aespa imagines

winter | priority

genre ; angst, fluff!
notes ; enjoy!

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as you arrive home late at night, the dimly lit house greets you with a quiet ambiance. the soft hum of the refrigerator and the faint ticking of a clock on the wall serve as the only audible companions in the silent abode. the entrance hallway is adorned with scattered shoes and a jacket carelessly thrown over a chair, a testament to the haste with which you had left for work earlier that day.

as you make your way into the kitchen, your tired eyes land upon a sight that instantly tugs at your heartstrings. your girlfriend, winter, lies slumbering on the kitchen counter, her head resting on her folded arms. a small, half-empty plate of cooked food sits beside her, evidence of her efforts to prepare a meal for you. concern mixes with relief as you gently shake her shoulder to rouse her from her sleep.

"minjeong-ah," you whisper softly, trying not to startle her. "hey love, it's me. i'm home."

her eyes flutter open, and confusion quickly gives way to annoyance as she realizes the late hour and the fact that you've only just returned. her expression twists into a mixture of frustration and hurt, her brows furrowing and her lips pressing together tightly.

"what time is it?" she frowned, once she realizes what time it was. "why are you always late, y/n?" winter's voice carries a hint of bitterness, as if the words have been rehearsed in her mind countless times before.

"i'm sorry, i had work. my boss—"

"it's always work, work, work. the same bullshit over and over again"

the harsh tone startled you, you feel a pang of guilt tighten in your chest, realizing the strain your work schedule has placed on your relationship.

"i'm sorry, minjeong. but you know how demanding my job can be. i never meant to make you feel neglected" you responded trying to diffuse the tension.

she scoffs, her voice tinged with frustration. "sorry doesn't cut it anymore, y/n. i need more than just empty words. i need you to show me that i matter to you. make me your priority"

"but i'm doing all of this for us minjeong" you plead, your voice tinged with desperation. "i want to provide for our future. i want to give you the life we've always dreamed of. gosh.."

the room feels heavy with unspoken emotions as the argument escalates. the fatigue and stress of the day have fueled your own frustration, leading to a battle of words between you both. voice rise and emotions intensify.

her eyes well up with tears, her voice breaking as she replies, "what good is a future if we're miserable in the present? i need you here with me, y/n! i need your presence, your support. practices have been so hard nowadays and when i come home in hopes of talking to you, you're always not here for me!" tears poured down her cheeks, as a feeling of guilt grows bigger.

as emotions run high, winter's voice quivers with a mixture of pain and frustration. "i can't help but feel like I'm an afterthought in your life, y/n," she says, her words cutting through the air like a sharp blade. her eyes well up with tears, but she stands her ground, her voice determined.

taken aback by her statement, you feel a surge of offense rise within you. "what? how can you say that?!" you retort, your voice filled with a mixture of hurt and indignation. "you know how much you mean to me, minjeong. i've always tried to show you how important you are in my life and now you're dismissing my feelings and efforts for you?"

her expression hardens, her anger fueling her words. "feelings and efforts? what good are they if they only come second to your work? i've been waiting for you night after night, feeling like a stranger in our own home. it's not just about the grand gestures, y/n. it's about the everyday moments that show me i matter to you!"