From Stage To Barracks

chapter 19

2018

The room was filled with a sense of serenity. Tzuyu and Chaeyoung had returned to the dorm after a week of intense schedules and promotions, but little did the other members know that a dark cloud hung over their minds.

As they went about their daily routine, Tzuyu suddenly let out a chilling scream, sending shivers down the spines of her fellow members. Nayeon and Sana rushed to her side, concern etched on their faces as they tried to comfort her and find out what had happened.

Tzuyu's eyes welled up with tears as she struggled to explain. However, Jeongyeon spotted her phone, which was displaying a gruesome image of a girl with bruised eyes and swollen lips. Her clothes were torn, and the sheer horror of the image left the members horrified.

It was a moment of collective terror as they witnessed the haunting picture. Jeongyeon managed to take the phone from Tzuyu to investigate further. The phone displayed a video, which showed a group of people cornering the girl in the picture. Her name was Soo-yun, the girl they had attempted to help a while back.

The video was a nightmare come to life. The gang relentlessly tormented Soo-yun. They called her unnatural and delivered harsh slaps and kicks, all while she cried out in pain. The cruelty of their words and actions was beyond comprehension.

Chaeyoung, in particular, felt a profound sense of guilt. She thought to herself, "I should have reported this. I should have done something." But her thoughts also spiraled into a deep and painful realization that even if she had reported it, the blame might have fallen on Soo-yun herself. "Could I have really made a difference?" she wondered.

As Chaeyoung quietly checked her own phone, she discovered the horrifying extent of the torment. Soo-yun had tried to stand her ground, asserting her own identity, but it only fueled the gang's aggression. They assaulted her, tore her clothes, and subjected her to unspeakable violence.

Chaeyoung, with a heavy heart, whispered to Tzuyu, "We should report this, but I fear for Soo-yun's safety now. We need to find a way to help her without putting her in more danger."

Tzuyu nodded, tears in her eyes, "You're right. We need to do something, but we have to be careful about it."

Jihyo: "Do you two know anything about this? Have you seen something you haven't told us?"

Silence fills the room as Tzuyu and Chaeyoung exchange a guilty glance

Jihyo: "Chou Tzuyu! Son Chaeyoung! Living room. Now."

Tzuyu and Chaeyoung hurriedly make their way to the living room. The other members follow, their expressions a mix of concern and disappointment.

Dahyun: "You kept this to yourselves? Do you know how serious this is?"

Momo: "We're supposed to be a team, and you both didn't trust us enough to share something this important?"

Nayeon: "This is not how we operate. We look out for each other."

Jeongyeon: "You put yourselves in danger, and by not telling us, you put us in the dark."

Mina: "I thought we were a family. This secrecy... it's not what we stand for."

Tzuyu and Chaeyoung exchange uneasy glances and hesitate before Tzuyu finally admits.

Tzuyu: "We... we didn't want to worry you, unnie."

Mina: "Why didn't you tell us about this? Do you realize how dangerous this could be?"

Dahyun: "You can't just go to school and deal with things like this on your own, especially if it's connected to your admirers."