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| January 12th, Tuesday, 2021 |

It was a snowy morning, one of those that makes you want to stay home watching movies and eating snacks the whole day - with some hot chocolate, of course. Sadly, it wasn't like that to K-pop idols.

The members of FLASHLIGHT had been practising since 8 a.m., their last practice before the award show on Wednesday. This performance was a bit more special, though. Alongside the Rookie of The Year nomination, Annie had also been nominated for Producer of The Year - yes, again - so she was feeling nervous and oddly hopeful this time.

If she does get the prize, she'll step on stage on her own, and the general public will get to know SPIKE's face for the first time ever. The girl had joked about how she'd reveal herself as SPIKE on a big scale while winning a prize before with Hannie years ago.

Right, Hannie.

Aside from short greetings, Han and Annie hadn't talked since that day.

However, the girl believed it was a coincidence. Stray Kids was recording a TV show in another city during the weekend, and they only came back yesterday, going straight to practice after. Her group was also really busy preparing for the award show, so they didn't have much free time.

Did she still get texts from her boyfriend despite his busy schedule? Yes, but that's different. First of all, you can stay days without texting your best friend and your friendship isn't affected a bit - Yeonjun was real proof of that. Second, Minho was a very swee- annoying boyfriend.

So, everything was fine, or at least thinking like that made her life easier.

"An, do you turn on 7 or 8?"

"Me?"

She counted the steps quietly.

"7."

"Okie! Hey, An, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah?"

Remi made sure their leader was distracted before getting closer.

"Are you perhaps in a fling?"

"What!?"

The girl yelled so loud that even the cleaning lady in the hallway turned her head to check if something was wrong.

"Why are you overreacting!? It's normal!"

She complained with a pout, and just by seeing that expression, Annie knew something wasn't adding up.

"Katsuno Rise, do you have any idea of what you just said?"

The younger one tilted her head.

"Do you realise you just asked me if I've been having casual sex with someone?"

Annie questioned in Japanese so it was sure her friend would understand. Judging by how much bigger her eyes opened, she guessed she had.

"Oh my- I'm sorry, I meant to ask if you were flirting with someone, you know? Have a thing?"

Annie sighed.

"I guess the time has come for you too, huh?"

"What time?"

"Lunch time!"

Boram interrupted their conversation, yelling happily throughout the room.

"The cafeteria is serving ox bones soup today. See y'all there!"

"Hey, let's go together!"

As Jaein hurried behind her, the other two stayed behind, making disgusted faces. They weren't big fans of soup made by boiling ox leg bones.

"Why don't we go to the restaurant across the street?"

● ● ● ● ●

"...so you are flirting with someone, oh my God! Do I know them?"

"Yep."

"Oh my! Alright, let me guess."

Annie chuckled at the girl's cuteness. She had been the most excited about this until now.

"Is it...uhm... Han Jisung?"

Her heart ached a bit upon hearing the boy's name.

"Nope."

She shook her head with a subtle smile.

"Ah..! This is too hard, give me a tip! What gender are they?"

"Male."

"Who else is there...it wouldn't be Changbin or Choi Yeonjun. Chan? No, you two are like siblings. Kang- no. Who else do you know aside from them? You're not close with anyone else from Stra-"

Remi paused herself and looked at her friend with shock in her eyes, hand covering her mouth.

"What?"

"You...it's him, isn't it?"

She asked without looking away.

"Who?"

"Your enemy! Woah! Finally, the years of reading books and watching cliche dramas paid off! Of course it's him! If it's not your best friend nor a random guy who showed up out of nowhere, it's the guy you heavily dislike!"

Annie laughed in disbelief.

"You're laughing! I'm right!"

"Yes, yes you are."

This time, Remi placed both hands in front of her mouth.

"Woah! You two would be such a hot couple!"

Having told two people already, Annie was starting to get used to revealing her relationship to friends.

"Will. We're dating already."

The other girl put her hands down carefully.

"What about our dating ban?"

Right.

I forgot about this part.

"I'm sorry. I promise we'll be extremely careful not to get caught, I won't ever ruin the group's image."

Annie spoke nervously.

"Don't apologise for getting yourself a man, girl! I trust you, I know you wouldn't do anything to harm Flashlight. Count on me whenever you need someone to cover for you, okay?"

The two smiled at each other.

"Thanks, Rem."

"I won't do it for free, though, I want you to tell me every single detail about how you fell in love and how you started dating. Also, how long has it been? Don't tell me you went on dates already?! Woah, and I thought I'd be the first to get a boyfriend..."

Remi kept on talking, but Annie had stopped listening a while ago. She was too busy appreciating the perfect friend she had gotten herself.

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(this is Remi, in case anyone doesn't remember ^^)