𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴, han seojun

˗ˋ 43

╭ ╮
━━━  " 📂 " ‍..⃗. ༉

𝙍 𝙊 𝙈 𝘼 𝙉 𝘾 𝙄 𝙉 𝙂

! chapter forty-three ─── ʚĭɞ

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"Ah, I don't know why you invited me." Miyeon slid into the seat besides Jugyeong, looking over at Gowoon, who had invited the two older girls out for a drink.

It had been a curious few days since Suho's father was revealed, and whilst Miyeon worried about her parents coming in, both of them were too busy and so Eunjoo came instead.

It wasn't just that, she had been in a weird head space since Lee Joohun came to visit, the reminder of those harsh words he had spoken combined with her weird situation with Seojun just being a lot.

The only positive thing was that her mother had disappeared again, and seemingly so had her father. Which objectively made no sense, especially seeing as she had been brought back to Seoul so they could watch over her.

She had been quiet, going straight home and not really talking much, other than to Soojin, Sooa and Jugyeong. But when the Im girl told her that Gowoon had texted her and asked if they wanted to meet up after school, Miyeon had agreed, wanting to get out of the slump.

"You helped me, both of you." Gowoon insisted, watching as Miyeon sipped on her strawberry matcha latte, eyes smiling at the flavour. "Thank you so much for the day with the bullies and at the festival." Gowoon smiled.

"I'm glad you look cheerful." Jugyeong said with a smile. "Didn't they bully you since that day?"

Behind her, Miyeon put her drink down with a clink against the table, very much wanting to hear this.

"They say things behind my back." Gowoon began, not meeting either of the girls' eyes. "They say I painted my face to sing on stage. They say I've got nerve to show up without makeup."

"Are you okay hearing that?" Jugyeong asked, voice soft. If it had just been Miyeon, there was no way she could've done it this gently, she was probably much more confrontational.

"If I hate my face just because they say that, I'd be agreeing that I'm a loser." Gowoon said, her words wise. "So I'm going to ignore them and live with the face I'm given."

The words seemed to resonate with Jugyeong, who smiled, Miyeon taking a sip of her drink. Gowoon really was smart - she had such a way of thinking that was so logical and wise.

"You're very cool." Jugyeong spoke the words the both of them were thinking, looking slightly upset for just a moment.

"That's right.. do you mind teaching me how to put in makeup?" Gowoon asked, leaning forward slightly.

"Makeup?" Jugyeong repeated, eyes wide. She nodded, and the two of them arranged to meet up after school the next day, at Gowoon's place.

"Miyeon, you're more than welcome to come." Gowoon quickly said. "My mom said those dishes that you brought over last time were delicious."

"Last time?" Jugyeong asked, looking between them.

"From when I was a trainee." Miyeon didn't know exactly what possessed her to suddenly be so open with it, but Jugyeong knew, so she couldn't exactly hide it either. "Me and Seojun would spend a lot of time together, and with Suho and Seojun."

She swallowed, taking a deep breath. "I don't get on with my family - Eunjoo is my housekeeper, but is closer to me than either of my parents. Neither my mom or my dad really liked that I was a trainee, so the relationship was even worse. I ended up staying at a lot of people's houses. I've stayed with Suho, I stayed with Seyeon, but I stayed at Gowoon's the most." She explained, Gowoon nodding along.

"She actually-" The Han girl began, stopping when she saw Miyeon shaking her head behind Jugyeong. "Well, she actually spent a lot of time there because she's close with my mom as well." Gowoon quickly recovered, and Jugyeong nodded.

The three of them finished their drinks with blissful chatter, and after exchanging goodbyes and leaving, Miyeon and Jugyeong headed one way, and Gowoon the other.

"Ah, Im Ju." Miyeon let out a sigh, their arms automatically linked. "You didn't mind hearing about it all, did you?"

"No.. No of course not." Jugyeong quickly said, her voice growing quieter. "It seems you three had quite a hard time. That's why you went to New York? And why you were upset on the night of the festival."

Miyeon smiled sadly, nodding as they approached the bus stop. "It's complicated. And I might not be the right person to do this, but thank you for helping Gowoon." Miyeon paused, before unlinking their arms and hugging Jugyeong, who faltered before hugging her back.

A bus approached, and with a quick goodbye, Miyeon was boarding it, sitting down near the back and waving at the girl on street as they moved past.

It was then when the both of them would realise they had a true friend in each other.