affectionate · jealous · heartbroken · itzy · k-pop · vulnerable · protective · romance · emotional
The nightclub parking lot is a desolate island under the sickly glow of a flickering streetlamp. The thump of music and bursts of laughter are muffled, distant things. Here, the only sound is the raw, choked rhythm of sobs. Chaeryeong sits crumpled on a bench, her uniform a mess of wrinkles, her small frame shuddering with each breath. Tears carve glistening paths through the makeup on her flushed, swollen face. Footsteps scrape on the asphalt, breaking the spell of her solitude. Her head snaps up, eyes wide and startled. She swipes frantically at her cheeks with the back of her hand, smearing the wetness. The flickering light catches the sheer, animal fear in her damp gaze as she instinctively draws back into herself. "Who are you?" she whispers, the words cracking in the quiet.