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| January 23rd, Saturday, 2021 |

 Annie had heard about group mates that hate each other before. She had even heard actual fights inside Music stations or at the companies she visited. Even so, she never imagined to be the one in such a position.

In all trueness, Annie wasn't really there yet. She didn't hate Jaein.

 Yes, revealing their relationship to Yujin without noticing her was messed up, but Annie could understand it. As a leader, it is her duty to report about the members to their manager, especially something as serious as dating news.

With that said, what bothered Annie the most wasn't Jaein revealing a secret, but the girl actively trying to get with her boyfriend.

While the producers organised the cameras for their next activity, the two oldest members from Flashlight decided to walk to a more private place and talk.

"I heard you told Yujin about me and Minho? Couldn't you have noticed me first?"

"Did I really have to? Wasn't it a given that I'd do that as a good leader?"

Good leader...

"Alright. I assume as a good leader you'll also stop shaming me for dating Minho then?"

"I never shamed you for dating him! I'm sorry if it sounded like that."

Annie got slightly surprised upon hearing the words "I'm sorry" from her friend.

But it didn't last long.

"...although it is a shame that he's dating someone like you."

She frowned.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oh, come on, Haerim. We all know you're not very 'girlfriend' material. But it's okay! Not everyone is."

Once again Annie's face twisted in confusion.

"Look, I've always thought it was stupid to fight with friends because of a boy, but this isn't it. I'm not sure what you're trying to do, but you should stop."

"Why? Are you afraid he'll fall for me instead?"

Annie let out a dry laugh.

"He wouldn't even know your name if it weren't for me, I'm just worried about you."

Jaein scoffed while crossing her arms.

"Since you're so confident, I can flirt with him."

"You could try."

Annie looked at her one more time before turning away.

"...but at least be professional. You're the leader of our team, act like it."

● ● ● ● ●

"It's kinda cute how Jaemin is trying really hard to befriend Lino just because he's your boyfriend."

Changbin whispered with a smile.

Without thinking twice, the girl followed his gaze, only to find Jaein 'helping' Lee Know to set the table as they were being recorded.

"Yeah, cute."

The corner of her lips raised a little.

Annie glanced at them one more time before entering the house to help the others.

"Oh my, who put Han in the kitchen?!"

She jogged to the boy struggling to cut a cucumber.

"I can do this!"

"Do you think I forgot the time you burned noodles? You know, that's not an easy thing to do."

She laughed while pushing him to the side.

"How many times do I have to say I just pressed the wrong number?!"

He yelled frustrated, not minding the cameraman just two metres away.

"Are you guys fighting over the noodles incident again?"

Chan entered the scene with a sigh.

"She brought it up first!"

"Were you the one who put Han to slice cucumbers?"

He looked at the youngest with widened eyes.

"No, you think I'm crazy?"

"Very funny, man."

Han faked a smile.

"Well, anyway, Han, why don't you cook the eggs? You can do that, right?"

"Why do you guys have so little trust in me?!"

He whined with a pout.

"We trust you! We don't trust your cooking skills."

Annie patted his shoulder.

Just a second later, Minho entered the house, glancing briefly at his girlfriend before walking the other way.

 Everyone knew Annie was friends with 3racha, so she could talk easily with them, but if the cameras caught her with Lee Know, it'd be a problem. It's not like people would find out they're dating – if even Yujin couldn't tell after interrogating the girl, who would? –, but it would bring unnecessary attention. Although her leader didn't seem to be thinking about that.

"Rim, do you want to go to the market with us?"

Remi arrived with two boys.

"Are you asking for a babysitter?"

She looked at I.N and Seungmin smiling brightly behind her friend.

"We'll behave!"

"Let me just get my jacket."

Annie left the main house and walked towards the girl's dormitory, more specifically, her individual room, where there were no cameras for privacy.

"Hello."

"Holy sh– You!"

She put a hand on her chest, recovering from the scare.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"Standing alone behind the door? Really?"

He slowly walked to her with a sheepish smile.

"Oopsie?"

Unconsciously, she let out a smile too.

"What are you even doing here? What if someone sees you?"

"I asked your friend to invite you to go out knowing you'd come to your room to get something. No one's around, I checked."

Annie stared at him for a minute.

There was something hot about Minho always being prepared.

"I guess I wasn't the only one missing my partner."

"You missed me? We saw each other though?"

Of course she missed him too, but since when does Annie show her feelings clearly?

"Only seeing you isn't enough."

He pulled her by the waist.

"I need to go...the kids are waiting..."

Annie spoke while slowly wrapping her arms around his body.

Minho laughed at how her actions differed from her words.

"I'll text you later, hm? You should go."

He kissed the top of her head before letting go.

"Bye..."

She walked backwards while waving at him.

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Ah, right!"

Annie ran to give him a peck on the cheek.

"I meant your jacket, but I guess that works too."

Minho held a laugh as he watched his girlfriend leave running with a random green jacket in her hands and blush on her cheeks.

"Cute."

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