You seem a bit more serious than before

Don't be in too much of a rush,

I can feel your heart even if you don't say it

When I'm having a bad day,

I think about your smile

If you're having a bad day too, relax and lean on me

 (Standing Egg ft. Park Seyoung – Lean on Me)

 

| IOI Chatroom |

 

som_swag said:

YO

I'm booooooored

*lays on the chatroom's floor q u q*

 

 

uyj_s said:

I'm bored too???

*lays on the chatroom's floor and worms around*

 

 

s_sohye said:

if you're looking for me I'm going to take trashes outside for a while, everyone

 

 

jieqiongzhou said:

s_sohye pick som_swag and uyj_s up while you're at it, okay?

 

 

s_sohye said:

jieqiongzhou okay! :D

............

wait what

 

 

som_swag said:

jieqiongzhou asdfghjasdhjgfasfhj you're not my unnie

 

 

uyj_s said:

*worms away from qiong unnie q _ q*

M E AN IE

 

 

dodo_swag said:

nayoung unnie whereee

i_nayoung PING

P-P-P-PING PING

 

 

chungha29 said:

isn't she out buying groceries?

with jieqiongzhou?

 

 

jieqiongzhou said:

aah yes

we're on our way back already

just makin' several stops for unnie to befriend some stones

 

 

*yoo_swag is online!*

 

 

chungha29 said:

she's... making friends...

with some stones.

 

 

jieqiongzhou said:

*nods nods*

our neighborhood has some friendly statues...

 

 

chungha29 said:

I... see...

 

 

som_swag said:

qiong unnie please prevent stone unnie from falling in love

ish not da right time yet

the road is still rocky

 

 

g9_mina said:

stone unnie's road is rocky :>>>

 

 

chungha29 said:

...whose hysterical laughter was that just now?

 

 

dodo_swag said:

chungha29 yeonjung has a cheap sense of humor.

 

 

yoo_swag said:

is it bad that I want to know how stones flirt?

 

 

dodo_swag said:

yoo_swag please kid

you're still underage

 

 

*sejeong_k is online!*

 

 

yoo_swag said:

dodo_swag mirror mirror on the wall

 

 

dodo_swag said:

yoo_swag I'm so tall while u so small

 

 

som_swag said:

LMAO IT RHYMES

 

 

uyj_s said:

chungha unnie dodaeng are rolling around wresting in the living room again

 

 

s_sohye said:

chungha unnie stone unnie is choking jieqiong unnie in front of the dorm again

 

 

sejeong_k said:

chungha unnie I'm falling in love with you again <3

 

 

chungha29 said:

...............

g9_mina please collect your labelmate mina-ya she's wildin'

 

 

g9_mina said:

chungha29 I'm sorry unnie I'm not sure I understand

I don't have a labelmate in IOI

 

 

j_chaeyeoni said:

jieqiongzhou are you... you know... alive?

 

 

jieqiongzhou said:

:'D

I SURVIVED

j_chaeyeoni yeah it was a pretty close call

 

 

s_sohye said:

jieqiongzhou please, nayoung unnie released you because your dramatic shrieks traumatized our neighbors

 

 

jieqiongzhou said:

s_sohye I don't know she'd check the chatroom that fast asdfghjklasajdshf

 

 

uyj_s said:

I'm thankful I'm not living in the dorm and am just merely visiting right now

because, to be associated with such baboons' behavior—

 

 

yoo_swag said:

uyj_s yo, baboons don't deserve this slander, man.

not cool.

 

 

uyj_s said:

yoo_swag I'm sorry for offending you

*glances at smudged writing in hand*

I will... refract... and comeback with a girl crush image.

 

 

dodo_swag said:

uyj_s yoo_swag YMC COULD NEVER

 

 

chungha29 said:

dodo_swag now now

 

 

sejeong_k said:

chungha29 unnie should choreograph our next song, it'll be wild

 

 

g9_mina said:

sejeong unnie is right

 

 

sejeong_k said:

g9_mina oh now I'm your unnie

 

 

g9_mina said:

***that ahjusshi who goes with the name kim sejeong is right

 

 

som_swag said:

jieqiongzhou qiong unnie what is stone unnie doing

 

 

s_sohye said:

jieqiongzhou seriously unnie when are you guys going to enter the dorm

 

 

jieqiongzhou said:

sorry nayoung unnie came across a lonely stone so we talked to it and helped it meet another stone

it was an inspiring scene I'm touched

som_swag just now she's singing Lovelyz' Ah-Choo c:

 

 

*i_nayoung is online!*

 

 

i_nayoung said:

I was sneezing, not singing Lovelyz' Ah-Choo.

 

 

j_chaeyeoni said:

i_nayoung it's okay, you aren't betraying SHINee.

 

 

i_nayoung said:

j_chaeyeoni I was s n e e z i n g.

 

 

sejeong_k said:

i_nayoung putting spaces won't help you u n n i e :D ~ ~ ~

 

 

i_nayoung said:

sejeong_k grrrr

 

 

g9_mina said:

i_nayoung I KNOW THIS ONE

growl!

 

 

yoo_swag said:

OOH EXO!

 

 

uyj_s said:

SHINEE IS SHOOKT!

 

 

chungha29 said:

uyj_s excuse me dear baby bear who taught you that word my child

 

 

som_swag said:

*slowly blends into the background*

 

 

jieqiongzhou said:

i_nayoung for the record I don't do anything unnie I don't say anything

can someone help us with our groceries tho

we're @ the door

 

 

j_chaeyeoni said:

i_nayoung now /that/ I'm not sure of... maybe SHINee will feel betrayed...

 

 

i_nayoung said:

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

 

 

dodo_swag said:

BRUHHHASDFDHSGDS

i_nayoung ONE STEP TWO STEP

 

 

som_swag said:

OH MAH GURL

 

 

uyj_s said:

YAAAAS RISE OMG RISE

 

 

sejeong_k said:

lmaooo guys why do u want to make stone unnie self-combust so much

(nayoung unnie's AAAAAAA isn't /that/ melodic come on now)

 

 

i_nayoung said:

you guys seriously...... -_-

 

 

*i_nayoung is offline* 

 

 

jieqiongzhou said:

guys... groceries... help...?

 

 

chungha29 said:

leave nayoung alone you meanie kids

yoo_swag som_swag help your unnies

 

 

yoo_swag said:

but you said to leave her alone unnie

 

 

som_swag said:

true, make up your mind, woman

 

 

chungha29 said:

yoo_swag som_swag NOW.

 

 

*som_swag is offline* 

 

 

*yoo_swag is offline* 

 

 

g9_mina said:

they're sprinting towards the door.

 

 

chungha29 said:

good :>

 

 

j_chaeyeoni said:

have you guys eaten lunch? :D

 

 

uyj_s said:

ME HAVE

I ate before visiting here mhuhahahaha

 

 

dodo_swag said:

me haven't q n q

jieqiong unnie and nayoung unnie are the slowest groceries shoppers ever D:

 

 

sejeong_k said:

is it finally my turn to cook *rolls up sleeves*

 

 

g9_mina said:

sejeong_k NO

we can't afford setting the dorm on fire, unnie

 

 

chungha29 said:

sejeong_k listen to your labelmate

 

 

sejeong_k said:

chungha29 listen to who...?

I have no labelmate in IOI c:

 

 

dodo_swag said:

you fishes are so petty I swear

 

 

g9_mina said:

dodo_swag as if you fantas are any better with your constant bickering

 

 

s_sohye said:

fantas...

 

 

j_chaeyeoni said:

(((fantas)))

 

 

uyj_s said:

FANTASASDFGHASKASHKJDSLS

 

 

chungha29 said:

sejeong_k did heehyun call you

 

 

sejeong_k said:

chungha29 there's a missed call from her just now, yeah

probably to ask about j_chaeyeoni's hysterical laughter

j_chaeyeoni yo control your laughter chae

 

 

j_chaeyeoni said:

fantas :'DDDDD

 

 

dodo_swag said:

uyj_s  you too stop laughing smh

your sense of humor is rly cheap

 

 

uyj_s said:

dodo_swag I'M SORRY MY HAPPINESS COMES EASILY

 

 

jieqiongzhou said:

............

are you guys done promoting fanta?

 

 

j_chaeyeoni said:

I don't get the hype about carbonated drinks anyway

strawberry latte is obviously better

 

 

s_sohye said:

one of these days nct will promote a carbonated drink c:

 

 

g9_mina said:

coca cola or sprite c:

 

 

j_chaeyeoni said:

I don't get the hype about carbonated drinks—

 

 

jieqiongzhou said:

GUISE

FOR THE LOVE OF STONE BUDDHA

STOP CHATTING AND HELP US IN DA KITCHEN, WILL YA??

 

 

s_sohye said:

jieqiong unnie is mad and she's doing rhymed rants D:

SORRY

 

 

*s_sohye is offline* 

 

 

dodo_swag said:

WHO NEEDS MY CHEER

 

 

*dodo_swag is offline* 

 

 

g9_mina said:

FOOD TESTER ISH COMING!

 

 

*g9_mina is offline* 

 

 

uyj_s said:

I will... provide a serenade?

 

 

*uyj_s is offline* 

 

 

jieqiongzhou said:

aww precious dongsaengs <3

 

 

*jieqiongzhou is offline* 

 

 

sejeong_k said:

hmph, I'm already helping.

 

 

j_chaeyeoni said:

by staying away from the kitchen, yes

you're already helping~

 

 

sejeong_k said:

j_chaeyeoni I hate you =n=

 

 

chungha29 said:

sejeong_k aww, are you sulking :>

 

 

j_chaeyeoni said:

chungha29 she totally is :>

 

 

chungha29 said:

mina was only joking about the kitchen, sejeong.

are /you/ sulking? :>

 

 

sejeong_k said:

NO!

 

 

chungha29 said:

:>

 

 

j_chaeyeoni said:

:>

 

 

sejeong_k said:

hmmppphhhh

 

 

*sejeong_k is offline* 

 

 

chungha29 said:

:))))))))) she's stomping towards the kitchen

 

 

j_chaeyeoni said:

chungha29 you're having too much fun with this lol

 

 

chungha29 said:

j_chaeyeoni I am :p let me be

gonna check the kitchen now, laters chae~

 

j_chaeyeoni said:

uh huh

eat well! sorry I can't join you guys :(

 

 

chungha29 said:

j_chaeyeoni it's okay we understand. tell your members we said hi :D

you too eat well! fighting fighting!

 

 

j_chaeyeoni said:

fighting fighting! :)

 

 

*chungha29 is offline* 

 

 

*j_chaeyeoni is offline* 

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

The girls gathered in the living room after their meal, some felt like their stomach was about to burst more than others. Though, it's understandable. They had been pleasantly surprised when their chicken stew came out okay. God knew how many meals they screwed up—too salty, too sweet, too bland, are we sure this kimchi jjigae doesn't contain dangerous chemical liquids, Sejeong unnie are you sure it was black pepper and not anti-pest powder, holy Somi what is this we are going to die young—so on the rare chances their foods tasted great, they ate a ton.

 

"What are we going to do today?" Yoojung asked from her place on the couch, laying lazily across Doyeon's lap. Chungha narrowed her eyes in disapproval, because hey, one shouldn't really lie around after eating. But Yoojung pouted so cutely that it forced Chungha to settle with a sigh instead.

 

"Practice?" Sohye voiced hesitantly.

 

Next to Sejeong, Mina groaned in absolute disdain. Sohye squeaked a sheepish 'sorry!', as though not wanting the younger fishie to get upset at her.

 

"I think Nayoung unnie wants to lecture us or something," Yeonjung mused. "Said she prepared a whiteboard for today."

 

"Please be something, please be something," Somi chanted, shuddering at the thought of Nayoung lecturing them just after their meal. At that moment, Nayoung entered the living room with Jieqiong in tow, both holding a whiteboard together.

 

"What something?" Jieqiong asked.

 

"What's the whiteboard for?" Doyeon asked.

 

"Do we even have boardmarker?" Sejeong asked.

 

"Can I draw on the whiteboard after we're done?" Somi asked.

 

"Are we going to keep asking with no one answering?" Chungha asked.

 

Silence followed Chungha's question as they looked at each other, faces straight. Then, after a full minute, they burst into laughter.

 

"We're silly!" Doyeon laughed.

 

"And noisy," Sejeong agreed.

 

"Too noisy," Nayoung huffed, although her smile betrayed any attempt to look disgruntled.

 

"So, what's the whiteboard for?" Yoojung repeated Doyeon's question.

 

"Well, since we can use a rest from practicing today, I'm thinking to suggest an English corner," Nayoung answered, smiling so sweetly at Chungha that Chungha instantly got chills.

 

"English corner," Mina repeated, confused. "What does that mean exactly?"

 

Jieqiong pulled a black boardmarker from her pocket, grinning. "Like a short course. Learning an English phrase or two that we will surely use overseas."

 

"So I ask Chungha and Somi to come forward and teach us," Nayoung said, rubbing her hands together... in glee?? Chungha swallowed. She's only missing the sinister laughter villains usually did in stories.

 

"If I refuse?" Chungha asked, a bead of sweat trickling past her left eyebrow. English course sorta reminded her of a dark past she didn't want a repeat of. As she thought so, her gaze traveled to Sejeong, who had been looking at her with an amused smirk. Chungha quickly looked back to Nayoung.

 

The leader cleared and shifted to Somi, "Maknae?"

 

"Yeh?"

 

"How do we formally say 'mannaseo bangabseubnida' in English?"

 

"YOU ROCK!"

 

Chungha twitched, while Jieqiong fell over laughing hysterically at Somi's serious expression while she delivered her answer. The answer should've been nice to meet you, but Somi's seriousness as she gave the false answer could convince a fool or two that you rock! was the right translation.

 

"Do we want this to happen?" Nayoung asked Chungha, smiling smugly.

 

"No," Chungha sighed, shooting a glare at Somi. The maknae quickly pretended to innocently whistle while looking elsewhere. Chungha shook her head, "Fine. I will do it. But I want a compensation."

 

"Two packs of dried goguma sticks?" Nayoung offered, pulling out a piece of paper and a pen, her tone taking a business-like aura.

 

"Make that three," Chungha pressed, remembering that she's one room with Mina who also liked the snack.

 

"You have a deal." Nayoung solemnly nodded. She scribbled something on the paper, and gave it to Jieqiong who in turn delivered it to Chungha. Chungha facepalmed at the autograph and wink emoticon she got. "You can buy it after this course ends, with Sejeong."

 

"Me?" Sejeong asked.

 

"Why?" Chungha asked too, blinking.

 

"Not trying to play matchmaker," Nayoung waved her hand dismissively, "I want Sejeong to buy snacks for others while you go for your dried goguma sticks."

 

Chungha tried to ignore the first part. "I can buy the snacks too."

 

"No offense, but we don't want twenty two packs of dried goguma sticks as our snack, unnie," Yeonjung said.

 

"Yah, you aren't even living here," Somi joked.

 

"Yeah, but I'm planning to visit frequently and raid your snacks," Yeonjung deadpanned.

 

"Well okay then," Chungha huffed, arms crossed in front of her chest as she pretended to sulk. "I'm okay with it, if Sejeong is willing to."

 

"Why wouldn't I?" Sejeong cheerily replied. "Call!"

 

Chungha shook her head, wondering if there's anything Sejeong wasn't willing to do. Sejeong rarely said no to people's request, even when Somi asked her for a piggyback ride to the kitchen (everyone was surprised when Sejeong managed to do it). Breaking out from her thought, Chungha blinked as Somi marched towards the front, yelling over her shoulder,

 

"Chungha unnie let's go!"

 

Chungha pursed her lips and stood, dusting off her pants. She glanced at Sejeong, who smiled innocently at her. And then to Nayoung, who had schooled her expression to her default stony one.

 

She sighed a long, tired, I'm-going-to-suffer-from-this-I-just-know-it sigh as the enthusiastic Somi began the course.

 

"Everyone! Welcome to IOI's first and last English Course ever, hosted by none other than So-Me the maknae on top and Chunghamster the dance master..."

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

| 96-line Dungeon |

sejeong_k said:

so about the English course earlier...

 

 

chungha29 said:

sejeong_k the class has been /over/ since, like, fifteen minutes ago.

 

 

sejeong_k said:

chungha29 so you don't want to help your dongsaeng to improve her English skill? :<

 

 

chungha29 said:

............

 

 

sejeong_k said:

:< :< :<

 

 

chungha29 said:

*sighs* I feel like I'm going to regret this but

ask away.

 

 

sejeong_k said:

:D

how do you say 'naneun ginjangdoenda'?

 

 

chungha29 said:

I'm totally gonna slay.

 

 

sejeong_k said:

I'm totally gonna slay...?

 

 

chungha29 said:

yep. :>

 

 

sejeong_k said:

I.........

I paid a visit to naver translate and it told me that you're lying. D:

 

 

chungha29 said:

AHAHAHAHAHA

I'm sorry, I meant to type I'm nervous.

you know, autocorrect and all...

 

 

sejeong_k said:

*squints at you in English*

 

 

chungha29 said:

*innocently blinks in Korean*

 

 

sejeong_k said:

and to think you scolded somi for giving false information to sohye...

 

 

chungha29 said:

what do you want me to do, scold myself?

 

 

sejeong_k said:

>_>

how do you say 'tto mannayo'?

 

 

chungha29 said:

tto mannayo... hmmm

don't take this the wrong way but are you planning to flirt with a foreigner?

 

 

sejeong_k said:

yes, I'm planning to flirt with you :3

 

 

chungha29 said:

sejeong_k psh *smacks*

the sentence you're looking for is let's meet again.

 

 

sejeong_k said:

let's meet again.

 

 

chungha29 said:

yep

 

 

sejeong_k said:

you aren't pranking me this time right?

 

 

chungha29 said:

>_> no, and I'm regretting it now

 

 

sejeong_k said:

eyy :>

*closes naver translate tab*

how do you say 'sigan iss-eoyo'?

 

 

chungha29 said:

do you have time?

 

 

sejeong_k said:

what about 'dangsin-eun byeonbi bwa'?

 

 

chungha29 said:

............

you look constipated.

don't take this the wrong way, but are you preparing an English diss track?

 

 

sejeong_k said:

no, just curious :>

'geulib-eul eod-eul'?

 

 

chungha29 said:

............

get a grip.

 

 

sejeong_k said:

'kkeojyeo'?

 

 

chungha29 said:

get lost.

 

 

sejeong_k said:

'hwajangsil-i eodieyo'?

 

 

chungha29 said:

where's the bathroom.

 

 

sejeong_k said:

'saranghae'?

 

 

chungha29 said:

............

you already know that one.

 

 

sejeong_k said:

we humans are prone to forget several things along the way...

 

 

chungha29 said:

ask somi

 

 

sejeong_k said:

somi isn't a trustful source, which could be seen from the English course earlier

 

 

chungha29 said:

I'm not trustful either, which could be seen from my first answer to you earlier :|

 

 

sejeong_k said:

but it's my choice to believe in you :>

 

 

chungha29 said:

............

sejeong?

 

 

sejeong_k said:

yes?

 

 

chungha29 said:

nayoung said we should hurry.

so meet ya @ the door

 

 

sejeong_k said:

:|

 

 

chungha29 said:

buhbye :>

 

 

*chungha29 is offline* 

 

 

sejeong_k said:

sigh

to stone unnie, with love

get a grip.

 

 

*sejeong_k is offline*

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

Shopping for snacks didn't take long, but Chungha and Sejeong took their time plenty. They made sure to look over the snacks carefully, weighing their options when presented an additional factor: discount. In Mina's words, buying snacks is serious bussiness. So it wasn't until they were satisfied of everything that they finally came up to the cashier, ready to pay. It took fifteen minutes and two big plastic bag, and then they were ready to go home, calling a cab to pick them up, no pun intended.

 

They had exited the cab when they reached their neighborhood, reassuring the middle-aged driver that they'd be okay walking the rest of their way home. "This person can pass a gangsta test," Chungha told the ahjusshi, patting Sejeong's shoulder. Sejeong made a show of lifting both bags of snacks with only her right hand, and the driver ahjusshi chuckled, surrendering to their choice (not like he actually had a choice in the first place).

 

They waved goodbye to him, the ahjusshi honking two times to say his farewell. Then, without saying anything, Sejeong pulled Chungha to walk on the inner side of the pavements, herself walking on the outer side. Their neighborhood wasn't packed with vehicles—it's actually rare for one to pass by the road, but Chungha felt touched by the gesture, nonetheless. It's so... gentlewomanly of Sejeong to do.

 

"What is it?" Sejeong asked, and Chungha blinked. She had been staring at Sejeong for a while, now, it seemed. She smiled, shaking her head, thank you, she wanted to say, but there was something in Sejeong's eyes that told her that Sejeong already knew.

 

"Nothing," she softly said instead, her hand came up to pinch Sejeong's nose briefly. Sejeong whined, and Chungha's smile widened. She turned, gesturing to the road ahead.

 

"Let's walk now before it gets dark."

 

They walked in silence for a while. Chungha held a plastic bag full of snacks in her left hand, while a bigger bag was in Sejeong's right hand. Their bags bumped against each other sometimes, filling the void of voices with the sound of shaken snacks.

 

"I'm pretty sure there was a flash from a camera earlier," Chungha mused, breaking the silence.

 

"I didn't catch it so I don't know," Sejeong shrugged. "But it's okay."

 

"I don't say anything about it not being okay," Chungha said. "Just amused that someone might be taking photos of us snack-shopping."

 

"Well, we have to take a cab so as to not being followed," Sejeong pointed out. "So I guess this is what being decently well-known feels like."

 

"Decently well-known," Chungha repeated, snickering. "Alright, GodSejeong."

 

Sejeong bumped her bag against Chungha's in protest. "Don't start," Sejeong mumbled.

 

"Heh," Chungha bumped their bags back teasingly. "Shy?"

 

"Gettu lostu," Sejeong deadpanned.

 

Chungha laughed. Maybe it's the way Sejeong pronounced the words, maybe it's the way Sejeong's lips twitched to laugh too. Or maybe she's just in the mood of being silly, and why did it matter why she laughed?

 

"Are you sure that bag isn't heavy?" Sejeong asked, not for the first time. "I can handle both, you know."

 

"I'm not weak, Sejeong," Chungha chided, her laughter subsiding but a smile staying there instead.

 

"Wasn't trying to say that you are," Sejeong huffed, unconsciously kicking a rock that happened to be on her way. She gasped a beat later,

 

"Omo, Nayoung unnie's relative, I'm so sorry!"

 

"You're so silly," Chungha told her fondly, her smile widening into a grin.

 

Sejeong looked at her and smirked, shrugging in a coy manner as if to say, what do I do? It comes to me naturally, yo.

 

"So who are you planning to diss?" Chungha asked lightly.

 

"Your former boyfriend," Sejeong replied all too quick. Chungha paused, looking over Sejeong in shock, but Sejeong had a joking grin on her lips, and Chungha shoved her, huffing.

 

"Dork."

 

Sejeong whistled innocently, bumping their bags together.

 

"What did you do to make Nayoung unnie mad?" asked Sejeong lightly.

 

"Wait, Nayoung is mad at me?" Chungha asked, blinking.

 

"She's not?" Sejeong asked back, "She made you do an English course. Something that has traumatized you or something in the past."

 

"Traumatized is an exaggeration," Chungha corrected. "I just don't have good memories about it."

 

"Whatever happened, by the way? Heehyun asked you to do one during our Fingertips era, and we learned useful things smoothly, being productive while we're not practicing, and I was a wonderful assistant." Sejeong puffed her cheeks, "See, nothing bad about it."

 

Chungha snorted. "I only agree with the 'Heehyun asked me to do one during our Fingertips era' part."

 

Sejeong grinned. "That bad?"

 

"One of my bad life decisions, to be honest."

 

Sejeong laughed, and Chungha couldn't help but smile at the sound of Sejeong's laugh. She liked it—if she were to be poetic about it, it made the world seem a tad bit kinder. As long as Sejeong could laugh like that...

 

"What are you thinking so seriously about?" Sejeong's curious voice slipped into her mind, breaking Chungha from her internal musings.

 

Chungha looked at the person next to her, an unconscious smile tugging on her lips.

 

She had considered to lie, but some words are thought to be spoken out loud.

 

Maybe this one fell to that category?

 

"Your smile, Sejeong," she said softly.

 

Sejeong blinked owlishly, not expecting the answer.

 

"What about my smile?"

 

It gives me strength.

 

"It gives people strength."

 

Sejeong's face turned into an interesting shade of red, and if Chungha didn't feel so sure that her own face mirrored that shade, she would've mercilessly teased the younger about it.

 

"Gee," Sejeong stammered, "I, uhh... thanks."

 

Chungha nodded, feeling at loss of how awkward the air around them suddenly became.

 

"You, ahh... your smile gives people strength, too," Sejeong muttered, loud enough for Chungha to hear.

 

Chungha nodded again, her mind supplying her with a reply that roughly sounded like yeah, thank you for accepting to go snack-shopping with me, by the way, it feels refreshing to walk and talk with you at this hour outside, while her logic immediately slammed the idea, mentally kicking a personificated version of her mind in an embarrassed rage.

 

Sejeong cleared her thoat, bags bumping against each other again.

 

"You are going to be in a show without us," Chungha blurted out, remembering their manager's words several days ago. She mentally thanked whatever deity existed for giving her an escape from awkwardness as she zoned into that topic.

 

"How are you feeling?"

 

Sejeong mummed. "Eh... I'm okay."

 

Chungha looked over her, and Sejeong was ruffling her own hair in one fluid movement, before glancing at her to give a smile. Sejeong said again, as if to emphasize her answer,

 

"I'm okay."

 

No, you're nervous.

 

Chungha tilted her head, wondering why she felt a slight disappointment worming around the bottom of her stomach at Sejeong's answer. Was Sejeong lying to Chungha, or was she trying to lie to herself?

 

Chungha slowly pulled off a smile of her own, deciding to ignore the question.

 

"Really?"

 

Sejeong nodded. "Really."

 

"You're okay," Chungha repeated, nodding once.

 

"I'm okay," Sejeong parroted, her smile twisting slightly into a slight grimace.

 

"Mhm," Chungha replied, carefully ignoring the subtle change of expression in Sejeong's face.

 

"Mhm..." Sejeong twitched, her legs abruptly stopped walking a beat later. "AIGOOO!"

 

Chungha immediately paused next to the younger, blinking as Sejeong furiously ruffled her hair in exasperation with her free hand.

 

"Why why why?"

 

"Why am I so... urgh!" Sejeong groaned. Then, in one swift movement, she shifted her bag of snacks to her left hand, her right hand reaching out to snatch Chungha's bag. Chungha blinked, watching Sejeong bringing the other bag to her right hand, her fingers securely holding up two bags of snacks in a short time.

 

Two heavy bags of snacks, Chungha thought as she opened to protest.

 

"Not a word," Sejeong cut her off firmly, "I need to do this."

 

Before Chungha knew it, Sejeong's right hand had reached out. It was a brush against Chungha's left hand at first, then two, but never three. Sejeong's warm fingers rubbed against Chungha's cold palm briefly before slipping between her own fingers, fitting the gaps all too easily.

 

"Your hand is cold," Sejeong murmured, lightly tugging their joined hands to begin walking again, steps closer than before.

 

"And you're nervous," Chungha murmured back, softly squeezing Sejeong's hand in hers.

 

"Heh." Sejeong shrugged, her gaze on the ground. "I am."

 

"You will be fine," Chungha told her carefully, hoping her confidence in Sejeong could be conveyed through those four simple words. Sejeong didn't look up, but there was a slight smile. Small, but it was there nonetheless.

 

"Everyone says that to everyone who's going to appear on TV," Sejeong said slowly. "Some still do less than fine."

 

Chungha pursed her lips, recognizing how Sejeong said it as if she was included in that 'some', as if it was already a foregone conclusion, as if she had already accepted the thought long ago that she wouldn't do well.

 

"I'm sure they will love you, Sejeong."

 

Chungha hated that she couldn't say smarter words, more inspiring sentences, when Sejeong needed it the most. It didn't mean she's going to stop trying, though.

 

"Just be yourself... and enjoy the thrill as you always did."

 

"What if I messed up?" Sejeong hoarsely asked.

 

You won't.

 

"Those who would dislike you, already do. Nothing you do will change that..." Chungha smiled sadly, wondering how on Earth someone could hate someone like Sejeong for whatever reason. "...but those who like you, will help and guide you to grow from your mistakes, while cheering you on from behind. Leaving you isn't an option for them, Sejeong.."

 

Sejeong swallowed, her gaze slowly leaving the ground as her head tilted towards Chungha. Their steps stopped, never followed with another, as they had finally reached their dorm. But Chungha didn't suggest to go in now. Didn't ask if they should enter. Didn't look away as their gaze met, instead letting Sejeong to seek what she's aching to find in her eyes.

 

"And you?" Sejeong whispered, her voice cracking. "Which one... are you?"

 

"None," Chungha whispered back, releasing their joined hands. She smiled softly, tucking a strand of hair behind Sejeong's ear as she carried on, ignoring the look of surprise and fresh hurt in Sejeong's eyes,

 

"Because I'll be walking beside you... feeling your hardships and holding up your burden with you. Because I'll be there, accompanying your laugh with my own, harmonizing to your tune with mine, without you having to ask from time to time."

 

"Because that's what we have promised to each other... to get better together as time goes by."

 

Sejeong blinked rapidly as Chungha slowly pried away her fingers from the bags of snack, letting them to safely drop onto the ground. She didn't fight her when Chungha pulled her into a hug, didn't argue her when Chungha whispered to her ear,

 

"You will be fine, Sejeong... maybe you don't see it right now, but I do."

 

Chungha was never a seer, but she didn't have any doubt behind these words. She believed it, believed in Sejeong more than she could ever convey in words. And Sejeong knew it too. She must have, because she weakly nodded to Chungha's shoulder as she hugged her back tighter than ever, a sniffle of thanks following a beat later.

 

The sky overhead was warmly colored with orange, formerly white clouds now reflecting back yellowish hue to the eyes of those enjoying the scenery. A hint of red streak running after one another, and somewhere in the dorm Yeonjung was humming to a Standing Egg song in the shower.

 

🎶 On my way home at sunset,

I wait for you and suddenly

I think of words that I want to say to you,

don't rush, relax, and lean on me. 🎶