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Nostalgia always comes during midnight, and Jiheon dreaded for morning to come.
Maybe it was her fault for always watching dramas until late, but she could never seem to sleep before 12 o’clock.
She tries to sleep early, closing her eyes and hoping for the best. But when she opens her eyes and realised the moon was still high in the sky staring back at her, she groans, stuffing her face in between her pillows.
Jiheon missed the times Gyuri would wake up randomly in the night and reprimand her, annoyed because of her frantic movements.
She missed the old dorm, the way all of the members would have their own separate lives but include the others in their own activities.
Like when Hayoung would randomly dance in the middle of the living room, Jiwon shortly joining her after.
Or when Jisun would be bored and cook up something amazing, and the others would crowd around the dining table to get a bite.
Jiheon missed it when she was babied. Gyuri acting as her dad and Jisun as her mom. The members and even the fandom loved to make jokes and stories about them as a big family.
But everything changed when Gyuri left, and Jiheon missed it when everything was the way it was.
Jiheon noticed the sun slowly rising in the horizon. She sighs, running her fingers through her ruffled hair.
She closes her eyes, hoping sleep would come sooner.
—
“Heon? Are you okay?” Saerom was quick to notice her friend’s dilemma. She sits beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
Jiheon sighs, fishing out her in-ear and letting it dangle on her shoulders. The mic pack is pressing uncomfortably against her back, but she remains unfazed.
“I still miss her,” she says, resting her head on Saerom’s shoulder.
Saerom could only hold the girl tighter, rubbing Jiheon’s arm reassuringly.
Hayoung peeked through the curtains of the tent, greeting the two with a soft smile.
“Heon, Unnie it’s time,” Hayoung quickly informed the two, grabbing spare batteries most likely for her mic pack.
Saerom stood up after Hayoung exited, holding out a hand for Jiheon to hold as she stood.
The younger stares at their leader with teary eyes, and all Saerom could do was give her an unsure but comforting smile.
—
The group gathered in the living room, a routine they all unknowingly created after their years of spending time with each other.
Jiheon was curled in front of the sofa, a futon laid on the tiled floor by their leader, as she was scared the youngest would catch a cold.
The other’s were littered about, occupied by their electronic devices or their instrument, more specifically Hayoung who was mindlessly strumming on her guitar.
“Chae is this correct?” the said girl was quick to reply a yes, moving closer to Jisun who asked her the question.
Jiheon watched how they all interacted, seemingly okay, like nothing happened. Her chest tightened, looking at her members bitterly.
“Heon?” Saerom softly tapped the girl’s shoulder “Want to join us outside?”
She spots Nagyung, Seoyeon and, Jiwon by the door, the first two ready while Jiwon was struggling to tie her shoelaces.
Jiheon suddenly feels guilty of thinking negatively, knowing the others are also feeling down because of Gyuri’s departure.
She smiles, looking up at Saerom and smiling.
“I’ll just change my shirt,”
—
“Unnie?”
“Heon?”
“How are you?” Jiheon laid on her bed, the rest of fromis_9 sleeping soundly in their respective rooms.
She had suddenly craved for Gyuri’s voice, missing the way they talked after promotions.
They had always loved to tell stories to one another, even if Gyuri was exhausted after a personal schedule, she would still listen to Jiheon rant about her day.
“I’m doing okay, finally bought a bed frame the other day,” she hears the other chuckle through the phone.
“How about you?”
Jiheon stared at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts.
“Heon-“
“I’m okay Unnie, still getting used to you not being here,” she replies, soft and fragile.
She can’t see her but she knows Gyuri’s smiling, the reassuring smile she used to give her all the time when she was struggling through her anxiety.
“Do you guys want to visit? I have some free time before my new drama comes out,”
Jiheon smiles, “Sure Unnie,”
—
“UNNIE!”
The group huddled together by the hallway, lunging at the aforementioned girl after she opened the door.
“Hi guys,” Gyuri chuckled, softly reciprocating the hug.
“Gyuri Unnie,” Jiheon was the last to approach, waiting for the others to unlatch themselves on the girl.
“Heon,” They hug, Gyuri letting Jiheon cry on her shoulder as she gently combed through her hair.
“She missed you a lot,” Saerom softly rubbed the girl’s back.
“I missed her a lot too,”