All Night Long

final

[190301]

This was the life she chose: an international pop star.

So many normal people are willing to sacrifice everything to live her life. However, it's not always money and fame that brings happiness. These fools wouldn't last a day in her shoes, let alone a lifetime.

One would say Jinah has put on a professional facade for about 90 percent of her life. She started with dance tournaments all over Europe where she'd perform in front of a panel of professional judges and crowds. Now, she lives an idol life where millions of fans peer into her life and cameras follow her everywhere.

The idol has learned to smile through the emotional and physical pain, pretending that she is alright and isn't dealing with life-damaging problems. Makeup can easily hide the dark circles under her eyes after getting about two to three hours of sleep per night. She is not the type to cry, but she would always feel that heavy lump in her throat whenever the stress and countless schedules overwhelmed her.

The other ten percent of her life is the most private and precious thing ever. She doesn't like to talk about her personal life unless someone asks her about it. Her answers would be curt and straightforward, no more than a sentence. Unfortunately, for her, she knows certain people who love to expose her. Her former teammates at the old dance academy would tell exclusive stories about the idol, revealing how much of a pain in the ass she used to be. Other than that, she spends peaceful and fun times with her group members, converses with her family over the phone when she has time, and have nightly rendezvous with a special person.

Son Jinah holds treasured secrets from the world, keeping them close to her heart without letting a single soul know. She reminisces about them anytime the universe tries to bring her down and test her limits. It's already suspicious enough that Jinah is a naturally quiet and reserved person, so what more does she have to hide?

It's about to be one in the morning when Jinah wanders through the busy streets of Times Square in New York City. She had snuck out of the hotel room without telling her managers except for her best friend, Taehyun, who promised to cover for her if anyone asks for her whereabouts. They would have gone together, but who would lie to their managers about their missing presence? They promised they would explore the city another time when they aren't on a tour.

After her mini adventure of sightseeing in the bustling city and visiting random stores, she searches for her hotel in the sea of buildings. Her fox eyes are droopy, and her body feels like it'll give out if she takes four more steps. It's true that this city hardly ever sleeps as cars streak by and herds of people crowd the sidewalks. Times Square kind of looks cool just like how the films and television shows portray it, but it fails to mention the rude people and crazy expensive prices in stores.

Fortunately, Jinah wore a jacket with a black hat to hide her identity. Although, she thinks she isn't on that level of fame yet to be hoarded by fans and cameras. She is used to this type of cold weather since her hometown isn't any different. The coldness in this city is no joke; it might rival London's. The way she trudges through the street makes her look like a zombie, but she could care less.

Her mind drifts off to wonderland as she continues to walk down some random New York street, wishing she called for a taxi instead. It might be a 24-minute mile walk, but she had just finished a two-hour-long performance. She can still hear the roar of the crowd and the bass thumping in her ears. The energy of her fans cheering and screaming her name reminds her why she became an idol.

Yes, that is the life she chose, but is she truly happy?

"Hey, I finally found you."

Jinah pauses in her footsteps and looks around her busy surroundings upon hearing that familiar voice blessing her ears. The people around her continue to walk by, none of them looking like the owner of the voice that she knows very well. When she turns back around, she looks at the woman in front of her and makes eye contact with her. She is standing close to her, wearing that adorable gummy smile that makes her cheeks look chubbier. Under the black bucket hat, her feline eyes sparkle when she stares into fox eyes, making her laugh at the confusion clouding the gray hues. Dark brunette locks cascade down her shoulders and back, blending in with her black shirt and the dark denim hanging around her hips. Let's not forget her signature black Chanel bag slung over her shoulder.