Sky – 11:12 AM, Penthouse of Doom (Again)
My phone won't stop buzzing.
Ping. Buzz. Vibrate. Repeat.
At first I ignore it, still curled up on the couch with a blanket around me like a burrito of shame. But then I see Night freeze, phone in hand, eyes locked on something.
"Oh no," she mutters.
Day looks up from his cereal. "What?"
Night flips the phone around. "You might want to see this."
Headline:
MARS'S SKY SPOTTED KISSING STRANGER IN WILD DRUNKEN NIGHT—ICON COLLAPSING?"
My stomach flips. I sit bolt upright.
Rain walks in, towel around his neck from a workout, looking way too calm for what's happening. But his jaw clenches the second he sees the headline.
I snatch Night's phone and scroll—
There I am. High notes, arms flailing, kissing some sweet old street singer's cheek mid-laugh.
There I am again. Sitting on Rain's lap, whispering God knows what into his ear.
And there—oh god. There I am running down the street barefoot, yelling something about "muse energy."
The article is brutal.
"Sky Ren, the band's sunshine sweetheart, appears to have spiraled into an alcohol-fueled frenzy… Critics question if the pressure of fame is finally cracking the iconic vocalist…"
Buzz.
Manager Mina: Call me. Now.
Buzz.
Label PR: We need a statement drafted ASAP. Rain can't be in this. Don't drag the whole band.
Buzz.
Mom: Are you okay? What happened? Is it true?
Buzz.
Luca (that guy from Aries): Saw the video. You hit that F5. Impressive.
I groan and throw my phone across the couch.
Day whistles. "Well. You broke the internet."
"Not in the good way," I mutter.
Rain hasn't said a word. Just leans against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, staring like he's calculating how to fix this—or destroy someone.
"I didn't mean to—" I start.
"We know," Night says softly. "But the media doesn't care."
I want to cry. Again.
But instead, I just laugh. "At least I hit the damn note."
Rain finally speaks. "Next time you want inspiration," he says, voice low, "just write about this."
Then he walks out.
And my heart shatters into about fifty different things all at once.
---
Sky — 2:31 PM | MARS Penthouse, Livestream
I sit on the edge of the bed. No makeup. No filter. My hair is a mess. My heart's worse.
The ring light glares back like it's judging me too.
Rain adjusts the tripod, silent. Night plugs in her phone for backup. Day tosses me his lucky hoodie like I'm about to go into battle.
Because I am.
The live counter climbs fast. Too fast. Thousands join. Not just fans—press, haters, bored nobodies. My chest tightens.
I hit Go Live.
"Hi," I whisper.
Comments flood in.
> She's drunk now too lol
Where's the street singer?
That voice for real? I thought they autotuned her*
She's so fake.
She's ruining Mars. Always has.
My throat locks. I thought I was ready. I'm not.
"I—I just wanted to say I'm sorry," I manage. "For...for the video. For the way I acted. I didn't mean— I was just trying to feel something. I wasn't thinking about the cameras or the clicks or the... the consequences."
I blink, and tears slip out. Not performative. Not practiced. Just mine.
"I'm not perfect," I whisper. "But I love this band. I love our fans. I love the stage. I messed up, but I'll fight to earn it back."
More comments.
> That's it?
Girl you kissed a rando and screamed on the street.
She's crying to save her job. Not because she's sorry.
Where's Rain? Kinda feels like he carries her anyway.
I flinch.
And then—
Day leans into the frame, wraps an arm around me. "Shut it down," he says. To them. Not me.
Night appears too, crossing her arms, deadly calm. "If you've never made a mistake, keep typing. Otherwise, get lost."
Then Rain moves. Just walks in, cool and quiet, pulls the mic closer.
"She's not just our lead singer," he says. "She is MARS. You come for her, you come for all of us. And trust me—none of you can handle that."
I start crying harder. Not because I'm weak—but because I'm seen.
The comments slow. Shift.
> Okay wait this is kinda powerful.
Rain defending her??
Why is this suddenly so emotional I'm crying.
MARS supremacy fr.
Rain squeezes my shoulder. Day's hand is still in mine. Night kneels in front of me, holding my gaze.
I clear my throat. "We're not breaking up. We're just breaking through."
And with that, I end the live.