It was late at night and I was alone in the practice room when Zelo came in, his hands behind his back.

"What's up?" I asked smiling.

"Good, how are you?"

"Great. What are you doing here?"

"Mm.." He sounded a little nervous. "Here." Zelo said shyly and took out a chocolate snake that was hidden behind his back.

"What is this?" I asked confused.

"It's.. I'm sorry I lied to you about Yongguk." He stared at the floor, too embarrased to look at me. "I know it was wrong and Yongguk hyung scolded me a lot afterwards, I just didn't want you to fight. I didn't mean to make things worse between you two."

"So your'e here because Yongguk scolded you or because you are really apologizing?" I questioned.

"I'm really sorry!" He looked at me in panic. "I like you, your'e a cool noona. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I forgive you. As long as you know you did wrong and you won't do it again." I smiled at him, trying to make him relax.

"Really?"

"Yes." I smiled warmly at him. He finally relaxed and smiled as well.

"And this is from Yongguk hyung.." He handed me over the empty lunchboxes I gave Yongguk.

"Thank you." I took the boxes from him.

"You know, he faught Daehyun over your food, and he usually doesn't eat much.."

"Did Daehyun like it?" I asked, avoidong the topic of Yongguk.

"Daehyun likes everything.." he scoffed.

"Your'e right." I smiled. "Tell him I'll make him another meal if he wants too, he just need to tell me what he wants to eat."

"What about the rest of us?" Zelo pouted.

"Fine, I'll make you something as well.." I can't resist his cuteness.

"Great!" He beamed, making me laugh. "Noona.."

"What?"

"You know your'e my favourite noona, right?" He smiled and wrapped his arms around me, squishing me into a hug.

"Yah, I can't breathe!" I tried to release myself from his grip and get some air since he didn't leave me much room to do it when he hugged me.

"It's ok, you don't need to breathe.." Zelo joked around, and released me.

"Idiot." I muttered while caughing a bit.

When I got back to the dorm I realized there is a note in one of the boxes. I recognized the handwriting immediately - Yongguk's. "Thanks for the food". So formal.. Does that mean wer'e fine now?

"Hyeri! What the hell are you doing?" Jinu shouted while we were doing our routine in front of everyone. It was already three weeks since we started practicing together, and things were not going that well, at least for me.

"Dancing?" I asked.

"Do you call that dancing? A squid looks ier then you right now." Jinu scolded. Ok, so maybe we were doing something I'm not good at, but that's a bit harsh. It's not like I'm doing it on purpose and it's not like it's our actual song.

"I'm trying!"

"Then try harder." He shooted. "Sumi, come here."

"What?" Sumi asked smiling. Of course she will be happy I'm getting scolded, especially if she is good at what we are doing and I'm not.

"Please do this part so Hyeri can see how it should be done."

"Gladly." Her smile grew bigger. She did our routine perfectly well.

"Hyeri, now you do it." Jinu ordered and I froze for a moment. Like it's not enough doing things I'm not good at, all the guys are watching as well, adding to my embarrassment. I could see their eyes glued to Sumi while she danced, and I can't copy that, no matter how much I try.

I tried my best to do it right, but I could tell from Jinu's face that it didn't go well.

"Hyeri.." He said softly. "You need to be able to do this stuff, it's basic. You have a solo dance next time, make it work."

"I don't want to." I said quietly.

"Why?" He stared at me.

"Because it feels cheap."

"Cheap?" He repeated after me.

"Yes, like it's meant to attract ert guys and not actual fans." I tried to explain.

"Well, this ert guys are the ones who will stream your videos."

"I don't want them to." I shrugged.

"Why are you here then? Your'e supposed to sell a fantasy, whether it's selling y image for ert guys or to sell your cute image for normal guys who are looking for that. That's what your'e favorite idols are doing as well."

"I want to be on stage, but I don't want to sell myself and doing things I'm not comfortable doing."

"Hyeri, come to my office after we finish here, we need to have a talk." The CEO said, ending my argument with Jinu.

"Yes, sir." I bowed a little.

"Girls, do the other song now." Jinu ordered and we were back to practicing.

After we were done everyone went back to doing their stuff. The girls had the rest of the day to rest, and I was waiting in front of the CEO office.

I didn't wait long before the secretary told me to go in. I sat quietly in the CEO's office, staring at a random spot on the wooden floor.

"Hyeri.." The CEO said and I looked at him. "I know we didn't have the chance to talk a lot since you got here, and I think it's about time we do it. How are you doing?" He asked warmly.

"Fine."

"Do you like training?"

"Yes."

"How is the other girls?"

"They are nice." I smiled.

"And Sumi? I know she can be a bit overboard somethimes.. She is still young." I remembered seeing him and Sumi in his office and this thought disgusted me. He looks like a nice grandpa, and doing this stuff with an 18 years old girl is just wrong, even if she agreed to do it. I threw the disturbing thought away quickly, trying not to show my disgust and discomfort.

"She is.. Special." I finally said.

"That can describe her pretty well.." The CEO smiled. "Do you know why you are here?"

"Because you want to scold me?" I asked.

"Do I look that scary to you?" He laughed. "I just want to have a friendly talk with you."

"Ok.." I was still confused about this conversation.

"Look, me and the staff gave you a lot of opportunities already, you should know that.."

"I do, and I'm thankful for it." I started to shift uncomfortably in my place. Is he kicking me out?

"I'll make it short - this is your last chance. Either you do as your'e told, including things you don't want to do, or you are out. But if your'e out, the girls might not debut." He said dryly. How can he say this so easily like it's nothing?

"You can't connect me to the girls, it's not fair for all of us. They deserve to debut if I'm not here, they are working hard for it." I argued.

"This girls are in no position to debut right now if your'e not there. You are the thing that connects them together and makes you a complete group."

"Then your'e doing a lousy job at managing and finding your talents if you are focusing everything on one member."

"Hyeri, this is not a discussion about the way I run my company. I only want you to know you have two days do decide what your'e doing, just remmeber that you are part of a team and your decision can affect your members."

"This is ridicolous. Your'e actually forcing me to decide a certain option." I exclaimed.

"That depends on what's important to you." The CEO said evenly.

"You are insane." I stated.

"You need to be insane in order to survive in this industry, honey. Your'e a smart girl, I'm sure you can make the right decision." He smiled.

"Two days?" I asked in order to be sure.

"Two days. And make sure to keep this conversation between us. You don't want the other girls to know that you are the reason they are not debuting, right?"

"Fine." I said annoyed and stormed out of the room.

"What's up, troublemaker?" Himchan asked smiling when he saw me in the hallway.

" off." I muttered, still annoyed from the conversation with the CEO.

"You know you are cute when your'e mad?"

"Himchan! I don't want to talk!" I raised my voice a little.

"Leave her alone, she won't let you live if you keep talking to her right now." Yongguk said. I don't know when he showed up, but he was now standing behind Himchan.

"Fine, I give up." Himchan raised his hands in defeat and walked away.

"Yell at me instead of yelling at my group members all the time. They didn't do anything to you." Yongguk said dryly.

"Don't start, I don't have the energy to argue with you right now." I glared at him.

"Then don't argue with me, let's have a nice conversation instead." He offered smiling. Something in his genuine smile softened me and made me feel a little better.

"Well, I guess we can have one last conversation, right? You might not see me again.."

"Why?" he asked curious.

"Just because.." I said quietly.

"Let's go to the park, it's not comfortable talking here." Yongguk offered, letting the subject go for now. I agreed and we made our way to the park near my dorm. We sat on the swings near each other, and I kicked the sand with my feet. He was waiting patiently for me to speak.

"oppa.." I said after a long silence and after I arranged my thoughts.

"What is it?" He looked at me. I hesitated a little before talking.

"Your group favour is more important then your own benefit, right?"

"It depends on the person.. For me it's like that. Why do you ask?"

"But if the group's benefit makes you give up on something important to you, will you still sacrifice it?" I stared at him. He thought for a while before answering.

"That depends on what is more important to you. You should still stay true to yourself."

"I don't know if I can.." I sighed.

"Is this about the thing earlier?" He asked carefully, trying not to touch a sensitive subject.

"Some of it yes.."

"Then do us all a favour and don't do y dances, you at it." He started laughing and I glared at him, turning red as a tomato. He definitely knows what buttons to push in order to annoy me.

"It's not for you anyway!" I exclaimed.

"Good, because I don't want to see that either, I will have nightmares from it. Sumi on the other hand.."

"Then go watch Sumi dance. No one is stopping you." I said annoyed.

"Are you jealous?" He asked amused when he noticed my annoyed tone and reaction.

"As if. Wer'e not dating or anything, I don't have anything to be jealous about. Your'e a free man."

"And I want to stay that way." Yongguk smiled his gummy smile.

"Right." I said quietly. My face fell a little. We are juat acquaintances after all, why was I expecting anything more?

"Why the sad face all of a sudden?" He asked when he noticed the change in my facial expression and pushed me playfully.

"I'm not sad." I pushed him back.

"Liar." Another push.

"You are one as well." I pushed him back.

"What makes you think that?" This time he didn't push me, but he just stopped my swing from moving and looked deep into my eyes. My heart started to beat faster.

"You confuse me." I stared at the sand, moving my feet nervously. My face became red.

"Why is that?" He lifted my face with his finger and stared at me. My face heated even more. His touch sent shivers through my body.

"I.. Don't.. Know." I stuttered, and moved my face away from him. "Don't play with me." I stood up quickly, pretending to adjust my clothes.

"I'm not playing anyhting." Yongguk said, standing up as well. He put his hands on my arms, stopping me from moving.

"Right." I scoffed. "Your'e always saying that you don't want to be around me, but then you pop up when I need you and you make me feel better. Then when I came near you again you yell at me to go away. I don't know what to do with you anymore!" I finally said it.

Yongguk was shocked from my sudden outburst, but he came back to his senses shortly after. He didn't say anything, just looked at me softly. I stared at him quietly, and he moved a stubburn hair behind my right ear. Before I realized what is going on he wrapped me in a hug. Without realizing, I hugged him back, clutching his sweatshirt from behind. I burried my face into his chest, inhaling his scent. His right arm moved up to my hair, while his left arm held tightly to my waist. I don't know how long we stood there like that, but it felt like forever and I didn't want it to end.

"I'm sorry.." He said quietly. "I'm just not right for you."

I lifted my head to look at him, tears starting to form in my eyes.

"Why don't you let me decide that?" I asked, trying to fight the tears, but it was no use and they started making their way down my face.

"It's for your own good." He said, wiping the tears away with his thumbs. Another shiver went through my body. I released his sweatshirt and brought my hands back to the sides of my body. "And stop crying, your'e ugly like that." He ruffled my hair, trying to ease the loaded atmosphere between us. This time I flinched from his touch.

"My own good is that you stop playing with me. If you don't want me to be near you then don't come to me even if I'm dying. Stop showing up around me and don't talk to me unless you are forced to. I promise I'll stay away as well." My voice was strict and dry. I took a step back from him, wiping the new tears with the sleeve of my jacket.

"Hyeri.." He pleaded.

"No. You are dead to me, stay that way." Before he could react I ran away to my dorm. When I got there I went to my bed and laid down, curled up into a ball. The girls gave me questioning looks, but I ignored them. When my head hit the pillow I covered myself and cried myself to sleep.

Author's Note:

I'm sorry for the wait, but I hope I made it up to you with this chapter.

It's not Hyeri's day at all.. :\

And a question regarding my next chapters - Do you want to hear Yongguk's side of the story? because until now the story didn't really focus on his feelings beside his will to protect Hyeri.

On another note, I like the new album a lot. They never disappointed me until now :)

All of them had improved, and I'm happy that Himchan and Jongup got more lines in this album.

"Monolouge" (and "Young, Wild & Free" because I can't seperate them :P) and "Blind" are my favorites.

Thanks for reading and commenting :)

M.