This can't be happening, not now. Not now!

My mic pack came loose from my running after him, but the guy was super fast on those long legs of his. I was wearing this flashy pink glittery skirt and a light pink glittery top with one shoulder. I had to be careful not to flash anyone anything as I ran.

Producers were running around backstage, it was almost our final performance, and outside I could hear hundreds of fans screaming our names. Today the final line-up will be decided and it was the biggest day of all. On this day, Jiwoong decided he would finally be jealous.

Great.

Great timing, bro.

"JIWOONG!" I yelled as I sprinted faster. He was waving me away from him, as he strutted faster down the corridor. Still looking like he was walking a fast runway show. I passed Gio, who gave me a stunned look. She was wearing similar colors to mine but in a crop top and wide baggy shorts variant. I will be performing the final song with her, Nina, Jisoo, Lux, Choonhae, Billie, Briar, and Bongcha.

I couldn't waste too much time with Ji, because we were up next. The other nine girls, led by Ara, were dressed in muted blue and had an entirely different concept from ours.

"JI!" I yelled as I finally caught up with him next to Studio B. I didn't even know where he was running to. I just knew he was running from me.

"It was just a goddamn interview, Ji!" I grunted, out of breath. "I don't know what you were expecting of me. What did you want me to say?"

He stared at his feet, clenching his teeth. He looked handsome in that dark suit, though.

"Maybe not that he is your soulmate?" he grunted while still looking anywhere but at me.

"I lied!"

He was breathing hard. He turned towards me and ran both his palms through his hair.

"I have seen you look at him. I have seen how he looks at you, Allison. You can't tell me that is fake." He said. A certain fear laced every word. A certain hopelessness. This was going to be it, I was going to lose him over this. Fear snatched my heart in a vice grip. I had trouble catching my breath. He couldn't go. He couldn't leave me like this.

I dragged him to me by his shirt, I knew we were in public, but it didn't matter right now. "I don't know what you saw because I know what I feel!" I grabbed his face and whispered. "I love you, Jiwoong. I love you!"

His sadness clenched my own heart together even more. He let his head fall down in my palms, barely containing his tears. "But I can never be your man, not like Hanbin is. Never like that." He whispered. He took in a deep shuddering breath and stepped away from me.

His feet kicked at the door of the studio. "He gets to have you, and you will never truly be mine." It hurt—those words.

"Does it really matter?" I said, angry now. "What Hanbin and I are acting like in public? When I know what I feel inside for you?"

"Yeah, it does when it becomes something real, Sarang." He says, voice dark now. "You can tell me you don't feel that way all you want. I saw what I saw in that interview."

"I'm not choosing Hanbin!" I cried. I didn't care if he heard it somehow. Hanbin and I might be two sides of the same coin, and I loved him dearly, but I didn't choose him. I would like to believe in freedom of choice.

Hanbin was my friend, and I had no other feelings for him.

Liar.

A voice deep inside of me chuckled. My inner voice was a bitch like that sometimes.

"I need some time, princess," Jiwoong said, voice hurt and frail. "I need some space." He squeaked, hand running through his hair again, and my heart breaking further.

"Don't go, please!" I cried. 'Please, Ji!"

"I love you, Allison." He said. "Oh god, I love you. Like I have never loved anything or anyone." Before turning around and I barely heard the whisper underneath his breath.

"But is it enough?"

The words hung in the air, the weight of uncertainty crushing my chest. I watched helplessly as Jiwoong's figure grew smaller, disappearing into the distance. It felt like a part of me was being torn away, leaving a void that threatened to consume me.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I stood there, my heart aching with every beat. The reality of the situation crashed over me like a tidal wave. Jiwoong, the person I had come to love with every fiber of my being, had just walked away. The pain was unbearable, and I couldn't fathom a future without him by my side.

I sank to the ground, my legs no longer able to support me. The cold, hard floor pressed against my trembling body as sobs wracked through me. The world around me seemed to blur into a haze of lights and shadows, the sounds of the bustling backstage reduced to a distant murmur.

Gio approached me cautiously, concern etched on her face. She knelt down beside me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Allison, are you okay?" she asked softly.

I shook my head, unable to find the words to express the anguish consuming me. The weight of Jiwoong's absence felt suffocating, the reality of our fractured relationship becoming all too real.

Gio's voice was gentle as she spoke, her words carrying a sense of understanding. "I know it hurts, Allison. But sometimes, people need space to figure things out. Maybe Jiwoong just needs time to sort through his emotions."

She didn't even try to hide that she knew about us. Me sitting on the cold floor, sobbing my newly put-on makeup off, might be an indicator of that.

Her words offered a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that enveloped me. Perhaps there was a chance for us to find our way back to each other. But the uncertainty gnawed at my heart, and the fear of losing Jiwoong forever remained a haunting presence.

"Let's get you cleaned up and get on stage, Bella," Gio said as she literally pulled me off the floor. Here she was, this girl who I once didn't get along with at all. Helping me.

As the final performance approached, I wiped away my tears, determined to put on a brave face for the stage. The audience awaited our performance, their cheers echoing through the venue. I took a deep breath, summoning the strength to push aside my personal turmoil and give my all to the show.

Together with Gio and the rest of the group, we stepped onto the stage, the energy of the crowd electrifying the air. The music began, and I allowed myself to get lost in the performance, pouring my heart and soul into every dance move and note. The pain in my chest faded momentarily as the stage became my sanctuary, a place where I could temporarily escape the complexities of my personal life.

As the final notes of the song rang out, the applause erupted, mingling with the cheers of the audience. But even amidst the celebration, a void remained. The realization that Jiwoong was not there to witness our triumph weighed heavily on me.

I made my way back to the dressing room, the cheers still ringing in my ears. The room was abuzz with excitement and congratulations, but my heart was heavy with longing. I couldn't shake the feeling that something vital was missing, that a piece of my soul was still out there, walking away from me.

The journey was far from over, and as I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I made a silent vow to fight for what I believed in. I would fight for Jiwoong and for the love we shared. No matter the challenges that lay ahead, I refused to let go without a fight.

With renewed determination, I took a deep breath and stepped back into the world, ready to face whatever lay in store for me. The path ahead was uncertain, but I held onto the hope that love would prevail, and that Jiwoong and I would find our way back to each other.