Gachafun-s

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katseye taglist: @lalaraah @nightmanon @icecreamcakepopp @yournextdooralien @cceanvvaves @katseyeloversgroup6 @pikachuu115 perm taglist: @emmaitoshi @madwheelerpilled @kpopluver167 @seonghwaswifeuuuu

⋮⋮⋮ TWO

katz_xeye 3d ago follow for all my n/narz lovers out there that missed the live #n/narz #y/n #lara #katseye #fyp ♫ original sound - katy ♡ 166.4k 💬 489 ⚐ 24.9k

the tiktok starts off with a clip of you, lara, and megan's live from last week--the one the entire internet is still in uproar about--with the words 'mein/narz core' on the screen.

the text fades into you staring at the phone in your pajamas, trying to read the chat, before you get whacked straight in the face with a pillow, a bang sound effect playing.

lara's laughing from the side, pillow in hand as she winds up for another hit. "laraaa," you whine, dodging back onto the bed and covering your head.

megan joins in, blocking lara's hand just before she hits you, turning to face the screen. "you ladies alright?" she smiles, holding the pillow out in the same position as the viral ref guy.

lara drops her mouth in mock offense, "aren't we supposed to be on the same team? roommates versus y/n, c'mon."

megan thinks for a second, before tossing the pillow back to lara and grabbing her own. "yeah, you're right," she grins, throwing one at you.

"oh wow," you laugh out in disbelief, "you're just gonna gang up on me now?"

all you're met with is another pillow straight to the side of your face and there's no time for you to grab your own.

"hey!" you laugh, yelling as you curl up into the fetal position on the bed, grateful that at least they're not hitting you hard.

every time you get smacked by the pillow, the tiktok user adds a boom effect so it's starting to sound like mini explosions. and of course lara's going exclusively for your ass now.

mid outburst, the door creaks open and you all freeze, three heads turning around to see sophia walk in. "how'd you--" megan starts, dropping her pillow by her side.

"you forgot to lock it," she sighs, coming over to see what you're all up to. "are you live right now?"

you all nod as she jumps on the bed, saying hi to the eyekons and reading the chat. "pillow fight? that's what you guys were doing?" she laughs, reading message after message. "no wonder you guys were so loud, keep it down okay?"

"yes ma'am," megan salutes as lara points at you with a smirk, "hear that y/n? no more screaming."

just as you're starting to open your mouth in defence, lara presses a finger over her lips, hitting you with a loud, "SHHH!"

you mouth a fuck you and flip her off as sophia starts walking out, pausing for a moment to look back at you three. "oh, and lara?" she starts with a grin, "you know there's other ways to hit on a girl instead of actually hitting her, right?"

and this is why sophia's your goat.

"i-i-" lara stutters, completely flustered.

you and megan both interrupt with a mock, "i-i-i," in perfect sync, copying the way she sounded before you both turn to each other, bursting out into laughter.

lara groans, launching the pillow at megan as she shakes her head, muttering something to herself off screen that sounds a lot like, "i hate you guys."

user1┆ i'm starting a rumor user2┆it's not a rumour atp user3┆guys act shocked when they announce it user4 ┆"there are other ways to hit on a girl instead of actually hitting her"💀 user5 ┆lara looking at sophia after she said that

user6 ┆NOOO I MISSED THE LIVE user7 ┆poor megan 😭😭 user8 ┆lara stuttering is frying me user9 ┆never seen her this nervous before user10 ┆godly trio

⋮⋮⋮ THREE

katseyeworld 1d ago following allll nightttt #KATSEYE #Katseye_Lara #Katseye_Y/n #Katseye_Megan #Katseye_Yoonchae ♫ All Night - Beyoncé ♡ 996.3k 💬 8159 ⚐ 77.3k

the video's filmed in slow mo and megan's got you, lara, and yoonchae to hop on the all night tiktok trend.

you're laughing, head thrown back as lara sweeps you off your feet with one hand, megan doing the same to yoonchae just off to your side as beyoncé blasts from the phone.

lara's cradling you in her arms, one under your knees, the other behind your back as you have both hands wrapped around her neck.

which is the complete opposite to what megan's doing--she's fake dropping yoonchae who screams in korean and kicks her feet, the whole thing looking like a wwe match at this point.

but lara's just looking down at you, and you're looking up at her, and she's so beautiful it's making your stomach flip.

for a moment, everything is perfect--the way her hair falls around her face and the way she smiles. it's almost like a scene from a movie where they'd play a happy flashback memory of the main character's wife before she dies or something.

then, not even a second later, the chaos returns. megan, who's spinning yoonchae in circles, steps backwards straight into lara.

the fifteen second timer and tiktok ends just as all four of you stumble into a heap of limbs and laughs off camera. you land on the tiled practice room floor, lara half on top of you, her arm instinctively shooting out to cushion your head as the air is knocked out of your lungs.

but that's not the reason why you can't breathe.

lara's face is inches away, her body just on top of yours, and you can see the way her pupils are blown wide along with every beautiful detail in her eyes.

for a single cliche second, the whole world pauses and the laughter dies in your throat. her soft smile is gone, gaze flicking down to your lips. it would be so easy to just...

"OH MY GOD, ARE YOU GUYS OKAY?" megan's voice cuts through the silence, followed by her and yoonchae's giggles from where they'd fallen right next to you.

you blink and the moment's over. lara pushes herself up on her elbows, a familiar smile spreading across her face. "damn we should've practiced that part," she jokes.

"yeah, you think?" you choke out, looking over to yoonchae who's pushing at megan.

lara rolls off you and stands to her feet, offering a hand. "c'mon, clumsy."

"clumsy?" you start in fake offence, taking her hand as she hauls you up, "you dropped me."

she doesn't let go immediately, thumb brushing over your knuckles as her eyes scan over you. "did you hit your head?" she checks, in full seriousness before she grins, "not that there's much in there anyways."

"oh fuck you," you laugh, flipping her off.

lara knocks your hand back down, joining in on the laughter. "for real though, you okay?"

"m'good," you say, brushing your pants, trying to hide the blush you can feel burning in your cheeks. "took most of the damage from your fatass."

"you think my ass is fat?"

from the floor, megan's making eyes at you two now, yoonchae catching on as well, her mouth curving into a smirk. "oooh," they tease, building off of each other as yoonchae adds in a, "y/n, your face is so red."

"yoonchae jeong..." you start through gritted teeth.

"yes?" she asks, as innocent as she can.

"i'm gonna break your nose," you joke, referencing her iconic gabriela line as she laughs even more.

user1┆ they really out here doing couple trends user2┆hard launch user3 ┆meichae n/narz and sodanon agenda confirmed user4 ┆

user5┆friendly reminder that lara and megan did this ONE HANDED user6┆when is it my turn 💔 user7┆sacrificing tour for ts shi user8┆lmao user9┆my dreams right before the alarm goes off user10 ┆lara really falling for y/n

⋮⋮⋮ FOUR

eyekonic.aep 9-20 follow oh they're sick for this @ y/n @ LARA RAJ #fyp #n/narz #katseye #eyekon #weverse ♫ original sound - eye KON ♡ 75.3k 💬 312 ⚐ 9017

the tiktok starts off with a screenshot of dani's weverse dms--which is insanely rare considering she forgets her password literally every other week. her text reads 'we got chris brown at home,' followed by a video attachment.

not even a second later, there's a gunshot sound effect as the giant, pulsing 😳 emoji appears on the screen when the video plays.

it's slightly blurry, the quality watered down from whichever eyekon screen recorded dani's clip. the bass of take you down by chris brown fills the rehearsal room as she holds the camera shakily, giggling in the background and telling you to go.

the lens focuses on you, and you're doing an exaggerated strut, catwalking towards an absolutely bewildered lara.

"am i supposed to be doing something?" she asks, looking back and forth between you and dani.

"just sit there and look pretty," you grin with a wink.

oh she has no idea what's coming.

right as you sing the first iconic lyrics, "here we are, all alone in this room," with chris brown's voice coming from the speakers, you can see the recognition flash through her eyes as her mouth parts in shock.

"wait--" she whips her head around to dani, who's full on laughing now.

you step in front of lara and she's about to open her mouth--probably ready to say what the fuck?--but before she can get the words out, you press your finger over her lips, dragging it down seductively as you continue singing.

her pupils dilate, either because she's just that shocked or turned on, or a mixture of both, and it takes everything in you to hold back a laugh and stay professional.

when you get to the pre chorus, you circle around behind her, singing as you run your fingers across her neck. "so get ready babe, i got plans for me and you..."

you place your mic down, hitting the drop and grind on the ground. lara watches you for a moment, before turning away to look at the camera with a comical grin in hopes she doesn't get clipped staring at your ass.

she doesn't see the next part coming though. you stand up, adjusting the jeans that you're low riding and your backwards cap for this performance, walking slowly towards her.

she still has a fat smile on her face as you throw one leg over her thigh, bringing your other over to the opposite side, settling down into her lap as dani hollers.

the music blasts and you sink down fully, grabbing her chin as you grind your hips once, twice, and a third time to the rhythm, copying the classic choreo to the song.

lara's brain only catches up after a brief moment and her cheeks fade to a light pink as she mouths a subtle "oh my god y/n."

in a quick flash of panic, she leans back way too far, too fast, and the chair legs screech, tipping backwards.

you can hear dani's "oh shit!" as she rushes over and you have to grab the backrest with spiderman like reflexes just to save her from toppling to the floor.

you still continue, voice shaking as you try to keep a straight face. but the moment you start laughing and your microphone picks it up extra loud, you can't stop, falling to the ground in a fit of giggles as the music still blasts in the background.

lara's laughing now too, with her hands out, palms facing up like she's saying the hell? and dani's officially lost her ability to hold the phone up steady, stopping the video with a loud cheer.

user1┆ dani remembered her password for THIS im crying user2┆futchy/n save me user3┆this is what i mean when i say i want magic mike user4┆never beating the dating allegations user5 ┆bro fell off her chair 😭😭 user6 ┆Y/N?!?!?

user7 ┆where is this from? user8 ┆daniela's weverse messages user9 ┆i can smell the edits user10┆just kiss already 😊

⋮⋮⋮ FIVE

katseyeworld 2d ago following i can't read you, but if you want the pleasure's all mine... @ clairo new interview out on YouTube! @ billboard #KATSEYE ♫ original sound - KATSEYE ♡ 2.1M 💬 8.5k ⚐ 163.9k

the tiktok's like a trailer to your newest interview with billboard, where they got you all to play guess and finish the song.

you're arranged on two oversized couches, one side with you, dani, manon, and megan and the other with lara, yoonchae, and sophia and you're all competing on who can get each one the fastest, pressing the buzzer and singing the right lyrics.

"guys, huddle, huddle," sophia says, pulling lara and yoonchae closer as they turn away, plotting their strategy in whispers.

"don't worry!" manon leans back, giving her own kind of pep talk, "we got this in the bag."

"you sure manon?" lara grins from the other couch.

your team is in uproar, talking over each other, letting out woah woah woahs and objections, megan saying, "wait, who's always on aux again?" and you know you guys have her beat.

BZZZ.

the clip cuts to the words 'first round' on the screen. before the host can even finish announcing "song one" after it plays, dani's hand is already on the buzzer.

you process the song a second later and it's magnolia by playboi carti--of course she'd know it.

the camera swings to you as you all yell out "magnolia!" and "carti!" before they tell you to sing the next lyrics. you know they've only picked out the chorus because the rest of the words are definitely not something you'd ever say, let alone on live camera.

dani starts off with the, "in new york i milly rock--" as you and manon add in the what? and uh, uh adlibs, megan doing the beat.

"correct!" the host announces and your team erupts in cheers, manon hyping everybody up as you hit the yvl handsign, dani chipping in a "vamp for life."

BZZZ.

the video cuts to the other team's first snippet. instead of rap, it's a softer guitar and drums, a familiar voice filling the room. "every second counts, i don't wanna talk to you anymore..."

lara smacks the button before clairo can even finish singing the first word. "BAGS!" she yells as sophia adds in a, "by clairo!" right after, forming her heart with her hands and mouthing a "we love you claire."

"oh-i know this song," yoonchae says a second later, "lara listens to this all the time."

lara turns her head slowly around to look at yoonchae, like she just outed her biggest secret of all time, and manon starts the type of laugh she laughs when she can't stop for the next hour.

"and the lyrics?" the host prompts, setting them back on track.

"wait, three, two, one," sophia leads, starting her team off as all three--even yoonchae to your surprise--harmonize the lyrics.

"can you see me, i'm waiting for the right time, i can't read you but if you want, the pleasures all mine. can you see me using everything to hold back?"

your team's joining in with cheers and psyching them up as lara finishes with the, "i guess this could be worse, walkin' out the door with your bags."

then, megan leans forward with a smirk. "wow lara," she starts, voice dripping with fake innocence, "i wonder how you know that one so well."

everyone in the room turns their head straight to you, even yoonchae, who's smart enough to see the link between clairo's song about being scared to make a move on your best friend and whatever's going on between you and lara.

speaking of--she's currently throwing her hand up in the air, looking right into the camera. "damn, is today gang up on lara day or what," she laughs, "god forbid a girl has good music taste."

"right, right," manon adds in, side eyeing megan with a grin.

BZZZ.

the tiktok finishes with billboard's logo and a watch now! on the screen.

clairo┆ ❤️❤️ user1┆CLAIRO x KATSEYE COLLAB WHEN user2┆homegirls 🤝 bags user3 ┆we all know who that was about user4 ┆lara fs has a whole playlist for y/n user5 ┆y/n sitting in the corner acting like she doesn't know user6┆@ LARA RAJ

user7 ┆performative female type shi user8 ┆their raw vocals are insane hello user9 ┆megan on DA BEAT user10┆this whole interview was y/n and lara flirting btw

You were stretched out on your bed in the, in Manon's words, small dorm room you shared with her, one arm tucked next to your head, under the pillow, and the other lazily draped over your phone.

You were still wearing Sophia’s hoodie—the one you had “borrowed” weeks ago and never made it back to her. It still smelled faintly like her perfume. In your defence, when you did try to give it back, she refused to take it, so it wasn’t exactly your fault.

Mindlessly scrolling through Twitter, your thumb slowed when your and another familiar name popped up in your feed. 

Someone had tweeted about a new video that had been posted and was already going viral. 

You tapped the link without much thought, curious what the fuss was all about.

The page loaded, and the title immediately caught your attention.

“SOPHIA BEING POSSESSIVE OVER Y/N FOR 10 MINUTES STRAIGHT.” 

You let out a small laugh, biting your lip as you pressed play, thinking this was surely just another exaggerated compilation.

You promised to watch the first few seconds before clicking off.

The screen faded to black, then lit up with oversized letters in a bold red colour.

‘Sophia being in love, cough, possessive over y/n for ten minutes’. 

The quick ‘AS SHE SHOULD BE’ flashing before the clips started to play.

First clip loaded, it was from a live stream filmed months back. The quality was average at best. Grain and pixels coating the screen.

Onscreen were Megan and Manon. They were sitting on the bed, talking about nonsense. Megan with her knees to her chest while Manon was cross-legged. 

Manon leaned forward, squinting at the screen as the chat continued to fly by at an impossible speed. She read one comment aloud,

“Manon, top 3 artists of all time.” 

The girl immediately groaned, bringing her hands to her face with Megan smirking next to her. Turning her body towards her. 

“Yeah, Manon. What are your three top artists.” Teasing the curly haired girl, shifting closer to her.

Manon shot her a look and opened her mouth to respond with something witty or sarcastic, raising an eyebrow at Megan.

“Well–“

The door swung open.

Manon’s words dying in her mouth, she noticed Sophia entering their room. 

Manon’s brows furrowed in confusion, instinctively reaching toward the phone. Without looking, she tapped what she thought was the mute button.

“Sophia?” Manon asked, glancing back up. “What’s up?”

Both Megan and her locking eyes for a quick moment, confused as ever.

“Do you know where y/n is? She turned her location off.” Sophia answered, a hint of annoyance in her voice. 

They shook their heads, Megan letting out a soft “nope”. Sophia narrowed her eyes at them, trying to see if they’re lying. She nodded, turning around and leaving a room. A faint “where the fuck is she?” being heard from her last. 

Megan gulped nervously, looking in Manon’s eyes. “Maybe we should’ve told her she just went out for a run…?” 

“Nah,” she replied casually. “Sophia is funny when she’s all jealous and shit.”

They turned back toward the phone. Manon reached forward again, this time intending to unmute the stream. 

Her finger hovered over the screen.

Then she noticed the comments.

They were exploding.

“OH MY GOD????”

“SOPHY/N/N IS REAL????”

“TAKE THE ANGER OUT ON ME SOPHIA”

“THIS WARMS MY SOPHY/N/N HEART”

Manon froze.

Her breath caught as her eyes flicked back to the mute button. The microphone still being on.

She hadn’t muted it.

Slowly, she looked up at Megan, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Megan…”

Megan frowned, immediately sensing something was wrong. “Yeah?”

“The stream,” Manon said, swallowing. 

“It was never muted.”

Megan’s face drained of color. Her eyes widened, her jaw going slack.

Like a deer caught in headlights.

The chat continued to yell about sophy/n/n.

“We’re going to get fired.”

Next clip loaded. This one was pulled from the day you and the group filmed the “Would You Rather” YouTube video for LADbible Entertainment.

From behind the camera, a woman’s voice rang out clearly as she read from the cue card.

“Would you rather only be able to talk like you’re in a rap battle, or—”

You tilted your head toward her voice, breaking eye contact with the camera lens in front of you.

“—only be able to talk like a Shakespearean character.”

The girls insantly took their spots on the rap battle side, laughing as they try to cluster up together on that side. 

Within seconds leaving only you and sophia on the shakespear side.

As Sophia walked over to stand beside you, she shrugged lightly, already justifying her choice.

“I feel like this would make me unique,” she said, lips curling into a small smile.

The woman who was behind the camera looked at you, waiting for your input as to why this was your decision.

You scratched the back of your neck. “Well, some might argue that I already speak like that.”

Lara’s laughter rang out first, interrupting the end of your sentance.

“Oh, God. Yes!” she exclaimed between laughs.

She wiped at her eyes dramatically, still grinning. 

“Y/n is obsessed with putting on the worst British accent whenever she wants something.”

Daniela turned toward Lara, nodding  as if her words unlocked something. 

“Yeah, I remember that,” she added. “She once came into my room to borrow a shirt. She said something like—” 

Daniela paused, squinting in thought before looking back at you. “Y/n, what was it exactly?”

You chuckled, shaking your head as all eyes turned to you. Clearing your throat theatrically, you slipped effortlessly into that horrid accent of yours, clasping your hands together.

“Prithee,” you began solemnly, “lend me thy shirt, for I am sorely in need.”

Giggles erupted across the room. 

Even someone in the crew behind the cameras couldn’t fully contain it.

Everyone laughed.

Everyone—except Sophia.

She smiled, but it was tight, looked fake.

Her eyes lingered on the girls gathered across the room a little longer than necessary. She let out a soft, almost forced chuckle before speaking up.

“Has she done this to all of you?” she asked, her tone as light as she could musster.

Several of the girls nodded. A few chimed in with amused “yes”es.

Lara began talking again, launching into another story, and Sophia turned away from her mid-sentence.

Her attention shifted back to you. As it always did.

You, meanwhile, were still facing the other side of the room, smiling—completely unaware of the way Sophia was watching you now.

The editor of the compilation caught it.

The clip zoomed in on Sophia’s face: her tongue pressing lightly against the inside of her cheek, her jaw tight, her gaze fixed squarely on you.

Text appeared beneath the frame.

'Looks like someone is jealous.'

Another clip loaded, this time it was a live stream of just you and Sophia. You were sitting impossibly close to her. 

Close enough that, to the eyekons watching, it looked like you were practically perched on her lap.

What the stream couldn’t see, however, was the way her arm was wrapped securely around your waist, her hand resting possessively on your hip.

You were talking about some reddit story you read yesterday, hands moving as you spoke.

“Okay, and then it turns out,” you said, eyes wide for emphasis, “that he slept with her parents. Both of them. Can you imagine?”

You laughed at your own disbelief, continuing to ramble as the chat flew by at the bottom of the screen. 

Sophia didn’t interrupt you. She wasn’t looking at the comments at all.

She was looking at you.

Her gaze was soft, almost blurry, like she was watching something precious. And in her mind, she absolutly was. There was nothing in the workd more beautiful as you.

Eventually, you glanced down at the comments and read one aloud without thinking.

“Y/n was that your boyfriend you were out with yesterday?”

You felt Sophia’s arm tighten around you, her other hand clenched hard. Leaving nail marks in her palm.

Noticing the change of her demenour, you quickly dismissed the comment.

“Oh gosh, no. That was an old school friend, we went to high school together and just ran into each other randomly.”

Chuckling nervously, “I don’t know how you guys know that because the interaction was like 2 minutes long at most.”

You explained quickly, hoping to settle the rumours you did not want to spread. 

Looking at the comments again, you noticed people already backing you up. And the comments changing the topic. 

But Sophia’s grip didn’t loosen.

If anything, she held you closer, thumb pressing subtly into your side.

The clip cut to a freeze-frame of you in the back of a Daniela and Manon live. You were walking past them, laughing about something off-camera, wearing a simple tank top.

Dark hickeys scattered all over your chest.

The editor of the video writing a comment once again.

‘Dang, Sophia. No one is gonna take her away from you’

Another weverse clip loaded, Lara was scrolling on her phone while Manon and Daniela were fussing over a shared shirt.

Lara suddenly lifted her gaze from her phone, eyes scanning the screen as she read aloud.

“Can y’all get mommy y/n on? Haven’t seen her in a while.”

Manon paused mid-tug on the shirt. 

Daniela raised an eyebrow, clearly confused—until she realized Lara was reading comments.

Daniela let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “Sorry, guys. Y/n is sick,” she explained.

“Sophia put her on bed rest, and if we even try to go disturb her, we will get beat.”

Lara laughed along, nodding emphatically as if to emphasize the seriousness of the threat.

“For real,” she added, still smiling—before abruptly dropping the expression entirely. Her face went deadpan. Only faked fear in her eyes.

“Like… she would absolutely beat us.”

Manon snorted, chiming in as she finally let go of the shirt. “Also, I don’t think anyone wants to see y/n right now,” she said casually. 

“She looks like she crawled out of a cave every time she’s sick. Y/n gets it rough.”

Lara shook her head, chuckling as she went back to scrolling on her phone.

A few seconds passed in comfortable silence until Lara suddenly stopped scrolling.

“Oh,” she said, eyes widening slightly. “Wait.”

She turned her phone toward the camera, holding it up for the live to see. 

“Someone made fanart,” she said, genuinely impressed. “You guys are so talented. This is crazy beautiful—”

Her phone vibrated, freezing before turning her phone around as quick as possible.

She laughed it off, the laugh coming out short. 

“Anyway—yeah. That’s really cool,” she finished, lowering her hand.

After the live ended, eyekons had freeze-framed the moment the notification popped up. The image was blurry, but they decoded it anyway.

It was a text message from Sophia.

'Keep her name out of your mouth, Raj and Bannerman.'

You let out a soft giggle as the video finally came to an end, the screen fading back to YouTube’s suggested clips.

So you did the best thing that came to mind. Copying the link and opening your text messages.

Sophia’s name sat at the top of your inbox. Opening the thread with sophia your eyes ran over the last thing in your text messages. 

It being a gym picture of the picture of her and Lara at the gym.

You pasted the link of the video, sending it to her. Writing a message underneath.

“You’re that obssesed with me?”

Three dots appeared immideatly, then dissapeared.

“You know I am, mahal.”

daniela was your first friend when you got into dream academy. first one to come up to you and introduce herself and call you pretty.

it caught you completely off guard. this was a competition, after all, and you hadn’t expected anyone to be so eager to form connections on day one, let alone be so openly kind to just anyone.

because of that, you kept your distance at first, wary of her intentions during those early weeks. but little by little, her actions started to seem genuine, and your walls broke down until you warmed up to her. ever since then, you looked for her in every room and called her your best friend.

the day you were announced to be the final member of katseye, your hand shot to your mouth, tears swelling in your eyes before you felt daniela’s arms wrap around you.

it was a dream come true: debuting in the girl group, and doing it alongside your best friend. you were assigned to the same dorm, sharing a room—something you didn’t know daniela had desperately begged for.

her clothes became your clothes, and vice versa, your twin beds ended up pushed together, daniela’s requirement, so you could “cuddle at night because you know how much i like physical touch."

that leaves you here, you had woken up 5 minutes ago, daniela’s head on your chest and arm wrapped around your waist. you moved, thinking of getting out of bed before her arm tightened around you, as she mumbled nonsense.

you let out a long sigh, ditching the idea of getting out of bed, you reached for your phone on the nightstand. but felt nothing, you lifted your head off the pillow, eyes squinting, trying to look past the edge of the bed, only to notice your phone had fallen off during the night.

daniela’s phone stood on the nightstand, though, completely untouched and in reach. you hoped she wouldn’t mind that you took it to just scroll through instagram reels while she wakes up.

you wouldn’t dare to invade her privacy by checking messages or anything along those lines, why the hell would you? so you silently prayed she wouldn’t cuss you out in spanish.

you reached for her phone, daniela shifting on top of you before drifting back into deep sleep.

the phone glowed in the dimly lit room, clock reading 6:42am. it was going to be a while before anyone was going to even decide to wake up.

entering the password to her phone, your birthday, before it unlocked with a soft click. pressing the instagram icon, the app came to life.

you opened the reel section, and the first video caught you off guard.

“10 places to take your girlfriend for valentines day”

your eyebrows furrowed, thinking this must just be an algorithm mishap because daniela, your straight best friend, when asked about her getting a boyfriend, she’d say “i’m happy with my current relationship status”, would have no reason to be looking at a video like this. so you scrolled to the next one, paying the previous one no mind.

until the next one was similar, and the next, and the next.

you scrunched your eyebrows, confused, looking down at the girl on your chest. you decided that she probably didn’t use instagram and the feed was just messed up from the lack of usage.

yeah, it was probably that.

even though you have caught daniela on instagram more times than any app

you decided to open youtube instead, watching a random video from the suggested page. that’s how you spent the first hour of the day before you heard your door smash open. manon barging in, scrunching the water out of her washed hair.

she paused in the doorway, noticing the position you guys were in before smirking at you.

“you two are gross,” she teased, “but sophia just barged into my room and told us we gotta leave in 30, emergency rehearsal or something.”

manon walked out, not before sending a wink your way. you looked down, shaking daniela awake. “dani, we gotta go. wake up.”

instead of opening her eyes, she pushed her head deeper into your chest, mumbling “no” and tightening her arms around you even harder.

if she wasn’t so close, you probably wouldn’t have heard her mumble out, “address me properly.”

you rolled your eyes. her pettiness at this early in the morning wasn’t uncommon, but not welcomed so early in the morning anyways, “good morning, mi vada.”

you felt her smile on the side of your shoulder, daniela getting out of bed quickly, rushing to the bathroom before she stopped by the edge of the wall. looking back at you, she pointed her finger toward you, signalling for you to come.

“what are you wating for, let’s get ready, amor.”

you were standing in a line at the coffee shop, waiting for your turn. your pinky linked with daniela’s as you scroll through your phone mindlessly.

daniela had sent this place to you a week ago, suggesting you two go and see if it’s any good.

the line was long, so you hoped it was good. otherwise standing here for more than 20 minutes would be pointless.

daniela was leaning on you, watching whatever you were on your phone before you were interrupted by a child’s voice behind you. it came out soft, as a whisper.

“mum, those girls are so pretty.”

you smiled, heart-warming at her words. compliments from children were the sweetest because you knew they were real and so pure. you turned around slightly, smiling at the little girl who had whispered the words.

“thank you, sweetheart.”

you thanked the little girl, who immediately hid her head in her mothers tight. hiding her growing pink cheeks. her mother chuckled, bringing a hand to pat her daughter's head.

“she’s just got shy, but you two are a very beautiful couple.”

you froze up a little, trying to think of how to tell her you’re just friends. you opened your mouth as a fish, “oh– we–”

the line moved, it was your turn to order, so daniela turned to the woman. smiling at her, interrupting what you had to say. “thank you! it’s our time to order, baby.”

you awkwardly smiled at the girl, following daniela to the cash register. daniela ordered her drink, turning to you to ask if you wanted your usual. still baffled by the interaction before, you just nodded. speechless.

you looked back at the little girl one last time before exciting the coffee shop, confused as ever.

you were sitting by the vanity of your and daniela’s room, she had went out with lara and sophia to go grab the new microphones for practice. she had suggested you come with, actually, begged, since she wouldn’t want to go anywhere without you if she had the chance to take you with.

you had declined, telling her that sitting in a car wasn’t on your to-do list today and would rather stay home. she eventually agreed, letting you stay while lara dragged her out.

she had sent you a picture of her looking annoyed about fifteen minutes prior, with the caption ’bored out of my mind’, which you just reacted to with a laughing emoji and leaving her on seen.

you were getting ready to go out with a friend who had spontaneously asked you to go out. texting you that she didn’t want to go alone and third-wheel, and if you were up to go to a dinner with her.

you, of course, said yes. knowing how awkward third-wheeling is and what a pain it is to sit next to the couple.

you dressed up quite well, stealing daniela’s top from the closet. you applied lipgloss in the mirror when manon entered your room, “hey, y/n. do you have a charg—“ her words died out in her throat at the sight of you.

she whistled under her breath. “damn, y/n! give a quick spin.”

as you shyly spun around, manon continued, “where are you going dressed like that?”

“a friend asked me out, so i decided to keep her company. will be back in two hours or so.” you shrugged, adjusting your necklace, the letter d shining against your skin.

manon’s eyebrows furrowed before speaking, “does daniela know about this…?”

you shook your head. “no..? it was really sudden, and i’ll tell her about it after.”

“y/n, i think you should tell–”

manon was interrupted by your phone ringing, you placed it by your ear, your friend informing you that she was outside.

“okay, i’m coming, i’m coming– bye manon!”

you rushed out after blowing a kiss her way, manon sighed.

that evening, you posted a few pictures, and no interaction from daniela. she usually was the first to respond to all of your stories, hyping you up. this time? dead silence.

she had watched them, you checked.

when you tiredly stumbled into your room that night, you noticed daniela’s side of the bed empty. frowning, you looked around. grabbing your phone, you opened your text thread.

“hey, where are you?”

you were so exhausted that you fell dead asleep, only to find the message the next morning to be read. no response whatsoever.

daniela was ignoring you, you knew that now.

she refused to sleep in your room, kept her distance during rehearsals and even fans noticed the lack of physical affection between you both.

tour had started, and it was supposed to be the most magical time, such a milestone in your career, but you spent it sulking over daniela.

even currently, standing with the girls at the soundcheck, daniela next to you, keeping her distance. all you could do was try to look away from her.

these past weeks had been painful; it felt like your friendship ended, and there was no reasoning as to why, no explanation, just silence.

you wanted to scream at her, make her scream at you. anything.

just to hear her voice again.

just to hear it saying your name again.

daniela finally met your gaze, her eyes stone cold as she looked at you before they flickered, and suddenly it was like looking at your daniela again.

daniela noticed your earpiece dangling, almost falling off. she brought her hand up to fix it out of habit before she realised. clearing her throat, she looked away from your eyes.

“your earpiece is going to fall out,” daniela said.

your eyes flickered with hope towards her before going back to the crowd. fixing your earpiece, you stumbled over your words. “thank you.”

she didn’t respond, only nodded, so faintly that you would’ve missed it had you not been looking at her the whole night.

after the performance, you had decided to go out for some drinks with daniela, manon and sophia. leaving the underage girls back home. you ordered a simple cocktail, sliding into a booth tucked away in the corner. that’s when you noticed daniela sitting at the bar, drowning what you counted to be her 6th shot of alcohol.

she was flirting with a man in front of her, dragging her nails across the length of his arm. he was giggling at everything she said, finding her oh, so funny. and you couldn’t blame her, she was funny. funniest person you knew. but you didn’t want to watch him realise that, too.

call yourself a jealous loser would be too harsh, but you weren’t going to sit there and watch this. so you took your phone, walking past daniela at the booth and out of the entrance of the bar. you walked quickly, already texting sophia that you left and to not worry about you.

you walked faster, to the coast of the beach. you just needed to get away, get away from her, get away from yourself.

you stood by the wooden fence next to the steps leading to the beach. your hands gripped the top of it, tears swelling in your eyes. how could you have been so stupid, falling in love with your best friend, your straight best friend at that.

was god really dooming you for eternity?

tears started to slip when you heard footsteps approach you slowly. you started wiping your eyes, turning around to see who had joined you, only to see...

her.

daniela’s eyes were droopy, clearly drunk.

she walked closer to you, stumbling over her feet before she managed to ground herself. she noticed you turned on the phone; it was lighting up your face.

“what are you doing? texting your side-piece?”

you looked up at her, eyebrows furrowing. that’s when daniela noticed your tear-stained cheeks, how red and puffy your face was.

you ran your tongue over the front of your teeth, trying to calm yourself before scoffing. “no, i’m calling an uber for your drunk ass.”

daniela shook her head. “i don’t need an uber, sophia will take me home.”

“fine.” you didn’t have the energy to fight her, so you turned away from her, walking away.

before stopping dead in your tracks when daniela’s whisper rang out. “fuck it.”

“y/n, i have to tell you something.”

you didn’t turn around, you wouldn’t dare.

“i miss you, i miss us. these past weeks, i’ve realised how much our little moments mean to me and–”

you spat back through your teeth, “you don’t get to do this daniela.”

turning around to face her, you walked a few steps closer. pushing a finger in her chest. “you don’t get to ignore me, make me feel like i need to beg for your attention and then tell me how much you missed me.”

tears were slipping from your eyes again, you brought your hand to wipe them. “i deserve to be treated better than that. especially from the girl that i’m in lov–” you stopped before the words left your mouth. daniela’s eyes flickered to yours.

“say it.”

she stepped closer to you.

“for the love of god, y/n please say it.”

you looked away from her. not having the courage to look her in her eyes. closing them tightly, you whispered out.

“from the girl i’m in love with.”

you expected rejection, a slap to the face, and her looking at you disgusted. instead, you felt her warm hand on your cheek before her lips crashed onto yours in full force.

you barely caught her, grabbing the side of her waist with one hand. your lips moved against each other, letting out all the pent-up emotions you had been feeling for years.

when you pulled away, breathless, opening your eyes felt like a curse. what if opening them would make this moment disappear?

when you finally did, daniela was looking at you, a smile so wide on her face, she couldn’t control it.

you smiled back, softly. before daniela spoke first.

“you do know everyone thought we were together the whole time? right?”

the next morning you laid dead asleep on her chest, the bedsheets covering your half-naked bodies. hickeys across your chest. you found out that daniela bites, and she bites hard.

what you didn’t know was that your friend received a petty image from her the next morning, the same one you had gone out with, with a picture of you dead asleep, hickeys prominent as ever. with a caption that read.

“never try to take my girl again.”

a/n: hope this doesn't suck ass, english is not my first language, so i am sorry for any mistakes. thank you for reading! don't forget to like and reblog if you enjoyed.

“oh? are you blushing again? did your heart flutter because of me?” jimin would ask, staring at you intently with faux innocence. she’s amused by your hand reaching out to swat her face away. despite your disdain for her flirty nature, some part of you felt satisfied whenever jimin’s attention would be on you solely. it was egotistical, but you enjoyed it nonetheless; the fact that this one girl had people bowing down at her feet, worshipping her, but she only focused on you.

jimin’s flirting has no end; during vlogs, behind the scenes, instagram lives, concerts and even fanmeets. like that one time, a fan had asked jimin who she would her sibling date in aespa and her response had twitter up in flames the next day.

“who would i let my sibling date?” jimin hums thoughtfully, her head swaying from side to side as she observes her fellow members. you catch the way her lips curl into a smirk above the microphone, “that person must be a kind and sweet girl then…”

there’s multiple chants of ‘y/n’ from the crowd of mys, no doubt due to the popularity of ynrina. you bow your head down, cheeks already slightly red. then, jimin says, “maybe aeri? she’s very caring and reliable.”

the crowd falls silent with disappointment and then one fan shouts, “why not y/n?!” the mention of your name makes you snap your head upwards and you reach for the microphone to retort. yet, jimin beats you to it and she giggles slyly, “y/n is mine.”

“what?!” another fan shrieks and suddenly, they all erupt into cheers and screams. you wince at their loudness, the fluffy headband resting neatly on your hair nearly falling down. jimin’s face is filled with satisfaction and your members are equally as stunned as the crowd.

you groan, already feeling the fatigue from having to do another late instagram live to feed the fanservice after today. jimin only grins, clearly elated by the response of the fans.

“jimin-ah, why do you like y/n?!”

the mentioned girl only hums, supposedly unfazed by all the commotion caused by her answer.

“y/nnie? her reaction’s are cute, no?” jimin smiles, glancing at you. unfortunately for yourself, the seating arrangement was according to age and being the second oldest, you found yourself sitting next to jimin. “and she’s a good cook. she always cooks for us and her ramen is delicious. i think she would make a good girlfriend.”

your ears burn with embarrassment as multiple flashes go off, capturing the moment that would surely make its way onto the trending page tomorrow. jimin merely nods, proud of herself.

“what about you, y/n-ah?!”

you swallow your saliva, inhaling sharply and picking up the microphone. there’s a moment of hesitation before you mutter, “jimin unnie would make a good sister-in-law.”

the crowd bursts into disappointment and jimin glares at you playfully with disapproval. she huffs, “am i not your type?” her question only further fuels the burning heat in your cheeks. you can barely look at her now, eyes staring straight at the numerous letters and gifts your fans had given you that were all laid out on the table.

“so who would you choose to date then?” jimin adds. you can feel the saliva in your throat drying up, “uhm… maybe… minjeongie…”

“kim minjeong, don’t steal my y/n!” jimin yells as minjeong rolls her eyes. your eyes fall on yizhuo, who’s already grimacing at the scene. you just know she’s imagining her twitter timeline tomorrow.

“stop making fun of her before she explodes,” aeri chides as jimin gleefully chuckles. the older one reaches over to prod at your cheek, feeling the warmth and then cradling it in her palm, “her face is so hot.”

“unnie—” your voice comes out strained and luckily for you, minjeong cuts in, “rina unnie, calm down.”

jimin halts for a second and then sighs loudly and dramatically. she leans back into her chair, pouting. you can still feel the adrenaline rushing through your bloodstream from her touch. it’s maddening the way she can make you feel so flustered without much effort.

true to your words, both ‘karina’ and ‘y/n’ trended on twitter the next day. the keywords had exploded in popularity and there were thousands of edits of this supposed y/nrina moment.

@jjimyangs | 28/09/24

ynrina’s cute relationship ^^ the way rina says her sibling can’t date yn because yn is hers where can i find a yu jimin for myself 🙈

@ningzhyo | 28/09/24

ynrina is REAL. i can’t believe they’re this flirty and sweet in front of us this is sickening omfg im about to throw up. if they arent dating i’ll eat my sock

@solddaeng | 28/09/24

aespa trending cuz of ynrina… thank you gay people for existing 🙏🙏

UCHINAGA AERI — only one bed

going on tour meant having barely an hour’s worth of sleep, frantic running and packing, drastic practices that drained your energy and sharing hotel rooms together. most of the time, the company would be able to book separate rooms for all the members. at least when they were free, they could rest with comfort. you appreciated that fact. either that or the company would at least have member sharing a twin bed hotel room rather than a single.

yet, the hasty planning of the tour led to some misunderstandings and confusion. everyone had been working extremely hard for the upcoming schedules and perhaps some miscommunication had happened. hence, that’s why you found yourself staring at a single bed with uchinaga aeri by your side. for the hongkong stop, aeri was to share a room with you and you didn’t mind at all. you had been her roommate for a couple of months before. aeri was neat, clean and helpful.

unfortunately you couldn’t fathom how you both would be able to fit on a single bed. the room had no other space to sleep on— other than the living room couch.

you turn your head back to the couch situated right in front of the television stand. there’s already a feeling of soreness that runs through your back as you observe the firm and rough texture.

aeri was already having back aches with the amount of practise you had been doing and she couldn’t suffer another night. you weren’t too fond of sleeping on the couch either.

“let’s just sleep together,” aeri offers.

“will we both fit?” you ask hesitantly.

aeri grimaces slightly before nodding. you had already showered and due to your fatigue, you didn’t even notice that there was a single bed instead of two. freshly showered, aeri heads towards the bed and flops onto it. her body already took up almost a third of the space available and there was no doubt that you had to at least squeeze together to accommodate you as well. your hand reaches out to the side to turn off the remaining lamps. as the room dims, you take hesitant steps towards the bed.

you sit on top of the duvet sheet and carefully maneuver yourself to slide into the blanket. aeri only watches and she slowly inches closer to the side.

your skin eventually rests against the soft sheets and aeri’s body. her touch emits warmth and it sends a tingle down your spine. you don’t dare to look up at her, choosing to stare away. your hands are placed awkwardly by your side

“is this okay…?” aeri’s voice whispers beside your ear. you sink further into the mattress, feeling the tips of your ears burn at her close proximity. swallowing your saliva, you mumble back, “ye-yeah.. it’s fine.”

you can feel aeri shifting a bit before nodding her head. a moment of silence passes. your eyes eventually flutter close but aeri shuffles around again. when you peek in the darkness, half of her limbs are dangling down the bed and her face is scrunched up in discomfort. she’s facing the other side and at the edge of the bed.

“you should come closer. you’re gonna fall off,” you state, guilt seeping into you.

“it’s okay— there’s, uhm, not much space,” she replies. you ignore her words and turn around. once you’re facing her back directly, you reach out to tug at her arm, pulling her closer to the middle.

aeri lets out a whine but she doesn’t resist.

“should we just cuddle?” aeri asks quietly. there really wasn’t another way. you were fine with skinship but something about cuddling with the japanese seemed too intimate. you hadn’t been too comfortable with physical touch at first but after getting closer to the members, you would no longer flinch at their advances.

among all the members, you would say you spent the least time with aeri. despite being the same age, you just got too intimidated everytime she was near you. her domineering figure that towered over your head was frightening. sometimes, when you’re talking, she would lean down to listen better and it only makes you even more aware of how much taller she is than you. something about the noticable height difference made your chest constrict and your cheeks flush.

“i guess so,” you try to hide the nervousness in your voice. unfortunately, it does crack a little but aeri pays no mind to it. just as you flip your body around, she flings a hand over your waist, pulling your back flush against her chest. goosebumps rise against your skin as you feel her body warmth.

“this is better,” aeri mutters, sighing comfortably. her cool breath breezes over your ear, forcing an involuntary shiver that makes you shrink in her arms even further. her legs are woven with yours, tangling together like threads. you can feel every inch of the smooth expanse of her legs that silently, you curse yourself for wearing shorts. “you okay?” aeri asks.

“yes, i’m fine,” you croak out, “goodnight aeri.”

“mhm— night, lovely.”

@aebbltrans | 21/09/24

🌙💬 bubble update

‘did everyone sleep well?’

+1 📸

‘i sure did 🤭’

seems like ynselle slept together?!

@aerishilton | 21/09/24

yn and gigi shared a hotel room and bed last night omfg and gigi posting a photo of them cuddling YNSELLE NATION WE ARE ALIVE!

KIM MINJEONG — sunshine x sunshine protector

you had known minjeong for a long time— ever since you were trainees. most of the time, she was broody and indifferent. popular for her cold looks, the stage name ‘winter’ suited her well. sometimes, rarely, she would smile. you didn’t understand why she had such a poker face on for the longest time until she had gifted you with the sight of her smile. then you understood that it was because the curl of her lips would give people heart attacks immediately.

minjeong wouldn’t smile often, but when she did, it was like a gift from god himself. hence, everytime she would grace you with her smile, you would subconsciously capture the memory in your mind.

when you had first debuted, minjeong was criticised heavily for not having any facial expressions. you had spent countless nights as burner twitter accounts arguing with trolls and haters. you hated how everytime she went online, her smile would dim further.

you would have your ipad, macbook and phone all displaying the comment section under minjeong’s fancams and everytime you spotted a hate comment, you would start arguing with them about how minjeong was definitely not a robot and she had real emotions. sometimes minjeong would wake up from her naps, groggily hugging your back for comfort and you would get distracted from this super important matter at hand.

(but minjeong always comes first and she gives really good hugs, so you’ll abandon your devices in favour of cuddling her under her thick, comfy blanket.)

one time, the hate comments were especially bad and minjeong didn’t come out for dinner, even refusing her favourite food. obviously worried, you had gone to her room, begging for her to let you in.

after some time, minjeong finally opened the door. you had felt your chest deflating at her puffy eyes and red nose, still sniffling. you spent that entire night talking to minjeong, saying how proud you are of her and how she shouldn’t listen to whatever mindless nonsense she was reading.

“—i know it’s difficult to express your emotions well and i understand. you can always talk to me. i just want you to be happy,” you had comforted her. minjeong only stared at you, confused.

“i’m the happiest version of myself right now,” she had stated firmly. despite the evident tears rolling down her rosy cheeks, her voice was full of conviction. you could only smile fondly and rest your head against hers, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

at that moment, you had vowed to always protect minjeong. that precious smile that you rarely saw— it needed to be preserved gently, like a diamond. if you could keep her in a museum, protected behind a layer of thick glass no one could penetrate, you would.

even a few years into your career, when aespa was steadily growing in popularity, you had deemed yourself as the knight in shining armor that would protect your minjeong from harm. traveling meant that fans would swarm the airport and paparazzi would camp outside the terminals, hoping to take photos of the newly arrived idols.

the moment you stepped out of the gates, fans had started pushing around and a crowd swiftly formed, surrounding the whole group and the bodyguards. minjeong was latched onto your arm and you felt her grip tighten as multiple flashes of cameras went off. you had pulled her a little closer to your body, ensuring that the horde of fans couldn’t get too close.

“winter! look here!”

"karina-ssi!"

minjeong’s head turns and she’s nearly bombarded by a new onslaught of fans, all pushing towards her like zombies. instinctively, you step ahead to block her from everyone, a scowl plastered on your face. you loved your fans and your life as an idol but sometimes the attention was overwhelming. hands reached out through the gaps between the security, holding letters and gifts. you had tried your best to grab any envelopes with one hand since your other was occupied with hugging minjeong.

one hand filled with letters, you try to muster up a grateful smile at everyone despite your annoyance that they were shoving cameras in your face. the other members were in front, jimin leading the way while aeri and yizhuo followed closely behind. you could see the gate where the company car was parked from far away. knowing that you would reach soon, relief settled in your heart while minjeong’s fingernails dug into your skin.

“you okay?” you ask loudly over all the shouting. minjeong nods meekly and exclaims through her mask, “i’m okay!”

almost a third of the way there, you hear a yelp within the crowd and a blur flashes by your face. security immediately tries to block off the stranger breaching through their protection. the person manages to just glide their fingertips on minjeong’s shoulder before you jump into action, grasping the collar of their shirt and pulling them as far away as you could from minjeong. then, you shove them forcefully into the hands of your bodyguards, leaving them to deal with the stranger. you can feel minjeong trembling beside you and internally, you curse yourself for not acting faster.

the rest of the trip to the car goes by smoothly; all the fans seemed a little more timid now, probably shocked that their idol would push them away and scared of the repercussions if they did get too close. the moment you entered the car, you inhale sharply, finally catching a breath of fresh air from all the commotion.

“thank you for just now,” minjeong whispers quietly and if you hadn’t been paying extra attention to her, you would have missed it.

“that guy got too close,” you shake your head, frowning at the thought of him being within a metre radius of minjeong. the girl only pouts cutely, “at least you were there to save me.” she says it like she’s a damsel in distress that you were owed the duty of protecting. maroon colouring your cheeks, you cough awkwardly, “just making sure you guys are fine.”

“you should join the security team,” jimin chuckles while aeri feels up your biceps, aweing in disbelief, “how’d you manage to throw him like that?! you don’t even go to the gym.”

meanwhile, yizhuo just sighs, “twitter’s going to be crazy tomorrow.”

@kminsiksgf | 29/09/24

DOES ANYONE HAVE THAT VIDEO OF YN TOSSING THE SASAENG AWAY FROM MINJEONG

@krynaeri | 29/09/24

oomf just blessed me with a new minyn moment 😫 wish i was mj so bad i want yn to be throwing people around for me.

@ynbubble | 29/09/24

🫧💭 [3.17pm]

mys~~ please be careful if you come see us at the airport ^^ walk slowly and carefully! to protect yourself don’t push around and make sure to be respectful!

+1 📸

look at how well minjeongie is taking her afternoon nap! like a cute puppy 🐶

NING YIZHUO — enemies to lovers (one-sided)

ever since the chinese girl had became your roommate, you had hated her. from the moment she landed in sm, she always managed to ignite a fire of rage inside you. ning yizhuo was cocky, rude and nasty in your eyes. you wouldn’t understand why jimin and minjeong were so prone to hanging out with her since she was a literal spawn of satan. sometimes you think that god sent her up to earth from hell to test your limits.

constantly eating your snacks, throwing paper airplanes at your head folded from lyric sheets, purposely bumping into you during dance practices, was there a day that went by without your blood boiling because of ning yizhuo? you hated how she used her angelic charms and innocence as a maknae to get herself out of trouble. when you had received the confirmation of shooting a debut music video, your heart had leapt, then dropped down into a bottomless pit when jimin had awkwardly muttered, “ning too.”

since your debut wasn’t truly confirmed until the music video dropped, you had prayed every day consistently, hoping that somehow, one of the higher-ups would decide to take yizhuo out of the lineup. yet, that never happened since on the seventeenth of november, you had debuted with yizhuo by your side. the anger you held for her subsided for a while during the first round of promotions since even it couldn’t overwhelm the happiness of debuting. but the moment everything settled again, it came back swinging in full force.

nothing you did seemed to restrain yizhuo from causing trouble. she would even bully you in front of the cameras, pinching your cheeks and smacking your shoulder roughly, all under the guise of being friendly. yizhuo knew you wouldn’t retaliate against her while shooting, so she took her chance. the popularity of the ‘tom and jerry’ duo, as fans had coined, only further brought suffering in your life. management would constantly want you and yizhuo to interact and they would force you to sit next to each other during fanmeetings.

“stop pinching me!” you yell, whacking yizhuo’s hand away with a my melody plushie a fan had gifted. the crowd only laughed at how yizhuo avoided your attacks and squeezed your cheeks gleefully. you wanted to smack that smirk off her face.

“mys, isn’t y/n so cute?” yizhuo asks, grinning proudly. head pounding from how hard your heart was beating, you give up fighting back and choose to glare at yizhuo between your squished cheeks.

“stop bullying her,” jimin chuckles, putting on a night fury headpiece. yizhuo rolls her eyes but she relents. throughout the fansign, she would make teasing comments, borderline almost hurtful if you weren’t already used to her antics.

one fan had asked, “how do you deal with ningning all the time? you’re very patient.”

you had to hide the disgusted sneer on your face and opt for a casual laugh, “she’s a handful. i’m just doing my best.”

yizhuo had obviously giggled at your lie and continued conversing with her own fan animatedly. just as another fan sits down, you hear the mind-boggling request of, “can we have ningy/n posing together?” your eyes had nearly bulged out of their sockets and you almost blurted out for her to repeat her question. unfortunately, yizhuo had heard her (because she has supersonic bat hearing, which you found out after you had cursed her under your breath and she merely winked at you).

“c’mere,” yizhuo wiggles her fingers around, pulling your chair closer and forming a half of a heart with her left hand. begrudgingly, you do the same with your right hand, smiling at the wave of flashes that go off. her other hand wraps around your shoulder, gripping it tightly but playing it off as skinship. you wince at the sharp nails that dig into your bare skin.

even after the fansign, you could still see the indents she left behind if you craned your neck. the car ride back to the dorms was the only peace and quiet you kept to yourself. yizhuo would normally be knocked out after such a tiring day and she, understandably, would much rather sleep than annoy her favourite member. you would sneak glances at yizhuo, who was coincidentally sitting next to you, making sure she wouldn’t jolt awake and scare you or anything.

(at least that’s what you told yourself.)

the bumpy ride only caused yizhuo to flinch and shift uncomfortably in her seat, cuddling further into one of the many plushies the fans had given her. you would use this time to stare out the window and admire the serenity of the scenery. when the car hit a particularly rough patch in the road, yizhuo jostled before her head dropped lowly onto your shoulder. you couldn’t even recoil away since you were sitting next to the car door.

“how cute,” aeri teases, pointing at yizhuo who rested soundly. you grit your teeth and scoff, “this wasn’t by choice.”

your quick quips attracted the attention of jimin and minjeong as well, who joined in.

“are you sure you hate her?” minjeong asks mockingly. you clench your fists and make a gesture of punching her. unfazed, she only leans further into her seat and whispers conspiratorially, “she likes you, don’t you know?”

“shut up—”

jimin cuts in, “seriously though, ningie has never paid so much attention to someone before.”

your cheeks redden involuntarily and there’s a conspicuous gulp of saliva that goes down your throat.

“what?!”

“don’t you get it? why ningie only teases you?” aeri questions again, her voice full of intrigue this time. with the members’ stares on you, you can only squeeze your eyes shut and huff loudly, “it’s not like that!”

sighing, aeri turns back to her phone, “sure kid. whatever you wanna tell yourself.”

similar to aeri, minjeong and jimin do the same and indulge in their own conversation while you’re left to ponder about their words.

ning yizhuo who would only steal your pocky. ning yizhuo who would only doodle on your lyric sheets. ning yizhuo who would constantly find some way to make you angry. ning yizhuo who you hated.

you knew she was doing all this to get a reaction out of you but you hadn’t expected it to be for such a reason.

ning yizhuo who only ever wanted your attention.

your entire body flushes at the realisation and you freeze when yizhuo stretches her arms out, waking from her slumber.

“ah— sorry,” she says lowly, her voice raspy from the nap. you don’t bother replying her, scared that your own voice might crack. hiding behind your bangs, you face away.

yizhuo doesn’t take the hint that you physically cannot speak to her right now and she insteads places a hand on your thigh that sends sparks of humiliation throughout your veins, grinning slyly, “your shoulder’s super comfortable. lend it to me some other time, okay?”

🔔 NINGNING just made a post.

with my favourite y/nnie! ☀️💛

see all comments

aerichandesu don’t hog y/n all to yourself 😕

↳ imnotningning she likes me the most.

imwinter i thought i was your favourite?

↳ imnotningning sorry, no.

katarinabluu congrats on the newlyweds~

you had always been karina’s puppy.

except for some time, people thought wonyoung had you on a leash.

because one second, wonyoung was the one giggling and grabbing your arm at parties, dragging you around as if you were her own personal assistant. and the next?

next, it was karina.

no transition, no explanation.

just a sudden switch.

one day, you were wonyoung’s little plaything, and the next, karina had her claws in you so deep that even wonyoung didn’t bother fighting it.

which is why the sorority girls were still confused.

until this morning.

you rubbed at your eyes as you walked into the kitchen, still half-asleep, dressed in nothing but sweats and a loose shirt, your hair an absolute mess. you had crashed at the house last night because, of course, karina didn’t let you leave.

the smell of coffee pulled you toward the counter, and as you lazily grabbed a mug, you heard a familiar voice pipe up.

“wonyoung, your girl toy is out here.”

you blinked.

yeji, sitting at the kitchen table, was scrolling through her phone, barely looking up as she addressed wonyoung, who was fixing herself a smoothie.

wonyoung turned, took one look at you standing in front of the coffee machine, and let out an unimpressed hum.

“not mine,” she said casually, sipping her drink.

that made yeji pause. she finally glanced up from her phone, raising a brow.

“really?”

“yeah,” wonyoung sighed, as if it was a mild inconvenience rather than a fact of life. “cuz, karina like...obsessed with her.”

you turned, blinking at the two of them, still groggy.

“…good morning?” you mumbled.

yeji looked you up and down, then shook her head with a small laugh.

karina chose that exact moment to walk in, dressed in one of your hoodies, her long black hair slightly messy from sleep. she didn’t even spare the other two a glance—her only focus was you.

she walked right up to you, stealing the coffee you had just made and taking a slow sip before pressing it back into your hands.

you just took it, unfazed.

wonyoung and yeji exchanged looks.

karina didn’t even acknowledge them as she pulled you in by your shirt, standing on her toes to press a lazy, lingering kiss to your jaw.

"why’d you leave bed?" she mumbled.

you scratched the back of your head, suddenly a little nervous with the way the other two were staring. "just wanted coffee…"

karina huffed, tugging you closer, leaning her head against your shoulder like she was still too sleepy to care about anything else.

"you’re so annoying," she murmured.

yeji let out a low whistle.

“yeah, okay,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief. “i'm lost.”

wonyoung sighed, taking another sip of her smoothie.

karina ignored her, instead focusing on you, her arms wrapping around your waist. "come back to bed," she mumbled, kissing your neck.

"i just woke up, though—"

"come back to bed," she repeated, this time biting your skin to punctuate her words.

you didn't have much choice after that.

as karina pulled you back toward the bedroom, yeji couldn’t hold in her disbelief anymore. she blinked a few times, clearly still processing everything she’d just witnessed.

"wait, hold on," she finally said, staring at karina’s back. "so, you two—are you guys sharing the poor girl?"

karina, still holding you close, didn't miss a beat. she glanced over her shoulder with a lazy smile. "no, i’m not sharing my girlfriend. she’s mine. always has been, always will be."

with that, she shut the door behind her, leaving the other two girls completely confused.

"girlfriend?" yeji said, eyes wide. "since when did you date? i didn't know you two were dating!"

the frat that had a long-standing history with the sorority girls had thrown a party tonight, and they begged for the sorority’s help in throwing it. honestly, it was a little ridiculous how much they had pleaded for karina, ning, winter, and giselle to pull strings and help get the party off the ground. the frats always counted on the sorority to make their parties stand out, and the sisters? well, they didn’t mind—especially since they got to be in charge of the guest list.

karina, as the president of the sorority, had a lot of attention on her. she was the one everyone wanted to talk to, the one everyone wanted to impress—and naturally, she didn’t give a damn about it. but one frat guy? one frat guy had been way too persistent to get her attention.

"so, karina," he said, sidling up to her like he thought he was all that. "you don’t have to be all president-y and in charge tonight. how about we get away from all this, huh? maybe somewhere more… private?"

if it wasn't for her role, she would've slapped the smug look right off his face.

instead, karina forced a sweet, controlled smile, puckering out her lips like she was thinking it over for a second, then just nodded. "yeah, i bet you think that’s a good idea," she said with a polite smile. "but i’m actually taken."

he laughed, like he didn’t believe her. "come on," he said, "you? you don’t date. i’ve seen you at these parties—you’re always hanging out with your sisters. you’re telling me you’re in a relationship?"

karina raised an eyebrow, not missing a beat. "yeah," she said. "with my girlfriend."

the guy just rolled his eyes. "i’m just saying… if you were really with someone, why are you still standing here talking to me?"

karina tilted her head, looking him dead in the eyes. "because i'm the president of the sorority, and i have to be nice," she said, not even trying to hide the sarcasm. "but it’s not like i want to be standing here with you."

before he could protest, karina took a step back, her attention immediately shifting when she saw you walking by with winter. without a second thought, she reached out, casually pulling you back by the arm, her fingers slipping down your wrist until her hand was in yours.

you turned to her with a smile.

"karina," you greeted. "what's up?"

without missing a beat, she stood up a little straighter and reached out, gently pulling you back by the arm. "wait, let me fix your hair," she said, as she lightly ran her fingers through your hair, brushing a few stray strands from your face.

"you're so cute," she said, and when her gaze met yours, you felt your face go hot. "it makes me want to kiss you."

you blinked. “oh.”

she cupped your face, leaning forward to connect your lips in a kiss. she kissed you once, twice, and a third time for good measure, just to prove a point. when she finally pulled back, karina tugged you along, glancing over her shoulder and finally acknowledging the guy, who had been watching the whole exchange with an open mouth.

"see? taken," she said. "not a chance."

the guy could only watch as you let karina drag you away, completely bewildered.

winter, who had also been watching from the side, shook her head.

"now i have to third wheel the two of them the whole night," she complained, crossing her arms.

being able to date the minatozaki sana from twice has been a wonderful experience.

however, your anxiety had peaked when dispatch caught you both kissing right in front of sana's apartment complex after your date night one evening (and you’ve always managed to be super cautious about these things, but sana couldn’t keep her sneaky hands to herself long enough for you both to reach her actual apartment door).

the pictures weren't grainy at all. they were clear enough to allow viewers to see that it's definitely two specific, well-known girl idols kissing: your hand resting on the back of her neck, with sana smiling into the kiss as she always does.

when the official article finally dropped, confirming that you both are dating because there can't be any other reasons to deny such allegations, your names stayed trending for weeks—even making it to national news channels.

and the internet practically melted at your relationship:

[dispatch really exposed sana for being the most whipped wlw alive!]

[WAIT, so that's why sana's always smiling at her phone every time the camera pans to her in twice's vlogs??!!!]

[alright, editors, do your thing and make these fan edits!!!]

[they're such a cute couple!!]

[matching phone cases, matching sweaters, matching rings...how have we missed all of this??]

a viral thread also stood out from it all: [proof minatozaki sana from twice has been publicly in love with her girlfriend for years.]

(to sana's embarrassment, there were quite a lot of pictures and video replies that fans had found and dissected to precise details under that thread.

she had hid her face in your shoulder with a groan then, your arms around her waist, while you both cuddled on your couch.

"they're never going to let this down," she mumbles in your neck, nuzzling her nose before she continues, "however...now i kind of want to go out there and kiss you just so they can keep talking about us."

you had laughed at that, your eyebrows lifting in amusement because sana is most likely serious, if the determination in her eyes say otherwise.

"don't look at me like that, darling. disptach worked so hard for those 4k quality photos. so, we can give them better ones, especially in the daylight!"

safe to say, you both did not go outside and exhibit pda (sana likes you all to herself anyway).

but she did lean up to kiss you deep enough for you to have a stupid smile afterwards).

—

spending time with your girlfriend has quickly become your favorite pastime, especially when you both go on instagram live together on a free weekend.

as sana is sprawled across your couch in your clothes, you decided to start a live on sana's account. sitting on the floor with your knees drawn up against your chest, you make yourself comfortable on the pillow in the space between the couch and the coffee table.

"hello everyone!" sana sings sweetly into the camera, scooting her face on the cushion to rest on your shoulder, cheek squished cutely. her freshly washed hair smells like your shampoo—something faintly floral—with her soft strands tickling your neck every time she moves.

"wouldn't that hurt your neck?" you murmur quietly, her hair almost making its way into your mouth.

"not if i'm close to you."

you rolled your eyes fondly at that, hand moving away her hair neatly before they go back on the screen to scroll through the comments.

many chats flew by quickly; your eyes were not able to catch up with them unless you pressed on the screen to pause the flow. sana read some of them out loud, voice lilting into amusement the more she did so.

"they’re saying you look sleepy." she tries to turn her head as much as possible on your shoulder, but eventually gives up with a huff when she can't see your face.

"yeah, i am a bit sleepy, but i do want to talk to your fans."

the blanket your girlfriend has draped over herself shifts a little, until you feel the weight on your shoulder becoming lighter. from the corner of your eye, you see her body slide down on the couch, plopping unceremoniously right beside you on the floor.

"so much for 'i'm so lazy, i won't join you on the floor.'" you teased, lips in a smirk as you glance over at her.

sana narrows her eyes mischievously before slipping her icy hand under the hem of your shirt, her palm splayed out on your warm skin shamelessly, making you yelp out in surprise. looking back at your livestream quickly, you let out a sigh of relief when you see the camera cuts off from your upper chest.

thank goodness, you did not want the world to see everything else.

"i'm just readjusting so i can go use the restroom." she gets up, making sure she is out of view from the camera before sauntering off to the bathroom, even having the audacity to look back with a wink accompanied with her own butt pat.

shaking your head as you try to hide your smile behind your hand, you continue filtering through the comments:

[they are never beating the married allegations...]

[we love you!!!]

[sing us a song!]

[so pretty~~~]

[comeback hints???]

muttering out the last question, you talk a bit about your upcoming comeback, playing around with your words to not reveal too much.

"you guys will be really surprise for my comeback! the style is way different from our usual concept, but that is all i can tell you!"

reaching over the table, you grab your drink, sipping it lazily as a comment suddenly catches your eye among the endless flood:

[you should offer sana your drink and wipe it afterwards to see how she reacts]

you snort into your hand at the suggestion, almost choking on the drink as your brain is already planning on how to let the little prank unfold.

"you guys are a menace. hopefully i don't end up girlfriend-less tonight...or else i'm blaming it on you guys!"

you barely have enough time to recover from your small laughing fit before the sound of slippers padding swiftly across the floor echoes from down the hallway.

sana settles back into her spot beside you with a contented sigh, rubbing her slightly damp hands against her sweatpants before tugging the blanket back over her legs.

the viewers immediately start spamming heart emojis the second she instinctively leans into your side again, her eyes meeting yours through the screen—a twinkle of shine in them.

quietly offering her your drink, she took the glass in hand with glee, body wiggling in excitement. completely oblivious to the prank, she happily brings the straw to her lips, face lighting instantly at the sweet taste of the juice as she takes long sips.

her eyes were soft and content the entire time, looking pleased over something as small as sharing your drink that almost makes you feel bad for pranking her in the first place.

almost.

"that's really good, thank you!" she scrunches her nose in gratitude as you take the drink from her hand, before her face expression turns into mild confusion when you pluck a tissue from the box, nonchalantly wiping the straw as you stare at your phone.

you can practically feel the gears in your girlfriend's head spinning as she stares back and forth from your face to the drink.

"...what are you doing?"

your lips press together immediately to stop yourself from laughing, eyes trained forward because you'll burst out laughing if you look at her directly.

"darling?" she pokes your cheek as you take a sip, her fingers traveling from your face to curling around the glass, plucking it out of your hand before she takes the straw into her mouth.

your phone somehow—miraculously—ends up falling out of its holder, the camera now panning up to the ceiling instead.

what the viewers don't see is how you're hypnotized with sana's scandalous action, one that an idol should never show in public—especially on live.

your eyes widen as she openmouthedly twirls the plastic tube with her tongue, coating it with her saliva before closing her mouth around it, lightly sucking on it as she looks at you with half-lidded, sultry eyes.

[wait wait wait what's happening?]

[you're so fucked]

[omg did y'all see sana's face????]

[notice me pls]

[live laugh love, but it seems like you'll be sleeping on the couch]

[the phone fell!!!! nooo what's going on???]

sana smirks after she pulls away with a small pop, arms now extending for the drink to be in front of you, guiding the straw to your mouth as she drags it along your lips.

your mouth parts on its own, feeling the spit-coated plastic pushing in; the warmth of it reminds you of where it had been.

your girlfriend hands you back your drink—to which you took with shaky hands—chin nodding to the cup to make sure you take sips.

her lips curve in a sly, satisfied smirk, before her hands busy themselves putting your phone back on the stand.

she proceeds to talk to her fans sweetly and innocently as if she wasn't completely ruining her idol image right in front of you.

[her gf's face is so red???? what went down?!!?!?!]

[omg what happened in those ten seconds???]

[??!?!?!??]

[sana-unnie you're so pretty]

[bro she's experiencing technical difficulties]

[sana flipped the script so fast]

for the entirety of the live, you can see her tiny twitch of a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips whenever her nails graze your thigh under the blanket.

it also doesn't help that she constantly licks her lips or has her tongue darting out for the rest of the livestream.

a real fucking tease she is.

—

as you both finally bid goodbye to everyone (sana had whined when you wanted to end it early because there were more important matters at hand. it was clear why she wanted to stall for so long), your girlfriend immediately gets in your lap, legs bracketing your hips possessively, almost knocking over the items on the table.

"look at you," she teases in a slight mocking tone, "completely whipped on live and i wonder why."

the smugness in her voice makes you shift in your seat, already feeling a pool of slick forming in your shorts.

"your fun little prank seems like it backfired, no? all flustered from just a bit of teasing, hm?"

before you can defend yourself, she turns to grab the drink on the table into her hand, the cold drip of the condensation makes you flinch as they drop onto your thighs. sana takes a few sips before turning back to you, an unreadable glint in her eyes.

just as your mouth parts to speak, sana grips your shirt tightly in her hands, pulling you in for a kiss as she presses her body impossibly closer—until you feel liquid sweetness spilling past your lips, making your eyes widen in surprise.

all you could taste was the strawberry drink traveling on your tongue and down your throat, moaning into the kiss as sana pushes more of the drink into your mouth. you let out a small choked sound as sana checks for any remnants of the drink still in your mouth with a slide of her tongue, feeling her grin on your lips afterwards when she finds none.

she pulls back abruptly in a daze, a pleased smile plastered on her pretty face as she takes in your flustered state. her fingers stay twisted tightly in your shirt, keeping you close as she bites down on her lower lip to suppress another wicked smile. her eyes flick shamelessly between your blown pupils and swollen lips before meeting your gaze again.

"my gorgeous girl," her thumb comes up to wipe away a trail of the drink that slid down to your chin, pulling it back towards her as she licks it off with an appreciative hum.

you cough again from the realization, quickly gulping hard afterwards, then stare at her with dark eyes. your hold on her thighs tightens, fingers gripping enough to stop her hips from grinding on your lap.

"what's wrong, darling?" she stares back with that infuriatingly annoying smug and sparkles in her eyes before leaning closer again, noses brushing lightly, "do you want more?"

The morning bell rang, echoing loudly through the crowded hallways of Oakwood High. Kazuha was leaning against her locker, checking her lip gloss in a small compact mirror. She was wearing her varsity cheerleading jacket, her long hair perfectly styled.

Around her stood her usual clique—Chloe, Jessica, and her boyfriend Mike, who was leaning against the locker next to hers, spinning a football in his hands.

Kazuha was the undisputed queen of the school. She was beautiful, rich, and notoriously mean. If you weren’t in her circle, you didn’t exist. And if you got on her bad side, she would make your life a living hell.

"Hey, Kazuha, look over there," Chloe whispered, nudging Kazuha’s arm and pointing toward the main office. "The principal is walking around with that new transfer student. God, look at her sweater. It’s so oversized and ugly. She looks like a total loser."

Kazuha closed her compact mirror with a sharp snap and smirked. A cruel, bored idea popped into her head. "A new target? Perfect. Let's give her a proper Kingsley welcome."

Kazuha walked over to the nearby janitor's closet, grabbing a large plastic bucket. She dragged it to the water fountain and filled it to the brim with freezing, ice-cold water, tossing a few ice cubes in for good measure. Chloe and Jessica giggled, acting as lookouts near the side entrance where the new girl was walking.

"She’s coming, she’s coming!" Jessica hissed.

The heavy door swung open. The new girl stepped inside, looking down at a map of the school. Before she could even lift her head, Kazuha stepped out from the corner and dumped the entire bucket of freezing water straight over her.

"Welcome to our school, loser!" Kazuha laughed loudly, tossing the empty bucket to the floor.

The hallway erupted into loud jeers and laughter. The new girl stood completely frozen, drenched from head to toe. Cold water dripped heavily from her hair, soaking her large sweater and splashing onto her sneakers. Slowly, she raised her hands and wiped the water away from her eyes, pushing her wet hair out of her face.

When she finally looked up, Kazuha’s laughter instantly died in her throat.

The color drained from Kazuha's face. Her breath hitched, and her hands began to tremble.

The girl standing in front of her wasn't a stranger.

It was Y/N.

Her childhood best friend.

The only person who had ever truly cared about Kazuha before her family’s messy divorce five years ago, forcing Y/N to move to another country.

"Y-Y/N?" Kazuha whispered, her voice cracking.

Y/N didn't yell.

She didn't cry.

She just looked at Kazuha with a calm, deeply disappointed expression. It was a look that cut Kazuha deeper than any insult could. Without saying a single word, Y/N turned around and walked down the hallway toward the girls' locker room to dry off.

"Y/N! Wait!" Kazuha panicked. She completely forgot about her friends, her boyfriend, and the crowd of students watching her. She ran down the hall, bursting through the doors of the girls' locker room.

Y/N was standing by the sinks, wringing out the bottom of her wet sweater.

"Y/N, I'm so sorry!" Kazuha begged, her eyes wide with frantic desperation as she tried to get closer.

"I swear, I didn't know it was you! It was just a stupid prank. If I knew you were coming back, I would have never—"

Before Kazuha could finish her sentence, Y/N raised her hand and placed her palm gently but firmly over Kazuha’s mouth, instantly shutting her up.

"It's okay, Kazuha. Shut up. You don't have to explain anything," Y/N said softly, pulling her hand back. Her voice was completely empty of anger, which somehow made Kazuha feel even worse. "I get it. You're different now. I guess the popularity really ate you up. You're just a bully."

"No, Y/N, that's not true! Please listen to me—" Kazuha pleaded, reaching out to grab Y/N's hand.

But Y/N just pulled away, grabbing her backpack. "I need to go to the office and get a change of clothes. Don't follow me." She walked past Kazuha, leaving her standing alone in the cold locker room.

Over the next two weeks, Kazuha completely lost her mind. A dark, suffocating possessiveness took over her.

She couldn't sleep, she couldn't eat, and she couldn't focus on anything else.

Y/N was back, but Y/N was treating her like a ghost, and Kazuha couldn't stand it.

She tried everything to get close to Y/N again.

During lunch on Tuesday, Y/N was sitting by herself at a lonely corner table in the back of the cafeteria, reading a book. Kazuha walked over, carrying a tray loaded with expensive pastries, snacks, and Y/N’s favorite strawberry milk.

"Hey, Y/N," Kazuha said, forcing the sweetest, brightest smile she could muster as she sat down across from her. "I remembered you love this milk. I bought it from the convenience store across the street just for you. Let's eat together, okay? Just like old times."

Y/N didn't even look up from her page. She calmly closed her book, picked up her backpack, and stood up. She walked away to the library without saying a single word, leaving Kazuha sitting alone at the table while the whole cafeteria stared.

The next day in history class, the teacher announced a group project. Kazuha instantly raised her hand.

"Teacher! I want to be partners with Y/N!"

Y/N stood up immediately, her face completely blank. "Teacher, can I please just work alone? I prefer doing projects by myself."

The teacher blinked, confused, but nodded. "Uh, sure, Y/N. That’s fine."

Kazuha’s grip on her pencil tightened so hard it snapped in half. She glared at the back of Y/N's head, her eyes turning dark and vacant.

'Why are you doing this to me, Y/N?' she thought, her heart twisting painfully. 'Why won't you just look at me?'

By the third week, Kazuha’s friends were getting completely annoyed by her behavior.

During the afternoon break, Kazuha was standing in the crowded main hallway, leaning against a locker, her eyes completely glued to Y/N who was organizing her books down the hall.

Chloe rolled her eyes loudly, crossing her arms. "Seriously, Kazuha, stop acting so pathetic. Why are you spending so much time trying to please that loser? She’s a nobody. It’s not like she’s important or anything."

Something inside Kazuha’s brain snapped.

SMACK!

The sharp, loud sound of Kazuha’s hand slapping Chloe’s cheek echoed violently across the entire hallway.

The crowded corridor instantly fell into a dead, terrifying silence. Students stopped dead in their tracks, staring in utter shock. Chloe stumbled backward against the lockers, clutching her bright red cheek, tears instantly welling up in her eyes.

"Don't you dare call her a loser," Kazuha hissed. Her voice wasn't her usual mean-girl tone; it was incredibly low, cold, and dripping with pure malice. Her eyes looked completely dead, staring at Chloe like she wanted to erase her from existence. "If you ever speak her name with your disgusting mouth again, I will make sure your family loses everything in this town. Try me."

"Whoa, Kazuha! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Mike, her quarterback boyfriend, stepped in angrily.

He grabbed Kazuha’s wrist tightly, pulling her back. "You’ve completely lost it! You can't just slap Chloe over some random nobody girl! Calm down!"

Kazuha violently ripped her wrist out of Mike's grip. She turned her icy, murderous glare onto him, letting out a sharp, dark laugh. "Get your hands off me, Mike. And I told you, don't call her that."

"Babe, I'm your freaking boyfriend! I'm trying to help you!" Mike yelled, feeling humiliated in front of the whole school.

"We’re done," Kazuha said bluntly, her voice as sharp as a knife. "We are breaking up right now."

Mike blinked, totally stunned. "What? Are you crazy? You’re breaking up with me because of her?"

"No, I'm breaking up with you because you’re a pathetic, cheating piece of trash," Kazuha sneered, stepping closer into his space, her eyes wild with rage. "You think I don't know? I know you’ve been sleeping with Sarah from the track team, and Emily from the junior class, and God knows who else. You're disgusting, Mike. You're nothing to me. Y/N is the only one who matters in my life!"

Mike’s face went completely pale. He opened his mouth to argue, but the sheer, dangerous insanity in Kazuha’s eyes kept him frozen.

Kazuha was breathing heavily, her chest heaving up and down as the adrenaline rushed through her veins.

She felt exposed, angry, and completely out of control. Another student nearby mumbled something under their breath, and Kazuha instantly raised her hand again, ready to swing and slap whoever else dared to open their mouth.

But before her hand could land, someone grabbed her wrist from behind, stopping her mid-air.

"Get your hands off—" Kazuha spun around, ready to scream, but she suddenly froze. A familiar, incredibly soft vanilla scent hit her nose—the exact perfume Y/N had worn since they were kids. Kazuha looked up and saw Y/N holding her wrist. Y/N didn't look angry; she just looked deeply tired of all the chaos.

Without saying a single word to the shocked, whispering crowd, Y/N tightened her grip on Kazuha’s wrist and began pulling her down the hallway, dragging her away from Mike, away from the drama, and straight out into the empty courtyard behind the school.

Kazuha didn't fight back at all. She just stared at Y/N’s back, a twisted, incredibly happy smile slowly forming on her lips as she let herself be pulled away. She touched me, Kazuha’s mind screamed in ecstasy, her heart pounding with a dangerous, dark excitement. She finally looked at me.

The courtyard was completely empty, the cool wind blowing through the trees. The moment they were hidden behind the tall brick walls, Y/N finally let go of Kazuha’s wrist.

Kazuha immediately stepped closer, her eyes wide, scanning Y/N’s face.

"Y/N... you saved me back there. I knew it. I knew you still cared about me. You saw what Mike did, right? He’s disgusting. Everyone here is disgusting. They don't understand how important you are to me."

Y/N let out a heavy, exhausted sigh, leaning her back against a concrete pillar. She rubbed her temples, looking at Kazuha with a deep frown. "Kazuha, please. Just stop."

"Stop what?" Kazuha asked, her voice instantly dropping into a soft, innocent whine. She reached out, her fingers trembling as she gently clutched the sleeve of Y/N’s jacket. "I was defending you. Chloe called you a loser. I couldn't just let her say that to you."

"You slapped her, Kazuha! You almost started a riot in the hallway!" Y/N said, her voice rising in frustration. "And the past two weeks? Buying me things, following me everywhere, trying to force yourself into my life? It’s too much. I told you, you’re a bully now. I don't fit into your world anymore, and I just want you to leave me alone."

Hearing the words leave me alone felt like a physical knife stabbing Kazuha’s heart. Her face went completely pale, and her eyes instantly filled with tears. The terrifying, aggressive girl from the hallway completely vanished, replaced by a pathetic, weeping mess.

"No... please don't say that, Y/N," Kazuha sobbed, dropping to her knees right there on the concrete, her hands desperately gripping the hem of Y/N’s jeans. She looked up with big, trembling eyes, tears ruining her perfect makeup. "I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry about the cold water. I swear I didn't know it was you. If I knew, I would have protected you. Please don't hate me. Don't leave me alone again."

Y/N gasped, taking a step back, shocked by Kazuha's sudden breakdown. "Kazuha, get up! What are you doing? People might see you!"

"I only became popular because I was lonely!" Kazuha cried out, her voice cracking with desperate emotion as she clung tighter to Y/N's legs. "When your parents got divorced and you moved away, you left me all alone! I had nobody! My parents ignore me, and everyone at this school is fake. I built this mean persona so nobody could ever hurt me or leave me again. But it’s all a lie, Y/N! I hate them! The only time I was ever truly happy was when I was with you. Please... just give me one chance to make everything right. Let me prove that I can be the Kazuha you used to love."

Y/N stood frozen. She looked down at her childhood best friend, who was literally begging on her knees in the dirt, crying her eyes out.

Y/N’s soft, empathetic heart completely betrayed her. She remembered the sweet Kazuha from five years ago—the girl who used to share her lunch and cry when they had to go home. Seeing her like this made Y/N feel incredibly guilty.

Completely oblivious to the dark, calculating mind hiding behind Kazuha's tears, Y/N knelt down and gently placed her hands on Kazuha’s shoulders, pulling her up.

"Okay... okay, Kazuha, please stop crying," Y/N murmured softly, using her thumb to gently wipe a tear from Kazuha's cheek. "I don't hate you. I didn't know you went through all of that after I left. If you really want to change... if you promise to stop hurting people and stop acting like a bully... I'll give you a chance. We can try to fix things."

Kazuha’s breath hitched. She buried her face into Y/N’s neck, hugging her tightly. Y/N wrapped her arms around her to comfort her, so she couldn't see Kazuha’s face. She didn't see the way Kazuha’s weeping expression instantly shifted into a terrifying, victorious smirk.

She fell for it, Kazuha thought, inhaling Y/N’s vanilla scent deeply, her fingers digging possessively into Y/N’s back. She’s mine again. She’s finally mine.

The next few days were like a dream for Y/N. Kazuha completely changed her behavior at school. She officially resigned from the cheer squad, stopped talking to her old popular friends, and spent every single second with Y/N. She was sweet, attentive, and incredibly gentle. Y/N genuinely believed that her childhood friend was healing and becoming a better person.

On Friday evening, Y/N decided to surprise Kazuha. Kazuha had mentioned she was going to the grocery store to buy ingredients for a dinner they planned to cook together at Kazuha's house.

Since Y/N finished her extra study session early, she decided to head straight over.

When she arrived, Kazuha’s mother, who still remembered Y/N from years ago, unlocked the front door with a warm smile. "Kazuha is just down at the corner store buying some extra things, dear. You can go wait for her up in her room."

"Thanks, Mrs. Nakamura," Y/N smiled brightly, holding a small bakery box of Kazuha’s favorite pastries she had bought as a surprise.

Y/N walked up the stairs, her heart feeling light and happy. She reached Kazuha's bedroom door, which was slightly ajar, and pushed it open with her shoulder. The bakery box slipped from her fingers, hitting the hardwood floor with a soft thud, the pastries tumbling out.

The room was completely pitch black, except for a faint, eerie red glow coming from a string of LED lights wrapped around a massive corkboard on the main wall. Y/N took a hesitant, trembling step inside, her breath catching as her eyes adjusted to the dim, bloody red light.

The entire room was a shrine. And the shrine was entirely dedicated to her.

Hundreds of printed photographs covered every single inch of the walls. There were old photos of Y/N from five years ago, which made sense—but then Y/N saw the rest. There were hundreds of photos of her from the past three weeks.

Photos of her walking to school, taken from inside a car across the street.

Photos of her sitting in the library, taken through the window glass from the bushes outside.

Photos of her eating lunch, zoomed in so closely you could see the crumbs on her lips.

But the absolute worst, most horrifying part was the ceiling directly above Kazuha’s bed.

Enlarged, high-definition pictures were taped across the ceiling. Y/N walked closer, her body shaking violently with pure horror as she recognized the background of the photos. It was her own bedroom.

The photos had been taken from outside her bedroom window while she was completely asleep. There were close-ups of her sleeping face, her tangled blankets, her exposed shoulders.

Underneath the corkboard, a small glass table held a collection of bizarre items inside ziplock bags: a stray hair tie Y/N had lost last week, a half-empty water bottle Y/N had left in history class, and a piece of paper with Y/N’s handwriting, covered in dark red ink that repeated the words:

MY ONLY ONE. MY ONLY ONE. MY ONLY ONE.

"Do you like it?"

Y/N gasped violently, spinning around so fast she almost fell.

Kazuha was standing in the doorway. She was holding a grocery bag, but her expression wasn't the sweet, innocent face she had been showing Y/N all week. Her eyes were completely wide, unblinking, and vacant, reflecting the eerie red light of the room. A wide, twisted, manic smile stretched across her lips.

"K-Kazuha..." Y/N stammered, backing away until her hips hit the desk. Her heart was hammering against her ribs so loudly she could hear it in her ears. "What... what is this? Why do you have pictures of me sleeping?"

Kazuha closed the door behind her, clicking the lock into place with a terrifying click. She dropped the grocery bag onto the floor and slowly walked toward Y/N, her movements graceful but predatory.

"I told you, Y/N. I spent five years waiting for you," Kazuha whispered, her voice a terrifying mix of a sweet lullaby and dark madness. "When you left, I couldn't just let you go. I hired a private investigator in the country you moved to. I got reports about you every single week. I know every school you went to, every friend you made, every time you cried. I couldn't let anyone else have you."

"You... you tracked me?" Y/N’s voice shook, tears of pure terror finally spilling over her eyelashes. "For five years? You're insane!"

"I did it because I love you!" Kazuha giggled darkly, stepping right into Y/N’s personal space. She reached out and firmly gripped Y/N’s waist, trapping her against the desk. Her grip was like iron, completely impossible to break.

"And when your family moved back here, I was so happy. The cold water prank was a mistake, but it worked out perfectly, didn't it? You felt bad for me. You knelt down and comforted me. You gave me a chance." Kazuha leaned in closer, pressing her forehead against Y/N’s, staring directly into her terrified eyes with a gaze full of fanatical, dangerous worship.

being an idol has been a passion of yours ever since you were little.

from christmas pageants to talent shows, you were always chasing the stage, gravitating towards it like it was the only place you ever felt completely sure of yourself. you picked up various dance classes in all styles, singing so often around the house that your parents finally made the decision to have you audition for a company.

starting from a trainee to finally debuting as an idol, to now standing in big, open stages with thousands of fans screaming your group's name, it was truly rewarding.

but if there's one thing, or rather, person, that feels even more precious than all of components that built your dream combined, it was definitely chou tzuyu.

chou tzuyu, who's also a well-known idol in a famous girl group, twice.

chou tzuyu, who sacrificed just as much—even more—to follow through with her dreams of becoming a singer and dancer.

chou tzuyu, who's a great owner to kaya and butter, often bringing them over to your place because you would constantly ask about them (she doesn't show it, but she accidentally let it slip one time that your attention is on them a bit too much).

chou tzuyu, who's loving, caring, and cute—especially when her dimples would show whenever she smiles widely, usually in your presence.

chou tzuyu, who's also your girlfriend; whom you are dating secretly, away from prying eyes and nosy people who should definitely mind their business.

(your members found out when you all were in your apartment for a girls' night...when your front door opens and tzuyu walks in with a bouquet of red roses in one arm and kaya and butter in the other arm.

"chou tzuyu from twice knows your apartment's door code?!"

"chou tzuyu from twice has red roses for you?!"

it was a long night of questions and answers).

chou tzuyu, who's love is unconditional towards you, but is shown only behind closed doors, hidden between schedules, buried in messages, and fleeting, stolen moments.

to say it doesn't affect you at all would be a total lie—being together with tzuyu in secret, that is.

but you've learned to get used to it, just like all of the other things that you had to get used to: busy schedules, rude comments about your body or talents, or your privacy always breached in some way.

your life is basically an open book, each word and phrase in clear font for everyone to see and either praise or nit-pick.

and you've learned to get used to it, sucking in a deep breath in and turn a blind eye.

so it isn't that hard to not be able to love chou tzuyu publicly, but it does get rough sometimes.

—

it gets hard when you're invited to the same show or music event.

the way your hand almost finds hers out of instinct before you stop yourself at the last second, clenching into a fist that has your knuckles turning white and your nails pressing crescent moons into your palm.

the way you have to look away first, even when you can feel her gaze linger on you.

the way you hear fans talk about her—who they think she'd be perfect with, perhaps someone tall with broad shoulders and a handsome smile—and you have to stand there, quiet, invisible in a way that no screaming stage could ever fix.

and you would have to swallow down the uncomfortableness of the secrecy, eyes glossed over as these heavy feelings bang themselves against your ribs to be unraveled in pools of murky grief and longing.

—

the day the dating rumor breaks, you're not expecting it.

you're in the dance practice room, sitting on the couch in the corner, half-listening to your members playfully bicker over where to go eat later in the week, your fingers scrolling mindlessly your phone's screen just to pass the time. you hum a tune under your breath, opening your notes app to plan out the date that you were going to have with tzuyu later on in the day.

it was all fine until you hear a scream from your leader, with three other voices letting out their own surprised yelps, making you raise an eyebrow.

"why are we surprised? did you guys finally choose a place yet?"

your question seems to barely register since no one answers you. there's a beat of thick silence until they all scrambled closer together on the floor, suspiciously trying to cover their leader's phone.

"guys?" you narrow your eyes, brows knitting themselves slightly.

your members share quick exchanges of glances between them before your leader speaks up, voice in a higher pitch than usual.

"oh, yeah—uhm...this restaurant had such funny reviews so..."

you notice how she glances at her members, nodding with encouragement as they all follow suit.

"yeah...but wouldn't you be laughing and not look so scarred...?"

"oh, well—this comment was so explicit, we just couldn't believe anyone would say such a thing, you know?" a small, forced laugh follows, everyone joining in octaves.

that piqued your interest, getting up to shuffle closer to them.

"can i see, then—"

"no!" your maknae shouts, eyes widening before she waves her hands around, a habit that makes you know she's nervous and obviously lying, "i mean—it's like not worth our time! unnie already clicked out of it, so we won't be able to find it in the sea of reviews!"

"yeah," another member jumps in, nodding a little too fast, "just super unnecessary!"

something's definitely up, and you're going to find every way to see what they're so jumpy about.

"alright...i guess it's not that important!" you shrug lightly, like you've already lost interest.

no one relaxes, shoulders all tense as they eye each other.

you move around the group anyway, casual and unbothered, body close enough to be near to your leader, but not too close to have her shift away.

"i'm going to grab a drink, does anyone want anything?"

and before they could say anything, you come up behind your leader, snatching her phone right out of her hands, pulling up the so-called bad reviews they're all talking about.

"hey—"

but what you saw were not horrendously explicit reviews on a restaurant's page. not anything remotely close to what they told you.

it's an article, with a headline in bold, black lettering:

kim seoho and chou tzuyu sparks dating rumors after late-night sighting.

your breath picks up, noises around you muffled as your thumb shakily scrolls further down the article, seeing the grainy photos.

your eyes strain to look at them, realizing that it is your girlfriend, standing in the dark with a manly figure, wearing a sweater that you vividly remember getting for her birthday.

behind you, the room has gone dead silent, with no one trying to explain this time because there is nothing to hide or cover up anymore.

"why were you guys hiding this from me?" your tone wasn't accusatory, but it sounded strange to your ears.

"we weren't trying to hide it from you," a voice falters, "we just didn't want you to see it like that. it's all skewed and wrong for the public; just mere rumors and another headline to have spark online."

you lips press together. finding it hard to keep standing, you plop down into your one of your member's arms—you don't notice whose, but from the way she rubs your hair, it was probably the oldest member.

"you know what you have with her," she whispers, her voice firm that guides you through the turmoil in your mind, "and she knows what she has with you."

you nod against her shoulder blade, feeling another hand rubbing on your back.

"you don't have to be okay about it right away. talk to her when you're ready, yeah? she might just be as surprised."

you pull out your phone, checking for any notifications from someone, chest tightening when you see none.

and as break time is over, the choreographer coming back into the room, you all get back into position because the world doesn't stop over something like this, or ever.

deep breath in and out, and turn a blind eye.

get used to it.

but the image still stains your mind, a reminder of something that you know can never happen to both of you.

—

by the time your schedule for the day ends, you're exhausted. not the kind that sleep or good food can fix. the kind that sits heavy in your bones, wrapping up with everything you've been holding in since earlier.

your members doesn't say much on the way out, sharing concerned glances as they bid their goodbyes, hushing out "text us when you get home" or "we are here whenever you need."

you lean your head against the window, body sagging into the seat as you request the driver to turn the heat up a bit.

exhaling shakily, you turn off your phone from do not disturb, tired eyes scanning through the messages from twice members, focus zeroing in on tzuyu's hefty amount of missed calls and stacks of delivered messages.

your chest curls, not daring to look at what she had sent because your tears were already welling up in the corner of your eyes, and you couldn't handle a breakdown at the moment.

you don't open any of them, not because you didn't want to, but because you know yourself.

your girlfriend already has a lot to handle, having just came back from a world tour and now this. she can't also care for her mopey girlfriend, too, over some scandalous tea that just wants attention.

so you need to be okay when you talk to her, your voice convincing enough to not have her worry.

you'll read them at home,

where you can control the situation and not have her see you falling for it.

where you can pretend with a "i'm fine, baby."

—

the walk to your apartment feels longer than usual, each step echoing just a little too loudly in the empty hallway.

from afar, you notice a figure crouching in front of your front door, face buried in their arms with shoulders drawn tight.

you became alert immediately, your body in rigid caution as you eye the person.

strands of dark brown hair cascade around their body like a halo, a bit wavy. their stature is long, fingers gripping their upper arms which were wrapped around their knees.

you were about to call your manager when you see a big bag next to the person—a paper brown bag that has your favorite pastry place's logo on it, folded in a way it always is when things are packed way too full.

and you let your guard down because no one else besides your members or your girlfriend knows your favorite bakery—the place too hidden in a small, quiet corner (one you know well because you and tzuyu always go there for your dates).

and since you've just quite literally spent all day with your members, the person right at your doorstep is no one other than—

"...tzuyu?"

there's a slight shift, slow, before the figure jerks upright, head lifting up so quick that it would've caused her whole body to fall backwards if it weren't for the door in the way.

and it is her, your girlfriend, in all her glory.

her eyes were red, cheeks with dried-up tear-streaks in a way that feels wrong on her because she never lets herself be seen like this—raw and vulnerable.

worry shoots through your chest instantly, crouching down to her level and brushing her cheeks gently with your hoodie's sleeves. she takes your hands in hers, gripping them enough as if you were going to disappear if she let go.

"...you didn't answer, or—or," her voice cracks, small and rougher than you've ever heard it, "—reply and it made me really worry, especially with the news and i couldn't get a reach of you and...and..."

her eyes are then downcast, head tilting away—a thing she does when she's about to cry.

"hey—i-i'm so sorry, baby...how about we go inside first, hm?"

she doesn't hesitate, standing up with your help. as you unlock your door, you notice a slight stiffness to her movements, like she's been sitting there for quite some time.

the heavy pit in your chest churns rudely again.

-

your girlfriend sets the big bag on the kitchen counter with a soft thud, body rigid as she turns around to look at you like a lost puppy.

her hands hover awkwardly in front of her, fingers picking on the skin around her nail beds.

"come here, babe." your voice comes out soft as it bounces off the walls of your apartment.

you barely have time to open your arms before she's stepping into them. you wrap them tightly around her waist, pulling her against you with enough force to inhale the scent of comfort and home in the crook of her neck.

one of her hands comes up instantly, cradling the back of your head as her fingers smooth carefully through your hair. her other arm wraps around your back, pulling you impossibly closer, like she's trying to make sure you're really here.

tzuyu buries her face against the side of your head, rubbing her nose in your hair before giving kisses repeatedly in the same spot.

"i'm sorry," she whispers, pulling back to look at your face.

"you didn't do anything wrong," you murmur back automatically, because god, tzuyu would go to great lengths to make you secure enough in this relationship.

"i did," there's heavy guilt in her shaky voice, "i should've called you earlier, before you saw it somewhere else. i didn't even know about it until my manager started calling me."

you feel the way her fingers move against the back of your neck, warm and comforting as she rubs your nape.

"i was going to explain right away, but then you stopped answering and i—"

her voice catches, eyes glossy as her brows scrunch up.

and that nearly breaks you into even more pieces.

because chou tzuyu rarely cries.

she always have that wave of poised nonchalance and calmness; someone who rarely panics and lets herself spiral enough for anyone to see it.

but she's trembling in your arms right now, worrying over you.

"hey, look at me..."

she does, immediately. always so attentive to you it hurts. you brush your thumb lightly beneath her eye, wiping away the stray tear sliding down before holding onto the front of her sweatshirt.

"i'm okay." and you are. because now that you're in your beloved girlfriend's arms, the absurdity of the rumors finally hits you. it was nothing but a bunch of unimportant matters and—

"no, you're not."

tzuyu's expression shifts slightly, her brows still pinched together firmly. her hand slides from your hair to cup the side of your face gently, thumb brushing across your cheek.

"i know what you're thinking," she murmurs, "and i want to make it clear that there's nothing between him and me."

"i know."

and you do, god you do. because this ugly feeling was never really about trust. it was about everything else: the image, the headlines, the reminder of how easily the world could place her beside someone else and accept it without hesitation.

"i hate that it hurt you, baby," she pouts at you, "i hate that you had to see that and that you even had to think about it."

you turn your head slightly to the side, lips puckering out to kiss the palm of her hand on your cheek.

"—and we've already denied all the allegations right away! i had management handle it as soon as it came out."

you nuzzle your face in her warm hand, palm soft and touch grounding.

"you know i only want you, tzuyu. i don't want anyone else."

she smiles at that, cheeks turning into a gorgeous rose color as she ducks her head again, feeling incredibly shy.

"you only want me, right, my sweet girl tzu?" you playfully shimmy against her body, her giggles spilling out in pretty melodies.

"you're all i need." she says shyly, voice gentle enough to make you selfishly want to be surrounded with it forever.

it was silent for a few moments, your chest feeling more relaxed than before as you shuffle closer in tzuyu's embrace.

"speaking of which, did you buy the whole bakery? i didn't even know they had this big of a bag!"

she hides her face back into your hair this time, obviously flustered as she whines.

"i got one of everything..."

—

a few weeks later, everything has at least settled down. the rumors, long buried in a mountain of other wild news, had netizens shift their attention somewhere else immediately.

as you were leaving your promotion filming, a soft ding pulls you from your thoughts, lips turning into a small smile at the notification:

jyp bubble: [🫐 tzü] you have received a message.

upon clicking on the notification, it takes you to jyp's bubble app that you had dutifully downloaded just to be a part of tzuyu's subscription chat.

(your members had relentlessly teased you for it multiple times when you did.

"you literally see her almost every day."

"weren't you just laughing to yourself from tzuyu texting you, personally?"

"you might as well be her no. 1 subscriber on that app."

"you're so whipped."

it was safe to say you smacked each and every one of them after their comments).

your smile gets wider at what you saw: a picture of her hand tightly grasping yours on the restaurant's table you both went to a few days ago.

your chest warms instantly as new messages appears beneath the photo:

🫐 tzü: the food was so good ☺️ 🫐 tzü: but the company was better

you can't help the disbelief laugh that escapes you, because tzuyu is just so bold and brazen, like a wildfire, spreading throughout your body that is impossible to ignore.

"so? what do you think?" your hairdresser says from behind, soft and expectant, hands resting lightly on your shoulders as you stare at yourself in the mirror.

it's not a drastic change, but it's definitely different. your hair is shorter and more layered on the sides now, cleaner around your jaw, curtain bangs just messy enough to fall into your eyes if you let it. the length barely sits on your shoulders, not quite close to a bixie nor a mullet—somewhere in between.

"i love it, unnie! this is exactly the style i envisioned!"

you turn your head from side to side, testing it, running a hand through the strands, seeing the dark blue gleam in the light.

"i'm so glad! it suits your face so well!" your hairdresser claps her hands excitedly before letting you know you're good to go, making sure to tell you about hair maintenance until your next appointment.

as you gather your things to go to the front desk to pay, you hear a laugh that sounds too familiar, one that you've heard many times over late-night calls.

peering around the mirror, you see no one other than minatozaki sana, a few chairs down on the opposite side, legs crossed casually as she converses with her hairdresser.

you haven't seen her in-person for a few weeks, schedules having been so insane to add in a hangout with her, only managing to smile with a passing wave at award shows or intermittent texts.

(safe to say, minatozaki sana is an interesting person. a great conversationalist and gorgeous person. kind and caring, always wearing her heart on her sleeve.

you've been pretty close friends for a while, long enough to know how she likes her drink or which side she likes to lie on the most.

your groups met years ago on a variety show, freshly debuted idols from different companies coming together. the interaction was quite monumental, breaking the internet platform with how much fans loved seeing both groups interact with each other.

after filming had wrapped up, someone suggested exchanging numbers before all going out to eat a meal together. from then on, you and sana have hung out numerous times, even going on an overseas trip together and having that vlogged on twice's youtube channel.

oh, and have you mentioned...you have an undying crush on her? because somewhere along the way, you fell hard for sana. embarassingly hard. it gets to the point that you turn into mush and goo every time you're with her, breath uneven as your voice wavers.

and the worst part? sana is a flirt to everyone. a big one. effortless. unapologetic. magnetic. pulling. second-nature.

she says just the right thing, smiling all sweet and sugary—innocent even—when she knows she said something that friends shouldn't really say to each other.

so whenever she puts on that teasing grin, you have to emotionally prepare yourself, because it's just one of those lines that she says to everyone.

you may not be as special after all).

slinging your bag over your shoulder, you decide to walk over to where she's sitting, with your hands in your pockets, lowly whistling under your breath. before you even had gotten closer to her, she sees you through the mirror, turning around immediately, legs uncrossing as a beaming smile spreads across her face, bright and unmistakably hers.

"sana-chan, it's nice seeing you here!" you wave at her with a smile that mirrors her own, not forgetting to bow at the hairdresser. the woman says she'll come back with the dyes and excuses herself, leaving you both alone.

"well, if it isn't my favorite person!" she says, voice light and warm in a way that settles deep in your chest like it always does. and then she lets out a gasp when she finally takes your appearance in.

"y-your hair!" she points at it, "the color is amazing! the cut is amazing! you look amazing!"

you laugh giddily, getting shier as she goes on and on with her compliments.

"thank you, i appreciate it!"

she looks behind you, mouth turning into her signature pout as she looks around.

"is your manager here?"

"ah, no, i have a free morning. i have recordings later in the afternoon, though." you scratch your chin, trying to run through your day's schedule in your head.

"are you leaving soon? if you're not busy, stay with me for a bit? i have a lot to update you...in juicy details!" she scrunches her nose cutely, legs kicking as she looks at you with her puppy eyes.

and god, that damn pout.

"o-oh, uhm—yeah i just finished. i can stay for a few minutes!" clumsily scurrying to sit in the seat next to sana, you sink into the leather chair, legs spreading comfortably as a hand rest on your thigh while the other stays in your pocket.

the hairdresser comes back, separating sana's hair with numerous clips, which made you pull your phone out for a quick picture of her while she whines, pout becoming more prominent.

a low giggle leaves you as you look at the picture, peering back up when you hear sana grumble,

"delete it, now!" she demands, narrowing her eyes at yours through the mirror.

you shake your head with a teasing grin, "i think it's a great picture that i can use for your birthday post! your fans would love it!"

her mouth drops open, eyes mortified, "excuse me?"

you lock your phone and slide it back into your pocket, leaning back into the chair, swiveling around a bit. you give her a smirk, shrugging your shoulders annoyingly.

sana turns in her seat as much as the clips allow, glaring at you in a way that's supposed to make you think she's really mad—except she looks anything but that, more like a cute hamster (but you won't tell her that).

"you're so annoying," she huffs, "you're lucky you're so good-looking..."

she mumbles the last sentence, more to herself than to anyone, but you heard it.

you stilled completely, hand freezing from playing with your carabiner clipped on your pants.

before you could respond, two figures loomed over both of you.

"excuse me..." you glance over to your side, while sana looks through the mirror.

two younger female idols stand there, clearly a bit nervous but excitement gleams in their eyes, hands clasped together.

"hello," one of them says quickly, "we're sorry for interrupting, but we're really big fans of both of you!"

you straighten yourself in your seat, offering a polite smile, "oh, hi! thank you." you awkwardly scratch the back of your neck, not sure how to continue the conversation.

sana, the angel she is, brightens instantly, exuding her extrovertedness.

"oh my goodness, i listen to your group's music all the time! you both are even cuter in person!" sana winks at them, causing the girls to squeal in their hands, happy that their favorite knows of them.

you nod in agreement, relieved.

one of the girls glanced over at you, shuffling forward shyly with a pen and paper in hand.

"—uhm, i-is it okay if we get both of your autographs? it's okay if not, we've taken so much of your time already!" you agree right away, taking the items into your hands, signing your name before passing them to sana.

her member next to her adds on to the conversation, looking directly at you, which makes you believe she is the outgoing one rather than her companion,

"sunbaenim, minju here is your biggest fan ever! she gushes about your performance all the time. you're literally her girl crush of all times! i think she has mentioned to me that you're her ideal—" before the girl could finish, minju covers her mouth with her hand immediately, face flushed red.

"uh—p-please ignore her! she just really likes talking...!" you laugh shyly into your hand, amused yet touched by having such dedicated fans.

"it's okay. i am very flattered that you think of me that way. thank you. minju, right?"

the girl's eyes widen, nodding her head so quick that you think it would cause her a migraine later.

"and what's your name?" you look over at her member, laughing again when the girl finally pries minju's hand away.

"i'm the one and only, sohee!" sohee is practically vibrating with excitement, bowing so deeply you're half worried she'll tip over, "honestly, now i get why minju likes you so much! your charisma is out of this world!"

sohee turns her head to look at sana, "and you too, sana-sunbaenim! you're so beautiful! oh my gosh, this is a dream come true!"

sohee extends both her hands out at sana, bowing as she quietly asks for a handshake.

sana waves her hand lightly, giggling as she reaches out for sohee's hands, saying how she loves her energy which makes sohee blush profusely.

you can tell minju wants to do the same for you, eyes glancing between you and the interaction between her member and sana like she's building up the courage to say something.

you recognize the look, so you stand up. minju jolts when you move toward her as you extend your hand for her to shake. minju's mouth came agape, taking your hand immediately in hers as she repeatedly say thank you.

sohee shifts back over to you to give sana hairdresser's more space as she rolls over her cart of tools.

from the mirror, sana notices how minju holds onto your hand tighter, almost as if she didn't want to let go. her eyes travel to your face, smile soft and polite, slightly overwhelmed, but you still give them your full attention nonetheless.

something uncomfortable brews in her chest, gnawing and ugly, settling without invitation, even coiling her ribs like a knot she won't be able to undo no matter how many times she swallows it down.

as the two idols finally step back, still thanking you both as they leave for their appointments.

you shift back next to sana, leaning on the chair's handrest with your hands in your pockets once again.

"they are really sweet," you said, grinning as you think back to the cute interaction.

"yeah, i agree." she replies, though you notice it was less playful than before, "they really like you."

her eyes stay on the mirror, but you can tell she's not really looking at herself.

"yeah, they really love you as well! i mean—who doesn't?"

sana's face was unreadable for a second before it shifts back to a teasing one, preparing herself to tell you the so-called juicy updates.

(she wonders if you love her as much as she loves you).

—

you exhale tiredly as you throw yourself on your bed, collapsing on the soft mattress as your body sinks into it.

dance practice was brutal today. having to prepare for your much anticipated comeback, you had to work a hundred times more than usual, wanting to give your all. you can feel your muscles aching all over, throat feeling dry from the reruns in the studio, and your head is still buzzing with counts, corrections, and formations—all blurring messily in your head whenever you close your eyes.

you turn to your side—cheek smushed into your pillow and your hair still damp from the shower—grabbing your laptop on the nightstand before sitting up against the headboard.

aimlessly checking notifications and answering back missed texts, a youtube notification pops up in the corner: sana's fridge interview.

oh, right! a new episode came out today! your mind wanders to a few days back to when you last video called her, remembering her pout as she made you promise to watch it,

"you have to watch it, okay? and call me after! i want to see your honest reaction!"

tch, how demanding.

but you click the video anyway, because then you'll have a reason to call her.

-

you don't even realize you're smiling at first. it just happens (as it always does when it comes to sana).

sana was with one of the best rookie actress star, having debuted only recently in a movie that broke records days after it was released. the two bounce off each other well, laughing, teasing, the kind of chemistry that makes for good content.

the interview flows naturally, with small talks, stories, and questions.

getting halfway through the video, the topic of ideal types comes on, making you unconsciously grip your blanket a little tighter.

"so, sana-sunbaenim, i'm sure a lot of your fans are wondering about this question: what is your ideal type in a partner?"

sana laughs, brushing her hair behind her ear as the other covers her mouth, "oh, you're asking all the right questions..." sana hums, lips pursing as she tries to gather her thoughts,

"i like someone...a little more on the masculine side," she starts, pausing a bit before continuing, "maybe a bit clumsy because i'm quite clumsy myself. hm, someone not too loud, but their calming quiet presence still steals my breath away...and someone who looks really cute when they smile!"

your heart starts beating a little faster, churning.

ah, she must have someone in mind to be so specific.

"what about you?"

the actress chimes in immediately, nodding enthusiastically, "i know exactly what you mean! my ideal type has always been y/n!"

your stomach drops, not because the actress says your name, but because of sana's reaction. the way she freezes for just a fraction of a second—subtle in a way that others wouldn't catch it—but you notice. her smile falters just barely, eyes flicking to the side then back to the actress's.

"is that so?" she says, tone still light, but there was a twinge of possessiveness...?

the rookie giggles, continuing, "totally! she's just so captivating without even trying! she's amazingly cool on stage, but also looks like a softie, if you know what i mean? i feel like she'll be a great partner!"

the actress trails of dreamily as sana laughs, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"yeah."

and the topic ends there, as sana changes the subject as quickly as she had answered it.

-

you fingers hover hesitantly over the keyboard as you stare absentmindedly at the messages between you and sana. you have been meaning to text her for a while now, not being able to find the nerve to call her because you don't know what to say.

"...okay, you're just overthinking it. it's just sana, someone you've known for so long. get over your shit," you mutter to yourself, fingers finally moving to type out a text.

you:

just finished your interview! you did really well as always~

before you could switch to another app, sana's name pop up on your screen, indicating an incoming video call from her.

so much for not calling.

you fix your hair, making sure to set your laptop at a good angle before accepting the call.

"hey charming!" sana tries to whistle, but fails miserably, causing you both to laugh, easing your worries you had prior.

"so..." she drags out the word, "what did you think?"

"i like the dynamics you two have. the actress is also really pretty! no wonder she's getting recognized so quickly."

sana frowns immediately, voice suddenly so small that it caught you off guard,

"that's all?"

did you say something wrong?

"oh—well, the episode was really funny, and i enjoyed it a lot!"

"that's good..." her lips were in a thin line now, making your brows furrow a bit.

"a-are you alri—

"i'm sorry—i forgot i had to call jihyo to discuss some things. let's call another time, hm?"

and before you could answer, the call had ended. you stare at your reflection faintly on the black screen, brows still deeply furrowed now, heart feeling like it's been pulled apart. sana's hurt expression imprinted in your mind like a stubborn stain.

(sana knew she shouldn't be jealous. you aren't even hers to begin with. and yet something about that makes her heart hurt).

—

sometimes, you wish you had your leader's confidence or your maknae's outgoing personality. because now, as you stand awkwardly outside your makeup room while a female idol confesses her feelings to you, you're not sure how to turn her down nicely.

"i—uh— thank you, really," you wince at your response. before you could reject the girl, you see a figure turning a corner, a familiar light brown-haired girl who has been on your mind since forever.

it's been weeks since you've talked to sana, too busy with your comeback to really focus on texting or calling. sana also doesn't reach out to you either, which makes matters worse, because she always finds something to send to you—gifs, memes, random videos of cats or dogs, anything. but it's been radio silence since the night she hung up on you.

so, tonight, at this award show that both of your groups happen to attend, you were going to corner her somehow, in some way. but before that, you need to have your focus on a specific matter at hand,

"i'm sorry—uh, i appreciate you telling me your...feelings, but i unfortunately cannot reciprocate it."

the idol shifts awkwardly, expression sad as she nods slowly. you both bow at each other, the girl sensing your urgency to be somewhere else, excuses herself first. you quickly run down the hall that sana went down, seeing her about to enter a room, running after her to stop the door just in time before it closes.

sana startled eyes stare right back at yours, before determination fills them, making her pull you in and shutting the door behind you. she lets go of your wrist, but doesn't step back, eyes narrowing as she blocks you with both of her hands beside your head.

she's glaring now (which makes you want to let out a laugh because, for goodness sake, sana can never look mad in her life).

"what did you answer her?"

being closed to her made your brain malfunction—her breath fanning your face and sweet perfume clouding—so all you could utter out was a "huh?"

"i don't like how everyone is infatuated by you..." her voice wavers, but she kept eye contact nonetheless, "i don't like that they think they have a chance, or that they can just confess like that to you. so, answer me, what was your answer to her confession?"

you exhale slowly, the tension in your shoulders easing a fraction,

"i said no, obviously...uhm—w-why exactly are we in this position?" your finger comes up between you both, wiggling back and forth in the little space.

"because i'm in love with you," she blurts out.

"...what?"

she laughs weakly—wetly, too, because tears are starting to pile in the corner of her beautiful eyes—like she can't believe she actually said it.

"i'm in love with you," she repeats, quieter this time, "and i've been trying to ignore it, because we're f-friends, and we don't see each other that often anymore, and you're—you—and i don't want to ruin it but—"

you close the distance in a heartbeat, your lips crashing onto her soft ones. her hands come up to your collar instantly, gripping lightly as she pulls you closer. she moves with a mix of relief, frustration, and something almost desperate.

you stumble back slightly, surprised at her urgency—but you don’t hesitate to respond, your hands finding her waist, pulling her in.

the kiss is messy at first, uncoordinated with too much emotion and too little patience.

but then it settles, slows, becomes something deeper. her grip softens, fingers curling into your shirt instead of clutching. your thumb brushes along her side—feeling the exposed skin from her dress—making her shiver against your front.

when you pull back, your foreheads rest together, breaths uneven.

"you're mine and mine only," she growls, sending a quick pulse down south in your pants, "i'm not a fan with all these women throwing themselves all over you...so, let's hinder it down, hm?"

"i can't help that i'm so charming that all the ladies come lining up for me." you tease, making her scoff.

she grabs you by the tie, making you stumble as you're pulled forward, "well, the only lady—the only line leader, is me. got it?"

"y-yes ma'am."

and then she pulls back, looking all cute and innocent as if she wasn't going to devour you right then and there, smoothing out your outfit and fixing your hair, thumb wiping the lipstick stain on the corner of your mouth.

"take me out for dinner afterwards?" she flutters her eyelashes, making you laugh at her duality.

"of course, beauty," she blushes as you squeeze her sides tighter before continuing, "i know a great place for dessert, too."

you both finally leave the room giddily, thankful that no one had entered, heading back to the main area of the event.

"so, where is the dessert place? as a sweets connoisseur, i might know it! momoring has taken me to a lot of different bakeries recently."

oh sana, how are you so cute?

The neon lights of the practice room blurred together as Aeri stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror. It was 2:00 AM in Seoul. Her throat burned from recording the same bridge ten times, her thighs ached from the new choreography, and the pressure for aespa’s upcoming comeback was sitting on her chest like a lead weight.

Everyone expected perfection. She had to look perfect and she needed to look sexy.

Feeling the familiar sting of tears in her eyes, she grabbed her phone, slipped out into the empty, dimly lit hallway, and dialed the only number that felt like home.

Because of the time zone difference, it was afternoon where you were. The phone rang twice before your face appeared on the screen, sitting at your desk.

"Hey, my love," you smiled, but your expression instantly softened into worry when you saw her face. "Aeri? What’s wrong?"

That was all it took. The dam broke.

"I can't do this, Y/N," Aeri sobbed, pressing her back against the hallway wall and sliding down to the floor. She pulled her knees to her chest. "The comeback is in two weeks and everything is a mess. My rap parts keep getting changed, the choreo is so fast my ankles feel like they're going to snap, and I haven't slept more than three hours a night this week. I feel like I'm holding everyone back."

She went on a breathless, frantic rant for fifteen minutes. She complained about the tight outfits, the strict diet, the constant evaluations, and how terrified she was of letting the fans down. She poured her heart out, her voice cracking, her tears dripping onto her oversized hoodie.

On the other side of the screen, you just listened. You didn't interrupt. You didn't tell her to calm down. You just watched her with eyes full of pure, unconditional love, murmuring soft words of comfort whenever she paused to breathe.

"I'm just so tired," Aeri finally whispered, her energy completely spent. Her eyelids were drooping, heavy with exhaustion.

"I know, baby," you said softly, your voice like a warm blanket. "You've worked so hard. Can you do me a favor? Go back to the dorm, crawl into bed, and just sleep. You don't have to think about tomorrow right now."

"Mmm... okay," she mumbled, barely able to keep her eyes open. "I love you."

"I love you more, Aeri. Sleep well."

When Aeri finally woke up, the bedroom was dark. The harsh, stressful reality of the comeback flooded her mind for a split second, making her heart race. But then, she noticed a warmth beside her.

She turned her head slowly, and her breath hitched.

You were lying right there, fast asleep on the pillow next to hers. You were still wearing your travel clothes, looking slightly exhausted yourself, with one arm protectively thrown over her waist.

Aeri blinked, thinking it was a dream. She reached out with a trembling hand and touched your cheek. You were warm. You were real.

A choked sob escaped her lips.

The sound woke you up. Your eyes fluttered open, blinking away the sleep, and as soon as you saw her crying, you pulled her closer, wrapping both arms around her.

"Shh, I'm here. I've got you," you whispered, burying your face in her messy hair.

Instead of feeling comforted right away, a wave of familiar panic hit Aeri. In all her past relationships, whenever she cried or got too stressed, her exes would pull away. They told her she was too much. They told her she was exaggerating and making a big deal out of nothing. They made her feel like a burden.

"I-I'm sorry," Aeri gasped out, trying to pull away from your embrace. "I'm sorry I'm crying again. I'm being too dramatic, right? You flew all the way here because I was complaining like a baby—"

"Aeri, look at me," you interrupted gently but firmly. You cupped her face with both hands, forcing her to look into your eyes. "Stop. Look at me."

She sniffled, her eyes red and watery.

"You are not too much," you said, your voice cracking with emotion. "You are never too dramatic. You are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, and you're allowed to break down. I didn't fly here because you're a burden. I flew here because the person I love was hurting, and I wanted to hold her. You are safe with me, okay? Always."

Hearing those words, the wall she built around her heart completely crumbled. She buried her face in your neck and cried, but this time, they weren't tears of stress. They were tears of relief. For the first time in her life, she didn't have to be Giselle the idol. She could just be Aeri, a girl who needed to be held.

You let her cry, rocking her gently and rubbing soothing circles into her back until her breathing finally slowed down.

When she finally quieted down, she pulled back just enough to look at you. Her lips were trembling, but a tiny, genuine smile appeared on her face.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Don't thank me," you smiled, wiping a stray tear from her cheek with your thumb. "Can I kiss you now love?"

Aeri didn't even answer; she just leaned in and pressed her lips to yours.

The kiss started sweet and slow, filled with gratitude and deep relief. But as Aeri’s hands slid up to tangle in your hair, the kiss deepened. She pulled you closer, needy for your touch, wanting to erase every bad memory of her past and replace it with you.

You rolled over so you were hovering slightly over her, never breaking the kiss. Your lips parted, moving together in a slow, passionate rhythm that made Aeri’s heart skip a beat. It wasn't rushed or frantic; it was deep, warm, and full of reassurance. You kissed her like she was the most precious thing in the world—because to you, she was.

When you finally pulled away for air, your lips were flushed and shiny. You leaned down to press soft, lingering kisses to her jawline, her cheek, and finally, a gentle kiss on her forehead.

the rain hits hard the moment you step off the sidewalk—too sudden, too loud, like the sky decided to split open to ruin your timing.

your morning had already started off horribly: your car wouldn't start (opting for you to take public transportation. and as someone who's horrible at directions, especially subways at that, you almost went on the wrong section three damn times), and mid-ride, you realized you forgot your work badge at home. and to make matters even worse, the weather forecast lied. because it had said it would be sunny today (so no, you didn't have an umbrella with you, coming up from the underground area to see that it's pouring).

screw monday mornings!

you clutch your coat tighter, half-running, half-laughing at your own bad luck, with your work bag hidden under your coat because you cannot afford to have a broken laptop as well. every step also makes your shoes wetter because you apparently take big jumps into all of the puddles.

even better!

your shift at the vet clinic had started twenty minutes ago, but at this point, you might as well just call in for a sick day.

because you're already sick of this monstrosity of a day, and it was barely eight in the morning!

you see a warm glow that spills through a building's windows, eyes squinting to read what the sign says:

[9WICE CAFE]

opting to rush in quickly from the downpour, thinking to yourself that you could take shelter in there until the thunderstorm eases up.

the cafe surprisingly had no patrons as you stood at the entrance, eyes scanning the cozy place as the bell above the door clanged. the strong smell of coffee instantly hits your nose, the espresso machine hums lowly somewhere behind the counter.

raindrop clings to you in all the worst ways, your shoes soaked through as you trudge to a corner seat of the cafe, hair damp and sticking to your forehead as the sky continues to cry without mercy.

it's probably laughing-crying at you.

"rough morning?" the voice is soft, though it cuts through the sound of the coffee beans being ground in the background.

you look up from your seat immediately, hands halting from drying yourself with the cafe's napkins (they barely did anything).

oh? when did angels start working at cafes?

because behind the counter stood a very, very ridiculously attractive woman, light brown and soft-looking hair flowed loosely over her shoulders, round eyes gazing at you in a way that made you want to put her in your pocket instead. she slowly unbuttons her sleeves' buttons, folding them up effortlessly into flaps until they're near her elbows.

she tilts her head, watching you with a quiet amusement, almost endearing as she waits for you to answer.

oh, right, answering!

"y-you could say that..." you blink, looking down at yourself, suddenly aware of how crazy you must look.

she giggles, eyes crinkling just a bit as she grabs the towel hanging from her caramel-colored apron, making her way around the counter as she speaks in that mellow voice of hers,

"come here, you're dripping all over the floor." eyes bewildered, you glance down, noticing the pool of water that is forming from your drenched clothes.

when the hell did this happen?

getting up abruptly, almost slipping, you manage to make your way towards the front—shoes squeaking with every step—where the woman is already waiting.

"here, you can use this to dry off first. i'm sure those thin napkins are not going to dry anything." she gently holds the towel out, brushing your fingers for just a second longer than necessary when you take it.

"t-thank you, i appreciate it!" you blush, pink dusting your cheeks as you realize how unbelievably embarrassing this whole situation is: you look like a wet, scrawny dog while a put-together, angel-like woman stands in front of you.

her lips curve up, eyes flicking over you, taking in your flustered state—your dampness clings annoyingly, wet and cold, as you shiver despite the warmth of the cafe.

"wait here." she turns around quickly, walking toward the back room, disappearing behind the swinging door. you're left standing there, towel in hand, while the wind picks up outside, making the rain droplets hit against the glass windows loudly, not letting up anytime soon.

it's strange how quickly the cafe feels so much more emptier after she left—dimmer even.

you don't have to wait long, since the next thing you know, the door swings open again, the woman stepping out holding some things in her hands. as she got closer, you were able to make out what she brought out—a soft, well-worn, really comfortable-looking oversized sweater and a pair of gray sweatpants that are loose-fitting.

"here," she says, voice much more sweeter and gentler, "these are my spare clothes from the back. you can change into these!"

you blink, caught off guard at her kind gesture, "oh—please, you don't have to! i'll be fine drying off with—"

"i know," she cuts you off, a small smile forming on her lips, "i want to."

you hesitate, staring back and forth between the clothes in her hands and her face, where her lips were slowly forming into a pout, eyes becoming puppy-like.

"they're clean and comfy..." she squeezes the fabrics, arm extending out even more.

who the hell can say no?

"thank you...you're like heaven-sent..." her lips spread into a big smile of glee, cheeks bunching up as she fist bumps the air cutely before pointing towards the back.

"the bathroom is straight down to your left!"

you nod, still a little dazed as you slowly make your way back.

"oh!" you pause, turning around from her comment, "do you perhaps want anything? i can make it while you go get changed!"

she’s already watching you, arms resting on the counter now as she leans on it, but there’s a small eagerness in her posture—like she wants to make something for you.

"uh—w-whatever you like. your favorite drink, maybe...?"

her smile becomes even more kind, less playful now, and more touched.

"alright, i'll make you my favorite, then! coming right up for you!"

you hear her shuffle behind the counter, a ceramic cup clinking against the countertop, the faint hiss of steam as she gets to work.

by the time you step into the bathroom and close the stall door, your heart is beating like crazy, feeling it pound even through your ears.

you quickly change into the clothes she gave you, putting in some effort to at least dry yourself with the paper towels, wincing a bit at the roughness of it against your skin.

her clothes fit you perfectly, sweater and pants hugging you loosely (and yes, the sweater is very, very comfortable, which makes you want to hug yourself with it).

the fabric carries a faint scent of warm coffee beans, something sweet like vanilla, and a clean, comforting freshness that isn't just from detergent.

you leave the stall, looking at yourself through the big mirror—slightly damp hair, flushed face, scrubs still dripping water in your hands. you quickly hover the pile of mush over the sink, wringing out all the water until your knuckles turn white.

"okay...get it together..." you murmur to yourself, "there's a pretty girl out there. don't embarrass yourself, got it?" you point at your reflection in the mirror, a stern look on your face.

whatever happens, you will not embarrass yourself!

-

as you make your way back out into the cafe, a customer is near the pick-up area waiting for their drink, fingers tapping against the marbled counter.

you notice on your table a steaming cup of hot chocolate, with a toasted marshmallow layered on top. it was set on a napkin, with neat handwriting scrawled on it:

for you <3 my favorite drink also happens to resemble you. drink it and find out how :) — sana

you also notice the wet puddle is cleaned up, turning around to see sana already staring right back at you as she handed off the drink to the one other customer.

"you didn't have to!" index finger pointing behind you toward the floor, "i was planning to clean it up right after i come back!"

she walks out from the counter again, heading towards your direction.

"it's okay! don't worry, it wasn't a big mess, anyway!" she dabs her hands on her apron before slipping them in the front pockets.

your hand comes up to comb through your tangled hair, feeling bad.

"please—you've been up and running around because of me! i caused you so much trouble, even having to borrow your clothes...and wait—i haven't even paid for my drink!" your hands hastily dig into your semi-dried work bag, fumbling around for your wallet somewhere at the bottom.

"hm, drink's on the house!" sana looks at you with the same soft expression, calm and patient, "and for the other stuff...why don't you let me join you for the time being?"

her chin gestures toward the empty seat across from you, "i'll call it even!"

"a-are you sure? that's like nothing compared to—" but she's already making herself comfortable in the seat, arms crossing on the table as she looks up at you, long lashes fluttering, making you want to count every strand. and wow, she's so pretty.

"try the drink before it gets cold."

giving up, you sat down, letting out a huff as you brought the cup up to your lips.

it's...really damn good. it has the perfect amount of marshmallow, melted enough to balance the chocolate-y taste, along with the cinnamon sprinkled on top, which definitely brought the drink together.

you remember her note, saying how her drink reminds her of...you? is it because you look like the marshmallow, all messy and sticky?

"so...how is it?" she eyes you expectantly, eyebrows raising, waiting for your answer.

"it's really good! i think one of the best hot chocolates I've ever had!"

sana looks pleased with herself—like she was waiting for that exact reaction—a teasing smirk gracing its way on her lips.

"well? is that all...?"

you raise an eyebrow, slightly confused by the sudden follow-up.

"it's...also creamy and light..." you slowly say.

"okay, and...?" she inches closer, expecting you to say the words that she already formed in her head.

"and... it's aesthetically pretty to look at, and...sweet."

"exactly!" she nods along, her eyes now flitting down to her note before coming back to yours.

oh?

oh!

realization hits you, feeling the heat creeping up your neck, all the way to your face, spreading to your ears.

the beautiful barista is flirting with you, right now! quick, say something!

but before you could, your phone rings, causing both of you to jolt form the sudden sound.

you were so immersed in the cozy place, the stunning worker and her equally stunning smile, and the drink that you forgot you had your own work to worry about!

you answer the call, a hand cupping the speaker as you whisper to sana,

"sorry i have to take this really quick!" she nods, mouthing a 'go ahead' before averting her attention to the rain outside.

"hey...tzuyu!—yes, i know, i'm sorry! it's been a crazy morning, and i was going to call in saying how i'll be late because i can't physically get to work as of now, and it completely slipped my mind..." your fingers come up to your lips instinctively, rubbing at them, a bad habit you always fall into whenever you feel guilty or overwhelmed.

"yes, yes...i'll keep you updated. i'll be there whenever the rain subsides!" letting out a small 'thanks' before you end the call, exhaling as you lower the phone.

"everything okay?"

"oh, yeah! just work stuff...!" you rub the back of your neck with your hand, suddenly aware of how close you both are.

"i noticed your scrubs earlier. are you some type of medical professional?" she rests her chin in her palm, her name brooch swaying as she moves.

you smile, momentarily thrown off by how easily she notices things.

"yeah somewhat. i'm a vet! i work at an animal clinic."

her expression brightens instantly.

"really?" she repeats, interest showing on her face.

"yup! mostly dogs and cats, or exotic ones here and there. pretty crazy sometimes. like that one time i had an owner coming in asking why his animal wasn't moving anymore...only to find out that said animal was a fish, that happened to jump out of its tank..."

sana bursts out a laugh, shoulders shaking as she covers her mouth with one hand.

"why would—how did it even—how did he not know?"

"i still don't know," you admit, joining in with her laughter, "we were all genuinely confused."

she leans back in her seat, wiping away the tears that somehow formed from laughing so hard. you brought the cup of chocolate-y goodness up to take another swig, nodding approvingly before setting it back down.

after some quiet, thoughtful moment, sana breaks the silence,

"i think the job suits you."

you feel yourself smiling, happy that someone was able to see your passion.

"thank you, that means a lot."

your eyes make their way back down to the note as you take another sip, feeling the blush coming back.

sana notices, because of course she does.

"i meant what i said earlier. about the drink and you."

you turn your head to the side, feeling shy from her confession.

"i'm sure you do it to all your c-customers...!" you say, trying to laugh it off, rubbing your hands together under the table, the sleeves bunching up at the ends.

"oh, darling," your breath catches at the nickname she uses, "that was my first time doing it to a customer..."

"oh..." you shift around nervously, speechless.

sana quickly senses your hesitation, widening her eyes as her posture straightens, like she's recalibrating mid-conversation.

"i mean—if you're not interested, that's okay...! i just decided to shoot my shot because you're really pretty and so my type—"

"no! i am—" your sudden answer made her flinch a bit, "sorry—i didn't mean to scare you!" the words tumble out of you, scrambling to fix the moment before it slips away, "uhm—i mean, i am interested! it's just...it's just, i thought you were beautiful, as well—gorgeous even..."

you press your lips together, eyes choosing to stare at the way the marshmallow melts into your drink, the cinnamon dissolving into swirls.

sana's voice afterwards was gentle, a slight rasp as it got deeper,

"i'm glad...i want to get to know you, if that's okay." she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, the rings she wears reflecting.

you nod your head repeatedly, choosing to agree with your actions rather than with your words, because you can't seem to utter anything, knowing that your voice will crack if you do.

"well, how about we start it off easy! what's your name? you already know mine!" she points at her name badge with both hands, lips puckered in a cute pout as she looks down at it.

you tell her your name, adding in a "but maybe in the future you can call me yours?"

that got her blushing, choosing to hide behind her hair as she brought it to the front from both sides.

"i was really hoping i didn't embarrass myself at my own workplace..."

you snickered, because yes, she did, "you kind of did..."

she scrunches her nose in retort, letting out a little whine, before she grins slyly, flipping her hair back over her shoulders.

oh, no, you kind of walked yourself into this one...

"i don't know...you were kind of all over the place ever since you got here, sweet girl. do you want me to list all the embarrassing things that happened in the span of," she glances at her wristwatch, "forty-five minutes?"

you grumble loudly, stomping your feet as it was your turn to hide your red face behind your hands.

hearing her giggle, you peek through your fingers, seeing her so giddy and free, like a breath of fresh air.

You have had a long three weeks.

Well, that's honestly putting it nicely. You're a struggling college student that heavily stressed about your five latest midterms, customers during your waitress job have been brutal, and your car broke down about a week ago.

That wasn't even it.

The first week of January added another layer of pressure when your old roommate walked out on the group after moving in with her boyfriend, whom she literally only met two months before.

It had you, Gauel, and Rei in a frenzy, not knowing how to possibly gather some extra cash for the upcoming rent. All three of you didn't necessarily work the highest-paying jobs, and you couldn't be unluckier since you all pitched in to have a pipe leak fixed in the apartment.

That was until Gauel came back to the apartment a week ago, dragging along a tall woman behind her. You sat on the couch, eye bags dark and caving from the constant reading of textbooks and notes. Rei was in the kitchen, slurping up some of her ramen from the blue ceramic bowl, the steam rising to her face as her eyes went wide.

"Girls, this is Yujin." Your eyes raked up her body, black baggy jeans almost dragged on the floor despite her height, and platform sneakers. Her large grey hoodie swallowed her frame, covering her long brown hair.

Frankly, she looks miserable. Maybe just as miserable as you.

The bags under her eyes looked almost as dark as yours, her lips seemingly dry from the cold air outside, and her glasses seemed to be the saving grace that she hid behind.

You could only hope how easy life would've been after she moved in, but here you were in a bare nightclub, sitting at the bar and staring at your mai tai.

It barely crosses your mind where the other girls were, despite them being the ones to invite you and Yujin out. Almost feeling the tension of the dorm, Rei brought up the idea in the group chat, and Gaeul willingly went along.

Three perfect ice cubes float on the surface of the drink, slowly spinning, pulling you into deep thought. Ever since Yujin moved in, you felt like you were walking around eggshells in her own home.

She gave you some questionable looks whenever being in the same room as you, especially if you were being 'loud'. Her gaze would burn holes into you if possible, and you'd better hope you won't bump into her in the hallway. The one time that happened, she stood there like a statue, smack dab in the center.

Looking up at her intense gaze, you could barely breathe at the sight of her just looking into her eyes. You haven't spoken a peep to her, yet it feels like she's some kind of ex that you ended horribly with.

That night, you decided to turn back to your room instead of getting your leftover soup, which you were planning on eating.

When Gaeul and Rei planned the outing, they made sure you both dressed up appropriately, with Rei taking the initiative in your room instead. Some sweats and a long-sleeve shirt would've been your ideal choice, but Rei pulled out a pink pleated skirt, white heels, a cropped tank top, and a cropped cardigan.

She sat you down on the bed, doing your hair and makeup, making sure her masterpiece would be worn to its full potential.

Yet, here you were, sitting alone.

You would've preferred that anyway, but as you sip on your drink, you hear a voice behind you, "Sorry, I can't help but see that you're alone here."

Looking over to the movement on your left, a man sits beside you. He looks to be in his early twenties, well-groomed, and the faint scent of a tabasco cologne fills your nose. His skin is pale, glowy even, lips pink and plush. There's this charming grin on his face, teeth pearly white, and he leaned an arm on the countertop.

You didn't like to assume, but you had a feeling about where this may be going.

And unfortunately for the lovely man in front of you, you are so gay.

"How come you're here by yourse—"

"I'm here with my friends," you cut him off quickly, and his grin falters a bit. Shifting in the stool, he leans in closer and takes a deep breath.

"But they aren't around, no?" Your brow raises, side eyeing him ever so slightly, "Your point?"

"I mean, you don't deserve to be sitting here all alone."

"Deserve?" You question, and he smiles at the waiter, promptly asking for a shot of tequila before turning back to you. He seems to ignore your question and decides to continue, "I'm Siwoo."

'I didn't ask, but okay…' was all you could think.

"What's your name?" You take a gulp of the liquor, finishing every drop, the rum gliding down your throat and warming your stomach. "It's—"

"None of your business," someone cuts off from behind you, a clear feminine voice. The shock makes your shoulders tense, turning to peak over your shoulder slowly. Unexpectedly, Yujin stands behind you, shoulders relaxed, with her brows furrowed at the sight in front of her.

Siwoo looks confused, but looks up and down at the taller woman, likely finding another eye candy to fool around with. "And you are?"

"Still none of your business."

The blunt tone makes you giggle behind your hand, hoping to cover it up for Siwoo's ego. Yet that clearly fails, because as Siwoo gets a glimpse of your face, that pale skin begins to glow red. His forehead wrinkles in anger when he looks back at your roommate, standing up quickly and getting in her face.

You usually wouldn't move when in situations like this, not liking confrontation, but you slip off the stool as soon as he gets right in front of her. Hand pressed against her chest instead of his, because you knew she wasn't going to be the one who backs down.

"Don't pay any mind to him." She looks down at you, your eyes silently pleading to just let it go. Yet Siwoo's ego seems to be too hurt, so he pokes at her shoulder, shoving her back, and her body recoils back into position.

"You think you're so tough? What? Are you guys together or something?"

That's probably the first time you've seen Yujin smirk, placing her arm around your shoulders and cuddling you into the side of her body. The initial shock has you placing a hand on her waist, lips puckered, and brows raised. You don't know if it's the temperature, the alcohol

"Yeah, and?"

"Oh, so I hit on someone gay? Even worse," The blush that was slowly rising on your cheeks, rapidly flees as his disgust is apparent. Instead of holding the taller woman back, you turn to Siwoo whose looking down at you, lips curled in disdain.

The palm of your hand feels like it's being pricked by several needles, the stinging fueling the rush you feel as you watch him cover his, now, red cheek. He's hunched over, leaning on a chair, trying to process the hit.

When getting a good look at you, his face is scrunching and red. Without even thinking, he's rushing up to you, trying to get a good swing as he winds up his arm.

Yujin pushes you behind her quickly, hooking her arm against his to stop the force, "Why would you try to hit a woman out in the open?"

It only seems to enrage him, grunting while trying to get the punch through, "equal rights, no?" The smug look on his face that entices makes Yujin push him back. He falls, trying to grasp onto anything around him, making a mess as everything crashes down.

Before he tries to get back up, she kicks his shin with the spiky toe cap of her boot. At impact, Siwoo craddles his left shin in his arms, rolling left and right at the pain.

"We should go now," she ushers you toward the front of the club. Everyone around has their eyes on both of you, watching the entire scene unfold. Which should've clued you in on what's about to happen, but everything went too fast for any comprehension.

There is a gasp from afar amongst the blasting music, and you feel an extremely hard shove from behind you.

So hard that your white heels couldn't help you balance, and you can barely catch yourself falling forward. Even when trying, though, it didn't help much because you feel how your forehead knocks on something hard, enough to put you in a daze.

Leaning your weight on Yujin's side to stand upright, your vision begins to blur slightly, and you believe you hear Rei and Gaeul's voices behind you, yelling at Siwoo and a security guard to get him out.

Yujin realizes you hit the back of a guy, almost right on the bone, as he's trying to stretch his arm in a way to ease the pain with his hand, but it's no use. So when she looks down at you, she sees a red bump forming on the top right side of your forehead.

"Shit, Y/n, are you okay?" She leans down, raising your chin with a finger and your eyes a heavy lidded, trying to save your vision. "As good as I can be," you murmured, and she hooks your arm around her, then lifts you bridal style to her car.

You feel how the slight breeze of the night air lingers on your legs, Yujin's warmth helping the cold stay light. When she settles you into her passenger seat, the mixture of pain, alcohol, and exhuastion begin to take over you. Yujin hovers over your sleepy frame, taking a look at the bump, testing out any angle she can without waking you up too much.

"Asshole got you good," she mumbles, but no one's even listening as your eyes finally shut, and she hears the tiny snores escaping your lips.

The close distances have Yujin pause, skimming over your face and how peaceful you look, eyes softly gazing since she doesn't do it much. How your cheeks seem so kissable to her, dusted with a rosy pink blush. Also, this damn outfit Rei put you in had her staring at you all night.

Yujin can only stand up, ruffle her hair in irritation, and groan, "You are such a dumbass, Yujin." With one more quick look at you, she shakes her head with a subtle smile, closing the door of the passenger seat gently.

The loud crash of pots and pans abruptly awakens you, sitting right up in your bed. It's the worst mistake you've made by far as your head begins to throb, hand smoothing over a hard, apparent bump on your forehead.

"Sorry!" You only recognize Gaeul yelling from the kitchen, and a chuckle follows the sound. Not even realizing your door is open, there's a light knock that could be heard, and you mutter, 'come in' while trying to process what happened last night.

It's vividly being painted in your mind as Yujin comes in with a steaming hot mug of something, yet you don't even notice her.

"You had a rough night," a voice you didn't recognize voices out, and you look up slightly to see her awkwardly standing in the middle of your room with a mug in her hand.

She's wearing an oversized blue flannel, grey sweats, fuzzy slippers, and a simple white tank top. Her long brunette hair is up with the help of a claw clip, and she wrinkles her nose to help push up her glasses.

Ultimtely your confused, not about how you got home, but why she decided to step in. She never made it seem like you were some kind of existence in her world, so why now?

"You're thinking why I helped you last night," she voices, coming over to the side table and putting down the mug of tea and some medication. Your brows furrow harder than before, like she's reading your mind.

"It's written all over your face," her finger wriggles in a circle as she points at your face, and you pout slightly. The sight of the look on your face with the bed hair and large shirt Rei changed you into last night makes a lowly chuckle escape her lips.

The sound you hear is so new and somewhat lively that you perk up while looking at her. "So why did you?" Asking genuinely, then taking a sip of the hot oolong tea that glides down your throat.

"Because that's what a kind person would do," a brow raises at the explanation, and Yujin can only sigh while looking at you.

Rei walks past, hearing the conversation, and knowing her unnie wouldn't be up front with you, she would say, "It's probably because she likes you!"

That has you spit out the hot tea in a mist, and Yujin hangs her head back, eyes squinting tight at the embarrassment, "Thanks, Rei."

"You like me?" You're so confused, eyes bulging, hand on your chest as you're in disbelief.

"Is that so unbelievable?"

"Uhm, yeah, kinda!" Your tone of sarcasm makes her chuckle once more, and now you see she's slowly getting comfortable with you. "Maybe it's cause I don't know how to express myself when I like someone?"

"Well, you didn't have to be all scary," you mumble, lower lip pouting, and she smiles, crouching beside you. As your now eye level, she gives you the friendliest grin for the first time, and you feel how your heart races while looking at her doe eyes.

"Can we start over instead?" Her voice comes out as a soft whisper, butterflies fluttering away in your stomach, while she looks so hopeful at you.

Taking initiative, you take the meds, sip a bit og more tea, whipping your hand and gesturing it out for a shake.

"Hi, I'm L/n Y/n."

The motion makes her smile widely, taking your hand in hers and shaking it gently, "and I'm your roommate, Ahn Yujin—and I have a real bad crush on you."

The statement has you giggling, and you realize that-

"We can take it slow."