THE next day, the group members were heading to Mal's house, ready to rehearse their hearts out in the studio room. As soon as the car pulled up in front of the gigantic, luxurious mansion, everyone gasped in awestruck.

"Woah, your house is so cool!" Han gushed, making Mal giggle at his expression.

"Thanks, Han."

They entered the house and stopped by the kitchen room, where the two mothers were talking. They got up and greeted the members with a grateful, welcoming expression.

"Hey, guys!" Ahlam greeted first. Turning to Mal, they both giggled. "Oh my God, how come they're all so pretty?!"

Nawal giggled at that, then quickly hugged Felix, since she knew him first.

"Mum, we're going to need some equipment, for singing and recording," Mal muttered in a small, almost unnoticeable voice. Nawal nodded with a grin, then quickly engulfed the daughter in a hug.

"Of course, honey. Whatever you need."

"Thanks, mum. Thanks a lot."

"You guys are welcome to use the studio room anytime. No one uses it around here, so you don't have to worry about interrupting or anything. But I'm going to ask you guys one thing..."

Mal glanced at her mother with a questioning look. Nawal shrugged, then sent them a happy, warm smile.

"Just have fun, I guess!"

They all laughed and murmured a small reply.

As soon as they got out of the kitchen, Chan turned to Mal, questions already forming on his lips. But he swallowed all of them and spoke in a lower tone than usual.

"I could've sworn I saw your mother somewhere before."

She mentally facepalmed herself, feeling the heat rushing to her cheeks. "I... Don't freak out, but she's actually the prime minister."

"Oh? Prime minister of what company?" Han asked, trying to catch up to the others.

"O-Of the country."

They all stopped in their tracks, taking their turns to stare at her in confusion. All the members, except Felix. She already told him who her mothers were after that dinner with her family, and he promised not to make a big deal out of it.

"What?"

She sighed, then turned around and pointed at something behind her. They looked up, to see a family-sized portrait hanging on the wall, a portrait they didn't take notice of as they stood there.

On the portrait was a picture of the familiar two women, Nawal and Ahlam, standing in a sharp, serious pose on the sides of a very familiar woman. A woman they only saw on national television, because there was no way in hell they could've met her in real life. The woman had short, blonde hair, and dark eyes that weren't clear enough for the portrait. The three women were all dressed in formal attire. Starting from wide, flared pants (for the two mothers) to a short knee-length, straight skirt (for the other woman) to blazers and white blouses.

"I-Is that the president of the United States?"

Mal nodded, fairly embarrassed. Her face turned red as she glanced at her shoes, refusing to meet their gazes.

"They look so pretty!" Hyunjin complimented, tearing his sight away from the portrait. Mal sent him a small smile, muttering a small word of gratitude.

"Yeah, they look so cool!"

"Thanks, Han," she replied in a small tone, then glanced at Felix. He had an unreadable expression over his face, which quickly changed into a friendly smile.

"Honestly, I'm so proud of them."

She wrapped her arm around his waist, hugging him quickly. "I love you," she whispered in the smallest voice ever. He repeated the words in a slightly louder tone, then leaned in to kiss her forehead.

"Am I the only one who thinks that wallpaper ruined the sharp look they were looking for?"

☂︎

The group began to sing the first song, God's Menu, with no instruments or music, so Chan was telling them when to start and sing, and how the melody went in the first place. They all thought they were making good process by the end of the session, which lasted for three hours.

"How about we start with Red Lights?" the leader asked, making them all nod. "For this one I was thinking about two male voices and one female voice. Not that we have any more options for the female voice or anything."

"So, say you, Hyunjin and Mal?" Han replied in an understanding tone.

"Yeah, I think it will be better that way."

"Shall we?"

Mal raised the paper higher to her eye level, then listened to Chan starting the first verse.

I cannot breathe, without being right by my side, I'll die.

So can you please come over closer, hold me tight, right now.

Hyunjin took a deep breath and sang the next verse in a mix of Korean and English.

Beoseonagi wihae momburimchyeo bwaya there's no answer.

Haewa jamdeul ttaekkaji deo deeper.

I really wanna know, yeah, nan imi lost control, oh.

Mal gulped and stared at her paper, then began to sing despite the nervousness filling her insides.

I'm going crazy now, geotjabeul su eopshi nan, dashi tto i bameul jisaeunda.

The moment when I close my eyes, all I see is red lights.

Soon enough, it was Chan's turn again.

Aljana neol gamanhi dul su eomneun geol.

Aljana neol gamanhi dul eomneun geol.

Mal and Chan repeated the line twice again.

Make you feel my love, oh, eodumi dwideopin bam. Hyunjin's turn began.

And soon enough, the first part of the song ended after the three members switched their lines, singing professionally for the first time in four months.

After they were done, the members clapped wholeheartedly and turned to each other, words of congratulations already forming over their lips.

"We're going to do an amazing job!"

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