Author's Pov:

"Should we?", Minhee asked. Soomin hummed, "Let's go, I need to buy some stuff for Eunsoo too. Her school is starting soon".

After the shoot, Minhee insisted Soomin for shopping which she couldn't reject. They entered the mall which newly opened but already popular.

"Minhee, I heard it is quite expensive here", Soomin whispered. Minhee looked at her, "No, it is just a rumor".

Soomin looked around. "Where should we go first?", Minhee asked. Soomin shrugged, "I actually have no idea". Minhee giggled, "First let get the things our princess needs". Soomin smiled, "Yeah, let's go".

They both wandered around, their shopping bags growing after each store they visit. Minhee whined, "I'm hungry. Let's go to food court".

Minhee and Soomin reached the food court. "Oh my gosh", Minhee whispered seeing it crowded. Soomin sighed, "I think we need to wait".

Minhee pouted. "What should we do now?", Soomin asked. "Is that Haeun waving at us?", she asked seeing a hand waving at them in crowd.

"Soomin, here", she shouted. "That's Haeun", Soomin whispered walking towards her. "Looking for seat? You can sit with us", Haeun grinned.

Soomin glanced at Minhee. "Ayy, you don't need to hesitate", Jiwoo said looking at them. Minhee sat with them as Soomin went to give the order. "How's the work going? The photoshoot?", Haeun asked sipping her juice.

"Today was good. To be honest, they are chaotic somethimes", Minhee chuckled. Jiwoo smiled, "It's difficult to handle them. I still don't know how Haeun and Yerin handled them".

Minhee frowned, "Uh, Yerin?". Haeun stopped, her attention on Minhee. "A close friend of ours", Haeun gave a small smile. Minhee nodded, "Oh. Where does she live?".

"She is no more", Jiwoo answered. Minhee sealed her lips. She regretted asking about her, "Oh sorry to hear that". Haeun shook her head. Just then Soomin came back. "Here you go", She whispered. Minhee thanked her.

They kept talking about some random things until Haeun's phone rang. "Oh, It's Shua", she whispered picking up the call. She kept talking until she suddenly stopped and looked at them with wide eyes.

Jiwoo nudged her, "What happened?". Haeun shook her head and blushed. "Oh, not your love talks again", Jiwoo whined. Haeun blushed.

Soomin smiled seeing her. "Okay bye", Haeun said. Jiwoo glanced at her, "Don't make me miss Minho right now". Haeun giggled, "He will be back soon".

After they were done. They exchanged their numbers. "Let's keep meeting. I enjoy your company", Jiwoo said waving her hand as they left.

Minhee turned to Soomin. "Let's go. I'm tired now, tomorrow again we have a lot of work to do", Minhee said. Soomin hummed.

They kept all the bags in Minhee's car. Minhee glanced at Soomin before focusing on the road. "It was fun, isn't it?", Minhee said with a wide grin. Soomin hummed. Minhee again glanced at her, "Can I ask you something, Soomin?". She nodded.

"What happened yesterday?", Minhee asked, "Cause Soojin called me today to keep an eye on you".

"What? That girl", Soomin groaned. Minhee chuckled, "What happened?". Soomin shook her head, "Uh, I had the nightmare again and you know-".

"She caught you smoking?", Minhee guessed. "I wasn't exactly smoking. I was about to but she stopped me", Soomin answered in a small voice. "When was the last time you smoked?", Minhee asked.

Soomin rolled her eyes, "It was long back. I don't even remember. Probably before Eunsoo's birthday. I was just not in my right mind yesterday".

"And I know this doesn’t justify my act", Soomin whispered.

"Anyways, I hope you stay away from it", Minhee said. Soomim hummed, looking out of the window.

_

"What did you bring me?", Eunsoo jumped seeing the bags in her hands. "Your school things", Soomin answered. "Where is Soojin?", she asked. Eunsoo pointed at her bed room.

Soomin frowned going inside her room to find a mess. "Soojin, what are you doing?", Soomin asked causing Soojin to stop her work.

"Uh, I had given you a red file remember? Where is it?", Soojin asked. "I had kept it my cupboard. It must be there", Soomin said. Soojin shook her head, "It's not". Soomin sighed, "Just check once".

Soojin got up walking towards the cupboard. "I told you it's not here. I have searched it- and it is here", her voice lowered.

"Here", Soojin gave the file to Soomin causing her to frown. "What should I do with this?", Soomin asked. Soojin smiled, "Dad wanted me to give this to you".

Soomin sighed, "What is it? Does mom have any idea about this?". Soojin shook her head, "Those are property papers. The one you have right on".

Soomin looked down, "Does mom even talk about me?". Soojin sighed, "The situation is still the same. I don't know how dad convinced her to give this papers".

Soomin kept the file aside, "She will talk to me right?". Soojin smiled, "She will. You know whenever I show dad our pictures, especially Eunsoo's, I always see Mom trying to take a look. Her anger will melt soon, Soomin".

Soomin bit her lips, "It's already 9 years, Soojin. When will her anger melt?".

"Eomma", Eunsoo shouted from living room. The two went out to see Eunsoo going through the bags. "Did you bring me a new bag?", Eunsoo gasped hugging it. Soomin chuckled seeing Eunsoo opening one bag after another.

"Let's have dinner now, hmm. We will open all the bags tomorrow", Soojin said packing up the things. Eunsoo pouted, "Why can't we now? Actually you know what, let's eat. I'm hungry".

Next day:

Soomin's eyes fluttered open hearing Soojin's alarm. "Soojin, turn off your alarm", Soomin murmured going back to sleep but the alarm didn't stop. She sighed and looked at the other side to find Soojin missing.

"Did she fell off the bed again?", Soomin whispered turning off the alarm. She looked down to find Soojin sleeping on floor. Looking at time she sighed, "Let's start. I need to be there early".

Time just went. Soomin was making breakfast when Soojin walked to the couch, sleeping on it as she used her phone. "Why do all the head lines are same now a days?", Soojin murmured. Soomin glanced at her, "What do you mean?".

Soojin yawned, "It's always about politics". Soomin chuckled, "What type of head line do you want then?". Soojin groaned, "I don't know but there is nothing else other than just the politics".

After a minute of silence, Soojin spoke, "Is Junhui from Seventeen dating someone?". Soomin clicked her tongue, "I don't think so. Why?". Soojin showed her the phone, "There are a lot of news reports showing Junhui proposing someone. Just look at this".

Soomin frowned seeing the picture, "Wait- How?". She couldn't believe her eyes. It was a photo of Junhui giving her the ring. Soojin's eyes widen, "Is that you?". Soomin slowly nodded, "B-But it is not what it looks like. He was just giving me the ring which I had lost".

Meanwhile in Seventeen droms, all the members sat together waiting for their manager to come. The news Seungcheol heard this morning was totally unexpected. He looked at everyone who were shocked too hearing the news.

"How did this happened?", Their manager asked. Seungcheol shrugged, "We have no idea about it". Their manager sighed pinching the bridge of his nose, "How can you guys be so careless". Hearing him angered them. They were just being themselves.

"It's not our mistake. We were just helping her. To begin with how can someone actually enter studio without anyone's knowledge. That person hid somewhere and took the photo and no one even had a single idea about it?", Seungcheol said.

Their manager sighed, "Let's not talk here. Meet in the company exactly at 10 am. We will see what we can do. We will call that lady too. Just hope that everything will be settled".

The tone of their manager now scared them. After he went, Seungkwan was the first one to break the silence, "His tone is scaring me".

"If he spoke in that tone means the company is definitely up to something. And the something is definitely not a good thing", Seungcheol murmured.

"What about Soomin? Does she know about this?", Jeonghan asked. "Ah, the reporters are already near her building", Wonwoo said. Joshua rolled his eyes, "How do they even find the address?".

"I think we should inform her to stay in her house for a while", Jihoon said.

Soomin sat down along with Soojin who saw a bunch of reporters waiting outside their house. Soomin read the article again. She was about to throw her phone but Seungcheol called her.

"Hey-".

"I just saw the news and there are reporters standing outside my building. What should I do?".

"Shh, listen. Just tell me, does your apartment have back gate?". Soomin hummed.

"So, get ready as soon as possible. I'll send you a car. Just come to the company. We will see what we can do, hmm".

"Fine", Soomin answered hanging up the call. "I need to go. I hope this doesn't bring much problem", Soomin whispered getting up to get ready.