The bus ride was as rowdy as you could imagine it to be, with a bus filled with young trainees who were about to go on a teambuilding trip.

I was sitting next to Allison, who had Jiwoong's promise ring hanging on a necklace around her neck to not raise any suspicion. She thought it would be a bridge too far to wear the thing and ask Hanbin to tell the press they had exchanged promise rings. I agreed.

My eyes darted toward little Choona, sitting next to Ricky a few seats behind me. Yujin and Zhang Hao sat behind them, while Matthew and Keita sat beside them. They were being loud as ever. Keita was looking a little down. I was wondering what had happened there. I knew they had taken that trip to Billie's home, but I didn't know any details.

Choonhae looked a little less pale. The weekend had helped her, I could tell. My motherly instincts constantly screamed around her, needing to protect and care for the young girl. I couldn't explain it, but I felt very protective of her. It still hurt my heart to think about Chanbin and the fact he has to give up his dream.

Yesterday we had the second-to-last elimination. Only fifteen girls and fifteen guys remained, and we had only two weeks left in this competition. Chanbin had been honorably dismissed from the competition, and the entire segment had been hard for me. For a long couple of moments, I thought he had died, and it had gotten too close to my memories of Jinnie.

My palms got sweaty again, and I wiped them against my pant legs.

Something else was announced yesterday.

The public would vote for five of us in the final debut group, as we always had expected. Yet, four more will be selected. Each member of the jury got one golden ticket vote. Our group would be eighteen people, supposedly with three separate units promoting. We would fully embark on the NCT concept journey.

It left me with another complication. Kooyoung was able to vote for me now. If I didn't make it into the final line-up by public vote, would I be saved by my current love interest? Would that even be legal? We would never be able to come out as a couple after that.

He was sitting in the front seat of the bus, looking behind his shoulder at me occasionally. I couldn't lie and say it wasn't highly tempting. Sneaking around the Academy and hooking up in all kinds of secret places was sexy. Allison could relate. Sometimes I wonder if we ever have chosen the same hook-up spot but just didn't know about it. I must ask her later when we are alone.

"I can't believe she got first!" Bongcha loudly whispered from in front of me, and immediately I felt my anger rise.

Choonhae had gotten first place in the last ranking, and rising all those ranks had made a lot of enemies. I was glad the girl got to sleep peacefully next to Yujin these days. Yet, Bongcha had made up rumors about that too.

"It's just a pity vote," Bitna replied haughtily. God, I hated them so much.

"Would you please shut your fucking pie holes, porco cane" Gio groaned from beside them, shooting daggers at their face. I loved that girl. She would always tell it like it is. "I can't stand another syllable from those poisonous lips. So shut it!"

It did shut them up.

Somehow Bongcha was scared of Gio and would give up the fight. She did, however, slide to the seat in front of her to give Gunwook a sultry kiss. I saw Gio seething, but she remained quiet as Ara tried to distract her with music.

It clearly wasn't working.

But that was just something Gio would have to deal with, I guess.