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A tired sigh tumbled from your lips as you slumped down against the wall of the dance studio. You closed your heavy eyes for a brief moment, dreading the moment when you have to get back up.
You only opened your eyes when Gaeul came up to you. She smiled. "Yoonah. The girls and I want to take a break to head out and grab some food, do you wanna come?" She asked.
You shook your head. You honestly felt a bit under the weather, and you didn't have much of an appetite, especially not for takeout, but you didn't let her know that, because then they would drop everything and take care of you. With dance practice being far from over, you didn't want that. You still had so much to do in preparation for your approaching comeback.
"I'm good, Unnie. I need to work on a move anyway, so just go ahead," you said, standing up and smiling at her.
She mirrored the gesture and patted your shoulder, before walking away with the girls following behind her (after they all said goodbye, of course).
Once you were alone, you placed a hand on your warm forehead.
You were going to grab your water bottle to hydrate yourself, but were interrupted when the door opened again and someone walked.
"Girls? Did you leave some-" you paused when you turned around and were met with Wooseok, your manager.
He slowly shut the door behind him, a menacingly smile plastered across his face. A shiver was sent down your spine. Your heart was racing, and your eyes glossed over with warm tears as you shook your head frantically.
"Manager-nim, please- please, I-I-I don't feel well today, can't you-"
He cut you off by slapping you right across the face. Your head flew to the side and you dropped to the ground, crying out in pain. Your cheek stung, turning red almost instantly. You allowed the built-up tears to flow freely down your cheeks, a loud sob slipping out as you tried to back up as far as you could, but your back hit the mirrored wall.
He stepped forward and smirked. "We're going to have a lot of fun today, aren't we?"
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A groan slipped past your lips. You were lying on the studio floor, unmoving. You couldn't find the strength to get up, so you sat there, accompanied only by the tense silence. One by one, fresh tears rolled down your cheeks, replacing the old trails and staining your face all over again.
Why did you have to live like this? If feels like just yesterday when Wooseok first began hurting you, but it's been more than a year since then. More than a year of pain. More than a year of having to hide your bruises or play them off as a result of dance practice. More than a year of suffering. He'd tell you that you deserve it. That you're lacking in every aspect; your dancing, your singing, your rapping (which isn't even your position), your personality, and your visuals. He'd always put you down for one reason or another, every other day. And because of him, you hate to say it, but you've come to dread going to work. You've come to hate and fear being in the company building, and you're beginning to lose your passion for being an idol. And you hate that you feel like this, because you feel like it's not fair to the girls, who have worked so hard to provide for you, seeing as you're part of the maknae line, and your fans, who love and support you unconditionally.
It just isn't fair. No one can ever win in this situation except for Wooseok.
You flinched heavily when you heard the door creak open, thinking it was Wooseok coming back to do another number on you.
You were beyond relieved when you heard Wonyoung's sweet voice. You heard her chuckle lightheartedly. She can't see your face, as your body is facing the mirrored wall and your face was buried in your arms (you're lying on your side), as well as your body, since you're clad in black sweapants and a matching sweatshirt.
"Gom-ah~ what are you doing on the floor, silly? Did you work hard?" She questioned with a playful smile.
Her smile, however, faltered when she heard a sob. It came from you. You couldn't hold it in anymore and broke down, crying loudly.
Wonyoung was quick to rush over to you, concern washing over her. She gently grabbed your shoulder and moved you onto your back, but gasped and clasped a hand over her mouth when she saw the bruises littering your skin.
"Oh my god," she whispered. Tears brimmed her eyes as they met yours. She lifted your upper body up and laid your head on her lap, stroking your hair. She kissed your head, and a few of her tears hit your cheek. You shifted around to try and get comfortable.
"What happened? Who hurt you?" Wonyoung asked. There was a subtle bite in her voice. Resentment towards whoever laid their hands on you. She and the girls were protective when it came to their members.
"Man... Manager-nim," you murmured. You allowed your eyes to flutter shut, and your breathing evened out. Her touch was soothing.
You felt Wonyoung move around for a second, and then you heard her speak again. She was on the phone now.
"Unnie, you guys need to come back to the studio. Now. It's Yoonah," she said with clear urgency behind her words.
You squeezed your eyes shut.
Not even a minute later, the door slammed open once again, making you flinch. Wonyoung instinctively held you tighter, but relaxed when the both of you saw that it was just the girls. They all immediately rushed to you and dropped to the ground.
Hyunseo dove down and wrapped her arms around you, nuzzling her cheek against yours. "Unnie! Are you okay, what happened?!" She asked loudly. You could hear the tremble in her voice, causing you to feel guilty for making everyone worry about you.
You raised your arm, ignoring the aching pain, and patted her head. "Don't worry about it. I'll be fine."
Wonyoung furrowed her eyebrows. "You are clearly not fine! Our manager has been hurting you for God knows how long, Yoonah!" She snapped.
You flinched. The girls all made sounds of surprise, shocked expressions painting their faces.
Jiwon held your hands. "Manager-nim has been hurting you?! I knew that that man was an asshole from the very beginning, I knew it!" She seethed. You could see that her jaw was clenched.
Rei came forward and placed a hand on your knee, sporting a stoic look as she gazed down at the hardwood floor. "I swear, that man won't live to see another day once I'm done with him," she muttered.
Your eyes widened.
The two eldest nodded in agreement, before Gaeul looked at you. "Yoonah, don't worry. He won't hurt you anymore, we promise. We'll have him fired and file a restraining order. Or, better yet, we can send his ass to prison for child abuse," she suggested.
You couldn't find it in you to protest.
You let a faint smile grace your lips when you felt Wonyoung's against your forehead.
