Athena’s POV

            “Athena! I haven’t seen you in a while!” Director Choi says.

            “Yes..director nim...you looked better...” I smiled. Director Choi is one of the best directors

I ever worked with. I like his ideals and visions in creating a movie so working with him won’t

make me think twice.

            “Hehehe...my vacation helped I think..” he chuckles.

            “By the way, congratulations on your last movie. I heard that it was a hit...”

            “Thank you...”

            “It such a waste to stock a talented actress like you on the TV dramas. The silver screen

is your proper place..”

I smile.

            “That’s why when I read that you’ll be directing a new film; I decided to take the offer

right away. The story is very interesting and something that I had never done before..” I said

expressing my thought on the script.

            “That’s true. It is refreshing. Just what people needs for the start of the year.”

Yeah..I remember that the movie will be started once everything is finalized since it was planned

to be shown on the first half of the next year.

I took a sip of my coffee and other people came.

            “Are we late?” the man said.

            “We bumped into each other on the way here so we decided to come together director.” A

woman said.

            “You’re just in time..” Director Choi said to them so I turned around to see the people that

I’ll be working with. 

_____________________________________________________________________

Jaejoong’s POV

            “Jaejoong hyung!Junsu!”Yoochun says as he sees us.

            “You surprised me guys....by the way, are you feeling well now hyung?” he asks me.

            “Yeah..I’m quite bored so I asked Junsu out to visit you here.” I said.

            “Hwaa....you really looked like a prince Yoochun hyung!” Junsu exclaimed while looking at

Yoochun’s prince costume.

We visit Yoochun on the set of his TV drama. We treated everyone for lunch and before filming,

Yoochun, Junsu, and I sit with Jung Yoo Mi. She has a very nice personality.

            “Yoo Mi sshi, I heard that you used to be on the same agency with Athena during your

trainee days?’Yoochun asked.

            “Ah...yes..but that was a long time ago.” She answered with a smile.

            “What kind of person Athena is in her trainee days?”Junsu followed.

            “Well...” she says while thinking.

            “Athena is a simple and cheery person. She’s the quiet type but has a very warm

personality. I remember that she doesn’t have a big ambition in being an actress contrary to

some other trainees. She just want to act.. contrary to her best friend Nam Gyu Ri...”

            “Nam GyuRi? I didn’t know that they were friends...” Junsu commented.

Yoo Mi sighed and I continue to listen.

            “Or should I say...she used to be her best friend..”

            “What happened?”Yoochun seems to be interested too.

            “I shouldn’t be saying this but I trust you guys...don’t tell anyone about this alright?”

We nodded.

            “Back then, GyuRi and Athena had a very tight relationship as best friends. Athena is also

dating No Minwoo.”

            “No Minwoo, the guy from TRAX?”I asked.

            “Yup. I don’t exactly know the details but suddenly, Athena was involved in a drug

scandal. That was too huge and it hit her career big time. Most of her projects were pulled out

and No Minwoo broke up with her while GyuRi cut ties with her. Everyone in the agency knew

that Athena was having problems at home too and the next thing we know is that the agency

dropped her. That was a waste since Athena was a promising rookie actress when that

happened. The whole scandal gave the biggest blow in her and we thought that it was end for

her but suddenly, she was making movies here and there. Lots of CFs and awards. It turned

everything upside down and she became the big star that she is now. However, with that fame

brings her a lot of trouble as well because she has been the subject of scandals and media.

Everyone is watching her every move waiting for her to make mistakes...always looking for

flaws...poor girl..I haven’t seen her in a while but from what I’m seeing on the news and TV, she

changed a lot. She doesn’t smile as she did before and every time I see her face in the magazines,

her eyes lacks the sparks in them as if she lost her soul.” Yoo Mi says in a sad tone.

Sympathy is in her voice showing how much she feels for Athena.

            “Did she really use drugs?”Yoochun asked.

She shrugged her shoulders.

            “Who knows? She didn’t deny or admit anything.”

Nam GyuRi and No Minwoo....the one that she treated as her best friend and the other one whom

she gave her heart to...both of them turned their backs on her during the most difficult time in her

life...

I sighed.

_____________________________________________________________________

Athena’s POV:

I managed to keep my composure after seeing those faces. The faces that I had erased from my

mind.

           “With the three of you in it, I’m sure that our movie will be a hit!.” Director Choi says

happily as we see him off. It’s pretty much obvious that he’s not aware of the tension between the

three of us.

            “Annyeonghigaseyo director Choi!” I say as I bow.

They were silent yet I can feel their gaze on me. Are they trying to observe what I had become

after all those years? The pain of hatred burned inside me but I won’t let them see even a glimpse

of that. I’m no longer that weak person I used to be so I put on a poker face.

            “Athena...I’m glad to see you again...” Nam GyuRi says in her weak smile.

Well I’m not.—my mind says.

            “Working together would be nice...” she follows.

I turn to them.

            “Don’t count on it because it’s not going to happen. I don’t wish to work with you.”

*FLASHBACK*

Athena went downstairs. Carrying her knapsack, she headed towards the dining area.

            “I will go now...Madame.” Athena says.

            “An actress?! Huh! Do you really think that you'll success on that?!” Madam Jang says as

she and her daughters sit around the long dining table.

           “Her agency is not that famous and yet, she acts as if she's already a big shot...” HyeJin says

rising her eyebrow.

            “She's so ambitious!” HyeRi commented before sipping her orange juice on the crystal glass.

Athena pretended not to hear anything as she walks off. Her father took her in after she graduated

from high school. At first, she opposed leaving her mother to live with her father but her mom

talked her out of it. Athena's mom remained in the countryside and she lived with her father in

Seoul. Her life here hasn't been smooth because her stepmother and half sisters are abusing her

verbally since the day she came. They only shut their mouth when her father is around. Anyway,

he's a busy person and often out of the house so it doesn't make any difference. Not even once she

feels welcome in this mansion.

Athena boarded a bus. She inhaled deeply after settling on a seat. She could only breathe freely

whenever she's out of that house.

******

Athena finally arrives at the studio where she's being trained. She will be attending an acting

workshop today. She never imagined that she'll be considering a career in the entertainment

industry. One day, an agent approached her, telling her to try out a screening for a facial wash CF.

Her mom came to Seoul just to join her for her audition and luckily, she got it. It makes her happy

whenever she recalls the smile on her mom's face when she sees her on her first CF. She is her

very first fan and so she made a promise with her; that she'll work hard and one day, her mom

would not only watch her on a CF but also on the movie theatre. She fell in love with acting but

pursuing it is not a piece of cake since she's still a student but as the old saying goes; if there's a

will, there's a way. She's a trainee in the morning and a student at night, giving her lesser time at

home which is favourable for her.

            “Ae Young ah !” Athena smiles after seeing her best friend GyuRi waving at her. She

hurriedly ascends the stairs to go to her.

            “GyuRi ah! Aren't you early today?” Athena is used to her being a late comer.

            “I think it's because of the workshop today. I didn't sleep well last night because I'm feeling

nervous and excited at the same time.” she answers while pouting her lips.

Athena smiles. They heard that they will have their workshop today with a famous acting coach so

she understands how she feels for she feels the same. She cups GyuRi's stuffy cheeks with her

hands.

            “Aigoo...our GyuRi ah is pouting again...” Athena links their arms.

            “Ready or not, let's go!” she says as she pulls GyuRi towards the studio room.

Nam GyuRi—Athena met her on her first trainee day. GyuRi is very cute and cheerful while

Athena is a bit reserved but witty so they clicked right away.  They really enjoy each other’s

company.

****

A smile curves in Athena’s lips while she stares at the lunchbox in her hand.

            “I’m sure, he’d like that.” GyuRi says to her for encouragement.

            “I hope so.” She says.

The two peeks at the door of the studio. They try not to make a single sound that could interrupt

anyone inside.

            “Can you see him? It seems like he’s not here.” GyuRi whispers to Athena at her back.

Athena extends her neck to check.

            “Can’t see him either..” she answers.

            “Who are you checking on?”

Athena had her hand to her chest out of surprised. A tall and handsome guy is at her back,

checking out the room like them.

            “There you are!” Athena says as she finds the person she’s looking for.

            “Are you on a break now?” he asks.

GyuRi nods.

            “We were looking for you because Ae Young has something to give you.” She says.

            “What is it?”

Athena shows him the lunchbox. A wide smile draws in Min Woo’s face.

            “Did you cook it for me?”

            “Hm.” Athena nods with her crimson cheeks.

            “Wow! I feel hungry just now. Let’s eat that right away.” He says.

            “But...”

            “I’ll just ask our trainer’s permission.”

No Min Woo went inside the room and talked to the trainer quickly.

            “Let’s go.” He says when he got back to them.

            “Our lunchboxes are in our studio upstairs..” Athena says.

            “Then, let’s go get them.”Then Min Woo puts his arm around her shoulder.

            “Are you that happy Min Woo ah? You are smiling from ear to ear!” GyuRi who’s walking behind them says.

Min Woo and Athena look back at her.

            “ABSOLUTELY. My girlfriend packed me some lunch so what do you expect me to feel?”

Min Woo immediately answers.

            “It’s not that much, Min Woo ah..” Athena tells him.

            “But still, I’m really happy that you woke up really early to prepare this. I know how late

you sleep at night..” Min Woo slightly pinched her nose before giving her cheek a peck.

            “Aigoo...Aigoo...You are so cheesy! I’m getting goose bumps you know?!” GyuRi complains

making the three of them laugh.

No Min Woo---like her, he’s also a trainee for an upcoming rock band with the name TRAX. At

first, whenever they bump into each other, the other TRAX members teased them even though

she didn’t have a clue why. Little did she know is that Min Woo already had a crush on her since he

started seeing her around. He clearly recognized her from her first CF. Then, he approached GyuRi

and asked her to help him in wooing Athena. GyuRi was so eager to match them to each other so

she helped. Not long after, Athena found herself falling in love with him. He is her first love, first

boyfriend, and first kiss. He is the person that makes her heart thump every time she sees him.

Aside from acting, Nam GyuRi and No Min Woo are the only reason that she copes up in her daily

life. The three of them built their dreams together and promised to love and support one another

like a family. With them, Athena thinks that she can surpass any hardship. She’s not complete

without them so she would do anything for them.

*END OF FLASHBACK*