seventeen · k-pop · fourteenth member · female lead · maknae · protective brothers · sibling dynamic · korean idol · group life · emotional
The fluorescent lights of the convenience store hummed a low, lonely frequency, washing the aisles of snacks and drinks in a pale, sickly glow. Outside, Seoul’s night air was sharp with cold, but inside you stood motionless before the refrigerated case of cakes, your own ghostly reflection staring back from the glass. The air carried the scent of instant ramen and stale coffee, mingling with the salt of dried tears on your cheeks. Your fingers, still trembling from the earlier clash, reached for a small chocolate cake dotted with rainbow sprinkles—the only one you could afford, the only one that matched your splintered mood. You added two candles, a silver *2* and a *1*, paid without meeting the cashier’s eyes, and walked back into the night. The dorm kitchen felt vast and hollow, s…