Chaper 3
It was already dark outside when the girls decided to go out for dinner after a long day of singing lessons and dance practice. Yuna and Chaeryeong lead the team as they were the hungriest, while Lia and Yeji came last. She stopped in her tracks just remembering something.
„Where are you going?” Lia asked her just when they were about to step outside the building.
„I forgot something. Go ahead, I will catch up with you girls.”
Yeji smiled sweetly and waved the members goodbye. She walked the halls and the peaked into some of the practice rooms. There were trainees still working hard even at this late hour. She heard loud music coming from their room. It was familiar. She approached the door slowly and opened it slightly to glance inside. Ryujin was dancing in the middle of the room, moving effortlessly, wildly. She didn’t notice Yeji and she took the opportunity to become a silent viewer of the performance. She found herself mesmerized by the movements, the younger girl followed the beat boldly. Ryujin made a mistake and grunted loudly. She crouched on the floor, her hands holding her head. She has always been a maximalist. Yeji couldn’t help but smile as the small woman waddled to the laptop and turned the music off. She was so cute when she was angry. Well, sometimes Ryujin could be scary when she was furious, but this was only frustration.
Ryujin started the choreo from the beginning. Even without music she was powerful and mighty. Yeji felt a strong pull to join in so she stepped inside the room. Their eyes met in the huge mirror and she was welcomed with a broad smile.
“Yeji! What are you doing here?”
“Hey there!”
Yeji walked up behind Ryujin and hugged her, placing her chin on her shoulder.
“Are you okay? You seem tense.”
“I’m fine, I’m just stuck with a movement. Somehow my body is not obeying me.”
Yeji chuckled and pulled back only to start massaging her friend.
“You will get it right, but first you need to relax a bit.”
She felt lumps in Ryujin’s shoulders, they were stiff from the intense training. Yeji’s massaging skills developed dramatically since they shared a room with Ryujin. They would massage each other in turns. It was one of the perks of sharing a room with someone and it also helped to develop intimacy and trust between the two girls.
“Ah – that feels so good!”
That’s what Yeji wanted to hear, content hums and moans from Ryujinnie.
“But it’s so annoying! I want this to be perfect! I’m representing the whole group when I go on stage. I can’t make any mistakes.”
“I know.” She moved her hand up to massage the neck too. Her fingers brushed Ryujin’s hair slightly and she could see her shiver. Yeji smirked and leaned in to whisper in her ear.
“But I also know that when the time comes it will be flawless.” She spoke with admiration and honestly. “Ryujin, you have such a powerful presence on stage. Whenever you perform people can’t draw their eyes off you.” A she was speaking she felt the tension leaving Ryujin’s body, her shoulders relaxed under her touch. “Your movements are sharp, strong and fast. You have everything what it takes to leave the audience in awe.”
She stopped the massage because she felt a hand on top of hers. Ryujin smiled at her then turned to face her, their fingers locked and Yeji was not about to let go, neither Ryujin.
“Thank you, unnie. I will make you proud!”
There it was, that radiating smile Yeji always loved.
“Oh, Ryujin, I’m already proud.”
Silence took over the room and the tension somehow spread from Ryujin to around them. It was another kind of tension, a better one.
“Weren’t you going to eat out with the others?” A sudden change of topic to break the silence. Yeji almost forgot why she went there in the first place.
“Oh yes, I just wanted to ask if you needed something?”
“That’s kind of you. Surprise me. You know my preferences.” Ryujin winked and a smug smirk spread across her face.
Yeji blushed deeply when Ryujin said that and that wink at the end! Why does she have to be like that? She let go of the other’s hand in her shyness.
“Alright, but I don’t want to hear complaints if you don’t like it!”
“Can’t promise!”
It’s been a tough year but finally the holidays had arrived. All the members took some days off to spend time with their family, except Yeji. It was a rare opportunity because they hardly got any days off. Maybe one day twice a week. Their group chat was silent as everybody was busy on chuseok day. It’s the three-day harvest festival when family members gather and eat the sticky rice cake known as songpyeon. Yeji never really cared about that holiday, instead she focused on her career and just having the time for herself. On the last day of the festival her phone buzzed. She looked at the message way too quickly and when she saw who wrote her face beamed.
“Unnie, are you alone right now?”
“Ryuddeong! Yes, in the dorm. How are you?”
“You can’t be alone on chuseok day!”
“What do you mean?”
Yeji waited for a reply but, staring at her phone’s screen but Ryujin disappeared. She sighed and let the phone slide out of her palm. Being alone for three whole days actually made her miss the members, especially her silly little Ryuddeong.
-Knock knock–
Suddenly there was a knock on her door. Yeji winced and the phone fell to the floor, making a loud noise at the impact.
„Yeji! Are you okay?”
Yeji couldn’t believe the voice she heard. Hastily she picked up the phone and flung the door open.
„What are you doing here? Why are you here?” She started babbling, confused, but her heart warming up as she saw Ryujin standing in front of her.
„Hello to you too! I told you, I can’t let you be alone today!”
„But...why?”
Yeji didn’t understand the meaning of this, but Ryujin just shrugged and walk inside carrying a big paper bag and her luggage.
„I brought songpyeon. I also want to sleep here. Is that okay?”
Yeji closed the door.
“You are so kind!” Tears formed in her eyes. Ryujin always acted so tough and cool so her being there that night just for Yeji made it special. “Ryujin, I missed you!” She hugged her and a teardrop escaped, leaving a wet line on her face. When they pulled away she could see Ryujin smile. She reached out and wiped her face gently.
“I missed you too.” Ryujin’s voice was low and soft.
“You know this is your room too, right? You don’t need to ask permission to sleep here. Or did you forget this in three days?” Yeji tried to act cool and not like an emotional crybaby.
They laughed and Ryujin elbowed Yeji slightly.
“Shut up or I leave. With the food.” Ryujin made her statement, a threat of a missed good time.
“NO!” Yeji was way too fast answering and grabbing Ryujin’s hand to make her stay. She felt embarrassed so she pulled her hand back just as quickly as she put it there.
“Someone is greedy…” Ryujin smirked and teased. Oh how she missed that, even though it was driving her crazy sometimes.
“Just show me what you got here.”
Yeji took the paper bag and the lead of that night. It was a surprise to have Ryujin back but she appreciated the gesture. No other members reached out during the holiday, only her.
They camped on the lower bunkbed, talked, mostly about what happened with Ryujin during her time away. She showed Yeji some pictures of her two cats, Ryujin really loved them.
“Close your eyes and open your mouth.” Ryujin ordered her frimly, and Yeji furrowed her brows.
“What? Why?” She protested as she was unsure what the other girl had up her sleeve this time.
“Come on, just do as I say.” But Ryujin was not one to back off easily.
“Yes, Miss Shin Ryujin.”
Yeji obeyed and soon enough she felt a piece of rice cake in her mouth. It was different form the other ones.
“Chew.”
Ryujin demanded and she chewed. It was sweet and a little sour. Her favourite combination.
“Do you like it?” Ryujin inquired while her eyes were still closed just to focus on the taste.
Yeji hummed contently and nodded.
“Good.”
She opened her eyes and was met with curious brown ones. Somehow Ryujin got even closer while her eyes were shut.
“Did you make this?” She asked, taking another bite from the delicious cake.
“Maybe.”
Yeji knew Ryujin was an excellent cook. She could make even the hardest recipes look easy and the results are always amazing. That’s why she is usually the one in the kitchen and Yeji the one to taste the food first.
“Is there anything you can’t do? It’s getting annoying.”
Yeji made Ryujin laugh and she couldn’t take her eyes off her cute cat whiskerlike dimples. These were the times she appreciated the most. When they had nothing to worry about, where there were no cameras recording their every movement, when they could be just two ordinary girls having fun without a façade.
“I’ll let you know when I find one.”