Page 65 of GR8VITY

It goes quiet for a few seconds before she adds, "I went to the Cherry Blossom Festival with the house today. I was fine all day watching the littles enjoy themselves and even enjoying the day myself. I did something I shouldn't have and stayed for a while after they left. My omma always wanted to come back to see the cherry blossoms. It was one of her dreams. I even did this thing for her where I made the trees and little blossoms hanging from the ceiling before she passed. It wasn't the same, but I'll never forget the smile on her face that day. I just got more and more sad the longer I sat there."

"Why didn't you call one of us?" he asks, speaking what any of us would've asked.

"You're busy, Yoon Ji. All of you are. Your schedules are packed tight, and you can't come running just because I'm sad," she says.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Seong's eyebrow rise in surprise. He should know by now that our Liz is not like other women. Anyone that can keep up with all of us is special in more ways than one.

"We could've talked to you at least, or sent you texts during breaks," he argues gently. "You don't have to be alone anymore. Between the eight of us, one of us can be there for you, even if all of us can't."

"It was a good idea for him to go," Minsul murmurs.

"Well, even still," she continues, "I was fine. I'm mostly good at hiding my sadness at this point. Decided to walk to your place, and I passed by this corner store that I've never really noticed before. Honestly, the only reason it caught my eye today was because it had your band name in huge letters in the window. They had the cute little black cat with the stars in his eyes sitting underneath it. He was cute, but it was so sad seeing him sitting there alone when he belongs with his seven friends. So, I went in and bought him. I didn't look to even see if they had more on the shelf. I didn't care. I wanted the lonely one in the window. As I got ready to leave, the lady in the back came out and told me that she'd just gotten her new shipment in today and told me that she had the other seven. I bought them all."

"If you're smiling telling me about it, why did you drop them on the floor and leave crying?" he asks gently.

"I didn't buy them as a birthday present or anything," she explains. "It was more of a reminder for myself that this is the first one that I won't be spending alone. I feel so stupid now, though. I shouldn't have done it."

"Why? Did the others say something?" he asks.

I look around the room, trying to remember if anything was said that could've made her feel this ashamed, but I can't recall anything that would've caused it.

"Not really. Just kind of laughed it off and said that I shouldn't have wasted my money. It's not their fault, Yoon Ji. They don't know why I bought them. I just felt so stupid in the moment. I feel even worse knowing that someone is probably going to be upset that I just left them on the floor to be cleaned up," she replies. "Can you do me a favor and pick them up? Put them in a box or something, and I'll come by and get them in a couple days. I'll drop them off at the home. I'm sure the girls would love them."

I don't know how to explain what I feel when I hear those words. It almost feels like someone punches me in the chest and it sinks all the way down into my stomach. If she doesn't want our little GR8VITZ, does that mean that she doesn't want us anymore either? How could we have messed up this bad? Glancing up, I see that my members are all suffering their own moment of despair or confusion. Dav En looks on the verge of tears. Kyung has his head in his hands.

"But you bought them for yourself," Yoon Ji argues. "Why don't you just come back with me. We will clean them up together and put them aside. Then, you can decide what to do with them in a few days."

"Honestly, Yoon Ji, I just want to go home and sleep tomorrow away," she says, her voice sounding sad.

"I have a question," he states. "Didn't you once say that people make the home, not the building?"

"I did," she replies with a sniffle.

She's crying again, and I must say, it's breaking me. Risking a peek over at Jae-un, he's leaned back with his arms across his chest and his eyes closed. This must be killing him, knowing that she's crying and he can't be there to take care of her.

"Are we not home to you?" Yoon Ji asks her bluntly. "Do you love us?"

"Oh my god," Seong says, grabbing the bridge of his nose. "Yoon Ji."

Dav En snorts at our member's brashness. Kyung's gaze lifts to Seong's phone without looking at any of us, and even Jae-un's eyes open, waiting for her response.

"Yes and yes," she finally says.

"Then come home with me tonight," he requests, putting an extra emphasis on the word. "We've got the day off tomorrow, and I would love nothing more than to lie in bed with you and sleep the day away if that's what you want to do."

"You should enjoy your day off. Not spend it moping in bed with me and my pity party," she argues quietly.

"I happen to enjoy every minute I spend with you," he tells her with conviction. "It doesn't matter what we're doing. Though, I do have my favorite activities."

She laughs, and I swear it is the most beautiful sound in the world. Yoon Ji's coffee is on me next time for bringing it out of her.

"I have some favorites, too," she tells him, and I can imagine both of their faces right now. Hers with a slight pink to her cheeks when she says something spicy, and him grinning like she's just given him the best present in the world.

"Can we get dinner first?" she asks. "I'm starving."

"Absolutely," he answers without hesitation.

Both their voices come across the phone as they say chicken together and start laughing. Seong hits the end call button and sets his phone down in his lap.