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I ٠ ࣪⭑ the space between us
♪ now playing ٠ ࣪⭑ SIENNA - the marías ──────────────•─ 3:24 ↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ -0:20
❝ see her face in the forest then it disappears ❞
AERA opened her eyes to the familiar sound of giggling, her cousin and best friend's voices echoing through their posh dorm.
What was so funny, you wonder? They overheard Aera mumbling something about strawberries in her sleep, and it caught them so off guard that they couldn't help but burst into laughter. The idea of waking her didn't faze them; after all, it was eight in the morning–plenty late for her to be up, in their opinion.
Unlike Aera, her cousin Hana and best friend Mina had adapted to the demanding schedule of their program. With Korea's reputation for high-achieving students, their schedule was relentless: up at six, sixteen hours of school, three hours of performing arts training afterwards, then home to eat, study, shower, and sleep before doing it all again. The light at the end of the tunnel? They only had to endure this grind for one more month before heading back to Royal Woods.
It was a relief that it was a Saturday. If it had been a school day, Aera would've been in serious trouble.
Aera mustered the strength to rise from her bed and made her way to the bathroom.
"The sleeping beauty has finally emerged from her slumber," Mina teased, prompting a snicker from Hana. Still half-asleep, Aera shot the girls a disgruntled look as she adjusted her sweatpants, and began her morning routine with a series of groans and stretches.
The girl was replaying exam answers in her mind, knowing that her grade hung in the balance. She was clearly making a concerted effort.
Her thoughts began to drift back to Royal Woods, specifically to a certain someone who had been on her mind. It wasn't a dramatic breakup or anything, but rather a quiet yearning for someone who had grown distant. She pushed aside memories of Royal Woods and the special person, prioritizing her academic pursuits as a way to fill the void.
She breathes out a quiet sigh, her voice barely audible as she whispers, "Lynn."
"AGAIN!" the dance instructor commands for the fifth time. The girls had to perfect their steps and vocals for their big performance, covering 4 Walls by f(x). The girls, gasping for air, fanned themselves with their hands, their faces flushed from exertion. With only three of them performing–Aera, Hana, and Mina–the spotlight was intense, and any mistakes would be glaringly obvious.
