Same Night —
The REBUS dorm was anything but quiet. Not because anyone was arguing or because something was wrong. It was simply the kind of quiet that only existed when five people had lived together long enough to stop noticing the noise they made.
The television played in the background with the volume turned low. A kettle sat forgotten on the kitchen counter. The faint sound of traffic drifted in through the windows, mixing with the occasional rustle of shopping bags being moved from one place to another.
And in the middle of the living room, Kim Bo Ra, otherwise known by her stage name 'Anastasia' stood with her hands on her hips.
She looked around once then twice. Then her expression hardened.
"No, no, no."
YoonNari, who was leaning against the doorway with her arms crossed, didn't even look up.
"That sounds serious."
"It is serious."
"It's a sofa."
Bo Ra turned toward her.
"It's not just a sofa."
Nari raised her eyes.
"It is currently doing a very convincing impression of one."
Bo Ra ignored the comment. She walked over to one of the cushions, adjusted it slightly, then stepped back.
The cushion looked exactly the same. Nobody said anything. That was probably the smartest choice.
"Something's wrong," Bo Ra decided.
GiselleDubois, sitting cross-legged on the couch with her tablet balanced on her knee, finally looked up. She had been scrolling through articles about LUCENT's final tour stop for the past ten minutes.
Not because she needed to read them, but mostly because it was something to do.
"They're not coming here tomorrow..," Giselle said calmly.
Bo Ra looked over.
"..They're landing. Going home. Sleeping."
She picked up another jacket from the pile beside her.
"That's not the point."
"What is the point?"
"We're under the same company."
Bo Ra folded the jacket carefully before placing it over the arm of the chair.
"Appearances matter."
Nari glanced around the room.
"To who?"
Bo Ra stared at her.
"...To people with standards."
"Ah."
Nari nodded slowly.
"People."
Bo Ra narrowed her eyes.
"You wouldn't understand."
Before Nari could respond, Giselle's lips curved slightly.
"Oh, we understand."
She returned her attention to her tablet.
"That's the problem."
ShantelKim sat beside Giselle, both hands wrapped around a cup of tea that had already started cooling. She glanced at the clock. It was almost midnight.
"Bo Ra."
"Hm?"
"You've reorganized the living room three times."
"And I'll do it again if I have to."
She was already kneeling beside the coffee table, adjusting the arrangement of magazines.
"Everything has to look perfect."
Shantel watched her for a moment.
"You're aware they won't be inspecting the cushions, right?"
Bo Ra stopped and slowly looked up.
"That's not the point."
Shantel smiled softly. She had expected that answer.
Bo Ra picked up her phone again. Photos of outfits, angles and lighting filled the screen. Small details most people wouldn't notice.
'Which jacket looked effortless?'
'Which one looked like she hadn't tried too hard?'
'Which one gave the impression that she simply happened to look good?'
That was the hardest kind of image to create.
Effortless.
She didn't notice the looks the others exchanged. She rarely did.
Across the room, Oh Sae On sat comfortably on the rug. Unlike everyone else, she had no interest in the living room arrangement. Her attention was on a group of plush toys carefully lined up in front of her.
One by one.
She adjusted them until they were sitting neatly together. A pink rabbit moved slightly closer to a smaller bear. A small frown appeared, then she fixed it.
"There."
Shantel looked over.
"They're arranged now?"
Sae On nodded happily.
"Mm."
"What changed?"
"They looked.. separated."
Shantel's expression softened.
"You thought they looked lonely?"
Sae On looked surprised that the answer wasn't obvious.
"Of course."
A quiet smile appeared on Shantel's face.
"You really worry about everyone."
Sae On hugged one of the plush toys against her chest. Then she looked toward the television.
"They're back."
Nobody asked who. They knew.
Sae On smiled.
"Joo An must be tired."
Giselle's fingers paused briefly against her tablet. Bo Ra looked over from her phone.
"Of course he is. They just finished a world tour."
Sae On nodded.
"That's why."
She looked down at the plush toy in her arms.
"He probably didn't sleep much."
Shantel watched her carefully.
"You're excited too?"
Sae On nodded immediately.
"Of course."
Her smile widened.
"I made new piano arrangements for hymns. Maybe he would like to hear them."
The room went quiet for half a second. It wasn't awkward. Just... a little thoughtful.
Nari's expression changed slightly. Giselle looked over, not unkindly but aware.
Joo An wasn't someone who enjoyed a lot of attention... Especially not unexpected attention... Especially not from someone with Sae On's 'endless' sincerity.
Sae On, completely unaware, continued.
"I hope he eats well. Touring must be exhausting."
She paused.. then added,
"I should make cookies."
Bo Ra immediately looked offended.
"Please.."
She placed a hand against her chest.
"..If anyone needs care, it's Sera."
Nari sighed.
"Here we go."
Bo Ra stood.
"Sera worked harder than anyone."
"Everyone worked hard."
"Yes, but—"
"No."
Bo Ra looked at Giselle. Giselle didn't even need to say anything. The look was enough.
The room settled again.
Five girls.
Five different ways of thinking.
One company roof.
The excitement wasn't the same for all of them.
For BoRa, it was preparation. For Giselle, it was observation. For Shantel, it was quietconcern. For Nari, it was mostlywonderinghoweveryoneelsesurvived. For SaeOn, it was simplehappiness.
Outside, Seoul continued moving. Inside, the dorm remained awake a little longer.
Somewhere above the clouds, a plane carried six boys home. Somewhere else, a quiet house had already gone dark.
Different lives.
Different places.
Same night.
And none of them knew how close their worlds were beginning to move.