"Huening... Kai?" Miyoung said sounding out each syllable.

The younger boy nodded with a huge smile on his face. "Yep! Perfect!"

"What a pretty name!" Miyoung exclaimed, matching his smile with one of her own.

"You can just call me Kai like usual though!"

The two young trainees were sitting in the cafeteria waiting for Yeonjun to join them. Even though Miyoung was two years older, she and Huening Kai grew close rather quickly.

"What's your American name Miyoung?" Kai asked checking the time in his phone before setting it down on the table.

"Oh? I never told you?" Miyoung questioned.

Kai shook his head as he leaned forward, curiosity building in his eyes.

Miyoung giggled a little to herself at his expression. "Alana..." She said. "Alana Park."

"That's so pretty!"

"You think so?" She asked with a laugh. "Actually... 'Alana' is my grandmothers name." She started looking down at her hands.

Miyoung's grandmother had passed away soon after Miyoung found out she had passed the audition. Although she only has a few memories of her grandmother from when she was a child.

"You know... only my closest friends can call me 'Alana'". Miyoung said with a cheeky smile.

"Am I one of those friends?" Kai asked with a huff, playfully narrowing his eyes.

"Of course you are." She laughed.

"And what about me?" A voice asked behind her.

Yeonjun had suddenly appeared with a big bag of snacks he had promised to bring the two.

Miyoung rolled her eyes a bit with a smile upon her lips. "I wouldn't say we're THAT close."

"Wow. I'm hurt." Yeonjun said, taking a seat beside Kai who was already digging through the bag of snacks.

"She likes me more than you." Kai laughed as he opened a bag of chips and popping one in his mouth.

Miyoung reached across the table and gently pinched Kai's cheek. "Of course I like you more."

"Kai is the only exception." Yeonjun rolled his eyes and ruffled Kai's hair.

"You're my second favorite, Yeonjun. Don't you worry." Miyoung joked as she poked Yeonjun's cheek.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With her promotions finally came to an end, Miyoung was hoping she would have some free time to see Soobin or Taehyun. However, even though her performances had ended, she still had a packed schedule which included reality shows, MCing and brand deals. Her debut was officially a success and she was more than grateful. Her dream had finally come true but that didn't mean it was time for a break, she had to keep pushing forward.

"Miyoung since we finished up early here, you can head home for the night." Her manager said as she swiped a couple times on her phone.

A little too quickly Miyoung said okay and grabbed her bag before rushing out the door. She would usually stay regardless of ending early, but for some reason she was extra excited to get home.

Her last call with Soobin was a somewhat moving point in regaining their friendship. The two had been texting each other back and forth. And although Soobin had still seemed a bit hesitant on messaging, Miyoung hoped deep down that the two could rekindle their friendship.

Hurrying down the hallways of the company, Miyoung pulled on her sweater and grabbed her mask out of her pocket. As she turned the corner she bumped face first into someone.

"Dang it, Miyoung." She cursed to herself.

Quickly regaining her balance, she bowed. "I'm so sorry about that! I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."

"No! It was my fault I'm so sorry." The voice of a young man said.

Raising her head, Miyoung scanned the male in front of her who was in a deep bow, repeating his apology once more.

"Kai?" Miyoung mumbled.

The man looked up at her and tilted his head in confusion, opening his mouth before his eyes widened and he took a step back.

"Kai! It really is you!" A huge smile formed on Miyoung's lips.

The young man stood up tall, a blank expression resting on his face his eyes attached to hers. The tension began to grow in the air which felt almost suffocating. It had been quite a while since the two had spoken. Ever since Miyoung had distanced herself from Yeonjun, their relationship hasn't been the same. She couldn't blame him though, she knew she deserved the distance he had put between the two. The distance THEY both put between each other.

"Kai. You look so grown." She said with a small smile, her voice as soft as a whisper. "It's only been a couple months but you look so mature now."

No words come from the man as he stared blankly at her, Miyoung's chest tightening at the silence she received.

"I saw your comeback! You all did well." She continued with a nervous laugh. "I was actually going to listen to the album when I get ba-"

"Are we done here?" Huening Kai interrupted, his gaze dropping to the ground.

"Huh?"

"Are you done talking?"

"Oh... uhm. I'm sorry." Miyoung mumbled as quiet as a mouse.

Huening Kai scoffed before pushing past her and beginning to walk away. That's when Miyoung suddenly reached out to grip the hem of his sweater.

"Kai... Can we talk?"

No answer.

"Look, it's been so long since I've seen you..." She started. "Maybe we could go get something to eat?"

"And 'talk'?" He mumbled.

"Yeah. Catch up and stuff." She said, the smallest hint of hope growing in her voice. "Me and Soobin started talking again actually! And Taehyun came to my debut showcase!"

Silence.

"It would make me happy if we got to catch up!"

"You're really that selfish?" Huening Kai said.

"What?"

"You haven't changed at all." Kai said turning to face Miyoung, his eyes on hers in the most intimidating glare she has ever witnessed.

Miyoung felt the urge to shrink away as soon as she released his sweater from her hold.

"You really are pathetic, Miyoung." He continued. "Haven't you caused us enough pain?"

"I'm sorry... I just-"

"I don't even want to hear it." He said shaking his head. "What about how we feel? How do you think it made Soobin feel when you texted him out of nowhere acting like everything didn't happen?"

Miyoung couldn't do anything but stare at him.

"You didn't even think about how it would affect us did you?" He asked. "How you just prancing back into our lives like you suddenly care would affect us?"

"I just.. want to fix things."

"Fix things that YOU broke?" Huening Kai said, a small laugh escaping his lips. "Funny joke."

"I'm sorry."

"I am too, Miyoung." He said, a look of pity coating over the anger in his eyes. "I'm sorry you can't fix what you did."

With that, he walked down the hallway.

Miyoung's legs collapsed beneath her. She looked down at her hands, they were trembling. Even though she only help onto the hem of his sweater, she could feel the anger, the hurt, all of his emotions fill the air between them.

Her vision began to blur and her breath quickened as her hands shook. The walls around her began to close in around her. She pushed herself back until she could feel the cool surface of the wall behind her. Trying her best to shrink away as much as possible, she shut her eyes making the tears flow down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry." She said between frantic breaths. "I'm sorry." Again. "I'm sorry." And again. "I'm sorry."

"We tried to warn you." A voice shouted in her ears, making her instantly bring up her hands to cover them.

"Poor, pathetic little Miyoung." Another spoke.

"Broken and alone."

"It's what you deserve."

Miyoung rocked herself back and forth, shaking her head at the words the inner voices spoke to her. She didn't want to believe them but she knew deep down they spoke the truth.

"I'm sorry." She repeated again and again, each time filling more and more, yearning to believe her own words.

"—young?" A muffled voice said.

"Mi—ng?" It said again.

She wanted to open her eyes but she couldn't, it was as if they were glued shut but tears continued to fall from them.

"Miyoung!" It said louder.

She just shook her head and pressed her hands to her ears even harder.

Suddenly, she could feel the warmth of someone's arms wrap around her. She felt safe, felt calm, felt relieved.

"It's okay..." The voice whispered. "I'm here. It's okay."

Her breathing began to steady.

"Deep breaths. It's gonna be okay."

She listened. Taking in a deep breath before releasing it, repeating that action over and over. Miyoung then felt the gentle touch of a hand begin to stroke her hair.

Her eyes fluttered open, the bright light of the building making her squint. The arms around her held onto her tightly but it didn't hurt. The arms felt safe, she recognized the feeling. Tilting her head to look at the person holding her.

"Yeonjun..."

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WORD COUNT : 1516