"I'll see you at the dorms," I mouth to Binna and try not to think about everyone staring at me as I quickly rush after Mr. Yang. 

I can feel my heart bobbing in my throat as I fall in step by his side. His short strides making it easier for me to catch up with him.

He never used to pay much attention to us before but I've noticed his interest ever since I started appearing in media articles. 

We remain silent during the lift ride and all the way down the parquet floors that lead to the meeting room by his office. He walks inside first and takes a seat at the head of the large table in the room. This one is smaller than the one on the fifth floor but it still makes me want to bolt out the doors or hide under the table.

Our last meeting ended with a warning and judging by how last night ended, I have a feeling this one's going to be somewhat similar. 

Half of the ceiling lights are turned off and there's no circulation, making the air in here stifling. It feels so empty with just the two of us and I remain standing, staring at the nine remaining vacant seats that surround the onyx marble table. 

"Take a seat, Jina," Mr Yang commands, waving a hand in the air in a business like manner. 

I swallow so hard he could probably hear it and take a seat to his right. The chair is so large, it feels like I'm being swallowed, drowning under that unreadable stare of his. 

Mr. Yang clicks his tongue and rests his elbows on the table between us. "The last time we met was because you had snuck out at night to meet your sister. Now I hear something similar happened last night . Granted, we don't enforce curfew but as your designated agency, I feel we have the right to know of your whereabouts." 

He pauses and I'm not sure if he's waiting for me to speak. 

"For safety reasons of course." He quickly adds. 

Silence ensues and his lips purse when I don't respond. 

"Sorry," I quickly say, realising he's giving me a chance to defend myself. I stand up and bow just for formality's sake before sitting back down. "I made a blunder on stage yesterday and couldn't sleep. Sometimes I take a walk just outside the dorms and it helps me relax myself. I'm sorry if my actions caused anyone worry, I didn't mean for it to turn out that way. I used to do this a lot in Hadong and it's been quite a hard habit to break."

Hadong. Dalia. The friendship that is the only thing driving interest to our company - aside from Viva-  and our groups upcoming debut. I notice Mr Yang shifts slightly, his stance softening after hearing those words. 

He nods but I can't tell if he's buying my words or not. The only thing I'm certain of is the fact that JinJin ratted me out to management. I'm just surprised at how quick she acted. We've been at rehearsals all day, when did she have the time to inform them?

Mr Yang leans back, studying me. "Listen, I know you're dealing with your friends death. And it has been a lot but we can't have any scandals so close to your potential debut. Understood?"

I nod obediently. 

"And I say potential because nothing's set in stone yet. You are all still trainees."

I nod again, trying my best not to grimace at that statement. 

"Are you seeing anyone?" He asks, his tone much too threatening to be casual. "Romantically?"

I gulp again and it feels like I've just swallowed an entire apple. "No," I quickly say after a short pause but my heart is beating too hard, too fast, thoughts of Jiho and last night making me want to throw up. 

Mr Yang's eyes narrow and I wonder if he can see right through that lie. 

The room is suddenly too small, too stifling. I quickly shrug, trying my best to look innocent. "I haven't had the time for such things. We have been so busy practicing." 

"Good because you signed a contract, Jina. No dating till after 3 years of debut. And what happens if you breach the terms of your agreement?" 

It feels like I'm being tested on an exam. I dig my nails into my thighs, trying my best not to wither under his undying attention. "I'll be kicked out of the company, my services terminated and will have to pay the company back for all the lessons and accommodation procured to me for the past four years." 

Mr. Yang nods in approval, his skin so tight it doesn't look natural. "Good, then we're done here. I don't want to hear about this again. It doesn't matter if you're the most popular trainee in the company, if you break the rules, you're out." 

"Noted," I reply, my voice barely a whisper. 

He looks like he is about to dismiss me when someone knocks on the door urgently. Both of our heads whip towards the young woman who stuck her head in.

"Yes?" He asks irritatedly. Mr Yang has never liked interruptions and I know this must be something bad if this woman is risking angering him for it. 

"An issue has come up," She says with wide eyes but pauses when she notices me there. 

"About?" Mr Yang presses. 

"Jiho," She replies hesitantly, her eyes darting between me and the company CEO. 

Mr Yang sighs loudly and rubs a hand over his face. I notice he looks much older after doing so. "Jina, you're dismissed." 

He gestures for the woman in the pencil skirt to join him at the table and I rush out not before bowing profusely. My fingers itch and I reach for my phone immediately. I race down the hallway to the lifts but stop when I see numerous articles flooding all the popular gossip sites. 

Inside sources say Jiho was spotted with a mystery girl last night

Fans saw Viva's Jiho heading out of his dorms at midnight. Who could he be meeting?

There are so many articles of him leaving his dorms, so many inciting a hidden relationship. I have to lean against the wall to support myself because my legs are currently jelly. Jiho was caught leaving his dorms last night. JinJin saw me coming back around the same time. 

Management knows I was out at the same time. 

Food rises up my throat and I rush to the washrooms down the hall. I throw up every snack I ate that morning and all that coffee I chugged down. All energy leaves my body as I slump to the floor and rest my forearms on the toilet seat. 

Today just keeps getting worse and worse. My only saving grace is that there wasn't any picture of the two of us together. JinJin can accuse me all she wants but she has no proof.

I run a sweaty palm through my hair and lean over, the reek of vomit making me want to throw up again. I can't keep doing this, no many how good Jiho makes me feel, I can't risk my future. 

I take out my phone and type out a text message. Jiho must be going through hell right now with Mr Yang and the other executives but I can't think about that as I send him a text message.

We can't do this anymore. I'm sorry. 

I click send and watch the screen as the message delivers. It goes to seen but there's no reply. My head begins to throb again and I lean over, emptying out whatever's left in my stomach. Once I'm done I lean against the door and close my eyes. 

I'm exhausted, not just from all the practices but from the anxiety of getting caught. Everything from my conversation with JinJin to the meeting with Mr Yang and now the articles of Jiho, it all weighs down on my shoulders like gym weights. 

My phone buzzes and I see Binna calling me. I don't answer and she tries again and again until she finally stops. I'm almost certain she's put two and two together. I wonder who else has. 

My phone buzzes again and this time it's Hyeon. I didn't even know he had my number since we usually communicate through the burner phones he gives me. 

Panic causes my chest to constrict and I finally answer the call. 

"Yes," I croak, before checking that the bathroom is empty and locking the door. 

"I wanted to wait but these updates are insane. We need to meet, preferably before this weekend. Heard your practices are over for today, shall we meet at the library?" His voice is so chirper, so enthusiastic. It acts like a balm, soothing my nerves as I realise not everyone out there is focusing on mine and Jiho's whereabouts. 

"I can't." I reply sadly. If I wasn't in this predicament I would be flying out the doors, heading to the library at this very moment. 

"Why do you sound sick? And why not, this might be a major breakthrough for us," Hyeon says, there are horns blaring in the background, nearly drowning out his voice.

"I'm in deep shit. I went out for a walk last night and one of the trainees tattled on me. And I just saw the articles about Jiho. It's not looking too good for me right now. The last thing I should be doing is heading out of the dorms today." My voice is shaky and I lean over the counter top as I stare at my haggard face in the mirror. 

There's a long pause on the other end of the line. "Just saw it." 

Another long pause. I take the moment to wash my mouth and splash some water on my face. 

"Were you out with him?" Hyeon's voice is different, softer and more guarded. 

"No," I lie through my teeth and grip the marble sink tightly. "But it sure looks that way and I'm going to be kicked out all because I needed to clear my head. All those years of practice gone down the drain-" 

Hyeon cuts me off before I go off on a tangent. "Don't worry I'll fix it." 

I stare up at the mirror, my eyes wide even though I'm not even looking at him. "How?" I breathe.

"Just don't worry. Go back home, stay in and rest. By tomorrow all will be fine and then we can meet." 

My fingers tighten around my phone as I press it to my ear. "What are you going to do?" 

"Jina, we're a team. And I'm not letting anything happen to my partner. Trust me. By tomorrow, no one will be focusing on your slip up. I'll see you soon."  

What do you guys think Hyeon will do? Curious to know are thoughts :)