83 Iris's Return

"What?!!" A teenage girl yelled at her friend right next to her as they stood by a bus stop poster. "You never saw the music video for 'Fearless'?! You're kidding me! Don't tell me you haven't seen 'Everlasting' yet either…"

Gauging her friend's sheepish reaction, the girl frowned and resolutely flicked her finger across her phone screen in lightning motions in order to display the music video for her friend.

"Watch this, now! you lazy bug or we can't be friends anymore! Geez, and the debut is right around the corner too—!"

Her friend burst out laughing at the girl's comments. "Okay, okay!" And together they watched the music video on that little screen, huddled together inside the bus stop shelter.

Absorbed into the music and gorgeous visuals of the settings and costumes, the two friends barely even noticed another girl who was standing halfway in their blind spot on the outside of the bus shelter.

With mauve brown hair, that inconspicuous girl smiled undetectably under her black mask and black cap. The wavy fringe that cupped the sides of her face also helped hide the smiling of her eyes.

'You won't have to wait too long~' Iris thought to herself upon witnessing this scene by chance. She was amazed and proud at how well her LUXIA girls did with the duo music videos. This proved to everyone that they would be successful even without her in the group.

Lately, a lot of heated discussion debating whether Iris Huang would be in the new Big Hit girl group had reached a fever pitch among budding fans and onlookers alike. While it did great for free press until they eventually debuted, Iris worried about her solo and IZ*ONE fans going at the new LUXIA fans' throats.

Many didn't want Iris in a group because they thought the group would become unbalanced as other post-Produce groups had become. Those ex-Produce group members often inadvertently stole the spotlight from the other members of the new group because they were too popular in comparison. Others yet argued that she was better as a solo act after her chart-topping album and all-rounder abilities.

However, for the most part, the Big Hit stans were supportive of whether the company did, for time had twice proven that the company was full of industry geniuses. And many felt that the duo MVs had sufficiently given the four a good amount of exposure before actual debut should Iris actually be joining the group.

So this amount of time would allow those four members to appeal to the public and gain new fans of their own without as much interference from Iris's presence while she was still in IZ*ONE.

Of course, now IZ*ONE's final promotions had come to an end. And Iris was returning to Big Hit today. Instead of taking a vehicle over, Iris had wanted to walk the last few blocks to the 'new' company building that she had barely spent much time in except during her break from IZ*ONE activities that one time.

She was taking the sights in and reminiscing about old times as a trainee. Her mind wandered to thoughts about BTS and how they were doing, to TXT who were no longer quite rookies. The years had passed by so quickly. And now she felt that she had done a 360 back to where she belonged.

Even so, the raw emotions of departure from IZ*ONE still stung at her. Thankfully, due to her well-fostered relationships at Big Hit, the sting was soothed by her excitement at seeing everyone again and carving a new path for herself.

As the Big Hit building came within her view, Iris considered pausing for a moment to gaze up at it in nostalgia and gather her torrent of thoughts. But spotting the many passersby and loiterers due to the new girl group hype—many were staking out the spot in hopes of snapping pictures of the four girls and gaining confirmation about Iris's possible inclusion—she decided against it.

However now, this proved to be a bit of a problem. Iris regretfully wondered if perhaps she should've taken a car after all in order to ensure the secrecy of her identity.

Just as she settled on taking a roundabout route inside the building or calling her manager to pick her up, a black van rolled up alongside her. Startled, Iris's mind freaked out at possibly being discovered or kidnapped in the middle of the day.

Thus, she jerked forward to dash away when a familiar voice, deeper than she last remembered, called out to her.

"Hey Iris!" The voice whispered loudly enough for her only to hear. "Hop in!"

Eyes widening, she swiveled around and saw the disguised face of Jungkook peeping through a half-open, tinted window. She couldn't help a small snicker from escaping her mouth as she saw that scene.

But before Jungkook could say anything in response to her laugh, Iris deftly circled the car to enter from the opposite side in order to not reveal Jungkook to the fans staking out in front of the building.

Once inside, she plopped down on the leather seats and jabbed him gently in the side. "What? You trying to recreate the original kidnapping scene by yourself?" She joked with a light chuckle.

"Hey! Don't expose me like that!" Jungkook played along. He gave his head a quick shake after taking off his mask and turning to face Iris.

With a smirk, he said, "So I'm the first to welcome you back, noona."

Iris's nose twitched. "I'm not your noona! You're technically my oppa!" She smacked him on top of his head while Jungkook laughed and defended with his hands.

"Hahahaha! Still the same as ever! It's good to see you back. But seriously, don't call me oppa, noona."

"You—!!" Iris raised her hand and jerked it forward as if to hit some sense into him again.

In the past, Jungkook didn't like to be called oppa because some BTS fans weren't younger than him as he was the maknae of the group at sixteen. And he also had a fondness for saying noona too.

This boy, technically now a man, still acted like a playful child with his BTS hyungs and even her. Previously, he still used to be a little shy around Iris, but now after some time apart, he seemed to have become more bold, this punk.

Just like how his voice became deeper, Iris felt that his personality was a little changed too from the passing of time. That realization caused her heart to twinge a little. While she appreciated the BTS members remembering their friendship, somehow, she felt that things were different now.

After exchanging some silly banter, the two Big Hit artists entered the company building from the safety of the garage. Unfortunately, not all of the BTS members would be there to welcome her back along with the LUXIA girls, TXT boys, soloist Lee Hyun, and other staff she had grown to know and love who were still at Big Hit.

It wasn't exactly a welcome back party, but nevertheless, a little surprise awaited Iris upon her return.