Kyungwon had made it perfectly clear that she did not like Kim Mingyu. One. Bit.

Yet here she found herself, in the practice room with the music of an American song with a sensual touch to it playing from the speakers as she stood beside said Kim Mingyu prepared to dance along to the routine they had coreographed seperately.

It was their nth time running over it and her muscles ached and screamed for a break, but obviously they had to do it again since it was Kim Mingyu who had demanded it. Who was she to disobey a senior in the agency she hadn't even gained access to yet? Obviously nobody.

It wasn't just them in the practice room. Chan and Siyeon stood side by side in the corner with expectant expressions on their young faces having just finished their own run through and given up the speakers for the next pair. Eunwoo and Jeonghan were next to the youngest pair, leaning against the wall with relaxed looks as they casually whispered a thing or two to each other. Kyulkyung and Yebin were by the laptop connected to the speaker, being the ones to play the songs for those who were there with their partners. Even Nayoung and Seungcheol were in the room running over their coreography without their music. Unfortunately for Kyungwon, Minkyung was also there and was excitedly making conversation with Wonwoo as they stretched together, seeing as they both had just arrived.

Clenching her jaw at the way how Wonwoo's hand brushed Minkyung's arm as he laughed at something she said, Kyungwon met Mingyu's gaze which seemed just as equally fired up as her own. Kyungwon couldn't help but wonder why he was wearing that expression, and why when they stared at each other she felt as if they reached a mutual agreement with one another.

He even nodded his head slightly, mouthing the beat to her as if they were on good terms.

Like machinery, Kyungwon's body reacted automatically to the music and her movement came out fluidly. It was the perks of having revised the coreography continously over a month with people you actually enjoyed dancing with, rather than an arrogant idol who only looked down on her.

But all thoughts of her hatred for the boy dancing beside her flew out of the window as her gaze distractedly saw Minkyung and Wonwoo bumping each other's shoulders as they joked about whatever. Bitterness crawled up inside of her and her gaze darkened, meeting Mingyu's gaze as they faced each other for the introduction of the dance.

The corners of his mouth tugged upwards for a second, before they broke each other's gaze and moved into the beginning part of the dance.

Kyungwon's movements were hasty, demanding for attention but executed in a sharp and effecient manner. Mingyu matched her fervor, staring at the mirror with an intensified look and a concentrated tug of the eyebrow making him appear just as serious as her.

They ignored the shouts of approval from the observants at the suggestive parts, instead Kyungwon's lips forming into a small smirk as she met Mingyu's triumphant gaze in the mirror. In all the times that they had rehearsed this together, she had not once enjoyed dancing with the boy. But somehow, seeing Wonwoo's and Minkyung's surprised and watchful eyes in the reflection made the situation more fun than usual.

All the previous pain that had stopped her body from moving freely was compltely gone, instead replaced with the rush of adrenaline as she devoted herself to the slightly provocative dance, making her movements as sensual as she could. Mingyu put up a fair fight, inching a little closer than usual just to make them appear a little more intimate than in the previous run-throughs.

Even when they had to initiate contact with each other, they ignored their past troubles and problems and pretended that everything was fine, the numerous acting lessons provided by the company coming in handy at this very moment when Mingyu made a motion of grinding on her body, leaving little to no room between them. She had to admit that the boy was a very good dancer, and although not the best his movements were still up to high standards.

Soon, their dance came to an end, Kyungwon's arms wrapped around Mingyu's neck loosely while he did one last body wave.

The music wasn't even off before Siyeon and Eunwoo rushed towards her, unintentionally pushing her away from the panting male idol due to the excitement.

"Ya! Unnie!" Siyeon repeatedly smacked her arm, her cheeks red from still trying to recover from her own dance or influenced by the one she had just watched herself. "That was too provocative, you are still a minor!"

Eunwoo joined in, shoving at her shoulder a little harshly. "Exactly! That was too y." She added, a scowl on her face.

Kyungwon laughed tiredly, stumbling over her own feet as she felt herself being pushed again by Nayoung this time. "Ya, I can't believe you. Can I just remind you that you're still only twenty-years-old?" The older girl scolded playfully, pressing her knuckle against her forehead in a maternal manner.

"Okay, okay, I get it," Kyungwon chuckled, putting her hands up as if to shield herself from the abuse. "you don't have to tell me twice, grandma."

Nayoung only hit her harder, whining that she wasn't that old to which the two youngest girls immediately disagreed with her and began to direct their teasing at her instead. Kyungwon smiled as she watched the scene, though her eyes strayed not too long after to seek out a particular dark haired beauty's.

Her heart sunk in her chest as she saw Minkyung talking to Yebin now, seemingly completely unaffected with her performance and not even caring to send her a simple smile. Biting her lips to contian the bitterness that only increased as she watched Yebin affectionately fix the taller's hair, she simply looked at the three other girls in front of her, now four seeing as Kyulkyung had decided to join the discussion too.

They were ushered off to the side by Seungcheol, who told Nayoung to quickly get ready for their turn and appearing competitive enough to try and beat their performance.

As Kyungwon scanned the room again, her eyes staying on Minkyung and Yebin a little too long, she saw that there were no traces of Mingyu aside from the bag he had brought with him when he had entered. Shrugging off the curiosity, she instead slid her back down the wall and listened to the sweet love song playing from the speakers and the older girl she admired so much preparing to show off her own dance routine.

"Kyulkyung, how are you handling the jealousy?" Kyungwon heard Eunwoo shoot at the Chinese girl sat on the latter's side, poking at her cheeks in a playful manner.

Kyulyung only scowled at Eunwoo and shoved her away from her, diverting her attention back to the two in the center of the room. Kyungwon watched as Eunwoo chuckled to herself and straightened herself up again, her arms circling around her legs and resting her head back on the wall. Her hand reached for one of her best friend's, offering her a warm smile as she too returned to watching Nayoung and Seungcheol.

However, she didn't fail to notice the not so subtle glare the pink haired demon was giving her from her other side. So she turned her head and raised her eyebrows as if to ask 'what are you looking at?'.

Siyeon simply huffed and shook her head, also turning to watch the routine.

Nayoung and Seungcheol had done well to coreograph the routine, also recieving help from the dance instructors much like Kyungwon and Mingyu had had help from them with the parts that looked awfully awkward. The song was a sweet pop song that Kyungwon recognised as the one Sungyeon liked to sing in her spare time, and their movements, albiet a little awkward due to not knowing each other too well, were professional. It was entertaining to watch, that's for sure.

They all clapped eagerly after it ended, giving Nayoung claps on the back as she approached them with an exhausted grin on her face. She sat down in Eunwoo's space when the younger girl stood to prepare for her own dance, immediately being pampered by Kyulkyung who helped wipe away at her sweat and handed her a bottle of water.

Siyeon had an expectant look on her face as she watched Eunwoo move to stand with Jeonghan, the two looking very aesthetically pleasing together. She understood why they had been paired up together.

The song was another American produced song, but this time the genre being a slightly electronic and dance club song.

"Close you mouth, Siyeon-ah, we don't want you drooling on the floor." Kyungwon jested, noting how the younger girl stared with complete adoration and admiration at the two on the dance floor. She barely recieved a glance, earning just a simple small nudge.

Giggling to herself, Kyungwon rested her head back against the mirror and observed her best friend through half-lidded eyes, the fatigue finally overcoming her due to having been in the room for a little over four hours now. She had yet to go home to have the dreaded conversation with her brother, but she knew that tonight she would have to return to the apartment. She couldn't continue to bother Minkyung with her burdens, which she should carry on her own as her responsibility. But she couldn't help but let the small voice in the back of her head tell her that it would be best if she stayed at her crush's place again.

Groaning at the soreness in her body, Kyungwon pushed herself up from her space and decided to go to one of the water fountains that they had on the first floor. She had ran out of water and she had no money left to buy herself a drink, so she had been making trips back and forth to keep herself hydrated.

As she stepped outside of the practice room, she immediately felt chills up her whole body due to the difference in temperatures. Goosebumps made themselves prominent on her skin, which she tried to wipe away by rubbing her hands up and down her arms.

Eunwoo wouldn't be very pleased if she found out she had disappeared halfway through her performance, so she tried to move a little quicker to make sure she made it back in time by the time her best friend was done.

Rounding a corner, Kyungwon was immediately pushed back by a stronger force and consequently leaning against the wall to support herself. Her eyes widened at the sudden pain in her shoulder while watching the retreating form of a tall male, recognising him easily. Before she could question anything to hereslf, she heard a mumbling coming from the direction she was heading to.

"-ing piece of . What did I even do wrong?"

Kyungwon stepped from her place, rubbing at her sore shoulder with a grimace on her face. "What was that?" She asked, frowning as Mingyu's head snapped up to look at her with wide, fearful eyes.

"How long have you been there?" He asked, his voice sounding defensive and viscious.

Rolling her eyes at his attitude, she approached him nonchalantly. "I didn't hear anything, chill." She assured, moving to stand in front of the tall boy who kept watching her with wary eyes. "Can you move? You're in the way."

Mingyu jumped, realising that Kyungwon wasn't looking for a fight and instead stepped aside like requested. Which was unusual because she had expected him to blow up at her for speaking to him in a rude manner. It was far too obvious what was happening.

After intaking some of the water from the fountain, she stood upright again and looked long and hard at the boy who stood immobile in the same space he had been when she found him. He was wearing a deep frown, the corners of his mouth tugging down to create a crease in his skin, suggesting that this was an expression he often wore, and his eyebrows furrowed together as his empty eyes scanned the blank wall opposite of him. Kyungwon also noticed how his hands were clenched tightly at his side to make his knuckles turn white, the small tremor in his shaking arms giving away his inner turmoil.

"Did you guys have an argument?" Kyungwon asked, returning to drink once more after finding herself unsatisfied. was very dry, especially with the familiarity she found within the boy she disliked so much.

Mingyu hummed, thinking for a second. "It's none of your concern." He said, though not with his usual fiery mood which Kyungwon found herself missing. It was unusual seeing the arrogant idol so worried over something.

Sighing, Kyungwon wiped with the collar of her shirt and shrugged off her curiosity. "You're right, it's your problem." She said before brushing past him and heading back in the direction of the practice room again. Eunwoo's dance was probably over by now, and she didn't want to keep her waiting too long.

"Kyungwon-ssi."

A smirk formed on her face, though Kyungwon made sure all of its traces were gone as she turned around to face the bothered boy.

"I've been in a ton of because of you." He stated, catching Kyungwon by surprise at the sudden attack. "It's funny because everything that has happened so far has all been mistakes that have been blown out of proportion by other unwanted parties."

Snorting, Kyungwon crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the wall. "Yeah, I've gathered. It's not particularly pleasant to be attacked by the media."

Mingyu sneered for a second, prepared to shoot and insult at her. But he stopped himself last second and took in a deep breath, making his whole upper body rise and fall with his actions. "You know what's worse?" He asked rhetorically, hurt and vexation seeping into his voice. "Being attacked by your own family."

Kyungwon remained quiet at the sudden relevation. She could relate to being attacked by family, though she wasn't too sure now that she had had time to go over what had happened three days ago. The space had helped her realise that Yongsoo was only trying to help her out of the deep situation she was in and in his words, 'he was only doing what he thought was best for her'. Guilt crawled up inside of her, suddenly regretting all the insults she had spat out at her brother.

"They're supposed to support you whenever you're in trouble, and they're definitely not supposed to cast you out of meals or rooms." Mingyu spat, looking frustrated at his situation. She could tell that whatever that had happened between him and his group had taken a toll on him. The bags under his tired eyes made it obvious. "They're supposed to believe you when you tell them the truth, not call you 'selfish' or a 'liar' or a 'burden'."

That put a frown on her face. Sure s had a right to be angry at him, but they certainly had no right in calling him those things. Kyungwon had seen things like this on the internet all directed at the boy, but never had she imagined that his own members would turn their backs on him and say it to his face. Sure she had never had a soft spot for the arrogant, egoistical front that Mingyu liked to put up, but seeing his hurt expression reminded her of the little boy she had seen all those years ago. The same one who had grown up to become someone to grow independent, hiding his problems away from people and distancing himself from his family.

She couldn't help the small tug of sympathy as she saw her brother in Mingyu. She definitely couldn't avoid her demeanour crumbling completely when she saw herself inside of the boy.

Perhaps this was why she disliked himself so much. Because he reminded her of herself. Someone she had come to hate over the years.

"You know what?" Kyungwon said, standing upright and facing Mingyu completely. "They're massive for even saying that to you, and they definitely should learn to stop judging people based on small rumors that aren't even true."

Mingyu's face changed into one of surprise and relief. "I know." He said in agreement, though quietly as if to allow her the right to carry on.

"And screw them if they think that they have a right to tell you what to do with your life. You keep your head high and ignore them, because if they can't accept you then they should not be family." Kyungwon ranted, unknowingly straying from topic and becoming a little too passionate.

A grateful smile was Mingyu's way of saying 'thank you', and she felt slightly relieved that no more words were swapped between them as they headed back to the pracitce room. Her chest felt a little lighter after her minature speech, though there was a new question in her head. Did this little heart-to-heart session put them on good terms now?

She glanced at the boy's more relaxed face - still a little tense - seeing the way his mouth remained in a straight line. His posture no longer seemed tense or defensive whenever they were together, and she took this as an indication that perhaps their relationship had improved in the slightest.

Kyungwon smiled to herself at the achievement, but tried to hide it behind her hand as she stepped into the room after Mingyu.

"Look who decided to show up." Eunwoo called from her place in a line formed by all nine female trainees, a dark look on her face as she glared at her. Kyungwon could tell that she was annoyed for missing her performance, to which she couldn't help but feel a little guilty about.

The other Seventeen members had left, meaning that Mingyu was the last one to get ready. Kyungwon immediately saw how his expression changed into one of anger as he realised that they had ditched him and left him behind to fend for himself. He bowed his head, almost in shame, and hastily snatched his belongings from the floor before moving to the exit.

After the door had slammed shut behind his figure, Kyungwon was ushered towards the line where the rest of the girls stood nervously. She could feel Yebin's anxiety beside her, the small girl practically shaking in her space.

It was her first time acknowledging the presence of the CEO, bowing at a ninety degree angle out of respect before straightening out her posture once more. What was he doing here? Were they in trouble? Was it another surprise evaluation? Maybe he wanted to cut a couple of trainees off the list? No way, they weren't like the other big companies who disbanded people just because they made a couple of mistakes. Were they?

"Well, this is definitely a touching sight." The CEO said, putting his hands behind his back as he paced backwards and forwards in front of them, observing each and one of them carefully.

Kyungwon felt as if her heart was about to burst out of her chest due to how fast it was beating. She didn't think that she'd ever be this nervous in her life. She could feel her legs beginning to tremble under her and her whole body tense up, creating knots in her back.

"It's definitely been a pleasure to watch all of you grow up into talents," He continued, smiling gently at them. Kyungwon interpreted the smile as something evil. He definitely had an ulterior motive to having all of them gather here at this time. She was sure that the younger girls had school at this hour. "Each of you has so much potential inside of you, wouldn't it be a shame to let it go to waste?"

Collective gasps were heard around the room, and she felt herself cut off her respiratory system in anticipation of his following words. No way... was he insinuating what they had all been wishing for? Were their wishes about to be granted?

"It would certainly be foolish of us to misuse this opportunity. I can tell that you have great potential to do something great in the near future, so the company had decided to put faith in you." He chuckled at the small yelp of happiness made by one of the girls. "In September 2018, Pledis Entertainment will release their first girl group since 2009. The number of members to be ten and the name to be decided ten days before official debut date."

Kyungwon felt as if all life had left her body. What was happening?

"Not only that, but Seventeen will be having special promotions around Asia and will also serve as part of the plan of introducing this new girl group to the rest of the world. Recordings of a reality show will begin January 2018 following Seventeen's small 'tour', which all of you will perform the routines you created to the audience. Your debut concept, song and dance have already been chosen by our team and rehearsals will begin before Christmas, so all of you better finish your due projects before that time." He paused, grinning at the girls in front of him. "Congratulations, girls, you will be debuting soon."

And that's when the screams happened.

Kyungwon was pretty sure that her eardrum burst because of the other nine pterodactyls in the room all screaming and crying of happiness and joy.

She felt her head spinning, only made worse as an excited Yebin shook her shoulders before collapsing on her and becoming a sobbing mess.

Her eyes met Minkyung's, which were red and b with tears, and the girl immediately rushed to them to create what seemed to be the beginning of a group hug.

She felt herself being dragged to where everyone crowded around Nayoung and Eunwoo, who appeared to have collapsed on the floor due to the shock. And she didn't know how it happened but all of a sudden she was part of the make-shift dog pile with very emotional girls.

Was she dreaming?

The kick in the knee confirmed that she was conscious.

Was this a prank?

Kyungwon looked at the CEO and found him smiling warmly at them, his expression looking truthful and honest.

What?

"Kyungwon." Minkyung cried, burying her head further into the crook of her neck while tightening her grip. "K-Kyungie - we made it."

Unknown to Kyungwon, a tear slipped out of her eye as everything came crashing down on her at once.

They were debuting. In the same group and only next year. All of her hard work, staying hours and hours in the practice rooms that had become her own personal prison cell payed off. She was being rewarded with the chance of getting to do what she loved. What she had always wanted to do ever since she was little. And never in her life had she ever felt so happy.

Hugging Minkyung back with all of her strength left in her body, Kyungwon found herself crying along with the girls.

Everything was good.

-.-

a/n: this chapter is shorter than what i usually aim for in words (+4000) but i think that this is one of the turning points in the plot. everything will start getting a little more wild and a lot of new relationships will probably surface 

if you're curious: the song Kyungwon and Mingyu are dancing to is 'Been Around The World' by August Alsina ft.Chris Brown, and it's coreographed by 1million dance studio (such a good coreo)

thank you for taking time out of your day to read this crap story... i hope i'm not boring you too much

(unedited)