The girls are beautiful.

Naomi is dressed in a prom gown of shimmering purple, matching it with dark purple high heels and a silver tiara. Her makeup is smokey and gorgeous, like she purposely painted herself to be more beautiful than any other girl here. The only other person who matches her regality is Joyce. Her dress is silver and skin-tight, showing off her hourglass figure. In contrast, she wears pastel pink pumps and a matching lipstick. There is so much glitter on her face that I wonder how long it'll take to wash it all off.

My heart drops. Beside me, Beomgyu stills and regards the girls with an expression I can only describe as stoney. Naomi steals the microphone from Mrs. Jo—snatching it out of her hands with the dexterity of an eagle.

"We'd like to thank everyone here for gathering to celebrate Jayden's downfall," Naomi says into the mic. Everyone stills, watching the two girls and sneaking me glances in between. My stomach fills with acid, and I have a sense that I'll throw up in the near future.

Naomi adjusts her phone and continues on. "Through the course of this summer session, he's done nothing but take advantage of an idol by the name of Choi Beomgyu."

Beside me, Beomgyu attempts to take a stride forward. But I block him with a firm arm against his chest. I know he wants to protect me. I know he can mitigate the situation by asking the girls to leave—they will probably listen to him.

But I know this is my battle to fight.

Naomi continues on. "Captured through fans throughout South Korea, we have evidence that Jayden has done nothing but take from Beomgyu. Stealing his time and energy for no reason other than to make himself feel better about himself. This is a true crime. No idol should be taken advantage of in this way."

I block Beomgyu again. I can't have him ruin his image for my sake. Again, I'll have to find a way to deal with these girls myself. I can't care too much about my reputation, and protecting him from having to deal with these sasaengs are the least I can do—especially after all that he's given to me.

"Jayden, do you have anything to say about yourself?" Naomi sneers as she speaks into the mic. I can sense the venom in her words, like poisonous darts against my skin.

I nod. In fact, I do have something to say. I take several long strides across the dance floor. I reach the DJ station, taking the microphone away and turning to face the crowd.

"Since I arrived in Seoul, I never knew that I'd run into Choi Beomgyu." I take several deep breaths, steadying myself, making sure my emotions don't get the best of me. "I ran into him the first day I checked into the dorms. I knew nothing about this. I didn't manipulate anyone into giving me the room with him. Everything was by chance."

I distance myself from Naomi and Joyce, exchanging a look as they try to shoot me down with the flames in their eyes. I stand my ground. "Yes, Beomgyu has done a lot for me in Seoul. He's comforted me through heartbreak. He's given me a listening ear when all I wanted to do was to break down and cry. But I can say one thing that's completely true—I'm not a sasaeng like these two girls here. I don't use idols to gain clout like these two do. I may be imperfect, but I'd never purposely take advantage of Beomgyu in any way. He's my friend, and I'll treat him like one until the day I die."

"I'll ask you girls one thing," I continue on. "Why do I bother you so much? If it's because I'm near an idol that you supposedly care about, then why don't you distance yourself and let Beomgyu make his own choices? You're not his keeper. You don't own him or his choice to spend time with certain people. If you claim that you love him, then leave him alone."

"I am tired of being treated by you two like I'm trash," I say. "I know who I am now. In Seoul, I discovered that I have value. I'm worthy of being loved, no matter what you two say about me. No matter the lies that you might spin about me on the web. So if you love the TXT members like it says in your Twitter profile, leave us alone. Leave me alone."

I stand, waiting as the room is covered in a veil of silence.

Slowly, the room erupts in cheers. I'm confused as to why until the students begin to chant my name. Jayden! Jayden! Jayden! The students are my saving grace, lifting me up with the wings of their voices. They give me strength with the volume they fill the room with. The TXT members are cheering as well. Beomgyu is is clapping and shouting my name along with everyone else.

"Leave him alone!" Yeonjun shouts from his spot on the dance floor.

That's the last straw for Naomi and Joyce. Joyce plugs the AUX cord back in, flooding the room with waves of sound. Naomi locks her smartphone and sends me a toxic glare. They leave together like twin snakes. In their shimmering dresses and flawless makeup, they're like sirens that failed to enchant their audience.

I turn back to the crowd. They're still cheering for me. Even Mrs. Jo is clapping for my attempt at a monologue.

Beomgyu runs up to me, encasing me in a hug.

I have a reckless thought. I hope the video of me leaks. I hope everyone online can see me standing up for myself—for one of the first times in my life.