The following scenes happened before and during the Red Carpet. The three girls, Chaeyoung, Wendy, and Joy are watching the award show on TV.
"Hurry up! It's starting!" Joy shouted from the living room.
Wendy was preparing some snacks while they watch and Chaeyoung volunteered to help. She knew exactly why. They need a moment to talk without Joy.
"The Royals won't come out until the end of the Red Carpet. You know they always put them in the end, Joy" Wendy said.
"Okay, fine! I'll call you when they're up" Joy said.
Wendy then looked at Chaeyoung who was on her iPad sending a message to Jennie. She told the girl that Jennie and Irene called her earlier and that they know about her having a stalker or a secret admirer.
"So?" Wendy said.
Chaeyoung looks at her best friend and fished out the note inside her pocket. She slides it across the countertop like a bribe until Wendy took it.
- you deserve someone who is utterly obsessed with you and it's not Jennie Kim -
xeesoxee
"I think we need to take Suzy out on the list," Chaeyoung said.
"Wait we have a list?" Wendy said.
"Wendy" Chaeyoung said.
"Okay. But I think we need to talk about this with Jennie and Irene. I mean, they know about this already so I don't see the reason why we shouldn't" Wendy said.
"Sorry for dragging you and Irene in this mess" Chaeyoung said.
"We always stick together, through thick and thin. Remember?" Wendy said that made Chaeyoung smile
"Yah! Love birds! Are you preparing a three-course meal?" Joy shouted and peeked inside the kitchen.
Wendy and Chaeyoung looked at each other and laughed. Joy pouted but also laugh soon after.
"They're almost up. It's Exodus already" Joy said referring to the All-Boys entertainment. It's like the counterpart of Royals but it's all males.
The three best friends settled in the living room with sandwiches and popcorn for snacks. They patiently wait for their idol and actress friends to appear on TV and cheer for them. As the last artist from Exodus stood on the makeshift stage for the photo op, Chaeyoung gazes at the idol and she knows that he's going to ruin the night.
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HPMA 2020 RED CARPET
[FEMALE MC: Kai, who are you looking forward the most among the artists that will be performing tonight]
[KAI: honestly everyone. I know all of us worked hard preparing for this and all of them are my friends]
[MALE MC: what a smart answer you got there. But honestly, give us a name]
[Kai shyly smiles]
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"Seriously, this MC is trying to get these artists into trouble" Joy annoyingly said.
"Yeah, and those unsuspecting artists will be surprised that fans are shipping them to someone they aren't even close to" Wendy said remembering that one time when she almost fought with someone online who was shipping Irene with an actor.
"It would be nice if their companies are briefing those cue cards. Like it's better to prevent an issue than to fix a problem" Joy said.
"Yeah, it's scary how media makes money from clickbait and false interpretations of the truth and how haters feed on them" Wendy said.
While Joy and Wendy are engaged in an intellectual conversation about how media and showbiz work, Chaeyoung stares intently at the man being interviewed on tv.
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[MALE MC: that smile must mean something eh? Come on Kai, give us a name]
[Kai laughs]
[KAI: uhm Jennie Kim. But aren't we all? I'm a big fan]
[Fan cheers in the background]
[Camera shutters]
[Kai bows and get off the stage. The camera pans to the end of the red carpet and a short vtr was played]
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"No. He didn't" Chaeyoung whispered.
"Oh no," Wendy said.
"Seriously? He shouldn't have dropped a name and just continued smiling! Ugh, this is frustrating" Joy exclaimed.
The atmosphere was a little dense but soon became lighter when they saw their friends on screen.
They watch as their friends had their turns on the photo wall with Jisoo leading her fellow label-mates. They were asked to pose and some had to answer some questions.
It was Jennie's turn and Chaeyoung's attention was glued to the screen. She knows that the girl will be asked some unfiltered questions regarding another Idol's statement from a while ago. It was obvious that the young idol was surprised by the question regarding her and another idol.
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[MALE MC: Jennie, are you excited for tonight?]
[JENNIE: yes! Very excited]
[MALE MC: what can we expect from your performance tonight?]
[JENNIE: you'll see a different side of Jennie, a much more explosive performance than what I already did]
[MALE MC: do you know that we asked a few idols and they said that they are looking forward to your stage?]
[JENNIE: oh? Uh thank you] [bows]
[MALE MC: do you have any inspiration for tonight?]
[JENNIE: of course! I always have. My fans and my family my friends. And uh-]
[FEMALE MC: Rojen! Is Rojen watching?]
[Jennie laughs and has a very big smile on her face]
[JENNIE: Yes! Rojen is watching!]
[Jennie smiles and sends some flying arrow heart straight at the camera]
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The three best friends were thankful to the female MC because she was trying to lift the awkward atmosphere that the male MC is spreading. Joy laughed when she heard the infamous Rojen, Wendy looked at Chaeyoung teasingly and Chaeyoung felt like her heart is going to burst. The cute Jennie Kim on screen really has a way to her heart.
When Jennie did a cute gesture and shoot some arrow hearts, Chaeyoung was readying to catch it secretly but Joy did first. The girl stood in front of the TV and acted like she has been shot. Wendy was laughing her ass off while Chaeyoung wasn't able to prevent herself from whining.
"Ah- Jennie Kim shot me with her love" Joy dramatically said.
"YAH~ that was mine~!" Chaeyoung shouted and throw a pillow at Joy.
When she realized what she had done, Chaeyoung froze and wish for the floor to open and swallow her whole. Wendy couldn't even think of any excuse and just laughed awkwardly.
"AHA! I KNEW IT! You have a crush on Jennie Kim! That Ruby Jade you mentioned last time is Jennie!" Joy said.
"What? Nœr!" Chaeyoung denied.
"Girl don't try to deny it. Your accent comes out when you're lying!" Joy said.
This time Wendy laughed for real. There are times when Chaeyoung won't be able to hide a secret from them.
"Argh! Fine. Yes. I like her. So don't go around catching her arrow hearts and flying kisses. That's mine! Stick to your Seulgi!" Chaeyoung said.
The two girls just laughed at their whining friend. Joy also confessed all of her observations like that one time when Jennie stood up for Chaeyoung against Chungha. So far, all of Joy's observations were safe, not to the extent that they need to tell her the whole truth.
"Also, why do I have a feeling that you are RoJen?" Joy asked.
Chaeyoung and Wendy are thinking about how to tell Joy about it.
"Uh. That. I- I gave her RoJen" Chaeyoung said.
"Huh?" Joy was surprised.
"I have a secret fan account that is dedicated to Jennie, I gave Rojen to her last year. I often send her gifts or update the fans about her schedules, and attend some of her shows if I have time. But no one knows me, only Wendy and now you"
Chaeyoung told Joy the truth. Well, not the whole truth but a portion of it.
"Wow" Joy said.
"Can you keep a secret?" Chaeyoung asked.
"Of course! Now I won't feel left out!" Joy said excitedly and sat between the two on the couch.
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Hope you aren't confused with the sequence of the chapters. 😭