Final Puzzle Piece || SKZ 9th Member

HYUNJIN X KALA (HYUNLA)

Hwang Hyunjin & Ryu Kala (HyunLa): from extremely awkward to flirting 24/7

「 ✦ HOW THEY MET ✦ 」

ಇ. When Chan told the members that they would have a female member in their group, Hyunjin didn't know how to react to that piece of information

ಇ. He just had his eyes widen and mumbled a tiny, "For real?"

ಇ. Like most of the members, Hyunjin met Kala when Chan brought her to them for the first time

ಇ. At that time, Hyunjin was still processing the fact that he was in the group with a female member

ಇ. He still didn't get the concept of having a girl in a group full of boys. How does this work? he thought

ಇ. Took him a couple of minutes staring at Kala to convince his mind that she was a real girl

ಇ. Among all of the members, these two had the most awkward relationship ever

ಇ. Hyunjin didn't know how to act around Kala appropriately, like should he just act as usual or should he be more considerate as she's the only girl here?

ಇ. And Kala didn't know how to approach Hyunjin who treated her as someone he was afraid of and preferred not to get too close to her. Like should she just talk like they had known each other for a long time?

ಇ. This saga continued until the survival show era, and after they debuted, and almost two years after they debuted

ಇ. But don't take it wrong tho, they didn't hate each other, they just didn't know how to act around one another because they didn't start that well and it unconsciously kept going on like that

ಇ. In front of the camera, they would normally interact just like they usually do with the other members. But when the cameras were off, they avoided each other at all costs

ಇ. You couldn't put just the two of them in one room, they'd die of awkwardness. They need a third party, and Jeongin was the one who always filled that role

ಇ. The turning point of their relationship was at the end of 2019, specifically on Christmas Eve

ಇ. Hyunjin just returned from his parent's house and found Kala alone at the dorm, watching Harry Potter with a bowl of chips on her hands and a blanket covering her body. He knew Kala couldn't visit her grandma to celebrate Christmas because Jeju is not exactly close to Seoul and they have schedules the next day

ಇ. So after mustering up the courage, Hyunjin approached Kala and offered her the cookies his mom packed for him and the members

ಇ. Kala of course was caught off guard seeing Hyunjin start a conversation with her willingly, but she soon warmed up and they ended up watching Harry Potter together until they fell asleep

ಇ. When the other members arrived home, they were amazed at the scene in front of them; Hyunjin and Kala had their heads resting on each other's while 'Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix' was still playing on TV. The members even took a picture of the two and shared it on Bubble

「 ✦ FACTS ABOUT THEM ✦ 」

ಇ. Even though they didn't have the strongest relationship in earlier times, somehow Hyunjin felt like the one who looked after Kala the most
ಇ. He kept preventing bad things from happening to her and always coincidentally just being there when she needed someone
ಇ. Like that time when some fans threw things onto the stage, Hyunjin managed to catch a fully loaded water bottle that almost hit Kala's head
ಇ. Or that time at the airport when fans were pushing each other aggressively, they mistook Kala as one of them and pushed her too until she fell to the ground, her arms were trampled one of them broke. Hyunjin was the first to notice she was left behind and walked back to help her while telling the security to keep the fans away
ಇ. Since then, he reflexively always holds her hand whenever they're at the airport or in a place with a large crowd of people
ಇ. If Chan will get Kala an extra blanket to cover her exposed skin, Hyunjin will take off his jacket and place it on her shoulder or lap

ಇ. After that Christmas Eve, Hyunjin and Kala became more and more comfortable with each other
ಇ. They started talking casually and joking around. No one was more relieved than Chan
ಇ. They realized their personality was so clicked once they got closer
ಇ. Hyunjin even came up with a nickname for her; Lala. It naturally just rolled out from his mouth one time and he continues to call her that

ಇ. One thing you should know, Hyunjin can not see Kala crying, it'll shatter him
ಇ. The first time he saw Kala cry was when Minho was eliminated
ಇ. She cried so hard he could feel something inside him breaking into pieces
ಇ. Even when they weren't close back then, he could feel all of her pain, it hurt him too
ಇ. From that day, Hyunjin swore he didn't want to see Kala crying ever again

ಇ. At some point in their relationship, they've become way more too comfortable that one day Hyunjin out of nowhere began to throw some flirting at Kala just because he tried it once and he liked her reaction
ಇ. Kala always looks quiet and unbothered, and when she lost her shit, Hyunjin is loving it
ಇ. He's addicted to it and it then became his routine. He can't go a day without saying, "Lala-ya, let's date"
ಇ. Kala who was initially always flustered became immune to his sweet words she barely reacts anymore

ಇ. It's very common for STAY to know this flirting thing that's happening with Hyunjin and Kala, so they're used to him playfully 'confessing' his undying love for her any chance he gets
ಇ. Mostly she's just playing along and pretending to reject him, then he will dramatically complain to STAY on how she doesn't accept his love again
ಇ. They are probably the most popular ship in the group, even among non-fans they always go viral for acting like a couple
ಇ. People who don't know about this will often ask, "Are they dating?"
ಇ. Are they?