Chapter 87 - If You Are Happy

Star, Kola, and Jenell were staring.

Their leader had been quiet for a while and during interviews and photoshoots, they knew their leader was faking her happiness. They’ve been together long enough to know one another. Just like Symmony, they were found through a competition as well. They’ve gone through traitors, backstabbers, and liars to find themselves the remaining females.

For Star, she was thankful that she always had Kola who protected her the entire time. She was bullied, but the rapper was quick to stop any with a glare. From then, Star stuck close to Kola, and they eventually were grouped up with Jenell. The girl was loud and charming, and Kola and Jenell matched like two peas in a pod. Star always felt like she was left out, but just like Kola, Jenell was quick to speak up for her and protect her.

Then it was the three of them until the very end.

They were never that close to Lisa, not until they became a formed group. It was a struggle to get along, especially since Jenell was very vocal with her feelings and Kola was too passionate in her arts at times. Yet, they made it work and now they all were so close, they were basically family.

So, here staring at their pretty leader staring at her phone, they had a feeling something bad happened.

“Lisa,” Star spoke softly and reached for the female’s hand, “What is wrong?”

“It is nothing.”

“Eh, don’t lie to us,” Kola frowned and leaned against Star, “We know each other long enough.”

Lisa sighed and nodded with her eyes shut. Her mind went back to the conversation she had early this morning.

[“Ah Jin, good morning,” she smiled as she did her morning stretches.

“Lisa,” Jin’s voice always made her heart flutter, “We need to talk.”

She paused in her morning stretches and took the phone of speaker to place to her ear.

“I cannot pretend with you any longer. I love you, but,” Jin sighed, “I love him more.”

Tears welled up her eyes and she fisted her hand to steady her heart. She knew it would eventually come to this, but she hoped that she could hold him a bit longer. Swallowing down the pain of rejection, she took a deep breath.

“Xiong Shun.”

“Yes,” Jin did not hesitate, “What are you going to do?”

“…”

“…”

“Nothing,” Lisa whispered and smiled through the tears, “If you are happy, Ah Jin, then I am happy for you.”

“Lisa,” Jin said her name softly and she tried to remember the exact way it was said, “Thank you.”

“Mm.”

“I won’t announce it. I’ll let you do it. You can tell them I cheated or I hurt you or we just didn’t work out. I trust you.”]

Wiping her tears, she looked over at her team’s eyes.

“Jin broke up with me.”

“Want me to beat him up,” Kola stood up suddenly, pulling up her sleeves and fisted her hands up like a boxer.

“I will go to scream his ear out,” Jenell huffed and pulled the kind member up, “Star will record it all.”

“Mm,” the youngest nodded with a frown.

Lisa let out a laugh and stood up to hug her friends. It was a good thing they came together as a group, or else she would be a pile of mess on the floor.

“I’m not ready to announce it yet,” Lisa sighed and pulled away wiping her eyes, “Just need… a bit more time.”

“Of course,” Star quickly nodded and held her arm comfortingly.

Lisa’s phone dinged and she looked to see it was an unknown number. Opening the text message, her eyes widened.

“I told you, you were a replacement. He never loved you.”

The text said and there was an attached image of Suu Jin grinning into the kiss with… Xiong Shun. They looked happy. They were happy.

“…”

Everyone was speechless. They stared at the image some more and then another text followed.

“Don’t get in my way.”

“First off…” Jenell spoke up, “They… They look really good together. Second, who the hell is threatening you?! We will go pull her hair if we have to!”

Lisa listened to her three friends plotting revenge, but all she kept seeing was Suu Jin and Xiong Shun. The image of sweet love, one she thought she had with the pinkette.

‘She is right. He never loved me.’

==

[Earlier that day]

Shun had spent the entire night in Suu Jin’s arms and he loved every second of it. Leaving a kiss, maybe 10, on his prince’s lips, he left and went to the studio. He maybe told a white lie to the pinkette, but he had to at least finish this task, since not falling in love with Suu Jin was a failure.

Pulling his car into the parking lot, he entered the studio and saw Gina was already there with her manager. Smiling and bowing to them, they spoke about the song and spoke to the producer who was going to put it together. Once everything was agreed upon, Shun stood in the recording booth with Gina.

“Ah, it has been a while since I duet with anyone,” Gina smiled nervously at him, “I apologize if I mess up a lot.”

“Don’t worry,” he smiled, “You will do fine.”

Singing and getting the recording, they listened to the playback and Shun was surprised to hear how well their tones worked. Smiling over at Gina, the female grinned at him. Ah, maybe Gina had changed and grown from who Jin remembered. Shun liked Gina because she reminded him of one of his sisters back home.

Pretty, kind, but passionate.

“At this part, let’s go higher and record the back track,” Gina offered and the producer agreed.

Shun followed Gina back into the recording booth, but his small bladder was telling him to use the restroom. So, excusing himself, Shun left, leaving his phone with Gina.

There shouldn’t be an issue, right?

As Gina waited, a text notification pinged from Shun’s phone. She looked over and saw it was from Suu Jin. An attachement was sent and she found her lips pursing. Shun returned and noticed his phone was in the female’s hand.

“Ah Shun,” Gina smiled, “Can we exchange numbers?”

“Oh of course,” he smiled and it turned into a grin when he saw a message from Jin. Swiping it away, he decided he will check it after.

Gina retrieved the unlocked phone and punched in her number. She opened the text message and her heart was pounding against her chest. Sending the image to herself, she took a quick picture of Shun and sent it to her as well, deleting any sign that Jin’s image was sent to her.

“Eh? Why’d you take a picture?” Shun laughed and Gina smiled.

“For your profile pic on my contact list,” she grinned, “Oh, let’s take one together.”

They finished their song and she said goodbye to Xiong Shun and stared at the picture of the pinkette and the silver haired male again. She knew it. That look they shared; she knew there was more to it. Gritting her teeth, she stole Lisa’s number from Shun’s contact list as well. Quickly typing and attaching the picture, she sent it.

She would find the perfect time to anonymously expose Suu Jin. Then, the only person he would turn to was her. Like it was before.

Like in the past.