Lost and Found

Ten

Continuing on as a six-member group felt entirely wrong. No one knew exactly what to do, but they knew she wouldn't have wanted them to give up. At least not in the letter she wrote to Gahyeon. Each of them had their own letter, and everyone except Siyeon and Bora had opened theirs.

Bora had become the new leader, and they had been on hiatus for almost a year after the news had been released.

She hated the day entirely and didn't know how to react when she had gotten the call that the older woman was gone. She remembers the company trying to keep everything under wraps until the police report had been released. Shocking everyone who knew her.

"She wouldn't have done such a thing..." Siyeon whispered. "She... She had so much left." She sniffed.

"People who smile the most are usually the ones hurting the most," Yoohyeon muttered.

"She said she was feeling a lot better... Why would she lie." Bora frowned.

"People who suddenly say that... Usually mean they've made a decision." Yubin answered quietly. "She could've made that decision before you called her. Feeling suddenly happy that she was going to be freed from the feelings."

Bora shook her head, refusing to accept that her best friend had been gone for a full year almost.

When they had finally started preparations for their next comeback, everything had felt wrong. Entirely wrong. They no longer had the angelic voice of their leader coming in with her bridges. No more Minji presence making sure everyone was thoroughly taken care of.

Bora did her best, making sure everyone was taken care of the best she possibly could. But it wasn't the same. She wasn't Minji. She wasn't the fun loving unnie that got things done. She was stressed and nervous. Afraid to make the wrong moves or say the wrong thing. She couldn't just goof off anymore like she used to with the girls. Now she had to make sure everyone was where they needed to be, make sure everyone was home on time... Everything was stressful.

Siyeon stayed in her room for exactly ten minutes before she ended up in Yubin's room. She couldn't stand being in the large room by herself. It was different when she was just on hiatus. Different when she was just visiting home for a day or two. Now she was gone and Siyeon couldn't stay in her bed. Minji was supposed to be asleep in the bunk above hers. Not fully away from the world now.

Everyone was struggling. Extremely stressed and unprepared for their comeback when it came around. They were exhausted and running on fumes as they stood on the stage, letting out sighs of relief when they were able to finally leave. They didn't care about awards anymore. No award was ever going to mean the same thing now that she was gone.

They entered the last week of promotions, trying their hardest to remain happy with cameras rolling for their behind-the-scenes footage. It was hard to keep the same energy since their leader was gone.

They stood backstage, quiet as they waited for the winners to be announced. They only once twice before. What would change? Nothing.

Other groups watched them with curious eyes. Veteran groups who knew they had lost a member watched with pity and sympathy, hoping they were doing okay with the sudden loss while rookie groups wondered why they were eerily silent. Some passed it off as trying to maintain their dark and scary concept, but they didn't know the truth.

When their group was called for the win, they didn't know what to do. It was as if it was the first win all over again. The staff urged them forward with bittersweet smiles, trying to get them on stage without anything horrible happening.

They had barely gotten through the schedule before going back to the company, running through a quick live to thank the fans for their support before ending it. Everyone fell silent with the occasional sniffles from others who were still crying.

"It seems wrong," Yoohyeon whispered, breaking the silence.

"Becuase it is wrong," Siyeon muttered. "We won without her and I hate it." She frowned.

"Isn't this what she wanted?" Gahyeon sniffed. "She wanted us to keep going. To win many awards with her watching over us." She frowned.

"Gahyeon is right. Her letters asked us to continue on." Handong whispered.

Bora let out a sigh, resting her head against the table in front of her. Everyone had eventually left, leaving her alone with the trophy in front of her in the small room.

"We got another award unnie," Bora whispered. "I know you're probably up there watching over us and Youngie." She sighed. "But it would be a lot better if you were here. Everything seemed so much easier when you were here. We were a family. Now it just... It just feels like we're falling apart." She sniffed.

Her eyes landed on the metal, seeing the engravement of their name and the date for the award.

"I wish you were here Minji." Bora sighed before standing up and leaving the room. She looked back at the trophy, happy they had another one under their belt, but upset that their leader wasn't there to revel in their victory with them. She shut the light in the room before truly leaving, deciding to find the girls and bring them home for the night.

Everyone deserved a long rest now.