POV: Jade
We're not going anywhere like this. It's not working.
I huff irritably and throw the towel on a chair.
This bunch of idiots is fighting over leadership, but if the group doesn't cooperate, we're stuck here.
And that pisses me off.
Ga-Yeon picks at the cuticles on her hands, nervous, but hasn't said a single word.
She hasn't responded to Tae-Hyun's obnoxious remarks, having decided to be the leader.
And many of the boys, rightfully, aren't having it.
"This isn't working, you have to follow my directions," he rants, while Seo-Joon snorts loudly.
They glare at each other, but don't dare confront each other openly.
I have to intervene, I already know how this is going to end.
"You're pissing me off. The coach's choreography is well-defined, you just have to apply it as she asked," I say seriously.
"아가리 (Agari!)"
What did she say to me? Shut up, me?
"Listen, son of a bitch, I'll smash your face in if you ever talk to me like that again!" I snarl, charging at him.
"You have to respect your elders, you're not in your country here!" he replies with a disgusted gesture.
"This is my country too, since I'm a Korean citizen. And you're still an asshole. Bigger, but still an asshole."
He raises a hand to hit me, but I'm faster.
I grab his arm, twist it, making him groan, and with a quick movement, I lean forward, throw him onto his back, and slam him to the ground.
Years of judo have been worthwhile.
I stick my tongue out at him and walk away.
There are exclamations and whispers behind me, but Tae-Hyun is even more pissed off than before.
"You, you ugly..."
"If you keep going, I'll break all your bones and then we'll see if you can dance," I warn him, turning and pointing a finger at him. "If you can't work in a team, you shouldn't have come here."
"You didn't deserve to get in, you should have been kicked out! All of you!"
He gives us a look of hatred, reserving pure venom for me. "You're the one they should have disqualified, since you cheated, taking the spots away from people more qualified than you!"
"And who would have recommended me, let's hear it!" I snort, crossing my arms.
"Kim Min-ho. I've seen you two together often."
I'm shocked and stare at him open-mouthed.
"Are you serious? I mean, are you stupid?"
"Try denying it, I have proof."
I'm so shocked I don't know what to say.
Proof of what?
Lee Ha-Eun enters at that moment, looking at us sternly.
"What are you talking about, Tae Hyun?"
He blushes violently, bows his head, then snaps it back up, pursing his lips.
"Lee Yeona cheated, Coach!"
Angrily, I try to charge at him again, but Jin-ho holds me back.
"Explain yourself."
"She... I saw her leave Coach Kim's room," he replies in one breath.
My legs feel weak.
How is this possible?
The only time I've done this was when...
I turn white at the memory and am speechless.
All eyes are on me, and I feel like I've run dry.
Now, what do I say?
Ha-Eun stares at me sternly.
"Is it true, Yeona? Did you go to Min-ho's room?"
I start sweating and feel panic gripping me.
And yet, Min had warned me, but I didn't listen.
I was so afraid of never seeing him again that I ran after him to hug him.
And then...
Moments of fire are etched in my mind, but this isn't the time to relive them.
I swallow and look the woman in the eyes.
I nod.
"Why? You know the rules forbid it."
I already feel condemned beyond appeal, but I absolutely must not give up.
I will deny with all my might what happened between us. It's something so beautiful and delicate that I won't throw it into gossip.
I loved every moment I spent with him, and I won't let these people find out.
"He had something of mine, and I wanted to get it back before he left," I whisper softly.
"What was so important about him that he broke the rules?"
I gasp, scratch my side, and finally have an epiphany: I know what can save me.
I straighten up, take off my sweatshirt, and smile defiantly.
"This," I reply, pointing to the shirt I'm wearing.
It's a t-shirt from Reb3ls' fanbase, Reb3llious, with the group's image and Min-ho's autograph on the side. I got it signed after the first audition, during a break, passing it to the girl in front of me who asked him to do it with her shirt.
I don't think he even saw me in that crowd.
But that idiot Tae Hyun doesn't know that.
"It's important for a fan to have something of their idol. Sorry, Coach, I didn't think about the consequences when I asked."
I lower my head in apology and see the boy embarrassed.
"It's a serious thing to denigrate your teammates, you know that, Tae Hyun? Did you check what happened before making any inferences?"
"I... I just saw her in front of Coach Kim's door, thanking him exaggeratedly, and I thought..."
"Apparently, you're not capable of thinking clearly, if that's your conclusion. That's enough for today, everyone back to the dorm. Dinner will be brought to your rooms, and you'll be grounded until tomorrow. I want you here at 8:00, quiet and working. If you still can't do something constructive, I'll talk to the organization staff and the group will be disbanded, sending you all home."
We're all terrified at the thought, but she doesn't even let us protest. She orders us to leave, and with our heads down, shooting each other murderous glances, we leave the room.
I don't feel like taking the elevator with them, so I take the stairs and start climbing them two at a time, muttering curse words with every step.
I reach my room out of breath and collapse on the bed.
What a damn day!
I close my eyes, but a smile escapes me as I think of HJ: the memory of him, the morning spent in his arms, makes me feel inexpressible emotions.
I won't be able to be a true Reb3ellius, I won't be able to shout to the whole world that that idol was 'mine,' with his body, his soul, his unimaginable sweetness.
But inside me I feel an immense light, the one my talisman left me and that I will not allow anyone to extinguish.
I hug the pillow and whisper his name.