Together As One

I'm sorry Part 1

[Hyejin's POV]

2 weeks had passed since we shifted to our new apartment. We were now no longer floors apart but living side by side as neighbours. I lived in the unit right at the end, with the order of myself, Wheein, Yongsun unnie and Byulie unnie. Our houses were now specially built such that on our floor, it was only the 4 of us living there and our apartments were even interconnected. We had taken a liking towards this particular building thanks to its fabulous design and high standard of security. I had been getting better after the incident. The unnies and manager were the ones who had kindly filled me in on what had happened. Initially I was deeply regretful, don't get me wrong, I still am but they persistently gently reminded me that it wasn't my fault but that of those stalkers. Although I was getting better, there was something I didn't tell anyone though. I had stopped taking my medicine. Part of me knew it was going to be turn out bad but a voice in my head kept annoying me, bugging me about how the medicine was poisonous and everyone who made me eat them was out to get me and hurt me.

Be smarter this time Hyejin. Don't fuck up like the last time. Know how to pretend that everything is okay. Besides, it should be easy to act like you're okay you worthless fool.

I tried to shake that thought out of my head. We were having a short break to rest in between our practices for the upcoming release of the Japanese version of Reality in Black. Unconsciously, I started to drag my fingernails down my arms furiously, trying to achieve red painful lines on it. I finally snapped out of it when I heard the door of the dance room open. Quickly, I pulled down my hoodie's sleeve and jumped up to my feet, planting a smile on my face.

/AFTER PRACTICE/

"Let's go out and eat tonight! I want to get a drink! Everything's been so stressful!!! Unnie!!! Please???" Wheeinie exclaims as she flops down on the hard chair. We were all dead exhausted, hungry and thirsty. A drink would be good, refreshingly good. Numbingly good.

"Fine fine... but I'm going to remind you, we still have practice tomorrow at 12pm so you all are not supposed to be late okay!" Yongsun unnie sternly reminds as we start to pack up.

Soon, we made our way to the deserted restaurant down the street. It was one of our favourite places to grab a late dinner before heading back home for the night. The owners recognised us and gave us a warm smile before leading us to our favourite spot at the back of the shop. We made our orders and I poured soju shots for each of them respectfully. I downed the shot within seconds and poured myself another shot, finishing it again in jut a few seconds.

"Woah, Hyejinnie! Slow down... at this rate you're going to be knocked out even before any of us get tipsy." Byulie unnie says when she notices me clearing shot after shot of soju. I responded with an awkward laugh and thankfully our food had arrived, helping to change the topic.

[Byul's POV]

I watched as Hyejinnie downed shot after shot. I think she had easily cleared half the soju bottle within the first 15 minutes that we were there. I was slightly worried but thought nothing of it, assuming that she was just feeling like drinking tonight. We all had our fair share of those sort of days afterall.

As we ate the food, we talked about things that had happened to us across the week. Just as Yongsun unnie had finished talking, Hyejin suddenly stands up and tries to drink up the whole bottle of soju at one go.

"Hyejin stop... Hyejin... Hyejin!!!" I try to stop her from drowning herself in alcohol. Yongsun unnie tries to pull the bottle away from our maknae's grip. Wheein tries to get Hyejin to sit down. When Hyejin finally sits back down, I get a closer look at her expression. Her face was taken over by a cold look, though her eyes were glassy and I realised that without the make up, her panda eyes were extremely bad.