Seulki stays true to her word about space
"You know she'll come back." Hoseok said, but he wasn't sure himself. "Tae! You need to apologize when we see her!" Jimin said and Taehyung didn't say anything. He had been quiet most of the morning, not interacting with anyone. "Yah! Answer him when he talks to you." Jin snapped and Namjoon sighed, telling Jin to calm down.
Yoongi and Jin had given him an earful this morning when he woke up and Namjoon knew he needed time to recollect. As much as he also wanted this to be put to rest and behind them, he knew it wasn't going to be that easy this time. "Let's just get ready. We can talk to her when we see her." No one said anything and it was the quietest any of them had ever heard the dorm. The mostly empty room of Seulki's a heavy reminder of why.
Seulki sighed as she walked into the place for the music video today. She took a deep breath, plastering a smile on her face. She waltzed in like she owned the place, which was one of her perks. She exuded confidence even when she felt anything but. Taehyung's eyes followed her, wondering how she hadn't debuted as an actor yet. Because the show she was putting on right now was amazing.
She was smiling and talking with staff members, laughing as if they hadn't had a huge falling out less than 24 hours ago. She entered into the dressing room, stiffening a little when she saw Jungkook sitting in there. "Seulki!" He jumped up, making his way towards her and pulling her in a hug before he could think the better of it. She couldn't help but smile, but she gently pushed him away. "Kook, you act like I've been gone for years."
He put his head down, ruffling his hair. "It seems that way." She frowned but didn't say anything. "Are you going to talk to him? I know he wants to apologize. He feels really bad, S. And Yoongi hyung and Jin hyung were—" she held her hand up to stop him from talking. "I'm being cordial with everyone. But we can't talk right now. We all need space." She heard someone clear their throat from behind her and she peeked over her shoulder to see Yoongi.
"You really meant that?" She shrugged, not saying much else and shrugging her sweater off. "I'd really appreciate if we could just talk about work. I'm going to get my makeup done." She made her way to her stylist and greeted her warmly before sitting down and talking to her like they've been friends since birth.
Jungkook shuffled next to Yoongi, biting his bottom lip. He felt a little hurt to be honest. Seulki never brushed him off like that, even when they were seriously fighting. "Hyung—she actually meant it?" Yoongi sighed, patting his back. "Just—give it time, Kookie. They need to figure it out for themselves." He walked away but Jungkook knew he was just as hurt and frustrated too. The day went on without issue. Seulki kept to her word and only spoke to any of them about work and corrections or opinions on the music video.
"I'll see you in a few days for the interview, eonni!" She said to her stylist before slipping her sweater on and walking out. She bumped into someone and held her breath when she looked up to see Taehyung. She could see the guilt in his eyes, but she refrained from pulling him into a hug and forgiving him right there. "Sorry, oppa. Didn't see you there. Great work today."
She went to walk past him but he grabbed her arm and turned her around, eyes boring into hers. She refused to falter away despite how anxious she was right now. She knew what was coming and she wasn't ready—they weren't ready. "Seulki, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She patted his head, offering a gentle smile. "Great work again, Tae." She turned and walked away quickly, feeling tears well up in her eyes.
While she knew he meant his apology, she also knew he was mostly doing it because he was scolded by the older ones and because this was different. This was new. Seulki had been to the point of murdering them but never left like this or put this much distance between them. It was new territory and she knew it scared them to not know what was going on in her head. But if she was honest, she didn't even really know. All she knew was that this was what was best for right now, as much as they all hated it.
She passed by Namjoon who grabbed her wrist. She pinched the bridge of her nose. "I am really tired of being grabbed and stopped in my place." She turned to him with narrowed eyes and he held his hands up in surrender. "I'm not here to tell you to come home. I just want to know if you're okay." She scoffed—she couldn't help it. And she was still learning so, word vomit came out before she could stop herself.
"No. I'm not okay. My brothers—family—didn't step in to say what he said wasn't true. Whether or not you all believed it fully, it was believed to some extent and that's why no one said anything. Which hurts a lot more than him saying it. So, no, Namjoon. I'm not okay." She slapped her cheek, closing her eyes. "Dammit. I'm supposed to be working on that." Namjoon couldn't help but offer a weak chuckle. "I—we don't believe that."
She didn't say anything, putting a smile back on her face and looking up at him. "I'm not okay, but I will be. I think we all just need some time. I'd really appreciate it if you could all respect that. And that I want to only talk about work things for the time being. If something comes up, I'll be sure to let you know. Promise." With that, she took her leave, paying no one else would stop her. This was a hard day and she only had weeks of promotions left. She got into the car with her manager, sinking back into the seat before pulling her phone out and dialing a number she hadn't been answering in a week.
"Hey, you. Think you could come by for a little bit?" She heard Hyungwon say he would be there in an hour and she smiled at the excitement in his voice. Which made her feel even more guilty at how she had been treating him. She was going to take this one step at a time though.
And that started with her apologizing to Hyungwon for acting like a child.
