Jerry?
Sowon let out a long sigh as she finished her Instagram live and laid her phone aside. She'd done it. She had faced the world, declared her new plan, and received enormous support from her friends and former members. There were a few unfavorable comments, but they were overshadowed by the affection she never anticipated to feel so deeply.
Sowon sat in bed, staring at the ceiling while her mind raced over everything that had transpired that day. Meonji slept curled up next her, its small body rising and falling with each tranquil breath. She stretched out and softly ran her fingers through the soft fur. The warmth was pleasant, grounding her in the present.
She'd done it. She took a step forward. It wasn't a perfect step, and she still didn't know what the future held, but it felt good for the first time in a long time. A direction. A purpose.
Even still, fear lingered on the corners of her mind. Could she actually accomplish this? Could she actually leave aside the past and create something fresh for herself? The doubt threatened to seep in, but she forced it away, telling herself that she had already made the most difficult step—starting.
Her eyes were heavy as tiredness from the day set in. Just as she was ready to fall asleep, her phone vibrated on the nightstand, startling her. Meonji stirred slightly but remained asleep, unbothered. Sowon groggily turned to grab her phone, squinting at the bright screen.
Sinb.
She blinked in amazement. Sinb rarely called her at this hour. She hesitated for a moment before responding. But knowing Sinb, if she ignored the call, she would simply keep calling until she answered.
With a quiet sigh, she swiped to answer.
"Yes?" Her voice sounded sluggish and just above a whisper.
"I'm angry." Sinb's voice came through instantly, forceful but not overly upset.
Sowon gave a sleepy chuckle. "Why? Please don't tell me you're upset with me for some ridiculous reason, Sinb."
"I'm angry you didn't tell me beforehand," Sinb complained. "But I am also happy. Truly. You deserve it, Unnie."
Sowon's lips curved into a tiny smile. Sinb was usually like this, acting to be annoyed when, in fact, she cared more than anyone.
"Thanks, Sinb," she said, laying onto her side and placing the phone between her ear and the cushion.
There was a pause, and Sinb spoke again, this time in a quieter tone. "How are you, really?"
Sowon hesitated. She might easily dismiss the question with a nonchalant response, but Sinb saw right through her.
"I'm adjusting," she said. "Some days are harder than others, but today was a good day."
Sinb hummed in response. "I get that. I still have moments when everything feels odd. Like, I wake up expecting us to be late for practice or squabbling about meals."
Sowon chuckled. "I don't miss the arguing part."
"Liar. You enjoyed annoying me."
"Maybe a little," Sowon teased, her tone lighter. "How about you? How is everything going for the trio?
Sinb groaned loudly. "It has been stressful. There is pressure, but it isn't the same as previously. Eunha constantly nags me about my posture, Umji makes me eat properly, which is really torture, and I believe our management intends to toss me down a cliff."
Sowon laughed quietly. "So, nothing's changed?"
"Pretty much," Sinb murmured. "However, it feels odd. Exciting but odd. I'm glad we're doing this, but I sometimes wonder if it will ever feel the same again."
"It won't," Sowon replied honestly. "But that doesn't mean it won't be good in its own way."
There was silence between them, a comfortable one. They understood each other without having to say much.
"But I do miss you, you know."
Sowon's breath tightened slightly. Sinb rarely uttered anything like this.
"I miss you, too," she said. "It's been weird, not seeing you guys every day."
"Then let's fix that," Sinb stated abruptly.
Sowon scowled and glanced at the time. "What do you mean?" "Sinb, it is past midnight."
"So?"
"So, you can’t just—"
"I'm already on my way."
Sowon sat upright in bed. "You're what?"
"I figured you might need company," Sinb nonchalantly stated. "And I kind of want to see Meonji."
Sowon rolled her eyes. "You're unbelievable."
"And you miss me."
She hesitated but didn’t deny it.
"Just don’t wake the neighbors when you arrive," she muttered.
"No promises," Sinb teased before hanging up.
Sowon stared at the phone for a moment, shaking her head with a mix of exasperation and amusement. She got out of bed, stretching before heading to the living room to wait.
Sowon stared at the phone for a time, shaking her head in a mixture of frustration and amusement. She got out of bed, stretched, and went to the living room to wait.
A soft knock rang out through the house half an hour later. Sowon opened the door to see Sinb standing there, hoodie pulled over her head, her appearance slightly disheveled from the late-night trek.
"Hey," Sinb said with a faint smirk. "Miss me?"
Sowon grumbled and moved aside to let her in. "You're impossible."
"And yet, you let me in."
When Sinb stepped in, Meonji trotted over, wagging its tail enthusiastically. Sinb crouched down and rubbed its ears. "At least someone's happy to see me."
Sowon leaned against the wall, watching her with a slight smile. Maybe this was what she needed: a familiar face, someone who didn't expect her to have everything together.
"Stay the night," Sowon said, before she could question herself.
Sinb looked up in surprise. Then she grinned. "I was planning to anyway."
Sowon rolled her eyes, but did not dispute.
Sowon closed the door behind Sinb and turned around to see her already stretched down on the couch, scratching behind Meonji's ears. The little puppy was overjoyed, its tail wagging rapidly as it licked Sinb's palm. Sowon folded her arms and leaned against the doorframe, letting out a quiet sigh.
“You made yourself at home pretty quickly.”
Sinb shrugged, her lips curling into a smirk. “What can I say? Old habits die hard.”
Sowon chuckled as she made her way to the kitchen. “Do you want anything to drink?”
“Do you have banana milk?” Sinb perked up immediately, her eyes gleaming with hope.
Sowon paused, glancing at the fridge. “…I think I might.”
Sinb grinned. “I knew you loved me.”
Sowon rolled her eyes but couldn't resist smiling as she retrieved a bottle of banana milk and a glass of water for herself before returning to the living room. She handed Sinb the drink, and the younger girl nodded gratefully.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, Sinb sipping her banana milk and Meonji curling up against her. The dull light from the lamp projected a warm glow around the living area, making everything feel fuzzy and nostalgic.
"You know," Sinb interrupted, her voice softer this time. "I wasn't lying when I said I was mad at you."
Sowon sighed and ran a hand over her hair. "I know."
“I just…” Sinb trailed off, staring at her drink as she rolled the bottle between her hands. “I don’t like being the last to know things about you.”
Sowon’s heart clenched at the admission. Sinb wasn’t the type to say things like this often, but when she did, she meant it.
“I didn’t mean to shut you out,” Sowon said softly. “I just… I needed time to understand it myself before I told anyone."
Sinb nodded slowly. “I get it. But next time, just—just let me in, okay?”
Sowon looked at her, really looked at her, and saw the sincerity in her eyes.
“I will,” she promised.
Sinb sighed, leaning her head back against the couch. “Good.”
A few moments passed before Sinb spoke again, her tone lighter. “So, are you excited? About acting?”
Sowon thought about it for a moment. “I am. It’s scary, but I want to do this. I want to prove to myself that I can.”
“You don’t have to prove anything to anyone,” Sinb muttered, frowning slightly.
Sowon smiled, touched by the protectiveness in her voice. “Maybe not. But I still want to try.”
Sinb studied her for a moment before nodding. “You’re going to do great, Unnie. I know it.”
Sowon felt warmth spread through her chest at those words. “Thanks, Sinb.”
Sinb waved a hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t forget me when you become some famous actress.”
Sowon laughed. “You’d never let me.”
Sinb grinned. “Damn right I wouldn’t.”
Sowon took a slow sip of her water, her eyes lingering on Sinb. It was strange how, even after all this time, they still fell into the same rhythm. They could go weeks without talking properly, but the moment they were together, it was like nothing had changed.
“Are you staying on the couch?” Sowon asked, breaking the silence.
Sinb stretched her arms over her head and yawned. “I could, but…” She gave Sowon a lazy smile. “Your bed is comfier.”
Sowon scoffed. “Of course. That’s the real reason you came, isn’t it?”
Sinb smirked. “Caught me.”
Shaking her head in amusement, Sowon stood up and gestured toward her bedroom. “Come on, then. Before I change my mind.”
Sinb hopped off the couch, grabbing Meonji in her arms as she followed. “Meonji’s coming too, right?”
“Obviously.”
They slipped into the bedroom, the atmosphere instantly shifting into something quieter, more intimate. Sowon climbed into bed first, pulling the covers up to her chest while Sinb settled beside her, Meonji happily snuggled between them.
For a while, neither of them spoke. The only sounds in the room were their slow, steady breaths and Meonji’s soft snuffling.
Then, Sinb murmured, “It’s nice, being here again.”
Sowon turned her head to look at her. “Yeah. It is.”
Sinb hesitated before adding, “We should do this more often.”
Sowon didn’t respond right away, but eventually, she reached out under the blankets, lightly brushing her fingers against Sinb’s wrist. It was subtle, barely there, but Sinb felt it.
“Yeah,” Sowon whispered. “We should.”
The night stretched on, the weight of their worries momentarily forgotten. And for the first time in a long while, Sowon fell asleep feeling like everything would be okay.
And just like that, the silence didn’t feel so heavy anymore.
Maybe, for just one night, she could let herself feel at home again.