I never really believed in fate. Reality always taught me that I could create my own, without anything laid out for me. So it came as a bit of a surprise when Taeyong showed up at my dorm at 7 a.m. dressed in full practice clothes wearing his winning smile. Gyeong had planned a full schedule today, yet everything was cleared when she found out his plans.

"Sorry, I'm going to borrow Kiara for today," Taeyong told Gyeong unapologetically, winking at me. She rolled her eyes, waving us off as she left us by ourselves.

Taeyong softly grabbed my hand and grinned even wider, mischief hidding behind those captivating eyes. Many people would call him my 'prince charming', and yet, it didn't make a difference. I felt nothing when our gazes matched. There was no typical 'spark' that's supposed to overwhelm my heart and set it ablaze. Reality ensured that.

"Congratulations! You have been selected to perform the duet with me for the rookie event SM is hosting in two months. Youngmin-nim decided on a couple new song Henry-hyung wrote..." he said as we walked to the dance practice room. I nodded silently, barely paying attention to my surroundings. Reality made it so difficult to focus these past few months. Although he constantly tells me I need to concentrate and give it my all, he's the one that constantly averts my attention from reality.

"Kiara-ssi?"

My thoughts return to Taeyong, who's now silently watching me. No, he's staring at something. My eyes follow his line of site to my waist, where a little sliver of skin is peaking out from the crop top Gyeong picked out for me to wear. Instinctively, I pull it down.

"What?" I asked, unintentionally revealing to him my insecurities.

"It growled," he said.

"What?"

"Your stomach. It growled. Have you eaten today?" he asked, scrutinizing me in his stare.

"Yes," I said automoatically. It technically isn't a lie. I ate the entire breakfast plan Gyeong gave me, but it was now long gone down the toilet, probably on its way to the sewage system. 

"You're lying, aren't you? How about we go eat first? I know a really good-"

"No, let's start practice. I don't have time to waste," my words came out much more coldly than I meant them to be, but I turn away from him anyways. 

"Hey, you can't exercise on an empty stomach. You won't have any energy," he protested, pulling my arm.

"Look, I'm on a diet plan-"

"Aren't we all? C'mon Kiara, we're under the same company. I know what rookies have to go through too, and I also know it's okay to break some rules every now and then. I don't care what you say, we're going," Taeyong dragged me along with him defiantly. And yes, I protested. I protested with all my strength, but the problem was that I didn't have any. 

"Pathetic. Don't let him boss you around just because he's about to debut. Take matters into your own hands," Reality cackled, wrenching Taeyong's hand away from my arm. I stumbled back, hitting the floor from the sudden release.

"I said, I already ate," I growled through clenched teeth. Reality grabbed my jaw and moved my mouth for me, controlling my facial expressions too. "I don't need you to do this. You're being a burden,"

Despite Reality's harsh words, I could only see pity reflecting in Taeyong's eyes. Shaking his head, the emotions were erased, and indifference replaced them.

"If you collapse while we practice, just know it wasn't my fault," he said, heading back to the practice room.

It was a smack in the face. A wake up call that spoke louder than any taunt, any remark that Reality could ever make. I looked over my shoulder to find that he was no longer hovering above me.