CHAPTER FOUR

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It was past midnight when May decided it was time to stop and go home. After spending the entire afternoon at the bakery helping Lia with all the cake madness, she went back to the studio to make up for the time she must have rehearsed that afternoon. In that moment when she stopped to rest, she could only wonder how Lia had the nerve for all that. The rehearsal routine was very heavy, and so was the working time in the bakery.

She sat on the wooden studio floor, panting as she opened the bottle of water she always carried to cool off.

Staying late at the studio was a habit she'd developed over the past year. She and Mingi, who was the protagonist next to her in last year's show, were night people and most of their rehearsals ended up happening at that time. Mingi was no longer in the company, but May continued with her nightly rehearsals, which became more frequent thanks to the lack of sleep that the girl's recent anxiety had been causing.

Anxiety that had a name had just passed through the door and was heading towards it.

"San, what are you doing here?" she asked, standing up.

"I called you several times, but you didn't answer, you didn't answer my messages either. So I went to your apartment and your sister said you were here." He explained.

She looked away, thinking that didn't explain why he was there. She just wanted to get her things and run, but San spoke again, with an expression of one who was confused and hurt

"I'm sorry about that night. I shouldn't have said anything. I wouldn't have if I knew it would make you uncomfortable... I didn't want it to look like... Look , I just said that, I don't even know why. But I wanted to say that I'm happy with Woo. I love him and would never do anything to hurt him... What I mean is that... I really like you, we both like you, but I wasn't trying at all to make a move when I told you that. I am not.... I'm not the kind of guy you're probably thinking I am."

"I'm not thinking you're the kind of guy you think I'm thinking you are," she said, getting completely tangled up in words. She sighed in frustration. In a sudden moment of courage, she admitted.

"I know you're not, it's just... I'm trying not to be that kind of girl."

San froze, completely speechless.

"I like you two a lot too, and to be honest, I've come to like you a lot more than I should. And that's why I need to step away, because I respect and admire your relationship so much." She explained "When you say those things... I started thinking about things I shouldn't, which makes things difficult, so... I prefer things between us to be strictly professional from now on."

San remained silent.

"No clubbing or going out to eat, or just meeting up to hang out." She said as she gathered her things, not looking at San who remained still and silent

"We'll just see each other at rehearsals."She finally turned to face him.

"Okay?" she asked.

San nodded, still not saying anything, and the girl headed for the door, leaving him alone in the now empty studio. The silence in the room was deafening and contrasted with the boy's whirlwind of thoughts.

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"Thanks for coming with me." Tati said as Seonghwa got out of the taxi carrying a box full of cleaning products.

"Did you really think I was going to let you move into a stranger's apartment all by yourself?" he said "No no, we have to make it very clear that you're not alone, we can't let him think he can try anything"

"You and Lia are driving me crazy with all this worry" Tati said "It's not a total stranger, he's friends with Hongjoong"

"Was that supposed to make me feel better?" Seonghwa commented as they climbed the stairs

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