Work Text:
In the quiet solitude of the studio, the faint hum of the heater provided the only company to the solitary figure hunched over the soundboard. Soyeon's eyes were glued to the computer screen, her fingers dancing over the keys with a silent rhythm as she worked tirelessly on the group's new song. The melody swirled in her mind like a maelstrom, demanding perfection. Each beat and lyric was meticulously crafted to resonate with the soul of their devoted Neverlands.
The door swung open, interrupting the short woman's concentration, and in barged Yuqi, her energy as boundless as a kangaroo on a sugar rush.
"Soyeon-ah!" she chirped, her voice cutting through the room like a knife through butter.
Soyeon's eyes snapped up, the glow from the screen reflecting off her face.
"What is it, Woogie-ah?" she snapped, her voice tight with annoyance.
Yuqi paused, a little taken aback by Soyeon's sharp tone. She'd only wanted to share some good news about their latest social media stats, but the vibe in the room was suddenly as frosty as a winter's morning.
"I...uh... I just wanted to tell you something," she stuttered, trying to maintain her cheerful demeanor.
"What?" Soyeon demanded, not bothering to hide her exasperation.
The pressure of creating a hit was weighing on her, and she didn't have time for distractions, even if the distraction was her girlfriend.
Yuqi took a tentative step forward, clutching her phone tightly.
"We just hit a new follower milestone on our social accounts. And our latest comeback got more likes than any other of the group’s!" she exclaimed, her voice slightly wavering. “We’re first on Melon.”
Soyeon's grip on the keyboard tightened.
"That's great, but can it wait?" she asked through gritted teeth, her eyes never leaving the screen.
The last thing she needed was to be pulled out of her creative zone by trivial updates.
But Yuqi, ever the social butterfly, was incapable of taking a hint. She bounced over to Soyeon, her enthusiasm unbridled.
"But Soyeon-ah, you should see the comments! They're all talking about your amazing rap verses!" she exclaimed, leaning over her shoulder, her breath warm on Soyeon's neck.
Soyeon's patience had run as thin as a sheet of rice paper. She whipped around in her chair, the leather squeaking in protest.
"Woogie-ah, I'm trying to work here!" she bellowed, her voice echoing off the soundproof walls. "I don't care about likes and comments right now. Can't you see that? Why are you so annoying?!"
The room seemed to shrink around Yuqi, her eyes wide with shock.
"But... I just thought you'd be happy." she murmured, her voice barely a whisper.
The joy she'd brought into the room dissipated like mist in the sunlight.
Soyeon's anger was palpable, a storm cloud hanging over the studio.
"I am." she growled, turning back to her work. "But I need to focus on the music, not on what people are saying on the internet."
Yuqi's shoulders slumped, the light in her eyes dimming. She had only meant to share a moment of excitement with her girlfriend, to offer a brief reprieve from the relentless pursuit of musical brilliance. Instead, she had unknowingly become the storm that had darkened Soyeon's mood.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, backing away slowly, feeling like she had intruded on sacred ground.
With a heavy sigh, she turned and exited the studio silently, the door closing with a gentle click behind her. The corridor was a stark contrast to the warmth she had left, the harsh fluorescent lights buzzing overhead like a swarm of discontented bees. As she walked away, the weight of Soyeon's words settled in her stomach like a stone, sinking lower with each step she took.
Back in the studio, Soyeon's eyes remained glued to the screen, but her mind had strayed from the task at hand. She replayed the exchange in her mind, the way Yuqi's face had fallen at her harshness. Her heart clenched as she realized she had hurt her girlfriend's feelings. The burden of creating the group's new masterpiece had consumed her so completely that she had forgotten to consider the people around her.
Soyeon chose to quickly end the new song so she could spend all her free time with her girlfriend.
Her hands hovered over the keyboard with quick moves as she ended the song.
Soyeon knew she needed a break. Her eyes were blurry and she felt a knot in her stomach that wasn't just hunger. She grabbed her phone and took a quick trip to the nearby vending machine for a cheap, hot chocolate. The sweet warmth might just melt away the stress.
The hallway was quiet, a stark contrast to the bustling corridors they navigated during their practice sessions. It was a rare moment of solitude in their hectic schedule, a chance to breathe. The fluorescent lights flickered above as she approached the machine, casting eerie shadows on the linoleum floor.
Her hand hovered over the buttons making her hot chocolate. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of light footsteps approaching from around the corner. She turned to find Minnie, her gentle gaze meeting Soyeon's frazzled one.
"Need a break?" she asked softly, her voice like a melody in the stark silence.
Soyeon nodded, unable to hide the exhaustion etched into her features.
"Just for a bit." she murmured, taking the warm cup from the vending machine.
Minnie stepped closer, her gentle hand reaching out to pat Soyeon's head, her touch as soft as a feather landing on water. It was a simple gesture, but it held a world of comfort. Soyeon leaned into it, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she felt the warmth spread from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. It was a stark contrast to the coldness she had directed at Yuqi.
Minnie's eyes searched Soyeon's, a knowing look in them.
"What's bothering you, Soyeon-ah?" she cooed, her voice a gentle lullaby that had soothed countless fans and now aimed to calm the storm within her bandmate.
Soyeon took a deep breath, the weight of her words to Yuqi still heavy on her chest.
"It's just... the new song," she began, her voice trailing off. "The pressure's getting to me. And I snapped at Woogie."
Minnie's expression softened, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
"Ah, the old 'stress turns you into a dragon' routine," she teased gently. "But you know, she'll understand if you just tell her how you feel,” said, reassuring her leader. “When Miyeon comes into my studio while I'm working on a new song, I sometimes get mad at her, even though she's not the cause of my anger. She gets all sulky, but as soon as I apologize, she realizes that I didn't mean to hurt her, but was just stressed and tired. Just apologize and share a sweet kiss and everything will go back to normal. That's how a couple works together with love." Minnie said, smiling at the little leader, before taking another hot chocolate for her girlfriend. "Go to Yuqi and tell her the truth and what you think of the song, maybe you could share the burden and write something together. Miyeon is helping me with a new song now and it helps me a lot not to be alone with all of this in my studio. I'm very grateful for her presence and now that we're done, we can spend some time together."
Soyeon nodded, taking a sip of her hot chocolate.
Minnie's advice was like a soothing balm to her frazzled nerves. She knew her fellow member was right. The bond they all shared was strong, but it was moments like these that reminded her that communication was the key.
"Thanks, unnie." she said, her voice a bit more relaxed. "Please tell Miyeon-unnie I said hi."
“Sure! I’ll go now.” said Minnie, taking the second steaming cup from the machine. “I’ll take her her chocolate. Don’t worry, Soyeon-ah. Woogie will understand. Good luck!”
Minnie’s footsteps grew faint, leaving Soyeon with the echo of her words. She took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the chocolate spread through her, not just physically but emotionally as well. She knew what she had to do.
Turning on her heel, she made her way to the room that served as Yuqi's personal sanctuary, her own studio. She knocked on the door, before pushing it open gently, not wanting to startle her.
Yuqi's eyes were red-rimmed, her voice shaky as she talked into the phone. Soyeon's heart clenched. She had clearly been crying. The sight was a sobering reminder of her earlier outburst.
"W-Wait, Shu... Soyeon's here. I have to go." she murmured. "... Uhm, Love you. Tell Soojin-ih I said hi."
Yuqi ended the call, before looking at Soyeon who was still near the door.
Soyeon took a tentative step forward, the weight of her own guilt a heavy burden.
"Woogie-ah, can I come in?" she asked, her voice softer than before.
Yuqi nodded, her eyes still on her.
"Yeah," she murmured, not bothering to hide the irritation in her tone.
She had been talking to Shuhua, the one who had always had her back, after Minnie and Soyeon herself.
Soyeon stepped into the room, the thick air filling the space between them. She saw the crumpled tissue on the couch, a testament to the emotional turmoil her girlfriend had been through... Because of her.
"Woogie-ah," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "Can I sit with you?"
She gestured to the couch that had become a second home to the couple during their downtime. It was where they shared their fears, their laughter, and now, hopefully, their apologies.
Yuqi nodded, her eyes never leaving Soyeon's face. Soyeon took this as a silent invitation and carefully sat beside her, the couch dipping slightly under her weight. She could feel the tension in the air, as thick as the bass line of their latest hit. She took a deep breath, the sweet scent of their favorite vanilla candle filling her nose, and reached out to take Yuqi's hand. It was cold, and she squeezed it gently, hoping to convey the warmth she felt in her heart.
"I'm SO sorry for how I treated you earlier."
The words hung in the air, heavy with sincerity, as Soyeon searched Yuqi's eyes, willing her to believe her.
Yuqi took a deep, shaky breath before looking at Soyeon again. It was a silent gesture, but loud and clear. She was willing to listen, to forgive, but the hurt lingered like the aftertaste of something sour.
Soyeon's chest felt tight as she continued.
"It's just the stress of the song, Woogie-ah. I didn't mean to take it out on you. You know I wouldn't get mad at you for something like that," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "I was so hurt when I realized what I had done. I'm so sorry, can you forgive me?"
Yuqi looked at her and sighed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“Ugh! I hate how you know how to win my heart.” mumbled the puppy, her thumb tracing patterns on their entwined hands. "When you shouted at me, it felt like you didn't care about what I had to say."
Soyeon's grip tightened, her heart squeezing with regret.
"I do care, I swear," she insisted, her voice cracking. "But the pressure, it's just...it consumes me. I get so lost in the music that I forget there's a world outside of it, and that I have people who care about me."
Yuqi studied her for a moment, her own heart thawing slightly. She knew Soyeon wasn't cruel by nature. Stress had a way of bringing out the worst in people, and she had seen firsthand how much pressure their careers placed on them all.
"It's okay," she murmured finally, her voice still shaky. "But maybe next time, you could just tell me you need space or even ask for my help?"
Soyeon nodded fervently.
"You're right," she said, her voice filled with remorse. "I shouldn't have taken it out on you. And I could really use your help sometimes... Minnie-unnie was right. It makes me feel so much better having someone to share the burden with. I’m so used to doing all the work alone that I forget that I could actually ask for your help or Minnie-unnie’s."
Yuqi's eyes searched Soyeon's, looking for the sincerity behind her words. Sensing it, she gave a small nod of acceptance.
"I know the music is important," she said, her voice stronger now. "But we're a team, Soyeon-ah and I'm also your girlfriend. We should help each other out, even when it's tough."
Soyeon sighed, her eyes brimming with regret.
"You're right," she murmured, leaning over to kiss the top of Yuqi's head. "I love you so much, Woogie-ah."
Yuqi leaned into Soyeon's arms, now wrapped around her neck, wrapping her own arms around Soyeon's waist.
"I love you too," she said, her voice muffled against the fabric of Soyeon's shirt.
Soyeon held her close, feeling the warmth of her girlfriend's body melt the chill that had settled in her heart.
"What do you think if we stay and cuddle on this couch for a while?"
The question hung in the air, as soft and sweet as the melody of a lullaby. It was an invitation to set aside the stress of the world and bask in the warmth of their love, and Soyeon knew she needed it as much as the air she breathed. She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips, and wrapped her arms around Yuqi tighter, letting the girl's head rest on her shoulder, as they both leaned on the worn couch.
They sat in silence for a while, their hearts beating in sync with each other, the only sound in the room the faint crackling of the candle flame. Soyeon could feel the tension draining from her body, the warmth of their shared embrace a gentle reminder that she wasn't alone.
"I don't know what I'd do without you, Woogie-ah." she whispered, kissing her temple. “Thank you always for your support and love… even when I don’t deserve it.”
Yuqi's arms tightened around her waist.
"You do deserve it, Soyeon-ah." she murmured, her voice a lighthouse to Soyeon's seastorm of fears. "And I'm here for you, no matter what…Now! What if we both sleep? I think you need it. I know you well and I know that if that song stressed you out you also spent the nights composing it, am I right?"
“You know me SO well.” she mumbled on her lips, before leaving a short kiss on them.
“Don’t think it is over.” whispered Yuqi to her girlfriend. “You’ll have to eat veggies for a week to be completely forgiven.”
“You’re So mean… But I know I deserve it.” she said, sadly. “Sleep well, Woogie-ah.”
“Sleep well, Soyeon-ah.”