"Where is she?" The singer we had hired to accompany Jisoo's performance hasn't shown up.

I have a feeling it's her mother trying to sabotage us. She has money she could easily pay them to not sing for us.

She's worrying. Her leg is bouncing up and down and she's trying her best to get in touch with the singer. I am too. I'm not going to let her goal just disappear.

I sat beside her and she looked at me, her eyes watery. "What am I going to do? I don't have a singer? I need to do this, Chae." She sounded desperate. Her voice was cracking and I pulled her into a hug.

"Don't cry, okay? You'll ruin your makeup and look ugly. Just take a deep breath." I felt her do so and rubbed her back. "Feel better? I'll sort this out. Don't worry. I'll find something."

"But what's going to happen if you don't? I'll be disqualified." She was going to cry. Crap.

"Shhh." I tried to calm her down, but she was worried I don't blame her, I'm worried too. "I'll go sort this out. You take deep breaths and practise."

I pulled out the hug and cupped her face, pecking her lips. "Is it my Eomma? Is it her who did this?"

"I don't know, love." Her tears welled up again. I get it, I'd be sad if my own mother set up something for me to fail. "I promise I'll fix this and find whoever did this, okay? Believe in me, love."

She nodded, nuzzling her face into my hand. I kissed her forehead and left to go call someone.

It was the singer. She didn't answer. It was a couple of times before her number couldn't be found. She has deleted it. I slapped my forehead and ran my fingers through my hair, pacing back and forth.

"Crap, " I mumbled. The shows were starting. I'm glad Jisoo isn't first, but we must find an accompaniment.

I'm just going to have to do it myself.

I walked back into the room. She was still in panic mode. "Love." She looked up at me. "I'll do it, okay?"

"But you haven't practised!" She sounded scared. She really wants this to prove herself.

I took a sheet, singing it over and over on my head. "We can do this, love. I know we can." I smiled at her and she nodded, giving us a cheer up before we started to practise.

"Kim Jisoo? You're up next," Someone backstage said. I held her hand and we both made our way behind the stage, waiting for our turn.

We were called and we both made our way onto the stage. She bowed and introduced herself before sitting at the piano. Her hands were shaky. When the lights dimmed for our chosen lighting, I gave her a quick kiss. She needs to know I'm here and she'll be fine.

She started playing, I counted my beat in and started singing. It was a lovely melody. I never thought I'd be the one singing it, but we honestly make the best duo.

We finished, I panted as everyone clapped. I've never needed to sing such high notes. They switch and I hope I was stable enough. I grabbed her hand and she bowed before we both made our exit.

We came inside her dressing room and she slumped herself onto the sofa, letting out a long, shaky breath. "You did great, chu." She shot me a smile. "I really liked it." I sat beside her and she rested her head on my lap. "Tired?"

"My hands hurt." She pouted. I chuckled slightly before slowly and carefully massaging her fingers. She closed her eyes and eventually fell asleep.

I continued to massage her time fingers when someone walked in.

She stood there, three bodyguards with her as she scoffed. It was Jisoo's mother, watching how she's asleep on my lap.

Shit.

"Out of all girls she could have chosen, why you?" She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. I'm best friends with Jennie. I know how to deal with attitude. "You're poor."

I tried not to let her downgrading me bother me. I continued to care for my girlfriend as she slept, not minding her ignorant mother for a while. "Answer me. You're no one special to just ignore me."

"And you're no one special to be answered, " I scoffed. "Did you have fun?" She raised an eyebrow at me. "Did you have fun ruining something your daughter worked her butt off doing? Did you have fun making her worry and panic? Did you have fun stressing her out and almost making her cry? Was it entertaining for you to watch your daughter like this?"

She clenched her fists. I hit a nerve. Well done, Roseanne. "I did that for a reason! Jisoo doesn't need someone like you to care for her!" She pointed to me massaging her hands. "She needs someone who actually has a future."

"Who said I never had a future? I'm smart and can get a good job. Just because I haven't, doesn't mean I can't."

"Listen here you-" She struggled with her words for a second, stuttering as I raised an eyebrow at her. She had nothing to say. She watched as Jisoo cuddled up closer to my stomach, all that anger just going down to her clenching her fists.

I knew it.

She still has a soft spot for her daughter, she just doesn't forgive herself for leaving her and not looking after her. She regrets the time she could've spent enjoying her daughter. She regrets it a whole lot. She wants that mother-daughter relationship. She wants Jisoo to love her.

But she fucked up.

Big time.

I kissed Jisoo's hair, rubbing her back so she could wake up. "Babe, get up. They're going to announce the winners soon."

"My back hurts~" She groaned. I chuckled. Her mother could only watch. I could see her eyes were welled up. She's never seen her daughter this happy.

She's never seen her daughter even smile. It must hurt her, her daughter has never smiled for her. "I'll put on a warm bath when we get to my house, okay? Get up."

She nodded, stretching before getting up. She rubbed her eyes and saw her mother there. Her smile immediately dropped. "What are you doing here?"

"Jisoo, darling. I-"

"-Get out."

I won't but in this conversation and explain things. I'll just let it happen.

"But, honey!"

Jisoo scoffed. "You ruined my day. You ruined my performance. I swear, if we don't win, I'm done with being your daughter." Fear was visible on her mother's face. She knew her daughter wasn't lying.

"Leave."

"Jisooah-"

"-Leave."

The same word sounded colder, cooler and sexier. Her mother took her leave and Jisoo cupped my face. "She didn't say anything to you, did she?"

I shook my head. "We should head backstage. They're going to announce the winners." She nodded, standing up and grabbing my hand.

"Promise to massage me after? My fingers feel great!"

I chuckled. "Okay, love." I clasped her hand tight and we made our way backstage.

"Now announcing the winners!" The guy said. "Judges, who does third place go to?"

They announced third place, clapping their hands as the person walked upstage to collect their trophy.

They did the same with second, except the claps were louder.

Jisoo was a bit nervous. We didn't get third or second place, she's nervous. I caressed her hand and watched as she took a couple of deep breaths.

"And first place goes to-"