Prompt:

New Beginnings are often disguised as painful endings. Write about an emotional and painful ending your bias had to go through the previous year.

Deadline: Jan 15, 2022

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Ju Haknyeon, a member of one of K-Pop's popular 4th Generation groups known as, The Boyz, sits on a long four-seater couch backstage. He lets out a heavy sigh and flicks his head back and forth. His floppy black hair, styled in a common Korean two-block, bounces in a rhythmic motion. The room is oddly quiet, with him being the only one there. Everyone else is busy getting ready for special stages for the annual MBC Gayo Daejejeon year end event. Except for him.

In the distance, behind the walls of the backstage room, he can hear the soft, yet intense musical accompaniment for one of Blackpink's most popular songs, "Kill This Love." He can also hear the faint yelling and scuffling of chaos.

Another sigh escapes him. I would be good at this song.

He glances down at his hands and forces himself to think back to a week ago when he had sung "Must Have Love" with his beloved leader, Lee Sangyeon and his hyung, Lee Hyunjae.

Haknyeon smiles at the memory as the performance becomes vivid in his head, the excitement of the venue with the live audience, the thrill of riding on a moving platform up to the stage and joining in with three talented female singers. It was fun to sing with them and Oh My Girl.

The sound of the backstage room's door creaking open draws his attention toward it and the memory of the fun holiday performance collaboration evaporates like snow under the warm rays of the sun.

"Hey," a voice calls out, belonging to Lee Juyeon, one of his groups' caring hyungs. "Are you doing okay in here?"

Haknyeon musters a fake smile and nods his head. He takes in Juyeon's leopard print outfit: a sleeveless top, ripped white pants and a white collar with silver chains. His outfit for Tiger Inside. "I'm alright. It's nice to have the quiet alone time." Yeah, peace and quiet. No screaming or loud noises coming from the maknae, Eric Sohn.

Juyeon smiles back at him. "I just wanted to check on my favorite little dongsaeng before I have to go perform with our sunbaenims."

"Thanks. Hey, Ju-" Haknyeon begins to say, but cuts himself off as he notices that Juyeon has left him alone in the room once more, the door slowly clicking shut and an eerie silence falling.

"Nevermind, I'll talk to you later on." Haknyeon's smile fades and he looks sadly down at his feet. A single tear trickles down his cheek and drops onto his lap. Alone. Again. What did I do to deserve this?