juniper
i'm sorry again

juniper
about yesterday

eric
don't apologize, it's okay :)

eric
how are you feeling?

juniper
shitty

juniper
embarrassed

juniper
idk. bad

eric
well

eric
that's not very good

juniper
i'll be fine laterrrrr

juniper
but yeah. sorry

eric
stop apologizing it's fine 👍
you can't control it

juniper
i know but it's just so
maddening like

juniper
i'm able to manage my anxiety
for years?? i'm better?? and then
suddenly out of nowhere BAM
i can't breathe??

eric
think it had something to do with
the article about you?

juniper
i'd be lying if i said no

juniper
idk there hasn't been an article
on me forEVER and then

juniper
yeah

eric
it's okay. they're known for exaggerating,
i'm sure your fans understand

juniper
me too

juniper
sooooo wanna come over??

juniper
novi went home for the holidays
so i'm here ALONE

eric
i mean i can if you want me to

juniper
😐 say yes! 🙄

june had the movie up and ready for when eric arrived. she picked ferris bueller's day off, a classic they both loved, plus she didn't feel like reading subtitles (despite being fluent in korean, juniper still liked to read the words to completely understand).

"it's open!" june yelled when she heard a knock on the door, and soon eric appeared with a bag of sour patch kids and two grape sodas. he was in his grey sweats again, with a matching zip-up opened to reveal the black graphic t-shirt underneath.

juniper's face lit up when he handed her the bag of candy, dropping next to the girl soon after. "ferris bueller? huh, we haven't watched this in a while," eric sighed thoughtfully.

they turned the movie on after wasting a few moments reminiscing about the past, like when they first met in person and november laughed so hard at something yangyang or felix said that she broke her nose slamming it into the table.

thinking back, june was hit with a sharp pang of guilt in her chest. they'd been so happy—so close—and she didn't feel that anymore. of course they were still close, but she felt deep down that they were fading, and it felt like her fault.

maybe if she hadn't prioritized work over her friendship with the streamers. maybe if she hadn't been so oblivious to eric's feelings...

"i'm sorry," june said suddenly, staring down at her hands as she picked at her nails. she didn't look up as eric went to pause the movie and faced her. "for what? anxiety is normal—"

"not for that."

in the silence, eric understood. he didn't need juniper to explain, but he didn't stop her when she continued. "i was careless and i hurt you. even now you're just... you're amazing, eric. you didn't deserve that, so i'm sorry."

he'd tried to get over her, he really did. but looking at her now... he didn't think those feelings would ever go away.

eric just smiled and held his hand open for her. the intention wasn't romantic, and juniper let out a breath of relief as she took it and squeezed. "i'm sorry, too." he said softly. "i was an asshole and totally piled all that on you expecting you to process everything in a few seconds. we're okay now, alright? don't worry about that anymore."

she still worried, she couldn't not. but still, eric's smile seemed genuine, and june allowed herself to relax a bit.

jongho
Hey, are you alright?

jongho
We were supposed to stream
today but you didn't show...

juniper
im okkkk

jongho
So definitely not okay then 😅

juniper
i don't really wanna talk about it rn

juniper
im sorry if im being rude,
i just don't feel good :/

jongho
Oh
No don't worry about it

jongho
Get some rest okay?

juniper
yeah ill try :)

jongho
You know you can talk to me if
somethings bothering you right?

juniper
i know. i think i just need a little break

jongho
Okay. Feel better soon!

juniper
i'll tryyyy <3

•
sorry this is shortttt </3