A Sound from the Moon

Four

The members lead me to my room. Joy happily opens the door and says, "You'll be sharing a room with me!"

"Good luck," Wendy playfully says as she brings in my luggage. "She speaks in her sleep." Joy frowns at her and gives her arm a small slap.

I giggle at this. "It's okay. As long as you don't snore."

It's a small room. There's two bathrooms just outside this hall with three rooms. Because Irene is the oldest, they decided to give the extra room to her where Wendy moved it around so it can be a study room and Irene's room.

Irene is much older than me. She's eight years older than me. I seem to be the youngest one in the group. I just turned eighteen in March. Then comes Joy that's about three years older than me. Her birthday is in September so right now she is twenty years old. Wendy is five years older me. She's twenty three years old. Seulgi is claimed the second oldest because her birthday is a few days before Wendy's but she's the same age as Wendy.

"Thank you," I say to Wendy as she brings in the last of my luggage. My eyes then land on a uniform hanging by my bed. "Oh wow. He was not kidding when he said that my education was all paid for, too."

"Are you still in high school?" Seulgi says as she comes in the room to sit at one of the plush chairs by Joy's bed. Irene stands by the door frame as she quietly watches me unpack.

"Yes. I'm a senior. Well, I don't know how you call that here, but I'm in my last year."

"I'm in my last year of college, too," Joy says as she sits on her bed. "We can be study buddies."

I return her sweet smile and get back to unpacking with a long sigh.

"Do you need help?" Irene steps in and starts putting the luggage on my bed. I don't have time to kindly reject as she starts to get my things out. Everyone else slowly joins and I just let them be. I am still very tired.

At the end, I realize that I might be the messiest member and I thought I was organized. I watched as Joy folded each clothing with extreme care. Wendy organized my things on the shelves I would gesture at. Sometimes she would step back, look at the design, and then repeat the setup all over again. Seulgi helped me with my bed sheets and Irene organized my closet. I was surprised how big the closet was despite the size of this room.

We all step back as we observe my side of the room and I can't help but do a small chuckle. "It looks so nice! I love it! Thanks, guys." I give them a small bow and Wendy scoffs.

"You don't have to be so formal with us."

"But I must respect the elderly," I say with a playful smile.

"Elderly?!" Wendy says with wide eyes and I giggle with Joy at her reaction.

Seulgi gives us one last chuckle before saying, "I'm going to bed now. Have a goodnight, girls." Her dark eyes fall on me and she gives me her sweet grin; making her eyes shine. "Welcome to the team."

The most amazing rush runs through my veins at those words. They each give me their welcome and walk off to sleep. I feel like I could fly when Irene is last to give me her welcome. She gives me a nod and then does a warm smile. Her warmth wraps around me with just her shining eyes. I have the urge to hug her and it's like she can hear my heart as she comes in to give me a hug.

For some reason, this gesture brings tears to my eyes and I sniffle on her shoulder. She gently pulls away and she seems slightly surprised by my reaction to her hug. But she's quick to react as she takes a tissue from Joy's nightstand.

Joy looks up from her phone and gasps. She does a sad pout as she gently comes to give me a hug. "Why are you crying?"

I just shake my head in silence and take the tissue from Irene with a thankful smile. Irene runs a comforting hand on my back and then says, "You can always count on us. For anything. We are our own little family."

"We're a team," Joy says as she pulls away with a sweet smile. "You must be tired. Tomorrow will be a new day. We're going out tomorrow!"

"It's something Seulgi and I liked doing with a new member," Irene says. "Rest up." She gives me a firm nod before walking out.

I'm left standing there for a moment. For a second, I regret letting out tears in front of the leader of this group. I sniffle and sigh. Gosh. What a mess. I'm a mess.

"She may seem a little cold at first, but she's actually really sweet."

I turn back and smile at Joy. She gives me one last warm smile making her eyes small and cheeks puff up. Then the sound of a door opening from outside our room makes her eyes grow wide. She practically races out as she says, "Don't you dare, Wendy! I'm taking a shower first!" The last thing I hear is Wendy's cackle as she shuts the door and Joy clicking her tongue in annoyance.

Luckily, Seulgi is quick at taking a shower and Joy let's me use the spare bathroom first since I had a long flight. So my muscles finally relax with warm water running down my body. I close my eyes and I can see my mother again. She has her weak smile and dim eyes.

After a while, I hear my phone lightly ring from outside and I dash out with water still soaking through my pajamas. Joy mumbles something in her sleep and I quickly silence my phone with a skipping heart. I quietly go into the small living room and answer my mother's call.

"Mom," I softly say. "I'm so glad you called. I completely forgot to call you when I arrived. I'm so sorry."

"Don't worry, sweetie. You must've been tired. I understand. It must be late over there. What time is it?"

I look at my phone and whisper, "It's midnight. Over there is..."

"Morning. Honey, why don't you go to sleep? I'm glad you're safe."

"I will. But how are you feeling, Mom? Are you doing okay?"

"Yes. I'm okay. Today they're going to change my medicine so it doesn't hurt my bones anymore. Other than that, it'll be another long day here." I know she must be doing her sad smile to hide her pain. But I can hear it even more in her voice.

"Mom. Just hang in there a few more days then you can go home. I'll be calling Jade to see if you're taking your medicine."

She does a light chuckle. "Don't worry so much about me, my dear. You have so much to explore there. Be kind and listen well to all your leaders."

I can tell she must be ready to take a nap, so I gently say, "Okay, mom. I love you. Call me whenever, okay? Don't worry about the time difference. I will always be available."

"Yes, sweetheart. I'll call whenever I can. I love you. Be safe, honey."

"I love you, too." I always linger at the phone. I want to imagine her with me until she hangs up and I'm left alone in silence.

My heart shivers every time she hangs up. It feels like she's gone now more than ever. I'm so far and I can't remind myself that she's still breathing with just a quick visit.

I'm miles away and she could be gone in a second. I wouldn't have time to reach for her or hold onto her so she can fight a little longer.

I quickly silence my mind from these terrifying thought. I'm just exhausted. I really need to sleep. Like Joy said: tomorrow will be a new day.