It's amazing how one night can change an entire industry, an entire country. Three books, all names and numbers, all incriminating and with new reports coming out everyday, it's obvious that most of the stuff in those ledgers are true.

Dalia was murdered for hiding these and we probably would have ended up the same way but there just so happens to be a DA on the rise and he latched on to our case before the higher ups wanted to bury it.

That and the fact that Hyeon leaked everything online before we handed our evidence over to the police. With netizens scouring over every piece of evidence, papers were copied, multiplied and spread all over the world to anyone who was watching.

The police could not have closed the case so quickly like they did Dalia's. Not this time. I'm back from break, already two weeks into preparing for our debut and to say life has been crazy would be an understatement.

I became the most hated person in Korea to the most loved in over the span of a week. I remember how serious the situation was, how I couldn't leave my hometown because of all the death threats against Hyeon and I.

People didn't understand what we had leaked in the beginning. Everyone thought their favourite public figures were being framed for something they didn't do, especially Taejun from TBT.

No one was supposed to know the information came from us but when we were brought in for questioning, netizens were quick to put two and two together. I keep telling Hyeon someone leaked our identities but he always brushes me off, telling me I'm overthinking. Sometimes I wonder if he did it himself.

I was suspended from practices and spent most of the early part of the week at the station. So many questions, so many statements. The police couldn't believe we'd solved something they never bothered about in the first place.

At one point I was afraid for my life. Every second outside was spent in fear and I honestly thought Firefly was going to drop me. There's no way they could debut such a controversial idol, everyone would sabotage our debut before we even made it to the stage.

But then just like that, the tide shifted. When the DA started charging the names in the ledger, when the victims started coming forward, peoples prerogatives started to change.

It happened within days, to Hyeon it felt like a blink of an eye, to me it felt like forever. The change in perspective was like whiplash as we suddenly became the most beloved in Korea. The international support has been even larger than locally.

Suddenly, Kang Jina is a hero who exposed a trafficking ring, the person who helped bring to light that Dalia's death had been a murder and a cover up. Suddenly, Kang Jina is the most popular idol to debut. The tickets to our debut stage have sold out, people line up outside Firefly to get my autograph and take pictures almost everyday.

The investigations are far from over, expensive lawyers have threatened to sue us for defamation but I finally feel safer with the public behind us. With so many people rooting for me, Firefly has no choice but to debut me despite all the scandals surrounding my name.

Even QBS has promoted Hyeon to a permanent position in their investigative journalling department. I can't imagine a more suitable role for him.

I've just finished a media training session for our first variety show scheduled next week. It's the most popular variety show in Korea and they never gave us a slot until this whole scandal blew up with me smack in the middle of it.

I take off the hair clips pinned to my head and wipe off the thick layer of foundation caking my skin. Rachel passes by and gives me a curt nod, before packing her stuff. The session is over but we have dance practice in about half an hour.

"Good job, everyone. See you tomorrow," The instructor smiles at me and leaves. Instructors never used to smile at trainees.

Everyone's been acting different around me lately, no scathing remarks, no more harsh criticism. It's taken me a while to adjust to the fake niceness but I realise that this may be something I could use to my advantage.

I head down to level 5, my phone buzzing in my pocket ever so often. Every agent wants to represent me, companies have been trying to recruit me, they've even contacted my parents to get me to join them instead.

I finally hold some clout and I need to make it count. I've scheduled a meeting with Mr Yang in ten minutes and I make sure to get there early. His assistant leads me to a smaller meeting room, one that I've never been inside before but with the similar marble table and white fluorescent lighting.

There are only two chairs here and I take a seat, tapping my foot on the floor as I wait for Mr Yang. I'm trying not to let my agitation show, I need to be stern and stick to my guns even though what I plan to do next is currently sending me into a frenzy of nerves.

The door is flung open and Mr Yang walks in confidently, he doesn't even look at my way before taking a seat across from me. He's been polite but I can tell he doesn't like that I've requested to meet. He's been less friendly ever since our heated conversation about Binna.

He places his hands on the table, fingers interlacing with one another before he finally acknowledges my presence by looking up at me.

He sighs like I'm being the biggest inconvenience and a flash of irritation runs through me. I've single handedly secured our group's debut, his company is already making money from sold out tickets, something they never could have imagined months ago.

And here he is acting like he's doing me a favour for being here.

I sit up straight and square my shoulders. I need to act like he needs me more than I do which is actually true right now.

"How can I help you, Kang Jina?"

"Mr Yang, I've received an offer from a Big 3 company and I want to talk to you about it."

Mr Yang's face pales and he looks like I just told him he has three days to live. "You..you can't do that. You signed a contract."

I had a feeling he would say that. I pull out my contract, the one I signed when I first joined Firefly and point at Clause 10. Idols are allowed to transfer companies provided there is a significant buy out that would benefit their present one.

I then put my phone out and show him PT Entertainment's tentative offer. To be honest, I've been offered a contract from two Big 3 companies but PT has the better offer so this will serve better to scare him.

I suppress a smile when his eyes widen. The offer is amazing, under any other circumstance I'm certain he would accept, except the potential Firefly has with me is currently more profitable in the long run.

I'm hoping he will see the light and give in to my next demand.

"If you wanted to leave I would be receiving their offer formally which means you haven't decided," Mr Yang looks at me crossly. "You know you leaving in the middle of our preparations would be highly unprofessional, think about the other girls, about all the effort we've been putting into--"

He's trying to guilt trip me and I need to cut him off before he makes me more annoyed. He didn't think about the other girls when they were cut from debut. Management has only ever thought of themselves. "Mr Yang, I never said I was going to leave."

He pauses for a moment and his lips purse. "Then why are we here?"

"I don't want to leave but if the circumstances don't change then I have no choice but to change companies."

This is sort of blackmail and I can tell Mr Yang already hates me for it, but if this is what I have to do then so be it.

"And what circumstances are those?" He asks quietly.

"I want Binna back in the line up," I say in one breath, having practiced this line in the mirror over and over again just this morning. "She was clearly a crowd favourite during the showcase and she's been in the top five throughout my trainee years. She's easily the best dancer in our group and her visuals are insane. The fact that she didn't make it is highly unfair and we both know it."

Mr Yang sighs tiredly. "Jina, everything's been finalised. My hands are tied."

I knew he wouldn't go down without a fight. I was prepared for this. "You are the CEO and additional members have been added last minute all the time. You can still make the changes."

"So you're telling me either I added Binna to Color Pop or lose you as a member," Mr Yang concludes. "What if I say go for it, Jina. Leave us."

My heart sinks, I was hoping it wouldn't come to this. Firefly has been my home for the past four years, I can't imagine debuting under any other company. But nothing feels the same without Binna and I will not stand by while she's cast aside for standing her ground.

The silence between us stretches until he finally relents. "Okay, fine. I'll have her back here within the week, provided she still wants to debut with us. Happy?"

My lips form the widest smile, I resist the urge to reach over and hug Mr Yang. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr Yang!"

He looks like he wants to roll his eyes as he stands. "Meeting's over. Get back to work."

I nod fervently and I could have sworn I saw a smile on his face as he left the room. Happiness is a bursting sensation, it feels like spring, the blooming sensation making my chest soar. I head to cafeteria, wanting to grab a coffee and then remember the coffee at the car park. Those were so much better.

I exit the lift, thinking of Jiho and it's as if the universe planned for us to meet because I find him heading in that same direction.

He pauses, noticing me and I'm in too much of a good mood to turn around.

"Heading for coffee?" He asks as we fall into step with one another.

I nod, suddenly feeling shy under his attention. I'd forgotten how he used to make me feel all jittery inside and how handsome he is.

"Congratulations by the way. You were amazing during the showcase and after..." He trails off and I know he's talking about the scandal and everything else. "How the hell were you able to solve all that and debut remains a mystery to me."

"What can I say, I'm pretty bad ass like that," I joke, earning a look from him.

"I know, I've always had the best taste in women."

My cheeks flush and he quickly back tracks.

"Sorry, I'm sorry. I know you don't want that. You want to focus on your career, which you should..."

I pull at his sleeve, cutting off his adorable rambling before I do something crazy, like kiss him here and now, which is honestly tempting.

"I do want to focus on my career but I also love this, us."

Jiho's eyes shine like stars at my words.

"If you're willing to wait until my dating ban is over, we can stay friends till then?" I ask nervously.

His face lights up and his smile makes my heart melt and my limbs all mushy. How the hell am I supposed to dance later.

"I've waited for years. What's another three. To being friends." He raises a hand and fist bumps me, making me laugh. "Although it's going to be hard being just your friend but it's you and it's definitely worth it. Baby steps."

We stare at each other and suddenly everything feels right, every piece of the puzzle finally falling into place. Dalia's death has been solved, I'm finally debuting as an idol and Binna's going to debut along with me.

And here I am with my dream guy, who's promised to wait till we are ready to date.

It took awhile to get here and a whole lot of effort and there's still so much to do, so many other predators like Mr Wan still unscathed.

But everything requires patience and like Jiho said.

Baby steps.

Hey guys thank you for reading this far. This whole trafficking scandal Hyeon and Jina exposed was actually inspired by real life events. Not sure if you guys have heard of the Burning Sun scandal involving Seungri but I got inspired by that. Stay tuned for the next and final chapter :) :)