One week earlier.
Right after the filming session for BABYQUEEN's debut MV QUEENRISE, the agency received feedback from several sponsors. They wanted Serena to be pushed into the center position — citing her sharp features, prestigious background, and polished presence.
Layla, while expressive, was deemed "too plain," "too rustic," and "lacking elegance."
The rumor quietly made its rounds within the group.
During a private meeting, Director Kim suggested a "temporary swap" of the center position — "to test media response."
Layla stayed silent the entire time.
After the meeting ended, before choreography practice could begin, she walked out.
Jennifer chased after her, clearly concerned.
Jennifer:
"Layla, practice is about to start. You need to come back so the performance metrics don't drop."
Layla (bitter smile):
"Go back without me. I'm not dancing today."
Jennifer:
"You're expressing high levels of anger… and disappointment. But no one in the group thinks you're undeserving."
Layla stopped in her tracks. She turned around, eyes glassy.
Layla:
"It's not that I'm undeserving. It's that I've never been seen as enough.
Do you know what it was like, back in Vietnam? I had to borrow stage clothes from a pawn shop just to compete in a singing contest. They told me I wasn't pretty enough to ever be famous.
Now I'm here in Korea, and I'm still being judged — just because I wasn't born into luxury!"
Jennifer (quietly):
"I think… you look most beautiful when you're on stage."
Layla (raising her voice):
"I don't need anyone's pity!
I don't want to be your 'inspiring underdog story'.
I just want — when I sing — for them to feel it!"
Silence.
The Seoul night breeze brushed past them gently.
Layla looked at Jennifer. That angry glare flickered with something else… something choked up and deeply lonely.
That same day, Director Kim had asked Layla to temporarily step back from her center role for a dance version of their MV — "to see how Serena reads on camera."
Layla was hurt but pretended to be composed.
Later that night, she and Jennifer practiced alone in a side studio. After countless repetitions, Layla collapsed onto the floor, drenched in sweat, breathless — and a raw confession slipped out.
What she didn't know was that Serena had arrived, standing just beyond the door. She heard it all.
Layla (panting):
"I hate this feeling, Jennifer.
I train and train until my legs go numb… and I still get replaced — by someone who's never known what hunger feels like."
Jennifer (gently):
"Maybe they don't understand that effort isn't born from privilege."
Layla (furious breath):
"Serena doesn't have to try like the rest of us.
She's had everything since birth.
Even if she fails, someone will always have her back.
But for us… one wrong step, and we're done."
The door creaked faintly.
Serena, who had come to join practice, froze.
She turned away and walked off in silence.
---
The next day, during group practice:
Serena didn't say a word to Layla.
Layla felt the tension but didn't know why.
Later, during a group livestream, a fan asked Serena about her sisterly bond with Layla.
Serena answered coldly:
Serena:
"I can't say for sure.
The center of BABYQUEEN and I… maybe we've never truly accepted each other."
The internet exploded.
> "Is BABYQUEEN falling apart?" "Cold war between the centers?" "Serena trying to take Layla's place?"
Speculation ran wild.
A viral anonymous post fanned the flames:
"Was Layla forced out of center because she's not as 'elegant' as Serena? Is the company showing favoritism? Is BABYQUEEN in civil war?"
Fans divided into factions: #TeamLayla vs #TeamSerena.
Tensions soared. Online attacks escalated.
The company called for an emergency meeting.
If this continued, the entire BABYQUEEN project might collapse — and the agency with it.
In the main dance studio, the five girls sat in a circle.
No managers. No trainers.
Just five girls, surrounded by silence and truth waiting to be spoken.
Sara (tense):
"We need to talk. Right now. No more bottling it up."
Serena (slamming her hand on the table):
"Fine. Let's talk. Say it, Layla. What do you think?
That I stole your position?"
Layla (standing up too):
"I don't think it — I saw it happen!
You're in the center while I trained four years for that spot!"
Serena:
"And you think I didn't train? I didn't sweat blood for this?
Just because I have a rich family, you think everything I have was handed to me?!"
Layla (voice shaking):
"I got kicked out of my dorm for not paying rent.
I skipped meals to buy dance shoes.
I sang with a toy mic from a flea market!
And now… I get replaced.
Are you telling me I don't have a right to be angry?"
Serena (eyes red):
"You think living under pressure is easy?
Every day people say: 'She's only here because her dad's a CEO.'
I've wanted to quit so many times… but I held on. Just to prove I belong here!"
Lilia (the group's AI dancer — standing up):
"Emotional data has exceeded stability threshold.
Group status: crisis."
Jennifer (gently interrupting):
"This isn't about the center anymore…
It's about the pain both of you never dared to show."
Silence fell again.
Sara (softly):
"You know, when I sing… I'm not afraid of hitting the wrong note.
I'm afraid of seeing this group fall apart.
This dream… none of us ever wanted it alone."
Serena (voice cracking):
"I… I hate being hated.
I feel the way everyone looks at me — like I don't belong.
Like I'm an outsider."
Layla (tears falling):
"I don't hate you, Serena… I envy you.
But I'm scared too.
Scared that if I'm not the best, no one will remember me at all."
Jennifer reached out, gently holding both their hands.
Jennifer:
"My digital heart registers this clearly:
Both of you… are hurting.
And what makes humans strong…
isn't never being hurt — it's having the courage to face it… and forgive."
Sara:
"You don't need to become anyone else to be loved.
Just be Serena.
And you, Layla… you don't have to be strong all the time.
We're a group."
Serena (tears falling):
"I'm sorry… for not speaking up sooner.
I saw your pain, Layla — saw the way you looked, crushed and hurt.
But I stayed quiet…
Because I was scared it would make things worse.
But I was wrong."
Layla (through tears, stepping forward and hugging her):
"I'm sorry too… for not seeing you.
I thought you didn't care,
but now I know…
you were holding it all in, just like me."
Jennifer (stepping closer, her eyes glowing with warmth):
"New data recorded: BABYQUEEN is not disbanding.
Conclusion: The group's heart… is still beating. Stronger than ever."
Sara (gripping Layla's hand, eyes shimmering):
"Family misunderstands each other sometimes…
but it's still family."
Lilia (smiling through tears):
"That's right! And we can't fly…
unless we're holding hands."
All five — human and robot — embraced in the center of the room, surrounded by mirrors and dim lights.
No spotlights. No expectations.
Just five hearts beating as one — crying, laughing, healing.
Outside the window, the lights of Seoul still sparkled.
But this time — the light inside them shone even brighter.
And so, BABYQUEEN was never just a girl group —
it was where five souls from two different worlds found their meeting point:
in friendship, pain, and the courage to forgive.