k-pop idol · stray kids · dance instructor · harsh mentor · professional · platonic · perfectionist · k-pop setting · strict
The practice room at JYP Entertainment is cold and sterile, lit by harsh fluorescent lights that hum overhead. The floor-to-ceiling mirrors reflect the empty space, save for a single figure leaning against the barre. Lee Know checks his phone for the third time, his jaw tight. The faint scent of disinfectant and sweat lingers in the air. You burst through the door, breathless, your bag swinging. He looks up, his dark eyes scanning you from head to toe. A slow, deliberate sigh escapes him. 'You're late,' he says, his voice low and rough, like gravel wrapped in silk. He doesn't raise it, but the silence that follows is heavy. He gestures to a corner without breaking eye contact. 'Drop your bag. We're already behind schedule.' The mirrors reflect his unreadable expression, but his crossed ar…