The manger sighs, clearing his throat, then starts the meeting.

“Sit down.” He gestured to the chairs.

Yujin lets out another sigh. Her head started to hurt her more. Walking back to the chairs Yujin and Wonyoung sit down facing the manager.

“Wonyoung-shi I know you’re tired, you just came back from Paris at midnight so I’ll try to keep it short.” He starts looking at Wonyoung. “The comeback will overlap with your personal schedule a lot, so we have to talk about it in detail later and decide how to make it work.” Yujin sees Wonyoung nod in her side vision. No matter how tired or sleepy Wonyoung is, she’s always polit and doesn’t get irritated, Yujin has always seen that and admired that side of her. Even though she wishes Wonyoung would argue with the managers and company about her schedule instead.

“And you, Yujin-shi” The manager said with a strict tone looking at her. Yujin looked at him with a blank expression. He sighed, putting his hand in his hair clearly exasperated. “Look, I don’t care about what you do on your personal time, just put more effort as a leader of IVE.” He said looking at her directly. “It’s been almost a year since IVE debuted, but you’ve been an idol for years now, and I know that you care about the girls and work. So, act more like it. The girls look up to you, don’t disappoint them. Don’t disappoint us.” Great. She just needed this. The manager scolding her, especially in front of the person she didn’t want to hear this the most. Her head starts to throb in pain. Wonyoung probably noticed that Yujin had been off for a while now but she’s too busy to even bring it up. Or maybe she doesn’t so that Yujin doesn’t run away, scared of confrontation. She felt Wonyoung eyes on her and even though she had so much to say back to the manager, her headache didn’t allow her plus she didn’t want to argue with him in front of Wonyoung, the younger is probably so tired and couldn’t wait to go home. Ignoring the eyes burning the side of her face, she said “I will oppa, sorry.” Bowing her head slightly. Her day just keeps getting worse, he let out another sigh and dismissed them both. Yujin gets up quickly and leaves the room without sparing the two another glance.

The drive back was silent as both Yujin and Wonyoung were tired, the other members talked quietly giggling the whole ride.

Reaching the dorm, the girls walk in with Yujin tailing behind them, closing the door to the dorm, she felt like she was dragging her feet to her room.

“Yujin-ah I need to talk to you.” Gaeul said to her in a serious tone. Yujin stops walking and looks up to see everyone was looking at them now curious, even Wonyoung, before the younger turns and goes to her room. She doesn’t know why that kind of sting. She nodded at Gaeul, opening the door, and letting her in her room.

Gaeul walks to Yujin’s bed and sits down all too comfortably like it’s second nature to her.

 “Where were you last night?” she asks her seriously. She just starts the conversation right to the point, Gaeul has always been like that, too straightforward, Yujin always loved that about her but in moments like these, she despised it.

Yujin looks at her and sigh for the hundred time that day, putting her hand through her hair, her habit, while closing her eyes “Unnie-”

“Am worried about you. Everyone is.” Gaeul adds “You’ve been out at night a lot and coming home the next day without even answering our calls or texts.” She gets up, approaching Yujin with a worried expression and tearful eyes.

Yujin looks at her and gulps, she can tell that the older is worried about her though she can’t tell her what she’s been doing. It’s disgusting- she disgusts herself, drinking and sleeping with strangers, just drowning her sorrows anyway she could.

Silence fell between them, Gaeul looked at Yujin with so much empathy almost- pitifully, she hated receiving these looks the most, Yujin didn’t want to worry her, she didn’t want her unnie to look at her pitifully.

“I’m okay” Yujin lets out, she herself didn’t believe those words, how would Gaeul even believe her.

A few seconds pass.

 Gaeul probably patiently waited for her to open up to her,

 Yujin could not.

 Gaeul nodded understandingly and Yujin felt anger towards herself, hating how she just can’t bring herself to talk no matter what while her unnie was being patient with her instead of being mad.

A hand rested on her shoulder “You know you can tell me anything.” It’s like Gaeul could see through her, Yujin looked to the side afraid that she could see her broken self. Yujin nods but knows she would never tell Gaeul- or anyone else for that matter, they don’t deserve to be burdened with her hurt.

Gaeul sighs and leaves the room leaving Yujin alone, just like Yujin have always been,

alone.