As they walked away from the venue, the distant hum of excited fans faded, replaced by the quieter buzz of the nearby street. Soojin's voice, however, filled the air as she kept gushing about Lumina's performance.
"It was seriously amazing, right?" Soojin said, nudging Hana's arm. "When Joon danced, I swear my heart stopped. And Hwan's rap! It was insane!"
"Yeah, they were good," Hana replied nonchalantly, keeping her tone flat.
Soojin frowned. "Hey, you're killing my vibe here. Don't tell me you're finally going to listen to their songs now?"
"No," Hana said flatly, her expression unchanging.
Soojin gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "Wow, you're really cruel. Crushing my hopes so easily?"
"You shouldn't have had expectations in the first place," Hana shot back, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.
For a brief moment, Soojin feigned disappointment, her shoulders slumping and her expression turning comically sad. But it didn't last long. Her playful grin returned almost immediately as she skipped a step ahead of Hana.
"I know, I know—you're never going to listen. But someday, I'll win you over."
"Keep dreaming," Hana replied, shaking her head.
" Anyway, if you hadn't come today, you'd have regretted it. Me dragging you here was the best decision ever, right?" Soojin asked, her tone triumphant.
Hana rolled her eyes but said nothing. Before she could respond, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, and her face immediately fell at the sight of the screen. A notification for her looming project deadline lit up, reminding her of all the work she had left undone.
"Ugh… seriously," she muttered under her breath, her thumb swiping the notification away.
"What? What's wrong?" Soojin asked, glancing at her.
"The project deadline," Hana replied tersely, shoving her phone back into her pocket.
"Oh, that," Soojin said, nodding in understanding. "Still, it was good you came to the pre- recording show. You needed a break."
"Break's over. I need to work now," Hana said, her voice firm.
As they reached the bus stop, Soojin leaned against the pole, her expression softening. "I know, I know. But later, when you have time, rewatch Lumina's performance. Especially Joon's dance. Taje it as inspiration."
"Not happening," Hana muttered, her tone unyielding as the bus pulled up.
Even as they boarded and Soojin resumed her cheerful chatter, Hana's mind drifted to her ever-growing to-do list. The looming deadline consumed her thoughts, leaving little room for anything—or anyone—else.
~~~
The bus ride was a mix of Soojin's persistent enthusiasm and Hana's silent contemplation. As they settled into their seats, Soojin leaned her head against the window, her reflection beaming back at her.
"Did you see the way Kai looked during the bridge of their last song? His eyes were so intense. It's like he was singing directly to me," Soojin said, sighing dreamily.
Hana stifled a laugh. "I'm sure he was, among the thousands of fans screaming his name."
"Hey! Don't mock my delusions. A girl can dream," Soojin retorted, nudging Hana with her elbow.
Hana gave her a sideways glance but chose not to respond. Instead, she stared out the window, the city lights blurring into streaks as the bus sped through the streets. Her mind was on the project deadline that loomed over her, the weight of unfinished work making her shoulders feel heavy.
"Anyway," Soojin continued, breaking Hana's train of thought, "I still can't believe you bumped into him. Of all people, Kai? It's like fate is trying to tell you something."
"Yeah, like 'watch where you're going,'" Hana quipped, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"You're impossible," Soojin said, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "If it were me, I'd have fainted on the spot. Or cried. Or maybe both."
"Good thing it wasn't you, then," Hana replied with a smirk.
The bus came to a halt at the next stop, and a group of passengers shuffled on, their chatter filling the otherwise quiet vehicle. Hana glanced at her phone again, her inbox flooded with messages and reminders about her project.
Soojin noticed the shift in her demeanor. "Hey," she said, her tone softening. "Don't stress too much about the deadline. You've got this. And if you need a break, just remember how amazing tonight was. Maybe it'll give you some creative spark."
"Creative spark from a K-pop concert? Sure," Hana replied, rolling her eyes. But there was no bite to her words, just the faintest hint of gratitude.
The bus finally pulled up to their stop, and the two of them stepped off, the cool night air brushing against their faces. They walked in comfortable silence for a while, their footsteps echoing on the quiet streets.
As they reached Soojin's apartment building, she turned to Hana with a grin. "Thanks for coming with me tonight. Even if you didn't have the time of your life, it means a lot to me."
Hana shrugged, her expression softening. "You owe me. Big time."
"Deal," Soojin said, holding out her pinky. Hana rolled her eyes but linked her pinky with Soojin's, sealing the unspoken promise.
"Get some rest. And don't stay up too late working, okay?" Soojin added as she headed inside.
Hana waved her off and turned to walk the rest of the way home. Her apartment wasn't far, but the quiet of the night gave her some time to clear her head. Her thoughts drifted to her to-do list, mentally sorting through tasks and prioritizing what needed immediate attention.
Hana's steps quickened as she neared her home, the familiar sight of her parents' modest, two-story house coming into view. The porch light was still on, casting a warm glow over the entryway. She unlocked the door quietly, careful not to make too much noise in case her parents were asleep.
As she stepped inside, the faint clinking of a glass caught her attention. She turned to see her mother standing by the kitchen counter, a glass of water in her hand.
"You're home late," her mother said, her voice gentle but tinged with concern. She set the glass down and walked over to Hana, her sharp eyes scanning her face.
"I went to a concert with Soojin," Hana replied, slipping off her shoes. "I told you earlier, remember?"
"I remember. Still, it's late. You didn't have trouble getting back, did you?" her mother asked, reaching out to pull Hana closer. Her hand brushed against Hana's neck, an old habit of hers.
"I'm fine, eomma," Hana said, stifling a laugh as she gently swatted her mother's hand away. "You're acting like I came back from a battlefield."
"Yah, Hana," her mother teased, narrowing her eyes. "I can't help it. You're my only daughter. I worry."
"I'm not a kid anymore," Hana replied, though her tone was light. She grabbed her bag and made her way toward the stairs. "You should get some sleep. It's late for you, too."
Her mother followed her a few steps, still watching her closely. "Did you have fun? You don't look excited like Soojin usually does after these things."
Hana paused on the staircase, glancing back at her mother. "It was… interesting. Different, I guess. Soojin had the time of her life, though."
"Good," her mother said, smiling softly. "You should go out and enjoy yourself more often. It's good to take a break from all that work."
Hana nodded, though she didn't respond. Instead, she waved goodnight and headed up to her room, shutting the door softly behind her.
Here's a revision to tie Hana's project into her journey as a designer, reflecting her creative struggles and determination:
---
Her room was simple and tidy, save for the desk piled with sketchbooks, fabric swatches, and her laptop. She dropped her bag onto the chair and sat down with a sigh. Opening her laptop, she was met with the digital design program she'd been working on earlier. The project—a set of concept sketches for an upcoming showcase at her design class—had been gnawing at her all week.
The blinking cursor on the screen felt like a taunt, daring her to make progress. Hana reached for her sketchbook instead, flipping through pages of half-formed ideas. Each one felt inadequate, either too cliché or not cohesive enough for the theme she had in mind.
She grabbed a pencil and began to sketch, her strokes tentative at first. The project was supposed to reflect "modern reinterpretations of tradition," a challenge that left her mind in knots. Her professor had stressed the importance of individuality, but every time she tried to channel her voice into the designs, self-doubt crept in.
Her mother's earlier words echoed in her mind: "You should take a break from all that work." But Hana couldn't afford a break. The deadline was looming, and she needed to prove to herself—and everyone else—that she was capable.
She glanced at the corner of her desk, where a small stack of magazines lay. One was a feature on Lumina, with their bold stage outfits prominently displayed. Though she wouldn't admit it to Soojin, the group's styling had caught her attention during the concert. The way the designers fused edgy modern cuts with hints of traditional patterns lingered in her mind.
Modern reinterpretations of tradition, she thought. Her pencil stilled for a moment, then began moving more confidently.
Lines turned into shapes, and shapes into garments as her vision began to take form. She sketched a hanbok-inspired jacket, pairing its classic silhouette with sleek, asymmetrical tailoring. Beside it, she drew loose trousers with intricate embroidery at the hems, merging the past and present in a way that finally felt right.
Hours slipped by unnoticed as her desk became a flurry of eraser shavings and hurried notes. When she leaned back to assess her progress, the tension in her chest eased slightly. The design wasn't perfect, but it was something—a step forward.
Hana exhaled deeply, setting her pencil down. Her laptop screen still glowed faintly, the cursor on the blank page forgotten. She'd worry about digitizing the sketches tomorrow. For now, she allowed herself a small smile of satisfaction.
"Alright," she whispered, glancing at the clock. It was well past midnight, but for the first time in days, she felt like she was on the right track.