The Idols Heartbeat

4.Lesson One: Don't Mess with Sara

Author's POV

After Seojin finished briefing BTS about their schedule and upcoming comeback preparations, he turned toward Saranya, who stood calmly at the side, her sharp eyes scanning the room.

"Ms. Sara, I apologize for keeping you waiting, but this discussion was important. Now, you can take some time to get to know the team. I have some urgent work to attend to," Seojin explained. Turning to Namjoon, he added with a knowing smile, "Namjoon, please help her."

Namjoon returned his signature dimpled smile, understanding the subtle hint. It was clear Seojin trusted him to manage the more... mischievous tendencies of his bandmates.

Seojin bid everyone goodbye and left, leaving Saranya alone with the seven most famous men in the room. As soon as the door clicked shut, all eyes turned to her—some curious, some indifferent, and at least one pair amused.

"Hi, Ms. Sara," Namjoon began politely.

 "Feel free to ask anything you'd like to know about us."

She nodded, her tone professional as she spoke. "I'd like to start with something simple. Can you introduce yourselves?"

For a second, the room went silent. Seven pairs of eyes blinked at her as though she had just asked them to explain quantum mechanics. Even Kim Taehyung, who had been glued to his phone the entire time, glanced up briefly before rolling his eyes and returning to his screen.

The awkward silence was finally broken by Jungkook, who burst out laughing.

"Wait, wait, wait," he said, holding his stomach as he doubled over. "You don't know who we are? Oh my god, are you one of those people who pretends not to know us just because I said in an interview I'd marry someone who didn't know me?"

Wiping fake tears from his eyes, he continued, "It was a joke, you know. You don't have to try so hard to impress me."

Saranya, however, didn't react. Her cold, expressionless gaze locked onto Jungkook, silencing his laughter instantly. He gulped audibly, the confidence draining from his face as the room filled with an awkward tension.

Sensing the need to intervene, Seokjin, the eldest, stepped forward with his usual charm. "Don't mind him, Ms. Sara. I'm Kim Seokjin, but you can call me Jin." He gave her a small but warm smile.

"Sara is fine," she replied curtly.

Namjoon stepped up next, his voice calm and steady. "I'm Kim Namjoon, the leader. My stage name is RM."

She nodded.

"Jung Hoseok, but you can call me J-Hope," said the ever-energetic Hoseok, flashing her a bright grin.

"Min Yoongi," Suga introduced himself with a faint but genuine smile. "Stage name, Suga."

"Park Jimin," Jimin chimed in, flashing a flirtatious wink.

"Jeon Jungkook," Namjoon interjected before Jungkook could speak again. "Our maknae. Stage name, JK."

She acknowledged each one with a nod, her expression remaining neutral. Finally, Namjoon turned to the quiet figure still engrossed in his phone.

"Tae," Namjoon prompted.

Without lifting his gaze, Taehyung muttered in his deep, baritone voice, "Kim Taehyung."

Saranya nodded and clasped her hands behind her back. "Alright. Since your schedule seems to be in order and practice is next, I'll take my leave. Do you have any questions for me?"

Hoseok tilted his head curiously. "What's your last name, Sara?"

"Let's leave it at Sara for now," she replied coolly, her tone making it clear the subject was not up for discussion.

Jimin leaned forward slightly, his voice playful. "Are you wearing the mask because you have a cold?"

She raised a perfectly arched brow. "It's comfortable," she replied simply.

Jungkook's mischievous grin returned. "Or... are you wearing it because you're ugly?"

The room went still. Jungkook's teasing tone lingered in the air, but Saranya didn't so much as flinch. Instead, she turned her head slowly to face him, her icy gaze piercing right through his playful façade.

"Does that line work on everyone," she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "or just the people too polite to laugh at how bad it is?"

The silence that followed was deafening—save for Jin, who choked on a laugh he couldn't quite suppress. Jungkook, caught completely off guard, blinked at her like a deer in headlights.

Before he could respond, she turned to Namjoon. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Namjoon, struggling to hide his amusement, nodded. "Of course. Thank you, Sara."

Without another word, she opened the door and left, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.

The room remained silent for a beat before Jimin leaned toward Jungkook, a smirk playing on his lips. "So, how's it feel getting burned by the new manager?"

"What just happened?" Jungkook mumbled, still stunned.

Hoseok patted his shoulder sympathetically. "You'll live, Kookie. Barely."

"Alright, let's get to practice," Namjoon said, his voice tinged with humor as he ushered the group out.

As they walked to the practice room, Jin whispered to Jungkook, "You know, I think she might actually be uglier than you thought."

"Hyung!" Jungkook protested.

Jin grinned. "She just hid all that ugliness behind a wall of pure sass."

Laughter erupted, breaking the tension as they filed into the practice room. Somewhere down the hall, Sara smirked to herself, having overheard part of their conversation.

She wasn't here to make friends—or fans. But shutting down Jungkook's antics? That was definitely going to make her job more entertaining.

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