Ignoring the loud teasing around her, Llana opened the small paper bag.
Inside was a small box of medicine.
Painkillers.
Llana's eyes widened slightly.
…He noticed?
______
"What's inside?" Sana asked, her eyes fixed on the small paper bag.
Everyone's attention immediately shifted to Llana, curiosity practically dripping from their gazes.
Not wanting them to see, Llana quickly crumpled the top of the paper bag shut. She didn't want them to worry, so she would rather hide it.
She slipped the medicine into her bag, then raised a suspicious brow at Sana.
"You didn't open it?"
Sana shook her head.
"Aniyo."
"...That's surprising."
She really didn't expect Sana to leave it untouched. She honestly thought Sana was the type of person who would let curiosity get the better of her.
"Hey! I'm not like Jeongyeon-unnie or Nayeon-unnie!" Sana protested dropping the names of the two oldest member of their group, looking both offended and disbelieving that Llana had actually compared her to those two.
Opening it didn't even cross her mind.
…Well.
Maybe just a little.
Llana laughed awkwardly, feeling guilty for doubting her, so she immediately apologized.
However, Jeongyeon and Nayeon's loud voices completely drowned out Llana's apology.
They were practically shouting at the top of their lungs, making everyone wince and cover their ears.
"Yah! We were just sitting quietly over here, so why did we suddenly get dragged into this?!" Jeongyeon nearly sprang up from her spot on the floor, her right hand shooting out to point at Sana.
"I'm not like that! That's pure slander!" Nayeon quickly followed.
Momo snorted and leaned closer to Jihyo.
"Jeongyeon unnie didn't even bother denying Sana's claim."
Jihyo's lips twitched as the argument continued. Momo could not tell whether it was from amusement or annoyance.
"What slander? Didn't you open my parcel 6 days ago without my permission?" Sana shot back at Nayeon with a pointed look.
"I thought it was a scam! I was just checking it."
"Ya!That was Nayeon! Why am I being included too?!"
"Last time, you…"
Llana sighed as she helplessly watched them argue. Their noise was making her feel even more drained.
'Is this the price I have to pay for being in a group?'
Just watching them made her feel as though her soul was about to leave her body. Spending five years with these rowdy kids would probably make her age much faster.
Having Dolores in her life was already more than enough. Adding more people like her was nothing but pure suffering.
"CAN'T THE THREE OF YOU STOP BEING SO LOUD AND STOP ACTING LIKE KIDS?"
Jihyo finally lost her patience with the three of them. Unable to tolerate the chaos any longer, she unleashed her greatest weapon, her powerful voice, to put an end to the argument.
Momo, who received the full force of it from right beside her, flinched along with the rest of them. Everyone winced at Jihyo's megaphone-like voice. Llana, who had the most sensitive hearing, immediately covered her ears as they began ringing from the sheer volume.
Jeongyeon and Nayeon pouted before turning toward each other and mumbling under their breaths.
"Isn't she noisy too…?"
"Exactly. She's even twice as loud as us."
The room finally fell silent, making Llana sigh in relief. She rubbed the areas around her tragus with her index fingers, trying to soothe the pain inside her ears.
"You okay?" Dahyun asked gently, giving Llana, the group's maknae and her good friend, a light smile as she rested a hand on her shoulder. Worry was clear in her eyes.
"Yes," Llana replied, smiling warmly at Dahyun.
Dahyun really was attentive. It was one of the many wonderful qualities she possessed.
In front of the camera, Dahyun was energetic, talkative, and humorous. Off camera, however, she was surprisingly quiet and observant.
Llana usually did not get along well with noisy and talkative people. They were simply too much for her to handle.
...No, scratch that.
After being with Dolores for months, she had already developed atleast some immunity to people like that. Still, Llana preferred quiet people.
Maybe that was why she had gotten along with Dahyun so quickly.
"By the way, where's Tzuyu?" Llana suddenly asked, only now noticing that Tzuyu was missing.
As if on cue, a knock came from the door, causing everyone except Llana to freeze and hold their breath in fear.
She had locked the door earlier, so she was much more relaxed.
Llana watched as the hilarious scene from earlier repeated itself before her eyes, making her lips twitch in amusement. Their reactions were honestly too funny. They might actually have a future as comedians.
"What are we going to do?"
"We're dead!"
"Quick, hide again! Ppalli!"
"Llana, what are you doing?! Help us!" Chaeyoung urged from beside her when she saw Llana doing nothing but watching them scramble around.
"I locked the door earlier, so stop panicking. Wait, let me check."
Llana stood up and walked toward the door while everyone silently watched her.
She opened it just enough to peek outside and see who was knocking. She did not bother asking who it was before opening the door since the room was soundproof.
There, she saw Tzuyu waiting patiently outside.
"Oh, it's just you. Come in."
Llana sighed in relief and smiled lightly at her before opening the door wider to let her inside.
"Ezhel."
Tzuyu's lips curled into a small smile as she walked inside. She linked her arm with Llana's and allowed her to guide her toward the others.
"It's just Tzuyu…" Jeongyeon patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. "We thought it was really the end for us."
"Ne. I really thought we were about to get caught. That was scary," Mina said with a light giggle, one hand still resting against her chest.
She had genuinely been frightened that they would get caught while secretly eating heavy food despite management's strict prohibition.
But for some reason, she had also found it strangely thrilling.
"Where's my share?" Tzuyu asked as they sat down on the floor.
Chaeyoung froze.
She had forgotten about Tzuyu's share and had given it to Llana.
Chaeyoung could not help glancing nervously at Tzuyu before turning toward Llana.
Noticing her strange behavior, Llana blinked.
"…Was this Tzuyu's?"
Chaeyoung nodded.
"…Sorry, Tzuyu. I forgot and gave your share to Llana," Chaeyoung admitted sheepishly, nervously waiting for Tzuyu's reaction.
"…It's okay."
Tzuyu stared at her for a moment before glancing at Llana, who had already eaten half of the burger.
"Sorry, I ate your food. Here, do you want to share the rest with me?" Llana offered awkwardly, giving her the brightest smile she could manage as she held out the remaining burger.
"Hmm. Sure."
Tzuyu nodded before leaning forward and taking a bite directly from the burger without taking it from Llana's hand.
"Tzuyu, you can have some of these too," Dahyun offered, holding out some fries and fried chicken.
Tzuyu nodded and grabbed a handful of fries with her left hand and a chicken leg with the other.
"Thank you, Dahyunnie."
"You're welcome."
"Do you want some spicy tteokbokki?" Llana asked.
"Mm. Ah~."
Tzuyu opened her mouth, and Llana took it as her cue to feed her.
"I honestly don't know which one of you is supposed to be the maknae," Momo commented, shaking her head.
Making everyone laughed.
"Jihyo, feed me too!"
Feeling jealous, Momo leaned toward Jihyo and opened her mouth wide, waiting to be fed. She wanted someone to feed her too.
However, Jihyo did not even spare her a glance.
"No. Do it yourself."
Momo pouted sadly, making Jeongyeon snicker.