Home; I Found With You // Ryeji FF

home isn't just a place.

Fuming. Seulgi could feel her blood boiling. The amount of fuel she'd wasted just to drive out and "rescue" the girls, only to find them perfectly fine, was infuriating.

"Look at them, they're speeding," she muttered to herself, glaring at the Camaro ahead as she followed closely behind.

They'd finished a quick supply run, managing to scrounge up some bare necessities that would barely last a few days—some cans of beans, a case of water, and a few bags of crisps. It wasn't much, but it would get them by. Still, the essentials weren't what was bothering her. It was how suspicious her girls were acting lately.

Seulgi was frustrated beyond comprehension. What could they possibly be hiding from her? She had always been understanding and non-judgmental, so why the secrecy? Why the need to keep things from her, of all people?

The sun was setting, and Seulgi hadn't even noticed the day slipping away. Each one felt like sand running through an hourglass lately, with time blurring into itself.

As the Camaro pulled into the driveway, something felt... off. The house was dark, eerily so. That didn't make sense—Ryujin's Evo was still parked at the curb. Were they already asleep? No, it was too early. They loved staying up late, laughing, talking. Unless...

Seulgi bolted out of the car, her heart racing. Something was wrong.

Her hand instinctively gripped the gun at her waistband, and before she knew it, she had pushed open the front door. She barely registered Lia and Yuna calling out for her, their voices distant as they trailed behind.

Wait... the back door was open.

Joohyun, please tell me they're okay—

"Happy birthday, Seulgi!"

What?!

She blinked, utterly bewildered. There, gathered around a bonfire beneath glowing string lights, were the girls she loved more than anything. Laughter echoed from behind her as Lia and Yuna stood beside her, grinning from ear to ear, gleefully shouting "Happy birthday!"

Seulgi stood there, dumbfounded.

Hyun... what did I do to deserve these angels?

Seulgi's grip on the gun loosened instantly as the girls rushed toward her. Chaeryeong was the first to throw her arms around her, followed quickly by Yeji and Ryujin, with Lia squeezing into the group hug. Off to the side, Yuna stood with her trademark bunny-toothed grin, taking in the scene with pure joy.

"Girls..." Seulgi choked out. She couldn't tell if her chest was tight from her heart swelling with love or if her ribcage was simply getting crushed by the overwhelming group hug. Either way, she felt like she was about to burst.

Eventually, the girls relented, giving her room to breathe. Seulgi gasped for air, smiling all the while.

"We've been planning this for weeks, Seul," Chaeryeong explained, her voice bubbling with excitement as she motioned to the beautifully set-up backyard, the lights, and the bonfire. "All for you."

Ryujin flashed her dimples as she gestured toward the bonfire, signalling for Seulgi to follow. "Come on, we've got more surprises for you."

Seulgi, still speechless, trailed behind them. Ryujin and Yeji hurried to grab the (dry ass) cake, with Ryujin carefully lighting the candles.

"Happy birthday to you..." the girls began to sing in perfect harmony. Their voices melded together beautifully, like they had practiced for this moment when she wasn't paying attention—maybe even while she was asleep.