Love Only ♥️

RUMOURED GIRLFRIEND

Five times the fans caught on to your relationship with Daniela, and one time you finally gave them the answer they needed.

daniela avanzini x female reader

tags: fluff, katseye member reader, dance studio owner daniela, futch daniela, swapped roles, eyekons being nosy (as always), dani gives her gf the princess treatment, spanish endearment terms, dani wears masc clothes, half smau

warning: suggestive

a/n: consider this as my thank you gift for reaching 1k followers. I love y'all SO SO MUCH! 🫶 I've only been making girlfriend daniela so I wanted to try making boyfriend daniela!

ִ ࣪𖤐.ᐟ NUMBER ONE — THAT AIN'T HER CAP...

You had all just wrapped up for a collaboration with a brand. It was one of the perks of being a group as diverse as KATSEYE. Brands loved using you to showcase how their products from deep lip pigments to shimmering highlighters, complemented a wide spectrum of skin tones and nationalities.

It was a massive win for representation, but it also meant spending hours in photoshoot, having to do multiple poses with the girls while following directions from the photographers and smiling until your jaw aches.

By the time you were all walking out of that company's building, your own makeup had already been wiped clean. You looked quite tired now, wearing an earth-toned cap that had the words “GOD’S FAVORITE” printed on the front. You had swiped it from Daniela's rack that morning before you left her house to continue doing your job as an idol.

Oh, how you wish that you could just stay in Daniela's bed all morning, though. Being an idol and making a name for yourself all around the world had been your dream, but the cons of having to be away from your girlfriend all the time was torture itself.

You slowly lifted your eyes from your phone and looked toward the tall glass doors at the main entrance. Through the clear panels, you could already see a large crowd waiting outside.

You weren’t surprised at all. Fans were lined up behind the metal barricades, standing close together, some on their tiptoes, all hoping to see you and the others in person. Even from inside, you could hear their excited voices faintly.

The security guards stepped out first, scanning the area and making sure everything was safe before guiding you all toward the van. The moment the doors opened wider, the noise grew louder.

“Oh my gosh! It’s actually them!”

“Lara, you’re fricking hot!”

“Can I get an autograph please?!”

You slipped your phone back into your pocket and gave the fans a warm smile. It was obvious they had been waiting for a long time just to catch a short glimpse of you. You couldn’t just walk past them without showing some love back. You cared about the eyekons too much to ignore their effort.

It looked like the others had the same idea. Sophia walked closer to the barricade, chatting with fans. Manon blew playful kisses into the crowd, making people scream even louder. Megan and Lara were already signing a few albums and papers. Meanwhile, Yoonchae had run to the other side of the barricade while security hurried after her, trying to keep things under control.

You glanced at your manager. She hesitated for a second before giving you a small, reluctant nod. Taking that as your signal, you stepped toward the barricade. The crowd immediately erupted, hands reaching out with their phone cameras flashing in every direction.

“Y/N! You did so well today!”

“Thank you! That’s so sweet of you!” you called back. Your voice was slightly scratchy from the schedule, but you still made it sound bright and cheerful. You moved along the line, trying your best to give a few seconds to as many people as possible.

You took a fan’s phone and snapped a quick selfie, knowing it would probably be posted online within seconds. Another fan handed you a letter, and you carefully tucked it under your arm so it wouldn’t fall.

Everywhere you turned, it was filled with “I love you!” and “Please take care of yourself!” The energy was overwhelming but in a good way. You felt appreciated, even protected by their words.

Then, halfway through, a fan in the very front leaned forward. Her eyes were wide with excitement as she held out a thick permanent marker.

“Y/N, please! Can you sign my boobs?” she asked breathlessly, pointing at the top of her tank top.

You blinked in surprise. You definitely didn’t expect that. Someone nearby was clearly recording, and your shocked face would probably be clipped and shared everywhere. You let out a startled laugh, half amused and half caught off guard.

“Sure, why not?” you replied with a playful grin.

You carefully took the marker from her hand. Leaning in, you placed one hand gently on her shoulder to steady her, which only made the surrounding fans scream louder.

Then you signed your name in bold black ink across the fabric. When you pulled back, you gave her a quick wink and a thumbs up.

“There you go. Don’t wash it,” you joked.

She immediately turned bright red, squealing loudly like she had just experienced the happiest moment of her life.

As much as you wanted to keep interacting, Missy and the security team were already signaling that it was time to move. You were only supposed to pass by quickly, and staying longer could make things harder to manage.

Reluctantly, you blew a few kisses toward the crowd and called out rushed words of thanks, expressing how grateful you were for their support. A security guard guided you toward the open van.

Before stepping fully inside, you adjusted Daniela’s cap on your head. You pulled the brim lower to shield your eyes from the blinding flashes of cameras.

As you did, you caught the faint, familiar scent of your girlfriend’s shampoo. The soft smell wrapped around you like comfort, calming your racing heart.

ִ ࣪𖤐.ᐟ NUMBER TWO — LA RAMS

One thing you were absolutely sure about was this: Daniela was the most supportive lover anyone could ever ask for. She cheered for you the loudest, stood by you the firmest, and never once made you feel alone.

But at the same time, whenever she wasn’t close to you, she would look almost pitiful, like a lost child who couldn’t find her way home.

It was honestly a little adorable. If it meant being near you, trust that this woman would drop everything without hesitation.

You both first met in Atlanta. That was where everything started where you and Daniela's feelings grew. But when she found out you had to move to Los Angeles to chase your career, she didn’t even blink.

There was no long debate or any of those dramatic hesitation. Daniela simply decided she was coming too. She transferred her dance studio, packed her life up, and moved to LA just so she could stay close to you. Just like that.

Her dedication didn’t stop there. She showed up everywhere. Events where Katseye was invited? She was there. After tours when you were tired and worn out? She was waiting. It didn’t matter how busy she was. If you were somewhere, Daniela somehow found her way there too. She made sure the world knew she loved you.

So of course, when you and the girls were invited to attend the LA Rams game, getting to watch the American football match and even take pictures with the cheerleaders, Daniela was right there as your plus one.

“Dani, stop it,” you giggled softly, your arms wrapped loosely around her neck as you sat comfortably on her lap inside the car.

You were wearing a dark-colored skirt, an LA Rams cap that matched hers, and her blue jersey draped over your frame. Meanwhile, Daniela clearly couldn’t keep her hands to herself. She had been pulling you closer and pressing soft kisses along your neck, leaving playful nibbles that made you squirm.

“Hm,” she hummed against your skin, her lips brushing over your pulse point. The feeling made you bite your lip to hold back a sound. “Lo siento, no puedo evitarlo. How am I supposed to pull away when my princess looks this pretty? So fuckin’ beautiful for me.”

You rolled your eyes fondly, though your smile gave you away. “The others are waiting, Dani. This is exactly why the company barely trusts you to drive me around. They think you’re a bad influence because I always end up late.”

Daniela lifted one brow, pretending to look serious. “But you still get there safely, don’t you?”

“That’s not the point,” you whispered, pulling back slightly so you could look at her properly.

Your fingers traced the sharp line of her jaw, then moved up to adjust the brim of her Rams cap. You let your eyes travel down her figure slowly.

“You know,” you added casually, “you look really handsome today. Especially in those jogging pants.”

Your gaze dropped shamelessly to where her Calvin Kleins were visible, then slid back up to meet her eyes.

“I wish you know just how much I want to stay in this car with you.”

You watched the effect of your words happen instantly. Daniela’s pupils dilated as her breath caught slightly, gaze moving to your lips without thinking. Her hands tightened around your waist, her control slipping just a little under your praise.

Then she leaned in, her nose brushing softly against yours.

If she was already affected by how you looked, your compliment pushed her over the edge. You knew exactly what you were doing. Daniela loved being praised, especially by you.

“Then why let anything stop you?” she murmured, her hand sliding from your waist to the back of your neck. “If I’m such a bad influence, maybe I should give them a real reason to be mad.”

Her lips hovered so close to yours, ready to close the distance, but you were quicker. With a playful smirk, you reached behind you and pushed open the passenger door.

A soft breeze rushed into the car, cooling the heated air inside. In one smooth motion, you slipped off her lap and stepped out of the Mustang before she could react.

“Hey!” she whined, reaching out for you but grabbing nothing but air. “That ain’t fair. Come back here!”

You laughed lightly, smoothing down your skirt and adjusting her jersey over your body.

“No thank you, handsome,” you teased sweetly.

You glanced back at her and saw her sitting there with her arms crossed, pouting like a grumpy child. She looked both annoyed and adorable at the same time.

You had to press your lips together to stop yourself from laughing again.

In the end, no matter how playful she had been earlier, Daniela still remembered why you were both here in the first place. With a quiet sigh, she pulled the car keys out of the ignition and stepped out, locking her car with a soft beep from the tiny remote.

You adjusted the blue and white cap on your head, tilting it slightly as you checked your reflection in the car window. You pressed your lips together, making sure your lip gloss didn’t look too shiny or obvious under the sunlight.

“So,” Daniela began casually, her hands sliding into her pockets as she took in the massive stadium towering in front of you. Her eyes scanned the area like she was already planning the route. “Do you know where the main entrance is?”

“Mhm. The manager gave us directions.”

Before you could even touch the door, Daniela stepped ahead and pulled it open for you. You paused for a second, glancing at her with a soft, flattered look.

“Thank you,” you whispered softly before walking inside together.

The blast of cool air from the air conditioner immediately wrapped around you. It was a welcome relief from the heavy heat outside, feeling refreshing against your skin. After showing your access passes and being allowed further inside, you both made your way down a busy corridor filled with staff, guests, and chatter.

Daniela’s hand hovered just behind your back. She wasn’t fully touching you since she was careful, as always, and to avoid rumors, but her presence was still there, being protective without being obvious. Grounding, too. She guided you through the crowd naturally, her curls falling freely around her face today.

You stole another glance at her. She really did look handsome. The ripped jogging pants, the slight peek of her Calvin Klein waistband above the hem all suited her too well. You swallowed quietly, a mischievous thought crossing your mind.

Would it really be that impossible to drag her into the women’s restroom for just a few minutes? The game hadn’t even started yet, after all…

“Careful,” she whispered suddenly.

You blinked at her, confused by how alert she looked. She seemed extra aware of every person passing by.

You scoffed lightly, shaking your head. “If you keep being this caring, we might not even make it to the stadium before the game starts.”

Now it was Daniela’s turn to look at you. She froze for half a second, clearly caught off guard, before a slow smile spread across her lips. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

“Well… that’s tempting,” she admitted softly.

Before you could respond, a voice rang out over the noise.

“Wait. Is that Y/N?! From Katseye?!”

A group of teenagers nearby stopped walking. Their eyes widened as recognition hit. You barely had time to react before one of them rushed forward, phone already raised for a quick selfie.

“Y/N! Just one picture, please!”

Before the fan could step too close, Daniela immediately moved between you. She didn’t shove anyone or raise her voice. She simply positioned herself in front of you calmly while her body blocked the path.

“Hey, sorry guys,” Daniela said lowly. “She’s just trying to get to her team before the game starts. Let’s respect her space, yeah? Maybe later.”

The fan blinked, clearly surprised. They looked confused, probably unsure who Daniela was. For a second, you felt a flicker of worry about how this might look online later.

But the group stepped back anyway, muttering soft “sorry” and “good luck” as they created space for you to pass.

Daniela didn’t even glance back at them. Her focus stayed on you. Her hand hovered near your waist again as she guided you through the small opening she had created.

“You okay?” she murmured, leaning just close enough for you to catch that familiar woodsy scent.

“Yeah,” you whispered back, looking up at her with genuine gratitude. This time, your smile was softer. “My hero.”

Once the nickname hit her, the serious expression melted on her face as her eyes softened. The protectiveness in her posture seemed to have relaxed just a little under your affection.

A cheeky grin appeared on her lips, her dimples showing proudly. She looked way too pleased with herself for making you react like that, and honestly, she deserved it.

“No problem, mami. I’m not gonna lie… I actually feel a little nervous meeting your friends.”

“Nervous?” you repeated, staring at her in confusion. “You’ve met them so many times already.”

“I mean… yeah, I have,” she admitted, her smile slowly turning into a small pout. “But that's cause it's different since this is gonna be more… public.”

You understood what she meant immediately. This wasn’t just a casual visit backstage or a quiet dinner. This was out in the open. Cameras, people…eyes everywhere.

Without thinking twice, you reached for her hand and intertwined your fingers with hers with a firm and warm grip. So what if people saw you holding hands with a woman? You held hands with your members all the time. Most people would just assume it was normal friendship. That was common enough.

Well… except for the small detail that you were wearing her blue jacket.

Thankfully, she hadn’t posted about it anywhere yet. No proof online and no connections to make.

Not like that time you accidentally got caught wearing her cap.

“They’re chill, Dani. Seriously,” you reassured her with a gentle smile. You squeezed her hand lightly, and you could feel her fingers tighten around yours in response. “They support you. Like, fully. They always talk about how talented you are.”

Her cheeks turned pink.

“They literally said you should’ve debuted with us in Katseye.”

Daniela’s eyes widened at that, and she quickly shook her head. “And go through that survival show with you? No thanks.”

She gave you a look like the idea was completely ridiculous. She would never risk something like that. Such as the stress, the pressure, and the possible misunderstandings. Anything that could hurt your relationship.

She loved you far too much to gamble with it.

Before you could say anything else, the heavy double doors of the arena opened wide. The distant roar of the crowd blended with upbeat music from the sidelines. It looks like the energy seemed to have changed immediately.

You felt it in Daniela too as her shoulders relaxed slightly when she spotted familiar faces ahead.

“Look who finally showed up!” Manon called out loudly, her voice cutting through the noise. She leaned casually against the wall in her custom jersey, effortlessly cool.

“I was starting to think the game was about to begin without you,” Sophia teased, walking up to give you a quick hug. Then she turned to Daniela and gave her a polite nod. “Good to see you, Dani. Thanks for bringing her here safely.”

Daniela gave a small nod back, her hand still loosely holding yours.

“Oh my god,” Megan suddenly squealed as she rushed over toward Daniela, who instinctively stepped back slightly while looking surprised by the sudden burst of energy.

“I can’t believe Y/N actually brought you here!” Megan continued excitedly. “Have I told you I’m a huge fan? Like- how do you even do those Latin ballroom dances? It’s so cool.”

Daniela blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard, while you stood beside her trying your best not to laugh at her reaction. You glanced to your left, and she offered you a small, sheepish smile.

She still looked a little stunned by Megan’s sudden burst of excitement and energy, like she hadn’t expected to be welcomed that loudly.

Letting out a resigned sigh, you turned your attention to Megan with a flat expression, though it wasn’t serious at all. This time, you were the one stepping in to save Daniela.

“More than she can count, actually,” you replied dryly. “And calm down, Megan. She’s here for me.”

“Wow. Protective much?” Lara teased immediately, a mischievous smirk spreading across her face as her gaze bounced between you and Daniela.

She had clearly been about to snap a harmless picture, but after noticing your tone, she slipped her phone back into her pocket with a playful grin.

“Okay, first of all,” Lara continued dramatically, pulling her phone out again and waving it around, “this lighting is way too good so we need a group photo. But you both look way too good today, so can I borrow your Dani for a quick shot? For the memories.”

The second the word “borrow” left her mouth, your smile disappeared for just a second.

Manon caught it immediately and had to turn away to hide her laugh. Yoonchae looked confused at first, blinking between all of you, until she heard a fan call her name. Her eyes instantly lit up, and she waved brightly toward the stands.

“Relax, Miss Possessive,” Sophia chimed in, grinning from ear to ear. “She’s all yours anyway.”

Your face flushed pink at the teasing, and you exhaled deeply before reaching over to take the phone from Lara.

“I’m not jealous,” you muttered defensively. “I obviously know what she meant.”

Daniela, meanwhile, seemed completely focused on the task at hand.

“So how do we do it? What pose?” she asked seriously, placing both hands on her hips like she was preparing for a dance routine.

She had no idea you had already pointed the camera at her, capturing her focused expression. You were too busy staring at her through the phone screen anyway, quietly admiring how good she looked.

“Easy,” Lara said confidently, stepping beside Daniela. “We give the fans something to fawn over.”

She lifted both arms into a playful muscle pose. “Do this. Same as me.”

“Oh. Okay,” Daniela replied without hesitation.

She mirrored Lara’s pose instantly, raising her arms the same way and facing the camera you were holding. After a small shuffle, Lara pressed lightly against Daniela’s side so they matched perfectly.

When you looked through the screen, you almost forgot to breathe. Daniela lifted her chin slightly, her expression looking confident. She looked strong and intimidating. So ridiculously attractive.

You swallowed, pretending to focus on framing the shot properly.

“Ready?” you asked, though your voice came out a little softer than you intended.

And honestly, with how good she looked standing there, you were starting to understand why Lara wanted that photo for the “memories.”

Yeah. You were definitely giving her the coochie tonight.

ִ ࣪𖤐.ᐟ NUMBER THREE — A VERY SPECIAL "FRIEND"

Despite the small invasions of privacy that came with it, there were definitely good sides to introducing Daniela to the Eyekons.

A lot of fans would leave sweet comments about her. They would talk about how good you both looked together, how well you matched, and how “perfect” you’d be if you ever actually dated. Those comments always made you giggle quietly to yourself, because little did they know that you were already dating her.

Some fans even went as far as creating fan accounts dedicated to her. They used her Instagram pictures as their profile photos and edited cute clips of the two of you together. It was both amusing and oddly heartwarming to see.

When you once asked Daniela how she felt about all that attention, she had simply shrugged at first. But you could tell she didn’t hate it. In fact, it gave her a small confidence boost.

Whenever she scrolled through social media, she often saw her name mentioned next to yours on Twitter and TikTok. Seeing fans talk about her positively made her feel appreciated in a way she hadn’t expected.

Still, she never tried to take advantage of it.

Daniela would never use you for fame. The idea alone felt insulting. Yet there were still fans online who liked to assume she must be with you for clout. That she was “using” you to gain attention.

You knew that wasn’t true. You knew her heart better than anyone.

There were so many times you felt tempted to log into a random burner account just to argue back and defend her. You wanted to tell those people they were wrong. That they had no idea what they were talking about.

But in the end, you held back. What mattered more was that the majority of fans supported her. They welcomed her warmly as your friend, or rumored girlfriend, and some even became her fans too. She was gaining her own supporters, people who admired her talent and personality.

And honestly, she deserved every bit of that love.

At the end of the day, Daniela treated you so well. She loved you openly, supported you endlessly, and never once made you doubt her intentions. If anyone deserved to gain recognition and success too, it was her. Especially when she was the very reason your dancing improved so much in the first place. She inspired you constantly.

Daniela having her own fans meant that every now and then, edits of her would randomly pop up on your TikTok for you page. Sometimes they were simple clips of her dancing. Other times, they were dramatic slow-motion edits with music that made her look even more unreal than she already did.

Every time one appeared, you had to fight the strong urge to heart it.

But the company had made it clear. No unnecessary interactions that could spark rumors. So instead, you would quietly save those edits on your private account, watching them later and secretly fangirling over your own girlfriend like a proud supporter.

However, this time was different.

You were in the middle of a Weverse live with Manon and Lara when an edit of your future wife suddenly appeared on your for you page. And not just any edit. The creator had chosen dangerously attractive clips and pictures. The kind of edit that would make anyone stare a little too long.

Which was exactly what you were doing right now.

“Wait… why are you on your phone the whole time?” Lara asked, tilting her head in confusion.

You swallowed nervously.

Before you could think twice, your thumb had already tapped the heart button.

If the Eyekons were thirsting over Daniela because of that edit, then it definitely had the same effect on you.

Surely the fans wouldn’t overthink it, right? They would probably just assume you were being supportive. Just a good friend hyping another talented friend.

But before you could quickly exit the app and focus on the live again, Manon leaned over just enough to sneak a glance at your screen.

Your first instinct was to pull your phone away. But that would look way too suspicious.

So you froze and just… let it happen.

Manon straightened up slowly after seeing what was on your screen. Then she made direct eye contact with you.

You gave her a tight smile, your eyes clearly sending a silent warning: don’t.

Unfortunately, that only made her more amused.

“Oh...”

The single word slipped from her lips, and thousands of Eyekons were watching.

Her smile widened mischievously as she turned to face Lara’s phone, which was recording the three of you.

“By the way,” Manon began casually, leaning closer to read the fast-moving comments, “have we told you guys yet? That we’re going to Atlanta to perform?”

Your stomach dropped for a second.

But then the mention of Atlanta, Daniela’s hometown, made something warm bloom inside your chest. You couldn’t help the genuine grin that spread across your face.

“Yeah, guys,” you added smoothly, finally facing the camera properly. “It’s actually one of the cities I’ve been really looking forward to for our Beautiful Chaos tour.”

“Wow, really?” Manon replied, her tone overly innocent. She didn’t even try to act surprised. She already knew exactly why. “I wonder why.”

You could practically see the realization click in Lara’s head. She was quick like that. Her grin slowly stretched as she glanced at you, then back at the screen.

“Oh, we know one of those reasons is seeing your friend,” she drawled, clearly emphasizing that last word.

Heat rushed straight to your face.

Great.

Now the comment section was exploding faster than ever. You could already see Daniela’s name being typed repeatedly in the chat. Manon let out a quiet chuckle as the three of you watched the flood of comments roll in.

None of you confirmed anything, but you didn’t deny it either. That part was up to them to guess.

“Yeah… obviously,” you said with a sheepish smile, finally placing your phone down beside you. “Anyone would be excited to see a friend, especially with how busy we’ve been lately.”

ִ ࣪𖤐.ᐟ NUMBER FOUR — YOUR NUMBER ONE FAN

The trip to Atlanta only made everything worse. It added more excitement and more whispers from fans. It felt like pouring oil into a fire that was already burning bright.

This time, Daniela was watching you perform in her hometown. But not just any performance. This was your very first tour as Katseye. Your first real tour. It honestly felt like a dream turning into reality right in front of everyone’s eyes.

As your partner, she was given front row seats. It was enough to see every expression on your face. Close enough to notice the smallest movements of your hands, the way your chest rose and fell as you caught your breath between lines.

She had the perfect, clear view of you on the stage while you were singing, dancing, and glowing with confidence.

What the fans didn’t know was that Daniela wasn’t just sitting there as your girlfriend. Behind closed doors, she was also your dance teacher.

Even though you and the girls trained nonstop, Daniela would still help you practice when it was just the two of you. Late nights in hee living room and music playing softly from a speaker. Her hands gently guide your waist to correct your posture. Her voice calmly explained what looked stronger, what felt smoother, what should be best on stage.

She helped you polish your movements and reminded you when to hold back and when to go all out.

So now, watching you perform moves she had personally helped you perfect made her lips curve into a proud, smug smile. She didn’t care if people looked at her, nor did she care if cameras caught her screaming.

She just cheered loudly, louder than most of the fans around her. She waved her Katseye lightstick like she was fighting in a battle, being fully invested and completely lost in the moment.

“Have you heard this song before?” she asked the guy standing next to her, her happiness glowing brightly on her face as “Gabriela” blasted through the speakers. You and the members were performing it live with powerful voices and dance moves.

“I mean, of course you have. You’re a fan, right?” she continued quickly, barely waiting for his answer. “This is my favorite song!”

The Latina was practically in her own world. The man beside her, slightly startled by her high-octane energy, nodded frantically as he clutched his own lightstick. "Yeah, yeah! It's a banger!"

"A banger? It’s a masterpiece!" Daniela laughed, her curls bouncing as she turned her focus back to the stage.

Right then, you were moving into the center for your killing part. The lights on the stage caught the sweat on your skin, making you look like a literal deity under the rafters. As you hit the move Daniela had helped you perfect in her apartment just a few nights ago, your eyes scanned the front row.

When you found her, you didn't break character. But as you transitioned into the next move, you let a tiny, knowing grin tug at the corner of your lips. A private "I love you" sent directly to the woman who was currently losing her mind in the front row.

Daniela felt her heart do a backflip. She bit her lip, trying to contain the massive, stupidly in love smile that threatened to take over her face. She looked away for a second to catch her breath, but as she did, she realized the girl on her other side wasn't looking at the stage anymore. She was looking at her.

"Wait... oh my god," the fan whispered, her eyes darting between Daniela and the stage. "You’re Daniela, right? Daniela Avanzini from America's Got Talent?"

Daniela’s smile flickered, turning into something a bit more guarded.

"Uhm, yeah? That's me," she said, trying to keep her tone casual.

The fan leaned in, her voice dropping but her excitement rising. "Are the rumors true? Are you actually Y/N’s girlfriend?"

The question felt like a bucket of cold water. Her smile wavered, that composure nearly slipping. This was the line they weren't supposed to cross yet, and why would a fan suddenly ask something out of the blue like that in the middle of the concert?

"Oh, nah,” she lied, though her heart wasn't really in it. "We’re just-"

"I knew it!" the fan interrupted, not even waiting for the denial as she shoved her phone forward. "I mean, it’s so obvious by the way you look at her! Who's your bias in the group? Who’s your favorite? It's gotta be Y/N, right?”

Daniela didn't even have to think, because the fan just said the answer she would already say. She didn't look at Sophia, Megan, Yoonchae, Manon, or Lara. She looked back at the stage, where you were currently finishing the choreography with a fierce and breathless pose.

"My favorite?" Daniela’s voice returned to that low, smooth rasp. She pointed a single finger directly at you. “Yeah! Of course it’s Y/N. It’s always been her. No competition."

The fan squealed, the answer clearly confirming everything she already suspected. "I knew it! Can I- can I get a selfie? Please? You’re like a celebrity to us now too!"

Daniela was a bit startled, her eyes widening as she looked at the phone held up to her face. She wasn't used to being the one in the frame, but seeing the genuine joy on the fan's face, she couldn't say no.

So what she did was lower her hoodie which showed her hair more freely, threw up a peace sign, and gave the camera a wink.

"Sure, let’s do it. But make it quick, please," Daniela teased, leaning into the shot. "I don't wanna miss her part in Gabriela."

ִ ࣪𖤐.ᐟ NUMBER FIVE — DANI'S PASSENGER PRINCESS

Several weeks had gone by, and somehow the fans had already decided that Daniela was your girlfriend. There was still no official confirmation, no clear announcement, yet the internet had connected its own dots.

Edits, theories, comments…everyone seemed so sure of it already.

You didn’t even know when you would finally get the right moment to tell the world the truth. Part of you was tired of always hiding and tired of acting careful. You wanted to hold her hand without thinking. To smile at her openly without worrying about cameras.

But for now, all you cared about was this moment of peace after an exhausting day.

You had just finished performing at Lollapalooza. Interviews followed right after, one after another with endless questions. Your body was tired, but your nerves were still buzzing with leftover adrenaline from standing in front of thousands of people.

Your heart hasn't fully calmed down yet.

Being in the car with Daniela helped.

You were sitting in the passenger seat now, no longer in your flashy stage outfit. Instead, you had changed into a simple white shirt and comfortable jean shorts. You stared out the window, watching the city lights blur past.

“I made a mistake with my footing,” you muttered almost to yourself. Your voice carried a hint of frustration. “I feel like I didn’t give as much as I wanted to, Dani.”

“Are you serious?” Daniela replied immediately, disbelief clear in her tone.

Her eyes stayed focused on the road as she turned the steering wheel with one hand. The other rested gently on your thigh, warm and steady.

“You did amazing, mi amor. I was literally screaming so loud my throat hurts.”

Hearing that made your shoulders loosen slightly. You turned your head just enough to look at her from the corner of your eyes. There was a small spark of hope in your gaze, like you were searching her face for any sign that she might just be saying that to comfort you.

“You really think so?” you asked softly.

Daniela didn’t answer right away. She was busy carefully parking the Mustang into a tight space near the edge of the park. The engine finally quieted as she shifted the car into park.

Only then did she fully turn to face you.

Her hand never left your thigh. Instead, she gave it a gentle squeeze.

“I don’t think so,” she said softly, her voice warm and certain. “I know so.”

Your cheeks turned pink at how serious she sounded.

“I’ve watched you practice that routine at least a hundred times,” she continued. “Trust me. No one noticed that tiny footing mistake except you. You’re your own worst critic.”

She smiled a little.

“I’m pretty sure there are already fancams of you all over TikTok right now. And I promise you, nobody in those videos is thinking about your foot. They’re thinking about how good you looked up there.”

The calmness and certainty in the way she said it made the anxious thoughts in your head slowly fade. And once again, she comforted you without even trying.

You scoffed softly, your shoulders easing more as you smiled genuinely. You placed a hand over her hand that stayed on your thigh, whispering softly. “Thank you, Dani.”

There was a flicker in her expression, the kind of softness she always has for you. She can't help but smile more. “You’re welcome. I mean it.”

She let her eyes wander over you then, her eyes narrowing as she took in your outfit. She noticed the way the white shirt clung to you and how the jean shorts, which were admittedly a bit daring, highlighted your legs. Her touch grew a little heavier, a possessive edge creeping into her expression.

“Besides,” she added, a playful but possessive smirk tugging at her lips, “you looked incredible. The fans were losing their minds.”

She didn't pull her hand away from your thigh as her thumb traced slow circles against your skin.

“Maybe too incredible,” she added, before her jaw tightened slightly as she released a small huff of breath. “Though, if I’m being real... I wasn’t exactly a fan of how much your butt was showing when you did that floor move. Having ten thousand people stare at what’s mine was not my favorite part of the day.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Is the professional choreographer giving me a fashion critique now?”

Daniela let out a short laugh, her hand sliding from your thigh then up to your waist, pulling you just a fraction closer across the center console. “Not a critique, baby. You still look beautiful as ever.”

She proceeded to pull the Red Mustang into a quiet, shaded parking spot near the edge of the park. After killing the engine, she turned to look at you fully, her eyes softening.

“But I do know how to make you feel better. Remember that little hole-in-the-wall ice cream shop we used to sneak into back in Atlanta? The one with the homemade peach crumble?”

Your eyes lit up. “The one where we almost got caught by your dad?”

“That’s the one,” she chuckled. “There’s a spot just two blocks from here that tastes exactly like home. My treat. Go get us a table in the back corner, and I’ll grab the orders. Double scoop of your favorite?”

You nodded eagerly, leaning over to plant a quick, sweet kiss on her cheek before sliding out of the car. The sunlight kissed your skin as you walked toward the shop, feeling lighter than you had all day.

Daniela watched you walk away through the windshield, a soft, mesmerized smile on her face. She reached for her phone, which was sitting in the center console.

Usually, she was the one avoiding the cameras, but seeing you skipping toward the shop, looking so happy, so relaxed, and so hers, was a sight she couldn't just let go of.

So, without saying anything, she lifted the phone, framed the shot of her hand lingering on the steering wheel then snapped a picture. The back of her hand was clearly showing off your initial as her tattoo.

ִ ࣪𖤐.ᐟ HARD LAUNCH

The date on the calendar stood out clearly in your mind.

February 14th. Valentine’s Day.

If you were being honest, your schedule had been fairly calm after the collaboration with Erewhon and promoting their smoothies. There wasn’t much left to do. Meanwhile, your friends were fully enjoying the day. Lara was spending it with her partner, Main was doing the same, and Sophia, Megan, and Yoonchae chose to celebrate with family and close friends.

A sweet, simple kind of Valentine’s Day. The kind filled with love in all its forms.

Still… you were waiting for your own Valentine.

You stood outside the building, hands tucked deep into the pockets of your leggings, shifting your weight from one foot to the other. Daniela was usually the one who picked you up whenever she was in the same country and you weren’t flying somewhere else to promote Katseye’s music. She liked being the one to drive you home.

But when you glanced down at your watch, you noticed something unusual.

She was late.

Not by a few seconds. Not even by a couple of minutes.

Ten whole minutes.

You looked up and down the street, scanning every passing car for a familiar red Mustang. A small, uneasy thought began to grow in your chest.

Did she forget? Was she stuck somewhere? For a second, you almost gave in to the worry. You were already preparing to reach into your purse to grab your phone and book a cab instead.

But when you finally spotted the familiar red car turned the corner, your entire face brightened with instant relief. You didn’t even realize how tense you had been until that moment.

You stood there, smiling softly as the Mustang approached. But instead of pulling up directly in front of you, it slowed down and stopped a short distance away.

Your smile shifted into confusion.

Did she not see you?

You adjusted the strap of your gym bag on your shoulder and prepared to jog toward the car anyway. But just as you were about to move, the driver’s door opened.

Daniela stepped out, your quick steps slowed into a walk…until you completely stopped.

Oh?

The cool February air brushed against your cheeks, but as you saw her from afar, you forgot about the cold entirely.

She looked unbelievably good.

She wore a bright yellow Adidas track jacket zipped all the way up to her chin, the bold black stripes running down her sleeves. The sporty jacket was paired in an unexpected way with oversized camouflage cargo pants that hung loosely around her legs, the fabric falling over a pair of sleek black open-toed heels.

Her hair was pulled back into a clean, center-parted bun, neat and elegant, with sunglasses resting casually on top of her head. Her cheeks were slightly pink, likely from rushing over.

Now, all you could do was stare.

As soon as her eyes landed on you, her expression changed from frantic to completely soft. Daniela jogged across the asphalt, her heels scuffing the ground as she reached you in seconds.

"I’m sorry. Oh my god- I am so sorry," she panted. She reached out her hands that still smelled faintly like the wooden floor in her dance studio, and touched your waist. "The last session ran over, and the traffic near the studio was a nightmare. I hate that I kept you waiting."

You let out a soft laugh, the small bit of disappointment you’d felt minutes ago melting away as you looked at her, down then up because wow, she never failed to impress you with her fits that you can't help but silently check her out with your own eyes eight now.

"Dani, breathe. It’s only ten minutes. I’m just glad you’re here."

She leaned down, pressing an apologetic kiss to your cheek. "I’ll make it up to you, I promise. Come on, let’s get out of the cold."

She guided you toward the passenger side, her hand resting protectively on the small of your back. As she reached for the handle, she seemed to hesitate for a split second, a rare flash of shyness crossing her features.

She cleared her throat, avoiding your gaze as she pulled the door open for you.

"I, uh... I didn't have time to wrap everything perfectly," she muttered, rubbing the back of her neck. “Didn't want to keep you waiting too much, so…”

The moment the door swung open, your breath hitched. The passenger seat was almost entirely buried. An overflowing bouquet of flowers sat right in the center, their scent filling the car's interior. Tucked beside them were sleek gift bags and a smaller, velvet box that made your heart do a frantic skip.

You turned back to her, stunned. "...You said you were coming from work."

"I was," she said, a small, sheepish smirk playing on her lips as she leaned against the car door, watching your reaction. "But I made a few stops this morning before the studio. I told you, didn't I? Nobody celebrates my girl better than me."

She looked so breathtakingly beautiful that it made your heart ache in the best way. The thought of keeping this a secret suddenly felt impossible. It felt straight up unfair.

If Manon and Lara could teasingly show their love on Valentine’s Day, then why couldn’t you? Why did you still have to hide something that felt this strong and obvious?

You bit the inside of your cheek, trying to hold back the wide, slightly silly smile that was threatening to take over your face. But you couldn’t stop yourself.

You stepped forward and wrapped your arms tightly around her neck, pulling her down into a kiss without any hesitation. Daniela didn’t pause for even a second. She kissed you back immediately, just as eager, just as certain.

Her arms slid around your waist, pulling you closer against her body before she gently shifted to clear space near the passenger seat for you. Even through her jacket, you could feel the firm outline of her muscles beneath your hands. Her smile deepened into something softer, sweeter.

“You’re actually insane,” you spoke softly against her lips, your voice barely above a whisper. Your heart was beating so loudly it felt like it had its own rhythm that only she knew how to control.

You leaned back slightly, just enough to look at her properly. Her eyes crinkled at the corners, filled with pure warmth and affection.

“It must’ve been such a long, exhausting day for you,” you continued gently. “And you still managed to do all of this?”

Daniela’s hands moved from your waist to cradle your face, her palms warm against your cheeks. Her thumbs brushed slowly over your cheekbones in a soothing motion. As always, she looked at you as if nothing else in the busy world around you mattered.

“For you?” she replied tenderly. “I’d drive through a hurricane.”

She rested her forehead against yours, letting the moment linger for just a second longer.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, mami.”

Your chest felt so full of emotion it almost hurt. The love, the gratitude, and the disbelief was overwhelming in the most beautiful way.

You glanced over at the Mustang, noticing the back seat filled with flowers and carefully arranged gifts waiting for you.

“Wait,” you said suddenly, laughing softly. “I need to take a picture of this.”

You quickly pulled your phone out of your purse, your fingers shaking slightly from excitement. Daniela stepped back to give you space, resting one elbow casually on the roof of the car as she watched you with an amused, affectionate expression, clearly enjoying how happy you were.

You started snapping photos, the Valentine's gifts being taken from several angles. In the corner of your screen, you caught Daniela's reflection in the window. She wasn't looking at the camera or the gifts. She was just leaning there, a lopsided, lovestruck grin on her face, watching you gush over her surprise.

She looked so incredibly proud, so entirely whipped for you.

"Why are you staring like that? You're making me blush," you giggled, noticing her intense gaze through the lens.

"It's just that you get this little sparkle in your eyes when you're happy," she laughed despite herself, shaking her head. "It's gotta be my favorite thing in the world."

She reached over and gently took the phone from your hand, tossing it onto the driver's seat before pulling you back into the circle of her arms.

"All of these aren't going anywhere," she whispered, her nose brushing yours. "But the reservation I made definitely will. I’m taking you out tonight, baby. My treat, obviously."

She gave your hip a playful squeeze before walking you around to the passenger side, tucking you into the car amidst the scent of roses.

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✨KATSEYE 7TH MEMBER FICS✨

In Safe Hands: A collection of moments where your members show unwavering protectiveness, care and love, keeping you safe through chaos, fear, and sadness.

Iconic Weverse Moments: A series of moments from weverse livestreams where you just so happen to be at the scene of the crime...every time.

Silent Idol: You and your members on an episode of Silent Idol, where chaos meets more chaos.

Truth Serum: You and your members take on the Truth Serum by Allure where you answer truthfully, where you reveal maybe a little more than you should. Part 2: When your members confront you about your eating habits, the truth finally comes out. Katseye responds with love, not judgment.

Pokimane Livestream: A series of moments between you and the members during the livestream with Pokimane and D4vd

Gnarly Sandwich Live: A series of moments between you and the members, though It's mainly you and Megan, through the Gnarly sandwich making live stream

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✨MEGAN SKIENDIEL✨

The Silent Treatment One: After losing a bet that forces you to ignore Megan for 24 hours, the joke quickly turns into heartbreak when she thinks she’s being pushed away.

Territory Claimed: Part2: Megan’s jealousy over flirty fan comments pushes her to claim you publicly...by sliding onto your lap and making it clear you’re hers.

The Shock Pen One: You become victim of a zap pen prank, sparking laughter, chaos, and Megan’s overprotective side as the girls turn the moment into another piece of Katseye mischief.

Public Displays of Affection…and Panic: Five times the girls catch you and Megan making out and the one time Sophia eventually blows up.

Blind, Deaf, Mute challenge: A chaotic and hilarious Katseye YouTube challenge unfolds as Manon tricks the group into a blind, deaf, and mute baking disaster. Full of flustered antics, accidental flirting, and a very questionable cake.

Katspalooza: Through nerves, stumbles and thousands of eyes, you and Megan prove you'll always be there for one another.

Everything New, Everything You: You experience your first crush and first date with Megan, discovering excitement, tenderness, and the thrill of new love.

Tipsy in Love: Between the music, the drinks, and the laughter, Megan keeps you safe, close and completely hers.

Princess Treatment: During a chaotic rehearsal day, your period cramps spark teasing from the members, jealousy from Megan and it ultimately ends with her babying you in front of everyone, much to the group's amusement.

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✨MANON BANNERMAN✨

Beats Between Us: After a career halting injury, you rediscover yourself through drumming and reconnect with the person you've quietly loved all along.

Caught in the Beat: (set during Dream Academy) During a recording session, a playful drumming lesson with everyone turns into a quiet, flirty moment with Manon, who longs for your attention just as much as the music itself.

Buried Feelings, Open Doors: From Dream Academy to debuting in Katseye, you learn that the most important spotlight is the one shining in your heart. You navigate friendship, fame and a long hidden love that finally finds it's voice.

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✨SOPHIA LAFORTEZA✨

All this time: After all the teasing, the jealousy and the silence across crowded rooms, it's all led to here, to the truth you’d both been circling around all this time.

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✨LARA RAJ✨

none yet

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✨DANIELA AVANZINI✨

none yet

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✨YOONCHAE✨

OT5!Kats + Bestie Yoonchae x Sabrina Carpenter!Reader: From red carpet nerves to owning the stage, you have an unforgettable night at the VMA's. Marked by friendship, music, and moments that take her breath away.

Hi thank you for trying my fics, My name is double!

English is my second langauge, I want to live in America so I learning to write english! Enjoy please! I'll respond to pretty much anything, song request, feedback, or a conversation!

This is the masterlist for my fics, I try to update them regularly, I just started writing so its pretty empty but will be filled up!

Any music recommendations would be helpful!!

Katseye

Angst 🥀 Fluff💕

Manon

3:15 🥀, Pt 2🥀💕

Sophia

The Dress 🥀, Pt 2🥀, Pt 3🥀💕, Epilogue💕

DAISIES💕

The Night We Met 💕🥀, Pt2 🥀💕, Pt 3 🥀💕

Daniela

Illicit affairs 🥀, Pt 2 🥀, Pt 3🥀💕

Undressed 💕, Pt 2 🥀💕, Pt3🥀💕

Lara

Don't Smile 🥀

False God 🥀, Pt 2🥀💕

Megan

Begin Again🥀, Pt 2🥀

Enemy! Daniela Avanzini x fem!reader

Synopsis- You a super smart, popular student who everyone likes, you’re student body president, straight A's, and even got into Harvard. You grew up with twins Daniela and James, and as time pass Dani stopped talking to you but you and James stayed close.

Warning/tags- Angst, fluff, Enemies to lovers, swearing, bad grammar, spelling mistakes, non-idol AU, Twins

AN* Back again, sorry for the long pause I just had to get my life together... but its all good enjoy!! Part 2 is gonna take a while😬

Part 2, Part 3

ೃ༄ headline: dating your boss (a masterclass in chaos) — daniela avanzini

read pt 1 here or can be a standalone !

summary: six months into secretly dating creative director daniela avanzini, the workplace double life is destroying your sanity. confrontations ensue. feelings get aired. the office betting pool gets resolved.

tags: workplace fic pt 2, secret relationship implosion, still no skipping to the good part we walked there respectfully, NO BETA

notes: working on ur requests but keep em coming

six months of secret dating daniela avanzini feels like winning the lottery but having to pretend you're still broke. which is dramatic, but you contain multitudes and also your girlfriend has been slowly driving you insane with her jekyll and hyde act since about month two.

it started small. little things you told yourself were just dani being professional. the way she'd nod politely at your ideas in meetings but not engage the way she did with other people's suggestions. how she'd ask sophia to handle projects you'd expressed interest in. the gradual shift from "that's interesting, tell me more" to "we'll consider it" to "let's table that for now."

by month three, you started keeping track. not intentionally, just... noticing patterns. dani would spend sunday morning in your bed praising your creative instincts, then monday morning in the conference room acting like you'd never had an original thought in your life.

"maybe she's just being extra careful," you told yourself. "protecting both your careers."

by month four, the protection started feeling more like sabotage.

behind closed doors, dani is still clingy in ways that would make her corporate persona file a restraining order against itself. she texts you "come over" at 9 p.m. on a tuesday because she "needs to show you this documentary about typefaces" but really she just wants to fall asleep on your shoulder while you play with her hair and complain about how the font choices in a competitor magazine are "emotionally bankrupt." she keeps a spare charger at your place and calls it "mine" like she's claiming territory. she leaves hair ties on your nightstand and steals your hoodies and returns them smelling like her perfume, which you know is intentional.

she makes you coffee in the morning and watches you drink it like she's conducting a very important taste test. she remembers that you like the oat milk heated separately and that you think cinnamon in coffee is "trying too hard" but you'll accept it if she's the one who added it. she sits on your kitchen counter in your t-shirt and her underwear, legs swinging, and critiques your breakfast choices while simultaneously stealing bites of whatever you're eating.

"you're obsessed with me," you tell her on a saturday morning in month five, both of you still in bed at 11 a.m. because neither of you has anywhere to be and she's been tracing lazy patterns on your arm for twenty minutes.

"factually incorrect," she says, but she's using her finger to spell out words on your skin and you're pretty sure she just wrote "mine" in cursive.

"you made me pancakes shaped like hearts."

"they're circles. you're projecting geometric desires onto breakfast food."

you hold up your phone with the photo you took. the pancakes are aggressively heart-shaped, like she took a cookie cutter to them. she squints at the evidence like it might change under scrutiny.

"pancakes are naturally round," she says, doubling down with the conviction of someone who definitely did not spend fifteen minutes googling "how to make heart shaped pancakes without a mold."

"babe," you laugh, zooming in on the photo, "these look like a hallmark card had a baby with ihop."

she steals your phone and deletes the photo with the efficiency of someone destroying evidence. "no proof," she says, then kisses your forehead because she's soft when no one's looking and she tastes like coffee and the vanilla chapstick she pretends she doesn't need.

this version of dani makes you want to tattoo her name on your forehead. she's ridiculous and sweet and possessive in ways that make your chest feel too small for your heart. she builds blanket forts on sunday afternoons and insists they're "architectural experiments." she lets you paint her nails black and then complains that it's "too goth" while refusing to let you remove it. she falls asleep holding your hand and wakes up cranky if you've moved too far away during the night.

but then monday comes, and she transforms back into the ice queen creative director who treats you like a barely tolerated intern who happened to wander into her orbit.

it's been getting worse for months. what started as professional distance has evolved into something that feels almost hostile.

month one was normal—careful, but normal. she'd give you the same neutral feedback she gave everyone else, maintain appropriate boundaries, keep her face professionally blank when you presented ideas. you got it. new relationship, workplace dynamics, being smart about not showing favoritism.

month two is when the coldness crept in. suddenly your ideas weren't just neutrally received—they were dismissed quickly, efficiently, like she couldn't wait to move on to someone else's contributions. when you'd catch her eye during meetings, instead of the tiny secret smile you'd grown to expect, she'd look away immediately, like making eye contact was physically painful.

"you're overthinking it," you told yourself. "she's just being professional."

but sophia noticed. "dani's being weird with you," she said one afternoon while you were both stress-eating vending machine cookies in the break room.

"she's being professional," you repeated, the phrase becoming your mantra.

"professional doesn't mean ice cold," sophia pointed out. "she's warmer with the freelance photographer we hired last week than she is with you."

month three brought the project reassignments. stories you'd pitched and been initially approved for suddenly went to other people. "budget constraints," megan would say, looking confused herself. "dani wants to redistribute the workload."

you'd find out later that yoonchae got the sustainable fashion piece you'd been researching for weeks. sophia got the social media trend analysis you'd already started writing. even the coffee shop review—the coffee shop review—went to a freelancer instead of you.

"i don't understand," you said to dani one night, curled up on her couch after another day of watching your assignments disappear. "why did the sustainable fashion piece go to yoonchae? i already had interviews lined up."

"yoonchae has a stronger background in environmental issues," dani said, not looking up from her laptop.

"i studied environmental science in college."

"that was years ago."

"it was three years ago."

she finally looked at you, and her expression was carefully neutral. "the decision's been made."

"by you."

"by the editorial team."

"you are the editorial team."

she went back to her laptop. "can we not do this right now? i have work to finish."

month four was when you started documenting everything. not consciously, just... keeping mental notes. how many times she called on you in meetings (decreasing). how often she asked for your input on decisions (rarely). how frequently she complimented your work in front of others (never) versus how much she praised it when you were alone (constantly).

the disparity was becoming impossible to ignore.

"your instagram grid is brilliant," she'd say on saturday morning, scrolling through your mock-ups while you made breakfast. "the color story, the pacing—it's exactly what we need."

monday morning: "the instagram approach needs work. it's not quite hitting the mark."

tuesday night at your place: "i love how your brain works. you see angles other people miss."

wednesday in the conference room: "let's try a different approach. something more... conventional."

it was giving you whiplash on a molecular level.

month five brought the breaking point you didn't know was a breaking point until you'd already passed it. you suggested doing a piece about career changes during the pandemic—a topic you'd been passionate about since your own cousin left corporate law to become a baker and never looked back.

"oversaturated," dani said before you'd finished your pitch. "everyone's covered pandemic career changes."

megan frowned. "have they? i haven't seen much about the long-term impacts."

"trust me," dani said, already moving on. "it's been done to death."

after the meeting, you pulled up google, spent two hours searching for recent articles about pandemic career transitions. found three. three articles in major publications in the past year. hardly "done to death."

that night, you brought it up.

"i researched the career change thing," you said carefully. "there really isn't much recent coverage."

"i said it was oversaturated."

"but it's not. i can show you—"

"can we please not litigate my editorial decisions in my own living room?"

the words stung more than they should have. "i'm not litigating anything. i'm trying to understand why you won't even consider my ideas anymore."

"that's not true."

"when's the last time you said yes to something i suggested? when's the last time you assigned me a story that mattered?"

she was quiet for a long moment, and you thought maybe you were finally getting through to her. then: "maybe your ideas just aren't as strong as you think they are."

the sentence landed like a physical blow. you actually stepped back.

"wow," you breathed.

"i didn't mean—"

"no, you did. you meant exactly that.”

that was three weeks ago. three weeks of the coldest treatment yet, of watching her be warm and engaging with literally everyone except you, of wondering if the person who held you every night was the same person who seemed to actively dislike you during business hours.

which brings you to now. month six. sitting in a conference room watching dani light up while talking to the new intern, wondering when you became the person she has to tolerate instead of the person she chose to love.

the thing about patterns is that once you see them, you can't unsee them. and the pattern has become undeniable: dani treats you worse at work than she treats literal strangers.

like last tuesday, when the coffee machine broke and you suggested getting the good stuff from the shop downstairs as a team morale boost. "unnecessary expense," dani said flatly. thirty minutes later, she offered to buy coffee for everyone when megan mentioned being tired.

or thursday, when you volunteered to stay late to help with the photo shoot crisis. "we've got it covered," dani said, then asked yoonchae to stay instead—even though yoonchae had plans she had to cancel.

or friday, when you tried to contribute to the discussion about the holiday issue theme and dani literally said, "let's hear from someone who hasn't spoken yet," even though three people had talked more than you.

it's death by a thousand cuts, each one small enough to seem like nothing, but together they form a clear picture: your girlfriend doesn't respect you professionally, and it's getting worse.

the breaking point comes during a brainstorming session about the spring issue. you've been thinking about this for weeks, have a whole concept developed about renewal and growth that goes beyond the typical "spring cleaning" nonsense magazines always do.

"what about exploring different types of renewal?" you suggest. "not just seasonal refreshes, but life transitions. people who've made major changes—career, location, identity. the spring issue as a celebration of personal evolution."

the room perks up. you can see people connecting with the idea, building on it. manon nods thoughtfully. lara starts taking notes. even megan looks interested.

"it's unfocused," dani says, cutting through the positive energy like a blade. "what's the actual throughline? what's the story we're telling?"

"the story is that change is possible," you explain, trying to keep your voice steady. "that people can reinvent themselves at any age, in any circumstance. we could profile people who—"

"that's not a story, that's a motivational poster," she interrupts. "too vague. next idea."

the room goes quiet. the energy dies. you feel heat creep up your neck as everyone carefully avoids making eye contact with you.

manon clears her throat. "actually, i think there might be something there. what if we focused on specific types of transformation? career pivots, geographical moves, creative awakenings?"

dani considers this. "that could work. more structured. manon, can you develop that further?"

you sit there watching your idea get handed to someone else, watching dani engage enthusiastically with the exact concept she just dismissed when it came from you.

after the meeting, you don't even try to talk to her. you go straight to your desk and start updating your resume.

which is where you are, three hours later, when huh yunjin walks into your life and changes everything.

it's exactly three hours after the spring issue humiliation, on a wednesday that started with broken air conditioning and is apparently determined to get worse, that huh yunjin walks into your lives and changes everything.

"everyone, meet yunjin," megan says, appearing at your desk cluster with a tall, confident woman who looks like she was born knowing how to network. "she'll be with us for six months, masters program requirement. fashion marketing and editorial focus."

yunjin waves, and even her wave looks professional. she's got the kind of put-together energy that makes you immediately want to check if you have food in your teeth. her resume, which megan forwards to the team chat while you're still processing her existence, reads like a pinterest board titled "what successful people do with their early twenties."

intern at vogue korea. freelance work for several major brands. a thesis on sustainable fashion marketing that's apparently getting published. fluent in three languages. awards you've never heard of but that sound impressive.

you do the math quickly. another intern means more competition for projects, for attention, for the kind of opportunities that might actually lead somewhere. it also means someone new to witness the ongoing weirdness between you and dani, which feels dangerous in ways you can't articulate.

"yunjin will be floating between departments," megan continues, and you can practically see the office ecosystem shift to accommodate someone new. "getting the full experience. i know you'll all make her feel welcome."

yunjin nods like she expected nothing less from life. "thank you so much for the opportunity. i'm really excited to learn from all of you."

her voice is warm, confident without being arrogant. she makes eye contact with everyone during the introduction, remembers names immediately, asks thoughtful questions about the current issue. she's good at this. naturally good in the way that can't be taught.

what you don't expect—what catches you completely off guard—is the way dani reacts to her presence.

you've been cataloging dani's micro-expressions for months now, memorizing every tiny change in her face, every shift in her posture when she encounters new people and situations. usually, she does a quick evaluation—thirty seconds to decide if someone is worth her time, another minute to categorize them as useful, neutral, or annoying.

with yunjin, she looks... wary. not impressed or engaged, but almost suspicious. like yunjin is a puzzle she can't solve or a threat she can't assess.

during the impromptu team meeting where megan introduces yunjin to everyone, you watch dani's face carefully. when yunjin asks about the creative process behind the magazine's visual identity, dani's response is polite but guarded.

"that's... a good question," dani says, her tone professionally neutral. "creative direction involves balancing aesthetic choices with strategic goals."

it's the kind of non-answer she gives to journalists she doesn't trust. informative enough to sound helpful, vague enough to be meaningless. nothing like the passionate explanations she usually gives about the work she loves.

yunjin nods along, asks a thoughtful follow-up about measuring success beyond metrics, and dani's answers remain surface-level. professional. careful.

you sit there feeling confused, because this isn't how dani usually handles promising new people. typically, she'd be leaning forward, getting animated, using this as an opportunity to talk about the things she's passionate about. instead, she seems like she's waiting for the conversation to end.

after the meeting, you're back at your desk when yunjin approaches.

"hey," she says, perching on the edge of your workspace like you're already friends. "i really admire the social media strategy. megan showed me some of your campaigns during the tour. the engagement rates are incredible."

it takes you a second to process that someone is complimenting your work. it's been so long since it happened that you'd forgotten how good it feels.

"thanks," you say, genuinely pleased. "it's been a lot of trial and error."

"the grid aesthetic is so cohesive, though. and the way you've built community around the content—that's really sophisticated work."

you feel yourself warming to her despite the circumstances. she's not just being polite; she's asking specific, informed questions about strategy and execution. she actually understands what you're doing.

"i'd love to learn more about your process sometime," she continues. "maybe grab coffee? i'm still figuring out the neighborhood, and it would be great to get insights from someone who's been here longer."

it's a normal request. friendly. the kind of professional networking that happens every day in offices everywhere. six months ago—hell, three months ago—you would have said yes immediately. you like talking about your work with people who actually care about the answers.

but before you can respond, dani appears next to your desk like she has radar for conversations she wants to interrupt.

"yunjin," she says, and her voice has an edge that wasn't there during the team meeting. "getting oriented?"

"yeah, everyone's been so welcoming," yunjin says, turning to include dani in the conversation like a polite person would. "i was just asking about grabbing coffee with y/n. learn some social media strategy."

you watch something flash across dani's face—something quick and sharp that she covers almost immediately with professional courtesy.

"y/n's pretty swamped with current projects," she says, not looking at you. "lots of... administrative priorities that need immediate attention."

you blink. swamped with current projects? what projects? the contact database that could be finished by a motivated intern in two hours? the supply closet organization that you've been putting off because it's mind-numbing busy work?

"oh," yunjin says, looking disappointed. "of course. maybe another time?"

"maybe," dani says, but her tone suggests probably not. "i'm sure y/n will let you know when her schedule opens up."

the dismissal is polite but final. yunjin nods, says something about getting back to her orientation materials, and heads toward her temporary desk setup.

you and dani are left standing by your workspace, the air between you crackling with tension you don't understand.

"swamped with projects?" you ask quietly.

"you are," dani says, still not quite meeting your eyes. "the database update is time-sensitive. and there's filing. lots of filing."

you stare at her. filing. she's protecting you from networking opportunities because of filing.

"since when is filing time-sensitive?"

"since we have a new intern who might need access to properly organized records," she says, and the logic is so thin it's practically transparent.

"dani, what's going on? why don't you want me having coffee with yunjin?"

for a moment, her professional mask slips, and you see something raw underneath—something that looks almost like panic.

"i just think," she says carefully, "that it's important to maintain appropriate boundaries with new team members. until we know more about their... intentions."

"their intentions? she's an intern. she wants to learn about social media strategy."

"right," dani says, but she doesn't sound convinced. "just... be careful. focus on your current responsibilities."

she walks away without another word, leaving you staring after her and trying to figure out what the hell just happened.

over the next few days, dani's behavior around yunjin becomes increasingly strange. not openly hostile—dani's too professional for that—but cold in a way that seems deliberately calculated.

when yunjin asks questions in meetings, dani's answers are brief and unhelpful. when yunjin volunteers for projects, dani assigns them to other people. when yunjin tries to engage in casual conversation, dani finds excuses to be somewhere else.

meanwhile, her surveillance of you intensifies. she finds reasons to walk by your desk multiple times a day. she asks pointed questions about your progress on meaningless tasks. she schedules impromptu check-ins that feel more like interrogations than professional development conversations.

"how's the database update coming?" she asks on thursday, appearing at your desk for the third time that day.

"fine. almost done, actually."

"good. when you finish that, there's some archival work that needs attention. old contact sheets from 2019 that need to be digitized."

you look up at her. "digitizing contact sheets from 2019 is a priority?"

"organization is always a priority," she says, but she's watching yunjin, who's across the office talking to sophia about something that's making them both laugh.

"right," you say slowly. "organization."

"just... stay focused," dani adds, and there's something in her voice that sounds almost desperate. "lots of work to catch up on."

she walks away, and you sit there trying to decode what you just witnessed. dani is acting jealous. not professionally competitive or territorially protective—jealous. like she's worried about you and yunjin becoming friends.

which would be insane, except that it's the only explanation that makes sense.

friday afternoon, yunjin stops by your desk again. you've been expecting this, partly dreading it and partly looking forward to it.

"hey," she says, glancing around to make sure no one's listening. "i know you're super busy, but would you maybe want to grab coffee after work? just for like an hour? i promise i won't keep you long."

you look toward dani's office. she's on a call, but her body language is tense, and you're pretty sure she's been watching your desk out of her peripheral vision.

"actually," you say, making a decision that feels both petty and necessary, "that sounds great. i could use a break from all this... administrative work."

yunjin's face lights up. "amazing! there's this place sophia mentioned, about two blocks away?"

"perfect. six o'clock?"

"see you then."

she walks away, and you immediately feel dani's attention laser in on you. through the glass wall of her office, you can see her trying to wrap up her call while keeping eyes on your conversation. when yunjin passes her office on the way back to her desk, dani's jaw tightens visibly.

your phone buzzes five minutes later. dani: "dinner tonight? we need to talk."

you stare at the message. need to talk. the four most ominous words in relationship vocabulary.

you text back: "can't tonight. coffee plans after work."

three dots appear and disappear several times. finally: "with who?"

you consider lying, then decide you're tired of managing dani's inexplicable feelings about yunjin.

"yunjin. she asked about social media strategy."

the three dots appear and stay there for a long time. then: "i thought you were too busy for coffee meetings."

"i finished the database early. freed up some time."

another long pause. "we need to talk. tonight."

"tomorrow," you text back. "after i figure out why you're being weird about yunjin."

you put your phone away before she can respond, but you can feel her watching you for the rest of the day. every time you glance toward her office, she's looking in your direction, her expression unreadable but definitely not happy.

the place yunjin chooses is small and cozy, with mismatched furniture and aggressively local art that makes you feel like you're supporting someone's cousin's creative dreams. yunjin arrives right on time, looking effortlessly put-together in a way that makes you wonder if some people are just born knowing how to exist gracefully in the world.

"this place is perfect," she says, settling into the chair across from you. "way better than the corporate chains."

she orders something complicated with oat milk and extra shots. you get your usual. the barista, a guy with an impressive mustache and strong opinions about coffee bean origins, clearly approves of both choices.

"so," yunjin says once you're settled with your drinks, "tell me everything about working here. the real version, not the hr-approved overview."

you laugh despite yourself. "what makes you think there's a difference?"

"there's always a difference. every office has its personalities, its politics, its unspoken rules." she pauses, then adds more carefully: "like, what's the deal with daniela? she seems... intense."

something defensive flares in your chest, which surprises you given recent events. "she's brilliant. demanding, but brilliant. she has incredibly high standards."

"oh, totally," yunjin says quickly. "i didn't mean it as criticism. more like... she seems like someone who doesn't miss anything, you know? like she's always evaluating, always watching."

you nod, because that's exactly what dani does. she observes and catalogs and remembers everything, filing it all away for future reference.

"it's just," yunjin continues, stirring her coffee thoughtfully, "she seems particularly... watchful... when it comes to you."

your heart does something acrobatic. "what do you mean?"

"like, when i was asking you about coffee earlier this week? she appeared so fast it was like she teleported. and during meetings, she keeps looking at you. not in a supervisory way, more like..." she pauses, searching for words. "like she's keeping track of you specifically."

you try to process this. "she's very hands-on with all the interns."

"is she though?" yunjin asks gently. "because from what i can tell, she barely acknowledges most people. but with you, it's like she's hyperaware of everything you're doing."

you sip your coffee, trying to figure out how to respond. yunjin is observant—more observant than you realized. and if she's picking up on dani's behavior after only a few days, it must be more obvious than you thought.

"she's been... stressed lately," you say finally. "lots of pressure with the upcoming issues."

"maybe," yunjin says, but she doesn't sound convinced. "or maybe she's territorial about her team in ways that go beyond normal management."

there's something in her tone that makes you look up. "what do you mean?"

yunjin hesitates, then leans forward slightly. "can i ask you something? and you can totally tell me to mind my own business.”

"okay."

"are you and daniela... involved? like, personally?"

the question hits like cold water. you almost choke on your coffee.

"what? no. why would you... that's completely inappropriate. she's my boss."

"right," yunjin says, but she's studying your face carefully. "it's just that the way she reacts when other people talk to you... it reminds me of how my ex used to act when she was jealous."

your brain catches on one word. "she?"

yunjin nods. "my ex-girlfriend. she had this thing about me talking to other women, even in completely platonic contexts. got all weird and possessive, started finding reasons why i shouldn't hang out with female friends."

you stare at her, pieces clicking into place. the way dani shut down your coffee plans. the constant surveillance. the sudden influx of busywork designed to keep you isolated and occupied.

"that's..." you start, then stop, because you don't know how to finish that sentence without revealing too much.

"look," yunjin says gently, "i don't know what's going on between you two, and it's none of my business. but from an outside perspective? her behavior around you isn't normal boss behavior. it's personal."

you spend the rest of the coffee meeting talking about safer topics—work strategies, industry trends, yunjin's experience at other publications. but her words echo in your head: it's personal.

because she's right. everything about dani's recent behavior has been personal, not professional. the jealousy, the possessiveness, the way she's trying to control your interactions with other people.

the question is: what are you going to do about it?

you walk back to the office building together, still chatting about content strategy, when yunjin checks her phone.

"oh," she says, frowning slightly. "daniela wants to see me. she texted twenty minutes ago."

you glance at the time. it's 7:15. you've been gone for an hour and fifteen minutes, and somehow dani knows exactly when you're returning.

"she works late a lot," you say carefully.

"seems like it. though it's weird that she texted during our coffee. like she was timing it."

your steps slow. "timing it?"

"the message came in at 6:47. we'd been talking for about forty minutes." yunjin pauses. "how would she know when to expect me back unless she was tracking how long we were gone?"

you're trying to figure out how to answer when you reach the office building. through the lobby windows, you can see dani standing by the elevator bank, clearly waiting.

"hey," she says when you walk in, and her tone is carefully neutral. "how was coffee?"

"great," yunjin says brightly. "y/n had some really insightful thoughts about community building through social media."

dani's smile tightens almost imperceptibly. "i'm sure. yunjin, could i see you in my office? there are some projects i want to discuss."

"of course," yunjin says. she turns to you. "thanks again for coffee. maybe we can do lunch next week?"

before you can answer, dani cuts in. "yunjin's going to be pretty tied up with orientation projects next week. might not have time for social activities."

the words are polite, but the message is clear: stay away from each other.

you watch them walk toward the elevator, yunjin looking confused and dani looking like she's barely containing something explosive. when the elevator doors close, you stand in the lobby for a long moment, trying to process what just happened.

your phone buzzes. dani: "my apartment. 9pm. we're talking about this."

you text back: "talking about what?"

"you know what."

and the terrible thing is, you do know. you know exactly what this is about, and you know that the conversation you've been avoiding for months is about to happen whether you're ready for it or not.

the only question now is whether your relationship will survive it.

you arrive at dani's apartment at exactly 9 p.m. because being late would add fuel to whatever fire is already burning. she opens the door before you can knock, like she's been waiting by the window.

"come in," she says, stepping aside. her voice is carefully controlled, which is somehow worse than if she were obviously angry.

her apartment looks the same as always—minimalist, expensive, the kind of place that belongs in a design magazine. but the air feels different. charged. like the moment before a thunderstorm breaks.

"drink?" she asks, heading toward the kitchen.

"i'm good."

she pours herself a glass of wine anyway, takes a sip, sets it down without drinking more. nervous energy disguised as casual behavior.

"so," she says finally. "yunjin."

"what about her?"

"don't." the word comes out sharp. "don't pretend you don't know what this is about."

you cross your arms, defensive. "i genuinely don't know what this is about, dani. she's a new intern. i had coffee with her. we talked about work. that's it."

"that's it?" she repeats, and there's something dangerous in her tone. "you've been ignoring my calls and texts for days, but you have time for coffee dates with the new girl?"

"it wasn't a date. it was coffee. with a colleague."

"a colleague who's been asking questions about you. about us."

your blood goes cold. "what kind of questions?"

"the kind that suggest she's more interested in office dynamics than social media strategy."

"she asked about office dynamics because offices have dynamics, dani. it's called being observant."

dani laughs, but it's not a happy sound. "observant. right. is that what we're calling it?"

"calling what? you're being paranoid."

"am i?" she moves closer, and you can see the wine has given her courage to say things she's been holding back. "because from where i'm standing, it looks like my girlfriend is cozying up to someone new right around the time things get complicated between us."

"things got complicated between us because you've been treating me like shit at work for months," you snap. "not because of yunjin."

"i've been protecting us—"

"you've been protecting yourself," you interrupt. "there's a difference."

she flinches like you hit her. "that's not fair."

"isn't it? when's the last time you stood up for me in a meeting? when's the last time you assigned me a project that mattered? when's the last time you treated me like someone whose opinion you respect?"

"that's different. that's work."

"work is where we spend most of our time, dani. if you can't treat me with basic respect there, what does that say about how you actually feel about me?"

she runs her hands through her hair, frustrated. "it says that i'm trying to keep us both employed. it says that i'm thinking about the long term instead of just how things feel in the moment."

"the long term," you repeat. "you mean the long term where everyone at work thinks i'm incompetent because my own girlfriend undermines me at every opportunity?"

"i don't undermine you—"

"you literally called my idea unfocused in front of the entire team, then gave the same concept to manon when she suggested it."

dani opens her mouth to argue, then closes it. because she knows you're right, and you both know she knows.

"that was..." she starts, then stops. "i was trying to maintain boundaries."

"by humiliating me?"

"by not showing favoritism."

"there's a difference between not showing favoritism and actively sabotaging someone's career."

the words hang between you like an accusation. because that's what it's been, isn't it? sabotage disguised as professionalism.

"i would never sabotage your career," dani says, but her voice lacks conviction.

"wouldn't you? because from where i'm sitting, it looks like you've been systematically destroying my confidence for months. and now that someone new shows up—someone who actually listens to my ideas and treats me like i'm competent—you're losing your mind with jealousy."

"i'm not jealous of yunjin," she says too quickly.

"aren't you? because your behavior says otherwise."

"my behavior says i'm concerned about appropriate workplace relationships."

"our workplace relationship, or mine and yunjin's?"

dani's jaw tightens. "both."

"that's rich, coming from someone who's been sneaking around with an intern for six months."

"we're not sneaking around, we're being discreet—"

"we're lying," you cut her off. "to everyone. including ourselves, apparently, if you think this is working."

she stares at you, and for a moment, the anger in her face gives way to something that looks like fear.

"what's that supposed to mean?"

"it means maybe we need to figure out what we're actually doing here. because right now, it feels like you want me to be your girlfriend in private and your scapegoat in public, and i can't do both."

"that's not..." she starts, then stops. because maybe she's realizing that's exactly what she's been asking you to do.

"isn't it? you want me available for sunday morning pancakes and late-night calls, but god forbid i have a professional conversation with someone else. you want me to be understanding about your 'boundaries' at work, but you can't handle me making a friend."

"yunjin isn't just a friend," dani says, and the words come out bitter. "you do know she's ambitious. she's smart. she's exactly the kind of person who could—"

"could what?"

"could replace you.”

was daniela that threatened that now she’s planting seeds for competition to grow? the admission hangs in the air like a confession. you stare at her, trying to process what she just said.

"replace me how? professionally or personally?"

"both," she whispers, and now you can see the real fear underneath all the jealousy and possessiveness. "she's everything you are, but without the complications. without the history. without the..." she gestures helplessly between you, "mess."

"the mess," you repeat slowly. "you mean our relationship."

"i mean the way loving you makes everything impossible. the way i can't think straight when you're in meetings because i'm worried about how my reaction to your ideas will look to other people. the way i second-guess every decision because i don't know if i'm being fair or if i'm overcompensating or if i'm fucking up both our careers."

it's the most honest thing she's said in months, and it breaks your heart a little.

"so you thought the solution was to treat me badly enough that no one would suspect we're together?"

"i thought the solution was to maintain professional distance until we figured out how to do this without destroying everything we've worked for."

"by making me feel like shit about myself?"

"by protecting us," she insists, but the conviction is gone from her voice.

"dani," you say gently, because suddenly you can see how scared she is, how lost. "protecting us can't mean destroying me."

she looks at you, and her eyes are bright with unshed tears. "i don't know how to do this," she admits. "i don't know how to be your boss and your girlfriend without fucking up both."

"so you decided to just be my boss?"

"i decided to prioritize our careers over our feelings. temporarily."

"for how long? until i quit? until i stop caring about my work? until i become so small and invisible that no one could possibly suspect you'd be interested in me?"

the questions hit like accusations, and you can see each one land.

"that's not what i wanted," she says quietly.

"but that's what happened."

she nods, defeated. "that's what happened."

you sit down on her couch, suddenly exhausted. "do you know what yunjin said to me today?"

dani tenses. "what?"

"she asked if we were involved. said your behavior around me seemed personal, not professional."

"shit." dani sits down across from you, not next to you. "what did you tell her?"

"i lied. said no. but she didn't believe me."

"fuck."

"yeah. so your strategy of treating me badly to avoid suspicion? it's not working. people can see that there's something weird between us. they just can't tell what it is."

dani puts her head in her hands. "i've made everything worse."

"yeah, you have."

she looks up at you, and there's something desperate in her expression. "so what do we do?"

"i don't know," you say honestly. "because right now, i feel like i'm dating someone who doesn't respect me. and i can't figure out if that's who you actually are, or if it's just who you are at work."

"it's not who i am," she says quickly. "you know that's not who i am."

"do i? because the person i fell in love with thought my ideas were worth listening to. the person i fell in love with made me feel smart and capable and valued. and that person has been missing from my life for months."

"she's not missing, she's just..." dani struggles for words. "compartmentalized."

"you can't compartmentalize respect, dani. either you think i'm competent or you don't. either you value my contributions or you don't. either you trust me or you don't."

"i trust you."

"then why are you so threatened by me having coffee with yunjin?"

the question stops her short. you can see her cycling through answers, trying to find one that doesn't make her sound unreasonable.

"because," she says finally, "she's going to figure out that you're too good for this place. too good for me. and she's going to offer you something better, and you're going to take it, and i'm going to lose you."

the admission is so raw, so vulnerable, that it catches you off guard.

"dani..."

"i know how this sounds," she continues, words tumbling out now that she's started. "i know i'm being crazy and possessive and probably pushing you away faster by acting like this. but when i see you light up talking to her the way you used to light up talking to me, when i see her actually listening to your ideas and valuing your input... it makes me realize how badly i've been fucking this up."

"so why not just... stop fucking it up?"

"because i don't know how," she says, and her voice breaks a little. "i don't know how to go back to treating you normally at work without everyone noticing the change. i don't know how to give you good projects without it looking like favoritism. i don't know how to compliment your work without people wondering why i'm suddenly so invested in your success."

you look at her—really look at her—and see someone who's painted herself into a corner and doesn't know how to get out.

"so instead of figuring it out, you decided to just... keep treating me badly?"

"i decided to maintain the status quo until we could figure out a better solution."

"the status quo was destroying my confidence and making me question whether i'm any good at my job."

"i know," she whispers. "i know, and i hate myself for it, but i didn't know what else to do."

"you could have talked to me. you could have asked me what i needed instead of deciding for both of us."

"what do you need?" she asks, and for the first time in months, she sounds like she actually wants to hear the answer.

you think about it. really think about it.

"i need to feel like my girlfriend respects me," you say finally. "i need to know that the person who says she loves me doesn't think i'm incompetent. i need to work somewhere where my ideas matter, where my contributions are valued, where i'm not constantly second-guessing myself because the most important person in my life keeps telling me i'm not good enough."

dani flinches with each point, but she doesn't interrupt.

"and i need to know that if we're going to do this—if we're going to try to have a relationship while working together—we're going to figure out how to do it without one of us becoming collateral damage."

"okay," she says quietly. "okay. what does that look like?"

"i don't know yet. but it starts with you deciding whether you actually want to be with me, or whether you just want someone convenient who won't complicate your life."

"i want to be with you," she says immediately. "of course i want to be with you."

"then act like it. not just here, in your apartment, when it's easy. at work. in meetings. when other people are watching. act like you think i'm worth something."

she nods, tears finally spilling over. "i can do that."

"can you? because if you can't, if this is too hard or too complicated or too risky for your career, then we need to end this now. before it gets worse."

"no," she says quickly, reaching for you. "no, don't say that. i can do better. i will do better."

you let her take your hands, but you don't lean into her touch the way you usually would.

"i need to see it, dani. not just hear it. i need to see you treating me like someone you respect, someone you value, someone you're proud to work with."

"you will," she promises. "starting tomorrow. starting right now."

you look at her—this person you love who's been slowly breaking your heart for months—and try to decide if you believe her.

"okay," you say finally. "but if things don't change—if you keep treating me like a liability instead of a partner—i'm done. with the job, with this, with all of it."

the words scare you as much as they scare her, but they needed to be said.

"they'll change," she says. "i promise they'll change."

you hope she's right. because despite everything, despite months of feeling small and dismissed and unvalued, you still love her. you still want this to work.

but love isn't enough anymore. you need respect. you need partnership. you need to feel like you're building something together instead of just surviving each other.

and if dani can't give you that, then yunjin was right about one thing: you deserve better than this.

the question is whether dani can become the person who gives it to you, or whether you'll have to find it somewhere else.

you don't stay the night. you go home to your own apartment, your own bed, your own space to think. dani doesn't argue, which tells you she understands how serious this is.

you lie awake for hours, replaying the conversation, trying to figure out if you made the right choice. by the time you fall asleep, you've decided that you have to at least give her a chance to follow through on her promises.

but you're also going to update your resume. just in case.

the next morning, you arrive at work with no idea what to expect. will dani pretend the conversation never happened? will she overcompensate and suddenly start treating you like her favorite employee? will things just continue as they have been?

you get your answer during the 10 a.m. team meeting.

"before we dive into the agenda," dani says, looking directly at you, "i want to revisit the spring issue theme discussion."

your heart stops. is she about to humiliate you again? publicly?

"y/n suggested focusing on personal transformation and renewal," she continues, "and i think we dismissed it too quickly. can you walk us through your vision again?"

you blink, trying to process that she's actually asking for your input. in front of everyone. voluntarily.

"um," you start, then find your voice. "right. so instead of the typical seasonal refresh content, i was thinking we could explore different types of meaningful change. career transitions, geographic moves, personal growth journeys. the through-line would be that transformation is possible at any stage of life."

"i love that," manon says immediately. "it's much more substantive than 'spring cleaning your closet.'"

"agreed," says lara. "we could do beauty transformations that aren't just superficial—people who found confidence, people who embraced their natural features."

dani nods along, taking notes. actual notes. "what about the cover story? how do we find the right person to anchor this theme?"

you take a breath. "i've actually been researching people who made dramatic life changes during the pandemic. there's this woman who left her job as a corporate lawyer to open a bakery in her hometown. she's amazing—articulate, photogenic, and her story really captures the courage it takes to completely reinvent yourself."

"can you send me her details?" dani asks. "i'd like to reach out to her team."

you nod, trying not to look as shocked as you feel. she's not just listening to your idea—she's acting on it.

"this is exactly the kind of content that sets us apart," megan adds. "real stories, real people, real transformation."

the meeting continues, and for the first time in months, you feel like a valued member of the team. dani asks for your input on two other agenda items. she compliments your social media metrics. she assigns you to work on the transformation theme development, calling it "right in your wheelhouse."

it's everything you asked for last night, delivered immediately and publicly.

after the meeting, yunjin approaches your desk.

"wow," she says quietly. "that was quite a turnaround from yesterday."

"what do you mean?"

"daniela. yesterday she was treating you like you were invisible, today she's highlighting your ideas and praising your work." yunjin pauses. "did something happen?"

you consider how to answer. "we had a conversation about communication styles."

"must have been some conversation," yunjin says with a knowing look. "good for you for standing up for yourself."

she walks away, and you realize that everyone probably noticed the shift in dani's behavior toward you. which means your relationship might be more obvious than either of you thought.

the difference is night and day. dani doesn't just respect your work now—she actively seeks out your input, assigns you to high-profile projects, and has started introducing you to clients as "one of our most innovative strategists."

it's everything you asked for and more. maybe too much more.

"she's being weird again," sophia observes during your thursday afternoon coffee break. "but like, weird in the opposite direction."

"what do you mean?"

"i mean yesterday she spent fifteen minutes explaining to that beauty brand client why your social strategy was 'brilliant' and 'ahead of the curve.' then she made everyone stay late to hear your presentation about influencer authenticity."

you sip your coffee and try not to smile. "maybe she just finally realized i'm good at my job."

"or maybe she's overcompensating for something," sophia says, giving you a look. "like guilt. or feelings. or guilt about feelings."

before you can respond, yunjin slides into the seat next to you.

"are we talking about how daniela has become y/n's biggest professional cheerleader?" she asks with a grin. "because the transformation has been... noticeable."

"noticeable how?"

"well, yesterday during the team meeting, when you were presenting the transformation theme mockups, she was literally beaming. like, pride radiating from every pore. it was actually kind of sweet."

sophia nods enthusiastically. "and did you see her face when megan complimented your work on the baker story? she looked like a proud mom at a school play."

"she's just being supportive," you say weakly.

"supportive," yunjin repeats. "is that what we're calling it when she spent twenty minutes yesterday explaining to the photo team why your vision for the cover shoot was 'exactly what the story needs'?"

"or when she made that face at the marketing meeting when you disagreed with her about the headline approach?" sophia adds. "like she was turned on by you challenging her creative decisions?"

you nearly choke on your coffee. "she did not make a face."

"she absolutely made a face," yunjin confirms. "i thought she was going to start taking notes on your counterarguments."

"plus," sophia continues, warming to the topic, "there's the way she's started saying your name in meetings. like she's savoring it. 'as y/n mentioned...' 'y/n's research shows...' 'i agree with y/n's assessment...' it's like she just discovered your name is her favorite word."

you look between them, trying to figure out how obvious this has all become.

"you think people are... noticing?"

"babe," yunjin says gently, "everyone's been noticing for weeks. we're just trying to figure out if you two know that we know."

friday morning brings the kind of team meeting that usually makes you want to crawl under your desk and hide. budget discussions, timeline reviews, and worst of all: creative critiques.

megan pulls up the latest layouts for the transformation issue on the big screen, and you brace yourself for the usual round of polite destruction.

"thoughts on the opener spread?" megan asks.

"the color palette feels safe," lara offers diplomatically.

"the typography could be bolder," manon adds.

you clear your throat. "what if we flipped the image hierarchy? made the portrait smaller, more intimate, and let the quote be the dominant element? the transformation story is really about her internal journey, not just the visual change."

there's a pause. you can feel everyone waiting to see how dani will respond to you publicly disagreeing with the current layout.

"that's..." dani starts, and you hold your breath. "actually perfect. exactly what this story needs. can we mock that up?"

she turns to the designer. "make y/n's changes the priority. i think we've been approaching this backwards."

the room buzzes with quiet agreement, people nodding and building on your suggestion. but you're focused on dani, who's looking at you with something that's definitely not professional admiration.

it's pride. pure, undiluted pride, like she can't believe she gets to work with someone as brilliant as you.

yoonchae catches your eye from across the table and makes a barely suppressed "oh my god" face.

after the meeting, you're gathering your things when dani appears next to you.

"good call on the layout," she says, close enough that you can smell her perfume. "your instincts for storytelling are incredible."

"thanks," you manage, very aware that half the team is still within earshot.

"i was thinking," she continues, not stepping back, "maybe we could grab coffee this afternoon? discuss some ideas i have for the next issue. your brain on the accessibility piece has me thinking about other underrepresented narratives we should explore."

it's a perfectly professional invitation. it's also absolutely not professional in the way she's delivering it, standing in your space, looking at you like you're the most interesting person she's ever encountered.

"sure," you say, trying to match her casual tone. "the place on spring street?"

"perfect. four o'clock?"

she walks away, and you turn to find sophia and yunjin staring at you with identical expressions of barely contained glee.

"so," sophia says once dani's out of earshot, "are we still pretending that was about work?"

you meet dani at the coffee shop, the same one where you and yunjin first bonded over the obvious weirdness of dani's behavior. it feels appropriately circular.

"so," dani says once you're settled with your drinks, "accessibility narratives."

"is that really what we're here to talk about?"

she grins, the first completely unguarded expression you've seen from her at anything work-adjacent in months. "partially. i do actually want to pick your brain about disability representation in fashion media."

"and the other part?"

"the other part is that i missed you. missed this. missed talking to you about work because i value your opinion, not because i'm trying to manage you or control the narrative or protect some imaginary professional boundary."

you lean back in your chair, studying her. "it's been nice. the past few weeks. feeling like you actually respect my work."

"i've always respected your work. i just got scared and stupid about showing it."

"and now?"

"now i've realized that hiding how much i value you professionally isn't protecting either of us. it's just making everyone suspicious and making me look like an idiot who can't recognize talent."

she pauses, then adds with a self-deprecating smile: "apparently i haven't been as subtle as i thought about how much i adore your brain."

"apparently not," you agree. "sophia thinks you get turned on when i disagree with you in meetings."

dani chokes on her coffee. "she said that?"

"more or less."

"well," dani says, recovering, "sophia's not wrong."

the admission hangs between you, loaded with possibility and the kind of honesty that's been missing from your relationship for months.

"so what now?" you ask.

"now we figure out how to do this right. work together, be together, without all the weird secrecy and overcompensation."

"and if people figure it out?"

dani shrugs. "honestly? i think they already have. yunjin made a comment yesterday about how 'obvious' some people are when they're trying to hide their feelings. i'm pretty sure she wasn't talking about the weather."

you laugh despite yourself. "yunjin's been trying to get me to admit we're together since her second day."

"smart girl. probably wondering why we're being so dramatic about it."

"are we being dramatic about it?"

"definitely. we're acting like we're the first people in history to date a coworker. meanwhile, lara and that photographer from the june shoot have been texting constantly, and megan's been not-so-secretly seeing someone from marketing for months."

you stare at her. "megan's dating someone from marketing?"

"a girl from digital partnerships. they think they're being discreet, but she lights up every time her phone buzzes, and she’s started finding excuses to stop by our floor daily."

"how did i not know this?"

"because you've been too stressed about our situation to notice anyone else's office romance drama." she reaches across the table and takes your hand. "which, by the way, i'm sorry about.”

her thumb traces over your knuckles, and it's the first time she's touched you like this in public since you started dating.

"apology accepted," you say. "but i have conditions."

"name them."

"first: no more treating me differently at work because we're dating. better or worse. just... normal professional respect."

"done."

"second: if you're going to compliment my work in meetings, try not to look like you want to make out with me afterward. apparently it's obvious."

she grins. "i make no promises about that one. you're very attractive when you're being brilliant."

"third: we tell people. not an announcement, not a big reveal, just... stop pretending we're not together."

"how do you want to do that?"

you consider this. "honestly? i think if we just act normal, people will figure it out on their own.”

"normal," dani repeats. "i'm not sure i remember how to be normal about you."

"start with not looking at me like i hung the moon when i suggest changing a font."

"but what if you did hang the moon? what if your font choices are genuinely revolutionary?"

you laugh, and it feels good. easy. like it used to before everything got complicated.

"we're going to be okay," dani says, squeezing your hand. "better than okay."

"yeah," you agree, looking at her across the table—your girlfriend, your colleague, your partner in all the ways that matter. "i think we are."

monday morning, you arrive at work to find a coffee and pastry waiting on your desk. the coffee cup has your name written in dani's distinctive handwriting, with a small heart dotting the i.

sophia appears at your desk before you've even taken a sip.

"so," she says, settling into yoonchae's chair, "how long?"

"how long what?"

"how long have you and dani been together? because yunjin's been running a pool, and i have money riding on 'since before she started being weird about the coffee dates.'"

you nearly spit out your coffee. "there's a pool?"

"oh, there's definitely a pool. yoonchae thinks it started recently, like a reconciliation thing. lara thinks it's been months and you've just been hiding it. manon thinks you're still in denial about it, which honestly seemed possible until friday when dani looked at you like you'd invented sliced bread during the budget meeting."

"and what do you think?"

sophia grins. "i think you've been together for months, probably since around the time dani started acting weird, and you've both been terrible at hiding it but too stressed about workplace drama to admit it."

you stare at her. "that's... remarkably accurate."

"so i win the pool?"

"there's actually a pool," you repeat, still processing this.

"babe, we work in fashion media. of course there's a pool. we bet on everything. remember when we all predicted how long it would take the girl from digital partnerships to work up the courage to ask megan out?"

"wait, everyone knew about that too?"

"everyone always knows about office couples. the only people who think they're being subtle are the couples themselves."

she stands up, then pauses. "for what it's worth, everyone's rooting for you two.”

she walks away, leaving you staring at your coffee cup and its incriminating heart-dotted name.

your phone buzzes. dani: "emergency meeting in my office. need your input on something urgent."

you look toward her office. she's standing by her door, trying to look serious but failing to hide a smile.

you text back: "what kind of emergency?"

"the kind where i need to kiss my girlfriend and we can't do it at your desk because apparently everyone's been watching us for months."

you look around the office. sophia is pretending to work but clearly watching you out of the corner of her eye. yunjin is not even pretending—she's just openly staring, waiting to see what you do.

you stand up and walk toward dani's office, aware that every conversation in the vicinity has quietly paused.

dani closes the door behind you and immediately backs you against it.

"hi," she says, grinning.

"hi yourself. what's the emergency?"

"i just told the coffee shop guy that the heart on your cup was intentional, and now i need to kiss you before i lose my nerve about this whole 'not hiding' thing."

"what if someone sees?"

"baby," she says, framing your face with her hands, "everyone already knows."

she kisses you, soft and sure and completely unguarded, and you melt into it because this is what you've been missing—not just the physical affection, but the freedom to have it. the ability to be yourselves without performing distance or professionalism or anything other than the fact that you're crazy about each other.

when you break apart, you're both smiling like idiots.

"so," you say, "i guess we're not hiding anymore."

"nope. sophia's probably texting the group chat as we speak."

as if summoned, your phone buzzes with notifications. lots of notifications.

you pull it out to find seventeen messages in the office group chat, starting with sophia's "CONFIRMED 🎉🎉🎉" and followed by a string of celebration emojis, heart eyes, and what appears to be yunjin requesting her pool winnings.

"oh god," you say, showing dani the screen.

she laughs, reading over your shoulder. "look at lara's message."

you scroll to find lara's contribution: "finally! now can we talk about how obvious you've both been? y/n's been glowing for weeks and dani keeps making those soft eyes during presentations."

"soft eyes?" you ask.

"apparently i make soft eyes when you're being brilliant. which, according to everyone, is frequently and obviously."

megan's message appears: "about time!”

yoonchae: "wait does this mean y/n's getting promoted? because if we're acknowledging office relationships..."

manon: "she deserves senior strategist at minimum. have you seen the engagement numbers since she took over the main accounts?"

you look up at dani. "promotion?"

“we’ll talk about it,” she says, but she’s smiling in a way that suggests the conversation will go well.

thinking about your colleagues—your friends—who’ve apparently been rooting for you this whole time, you realize this is where you’re supposed to be.

Don't Call Me Kid - Rafe Cameron x Reader series masterlist

series summary: You'd had a crush on Rafe Cameron since you were six years old, but he friend zoned you at every turn. Once shy and insecure, you found new confidence and self-love after high school. When your high school friends go on a reunion beach trip, Rafe finally sees what he lost, but he isn't going to give you up without a fight.

tropes: unrequited crush, glow up, she fell first/he fell harder

table of contents:

Prologue (3k words)

Chapter 1 (3.9k words)

Chapter 2 (4.9k words)

Chapter 3 (5.7k words)

Chapter 4 (6.6k words)

Chapter 5: part one (4.8k words) & part two (3.8k words)

Chapter 6: part one (5.3k words) & part two (4.1k words)

Chapter 7 (6.7k words)

Chapter 8: part one (4.1k words) and part two (6.2k words)

Chapter 9 (coming soon!)

Chapter 10 (coming soon!)

bonus content

moodboards and hc's ✨

asks 💭

ramblings and teasers 🦜

Polls 🗣️

Nature really doesn’t waste any time, does it? Unlike you. I’m a little disappointed in you, actually. ‘Cause you had your shot, and you didn’t even take it.