For a second, I let myself believe that they’re capturing something real, a moment of true friendship between girls who used to be enemies. Look how far we’ve come, I imagine myself saying. Remember how much we used to hate each other? How about that time you drugged me at the trainee house and filmed me dancing drunk on the table? Ha! Doesn’t that feel like a lifetime ago?

But then, some things don’t change, even in a lifetime.

It took ages for the rumors about our so-called love triangle with DB Entertainment’s most popular K-pop idol, Jason Lee, to die down. In reality, the “love triangle” was nothing but a publicity stunt pulled by DB themselves before Mina and I debuted. They wanted to boost Jason’s solo career after he left his group NEXT BOYZ, and we were the perfect promotional tools. After all, what could make the already-adored Jason Lee seem even more desirable than having two up-and-coming K-pop stars fighting for his love? Of course, Mina knew it was a setup the whole time. I was not clued in to that little piece of information until after I had already fallen in actual, real, head-over-heels love with the guy.

As for me and Mina, after our debut DB decided they’d gotten all they could out of our love-triangle feud and decided to stage a reconciliation between the two of us. We hugged and cried in a “leaked” video and swore we’d never let a man come between us again. Since then, we’ve had nothing but good press, and I’m determined to keep it that way.

Still. In moments like this, I can’t help but enjoy playing make-believe, pretending that the fun we’re having isn’t just for show or publicity but because we really, truly like each other.

“That dress is so brave of you, fashionista,” Mina shouts over the music. “Look at those cute thighs!”

Yep. Moment shattered.

The night passes in a happy haze of dances and champagne glasses. The ballroom is filled with familiar DB faces and hosts of new people I’ve never met before, all of them eager to greet me.

“Wonderful job at the concert tonight, Rachel!”

“Your voice keeps getting lovelier and lovelier.”

“Absolutely phenomenal! You were born to be a star, there’s no doubt about that.”