The whole day quickly passed as all the New Jeans members practice their new choreography for their upcoming comeback, but even with that much time, Haerin and Hyein didn't talk to each other, not even once for the whole day. Minji, Hanni and Danielle noticed this unusual atmosphere between their two maknaes that's why they're thinking of talking to the two of them separately.
After all of them left the practice room, Haerin and Hyein went opposite paths with each other, making their unnie's theory true.
"Their room's that way right?" Minji pointed at the room on their right side, where Haerin's headed to.
"It's true then, they must've argued about something" said Hanni while munching on her snack.
Danielle looked at her with an annoyed face, "Can you please swallow your food first before talking, Hanni?"
"Wait, you drop honorifics with Hanni?" asked Minji.
"Yes, I've been doing it upon Hanni's request" replied Danielle.
"Why? Would you like me to call you Minji?"
"N-O, No!" Minji disapproved, even though honorifics are nothing with Hanni, it matters with Minji due to personal reasons.
"Alright, I get it"
*cough* *cough* "Water please" Hanni requested after choking on her food.
"Tsk tsk" exclaimed Minji while opening the bottle of water which she just drank on earlier, "Here" she handed the bottle, "Your face is turning red already, I don't want you to die from choking on food, that'll be embarrassing"
"Thanks Minji" said Hanni before quickly running towards her room.
"Jeez" Minji shrugged her shoulders before going to Haerin's room, while Danielle followed Hyein.
"Hyeiiiinnn" Danielle called before back hugging her, "You're not talking with Haerin the whole day, is there something going on with you two? Did you guys fight?"
At that instant, Hyein turned to face Danielle with tears forming at the corner of her eyes, "Unnie, I think Haerin-unnie's mad at me"
"Don't worry Hyein, I'm sure that Haerin didn't mean it every time she says something hurtful" said Danielle with her soft voice while gently caressing the latter's back. "Let's talk at my room, shall we? I'll listen to you" she offered which was instantly accepted by Hyein, who started following her afterwards.
"Haerin?" Minji called while knocking at the door, "Haerin, it's Minji-unnie" after introducing herself, the door immediately opened, with Haerin gesturing her to come inside.
"Is there a problem with you and Hyein? You guys didn't talk to each other for the whole day and we find it unusual, it's not like I'm butting in your personal life but as the oldest here, I think I have the responsibility to keep this group together and help if there's a misunderstanding"
Haerin took a deep breath before speaking, she looked hesitant at first but later on gave her trust on the older one. "You see, Hyein and I are really close to each other, ever since our trainee days, we're like, inseparable"
"We've been roommates for years too and I made it clear to her even before that I don't like it when someone's sleeping beside me, it..... reminds me of my," Haerin paused to wipe her nose on her sleeve "it reminds of how my mother tried killing me when I was a kid"
"Kill? How can a mother do it with her child? Just how?" Minji thought, but no matter how many questions were formed inside her head, she never attempted to ask those to Haerin but instead, she continued to listen to the latter attentively while nodding on almost every word that Haerin's saying. Even though she can't understand how the younger feels, Minji wants to let her know that she has someone on her side other than Hyein.
"I'm.... sorry..... Minji-unnie, I just can't... make myself say it without......"
Haerin's words broke up and all she could say were stuttering sounds. Hot tears streamed down her face, while she squeezed her eyelids shut in the hope that her tears would stop. Her choppy breathing and watery eyes remained for quite some time, and she sat there unmoving, covering her small face with her hands as she sobs quietly.
Minji on the other hand, doesn't know what to do seeing Haerin like that for the first time, she suddenly looked so small and fragile, but all Minji could do as a person who's not used with expressing affection was to sit beside her, shoulder to shoulder and cup Haerin's cheek while rubbing it gently using her thumb.
"I...." Minji paused, thinking of what she can say to comfort the latter. "don't know what to say, I'm sorry"
Minji bit her lip, "How can you be so dumb Kim Minji, you want to be responsible with the members yet you can't even show them that you care nor comfort them when they're tearing up?" she told herself, clenching her fists as she felt guilty that she can't even do anything for Haerin.
Haerin smiled at Minji, "It's alright unnie, I know that you really care about me" and then she wiped her eyes using the handkerchief Minji's holding. "I'm alright now, all thanks to you being there to listen to me"
"But," Minji looked down "I can't even say anything"
Haerin shakes her head while smiling at her, "It's not that, even if you can't fully express it, I can feel your affection and care just by your simple gestures, I guess I'm born with a cat's instinct" she even made a light joke to cheer Minji up.
"Jeez, here you are cheering me up when I'm the one who's supposed to do that to you" Minji laughed.
"So, what do you plan to do with Hyein, she's been sulking like a little kid when she walked to the opposite direction of yours earlier"
"It's because she's indeed a kid, but if I got the chance, I would like to apologize to her, because even though I have a reason to be mad, she doesn't have any idea on why I suddenly acted like that. She's probably confused right now too"
Hearing her say that made Minji smile, she never thought that a young girl like Haerin can think like that, it seems like she's talking with a person who's older than her. "Well, I guess my role here is done, I'll leave your room then" said Minji as she taps Haerin's shoulder one last time.
"Minji-unnie," Haerin grabbed the older's hand. "I never told this to anyone, so.... please keep this a secret"
Minji nodded before giving Haerin a bright smile. "Don't worry" she said before leaving her room, closing the door as gently as she can.
"Minji-unnie?" exclaimed Hyein after she saw Minji coming out of their room.
"There you are Hyein, hello" Minji smiled.
Meanwhile, Hyein's just staring at Minji as if she's suspecting her. "What did you two do inside?"
"What do you mean?" asked Minji.
Hyein averted her eyes from her. "N-nothing" she said.
"Why don't you guys talk it out? Before the day ends" Minji suggested, stepping aside afterwards so that the latter could clearly see the door.
After walking at the hallways for some time, Minji happened to come across Danielle. "How's it going with Hyein?" asked Minji.
Danielle shooked her head. "She won't listen"
"How about Haerin, what did you two talk about?"
"She completely broke down while we're talking to each other, but later on calmed down. They're probably having a heart to heart talk right now"
"I bet you a thousand dollars that they'll be nagging each other again tomorrow" said Danielle
"How about No?"
