"My hair going to die." Mahina grumbled complaining to herself as she sat in front of a hair stylist. For some reason the company was demanding that Mahina go blonde for her solo song. And she was not happy about it in the slightest.

It wasn't that she minded blonde hair, but she really like red hair. And they literally just showed off their Black on Black music video. Couldn't they have waited until after the Empathy album.

But nooooo, the company just had to do it. Mahina thought it was absolutely ridiculous that the company decided her hair for this ONE comeback. Her solo song, and she wasn't allowed to choose her hair.

Plus her old stylist switched companies. So the nice stylist that let her pick what she wanted to do, wasn't there anymore. She was fending off the monsters by herself.

So needless to say, Mahina wasn't a happy camper. The girl was tired from schedules and she was hungry. And the cherry on top was losing control on her hair.

This comeback was pushing both her and Mark to the absolute limit. Busy schedules, back to back music video filming, numerous music shows, all the dance practices and recordings. 

The other members tried their best to understand but they couldn't completely see it. After all they weren't in 3 groups at the same time. They didn't have the same workload.

It didn't stop them from doing their best to help out however. Mark and Donghyuck both moved to the Dream dorm for this period of time so they could stay with Mahina. It was like moral support, they needed each other through this time. It was clear as day to anyone. Mark knew what Mahina was going through, and Mahina knew what Mark was going through. 

Whenever they got back late, they would find a meal ready and waiting for them in the fridge. They would let them sleep in as much as they could afford, often getting everything else ready without them. Nobody complained about the moods that the duo were in, they just wanted them to be better.

The entertainment was treating them like absolute trash, and there was nothing they could do. Even NCTzens were starting to notice the changes in the pair. Even though they tried so hard to hide it so they didn't worry them.

The constant bleary eyes from trying to take a little nap.

Their hunched backs from hours on top of hours of practice.

The other member's constant concern and fleeting glances whenever they were being filmed.

The way friends would hold their hands and guide them.

And that was only what they caught on camera. What was going on behind the screens was totally hidden from the fans. 

They never saw Mahina collapsing onto her bed after a long day of practice.

They never saw other member's carrying the duo back to the dorms because they were dead asleep.

They never saw the paleness and dark circles the make-up covered.

They never saw the way everything was restricted to them.

They never saw the tears streaking down Mahina's face as she broke down.

It was like they were robots, programmed to do nothing more than follow the rules. There was nothing they could do though. 

.

.

.

They all hated it.

They were just told to suck it up and put on a smile.

.

.

.

They were just 

so

so

tired.