The week after the incident moved slowly, leaving behind a heavy feeling no one could shake.
Ara still walked carefully, her steps cautious as her eyes scanned every hallway. She jumped at sudden sounds, her body still remembering the fear of being locked inside the locker.
Ningning, usually the one who always had something sharp or witty to say, had grown quieter. She often glanced over her shoulder as if expecting Danny or his crew to appear, even though they had been suspended.
The school didn't feel the same anymore.
But something else had changed too... something small but noticeable.
It began with Karina.
She returned to her usual seat in the back of the classroom. But this time, she wasn't hiding. She didn't lower her head when Giselle said hello, and she even gave a small nod when Ningning walked past. Little gestures, almost invisible, but they were there.
Winter was slower to change. She still wore her headphones too often and kept her eyes on the floor. But one afternoon in the cafeteria, Jaemin caught her gaze from across the room. He smiled gently. And this time, Winter didn't look away.
That afternoon, Ara gathered everyone... Chenle, Giselle, Ningning, Renjun, Mark, Jisung, Jaemin, Jeno, and Haechan... into their usual classroom. The room felt quieter than normal, the kind of quiet that waited for someone to speak first.
Ara's voice was soft when she finally did. "I think... we should show Karina and Winter some grace."
The words hung in the air.
Ningning crossed her arms, her expression sharp. "After everything they did?"
Ara looked down at her lap, twisting her fingers together. "I know it's not easy. But I don't think they're bad people. I think they were hurting. And maybe... maybe pushing everyone away was the only way they knew how to survive."
Giselle tilted her head, glancing at Ningning before looking back at Ara. "So... you want us to forgive them?"
Ara shook her head. "No. I just want us to understand them. That's all."
There was a long pause. The group exchanged looks, none of them sure what to say.
Then Chenle, who had been quiet until now, spoke. His tone was calm, but firm. "I think... it might help us heal too. Not just them."
Ningning sighed, her jaw tight. She didn't want to agree, but she didn't want to argue either. "Fine. I'll try. But if they hurt us again..."
"They won't," Jaemin interrupted gently. His eyes flicked briefly to Winter, who had just walked by the open doorway. "I don't think they want to be those people anymore."
The next few days were filled with small, hesitant steps.
During a group project, Giselle invited Karina to join their table. To everyone's surprise, Karina agreed... and when they worked, she actually contributed thoughtful ideas.
In study hall, Winter sat beside Ara without asking. She didn't say anything at first, but after a few minutes, she quietly pushed a small carton of milk across the desk toward Ara. It wasn't much, but it was something.
At lunch, Jaemin found himself sitting with Winter on the far edge of the courtyard. The silence stretched long between them until Winter finally spoke.
"You're not gonna bring up what happened, are you?" she asked, her voice guarded.
Jaemin shook his head. "Only if you want me to."
Winter blinked, caught off guard. "...You're weird."
"Maybe," Jaemin said with a small smile. "But I never stopped being your friend."
Winter looked away quickly, blinking fast as if to hide something in her eyes. "...Thanks. I guess."
By Friday, something had shifted. Not fully, but enough.
Ningning still kept her distance. Renjun still didn't speak to Karina unless he had to. The wounds were still fresh, still deep.
But there were moments.
Moments where Karina sat closer during meetings.
Moments where Winter actually listened when Ara spoke.
Moments where the walls they had built around themselves seemed to crack, just a little.
It wasn't forgiveness yet.
It wasn't trust yet.
But it was the beginning of both.
That evening, the group gathered beneath the tall trees behind the school for one last meeting before break. The air was cool, the sky painted with soft streaks of orange and pink.
Ara stood beside Chenle, arms crossed as the wind lifted strands of her hair. She watched Winter laugh quietly at something Jaemin said, the sound light in a way it hadn't been in a long time.
"You think this will last?" Ara asked softly, her voice carrying a mix of hope and worry.
Chenle looked at her, his smile calm and certain.
"I think," he said gently, "it's a start."
