8 :; LINGER

Sunhye covers her mouth as a big yawn escapes her mouth. It was a few days since that... incident at Diana's partyโ€” nevertheless, the party was still good and memorable (especially that fight).

She and the other girls had planned to record a few songs and demos for the day as they hadn't really decided on what to release yet.

Sunhye rubs her eyes as she turns the knob of the recording studio's door, "Annyeong, guys-" She stops in her tracks, nobody was there in the studio yet. It was emptyโ€” except for the recording equipment and Anne's coat that she forgot during the last recording session they had.

She blinks and stops in her tracks, slowly entering the room as she softly closes the door behind her. It was quietโ€” but in a good way. Like a comforting silence.

Sunhye walks over to the couchโ€” propping down her small bag and jacket as she also takes a seat. She sighs to herself, sitting in silence as her feet start making random tapping rhythms. It was like she was playing the beat of some unknown songโ€” it was uncoordinated and all over the place, but it was a good way to break the silence brought on by the loneliness in the room.

She sighs again, walking over to the record player in the corner of the roomโ€” bending down to look at the wide array of vinyls.

It ranged from Wu-Tang Clan, Whitney Houston, TLC, and of courseโ€” N.W.A. themselves. But what really caught her attention was the single vinyl of The Cranberriesโ€” 'Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?' It was her favourite album of the year so far.

She wondered to herself as she picked up the vinyl, feeling it in her hands as the smooth cover of the record felt cool and satisfying in her fingertips.

She walks over to the record player, taking out the record carefully before placing it on the playerโ€” placing the needle on top of the record as she hits play. Immediately, the soft guitar playing of Noel Hogan in 'I Still Do' seeps into the airโ€” with Dolores O'Riordan's voice soon flowing into her ears as well Her unique voice enchantingly harrowing her ears as she taps her foot to the beat of the song.

But what really got her going was when her favorite song off the album started playingโ€” Linger.

"'If you, if you could return,'" She sings along, standing up from the couch as she sways her hips to the rhythm.

She hums continuously, closing her eyes as she starts twirling around in the studio like a child in their room. She was carefree in this momentโ€” not a single worry in her mind as she let the music take control of her.

"'But I'm in so deep,'" She sings, her eyes closed shut as she prances around in the room in the same way she did so when she was a young girl in her bedroom.

Meanwhile, Eazy arrives at the record studioโ€” catching her in the act, but she was too absorbed into the music. She doesn't hear him enter. She continues her funโ€” singing, laughing, dancing, and twirling to herself; her dance moves atrocious enough that it would move Elvis or MJ to tears.

Eazy stares at herโ€” baffled at her behaviour (but in a good way, don't get him wrong). He stays in place as he stares at her with his arms crossed against his chest. He didn't want to ruin her momentโ€” she looked so gentle in this light that he decided to just let her be until she eventually noticed him.

Thus, he continues to watch her with soft eyesโ€” smiling a small smile on his lips at her half-assed, uncoordinated footwork to the singer's alluring voice.

Then, Lita's words pop into his mindโ€” how and why was her father in jail? She looked like such a nice girl who lived a happy life, who would have thought her childhood was like that. It must've been so hard for her to accept that as a kid. He thinks to himself.

To give her the benefit of the doubt, though, she was good at hiding her problems.

The song was about to finish, but as Sunhye turned aroundโ€” her eyes wide open now; she spots him. Standing behind her for God knows how long.

She reels back in surprise, her heart skipping a beat just like how the record skipped a beat too. She freezes on sightโ€” the same look of bewilderment on her face as his as the embarrassment sinks in again.

This was a moment that only she was supposed to seeโ€” not for anybody else!

Eazy clears his throat awkwardly as Sunhye reluctantly lowers the volume of the record player, standing up straight as she looks off to the floor. Here they were againโ€” in another embarrassing and awkward situation.

She looks so different now, though: her movements, her expressionโ€” everything. It's as if a different side to her was unveiled to him, and it was fascinating. He was so used to seeing her as this shy and awkward girl that he didn't expect her to act this way. It felt goodโ€” refreshing even.

"H-hi... I didn't see you there." She purses her lips awkwardly.

"Yeah, I know." He stares at her for a few more seconds before finally speaking. "I'm not sure if you were aware, I've been standing right here. But anyway...you look..." He pauses to gather his thoughts, letting an awkward silence fill the space between them as he shifts his hands to his jacket pockets.

He opens his mouth to speak again, but he holds his words back. Finding it too bold and unprofessional.

Now, it was just awkward silence again.

They didn't speak to each other again. The only noise between them, at this point, was the soft and siren-like voice of Dolores O'Riordan oozing out from the record speakers.

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