The Author's POV

"Thank you all for coming, and we hope you enjoyed the show!"

Doing her signature pose, Sophia waved at the crowd causing them to cheer even more loudly.

Unfortunately for them, it was already the end of the show, and therefore, giving them one last goodbye, Sophia quickly headed back to the changing rooms with her group.

Upon entering the changing rooms, Sophia slumped down on her chair and let out a long and tired breath.

"Haaaa, I'm tired."

"Tell me about."

Slumping down on the chair next to her was Penelope, her other group member.

Taking a wet towel, she covered her eyes with it and leaned her head back.

"Ugh, my legs are hurting like crazy..."

"Same."

Sophia replied in agreement.

"...but, I'm used to it by now "

Raising the towel on her face and uncovering her eyes, Penelope skeptically looked at her.

"Stop pretending, I know that you're not tired at all. You are one of the star students at the Lock, you don't need to be humble."

Sophia merely smiled in response to Penelope's comment. She then added.

"Just because I'm a student of the Lock doesn't mean that I'm immune to tiredness."

"Yeah, yeah."

Penelope completely dismissed her comment. Sophia shook her head when she saw this.

In a way, what Penelope was correct.

Thanks to her training at the Lock that she was now able to keep her stamina in check during her performances.

She also wasn't wrong when she said that she was one of the star students at the Lock as she was in fact ranked in the top fifty in her year.

An achievement that was quite considerable.

"Say, I've always been meaning to ask..."

Putting the towel down, Penelope suddenly sat up straight and looked at Sophia.

A frown appeared on her delicate face.

"Is money still a problem? I know that the Lock costs a lot of money, but if you spend your time with us, won't you fall behind the others in your year?"

"It's fine."

Bending down and taking a similar wet towel, Sophia covered her eyes.

Feeling the cold towel on her face, Sophia smiled in pleasure.

"Money is not really a problem..."

This was a bit of a difficult topic for her.

The main reason why she was an idol in the first place was because of her family's past situation.

Although they lived comfortably, they weren't particularly rich.

At least not to the point of being able to pay the Lock's yearly tuition fee which was incredibly expensive.

Despite making 7 million U per year herself, she was still unable to pay the whole tuition fee.

Had it not been for her father, she probably wouldn't have been able to attend the Lock.

Thinking about her father, Sophia felt a mixture of different emotions.

She couldn't quite explain what happened, but one day while she was still a trainee for her idol group, she came home to find that her tuition for the Lock had already been paid in advance by him.

Before she could confront him about the situation, she found out that he had gone on a long trip.

A trip that lasted a whole two years.

During that time, Sophia panicked a lot as she thought that in order to pay for her tuition fees her father had decided to undertake some extremely dangerous job, and only recently did she finally receive a call from him.

Though relieved, she was still very angry at him.

How could he just leave her like that? Without any explanations and making her worried sick for the past two years?

Unknowingly, Sophia's teeth clenched and she secretly swore to herself.

'He said that he's coming to visit me today, when he comes I'll let him have a piece of me.'

"Hey Sophia, what did you think about the girl you brought on stage today? Wasn't she just adorable?"

It was then that she suddenly heard Penelope's excited voice.

Raising the towel in her head, she found Penelope's face a couple of inches away from her.

Sophia quickly moved her back.

"Wow, move back a little."

like that, Sophia,

phone, Penelope showed Sophia an image of the girl that they had

the photo,

tell

the photo, Sophia nodded her

"...Sure."

it. The girl was

and stared at the

that the

see because of all the lights, but she's quite

cute. Just look at her

a cheerful atmosphere prevaded over

Sophia, why don't you look excited? ...You perhaps

nowhere, one of

at the girl, Sophia bluntly

"As if..."

she is, the ice

as she lowered her phone. Her lips curled into

looks and popularity,

"No thank you."

rejected. She

don't have time for things like

want a boyfriend, however, she just

had to focus on her academy

barely had any free time for

...and.

Well.

are

muttered inside of her mind with a longing look

thought about love, however, he was not someone that someone

was someone that shone on a brighter and more important stage than she had

sight on him, Sophia found all of the boys near her

bad that he's not someone I

he was not someone that

achievements were

could do was focus on herself and maybe hope that one day she could reach

***

"We're almost there, Leopold."

back, I urged him to continue

moment we were currently headed backstage to meet Leopold's daughter, Sophia Ray, and the group leader of the idol

pleasant surprise since I could use this as an excuse to help Nola meet them

'How convenient.' I thought.

there was one slight

are you so nervous

me a

who looked extremely nervous at the

This was understandable though.

two years, I'd also be nervous if I were

Click—! Click—!

suddenly heard a

"Stop that!"

I found Leopold hunched up,

his direction, I snatched the lighter and cigarette from his mouth and pointed at Nola who was

a little girl over here, why

boss, you know that

me with a

pleas, I put the lighter and cigarette

no,

"Haaiizzzz..."

drag Leopold all the way toward

way we were stopped multiple times by security, however, prior to coming here, the manager had given Leopold

thought, I don't want to

we arrived at the door, Leopold suddenly started

I'm going to

of his shirt,

To Tok—!

and I

'This guy...'

at him, I couldn't help but shake

I seen Leopold so nervous. Even when he was fighting against a

sight

Clank—!

after a couple of seconds had passed

door, was

if

Wasn't really sure.

may I

"Hello, there."

step forward and flashing a

over here wants to meet

words left my mouth,

"Ah! You're Sophia's father!"

changing room became visible

found multiple eyes staring in our direction. They were the

"Father?"

then, a familiar voice sounded from the

stiff body stiffened even more

it's been

indeed been

looked at Leopold with