Many messages and a single promise.
Many messages and a single promise.
Gyuri/ Sunghee ; Gyuri / Jiyoung
This has been lying around for a week. Only managed to finish it now. Enjoy. ^^
Gyuri rolls to her side and slowly opens her eyes. She sees the framed picture of her and her members sitting on her desk and suddenly, she feels tired and exhausted. She traces their smiles and recalls what she felt during that fleeting moment before closing her eyes again.
She lies still on her bed for several minutes before sitting up and walking towards her desk. She sits on the chair and grabs the two framed pictures in front of her. Just like what she did with the first picture, she traces the smiles on the second picture in her hands. She smiles sadly to herself and she wonders why can’t life be like a picture? Why can’t the smiles in real life be like the ones in pictures? Unmoving and unchanging.
She stares some more and tries to recall exactly when and how the pictures were taken. Her phone starts ringing and Gyuri quickly reaches for it but the ringing stops first.
16 messages & 1 Voice mail, it read. Gyuri ignores the messages just like what she’s been doing for the whole day and skips to the voice mail, a little bit excitedly with a faint smile of hope. She presses it to her ear without looking at the number but her faint smile vanishes soon enough. The male voice sounds foreign to her ears and once again, she was deprived of the soft, sweet and loving voices she’s been waiting for. Well, honestly, she’s been waiting for only one particular voice for days now but that doesn’t matter because any of the three voices she’s craving for so much would do.
She stands up from her seat and walks towards the door, grabbing a coat on the way. She slams the door shut and makes her way down the stairs.
“I’m going out for a while.” She shouts as she puts on a pair of sneakers by the door.
“This late?” Her mom, Park So Hyun, asks.
“Don’t worry,” Gyuri states while putting on a cap. “I’ll be careful.”
She dashes out of the house and her mom just stares at the door before letting out a soft sigh. So Hyun trust her daughter. She knows how troubled Gyuri is now and how her mind in a mess so she decides to just let her be. After all, Gyuri always manages to makes the right decision.
- -
Gyuri puts down her glass on the table and wobbles a bit as she reaches for her phone in her pocket. She browses the pictures on her phone and smiles at each. She recalls each particular event and smiles fondly at the memories. She stops at one picture and stares at it. Her happy and slightly tipsy smile turns into a soft and nostalgic one.
She traces the smile again, this time with both her eyes and her trembling finger. Her heart feels heavy and her mind seems more clouded.
“Her address must not have changed.” She whispers to herself. “It’s still the same, right?” She asks no one before dropping some money on the table for her meal and drinks and getting up slowly. She steadies her tipsy self for a moment before fixing her cap and going on her way to her new destination.
- -
The door opens after her third consecutive ringing of the doorbell and she’s greeted by the face she missed so much. She takes in a breath at the sight of the person before her who was busy with a book in hand and not quite looking at her.
“I’m sorry but my father is currently out of town. If you have any message-”
Gyuri doesn’t let her finish as she throws her arms around the other girl.
“Omo!” The girl staggers a few steps back as she tries to support the unexpected weight. “Gyuri unnie?” She gasps.
Gyuri nods. “Sungja-yah.”
Sunghee raises an eyebrow at the drunken voice. She pulls the older girl inside first and closes the door behind them before leading the two of them to the living room.
“Gyuri unnie, are you alright?” She asks worriedly as she inspects the drunken girl’s face and body.
“Of course I’m alright!” Gyuri exclaims with a grin. “I’m perfect! Everything’s perfect! The group is perfect...”
Sunghee frowns. She heard the news earlier and it saddened and worried her at the same time. She’s wanted to contact Gyuri since then but she always hesitated. She leans closer to Gyuri and sniffs the older girl.
“You smell like chicken and soju, unnie.” Sunghee smiles a little. “Went out for a drink?”
A nod answers her question and she lets out a soft sigh before starting to unbutton Gyuri’s coat. “You make me worry so much, Gyuri unnie-”
“Gyuri.” The half-asleep girl whispers as she opens her eyes only to close them shortly after. “Call me Gyuri, Sunghee-yah. Just like before.”
Sunghee smiles and nods. “Okay then, Gyuri. How about a shower?”
- -
Gyuri stares ahead at the white wall in front of her. She thinks about her current state. She thinks about her members. She thinks about one particular member who she just can’t get out of her mind. How are her members doing? How is Jiyoung doing? She doesn’t even know how they are.
Now that she’s showered and is sober, she wonders why she went to this place. She wonders why she ran to Sunghee. Seeing the younger girl made her so happy that it hurts. Out of all the possible places, why did she go here?
“That was a nice bath!” Sunghee enters the room and smiles at Gyuri. “Did I make you wait too long?”
Gyuri just shakes her head in response. She feels the bed dip and she looks up. Sunghee just smiles again and started drying Gyuri’s still damp hair gently.
“I,” Gyuri starts and to be honest, she doesn’t really know how to continue. “I...”
The drying stops. “I won’t force you unnie.” Sunghee says as she reaches for a comb and gently fixes the unruly hair of Gyuri. “So don’t feel like you have to tell me, okay? Cause you don’t. If you don’t want to then I’m okay with that.”
Gyuri reaches up and stops the hands working on her hair. She stares at Sunghee and Sunghee stares back. She tightens her hold on the hands as she places them on her lap. “Sunghee...”
“And if you are going to tell,” The younger girl smiles. “Then start from telling me why you’re out this late at night drinking soju and eating chicken.”
“I... I just need to go out for a while. And I know that I need to relive myself from so much stress.” Gyuri answers meekly. “And I thought that if I’m gonna talk to someone, I need some courage... Or something like that.”
“Babo-yah.” Sunghee whispers with a light hit on Gyuri’s head. “You don’t need to have your so called courage if you want to talk with me. Just talk, Gyuri-yah.”
Gyuri stares at the smiling girl and she remembers exactly why she went to Sunghee in the first place. She’s Kim Sunghee. The one and only person in the world who would understand Gyuri in every way possible. And the only one to whom she doesn’t even have to say anything at all.
Gyuri smiles and she feels her heart being a b it lighter. “I’m scared, Sunghee-yah. I think I fail as a leader.” She frowns this time and her eyes feel a bit wet. “I don’t think they even trust me. They didn’t even tell me about their plans and I’m worried sick.”
Gyuri looks up and she stares at Sunghee with fear for a moment but the soft smile playing on the younger girl’s lips encourages her to say more.
“Hara came back already, thank God. And Seungyeon is a very strong girl. I know she won’t let anything bad happen. I’m a bit worried about Nicole and how she’s doing emotionally.”
“And Jiyoungie?” Sunghee asks.
Gyuri locks gazes with the younger girl again, thinking of what to say and choosing her words and analyzing her feelings.
“I’m really, really worried about her.” She finally says. “I’m worried about her the most.” Gyuri lets out a sigh. “I don’t even know how she’s doing. She hasn’t called me for days. None of them has!”
The tears start rolling down her cheeks and Gyuri does nothing to stop them. “I miss all of them already. Especially Jiyoung. Jiyoung... She’s not strong. She appears like she is but she’s not. She’s still a kid and she still has a very sensitive heart and mind. I... I’m very worried about her, Sunghee-yah.”
Strong arms wrap themselves around her and Gyuri openly weeps, something she hasn’t done since the rumors started. Sunghee brings the two of them down to the bed and she tightens her embrace.
“It’s okay Gyuri. I promise.” She whispers and Gyuri nods.
If Sunghee promises then maybe, everything will really be okay.
Gyuri nods again and she thinks of Seungyeon’s strong will, Nicole’s bright smile and Jiyoung before moving closer to Sunghee and willing herself to sleep.
- -
Gyuri wakes up from the first proper sleep she’s had since the issue. She sits up and rubs her eyes before looking around the room. She remembers she’s in Sunghee’s place and smiles to herself. No wonder she feels at ease.
She gets out of bed, puts her hair up in a messy ponytail and walks out of the bedroom. She smells bacon and heads towards the kitchen to see Sunghee setting up the table.
“Good morning, Gyuri.” Sunghee greets with a cheeky smile which automatically makes Gyuri smile back.
“Good morning, Sungja.”
They eat the breakfast Sunghee prepared in relative silence only with a few remarks here and there. Gyuri offers to do the dishes but Sunghee refuses and tells her to just get back in the bedroom and get change or something. Gyuri sighs and nods.
“Ah, Gyul?”
Gyuri turns around at the voice, half way to the bedroom and raises an eyebrow. Sunghee tosses something to her and Gyuri catches it in reflex. She looks at the object. Her phone. She flips it often, 29 messages, it read. Gyuri lets out a tired sigh. Still no calls.
“Hey Gyul.”
“Yeah?” Gyuri looks up and sees Sunghee smiling warmly at her.
“I checked the messages earlier. I didn’t really open any of them but I saw enough of its contents.” Sunghee says. “Try reading them, okay?”
Gyuri just nods before making her way back to the bedroom. She sits on the bed and thinks about Sunghee’s words and her reassuring smile. She decides to follow the younger girl and flips open her phone and starts opening the messages one by one, starting off with Hara’s messages.
From: Hara
Time received: 3:00 PM
Message: Gyuri unnie, I’m sorry. I though you knew. I would have told you earlier if I knew you didn’t. I’m sorry, unnie.
From: Hara
Time received: 4:45 PM
Message: I thought about things and Gyuri unnie, I’m going back. I don’t want to leave you unnie. I can’t do that.
From: Hara
Time received: 6:30 PM
Message: Have you talked to the others? I can’t get a hold of them right now, unnie.
From: Hara
Time received: 3:00 AM
Message: You’re okay, right, unnie? If you want to talk, please just tell me.
She lets out a breathy sigh as and moves on to Nicole and Seungyeon’s messages.
From: Nicole
Time received: 4:00 PM
Message: I’m sorry about not telling you, Gyuri unnie.
From: Nicole
Time received: 4:30 PM
Message: I just don’t want to burden you. I’m sorry, unnie. I’ll call when I can.
From: Seungyeon
Time received: 12:00 AM
Message: I didn’t tell you because I know that you’ll only manage to make me change my mind. I want to stand on my own with this decision. Please be strong too, Gyuri-yah. I’ll see you soon.
Something stirs at her chest and Gyuri feels tears well up in her eyes. She blinks them away and proceeded on reading the other messages.
From: Younha
Time received: 9:00 AM
Message: Goddess, are you doing fine? Just tell me if you want to talk.
From: Eunjung
Time received: 10:45 AM
Message: Omo, Gyuri, are you okay? Do you want me to come over? It’ll be okay, alright? Be strong!
From: Taeyeon
Time received: 8:00 PM
Message: If goddess Gyuri needs someone to talk to, just tell your humble servant, Kim Tete and I shall come running to you! Himnae, lovely goddess!
From: Tiffany
Time received: 8:15 PM
Message: Trust in God and everything will be alright. I’ll pray for you and your kids, Gyuri unnie. Just have faith in the Lord.
From: Shindong
Time received: 10:30 PM
Message: Want to grab some beer and chicken? I’ll accompany you gladly, goddess. Just call, alright?
From: Jungmin
Time received: 5:00 PM
Message: Everything will be alright, Gyuri-yah. Just hold on, okay?
Gyuri continued on opening the messages one by one as the tears now fall freely down her cheeks. Knowing that so many people cares about her and is willing to help her makes her heart flutter. Her heart feels lighter and lighter with each message and she lets out a breathy sigh. There are only a few messages left.
Jiyoung’s messages.
Gyuri collected herself and took a deep breath before opening Jiyoung’s messages.
From: Jiyoung
Time received: 11:35 PM
Message: Gyuri unnie.
From: Jiyoung
Time received: 11:50 PM
Message: Gyuri unnie, I’m sorry.
From: Jiyoung
Time received: 2:45 AM
Message: I should have told you, I know. I should have consulted you first. Unnie, I’m so sorry.
From: Jiyoung
Time received: 2:50 AM
Message: I don’t want to be a burden. I’m always being a burden to you so I want to stop. But I’m still being a burden, right?
From: Jiyoung
Time received: 4:00 AM
Message: I don’t know what to do anymore, unnie. I’m sorry for being weak. I can’t call. Hearing your voice will make me cry. I keep on dialling your number but I can’t continue. Unnie, I’m sorry.
From: Jiyoung
Time received: 5:15 AM
Message: I’m scared, unnie.
From: Jiyoung
Time received: 6:00 AM
Message: I’m really sorry, Gyuri unnie. I don’t want to leave. I love you.
Gyuri finishes reading the last of Jiyoung’s messages and she gently wipes her tears away. She stares at her phone’s screen and her chest tightens at all the messages. She’s been expecting a call from her members when she herself hasn’t made a call to them yet. Maybe they’re not ready and maybe neither is she but Gyuri now knows that they haven’t stopped caring. None of them have. Nicole is sad but is still doing her best to hold on, Hara still has her back, Seungyeon is still standing strong and Jiyoung... Jiyoung is still leaning on her, waiting for her.
She wipes the new batch of tears strolling down her cheeks and berates herself inwardly for thinking the way she did. Her phone vibrates in her hand and she opens the new message.
From: Sunghee
Time received: 8:30 AM
Message: You know what I’d tell you to do now, right? You are not a bad leader, Gyuri. I know you take care of them well. You took care of me well too, after all. ^^ So wipe those tears away, make your calls and remember that I’m always here for you, my goddess. Always.
Gyuri lets out an amused giggle as she looks up at the girl standing by the doorway. Sunghee just smiles and waves her phone at Gyuri, silently urging the older girl to make her calls.
Gyuri nods with a gentle smile.
“Thank you, Sunghee.” She whispers with all honesty. The younger girl just nods at her and Gyuri turns to her phone. She takes a deep breath before pressing her speed dial number 1 and pressing the cold device against her ear.
“Gyuri unnie?”
Gyuri’s heart soars at the voice she’s been craving for and smiles at Sunghee as she answers back.
“Hi, Jiyoungie.”
If Sunghee promises, then everything would definitely be okay, surely.
Gyuri/ Sunghee ; Gyuri / Jiyoung
This has been lying around for a week. Only managed to finish it now. Enjoy. ^^
Gyuri rolls to her side and slowly opens her eyes. She sees the framed picture of her and her members sitting on her desk and suddenly, she feels tired and exhausted. She traces their smiles and recalls what she felt during that fleeting moment before closing her eyes again.
She lies still on her bed for several minutes before sitting up and walking towards her desk. She sits on the chair and grabs the two framed pictures in front of her. Just like what she did with the first picture, she traces the smiles on the second picture in her hands. She smiles sadly to herself and she wonders why can’t life be like a picture? Why can’t the smiles in real life be like the ones in pictures? Unmoving and unchanging.
She stares some more and tries to recall exactly when and how the pictures were taken. Her phone starts ringing and Gyuri quickly reaches for it but the ringing stops first.
16 messages & 1 Voice mail, it read. Gyuri ignores the messages just like what she’s been doing for the whole day and skips to the voice mail, a little bit excitedly with a faint smile of hope. She presses it to her ear without looking at the number but her faint smile vanishes soon enough. The male voice sounds foreign to her ears and once again, she was deprived of the soft, sweet and loving voices she’s been waiting for. Well, honestly, she’s been waiting for only one particular voice for days now but that doesn’t matter because any of the three voices she’s craving for so much would do.
She stands up from her seat and walks towards the door, grabbing a coat on the way. She slams the door shut and makes her way down the stairs.
“I’m going out for a while.” She shouts as she puts on a pair of sneakers by the door.
“This late?” Her mom, Park So Hyun, asks.
“Don’t worry,” Gyuri states while putting on a cap. “I’ll be careful.”
She dashes out of the house and her mom just stares at the door before letting out a soft sigh. So Hyun trust her daughter. She knows how troubled Gyuri is now and how her mind in a mess so she decides to just let her be. After all, Gyuri always manages to makes the right decision.
- -
Gyuri puts down her glass on the table and wobbles a bit as she reaches for her phone in her pocket. She browses the pictures on her phone and smiles at each. She recalls each particular event and smiles fondly at the memories. She stops at one picture and stares at it. Her happy and slightly tipsy smile turns into a soft and nostalgic one.
She traces the smile again, this time with both her eyes and her trembling finger. Her heart feels heavy and her mind seems more clouded.
“Her address must not have changed.” She whispers to herself. “It’s still the same, right?” She asks no one before dropping some money on the table for her meal and drinks and getting up slowly. She steadies her tipsy self for a moment before fixing her cap and going on her way to her new destination.
- -
The door opens after her third consecutive ringing of the doorbell and she’s greeted by the face she missed so much. She takes in a breath at the sight of the person before her who was busy with a book in hand and not quite looking at her.
“I’m sorry but my father is currently out of town. If you have any message-”
Gyuri doesn’t let her finish as she throws her arms around the other girl.
“Omo!” The girl staggers a few steps back as she tries to support the unexpected weight. “Gyuri unnie?” She gasps.
Gyuri nods. “Sungja-yah.”
Sunghee raises an eyebrow at the drunken voice. She pulls the older girl inside first and closes the door behind them before leading the two of them to the living room.
“Gyuri unnie, are you alright?” She asks worriedly as she inspects the drunken girl’s face and body.
“Of course I’m alright!” Gyuri exclaims with a grin. “I’m perfect! Everything’s perfect! The group is perfect...”
Sunghee frowns. She heard the news earlier and it saddened and worried her at the same time. She’s wanted to contact Gyuri since then but she always hesitated. She leans closer to Gyuri and sniffs the older girl.
“You smell like chicken and soju, unnie.” Sunghee smiles a little. “Went out for a drink?”
A nod answers her question and she lets out a soft sigh before starting to unbutton Gyuri’s coat. “You make me worry so much, Gyuri unnie-”
“Gyuri.” The half-asleep girl whispers as she opens her eyes only to close them shortly after. “Call me Gyuri, Sunghee-yah. Just like before.”
Sunghee smiles and nods. “Okay then, Gyuri. How about a shower?”
- -
Gyuri stares ahead at the white wall in front of her. She thinks about her current state. She thinks about her members. She thinks about one particular member who she just can’t get out of her mind. How are her members doing? How is Jiyoung doing? She doesn’t even know how they are.
Now that she’s showered and is sober, she wonders why she went to this place. She wonders why she ran to Sunghee. Seeing the younger girl made her so happy that it hurts. Out of all the possible places, why did she go here?
“That was a nice bath!” Sunghee enters the room and smiles at Gyuri. “Did I make you wait too long?”
Gyuri just shakes her head in response. She feels the bed dip and she looks up. Sunghee just smiles again and started drying Gyuri’s still damp hair gently.
“I,” Gyuri starts and to be honest, she doesn’t really know how to continue. “I...”
The drying stops. “I won’t force you unnie.” Sunghee says as she reaches for a comb and gently fixes the unruly hair of Gyuri. “So don’t feel like you have to tell me, okay? Cause you don’t. If you don’t want to then I’m okay with that.”
Gyuri reaches up and stops the hands working on her hair. She stares at Sunghee and Sunghee stares back. She tightens her hold on the hands as she places them on her lap. “Sunghee...”
“And if you are going to tell,” The younger girl smiles. “Then start from telling me why you’re out this late at night drinking soju and eating chicken.”
“I... I just need to go out for a while. And I know that I need to relive myself from so much stress.” Gyuri answers meekly. “And I thought that if I’m gonna talk to someone, I need some courage... Or something like that.”
“Babo-yah.” Sunghee whispers with a light hit on Gyuri’s head. “You don’t need to have your so called courage if you want to talk with me. Just talk, Gyuri-yah.”
Gyuri stares at the smiling girl and she remembers exactly why she went to Sunghee in the first place. She’s Kim Sunghee. The one and only person in the world who would understand Gyuri in every way possible. And the only one to whom she doesn’t even have to say anything at all.
Gyuri smiles and she feels her heart being a b it lighter. “I’m scared, Sunghee-yah. I think I fail as a leader.” She frowns this time and her eyes feel a bit wet. “I don’t think they even trust me. They didn’t even tell me about their plans and I’m worried sick.”
Gyuri looks up and she stares at Sunghee with fear for a moment but the soft smile playing on the younger girl’s lips encourages her to say more.
“Hara came back already, thank God. And Seungyeon is a very strong girl. I know she won’t let anything bad happen. I’m a bit worried about Nicole and how she’s doing emotionally.”
“And Jiyoungie?” Sunghee asks.
Gyuri locks gazes with the younger girl again, thinking of what to say and choosing her words and analyzing her feelings.
“I’m really, really worried about her.” She finally says. “I’m worried about her the most.” Gyuri lets out a sigh. “I don’t even know how she’s doing. She hasn’t called me for days. None of them has!”
The tears start rolling down her cheeks and Gyuri does nothing to stop them. “I miss all of them already. Especially Jiyoung. Jiyoung... She’s not strong. She appears like she is but she’s not. She’s still a kid and she still has a very sensitive heart and mind. I... I’m very worried about her, Sunghee-yah.”
Strong arms wrap themselves around her and Gyuri openly weeps, something she hasn’t done since the rumors started. Sunghee brings the two of them down to the bed and she tightens her embrace.
“It’s okay Gyuri. I promise.” She whispers and Gyuri nods.
If Sunghee promises then maybe, everything will really be okay.
Gyuri nods again and she thinks of Seungyeon’s strong will, Nicole’s bright smile and Jiyoung before moving closer to Sunghee and willing herself to sleep.
- -
Gyuri wakes up from the first proper sleep she’s had since the issue. She sits up and rubs her eyes before looking around the room. She remembers she’s in Sunghee’s place and smiles to herself. No wonder she feels at ease.
She gets out of bed, puts her hair up in a messy ponytail and walks out of the bedroom. She smells bacon and heads towards the kitchen to see Sunghee setting up the table.
“Good morning, Gyuri.” Sunghee greets with a cheeky smile which automatically makes Gyuri smile back.
“Good morning, Sungja.”
They eat the breakfast Sunghee prepared in relative silence only with a few remarks here and there. Gyuri offers to do the dishes but Sunghee refuses and tells her to just get back in the bedroom and get change or something. Gyuri sighs and nods.
“Ah, Gyul?”
Gyuri turns around at the voice, half way to the bedroom and raises an eyebrow. Sunghee tosses something to her and Gyuri catches it in reflex. She looks at the object. Her phone. She flips it often, 29 messages, it read. Gyuri lets out a tired sigh. Still no calls.
“Hey Gyul.”
“Yeah?” Gyuri looks up and sees Sunghee smiling warmly at her.
“I checked the messages earlier. I didn’t really open any of them but I saw enough of its contents.” Sunghee says. “Try reading them, okay?”
Gyuri just nods before making her way back to the bedroom. She sits on the bed and thinks about Sunghee’s words and her reassuring smile. She decides to follow the younger girl and flips open her phone and starts opening the messages one by one, starting off with Hara’s messages.
From: Hara
Time received: 3:00 PM
Message: Gyuri unnie, I’m sorry. I though you knew. I would have told you earlier if I knew you didn’t. I’m sorry, unnie.
From: Hara
Time received: 4:45 PM
Message: I thought about things and Gyuri unnie, I’m going back. I don’t want to leave you unnie. I can’t do that.
From: Hara
Time received: 6:30 PM
Message: Have you talked to the others? I can’t get a hold of them right now, unnie.
From: Hara
Time received: 3:00 AM
Message: You’re okay, right, unnie? If you want to talk, please just tell me.
She lets out a breathy sigh as and moves on to Nicole and Seungyeon’s messages.
From: Nicole
Time received: 4:00 PM
Message: I’m sorry about not telling you, Gyuri unnie.
From: Nicole
Time received: 4:30 PM
Message: I just don’t want to burden you. I’m sorry, unnie. I’ll call when I can.
From: Seungyeon
Time received: 12:00 AM
Message: I didn’t tell you because I know that you’ll only manage to make me change my mind. I want to stand on my own with this decision. Please be strong too, Gyuri-yah. I’ll see you soon.
Something stirs at her chest and Gyuri feels tears well up in her eyes. She blinks them away and proceeded on reading the other messages.
From: Younha
Time received: 9:00 AM
Message: Goddess, are you doing fine? Just tell me if you want to talk.
From: Eunjung
Time received: 10:45 AM
Message: Omo, Gyuri, are you okay? Do you want me to come over? It’ll be okay, alright? Be strong!
From: Taeyeon
Time received: 8:00 PM
Message: If goddess Gyuri needs someone to talk to, just tell your humble servant, Kim Tete and I shall come running to you! Himnae, lovely goddess!
From: Tiffany
Time received: 8:15 PM
Message: Trust in God and everything will be alright. I’ll pray for you and your kids, Gyuri unnie. Just have faith in the Lord.
From: Shindong
Time received: 10:30 PM
Message: Want to grab some beer and chicken? I’ll accompany you gladly, goddess. Just call, alright?
From: Jungmin
Time received: 5:00 PM
Message: Everything will be alright, Gyuri-yah. Just hold on, okay?
Gyuri continued on opening the messages one by one as the tears now fall freely down her cheeks. Knowing that so many people cares about her and is willing to help her makes her heart flutter. Her heart feels lighter and lighter with each message and she lets out a breathy sigh. There are only a few messages left.
Jiyoung’s messages.
Gyuri collected herself and took a deep breath before opening Jiyoung’s messages.
From: Jiyoung
Time received: 11:35 PM
Message: Gyuri unnie.
From: Jiyoung
Time received: 11:50 PM
Message: Gyuri unnie, I’m sorry.
From: Jiyoung
Time received: 2:45 AM
Message: I should have told you, I know. I should have consulted you first. Unnie, I’m so sorry.
From: Jiyoung
Time received: 2:50 AM
Message: I don’t want to be a burden. I’m always being a burden to you so I want to stop. But I’m still being a burden, right?
From: Jiyoung
Time received: 4:00 AM
Message: I don’t know what to do anymore, unnie. I’m sorry for being weak. I can’t call. Hearing your voice will make me cry. I keep on dialling your number but I can’t continue. Unnie, I’m sorry.
From: Jiyoung
Time received: 5:15 AM
Message: I’m scared, unnie.
From: Jiyoung
Time received: 6:00 AM
Message: I’m really sorry, Gyuri unnie. I don’t want to leave. I love you.
Gyuri finishes reading the last of Jiyoung’s messages and she gently wipes her tears away. She stares at her phone’s screen and her chest tightens at all the messages. She’s been expecting a call from her members when she herself hasn’t made a call to them yet. Maybe they’re not ready and maybe neither is she but Gyuri now knows that they haven’t stopped caring. None of them have. Nicole is sad but is still doing her best to hold on, Hara still has her back, Seungyeon is still standing strong and Jiyoung... Jiyoung is still leaning on her, waiting for her.
She wipes the new batch of tears strolling down her cheeks and berates herself inwardly for thinking the way she did. Her phone vibrates in her hand and she opens the new message.
From: Sunghee
Time received: 8:30 AM
Message: You know what I’d tell you to do now, right? You are not a bad leader, Gyuri. I know you take care of them well. You took care of me well too, after all. ^^ So wipe those tears away, make your calls and remember that I’m always here for you, my goddess. Always.
Gyuri lets out an amused giggle as she looks up at the girl standing by the doorway. Sunghee just smiles and waves her phone at Gyuri, silently urging the older girl to make her calls.
Gyuri nods with a gentle smile.
“Thank you, Sunghee.” She whispers with all honesty. The younger girl just nods at her and Gyuri turns to her phone. She takes a deep breath before pressing her speed dial number 1 and pressing the cold device against her ear.
“Gyuri unnie?”
Gyuri’s heart soars at the voice she’s been craving for and smiles at Sunghee as she answers back.
“Hi, Jiyoungie.”
If Sunghee promises, then everything would definitely be okay, surely.