Llana stood on the company's rooftop, leaning lightly against the railing as she gazed at the distant horizon. The wind brushed gently against her skin, carrying with it the cool morning air and a rare sense of tranquility.
Someone had asked to meet her here, and she was waiting for that person to arrive.
"Time really does pass quickly," she murmured softly.
It felt like just yesterday she was only planning to go to Korea to continue her predecessor's dream. But now, in just a week, everything would come to an end.
She could hardly believe it.
This week would be the final episode and the final week to determine who will debut and become members of TWICE.
Only thirteen participants remained, now. Minyoung had already been eliminated.
After the show, her debut as a solo artist would begin. Until now, she still didn't know if she would be included in the group.
She hoped she wouldn't be left out, but there had never been an artist who debuted solo while also being part of a group.
Because of that, she tried not to expect too much.
If JYP did decide to include her in TWICE, she would become the first solo artist to also be part of a girl group.
But if she wasn't included… she knew she would definitely feel lonely.
She wanted to be part of the group.
She didn't want to be alone anymore.
She was tired of always being by herself.
Atleast in this life, She wanted to be included.
She wanted to belong.
Creeeak
The sound of the metal door opening broke the silence.
Llana turned around and saw the person she had been waiting for.
The person closed the rooftop door behind them and walked toward Llana, stopping about five meters away.
"You're early."
It was Minyoung.
She had been the one who asked Llana to meet her here, though Llana still didn't know what she wanted.
Minyoung looked disheveled, as if she had rushed all the way here. Her eyes were bloodshot, with dark circles beneath them.
Llana parted her lips to speak but stopped herself.
She wanted to ask if Minyoung was alright… but she wasn't sure if it was her place to ask.
Wouldn't it be rude to ask if she's alright when it's obvious she isn't?
Of course she's not. She just got eliminated. It's not like she'd be happy or laughing about it.
"Stop looking as if you care," Minyoung scoffed when she noticed the concern in Llana's eyes. "I know you don't."
Llana remained silent, staring at her. Then, a small, almost unnoticeable, helpless smile appeared on her lips.
"You never liked me that much, huh… why?"
Minyoung wasn't like this before. They hadn't interacted much in the past, but there had never been any hostility between them.
That only changed after the 1 vs 1 battle.
Minyoung scoffed. "I know what you really are. It was VP Byun-nim who introduced you to the company, right?"
Llana stayed silent, waiting for her to continue, her brows slowly furrowing. She didn't understand where this was coming from—nor what Minyoung was trying to imply.
"Tell me, am I right?" Minyoung pressed. "VP Byun-nim was the one who brought you into the company."
"Yes."
Llana answered calmly.
There was nothing wrong with admitting that he was the one who scouted her. She just didn't want to look like she was bragging whenever people asked, so she didn't mention him.
It didn't seem that important anyway.
That was why she failed to comprehend what Minyoung was trying to get at
"Hahaha! So it's true!" Minyoung laughed.
"What?" Llana asked, confused. She couldn't keep up with Minyoung's pacing—she didn't understand. "Could you just say what you're trying to say?"
Minyoung scoffed in disgust.
"They say the Vice President is keeping someone. Specifically, a girl trainee in this company."
Her eyes darkened. "And that someone… is you."
Llana could only stare at her in disbelief.
Did she just call her Sangbong Byun's whore?
There was a rumor like that circulating in the company?
How did she not know!?
And how dare they spread something so ridiculous!
She would definitely let her brother know about this!
What she didn't know was the same day that rumor started it already reached her brother Sebastian's ears and started silencing everyone.
At this point, Minyoung was the only one left in the company who still knew.
JYP Entertainment is just a small company; it isn't difficult to control. On the same day Llana went to the company, her brother had already started working. He bought company shares and became the second-largest shareholder.
He was the reason Sangbong Byun was late in welcoming Llana on the day she arrived. He had already started working behind the scenes—removing old company workers and integrating his own people without anyone knowing.
"So that's why the program suddenly changed," Minyoung continued, her voice darkening. "At first, they said the survival show for the new girl group would be called Sixteen, with sixteen participants."
Her eyes locked onto Llana. "Then it suddenly became Seventeen when you arrived. Yes, you're talented, pretty and tall, but that's not enough to be part of the program without even staying for a year or half a year. It's no wonder you got in."
Minyoung sneered.
"…So that's why."
Minyoung took a step closer to Llana as she continued speaking.
"Llana Kim, who always acts elegant and mighty, is a faker—and uses a backer to get where she is now."
Llana's gaze sharpened as she listened, her fists slowly tightening at her sides. She tried to calm the emotions threatening to surface.
Minyoung laughed at that. it seems like Llana Kim can show emotion after all, aside from that calm and indifferent expression she always wear.
It was satisfying to watch Llana's carefully crafted mask crumble as she revealed her secret.
Minyoung continued walking until she was only half a meter away from her, carefully examining Llana's reaction.
JD was right. Llana was nothing more than a manipulative person, hiding behind someone else's power to suppress others.
JD approached her after her battle with Llana back then. It was then that she learned she was supposed to win that match, not Llana.
Now that she thought about it, JD's team suddenly announced JD's hiatus due to a medical condition the day after the competition.
Could Llana be the reason for it?
Did she know what JD had said… and use the VP to get back at him?
Minyoung continued, "I wonder what would happen if everyone found out that Llana Kim, their goddess, got what she is now by climbing from someone's bed."
"What do you think their reaction would be?"
"Do you think they'll still look at you the same way?"