Work Text:
B.I sat alone in the bustling concert hall, surrounded by the sounds of last-minute preparations and murmured conversations.
He had been through a lot over the past years, from controversies to hiatuses. He wanted everything to be perfect for his fans, who had stuck by him through thick and thin. A sense of excitement bubbled up inside him as he scanned the setlist for the hundredth time.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out to see a message from Hayi, one of his closest friends and fellow artists who was set to perform as a guest at his concert. It was a response to his earlier message.
“Excited for tomorrow!!! See you!!”
He smiled to himself, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. He quickly typed a response, thanking her for agreeing to perform and promising that they would put on an unforgettable show together.
“B.I-sshi?” his manager said, poking his head into the room, and interrupting B.I’s thoughts.
“We need to start wrapping things up. You need to rest," he said.
B.I nodded and stood up, straightening his clothes and taking a deep breath.
Tomorrow was going to be a big day, and he was ready for it.
➽──────────────❥
Hayi sat in front of the mirror, humming ‘Daydream’ to herself with her eyes closed as the makeup artist carefully applied the finishing touches to her look.
Just as she opened her eyes, she heard the door creak open.
She turned to face the door and saw B.I enter, dressed casually, wearing a simple black shirt and jeans, his neck was adorned with a silver chain necklace and a few rings on his fingers.
The makeup artist, stylist, and manager all looked up and exchanged a knowing glance before quietly excusing themselves.
As B.I approached, he gave them a small nod of acknowledgment and closed the door behind him.
It was no secret in the industry — B.I and Hayi always had a special connection, something that went beyond mere friendship, but they had never acted on it. Their undeniable chemistry on stage always sparked whispers of a potential romance. It was an unspoken tension that no one dared to name, but everyone seemed to sense.
But they had always kept things professional. B.I knew that his fans expected a certain image from him, and Hayi was carving out her own path after leaving YG Entertainment.
"Hey," he said softly, his gaze fixed on Hayi. "Red always looks good on you.”
Hayi felt her cheeks flush at his compliment. It had been a long time since they had seen each other, and the emotions between them were complicated.
They locked eyes in the mirror, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. They both knew that this moment was fleeting.
"I just wanted to come and say hi," he said, his eyes soft as he looked at her. “This means a lot to me.”
Hayi was happy to see him, thrilled to perform with him again, but beneath it all, there was a faint ache, a desire that she had pushed down for so long — to hug him, to hold him close and let herself feel everything she had been suppressing. But she knew better than to let herself give in to those feelings. She had a career to think about, and a reputation to maintain. And B.I did too.
So she smiled at him, keeping her emotions in check, and replied, "Thanks, you don't look too bad yourself," she replied, trying to keep a cool façade. She lifted her arms and balled her fists together, a reflexive cheer, 'B.I hwaiting!'
B.I's heart sank a little at her response. It was like they were still just colleagues to her, stuck in the same old routine of professional pleasantries. But he didn't show it on his face, keeping his expression neutral as he continued to gaze at her.
The tension in the air was palpable, and they both knew that they were not being entirely honest with each other, even though they were alone in the room.
“Well, good luck to us later!” he said, smiling politely.
As B.I made a move to leave, Hayi's heart dropped. She knew this could be their last chance to talk before they had to go back to the real world.
Without thinking, she stood up and called out to him, “B.I-ah!”
He turned around, expecting her to say something, but she remained silent. There was a hesitant look in her eyes as if she was struggling with something. Sensing her uncertainty, B.I took a step closer and asked gently, "Is everything okay?"
Hayi took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew what she wanted to do, but she was so afraid of pushing their boundaries.
“Hayi-ah…” B.I's voice trailed off as he took a step forward.
Hayi took a step back, uncertainty clouding her features. She chewed on her bottom lip, then shook her head slightly. "Nevermind," she whispered.
As Hayi hesitated, B.I's gaze softened, his intuition picking up on the tension in her body. Without saying anything, he closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace.
Hayi's body tensed at first, but then she relaxed into the hug, feeling the warmth of B.I's body against hers—it felt like a long-awaited release. They stayed like that for a few moments, just holding each other, until B.I gently pulled away.
"I locked the door," he whispered, a mischievous smile on his face.
Hayi looked up at him, her eyes widening in surprise. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"I mean we have all the time in the world to hug," he replied, pulling her back into his embrace. "Let's take our time."
✧࿓☾