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Trauma
chapter seventeen

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[ 🍃POWERFUL WOMEN💥 ]

minsi | siyoung | yoonjung
gyuyoung | aera

siyoung
i like the profile picture, yoonjung.

yoonjung
thanks! i found it on pinterest.

minsi
not the time, ladies.

yoonjung
oh kay

minsi
dohyun has told me some valuable
information.

aera
oh?

minsi
"oh?"

minsi
is that all you have to say?

gyuyoung
what is it that he said?

siyoung
is everything alright??

aera
i'm a little sad. its hard leaving my
members when i've been living with
them for the past few years.

minsi
which is why we are coming to help
you unpack and lift your spirits

yoonjung
i have never felt so relieved in my life.
i thought you were going to say that dohyun
and aera don't get along and we were going
to have one of THOSE experiences.

aera
one of THOSE experiences??

gyuyoung
the awkward atmosphere. the longing or
hateful gazes. the difficulty keeping in
character. the drama.

siyoung
you two do seem to be friends though.

aera
i'd say we are friends. i think he agrees ahaha.

minsi
oh my god do you like him???

aera
i ADMIRE him! he's only one of my several
celebrity crushes. but then again so is
jinwook oppa.

yoonjung
same with jinwook oppa 👀

siyoung
i always had the biggest crush on lee
seung-gi.

minsi
really? does your husband know?

siyoung
of course he does. we have no secrets.

aera
queen of healthy relationships 🤍

yoonjung
what about you, minsi unnie? who's your
biggest celebrity crush?

minsi
... well. i don't really think much about it.
i'm so concerned about my career right now,
you know?

aera
and that's okay! we'll help you find one,
though ;)

gyuyoung
knock knock!!

                    THE MOMENT AERA PULLED OPEN THE DOOR, THE ATMOSPHERE SEEMED TO CHANGE FROM THE DARK AND GLOOMY FOREST TO A BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL PARK SETTING. Minsi held bags of food and drinks on her arms with a keycard between her teeth. Siyoung seemed to have brought DVDs of movies that Aera had seen a million times (what a surprise, right?). "Wow, you didn't pack much," Gyuyoung commented as she closed the door, spotting the two suitcases that were ripped open and flowing with clothes. "I didn't know what to pack," Aera replied truthfully.

"You didn't have to pack a million bags of gummy bears," Yoonjung teased, already picking up a package and ripping into it. She tossed one to Siyoung, who then popped it into her mouth with a smile of satisfaction. "This music is making me feel depressed. Let's change it up, shall we?" Aera's phone, which had been left unlocked, was soon snatched by the youngest of the group, Yoonjung. She silently scrolled through Aera's music before finally settling on a song, which just so happened to be one of Red Velvet's. "You guys didn't have to come.."

          "We want to," Minsi replied with a grin. She placed the bags down on the small desk in the corner. "Plus we'll be surrounded by testosterone for the next twelve hours. We should get some girl time in there, two." This made each of the women laugh as they began moving folded clothes to drawers, Aera placing shoes on the floor and putting the single photo she had brought with her beside her bed. "I know how hard it is to leave someone behind. But it does get better, and it gets easier," Siyoung explained gently, already working on the DVD player plugged into the flat screen television. "I know that in my head, but it doesn't help my heart, you know?"

She stared at the photo laying on the night stand. Baby faces and big smiles, the photo showed White Rose just before their debut. It was the first picture they had taken together as a group and it was Aera's favorite picture of all time. "You're really close. That's sweet," Gyuyoung spoke, taking a seat on the bed at the end. "I always wondered what it would be like to have these friends that you call a family." Aera smiled. "You're going to experience it soon because I'm not leaving here without befriending any of you." Yoonjung giggled as she popped a few more gummy bears into her mouth. "You're not at all what I was expecting, you know?"

          Aera glanced toward the girl curiously. "Most idols I've met who try out acting are cocky, and sometimes very arrogant. Only a select few are as kind as you are." Siyoung nodded in agreement. She pulled open a DVD box with a snap. "They tend to keep more so to themselves because of scandals. According to most, they have more to lose." The idea of possible scandals never dawned on Aera. She was so worried about tanking her performance that she forgot about the possible rumors that could be spread. But she didn't believe her career was more important than theirs. They had a lot to lose, too. "Scandals are scary, and the company may kick me out if I continue to get some, but I'm not worried," she admitted aloud.

"Good," Siyoung hummed, finally putting on a movie and turning toward the younger women. "Now, since we've got everything put away, let's eat!" Aera was the first to move after the sound of her rumbling stomach startled her. She was quick to turn off the song playing from her phone speaker and pocketed the device. Each girl took a container of food and sat on the bed across from the television. They sat in a half circle, shoulders touching, legs tucked beneath them. "How about a game of would you rather?" Yoonjung suggested as she popped off the plastic top. Aera hummed in interest. "I love that game! We should do it!"

          After Aera and Yoonjung got the rest of the girls to agree, they began. "Siyoung unnie. Would you rather live in a one room house or work in a warehouse?" Siyoung chuckled. "One room house. It'll bring the family closer." And the game continued as they ate, half watched the movie playing on the TV. Aera felt her worries fizzle away as a new sense of home took over. These were her people, too.

—

rumi says!

how are you liking the book so far?
i'm enjoying building these relationships
and exploring everything. plus, aera is just
so easy to write for, honestly.

out of the girl's, who is your favorite?
aera, minsi, yoojung, gyuyoung, or siyoung?