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."

Sophia, here have a

of the girl that they

the photo,

tell

the photo, Sophia nodded her

"...Sure."

deny it. The girl

the other group members huddled up together and stared at the image

isn't that the girl

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

how cute. Just

atmosphere prevaded over the

why don't you look excited? ...You

nowhere, one of the group members suddenly

girl,

"As if..."

is, the

the side as she lowered her phone. Her lips curled

are interested in, Sophia? With your looks and popularity, I don't doubt the fact that you will be able to

"No thank you."

rejected.

don't have time for

boyfriend, however, she just didn't have the time for

activities, she had to focus on her academy

had any free time for herself, let

...and.

Well.

are as good as

muttered inside of her mind with a

she thought about love, however, he was not

that shone on a brighter and more important stage than she had ever performed

she had set her sight on him, Sophia

bad that he's not someone

that she

her idol status, their achievements were

could do was focus on herself and maybe hope that

***

"We're almost there, Leopold."

in the back, I

Leopold's daughter,

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

'How convenient.' I thought.

there was

you so

me a

Leopold who looked

This was understandable though.

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

Click—! Click—!

suddenly heard a

"Stop that!"

found Leopold hunched up,

in his direction, I snatched the lighter and cigarette from his

girl over here, why in

come on boss, you know that they

me

put

no,

"Haaiizzzz..."

to drag Leopold all the way toward the changing room of

manager had given Leopold a special card that enabled him private

don't want to

arrived at the door,

if I'm going to let

back of his shirt, I proceeded to knock on the

To Tok—!

body instantly stiffened, and I finally let

'This guy...'

at him, I couldn't help but shake my

was fighting against

was a weird sight if I

Clank—!

only after a couple of seconds

from the side of the door, was one of the members of

name if

Wasn't really sure.

How may I

"Hello, there."

forward and flashing a

here wants

left my mouth, Evylin's eyes

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

changing room became visible for all of

staring in our direction. They

"Father?"

familiar voice sounded from the other side of

body stiffened even more as

dear, it's been

indeed been

she looked at Leopold with