Sorry if there's an update showing. It's in draft mode. 

Maybe it was when Irene touched her hand, looking at her worriedly when she drown in stress during a fansign to remind her not to show her dull emotions in public. 

Maybe it was that other time when Seulgi found Irene teary eyed during their first music show win and comforted her although she herself was crying a river on live national broadcast. She let Irene cling close to her as they walked out of the stage.

Or that one, no, many times Irene looked at her lips during various interviews. Of course Seulgi noticed, but she never questioned Irene's actions. Then it went on to happen too many times, and the evidence surfaced online. 

Or those many times Seulgi complimented her unnie's beauty, and shared her first experience seeing Irene Bae as a young 16 year old. Followed by Irene saying Seulgi was the cutest out of all five members of the group. 

Might their dance collaborations attract much attention. Their joint photo shoots blinding weak hearted teenagers. The pair looking unbelievably cute together. Their unnie-dongsaeng friendship somehow looking even sweeter. 

From normal tittles to click bait forgery. 

Then that—

Seulrene became a hot topic for their fans, especially hardcore groups. Ships were generic in every fandom. Most even to the point of causing inner conflict when their ideas were rejected. The same happened within the ReVeluv's circle. Seulrene vs Wenrene always stirred heat between the fandom, but many preferred SeulRene more. 

Sometimes, fans would raise all sorts of banners during their performances and fan meetings. She didn't want to think about it. It was just ridiculous.

Then the—

SM. Oh God SM. For the love of Satan had to join forces with the shippers. 

It was a burden to force skin ship in public yet try to maintain a normal friendship behind the scenes without thinking about the silly scoots they have to recite to each other once the cameras roll. It doesn't work like that. It gets edgy, awkward, and sometimes embarrassing and regrettable. 

Seulgi rubbed her temples as she placed down her phone. She didn't know why Wendy's last love was playing on spotify. Her mind had wandered correct for some time and hadn't noticed that three songs have passed since she sat down on the couch, resting her mind. Her heart ached. All she could think about was her current dilemma.

She exited the Spotify App, tapping into YouTube. She browsed through the recommended list and saw many new music videos from other groups, another new update from her favorite indie playlist. 

She was bored, during their day off after their red room concert. There wasn't much to do until dinner came and her brother would come pick her up at the lobby. Most of the other members had left too, like Yeri whose probably eating steak and Joy whose enjoying a massage with her sisters right now. Then there's Wendy whose out to get her ears checked. Only Irene and her were left in the dorm. 

Seulgi still has a few hours to spare, yet she's already dying of boredom. She stopped at a video with the tittle 'That's So Us'. It was obvious that it was another delusional fan music video a slanderer made, as she would call them that. She felt an unfathomable desire to watch it despite knowing that she will cringe, that her toes will curl. 

She doesn't get it. Can't friends hold hands, stay close and have fun? Can't they smile at each other? Is it only limited to lovers to hug one another? Hell, she thought there were many homophobic people. It was sweet, she admit. But she wasn't grateful to the channels, to all channels that promoted the ship. It tends to bring more fans to the bandwagon. 

Seulgi was so shocked when she was Irene for the first time. Because she was so beautiful. She admired and held no other feeling for her. When others say this, it's normal. But whenever Seulgi says this, people say she's a sweetheart, a suited loving individual, for Irene only. She voiced out the words other couldn't. What's so lovey-dovey about that? 

The video is well edited, not a surprise since the channel has over six thousand subscribers. Seulgi sees a moment when Irene looks at her with sparkling eyes and scoffed. That moment was intended anyway, nothing special.
 
She pressed the home button as soon as she heard a knob twist, then heard gibberish words behind. "Sorry?" Seulgi jutted her chin towards the new company nodding her head before Irene spoke. She really doesn't plan to listen anyway. Irene lets out a breathy sigh. 

"Why are you being like this?"

Seulgi just shrugs. 

"What do you mean 'this'?" She turns on the television to direct her eyes on something worthy. Irene sat beside her. 

"This." Irene hooked a finger to her collar and pulled her instantly to her side. She stares deeply into her, giving no heed to her own frown. "Why are you doing this?"

"I get to see you everyday unnie. Sometimes beauty gets boring too." Seulgi soothe her dry throat, three days of belting taking a toll. Her head wiggles out of Irene's hold, the action twists Irene's finger and causes the older girl to yelp. Seulgi stares at her fingers, her senses blurred that second. 

Irene retracts her hand and clicked her tongue bitterly, looking at her fellow group member with sadness. She repositions herself on the couch and crosses her arms. "That's not the point. I don't get it. Is something wrong? We've not talked for days in and I swear it's killing me."

Her words struck a chord. Maybe one week wasn't enough, and that she needed more time. More time to adjust. But when has she never?

"It is?" Seulgi bit the insides of , "then get used to it." She looked south, shuffling her hands together. Irene scoffed. 

"Kang Seulgi. Don't disrespect me with that tone."

"Me? You're the one who's always trying to start a conversation with me. When I respond, you get ticked off. I shouldn't even talk to you."

"Because you act like an . Seulgi, you weren't this way. Do you even think before you speak? Do you even notice the words you say? Have you ever realized? I don't need to talk to you." Irene raised her voice for the first time since their promotions ended. Seulgi didn't flinch, nor is she intimidated. She waves Irene off and turn her back against her. She's exhausted. It's getting boring. 

"I'm out. You've found the wrong person to rant to. If you really want to talk, come to my room."