Syncing Dream [Aespa x M!Reader]

18. Dying Star

The tension in the dorm had become almost unbearable. Y/n had hardly spoken to any of the members since the argument with Karina. The usual banter, the laughter, the inside jokes—it was all gone, replaced by an awkward silence that no one quite knew how to break. Y/n's footsteps were heavier than usual, and every time Karina walked into the room, he'd either retreat to his room or disappear into his phone, avoiding eye contact.

The comeback was looming closer, and with it, the pressure continued to build. They had rehearsals, interviews, photoshoots, and it seemed like the only person struggling to hold it all together was Y/n. But that wasn't the worst of it. The group could feel the strain growing in his absence—like a shadow looming over everything they did.

Giselle had always been the level-headed one. She noticed things that others might miss, and over the last few days, she had picked up on the subtle shifts in both Y/n and Karina. They were both hurting, but neither one of them was ready to admit it. Something needed to change, and fast.

One afternoon, while the group was lounging around the dorm between schedules, Giselle decided to step in. The air was thick with unspoken tension, and everyone knew Y/n was on edge. But Giselle had a plan—kind of.

"Hey, Y/n," she called out, standing in the doorway of his room. He was lying on his bed, scrolling through his phone, pretending not to hear her.

"Y/n," she said again, a little louder this time, walking inside without waiting for an invitation.

Y/n finally looked up, forcing a tired smile. "What's up?"

Giselle crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. "We need to talk."

He groaned inwardly, already bracing himself for another uncomfortable conversation. "About what?"

"About you. And Jimin-unnie. And, you know... everything."

Y/n sat up, rubbing his temples. "Aeri, I really don't have the energy for this right now."

"I know," she said softly, her voice unusually gentle. "But that's exactly why we need to talk. Look, I get that this comeback is a lot. We all do. But you and Rina-unnie... it's like walking on eggshells around you two. You're avoiding each other, and it's making everything harder."

Y/n frowned, his hands clenching into fists. "I'm not avoiding her."

Giselle raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? You've barely spoken to her since that argument. It's okay to admit you're both stressed out, but you need to talk to each other, not just... avoid the issue."

Y/n sighed, leaning back against the wall. "I tried talking to her, Aeri. It just... blew up."

Giselle took a deep breath, trying to remain patient. "Okay, but maybe you need to try again. And this time, with a little less... I don't know, explosion? Just don't be like Bakugou"

Y/n couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at that. "Yeah, easier said than done."

Giselle smiled, feeling like she was finally getting through to him. "Look, I'm not saying it'll be easy. But if you two don't fix this, it's only going to get worse. We're a team, and right now, our team's falling apart. And you know who feels it the most? You."

Just as Giselle was about to delve deeper, Winter popped her head into the room, clearly having eavesdropped on part of the conversation. "Are you guys having a secret therapy session without me?"

Y/n groaned, but Giselle shot Winter a look. "Not now, Minjeong."

But Winter, being Winter, ignored the look and walked into the room anyway, plopping down on the edge of Y/n's bed. "Come on, Y/n, don't be all serious and moody. Where's the idiot who didn't stress out over every little thing. Remember when we used to just vibe and chill? Lighten it up."