once she was a good distance away, she picked up her pace, not wanting Nari to see a trace of her until she's gone. Jinsol wasn't sure how long she had been speed-walking, but by the time she slowed down, she could feel the beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

A groan. Jinsol tugged at her pigtails as she thought back to her conversation. Could she have been any more of a dork around him?! And having that interaction with Taewoon made her realize how not over him she was. How dumb.

Unbelievably dumb! He's a taken man and she's swooning at the mere sight of him!

She knew better than that but here she was... making a fool of herself in front of him.

As her eyes picked up, she could see her favorite tea shop. There's no point in walking around the park again if she wasn't going to get an idea... plus, she wouldn't want to actually run into Taewoon and Nari again.

Carefully, she jogged across the street and entered the shop. Jinsol breathed in, letting the aroma calm her down.

She walked to the open cashier to order a drink.

"Ah, welcome back to Azalea's, Jinsol-sshi! You're really here again, hmm?"

Jinsol realized the shop's manager was at the counter, a lady that couldn't be more than past her twenties. Young and pretty, and half-Korean. She was someone that was an absolute expert at brewing teas and making delicious, unique blends of drinks. And Jinsol could honestly admit that she never had a bad drink whenever she made it.

Jinsol bared a smile. "I sure am! You should know how much I love your drinks, Mira-sshi!"

"What will it be today then? Your usual?" The woman asked.

"Actually, no. I'm feeling strawberry milk tea, please. I need something shockingly sweet today." Jinsol paid in its exact amount before the manager turned and began working on her drink.

"You seem to be bothered by something today, Jinsol-sshi," Mira suddenly chimed, just as she poured fresh strawberries into the blender. "Your friend isn't with you either."

"Ah, Haneul is doing something else, so I'm alone today." Jinsol let out a sigh. "I have this project that's due in a few weeks and I haven't got the slightest clue on how to start it! It's driving me insane."

"Ah, I see. With, filming, I assume?" Mira had pointed down to Jinsol's camera in hand, and the younger only nodded. "You're a hardworking and bright girl, Jinsol-sshi. I've seen you stay here 'til closing doing your schoolwork. Inspiration will come to you." And just like that, Jinsol's drink was done. Manager Mira slid over the pink drink over. "I'm sure even by the end of today, something will work out."

"Thank you, Mira-sshi, for both the drink and the kind words." Jinsol went ahead and sat down in a empty table, sipping on her perfectly made milk tea. She decided to shift through the pictures she had taken today on her camera. Sure, they were all nicely composed and lighted shots of scenery, but yet again, nothing.

She wanted to believe in Manager Mira's words. But where was the inspiration?

Jinsol didn't even realize a good ten minutes have passed since she sat in the shop and wondered aimlessly about nothing... not until an unwanted visitor came into the shop.

"Ah, I knew I felt something weird earlier." Jinsol gave a small nod in greeting, not really wanting to go into conversation with Min Nari. A hand smacked down on the table and Jinsol carefully made eye contact with her sunbae. Judging by the bag in her other hand, she had just come in to buy drinks for her crew. Just her luck. "You really think I didn't see you flirting away with my boyfriend a while ago?"

"I wasn't flirting with him, sunbae," Jinsol murmured out. "We just had a chat, nothing else."

"Oh, but your sly smile earlier said otherwise." Nari shifted, and so now she was sitting against her table, leaning over so she towered even more over her. Maybe she should've just went home with her drink rather than deal with this. "I get it. Taewoon-sunbae is a great guy that a lot of girls in our department swoons for, but you need to get it through your head that he's only so friendly with you because he sees you as a child to take care of. Don't think of it as anything else."

Ouch.

That hurts.

"I don't know who you're trying to show off to with your fake innocent image." Nari's fingers ran through Jinsol's hair. She cringed at the touch. "Pigtails, really? How old are you? Five? No one is going to take you seriously if you really want to go into this industry."

"Sunbae... I don't know what I did to make you dislike me so much," Jinsol huffed, finally not taking anymore of the insults. "I want to work with cameras, directors, producers, and everything just like you and everyone else. Why must what I look like change that? Anyone could get the job they want if they work hard enough."

Nari clicked her tongue. "Then there would be more people in the industry. Sometimes, luck is all you need too." With a tilt of her head, Nari's eyes narrowed. Jinsol could feel her resolve diminish with the other girl's cold and harsh glare. "Must I really tell you why I dislike you?"

Jinsol was preparing herself. Ready to be dragged out. However, before Nari could get out a single word, a boy had randomly walked up to the table. Jinsol peered over at him in surprise.

The boy wasn't anyone Jinsol had met before. Does he go to their college? Why else would he stand right in front of them.

"I'm... here." His words were hesitant and cautious. Jinsol raised a brow, confusion obvious on her face. When neither of the girls answered him, he replied again, "To help?"

"T-To help?" Jinsol repeated in a mutter. Just behind him, Jinsol noticed movement. She saw Mira at the counter, gesturing for her to go along with it. With a blink, she suddenly understood what was happening.

This boy was here to save her from Nari.

"Jinsol, you know this guy?" Her sunbae scoffed, her eyes still narrowed.

"Ah, y-yes I do!" Jinsol sputtered out, standing up to go along with the act. "He's actually..."

Think, Jinsol.

"—helping with filming," he finished for her.

Nari was appalled. So was Jinsol, but she tried to keep a blank expression. "Yeah, sunbae, I need to discuss things with him so I can start on the project too." Jinsol glimpsed over at the boy before her. "Shall we start? I, uh, got a lot to tell you about what my idea is."

"Yes, of course."

The boy even went as far and moving around Nari and taking the seat that was supposed to be across from Jinsol. Just as she sat back down in her seat, Nari finally stepped away from the table.

Jinsol bared her fakest smile, one that was a sure giveaway on how she felt towards the older girl. "I'll see you in class, sunbae."

An irritated huff left the Nari's lips while she sauntered out the exit without another word. Jinsol watched as the girl returned to the park, her probably not so cold drinks still in hand, and disappeared around the corner. Once gone, Jinsol could finally relax. She didn't realize how tense all her muscles were until now.

"Thank goodness she left." Mira had appeared at their table, another bag of drinks in her hands. She had set it in front of the boy. "How can a classmate be so rude to you? It's such a good thing Kunhang was able to help you out."

"Kunhang?" Jinsol's gaze drift over to the boy once again. It was an odd name, it wasn't Korean. She grinned at him. "Thank you, Kunhang, seriously."

She was sure this was the first time she met this guy, but why is she getting weird vibes all of a sudden, the longer she stared at him.

"You're welcome... ah—" He glimpsed over at Mira, a loss for words. It was then the older girl began speaking in a completely different language. It was Chinese. Jinsol was surprised at the small interaction.

"Kunhang said 'you're welcome' and that 'you shouldn't have to deal with such a mean girl,'" Mira translated for him.

"I didn't know you can speak Chinese," Jinsol murmured.

"I learned a little of it since we gotten quite a few Chinese students from your campus. I'm no pro," Mira replied. "And Kunhang has been one of my regulars until recently with his other friends. If I'm not mistaken, you two are the same age."

"Oh." She looked over at Kunhang. He seems nice, more so since he willingly helped her with her dilemma. She held out her hand to him. "I'm Jinsol, by the way... how good are you in Korean?"

"Just a little," the boy replied, shaking his hair out of his eyes.

The ding of the glass door opening caught the three's attention. Mira greeted the customers warmly as they walked in. "I better get back to work, I'll see you two around, okay?" Kunhang and Jinsol bid their goodbyes to the woman as she returned to the counter and got the orders from the sudden group of people.

"I want to ask you something." Jinsol definitely wasn't expecting that from Kunhang but she gave a nod at him, gesturing for him to continue. "You... took pictures of me, didn't you?"

The girl blinked.

What an absurd question.

"What do you mean?" She uttered, a little offended by the accusation. "This is the first time I met you."

"Are you sure? Weren't you here a couple days ago?"

A couple days ago?... Jinsol was in the tea shop, and with Haneul.

It was then she remembered the dog.

And him.

Jinsol gasped.

"You remember now?"

Did she not just escape her predicament with Nari? Why was this happening right now? What was her damn luck?

"L-Look! I wasn't taking pictures of you! I was taking a video of the dog, I promise!" Jinsol squeaked out. She scrambled to get out her phone and scroll through her phone's gallery for the very video. She pressed play on the video and slid it over to Kunhang.

The video really did focus on the dog... although there were some glimpses of Kunhang and his friends in the frame. Kunhang ended up watching the whole thing, a chuckle leaving his lips when the video abruptly ended, Jinsol's bewildered squeak being heard before it did. He slid the phone back, a smile on his face.

"See, I really was only recording the dog. I wasn't creeping on you or your friends," Jinsol mumbled with a pout.

"Okay, sure," Kunhang nodded. "I believe you."

"Good."

"Now... why is that girl so mean to you?" He suddenly asked next.

Jinsol, again, wasn't expecting him to strike another conversation with his limited knowledge of the Korean language. But she could see the genuine concern in his eyes. She felt like she could trust him... despite the horrid actual first encounter they had.

Kunhang sure is an interesting boy.

Jinsol tried to simplify her story, so he could understand the situation. She went on to tell him about how she and the mean girl shared the same class, and was in the same major. Jinsol mentioned how she wasn't sure why Nari disliked her and it was more so when the project began. She brought up the details of the film project too, how it was an important grade and competitive due to the internship the students could win.

"And this internship is something I really want to do—what I need to do."

Kunhang gazed back at her curiously. "Why?"

"Because then maybe I can finally be a step forward to my dream... and it will be because of my own hard work, not from anyone else. Like, I truly earned it." Jinsol replied. She let out a groan. "But I've been so out of it today! There's one idea I had in mind but I don't have anyone to act in it for me and I can't seem to think up another idea so—"

"I can help?"

Jinsol gawked at the Chinese lad. Did she hear him correctly? "Huh?"

"I can help... I think I'm a pretty good actor of sorts..." Kunhang meekly chimed, as he rubbed the back of his neck. "And it sounds fun."

"We just met, Kunhang. Why would you help me?"

"... Mm, I don't know. Maybe because you need it and I think you're cute."

What.

What did he say?

Before Jinsol could cut in, Kunhang's phone began to ring. He answered it quickly and began speaking in Chinese to whoever is on the other line. By the way he talked, it seemed somewhat urgent. After the call, he stood up from the table.

"I need to go. I forgot I had drinks to give my friends," Kunhang told her. After glancing around, he grabbed the pen and notebook Jinsol had taken out earlier. He quickly scribbled down something and handed it back to Jinsol.

It was his number.

"If you allow me, I'll help you. So send me a message if you want." He gave a small wave, and a puppy-dog like smile. And gosh dang... maybe it was cute. "It was nice meeting you, Jinsol."

And like that, he rushed out the shop, leaving Jinsol a complete mess of emotions.

Seriously.

What just happened?

A/n: Finally an update on this! I had major feelings for Hendery lately so I had to write for him.

Can WayV PLEASE officially debut? Like what even is this whole deal with them not actually debuting yet? It's weird. But at least, we know it's coming soon, since they've been filming their music video 🤩

In a different case, NCT 127's Japanese album finally released and hoooo boy! They did not disappoint on this one. Lips is my absolute new favorite!! But Long Slow Distance is a close second 💞💞💞

Do you guys have a favorite from the Awaken album if you listened already?

Please don't forget to vote and leave a comment or two!

Until next update~
—Bianca