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High school was a shitty place. During Minjeong's senior years, she found no leisure to enjoy what life had to offer and indulged herself in studying. Even though everyone around her was having a blast, she was merely in the corner- looking for various jobs to earn college and hospital money.

While she's always alone studying, one friend constantly nags her to stray away from that lifestyle and relax. Minjeong found it quite annoying, but what could she do? Nothing. That friend was the only good influence she had.

"You'll have just one melon bread again this lunch?!"

Closing her notebook, Minjeong turned to look at the tall guy who stood beside her desk. A faint smile replaced her usual calm expression, and she nodded.

"I have to save as much as possible. Even a single won is worth millions, you know?"

"Minjeong, I can literally just ask my father to sponsor your college tuition."

"No, don't do that. I don't wanna look like some freeloader who takes advantage of you."

The taller tilted his head, "But you're different. You won't do that."

"Look, Juyeon. You're rich, I know." Minjeong snickered, "However, my conscience won't let me off by agreeing to that. My old woman has done a lot for me, and it's my turn to return the favor with my own sweat and hard work. You get me, right?"

Pursing his lips, Juyeon sloped his head down the floor and clicked his tongue. Minjeong is his only friend, and he solely wants her to let the steam off. Due to yesterday's incident about the latter fainting in the middle of PE, like a brother, he felt the need to ensure that she was okay.

But because of Minjeong's secretive nature and top-tier acting, Juyeon couldn't determine what goes around that tricky mind of hers. He could only sigh at this and raise a thumb.

"Hotshot, don't be too hard on yourself."

Minjeong smirked, "I won't."

And so, she picked up her things and placed them into her bag, which brought confusion to Juyeon's face.

"Where are you going now? We have classes!"

"Part-time job."

Before the taller could utter a word, Minjeong evaded by patting his shoulder and swiftly leaving the classroom. Being at the top of the class had a significant advantage regarding the teachers; they won't be suspicious about the latter being absent, so that was fine.

Earning money was much more necessary.

Though unbeknownst to Minjeong, the moment she stepped out of the school boundaries- something crucial happened. She was on her way to that part-time job until the vibration of her phone caused her footsteps to stop and look at it with perplexity.

It came from the hospital, and Minjeong couldn't help but be puzzled upon seeing a familiar doctor's ID on her phone.

Within an instant, the words given out made her face pale.

"Minjeong, you need to come here immediately!"

So she ran and ran- and ran until she finally reached the hospital and hurriedly went up the floors to her grandmother's room. And to her horror, the sound of the heart monitor was the first to greet her when standing in front of the door.

Minjeong's hand clenched into a fist under her windbreaker sleeve to restrain her fingertips from unconsciously trembling. She refused to believe what the doctor told her, kept a straight face, and took a deep breath.

Just like how it has always been- she couldn't do anything.

A short while later, she adjusted her composure and reached to knock on the door before opening it. Immediately, Minjeong's eyes met her grandmother's resting face, and she slowly approached the bed.

Remaining calm, she quietly pulled a chair and placed it beside the bed so she could sit down and wait for the older woman to wake up. Fortunately, it didn't take long as her grandmother's eyelids gradually opened and met with hers.

Even just for a little bit, that look gave her some comfort.

"Granny, are you alright?"

The older woman only smiled at the question, and Minjeong could feel her worries growing bigger and bigger. She must've been having a hard time for her not to answer the question.

"I'm glad I woke up."

"...What?"

"You don't have to support me anymore, sweetie."

Minjeong's face became uneasy, "No, granny. I will until the end-"

"But this is the end."

The older woman placed a hand over Minjeong's hand. With that wrinkly rough yet soft feeling, Minjeong was afraid that this moment would never come again. That calm composure she kept shattered, and she was now doing her best to endure the tears fogging her eyes.

"You're still very young. I want you to enjoy yourself."

Minjeong lowered her head to hide her miserable state, "You can still go on, right? Maybe life has no equal trade. Maybe you can give up all you got and get nothing back. Even if I can't confirm it's true, I have to try, for your sake, granny."

She paused before continuing and sounding broken.

"Just a little bit more... When I buy us a good house, good food- to live a comfortable life."

Too weak and fragile to do anything, the older woman merely smiled and patted the younger's head. Minjeong closed her eyes at this, causing the fog in her eyes to drop down onto her lap.

"I'm sorry, but I'm already tired, and you must be too." The older kept her strength to caress her head, "If there's a start, there's a finish. There's no rain that doesn't stop falling at some point. Not as long as you're alive anyway. So until that time comes, do your best at living."

The heart monitor's pace started to quicken, and Minjeong clenched onto her thighs. That's when the older retreated her hand and placed them back on the younger's. Like she usually does at bedtime back at the orphanage, she began to sing in the most soothing tone there is.

"Even if you've been made a fool of by someone,
If the future becomes so dark, that you can't see what's in front of you."

Taking a deep quivering breath, Minjeong stiffened and closed her eyes shut. She couldn't take it anymore and cry as silently as she could.

"If the place we get to is the very end of the world,
You and I are still together."

Faster.

"Even in the darkness."

And faster.

"I'm sure it's reassuring to have someone there to walk with you,
Someday..."

Then, a straight line.

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"Baby... what does it mean by Debut or Die?"

In disbelief, Jimin pulled away from the embrace and waved a hand through the status window in front of her. She had zero knowledge about this and would constantly ask Minjeong about it, but to think that one would appear because of her command- the shorter felt her world crumbling.

The plan was to hide the status effect from Jimin so she wouldn't think about such a matter while competing in the program. However, it looked like the universe had other plans, and all Minjeong could do was clench her teeth.

Jimin was now looking at her with a worried face, unsure how to react to the sudden turn of events. She knew what those rank tiers meant, from F- to S+, thanks to Minjeong. But what is a status effect? An attribute?

Minjeong never mentioned any of it since the incident when she decided to be honest and reveal that she could see the heart interfaces. Everything is so illogical that the taller soon felt a headache forming inside her head.

Running a hand through her hair, Jimin locked eyes with Minjeong, who had never looked so pale in forever. Silence engulfed the two girls- both staring at the status UI, which started to glitch before slowly fading away.

"Minjeong."

Jimin called monotonously, and Minjeong gulped silently. It's been a long time since she heard it. And hearing it again in this situation? Minjeong knew the case was going to go down bad drastically.

Her plans aren't going as smoothly as she thought they would be.

She didn't like it.

"Jimin... I'm sorry."

Minjeong mumbled and went silent, terrified of facts she kept deciding whether to tell the latter or not.

"...Baby."

This time, Jimin called in a dearing tone that made Minjeong release the breath she's been holding for a few seconds. Can she really hide it from Jimin? The shorter thought was that she could solely make up a fictitious story to cover the truth until she remembered how lying wasn't the best option.

Jimin trusts her, and she trusts Jimin. It's always been like that. Therefore, after a long moment, Minjeong broke the long silence hindering them and held Jimin's hand softly.

"In the next eight months. Jimin, I'm going to die if I don't debut."

Jimin's eyes grew in an instant, "W-What?"

Trying her best not to look bothered, Minjeong pursed her lips and took a deep, shaky breath.

"Don't you think it's been weird? For me? A nobody like me decided to join the program out of nowhere. With no experience, company, or fanbase. It was to evade the status effect as soon as possible."

"..."

Minjeong was too focused on avoiding Jimin's eyes that she waited for the latter to speak, which earned nothing in return until she decided to raise her head and focus back on her.

Jimin seemed to be in a profound daze, looking into nothingness. Was she that shocked? Minjeong got worried as she cupped the taller's cheeks in hopes of serving as comfort.

Jimin closed her eyes and reacted by placing her hands on the shorter, "I'm a mess right now." she sighed.

"I know. I'm sorry."

"...Are you really going to die?"

"Yeah."

"But you won't, right?"

Minjeong didn't respond though it was enough for Jimin to consider as an answer. In truth, with little time as hers to prepare, she wasn't even sure if she could evade the outbreak. There was no guarantee.

She was only trying.

Due to the silence gradually replenishing their space, the worried look on Jimin's face quickly subsided as she gently distanced the shorter's hands away and gazed at her with a disgruntled look.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Jimin bit her lower lip, "What if... What if you suddenly disappeared without me knowing, and it was because of that, huh?"

It looked like she was about to cry, and Minjeong's breath hitched.

"Do you think I'll be able to take that on...?"

"No-"

"Then why...?"

Jimin's voice shattered faintly. She felt simultaneously confused and frustrated that she couldn't discern what was happening. The sense of thorns pilling her chest sweltered, and she wanted to escape.

"I don't want you to think about it when we're in the middle of the competition."

Minjeong attempted to place a hand on the latter's shoulder, only to be shaken off, and she frowned.

"I'm sorry. It wouldn't have probably resulted in this if I didn't get the system. If you hadn't met me, you wouldn't have been experiencing this shitty situation now."

"If we didn't meet?" Jimin clenched a fist, "If we didn't meet, then I wouldn't have found the confidence I have right now." she sounded angry, yet a hint of wistful tone could be heard. "So, please don't say that. If it's you, I couldn't care less about the competition anymore."

She stood up, and Minjeong subconsciously grasped the sheets.

"I love you that much."

*DING*