The sun hovered just above the horizon, painting the sky with various shades of pink, orange, and a soft lilac tone. Gentle waves lapped at the shore as the group of five sat around in a loose circle on foldable chairs, their toes swallowed up by the cool sand beneath them.
After a long day of playful antics, the atmosphere seemed to have shifted to one of calm and reflection. Laughter occasionally rang out through conversation, as they reminisced about the day they'd had and shared inside jokes.
"I can't believe we managed to make it through the whole day without arguing about something," Soyeon said with a playful grin. "We should make beach trips a regular thing."
The youngest giggled, her hand dipped into a half eaten bag of Doritos. "Only if you promise not to drag me into the water next time!". Her eyes were directed accusingly towards Yuqi, who replied simply with an unapologetic chuckle.
"It was either that or letting you roast on the sand like a lobster. Plus it was only up to your knees! You should really be thanking me."
After releasing a relaxed sigh, Miyeon took in the ocean's salty aroma, completely beguiled by the euphoric skyline in her field-of-view. "This is perfect... just us, the ocean, and no schedule tomorrow."
With the sound of crashing waves and childish laughter filling the space between them, the universe beyond the beach felt completely irrelevant for the time being.
At least for four of the members.
A gentle breeze swept through Minnie's hair as she found herself chuckling at her members' childish behaviour. Whilst the Thai sunk deeper into her chair, she took in the serene view of the setting sun, the horizon glowing in soft hues of the most gorgeous pastels.
Miyeon was right, this moment was perfect. Yet, the perfection of it all stirred something sentimental in Minnie's heart. Something she couldn't keep to herself any longer.
These girls were more than just friends to Minnie—they were her family.
But with their contract nearing its end and discussions about renewal looming, uncertainty couldn't help but creep in, making her wonder what the future had in store for them.
Her voice, filled with both hope and a quiet sense of defeat, broke through the laughter with a meaningful question.
"Do you guys... think we'll always stay close?"
The laughter from the group instantly dimmed as Minnie's words settled in the air.
Composed as usual, Soyeon looked down at the sand, her expression softening as she sensed the emotion behind Minnie's question.
Being the first to respond, Miyeon broke the sudden tense atmosphere, her voice calm and thoughtful. "Of course we will, Minnie. I don't think anything could break what we have."
She offered Minnie a gentle smile, trying to ease her worry, but a flicker of uncertainty existed in her eyes too, reflecting the unspoken concern that weighed on everyone.
Shuhua exhaled a soft sigh, sitting up straighter in her chair. "Even if things change, I think we'll always be family. You can't just forget people who mean this much to you."
Her tone was sincere, and though she tried to sound like her usual self, there was a hint of vulnerability in her voice also.
Yuqi swiftly rose to her feet, brushing off her sandy legs and scolding the older woman lightly, her voice a mixture of teasing and seriousness. "Yah, Minnie Unnie! Why are you thinking like that? We've been through so much together. Promoting as a group or not, we're still sisters."
