Hongjoong made his way to the practice room where he'd found Felix, praying that he would somehow accidentally stumble across him again. When he got to the door, he noticed it was locked and the lights were out.

A rush of hope washed over him.

"Felix? Are you in there? It's me, Hongjoong if you want to talk to someone."

But there wasn't a response. At least, not right away.

"No. I'm okay."

But it wasn't Felix's voice. It almost sounded like...Han. But clearly he didn't want to be bothered. Or recognized.

"I guess...what I meant to say was...I kind of needed someone to talk to."

The other end was quiet for a moment.

"I'm sorry. I'm just not in the mood."

Hongjoong wasn't sure if he could keep pretending not to know.

"Oh...okay. Well...you're kind of in our shared mental breakdown space. So...could I at least come in to hide for a bit? I won't talk to you."

After a minute he heard the lock click as the door creaked open. He came face-to-face with Han.

"As long as we don't have to talk."

"Okay," Hongjoong nodded, not sure where his plan was going now.

He cautiously entered and sat on the opposite end of the practice room. Jisung didn't look at him.

Hongjoong really hadn't prepared any dramatics so he wasn't sure what to do with himself. He had hoped Felix would be here so he could continue their prior discussions.

But Jisung didn't know any of their drama. Other than the Minho stuff.

But maybe that was all he needed. Hell, it was a lot of drama.

He didn't seem like the other two spies. He wasn't trying to get anything out of him—even if just in a friendly way. He just genuinely wanted some space.

So maybe they were wrong. Maybe he wasn't a spy after all. But they'd been so certain...

"Sorry I pretended to be Felix. I thought it would make you go away easier."

Hongjoong was surprised by the sudden conversation. But he quickly joined in.

"It's okay, I kind of figured that wasn't his voice," he laughed and Han smiled at his hands.

"Not even a little? I put a lot of effort into talking that low," Han laughed and Hongjoong laughed with him.

The room drifted into silence as they sat alone on their separate sides. Hongjoong knew Han had asked for silence but he wasn't ready to give up just yet.

"How are you holding up? After everything with Minho..."

"Oh I'm fucking fantastic. How do you think I'm doing?" Han snapped, causing Hongjoong to quickly back off.

"I'm sorry...that was a stupid question."

"No shit."

"I just feel awful. I feel like it's my fault everything blew up in the first place. Seonghwa was worried I would freak out so he tried to make Minho keep his secret and then when I did freak out, everything got worse. I'm really sorry, Han."

"Jesus, I'm not mad at you. If anything, you're the one person I'm not mad at. You exposed his feelings for Seonghwa. And helped him realize he needed help."

"I guess but it also ended up tearing you two apart."

"Trust me, you're not the one who tore us apart."

It seemed a bit backhanded but Hongjoong was surprised to see Jisung wasn't blaming him. He had grown to expect forced kindness from the spies but Jisung wasn't doing that. He was just being genuine.

He really wasn't mad at him?

"If you're mad at Seonghwa, you should be mad at me, too. He didn't mean to interfere with your relationship, he was just working through his past—"

"I'm not mad at either of you. Fuck, I thought you agreed to be quiet."

"Sorry. I'm just—confused. Are you mad at Minho?"

"Of course I'm fucking mad at him."

Hongjoong closed his mouth, nodding.

"Sorry. Stupid question."

Jisung sighed, and Hongjoong expected another angry response but suddenly, he heard what sounded like quiet sobs. He looked up to see Jisung with his head in his lap, shaking with each exhale.

"Hey—I'm really sorry—I didn't mean to—I can go—I'm sorry—"

"It's not you! Fuck!" Jisung groaned, hitting his head against the wall in frustration. Hongjoong stayed put, even though he wanted to comfort him.

"I'm not trying to pry—it's just really confusing...why don't you try to talk to him?"

"Because I can't!" Jisung shouted, causing Hongjoong to flinch at the sudden rise in volume.

"You can. I know he wants to apologize and you deserve an apology...so why don't you just see—"

"You don't understand. I. Can't."

Hongjoong thought about it for a moment. Could this be what Seonghwa was suggesting? Was JYP making the members separate themselves from the people they cared about?

Hongjoong spoke quietly, not more than a whisper.

"I do understand. I know what he's making you do."

Jisung stared at him and Hongjoong wasn't able to read his expression.

"What who's making me do?"

"JYP."

Jisung's eyes flashed with acknowledgment but he continued to deny it.

"What the hell are you talking about? Is this about the dating contract? Because he has no idea any of our drama went down. Not even yours. You're welcome by the way."

"Han, you don't have to keep pretending. What does he have on you?"

"Are you out of your mind? You think JYP is forcing me into some contractual agreement? To do what—never speak to Minho again?!"

"Han...Chan and I already spoke. And I took him with me to talk to another company. One where you can all work as a band without any dating bans or behind the scenes torment. A place where you can finally be free."

Han seemed intent on hiding his loyalties but he couldn't resist Hongjoong's bait.

"Another company? What company? Chan knows better than anyone else that JYP is the reason for our success. We can't go anywhere else."

"KQ. And I know, it took a lot of convincing to even get him to come along. But they said they'll give you guys a chance if you send in your tracks. And if they like what they see, you'll be able to transfer over before the end of this year."

Han stared at him, not sure how to continue.

"Please. Just tell me. I won't tell anyone else, I promise. This is between you and me. I want to be able to help the three of you out. But I can't help if I don't know why you're doing this."

Tears formed in Han's eyes and he looked at his feet.

"You really promise? You'll get us out of here?"

Hongjoong nodded.

"I promise."

Jisung kept his eyes on the floor but motioned for Hongjoong to come closer. Hongjoong made his way across the practice room, situating himself next to Han.

"He knows about all of the relationships."

Hongjoong felt his blood run cold.

"What?"

"All of them."

"Like—"

"All of them."

Hongjoong nodded, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Felix was the first one he recruited. He saw Changbin as a ticking time bomb so to manage that, he got Felix. Then, when Seungmin started talking with some of the staff members about wanting to leave to pursue some of his own material outside of JYP, he got Hyunjin. It wasn't until everything went down with Minho that he got me."

Hongjoong nodded, trying to keep up.

"How did he 'get' you?"

"We've all talked privately and it's the same for each of us. If he finds out we're not doing what he asks, he's got enough resources to kick our partners out of the group and blacklist them. And of course, we're all too fucking cowardly to fight back. Felix cries himself to sleep every goddamn night. He feels horrible for what he's said about you guys."

Hongjoong couldn't believe what he was hearing. JYP had that much power?? He could really do that?? If he had the power to cancel any member of his successful group...what kinds of things would he do to his rookie 8-member band?

They were in way more danger than he'd thought.

And he was in way over his head.

"Jesus. I'm so sorry, Han."

"I just want to tell Minho why I'm avoiding him. But I can't. If he knew, he'd storm right up to JYP's office and chew him out. And I can't risk that. That's why the three of us are sticking together. If one of us speaks...they'll all be in danger."

Hongjoong nodded, still not processing everything. JYP could destroy them before they ever debuted under him. And no one would know.

He could ruin them.

"So, what is your plan?" Jisung said quietly.

Hongjoong looked up to see Jisung staring at him with desperate eyes. Pleading eyes.

He trusted him to fix it.

And he had no clue how to fight that kind of power.