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Velvet Bones
Chapter 18: Unspoken Words

The stillness of the night settled over the city like a blanket, muffling the noise from the busy streets below. Inside Venus' dorms, Eunji sat alone on her bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hands. Her fingers hovered over the screen, uncertain. It had been weeks since she and Sunoo had last spoken properly, but the silence between them felt like a heavy weight pressing down on her chest.

She didn't want to admit it, but the truth was simple—she missed him. Despite everything that had happened with the scandals, the lies, and the tension between their two groups, there was something undeniable between them. But Eunji couldn't just ignore everything. She had her own image to maintain, her own identity to protect. But that didn't stop the ache in her chest every time she thought about him.

She scrolled through her contacts, her eyes lingering on Sunoo's name. It had been a while, but it didn't have to be the end. Eunji wanted to bridge the gap, to understand what had really been going on between them before everything spiraled out of control.

With a deep breath, she typed a message.

"Hey, can we meet up?"

Her thumb hovered over the send button, heart racing in her chest. After a moment's hesitation, she pressed it, sending the message into the ether, hoping that maybe—just maybe—this would be the moment when things could start to heal. Eunji wasn't sure what to expect, but she knew she couldn't let things remain unresolved any longer.

She leaned back against her pillows, waiting. The seconds seemed to stretch on for an eternity, but then her phone buzzed.

"Sure. Where do you want to meet?"

A wave of relief washed over Eunji. He was willing to meet her. There was hope.

She quickly typed back, suggesting a small, quiet café she knew in the city center. It was secluded, perfect for a private conversation away from prying eyes. She didn't want anyone from either group to see them together—not yet. They both had reputations to protect.

The plan was set. Eunji stood up from her bed, walking to the window as she stared out at the city skyline. Her heart was still racing, a mix of nervousness and excitement swirling inside her. She was going to see Sunoo again—really see him—and maybe this time, they could talk about everything that had happened between them. No more silences. No more misunderstandings.

-

Sunoo sat on the couch in Enhypen's dorm, his phone lying in his lap. The group was scattered across the living room, talking and laughing, but he wasn't really part of the conversation. His mind was elsewhere, lost in thoughts of the past weeks.

He hadn't expected Eunji to text him. After everything that had happened, he figured their paths had diverged for good. But the message had appeared on his screen, and now his thoughts were spiraling in all directions. What did she want? What had changed?

He stared at his phone for a few moments, unsure of what to do next. He knew it was risky to meet with her—there were so many things unsaid between them. But he couldn't ignore the pull he felt toward her. Despite all the chaos, the rumors, and the mess they had both gotten caught up in, Eunji had always been different. She was real, and that was something Sunoo couldn't forget.

With a sigh, he stood up from the couch, quickly texting back.

"Sure. Where do you want to meet?"

The answer came quickly, and Sunoo nodded to himself. The café she had suggested was quiet—perfect for a private conversation. He didn't need anyone else to get in the way of what he and Eunji needed to figure out. He didn't want the drama, the gossip, or the assumptions. He just wanted the chance to talk to her, to see if they could find a way back to the connection they had once shared.

-

As Eunji walked to the café, she felt the nerves creeping up on her. The streets were relatively empty, the city's usual buzz subdued under the weight of late-night quiet. She kept her head down, trying to keep her thoughts in check. She was going to see Sunoo. She wasn't sure what to expect, but she needed this. She needed clarity.

The café was small and tucked away from the main streets, the kind of place where no one would notice them. Eunji stepped inside, the soft chime of the door signaling her arrival. She spotted Sunoo almost immediately, sitting in the back corner, looking as calm and collected as always. He stood when he saw her, offering a small, uncertain smile.

"Hey," he greeted, his voice soft but warm.

Eunji nodded, walking toward him. She took a seat across from him, the tension between them palpable. She wanted to say something—anything to break the silence—but she didn't know where to start. There were so many things she wanted to ask, so many things she needed to say, but everything felt tangled up inside her.

"Thanks for meeting me," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sunoo studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Of course. I've been wondering... about everything. About us."

Eunji swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "I don't know what happened, Sunoo. Things got so messy, and we didn't even get a chance to talk. I—I just... I didn't know how to handle it."

Sunoo leaned back, his hands folded in front of him. "Neither did I. But maybe... maybe we don't need to figure everything out right now. Maybe we just need to talk, be honest with each other."

Eunji nodded, feeling the tension between them begin to dissolve just slightly. The weight of the silence seemed to lift a little, and she realized she had been holding her breath. She hadn't expected to feel this way—open, vulnerable—but somehow, it felt right.

"I've missed you," she whispered, unable to hold back the words any longer. "I've missed this. Missed us."

Sunoo's gaze softened, his lips pulling into a small smile. "I've missed you too, Eunji. But we can't ignore everything that's happened. We need to talk about it. All of it."

Eunji nodded again, her heart pounding in her chest. She was ready. Ready to face whatever came next. Ready to figure out what the future held for them.

-

The night had only just begun, but the path ahead seemed clearer. The silence between them had been broken, and with it, the possibility of healing. But only time would tell if their hearts could truly find their way back to each other—or if the damage was too deep to repair.