Step Step

eight;

The dorm is so quiet today. The nine girls are all scattered around the dorm. Some of them are sleeping, working out, reading and eating.

Twice is having a break for today because of Mina's and other girls' condition makes the company staffs realise that the girls do need a rest. But it's only for today. Their hectic schedule will start back like usual tomorrow.

Mina is laying on her bed scrolling through the Youtube. It's a peaceful evening. A good time to listen for some good songs, she thought. She then decides to listen to some ballad songs from Davichi and she suddenly remember about Save Me song by BTS. It's not a ballad but the emotion from the song is so undeniable. She has been crazy over that beautiful song to be honest especially when she listens to his voice..

"Don't wanna be lonely, just wanna be yours.."

She smiles. Lost in her own imagination after remembering what happened few days ago. He's so nice and considerate to people around him. "What a gentleman"

"Ahh Mina. Stop being silly.", she pouts not wanting to lose to her own feeling. She need to control her feeling before it gets worse. That's for the best.

---

Yoongi is busy facing the laptop and monitor screens. He's composing new songs while writing few lyrics in the studio. Jimin only watch his hyung working from the couch, not wanting to disturb him.

"Ya Jimin-ah", suddenly Yoongi call out his dongsaeng's name.

Jimin replies while moving his place from the couch and take a sit beside Yoongi "Yes? Why hyung?"

"Tell me anything about love", Yoongi demands without looking at Jimin. His eyes are still focusing on the screen doing this and that, something that only music maker will understand.

Jimin looks startle. He feels hesitant at first but then he finds an idea that comes deep from his heart, his own feeling. "Love.. it's always beyond our expectations. You never know what might happen next. It's something unusual, fantasy-like and kind of a dream?"

"Sometimes I wonder if it's real. I used to see her picture in black and white before but now, her picture and everything about her are full with colours. She is ordinary like others but there's an attraction that makes me feel so attracted to her", he continues passionately telling everything to his hyung.

"Pabo. That's why it's called love. It makes people like you become a fool", Yoongi knocks Jimin's head with his knuckle.

The younger one wince in pain "Ahhh it's hurt! I'm not falling in love! Who says I am in love??", Jimin argues not wanting to surrender easily.

"Just look at you. You used to ignore her but now all of sudden, she looks so special in your eyes. That means, that you're in love!"

Jimin folds his arm with sulky face "Ah molla. I don't know. I'm just being a good sunbae"

Yoongi smirks "Whatever you say. Keep on being in denial, Park Jimin"

"Hyung, this is the last time I want to company you at the studio. There's no next time, you hear me?"

"Whatever", Yoongi just continue doing his work

--

TWICE is in the recording room at JYP when someone from the company staff knocks the door and says,

"Mina-shi. The managers want to talk to you" then the person left the room.

All eyes are on Mina after the staff left the room. Mina looks at her members one by one, feeling anxious. She don't know why the managers want to meet with her personally.

Jihyo pats her back trying to comfort her "Maybe someone is offering you a role in a drama maybe?", the leader laughs trying to calm Mina down.

All the girls smile to her saying nothing bad is going to happen.

Minari walks slowly with a heavy steps to the managers office. She knows it all. If an idol or a trainee is called to see the managers like this, it is always about bad news. She try to recall back if she ever done something that is not discipline or not trying hard enough while performing. She can't calm her nerves at this moment.

She really wants her members to come along to support her but she knows they still need to finish the recording stuff.

She's in front of the managers' office door. After a few knocks on door, she comes inside. There's three familiar faces inside the room. She knows them. They are the head of TWICE's managers. The way they sit behind the table makes them look so superior.

She bows with respect and introduce herself. Their faces are so tense with no smile at all. She wishes TWICE is beside her, holding her hands.

"Mina-shi", suddenly the only woman among the other two men call out her name. Mina says yes and she continues "Do you know why you're being called to here?"

Mina shooks her head while clasping her hands together at front, politely.

"Answer yes or no. Use your voice if you're a singer.", suddenly a man interrupt.

Mina feels her legs are shaking. She never feels this nervous before. She gulps and replies "No, I don't know the reason"

"What have I done to deserve all of this...", Mina says to herself inside

Suddenly, the third person which is a man around 42 years bring out something out from a plastic bag and throw it on the table. "Can you tell me who is this belong to?", he asks with a stern voice.

Mina looks at the thing on the table. She widens her eyes and her heart start to beats faster.

"T-that thing belong to me", she stutters while answering.

The woman raises the object and spread it on the table. "This hoodie is not belong to you. If you're lying once again, you know what might happen"

Mina's eyes start to become teary but she try to hold it before the tears flow. She must be strong.

"I am sorry... yes, that hoodie is not mine", she tells them the truth. "I borrowed it from a sunbae"

One of the men sighs, "Mina-shi. You just debuted a year ago. If you want to be a character in a kdrama at this time, this is not the right moment. You know well about the contract. About the dating restriction."

Mina nods while biting her lips.  "I know well but I swear I have no relationship with the owner of this hoodie. He just trying to help me and-- "

The man interrupt before Mina manages to finish her words "Your stylist finds this in the waiting room and we all know it belong to Park Jimin from Bangtan and it has already been confirmed"

She feels so upset with herself. Her carelessness manages to kill her at this time. If only she keeps the hoodie in her backpack right away... but there's nothing can be fixed now.

"You know how TWICE and BTS are doing right now, right? Your popularity and their popularity are no joke. What if fans know about this? This is not a small matter, Mina-shi"

Mina only looks at the floor, not wanting to lift her face. She feels so ashamed with herself.

"Those who hates you, TWICE or BTS are always ready to find something like this to tear you down. In this world, not everyone likes us."

Mina nods again. What the person says is right.. the 'ordinary' interaction between her and Jimin could kill TWICE and Bangtan. She don't want them to face the hates just when the fault is on her.

"Now go back to your dorm and remember what we have said very clearly. Focus on your promotion as TWICE"

She bows and left the room after saying thank you.

The fragile black swan runs to the toilet and tears stream down her face. Never she ever thought to face something so harsh like this. She sobs silently in the toilet not wanting anyone to hear her cry.

At a time like this she miss home the most.

"I wish I can turn back time" then she continues to cry sadly.

__________

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D-3 to Knock Knock