We’re whisked away to a private dining room, but unlike my double date with Eunji, this one has floor-to-ceiling windows, and I would not be surprised if there are more photographers in the shrubbery outside, hoping to score some pics through the glass. But as soon as the doors close, the hyped-up atmosphere from ten seconds ago dies down, leaving us in a tepid silence instead. It’s like the past several weeks we’ve spent performing our group camaraderie for the promo shoots has left us drained of any authentic sense of friendship.

After a few awkward beats, Mina asks, “Did you go on a shopping spree before coming here or something?” She nods at the shopping bag on the floor next to my chair.

“Must be nice to have time to go shopping,” Lizzie says coolly. “I’ve barely had time to sleep these days, but Rachel can raid the Galleria.” I start to protest, but just then a waitress comes in and reads off the preset meal I’ve arranged for tonight’s dinner.

When she reads off the grilled halibut entrée, Jiyoon snorts. My heart drops a little. I took the time to pick out this menu specifically for the girls, keeping in mind everyone’s favorites. But maybe I missed the mark?

“Sorry,” I say once the waitress has left. “If you guys don’t want the halibut, I’m sure the kitchen can prepare something else…” I want this night to go perfectly—not for the media, but for us. Six years is a major accomplishment for a girl group, and we should be celebrating that.

“No, no,” Jiyoon laughs. “I love halibut—great call, Rachel. I was just thinking about that seafood commercial we did back in year three. Do you remember that?”

“Oh my god!” Lizzie says. “I think I blocked it out of my memory.”

“With the live lobsters?” Youngeun says. “Sunhee wanted to take one home as a pet.” She pokes Sun in the arm.

“I did not…,” Sunhee starts to say, but Jiyoon overlaps her—

“Like excuse me, how the fuck did anyone think that was a good idea?”

Ari bursts out laughing, holding her stomach, just as a waitress comes in and begins passing round an amuse-bouche of heirloom-tomato-and-eggplant chutney on crostini.

“Okay, the lobsters were bad, but I’ll take that over the time we had to roll around in melted chocolate for Pepero Day,” Sumin says. “That was seriously unhygienic.”

“Oh my god, I blocked that out of my memory too,” Lizzie groans. “That was actually the worst.”

Leah and I used to love exchanging boxes of the chocolate-dipped cookie sticks on Pepero Day, but after being dressed up as a literal human Pepero stick, I’ve distinctly lost my taste for the holiday.