The tale of the Whale and the Bear

The girl wasn’t even done drawing and already the piece of paper she was embelishing got teared apart from her hands.
“Your whale is so ugly !”
A mix of emotions overwhelmed Yuha’s young heart.
Indignation. Anger. Rage. Sadness.
“It’s a doplhin, you dumbass” she retorted with a surprising distribution.
“It’s so fat and ugly just like you” the stupid boy that was bullying her spat like poison.
In a flash the young girl jumped on her feet. Her chair tipped backward. A few crayons she was using fell on the ground.
And she pushed her bully. Hard.
The surprised boy fell on his ass, his head hit a table’s leg and he started crying.
The whole class froze.
In the middle of the chaos Yuha stood, proud and victorious, her precious drawing pressed against her heart.

“Yu Haram !” the teacher yelled.
The young girl knew she was up for a bad time.
Even if she was the victim she got scolded by the professor, her parents got called and she got scolded a second time.
This is how she learned about injustice.
She also learned about who she wanted to be. Not a weak little girl but someone with resolve and values.

Later that night Yuha was laying in her bed.
She’s got scolded and yelled at for so long her head was still buzzing.
Even so she didn’t cry. Not even a single tear.
The young girl gently caressed her precious drawing.
“That’s okay” she murmured in the dark. “Even if you’re just a whale you’re beautiful and I love you”
That night she dreamed about electric whales floating in the sky.
She slept with a smile on her cute angelic face.

“Yuha hurry up !”
“Coming right away !” she yelled.
It was a lie. She wasn’t ready at all.
The teenage girl was still hesitating between a pink top and a white blouse. And the skirt ? Was it good enough ? What about her hair ? Should she put a ribbon in her hair ?
So many questions, few answers.
She glanced sideway at her reflection in the mirror. She thought she looked like her sister from this angle and it made her smile.
“You know you could wear a trash bag and you’ll still be beautifull” a voice said teasingly, coming from the doorway.
Yuha turned around to see who was here and her pretty face lightened with a bright genuine smile.
“Stella !”
Her voice betrayed how grateful she was to see her band mate and close friend.
“Help me choose an outfit” Yuha begged, using her best baby-doll eyes to get her friend’s favor.
Stella rolled her eyes in annoyance. Yet she stepped in to help her friend.
“You’re impossible, Haram” she sulked.
“But it’s Red Velvet sunbaenim’s concert ! That’s important !”
“I know ! You've been going on and on about this for weeks…”

The music was loud. But not louder than the crowd.
People went absolutely mad for the five girls performing on stage.
Yuha watched all this as a fan, anonymously. She wasn’t yet an Idol like her unnies.
Her big eyes were sparkling with thousands of stars.
Her heart was already filled with joy and happiness but it missed a beat when the manager announced to Yuha and her seven friends they’ll go backstage and meet the artists.
Meeting Red Velvet.
The words resonated in her blank head, her mouth half open.

The second her eyes landed on her older sisters Yuha got amazed.
They were all so beautiful. So feminine. So professional.
The girls who will later known as Hearts2Hearts surrounded their unnies like admirative ducklings.
The room was full of chatting and laughters but Yuha standed a few steps behind.
Even if she was dying to talk to her seniors she felt suddenly too shy to dare talk to them.
“You’re Yuha, right ?” a sweet voice startled her.
Yuha’s brain malfunctionned.
Seulgi was talking to her. The Seulgi. Kang Seulgi. Seulbear. God Seulgi.
“Y…yes madam” she panicked.
Seulgi burst out laughing. It was the most melodious sound Yuha has ever heard.
“You can call me Seulgi. Let’s be friends”
Yuha shyly nodded. She’s never felt happier in her whole life.

Yuha hesitated.
She was at a dead end.
Even if she was trying hard to think and find a solution her mind was constantly flooded by that girl. That damn girl.
So she naturally turned to the only person she fully trusted.
Unnie I’m sad

She didn’t even have to wait thirty seconds to get an answer.

Dont move. I’m picking you up
Ten minutes later Seulgi was here. Twenty-five more minutes and they were eating icecreams while walking.
That’s why Yuha loved Seulgi. One of the numerous reasons while she loved her unnie. She was reliable.

“So are you gonna keep sulking or will you finally tell me why you’re so sad ?” the mother bear asked.
She was willing to help her younger friend but she needed context.
“I don’t know Unnie… That’s a bit ridiculous…”
“There’s nothing ridiculous and you know you can tell me everything”
Seulgi’s voice was soothing. Yuha was always feeling loved and protected next to her older sister.
“Well… There’s is girl I like and… I kinda want to… to…” Yuha started.
Putting words over her feeling was a hard challenge. Harder than becoming an Idol.
“You want to put your tongue in her mouth ?” Seulgi suggested teasingly with a little smirk.
“Unnie !” Yuha protested.
Seulgi’s eyes were smiling genuinely.

At first Yuha was afraid to confess but nothing has changed. She was still the same protective friend, sister and role model.
“Yes… that’s more or less the idea” the youngest admitted.
“So ? What’s the matter ?”
“I have no clue what SHE wants. Or what she thinks about me”
Seulgi remained silent for a whole minute.
“Let me guess. It’s the little monkey ?”
“How do you know ?” Yuha asked. She was shocked by her unnie clairvoyance.
The bear’s smile grew wider.
“I have some experience. And you’re pretty obvious, you two” Seulgi explained like an old sage.
Yuha pouted.

“I don’t know what to do…”
“What about you do nothing ?”
That was the worst advise she’s ever received.
“That’s not really helping, unnie…”
Once again Seulgi smiled. She looked like she was having a lot of fun.
“You love her, right ?”
Yuha nodded silently, her cheeks turning red.
“But you don’t want to lose her friendship if she doesn’t share your feelings, right ?”
Another nod from Yuha and Seulgi continued her demonstration.
“So do nothing special. Continue to be the absolute cutest and you’ll see where life guides you”
Slowly, gradualy, Yuha started to understand. Sometimes things were simple and didn’t needed to be worrying.
“Thanks Seulgi-unnie. You’re the best”
Seulgi smiled and patted her head lovingly.
“You’re the cutest”
They continued walking and chatting more lightly.
Juste a little whale and a bear in their own world.