Burnout (K.Sn) [Sequel]

Fooled

April 2021

I had been called in for some meeting, alone, for some weird reason. I hadn't been told what it was about, I was only told that it was about work, obviously. In a way I feared I would be put on all sorts of restrictions, pills and diets once again, but at the same time I sort of knew better. Didn't stop me from worrying.

"Come in," a voice called out as I had knocked on the door to the meeting room. I hesitantly opened the door and poked my head in, "ah, Lin, come take a seat," Bang PD gestured to the empty seat across from him.

"I see you wanted to speak with me," I stated and he nodded as I sat down in the chair across from him.

"I don't think it's a secret that we see you very capable of handling a proper female idol career, Lin, whether it be solo or in a girl group," he stated and folded his hands in front of him as a frown grew on my face.

"I'm not quite sure I'm getting what you're trying to say," I frowned at him in confussion.

"We want to remove you from Enhypen," Bang PD stated and I widened my eyes at him in shock as my breathe hitched in my throat, "we want to promote you as a solo artist or put you in an upcoming girl group."

"I... I-I... what?" I frowned at him, positive I heard everything wrong. They couldn't be serious about removing me from the group, we had just debuted, and finished recording our second album. Heck, we were supposed to have a comeback this month, he really couldn't be quite serious right now.

"Since we let you be ambassador for Davich Optical we have seen you perform as a girl group idol, and how your work ethic is in that department," he calmly explained as I hesitantly nodded at him, "we think you would do better as either a solo artist or in a girl group. Atfer all, you are a girl Lin."

"I will work harder," I stated making a small amused smile spread on his face, "I'll work harder to fit better into the group."

"I do believe it's best for you to remove yourself from the group," he shook his head.

"Will this benefit the boys as well?" I questioned and he hesitantly nodded.

"We do think the group will get more succesful if it was a full boygroup, and not a co-ed group," he stated with a nod, making me lean back in my chair and bite down on my bottom lip as I frowned over what I had to do, "we get this is a hard decision for you Lin, but I do believe you have to think about what you believe is the best for you and the boys."

"If... if it's best for the boys I leave the group, I will. But I want to go home then," I stated making him frown at me, "I don't want to continue in this industry if it's not with the boys, but I'll leave if it means they get the recognition they deserve for their hard work."

"You're a team player, Lin," Bang PD stated and I simply nodded at him, "you do whatever is best for the team."

In a second the door had been thrown open and I was pulled into a tight embrace as the boys all cooed around me with wide grins on their faces, making me look at each of them in confussion.

"April fools, noona~" Niki happily cooed making me gasp at him before hitting his shoulder.

"Ah! This was so mean!" I loudly complained as the boys all stood laughing at me before I crouched down on the floor and hid my face in embarrassment.

"You really think we would just let you leave the group?" Heeseung questioned making me just nod in reply, "Ah! Linnie! We would never!" he cooed as he pulled me to stand up and straight into a tight hug.

"You boys are so mean," I complained and pushed away from the hug before turning to Bang PD, "you were in on this?"

"I agreed with the boys vision of you being a female solo idol or in a girl group," he casually shrugged, "but we won't move you from the group. We would more likely give you extra schedule."

"I don't want that," I shook my head at him.

"She'll take any girl group or solo work she can do," Sunoo shook his head and turned to Bang PD, "she can manage it beside the group."

"I do believe it wasn't whether or not she could manage it," Bang PD commented in amusement, "it was about feeling like she got special treatment."

I silently nodded in agreement making the boys all look at me with small smiles.

"But she is special... shouldn't she get special treatment, then?" Sunghoon spoke up, making me hit out after his shoulder, making him immediately move out of my reach.

"We fooled you noona~" Jungwon happily cooed at me.

"I'm not speaking with any of you the rest of today," I shook my head at him making him just giggle at me.

"Come on... you can't resist us," he stated and nudged my arm, making me just stare at him.

"You know what? I might just walk around and speak whatever language I wish," I shrugged before turning to Bang PD, "I suppose I'm dismissed?"

"That you are," he assured with a small laugh and I quickly bowed at him before just turning straight around and walking out of the office, the boys all running after me.

"Hold on! Lin!" Jay yelled out, making me just continue to walk down the hallway.

"Did we make you mad?" Jake quickly grabbed onto my wrist as they caught up to me.

"Come on... won't you speak to us?" Heeseung complained at me.

"Sunoo-ya, do something," Sunghoon stated and patted Sunoo's shoulder.

"She's also ignornig me!" Sunoo defended making me reach out and grab onto his hand, "or... nearly as much as she ignores you," he sheepishly grinned.

"We would never want to continue without you noona," Niki quickly assured making me simply hum at him before an excited grin spread on his face, "she's not ignoring me completely either!"

"Of course she isn't, she has a soft spot for you," Jay reminded as Niki just grinned even wider, if possible.