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, here have a

Penelope showed Sophia an image of

photo,

on, you can't tell me

the photo, Sophia nodded

"...Sure."

deny it. The

huddled up together and stared at the image of the

the girl from today's

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

my, how cute. Just look at her

cheerful atmosphere

you look excited? ...You

of the group members

at the girl,

"As if..."

she is, the ice queen

lowered her phone. Her lips curled into a

you are interested in, Sophia? With your looks and popularity, I don't doubt

"No thank you."

rejected.

time for things like

didn't want a boyfriend, however, she just

idol activities, she had to focus

had any free time for herself,

...and.

Well.

are as good as

her mind with a longing look on

there was one guy that come to her mind when she thought about love,

someone that shone on a brighter and

she had set her sight on him, Sophia found all of the boys near her dull

too bad that he's not someone I

was not someone that

idol status, their achievements were worlds

herself and maybe hope that one day she could

***

"We're almost there, Leopold."

I urged him to

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

surprise since I could use this as an excuse to help Nola meet them and take photos

'How convenient.' I thought.

there was one

are you so

give me a

was none other than Leopold who looked extremely nervous at the prospect of meeting

This was understandable though.

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

Click—! Click—!

suddenly heard a familiar clicking

"Stop that!"

hunched up, trying to light

lighter and cigarette from his mouth

girl over here, why in

on boss, you know that they aren't

at me with a pleading

his pleas, I put the lighter and

means no, let's

"Haaiizzzz..."

a long and exaggerated sigh, I managed to drag

multiple times by security, however, prior to coming here, the manager had given Leopold

I don't

the door, Leopold

I'm going to

shirt, I proceeded to knock on the

To Tok—!

stiffened, and I finally let go of his

'This guy...'

couldn't help

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

weird sight if I

Clank—!

couple of seconds had passed that

the door, was one of the members of the

her name if

Wasn't really sure.

may I help

"Hello, there."

flashing a brilliant smile,

guy over here wants to meet his

left my mouth, Evylin's eyes lit

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

the insides of the changing room

eyes staring in our direction. They were the other members

"Father?"

voice sounded from the other side of the

body stiffened even more as he forced

it's

indeed been a

looked at Leopold