“Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get bored of doing the hard work you already did.”

-Newt Gingrich

MIA POV

I spent that night trying to track the number. Every time it would yield different results. This was a protective barrier and would keep changing numbers till I could break it. It was beyond just a normal gang’s capacity to afford such high end technology. There was a professional organization behind this. The only way I could get the number was to somehow surpass the barrier. The alarm on my phone alerted me to the fact that it already time I would normally wake up. Lethargy clouded my mind and I decided to not go jog today. Instead I would keep trying to penetrate the last barrier. Soon everyone was awake and breakfast was ready. I headed to the table, still thinking about what I could do.

 I placed small portions of food on my plate and kept playing around with it, having no appetite. “Cheesecake?” a voice called, making my head snap up. “Stop playing with your food and start eating it.” Kris said nodding at my almost untouched plate. I ducked my head and started to finish the food as fast as I could. I left the table immediately after, starting work again; attacking the barrier directly. This caused my laptop to go on automatic reboot again like Iast times I had tried the same technique. I shut the laptop and let myself fall back on the couch. By now I was beyond frustrated. Time was running out and the risk was increasing as the clock ticked away.  

BAEKHYUN POV

Everyone watched as Mia left the table and dragged herself back to the couch. “Am I the only one who thinks she was totally acting weird or is everyone of you as intelligent?” Chen asked. No matter how annoying that troll was, he was still correct. “I think she’s sick.” Kris said narrowing his eyes.  “I think we should take her with us. That way we’ll know if she gets worse you know.” suggested Chanyeol. “Will she come? Doesn’t she have to work?” I voiced my thoughts. “She’ll have to come. She can just carry her laptop if she wants.” shrugged Lay. Suho nodded and agreed to talk to her. Surprisingly she agreed without a protest.

 We left almost immediately and she followed us to the practice room in a daze. “Guess the assistant choreographer decided to grace us with a visit..” Greg hyung teased. “Do you mind if I occupy a corner Greg-shi?” she asked.  “Ofcourse not! Come on in..” he smiled kindly. Mia went to the back and occupied the left corner.  During practice I would glance at her a few times but never did I see her looking up even once. she was always focused on the laptop screen, her eyebrows set into a straight, disapproving line. After doing the choreography about another twenty times, lunch arrived much to everyone’s relief. 

MIA POV

“Let’s go for lunch dongy!” Sehun offered cheerily. “Oppa I’ll stay here. Could you just get something for me?” I asked him. I really wasn’t in the mood to go for lunch. I was wanting some peace and quiet. “Yah! Sehun let her stay here. I’ll be here with her. The rest of you go on.” Luhan announced. Everyone left and Luhan came and sat next to me. “Spill.” he said. “Spill what?” I asked him. “Mia if you don’t want to talk about it say so, don’t lie to me.” he turned away, hurt and disappointment apparent in his eyes. “What do you do if something doesn’t work out no matter how hard you work?” I asked. “You have faith that one day it will work out.” he smiled.

“You know I moved from China to Korea to become an idol. Somehow it never seemed work out. I had been here for quite a long time and I was slowly but surely losing hope. I managed to stay strong and persevere. Look at me now, face of EXO-M; scouted while shopping at Myendong.” he chuckled. “If only everyone was that lucky..” I trailed off, shaking my head in disappointment.  “Whatever the problem is don’t lose faith in yourself. If nothing works, try again using the simplest of ways. Those are the ones that usually work the best.” he advised.  I smiled at him and went back to the screen and he got up and the music to practice.

The simplest way to penetrate a barrier isn’t breaking it. It is only disrupting it for a while to gain access. That is why I found myself working on a code containing a virus to spread. If the plan was successful, the barrier would disrupt for exactly 45 seconds before it would shut itself down. This would be enough for me to get a trace of the number.  I sent out the code and wringing my hands in anticipation. A timer on the right side of the screen starting at 45 seconds told me the gamble had paid off. The simplest of ways had worked! The traitor had enough reason to watch his or her back extremely closely now.

A\N: Another update! She still has a long way to go but I assure you, the battle has official started.

I promise to update faster when my Wifi starts working since I realized the story still has a quite a bit to be read before it ends. Now I’m thinking it will be around 100 chapters  :O  To think I would make my first story this long !

Happy Reading! (: