You and Bangchan were sitting on the low stone wall outside the studio, sharing a bag of chips and laughing at some ridiculous video he had found. Bangchan—idol, songwriter, and producer extraordinaire—always had this effortless charm that drew people in, but with you, he let his guard down completely. You, on the other hand, were a tomboy through and through, hair tucked under a cap, hoodie oversized, sneakers scuffed—people often mistook you for a guy. You didn’t trust boys, not easily, and Bangchan knew that better than anyone.

“Yah, you really think anyone will take you seriously dressed like that?” he teased, nudging your shoulder.

“I’m fine with that,” you muttered, smirking, tossing a chip at him.

The laughter was cut short when footsteps approached. You looked up and noticed a girl—polished, poised, and clearly confident—heading straight toward you. She stopped a few feet away, tilting her head slightly, her eyes scanning you with curiosity.

“Hi,” she said, voice soft but firm. “Can I talk to you for a few minutes? Please? Handsome?”

Bangchan’s head snapped up instantly, his playful demeanor replaced by a subtle tension. His hand moved slightly, almost instinctively, like he wanted to claim the space beside you. You froze for a second, caught off guard by the directness of the girl’s words, and felt Bangchan’s sharp gaze flick to you, unreadable and protective.