4.*

We disembarked from the plane, the hum of the engines fading behind us. After a few hours of deep, rejuvenating sleep, I blinked awake at 8:30 AM, the soft morning light spilling through the windows.

 I made my way to the living room of our building, stretching my limbs, feeling the tension from travel melt away.

At 9:45, we headed to the stadium, the anticipation buzzing in the air as we prepared to perform.

Voices warmed up, filling the space with melodic notes while we waited for our backup dancers to arrive, their presence promised a vibrant energy.

Since 10:00 AM, we had been immersed in our rehearsals, fine-tuning our songs, perfecting our dance steps, and slipping into our performance outfits, each piece a second skin that heightened our excitement.

As I tried on my outfit for the first performance, I found myself humming the tune of my song, the melody swirling around me like a familiar embrace.

Then, Chae-won Noona entered, her concern softening her features. "Are you sure you want to perform that song?" she asked, her voice a gentle nudge of support.

I nodded, a determined smile on my face. "I'm sure."

She enveloped me in a warm hug, her words wrapping around me like a comforting blanket.

"Remember, I'm always here for you. You don't have to face your feelings or problems alone. You have me, Aera Noona, and Han-na Noona."

After a few more hours of preparation, we were all in our dressing rooms, the air thick with anticipation.

Our concert was about to begin, and we stood in our designated places, the first night of our tour looming like an electrifying promise.

I could hardly contain my excitement for the whirlwind that awaited us over the next five weeks.

As the tour unfolded, we serenaded audiences in five different countries, each performance a tapestry of shared joy and energy.

For our final concert, I took center stage to sing my solo song, my heart pounding with exhilaration.

The crowd roared as we launched into our most famous song, followed by six tracks from our newly released album.

A bittersweet wave washed over us as we realized the tour had come to an end; leaving our fans behind felt like tearing away a piece of our hearts, but we knew it was time to return to our homeland.

As we boarded the plane, excitement bubbled within us. We were just two days away from meeting BTS, our hearts racing with anticipation.

The next morning, we stepped off the plane, inhaling the familiar scent of our homeland. I rushed home, collapsing onto my bed, enveloped by the soft embrace of my pillows.

I missed this comfort more than I realized and instantly drifted off into a deep sleep.

... Author POV...

A few hours later, Aera, Han-na, and Chae-won gathered in the living room, their voices a soft murmur while Mi-Young slept peacefully upstairs.

"Have you done what I asked?" Aera inquired, her arms crossed as she fixed her gaze on Chae-won.

Chae-won looked down, her gaze heavy with unease, and nodded. "Yes, Noona... But what about Youngie?" Han-na sighed, shaking her head slowly.

"We can't let her know. It'll ruin everything."

"But—"

"No buts, Chae-won," Aera interrupted firmly.

"You know how sensitive she is about her family life and her past. We can't let her get hurt." Han-na squeezed Chae-won's hand, her voice softening.

"Aera Noona is right. She's been trying so hard to keep everything together. We know you care for her deeply, but this is for her own protection. It's best that she doesn't know."

 "Okay, Noonas. I understand. I won't tell her anything," Chae-won replied, her voice steady.

"Can we trust you enough to keep this secret?" Han-na exchanged a serious glance with Chae-won.

Aera tilted her head, her eyes searching. "Or do we need to ensure you stay quiet?"

Chae-won shook her head vigorously. "No, I'll keep my mouth shut. You won’t have to worry."

The three girls then embraced, Aera murmuring, "This is for the best, Chae-won, to protect our Youngie."

The two older girls tightened their embrace, offering comfort to Chae-won, understanding the bond she shared with Mi-Young, forged through their similarities since the very first day of training.

One by one, the girls drifted to their separate rooms, each anticipating the dawn of a new day.

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