Half an hour later, the girls and I are engaged in our little photoshoot, using the flowery archway as a magical backdrop.

“Girls, I’ll be right back, okay?” Suji says, looking at her phone with an anxious expression. 

We nod, the unspoken understanding hanging heavy in the air as we look at each other, Suji retreats from the lounge, clutching her phone as she steps into the elevator.

“Is he still sending her those nasty texts?” Hana asks, her gaze lingering in the direction Suji vanished.

No, he stopped, she told me. She probably just needs a moment alone, you know? After everything that happened,” I offer, diffusing the tension in the air. “She’ll be okay.”

The girls murmur in agreement, and we plunge back into our eccentric photoshoot, the vibrant colors of our outfits contrasting against the enchanting backdrop.

The waitstaff circulates with trays of delicious hors d’oeuvres and gourmet snacks, tempting us with their flavors and aromas, as we drink and dance.

My phone rings and I hurry to my purse. I check the caller ID.

A knot tightens in my stomach at Eunmi’s name on the screen. 

My older sister.

I have no desire to answer, and I’m about to decline the call, but I stop myself before my finger can swipe on the screen.

What if she’s calling because something happened to Mom?  
Or even worse, what if Mom’s woken up?

A shiver runs down my spine at the thought.

I brace myself and rush to the private terrace, where I can have some privacy. Shadows dance with the twinkling lights of Seoul below and I take a deep breath in and accept the call and press the phone to my ear. “Hello.”

My sister’s voice slices through the night like a knife, bitter and resentful. No greeting, just a scoff.

“So, you think you’re too good for us, huh.”

I cringe at the sound, sighing, I ask, “What’s the reason for your call?”

She laughs, a harsh and mocking sound.

“What’s the reason for my call?” she snarls. “That’s what you say to me after you couldn’t bother to show up for Mom?”

“Is everything okay with Mom?”

“Why do you care? You obviously hate her.” She snaps.

“How could you say that? I—”

“You spent her birthday in your fancy apartment that you only have because of her, because of me. You didn’t even bother to visit her on her deathbed! You should be ashamed of yourself!” She screams, and I flinch, holding the phone away from my ear. Feeling tears stinging my eyes, my voice breaking through a sob, I say, “I’m sorry, okay? I was sick, I couldn’t come to see her on the 19th, I’m sorry.”

I cover my mouth with my hand, trying to stop the sobs.
She snorts.

“Mom was right,” She spits. “You are an ungrateful little—” Her words morph into a venomous hiss, but I spare myself from hearing the rest, hanging up before she can finish.

I breathe out into the quiet and lean against the wall. I put my hand on my face and let the tears flow. 

A few minutes later, after I’ve thoroughly dried my tears and fixed my face, and with a renewed facade of composure, I slip back inside to rejoin the party.

“Eunji, here you are!” Yoonah calls as I’m walking back. “Chief Soo-ah says that we moving to the terrace for a surprise lightshow!”

A genuine smile graces my lips. “Really? Sounds awesome.”

“Where’s Suji?” She asks, looking around.

“I’ll get her,” I volunteer, eager to get away from the crowd, and head for the elevator.

On my way there, I ask a staff member if he has seen Suji, and he tells me she went to the upstairs balcony.

When I get upstairs, it’s a very different atmosphere from ours downstairs.

There’s a DJ on stage and he’s playing a loud and thumping mix of hip-hop and EDM, the flashing and changing strobes of multicolored lights sweep across the room, and the dance floor is alive, packed with a high-energy crowd. A subtle layer of fog hovers above the dance floor, catching the colorful lights.

I scan the crowd for Suji, but instead, I spot two familiar faces in the middle of the dance floor. Two of the seven girls from ATLAS, they’re laughing and dancing together.

Is this the ATLAS party? Why would Suji be here? We hate ATLAS...

I look for the balcony and head towards it. I find it empty, no sign of Suji or anyone else.

I’m about to turn and leave, when I hear a faint whisper. I stop and listen, trying to locate the source. I walk towards the railing, and peek behind the potted plant.

There, in the shadows, I see an unmistakable head of luscious hair. It’s Nova, the lead singer of ATLAS. She has a distinctive look, with her long red hair and bangs, I would recognize her anywhere, even on the dimly lit balcony.

She’s talking to someone, it seems. Someone who is holding her close and caressing her face. Someone who is leaning in for a kiss.

Someone who is Suji.

 My breath hitches. My eyes widen as I watch the two girls kiss.