this feeling // newjeans.

five.

[Hello! I've included a piano cover of "Ditto" with high hopes to give the story's ending a specific feeling. Please wait for a prompt to play the song.]

"Heesoo, can we talk?" the familiar voice made you stiffen. "Sure," you replied, clenching your teeth and forcing an awkward smile.

"I wanted to apologize for how I behaved last week. I had no right to invade your privacy like that. I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"You didn't know, and it's natural for you to have questions," he frowned at your response.

"It's just that every time I see you, you always talk to someone who isn't there. You're always alone, and I don't understand why."

You let out a sharp sigh.

"I also saw you running down hallways, laughing to yourself, talking to the air, recording. All of it made me assume you've always had an eccentric personality."

You give him a puzzled look. "But you saw Minji before, didn't you?" he returned your gaze, bewildered. "I'm sorry. Minji?"

You let out a chuckle, appreciating his newfound sense of humor.

"You're kidding. Ha, that's very funny. You've had your fun. You can stop." You play along. "Erm... could you recap last week for me? Maybe I've forgotten something?"

You sense the thinly veiled skepticism.

At this point, it's clear he was utterly serious.

Glancing down at your cast, a wave of panic sets in. "Look at my cast. Do you notice anything unusual?"

"It looks normal to me. Why do you ask?"

"You don't see any writing? Not even a pink heart?"

He shakes his head firmly.

[Please play the song now and maybe enjoy? These are just brief flashbacks!]

"Was it all in my head?" you wonder silently.

Or did you say it out loud?