You're at an event, dressed in a pretty, flowing white dress that sways gracefully with each step you take. The fabric catches the light, making you almost ethereal—though not in the way most people would understand. Your friends, Hae-won and Ji-woo, are beside you, both impeccably dressed as well. Hae-won is in a sleek black dress that somehow makes her look like a goddess of the night, while Ji-woo rocks a deep emerald gown that matches the sparkle in her eyes.

"Are you sure that JYP wants you?" Ji-woo asks, eyes scanning you up and down with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. You weren't the tallest in the group, standing a little shorter than them, but you had something they didn't—a set of delicate, shimmering wings that peek out from your back, feathers soft and angelic. And those scales—subtle at first, but undeniably present—hug your skin like an intricate second layer, glistening under the lights. White scales, with faint hints of color that match the spark in your eyes. To anyone who wasn't paying attention, you could pass as just another quirky girl in a beautiful dress. To those who did, though? They usually ran.

You were used to it. The whispers. The stares. People just didn't understand you—your wings were a dead giveaway, but the scales? The scales made them nervous. People didn't know how to deal with that kind of difference, and they often chalked it up to "creepy."

Still, Hae-won and Ji-woo had stuck with you—two of the few who didn't care about the rumors, the side glances, or the awkward silence that seemed to follow whenever you walked into a room. They were your friends, and, to you, that was everything.

Ji-woo raises an eyebrow as she waits for your answer. "Seriously though, you think they want you?" she repeats, still unsure.

Hae-won snorts, shaking her head in mock disbelief. "Why wouldn't they? I mean, she's literally an angel," Hae-won quips, nudging Ji-woo in the ribs with her elbow. "Can you imagine the drama around her? She's got that whole 'otherworldly' thing going on, it's perfect. Plus, look at her—she's gorgeous." Hae-won winks at you, but her playful smile falters slightly when she catches the faint line of doubt crossing your face.

Ji-woo shifts uncomfortably but can't help the sly grin tugging at her lips. "Yeah, and you know what they say—if she makes it big, we get to ride the coattails of her fame." She laughs, her eyes twinkling, but underneath the humor, you can sense the underlying truth in her words. There was always that part of them—no matter how much they cared about you—that saw your potential as something to benefit from, something that could lift them too.

You shrug, trying to play it cool, but the truth is, the pressure of that potential weighs on you. You didn't just want to be seen for your wings, your scales, or whatever strange, supernatural thing they thought you were. You wanted to be seen as you. Yet here you were, surrounded by the people who loved you, and still... it felt like everyone else only cared about the spectacle.

"You guys are ridiculous," you laugh, though there's a hint of uncertainty in your voice. "I'm just... me."

Hae-won leans in, her eyes narrowing playfully. "And that's exactly why JYP would want you. They'll see what we see. And if not, well..." she gives Ji-woo a quick look, then whispers under her breath. "More fame for us, right?"

Ji-woo rolls her eyes but can't help the laugh that escapes. "We'll see if your wings can get us into VIP sections, angel."

You can't help but chuckle, the tension in your chest lifting a little. Sure, you weren't normal. You were far from it. But these two? They didn't mind. And that, for now, was enough.

A man approaches, his confident stride barely breaking the flow of the evening. As he gets closer, you recognize him immediately—Changbin, one of the most famous faces from Stray Kids, a group that had taken the world by storm. Your heart skips a beat, and you instinctively take a small step back. It wasn't every day you found yourself face-to-face with someone this big, someone whose name had graced every headline, every music chart, and every social media feed. He's even more striking up close, radiating the energy that made him a star, but that doesn't stop your heart from thudding wildly in your chest.

"Um, excuse me, ladies, but can I steal your friend here?" His voice is warm and casual, but his eyes have a hint of amusement. He extends his hand to you, a gesture that feels almost too surreal.

You blanch, momentarily stunned, and the wings that had been resting gently over your back flutter nervously. They're an involuntary reaction, the soft feathers twitching as if they were as startled as you. Your eyes widen slightly, but you manage to glance up at him through the delicate wings, meeting his gaze. His eyes lock onto yours with a knowing look, something playful yet serious behind them, and the air between you feels charged with a strange electricity.

Ji-woo, never one to miss an opportunity for a little mischief, steps forward, her smile sly and playful. "Are you sure?" she teases, her voice smooth as she leans a little too close to Changbin for comfort, pressing her shoulder against his in a way that feels intentionally bold. "You don't want us in your band, too, do you, sir?"

Hae-won stands by, her arms folded, eyes dancing with amusement as she watches the little drama unfold. She knows Ji-woo too well. This was her way of making sure you weren't too swept away by this unexpected attention.

Changbin's chuckle breaks the tension. "Oh no, ma'am," he says, shaking his head in mock seriousness, "we want her."

His gaze shifts back to you, his smile widening as he steps closer, still holding his hand out to you. For a split second, you feel a strange sense of connection, like the world has paused just long enough for him to see beyond the surface—beyond the wings and the scales, right into you. The brief moment lingers in your chest, a flutter that has nothing to do with your wings and everything to do with the uncertainty gnawing at you. Why you?

Ji-woo raises an eyebrow, but the teasing glint in her eye softens as she watches your expression. "Well, that's new," she says, voice quiet but still amused. Hae-won, too, watches you with a smirk, clearly intrigued by what this could mean for you—for all of you.

Your hand hovers over his for a moment, your wings flickering once more, then slowly, you reach out and take his hand. "Okay, let's see what this is all about." You manage a smile, despite the whirlwind of thoughts racing through your mind.

Changbin's grin only deepens. "I knew you'd say yes," he says, and in that moment, you feel a strange, unspoken promise hanging between you—something that could change everything.