Morning came slowly in the dorm.
The sunlight crept through the thin curtains in Hayeon's room, landing across the floor and the edge of her desk where her notebook was still open from the night before. Pencil marks, scribbles, crossed-out lyrics—evidence that she had fallen asleep writing again.
Marshmallow was curled on her chest like a tiny white cloud.
Mochi had taken the pillow.
Hunter had somehow claimed the very corner of the blanket.
Hayeon woke up with a groan.
"Guys... seriously?"
The cats blinked at her like they paid rent.
She gently moved Marshmallow and sat up, rubbing her eyes. Her hair was a mess, and her hoodie sleeve was covered in pencil smudges.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.
She reached for it lazily.
Her notifications lit up the screen.
Group chat messages.
Practice schedule updates.
A few texts from Danielle.
One from Hanni.
Junhoon had sent a meme.
But the one she was looking for...
Wasn't there.
No message from Louis.
Her chest tightened a little.
She tried to act like it didn't matter.
"Whatever," she muttered.
Hunter blinked at her.
She checked again.
Still nothing.
Not even a "happy birthday" message.
Not even a "sorry I missed it."
Nothing.
Her jaw tightened.
"Cool."
She tossed the phone onto the bed and stood up.
In the kitchen, the boys were already awake.
Woojin was eating cereal straight from the box.
Ryul was making coffee.
Ohyul was leaning on the counter half asleep.
Junhoon waved when he saw her.
"Morning birthday girl."
Hayeon sat at the table and grabbed a banana.
"Morning."
Woojin squinted at her.
"...you look like you fought a war."
"I wrote a song."
"Oh that explains it."
Ryul slid a mug toward her.
"Coffee."
She nodded in thanks.
But her eyes drifted back to her phone sitting on the table.
Still silent.
Woojin noticed immediately.
"Waiting for someone?"
She scoffed.
"No."
Junhoon smirked.
"Uh huh."
Hayeon took a sip of coffee.
Too hot.
She winced.
"I literally don't care."
Ryul leaned on the counter.
"...you checked your phone five times in thirty seconds."
Hayeon glared at him.
"I check it for work."
Woojin leaned forward dramatically.
"For work named Louis?"
She threw a napkin at him.
"Shut up."
But the irritation was building.
Because the truth was...
He said he'd be there.
Louis had said it casually days before the party.
"Of course I'll come."
He'd even joked about bringing a gift.
He'd promised.
And then...
Nothing.
No explanation.
No message.
No call.
No "sorry."
Just silence.
Hayeon grabbed her phone again.
She opened their messages.
Her last text from two days ago sat there.
Hayeon:
Don't be late tomorrow.
Delivered.
Read.
But nothing after that.
Her stomach twisted.
Junhoon gently nudged her arm.
"Maybe he's busy."
Hayeon shook her head.
"No."
Her voice was quiet now.
"He saw the message."
Woojin sat across from her.
"...maybe something happened."
"Or maybe," she said flatly, "he just didn't care."
The table went quiet.
Even Woojin didn't joke this time.
Hayeon locked her phone and pushed it away.
"Practice starts in thirty minutes right?"
Ryul nodded.
"Yeah."
She stood up quickly.
"Cool."
Junhoon watched her carefully.
"You okay?"
She forced a smile.
"Obviously."
But the walk to the studio felt longer than usual.
The streets were busy.
Fans recognized them.
Someone shouted "Happy birthday Hayeon!"
She waved politely.
But inside...
She was replaying everything.
The party.
The panic attack.
The empty doorway where Louis never appeared.
And now...
Silence.
When they arrived at the studio, the group started warming up.
Music blasted through the speakers.
Woojin stretched.
Ryul practiced the choreography.
Ohyul ran through vocal lines.
Hayeon stood near the mirror, tying her hair up.
Her phone buzzed again.
Her heart jumped.
She grabbed it quickly.
A notification.
Instagram.
Someone had tagged her.
She opened it.
A fan account had posted photos from her party.
Pictures of idols laughing.
The decorations.
The marshmallow theme.
Her with the girls from NewJeans—Hanni, Hyein, Danielle, and Haerin smiling beside her.
But then she saw the comments.
"Where was Louis?"
"Did they fight??"
"He didn't even come to her birthday..."
"I thought they were close?"
Her stomach sank.
Woojin looked over her shoulder.
"...fans noticed."
She locked the phone.
"Great."
Practice started.
But Hayeon was distracted.
She missed a step.
Jay Park stopped the music.
"Focus."
She nodded.
"Sorry."
They ran the choreography again.
And again.
And again.
Still no Louis.
Finally Woojin asked,
"...is he coming today?"
Jay Park shrugged.
"He said he'd be late."
Hayeon's jaw tightened.
Late.
So he was alive.
He just didn't message her.
Cool.
Hours passed.
Sweat.
Music.
Footsteps.
But every time the studio door opened...
It wasn't him.
By the time practice ended, Hayeon was exhausted and irritated.
She grabbed her water bottle.
Woojin nudged her.
"You're spiraling."
"I am not."
"You absolutely are."
She glared.
"Drop it."
He raised his hands in surrender.
"Okay okay."
But as they packed up their things, Hayeon checked her phone one more time.
Still nothing.
Her chest hurt again.
Not the dramatic kind.
The quiet kind.
The kind that made you feel stupid for caring.
Junhoon walked beside her as they left.
"You're mad."
She sighed.
"...I'm not mad."
"Then what are you?"
She thought about it.
The empty doorway.
The silence.
The unread apology that never came.
"...annoyed," she said.
Junhoon raised an eyebrow.
"Liar."
Hayeon kicked a rock on the sidewalk.
"...fine."
Her voice dropped quieter.
"I'm hurt."
She shoved her hands in her hoodie pocket.
"He promised he'd come."
Junhoon didn't say anything for a moment.
Then he asked gently,
"Did you tell him that?"
She shook her head.
"No."
"Why?"
Hayeon sighed.
"Because if he didn't care enough to come..."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"...why would he care enough to explain?"
The walk back to the dorm felt colder somehow.
When they got inside, the others scattered to their rooms.
Hayeon dropped onto her bed.
Marshmallow immediately climbed onto her stomach.
Mochi curled beside her arm.
Hunter jumped up too.
"Hi babies," she murmured.
She stared at the ceiling.
Then slowly unlocked her phone again.
Her thumb hovered over Louis' name.
She could text him.
Ask where he was.
Ask why he didn't come.
But the thought made her chest twist.
So instead...
She typed a message.
Hayeon:
Hope whatever was more important than my birthday was worth it.
She stared at it.
Then deleted it.
Too dramatic.
She tried again.
Hayeon:
You missed the party.
Deleted.
Her phone fell onto the mattress beside her.
"Forget it."
Marshmallow purred loudly.
Hunter blinked at her.
And somewhere across the city...
Louis still hadn't read a single new message.
Because there weren't any.
And the misunderstanding between them
was only getting bigger.
______
The practice room felt different that day.
Not loud.
Not chaotic.
Just... heavy.
Music was already playing through the speakers when Hayeon walked in, a steady beat echoing off the mirrors and polished floor. Woojin and Ryul were stretching near the corner, Ohyul was adjusting the speakers, and Junhoon was sitting on the floor tying his sneakers.
And standing near the mirror—
Louis.
He was there.
Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching everyone warm up.
Hayeon noticed him instantly.
Her stomach dropped for a second.
Then she looked away like she hadn't.
Just like that.
No smile.
No greeting.
Nothing.
She walked past him calmly, placing her bag down near the wall.
Woojin noticed immediately.
His eyes flicked between them like he was watching a tennis match.
"...well this is going to be fun," he muttered under his breath.
Hayeon tied her hair up into a high ponytail and started stretching her legs, focusing on the floor, on the mirror, on literally anything that wasn't Louis.
Across the room, Louis noticed it too.
The way she didn't even glance at him.
Didn't say hi.
Didn't react.
It was... weird.
Usually she at least rolled her eyes at him.
Usually she said something sarcastic.
Usually she acknowledged him.
But now?
Nothing.
He stepped forward slightly.
"Haye—"
The studio door opened loudly.
"Alright."
Jay Park walked in.
Everything instantly shifted to serious mode.
He clapped his hands once.
"Let's start."
Music blasted through the speakers.
The group lined up.
Hayeon stood in formation like nothing was wrong.
Louis stood beside her.
Just two feet away.
Close enough to hear her breathing.
But she didn't look at him once.
Jay Park watched from the front of the room.
"From the top."
The beat for Moonwalkin' started.
They moved in sync.
Sharp movements.
Perfect timing.
Louis kept glancing sideways during the choreography.
Every time their steps brought them close.
Every time their arms brushed.
Every time their bodies passed near each other.
She never looked at him.
Not once.
Her face stayed neutral.
Professional.
Focused.
Jay Park paused the music.
"Again."
They reset.
This time the choreography moved into the close-contact section.
The one everyone knew.
The one fans loved.
Louis's part.
"I need you too much (You, ah)"
They had to move toward each other.
Hands brushing.
Bodies nearly touching.
Their faces inches apart.
Usually there was a playful tension.
Sometimes they even teased each other while practicing.
But today?
Hayeon stepped into position mechanically.
Louis sang the line.
"I need you too much—"
She moved exactly the way the choreography demanded.
Nothing extra.
Nothing soft.
Just precise movements.
Their bodies came close.
Their hands slid along each other's arms as the choreography required.
Their faces hovered inches apart.
And she looked straight past him.
Like he wasn't even there.
The moment passed.
The dance continued.
Jay Park stopped the music again.
"...okay."
He leaned against the wall.
"Something's off."
Nobody spoke.
Jay Park pointed lazily at them.
"You two."
Louis and Hayeon.
"Again."
The rest of the group stepped back.
Louis rubbed the back of his neck.
Hayeon waited calmly.
Music started again.
The choreography restarted.
Louis stepped closer this time.
When the moment came again—
"I need you too much—"
Their bodies met in the choreographed movement.
His hand brushed her waist.
Her hand moved along his shoulder.
Their faces close.
So close he could see the faint crease between her eyebrows.
"Hayeon—"
She stepped away immediately as the choreography ended.
Didn't react.
Didn't answer.
Jay Park raised an eyebrow.
"...okay."
He crossed his arms.
"Stop."
Music cut off.
Silence filled the room.
Jay Park looked between them slowly.
"What's going on."
No answer.
Woojin coughed awkwardly.
Hayeon wiped sweat from her forehead.
"Nothing."
Jay Park blinked once.
Then looked at Louis.
Louis shrugged slightly.
"She's ignoring me."
Hayeon scoffed quietly.
Jay Park looked back at her.
"That true?"
She shrugged.
"I'm just focusing on practice."
Woojin whispered to Ryul,
"She's lying."
Ryul nodded.
"Very obviously."
Jay Park sighed.
"This choreography requires chemistry."
He gestured between them.
"If you two look like coworkers at a dentist office it's not going to work."
Junhoon tried not to laugh.
Louis looked at Hayeon again.
"...can we talk?"
She picked up her water bottle calmly.
"No."
The room went quiet.
Jay Park blinked slowly.
"Oh."
Woojin whispered,
"Yikes."
Louis frowned.
"Hayeon seriously—"
She walked past him.
Straight to the mirror.
Ignoring him again.
Jay Park rubbed his temple.
"...why is it always you two."
Nobody answered.
Finally Jay Park sighed.
"Break."
Everyone scattered around the room.
Woojin sat on the floor immediately.
"Oh this is messy."
Junhoon nodded.
"Extremely messy."
Across the room, Louis walked toward Hayeon.
She noticed.
And immediately grabbed her bag like she needed something.
Anything.
He stopped in front of her.
"Hayeon."
She zipped her bag slowly.
Still not looking at him.
"What."
Her tone was flat.
Louis exhaled.
"Why are you acting like this?"
That made her laugh once.
Not a happy laugh.
"Like what."
"You're ignoring me."
She finally looked at him.
Her expression calm.
"You didn't come to my birthday."
Louis blinked.
"...what?"
She shrugged.
"That's all."
Then she walked past him.
Just like that.
Louis stood there confused.
Across the room, Woojin whispered dramatically,
"Oh he's dead."
Ryul nodded.
"Very dead."
Jay Park clapped loudly from the front of the room.
"Break's over."
Everyone moved back to their positions.
Hayeon stood in formation again.
Calm.
Silent.
Professional.
Louis stood beside her again.
But now his head was spinning.
Because clearly...
He had missed something important.
And the silent treatment had only just begun.
______
The house had been quiet for hours.
The kind of quiet that only happened after everyone had finally gone to sleep—no music, no footsteps, no laughter drifting down the hallway. Just the soft hum of the air conditioner and the occasional rustle from the cats wandering around at night.
Inside her room, Hayeon had been trying to sleep.
Trying.
But it wasn't working.
She turned onto her side.
Then onto her back.
Then buried her face into the pillow.
Her brain wouldn't shut up.
The party.
The empty space where Louis should've been.
The practice room.
The silent treatment.
Him sitting outside her door.
Him saying he didn't know.
Her chest felt tight again.
She groaned quietly into her pillow.
"Ugh..."
Finally she sat up, rubbing her face.
Her room was dark except for the faint moonlight slipping through the curtains.
Marshmallow was curled at the end of the bed like a fluffy cloud.
Mochi was stretched beside her legs, barely moving except for the slow rise and fall of sleep.
Hayeon sighed.
"...I'm not even tired anymore."
She swung her legs off the bed and padded quietly across the room.
Her hand hovered over the doorknob for a second.
Then she slowly opened it.
The hallway light was dim, just enough to see.
And there he was.
Louis.
Still exactly where he said he'd be.
Curled up on the floor beside her door.
The blanket half wrapped around him, the pillow slightly crooked under his head.
He was completely knocked out.
Like... completely.
His hair was messy, one arm stretched above his head, the other resting across his stomach.
Hayeon blinked.
"...you're actually still here."
No movement.
No reaction.
He was in deep sleep.
She crouched slightly, watching him for a moment.
His breathing was slow and even.
His mouth slightly open like he was mid-snore but forgot to finish it.
Hayeon pressed her lips together.
"...seriously?"
She nudged his foot lightly with hers.
Nothing.
She nudged his shoulder.
Still nothing.
"Louis."
Dead asleep.
She huffed.
"You can't sleep on the floor like that."
No response.
Of course not.
Hayeon stood there for a second, hands on her hips.
Still mad.
Still hurt.
Still irritated.
But also...
...he looked ridiculous.
Sleeping on the floor like some abandoned puppy.
She sighed deeply.
"...you're so annoying."
Still asleep.
She bent down and slid her arms under him carefully.
One arm under his back.
The other under his knees.
And then—
She lifted him.
Louis was taller than her.
But Hayeon was strong.
Months of dance training.
Constant workouts.
Core strength.
Abs that could probably hold a plank for ten minutes.
So lifting him wasn't impossible.
Still heavy though.
She adjusted her grip.
"...why are you so heavy," she muttered.
Louis shifted slightly but didn't wake up.
His head tilted forward and rested against her shoulder.
Still completely asleep.
She carried him slowly into her room.
Careful not to bump his head on the doorframe.
Marshmallow lifted her head from the bed.
Mochi blinked sleepily.
Both cats watched curiously as Hayeon walked in holding Louis like a sleeping sack of potatoes.
"Don't start," she whispered to them.
She walked over to the bed and carefully lowered him onto the mattress.
Louis immediately rolled onto his side, pulling the blanket slightly with him.
Still asleep.
Didn't even open his eyes.
Hayeon stared down at him.
"...unbelievable."
She adjusted the pillow under his head.
Then pulled the blanket properly over him.
Louis mumbled something incoherent in his sleep.
She froze.
But he didn't wake up.
Just shifted slightly and settled deeper into the pillow.
Hayeon crossed her arms.
Still annoyed.
Still hurt.
Still confused.
"...I'm still mad at you," she whispered quietly.
No response.
Of course not.
He was dead asleep.
She shook her head and walked around to the other side of the bed.
Careful not to wake him.
She climbed in slowly.
Turning off the small lamp beside the bed.
Darkness filled the room again.
Marshmallow curled back up near the pillows.
Mochi climbed onto Hayeon's legs like usual.
Louis stayed asleep beside her.
Completely unaware.
Hayeon stared up at the ceiling for a moment.
Her chest still heavy.
Still complicated.
Still irritated.
But...
She pulled the blanket slightly higher.
"...stupid."
A few minutes later, her breathing finally slowed.
And eventually—
For the first time that night—
Hayeon fell asleep.
✮