Generations Expectation's | 8th member of BTS

53

Ae Cha's POV

The next morning, Kyong and I woke up early. I let her borrow some of my clothes, and we headed out. I took her to a café within walking distance from the dorm, somewhere we could slip into without anyone noticing. I hadn't explained why I was rushing her out so early, but I figured she could piece it together. Kyong was a smart girl—she knew I wanted to keep this under wraps from the guys, at least until she had a clear game plan.

We both wore black baseball caps and face masks, just in case. Though my fame with BTS had been rising steadily, it was nothing compared to Kyong and her group 90210. She wasn't in any state to be recognized, and I didn't want to imagine the scandal if anyone caught her looking like this. Once we got to the café, I ordered an iced coffee while she opted for a steaming mocha. We found a table tucked away in the corner, secluded enough for our conversation to feel private despite the lively buzz of Saturday morning chatter filling the place. Teens, families, and groups of friends filled the tables, their voices blending together to create a comforting backdrop of everyday life.

As we sat, I glanced at her, noticing the subtle way she kept her gaze low and her shoulders tense. This café, this morning—it felt like a small, fragile haven, but I knew it wouldn't be enough to fix everything. Once we settled in, I didn't hesitate.

"Kyong, we need to talk about what's next. What the heck we are going to do." I said gently, keeping my voice low. "I'm here for you, whatever you need, but we have to start thinking of an out for you girl."
She peeked her mask down her lips slightly, as if on guard to pull it up in any instance, and sipped her mocha, her eyes meeting mine for a brief, almost guarded moment before she nodded. "I know." she replied softly. "I don't want to go back, Ae Cha. I can't."

As Kyong sipped her mocha, her eyes drifted to the window, her expression solemn. I leaned forward, deciding to press a little.

"So, what do you want to do?" I asked, keeping my voice gentle. "If you really don't want to go back, we need a plan. Somewhere you can feel safe and take a real break. You deserve that much."

She glanced at me, her gaze flickering with a mixture of sadness and relief, the bruising on her cheeks looking deeper in the morning light. "I don't know... I feel so trapped. Like no matter what I choose, it's already decided." She took another sip, her hand trembling slightly. "I'm afraid of what will happen if I leave, but I'm just as afraid of what'll happen if I stay."

I nodded, understanding the weight of what she was saying. "Maybe-" I suggested carefully, "you don't have to make a permanent decision right now. Just... take some time for yourself. A few days away from everything, maybe longer if you need it."

She looked at me, the faintest hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I miss this." she said, her voice soft, changing the subject. "Talking to someone who actually cares."

A wave of nostalgia and a touch of pity washed over me. I remembered the last time Kyong showed up, bruised and broken from her group, and how the boys and I promised to help her through it. But after that, she shut me out completely, acting as if I was nothing more than a stranger. She ignored me every day, as if all the times I'd caught her when she fell meant nothing.

I'd told myself then that I was done. I wouldn't keep catching her just for her to walk away again. She'd made that choice long ago, and we hadn't been close or even friendly since. Yet here I was, across the table from her, helping her once more.
"I miss it too." I admitted. "It feels like everything has changed so much and life keeps getting faster and faster. "

Kyong nodded, a wistful smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "We used to talk every day." she said. "About everything, our dreams, what we wanted for ourselves. Remember those late nights when we used to work at the mart? Just goofing around?"