I take a deep breath and look Yujin in the eye. “I understand what my responsibilities are as a member of this group, and a DB idol.” It’s true, and I also know that’s what Yujin needs to hear in order to give a positive report back to Mr. Noh.

“Well, that’s good,” she says, her face softening somewhat. “But you know as well as anyone that how things are and how things look are not always the same. And in our business, the latter is just as important—if not more so.”

She leans back in her chair, her eyes scanning the rooftop café. Trainees, idols, and management mingle over lattes and pastries. On the surface, everyone seems to be enjoying a casual coffee break, but I’m sure most are engaged in serious conversations like the one Yujin and I are having. Like she said: appearances don’t always reflect reality.

“I’ve got it!” she says suddenly, slamming her hand on the glass table. “You should host a party for the group’s anniversary next month. I’m sure DB is planning something, but if you can take the reins on that, it could go a long way toward showing the girls that no matter where you’re living or what side projects”—she raises an eyebrow at me again, and I feel my cheeks redden at the implied double meaning—“you might have going on, Girls Forever will always be your first priority.”

I sip the last drops of my iced coffee, taking in her suggestion. Yujin’s right. Being with her has brought back so many memories of my trainee days, and nearly all of them feature Akari. It hurts knowing how I ruined that friendship. I can’t let the same thing happen with my groupmates. For now, it’s just the media speculating that there’s a rift between the Girls Forever girls, but I know just how powerful the media can be. Read a story enough times, you start thinking it might be true. I don’t want the girls to start doubting my commitment to the group. Throwing an anniversary party for the group will solidify how much I care about them, and hopefully give the media something new to write about.

I smile at Yujin. “I’m all in.”

“You look lovely tonight, Rachel,” Jongseok says as I climb into the back seat wearing a simple but classic white pantsuit with gold hoop earrings, a big shopping bag slung over my shoulder.