Wishlist [txtzy#1]

Wishlist-28(return)

Chaeryeong sat cross-legged on the floor of her room, the faint hum of the air conditioner the only sound accompanying her thoughts. The moonlight streamed through her curtains, casting silvery patterns across her walls. Her phone sat in her lap, the screen illuminating her tear-streaked face as she scrolled through her old Instagram posts.

The comments blurred together, a mixture of love, hope, and concern.

"We'll wait for you, Chaeryeong."
"Take your time, but please know we miss you."
"Itzy isn't the same without you."
"We love you, no matter what."

She sniffled, wiping at her face with the sleeve of her sweatshirt, but the tears kept falling. The kindness and unwavering support from her fans were overwhelming, each comment a reminder of the life she had left behind—the stage, the music, her members, her fans.

For months, she had convinced herself that staying away was the right choice. That she needed to heal, to figure out who she was without the pressures of being an idol. But now, sitting in the quiet solitude of her room, she realized how much she missed it.

She missed the adrenaline of performing, the camaraderie with her members, the laughter during late-night rehearsals, and the joy of seeing her fans' faces light up at concerts. It had been hard, yes, but it had also been beautiful.

Maybe going back wouldn't fix everything. Maybe it wouldn't fill the aching void in her heart or erase the pain of her past. But it would give her something to hold onto again.

Chaeryeong stared at the message thread with her company's PD-nim, her thumb hesitating over the keyboard.

Her mind wandered to a fleeting thought: Would Taehyun hear the news? The idea sent a wave of anxiety through her chest, but she quickly shoved it aside. This wasn't about him. This was about her.

Finally, she typed the words that had been lingering in her mind for weeks.

Chaeryeong: PD-nim, I'm ready to come out of my hiatus.

Seoul, a Few Days Later

The news broke like wildfire.

Every entertainment site and social media platform lit up with headlines:

"Lee Chaeryeong of ITZY Announces Her Return After Seven-Month Hiatus."
"Fans Celebrate as ITZY's Main Dancer Prepares for a Comeback."
"Concern Grows Over Chaeryeong's Health as She Returns Looking Paler and Thinner."

In the TXT dorm, the members lounged in the living room, the TV playing the evening entertainment news in the background. Beomgyu was sprawled across the couch, lazily scrolling through his phone, while Huening Kai munched on snacks.

When Chaeryeong's name came up on the screen, Taehyun froze.

The anchor's voice echoed through the room: "Lee Chaeryeong, who has been on hiatus for seven months, has officially announced her return to the industry. Fans are thrilled but concerned as she seems noticeably thinner and paler. Many wonder what happened during her time away."

Taehyun's gaze snapped to the screen. The footage showed her arriving at the airport, flanked by her team. She was wearing a mask, but her eyes—once bright and full of life—looked tired. She walked quickly, avoiding the cameras, her shoulders hunched as though bracing herself against the world.

"She's back?" Beomgyu asked, sitting up.

"Yeah," Soobin murmured, his tone unreadable.

The room grew quiet as they watched the clips of Chaeryeong flash by—old concert footage, fan-edited montages, and her recent airport appearance.

"She doesn't look good," Yeonjun finally said, breaking the silence.

Huening Kai nodded. "She looks... different."

Taehyun didn't say a word, his jaw tightening. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the screen, every detail of her appearance stabbing at him like a needle. He remembered her as she was before—radiant, confident, her laughter lighting up every room she entered.

The girl on the screen looked like a shadow of that person.

His mind raced with questions. What had happened to her during those seven months? Why had she stayed away so long? And why did seeing her like this hurt so much?

"She's strong," Soobin said quietly, glancing at Taehyun. "She'll be fine."

Taehyun didn't reply. He simply stood and walked to his room, shutting the door behind him.

Later That Night

Taehyun sat on the edge of his bed, scrolling through his phone. He searched for Chaeryeong's name, finding countless articles and fan posts about her return. One video caught his attention—a fan compilation of Chaeryeong's past performances paired with clips from her recent airport appearance.

The caption read: "Welcome back, Chaeryeong. We've missed you so much."

He pressed play, his chest tightening as her familiar smile filled the screen. The video transitioned to the present day, showing her avoiding the cameras at the airport. The difference was stark, almost jarring.

Taehyun set his phone down, his head in his hands. He thought about the girl he had once known so well, the girl he had loved from a distance even when he couldn't be with her.

Now, she was back in Seoul, but the distance between them felt greater than ever.