The room was filled with excitement and concentration as the brainstorming session for When We Were Here began. I sat on the edge of the couch, silently observing while the boys threw around ideas. This was their process—sometimes chaotic, sometimes profound, but always collaborative.

"Should we incorporate dancing into the music video?" RM asked, his tone thoughtful. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, a habit of his when deep in thought. "It's what we're known for, but... does it fit this song?"

I glanced at Suga. He was leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. "No dancing," he said firmly, his voice calm but resolute. That made everyone pause. Even I raised an eyebrow.

"No dancing?" Jungkook echoed, tilting his head in confusion. "Hyung, are you feeling okay?" His playful tone made the others chuckle, but Suga didn't even crack a smile.

"It doesn't feel right," Suga said, his gaze flickering briefly to me before settling on RM. "This isn't about choreography. It's about... us. About the story."

I swallowed hard, unsure why his words felt like they carried an extra weight. But I stayed quiet. It wasn't my place to interrupt.

"What kind of story?" Jimin asked, leaning forward, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. That's the thing about Jimin—he always wants to understand, to connect.

Suga leaned forward now, uncrossing his arms. "A story about friendship and memories. Something timeless. Non-linear. No structured timeline, just... moments."

The room fell silent, the kind of silence where you can almost hear ideas forming. Then Taehyung broke it with a dreamy sigh. "I like that. Like fragments of our lives, pieced together."

Suga nodded, his lips curving into the faintest smile. "Exactly."

"Okay," RM said, scribbling notes furiously on his notepad. "So... no choreography. Just storytelling. What does that look like?"

That's when Suga began painting the picture. "Each of us in our own spaces, reflecting on moments we've shared. Then we come together in the end. The visuals should be simple but powerful—golden hour fields, a quiet cabin, maybe a beach at sunrise."

As he spoke, I couldn't help but imagine it. The imagery was beautiful—almost poetic. My mind drifted to warm sunlight streaming through windows, waves lapping at the shore, and the quiet hum of nostalgia.

"Clover?" Jimin's voice snapped me back to reality. "What do you think?"

I blinked, suddenly aware that all eyes were on me. "Oh, um... I think it's perfect," I said quickly, feeling my cheeks heat up. "It feels... personal. Like you're inviting everyone into your world."

Suga gave a small nod, like he appreciated my input, and that only made my heart race faster. But he didn't linger on me for long. Instead, he launched into his next idea.

"We should each take on a role that represents us," Suga said. "Something that aligns with the song and who we are."

RM leaned back, a thoughtful smile on his face. "Alright, let's hear it."

Suga started with me, which caught me off guard. "Clover will be the writer. It suits her. She's the one who documents everything—our memories, our moments. She'll be shown writing in a journal, capturing what we might forget."

I opened my mouth to protest—I wasn't part of this group, not really—but the way Suga looked at me made me stop. His gaze wasn't pitying or patronizing. It was... understanding. Like he'd already made up his mind that I belonged in this story.

"Her journal can be the central symbol," Taehyung added, his voice soft but enthusiastic. "It ties everything together."

Suga moved on before I could overthink it. "RM, you'll be the philosopher. Reading books, surrounded by notes, reflecting on everything we've been through."

RM grinned. "Classic."

"Taehyung, you're the dreamer," Suga continued. "Riding a train, holding a Polaroid of us. Your scenes should feel... wistful. Like you're chasing a memory."

Taehyung nodded, his eyes distant, already lost in the concept.

"Jungkook will be the wanderer," Suga said next. "On a beach, collecting a seashell, drawing in the sand. It's about searching for something—connection, maybe."

"Am I barefoot?" Jungkook asked, grinning. "Because if I'm on a beach, I'm definitely barefoot."

Suga rolled his eyes but smirked. "Yes, you're barefoot."

"Jimin will be the guardian," Suga concluded. "Tending to a lantern in the cabin. Keeping the light alive. Watching over all of us."

Jimin's smile was small but warm. "I like that."

"And you?" RM asked, raising an eyebrow. "What's your role?"

"The listener," Suga said simply. "Walking through a forest, listening to a cassette tape. I'll hear our voices in the music. It's... enough."

His voice faltered slightly, but no one called him out on it. We all felt the emotion in his words.

"Hyung," Jungkook said hesitantly. "What about Jin and Hobi-hyung? Can we include them somehow?"

The room fell silent again, this time heavier. The absence of Jin and J-Hope was a wound that hadn't fully healed.

"We can," RM said finally. "But it'll take some planning."

They began tossing around ideas: A brief scene of them in uniform, gazing at the same stars we'd be watching. Pre-recorded messages, woven into the narrative. Flashbacks to old footage. Symbolic items—Jin's fishing rod by the ocean, J-Hope's sunflower in the cabin.

"I like the stars," Taehyung said softly. "It's simple but powerful. They're looking at the same sky as us. It says everything without words."

Suga nodded, his expression unreadable. "Then that's what we'll do."

As the brainstorming session continued, the ending came together piece by piece.

"We'll all meet at the cabin," RM said. "Around a fire. Sharing stories, laughing quietly. No big gestures—just... us."

"The camera pans to the sky," Jungkook added, his eyes lighting up. "And on the ground, our symbolic items are left in a circle. Like a reminder that we were here."

I swallowed hard, trying to hold back tears. The concept was beautiful—achingly so. It wasn't just a music video. It was a love letter to their journey, to their bond, to everything they'd built together. And somehow, they'd invited me to be part of it.

As the discussion about the music video wrapped up, their group manager, Kim Soojin, entered the studio, clipboard in hand and a professional air about her. The room shifted slightly; her presence always added a sense of structure to the chaos.

RM straightened in his chair and addressed her directly. "Soojin-noona, we were just talking about including Jin-hyung and Hobi-hyung in the music video. Especially in the reunion scene at the cabin. Do you think it's possible to have them join us in person, even for a brief moment?"

Soojin tilted her head thoughtfully, tapping her pen against the clipboard. "It's definitely possible," she began, "but it would require careful planning to align with their service schedules and restrictions. Military commitments are strict, but with enough notice and the right coordination, we might be able to make it work. I'll handle the logistics and let you know once I have an update."

The hope in RM's eyes was palpable as he nodded. "Thank you, noona. It would mean so much if they could physically be there with us. This scene—it's about unity. It wouldn't feel complete without them."

Soojin gave a reassuring smile, but before the moment could settle, Suga spoke up, his voice calm but carrying a layer of practicality.

"If that doesn't happen," he said, leaning slightly forward, "we can still include them in the reunion scene through creative editing." His tone was matter-of-fact, but there was a flicker of determination in his eyes. "For example, a tablet or smartphone could display a short video call scene. Imagine Jin-hyung and Hobi on the screen, smiling, maybe saying something like, 'We're proud of you guys,' or sending messages of love and support."

I glanced at Suga, impressed by how quickly his mind shifted to solutions. He continued, his voice softer now. "It ties into the modern theme of staying connected across distances. Even if they're not physically there, they can still be with us."

The room was quiet for a moment, absorbing the idea. It was simple but effective, and knowing BTS, they'd make it feel personal and heartfelt.

"That's a great backup plan," Soojin said, nodding. "If we can't work out the scheduling, we'll move forward with something like that. Either way, Jin and J-Hope will be part of this."

"Good," RM said with a small but determined smile. "They have to be part of this."

The mood lightened, and Taehyung clapped his hands together. "I like it. A video call scene... it feels real. It's what we've been doing with them anyway."

"And it'll remind everyone that even when we're apart, we're still a family," Jimin added, his voice warm.

I stayed quiet, watching the scene unfold. Their dedication to including Jin and J-Hope, no matter the challenges, was touching. It wasn't just about a music video—it was about their bond, the unwavering connection that made them who they were.

Suga caught my gaze and gave me a small nod, as if to say, See? We'll make it work. And I believed him. If there was one thing this group excelled at, it was turning challenges into something beautiful.

As we were discussing the music video, Soojin-noona suddenly shifted the tone, bringing up something entirely different. She adjusted her glasses and glanced at the tablet she always carried. "I need to talk to you all about the latest articles circulating online," she began, her voice calm but laced with authority.

I stiffened immediately, feeling a weight settle on my chest. I already knew what this was about before she even said it.

She looked directly at me. "Clover, Suga, Taehyung, Jimin, Jungkook, and RM—I want you all to attend the funeral for Tris' mother and younger brother. Media outlets will undoubtedly cover the event, and your presence will be important. Especially you, Clover."

My heart sank further. Why did this feel like walking into a battlefield? I opened my mouth to speak, but Soojin-noona continued before I could get a word in.

"You need to show the media that you're just a good friend to Tris, nothing more. This is your chance to make it clear that you're not back together with him. The narrative we're aiming for is simple: you're a kind-hearted, forgiving friend who's there for him in his time of grief, despite your past. That's it."

Her words were professional and to the point, but they still stung. I nodded faintly, trying to suppress the storm of emotions brewing inside me.

Jungkook, who had been leaning back in his chair with a casual air, sat up straighter. His brows furrowed as he asked, "Wait... why is this such a big deal? What exactly happened between Clover and Tris?"

Soojin-noona hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice even. "I did some background research after seeing the headlines," she said, glancing at me briefly. "Clover and Tris dated in high school. Their relationship ended because—" She paused again, this time with a sigh. "Because Tris cheated on Clover. And she caught him... doing it, with another woman, in his dorm."

The room fell completely silent.

"What?" Jimin's voice was a mix of disbelief and horror. He turned to me, his wide eyes searching mine. "Clover, is that true?"

I couldn't answer. My mind was already spiraling into that awful memory like it had happened yesterday. Tris' dorm room, the muffled sounds I wasn't supposed to hear, the way my heart shattered into a million pieces when I pushed open the door. His betrayal wasn't just a moment—it was a knife that had stayed lodged in my chest all these years.

I blinked, and for a second, I wasn't in the studio anymore. I was back in that hallway, my hands trembling as I fumbled with the door handle. His voice, his excuses, the way the girl looked at me with a mix of pity and guilt—it all played out like a cruel movie in my head.

"Clover?" Jimin's voice pulled me back to the present.

I swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the table. My voice was barely audible when I finally spoke. "Yeah," I said, my throat tight. "It's true."

The room erupted with reactions. Jimin looked furious on my behalf, while Jungkook frowned deeply, his jaw clenched. Suga's expression darkened, and Taehyung leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he studied me silently.

"You don't have to go if it's too much," Suga said softly, his tone unusually gentle. "No one should make you face that if you're not ready."

I shook my head. "No, I'll go. I have to go," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "This isn't about me or Tris. His mother and brother—" My voice broke slightly. "They didn't deserve what happened."

Soojin-noona nodded approvingly. "Good. But remember, Clover, you have to control the narrative. The media will twist anything they can. Show grace, kindness, and distance. You're there as a friend, nothing more."

I nodded again, feeling the weight of the situation settle on my shoulders. This wasn't just about protecting myself anymore; it was about navigating a delicate and painful situation with dignity. But deep inside, I couldn't help but feel like I was walking straight into the lion's den.