Su Ha sat on the floor of the dance studio, feeling the sweat trickle down her neck as she leaned back against the cool floor.
The air conditioner was cranked up, but it still felt like she had been dancing for hours.
Beside her, Ruka and Rami, the other two girls who were also trainees, sat next to her.
They were her best friends, the only ones who really understood her in this world of constant competition.
They had just finished a grueling dance practice, and Director Hwang Mi-Jee had given them some time to cool down.
As they sat in the middle of the dance floor, catching their breath, Su Ha heard her phone ring from across the room.
But she was too tired to reach for it right now, so she ignored it.
Ruka, always the playful one, raised an eyebrow as she looked at Su Ha. "So, what's up with you and Thanos now, Su Ha?" she teased, nodding toward her neck. "That’s a nice mark you’ve got there."
Su Ha froze, then choked on her water. Rami, who was sitting beside her, stifled a laugh, covering her mouth as she tried not to burst out in giggles.
Su Ha rolled her eyes, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "I had fun last night," she muttered, her tone a mix of embarrassment and amusement. She didn’t need to say more.
The mark on her neck spoke for itself.
Rami, who couldn’t hold back anymore, snickered and added, "We can see that." She shot Su Ha a knowing look, her smile mischievous. "You really let him have his way, huh?"
Su Ha groaned, leaning her head back dramatically. "It’s not like that," she said, trying to act indifferent, but the slight flush on her cheeks betrayed her. "We’re just... having fun."
"Uh-huh," Ruka said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "And we’re supposed to believe that?" She raised an eyebrow, nudging Rami, who was still snickering beside her.
Su Ha crossed her arms, leaning back slightly as she tried to dodge the teasing. "Just drop it, alright?" she muttered. "It’s complicated."
"You mean it’s not complicated, but you’re too scared to admit it," Rami teased, smirking. "You’re totally whipped for him, and you know it."
Su Ha scowled at her friend, though there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Shut up," she said, but it was clear she didn’t mean it.
They were so busy talking and teasing her about Su Bong that they didn’t even realize Su Ha’s phone was still ringing.
It wasn’t until it rang again, louder this time, that Su Ha noticed. She reached over to pick it up, glancing at the screen.
Her expression changed when she saw who it was.
Su Ha glanced at the screen again as Su Bong’s name flashed in bold letters. She hesitated before answering, the tone of his previous messages already grinding her nerves.
When she finally picked up, his voice was angry, more forceful than usual.
"Where the fuck are you?" he snapped, his words sharp and full of irritation.
Su Ha blinked, caught off guard by the intensity in his voice. "I’m in the YG building, with Ruka and Rami," she said, trying to keep her cool.
"Oh, really?" he responded, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Put it on video call then."
Su Ha raised an eyebrow, now more confused than anything.
Fine, she thought.
She wasn’t going to let him push her around today. She quickly switched to video, propping the phone higher so Su Bong could see the entire dance studio and her friends sitting around her.
The moment the camera focused, Ruka waved playfully, and Rami gave a small grin. Su Ha then turned the camera back to herself, letting him see the whole scene.
"Mhm, answer your phone quickly next time," Su Bong muttered, barely looking at the screen before abruptly hanging up.
Su Ha stared at the blank screen for a moment, her thoughts swirling.
What the hell was wrong with him?
She rolled her eyes in frustration, her annoyance bubbling up.
Without saying a word, she threw the phone back onto the table next to her, laying down on the floor again, spreading her arms and legs like a starfish.
Ruka and Rami exchanged glances, but neither of them pressed her about the call.
They knew better than to push Su Ha when she was in this kind of mood. They could see how agitated she was, and they decided to let her be for the moment.
After a few long seconds of silence, Rami broke the quiet. "You good?" she asked softly, her voice gentle.
Su Ha sighed deeply, stretching out her arms.
"Yeah, I’m fine." But the tone of her voice told a different story. She didn’t even know what was going on with Su Bong lately.
It was like he was testing her patience more than usual. She didn’t have time for that right now.
Director Hwang Mi Jee walked into the room, interrupting their quiet moment. "Alright, it’s time for vocal practice," he announced.
The three girls groaned in unison but quickly picked up their belongings and made their way to the next room.
They were used to this routine now—practice, rest, repeat.
They made sure to avoid any interaction with the male trainees as they walked through the building.
Even during lunch breaks, they kept their distance to avoid any awkward encounters.
Once they entered the vocal practice room, they quickly set their stuff down at their designated desks. Su Ha, Ruka, and Rami sat silently as Director Mi Jee looked over his tablet, assessing the schedule.
"Su Ha," he said, his tone sharp but calm. "You can go first."
Su Ha gave a small nod, getting up from her seat.
She walked into the center of the room, where the floating microphone awaited.
She put on her headset, adjusting it to her comfort before standing tall in front of the mic.
Ruka, Rami, Mi Jee, and the rest of the staff in the room also put on their headphones, ready to listen.
"Take 2, verse 1 of Nxde" Mi Jee directed.
Su Ha closed her eyes for a moment, mentally preparing herself. Then, with a deep breath, the first beat of the song dropped.
The rhythm filled her ears, and she quickly found her flow. Her voice rose confidently with the lyrics, smooth and on pitch.
The room fell into a focused silence as she powered through the verse, each note precise, every word clear.
Despite everything going on around her, this was one place where Su Ha felt in control.
She let the music guide her, blocking out everything else—especially the constant thoughts of her relationship with Su Bong.
