untitled ; 2024

the loss

Hyun-jeong's day had been long, filled with intense filming for her latest drama. The director had just called it a wrap, and she was eager to get back to the dorm for some much-needed rest. As she gathered her things, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen and saw Hyuk-jae's name flashing. Without hesitation, she answered, expecting it to be about something trivial.

But the moment she heard Eunhyuk's voice, her heart dropped. His words were shaky, almost inaudible through his sobs. "Hyun-jeong-ah... Donghae's father... he's gone."

The world around her seemed to blur, her mind struggling to process the words. Gone? The weight of the news hit her like a tidal wave, and she felt her breath catch in her throat.

"Shit... shit... shit," she muttered under her breath, her voice trembling. Panic surged through her as she bolted toward the parking lot, her heart pounding in her chest. She fumbled with her keys, her hands shaking as she finally managed to unlock the car. She jumped into the passenger seat just as her manager, Young-joon, approached with a concerned expression.

"What's wrong?" Young-joon asked, noting her frantic state.

"Donghae oppa's father... he passed away," she choked out, her voice barely a whisper. "I need to get to the dorm."

Without another word, Young-joon nodded and quickly started the car. The drive to the dorm was a blur of rain-soaked streets and flashing city lights, all of which seemed distant and surreal to Hyun-jeong. Her thoughts raced, a whirlwind of worry for Donghae and the overwhelming urge to be there for him.

When they arrived at the dorm, Hyun-jeong barely waited for the car to stop before she jumped out, running through the rain toward the building. She burst through the door, drenched and breathless, her eyes immediately searching for Donghae. The air was thick with tension, the other members gathered in the living room, their faces etched with concern and sorrow.

Donghae was on the floor, his body shaking with sobs. The other members hovered around him, unsure of how to comfort him in his grief. Hyun-jeong's heart broke at the sight, and she quickly crossed the room, dropping to her knees beside him.

"Oppa..." she whispered, her voice soft and filled with compassion. He looked up at her, his tear-streaked face contorted with pain. Without hesitation, she pulled him into a tight embrace, holding him as he cried into her shoulder.

"I'm here," she whispered, her hand gently stroking his back. "I'll go with you to Mokpo to pay respect to your father. You're not alone."

Donghae clung to her, his sobs growing louder as he let out the grief that had been building inside him. Hyun-jeong held him close, her tears mixing with his as they shared in the sorrow of the moment. She knew there were no words that could truly comfort him, but she hoped that her presence would offer him some solace.

That early morning, after a sleepless night filled with quiet tears and whispered reassurances, Hyun-jeong cleared her schedule for the next few days. She called her manager, explaining the situation and asking him to handle the necessary cancellations.

"I need to be with him," she said firmly, her voice steady despite the exhaustion. "Please make sure everything is taken care of."

Young-joon, understanding the gravity of the situation, agreed without hesitation. He arranged for the car to be ready to drive them to Mokpo later that morning.

As they set out for Mokpo, the car ride was filled with a heavy silence. Donghae stared out the window, lost in his thoughts, while Hyun-jeong sat beside him, her hand resting on his arm in a gesture of quiet support. The journey felt long, the weight of what lay ahead pressing down on them both.