Chapter 2

Synn's POV

"Hey, Synncinati! We have been waiting for you since ten minutes ago," I heard my manager's voice and my eyes noticed how almost everyone was looking at our direction, my other members in particular not looking too happy about my late arrival.

In no time, our makeup artist is already starting to doll up my face too. At the corner of my eyes, I saw Elisse sitting beside me.

"Hey, are you okay? You look shaken up a little when you came back. Did you get caught?" she whispered, the worry in her voice can be heard.

A smile tugged at the corner of my lips. As usual, Elisse would notice. It's no surprise since Elisse is always attentive and caring towards us.

She sees the smallest things and pays attention to every detail.

Remembering what happened earlier, I felt my stomach churning in nervousness. Even though he's not here, I kind of feel a little intimidated still.

His presence was too strong I can't simply shake it off my mind.

To be honest, it was the first time that we've spoken with each other. Of course, I've seen him multiple times as we attend the same awards sometimes but that's just it. It's not like we have a reason to talk anyways. We don't work in the same agency nor are we friends with each other.

However, I'm pretty much reminded of him every day. Why not? When half of my fans ship me to him.

At first, I was bothered by it. What if he hates being shipped with me? Plus, sometimes, the edits that I see online are too disturbing. Some of them looked so real sometimes I have to question myself if it indeed happened.

But it's impossible. Gold and I, it's impossible for us to cross paths.

Until earlier.

"How I wish I was just caught instead," I whispered. My voice low to make sure she doesn't hear.

Just then, the sound of someone knocking on the door was heard and an unfamiliar face showed.

"Sorry, we just left a few of our outfits here when we transferred to the next dressing room. I'll just take it, I'm sorry," the lady smiled and so our manager.

She started taking the stack of clothes on the corner and a few more that are scattered around.

Those are for men though.

Shrugging my shoulder, I stopped paying attention after my makeup artist asked me to close my eyes so I followed.

Forget what happened, Synn. You won't be talking to him in the future anyway.

My hands took a grip on the chair I was sitting on.

Damn. It has been what, ten minutes but my knees are still shaking.

His presence was too overwhelming it amazes me how he appears so soft in photos especially when he's with his fans. I can't question it though since even I get my heart melted whenever I see people who love and supports us.

His eyes, he was definitely lonely. He seems heartbroken.

Remembering the expression that he had on his face made my heart skipped a beat, my hand automatically reaching for my chest.

What the hell...

I gulped. I can't possibly like him, right?

Impossible.

I gritted my teeth in frustration.

You were just sad for him. You pity him. Because he was hurt and he seemed lost. And your heart is weak for that. Right. I told to myself.

Soon enough, our makeup artist has done her job and all I need to do is to change which I will in a little over ten minutes since my other members are still changing.

I reached for my phone and scanned the messages that I had.

One is from my mom, the other from my dad. A few of them were from my friends and each of them I responded.

"Synn, look at these," Arika called for my name as she showed me a gif of a cute little baby.

"Ahhh, she looks so cute," I cooed, my other members, joining while a few of our makeup artists followed as they do finishing touches on their hair.

"It's my cousin. Doesn't she look so adorable?" she giggled, her gummy smile showing. The same one that kills the hearts of our fans.

"Hey, do you want to have a baby now too?" I teased and she hit me on my shoulder, Elisse and Snow giggling.

"She can't even find herself a boyfriend,"

"Or a suitor," Elisse added at what Snow had stated.

Apparently, there are a lot of people having a crush on Arika but her personality was too strong that some guys were afraid to reach out to her.

In all honesty, that is true. Arika has an intimidating personality when performing but they fail to see how clumsy and soft she actually is.

After wearing my outfit minus my jacket, we were all just having fun while we watch out fellow idols perform through the monitor inside our dressing room.

"Guys, we need to move backstage so you can wear your mics. Your other outfits were also there," One of our managers stated and we were all still giggling as we follow our staff outside.

"Synn, did you find anything interesting outside?" I heard Snow asking. The image of Gold automatically comes into view and I was about to answer when I bumped into someone.

"Careful," I heard a very familiar voice and my body stiffened as I turned towards his direction.

Gold Simons.

Fuck.

He was smiling but something tells me it meant something else. Like, he was reminding me to shut my mouth.

"We're sorry, Synn," I heard Eros, his fellow member, and we bowed automatically. The sudden meeting surprising me a little. Even our members were not talking. We have never really had a moment with them, apart from me who happened to, unfortunately, bumped into PERSONA's youngest member.

"We're so sorry, sunbae," Snow spoke on my behalf as I felt my tongue got stuck on my lungs or something. (Sunbae is a word they use as a respect to someone who was in the industry longer than them)

Eros smiled at us while Gold was looking at me, his eyebrow raised a little and I gulped.

I didn't even know how we parted ways but all I know was I was stiffed the whole time.

"Synn, are you okay?" Our manager asked while they put our mics on.

I shook my fingers to calm my nerves and I breathe a little before smiling.

"Yes, manager. Must be the nerves," I added and she smiled.

Synn, get yourself together.

"Okay, the last performer is done and you are now being introduced. Be ready!" one of the staff stated and we started rumbling to prepare.

"Wear your jackets, Synn and Arika!" our stylist stated and I reached for the folded jacket that I was supposed to wear on the corner.

Elisse was talking to me as I wear my jacket.

"Shoot," my voice faltered the moment the jacket hugged my whole figure, it being twice my body size made every one of my members’ scream in panic.

"Synncinati where is your jacket?"

"That definitely isn't yours!"

"Oh my God, Synn!"

Before I can even respond, the production manager came in eyeing every one of us warily.

"Girls, you need to go to the stage in one minute,"

"Fuck," I whispered as I felt a few pairs of hands pushing us so we can go to the stage.

There's no turning back.

The next moment, the sound of our fans cheering boomed the whole arena and I put my signature smile.

I didn't notice how my three members looked taken aback at the sight of me from behind.

I didn't notice how our managers were freaking out behind the stage.

I didn't know that another team's whole crew was having a mental breakdown because of the sudden situation.

And I didn't know that a certain man was fuming in anger at the sight of me on their team's monitor as they watch our group perform.

The jacket I was wearing, what it says...

I didn't know...