A Fragile Balance

The room was still buzzing with soft laughter when the door opened behind them. Chaeryeong's eyes lit up, "Oh! Yeji's here!" Yuna grinned mischievously, "Took you long enough!" Lia turned, smiling brightly. "We were about to start without you!" Yeji stepped in, cheeks slightly flushed from the walk and fingers still wrapped around her phone. She smiled as she stepped forward, eyes flicking around the room — and then they landed on one person. "Hey, Ryujin," she said, her voice warm and inviting. Ryujin didn't look up, her gaze fixed on her phone screen. Her response was low and disinterested, barely meeting Yeji's greeting. "Hey." The contrast between Yeji's warmth and Ryujin's cold tone was awkward, like a sudden shift in temperature. Yeji blinked, a quick flicker of confusion crossing her face — something she didn't voice, but felt internally. She walked over anyway, lowering herself onto the floor beside Ryujin like it was the most natural thing in the world. But Ryujin didn't move. Didn't even shift. Their knees brushed, and their shoulders were close, but the emotional distance between them felt wider than ever. Ryujin's fingers scrolled across her phone screen slowly, deliberately, mirroring the way Yeji had earlier in the dorm. Yeji looked at her for a moment, waiting for Ryujin to turn to her, say something, smile — anything. But Ryujin never looked up. The silence between them stretched, filled by the casual conversation continuing around them from the others. The laughter and chatter seemed to grow louder, a stark contrast to the tension between Ryujin and Yeji. Suddenly, Ryujin stood up, her voice a muttered whisper. "Bathroom." She walked off without another glance, leaving Yeji sitting alone, her smile faltering. Ryujin's Mini-Breakdown (Bathroom) The practice room door clicked shut behind her. Ryujin leaned against the sink, letting out a sharp breath. "I can't do this," she muttered to herself. "Why does she have to sit right next to me? Why does she act like nothing's different?" Ryujin looked at herself in the mirror, eyes slightly narrowed, jaw set. She was trying to stay cool, but it was fraying. "If she wants me around, she needs to act like it," she said softly. She splashed some water on her face, dried her hands quickly, and pushed the door open again. Practice Room – Repositioning When Ryujin came back in, Yeji looked up automatically. But Ryujin didn't return to her. She walked past her old spot and dropped down next to Yuna instead, casually bumping her shoulder. Yuna playfully complained, "Oof— Unnie? Switching it up?" Ryujin smiled lightly, "You're warmer." Everyone laughed, except Yeji, who glanced back at the space Ryujin should've sat in — the space next to her. Her smile dimmed slightly, even though she didn't say anything. Chaeryeong noticed the tension, glancing between them. "You two fight or something?" Ryujin just smiled faintly and shrugged. "Not at all." But she didn't look at Yeji. The moment hung, the others noticing but not pushing, and Yeji feeling something shift even though she couldn't name it yet.