carry the legacy

“jinhwa, love, everyone knows why that happened,” she assured her. “higher was at fault for rushing your debut to compete with sola’s, and the public sees that. and the song got good reviews– it was the music video that was put into question. i promise you, you’re not hurting his reputation or career in the slightest.”

“that was such a stupid idea,” jinhwa admitted softly, frowning. “sola’s so much more popular than me. she got first on the show. it really just seemed like they were trying to set me up to fail....”

“yeah, you have a point. dad can’t sing for shit. but still. it’s your genetics. it’s not because dad is pulling strings,” he assured her

“what’s your excuse for being tone deaf, then?” she shifted. she still felt guilty, but she knew verbalizing that wouldn’t get her anywhere, so she was changing the subject.

“good. you better. you’re too good a singer to waste it because you’re feeling shy,” dokyoung answered sternly

“i....i wouldn’t call it just being shy but...thank you. that’s nice of you to say.”

she’d worried about it for a few days before she finally had the courage to text rhiann, with the other girl insisting that they go for coffee to hang out later that week. jinhwa had been a wreck getting ready, triple checking that she looked good with lucy before finally leaving, heart pounding as she walked through the cafe doors, hands clutching her over-the-shoulder purse strap. she ordered a tea and sat down, trying not to hyperventilate as she waited for rhiann to arrive. @rvrhiann​

“um, i’m a rapper from higher. we’re all badasses. i don’t know what you’re talking about,” seyeon answered back with a laugh, nose scrunching up in indignation. “i know…. she’s changed so much from when she was a kid– how can people not see that?” she sighed. “i know ryujin and chae are groupmates with woori, but i can never trust her after she did that to hayoonie….”

“seyeon, i love you so much. but you literally walked out of the house today with a giant pink hairbow. you’re squishy,” jinhwa insisted, recovering from how flustered she was now that the tables had turned. she sighed. “i know. i have a hard time talking to woori sometimes too. especially when that all happened. but she and my brother are dating, so....i kind of have to get over that.”

“you’re too young to worry too much. i assure you i worry just enough. and if lucy wasn’t ready for this, we wouldn’t be so confident, i promise. everything is just fine.”

“i have to worry. i’m the only one in our house who ever does!” jinhwa insisted. “i trust you. i just get really nervous. even if you tell my i shouldn’t be.”

“c’mon, man. i get it. being the person of privilege without having a say in it is weird. but like…you can’t let it go to waste. use it, and then figure out how to use it to help everyone else later.”

“i....i still don’t know how i feel about that, but don’t worry. i don’t want my dad’s work to go to waste. no matter how i feel about it, i’m going to do what i can the best that i can.”

“no,” he said bluntly. “you have a better voice than literally 80% of the world’s population. if you got picked because of dad, you got picked because his musical genetics are in you or some shit like that.”

“well... i guess you have a point,” she murmured. “i think those genes might come from mom though,” she added with a giggle.

“jinhwa, sweetheart, why do you feel that way?” lucy asked, taking her hand gently. “you’ve done nothing but work hard and do incredible things.”

“with the whole solo debut thing... he had to work so hard and put his ass on the line just to get me a good song, and he had to do it with barely any time. and then that song got bad reviews. i just feel awful that i stained his reputation like that.”

“hey, tone isn’t what matters here. it’s your voice and your stage presence, cutie. that’s what carries it all. your talent is what’s keeping people coming back,” rhiann assured her.

the word cutie took jinhwa a little aback, chubby cheeks turning bright red. “i....well, thank you. you have a beautiful voice too. it’s really powerful. if anyone could give me a run for my money, it’s you.”

“i mean…. you didn’t stand out i guess, but it suited you less,” seyeon giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. even in hobgoblin, jinhwa looked cute and squishy. “yeah– hayoon really got to show off, huh.”

“says miss little squishy sparkle girl,” jinhwa shot back, blushing and pouting. it was a terrible insult, but seyeon was right and she didn’t like that. “she did! she deserves it, too, after what happened to her on the first idol project.”

“i suppose, if you put it that way…. i think i’ll still just wait until one of you are home, though…”

“yeah, well, that works too. and that way we can all hang out with you,” she giggled.

“nothing is going to happen. and even if it did, you are anything but trouble,” lucy assured her with a soft voice.

“i don’t know. i feel like i’ve caused dad plenty of trouble this year already...”

“why not? it’s a beautiful song and you have a gorgeous voice,” rhiann insisted. “you looked beautiful in the video too. ethereal.”

“maybe i should be worried about my next release then...” jinhwa murmured with a blush. “it’s a lot different...”

“just because i could doesn’t mean i should,” sangmin snorted, rolling his eyes at her. “i would feel so weird just…letting myself into your house like that. it feels so wrong.”

“and why shouldn’t you? you’re family,” jinhwa insisted. “it’s only weird if you make it weird.’“