The month had gone slowly, a long process of torture and healing. 

Jennie had started to brighten up once more, although, one could still see the pain and trauma that she had suffered through her eyes. The other girls were worried for her, naturally. The member who had always been one of the strongest in the group had been crushed, yet, she refused to show anymore signs of weakness.

"How are things going with J-Hope sunbaenim, Jae?" Jennie questioned, curling up on the sofa, flicking through a magazine.

"He's asked to meet me multiple times, but," Soojae let out a long sigh "I told him I can't,"

"What?" Jisoo asked incredulously "Why not?"

"We're supposed to be staying low, unnie," Soojae reminded the older girl "And besides, Jennie's... situation is still out there,"

A silence hung upon the room, the three occupants' minds wandering back to the incident, still fresh in their minds. What was even worse was that the company had done nothing to protect them. 

It really was survival of the fittest.

"Whatver happened to me shouldn't stop you from meeting the boy you like, Jae," Jennie said softly "We all know how much you like him, and if he's asking to meet you, then you should take up his offer,"

"B-but, what about you?" Soojae trembled "I can't put the group at risk over such a little matter- "

"Kim Soojae!" Jisoo shook the younger Kim's shoulders fiercely "Put yourself first for once,"

"Unnie's right," Jennie said firmly "Put yourself first, and go meet up with J-Hope sunbaenim,"

"A-are you sure?" The youngest of the three questioned, still unsure "What if something happens? What if he doesn't want to meet me anymore? What if- "

"No more 'What ifs'," Jisoo reprimanded "Go after him,"

...

"It's been long, Jae-ssi,"

Soojae gently put down the dance bag that she had been carrying, smiling at the older boy in front of her. Hoseok returned the smile, dressed in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. The two had decided upon a dance session, both equally as curious how the other might mirror their style.

"I apologize for not wanting to meet up before," Soojae said softly, bowing her head "But, the last month has been - messy,"

"I should be the one saying sorry," Hoseok said quickly, waving his hands in a dismissive manner "I kept pushing you to meet, I should've been more aware of what was going on. Have things been - resolved?"

Soojae hesitated, pondering over her choice of words. "Things are getting better," She said slowly "But we're all still rather drained, particularly Jennie,"

Hoseok softened. "I understand,"

There was a comfortable pause as the two dancers stared at each other for a minute, Hoseok studying the girl's features. 

Of course she was pretty, but there was something else about Kim Soojae that made Jung Hoseok's heart beat a little faster every time he saw her, whether it was in real life or on TV. Perhaps it was the reassuring smile that was constantly on her face, or the warmth that her eyes held. Whatever it was, Hoseok knew that it was something good.

"Should we start?" Soojae broke the quietude "Do you have a track that you want to use?"

"Oh, yeah," Hoseok shook his head slightly, breaking from his trance "This one,"

The senior pressed 'play' on his phone, and the speakers were filled with a fast-paced and energetic track. 

"Freestyle?" Hoseok's easy grin was now replaced with a confident smirk "Or are you too afraid for that?"

Soojae's face still held a demure expression, but her eyes glistened with challenge. "I'm not afraid to compete against you, Hobi-ssi,"

Almost in sync, the two dancers began to move, executing their moves with perfect precision and clarity. They held eye contact in the mirror as they twirled, the melody following them rather than the opposite.

As the song came to an end, Hoseok and Soojae faced each other, not an inch of sweat or exhaustion shown on either of their faces. Rather, they looked more lively, wanting to do more.

"You did well," Hobi complimented the younger girl who let out a laugh.

"I'm nothing compared to you, Hoseok-ssi," Soojae beamed brightly.

Hobi faked a glare. "Drop the formalities, Jae. Especially when it's just the two of us,"

The two took a minute to regain control of their breathing before Soojae smirked at the rapper. 

"Another round, Hobi?"

"You're on,"

...

"How did you get into dancing?"

Hoseok and Soojae had finished their dancing session, the pair sat in front of the mirror, a few drinks in front of them as they talked. 

"I took dance classes from the age of seven," Soojae hummed "But I quit after I turned thirteen,"

The older boy frowned. "Why?"

"My-my father passed when I was thirteen," The female paused "My mother, brother and I weren't exactly well off, and there was only so much money that came into the floristry. We were struggling, and a lot of the money that went out went towards my dance classes. So I quit,"

Hoseok stared in disbelief. As he stared at the idol, he felt a sudden jolt in his heart, reminded of his own mother who had gone through two jobs so that she was able to support her son's dreams. Except in Soojae's case, she had sacrificed her dream for her mother.

"I was upset," She continued "I loved dancing more than anything, but my mother and my brother were more important,"

"You have a brother?" Hobi found himself asking "I have an older sister, Jung Jiwoo,"

"Kim Minjoon," Soojae's eyes lit up "He's two years older than me. He was the only one who knew why I quit, and he told me that I shouldn't have, but I didn't listen to him. In fact, I didn't really obey much that he said,"

Hoseok was curious now. "What d'you mean?"

"After I quit the dance classes, I tried to find a job. The same job that was offered to me by one Park Jinyoung of Got7," Soojae's mind returned to her past memories, remembering her pre-debut days "My brother found out and he told me to quit, even though he had a job himself, but I told him that I couldn't,"

"Is that how the two of you met? You and Jinyoung?"

"Yeah. You wouldn't believe me if I told you that he was just as savage back then as he is now,"

...

"So, how did it go?" Jinyoung's voice filtered through the phone into Soojae's ear as she stared at a few old pictures.

"Brilliant," She said "We danced together,"

"Of course you did," Jinyoung rolled his eyes from where he was "Any progress?"

"What do you mean? This is progress in my eyes," Soojae said innocently.

Jinyoung mumbled some incoherent words, something that sounded like "This girl,"

"Jinyoung?"

"I'm glad to hear that it went well, Jae, I'll call you later. Bye,"

"Goodnight, Jinnie," 

Jinyoung softened at the nickname that had lasted for over ten years. "'Night, Jae-bear,"