Better days

Chapter 1: The Chaos

"Wheein? Are you okay?" Hwasa asked, her voice low as they bowed their goodbyes to the last interviewer of the day. The girls were in the midst of the chaos of their latest comeback, and while each of them were utterly burnt out and tired, Wheein had been unusually quiet for the past few days, and Hwasa has of course noticed.

Wheein shrugged slightly and offered Hwasa a simple "yeah" in response. Hwasa frowned. She knew the girl next to her better than anyone, and if it weren't for her other members nearby and their manager being in the room, the maknae would have confronted her friend then and there. She could tell when Wheein was trying to hide something from her, not that it happened often, but Hwasa knew the signs of her friend not wanting to burden other people with her problems. It had happened last year too, during the height of their Four Seasons Tour, and resulted in a tearful admittance from her friend that she was battling with depression. Ever since, Hwasa had made it her duty to be more aware of her friend's emotions and make sure that she was doing okay, vowing that she wouldn't let her get swept away in the blur of fame and pressure.

"Ready to go?" Solar asked her members, standing from the sofa where they had all squished together for the interview, and offered a hand to Moonbyul, pulling her up too. Wheein nodded, and Hwasa sighed with uneasiness as she followed the girls from the room and into the two cars waiting outside. It was typical of Hwasa and Wheein to share one car while their unnies took the other as the pairs of best friends happened to live on opposite sides of the city. Hwasa waved a goodbye to her other members before preparing herself for the conversation she needed to have with Wheein.

"Jung Wheein. Tell me what's wrong," Hwasa said as she climbed into the back seat with her friend, not minding that it would annoy Wheein, who usually kept the back of the car to herself on the way home. Wheein kept her eyes staring out of the window next to her, gulping at Hwasa's question. "Hey," Hwasa tried more softly this time, reaching out for Wheein's shoulder and looking at her friend worriedly when their eyes eventually met.

"I'm fine, just tired," Wheein replied simply, and as much as Hwasa wanted it to be the truth, she didn't miss the way Wheein was blinking too quickly and licking her lips, signs she had come to recognise as meaning that her friend was struggling.

"Can I come over tonight?" Hwasa tried, changing the subject as to not make her friend defensive and shut down. Wheein bit her lip.

"I just want to go home and sleep, Hyejin-ah. Sorry," Wheein said, feeling bad about letting her friend down but she didn't want to be around people and infect them with her unshakable mood. And especially not the one person who she would inevitably crumble in front of.

Hwasa pouted but didn't push it. By the time they had reached Wheein's apartment, the girl was almost asleep and Hwasa had to gently shake her awake and usher her out of the car. Once her friend was in her building, Hwasa decided that she couldn't wait for Wheein to be alright like she had in the past. She had to do something.

"Hey, Haneul?"

"Yes Miss Hwasa?" The driver asked.

"Can you go on a different route? I need to do something."

***

Wheein had just finished her third cup of beer when she heard the doorbell ring. She set her cup down carefully and sighed as she got up, turning the tv down and making her way to her front door. She opened it cautiously, hoping that it wasn't the old man who lived in the apartment above hers who liked to invite her for dinner at least once a week. Instead of the creepy smile of the old man, however, she was greeted with the equally creepy smile of her best friend.

"Surprise!" Hwasa said, and Wheein frowned.

"What are you doing here? I said-" Wheein began, but was silenced by Hwasa holding up bags full of snacks and bottles in surrender.