Dressed to the nines, the girls and I step out of the car.

The cold and dry winter air bites our skin, but we shrug it off. We have a warm and cozy place waiting for us. 

We follow our staff into the lavish Vista Heights, and they usher us through the discreet entrance and private elevator.

The concierge gives us a warm welcome and helps us shed our coats and jackets. 

The grand entrance doors swing open, and the girls and I let out gasps of collective awe as we take in the breathtaking scene that unfolds before us.

The first thing that captures our attention is a magnificent floral archway, a living weaving of carefully selected blossoms that lay the path before us. The air is filled with the sweet fragrance of fresh flowers as we walk beneath the arch.

“This is incredible!” Yoonah exclaims, her arm linked with Lilly’s.

“Wow.” Hana reaches out to touch the petals.

I do too, with a big smile on my face.

“Who did this?” Suji asks, her eyes shining.

“Hey, girls.” As if on cue, Chief Soo-ah appears, wearing a chic black jumpsuit. She’s accompanied by some of the waitstaff, who carry the most beautiful cake I’ve ever seen. A tiered cake that looks like a work of art; edible replicas of our album cover decorate the tiers, surrounded by flowing flowers that match the floral archway. 

“Chief Soo-ah!” The girls and I greet our Chief of Staff. 

“Of course, you’re the mastermind behind this stunning surprise! We should have known!” Wo-young says as we all hug Chief Soo-ah. 

“I miss you girls! And I couldn’t let this opportunity to celebrate go to waste,” Chief Soo-ah says, her brown eyes sparkling with pride.

Chief Soo-ah is our Chief of Staff, and she’s known for her meticulous attention to detail and her commitment to creating memorable experiences for us. She has a keen eye and a passion for curating special moments.

“I wanted this celebration to be as extraordinary as each of you are,” Chief Soo-ah continues, acknowledging the collective effort of the staff and our event planner.

“Thank you, Chief Soo-ah!” We all say.

She blushes as the girls and I admire the cake.

Lilly marvels at the cake, pointing to a behind-the-scenes picture of her and me during our album cover shoot. “Aw, look at this!”

I take out my phone to snap a picture of it.

The well-acquainted waitstaff greet us, expressing their happiness at seeing us again. They lead us to our favorite lounge area, already set up to our preferences, with fresh flowers, and ambient lighting to create the atmosphere we love, where we have a private balcony overlooking the city.

A staff member gracefully approaches us with an elegant tray. On the trays are sparkling candles, shaped like miniature gold stars.

The cooks and bartenders come over and introduce themselves and present us with a curated menu of exclusive beverages and culinary offerings for tonight.

Lilly and Hana squeal in delight as they are served their complimentary bespoke cocktails, and for me, it’s always the most exotic drink on the menu.

I love something with a kick and a twist.

I sip my fruity cocktail, the colorful concoction of flavors and alcohol dancing on my tongue as the girls and I settle into our plush velvet seats. Our table is adorned with scented flickering candles that cast soft shadows on the walls; the scent of vanilla and jasmine fills the air.

From our vantage point, the city’s twinkling lights form a dazzling backdrop to our night of celebration.

Tonight, we’re toasting to our well-deserved two-week break, the conclusion of the Blaze press tour, and the dawn of the impending BLOOM tour.

The live jazz band on the stage starts playing a soft, melodic tune in the background as the girls and I raise our glasses, with huge smiles on our faces.

“To breaking more records,” Suji says.

“To breaking records and to our well-deserved break!” Hana adds, and our clinking of glasses resonates through the air.

A few minutes later, amidst our ongoing chat and laughter, Lilly nudges my arm to grab my attention, her pretty face looking at me with concern.

“Eunji-unnie, are you feeling okay? You’ve been limping a little since the shoot this morning. Do you hurt your leg during the shoot? If you need to see Dr. Jiyeon—”

Clearing my throat, I shake my head. “I’m great, I just bumped my knee earlier. Don’t worry.”

Seeming satisfied with my answer, she nods and sips her drink.

Hana and Yoonah leave the table and head for the exclusive bar to indulge in more customized cocktails from the skilled mixologists. And Lilly grabs Wo-young and they head to the dancefloor.

Suji and I are left alone at the table, giving me the chance to ask her about that troubled look in her eyes tonight.

I move closer. “Everything okay?”

She sighs. “I don’t know. It’s been a hell of a week.”

Suji has been dating this guy, who’s kind of a big deal in the actor scene, and this week, they broke up. But Suji hasn’t told any of us why.

We just know it was a nasty breakup.

“Is he still texting you or...?” I ask, rubbing her shoulder.

She shakes her head. “No, he stopped.”

“That’s good, right?”

She nods. “I didn’t want to hurt him, you know... I just... couldn’t explain why I wanted to end it. And he said some horrible things to me and said I was never in it for real, and that I’m a bad person. That I was always looking for a way out, and that’s not true at all.”

I pull her into a comforting embrace. “Ignore all of that. He probably regrets what he said by now.”

She sniffles, resting her head on my shoulder. “I guess in the end, I did hurt him anyway.”

I tuck a strand of her dark hair behind her ear, looking into her eyes. “You’re not a bad person, Suji. You and he just weren’t right for each other. It’s good that you realized it before it was too late.” 

She nods, giving me a weak smile.

I hesitate then ask, “Why did you think you were going to hurt him?”

She swallows hard, lowering her gaze. “I didn’t want to cheat on him.”

“What? Why did you think you were going to cheat on him?”

There’s a long pause between us, as I wait for her answer. 
“Is there someone else?” I ask, softly.

Before she can say anything, Hana bursts in and grabs our arms. “Girls, come! You HAVE to taste this!”