We all sat in the lounge, waiting on Collins to show up. We had left him back at YG, and all we could do was wait while imagining what he would say or do when we got here.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuPJL0Jpt7
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyM8nQ27dJ
The five of us didn't even try to look at our phones after seeing the news on Christine's phone. With what was buzzing on social media, we decided to avoid it. In times like these, we first have to get some advice on what to do next before we respond. Even for someone who was as impulsive as Zoey, she only looked at her phone to play Candy Crush, doing her best not to go on social media.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRyBxD6gbf
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4opuE5zDY
With Zoey on her phone, my brothers decided to switch on the TV and watch something to pass the time. Christine and I happened to be looking at our phone at first but ended up watching whatever was on TV instead. A few minutes later, Lee walked in.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi9SeVR3uZ
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KQPeH7Hj8
"Do you know all of you feel like a sorry bunch right now?" Lee asked.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8K9dssDMxA
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VnrxGNGM4
We all turned to look at her. No one answered her or asked what she meant. The look on our faces must have said all that to her when she sighed in frustration.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFfYowQxo3
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHdbpB2eJA
"I mean to say, you all look gloomy about what's being said on social media when it's no big deal," said Lee.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jy5F4O399
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtIBm6o0W2
"Well, when someone like Johnny happens to post such things on social media, then yes," said Zoey, "it is serious."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAyh9Iajop
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDY4vQppEy8
"No one is going to take Johnny seriously." Lee came to join Christine and I on the couch. "So what if he said all that?"77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUtHenleXa
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5yOvmL6LC
"It would lead other people to criticise us," said Mike, turning his attention away from the TV. "All people need is for something to talk about to show off your bad side."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9sUsEk0is
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtj94yZcZFq
The rest of us Toxins all gave a nod their heads, agreeing with Mike. What Johnny said about us on social media might lead haters out there to help spread the fire. As much as social media might be helpful, no one can ignore the dark side of it that Keady to devastate results. It's why, personally, I've never been a big fan of it.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLUCJg0s4k
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVrE7mc1KL
"Well, we can't let what he says ruin your mood," said Lee. "You'll see. Collins might not even give this a second thought and will want all of you to focus on your album."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TRtyEDZsH
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaHgkEcZml
"Yeah, I guess you're right," I said. I stretched out my hands, trying to release the tension that I had been feeling after seeing the new. Doing so made me a little relieved. "If we keep on dwelling on this, we might fall back. And that won't be fair to BLACKPINK and WINNER, who also put in so much for the album."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqQ1n6cRr1
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4QHfygj5v
"Okay, so we agree to move on, right?" Zoey asked. "Then are we going to respond to this post he made? Fans would want to answer."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgEXfMM8Wp
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyjcOZhLDJ
"The best response at this point is nothing," I said. "If we do, we're only going to add fuel to the fire."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPf6OiLHgz4
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNxZZsp6z7
"But won't saying nothing have the same effect?" Christine asked.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu2sT1Jdr6
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6M0V54XoK1
“That’s if people aren’t asking for it,” I said. “I say we ignore what Johnny has been saying about us and focus on the album.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pR5BPbDjB
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidHO32WvvC
“Won’t Collins want to talk about it first?” Daniel asked.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzf4dAv36vq
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcyMOwLyZu
“That’s why I think he won’t want to pay much attention, and so should we,” said Lee.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XOJEq2bOb
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAXUWzVQ6s
“You make it sound so simple,” said Zoey. “The next thing we know, he comes in here fuming about it.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8v2WiQ0XF
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3yCUY0meE
“We can wait on him and see his reaction if you want. I know Collins, and he won’t say anything about it.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThYaoZYOAN
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡod03HEJNZV
The others decided to see things unfold for themselves. It was close to suppertime when Collins came back, and we were all watching a Korean action series on TV when he stepped into the lounge. For a moment, we all stood still waiting for him to say anything, but he only greeted us and asked how we were doing. Our mouths dropped open, except for Lee, of course.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9b1pEBoTs
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLR5YJRKwZ
When such incidences happen, Collins usually tries to address the issue early and work on a quick solution. This time, he didn’t look worried or rushed. He looked like he would normally would, the same normal Collins.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCI4FkAEOy5
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJSijzH6uA
“What is it?” he asked when he noticed the looks on our faces.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqG31C5I9b
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHxETsRIBL
“Um…, Collins,” said Christine. “You seem pretty chilled.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ByKqjqbxE
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDr8hI1pdyY
“What? I can’t be chilled?” Collins asked as he raised an eyebrow. “When I’m too strict, you always tell me chill. What do you want from me?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaMRK8frrM
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY0Plh3X2W
“For you to be serious about what Johnny is telling everyone all over social media,” Zoey answered bluntly and straight to the point.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zLIpZ9fFx
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlXXN5fpTh
Collins looked at us and shook his head. “I’m not worried about Johnny, and you shouldn’t be either. He’s being a crybaby over what happened at Hongdae. I mean, how many artists wear masks and hoodies just to hide from the crowd? Plenty! If he doesn’t like it, he can leave Korea and go back home. I can tell you that no one is taking this seriously.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenkyqs2JKL
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB1rWuEmO6
“But he did say some pretty mean stuff,” said Daniel.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizMda6iybF
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1j0E6x2Xp
“And he isn’t the first, now, is he?” Collins chuckled. “Just don’t respond to whatever he throws at you.” He turned to look at Zoey. Zoey raised up her hands as though saying she didn’t do anything wrong.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVc9xeKyOWg
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQonhwyVydw
“I haven’t said a word about it on social media,” said Zoey.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4ahv9gmAL
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi60v9HtN1f
“Good. The only thing we could do is avoid him. I’ve never taken whatever he is seriously, and he does that just to attract attention.” Collins down at the hall he came from. “I’m so hungry. When is supper arriving?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv3vikqH4B
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfjKXX1Oxi
“Soon,” said Lee. “It’s good you told these guys not to worry about Johnny. They wouldn’t listen to what I said at first about ignoring him.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SrylSYPTS
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDycSVEAwxk
“We dis listen,” I said. “It’s just that we needed Collins' final words of assurance.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamIApOcqOs
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzP5X7e69f
“Well, you five all know better than to take Johnny seriously,” said Collins. “I’ll go freshen up. Tell me when supper gets here.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMJHlipQbC
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxyEKgXveD
After Collins left, Lee stood up from her seat. “Didn’t I tell you?” she asked.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BsTI3qZiJ
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFVOOJghdz
“Yeah, yeah, we get it,” said Mike, turning to look back at the TV. “It’s not like we didn’t believe you. Johnny can be full of surprises. Let’s not forget that he also admitted to turning off the lights at YG. Only God knows what the heck he was thinking.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YjUZ5Ya8a
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvpG3iXG8c
“Yeah, and we can’t openly accuse him of doing that with no proof,” I said. “Let’s just forget about it. You heard what Collins said. We shouldn’t take him seriously. I bet he did all that just to see which of us will react and respond to his message.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CNsjyiz7A
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57MWQc38jC
“He doesn’t change, does he?” Daniel asked, shaking his head. “People really need to get a life.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JiBB6rhx0
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIbAHW2uBz
“Apparently that is his life,” said Lee. We heard the elevator bell ring, and the doors fly open on our floor. “Supper is here. I want you all to eat, and I want you in bed early. You’ve a big day tomorrow.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nFomyqA8r
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkztsV9Hblc
After we had our supper, we stayed for an hour or so watching some interesting Korean series on TV. We went to bed early as instructed. There was still so much to be done, and we had to prepare our minds and bodies for it.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGZdC8eisZ
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN1WOZxFYr
The next day, we arrived at the YG Studios well rested and ready for whatever was to come our way. We were early as usual, and we got ourselves ready to go to the dance studio for practice. While we were there, we did a few warm-up dances. WINNER arrived a good thirty minutes later.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkKkaRCQAk
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhC7bkbXeP
“Morning, everyone!” Seungyoon greeted us as he walked into the rom first.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNC3CxC5mdv
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufk9gQ1EDV
“Morning, Seungyoon,” Zoey, Christine, and I answered him at the same time.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MGYu6YUkT
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzBkdQj9Hs
The rest of the WINNER members also walked in, and we all greeted one another. I saw Christine and Jinwoo briefly share a look with each other and quickly turn away. It was then that I remembered that they were supposed to have gone to see a movie last night. I completely forgot about that. Could they have cancelled? I never got back to Christine to ask her about it.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ566FwL9hhX
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTTBuClQ9k
While everyone was still greeting each other and looking for something to talk about, I quickly approached Christine from behind and pushed her forward while holding onto her shoulders.. For a moment, she was confused at what was going on. But she relaxed upon seeing me. I took her to the corner of the room, away from the others.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NvToRGDe3
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN7cGhMXEw
“Hey, I forgot to ask,” I said to when she turned to look at me. “What happened yesterday? Weren’t you supposed to go out for a movie with Jinwoo?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx4pDh0pTg
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwW2L7Hih9P
“I was,” Christine answered. “But we decided to cancel since we both felt tired. This issue with Johnny’s post made me step back a bit, thinking it was going to be a big issue if anyone were to ever see Jinwoo and me.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9Vtb5KY5u
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCWOjOVNBg
“Oh, I see.” I folded my arms. “Let’s slowly walk back. I don’t want the others getting suspicious of us or anything. So what are you going to do about it?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FHo9lUm8j
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBVAqx6LV0
“We will see,” said Christine as we started to walk back. “Maybe we can go out on a later date.”’77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPE79BUnlR7
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCPilGxt2O
“You know, if going for a movie is too much for you, you can think of something simple and less complicated.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLBYoz5sGG
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdloNMQ96P
“Like what?” Christine looked at me curiously.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpE2K6JXAg
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK27Z5jP1l
“If you two weren’t trying to hide that you like each other, I would’ve suggested going out on a picnic. But that one is already out of the question. The place should be somewhere private.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXEfTBfihj
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3U6Vbpjlt
“Well, we can always go out privately, out in the country.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjc2Fa3YCBH
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZHouvpTgj
I stopped as I looked at her. “That doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” I said. “But we’ve one problem with that? Will Collins agree to get out into the countryside so far away from the city? And even if he did agree, where would you go? Let’s not forget that no one is supposed to know about the picnic in the first place.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nqdehyi5L
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PMHyHpoKQ
Christine scratched the back of her head. “This is a tough one,” she said.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7McgJu0JzF
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbESDfnUUhV
“Something will come up,” I said, as we neared the others. “Let’s just let things set on its own. You’ll be surprised as how things turn out.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYxsXmVUoQ
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG78ZjDPTU
“Hey, we just thought of having a simple warm-up while we wait for the others,” said Seunghoon as he looked at me. “Is that ok?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPojsCv7A0A
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJUTZmDEJq
“Yeah, we were doing just that before you came,” I said. “Who should take the lead?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6nr2GJQFI
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DHH62q3qn
“Ooh, me, I’ll lead,” said Seungyoon, raising his hand. He looked like a young child trying to answer something in class and hoping for the teacher to pick him.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yjoeagh3M
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlDFdgExK0
“Okay, but not any funny moves,” said Mino, pointing his finger at him.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamyHTPzir1
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHnX71OPRL
Seungyoon agreed, and we all went back to doing warm-ups until Taeyang arrived. It wasn’t long until BLACKPINK members also showed up, and we started to perfect our dance moves for the music video. We rehearsed the choreography a number of times that we got exhausted. It was only when it was close to lunchtime that we finally got to take a break.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvSDMBZ1zC
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv34D6XF57J
Lee came by to escort us down for lunch. She was surprised to see most of us all on the floor resting. Before going down to the cafeteria, Lee instructed us to first take a shower, then head to the cafeteria. Afterwards, we would’ve to meet the songwriters and producer for the album. It seems we were supposed to start working on the songs77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxjOUqhiNZ
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgBeTQisi2
After lunch, we went up to the studio to wait on the songwriters and Bang Yong-guk. We already found the producer waiting for us. I recently just heard that he had come here to YG to help polish out on the lyrics. I simply couldn’t wait to read them myself. While we waited, some of us couldn’t help but talk about the post Johnny sent online yesterday.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLwPmMCO3E
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6290Cbc9R
“If I knew Johnny could be such a prick, I wouldn’t have hung out with him that night,” said Mino.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsY5w5urKd9
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RpCy3L67f
“You’ll never know that Johnny is like that until he gets to bite you,” said Mike. “Or like he has done, bites others.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt19r1AtAuG
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObwUFub6OL
“I hear you guys and hi have had bad blood over the years,” said Lisa, who sat cross-legged on the floor. “What could’ve happened for things to be the way they are now?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsGCOrkzJ7
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSys72WlH5
I look at Zoey, who happened to sit across from me. Just like Lisa, she also sat on the floor. She also happened to be looking at me. Christine, who sat on the other end of the couch I was on, silently tried to clear her throat. Mike and Daniel happened to be looking at their phones when the question was asked, and they didn’t look like they would be looking back up at anyone any time soon.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx22qOkMzEo
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GhsdAwrqb
“Sam is better off telling the story,” said Zoey.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszrM3911Tk
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaC90beu5s0
“Me? Why?” I asked, looking at her with an eyebrow raised.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaAKen2Bkv
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3moJaTmM8N
“Well, you’re better at telling it that some of us. Before the songwriters get here, I suggest you start talking.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi9XPO7Ezj
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxqNnhUbRj
I shook my head at Zoey. When it turned to look at everyone else, they all had their eyes on me and their ears open. Including the producer.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVl8vjTZdt
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡap0mN2QKB2
“Fine,” I said as I rolled my eyes. “We knew Johnny way back from middle school, and he was always the one getting into trouble.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2LgnLjzvh
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9TuJhjwAJ
Johnny was in the same class with Zoey and me even in high school. Everyone knew him for his notorious pranks. Once, in middle school, he was almost expelled from school for painting bombing the school gym, including the basketball team and staff who happened to be there. It was supposed to be fun, but the basketball team didn’t take it lightly. Some of them almost dragged Johnny out of the gym, all covered in different colors of paint to beat him up. It took the coach and some of the coaching staff to intervene and take Johnny straight to the principal’s office. He got a month of suspension, and he had to clean up the mess in the gym as punishment. The place was a mess, that it wasn’t used for almost two weeks. When he came back to school, no one wanted to associate with him, except for his friends who were just as mischievous as he was.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bxWVorwsh
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYR7zWC1bri
Zoey wasn’t kind enough to mention that Johnny happened to have a huge crush on me. He would do anything to impress me back when we were in high school. No one knows if he still does, though. I doubt it. If he did, he would’ve stopped acting like the mischievous jerk he is and started to act mature for his age. That seemed to be far from happening.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguXeVHcVqq
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XE3dHDYRx
The real reason why he hated us with all his might was because of one incident. The talent show was coming up, and I came up with a crazy idea with Zoey and Christine creating a dance-pop group. At first, it was supposed to be the three of us. Johnny so happened to get a whiff of the information and decided he wanted to join the group, too. Well, we couldn’t refuse. He seemed insistent. The last thing many of us wanted was to open the locker one day and get paint balled in the face. So we agreed.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCX3pc8nAmX
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CKAcTyAbY
One afternoon, we decided to meet at my place for practice. To be honest, Johnny sucked at dancing, and we kind of struggled to get things together. It wasn’t until Mike came along from football practice and helped us choreographed the dance moves. Even after Mike helped us out, Johnny was still in the way of things, just was a bummer. At the end of it all, after practice we decided that Johnny shouldn’t dance with us. Paint ball in the face or whatever, we couldn’t have him in our group.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBPkbofSw0
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyChy7z5rwo
He was mad, but he didn’t care at first. He called us all sorts of names, though. Our parents had to intervene and sent him home. We asked Mike if he wanted to join the dance group. He didn’t mind. Daniel also thought of joining in, too. Though he was still in middle school at the time, we thought it wasn’t possible for him to join, but there was no problem since it was a joint talent school for all grades. That’s how our story of being The Toxins started. And when we discovered by Collins, it didn’t sit well with Johnny, for he thinks he should’ve been part of the group. He’s hated us for that ever since.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTd4Y6CsBS
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEApnDuXBb6
“Wow, that was some story,” said Jinwoo.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGPBoYoGC6
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fOmovw4oP
“I’m guessing if he were ever to join your group, he would be the bad egg,” said Jisoo.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsWyiMh3ss
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLteuMe15t
“Lee would’ve been done with him a long time ago,” said Christin as she laughed.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfcu6TQpfX
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnrhUrWyOP
“Collins wouldn’t even think of having him around,” said Daniel. “It was  best to chuck hom ojt before he got the full wrath of Collins.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeG55HtrYWs
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeB7ybweKo
“Does Collins get that angry?” Jennie asked, looking surprised.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxslDR7EYzY
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVytxIJoIQ
“You don’t want to be involved,” said Zoey as she shook her head. “Just standing in the crosshairs of his missiles can leave you scarred.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVdwg2rjrD
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fzdwmuyhC
“Who would’ve thought that Johnny really wanted to be a Toxin?” Mino asked as he chuckled.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbdznAOtzV
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmEQf9VskE
“Well, it’s a good thing he isn’t,” said Mike. “He was just going to paint a bad image of us from the very start.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkkMm0aC8J
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxIhsfJblY
“Let’s not talk about him,” I said. “It’s already too much of a nightmare that he’s here in South Korea.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZMCISLLGo
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGL1S1dIS1
Everyone agreed to change the subject, and we shared stories over what goes in our daily lives as artists. It was close to an hour when I looked down at my watch to check the time. Yong-guk and the other songwriters were supposed to be here by now. I wonder what’s keeping them up.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUA4kXj1XPN
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmCuBJzgpi
I stood from my seat and decided to take a stretch, and I walked to the door. I opened it and looked down the hall, hoping to see Yong-guk and the songwriters making their over to the room. But the hall was quiet and empty. I got back inside the room after standing for a while. Closing the door behind me, I turned around to see everyone still engaged in conversation and laughing. Even the producer was having a good laugh with all of us.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc91faOmabR
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDA9HyBrXx
As I stood there, I couldn’t help but fold my arms. It’s not like these people to be this late. After interacting with Ken, Maya, and most especially Chan, they wouldn’t strike to be people who come by late. If something came up, they were sure to call. I already had my phone and decided to call Lee.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLqKqhNegv
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EFitJDSgG
She picked up immediately. “Hey, Sam. What’s up?” she asked.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlZtHzJOxN
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEPDhaUS6W
“Have any of the songwriters or Yong-guk contacted you if they will be late?” I asked. “It’s almost close to an hour, and they aren’t here.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiINkbc4gYk
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHlYhPZD1t
“Yeah, I’ve been worrying about them too. Maya said she would delay a little along with Ken and Chan. I'm not so sure about Yong-guk. I’ll try to call him right now.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSAkKNWkBU
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99tbU2LCwA
“Ok. Let me know what he says afterwards.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXyVJRFpbH
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNPv4YloVX
“Will do.” Lee cut the line, and I stared at the phone, deep in thought. I only hope nothing bad has happened.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOcwb0mLfv
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZMxjExwDa
I join the others, listening to their stories. Thirty minutes later, Maya, Ken, and Chan entered the room along with Collins and Yang Hyun-suk. There was still no sign of Yong-guk, and that worried me a little.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBTsXeRsJm
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMVQ6RdxUQ
After passing on greetings to each other, we went straight to work. Our two managers left us to it, and later on, Lee texted me, saying she hadn’t received any response from Yong-guk. This was troubling. I noticed Mike throw me a look, shrugging his shoulders. He was obviously wondering where Yong-guk could be. Before we got to work with the songwriters and the producer, I pulled Mike aside to talk to one corner of the room.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGkayX59mz
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvvs4EyF1O
“Have you heard from Yong-guk yet?” Mike asked.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbazpO32T5F
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcatERAhKj4
“No, and that worries me,” I told him. “If he wasn’t going to show, he would’ve called, right?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTfFbZLF4h
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLumUo22dLL
“You try calling him,” he insisted. “He might answer to you.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6IrA2dLRj
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwuId46KZ2
I turned to my phone, but before I could do anything else, Chan was calling out to the two of us to join everyone else. Mike and I already knew it wasn’t wise to go against him at this point. Not when creating the album is crucial. We joined the others, as it seems calling Yong-guk will have to be done another time.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPy2bJH7Oc
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cyddBcr8x
Since there were four more songs left for the album, we divided into two groups for the time being. One was an all-girl group, and the other was an all-boy group. The all-girl group was to remain in the studio while the all-boy group was to go to the next studio. Maya and Chan were to remain with the producer to monitor the all-girl group. Though Chan said he would be alternating from time to time to see how things go with the all-boy group.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf9EHtSUzj
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7frW6oO3zp
We went straight to work, with the male folk going to the next studio. Before we got work, I tried texting Yong-guk, but there was no answer from him. Maybe he was busy and I shouldn’t worry. Still, he would’ve told the other songwriters that he wasn’t going to show. I surely hope he’s okay.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6puIQEE4jP
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC62Nksl0TL
Working on the song with the girls turned out to be more fun than we expected. After going through the lyrics with Maya, the producer played the beat he had already made, and it was nice and sort of jumpy. It totally felt like a song meant to empower all females out there. After a few test runs, we were able to record the song perfectly. Chan had come in to check on us and was impressed with how well we had progressed.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsCXuYjx3L
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbxHjIFSmU
We were done recording our song before four in the afternoon. The others had also finished recording their song almost at the same time, and we met again in the studio we girls were recording in. So far, so good, was the comment from the songwriters and the two producers. We had done three songs for the album, and now there were only two more to go. One was a duet, and so it was decided that Zoey and Mino were going to sing it. Then, the other one, the songwriters, said they were going to decide who would sing it. Most of the members of BTW were convinced that I was going to be chosen to sing. I had no doubt there myself.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyhMQn4dsk
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRc9X1zSVJ
After working for such a long time, I hadn’t checked my phone until now. I was hoping to find a message from Yong-guk by now. But when I checked my phone, nothing. I pulled Mike aside and asked him if he had tried to contact Yong-guk before we started to work on recording the songs. There was nothing on his end, either. This was worrying. What could Yong-guk be up to for him not just to show up but to also not answer his calls?77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMR1f1d0TE6
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAotj2QeiZi
It was time to call it a day, and the songwriters left the building first. The WINNER members had somewhere to be and had left the place. We had to remain behind and wait on Lee. Since we were to start filming the music video, Lee had to help organize. We waited for her downstairs in the lobby. The BLACKPINK member had to stay behind and meet their manager. So we waited in the lobby, eating snacks and chatting.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMkziGMcXa
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQU54yd0NSS
“Hey, isn’t it weird that we haven’t heard from Yong-guk the whole day?” Zoey asked.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuy3yClNza
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrsm5VmrYH
Mike and I sat close to each other. We gave each other a look.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiBOJiW6Oy
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm81ukvhkFi
“We’ve been trying to reach him the whole afternoon,” said Mike. “But he hasn’t called back or replied to any of our texts.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKr7wn5Eo5r
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gtrOCNARh
“Should we maybe visit him?” Christine asked as she ate her cheesy corn puffs.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNNbqiJqBt
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrGperg3f3
“Yeah, if we knew where he lived,” said Zoey, rolling his eyes.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFlXJX28Ye
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7yNW9ZgEZ
“We can ask any of the B.A.P members,” said Mike. “We did get their phone numbers, didn’t we?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpAHUa2uCI
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsIsvk1hIT
“Let me call Daehyun,” I said as I scrolled through my phone to check.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbiwAIRgMA
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96ZQpTldZo
When I found his number, I quickly called him. I didn’t expect him to answer right away, and he sounded very delighted to hear from me.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8efaZ0zWWT
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQS3Tznou0
“Hi, Sam,” he greeted so cheerfully. “I never expected to see you calling me.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IMNgivbEB
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCe12KWY1i2
“Well, yeah, it’s a little out of the blue,” I said. “I hope you’re doing okay.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvpPLc7J08
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaddqhyA1LI
“I’m great. Hope you and The Toxins are alright.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoF6hFPdckx
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhC8WKiUVq
“Yeah, we’re. Daehyun, I have a quick question. Have you seen Yong-guk today? He was supposed to be here at YG, but he didn’t show. Could something be wrong?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HTftPMbIj
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeDDjivvwD
“Huh. Funny, I talked to him this morning, and he sounded okay to me. And he was supposed to be there at YG. He told me he was going to YG in the afternoon. Are you sure he hasn’t been there?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxPvKp7JV1
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkHtN0uspT
“No, he hasn’t.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCHmr1pEzI
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEi6tMnXj82
“I wonder where he could be. Now I’m starting to get worried.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnevFtLWr8m
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONfpt5nBZZ
He wasn’t the only one. The other Toxins heard the conversation even when I hadn’t put my phone on loud speaker. They also had worried looks on their faces. Where could Yong-guk be?77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzZHj2OjHi
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbmDZvSBQA
“There should be a reasonable explanation not to have showed up, right?” I asked.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpLba2LfGM
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3G7C2hTcd
“Yeah, if something came up, he would’ve said something. Let me ask around first. Maybe he stopped somewhere and lost track of time or something. But he isn’t the kind to hold anyone up, so I’m surprised he didn’t say anything if he wasn’t going to show up.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JiF3m8qZi
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtdqvPg8DJ
“Thanks, Daehyun. We’ll wait for your call.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmL4Qz2fXs7
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kPwQg0Yk0
I cut the line and turned to look at the other four Toxins. No one said anything for a while. We were all probably wondering if something had happened to him. Maybe just like Daehyun had said, he was somewhere with other things to attend to. Right now, all we could do was wait.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKiIob967A
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiP4FZKakgK
Lee joined us half an hour later. “Why are you all looking like someone has just died?” she asked when she looked at our faces.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8psV2JvVX
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFrXW1alyE
"We still haven't heard anything from Yong-guk," Zoey answered.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOUFc1ZJ5M
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ecxuPsGJz
"Have you tried calling any member from B.A.P?"77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq4dYfJ7dP
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44LLNPR4bi
"Sam called Daesung," Daniel answered. "Even he doesn't know where he is. He'll call us back if he has any news."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrTyWuYmlx
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRw6nqp4MIG
"Well, while we wait, we better get a move on," said Lee. "All of you have to rest. We still have a lot of work to do tomorrow."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iWC7VmTbg
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PspvHSD6B
We all followed Lee out of the YG building and went to the car that was waiting for us in the car park. As we made our way back home, Daehyun called me back. I announce to everyone in the car about the call, and everyone's ears perked up, ready to hear what Daehyun had to say.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRKlo9fxxp
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcWWalFJ2w
I answered the call and put the phone on loud speaker.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTjEUjIbet
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuZgdhr1XL
"Hey, any news?" I asked.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnrj5NJ0XL
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67a0sY4ivu
"I'm afraid not," said Daehyun. "No one knows where he is. I tried asking his brother too. He hasn't heard anything from him either."77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBat1eME4Y
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKkNNE0hKP
There was silence from me, including everyone else who heard the conversation.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4VaRU7cC0
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHm7yCL4Qkq
“Oh, okay,” I said. “Thanks for letting me know. If anything come about his whereabouts, let me know.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YdEbHjYKO
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQIO6RCgE0
“Sure, I’ll let you know.” Daehyun cut the call.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj8z1qjn6D
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ELD9djqL1
No one said anything as the car drove to the hotel. We continued to sit in silence, waiting for the other speak. I could tell that after hearing the news, they were now super worried, including Lee. I hoped nothing had happened to Yong-guk. If there were any such news, we would have heard something by now.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sLrwFSfKG
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYG7g15QANi
“Isn’t anyone going to say anything?” Zoey asked as she folded her arms.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YmiL4mTBa
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXP6oYKJds
Daniel who sat at the back shrugged his shoulders. “What’s there to say?” he asked. “Thinking we have a solution to what’s going on, isn’t going to help. That’s if reasonable.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJZuowsusI
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVc78GKKRdK
Lee, who sat in the front passenger seat, nodded her head. “Daniel is right,’ she said. “Right now, there’s nothing we can do but hope that he does turn up. If anything, we can file a missing person’s report. And we can’t do that ourselves, it will be up to the family to do so.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡba8JccmrEo
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNls0kcHKTE
“Oh, I do hope he’s okay,” said Christine. She turned to look out of the window, deep in thought.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoaHR74Cgd
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaOuoyNS6g
“I hope so too,” I said. I looked down at my phone, hoping for it to ring, to find it’s Yonguk calling. But the screen remained black and the phone remained silent. I couldn’t help but feel the worst has actually happened. It was wrong to think that way, the thought kept coming up in my mind.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EE2x990fI
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiV7chzRau
When we arrived back at the hotel, we were still gloomy and didn’t talk as much. We all went to our rooms to freshen up and sat in our rooms waiting for any news to pop up. Nothing came up, and I ended up falling asleep with my phone right beside me, in case Daehyun called. Zoey woke me up for supper and we all went to the lobby to have supper. Collins hadn’t come back yet from YG, so the five of us had dinner with Lee. We never said a word as we ate, and that worried Lee.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPuCD9s7lD
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TPvdv3f1g
“I know we’re all upset right now,” she said, breaking the silence. “But it feels so weird when none of you are talking.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFhKNHO5uc
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc481CJ9dNr
“I thought we were simply observing table manners,” said Zoey as she looked at Lee.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQwi7vuuzt
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymR4OuuEej
“Well, it’s not common for all of you to be silent is what I’m trying to say.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt2Pdnd6yS
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbe5YiJcYdk
“I think we’re all still pretty worried about Yong-guk,” I said. “Daehyun still hasn’t called me.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuogtNTMEQW
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbCaIECYab
“We can’t do anything for now,” said Lee as she stood up from her seat. “Now, I want you all to join me for a board game. You all need a distraction.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMgxxQilEQ
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9ldVNAZK1
“I don’t feel like playing a card game,” said Christine, giving Lee a sulking look.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOQ8c7xvRf
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdHjcXoXoY
“If you keep thinking of Yong-guk like you are right now, you’ll die of depression. I’m going to get the board. We’re playing snakes and ladders.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEamARotMJb
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyqhhr9Nuz
Lee left the lounge. She was right in a way. Yong-guk has got us so worked up that we weren’t ourselves. Well, that is to be expected. Lee was just trying to cheer us up and get our mind off things.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnXfjYRXPV
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1foo8v5YB
My phone in my pocket beeped. It looks like I have just received a message. Before I could pick up the phone, I noticed the other entire Toxins’ eyes on me. I paused, looking at them.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Dr0n28cmy
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDVoybrSA7
“What is it?” I asked.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKZTO9yx0o
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HpY8W20fN
“Nothing,” said Mike who sat beside me. “We’re all hoping to receive a message about Yong-guk’s whereabouts.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnSs57snxV
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDThcQZxgJn
“And what if it isn’t?” I asked as I raise my eyebrow.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYiDwnz9NU
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpT9WYnLgx
“Then nothing.” Mike scratched the back of his head.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkzAe8e7NS
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnmvPLJa7i
I took my phone out and quickly unlocked it. The message wasn’t from Daehyun or anyone I knew. It was from a private number. I got scared. Did it have anything to do with Yong-guk?77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTSBxiJoBc
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5KRuRAVTS
I heard a door close down the hall and footsteps. Lee was coming back. I had better check on this message quick before she shows up.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbWD1iozLe
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZwOA9XQLG
I open my inbox and read the message. My eyes grow wide with shock. The message is from Yong-guk. Apparently, he had gone to visit a sick friend out of town. His car broke down and his phone battery was low. He had to wait to receive help and when he did, he had to wait for a toll truck to toll his car to the garage. Even with his phone charged, he couldn’t call or text anyone as he was out of phone credit so he used someone’s phone from the garage. I couldn’t help but sigh out loud in relief.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdI1uAjKu2
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH9D466vIt
“What is it?” Zoey asked impatiently. “Is it about Yong-guk?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELyV0yaCrT
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkqUVyhkyw
“Yong-guk is fine,” I said. “He travelled out of town and his car broke down. He’s okay.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksBCqeR9ZE
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRPFEA419l
“Told you not to worry,” said Lee as she came in with a board game in hand.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLIxIOGnUC
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgg0HbkugTg
“I’m so relieved,” said Christine. “Anything could’ve happened with the way he disappeared like he did.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiIyx7A7La
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyS8SBJVjQx
“True,” said Zoey. “For a moment there, I thought Johnny must have kidnapped him or something.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXxMO1DwD2
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWLzGg1R7o
We all fell silent and looked at Zoey. Zoey noticed our eyes on her.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8lZCcpYGy
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbrs4qIX8F
“Okay, okay, maybe I’m just exaggerating here,” she said. “But if Johnny did kidnap Yong-guk, it wouldn’t be the first time he has ever done something that sinister.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JoLaF5CLO
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeCiZ7ITxO
“True,” said Lee. “There’s also what he did with the power recently, and him chasing me down the stairs.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbJdLEr1fy
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjoMhAOatm
“And let’s not forget one time in high school when the drama club were supposed to be performing a play, yet he stole all their costumes the night before,” said Mike. “I seriously wonder why the principal never expelled him when he had the chance.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaI3jzi5SW
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PiEEk4PrV
I noticed the look on Daniel’s face. He was contemplating. “Yeah, you’re right,” he said. “But if he were to pull something big, it will have to take a lot of work.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDAGEjW7T3
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoZYiFaHp0
“Anyway, let’s not think about Johnny doing his worst,” I said. “Now that Yong-guk is okay, I’m now in the mood for a game.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojxZ6gNqK1
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdr7FHF67zN
“Look at you, glowing like you are,” said Zoey as she giggled. “I bet out of everyone here, you’re the happiest to know that Yong-guk is alright.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDkJKp7JpW
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfpVsr3nlt
“Well, I know where you’re getting at Zoey.” I turn to look at her. “If it happened to be Mino, you’ll be jumping around the place with joy.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsx9KA0xXZ
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKi5blnAPD
“No, I wouldn’t.” Zoey shook her head, yet there was no denying that she was blushing.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK61tvHG4P0
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv0ECKHDek
“Let’s get the game going, shall we?” Lee asked as she went to the coffee table in the lounge. “We can worry about Zoey and Mino later.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vZ7wXpGII
77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPX3mQMzCl
Zoey threw me a side-eye, and I chuckled. I stood up from my seat and started to make my towards Lee in the lounge. Slowly, everyone else followed suit. And with the way we were lively and chatty through the game, our minds were at ease.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK5zOwQl1q
8964 copyright protection73ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKwke9qYgD 維尼