D-Day

Putting all the fluff aside, Mino and Seulgi were professionals when it came down to music. During the past 3 weeks, both of them gave their 110% on the the procedures (Lyrics, editing, recording the MR) for this song that could change both of their fates. About crisis, well they did fight several times, but instead of giving up, they would open up and find a mutual solution... which strengthens their relationship. They shared countless meals and late night walks, as if they were a couple, according to Seungyoon.

As for Christmas, the Kang family invited Mino over for dinner. Mino was not really comfortable with that idea, but Mr Kang literally forced him by driving all the way to school just to pick him up, how can Mino say no? Honestly, Mino has been spending Christmas alone in the chilly dorm (All the students went home) for the past few years, so he was worried that he could not adjust himself to the new atmosphere. But thanks to Seulgi and the Kangs, he did not feel awkward at all. They treated him as if he was their noble son, something he has never felt

*Flashback to Christmas Night*

'Whatchu doing?' Mino says as he closes the sliding door

'Nothing, just enjoying the view' Seulgi says

They were at the balcony of the house. Mino crept behind Seulgi and gave her a backhug

'What the-' Seulgi was surprised and tried to break free, but his grip was wayy too strong

'Let's stay like this, please' Mino whispers in a sad tone

'...What's wrong?' Seulgi tries to turn around to face him, but he was still too strong

'Heh.. nothing... just give me a minute'

'...'

They stayed like that. Mino smelled Seulgi's fragrance, strawberry, he could recognise the pleasant smell

'Thank you' Mino whispers

'For?'

'Everything'

In the beginning, Seulgi thought that she opened up in front of Mino was because she felt pity for him. Seulgi noticed that Mino showed signs of loneliness since the day they met, and eventually decides to be his friend. But that pity transformed into love. The "friend" status eventually upgraded to "crush"

*Present Time*

'Oh Oppa, what are you doing here!' A girl shouts

'Oh my gosh' Mino says under his breath as he tries to sneak into the main gate of Seoul National Arts & Performing High

'Yahh Oppa!' The girl chases from behind

'Oh Danah, annyeong!' Mino pretends to be ecstatic to meet her younger sister

'Friends, say hi to my brother! Oppa, say hi to my friends' Danah grabs Mino's arms

'Err... Hi... err Jisoo and err... Jennie'  Mino greets awkwardly, the other 2 girls greet respectfully

Suddenly, someone removes Danah's hands away from Mino's arms

'Barely few feet in this school and you're flirting already?' Seulgi says in her usual bored tone, but deep down she is tasting vinegar

'What flirting? She's my sister' Mino points at Danah

'Oh..OH! Really? Hello there!' Seulgi suddenly becomes very polite

'Helloo, Kang Seulgi sunbaenim'

'Wahh, Danah-sshi is indeed a beauty!'

'Yah Danah-ah, get to class now' Mino cuts the conversation, even before it started

'Aish arassoo! Good luck Seulgi Sunbaenim!'

'Thank you!' Seulgi waves at Danah

'Where is our teacher?' Mino asks Seulgi

'She's coming'

'So do we wait for her, or...'

'She told us to go ahead first'

'Alright'

♦

'Wahhhhhh' Mino skips around the huge stage

'Hehehe, your first time on stage?' Seulgi steps up on the stage calmly

'Definitely not on a stage as big as this' Mino says as he faces the empty seats, Seulgi quietly joins him from behind

They both stayed quiet as they watch the staff working around the auditorium

'Seulgi-ah' Mino breaks the silence

'Mhm?'

'You nervous?'

'A bit'

'Ya know, I'm f*king nervous'

'Why?'

'There will be hundreds of strangers watching us later, aren't you scared?'

'I am, but we are in this together, remember?' Seulgi holds Mino's hand

'Really?'

'Yeah'

'Thanks'

'Minho oppa' Seulgi calls out this time

'Hmm?'

'If we win today, I'll grant you a wish'

'Really?'

'Yesh'

'Deal'

'Song Minho and Kang Seulgi, please prepare for rehearsals!'

♦

Rehearsals gone on very well, part of the reason is because they decided to go with a simple stage, in respect with the meaning of the song

'Thank you for your hard work' Seulgi thanks the staff as they wrap up. However, Mino is nowhere to be seen. Seulgi scans around the auditorium for Mino, and saw him going to backstage, behind the huge bright red curtains. Listening to her instincts, Seulgi secretly followed him.

'Father'

Seulgi could recognise this deep voice, it belongs to Mino. Instead of going backstage, she decides to hide behind the curtains and peek through it. She sees Mino with a familiar man, presumably in his 40s

*Quick Flashback*

'Hello there Kang Seulgi student, I'm Mr Song, the headmaster Seoul National' The man says

'Oh Annyeonghaseyeo!' Kang Seulgi inmida! Please take care of me!' Seulgi says respectfully

'Haha, it's an honor for you to come all the way here... Please do put on a show for the students!'

'Nehh!'

*End of Flashback*

Seulgi's POV

'Mr Song is Minho oppa's father? Wait what? Isn't he the headmaster...?' Seulgi scratches her head as she tries to understand the situation

3rd Person's POV

'What are you doing here?' Mr Song says coldly

'That is the first thing you care, after all these years?' Mino says while he looks on the floor

'I remember that I clearly warned you not to appear in my eyes, unless you're willing to follow my wishes'

'Hmm, what should I do? I don't think I can do that anymore'

'You ungrateful bastard! How many times do I need to tell you that rapping is not for you!'

'Why?!' Mino shouts on top of his lungs, luckily no ones there, except Seulgi, who still cannot believe she is witnessing family drama

'What was the first thing I told you, on the first day of middle school? I remember Seungwan was there too' Mr Song says as he takes out a cigarette. Seulgi raises her eyebrow as she heard her bestie's name

'Sigh... don't ask questions.' Mino says as the smell of cigarette fills the surrounding

'Right. I don't want to go out there and show the world that my son is uttering some useless words in high pace'

'Rap, is not like tha-'

'Shut up.'

'...' As much as Mino hates his father, he feared him too

'Sigh... how can I face your mother, who is at the other world now'

Mino remains silent

'If she stayed with us, I'm pretty sure she would be embarrassed to see you in this state'

'Aniyo' Mino opens his mouth again, Mr Song turns around and faces his son

'If mother was still with us, she would have told me how proud she was, having me as her son, and that it's fine to pursue my hobby and dreams' Mino says as he is on verge of tears

Seulgi, cannot help but feel more attached to Mino, I guess she is into those emo emo type of people?

'Really? Let's see then' Mr Song says with a smirk. This time, Mino lifts his guard, he still remembers what his father was capable to do, evil things

'What are you planning this time' Mino says with suspicion as he wipes his tears

'Hmm... I wonder? Who's that again... Kang Seulgi? Your sweetheart?'

Seulgi gasps, she thinks that she was caught, but not

'If you touch her, I swear to God.... I'll kill you, and feed your soulless body to the pigeons!' (Sorry if this disturbed you, because it disturbed my innocent mind AHAH) Mino threatens as he grabs his father's collar. Seulgi covers in shock

'Whoa whoa calm down there son' Mr Song shoves Mino's hand away from his collar

Mino glares at his father with full of intensity, the thought of his father doing horrible things to Seulgi triggered him

'Alright alright, I won't touch her, calm down'

'You better don't'

'Instead, win this battle then. Show me the filthy skills your mother is "proud" of'

'And?'

'I won't bother you anymore'

'You have never bothered me anyway'

'Hold it there son'

'...'

'If you lose, I'm sending you abroad, to study'

'I guess exile me to another school wasn't enough, huh?' Mino says in a bored tone, that resembles Seulgi, she thought

'It was certainly not enough'

'I'm graduating this February though? What should I do? I did badly in exams' Mino says as a matter of fact

'I can always pay the college extra --Money is all I have' Mr Song chuckles

'Wow... I'm grateful that you're putting millions of won on the line, but I'm sorry that you might have to spend that on somewhere else, because I'm winning this game' Mino says, without letting his guard down

'If you say so... but remember, this is my ground... And I wouldn't let any pest get in my way, even if that pest is my son'

Then the idea hits Mino like a wrecking ball.

Mino's POV

'Oh my... Why couldn't I think of that? This is the lion's den... He must have bribed the judges with something. Oh my god... why am I such an idiot?'

Just then Mino remembers his promise towards Seulgi

'Kang Seul, let's win this!'

'Yeah!'

3rd Person's POV

'I'm sure you know what I meant, right Minho-ah' Mr Song adds. And surely, Mino knew exactly what his father meant. The results were fixed

'Watch me, father. You are going to regret your words'

'Huh?'

'Every king has to pass down their throne one day'

'What? You serious selfish bastard' Mr Song slaps Mino's face strongly, even Seulgi could hear the impact from her position

That's it, Mino snapped. He needs to leave there quickly before he hurts his father physically. Luckily Mino is still in his right mind, so he quickly left the scene.

Seulgi sees Mino walking towards her direction

'Oppa-yahh....' Seulgi calls out

Mino tuns and look at her, his intense gaze becomes a gentle one

'...' Seulgi stays silent

'I'll be back, just give me some space' Mino says before leaving Seulgi

♦

'Aish where is that brat... Ailee is nearly done with her performance!' The teacher dials Mino's number again

Right, Seulgi is backstage monitoring Ailee's performance through the screen. Seulgi has to admit, Ailee indeed has a powerful vocal and had the ability to entertain the crowd, so Seulgi is nervous as heck

'Seulgi-ah, don't you have any way to contact Mino? Or any idea where can he be?'

'He will come, I'm sure of it.' Seulgi says confidently as she does her final check on the microphones

Sup! This will be the 2nd last chapter, and I'll publish the last one tomorrow!!!

P.S: If you have a father like Mr Song, come and find me, I'll adopt you huhu T.T Mr Song is meannn

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