𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 - 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒇 (𝑨𝑴𝑩𝑾)

45. I can't stop me

Special shout out to BeelyAlive just 😘😘😘😘😘😘

Chloe's voice was steady but filled with urgency. "I know who the mole is."

I froze mid-step, my heart thudding painfully. "Who?"

She hesitated for just a moment before saying the name. "Mariah."

The air left my lungs. "Mariah? That doesn't make sense. She's... she's my closest friend. Why would she do something like this?"

"Is she really your closest friend, though?" Chloe countered. "Think about it. Has she acted like your friend lately? When all of this mess started, did she even ask how you were doing?"

I opened my mouth to respond but found myself grasping for an answer I didn't have. Chloe was right-Mariah hadn't asked me anything about the pictures, and the scandal.

"She's been acting strange for a while," Chloe continued. "Like during practice last week, when she tried to convince the choreographer to give her your dance break. She said you weren't ready for it and that she'd handle it better. That's not normal, Liliana."

I clenched my fists, memories swirling in my mind. "That was... I thought she was just trying to help."

Chloe gave me a pointed look. "And when she said you might not debut? Was that her being helpful too?"

I flinched at the reminder. Mariah had said that when I was depressed about the date getting out to the public, almost casually. I didn't dwell on it, but it had stung.

"And there's more," Chloe pressed. "You haven't noticed how she's been hanging around Chan lately? She's been trying to get his attention every chance she gets. Do you really think that's a coincidence?"

My stomach turned. Mariah had been distant. She hasn't once talked to me about how to sort out this mess. Instead, she'd spent her time hanging out in the studio with Changbin and also indirectly, Chan. I asked her why once and she said she wants to learn some producing tips or two from 3racha before debuting.

"She's always been trying to make herself look better," I murmured, my voice low. Or was she just really hungry for centre.

"Exactly," Chloe said, folding her arms.

My heart dropped. "Chan called her the morning of our trip. He wanted her help planning the prank for me."

"And he mentioned his plans to her to confirm if you'd like them, right?" Chloe said, raising an eyebrow.

I nodded slowly, my thoughts racing. She was the only person who knew. But Mariah wasn't even in Jeju-she was in Seoul. How could she have taken those pictures?

Unless...

"She's jealous," I whispered, the realization hitting me like a ton of bricks.

"What?" Chloe asked, leaning in.

"Mariah's always been jealous," I said, my voice trembling. "It's small things, but it's there. Like when I was assigned that vocal solo for our showcase, and she kept asking if the trainers were sure about their choice. Or when she saw me hanging out with Hana and got so upset she didn't speak to me for days."

The more I thought about it, the clearer it became. Mariah wasn't happy for me-she was resentful.

But why? Why would she go this far?

"Chloe," I said, my voice firm. "I need to talk to Lee Know about this."

Chloe's expression faltered. "Liliana, why can't we figure this out together? Why do you always run to him?"