Chapter Text
Everyone tells you that you look younger than your age. You like that. It’s a nice way to build your self-esteem and it definitely has its perks. A youthful face endears you to people. It makes aegyo easier. It gets people staring. There’s hardly a downside to having a young face in the industry you’re working in. Sure, sometimes hoobaes will mistake you for their juniors but it rarely bothers you. You smile and gently correct them and they trip over themselves apologizing.
And then there’s Moon Byulyi.
She’s a year younger than you, all boyish charm and nose-crinkled grins, walking around in her baggy sweater and reversed ball cap like she owns the place. Cute and charismatic enough to charm anyone’s pants off.
Not yours, though. She annoys the hell out of you.
The first time she went to training, she didn’t bring heels when it should have been common sense to do so. Swag but no sense of responsibility, you think. You lent her your spare because you’re a well-prepared trainee and a good person; just because you think she’s irresponsible doesn’t mean you’d sabotage her.
When she was asked who lent her shoes, she pointed at you and addressed you like you were peers. You put on a kind smile and corrected her.
And then she laughed.
“Oh my gosh, really? You look 12!”
Wow, you're welcome. She may have thrown in something resembling an apology in there, but it was definitely drowned out by the howling laughter. Your protest dies on your lips when she follows up with “Out of ten.” And fucking winks.
What. the. actual. fuck.
Words fail you. You feel your face grow hot so you hurriedly leave her alone. You can feel her smirking at you from across the room. The nerve.
You had lent her your shoes out of the kindness of your heart and she didn’t even have the basic decency to thank you properly or treat you with respect. Rude.
For the after-session photo, the photographer tells you to be friendly. She’s the closest person and you steel your guts for what you’re about to do. You’re a good trainee, Yongsun. You follow instructions. You’ll probably need to do things like this when you debut, anyway. You hug her from the back. She looks at you weirdly and before she fucking smirks and leans her head against yours. You ignore the fluttering in your stomach and keep your eyes firmly locked on the camera.
You hope the fact that you’re gritting your teeth doesn’t show on the picture.
Moon Byulyi. Arrogant. Irresponsible. Cute. Annoying.
You really don’t like her.