Disguised as a man to join a boy band

The evening air hung heavy with the heat of summer, an oppressive stillness that seemed to stretch time itself. Evelyn could feel her frustration bubbling up, a sense of impatience gnawing at her as the harsh squeal of the suitcase wheels scraped across the pavement. Her phone call was nearing its end, the last words echoing in her mind like a distant warning. “You’ll only have to pretend to be your brother for a little over a month. I guarantee you, aside from me, no one will ever find out the truth.” She blinked, her gaze lifting slowly to take in the sight before her. The mansion loomed large, a three-story structure that gleamed with opulence even in the dimming twilight. Warm yellow lights spilled from the windows, casting long shadows onto the cobblestone path that wound its way through the manicured grounds. Evelyn had seen luxury before, but the sheer grandeur of this place left her momentarily stunned. She gripped her suitcase handle tightly, her nerves stirring uneasily in her chest. So, this is it, she thought, I’m going to live here with six strangers—six boys I’ve never met—and I have to hide who I really am, all while pretending to be my brother. Just great. Her body froze in place as an unexpected wave of panic rose within her. She wanted to run, to turn around and flee, but there was nowhere to go. She had made her choice. "Oliver." A voice, deep and unfamiliar, broke the silence. It was calm, deliberate, and sent a shiver down her spine. Evelyn exhaled sharply, her heart skipping a beat. Wait... She had already made the decision—from now on, I’m Oliver. Her shoulders slumped in resignation as the weight of it all settled over her. Here goes nothing. Turning around, she caught sight of the tall figure approaching the front door. His figure was sharply outlined against the soft light, his attire immaculate—an expensive gray suit that looked tailor-made for someone like him. He was a striking presence, though his eyes, shaded with the detachment of someone who'd seen it all, seemed to pierce straight through her. "Ethan," Evelyn greeted with a small bow, her voice a little unsteady. "Hello, Ethan-ssi." He regarded her with a steady gaze as he took a drag from the cigarette between his fingers, the smoke curling in the air like a serpent. His piercing eyes seemed to assess her every move. The tension was thick between them, and Evelyn’s heart raced as she tried her best to hide any trace of her nerves. So this is Ethan, she thought. The one who’s supposed to be managing this circus. Ethan didn’t say much at first, but his sharp, appraising look seemed to scan her from head to toe, taking in the way she held herself, her uncertain stance. After a moment of silence, he spoke again. "I heard you were sick for a while," he said, his voice colder than she expected. "Feeling better now?" Evelyn nodded quickly, trying to mask the unease creeping into her chest. "Yes, thank you. I’m feeling much better." Her eyes briefly flicked to his face—tall, imposing, his features sharp and weathered by time. He wasn’t a man who was easily impressed, she could tell that much. Ethan's gaze lingered a moment longer before he turned toward the door, signaling her to follow him. "Your teammates are in France for a brand event. You’ll meet them when they return. One of them is recovering from an injury, so he's staying behind to rehearse." Evelyn followed him through the sprawling house, trying to keep up as he led the way. Her mind raced—what would she do here? How will I fit in? She tried to suppress the unease rising in her chest. Everything felt too new, too big to process at once. They reached a door, and Ethan pushed it open, revealing a spacious, glass-partitioned room. A man stood with his back to them, his posture radiating raw energy. The blue hair was the first thing Evelyn noticed, vibrant and bold, contrasting sharply against the rest of his black attire. His muscular frame was clad in a black tank top, a bass slung across his back, and Evelyn couldn’t help but feel a spark of admiration for his aura. "This is Dex," Ethan introduced him curtly, knocking on the glass door. The man didn’t even flinch, simply pulling off his headphones and glancing at them with a bored expression. His eyes landed on Evelyn, and she waved, a little nervous. Dex just raised an eyebrow, then rolled his eyes and put the headphones back on. No words exchanged. Great, Evelyn thought. They don’t even care that I’m here. She wasn’t entirely surprised. She had heard about the dynamics within the group. Her brother had always kept a low profile when it came to his fellow bandmates. She was just another pawn in this twisted game of image and expectations. Ethan guided her further into the house, his tone cool and detached as he showed her the various rooms. “You’ll be staying on the third floor with Evan and Dex. The others are on the second floor.” Evelyn sighed, loosening her chest binder and feeling the tension in her body slowly fade. She sank into the bed, daydreaming about the future. For now, she didn't feel too worried about being discovered. The days ahead seemed calm enough. As she tossed and turned, she suddenly remembered the iPad on the nightstand and began browsing. Lost in a manga, she found herself blushing as a scene between the main characters unfolded. Her breath quickened as her mind wandered, but then she heard a noise from next door. Was that Dex's room? Her thoughts clouded over as she imagined whether the walls were soundproof. Maybe, maybe not. Her body tensed, and the soft sounds continued, growing more intense. She quickly turned off the iPad, her heart pounding. Across the hall, Dex sat upright, listening. He wasn’t normally interested in things like this, but for some reason, tonight, he found himself captivated by the sounds coming from next door.