Behind the signals | TripleS

#12

As the girls living in the Modu Haus entered the dorm, Seoyeon could hear their lively chatter filtering through the walls of her room. The sound of Soomin's laughter mixed with Dahyun's warm voice and Xinyu's gentle teasing filled the hallway, creating a comforting backdrop. Seoyeon laid in her bed, surrounded by the familiar decorations of her space, a string of fairy lights twinkling softly, polaroid's of the other members pinned up on a bulletin board, and a cozy blanket wrapped around her.

She stared at the ceiling, her mind raced as she debated on how to apologize to Chaeyeon. What if she didn't want to hear it? What if it only made things worse? The memory of their earlier fight played out like a movie in her head, a messy montage of raised voices and hurtful words. Frustration had boiled over, and she'd lashed out at Chaeyeon in a way she never intended, leaving a lingering ache in her chest.

Seoyeon winced as she recalled the hurt in Chaeyeon's eyes when she had said those awful things. The guilt was a heavy weight pressing down on her. She couldn't shake the feeling that she'd hurt someone she truly cared about, and the thought of losing her friendship was terrifying.

Her mind raced through the possible scenarios. What if she approached Chaeyeon and things went badly? What if her apology was met with indifference or, worse, more anger? Seoyeon squeezed her eyes shut, trying to will away the fear. She pulled the soft blanket up to her chin, seeking comfort, it did little to ease her anxiety.

When would be the right time? Seoyeon rolled over, grabbing her phone to check the time. She stared at her phone for a moment before she sighed, debating whether to join the others or wait until the coast was clear.

She pulled the blanket tighter around her, letting the moments of silence stretch out. But the idea of her friends laughing without her soon became unbearable. After what felt like an eternity of self-doubt with a quick inhale, she sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. No more hiding, she had to face this regardless of the outcome. She took a deep breath and rose to her feet, determination settling in her stomach. She walked softly towards her bedroom door.

As she opened her bedroom door, the noise from the hallway grew louder, filled with the camaraderie of her friends. She could hear Xinyu's animated retelling of a funny story, punctuated by bursts of laughter. With each step toward the gathering room, she felt a mix of anxiety and determination. It's now or never she thought.

Stepping into the common area, she was met with the warmth of the girls' smiles as they turned to her. "Hey, you! We were just talking about you!" Xinyu exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Yeah, we thought you might want to join us!" Nien added, her tone inviting. Soomin gave her a reassuring nod, encouraging her to feel at ease.

Seoyeon took a deep breath, her heart racing.  "I'm really sorry about earlier girls. Also is Chaeyeon in her dorm?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Everybody's eyes turned to Jiwoo as if they were waiting for an answer from her, Seoyeon felt the weight of the moment hang in the air. Would this be the apology that finally cleared the tension between them?

Jiwoo looked up at Seoyeon who was standing nervously, fiddling with her hands as she avoided eye contact. "yeah she is, you should go talk with her" she replied letting out a light smile. Seoyeon felt the reassurance in Jiwoo's voice which gave her more courage to go apologize.

"Okay, I will" Seoyeon murmured, and her determination solidified. Stepping away from the warmth of the group felt like stepping into a cold breeze, but she knew she had to face the consequences of her earlier words.

Seoyeon walked towards the front door, hesitating to open it, still nervous. What if Chaeyeon really didn't wanna hear it? she thought. Taking a deep breath she walked out the dorm and headed towards the Mod Forest Haus.