2019.

unlike usual times, haneul wasn't making much noise at the table of nine girls, each clad in casual outfits. their table was outside on the deck with a beautiful view of the lake; they were free to bask in the beauty of the summer night sky and simply unwind in each other's presence, after all, that was the main purpose for reserving this dinner.

the girls around haneul were absorbed into their conversations as they stuffed themselves with their meals, sharing giggles and smiles that couldn't leave their faces. haneul, who on a normal day would be chatting up a storm and even finish the others' leftovers, had barely said a word and hadn't touched her food. all she did was observe the sight before her.

unfamiliar. foreign. a warmth that she hadn't felt with statice in such a long time.

they had been going through some . terrible , in fact, that nearly tore them to pieces and god knew what else was going to come their way. their relationship was tested, their faith and their dreams were all on the brink of falling apart--haneul wasn't excluded. she still had nightmares from all the hatred, the evil that she had to go through in light of her own controversy.

this dinner was the first time that all nine of them had sat down together to eat and have fun as friends and not as members or coworkers in such a while that haneul couldn't remember when the last time they did this was.

no cameras, no staff, no bad blood. just statice being sisters.

the sentiment of it all made haneul's heart ache. all the wrongs she had done, yet she was fortunate enough to still have those eight beautiful women with her.

 "hey, neulie? aren't you eating?" the older member sitting across her asked, noticing how haneul wasn't even holding her fork.

that simple question was enough to send haneul breaking out in sobs. she dropped her fork, bringing her hand to her face in attempt to wipe the tears that were endlessly staining her cheeks. the other girls varied in reactions; some froze in surprise as haneul wasn't one to cry easily, while the leader was quick to grab tissues and haneul's only same-aged friend rushed to her side to embrace her from the side.

 "i'm sorry," haneul choked. they didn't need to pry further to know that her apology exceeded more than what was on the surface, but they assured her that no apology was needed.

they were still nine and that was all that mattered.