“Oww.”

The room stilled. 

“Shu?” Miyeon was the first to rush in, followed quickly by Minnie and Soyeon. Yuqi, stuck in the makeup chair, followed the commotion through the reflection of the mirror. “What’s wrong?”

Brandishing her finger, a red blob forming on it, the youngest pouted, “Paper cut.” 

A collective chorus of oohhs echoed through the room. 

Miyeon swatted the book in Shuhua’s lap. “Bad book,” she said with a furrowed brow. 

Yuqi cackled from her seat, the woman doing her makeup begging her to stay still. 

Soyeon went off to retrieve a bandaid. 

Minnie cradled the wounded hand. 

When Soyeon returned, she took extra care to clean and bandage the cut. In a childlike voice, hands waving like she was casting a spell, Soyeon whispered, “Pain pain, go away!” Then she kissed the bandaid. 

Miyeon sang a short ballad her mother used to sing when she got hurt as a child before Minnie took over in Thai with her own rendition. Both placed little kisses atop the bandaid. In the chair, Yuqi gagged before shooting off an old phrase her parents would say when she was a child and had fallen yet again. 

When Soojin returned to the room, she sat down beside Shuhua. 

“Jagiya?” 

“Hm?” Her attention was captured by the device in her hand. 

Showcasing her bandaged finger, Shuhua pouted. “Kiss it better?”

Pecking Shuhua’s cheek, Soojin assured, “It will heal soon.”