The flowerbed - Aespa's Giselle x M!Reader

The road trip

"We need snacks!" Ningning announced about an hour into the drive, finally waking from her emotional morning nap. "Proper road trip snacks, not Winter-unnie's 'historically significant' countryside crackers."

"Those crackers have cultural value," Winter defended, not looking up from her camera where she was reviewing morning footage. "The packaging design alone-"

"Is not filling my stomach," Ningning cut in. "Chaewon-unnie, please? There's a rest stop coming up. I saw a sign!"

"We just left..." I started from my spot in the back, squeezed between Winter and her camera equipment.

"Exactly! Perfect timing for first breakfast snacks!"

Karina sighed from the passenger seat. "First breakfast?"

"Obviously. Then second breakfast at the next stop, then pre-lunch snacks, then-"

"How many stops are you planning?" Chaewon asked, but she was already signaling to exit.

The rest stop was surprisingly busy for early morning. Families on vacation, business travelers, other idol groups' vans probably heading to schedules. Once, this kind of public space would have made me nervous - too many chances for photos, for scandal. Now it just felt... distant. Like that life belonged to someone else.

"Incoming," Winter murmured as Ningning practically bounced into the convenience store, making a beeline for the snack aisle.

"I'll help her," Karina offered, already moving to prevent our maknae from buying out the entire jellie section.

Chaewon leaned against her car, watching me carefully. "You're thinking too loud again," she said.

"Just... processing."

"Want to talk about it?"

I watched through the store window as Ningning tried to convince Karina that three different flavors of chips were essential road trip supplies.

"It feels too easy," I admitted quietly. "Going back. Like there should be more... consequences."

"You think the past year wasn't consequence enough?" Her voice held no judgment, just gentle understanding. "The separation? The pain? Watching Choi break them piece by piece while you hid in countryside quiet?"

"That's not-"

"I know what you meant," she cut in softly. "But maybe it's time to stop punishing yourself. To let healing be as simple as driving home with them."

Before I could respond, Ningning burst out of the store, arms full of snacks. "Look what I found! They have those jellies you used to keep in the practice room for late-night sessions!"

The memory hit unexpectedly - how I'd always made sure to stock their favorite flavors, knowing they'd need energy during practice. How Giselle would sneak extras when she thought no one was looking.

"Breathe," Winter said quietly, suddenly beside me. Her camera caught everything but her voice stayed gentle. "One memory at a time. One step at a time."

"Got enough snacks there?" Chaewon asked as Ningning tried to fit everything into the already packed car.

"This is just first breakfast!" she defended. "We need variety! Options! Proper road trip sustenance!"

"Is that why you bought six different types of chips?"

"Scientific sampling! Very professional."

The normality of their bickering felt like a lifeline as we piled back into the car. Ningning immediately started distributing snacks, while Winter complained about chip dust endangering her camera equipment.