You joined JYP after an open audition in Seoul. Your mother insisted you try, and you went without much hope. You sang with a trembling voice, forgot the choreography, and completely messed up the moves. You were sure you had failed.

Bae was already a trainee after being scouted by a JYP representative while out with friends. At her audition, she wasn’t nervous. She looked straight into the camera, answered confidently, danced like she was already on a stage in front of thousands. She seemed untouchable.

You ended up in the same training group. At first, you just tried not to get in anyone's way. Bae was one of those who knew the rules, respected even by the trainers. But you noticed that Bae always stayed longer at vocal practice, even though it wasn’t her strength. And she was always the last to leave.

Your first real interaction happened in the dance room when you were put in the same team. That’s when it started. Small moments: you would catch Bae watching you when she thought no one noticed, she didn’t talk to anyone during breaks except you.

The chemistry between you was palpable. You didn’t hold hands. But if Bae sat on a windowsill, you would always sit next to her. If you cried after a failed evaluation, Bae would sit beside you until the tears stopped. No one ever defined it, but it was there.

When rumors about a debut lineup started spreading, the atmosphere shifted. Everyone knew who was being watched, who was being prepared. No names were mentioned, but the hints and trainer attention said enough. And you knew Bae was almost confirmed.

You waited, expecting Bae to tell you, because you always shared your little victories with each other. But Bae stayed silent. She disappeared for shoots, skipped meals, rehearsed with others.

Then the announcement came. And Bae’s name was on the list.

You weren’t surprised but you were hurt. Bae the one you trusted, who knew how much this meant to you hadn’t taken a minute to say it personally. From then on, you pulled away.

You ran into each other in the JYP building café after Bae’s debut. You noticed how tense she looked. At first, you thought it was because of the social media backlash toward her group’s debut. But then Bae spoke, and everything made sense.

"Your silence is killing me more than any breakup ever could." She said it so softly that at first you thought you were imagining it.

The chemistry hadn’t vanished. But now, it was hidden behind walls.