The regret seeps into me the moment I step into the house. The moment I step inside, I feel their eyes on me. This is going to be a long year. The Vortex house is obscene. Not just large—obscene. The kind of place designed to make normal people feel poor. Floor-to-ceiling windows, minimalist furniture that probably costs more than my entire existence, and an open-concept living space that screams wealth and privilege.

They’re already there, waiting. Four men, standing in the center of the room, watching like I’m a puzzle they weren’t expecting. Not just watching—analyzing. Assessing. Jae is the first to break the silence. Predictable.

“Welcome home, sweetheart.” He flashes a slow, lazy grin, stretching his arms along the back of the couch like he owns the place.

I don’t even glance at him as I drop my bag onto the floor. “Say that again and I walk right out.”

His smirk deepens, eyes flickering with amusement. “Feisty. I like it.”

Min doesn’t say a word from where he stands slightly apart from the others, arms crossed, eyes sharp and unreadable. Unlike Jae, he doesn’t seem entertained. Just…watching. Measuring.

Then there’s Seon, grinning like a cat who just found a new toy. “Noona, if you need help unpacking, I’d be happy to—”

“Touch my things and you die.”

His grin widens. "Feisty," he echoes, a teasing lilt in his voice.

Jisoo says nothing, just stares at me from his spot near the hallway, completely still. His expression is impossible to read. Not curious, not indifferent—just quiet.

That stillness unsettles me more than anything.

Then, suddenly, he moves. One second he’s there, the next, he’s walking past me—effortless, silent, like a shadow slipping through the cracks. My suitcase vanishes from beside me before I even realize he grabbed it.

I blink. “Where are you going with my bag?”

Jisoo’s voice drifts back, calm and unreadable. "Your room."

I stare at him, then at the hallway where he vanished. “Someone should put a bell on him—how does he move so fast and quietly?”

Seon snickers. “He does that. You’ll get used to it.”

Jisoo doesn’t say a word, but when he returns to the living room, he leans against the wall in silence, unreadable as ever.

I exhale. "Thanks, Jisoo."

He merely nods before shifting his gaze elsewhere.

Jae claps his hands together. “Well, now that we’re all settled in, we should celebrate.”

I shoot him a look. “Celebrate what?”

His grin is damn near dazzling. “The start of our beautiful new life together.”

I groan. “I hate this already.”

Jae pats the cushion beside him. “Come sit.”

I don’t move. “I’m good.”

He tilts his head. “You sure?”

Jae stretches his arms again, letting out a satisfied sigh. “She doesn’t know.”

I cross my arms. “Know what?”

Seon’s grin turns wicked. “The couch is magic.”

I blink. “...Excuse me?”

Jae leans forward, elbows on his knees, voice dripping amusement. “Every girl who sits here ends up staying longer than she planned.”

Seon suddenly steps forward, closing the space between us in an instant. I tense slightly as he takes my hand in both of his, looking down at me with that wide-eyed, disarmingly sweet expression—the kind of look that probably makes fans weak in the knees.

“Noona,” he pouts, squeezing my fingers like a pleading child, “the couch is really comfortable. And cuddles on the couch are especially nice.”

I blink. Once. Twice. Then squint. Oh. So that’s his game. Seon, with his bright smile and soft voice, the picture of innocence—meanwhile, I know damn well that just yesterday he was making the dirtiest joke in existence on a livestream while pretending it wasn’t on purpose.

“You’re like a puppy,” I say dryly, tilting my head as I reach up and ruffle his hair, ruining the careful styling he probably spent forever on.

He lets me—for a second. His eyes flicker, just briefly, with something I can’t quite place. Then, just as quickly, it’s gone. His usual grin returns, effortless, like that shift never happened.

“If I’m a puppy,” he teases, “does that mean you’ll let me sleep on your bed?”

I drop my hand immediately.

“Yeah, never mind.” I take a step back. “The double entendres ruin the cute act.”

Jae cackles from the couch, clearly enjoying every second of this. “She saw through you immediately.”

Seon pouts again but doesn’t push. Instead, he turns toward Jisoo. “Hyung, I almost had her.”

Jisoo—who hasn’t moved from his spot against the wall, arms crossed, watching everything unfold—just lets out a low hmm, unreadable as ever.

Jae stretches his arms again, sighing dramatically. “You know, sweetheart, you’ll sit eventually.”

I narrow my eyes. “You can all keep dreaming. The two of you sound like a pair of cult recruiters.”

Min, who’s been quiet up until now, sighs loudly from where he’s standing near the hallway. “You guys are idiots.”

Jae just smirks. “C’mon, sweetheart. Just try it.” He pats the spot again, tilting his head. “It won’t bite.”

I narrow my eyes, taking a deliberate step toward the couch.

They light up like I’m finally giving in. Jae even shifts over, making space, like he expects me to actually sit.

Then, before they can try again, I turn on my heel and walk straight to my room.

Jisoo, still leaning against the wall, watches me walk past, saying nothing.

“She was close,” Seon muses behind me.

“Oh, she’s gonna sit,” Jae says confidently.

Seon snickers. “Definitely.”

Jisoo finally speaks, voice calm and certain. “It’s only a matter of time.”

I slam my door shut, pressing my back against it.

I stand there for a moment, hands clenched at my sides, surveying the space that’s apparently mine for the next year. It’s… impersonal. Everything about it screams temporary, like a hotel room that’s meant to be used and discarded. A queen-sized bed sits neatly against the far wall, its white sheets crisp and untouched, like no one’s ever slept in it. A sleek wooden desk stands near the window, completely bare except for a branded ONYX Entertainment welcome packet, which is so corporate it actually makes me itch.

The walls are white. The floor is polished wood. There are no personal touches, no pictures, nothing that makes it feel lived in. I walk in further, hesitating before running a hand along the desk. Smooth. Unused. Like they’re expecting me not to stay long enough to leave a mark.

My suitcase sits neatly by the bed. I drop onto the bed, letting my body sink into the ridiculous softness. I should start unpacking. Maybe claim a few spaces as my own, mark my territory like an aggressive cat. But the weight of the day is finally catching up to me, and all I really want is five minutes to just breathe.

Of course, I don’t get them.

A knock sounds at the door, followed immediately by it swinging open—without my permission. “Excuse you?” I snap, sitting up as Jae leans casually against the frame, grinning.

“Just checking in, sweetheart.”

“Check in from outside.”

He ignores me, stepping inside like he owns the place. “I was just thinking—since we’re gonna be living together, we should bond.”

I stare at him. “What part of me gave you the impression I want to bond?”

Jae hums, glancing around the room. “You don’t. Which is why it’ll be fun.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “What do you want, Jae?”

He flops onto the bed beside me, arms stretched behind his head like he belongs here.

“I was thinking we could play a game.”

I stare at him in absolute disbelief. “You’re in my bed.”

“Yeah, it’s comfy.” He pats the mattress like he’s reviewing it. “Good choice.”

I shove at his shoulder. “Get out.”

He chuckles but doesn’t move. “See, this is why we need to bond, Noona. You’re so tense.”

“Because you people stress me out.”

The door swings open again. For fuck’s sake.

Seon steps inside, hands in his pockets, looking way too amused for my liking. “Jae, are you harassing Noona?”

Jae smirks. “She’s so mean to me, Seon. It’s heartbreaking.”

“Boo-hoo,” I deadpan. “Try therapy.”

Seon grins, stepping further into the room. “Noona, you really should sit on the couch sometime.”

“Why do you people keep bringing up the damn couch?”

Jae and Seon exchange glances like they’re in on some inside joke I don’t want to understand.

Seon shrugs. “Just saying. It’s life-changing.”

I point at the door. “Out.”

Jae sighs dramatically, finally sitting up. “Fine, fine. We’ll let you settle in.” He smirks. “For now.”

Seon winks at me. “Sweet dreams, Noona.”

I throw a pillow at his head. He dodges effortlessly, laughing as they both retreat. I flop back onto the bed, exhaling hard. Finally. Peace.