Summary :: Eden likes going to the movie theater by herself. Except she’s not the only one there.
Time :: April, 2018
“E.D, are you sure you don’t want us to join you? Isn’t it scary in a theater all alone?” Rosé and Lisa spoke through the phone.
“Scary? This is the best time to go to the theater, and you guys didn’t even want to see this movie.”
“But you’re all alone.” Rosé pouted at her screen.
“No, I’m sure there’s someone watching from the projector room with me.”
“Eden,” Lisa whined at her sarcasm, knowing she’d do anything to have the theater to herself.
Eden nearly lost her popcorn and phone as she saw someone’s head become visible from the stairs. Despite her elaborate plan and scheduling, of course someone would have to come at the same time as her.
“Abort mission, it’s starting.” She whispered, puckering her lips at them before hanging up, staring at her phone in hopes of blocking out the person. She prayed he wouldn’t sit anywhere remotely close to her. Agitation built in her as they chose her aisle, walking through the thin opening.
“Is this seat taken?” She looked up from her phone, coming face to face with a man. He wasn’t at all intimidating like most people Eden’s has run-ins with. His voice was rather inviting.
“Not at all, go ahead” She watched him place his drink in the holder and sit down. He had a box of candies instead of buttery popcorn.
“Sorry, I feel like it would’ve been awkward if I sat in any other row.” He smiled nervously, “Did you plan on being the only one here?”
“I did, but it’s okay! Seeing a movie at the theater is fun in itself.”
“We’re in the same boat then.”
She grinned, taking a handful of the greasy popcorn and trying not to make a mess. She glanced over at him checking his phone, swiping up to exit all his apps. He liked to save his battery.
“I’m Eden.” She shared the popcorn between the two of them, being met with a nervous laugh.
“I know,” He chuckled, thanking her while taking a tiny portion of popcorn and shoving it into his mouth. He made sure to chew and swallow the food before speaking. “Seokmin.”
“Of course you know.” She slapped herself with her hand. “You look way too handsome to be just any citizen.”
“Seventeen? Does dokyeom ring a bell?” He pursed his lips, growing shy, hoping that she would at least recognize his group.
“Ahh yes!” She snapped her fingers when finally familiarizing herself with him.
“Do you usually come to the movies by yourself?” He wondered why such a pretty and busy girl like her was in the theater by herself.
“I just like seeing stuff by myself. My members don’t like most of the things I want to see. Other times they just make complete fools of themselves. It makes the experience more memorable when I’m here by myself.”
He shrugged his shoulders, nodding his head and scooping more popcorn. “Makes sense. Did I perhaps ruin your movie night?”
Eden shook her head, grunting while turning in her seat, “You have as much right as I do to be here. Maybe you can be my movie buddy now.”
He giggled, a shade of crimson fading onto his cheeks. “I will watch almost anything. But if it’s horror, I will need a blanket and cuddles.”
She slapped his shoulder, laughing with him before the lights in the room dimmed. She snorted before bringing her finger to her lips, indicating them to be quiet.
“It’s starting.” She whispered.
“I will shut up now.” He sat back in the chair before grabbing another handful of the popcorn.
“You don’t have to.” Eden reassured him, speaking slightly above a whisper.
“Didn’t you say you just liked to watch the movie with no distractions, with your undivided attention?”
She shrugged, letting out a hum before turning to him. “You’re the exception.”
Hayun is happy that she can go to Eunji for anything. Eunji is very similar to Hayun's mother, both sweet, caring, and protective. It is an understatement to say that she is her second mother. It was hard for Hayun’s mother to send her off to live with other people, so Eunji promised to take good care of her.
After living together for so long, Eunji understands her best out of the members. She knows when she starts acting weird, something is bugging her. Hayun rarely has her vulnerable moments since she likes to act strong, but when she does, Eunji is there to be a shoulder to cry on. She even confides in the leader more than her own mother because they trust each other. Hayun knows that her biological mother would overwhelm her and do anything to get her to come back home. Eunha is the most sincere and cutest mother daughter relationship the kpop world has seen.
― PARK JAENA
Jaena is like Hayun's lowkey partner in crime. They like planning evil, innocent schemes and messing with the members. Hayun gets super flustered when she gets caught and will blame it on the unnies. She tries not to let the older members influence her actions, because she likes to be seen as the good, calm, and collected child of the group. Jaena would be considered the cool mom.
Hayun was a bit intimidated at first but adjusted well to meeting Jaena. Something about Jaena was very inviting and comforting. Hayun has three moms, her biological mother, Eunji, and Jaena. Jaena is affectionate with her members which means she always has to lock arms with Hayun when they're out and about, like someone would take the young one away from her. Jaena is someone that Hayun looks up to, she wants to be mature with a sense of humor.
― SI YAHEE
Hayun always thought Yahee was so pretty and talented. She approached Yahee first and made small talk. It wasn't awkward how little they conversed, instead it was completely comfortable.
They can go long in each other's company without speaking to each other and it's normal. They get along really well which is rare for someone like Yahee. Hayun likes to cling to her, which she doesn't mind at all. She wishes she had more confidence because it would be a shame for Yahee’s talent to go to waste. She sees her as an older sister that is supposed to protect the young one and be a good role model, but the roles are reversed. Yahee wants to be more like Hayun. She’s not too guarded but also knows she is still young and can have fun too.
― MOON HYEMI
Eunji and Jaena warned her about Faye before they first met. Hayun imagined her to be a punk princess with a very intimidating aura, but was quite surprised to see how comfortable and inviting she was. She had no idea what the two were talking about until Faye let a curse word slip from her mouth. The new member realized her mistake and told the young one not to tell the older girls. Hayun snickered quietly, already feeling appreciative of her.
Hayun thinks of Faye as the older sister that can and will beat someone up that ever hurts her. But because of this, it is the reason why Hayun avoids talking about other people to her. Faye is insistent on defending Hayun, even if she tells her not to. She remembers everything. Hayun sees Faye as someone very strong even when the odds are against her. Hayun doesn’t hold anything against her because she believes ones past is not something that should be definitive of a person.
― CHO MIYOUNG
These two together are dumb and dumber. Hayun was glad to find herself in another person. When they first met, they had no trouble getting along and becoming best friends. They spent the entirety of their youth together, all day every day. When Hayun would go back home for the holidays, she would develop some separation anxiety when not seeing Mia for a day.
They’re always being called out by Eunji or Jaena. Mia likes to tempt her, bringing out Hayun’s mischievous side. They act like five year olds and end up embarrassing the entire group. The leader decided to room them together in the dorms since they are the perfect match. A bad choice on Eunji’s behalf. They have both seen and been there with each other at their worst, Hayun having to swear to Mia not to speak of the sensitive moments they have.
🍓 : how is my muse typically seen by others? does it ring true to who they really are? does their reputation matter to them?
At times Sunhee can be seen as stern or even uptight. Mostly because when she gets serious, she is definitely serious and there’s no mistaking it. She also appears really strong, even to the other members she’s a pillar. But the truth is she’s a lot softer than she lets on and she can actually be quite the goofball. She doesn’t mind being seen as the strong, tough love kind of figure, but I think part of her also just wishes people would see her more fun and childish side too. She’s also a really warm and gentle person.
🍉 : which of the four seasons suits my muse best, and why?
I think spring definitely suits her best! A season for renewal and growth and nurturing. I think those vibes fit our kind and warm leader here uwu.
❀ — flora ;
🍓 : how is my muse typically seen by others? does it ring true to who they really are? does their reputation matter to them?
Opposite to Sunhee, people see Flora as more silly and childish even though she’s the second oldest. She’s actually a really mature and intelligent person, but sometimes her silly antics cause people to mostly only see that side of her. I think she likes being seen as someone fun and bright, but sometimes feels misunderstood or like people don’t always take her seriously.
🍉 : which of the four seasons suits my muse best, and why?
I think summer for Flora! Summer being associated with hot weather and freedom and good times with your friends and family. I think that fits her and her charms well.
❀ — miyoung ;
🍓 : how is my muse typically seen by others? does it ring true to who they really are? does their reputation matter to them?
Miyoung sometimes gets misunderstood as mean or standoffish when really she’s just kind of quiet. Not necessarily shy either (though she can be quite closed off), she’s just often in her own head and sometimes gets a little off track. She’s really sweet but due to her quiet nature and the fact that when she does speak up it’s usually pretty funny or what other’s consider ‘savage’, people sometimes miss how soft and caring she is. It sometimes bothers her, because she mainly just has a hard time expressing herself.
🍉 : which of the four seasons suits my muse best, and why?
I think winter fits her well! It’s quiet, the weather is cold, but it’s a time where you spend time with your loved ones. Bundling up and feeling warm inside in spite of the gloomy weather. I think that’s her energy.
❀ — ruby ;
🍓 : how is my muse typically seen by others? does it ring true to who they really are? does their reputation matter to them?
Ruby is definitely seen as the typical savage maknae. Some people even misconstrue her as just straight up mean. But in reality, like Miyoung, she just has a hard time expressing herself (and her affections for the members.) Ruby is actually a really sensitive person, she just often keep her guard up and likes to seem strong and tough. She doesn’t mind the way people see her, but sometimes she does take things to heart.
🍉 : which of the four seasons suits my muse best, and why?
For Ruby, autumn seems to be a good fit. Kind of a transition season, lots of playful and fun energies. The chill is harsh, but you can’t help but go out, take a walk in the brisk air. I like that vibe for her.
She has an obsession with Cony from LINE friends. Every aspect of her life has Cony incorporated in some way, shape or form. She has a magnet on the fridge in the dorm, as well as keyrings, passport cover, plushes, hair bands, and even a sleeping mask.
She’s a mother to plants. She has an aloe plant, peace lily, and a few tiny cactus.
She’s a nature lover. Loves flowers, taking hikes, retreats, picnics, etc. She tries to get her members to talk walks with her every night.
She personally identifies as Flora from Winx Club. They are practically the same person.
Mira loves to read novels. She even sets a goal for herself to read one new book every month.
She loves to read poetry but has difficulty writing poems herself. She writes songs for DREAMCATCHER with no problem.
She says she has defined collarbones. The members even said she uses them to her advantage to seduce them.
She prefers tea over coffee. She cannot drink straight espresso and needs it to be masked with cream and sugar.
Her nickname “Happy lil plum” comes from the meaning of her birthname. Lei means plum/plum tree and Xinyi means happy. She also got her stage name idea from Handong, inspired by the Mirabelle plum.
Her favorite color is a muted baby blue.
She doesn’t like avocado. It’s because of the texture. Textured foods make her sick.
She cleans the dorm whenever she doesn’t have anything to do. She always manages to find the littlest bit of dust.
Mira’s favorite animal is a kiwi bird.
Her favorite perfume is Étoile d'Une Nuit by Annick Goutal.
She likes playing Stardew Valley by herself. When playing games with Yoohyeon, they play Mario Kart and Minecraft.
When Mira can’t sleep, she walks around the dorm, drinking warm milk until she feels tired.
She is scared of thunder and lightning. She doesn’t mind fireworks at events because she expects them, but when she sees a crack of lightning, she or her members are quick to cover her ears before a big boom.
She loves cheesecake. She even requests a specific Oreo Cheesecake on her birthday.
She has a fear of extremely tiny and big animals. She scared of spiders, worms, insects, huge fish such as sharks. But she does find whales, dolphins and hammerhead sharks cute. Oddly enough, she thinks stickbugs, caterpillars, and fuzzy moths are cute until she laughs so hard to the point she starts sobbing.
She has minimal, simplistic tattoos, but wants to get bigger ones with a hidden meaning.
Her favorite hair color she’s done is either baby pink and blonde.
Eden blew on the hot ramen for a split second before ultimately taking a big bite and burning her tongue. She whined, setting the cup down and fanning her tongue.
“Hot?” The male snickered, blowing on his food as well, enough for it to be a good temperature to eat.
“Please, it should be warm enough given how cold it is outside.” She shrugged, wiping her mouth with a napkin and sticking her hands back into her coat pockets.
“Yeah, I apologize, it’s not ideal but we can’t really go anywhere without people seeing us”
“I should apologize too. I’ve always been a physical person, I hate texting and talking on the phone unless completely necessary” She shook her head, watching Jimin eat his ramen so effortlessly, “It doesn’t feel real unless you’re physically right in from of me”
He raised his eyebrows, curving his mouth, and nodding his head. “Interesting.”
Eden sighed, “My mind wanders to weird places when I’m alone. It’s something I need to work on.”
All he could do was simply nod his head, assuming that he was bored of her chatter. “Sorry, It’s hard to explain, even harder to understand myself.”
“No, I’m also trying to analyze it,” He waved his hand, gently brushing his fingers against her hand for a split second.
“It truly exists only as long as it is observed,” She couldn't process what she was saying fast enough, “That probably didn’t make sense at all, it just comes out.”
“Not initially, but it does get the mind pacing. It could be a potential debate topic.”
“Well,” She grinned softly, “at least you’re trying to understand. Chaeyoung looks at me like I’m crazy.” Shaking her head, she takes a bite of her food that had cooled down when they were talking.
“Not crazy either, you just have a lot of thoughts that need to get written down.”
“Now you’re just telling me what I wanna hear,” Eden rolled her eyes, kicking him under the table.
Jimin scoffed, quickly finishing the last bite of his meal and setting it down.
“I should’ve been an author.”
“Or a shrink,”
“No, Jimin. I can’t even work through my own problems.”
He shook his head, tapping her bowl of ramen. “Finish yours, I wanna show you something”
She raised her eyebrows, slurping the rest of her food in no time.
“Where are you taking me?” The woman followed closely behind him, trying her best to keep up with how fast he was walking.
“Jimin?”
“It’s just a place!” He acknowledged her, putting the hood of his coat on his head.
“Well obviously, where though?”
“You will see when we get there.”
Eden felt uncertain. For one, it was already too late for either of them to be out. But she felt a different type of adrenaline while following him to the secret place. It had been years since she wandered in a park after curfew.
“Okay,” He stopped in his tracks, grabbing her shoulders and guiding her to sit down on a bench.
She studied her surroundings, the streetlight the only thing lighting up their way aside from the city glowing in the backdrop. The harsh yet somehow calming sound of the river made all that walking worth it.
“The river?” She scoffed, furrowing her eyebrows while looking up at him.
He nodded, taking a seat next to her and stuffing his hands in the pocket of his coat. She watched his gaze as he admired the scenery.
“So this is your calm space?” She grinned, hoping he wouldn’t face her so she could continue studying his features.
“One of them,” His warm breath condensed in the air as he exhaled sharply. “I was hoping those meditation apps of yours could at least be substituted for the real thing.”
“Were you on my phone?” She shuffled through her coat to one of the inside pockets.
“You were vague about it on the phone,” He chuckled while watching her panic, “Might as well try to share something of mine with you.”
“How thoughtful,” She whispered under her breath, smiling as her bones stiffened due to the cold air.
A quick gust of wind blew in their direction, causing a shiver down her spine. The cold steel of the bench did not help at all as she was freezing her butt off.
“I’m sorry for taking you out on the coldest night this week,” He took her coat hood off her shoulders and placed it atop her head. “Come closer.” He motioned his hand, scooting over a tad and making room for her.
Clenching her jaw, she obeyed, trying to be as close to him as possible. He wrapped her up, hoping the confined space would warm her up.
“Hot cider or chocolate would make this moment perfect.” Her teeth chattered, only realizing what she was thinking in her mind came out of her mouth. She could feel the second-hand embarrassment creeping up on her.
“I said that out loud didn’t I?” She rested her cheek on his shoulder, the fleece chilling her even more.
“Yes, but it’s okay” He snickered to himself.
Bringing her hands out of her pockets, she cuffed them together, trying to warm herself up.
“Here,” Jimin repeated her same actions, rubbing his hands together and placing them on her cheeks for a second. He continued patting her fluffy cheeks, giggling to himself as she kept her focus on him.
Grabbing her hands that were placed in her lap, he held them in his, sharing his own warmth by puffing his breath. The heat rose to her cheeks, the chill fading away realizing how intense this was.
She found herself analyzing everything in detail. His pores, the scar on his eyelid. At the most inappropriate time, her sister popped into her head.
“Can’t you do it?” Eden cried, standing on her bed as there was a bug trotting on the wall.
“No, Eden, you have to learn to do these things by yourself” She yelled back, the two didn’t bother to tell either of their parents. They would just laugh it off like they were making it all up.
“It is a mind over matter scenario, you just have to count, and then do it.”
“Then count me down!”
She chuckled to herself before leaning into Jimin and placing her lips on his. His lips curled into a smile, his hand sneaking its way behind her neck and rubbing her cheek with the pad of his thumb. As both of their lungs gave out, they parted, their warm breath in each other’s face.
“Are you still cold?” Jimin whispers, patting her bottom lip with his thumb.
“Internally? No. Physically? Yes” Her hand entangled with his, going in for another kiss.
She was way too distracted with how attractive his lips were, like a magnet. They were so plump and restricted herself the best she could.
“I need to get you home before you get frostbite.” He chuckled, giving her a peck on the forehead.
Eden nodded, her mind began racing again like before, wondering if he enjoyed it or not.
“Hot chocolate and cider?” She pursed her lips, holding herself and he got up from the bench and stretched.
Pairing :: Jenn x Mother (Eleanor) ft. Jaebeom, Youngjae, & Mark
Word Count :: 1.1k
Summary :: Jenn’s mother moves to Korea.
WARNINGS :: A dash of tension at the end.
Jenn kept peeking her head around the post nervously, waiting for her mother to come out of the gates at any moment.
“Should we hide?” Youngjae scooted behind her and stood glued to the wall.
“If you want to give her a heart attack.” Their leader kept an eye out while swaying side to side.
“She’ll already be having a heart attack just by seeing you.” It was no secret that Jenn’s mom thought Jaebeom was incredibly handsome.
His cheeks flushed at the comment as he scratched his head.
The last few weeks were hectic. While her mother, Eleanor, was arranging to sell her house in New York, Jenn was apartment hunting. She was content knowing that they were going to be together and making up for lost time. She was glad that her best friends were willing to help her settle in when she arrived.
Eleanor had only been to South Korea a couple times in her life, at the circumstances of her daughter. She really never thought she would ever live there. It was all new, but Jenn was willing to help her adjust to the new scenery and culture.
Jenn saw the woman come into view, only having her carry-on in clutch. She pressed her back against the wall, making sure she wasn’t visible. Jaebeom stood out in the open and rolled his eyes at the two trying so hard to surprise her.
The leader raised his hand, signaling her mom over. She smiled excitedly, skipping over to him and shaking his hand.
“You get more charming every time I see you!” She pinched his cheek, “Where’s Jennifer?”
Jenn peeked out from her hiding spot, opening her arms. Her mother gasped, fiercely welcoming the girl into her arms. She held her tightly. Things were different during this reunion. There weren’t going to be any goodbyes like other occasions.
Stroking her hair, Eleanor pulled back, admiring the sight of her daughter. She tucked stray hairs behind her ear, wiping the tears that seeped onto her mask.
“You shouldn’t be crying, nothing’s happening!” She placed her hands on her shoulders, pouting her lips.
“I’m just so glad to see you.” A mixture of a laugh and sob released from her, her mom chuckling and pulling her into another hug.
“Here let me take this for you,” Jenn sniffed, grabbing her carry-on as Youngjae peeked in behind her.
“Ahh Youngjae!” Despite her mother’s height, she still managed to give him a big hug. “Have you been taking care of her while I was gone?”
“As promised.” He smiled, nodding his head.
It was evident even underneath all their masks that they were happy. Jaebeom’s eye-smile was making an appearance.
The echo throughout the apartment got better as Jenn had a few pieces of furniture. Her and her mom agreed they’d go furniture shopping together to make sure their apartment was decorated to their liking. Eleanor was extremely picky about her taste, it was certainly unique.
Jaebeom had dinner with them before having to resume his duties. Youngjae treated everyone to hot pot so their bellies were full before taking the girls back to their apartment.
“That’s the last of it.” Youngjae placed the last suitcase in the corner of the room, accompanied by several others.
“Thank you,” Jenn smiled, patting his back, “She’s probably so tired.”
She eyed her mom coming in the door behind Youngjae. “Don’t worry about your luggage, you need some rest.”
“God knows i couldn’t sleep on the plane.” She joked.
“You can sleep in my bed and I’ll try to unpack what I can for you.” Jenn grabbed her hand, looking back at Youngjae before guiding her to the bedroom.
She took her mother’s jacket off her shoulders, proceeding to fluff the pillows and get the bed ready to be slept in.
“Thank you, sweetie,” Eleanor kissed her cheek, “If you find my pjs when you’re unpacking, don’t hesitate to wake me up.”
Jenn nodded, letting out a giggle before hugging her mom again. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“All you had to do was say the words and I’m sold.” She ran her fingers through her hair, rubbing her back. After so many years of her mother caring for Jenn and making so many risks, it was now her turn to take care of her.
“Let’s rest now” She laughed nervously, afraid she would tear up again. She shook her head, pulling away and patting the mattress. She closed the door behind her and tiptoed back to the living room.
Youngjae was sitting on the sofa, holding her phone out for her. “Mark’s calling. Your phone kept vibrating in your jacket.” Her face lit up like a Christmas tree, skipping and grabbing her phone from her best friend.
She pressed accept, bringing the phone up to her ear and entered the kitchen. “Hello, my love,”
“What’re you doing?” He spoke through the phone.
“About to get settled in for the night, what–”
“Your moms in Korea?” Before she was even able to ask him about his day, he interrupted her.
“Yes,” She uttered with uncertainty, but then remembered the photo she posted of that Jaebeom had taken of her and her mother at dinner. She thought nothing of it. “I would hand the phone to her but she just got in bed.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
She furrowed her eyebrows, her chest suddenly becoming so heavy. “What?”
“If I had known she was coming, I would’ve delayed coming back to the states.” Her jaw unconsciously dropped open, trying to convince herself she wasn’t crazy. Finally clicking her tongue and running her hands through her hair, she put her weight on one foot while propping her hand up on the kitchen counter.
“Mark, don’t you remember me telling you?”
“You didn’t–”
“I did. But you wouldn’t recall that because the entire time you were packing, you kept brushing me off.” The line went silent, causing her to scratch her neck. He knew it to be true.
“Listen, I really don’t have the patience right now, I’m quite tired.” She sighed, trying to save herself from a headache, “Just let me refresh your memory a bit. While you were focused on your arrangements to go back home, I planned for her to move here.”
“Jenn–”
“You didn’t even ask me if I wanted to stay in our apartment when you left, I had to do everything myself. But please don’t hound me simply because you weren’t listening in.”
“I really–”
“I gotta go, I’m really busy.” She hung up the phone, quickly shutting it down to block out any unnecessary distractions.
Coming back to Youngjae on his phone in the living room, she plopped down on the couch and let out a big huff.
“Everything okay?” He asked, looking up from his phone. Even though the kitchen was around the corner, he could hear everything.
Warnings :: Sadness, post-breakup Jenn. Angst with some fluff.
Hearing the tiny knock on her bedroom door, Jenn shook from the sudden noise. She had been like this for a few days now. Not getting out of bed, leaving her bedroom to eat, only getting up to go the bathroom. She found herself pathetic. She always told people to take care of themselves and even she couldn’t follow her own advice. When she wasn’t sleeping 20 hours of the day, she was either staring at the walls or crying. She could say she was numb at this point but every time the littlest reminder of Mark and what they had crept back into her mind, she found herself in agonizing pain all over again.
Her mother tried prying and used all her techniques to get her daughter to open up, but she wouldn’t budge. Anytime she would try talking to her and trying to get a little insight on what she was thinking, all Jenn could do was cry. There were no words that could ever describe what she was feeling. Thankfully, she had finished her promotions before Mark ever left. It was not even remotely possible to pull through any of her performances without looking like a zombie or breaking down. Her mom was at a loss and was running out of options.
Her mother entered her room, setting a glass of water on her nightstand and gently sitting on the edge of her bed. She rubbed her leg that was covered by the blankets.
“Baby, I’m worried about you.” She sighed, the pain evident in her tone.
Jenn pulled the covers higher, trying to hide her face and shut her surroundings out. She hadn’t put her phone on the charger for several days, it was expected to be dead. She didn’t want even the slightest bit of interaction, she just wanted to be alone with herself and her thoughts.
“You gotta get moving, try bathing or getting a little food in your stomach.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Please, baby. You haven’t left this bed for days.”
“And I want it to stay that way.” The one time she found herself being selfish, she didn’t realize her idleness was affecting her loved ones.
Her mom sighed, tears falling down her cheek. This situation was beyond anything she could control. She wasn’t going to give up on her daughter so easily. Even if there wasn’t anything she could do physically, she still had a few tricks up her sleeve.
“Fine. But please at least drink a little something.” She stood to her feet, bending down and kissing Jenn’s head. Before exiting her room, she placed a sleeve of crackers on her nightstand as well. Something basic to eat that wouldn’t upset her stomach when she did decide to eat.
It was beyond her. Her mother never imagined the two breaking things off. She sympathized with her. Even breaking up with her first true love she thought she was gonna die. It hurt knowing there wasn’t much she could do to help her. She had exhausted all options, almost becoming hopeless.
Jenn turned over in her bed, pulling the covers over her head and trying to get warm. It wasn’t long until she tried closing her eyes to fall asleep, that Mark snuck back into her brain.
The pain was unbearable. She covered her mouth with her hand, using the blanket to muffle her cries. There was no way to escape. He would always be there in the back of her mind. Trying to push the thoughts away was useless.
She regretted not doing more. Others might think she did everything she could, while she felt guilty. She didn’t pay him enough attention when he was visiting. She blamed herself, taking him for granted and perhaps not loving him enough to make him want to stay. If only she could turn back time, she would do anything in her power to make him stay. She might have even considered ditching the solo career and moving to LA with him. She never imagined them ever being separated. She dreamt they would be together even in their final days. And just like that, she had cried herself to sleep again.
“Jenn,” A voice familiar to her woke her from her doze. She groaned, hiding her face from the sun shining in from the window. “Wake up.”
“Please, just leave me alone.” She sounded weak. It was clear she was extremely dehydrated and that she could shrivel up at any moment. The dark circles under her eyes, her hollowed cheeks, her tear-stained face, she was in a dark place.
“That’s not an option.” She squinted her eyes open, revealing Youngjae who knelt by her bedside. Immediately, she felt a tidal wave come down on her. She shifted, burying her face in the mattress as she broke down in front of him.
“Hey, why are you crying? It’s just me.” His voice softened, pushing her hair to the side so he could see her.
She felt at ease seeing his face and hearing his voice. Of course, she was still a bottomless pit, but she realized what she was doing to herself, and to her loved ones.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered.
“Why are you apologizing?” He frowned, getting off the ground and sitting next to her on the bed.
“I don’t want you to see me like this.” She rolled onto her back, sniffling while wiping her face with the blanket.
“Please, the last person you should be worried about seeing you like this is me.” He managed to get a brief giggle out of her.
“She called you, didn’t she?”
“Partly,” He sighed, “No one had heard from you in days. I tried texting and calling you. Your mother kept insisting that it’d be best to leave you be. I came as soon as she told me you were bad.”
The tears kept flowing out, “I’m so sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. I can’t communicate with you if you keep crying like this. Just breathe.” He wiped her tears with the back of his finger, modeling steady and deep breaths for her.
The two spent the next half hour trying to get Jenn’s breathing under control. Each time she would try talking about her feelings, she found herself in the same state as before. At one point, Youngjae had even gone and got her a wet rag to try and get rid of her puffy face.
When she had finally gotten to a place where she wasn’t crying every time she spoke, Youngjae thought it be best to try and stray away from the topic. It felt difficult on his part. Both of his best friends needed him at this time and it was hard to be there for both of them. He really felt like he was in the middle.
“You settled now?” He chuckled, pushing her knotted and greasy hair behind her ear. She nodded, sniffling through her nose that was clogged from how much she was crying.
“For now.”
“Good. Time for you to go get in the shower.” He patted her knee, standing to his feet.
“What?”
“You haven’t bathed or eaten in days, so I’m taking you out for food.” He was determined to make her feel better. After all, she could never say no to him.
“But-”
“No buts. It’s not negotiable, you’re showering and getting food with me.”
“Please-”
“I’ll even get the water started for you, warm up your clothes. If you need me to brush your hair, I’ll do that too.”
Tears welled up in her eyes again, smiling at him. He was so thankful he could at least get a tiny grin out of her.
“Hey,” He stood back to his feet, pulling her up with him. “You’re the strongest person I know. You’ve broken down so many walls and surpassed all of our expectations many times. You’re gonna get through this, and you know why?” He talked her up, sounding optimistic, hoping it would rub off on her. He wiped her tear away with the pad of his thumb, smiling and pinching her cheek.
“Why?” The smile on her face was vague but still existent.
“Because I’m gonna help you. I’m gonna be here for you during this rocky road. You have me, your mother, Jaebeom, the guys, Hani. I’ll even bring Coco over if Luna doesn’t scratch her eyes out.”
She snickered, nodding her head, crying more. Jenn can’t remember the last time he gave her a pep talk. It was forever ago, and boy, did she miss it.
“It’s gonna be okay. You’re gonna be okay.”
Maybe this was the slap she needed to realize what this was doing to her.
“For now, you’re gonna get in the shower, yeah?”
She let a deep sigh, sitting up in the bed and nodding towards him.
“Good.” He grinned, clapping his hands and making his way towards her bathroom. He turned the faucet and kept checking the temperature, making sure it wasn’t too hot. He peeked back into the bedroom to see her chugging the water at her bedside. She soon came in behind him with her pile of clothes, setting them on the sink.
“Just come out whenever you’re ready.” Youngjae pulled the door shut behind him, meeting her mother in the living room.
“Any progress?” She asked, her eyes full of concern.
“She’s in the shower now.”
“Oh, thank God,” She let out a sigh of relief, “Thank you for looking out for her all these years.”
“Of course,” Youngjae sat across from her, pursing his lips with a nod, “I haven’t particularly seen her this low, but I know she will rebound.”
The two sat silently, fiddling with their fingers until her mother spoke up. “Do you know why?”
He hummed in question, not knowing what she was referring to.
“What happened to them?”
Youngjae inhaled sharply, crossing his arms. “I really don’t know. To be frank, we were all quite shocked to hear about it. She really didn’t take it well when he left. We were all surprised to hear he even showed up at her showcase.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to understand.” Her mom shook her head. She liked Mark, it was so obvious.
“Things started changing when he moved back,” He shrugged, frowning to himself. “I don’t want you to worry about anything. I will make sure she gets through this.”
“Thank you, Youngjae.”
“Doesn’t it feel nice having something in your stomach?” He grinned, basically inhaling his stew.
Jenn smirked, the corners of her mouth slightly curling. He was fine with that. He was fine with even the tiniest little smile.
Though her soup was nice and hot, she was warmed by him smiling at her. This was exactly what she needed, even though she was reluctant at first.
“Thank you, Youngjae” She wiped her mouth with the napkin.
“No worries. This is what friends are for.” She felt herself tearing up again, trying to not cry in the restaurant.
“Finish your food, don’t cry into the soup. We still have to go for a walk.”
She nodded, quickly wiping them away and dipping her spoon to collect the soup.
Jenn was usually a slow eater. Even when she was young, her plate was already the last one to be finished at the table. But because she hadn’t had anything in days, she was starving. It wasn’t the best idea to eat so fast given how long it was. She gobbled her food down so fast.
Youngjae even ordered her favorite dessert. Sweets were the key to everything. If only they could solve all her problems.
The two sat on the swing set, holding onto the chains. Jenn kicked her feet, launching herself. She inhaled the breeze that felt so nice against her skin. The air felt so clean and clear.
“This was a good idea, right?” He asked, basically squatting on the swing because of his long legs.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Fresh air helps a lot. Especially when you’ve been locked in that room for so long.”
She scoffed, gazing at the sunset. “I just never expected things to be this way.”
She mumbled under her breath. Youngjae raised his eyebrows, checking up on her. “Are you okay?”
“No. I feel like I’ve lost everything. I risked one thing and ruined my future.”
“What are you talking about?”
“My future with him. We were supposed to get married, settle down, do normal couple things. We were supposed to always be together.”
“Have you ever considered that maybe Mark played a huge part in this too? Why are you placing all the blame on yourself?”
“You’ve never been one to do what you wanna do. You’re always trying to please everybody. Staying here had to be the first thing you’ve done for yourself. Your first step to independence.” Youngjae leaned his head against the handlebars, eyeing as she fiddled with her fingers.
“He chose to leave, just as you chose to stay. Don’t blame yourself for all of this.”
She shook her head, sniveling. The tears began rolling down her cheeks again.
“Jenn, just listen to what I am saying. Don’t think about what you feel, or what you should have done differently. Just listen,” He pushed her hair behind her shoulder, leaning over to try and see her face. “This isn’t your fault. Stop being so hard on yourself. You’re still so young, your life has only just begun.”
He stood to his feet, welcoming her with open arms. She got off the swing, embracing him and bawling into his shirt. He rubbed her back, trying to do anything to calm her down. It was hard to console her when she was hurt this badly.
“It’s okay, let it out” He frowned, shushing her. He could feel his sleeve getting soaked. He didn’t mind.
“It’s gonna be okay. You’re gonna be okay.”
“It hurts... so much.”
“I know. Nobody ever said it was going to be easy. I’m here for you though. You’re gonna get through this.”
With his comforting, she was able to come down a little. She was stuffy, her nose full of snot. She rubbed her eyes as they were so irritated from crying.
“I wish I could blow my nose with your shirt.” She snickered, trying to breathe in with her nostrils but it was so hard given how blocked they were.
He sighed, scratching the top of his head, “Go ahead.”
“Are you serious?” She swallowed, sniffing again.
“This is what friends are for. And I don’t have any tissues.” He sighed, handing her his sleeve but also keeping his distance.
She grabbed it, feeling as if she blew her entire brain out onto his sleeve. It wasn’t ideal, but he would do anything for her. He was bound to throw this shirt directly in the washer when he got home.
“Feel better?
“A little.”
Arriving back at Jenn’s apartment, she was surprised by a clean bed thanks to her mom. She only had the chance because Youngjae took her out for a few hours.
“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay tonight? I’d feel better if I had you in my sight.”
“I’m never gonna be fully okay. Your house is already too full, I don’t want to intrude.”
“Never. You’re always welcome there.”
“I know. I’m okay with being here right now. You know I’ll be on your doorstep if I ever need anything.”
Youngjae nodded with a faint smile, pulling her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist, staying put for several seconds. A hug really makes all the difference.
“Thank you so much.” She whispered. It was so monotone and lacked enthusiasm. She was so tired. So broken that she had been drained of everything.
Summary┊Eden finds a number in her Inkigayo sandwich.
A/N┊Buckle your seatbelts kids, we’re about to enter Eden’s love story. c;
“I don’t know which one I like” Lisa was indecisive when shopping online for a new bag.
“I like that one” Eden swiped through her phone and found the pouch she liked better. “It’s simple, so you should buy two, one for me”
Rosé smirked, nodding, “E.D has a way of words”
The young members were sitting at a table in the cafeteria of SBS. Jisoo and Jennie sent them to get lunch after they recorded all of their stages. It was smart because Eden got told she would bloat easily after eating.
A staff member called out their number they’d gotten assigned while waiting for food.
“I’ll get it, you two decide on which bag”
“Yes unnie,” Lisa saluted before giving her phone to Rosé to swipe through the screenshots.
Eden brought her mini purse that sat perfectly across her waist, digging out money for a tip. The woman smiled wide, handing her the bag of food. She dropped a tip in a jar, the woman smiling even bigger.
“Thank you” She nodded her head, Eden whispering a thank you as she was bashful with strangers.
Whistling to the girls, that was their queue that they could leave and head back to their waiting room.
Eden sang entering the room, each girl lighting right up upon seeing her holding the food. She sat the bag down on the table, taking out the silverware and napkins.
“One for you, one for you” She handed out the infamous inkigayo sandwiches to each of her members.
“Thank you Eunnie” Jennie smiled, patting her back before taking a seat and digging into her sandwich.
Eden unwrapped her sandwich, about to take a bite before Jisoo stopped her. “Eunhye, this is yours”
She was confused, her brows squeezing together. “I got us all the same thing though?”
“Well, none of our names are Lee Eunhye, so it must be yours” She switched sandwiches with her, “I’ll be taking this one” She chuckled.
Eden was weirded out, unwrapping the sandwich nonetheless. That’s when she saw the thin strip of paper inside the cling wrap. She kept a straight face, proceeding to eat her sandwich without drawing attention to herself. If Jisoo had seen what she found inside her food, she was guaranteed to be lectured.
She pretended to clean dust out of her phone case, sneaking the paper underneath it and snapping it back in place. It was on her mind for the rest of the day.
“Rosie?” Eden whispered, pushing Rosé’s door open quietly. She was surprisingly still awake in the house. The two were the most known members to have problems sleeping.
“Come on” Rosé scooted over in her bed, making room for her to lay with her.
She snuggled up in the covers, draping one of her legs over Rosé and getting comfy. “I need your advice”
She noticed Eden had a vague look on her face, “What’s up?”
“I needed to wait until everyone was asleep,” She started, pulling her phone above the blankets and pulled her phone case off to reveal the slip, “It was in my sandwich today. Lisa probably wouldn’t know what to do and I didn’t want to get in trouble with Jisoo and Jennie”
“You can talk to me, always,” Rosé smiled, sticking her pinky finger out for Eden to lock her own pinky with. “Well, we have to text it!”
“What if it’s an old man? Or a stalker?”
“No way! I think you have a secret admirer, E.D”
She pouted, typing the number into her texts. “What do I say?”
“Say something funny. You gotta intrigue them enough to want to text back”
“I have a feeling you have some knowledge in this field?”
“Not at all, some of the girls I used to train with or go to school with back home are all about boys. There’s so many stories of them getting numbers and everything.”
Eden took her advice, trying to type something funny with her awful sense of humor.
“I almost choked on this piece of paper in my sandwich, so who is this and was it worth it?”
Rosé covered her mouth with the blanket, concealing her laughs. She hit send instead of Eden, she would’ve hesitated anyway.
“Chaeyoung!” She whined, flopping on her stomach and hiding her face in a pillow, embarrassed.
“That was the best pickup line ever! You weren’t gonna send it if I didn’t do that, so you’re welcome”
“No, it’s cringey” Rosé rolled her eyes, rubbing her back and changing the subject so she could get her mind off the embarrassment.
Both of the girls started dozing off, making small talk every few minutes by mumbling. As Eden was almost asleep, she felt her phone buzz underneath her, scaring her awake. She groaned, not knowing how loud she was until seeing the girl next to her shuffle in the bed.
She squinted at the bright screen, not realizing she had opened the text from the unknown number she had found. Realization hit her when reading the text back to herself. She felt the heat rise to her cheeks, her body on fire like her hair was singing right off her scalp.
“I’m so sorry! I guess I didn’t put it in more carefully than I thought I did. Park Jimin, BTS. I’d like to think that I’m worth it”
