For an interminable few seconds Loona and I just stare at each other, her eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights, my gaze hard even though my head has started to spin. I don't think I've ever drank this much since I moved to Seoul. 

Loona's lips part and then she clamps them shut and schools her features. "You're fishing for information." 

My heart sinks, I really thought I had her for a second. "I know what I saw." 

"It doesn't matter what you saw. Everyone always assumes something about our lives. Summer and I don't hug each other at a concert and suddenly the whole world thinks we're fighting. Dalia and I don't touch each other for that particular choreography and everyone assumes I hate her." 

Loona takes another huge gulp of her drink, her fingers tight around the narrow stem of the crystal champagne flute she's holding. Any tighter and it might just break. I've lost count of how many glasses she's had but her face is a deep shade of red, indicating just how angry and drunk she is. 

"I don't know why netizens always thought Dalia used to be victimised by us. Just because Summer and I were the talkative ones, that doesn't mean we bullied our members. If anything Dalia and Maria always had those power plays." 

She's ranting now and for some reason her words make me feel slightly guilty. She's right, I'd always thought Dalia had been left out when it came to all the Vlive's and Variety Shows the girls attended. 

I've watched all of them and it was always obvious how quiet and withdrawn Dalia acted. I used to think it was because the other girls felt the need to over shine her, that she was being targeted that way. 

It never occurred to me that maybe that was what Dalia wanted. To be out of the limelight, hidden and thus the product of everyone's conversations. 

Why do they always leave her out of things? 

She's always alone, she's so mysterious. 

I feel so bad for Dalia, the other girls always band together leaving her out. 

I remember reading these comments below most of their videos, feeling as terrible for Dalia as the rest of Korea did. I never hated on the other girls because of it but there were plenty of people who did. 

And now that I really think about it. Dalia had always been that way since we were young. Even during public events she would sneak off to do her own thing or lurk in corners, me following in tow. Even her audition had been a huge secret, until the outcome became the biggest piece of gossip in Hadong for months.

"I'm sorry that must have been hard." I say to Loona quietly and her face scrunches up, making me think she's going to cry. 

"Thank you." Her lip wobbles and she sinks into the water. "You might not be so bad after all." 

"I just don't understand any of it. She was at the peak of her career and then suddenly 'boom', she's gone."

Loona looks down at our muddled reflections in the soapy water, a single droplet sliding down the side of her face. "I wonder the same thing every day. I also wonder what is going to happen to us now." 

Staring at her now, I feel a ball of doubt lodge itself into my brain. Maybe Loona and the Sweet Poison girls are innocent. She looks so lost right now, like a dog who'd lost its bone. 

"You mean with your career?" I ask tentatively. 

"Yeah, I mean we can all go solo. But everyone knows solo careers are a hit and miss in this industry. You either make it or fail miserably and I don't know..." She sighs and rubs her face harshly. "I don't think I have what it takes. I'm not ready for us to break up." 

I'm currently staring at one of the biggest Kpop idols in the industry right now and I never thought I would ever see her like this. Like a lost, young woman worrying about her future. No more different than I. 

"I mean you could still continue as a three member group?" I shrug my shoulders trying to look optimistic and not like I've already seen the contracts PT Entertainment drafted out to them. 

The ones dictating that the girls would be splitting up. I remember Maria's angry words scribbled on her contract and if I'm not mistaken Loona's had been blank. 

Even though Loona doesn't look so dangerous right now, Dalia did die just after these contracts were sent out and before any announcements had been made. And so far nothing has come out in the news. Everyone's been so obsessed with Dalia's death, no ones demanding for Sweet Poison content. 

There are articles about Sweet Poison's future as a group. But no one knows about Dalia wanting to go solo and the girls splitting up. 

How convenient. 

I'm trying not to think about the fact that I'm currently sitting in a pool with a possible murderer. I turn to see Loona's pathetic expression and she looks so utterly harmless, it makes me frown. 

She takes another swig of her drink. "Jungseok broke up with me. My career's a big fat question mark. My love life's a mess. My family's only nice to me when I give them money. All I have left are my fans, they're my everything." 

She can't be lying, right? People this drunk are usually at their most honest. 

"He broke up with you?" I mimic stupidly. 

She nods and leans her head against the moist marble wall, making me admire her side profile. She has that curved nose I've always found very attractive. 

"Yup, two weeks ago. I think he doesn't want to be associated with a sinking ship." 

I bite my lip. According to Hyeon's research Jungseok sounds more like the sinking ship with his drug dealing history and God knows what else. 

"I'm sorry to hear that. But at least you have Maria and Summer, right?" They can't have all been enemies. The Sweet Poison girls always put on such a united front despite Dalia being the loner of the group. 

"Yeah, they're great. But we're not as close as you think. It's mainly business with the members. I mean you of all people should know." 

I nod even though her eyes are closed and she can't see me. 

Loona's eyes flit open like she's suddenly had an epiphany and she calls for the attendant. "I'm going to have another one. Join me." 

It's more of an instruction than anything and I oblige because I still feel there is more information I can get out of her. 

We thank the attendant and I make sure the sprinklers are still running, drowning out our conversation from the rest of the room before asking my next question. 

"Who was Dalia seeing?" 

Loona's lips purse and she looks at me. Even though her body is slumped against the wall, her gaze is so sharp it makes me wince. "Why do you want to know? She's dead anyway, hence no more relationship." 

She looks down at my untouched drink and I can tell she wants me to finish mine like she just did. Does she want me to pass out here or something? 

I take a sip and her eyes narrow, making me take a few more. The room starts to spin behind my eyes and Loona leans in, her lips grazing my ear in a ticklish way. 

"Let's just say he is a very powerful person. Someone she should never have gotten involved with. Someone who can kill without ever getting caught." 

Goosebumps erupt across my skin and I feel a cold shudder run down my spine. 

I turn to Loona and she is staring at me with an odd expression on her face. Her insinuation reflected in her gaze. Does she think Dalia was murdered as well?

Is she trying to help or throw me off track?

"You look like you've seen a ghost." She tilts her head back and chuckles scathingly. "I mean this must be what you're doing, right? Fishing for information like this. You said it yourself, you can't understand why she died." 

"So you've thought of it as well," I whisper. Even though we're in a steam room, my body is cold, spine stiff. I didn't think I was being too obvious but Loona is sharper than I give her credit for. Or maybe I've slipped up somehow, said something I shouldn't have said. 

My mind is swimming, I might have blurted out something unknowingly. Maybe this had been her plan all along, get me drunk and talking. 

"It could have been anyone. Her mysterious lover. One of her stalker fans. One of her friends. Maybe even you." Loona's words make me flinch and her smile grows wide. "Or maybe she simply killed herself like the police said. And you're going on a wild goose chase because you have too much time on your hands." 

My head starts to pound and my eyes begin to water. 

Loona fists my hair and tilts my head back. My movements are sloppy, I can barely resist as she tilts the glass in my hand, pouring the rest of its contents into my mouth. 

"A word of advise? Instead of distracting yourself with this, you should focus on your debut and career. Trust me it's a lot shorter than you'd expect." 

The next few moments are a blur. Loona disappears from view and I barely register my attendant Lin fussing over me, trying to get me to sober up. I remember throwing up a little, then drinking some lemon concoction and eating some pastries. 

By the time I leave Blue Diamond it is already evening and Loona's car is no where to be seen. 

I'm feeling much better than I did in the steam room but Hyeon's eyes widen in concern when he sees me. 

"What happened to you? You look like hell," He leans over and straps me in and he smells like lavender, the scent is so calming. 

For some reason he pauses in front of me, our faces almost touching. He looks at my lips and I do the same. It's a weird feeling, nothing like the excitement I feel with Jiho and I quickly look away, pretending to focus on the plush green garden around us. 

Hyeon moves away and starts the car, clearing his throat before asking. "How did it go? Did you find out anything?"

I recall the entire day, briefing him about my conversation with Loona and I notice the way his fingers tighten around the steering wheel when I mention Dalia having an affair. 

It's confirmed now and we have to look into it no matter how annoyed it makes him. 

"Oh and she knows I'm looking into Dalia's death." I conclude defeatedly. I feel tired, like I'd just danced an entire dance segment routine. 

"But she doesn't know about me," Hyeon casts me a smug smile and holds out a small black speaker phone device. "I bugged her car and guess what."

He plays a recording and the crackling background noise makes me grind my teeth together. I focus on Loona's voice, interspersed between the static. 

"I think she knows about the ledger. She mentioned the paper. I need to see you now." 

I sit up straight and look at Hyeon. "She's talking about me?" 

He nods, looking at me proudly and he pulls off onto the highway. "And I know where she's headed right now."

"We're following her?" 

"Of course," Hyeon smiles. "And then I'll get you some hangover soup. You've been absolutely brilliant today, Jina. We're really getting somewhere and it's all thanks to you." 

He beams at me and I gesture to the road ahead. "You'd better focus on driving, the last thing we need is an accident."