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(22) ; We Are The Lovesick Girls

Krystal couldn't hear another BTS song ever after that winter passed.

Her fingers reflexively moved to slam her car radio shut, upon hearing the familiar beat of their latest song, Permission to Dance.

It was currently August 2021, a whole year and a half since ... whatever between her and that guy happened. Sometimes, she'd ponder into the white space in her head and wonder if that summer ever happened at all, – that summer when they fell in love.

Was she ever in love with worldwide K-pop star V? Or was that all just a fever dream?

She couldn't even say his full name while she monologued in her brain. It was all too ... painful.

She didn't want to open a wound.

A lot of things have happened ever since December of 2019.

She finally took the courage to leave SM Entertainment and signed off with a new agency instead, which focus mainly on her acting projects.

Krystal was still open to the idea of producing a solo album, but she was the type of artist that would anticipate nothing but perfection when it comes to releasing a song, more less an album. So, you could imagine that it would take at least some time until she finds the right time to release any sort of music.

Occasionally, she enjoys recording songs for fun with her good friend Grace, a sound engineer who owned her own recording studio. But nothing serious ever went on, and her vocals were kept locked up in that tiny recording booth for the time being.

Hojoon oppa – her long-time manager left SM and followed her to the new company as well. It was the one thing that comforted her a lot throughout the difficult times, if you'd ask Krystal.

Currently, she was in the middle of reviewing a few drama scripts, one particular script on romcom having her full attention. She always liked venturing to different type of genres and not stick to one type so that her artistic creativity would continue to grow. She enjoyed acting and she sees it as something she could do on the long run, much like modelling.

Though she was no longer an idol, and the newer generation of idols have taken over the industry by storm, Krystal still kept her distance from the public. She always leaves the house fully covered from head to toe when she's out during her personal time, wanting to avoid the nosy paparazzies at any cost.

The last encounter she had with them were not very nice. She had wanted to erase that moment forever, but still thankful that not much damage has happened from that incident.

But ... at what risk? Her heart's broken and her lover left her like a gust of wind.

She finally arrives at her shared apartment with Jessica when her phone suddenly rang, blaring through the empty house. She picks up the cell upon seeing Seungchol's name flashed on the screen, silently reminding herself to switch the phone's ringtone to a softer one later.

"Sup?"

"Hey Soojungie, are you still on tonight?"

Tonight?

Ah, shit.

Tonight.

That was tonight?

She almost forgets that her close friend has been pestering her to accompany him to one of the biggest socialite clubs in all of Seoul. He had booked for her time one month prior, and has been phoning her every weekend to remind her of their date.

Krystal wasn't really a club girl to begin with, because she really hated socialising and clubbing was a little raunchy for her. It was just ... that she didn't vibe with such places but she was willing to do a lot of things for her bestie, one of them includes going to a club in the middle of a pandemic.