"What the hell do you think your'e doing?" Jinu snapped when me and Hyuk went to his office after the evaluations. I never heard him raising his voice on anyone, and I didn't want to be his target. The truth is I was scared to see him like that.

"We didn't do anything.." I said quietly, staring at the floor.

"Don't talk back to me!"

"But you asked.." Hyuk tried to help me.

"This was a rhetorical question. I don't need your opinion in it." Jinu barked. . We didn't do anyhting bad, why the fuss?

"But.." I tried to say something.

"But nothing. Now both of you listen to me, and look at me while I'm talking." He said and we obeyed. "I just want to remind you that we have rules in this company, and you broke a few. Hyeri is relatively new here, but you, Hyuk, should have known better."

"What did we do?" Hyuk asked.

"First of all - Skinship. Second - You are prohibited to date. Third - .."

"We are not dating!" Me and Hyuk cut him off before he could finish his sentence. How many times do we need to repeat it?

"Flirting is also forbidden, and you can't deny you were flirting."

"If flirting is forbidden, shouldn't you scold some of your artists as well?" I questioned. I don't like this double standards, and besides, we weren't even flirting seriously, just joking around.

"Don't talk back to me! And what happens with the other artists is none of your buisness. Should I remind you that you are still a trainee?"

"Anyway, your'e wrong." I stated.

"DON'T TALK BACK TO ME!" This time he shouted, and I froze in my place. His voice echoed through the room, and I think it could have been heard outside the room as well. "I will deal with you afterwards, I have other things to talk to you about as well, but Hyuk, you are expelled." Jinu continued talking.

"What?!" Me and Hyuk were dumbfounded. We didn't even do anything. And he is talented.

"You have been here long enough, you should know the rules by now, and any crime has it's punishment."

"Does that make any sense you are expeling him for this? He didn't do anything, and this is not a crime!" I insisted.

"Do you want to join him, mrs. Kim?" Jinu glared at me. Hyuk squeezed my hand, signaling me to shut up.

"No, sir." I said quietly, looking at the floor.

"Good." Jinu smiled.

"Can I say something?" Hyuk asked.

"Go ahead."

"It's not fair. We are not dating, and I was only trying to help her because she got hurt from practicing. That's not a crime and we didn't flirt. Both of us know we can't date, and we have no intention to date in the future. I do admit we had a bit of skinship, but it was friendly and not romantically. And we didn't violate any other rules, so I think it's ridiculous you are expelling me solely for this, especially if the reason we hung out together in the first place was your stupid competition. Besides, You know I didn't have any problems until now.." Hyuk finished his short speech and Jinu looked like he is thinking about what Hyuk said.

"Fine, you are on probation for the next month. Any little mistake and you are out. And both of you stay away from each other. If I see you together both of you are out." Jinu said after a few minutes of silence.

"Yes, sir." Hyuk said.

"Do you understand?" Jinu asked me when I didn't say anything.

"Yes, sir." I answered.

"Good. Now Hyuk, leave me alone with Hyeri." Jinu ordered. Hyuk squeezed my hand and walked out of the room. I stayed frozen in my place.

~

Jinu's voice could be heard in the hallway as well while he shouted. It looked like someone is getting scolded pretty badly in there. Yongguk sighed and continued walking down the hall. After a few minutes He saw Hyuk coming out of Jinu's office, looking frustrated. Hyuk stood near the door trying to eavesdrop to what was going on inside the room.

"What are you doing?" Yongguk patted Hyuk's back, getting his attention.

"Digging a tunnel. What does it look like I'm doing?" Hyuk was annoyed.

"Watch it." Yongguk warned him. "Why are you eavesdroping?"

"Hyeri is in there, and Jinu is really mad at her for talking back to him and for some other stuff.. I'm just worried for her." Hyuk started to lose his patience.

"That's not the right way to eavesdrop, you idiot."

~

"I hope it's clear your'e prohibited hanging around with every other male in the company as well. And you can't break any other rule, or else you'll probably be expelled as well." Jinu said when we were left alone in his office.

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now to the other stuff - What did you think about your performance today?"

"Not good enough." I admitted.

"What was the the worst for you?"

"The dance."

"And why is that?" He continued asking. I feel like I'm being investigated.

"Because my dance wasn't like what I practiced on. I was supposed to do something else."

"So why did you change it?"

"I didn't do it on purpose. My music got mixed up somehow, so I didn't had a choice but change my dance."

"Are you saying someone sabotaged you?" He questioned. What do I tell him? I don't have a proof it's Sumi, so even if I accuse her it's useless because she can just say she didn't do it.

"I dont know." I said eventually. "But that song wasn't what I was supposed to do, you can ask Gun."

"Look.." Jinu took a deep breath before he continued talking. "Your performance got a little worse in the last month. I'm talking about the weekly evaluations as well. It's mainly the dance, but your singing got affected a little as well."

"I'm just tired lately from practicing too much and lack of sleep, it will be fine once I sleep properly."

"You can't be an idol if you can't handle the lack of sleep, and I don't want to hear anymore excuses. I don't care what state you are in, you always have to make it look like nothing happened." Jinu said dryly.

"I know and I promise I will improve, It's not fair judging just from this one month." I tried to reason with him.

"Me and the staff have high expectations from you because we know that you are talented. Take this day off tomorrow to recover, and don't slack around for the next evaluations. If you'll be medicore again without a good reason your'e out. You are older, and we don't have a lot of time to invest in you. The only reason you are here in the first place is your talent."

"I promise to do better next time." I tried to hold back my tears. Why is he so mean? I know I'm old and that I messed up today, but he doesn't need to rub it in my face like that.

"Good. Do well and remember our previous conversation as well, don't get into trouble, and never talk back to me. You may leave now."

"Thank you." I said and walked out of his room.

The second I was out of his office my tears started to fall. I didnt notice when I bumped into someone on my way out, and I didn't care either. I just wanted to dissapear. Suddeny a hand grabbed me.

"WHAT?" I shouted and tried to release my hand from his grip. I didn't even look at his face to see who it was, but I could tell it was a guy fron the way he held me. He was strong.

"Your'e crying." The guy said, and I recognized his voice immediately. Bang Yongguk. Great. Why is he always there?

"So what? It's the first time you see someone cry?" I tried to release my hand again, but he was stronger.

"It's the first time I see you crying."

"Good for you. Now let me go before I scream." I threatened.

"Then scream." He didn't budge.

"G-O A-W-A-Y!" I screamed, my tears flowing. People started to come out of the different rooms to see what was going on.

"Better?" Yongguk asked, still not releasing me.

"No. Now let me go?" I shooted.

"No." What is wrong with this guy? Why is he so stubborn?

"Fine." I said and gathered all the energy I had left in my body to tear myself away from his grip. He was caught by surprise by my sudden movement, and I started to walk toward the exit of the building. He followed me, walking a little behind me.

"Oh, look, the princess is crying.." I heard Sumi's mocking voice when I was near the enterance. I stopped walking and turned around to face her, wiping my tears with my hand.

"It's all your fault."

"What did I do?" She faked innocence.

"You changed my music."

"I have no idea what your'e talking about."

"Really? Than why does the music I gave you was different than the one that was actually played at the evaluation today?" I got closer to her. Curious people started to gather around us, but I didn't care.

"So now I'm responsible for your carelessness? You are the only one who had problems, and I took everyone's music. Don't blame me if you messed up."

"Why do you hate me?" I questioned, closing the gap between us a little more. Now I was just in front of her. I was close enough to smell her shampoo.

"Go rest, your'e having delusions now from lack of sleep." She said dryly.

"I'm fine. Answer my question - Do you hate me?" I asked again.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because your'e a spoiled brat. And your'e overrated. You don't deserve to be here."

"I worked hard just as much as you do and I want it just as much as you."

"No one wants it like I do, and you are not going to be in my way."

"I'm not in your way and I'm not trying to interrupt you or take your place."

"Sorry, princess, there is only room for one of us here."

"Is that why you did it?"

"Yes. I admit, I sabotaged you.. In the previous evaluation I pushed you on purpose, and today I took your song knowing you worked on it and changed your music so you'll fail."

"That's it." I said mostly to myself and jumped on her, knocking her down to the ground. At this point I couldn't care less if I got expelled or if I'm going to get hurt.

". Can't you just go away already?" Sumi said while struggling to get out from my grip. At some point she succeeded and now she was sitting on top of me while I was laying on the ground.

"I'M NOT GOING AWAY!" I shouted while pulling her hair. I didn't have enough energy to get up, so I resorted to use what I could, and hair was accesible and effective as well. She cried out in pain.

"Wrong answer." Sumi started slapping me. It hurt, but I didn't care. I used my hands to try and push her away, but it didn't work and she kept hitting me. I started to taste blood.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Hyuk shouted, and people tried to seperate us. Yongguk grabbed me and Hyuk grabbed Sumi. Both of us didn't cooperate and started to resist.

"STOP BEING SO GOOD AT EVERYTHING, IT'S NOT FAIR! WHY CAN'T YOU JUST FAIL AND MESS UP IF THINGS DON'T GO LIKE THEY SHOULD?!" Sumi shouted, kicking her legs in an attemp to get out of Hyuk's grip. Junsu hurried to help him keep Sumi in place.

"I DO FAIL AND MESS UP, EVEN WITHOUT YOU HELPING ME. I'M NOT GOOD AT EVERYTHING AND I DON'T GET IT EASY LIKE YOU!" I shouted back. I stomped my legs furiously, trying to get out of Yongguk's strong hold on me, and Himchan grabbed me as well, just in case I could knock Yongguk out.

"I HATE YOU!!!"

"THAT'S MUTUAL."

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!" Jinu appeared, and silence filled the room while his voice echoed in the large lobby. He looked at the chaos in front of him - Sumi in one side if the room, held tightly by Hyuk and Junsu, and I'm in the other side, being grabbed by Yongguk and Himchan. Both of us were moving furiously and he could tell the boys had a hard time controlling us. Curious people gathered around us, hoping to see a show.

"WELL?!" Jinu asked when no one answered him.

"Hyeri is not in a good shape, and Sumi aroused it, causing Hyeri to flip, and it bacame a mess like this." Yongguk gave him a summary of the events.

"I'm in excellent shape!" I argued.

"Yes, I can see that. You are just perfectly fine." He said in sarcasm.

"I didn't , she started talking to me." Sumi argued as well and glared at Yongguk and me.

"Yeah right. I was here, and you talked to her first." Yongguk said.

"Then why didn't you stop them from fighting?" Jinu asked Yongguk. "Look at her face.." He pointed at my bleeding face.

"I didn't think they will go all out hitting each other, and afterwards we tried, it's not that easy."

"Hyeri, go to the nurse. Yongguk, make sure she goes there. Sumi - Come to my office." Jinu ordered and Himchan released his grip on me. Yongguk still held me, but signaled me to come with him. Sumi went after Jinu, and the crowd started to go back to their buisness.

"Are you ok?" Yongguk asked when we were on our way to the nurse. He looked worried.

"I'm fine."

"You don't look fine.." I stopped walking and looked at him.

"What do you want from me?" I sighed. This day is just getting worse and worse.

"Nothing. I just want to make sure your'e fine."

"I don't need your help, and I don't need you to worry about me. Don't you have a concert or something? Go practice instead of following me around." He was taken by surprise by my sudden outburst. I know I was a little harsh, but right now I don't give a damn and I just want to be left alone. Is it that hard to understand?

"Don't compliment yourself, I'm here just because Jinu told me too." He said dryly, and I could tell he was a bit hurt from what I said. My heart sank a little, but I ignored it. I can't be around him anyway because of the stupid rules.

"You can go, I won't tell him."

"Nice try. Let's go.." he sighed.

"Fine." I said and we continued walking.

The nurse disinfected my wound and I was free to go. Yongguk finally went back to his team members, although he didn't want to. I went to the bathroom and entered one of the cells. I finally allowed myself to fall apart.

~

"Well, do you want to tell me what happened?" Jinu asked. He was mad.

"Nothing." Sumi answered.

"Then why did you beat her up?"

"She started it, I was just talking to her."

"Sumi.."

"What?" She raised her voice a little, annoyed.

"Don't raise your voice at me. I'm not managing a kindergarden, and I don't have the time or the energy to deal with this stuff, so either you talk to me or your'e out. What do you choose?"

"I just don't like her." Sumi said quietly.

"Why?"

"Kick her out." Sumi changed the subject.

"If I kick her out I should kick you out as well for breaking the rules and having a fight."

"You know the CEO won't allow you.."

"Rules are rules. And you should be worried for your own situation first."

"Why is she so special?"

"That's none of your buisness. Anyway, since your'e important to us and you didn't have any problems in the past your'e safe for now. Don't mess up in the future, because one mistake and your'e out, even if you have support. I can't help you more than that."

"And what about her? She hit me as well.."

"You look fine to me." Jinu avoided answering the question. "Now leave. Don't start another fight with her if you want to stay here."

"Yes, sir." Sumi walked out of the room annoyed. There is no way she is letting it go by like this. The little princess will pay. Maybe not now, but it will happen some day, when she won't expect it.

~

Yongguk went into the practice room after leaving Hyeri alone. All the members looked at him curiously, and he knew Himchan already filled them up by now.

"How is she?" Zelo asked.

"Nothing serious.."

"Sumi is scary.." Himchan said.

"Let's practice, wer'e already in delay." Yongguk ordered.

During the practice he wasn't concentrated. His body was there, but his mind wandered to Hyeri. He just felt uneasy, and her sudden change confused him.

~

When I didn't have any more tears to cry I walked out of the bathroom cell. I don't know how much time passed, but it felt like forever. I looked at myself in the mirror - I was pale and skinny, my brown hair was messy, my eyes were red from crying, and I had a small scratch on the end of my lips from Sumi. Hopefully I won't have a scar.

I looked out at the hallway carefully before getting out of the bathroom. I didn't want to meet people, and rumors about our fight were probably spread across the company by now. When the hallway was empty I made my way out. I just want to sleep.

Author's Note:

Another long episode :)

Just a small explenation about the rules and punishments just because I'm not sure if it was clear enough:

The no dating\flirting rule is there so the trainees can focus on practice and not fool around, the same as a lot of rookie idols have in their contract at the beginning. Obviously the company is more strict to trainees because they're not making money yet and just keep growing debt from the company investments in them.

That being said, the company also have biases and favourites, so that's why the punishments can be different between different trainees over the same "crime". In this case - while Hyuk's punishment is not fair (being expeled for it is too much..), the girls barely got punished.

From the company point of view, the company cares more for the girls, or more correctly, for Hyeri and Sumi. Basically The company want to keep Hyeri and Sumi at all costs (well, almost), while the other trainees are meh and replaceable. And Hyeri is still new, so she also have some kind of adjustment period\grace period. It doesn't mean they will be forgiven easily in the future as well, but for now this is the situation.

Thanks for reading!

M.