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You leaned on the wall, slightly panting, as the members laughed around you after a tiring practice. It was a week before your upcoming comeback, and there were a lot of things to prepare for since you guys have got a really busy schedule ahead of you in the future.

The sight of your five best friends having fun brings a small but noticeable smile to your face, even though you're quite tired at the moment. It's nice to see all your friends having fun and laughing around you; you wish you could do the same.

Being a maknae in a popular girl group isn't a piece of cake, but it doesn't stop you from trying your hardest to keep up with the other members. Especially if they're already making rapid progress, you don't want to be the one that gets left behind..

As you took a small sip of water, your head started aching, making you wince at the sudden pain. Although this didn't go unnoticed by the other members, as their laughter ceased, now giving you a concerned look.

"Hey [name], are you fine? You don't look too well." Yeji frowned as she walked closer to you, about to check your temperature.

"What are you talking about? Of course I'm fine." You forced yourself to smile as you walked further away from the members.

"Hey, you don't have to force yourself; we're about to finish today's practice anyway. Let's just continue in another day or so..." A voice piped up from beside you, startling you a bit.

Turning around you saw Chaeryeong.

She's definitely the person you need to avoid because she will read you like an open book.

From the day you met as trainees until the day you debuted with the same group, you were practically inseparable. Although there was this unexplainable relationship you both had, it was definitely different from the relationship you had with other members.

You just couldn't figure what it was...

As you walked away from the members, you tried to shake off the dizziness, but unfortunately for you, it just made it ten times worse.

Groaning, you placed your hands on your knees as you felt the bile of your stomach twitching. You were about to puke.

With your hand on your mouth, you rushed out of the studio and to the nearest restroom ignoring all the cries of your friends, to throw up all the food you'd eaten this morning.

Blinking away the tears, you suddenly felt a hand running up and down your back, trying their best to comfort you.

Leaning on the bathroom wall, you wiped your mouth with the tissue handed to you by the stranger after flushing the toilet.

"[name], I know you've been working really hard on this upcoming comeback, but please don't forget that your health will always come first. As the maknae of the group, you shouldn't be overworking yourself this much. It makes me worried, [name]. You know how much I care for you."

You recognized the voice to be that of Chaeryeong immediately. Her sweet and genuine voice never fails to make your heart race.

You turned your head to gaze at her, leaning against the bathroom wall, and your unshed tears finally fell; you just couldn't hold it in any longer.

Sooner or later, your small cries turned into sobs as you felt all the pent-up stress hit you right at this moment.

"Shhh... It's going to be okay, [name]." Chaeryeong caressed your face, wiping away your tears with her thumb.

As your sobs finally died down, you gently hit your head on the wall, slightly embarrassed but grateful nonetheless.

"I'm sorry." You apologized, closing your eyes as you caught your breath.

"Don't apologize, [name]. It's me that should be apologizing for not noticing right away."

You just stayed silent, too tired to think of a response. Although Chaeryoung didn't mind that you didn't respond, she found the silence comfortable as you both took this as your time to rest together.

When Chaeryeong looked at you, realizing that you were definitely tired, she broke the silence, "You can lean on me."

Sighing, you removed your head from the wall and rested it on her shoulders, grateful for her mere existence.

It's about time you finally realized what these unexplainable feelings were. And boy, were you glad you realized it before it was too late.