Forbidden Longings | Seulrene AU

Chapter XIV (✓)

Seulgi trudged through the front door, her shoulders slumped and expression sullen. The weight of the evening hung heavily on her, casting a shadow over her usual calm demeanor. Seungwan, Moonbyul, and Krystal looked up from their places in the living room, their gazes filled with concern as they watched Seulgi pass by without a word.

"So how did..", Moonbyul stopped after Seungwan nudged her waist in alarm and Krystal eyed the two with a look of disbelief.

A heavy silence settled in the room as Seulgi made her way towards the stairs, her footsteps echoing in the tense atmosphere. The trio exchanged glances, their worry palpable in the air as they hesitated to question Seulgi about how things had gone.

Each of them carried their own sense of guilt, knowing that they couldn't fully understand what Seulgi had been through. They wanted to offer comfort, to express their support, but the fear of stirring up painful emotions kept them silent.

As Seulgi disappeared from view, heading upstairs to her room, the room felt emptier, as if her presence had taken a vital part of their shared space with her. Seungwan bit her lip, aching to reach out to her but was unsure of how to refer to the situation without hurting her any more than she already was.

Moonbyul glanced at Krystal, their eyes mirroring the same mix of concern and helplessness. They both knew that Seulgi needed them now more than ever, but they also understood the importance of giving her the space she might require to process everything in her own time.

"I'm guessing it didn't end well then.", Moonbyul commented after to try and ease the tension.

"What did you expect? We practically forced her to compel Joohyun to forget. I don't blame her if she hates us now.", Seungwan responded with regret.

"I know that she views this as bad, but it's the best thing in our favor as of now. I can break the compulsion after and maybe then Joohyun will finally understand.", Krystal added and stood up.

"Where are you going?", Moonbyul asked.

"What does it look like? I'm going to figure out what the guys are planning. That's what we owe to Seulgi.", Krystal answered and they nodded.

"Let us know what you find.", Seungwan requested and the older nodded before speaking.

"Let me know how she does too."

===

The school day began like any other, with Seulgi, Seungwan, Moonbyul, and Krystal making their way through the bustling halls of their high school. Despite the facade of normalcy, an unspoken tension lingered among the group, a weight that none of them could shake off.

Seulgi walked a few steps ahead, her usual calm demeanor masking the turmoil swirling beneath the surface. But the trio exchanged worried glances, their concern growing with each passing moment. They knew that Seulgi had been through something significant, but her reluctance to talk about it left them feeling helpless.

As they reached their lockers, a hushed silence fell over the group. Seulgi's locker was right across from Seungwan's and Moonbyul's in the same hallway. But as they stood there, retrieving their books and belongings, a sudden realization dawned on them.