cinderella story

“fair enough. i’m hasik’s half-sister, and he’s got the worst reputation around, and even i get those accusations. and i’m not trying to write or breakout solo or anything. i guess i get where he’s coming from there.”

“yeah, probably. but i’m glad we’ve got him and juno-- it makes our company so much more notable. and...” she paused, smiling a little. “i’m sure you’re glad too. for other reasons...”

“yeah, well, that’s totally different,” rin grumbled, turning bright red. “i don’t know! i’m not debuted! maybe everything changes!” she insisted. “you’re making it sound sucky…”

“it is kind of sucky, sometimes,” chae admitted. “there are rewards, though. and they make it all worth it. i promise. you’re just not ready.”

“luck, and social media being more of a factor than ever?” sola answered, shaking her head. “you’re just good at everything– embrace it! easier to talk sing while doing incredible dance work than full on belt, i guess?”

“yeah, you might have a point there, actually. i got a nice voice, but not when i’m short breath,” she laughed. “i hope i can sing more in the future, though. i’m way better at it.”

he burst out laughing, tucking her hair behind her ear. “about rap, chaeneul. come on. get your head out the gutter– you’re bright red,” he teased. “come on– i bought champagne.” he paused, smiling at her. “although, i can teach you everything i know there too, if you really want.”

“and who’s to blame for that?” she asked, holding onto him and ducking her head lower. “you did not, jewoo-- it’s a debut, not new year’s eve! you shouldn’t have.... i love you....” she missed him. as if he hadn’t choreographed their debut and run practice with them for hours beforehand, but she still missed him. “oh, baby, i’m to tired to come up with a clever retort....”

“stop. we all are,” myungji answered. “violetta is full of intelligent visuals. we’re unstoppable.”

“well, you’ve got me there,” she laughed. “rookie of the year material for sure.”

“isn’t sikyung a super-genius? or is that tiwi?” myungji asked, laughing with her. “either way, i think i’m screwed.”

“i mean, both. but i still think you’re up there. you’re beauty and brains-- the complete package,” chae insisted

“it is,” he assured her, ducking a bit so he could kiss her, looking into her eyes. he knew how she was– even now that she’d debuted, she’d be thinking about performance. it was just who chae was. “i’ll teach you everything i know. tomorrow. tonight we celebrate.”

every time he kissed her, it felt like electricity. the way that, after all these years, they were together. they were peers... it was hard for her to wrap her head around. but she was happier than she’d been in a long time. “i look forward to it... the help, and...yeah,” she trailed off, blushing. lord only knew what he meant by celebrate.

“oh god, no. please. if anything i’m yein’s kid sister. trying my best, but a poor imitation,” sola laughed. “they did a great job making you guys sound very spotlight, but giving you a distinct voice. i think, anyway. and the two songs was smart– it shows off different sides of you from the jump.”

“you got your first solo win faster than she did, so what does that say?” chae insisted, bumping sola with her elbow. “yeah, i thought that was smart too. i still have no idea why i was made the rapper, of all people but..... it seems to be working out, so what the hell do i know.”

“no kidding. but also, how the fuck is juno the way that it is? they’re such an anomaly. they really would have suited higher way better.”

“true, but from what i know, that wasn’t happening. i think nathan has a complex about people thinking he’s gotten what he’s got from his dad’s influence, and it’s easier to prove that it’s all him if he’s not working in the same building,” she pointed out.

the restrictions were ones he placed himself. and to be frank, he still felt nervous– the power dynamic between them was one that would always be there, and he forever was nervous that he was abusing it. but she drove him wild. and there was only so long he could wait while knowing they both wanted to be together so badly.

he couldn’t even get out how proud he was of her before she was on him, and honestly, he couldn’t complain, arms wrapping firmly around her wrist, holding her against him. it was like a dam breaking. everything he’d been holding back for the past year at least was coming rushing out, and it was starting to make him wonder why he’d been so stupid. sure, he’d been cautious more than stupid, but this just felt so right that he felt like a dumbass for delaying it for so long.

“i love you,” he murmured softly, breaking away from her just so he could look her in the eye. “i’m so proud of you, too. your debut was incredible.”

she melted under his gaze, smiling and tightening her arms around his shoulders. “you think so? we worked so hard-- i think it’s being received pretty well...” she murmured, forehead resting against his. she’d been so anxious about whether or not the debut would go well. she loved woori, but it was no secret that woori had a bad reputation. chae had been concerned, but it seemed as though that was in vain. “i think i need you to give me some tips on rapping, though. i don’t think i’m doing nearly as well as i’d like during the live stages....”

“… thanks. that’s real nice of you,” dokyoung murmured, smiling slightly. “i uh…. i’m mainly having issues with the formations for hobgoblin. i have the moves, but the videos i’ve watched don’t really make it clear where i need to be.”

“oh yeah, i can totally see how you’d get lost,” chae said with a nod. they’d filmed the dance practice and the music video special, very different than the actual positioning. “um..maybe it would be easiest for us to go through the song once, and you show me where you think you should be, and i can correct from there...”

the idea of ever being aligned with the government in any way made myungji giggle. more likely, her mother would use her power for political gain within the gang scene. “i think deokjun has me beat, at the very least….”she pointed out 

“yeah, deokjun is pretty smart. so is sikyung from burnout to be fair. but you could totally give them a run for their money,” chae insisted with a giggle

“yeah. if i was a big rapper, i wouldn’t look at traxx and juliette and go oh yeah this is where i’ll shine the best,” sunjoo snorted

“i still have no idea how spotlight duped noah in. he seems not to fit at all. like, we’re lucky to have him and he makes juno great but...... spotlight lucked out with him. he didn’t need any training, which is good, because he wouldn’t have gotten any meaningful rap training here.”

he’d invited her over to celebrate violetta’s debut, and the moment the door was closed behind them, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a kiss. @jewoorv​

“i mean, aren’t you too busy? with spotlight stuff. i don’t want to be a pain in the ass. but like i could also really use the help…” dokyoung sighed

“nah-- our debut stuff we’ve been rehearsing for months. i have it pretty much down. and helping you is just as important,” chae assured her.