♥

Naeun was known by fans as the one who stood out the most because of her personality. She took care of her younger members and had a slight mother vibe to her; she drove them around and made sure everyone got home safe from schedules. She was always helping others and people always said she should do something for herself. But, behind the doors, she was.

Naeun let her hand go into her boyfriend's hair as he kissed down her body, the early morning sunrise giving his body a beautiful orange glow. He looked up at her as he removed her underwear, asking why she looked so nervous, making her gently tug on his hair. He chuckled, holding his hands up in defense before kissing her thighs, slowly making his way into her. "Yah, Kim Mingyu, hurry up."

He let out a gentle chuckle on the side of her thigh, looking up at her as he placed another kiss on her thigh. "What's the rush, Naeun, baby? My mom is on a business trip until Thursday so we have this whole place to ourselves."

"Yeah, but I want to get out of here before one of her staff sees me here. I do not need my boss finding out I'm sleeping with her son."

Yep. She was in a relationship with Kim MinJin's son.

It may seem like nothing, but she could be in real trouble if found out. MinJin had told everyone who commented on her son that he was completely off-limits. She did not want him to date anyone in the company and didn't want anyone in the company to date him. According to Mingyu, it was because she didn't want others to think that they were getting special treatment, but Naeun knew it was because MinJin was overprotective of her son. It was the reason he lived with her in their large penthouse apartment and not by himself.

"If you were so worried about getting in trouble," he whispered, hissing when Naeun tugged him up to kiss her, obliging before saying "then you shouldn't have gotten with me."

It wasn't like she knew he was the Kim Mingyu; they met at a company dinner party, where she got a bit tipsy. As she drank, she got to talking to him when he came over to order some wine and the rest was history. While his mom was giving a speech, he was banging her in a closet down the hall. Instead of it being a one-and-done, the two exchanged numbers and got to talking that way. Only on the third date did he admit to being that Kim Mingyu: the one who was off-limits to the whole company. Naeun did feel sad when he told her, Mingyu agreeing to sneak around with her to make sure that his mom didn't find out.

That was two years ago.

Naeun chose to not respond, kissing him once more to shut him up as he pulled her into his lap. She smiled as her hands moved around his toned body, humming when he began to roll his hips to meet hers. Before he could say anything about resuming what he had started, the click of heels sounded through the penthouse. Mingyu quickly placed Naeun down, rushing to lock the door and throw on PJs while Naeun got dressed. Naeun tossed some clothes at him as someone knocked on the door, causing both of them to pause.

"Mingyu, are you up?" He let out a weak yes, slowly getting dressed as he hoped to not sound so scared at his mom's voice. She tried to open the door, asking why it was locked. Naeun quickly hid in a nearby closet just in case she tried to come in. She covered her mouth as his mom knocked again, Mingyu calmed down before answering the door, smiling at his mom. "Good, you're up. I have some breakfast being delivered to you in a few minutes so eat that before you head to work. I have some meetings at the company." Mingyu nodded, hoping that she would get the hint and leave so he could help sneak Naeun out. His mom, however, didn't and entered the room, picking up the clothes that were strewn around the room. Mingyu quickly stopped her, asking why she was back as he took the clothes from her. "Like I said, I have somethings at the company to do, then I have to fly out to LA."

The conversation was thankfully interrupted by her phone ringing, letting her know that her car was out front. "Please pick up these clothes before you're gone so they can be washed." He nodded as she kissed his cheek before leaving the large penthouse, Mingyu breathed a sigh of relief. He waited a few moments to make sure she had actually gone before he knocked on the closet door, letting her know that Naeun could come out. She peaked her head out before sighing, resting against the door. "Your mom is crazy." Mingyu nodded, wrapping his arms around her body as he kissed her. Naeun felt all of her annoyed emotions leave her at the kiss, smiling when he picked her up, placing her on his desk. Naeun gently pushed him back, telling him that she had to go back to the company before his mom noticed she was gone.

He didn't seem concerned, though, kissing her once more as he pulled her to the edge of the desk, slowly sinking to his knees. "Before you go, I want to finish what I started."

_________________________________________

"I'm on my way up."

Naeun leaned against the elevator wall, excited to spend more time with Mingyu. They had been flirting with each other all day and she now wanted nothing more than to lay in the sheets with him.

As the doors opened, she was met with the CEO's face instead of Mingyu's, making her pause. Standing behind her was a shocked Mingyu, his eyes widening. Naeun bit her lip trying to not freak out as her boss stood before her, along with her forbidden boyfriend. "Oh, Naeun. What are you doing here?" Naeun took a moment to think of an excuse to be at her boss's house at 6pm. "I just wanted to stop by and talk to you. I couldn't find you at the company so I thought I'd just pop by."

"Oh, well, can whatever it is wait? I'm about to have dinner with my son." MonJin smiled at Naeun, oblivious to her son's scared look behind her. Naeun nodded, telling her that it could wait and that she'd see herself out. MonJin, however, stopped her, offering her a seat at the dinner table since she was already there. Mingyu shook his head, mouthing for Naeun to reject and just go home. Naeun smiled before declining, saying that she had to meet her members at a restaurant for dinner.

"Alright ladies, you all did great!"

Chohee clapped with her members as her dance teacher left, leaving all of the girls to relax after a long practice. They had a comeback nearing so it was vital that they stayed on top of their game and were ready for it. They didn't want to let the fans down.

"You guys go ahead, I wanna clean some stuff." Chohee waved off her members as she stretched, Naeun offering again to drive her home as it was late and she didn't want her to be alone. Chohee waved off her worry, letting her know that she was going to stay the night at Yua's and that it was close by. Chohee felt like her older members babied her too much, telling them that even though she was younger than them, that she could take care of herself.

"Alright, just let us know that you got there safe," Naeun held her hands up in defense before grabbing her keys, leaving with everyone else to go relax at home. Chohee stared at herself in the mirror, taking a deep breath before she turned on the music, running through the dance a few times. Out of all of the members, she earned the most corrections, so she wanted to make sure she didn't hold her team back.

After she became satisfied with her amount of progress, she packed up, beginning her trek to Yua's.

"Are you sure you don't want me to call my boyfriend, Chohee? It's pretty late." Chohee sighed before declining, telling her that she was alright. "You're close by so it won't take me too long. I promise you, I'm safe." Chohee smiled as she entered a nearby convince store before hanging up. She whistled as she looked through the aisles, picking up different snacks she saw fit for her sleepover with her best friend. After buying lots of snacks, she returned outside, once again on her way. As she walked, she noticed a man in an orange puffer jacket walking on the opposite side of the street. She didn't think anything of it, continuing her walk as she looked at movies she and Yua could watch on her phone. When she reached an intersection, Chohee received a message from an unknown number.

PLAY ME

Chohee clicked the link, listening to the song that began to play. She thought it was from an idol she had begun to like, a smile coming to her face as she continued on her way. As came closer to Yua's, she received another text.

UNKNOWN: Do you like the song?

Chohee: Yes

UNKNOWN: [picture]

UNKNOWN: I can tell.

Choehee paused when she saw the picture, feeling her heart drop. It was a picture of her walking, the picture showing a clear smile on her face. She could tell it was taken from afar, making her turn around to try and see if she saw anyone. She felt her hands shake as she began to run, first telling her members about it before another text came through.

UNKNOWN: Be careful running, Chohee.

UNKNOWN: Don't worry, though. I'll comfort you if you fall.

She couldn't help but run faster, texting Yua to open the door as she came closer. Anyone she saw as she ran, she became suspicious of; someone was watching her closely. Yua quickly opened the door as Chohee rushed in, slamming the door behind her before resting her body against it. She rested her head against the door, taking lots of deep breaths as Yua looked at her like she was crazy. When she noticed Yua's look, she laughed awkwardly. "I was just sooo excited to see you, Yua unnie." She hugged her, handing her the bag full of goodies as they made their way to her room.

As Yua made the ramen, Chohee told her members in their group chat about the texts, and all of them freaked out about it, especially Naeun. When she asked what to do, Naeun mentioned telling the company about it, but she rejected the idea. She already had her members treating her like a baby, why would she want the company to do the same? She placed her phone down as Yua returned, asking if she was alright, remembering how shaky her hands were. Chohee hid how scared she was behind her smile, choosing to focus on her sleepover.

" Kim Hyuna, former star child actress and now popular Youtuber has joined KPOP group Adora as secret 6th member."

Hyuna could smile at the news headline about her, relaxing against her couch as she listened. She had always wanted to pursue being a KPOP idol alongside being an actress and content creator and now she could. It felt like she had just obtained freedom after not being able to do whatever she wanted. It may sound stupid, but she used to feel like rapunzel; sitting in a tower with her mother always telling her what to do and how she knows best. While she knew her mom meant well, she wanted to explore the world on her own, without the leash her mom had her on.

Speaking of her mother, her phone began to ring, her name flashing on the screen. Hyuna sighed as she turned off her TV, answering her phone with a polite "Yes, mother?"

"Hyuna, what is the meaning of this?!" She pulled the phone from her ear as her mom yelled, sighing before pressing it back to her ear as she tried to keep her composure, her hand though gripping the couch cushion. "I'm in Adora-"

"I can read, Hyuna. What I'm talking about is the fact that you didn't tell me, nor run it by me." When Hyuna was still a child actor growing up, her mom was her manager and made most of her decisions when it came to activities she would participate in. No one would ask how Hyuna felt about doing a project, immediately bypassing her to talk to her mom. As she grew up, she wondered if her mom was living vicariously through her, having her join dramas she didn't want to be part of but her mom loved.

"We need to meet and discuss this." Hyuna didn't have a chance to respond as her mom hung up, leaving her to talk to an empty line. She dropped her phone to lie next to her, running her hands through her hair as she tried to calm her nerves. Meetings with her mom were always stressful and nerve-racking; an argument always happened at some point. Her mom would yell at her until she gave in to her demands, not caring if she left Hyuna sobbing from her mom's harsh words.

Hyuna was asked by friends why she didn't distance herself from her mom after hearing the arguments, Hyuna replied that she couldn't She couldn't turn her back on her mom who had done so much for her, yet, she thought about it all the time. Even when she began Youtube, her mom was still part of it and took credit for her success. She wanted to gain success herself, not with her mom's forced help.

She looked down at her phone as it buzzed, a text from her mom letting her know to meet her at the same restaurant that they always met at, the same room in the back. She replied with a simple "Okay" before she began getting ready. Once she was done, she left to go see her mom.

When Hyuna arrived at the restaurant, she stopped before she entered the room with her mom. Her mom was on the phone with someone, talking about how disappointed she was in Hyuna's choices. "This is why I shouldn't have let her move out! She's out here joining random KPOP groups and will end up in so many scandals. Sometimes I hate her."

She hates her?

Hyuna gripped the doorknob, holding her tears at her mom's words. She knew her mom didn't like her choices, but to actually hate her for them? Hyuna tried to fix her breathing, trying to calm down as her mom finished her phone call, hanging up in a curt tone, the same one she used when talking to her.

"Hyuna, is that you?" Hyuna paused at her mom's words, her taking a moment to try and recover, nodding before sliding open the room's door to see her mom. She sat at the table, her arms crossed as she wore a suit. She wore the same suit she wore when they had these meetings, Hyuna having flashbacks to her mom yelling at her, removing her suit jacket to throw it at her, then thanking Hyuna when she would bring it back to her a day later. It was a vicious cycle and Hyuna now wanted to end it. She already joined Adora, so she could begin to take more steps to be independent. To be happy.

She wordlessly closed the door behind her as she went to her seat across from her mom, glancing down to see a plate of carrot cake. No matter how many times she told her mom over the years that she hated carrots, her mom just ignored her.

Her mom placed a folder in front of her, labeled "2023 plan." Hyuna met her mom's eyes with confusion as her mom opened the folder, showing the plan she made for her. "You will tell MonJin of that company you're apparently part of that you're leaving that group." Hyuna let out a weak "Mom," only for her mom to ignore it.

"After that you will release a statement to the public that something has come up and that you wish the members all the best."

"Mom!"

"Then you will end your current apartment lease and move back in with me and I will monitor your Instagram and YouTube account."

"Mom, please!"

"After you give me control, then you will begin dating Nam Joohyuk again and then get married later this year."

Hyuna paused at her mom's words about Joohyuk, asking what she was talking about. She dated him two years ago after her mom had introduced her to him. Their relationship was great until she talked about becoming independent from her mom and he kept insisting that she stay under her mom's thumb, which over time angered her. After she asked him if he would support her if she didn't and he refused, she broke it off with him. He chased after her for a while, her mom also tried to change her mind, trying to forcefully push them back together. That was the last straw that made her move out.

Her mother once again ignored her daughter's words, taking a sip of her drink before tapping the page. "I expect this to be done by the end of this week. We are on a time crunch with your father wanting to use the room as a study, so you need to tell your father that you will be moving in this Saturday-"

"Kim Jisoo!" Hyuna watched her mother's eyes widen, feeling her nerves resurface from her outburst. She took a deep breath, taking her mom's shocked silence as an opportunity to finally speak. "I will not be doing anything in that book. I will not be moving back home, I will not be dating Joohyuk again, and I will not be quitting Adora."

Jisoo curtly shut the notebook, then throwing it at Hyuna, making her flinch as the book hit her. "Who do you think you are, Hyuna?! I am your mother! I gave you life, I put you into the spotlight, and I made you a star!"

"You made me do roles I didn't want to! You forced me into the spotlight, I didn't ask to be in it!" Hyuna fired back, throwing the book to the floor. "You made me do roles with all the famous actors you liked no matter how I felt about them. You stood by while your favorite director gave me alcohol while I was 14 and try to convince me to join a new movie with someone who was 34."

Her mom's jaw clenched at the memory and Hyuna's voice, curtly telling her that she already apologized for it, which made Hyuna laugh out of shock. "No, you didn't. You told me that if I told anyone you'd go to jail and it would be my fault! You cried and asked me how would I be able to live knowing I put my mom in jail! You manipulated me into thinking that I should ensure you're safety by saying I wouldn't tell anyone and that I'd do the movie." Hyuna breathed heavily as she recalled that night: her mom on her knees in front of her, sobbing out onto Hyuna's knees. She looked so pathetic; Hyuna often thought back to her mom's sobbing that immediately stopped the minute she left the bedroom.

"Hyuna, I did so much for you. All you have to do is listen to me-" "And what, mom?! Listen to you and do what?! Be a good little girl and be your doll?"

Hyuna sighed as her mom's eyes seemed to turn almost black, letting out a shriek when Jisoo's hand crossed Hyuna's face, slapping her harshly. Hyuna cupped her now bruised cheek as Jisoo continued to yell at her, her words merging together as she only focused on the pain. Her mom actually hit her. Her mom not only hated her but hit her?

Hyuna wondered why she was still in this room with her mom, listening to her constant venom when she could've walked out. She is an adult and has the right to walk out, despite what her mom thought. It was a new year and it was giving her an opportunity to pursue the things she always wanted to.

She wiped her tears, taking a deep breath as she fixed her hair, sitting upright in her chair to meet Jisoo's eyes. "I am an adult, not a child anymore. I am not your doll, something you can live through. You can do whatever you want for yourself but not me. I'm done here."

Jisoo was shocked at her daughter's cold voice, watching as Hyuna stood up and picked up the carrot cake she ordered her. Hyuna gripped it before throwing it at Jisoo, the cake smudging all over her suit, the plate then falling to the ground, shattering.

"Oh, and I told you that I hate carrots!" Hyuna quickly made her way out of the room, rushing outside to her car. She slammed the door as she quickly started it as if her mom was going to come outside and stop her. She quickly whipped out of her parking spot, driving home. The drive felt like a blur, Hyuna only coming back to when she was sitting in her driveway. She sighed, placing her forehead against the wheel, trying to calm her nerves. She enjoyed the silence and newfound freedom she now had, both feelings interrupted when her phone began to ring. She reached over to see who was calling, noticing it was her mom, making her heart sink. She quickly blocked her number, doing the same to Joohyuk who she knew her mom had most likely already talked to before placing her phone back into her bag.

Hyuna sat in the car for a bit longer, trying to wrap her around what had just happened before getting out, making her way up to her apartment, hoping to just relax and forget about what happened. When she reached her hallway, she paused and smiled when she saw Youngjae by her door. When he noticed her, he smiled, holding up a convenience store bag, making her smile. "I got some of your favorite things so we can celebrate you being one of the best idols I'd ever seen." Hyuna nodded, jogging up to hug him before unlocking the door, letting him in.

She met Choi Youngjae at a brand company party. She thought he sang well and that's how they began talking. They instantly clicked and became great friends, becoming close fast.

As they sat at her coffee table drinking coffee milk and sharing a sweet roll cake, she told him what happened that morning with her mother, Youngjae letting out a whistle when she finished. "I'm happy that you're out from your mom's thumb as I know how difficult it was for you, but she slapped you?" He shook his head as Hyuna took a sip of her milk, nodding, her hand instinctively touching her cheek. Youngjae leaned over to examine it, getting up with a soft "hold on" before going to her freezer, and returning with an icepack.

He gently placed it onto her cheek, letting out a small "sorry" when she winced, pressing it gently to her red cheek. Hyuna thanked him, Youngjae nodding as he took a piece of the roll, offering to feed it to her as she couldn't turn her head with the icepack, which she accepted.

She always thought there was something there between her and Youngjae, but always chose to ignore it as her mom was trying to get her to go back to Joohyuk. She knew her mom would never approve of anyone who wasn't him, which discouraged her from dating him. But, now she was free from her mom's grasp...

"So, what are you going to do now that you're your own person?" Youngjae asked, smiling at her. Hyuna took a second before responding with a confident "whatever I want."

She laughed softly as Youngjae applauded her, saying that he would support her no matter what. She nodded, taking a deep breath for confidence before quickly saying "doyoumaybewanttogooutonadate?"

Youngjae paused at her words, trying to process what she had said as Hyuna looked at him with embarrassment. She never had to ask anyone out on a date, so she was a ball of nerves. Those nerves, though, disappeared when he laughed softly, nodding. "I'd love to."

Hyuna nodded, looking away from him as he smiled at her, mumbling how cute she was, making her gently shove him.

"Good Job, Soojin! Let's take five"

Soojin smiled, bowing before walking down the street, opening her water bottle. The group was in California filming the "Ditto" music video, each filming individually before coming together later.

As she took a sip of her water as the hot sun beat down on her, she heard the sound of boys cheering and laughing. She looked up to see eight boys being the cause of the noise. She watched from across the street as they joked around with one another until one of the boys met her eyes with a smile, making her heart skip.

He was one of the prettiest boys she had ever seen, making her stumble over her own feet. She felt the embarrassment cover her cheeks as they turned pink, looking up to once again make eye contact with the pretty boy. He smiled at her once more, making her feel better. Soojin thought about crossing the empty street to go and talk to him, stepping forward.

"Soojin!" She turned her head to face a cheery Hyuna, peaking out from the fence that she had just walked out from. "We're going to record the together portion now, come on."

"Coming" Soojin smiled, following behind her, pausing to once again look across the street to the boy, waving at him before joining her members.

"Seonghwa, what are you waving and smiling at?" He jumped as San patted his back, shaking his head before letting out a small "nothing.", joining his own group again as he thought about the pretty girl he had just seen.

~ <3

Two weeks later

Soojin wasn't fond of the rushing around part of being a popular idol; your days were booked back to back with schedules that had you rushing out of places. She found it a bit rude to not at least spend a bit of time talking to the people around her, but, she knew the group needed to do something across Seoul so she had no time. She jogged behind her members as they left the KBS music stage, gearing up to quickly change then jump into the van and eat quickly before her next schedule. "Excuse me, sorry!" She bowed quickly as she took off her mic, apologizing to the many staff and other idols she bumped into as she followed her members backstage. She was about to turn the corner to run into the changing room when she slipped, not noticing the "beware of spilled water" sign.

Before she could fall backward, though, someone caught her.

She opened her eye carefully, trying to figure out why she wasn't on her butt. When she fully opened her eyes, she was met with the caring eyes of the same boy she had seen two weeks ago across the street from her in California. She tried to figure out how he was here, backstage at a KBS event when he asked her if she was alright.

"Yes! I mean, yeah, thank you," she cleared her throat as she stood upright. He smiled at her, her heart skipping a beat like it had first done when they first made eye contact. Before she could say something this time, Chohee yelled for her to hurry into the room to change so they could go. She nodded, thanking him once more before she paused when she realized she didn't know his name.

"Seonghwa..."

"Yes, thank you so much Seonghwa! I definitely owe you one" she said frantically as she rushed into the room, slamming the door as she quickly changed, leaving a confused Seonghwa in the hallway, chuckling before going to meet his own members by the stage.

Once they were all in the car, she asked her members if they had ever heard of an idol fitting the description and name she gave them. They all shook their heads, making Soojin a bit sad. She tried herself, but her phone ended up dying mid-search. When Naeun asked why Soojin told her all about him; how they had met in California after making eye contact and how it made her heart skip a beat, then a few minutes ago how he had caught her in the hallway. All the girls teased Soojin for her small crush making her giggle. Soojin couldn't help but think about her crush throughout the next schedule, her mind going back to him constantly.

"Soojin unnie is living a romance move," April said as they emerged from the car later that evening, the other girls agreeing. Soojin brushed them off as she went upstairs into her room, falling face-first into her pillows as she squealed, kicking her feet. She couldn't help but smile as she plugged in her phone, gearing up to search for her prince charming once more when she noticed she got a text from her manager.

I think this is the boy that has caught your heart, Soojin. Have a good night.

She clicked on the link, her heart skipping a beat as the boy's picture popped up on her screen.

Ateez Seonghwa.

She curled up into her sheets as she typed his name into Youtube, watching every fancam, interview, vlog, etc. he was in. She couldn't help but smile every time he did, making her drop her phone to cover her face.