1994

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Hours later, Korina was deep in her bag at the mic, pouring her broken heart into the song.

"I hate you... but I miss you still... I hate me... for loving you still..."

Her voice trembled over the beat, every word cutting her open.

When the music paused, she yanked off the headphones, slumping against the wall, wiping her eyes.

Why am I still hurting over a man who ain't even hurting over me?

The door creaked open again.

She stiffened - thinking it was an engineer or Navira - but it was Ralph Tresvant.

He stepped in smooth, carrying that familiar calm with him.

Korina blinked. "You lost?"

"Nah," Ralph chuckled. "Studio said we was booked for the next room. Figured I'd post up here 'til the boys get here."

She wiped her face quickly, sniffling.

"You good?" Ralph asked, noticing her red eyes.

Korina waved him off. "I'm fine. Allergies."

Ralph gave her a knowing look but didn't press.

Instead, he glanced at Kory, who was stirring in his little bassinet.

"That yours?" he asked, smiling.

Korina nodded, moving to adjust Kory's blanket.

"Yeah... that's my lil' man. Kory."

Ralph leaned down, peeking into the carrier.

"Damn... he handsome like his mama."

Korina laughed, shaking her head. "Boy, don't start."

He smirked, pulling up a chair beside her.

"You always been tough, Rina," he said. "Even when I tried talkin' to you back in the day... you had that wall up."

She shrugged, staring at the floor.

"I had my reasons."

Ralph studied her, his voice softer now.

"And now?"

She looked up, tired but honest.

"Now... I'm just tired of hurtin'. Tired of lettin' people treat me like I'm disposable."

Ralph nodded, understanding in his eyes.

"You ain't disposable. You gold, Rina. Always been."

Their eyes locked for a moment, and for once, Korina didn't look away.

"You still mad at me for tryin' to holla?" he teased gently, breaking the tension.

Korina laughed for real this time, a sound she hadn't heard from herself in a while.

"Maybe," she said playfully.

Ralph leaned closer, lowering his voice.

"Maybe... I was just early. Right place, wrong time."

She tilted her head, studying him.

"And what makes you think it's the right time now?"

He shrugged, flashing that boyish grin.

"Maybe it ain't. Maybe I just wanna be where you are. Even if it's just to make you laugh again."

Korina swallowed hard, feeling something stir in her chest - something she wasn't ready for... but maybe needed.

Kory cooed loudly, as if chiming into the conversation.

Ralph laughed, reaching out a finger for Kory to grab.Kory clutched it tight, giggling.

"Aye, lil' man got grip!" Ralph said, amused.

Korina watched them, her heart aching in ways she couldn't explain.

"You good with kids?" she asked, half-joking.

"Yeah," Ralph said seriously. "I know how important it is to show up."

There was a sadness in his voice that Korina caught but didn't push.

They sat there quietly for a moment - the kind of quiet that felt safe, not heavy.

Then Ralph stood up, dusting off his jeans.

"Listen," he said, sliding his hands in his pockets. "You busy Friday night?"

Korina raised an eyebrow.

"Depends. Why?"

He smiled, hopeful but chill.

"Come out with me. Nothin' heavy. Just... two people who been through some shit, tryna remember how to smile."

Korina bit her lip, thinking.

For once, she didn't feel pressure.Didn't feel like she had to be perfect, or hide her bruises.

She smiled slowly.

"I'll think about it."

Ralph chuckled.

"I'll take that. Better than a no."

He tipped his imaginary hat at her and Kory before heading out the door.

Korina watched him go, feeling something she hadn't felt in a long, long time.

Hope.

Korina was still sitting by Kory's carrier, smiling a little to herself after Ralph walked out.She was adjusting Kory's little blanket again, lost in her thoughts, when the door swung open loudly.

"Alright, alright!" a playful voice boomed. "Break it up, lovebirds!"

Korina turned to see Michael Bivins standing there, grinning wide, holding a bag of chips in one hand and a Snapple bottle in the other.

Ralph, who had barely made it down the hallway, spun back around, laughing.

"Ain't like that, Mike," Ralph said, holding up his hands innocently. "We just... vibin'."

Michael winked at Korina. "Mmmhmm. That's what they all say."

Korina shook her head, laughing. "Boy, bye."

Before she knew it, the rest of New Edition trickled in -Bobby, and a little later, even Johnny Gill.Each one greeted her with warm smiles and daps like they'd known her forever.

Bobby grinned. "Man, you Korina, right?"

Korina nodded, standing up and straightening her hoodie.

"Yeah, that's me."

Bobby gave her a friendly nod. "You killin' it out here, girl. Real talk. Ain't many that could've handled what you went through and still standin' tall."

She smiled shyly, touched.

"Appreciate that... for real."

Michael chuckled. "You ain't just surviving, you thriving. Lotta people could learn from you."

For the first time in a long time, Korina felt something she hadn't felt around strangers in months -welcomed. Seen. Respected.

No backhanded compliments. No fake smiles.Just real ones.

The Beat - and a New IdeaThe conversation flowed easy until their sound engineer, a tall dude named Lamar, poked his head in from the booth.

"Yo fellas," he said, scratching his head. "We got a problem. This beat y'all brought? It's fire but... it don't really fit the group's vibe."

Michael groaned dramatically, tossing his Snapple bottle onto the couch.

"Man, we been at this all day!"

Ralph crossed his arms, frowning. "Sounded good to me."

"Nah, it's good," Lamar said. "But it's missin' that polish. That New Edition magic, you know?"

The guys looked frustrated, like they were about to call it a night and scrap the whole track.

That's when Korina - still bouncing Kory gently - tilted her head.

"Can I hear it?" she asked, surprising even herself.

The room fell quiet for a second.

Ralph looked at her, intrigued.

"You got an idea?"

She shrugged, casual but confident.

"Maybe. Lemme hear it first."

Ralph grinned and waved at Lamar. "Run it, man."

The beat filled the room - a slick, midtempo groove with heavy drums and soft synths.

It was good, but she could tell right away why it didn't scream "New Edition."

Still, something about it called to her.

She bobbed her head lightly, closed her eyes for a second, thinking.Then, without warning, she started humming a soft melody over it - smooth, emotional, soulful.

The room got silent.

Even Kory seemed to calm down, listening.

When she opened her eyes, the guys were staring at her like she just pulled magic out of thin air.

"Damn..." Bobby muttered.

"You hear that?" Mike said, wide-eyed. "She caught the whole vibe in, like, two seconds."

Ralph leaned back, crossing his arms, a proud smile tugging at his lips.

"I knew you was special," he said.

Korina blushed a little but kept it cool."Let me hop in the booth," she said. "Lemme lay a rough demo. If it's trash, you can scrap it. No big deal."

"No way it's trash," Michael said, tossing her a set of headphones.

Inside the booth, Korina adjusted the headphones, feeling a nervous excitement buzz in her chest.She glanced once at Kory through the glass.He was babbling happily in his seat - her little lucky charm.

The beat kicked in again, and this time, she let herself feel everything - the heartbreak, the strength, the dreams she still carried.Her voice floated over the track, raw but powerful.

"I ain't gonna beg you to stay...If you wanna walk away...I'll be fine... just don't lie...Say goodbye."

Her tone was both tender and sharp - exactly what the song needed.

When she finished, the room on the other side of the glass exploded into cheers and applause.

Even Lamar, who was usually stone-faced, looked impressed.

Korina took the headphones off and walked back into the room, laughing shyly.

"You guys are extra," she teased.

"Nah, you killed that!" Mike said, high-fiving her.

Bobby grinned. "That demo's a done deal. You just saved the damn song."

Bobby shook his head, amazed. "How you just walk in here and fit like that?"

Korina smiled, feeling lighter than she had in weeks.

"I guess... some things just click," she said, glancing at Ralph - who was still looking at her like she hung the damn moon.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Korina believed it.

The room had quieted down after Korina's demo.

"Ay Korina,we gon head out to get some food,you want some?"he asked me.

"Nah I'm good,but thanks"I said softly.

"What about the mini Kori?"he asked.

."I fed him not so long ago,if he is hungry then I'm going to be real suprised."I giggled.

The guys from New Edition had all slipped out, laughing about food and drinks, leaving just Korina, Ralph, and little Kory behind.

It was peaceful now - almost too peaceful.

Ralph stretched a little, thinking Korina might get up and follow the others.But when he glanced over, she was still sitting, pulling Kory closer into her lap like she had no intention of going anywhere.

"You not rollin' with them?" Ralph asked, smirking slightly.

Korina smiled faintly, her fingers absentmindedly fixing Kory's soft curls.

"Nah," she said, almost like a sigh. "I got everything I need right here."

Ralph felt that.Deep in his chest.

"You real for that," he said under his breath, stepping closer.

Kory made a little squeal and started reaching for Ralph again, clapping his chubby hands.

"You wanna hold him?" Korina asked, amused.

"You trust me with him now, huh?" Ralph joked.

She chuckled and handed Kory over carefully.

Ralph took him like a natural, balancing the baby with one arm.Kory immediately grabbed Ralph's chain, tugging on it with all the strength his little fingers could muster.

"Hey, lil' man," Ralph laughed, "you tryna rob me already?"

Korina burst out laughing.

"He's just testing you," she teased. "If you can't survive Kory, you can't survive me."

Ralph looked up, locking eyes with her, his smile widening.

"Who said I was tryna survive you?" he said low and easy, that old charm leaking out.

Korina blushed lightly and looked away, pretending to fix Kory's sock.

I zoned out not paying attention to what he said until he caught me.

You good?" Ralph asked immediately, lowering Kory onto his lap.

Korina nodded, her smile a little sad but determined.

"Yeah," she said softly. "I'm just... working on lettin' go of things that ain't good for me."

Ralph tilted his head, studying her.

"You ever think... maybe things fall apart so better things can fall together?"

Korina smiled faintly.

"You sound like a Hallmark card."

He grinned, unbothered.

"Maybe. But it's true."

Kory gurgled, smacking Ralph's cheek lightly.

"Aye!" Ralph laughed, holding Kory's tiny hand. "You got hands, little man. You might grow up a fighter."

"He already fightin' grown men," Korina teased, finally feeling her heart lighten a little.

Ralph leaned closer.

"Guess he take after his mama."

Korina rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her blush.

"You flirtin' again?"

Ralph shrugged, all smoothness.

"Maybe," he said. "You think about that date yet?"

Korina bit her lip, playing it cool.

"I'll think about it," she said slowly, letting him sweat a little.

Ralph smirked like he already knew the answer deep down.

"Take your time, sweetheart," he said. "I ain't goin' nowhere."

Kory squealed again, waving his arms.

"You hear that?" Ralph said to the baby. "We might be family one day."

Korina threw a nearby pillow at him, laughing.

"Boy, get outta here!"

Ralph dodged it, both of them cracking up, Kory caught up in the giggles too.

For the first time in a long time, Korina felt something she thought she'd lost forever:

After a long pause, she finally blurted out, "Ralph... can I ask you somethin' real?"

He looked up from his phone, slipping it in his jacket pocket. "Always."

She sighed, voice rough."You said earlier... 'bout forgivin' people so you can have peace. You really think it's that easy?" Her tone cracked a little. "Like... just forgive and forget?"

Ralph leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, serious now.

"Nah," he said quietly. "It ain't easy. It's one of the hardest things you'll ever do."

Korina stared at him, her chest tightening.

"I can't just... let go of what they did," she muttered, shaking her head. "If I forgive em,it feels like I'm sayin' it was okay."

Ralph tilted his head, studying her.

"You ain't forgivin' them for them , Kori," he said. "You do it so you ain't chained to it no more. So it don't eat you alive."

She looked away, blinking fast.

"I'm scared," she whispered.

"Of what?" Ralph asked, voice low.

"That if I let it go... I'll forget how much it hurt. And I'll let it happen again."

Ralph sat back, nodding like he understood that too well.

"You can forgive and still never forget," he said. "You can move on... without lettin' nobody walk over you again."

Korina wiped at her cheek, Kory now playing with her necklace, completely unaware of the storm inside her.

"But it still feels like if I forgive him... I'm lettin' him win."

Ralph gave her a slow, almost sad smile.

"Maybe," he said. "But sometimes winnin' ain't about who hurt who. It's about who found peace first."

Korina let that settle into her bones. Heavy. Real.

She hugged Kory closer to her chest and whispered, more to herself than to Ralph:

"I don't know if I'm ready."

Ralph shrugged, giving her a small smirk.

"Then don't rush it. But don't get so used to carryin' the pain that you forget you can put it down too."

Korina let out a breath, feeling a strange kind of relief... and sadness... all mixed together.

Ralph stood up, stretching his arms."Besides," he joked, trying to lighten the mood, "you owe me a thank you dinner now for all this free therapy."

Korina laughed under her breath, wiping another tear from her cheek.

"We'll see, Dr. Ralph," she said playfully

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