#fallenegos

the air tastes sweeter after a stage. or maybe that’s just the hotteok. heejin shifts the paper sleeve in her hands, carefully blowing on the steaming center before taking a bite. it burns her tongue a little, but she doesn’t complain—just hums through it like it’s worth the pain. which, honestly, it is.

her legs are still a little shaky. her heart’s still running on leftover adrenaline. but they’re done. the stage is behind them, the cheers were loud enough to swallow nerves whole, and now there’s just this—soft cherry blossom air, a paper-wrapped snack, and jieun walking next to her under the fairy lights.

she bumps her elbow gently against hers—more nudge than collision.

“see?” she murmurs, still a little hoarse from performing. “we survived. and i only looked like i was gonna pass out once.”

she doesn’t need a reply. they’ve never been a talk-every-second type of duo. jieun fills in the blanks when she wants to, and heejin’s never minded the quiet.

she takes another bite, waits a beat, then says, more offhand than she means it: “you were good, by the way.”

but then she glances over again, adds it more deliberately—so it lands this time. “really good. i hope you’re letting yourself be proud of that. if not, i’m making you write it in your journal later. no skipping.”

she flashes a grin to soften the edge of it, but it’s clear she means every word.