Chapter 5

                                    

                                          
"I DO NOT PITY HER!" Eunjae screamed, slamming the door shut behind her, startling her sister Eunyoung, who was engrossed in her laptop.
Eunyoung blinked, processing Eunjae's outburst. "What happened this time?"
"What do you think happened? That Hyejin! Can't she be professional for once? Does she hate me that much?" Eunjae's eyes welled up as she struggled to regain composure.
"Why is Hyejin like that Eunyoung? So arrogant! Her ego could touch Namsan Tower! I arranged an interview for her, and she rejected it, calling it a 'pity' interview because I set it up!"
Eunyoung sighed, shaking her head. "Considering your history with Hyejin... the way your friendship ended... the reasons behind it... Do you really think she wouldn't see this as a 'pity' interview?"
Eunjae paused, absorbing her sister's words.
"Eunjae-ya... You broke Hyejin's trust in the past... and for someone like her, who doesn't easily open up, you also broke her heart. Don't blame her for interpreting this as a pity." Eunyoung gently explained.
"It's been years, Eunyoung... Why can't she move on?" Eunjae's voice quivered.
•_•
It started to pour as Hyejin stared out of the window of a drinking place. Her eyes drowsy, filled with longing and sadness. 
The people giving her a look of sitting and drinking alone.
"It's raining, Hyejin!" Eunjae squealed with excitement, her enthusiasm increasing with the falling raindrops.
"I hate rain, seriously!" Hyejin groaned, arms crossed as she stood beneath the shelter, trying to shield herself from the rain.
Eunjae couldn't resist teasing. 
"But what if I dance like this?" She began to wiggle her hands and hop around playfully, imitating a silly dance.
Hyejin couldn't hold back a smile at Eunjae's antics. Despite her annoyance with the rain, she found herself chuckling. 
"You're such an idiot, you know that?" she teased affectionately, her voice laced with laughter.
Hyejin chuckled softly as she drank her soju, her thoughts clearly burdened by something deeper. Her cheeks slightly flushed red with the amount of drinking.
"Even my happy memories are a lie..." she muttered to herself, pouring another drink with a clink of the bottle against the glass.
"Can I sit with you?" Hyejin startled, turning to see Taehyung standing there.
Taehyung's eyes held a mix of surprise and affection as he looked at Hyejin. 
"Oh Taehyung-si..." she quickly got up, bowing more than 90° almost folding in half.
"No need for that... Just Taehyung. We're the same age." he smiled softly, removing his mask.
Hyejin nodded, gesturing politely for him to sit beside her.
"Why are you drinking alone?" Taehyung asked, settling in comfortably next to Hyejin.
"I like being alone." Hyejin replied with a giggle. 
"It's fun. We're born alone and we die alone too." she added, her tone suddenly shifting to a more serious note.
Taehyung chuckled, raising his eyebrow in surprise.
He had never seen Hyejin's smile before, the only expression he had seen was her usual serious demeanor. 
Now, she was showing a variety of expressions.
"You're quite the philosopher, Hyejin." Taehyung teased gently, nudging her shoulder playfully.