From Stage To Barracks

chapter 18

On that hazy Sunday morning, when the sun struggled to penetrate the curtains and the room was filled with a symphony of groans, it was clear that the youngest members were nursing the aftermath of a fun-filled night. The night had brought with it massive headaches for most, but for one member, it was more than just a pounding head; it was heartache.

Tzuyu, with a sigh, dragged herself out of bed. She knew that the looming deadlines for their assignments wouldn't wait for her to recover from the festivities. As her eyes landed on her gloomy roommate, Chaeyoung, she realized that they were in this together.

"Chaeyoung-ah," Tzuyu said with a mixture of sympathy and determination, "we've got those assignments to tackle. It's not going to be a pleasant morning, but it's better to get it done now so we can enjoy the day later."

Chaeyoung, who looked like she'd rather be anywhere else but at her desk, grumbled but knew that Tzuyu was right. They were teammates in the assignment, after all. Reluctantly, she joined Tzuyu at the desk, and they began the arduous task of tackling their assessments.

As the hours passed, with each keystroke on their laptops and every sip of water to quell their headaches, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu managed to make progress. While the throbbing pain in their heads wasn't helping, their shared determination and teamwork were.

The time flew by, and finally, they submitted their assignments with a sigh of relief. Tzuyu looked at Chaeyoung and couldn't help but smile. "We did it, Chaeyoung. Now we can rest and enjoy the day without the weight of those assignments on our minds."

Chaeyoung, her gloomy expression transforming into a grateful one, nodded. "Thank you, Tzuyu. I don't know what I'd do without you. Let's enjoy the day to the fullest."

As they pushed aside their papers and got ready to head out into the bright Sunday, they knew they'd have a well-deserved day of fun and relaxation ahead of them.

Amid their busy schedules and the constant back-and-forth between school and their shooting commitments, Tzuyu and Chaeyoung had it tough. The early mornings, late nights, and seemingly endless hours of shooting made the school days unbearably painful. Mina, who was often awake before them, would dutifully wake the youngest members, knowing all too well the pain they were going through.

As they were driven to school by their manager, the exhaustion was etched on their faces. It was a grueling routine, but they pushed through.

On one particular school day, as they reached their lockers to retrieve their notebooks, Tzuyu noticed something unusual in hers. It was a letter, a love letter, which, under normal circumstances, might have been sweet. But as she read on, the tone began to shift from sweet to creepy, especially when she discovered that there were sneaked photos of her enclosed.

Unnerved by the content, Chaeyoung decided to handle the situation herself, taking the letter from Tzuyu's trembling hands. They proceeded to their classroom, where they greeted some of their classmates – more than acquaintances but not quite close friends. Due to their demanding schedules, they had limited time to bond, but they cherished the friendships they were building.

As the class began, they diligently submitted their assignments and received their graded papers, acknowledging the relief of having completed their schoolwork. Lunchtime arrived, and Tzuyu mingled with her friends, engaging in animated conversations. Chaeyoung, however, noticed the stark contrast from their school life with Dahyun's presence during lunch.

While Tzuyu was occupied with her friends, Chaeyoung couldn't shake off her curiosity about the mysterious love letter. As Tzuyu chatted with her friends, Chaeyoung discreetly decided to investigate the situation further. She slipped out and quietly headed to Tzuyu's locker, checking for any clues. The letters had become a source of concern, and Chaeyoung wanted to protect her friend.