บท 30: Chapter 30. Listen to Her

The other girls discreetly stepped away, allowing Rachel and Harper a private moment to catch up. The two women stood in awkward silence, an array of unspoken emotions palpable between them. Rachel's mind raced with countless questions she longed to ask the older woman—a tumultuous mix of anger, sadness, and disappointment welled within her.

After a tense pause, Harper broke the silence. "I'm sorry," she said softly, her gaze lowered.

Rachel's arms remained firmly crossed as she sulked. "Sorry for what?" she retorted.

Harper met Rachel's eyes, offering a rueful smile. "For not saying anything sooner. I don't have any excuses."

"Well, you should," Rachel replied tersely, her voice laced with hurt. Deep down, she ached to throw her arms around Harper and hold her tight, but her pride refused to submit.

Harper stepped closer, tilting her head to better see Rachel's face. "Rach," she said gently, "look at me, baby girl."

Rachel flinched at the familiar endearment. "I'm not your baby girl," she snapped, the words carrying more bite than she had intended.

Rachel's eyes flashed with irritation. "Hug me—must you ask or be told what to do?" she said, her tone laden with exasperation.

Harper's lips curled into a warm smile as she turned her gaze to the other women in the room. "If you'll all excuse us for a moment," she said, her voice soft yet resolute. With a silent nod of apology, she then stepped forward and enveloped Rachel in a tight embrace.

"I'm home," Harper murmured, her breath tickling Rachel's ear. "I'm back."

Despite her best efforts, Rachel felt the last shreds of her resolve crumbling. She returned the hug, clinging to Harper as if her life depended on it. "I hate you," she whispered, her voice wavering with a tangle of emotions.

Harper's grip tightened as she replied, "I've missed you, too."

Minseo's fingers gripped Hyewon's arms as she absently sipped her drink, her eyes intently fixed on the interaction before them. Eunyoung, Hana, and Yoora huddled together, their embrace a mix of cringe and sweetness as they observed the scene unfolding.

"They look like they're dating," Hyewon mused.

Minseo nodded in agreement. "I thought they were already dating, to be honest," she replied.

At this, Eunyoung spoke up, her brow furrowed. "What about Hyejin unnie?" The other women turned to her, expressions ranging from surprise to bewilderment.

Hyejin, who had been silently observing, met their gaze with a tired yet composed expression. "What about me?" she said, her tone neutral. "I'm good."

Soomin gently made comforting loops on Hyejin's back. Her kind action showed that she understood without saying it. She knew all the things Hyejin had provided over the past two years, like the countless hours she had spent helping Rachel through her breakdown and severe anxiety. It was clear to Soomin that Hyejin loved the younger woman deeply, as seen in the way her eyes would soften whenever her name was mentioned.

Soomin knew that Hyejin had feelings for Rachel that went beyond friendship. There were times when Hyejin's eyes and touch would stay on her for just a little too long. Soomin could feel Hyejin's longing and silent desire at that time, even though Hyejin wouldn't admit it.

"I'm fine, Soomin," Hyejin muttered, her voice barely audible.

Soomin's gaze softened with concern as she replied, "No, you're not." Her eyes drifted to where Rachel clung to Harper, the younger woman's tears flowing freely. "I'm sorry you have to see that," she added gently.

Hyejin's jaw tightened, her expression betraying the turmoil raging within. "I'm fine," she repeated, the words sounding hollow even to her own ears.

"You don't have to be fine," Soomin whispered, her arms tightening around her friend. "Not right now."

"Let's go back home." Hyewon said, knowing Hyejin.

The agency had imposed a strict policy, prohibiting Rachel from leaving the dorm after nightfall. They were unwilling to deal with the aftermath and potential consequences, as most K-pop idols were contractually bound to maintain a single status, male or female, all the same.

The agency's apprehension was understandable. Idols in Korean pop music were subject to strict regulations that forbade or severely limited their involvement in any kind of personal relationships. The repercussions of such situations could be far-reaching, potentially jeopardizing an artist's career trajectory and the agency's carefully created public image.

Yet, the bond between Rachel and Harper ran deeper than the confines of the industry. Thus the agency let Harper go to the group's new dorms, as the CEO of the agency, Yoo Man Shik, was well aware of the significance of Harper in Rachel's life.

He had met Harper in Los Angeles—the individual who had accompanied Rachel and the lawyer for legal counsel in dealing with the contract negotiations. Moreover, Harper had been the one responsible for financially supporting Rachel's needs during her time as a trainee.

"Where are you staying?" Rachel asked, her gaze fixed on Harper.

Harper offered a gentle smile. "I've rented a room in a Hanok guest house," she replied.

Rachel's brow furrowed slightly. "Why are you not staying in a hotel?" she pressed.

Harper's smile widened. "Why would I stay in a hotel when the rooms in a Hanok guest house are far more interesting?" she countered.

"Are you going to stay mad at me, or are you going to let me talk, Rach?" She asked Rachel, her eyes sparkling with affection.

Rachel's expression getting sulky; she hated it when Harper called her Rachel again after she called her baby girl previously. "Oh, so now we're going back to 'Rachel,' are we?" She quipped.

Minseo walked faster into the reception room, her presence commanding attention. Eunyoung and Yoora trailed closely behind, their expressions etched with concern.

She then looked at Rachel with a pointed stare. "For God's sake, Rachel!" she exclaimed in English, her Korean accent coloring her words. "You've been looking for her for two years, and now that she's finally here, the only thing you do is stay angry and pester her!" She threw her hands up in exasperation. "Listen to her, will you? Get mad later!"

Eunyoung and Yoora rushed to Minseo's side, wrapping their arms around her in a calming embrace. "Unnie, please calm down," Eunyoung pleaded, her voice soft yet firm.

Minseo's shoulders slumped as the initial surge of frustration subsided. "I'm just so tired of it all," she muttered, reverting to Korean. Shaking her head, she fixed Rachel with a pointed look. "Can't you see how much she cares for you? Stop acting up and listen to what she has to say."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable as all eyes turned to Rachel, waiting with bated breath for her response. After a brief pause, Rachel spoke, her voice soft and contrite. "I'm sorry, I was too much," she said in Korean.

At this, Harper couldn't help but laugh, her eyes twinkling with amusement. She knew that, despite Rachel's stubbornness, the younger woman was surrounded by a group of caring individuals who would call her out on her behavior when necessary.

Rachel quirked a brow, her gaze shifting to Harper. "Why are you laughing?" she asked, her tone laced with a hint of confusion.

Harper's smile widened as she replied, "No, it's good that you're surrounded by such nice people. Thank you for being honest with her—she needs that," she said, her words half in Korean, even though it was awkward, but they clearly understand what Harper said to them.

Minseo's expression softened, and she nodded in approval. "Oh, I like this one," she declared, eliciting another round of laughter from Harper.

Eunyoung and Yoora exchanged relieved glances as the tension in the room dissipated, Harper's genuine warmth and understanding seemingly soothing the situation. "I'm sorry, but I'd like to speak with Rachel now," Harper said, her voice measured yet polite. "If you don't mind?"

Minseo nodded, tugging on Eunyoung and Yoora's arms. "Okay, let's go," she said, casting a pointed look at Rachel. "And you, listen to her! Stop sulking—you're such a diva," she chided, her tone laced with a hint of exasperation.

Eunyoung and Yoora offered the pair an apologetic smile as Minseo ushered them out of the room, their departure leaving an air of anticipation in its wake. Rachel and Harper were now alone, the weight of their unresolved history palpable.

Harper turned to Rachel, her expression open and sincere. "I know there's a lot we need to talk about," she began, her voice soft yet steadfast. "To start with, I want you to know that I wasn't running away from you or simply disappearing."

Rachel drew a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. "Then where were you?" she asked, her tone laced with a mixture of trepidation and concern.

Harper's gaze met Rachel's, her eyes swimming with a profound sorrow. "I was in a mental health facility," she replied, her words hanging heavy in the air.

Rachel's face fell, a look of utter shock and dismay washing over her features. She had not anticipated this revelation, the weight of it settling like a lead weight in the pit of her stomach. In that moment, the fiery anger and frustration that had once consumed her evaporated, replaced by a deep well of empathy and worry.

Reaching out, Rachel tentatively placed her hand on Harper's, her touch featherlight yet grounding. "Why?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, the question laced with a thousand unspoken emotions.