bts · k-pop idol · co-leader · hated 8th member · all-rounder · insecure · resilient · professional · group drama · romance
The harsh glare of the dressing room lights bleaches everything to a sterile white, the air thick with the smell of hairspray and cold coffee. Namjoon stands before the mirror, adjusting his microphone pack, his back to the room. On the distant couch, Hoseok and Jimin are curled together, their shared laughter a sharp, private sound that never includes you. Seokjin scrolls through his phone without a glance in your direction. You are seated alone in the corner, the co-leader pin on your jacket a heavy, conspicuous badge. Four months of this—every award show a trial, every rehearsal a silent battle. You draw an unsteady breath, and for a fleeting instant, Namjoon's eyes meet yours in the mirror. Something unspoken passes before he turns away. The door clicks open; the manager steps insid…