Jiah walked down the familiar hallway of HYBE's music studios, the soft thud of her sneakers barely making a sound against the sleek, polished floors. She adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder, taking a deep breath as she neared the door at the end of the hall.

She had been looking forward to this meeting getting input from Pdogg on the song she had spent weeks perfecting was a big step for her. But despite her usual excitement when it came to songwriting, there was an unshakable nervousness creeping up her spine today.

She reached the studio door and knocked twice, waiting for a response before slowly pushing it open.

Popping her head inside, she scanned the room, her eyes landing first on Pdogg, who was seated at the mixing console, adjusting a few knobs before turning to acknowledge her. But then, her gaze flickered to the other person in the room, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around the door handle.

Heeseung.

He was seated on the couch against the far wall, his phone in his hand, though he had clearly been engaged in conversation with Pdogg before she walked in. His eyes lifted to meet hers, and for a brief second, they just stared at each other. Then, as if on instinct, Jiah gave him a polite, tight-lipped smile the kind that barely reached her eyes before stepping fully into the room and closing the door behind her.

"Ah, Jiah! Thanks for coming," Pdogg greeted warmly, motioning for her to come closer.

Jiah quickly refocused her attention on him and walked forward, giving a respectful bow. "Thank you for making time for me."

Pdogg waved off her formality with a chuckle. "It's no problem at all. I always have time to help talented artists like you." He then gestured toward Heeseung, who had now straightened up slightly. "I hope you don't mind Heeseung being here. I've been guiding him on producing lately, and I thought working on your song together might be a good experience for him."

Jiah hesitated for only a fraction of a second before forcing a small smile onto her face. "Of course, that's fine."

She wasn't sure if she really meant it.

She carefully slid her bag off her shoulder and placed it on the chair beside her before pulling out her laptop. As she set it on the table and powered it on, she could feel Heeseung's gaze flicker toward her, but she refused to meet his eyes.

"So," Pdogg said, leaning forward, "do you have the song ready?"

Jiah nodded, though she hesitated before clicking on the file. A small lump formed in her throat. She had written Stay a Little Longer late at night, pouring out raw emotions she hadn't even realized were still lingering within her. It wasn't a song filled with anger or resentment; rather, it was a song filled with longing, with desperation and nostalgia for something that had already slipped away.

And now, she was about to play it in front of the person she had unknowingly written it about.

Steeling herself, she cast a brief glance toward Heeseung who remained silent, watching her with an unreadable expression before finally clicking play.

As the first notes filled the studio, a soft and melancholy melody drifted through the speakers. Jiah folded her hands together on her lap, her nails pressing into her skin slightly as she listened to the familiar lyrics.

"Please won't you stay, stay a little longer, babe?
Don't walk away, when I'm here calling your name
I'm fragile
I'm speechless
Don't leave me in pieces
Already having enough trouble breathing"

She could feel the shift in the room. The atmosphere grew heavier, and even Pdogg who had been nodding along to the beat seemed to sense the unspoken tension between them. Jiah didn't dare turn her head to look at Heeseung, but she could feel the weight of his presence beside her, unmoving.

As the song continued, Jiah felt exposed in a way she hadn't expected. Every lyric, every note, was a direct reflection of what had been left unsaid between her and Heeseung. The past they had buried. The quiet ache that still lingered.

When the last chord faded into silence, no one spoke immediately.

The room was thick with something unspoken, something neither of them wanted to acknowledge. Pdogg leaned back in his chair, pressing his fingers together as his eyes flickered between Jiah and Heeseung, as if piecing something together in his head.

Then, realization dawned on him.

"Oh." His voice was soft, yet knowing.

Jiah clenched her jaw slightly, bracing herself.

"You two are exes, aren't you?"

The air in the room grew even heavier.

Jiah's lips parted slightly, but no words came out at first. She knew Pdogg wasn't asking to be nosy he was just connecting the dots. And frankly, the song itself had probably made it obvious.

After a moment, she let out a quiet sigh and gave the smallest nod.

Pdogg exhaled, shaking his head slightly as if he couldn't believe he hadn't noticed sooner. "That explains a lot."

Jiah swallowed, shifting slightly in her seat. She didn't want to look at Heeseung, but curiosity got the better of her, and she finally allowed her eyes to flicker toward him.

He was still silent, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his gaze something distant, something almost nostalgic.

Jiah quickly looked away.

"Well," Pdogg finally said, breaking the silence, "I have to say, that was a beautiful song, Jiah. Your songwriting has really improved."

Jiah straightened slightly, relieved to have the focus back on the music. "Thank you," she said, her voice softer than usual.

"I can tell you poured a lot of emotion into it," Pdogg continued, giving her a knowing look before glancing briefly at Heeseung. "That's what makes a song truly impactful."

"This is really good," he says, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "You have a way of making people feel the song, Jiah. Your pain, your yearning it's all there, right in your voice. That's not something that can be taught; it's something that comes naturally when an artist is deeply connected to their music."

Jiah, who had been watching him anxiously, let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She wasn't sure why she had been so nervous maybe it was because this was her first track she ever wrote about her experience, or maybe because of who was in the room with her but hearing Pdogg's approval made her shoulders relax just a little.

"Thank you," she said softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Pdogg tapped his fingers against the mixing console, his eyes narrowing slightly as if thinking about what to say next. "I also really liked how the instrumental is kind of low," he continued. "It almost feels like you're singing a cappella, but you're not. It creates this... intimacy, like the listener is sitting right there with you, hearing your emotions raw and unfiltered."

Jiah's lips curled up slightly. "That was intentional," she admitted. "I wanted it to feel personal like I was singing to someone rather than just performing for an audience."

"Well, you definitely nailed that," Pdogg praised. "That's something you did really well."

Jiah nodded in appreciation, her fingers tapping lightly against her laptop. She was about to ask him for specific input on improvements when he suddenly turned to Heeseung.

"What do you think?" Pdogg asked, raising a brow.

Jiah stiffened slightly, her fingers freezing mid-tap.

Heeseung, who had been silent since the song ended, looked up in surprise, clearly taken aback by being addressed. His posture straightened, and for a brief moment, he hesitated, his eyes flickering between Pdogg and Jiah.

Jiah tried not to look at him directly, but she could feel the weight of his presence beside her. She knew he wasn't the type to give empty compliments if he had something to say, it would be genuine. Still, she wasn't sure she was ready to hear his thoughts.

Heeseung cleared his throat. "I, uh..." He hesitated, then nodded. "I liked it."

Pdogg let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "That's it? That's all you've got to say?"

Heeseung shifted uncomfortably, his fingers fidgeting slightly against the hem of his hoodie. "I mean it," he said, glancing at Jiah briefly before looking away again. "I liked it. The way she sang it... it really makes the listener feel what she's feeling. You can hear the pain throughout the song."

Pdogg studied him for a moment before chuckling. "You sure you're not just saying that because she's sitting right next to you?"

Jiah's breath hitched slightly, but she kept her expression neutral.

Heeseung's jaw tightened slightly. "No," he said firmly. "Even if she wasn't here, I'd still say the same thing."

There was a beat of silence before Pdogg gave a satisfied nod. "Alright, alright. I'll take your word for it."

Jiah wasn't sure why, but hearing Heeseung say that made something tighten in her chest. Maybe it was because she hadn't expected any real feedback from him, or maybe it was because despite everything he still understood her music in a way few people did.

Pdogg turned his attention back to Jiah. "Now, as for improvements there are a few things we can tweak to make it even better."

Jiah nodded, refocusing on the discussion. "I'm open to suggestions."

"For starters," Pdogg said, tapping his pen against the desk, "I think the second chorus could use a bit more layering. Right now, it's very stripped down, which works for the emotional impact, but adding a subtle harmony something soft, maybe an octave higher could give it a bit more depth without taking away from the intimacy."

Jiah nodded, mentally noting the change. "That makes sense. I didn't want to overdo it, but I can definitely experiment with layering."

Pdogg snapped his fingers. "Exactly. And the bridge while it's beautiful could build up just a little more before dropping back into that quiet, vulnerable outro. Maybe some additional strings or a soft piano underneath your vocals."

Jiah hummed thoughtfully. "That could work... I didn't want the bridge to be overpowering, but a subtle buildup might make the emotional payoff even stronger."

Pdogg grinned. "See? You already have the right mindset for this."

Jiah smiled slightly, feeling more confident. "I just want to make sure it's the best it can be."

Heeseung, who had been silent during their exchange, finally spoke up again. "If you want, I can help with some of the layering."

Jiah blinked, turning to him in mild surprise.

Pdogg smirked. "Oh? Look who's getting involved now."

Heeseung ignored him, keeping his focus on Jiah. "You don't have to say yes," he added quickly, as if giving her an easy out. "I just... think I could help."

Jiah hesitated, but then she slowly nodded. "That would be... helpful."

Heeseung gave a small nod in return, and for a brief second, something unspoken passed between them.

Pdogg clapped his hands together, breaking the moment. "Great! Looks like we've got a plan, then."

Jiah exhaled, feeling both relieved and slightly overwhelmed. This meeting had turned out far more complicated than she had anticipated. But if it meant making the song better, she was willing to push through the awkwardness.

She glanced at Heeseung once more, finding him already looking at her.

For a second, it almost felt like old times.

But then, just as quickly, reality settled back in.

Jiah cleared her throat and turned back to Pdogg. "Alright. Let's make this song the best it can be."

The studio was filled with the soft hum of music as Jiah and Heeseung worked on refining Stay a Little Longer. Pdogg had given them clear directions on what to tweak, and for the most part, the process was smooth. Jiah, now more focused, was adjusting certain notes while Heeseung played around with the layering.

Then, Pdogg's phone rang.

He sighed, pulling it out of his pocket and glancing at the screen. After a few seconds of listening, he exhaled and stood up. "I have a meeting to get to," he announced, looking between Jiah and Heeseung. "But I trust you two can finish this without me."

Jiah simply nodded, not wanting to make the situation more awkward than it already was. She kept her expression neutral as Pdogg grabbed his things and headed for the door. "Don't kill each other," he joked before disappearing down the hall.

As soon as the door clicked shut, the air in the room felt heavier. Jiah stared at her laptop for a few moments before shifting her gaze toward Heeseung. "Come sit over here," she said, patting the empty seat beside her.

Heeseung hesitated for a second before complying. He moved his chair closer, now sitting beside her instead of across the room.

For the next twenty minutes, they worked in relative silence. Occasionally, Heeseung would suggest an adjustment, and Jiah would nod, making the change. There were no unnecessary conversations, no lingering glances just work.

"Alright," Heeseung finally said, leaning back in his chair. "We should record a few takes now."

Jiah nodded and stood up, making her way to the recording booth. She adjusted the headphones over her ears and took a deep breath before starting. The moment she began singing, her voice carried the weight of the song effortlessly. She poured emotion into every word, and even from the control room, Heeseung could feel the intensity of it.

When she finished the first take, she pulled off the headphones and turned toward him. "I think I should do it again."

Heeseung adjusted some of the settings on the console. "You don't need to," he admitted. "But if you want to, try lowering the pitch slightly this time. It might add more depth."

Jiah nodded and repositioned herself in front of the mic. She was just about to start singing again when the studio door opened.

Sunghoon stepped inside.

He stopped in his tracks, his expression shifting slightly when he saw who was in the room. His eyes flickered between Heeseung and Jiah, a mix of curiosity and surprise flashing across his face.

Heeseung barely reacted, keeping his attention on the mixing board, but Jiah could feel the tension spike just a little.

"Sunghoon," she acknowledged, her voice even. "Give me a few minutes. I'll finish the recording, and then we can go."

Sunghoon nodded but didn't leave. Instead, he leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Take your time," he said casually.

Jiah didn't say anything more. She turned back to the mic, took another deep breath, and began singing again. This time, she followed Heeseung's suggestion, singing in a lower register. The effect was immediate the song sounded even more raw, more vulnerable.

Heeseung, despite himself, found his fingers tapping in approval against the console. He wouldn't say it out loud, but he was impressed.

As Jiah recorded, Sunghoon and Heeseung stood on opposite sides of the control room. Sunghoon broke the silence first.

"I didn't know you were working with Jiah," he commented.

Heeseung shrugged. "Neither did I."

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow but didn't push further. He glanced at the screen, watching Jiah as she sang in the booth. "The song's good," he said.

Heeseung hummed in agreement. "Yeah. It is."

Sunghoon gave him a look, as if silently trying to read his thoughts, but Heeseung didn't give anything away.

A few minutes later, Jiah stepped out of the booth, adjusting her sleeves as she walked toward them. "That's enough for today," she said, her tone final. "We can make more changes another day."

Heeseung nodded. "Got it."

She then turned to Sunghoon. "You ready?"

Sunghoon nodded but hesitated for a second before speaking again. "Actually, I was telling hyung about us going shopping," he said. "Thought he should join."

Jiah's brows lifted slightly, her gaze shifting toward Heeseung.

Heeseung met her eyes briefly before glancing away. "If you don't want to, it's fine," he said, his voice quieter than before. "I don't have to go."

Jiah studied him for a moment, then shook her head. "It's fine. There's no harm in you joining us."

Heeseung blinked, seemingly surprised by her response. But he didn't question it. Instead, he simply nodded.

Sunghoon grinned. "Alright, let's go then."

It was an odd situation, but somehow, it didn't feel as heavy as it should have.

At least, not yet.