The HYBE studio was unusually chaotic that afternoon.

Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia, and Yoonchae were gathered in the lounge when their manager walked in, followed by someone none of them recognized.

“Girls, this is your new personal bodyguard.”

All six turned toward you.

You stood calmly beside their manager in a neat black suit, an earpiece tucked beneath your dark hair. Your posture was straight, your expression unreadable, and your eyes quietly scanned the room.

Daniela blinked. “She's our bodyguard?”

“Yes,” their manager sighed.

Lara leaned toward Manon. “She's scary.”

“I heard that.”

Silence.

Manon raised an eyebrow. “Oh. So you do talk.”

“Sometimes.”

Sophia covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Yoonchae looked you over curiously. “Are you always this serious?”

“Yes.”

Daniela grinned. “Oh, we're definitely going to change that.”

You looked directly at her.

“Good luck.”

---

Three days later, the girls had made it their mission to get a reaction out of you.

Daniela told increasingly terrible jokes.

You stared at her.

Lara dramatically announced every fifteen minutes that she was starving.

Without a word, you handed her a snack.

Megan tried sneaking past you wearing sunglasses indoors.

“Take those off.”

“Why?”

“We're inside.”

Sophia tried having long conversations with you while you worked. You barely spoke, but somehow remembered everything she told you.

And Manon repeatedly stood directly in front of you.

“Do you ever smile?”

“Yes.”

Everyone froze.

“…You do?”

“Occasionally.”

“When?”

“When nobody's looking.”

Yoonchae burst out laughing.

By the end of the week, they'd learned something important.

You weren't cold.

You were just quiet.

And extremely protective.

You remembered who hadn't eaten and carried snacks, water, chargers, tissues, hair ties, and enough emergency supplies to survive practically anything.

Whenever they left the building, you automatically counted them.

“One, two, three, four, five…”

You paused.

“…Where's Yoonchae?”

From down the hallway:

“I'M HERE!”

“Get over here.”

Yoonchae came running back, trying not to laugh.

“Yes, ma'am.”

You narrowed your eyes. “Don't wander off.”

She grinned.

“Yes, Mom.”

Silence.

Everyone stared.

Then Daniela absolutely lost it.

“OH MY GOD—SHE CALLED YOU MOM!”

“I DIDN'T MEAN TO!” Yoonchae protested, already laughing.

From that moment onward, it was over.

“Mom, can I have this?”

“Mom, Megan stole my food.”

“Mom, Daniela's being annoying.”

“Mom, tell Manon to stop looking at me like that.”

You pinched the bridge of your nose.

“I am not your mother.”

Six identical expressions stared back at you.

“Mhm.”

“I mean it.”

“Mom's in denial,” Lara whispered.

“I HEARD THAT.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

And somehow, despite your constant complaints, you started playing along.

In the car...

"Mom? Can we get icecream?"

"No."

"Mom—"

"No."

"Please?"

"...fine."

"YEAH!"

Daniela threw an arm around you.

“Love you, Mom!”

You froze.

Everyone waited.

After a long silence, you quietly muttered—

“…Love you too. Now get in the car before I change my mind.”

The screaming that followed nearly gave you a headache.

But you were smiling.

Just a little.