muse? pt.2
pairing: kang haerin x fem newjeans!reader
summary: getting a new member way long after debut and before a comeback isn't really the best idea to haerin
category: enemies-to-lovers(ish?), kpop idol au
genre: slow burn (kinda), angst, and fluff
warnings: a bit frustrating and A LOT of jealousy
a/n: thank you all for the love of pt.1 of muse!
"Up at the end is your room." Minji looks back at you, checking if you're still catching up.
You let out a nod, trying once again to grab a duffle bag from the taller's hand but yet again; she pulls it back from your reach.
"I got it, Y/N." She smiles back at you, knocking on the door at the end.
Not long after a few seconds, the door opens shortly which revealed a specific cat-eyed female. She only stares at the eldest member before trailing her eyes down to her hands full of the new addition's luggage.
"Haerin-ah, your roommate is here." Minji says, having Haerin step aside to let the both of you in.
Following closely behind Minji, you try your best to ignore a certain girl's gaze.
"You'll get along great with Haerin." The taller gently reassures you before turning to look at the other girl in this room. "Haerin, please help Y/N fit in with the room."
Haerin only swiftly nods, walking back to sit on her bed.
"Once you're done with unpacking, meet us down at the practice room." Minji smiles once more, giving you a small touch on the shoulder before exiting the room and closing the door behind her.
"Your side of the closet is empty." Haerin unemotionally says, pointing at the big wardrobe in the middle. "And I'm sure you understand where your bed is."
You quickly nod, smiling with the oh so charming eyes. "Thank you so much!"
"Yeah."
Haerin seems...a little bland, to be honest?
"Practice starts in 30 minutes." The other gives you a heads up. "I'd start unpacking if I were you."
Oh!
"Right! If you don't mind, would you help me unpa-"
You couldn't even finish your sentence as the cat-eyed girl walks out the room.
Geez. What the hell is up her ass?
With a silent sigh, you can only sit on the unfamiliar ground before unpacking all your clothes and belongings alone.
The feline-resemblance female tries to cool her anger down, constantly taking small sips of water in the kitchen. She doesn't want to be in the same room with a stranger. Better yet; the new "add-on" to NewJeans.
What in the world was Min Hee Jin thinking when she chose to add you in the final solution? Haerin is positive she could never fathom the idea of it.
How good could you even be for their CEO to request you personally? Why couldn't you just stay at SM instead of ruining her and the others' careers?
With a frustrated and clearly upset expression, Haerin dumps out the remaining water from the glass before leaving it in the sink.
"All I have to do is grab my phone and cap while pretending she's not there." The cat-eyed mumbles to herself, reaching her hand out to turn the doorknob of her room.
However, she halts upon hearing laughter coming from her room.
"Y/N, if you ever need anyone to talk to or help, feel free to come to me!" Hanni's voice from inside leaves Haerin's eyebrows to furrow.
With a confused expression now, Haerin pushes the door open, grabbing both you and Hanni's attention.
"What's going on here?"
The Vietnamese female smiles, her arms wrapping around your waist to pull you in closer by her side. "I was just helping our new member unpack before practice starts."
"She's my roommate, why are you helping her?" The raven-haired honestly has no clue what irked her to say that, especially in front of you where she deliberately walked out upon you asking for help.
Hanni makes a side-eyeing face at the way her member is acting strange. "Chill! She was struggling on making her clothes fit in the space."
"Well, I can take it from here." Haerin shortly responds, her eyes gazing intently at the other's arm around you. "You can go ahead and start heading to practice, the van is already out waiting for us."
Hanni can only pout, releasing her grip on you. "Kang Haerin, you really are in a bad mood today, huh."
Before the feline-like female could open her mouth to defend herself, the Vietnamese stomps out her old room, not forgetting to bid a goodbye to you and NOT Haerin.
"She was already helping me." You simply state, turning back around to continue unpacking the rest of your clothes.
"Well, sounds more like you two were goofing around instead of doing what needs to be done." Haerin responds, a bit aggravated at the fact that you seem to like being with Hanni more than her.
You couldn't help but make a face at the tone of her. "There is something called multitasking, you know."
"There is a time in which we need to get to practice, Y/N." She replies, kneeling besides you to help with unpacking.
The silence between you two was unbearable and you can't help but to hate being near your roommate based off of the first impressions.
Being at another company's practice room was never a thought for you. You had always figured you'd be at SM forever. Who would've thought you'd be standing here at HYBE's infamous black practice room with the members of NewJeans.
"It's so big here, I feel like I could get lost if I was here by myself." You say, looking around the halls while following behind your new members.
Danielle turns around, beaming happily. "We could never leave you by yourself here!"
"Thanks Danielle." You smile back, leaving the Australian to gasp quietly at your cute eye-smile before turning back forward.
Haerin rolls her eyes from behind, trudging slowly after you. She wishes you WOULD get lost in here and never come back.
"I bet it's way different here compared to SM, huh?" Minji asks from the front.
You let out a hum in response. "Very. But I like it here already compared to being at SM."
"I'm glad!" Hanni excitedly says, linking her arms with you. "We can't wait for you to perform with us. You deserve it, Y/N."
Haerin wonders how long you've been at SM to suddenly drop the company and come over to HYBE, most importantly debuting into a group that has already debuted. Aren't you afraid of what netizens would say?
The female wonders how someone could be so selfish to their own-being. She could never leave everything like that and attempt to something even bigger.
"Surely, if Min Hee Jin CEO personally requested her, she for sure deserves to be on stage with us." Hyein nods, looking at you with a certain admiration. "I give props to you, unnie!"
Haerin gazes at you intently, wondering what's going on in your head right now. She's sure you could feel her looking upon you, she sees the way you sort of side-eyed her before replying to the youngest.
"Thank you, Hyeinnie." You could only laugh in response, however, there's pressure rising upon your body at the younger's words. "But don't expect much from me."
Wrong move.
Haerin can't help but to let out a quiet scoff, however, it doesn't get past her members nor you.
"Haerin-ah?" Minji calls out, turning around to face the feline-like female with a stern face.
Haerin hums in response.
"Is everything alright?"
Getting a nod in response from the introvert, Minji could only sigh, letting it go. But she knows something is wrong with Haerin. Can't quite put her finger on it but she KNOWS.
"Lets go guys! Practice is waiting for us!" Hanni breaks the slightly risen tension, pushing Danielle and Hyein into the practice room.
Minji waits for you up ahead, a small smile on her lips. You tilt your head at the leader, wondering what she wants to speak to you about.
"Minji, is there anything you want to say to me?"
The oldest looks at you with a gentle look. "I know it's terrifying to be placed suddenly into a new place, a new team, and a new environment. I understand very well. I hope you don't overwork yourself and just enjoy it. And if you ever need someone to listen or talk to, I'm here as a leader, your member, a friend and family."
Minji's face falls into shock as tears slowly fall from your eyes. "Oh! I-"
"-Thank you for those words." You bow towards her, the feeling of pressure levitating off of your shoulders and you can't help but to feel grateful and lucky for getting this opportunity. "I promise I won't let this team down."
Haerin once again give you one last look before clenching her jaw and proceeding to walk past both Minji and you.
"Let's get to practicing, shall we?" The older smiles, disappearing off into the very dimly lit room.
Because it's your first day as an artist under HYBE and as a member of NewJeans, you knew you had to work extra hard. Extremely hard.
Being back at SM, you didn't know when you would or wouldn't debut. Ever since the age of 6, hope continuously kept getting broken which led to motivation getting broken as well. You still worked hard but not as hard as you have to work now.
But just now, when you made a mistake during ETA, you suddenly feel your whole world crumbling down. The pressure you had back at SM taking over your entire body and you just want to huddle your knees to your chest and sob with no care in the world.
Haerin couldn't help but roll her eyes as she walks away to drink from her water bottle. There is no way the trainee that Min Hee Jin specifically requested just messed up on the most easiest move throughout the whole choreography more than 5 times already.
This is honestly just a waste of time in Haerin's head.
"I'm sorry." You immediately turn around to face the others and the dance instructor. "I don't know what happened..."
Both Danielle and Hanni are in awe at how your eyes look so sad yet beautiful at the same time.
"Y/N, it's okay!" Hanni reassures you, coming up to hug you in comfort.
However, Minji doesn't fail to notice how a specific feline-like female could only huff in frustration. The leader gets it; she does. She understands how Haerin, being one of the best dancers in the group could get irritated at something small like this. But, Minji feels that Haerin should give you a chance, after all; it is your first day.
"How about we take the rest of the day off, girls?" The dance instructor suggests, giving you a warm smile. "Let Y/N get used to this environment."
Everyone nods immediately, agreeing with the older woman.
"Great. I'll see you all tomorrow then."
Minji, being the oldest and brightest in the team, she has the perfect plan rolled up her little sleeves.
"Let's throw a small welcome party for Y/N."
Hanni notices a specific look in Minji's eyes; a little trick is getting played.
"Hanni and I will get the food while Hyein and Jihye will get the party supplies. Haerin, I want you to keep Y/N accompanied."
This has got to be some sick joke at this point.
"You've got to be kidding me." Haerin whispers to herself.
Minji smiles, leaving the cat eyed female twitching in frustration. "Haerin-ah, you're older than Y/N by three days. You two will get along just fine."
To say getting along was an understatement.
"Hey, can you accompany me to the cafeteria?" You ask, finally standing up after arranging your half of the dorm. "I can't eat alone."
Haerin looks up from her phone, for a minute; you would think she's contemplating about accompanying you. However, she just looks at you with an unreadable expression and goes back to what she's doing.
"The others will come back with food."
Great.
"Minji said that you'll accompany me though..." you can only mumble to yourself, having the other let out a short deny and sigh before leaving the room.
Haerin does not understand why she cannot absolutely stand you AT ALL.
Leaving the dorm, the feline-like female uses the elevator to the nearby convenience store. She's only going for vitamins and a refreshing drink. Surely, it would not take long. Leaving you by yourself will be just fine.
With a hum of content to herself, she nods while leaving the elevator to go into the store.
Within the second of entering the convenience store, she gets stopped by a few snacks up at front. Her mind suddenly thinks about you. Without hesitation, she picks out a couple of bags to put into her basket.
Meanwhile, your mouth hangs low while staring at the closed door in shock.
"Did she just leave?" You ask to yourself in surprise.
Never in your years of being at SM were you treated like this. And you were a trainee.
With shoulders hanging low in regret and now inconsideration on taking up this offer of debuting, you can only walk out your dorm room to go to the kitchen to find anything to eat.
Examining the many counters of the pretty big kitchen, you hear the beeps from the door's keypad being dialed in. Shortly after, the door opens which reveals the member that left the dorm earlier.
"Eat it or not; doesn't matter to me." Haerin could only say, placing the bag on the kitchen's island countertop.
Before Haerin could get the chance to leave, you cross your arm in frustration “Why are you like this?”
The cat-eyed female looks shocked for a second. She stares at you in complete silence before opening her mouth to say something.
"Look, I dont know how things worked around at your previous company but here we dont mess around during practice, it would be great if you stopped being a nuisance to others.”
“I havent even started my official day as a NewJeans member. How could you judge me already?”
“if you dont want me to have a bias, at least stop messing up on the choreography every step."
This has got to be the exciting yet worse day for you.
october 1, 2023; publishing date
haerin doesn't know what to do about her hidden immediate love for y/n hehehehe
part 3 is coming soon!!
taglist: @ilovekimminji
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