Chapter Text
Breaking news had become a popstar sensation overnight, the industry fell in love with Minju. She was, however, oblivious to the fact that she had dominated the music world… but she was definitely dominating her League of Legends game.
It’s 4 am and Minju was clattering on her keyboard, not minding how long she’d been awake but she had felt pride that she deserved to play her rounds after months of physically and mentally draining days of working on her song, the feeling of being accomplished was the utmost greatest feeling she’s ever felt. The night before, she had been with her friends Sakai Moka, Lee Wonhee, and Hokazono Iroha, indulging in playful banters of having released her first song.
In a restaurant bustling with other parties of people celebrating or catching up with life, the atmosphere was warm and homey, the lights dim enough to hint the accents of the venue in a dark honey color that made the night feel like a dream where everyone felt as though they had only been away for a month when it had been 3 years since they had last seen one another.
“So.. when do we get to hear your first song? I’m so happy for you! And this platinum pink hair suits you so well!”, Moka exclaimed. Moka had been busy with college to be a fashion designer, earning her a spot at one of the most prestigious brands that highlighted her creative spike and spunk she’d been glowing since she was younger. She had been Minju’s best friend since they were younger from elementary, middle school, and throughout high school, years apart never failing to hinder the fact their bond was always so strong.
“I don’t know… maybe when you hear me on the radio and all around the world?”, Minju chortled, she had missed her best friends for so long that despite the distance and time apart, her heart was full and the love had never faltered even the slightest. She had spent those 3 years finding her meaning of being a songwriter, having trials and errors of getting her ideas being heard until she had been accepted into the GLLIT industry where she got her motivation back in love, spending months getting her significance and ideas together for her fame. However, Minju was hesitant of the thought that her song was going to be unsuccessful, nevertheless she fidgeted with her hands on the table trying not to tell the truth that it was gonna be the night it was going to be released.
Moka smiled longingly and bonded her hands with Minjus, squeezing for a tease. “Oh c’mon Minju-yah!”, Moka refused whenever Minju doubted herself.
“Yeah, you’ve been hiding your hard work for so long there’s no way you’re just hiding it from the world, especially us!”, Iroha chimed in. Iroha, the dance prodigy, the luminary, she had built her way up to be one of the most notable and memorable dancers, working alongside Minju as the choreographer in her published song.
“Hey, you said you were working with Minju about the song! You should know what the song sounds like!”, Wonhee chided while playfully smacking the girl on the arm. Wonhee, master illusionist, her magic camp since her upbringing definitely paid off, she was now master of misdirection and sleight of hand dexterity which she joshed with Moka in taking the rings and bracelets off of her hands without her noticing.
“Okay ladies, calm down!”, Minju giggled. “It’ll be released… tonight!”, The bustling nature made her relax more eager to be excited for her unseen success.
“Tonight?!”, the 3 exclaimed in slamming their hands down, making the table rattle and the nearby crowd turned to them looking confused and interested.
“Wait, wait, shhh!” Minju halted. “It’ll be released tonight and I don’t want it to be too much of a big deal because”, she pauses, staring down at the tablecloth being quiet, “… what if it doesn’t get popular?”
Minju had always been a perfectionist but she always sought out the flaws in her and her abilities in being good at what she does, she is praised for being organized and top of her education but lies beneath are the disorganized thoughts that always echoed in her head, telling her she was not good enough. The only time the noise seemed to quiet was when she was with her friends. Around them, the pressure eased, replaced by laughter that didn't demand perfection or expectations she had to live up to. They reminded her that she was more than her grades or accomplishments, even if she struggled to believe it herself. And there was writing, solace which led her to dreams and nightmares of being a songwriter.
“I’m sure it’ll be a success, Minju”, Iroha reached out and patted Minju on the head. “Seeing you work your ass off for months… I wouldn’t be surprised at all if you get busy gaming instead of touring”, she snickers, earning a smack from Wonhee again.
“Be nice Wonhee-yah, Minju you know you got this. We know you got this, you’ve always been that nerdy student in high school who worked the hell out of this. And if people don’t like it then they have shut the fuck up!”, Moka interjected. Iroha and Wonhee smiled and nodded in agreement.
Minju beamed with happiness with her friend's love, her cheeks filled with pink radiance from the laughter that escaped her doubtful demeanor. “You guys are the best… honestly, what would I do without you?”, her heart feels warm and her stomach feels full of butterflies, the rosiness of the atmosphere gives the girls more comfortable awe that their best friend is coming out of her shell.
“Probably spend more time groveling and thinking about that one girl from high school that you never had any courage to talk to before graduation”, Wonhee teased, earning her a pinch from Moka. “Eh! Moka-yah!”
“Minju’s grown out of that high school crush by now! She doesn’t need someone from her past to validate her now! Right Minju?”, Moka gestures with a thumbs up. “Besides, you’re better than that Noh Yunah, she wasn’t present in school most of the time so I don’t know how you fell for her when she was never there.”
Wonhee giggles silently while slowly wearing Moka’s accessories, “Exactly! She’s not worth your thoughts or jewelry”. Moka’s attention piques hearing jewelry then looks at her own hand that were naked of bearings then looks at Wonhee who was wearing her rings and bracelets. “Hey Wonhee! Give me back my things! How the hell did you take that?!” Moka tries to reach over Iroha who was starting to be sandwiched between the 2 girls playfighting.
“Wonhee give back Moka’s stuff! And Moka quit squishing Iroha!”, Minju tries to separate the girls, Wonhee takes off the jewelry and hands it to Moka who was sticking her tongue out at her and laughing in victory. Even though they are all adults and have their own lives, they still bicker and play like high school students, their youth still shining in them with happiness.
The waiter then comes to their table and hands them their food, the aroma enlightening the mood even more as the smell fills their happiness even more. The girls continue their chatter while chowing down on their food, still catching up on their missed time and years together.
Iroha pokes her finger at each girl, “Say… do you guys have any idea what Yunah does now? She graduated with us but she’s disappeared online”, each girl looks at one another puzzled and confused. Neither one of them had spoken to Yunah during high school except when teasing and pushing Minju to talk to her, and Minju stuck in her thoughts about her song, not paying attention to the eyes that stared at her.
Noh Yunah had been that student that didn’t show up but always placed second to Minju when it came to dominating their grades, despite almost never showing up for class or to school in general. Minju was naturally curious to Yunah, her unknown figure but loud presence always piqued when it came to the gossip of her being a ghost of the school or a child of a higher family that paid the school to let her pass.
The few times Minju had seen Yunah was when she was delivering papers to the office and ran into her.