The dull throbbing in my head persists like a booming headset in my right ear. It feels like someone is knocking the same spot on my head repeatedly causing my entire face to hurt. 

I grit my teeth and concentrate on the task at hand - helping the stylist adjust the pants that has ripped open at the side after our last dance number.

Despite all the drama currently surrounding Jiho, rehearsals are to continue as usual but I wasn't surprised to hear that Mr Yang and a few others wouldn't be joining us today. Firefly is currently dealing with a shitstorm media frenzy. 

Two dating scandals involving the same idol in the course of a few months has apparently convinced more than a few netizens that Jiho must definitely be dating someone. 

I've tried my best not to read anything related to this but it's all everyone can talk about. The stylists, the stage crew, the receptionists at the Firefly lobby. Everyone's wondering who the mystery girl could be, if she even exists. 

Everyone except my group mates because apparently JinJin has come to the conclusion about Jiho and I both sneaking out of our dorms at the same time. Which is technically true but I can't help but hate her for it.

Out of all the girls here, why did she have to be the one to catch me red handed? 

I'm guessing she's filled everyone in because all of the girls have been weirdly silent all morning. Rachel's face looks the worst, like a storm cloud is brewing over her features turning them dark. I catch her glaring at me ever so often and it only makes my headache worse. 

I notice Binna walk over with two coffees in hand. I'd expected her to scold me or mutter the dreaded 'I told you so' but she's been surprisingly quiet since yesterday.

"Figured you might need this," She murmurs, her soft voice a balm to my nerves. She places the coffee by the dressing table next to me and I'm so grateful I could hug her. 

I take a tentative sip and then a few more, the bitter liquid already easing away the throbbing in my head. My stomach starts to clench and I realise I haven't eaten anything since last night. I stare at  pastries by the refreshment table and then turn to Binna who is studying me for some reason. 

"Want to grab a bite?" I ask her and she nods. 

We head to the long wooden table flanking the back wall and I immediately pick up a croissant, not caring that a few girls are already judging. Last I checked my weight was fine, a croissant isn't going to kill me. 

Binna stands by my side but she doesn't pick up anything. She leans against the wall and takes a sip of her coffee, her eyes flitting over JinJin and Rachel who are looking at us at this very moment. 

"She's told everyone, hasn't she?" I ask her. 

Binna nods and her answer settles like a pile of stones in my belly. 

"I'm going to be kicked out," I whisper miserably. The pastry in my mouth tastes like sand and I swallow it down painfully. 

"Did anyone see you together?" Binna asks and I shake my head. No one saw us, not that I know of anyway and it only serves as a reminder of how reckless I've been. 

"Then they have no proof," She states the obvious but I can't help but wonder if that is enough. 

My shoulders tense when I see JinJin and Rachel stand up and head our way. In fact, it feels like all the girls are frozen in their places, their attention lost to us. Kim is busy clipping up her hair but her eyes keep flitting to us and Liza keeps tying and retying her shoe laces.

All I can do is wait for the two girls as they march up to us like an incoming collision. 

"Just wanted to let you know I've informed my uncle about you dating an idol in our very own company." JinJin squares her shoulders and then crosses her thin arms over her chest. Her face is gleeful whereas Rachel looks like someone just stole her entire life force. 

"I just went out for a walk. It had nothing to do with Jiho," I reply.

JinJin only laughs dismissively. "Try telling that to the board of executives." 

A ball of fear lodges in my throat and it feels like I'm currently choking on air. 

"She wasn't out with him, JinJin. I think it's high time you stopped trying to get us into trouble," Binna speaks up suddenly, surprisingly everyone in the room. 

In our four years here, Binna has never once dared to argue with JinJin, always insisting that it would be best to be her friend not foe. Which is why I'm so surprised right now.

Even JinJin is taken aback. She pauses before replying. "And how do you know that? Were you there?" 

"I joined her for a while and then went back earlier," Binna raises her voice confidently making it difficult to catch her lie. "Didn't see you lurking in the living room when I got back so you must have missed me but not Jina. You know spreading false information is a crime punishable by law."

JinJin's face turns ghostly white but she can't refute Binna's words and I am so grateful for my best friend, I feel like throwing my arms around her in the tightest hug. 

"So you're not dating Jiho, secretly?" Rachel finally speaks up but her voice is so shaky, it's difficult to get the words in. 

I see Kim leaning in from the side, trying to eavesdrop. 

"No, I'm not," I breathe out while my chest feels like it is caving in. At least it's the truth as of yesterday. 

Jiho still hasn't replied to the last text I sent him but I don't want to think about it too much. He must be dealing with much more than I am currently. Rehearsals are done for the day and he hasn't made a single appearance. I feel a small stab of worry for him, hoping that all is okay on his end. 

The room is silent when Mr Oh, our manager suddenly appears through the doorway and asks for me. 

"Jina, Mr Yang wants to see you." 

The moment he utters those dreaded words, I feel like sinking to the floor. I must have slid down the wall because I feel Binna pulling me up. 

"I'm your alibi," She whispers fervently. "Now pull yourself together." 

Binna quickly turns to Mr Oh before announcing loudly that she had accompanied me briefly during my late night walk and can attest that I was indeed alone. Our manager however, doesn't seem all that interested in her admission. He barely even looks at her before waving for me to hurry up. 

I squeeze her hand gratefully but all I hear is white static in my ears as I follow Mr Oh out of the auditorium. So this is how it all ends. 

All those years of practice, growing up dreaming of performing on stage, singing to thousands of people as they cheered for me. All those hours sweating it out on the dance studio floors, twisting and bending till my knees ached. All those sleepless nights watching and learning from Dalia videos, practicing my rapping, hopping one day I will be able to perform and make someone feel the way she made me feel whenever I watch her. 

I made it through those gruelling four years. Made it past eliminations and into this showcase. I'm so close, so damn close. In only a matter of days Firefly's new girl group will be announced and I could have been one of them. 

I came all this way only for me to destroy it all by foolishly dating someone I cared for. 

I can't believe I did this to myself. Can't believe I let myself be sidetracked like this. I think of my parents and how disappointed they would be when they hear of this. Do they already know? Has Firefly informed them?

I can't imagine going back to Hadong without debuting. My chest feels heavy just thinking about it. 

Mr Oh stands next to me in the lifts but he is too busy with his phone to notice that I'm currently having a minor breakdown. 

He snickers at his phone screen and I feel like screaming when the lift doors open to the fifth floor. I was just here yesterday, Mr Yang had clearly warned me to not screw things up and now I'm here again for doing exactly that. 

I feel like slapping myself but Mr Oh laughs happily, making me eye him curiously. 

"I must say Jina, this is absolutely genius. How the hell did you do it?" 

I frown at him in confusion. That isn't the reaction I was expecting. "Do what?" 

He merely pats me on the shoulder, his face mocking like I'd just made a joke and then he leads me down the familiar hallway that has my heart racing. 

The soft carpets mask our steps, the hall disturbingly silent but I can hear loud chatter coming from the meeting room we are approaching. 

I brace myself and suck in a breath when Mr Oh knocks on the door, requesting permission to enter. 

"Come in," Someone says and then we walk inside. 

I expected to see stone faced executives surrounding the oblong marble table, like a row of judges waiting for their guilty suspect. I half anticipated Mr Yang with a gavel in hand, ready to deliver my verdict, shattering my dreams, my future, my everything. 

What I don't expect is to see Mr Yang having a beer with the others along with some seasoned fried chicken, scattered in plates all around the table. 

"Jina, Jina, Jina," He says enthusiastically and I'm trying my hardest not to frown. I have no idea what is going on. "Do you know why you are here?" 

This feels a lot like a trick question. I stand at the front of the room, staring at the happy looking executives, most of them chugging down beer like they are celebrating something. 

"You know we've been going through hell all morning with this Jiho fiasco. Viva fans were planning to boycott the Showcase and the entire thing was a mess." 

I swallow hard, waiting for him to continue. Is this some sort of good cop, bad cop method he's using to get me to fess up or something? 

"We were so worried about ticket sales and then this came out on the front page of QBS network's celebrity sightings page." Mr Yang flicks his wrist, sending a few photos flying across the table, towards me. 

I lean forward and gather them hesitantly. 

"You didn't tell me you were friends with Sweet Poison's Loona," Mr Yang says, his smile wide and eyes glittering with appreciation. 

I look down at the article in my hand. The pictures above have been blown up and they look like they were taken by paparazzi. I blink a few times and realise I am staring at a picture of Loona and I, talking to each other intimately at the Blue Diamond spa. 

The picture is actually misleading because I vaguely remember Loona threatening me during most of our conversation and yet here we look like two long lost friends, catching up over a sauna session. 

"This article has single handedly diverted all attention back to you girls. In fact no one is talking about Viva anymore. Everyone wants to know about the girls competing to debut, everyone wants to know about you, Jina." Mrs. Jia, the head of public relations in our company announces proudly from my side making me turn to her.

She smiles at me and then looks at Mr Yang. "Ticket sales have surpassed our expectation over the last few hours, if this continues we'll be sold out by the end of the day." 

Another executive I don't recognise speaks up. "Also Mnet has requested to stream our showcase live. We've never had such a response to a group that hasn't even debuted yet." 

The room falls silent and everyone turns to me, their hungry stares at undying attention feels like shackles around my ankles. I shift my feet uneasily. 

"Do well at the showcase Jina and I promise you, the future will be bright." Mr Yang murmurs, almost confirming my debut as an idol. 

I can't believe it. Here I thought I was going to get kicked out but this is the total opposite.

I swallow hard, my heart now rivalling the pounding in my head. "I will do my best." I say, bowing profusely at each any every person in front of me. 

"Oh and Jina, we received a tip that you were out with Jiho last night. I want to give you the benefit of the doubt by asking you first. Is this true?" Mr Yang's previously friendly persona disappears into thin air and his eyes narrow to slits. "Because if I find out that it is I will have no choice but to terminate your contract." 

I gulp and quickly shake my head but Mr Oh answers for me. "Her roommate Binna can attest to that. She was with her."

Today has been too much. All this alternating worry and relief has me feeling dizzy. 

Mr Yang looks satisfied but not entirely convinced. I really have to watch myself from now on. 

"Good. Good. It's all settled then. See you at rehearsals tomorrow, Jina." 

I take that as a dismissal and quickly hurry out of the room. My mind is swimming with so many thoughts and I take out my phone, eager to see what everyone is saying about my picture with Loona. How did it even get out there?

I see a text from Hyeon and open it immediately. 

Meet you at the library tomorrow at 7pm. Urgent, don't be late. 

Oh and by the way you're welcome. 

Heyy guys sry for the late update. Wasn't feeling well. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and did you expect the ending?