Salon Aespa

Farewell to the Salon

The final day at "Chic & Sleek" came with mixed emotions for the Aespa members. After a whirlwind week of hair disasters, viral fame, and unexpected romance, their time as salon stylists was drawing to a close. Minji had fully recovered and was on her way back to reclaim her salon, and while the girls were relieved, they couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.

The salon was quiet that morning, the buzz of clients and fans noticeably absent. For the first time all week, they had a chance to breathe, to reflect on everything that had happened. Karina sat on the edge of one of the styling chairs, watching Winter sweep up the last bits of hair from the floor.

"I can't believe it's over," Karina said, her voice soft.

Winter glanced up, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah. It feels weird. Like we've been here forever."

Karina chuckled. "You mean you're going to miss cutting people's hair?"

Winter grinned, shaking her head. "I think I'll miss some parts of it. Definitely not the hair disasters."

Karina stood up, walking over to where Winter was standing. She nudged her playfully. "I'm proud of you, you know? You've gotten really good at this."

Winter's cheeks flushed, and she leaned on the broom, smirking. "You're just saying that because you like me."

Karina smiled, her heart skipping a beat. "Maybe."

The two of them stood there for a moment, the playful teasing fading into something more as they shared a quiet, knowing look. So much had changed between them in such a short time. What had started as friendly banter had deepened into something neither of them had expected but both were now completely certain of.

Before either of them could say anything else, Ningning and Giselle burst through the door, laughing and joking as they carried in a box of cleaning supplies.

"We got the last of it!" Ningning announced, dropping the box on the counter. She wiped her brow dramatically. "Who knew running a salon could be so much work?"

Giselle chuckled, leaning against the counter. "I don't think I'll ever look at a pair of scissors the same way again."

Ningning shot her a mischievous grin. "You'll still trust me to cut your hair, right?"

Giselle smirked, crossing her arms. "Maybe, but only if you don't dye it neon green."

The girls all laughed, the easy camaraderie between them filling the space. There was a lightness in the air, a sense of accomplishment that went beyond just surviving the week. They had grown closer, not just as bandmates, but as friends—and something more.

As they finished cleaning up the salon, Minji arrived, looking healthier and more vibrant than she had all week. She stepped inside, immediately noticing the spotless floors and organized stations.

"Wow, you guys really pulled it together," Minji said, her eyes scanning the space. "I was half-expecting to come back to a disaster zone."

Karina smiled. "It was a little touch-and-go for a while, but we managed."

Minji laughed, pulling them all into a group hug. "Thank you, seriously. I owe you all big time."

"You can pay us in free haircuts," Winter joked.

"Uh, no thanks," Giselle chimed in. "I'm good with letting professionals handle my hair from now on."

Ningning pouted, nudging Giselle. "Hey, I thought we were pros by now!"

Minji shook her head, still smiling. "Well, professional or not, you kept my business running, and I can't thank you enough."

As the group stood in the middle of the salon, laughing and reminiscing about the week's many mishaps, the door opened, and a few fans trickled in, their faces lighting up when they saw the girls.

"Oh my god, it's Aespa!" one of them squealed. "Can we take a picture with you guys?"

The girls exchanged amused glances, but Karina, ever the leader, nodded with a grin. "Of course!"

After taking a few pictures and chatting with the fans, they said their final goodbyes to the salon. It felt strange, leaving behind the place where so many unexpected things had happened. They had gone from complete hairdressing disasters to something that almost resembled professionals—and somewhere along the way, they had all found something deeper within themselves and each other.

As they stepped out into the bright afternoon sun, Karina turned to the group. "So, what now?"

Winter, standing beside her, grinned. "Well, you owe me dinner."

Karina laughed, shaking her head. "I thought we settled that."

Ningning and Giselle exchanged a look, the mischievous glint in their eyes unmistakable.

"Actually," Ningning began, "Giselle owes me dinner."

Giselle smiled, leaning into Ningning's shoulder. "Yeah, and I'm planning something special."

Winter raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what did we miss?"

Giselle shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, just a little bet we made. Let's just say Ningning has a way of winning things."

Ningning grinned proudly, clearly pleased with herself.

Karina smiled, watching the playful interaction between the two of them. It wasn't hard to see how much had changed between all of them. "So, double date?"

Giselle and Ningning both smirked, and Winter laughed, shaking her head. "I guess so."

The four of them walked down the street, the bustling city around them buzzing with life. It was hard to believe how much had happened in just one week, but as they glanced at each other—laughing, teasing, and sharing knowing smiles—it was clear that this was just the beginning.

Later that night, after dinner, Karina and Winter found themselves alone, walking through the quiet streets of Seoul. The city lights reflected off the river, casting a warm glow over everything.

Winter, her hand brushing against Karina's, glanced up at her. "This week has been kind of... amazing."

Karina nodded, her heart full. "Yeah, it has."

They stopped walking, standing side by side on the bridge overlooking the water. Winter looked up at Karina, her eyes soft. "I'm glad we're here. Together."

Karina smiled, reaching out to gently take Winter's hand in hers. "Me too."

For a moment, everything else faded away—the craziness of the week, the stress, the viral fame. It was just the two of them, standing together, the city alive around them but feeling completely still.

Winter leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "So, what happens next?"

Karina squeezed her hand, her smile soft. "Whatever we want."

As the night air wrapped around them, Karina leaned in, and Winter met her halfway. Their kiss was soft, tender, filled with all the unspoken things they had been feeling all week. It was a quiet promise, a beginning, and as they pulled apart, both of them knew they had found something worth holding onto.

Back at the restaurant, Ningning and Giselle were sitting side by side, laughing over dessert.

"I think we did pretty good this week," Ningning said, taking a bite of her cake.

Giselle grinned, leaning in closer. "Yeah, but I think the best part is still to come."

Ningning raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Giselle smiled, her eyes softening. "Yeah. Us."

Ningning's heart skipped a beat, and she smiled back, her hand resting on Giselle's. "Yeah. Us."

And just like that, the whirlwind week at "Chic & Sleek" came to a close. But for Aespa, this was only the beginning—of new adventures, new love, and a new chapter in their story, one filled with laughter, chaos, and all the unexpected things that made life worth living.