Scripts (Purinz)

Script 22: Curtain call

It was such great timing that Chaewon was onstage at the time, sitting beside Wonyoung and Sakura. They were tying pieces of small fabrics together for a prop they had to use onstage while dancing.

The sudden silence that came after they opened the door was suspicious, and it was enough for the three girls to look up and see-

Chaewon felt her throat and heart tighten.

It was like a scene in a movie where the main character gets a flashback.

Her hold on one of the fabric pieces became loose, as if she had forgotten how to use her hands.

Suddenly, the air conditioning inside the auditorium became nothing, and Chaewon felt like she was about to sweat.

Was she nervous? No, definitely not. Scared? Maybe? Chaewon doesn't know the difference between emotions anymore.

All she knew was that she was looking at Huh Yunjin, in the flesh, standing on both her legs as if she had not been tackled down by heavy female athletes more than a week ago.

She held no clutches on both arms and although there were still bandages wrapped around one of them, her stance seemed to be fine.

She looks perfectly fine.

Or maybe Chaewon was going insane? Maybe this isn't Huh Yunjin who was standing inside the auditorium, looking at her straight in the eyes.

But the silence from the others was too loud, and Chaewon couldn't be the only one seeing her.

"You-" Chaewon's whispered sentence got cut off when Sieun reacted first.

"You're alive!" The president pulled her into a bone-crushing hug, and Yunjin coughed and laughed. "I am!"

"And you're here!"

"Huh Yunjin!?" Wonyoung dramatically shouts before standing up and literally jumping off the stage just so she could get a better look at Yunjin up close.

Sakura didn't even question as she followed suit while Chaewon stayed seated on the stage, unable to react.

One by one, the members came out from backstage and greeted Yunjin as if she had just come back from war.

Everyone except Chaewon.

And Yunjin isn't numb. She could feel Chaewon's eyes on her as she interacted with everyone, assuring them that she was feeling alright. Eunchae didn't even let go of her once she hugged the older girl.

Not like Yunjin minded anyway. She missed the younger girl as she had been busy with the club and rarely visited her.

"Aren't you supposed to be resting?" Sunghoon asked, and she immediately smiled.

"I'm feeling better now. Besides, we have a performance to rehearse for."

Everyone became very excited when they heard what Yunjin said.

Chaewon's eyes widened.

She's back?

Chaewon was in disbelief, but she was happy at the same time.

The ache in her heart prevents her from celebrating. The memory of Yunjin crying in front of her as she confesses and apologizes is engraved in her mind. The more she stared at the girl, the more the memory played on repeat.

Yunjin looks back at Chaewon, and they stare at each other for a moment.

Chaewon wanted to look away, but something in her system prevented her from moving.

The redhead smiles up at her.

There was not a hint of pain or regret in her smile. There wasn't any hidden meaning behind her eyes.

It was genuine. Everything about Yunjin was genuine. Her eyes twinkled, no longer hiding anything behind them, and her smile no longer had that twist of sorrow in them.

Now, only Chaewon feels the pain and the regret.

Yunjin does feel the pain. It was still there in her heart, and her throat felt tight. Twisted. If she stopped smiling, it would show.

Chaewon could no longer read her anymore. Well, it's not like she could before.

But she still wonders if there is a meaning.

There is but Yunjin refuses to stop smiling just so Chaewon doesn't see it.

This is her goodbye, after all. It wouldn't hurt not to bid Chaewon any. Yunjin can leave without saying a word.

Yunjin can exit the stage without bowing. So she smiles wider.

This is her farewell.

Her curtain call.