The hum of the recording studio buzzes in my ears as I push open the door. Seonho is already there, lounging on a couch with Hyunwoo and Donghyun, deep in conversation. The moment they see me, Seonho's face lights up with that mischievous smile I adore.
"There's our pop princess," he teases, getting up to give me a quick hug.
Hyunwoo and Donghyun nod in greeting. "We've been waiting to see what you've cooked up," Hyunwoo says, his voice filled with curiosity.
I grin and pull out my laptop, connecting it to the studio's sound system. "Alright, brace yourselves. This is what I've been working on," I say, hitting play.
The room fills with the beats and melodies I've been obsessing over for weeks. Seonho bobs his head along to the rhythm, while Hyunwoo and Donghyun listen intently, their expressions thoughtful.
When the track ends, there's a moment of silence before Donghyun speaks up. "You've got some solid ideas here, Iseul. But I think we can take it to another level."
Hyunwoo nods in agreement. "Yeah, let's dive into this."
We all gather around the mixing console as Hyunwoo takes the lead. "First off, your beats are strong, but they need more punch," he says, adjusting some settings on the computer.
Donghyun jumps in. "And your transitions could be smoother. Maybe add some reverb here," he suggests, pointing at a specific part of the track.
I watch them work their magic, my excitement growing with each tweak and adjustment they make. The room fills with a new energy as they layer in different sounds and effects.
"Here, try this," Hyunwoo says, adding a deep bass line that immediately changes the feel of the song.
I can't help but gasp. "Wow, that's amazing! It fits so much better."
Seonho chuckles from his spot on the couch. "Told you these guys were geniuses."
Donghyun grins. "We just know what works."
We spend hours going over each section of the track. Hyunwoo shows me how to fine-tune the percussion elements while Donghyun focuses on enhancing the vocal effects. Their skill and attention to detail are mind-blowing.
"Let's add a synth here," Hyunwoo suggests at one point, creating a melody that complements my original tune perfectly.
I nod enthusiastically. "Yes! That's exactly what it needed."
As we continue working together, I realize just how much I've learned from them in such a short time. They're not just talented; they're also incredibly generous with their knowledge.
"Your lyrics are powerful too," Donghyun comments as we go through another section of the song. "But maybe emphasize this line more with a drop right after it."
I follow his advice and listen to the playback. The impact is immediate and profound.
"This is incredible," I say, feeling a rush of gratitude for their help.
As we're deep in the groove of perfecting the track, the door to the studio swings open, and Seungmin strides in. His expression shifts from curiosity to mild annoyance as he takes in the scene.
"What's going on here?" he asks, his tone clipped.
I wave him over, trying to keep the atmosphere light. "Seungmin, come meet Seonho's bandmates. This is Hyunwoo and Donghyun from Orion. They've volunteered to help us with the song production."
Seungmin's eyes narrow slightly, but he extends a hand to each of them. "Nice to meet you," he says, though his voice lacks warmth.
Hyunwoo nods politely. "We're just helping Iseul polish up a few things."
Donghyun adds, "Your track has great potential. We're just adding some finishing touches."
Seungmin's lips press into a thin line. I can tell he's not thrilled about this unexpected collaboration. I step in quickly, hoping to smooth things over.
"Hyunwoo and Donghyun have a lot of hit songs under their belts," I say. "They can bring something fresh to the album."
Seungmin sits down at the console, still looking skeptical. "Alright, let's hear what you've got."
We play the updated track for him. As the music fills the room, I watch Seungmin's face for any sign of approval. Instead, he frowns deeper with each passing second.
"These changes … they don't fit," he finally says when the track ends.
Hyunwoo raises an eyebrow. "What exactly doesn't fit?"
Seungmin waves a hand dismissively. "The bass line is too heavy, and the synths are overpowering the vocals."
I step in before things get too heated. "I approved these changes, Seungmin. They really enhance the song."
He shakes his head stubbornly. "It's just not working for me."
Donghyun leans back in his chair, clearly trying to keep his cool. "Can you be more specific? What exactly do you think needs changing?"
Seungmin shrugs. "It just doesn't sound right."
Frustration bubbles up inside me. Seungmin is usually more open-minded than this, but today he's being particularly difficult.
"We're all trying to make this song the best it can be," I say gently but firmly. "Let's give their suggestions a fair shot."
Seungmin stews silently for a moment before grudgingly nodding. We dive back into the track, but every suggestion Hyunwoo or Donghyun makes is met with resistance from Seungmin.
"That reverb is too much," he complains at one point.
"The transition here feels off," he gripes at another.
I'm at my wit's end trying to mediate between them. Finally, I decide enough is enough.
"Alright," I say with forced cheerfulness, clapping my hands together. "I think we've done enough for today."
Hyunwoo and Donghyun exchange glances, but don't argue.
"How about we grab some dinner?" I suggest brightly.
Seonho perks up immediately. "Sounds good to me."
Hyunwoo and Donghyun nod in agreement, but Seungmin shakes his head.
"I'll pass," he says curtly.
I force a smile and turn back to Seonho and his bandmates. "Let's go then."
As we leave the studio and head out into the night, I can't help but feel a mix of relief and frustration. The tension with Seungmin is getting harder to manage, but for now, I'm just grateful for a break and some time with friends who genuinely want to help.
The cool evening air hits my face as we step outside, and I take a deep breath, letting go of some of my stress.
"Where should we go?" I ask as we walk down the street.
"There's this great barbecue place nearby," Seonho suggests with a grin.
"Perfect," I say, feeling my mood lift already.
We head off together, laughter and conversation filling the air as we make our way to dinner. For now, at least, I can push aside the tension with Seungmin and enjoy the company of people who support me unconditionally.
* * *
A few hours later, Seonho and I head back to the recording studio. I can't shake the urge to listen to the new music again. There's something about hearing the final mix that gives me a rush. The studio is quiet when we arrive, with no sign of Seungmin, which is a small relief.
Seonho lounges on the couch, scrolling through his phone while I settle into the chair by the console. The music fills the room, and I lose myself in the layers of sound. Seonho's phone buzzes, and he looks up.
"It's Jaewook," he says, reading the text. "He's asking where we are."
"Tell him to come over," I say without hesitation. "He can join us here."
Seonho grins and types out a quick response before heading out to let Jaewook in. I continue tweaking a few settings, making sure everything sounds just right. The door opens again, and Jaewook walks in, carrying a box.
"I brought dessert!" he announces with a smile.
We all gather on the couch, the box of desserts between us. Seonho wastes no time diving in, grabbing a piece of cake and devouring it like he hasn't eaten in days.
"Slow down, Seonho," Jaewook teases. "You've already finished two pieces!"
Seonho mock pouts. "What can I say? I've got a sweet tooth."
I laugh at their banter, feeling lighter than I have in days. It's good to have friends who can make me forget my worries, even if it's just for a little while.
"Iseul," Seonho says with a mischievous glint in his eye. "You've got something on your nose."
Before I can react, he smudges frosting on my nose. I gasp in mock offense.
"Oh, you're gonna pay for that!" I exclaim.
I lunge at him, trying to smear frosting back on his face. Jaewook joins in, laughing as he grabs another piece of cake and smears it on Seonho's cheek. Soon enough, we're all wrestling on the couch, frosting flying everywhere.
"This is war!" Jaewook declares as he tries to dodge my attempts to get back at him.
Seonho grabs my wrists to stop me from smearing more frosting on him, but ends up with more cake on his face when Jaewook takes advantage of the distraction.
"You guys are ridiculous," I say between laughs.
Jaewook suddenly stops and looks at his arm with exaggerated disgust. "Great! Now I've got frosting all over my skin."
Without thinking, I lean in and start kissing it off his arm, tasting the sweet frosting mixed with his skin's warmth. His eyes darken with amusement and something else as he watches me.
"Hey! What about me?" Seonho points to his face where there's still some frosting smeared from earlier.
I shift my attention to him, leaning over to kiss the frosting off his cheek too. The playful atmosphere takes on a more intimate tone as our laughter fades into quiet breaths.
A loud exclamation breaks through our moment. We all turn to see Seungmin standing in the doorway, looking absolutely enraged.
"What the hell is going on here?" he demands.
The shock of Seungmin's sudden appearance freezes us for a second. Our playful moment shattered like glass. I take a deep breath, steeling myself, before I stand up and walk over to him. My heart's pounding, but I keep my voice steady.
"Seungmin," I say calmly, trying to defuse the situation that's crackling with tension. "Come into my office so we can talk." I'm hoping against hope that we can handle this like adults, without causing a scene.
He glares at us one last time, his eyes burning with an intensity that makes me wince internally.
I take a deep breath, glancing at Seonho and Jaewook. Their faces are a mix of concern and anger, but I need to handle this.
"Guys, trust me," I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel. "I'll talk to Seungmin. He's been with me from the start. He's helped me get here. We can trust him."
Seonho frowns, his eyes narrowing. "Are you sure? He didn't look too happy just now."
Jaewook crosses his arms, his jaw set. "I don't think you should be alone with him."
"I know him," I insist. "He won't do anything to hurt me or us. Just give me a chance to explain."
With a nod from both of them, albeit reluctant, I walk towards my office where Seungmin has stormed off to. The door is slightly ajar, and I push it open gently.
"Seungmin," I start, trying to keep my voice calm.
He whirls around, eyes blazing. "Is it true? Are you really dating Yoon Seonho?"
I blink, taken aback by the question. "Of course it's true! We've already confirmed it publicly."
Seungmin's face contorts with frustration. "I thought maybe it was some PR stunt or something."
"Why would it be a PR stunt?" I ask, bewildered.
His gaze sharpens as he steps closer. "Then why were you kissing Jaewook?"
My heart skips a beat. "That's my private life," I reply firmly.
He sneers at me, the expression foreign on his usually calm face. "Are you trying to agitate me on purpose?"
"What? No! This isn't about you." My mind races, trying to make sense of his reaction.
"Is this about the songs being changed?" I ask carefully.
"Those are my songs!" he shouts, voice echoing in the small room. "You don't have the right to change them with some other producer just because it's your boyfriend's friends."
My patience snaps like a twig under pressure. "Yes, I do! Those are my songs! I wrote and composed the original versions!"
We're both breathing hard now, anger simmering in the air between us.
"I've been there for every step of the music production," I continue fiercely. "You have no right to claim my work as yours."
"You're trying to shove me out of your life now that you have a boyfriend," he accuses, voice shaking with rage. "You're playing with my feelings!"
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. "What? Seungmin … what are you talking about?"
"You heard me," he says bitterly.
I stare at him, feeling like the ground has been ripped out from under me. I never suspected Seungmin had feelings for me beyond our professional relationship.
"This isn't appropriate," I say slowly, struggling to keep my voice steady. "Maybe it's best if you step back from the next album."
His face twists into an expression of pure fury. Before I can react, he takes a menacing step towards me.
"Get out," I say sharply, forcing authority into my voice even though my hands are trembling slightly.
Seungmin's eyes flash dangerously as he takes another step forward.
"Leave now or I'll call the police," I warn him.
The door to my office slams open, and Seonho and Jaewook burst in, eyes wide with concern. They must have heard the shouting.
"Is there a problem here?" Jaewook asks, his voice calm but carrying an edge that makes Seungmin stiffen.
Seonho steps forward, his presence commanding. "Do you need something from Iseul?"
Seungmin's face pales as he takes in the two men standing protectively by my side. He looks like a deer caught in headlights. "No … I was just leaving," he mutters, backing away.
"Good idea," Seonho says, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Seungmin glances at me one last time, something unreadable in his eyes, before he turns and quickly leaves the room. The door clicks shut behind him, and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.
"What was that about?" Jaewook asks, concern etched across his face.
I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "Seungmin found out about us … and he wasn't happy. He accused me of prioritizing my personal life over our professional relationship."
Seonho's expression darkens. "He had no right to talk to you like that."
Jaewook's jaw tightens. "He crossed a line."
I shake my head, feeling a wave of frustration wash over me. "Now I don't have a producer for the new album."
Seonho's eyes narrow with determination. "That's not going to happen." He pulls out his phone and starts dialing.
I watch as he paces the room, explaining the situation to someone on the other end of the line. His voice is firm and resolute. Within minutes, he has both of his bandmates on board to help finish and produce my album.
"They're reaching out to their lawyers to draw up contracts for all of us," Seonho says, hanging up the phone.
I blink back tears of relief and gratitude. "Thank you so much." I throw my arms around Seonho, feeling the tension in my body start to melt away.
Jaewook smiles softly at us. "Let's go home and unwind after this stressful day."
We gather our things and head out of the studio together. The air outside feels fresh against my skin as we step into the night, leaving behind the chaos of the day.