#twice fluff

”Make sure you listen to your dad okay” says Jihyo as she fixes Jisoo's hat. Jisoo nods, “Yes, mommy.” “Also, make sure you watch over your sisters, you’re the oldest, so you’re responsible for them both.” “Yes, I take care of Ari and Hina” as she grabs tightly to her backpack straps.

Jeongyeon walks towards Jihyo and Jisoo and says, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure they don’t get into any trouble.” “I know, but it’s important to give the children a sense of responsibility when they are young.”

“You’re right, but do you think they are actually going to remember?” Jeongyeon and Jihyo look at Jisoo, who replies, “I’m a big sister. I take care of my sisters” with a proud expression.

Suddenly, they hear Ari, who is running towards Jisoo, “Jisoo! Ready to play?” Jisoo smiles and is about to yell but stops herself as she looks at the two adults in front of her and replies, “Ari, you listen to me okay? You and Hina listen and I play with you.” Ari nods, “Okay, I listen.”

“Those are my girls. You two are good listeners” you say as you come out of the house with a backpack for the picnic and some necessities. Jisoo and Ari smile, hearing the praise and rush towards you and hug your leg, “Daddy.”

Jihyo rolls her eyes, “Ugh, you’re going to spoil them if you’re too lenient with them.”

”It doesn’t hurt to be a little laidback sometimes, but they know when to be good listeners when it matters, right?”

Jisoo and Ari nod, “Yes, we good listeners.”

From behind you hear Hina’s faint voice as she walks besides Mina who is walking slowly. You also hear a bark from behind, *bark, bark* and she the growing puppy walking behind Hina. “Daddy, take doggy?”

You think about the hassle of taking the puppy but can’t see yourself breaking the heart of your little girl. You look at Mina and Jihyo but leave the decision to you. You think about it and stare at Hina who is patting the small golden retriever on the head. “We can take it but if it doesn’t listen we are going back home okay?”

Hina nods her head and grabs the puppy. Jihyo walks up to you and says, “It’s going to be an interesting trip, haha.” You smack her butt, and walk towards the house to grab the puppy’s vest.

With everything ready you do one last check before heading out. The six of you start to walk towards the side of the house, leading to the wife’s open field. You all walk alongside the makeshift road, seeing the house get small with ever passing minute.

The girls are keeping with your slowly pace and pointing at the birds they see flying around. Jeongyeon and Hina on the other hand are a few yards back. Hina and the puppy struggle to keep up with the pace, “Let’s try to walk a little fast Hina, or your daddy and sisters are going to leave us behind.”

Hina increases her pace, waddling faster to keep up. The puppy dashes past Hina and gets ahead by a few feet before noticing that Hina is not nearby. It barks and waits for Hina to catch up before walking alongside her again. “What a good puppy, thank you for waiting for us.” It wags its tail, due to the compliment.

After thirty minutes of walking you all take your first stop. Ari and Jisoo run towards a large tree and sit on the grass. “Let’s sit and wait for your sister and auntie Jeongyeon.” Both take off their backpacks and take their water flasks and take a sip.

It doesn’t take long for the other two to arrive at the resting place and sit on the grass. The puppy dashes towards Ari and Jisoo and goes from lap to lap. They tease the puppy with the snack in their hand, but you stop them, “Ari, Jisoo, don’t do that.” They stop but whine, “but it’s hungry.”

”It has its own food. If you give it yours it might get sick.”

”Really?” They look at their auntie Jeongyeon for a reply.

”Your dad is right, dogs, especially puppies have their own food. Luckily we brought some snacks for it in case it got hungry.” Jeongyeon takes out a baggy of snacks and gives a cube to each of the children. They each extend their hand, but not before Jeongyeon commands the puppy to sit.

The puppy sits and waits for each girl to feed it before you take out a water bowl and place it on the floor. The puppy slowly walks towards it and begins to drink from it. “Thank you for feeding the puppy. Let’s rest for a bit more.”

After getting a good rest you all get back to the path and continue your walk. The environment changes from an open field to a small forest.

Ari and Jisoo sing together, naming things they see along the way. They turn around and wait for Hina who is a few feet behind. “Hina, hurry up!” says Ari as she waits for her younger twin.

Hina tries to walk a bit faster, trying to catch up to her older sisters, “Wait for me, I come.”

Jisoo sees Hina close her eyes and pick up with pace. Seeing her younger sister try so hard and Ari teasing her makes her feel upset. Instead, walks towards Hina and extends her hand, “Hina, lets hold hands together.”

Hina smiles and replies, “Yes” and grabs her sister’s hand. Both of them walk together at Hina’s pace with Hina smiling happily.

Ari on the other hand sees smiling and gets a bit jealous, making her cheeks puff up. Jeongyeon who is watching everything from the back can’t help but smile and remember some of her childhood memories with her sisters. Memories of them arguing with one another to the point they would even up fighting.

Jeongyeon chuckles again and sees Hina extend her hand to Ari, who immediately grabs it. The three of them walk side by side. “Aww, you made up with each other, how cute.”

Ari turns around and smiles, before sticking her tongue out at Jeongyeon, taunting her. “Why you…” she interrupted by you as you turn around and see the three of them together. “Aww, look at my little princesses.”

You snap a quick photo, catching Jeongyeon off guard and say, “Looks like you have triplets haha.” She tries to reply back but the three of them look at Jeongyeon with a confused face.

You continue to lead the way deeper into the forest while Jeongyeon thinks about your previous comment. She looks at the girls in front of her, realizing how much time has really passed to the point her own members are having children of their own. She gets a slight thought, “What if…” as she looks at your back.

You feel a gaze behind you that makes the small hairs on your neck stand up. You slight turn your head and see Jeongyeon in a daze. Your head turns, “Jeongyeon, you good?”

Jeonyeon snaps back to reality and quickly tries to push the thoughts away as she looks at your smug expression. She tells herself, “Ugh, I can’t believe I actually thought about…” as you continue to walk.

After walking for several minutes you all arrive at the lake you planned to visit. You find a good place to set your bag and inform the girls to help setting up the picnic area. They place their bags on the floor while you and Jeongyeon place the large picnic blanket on the floor.

The girls immediately run and lay on the blanket but Jeongyeon raises her voice and says, “Girls, take off your shoes first!”

Jeongyeon’s voice scares them and they hide behind your leg and you say, “Hey, not so loud, you’re going to scare all the animals too.”

Jeongyeon rolls her eyes and scoffs before kneeling down and saying, “I’m sorry girls. I get loud sometimes, when I remember my own sisters.”

Jisoo curiously asks, “You have sisters? Like Ari and Hina?”

”Yes, I have two sisters.”

”Are they fun?”

”Ehh… sometimes. We fight a lot when we were little.”

”Haha.” Jisoo laughs as she imagines her own arguments with Ari.

You and Jeongyeon watch as the three of the girls eat and drink their snacks. Jeongyeon comments, “They act so well with each other, unlike me and my sisters.”

“You three were that bad?”

“Seungyeon would mess with us a lot and bully me since I was the youngest. I remember them blaming me for a lot of stuff, but the three of the actually get along.”

You laugh at the thought of Jeongyeon getting teased and say, “No wonder you’re the way you are. But to tell you the truth it’s all Jihyo and Mina. Jihyo is the strict one and sets limits to the girls when they are mishaving, not going to lie, but it scares me how good she is.”

”She’s being doing it with us too as our leader.”

”I guess you’re right. A strong leader and a tough mother, hahaha.”

As Jeongyeon was going to comment, Hina walks up towards you and extends her arms, “Daddy, tired. Hug.”

You pick Hina up and give her a big hug before placing her in your lap. She rests her head on your chest and closes her eyes for a moment.

Jeongyeon can’t help but think Hina is cute until she sees Hina open her eye and smile before closing it again. Under her breath Jeongyeon says, “How sneaky…”

Jisoo and Ari get up from the blanket and start playing around the puppy. Ari throws a ball as far as she can so they puppy can bring it back. The puppy runs excitedly and gets the ball with it’s mouth, bringing it back. Jisoo takes it and tosses it again, “Catch!”

The three of the go back and forth as you continue to carry Hina in your arms. She rubs her nose against your chest before opening her eyes and sees her sisters play.

“Daddy, come play!” yells Jisoo.

You look at Hina and ask, “Want to play with your sisters?”

She nods, “Yes” and follows you towards the other two as the puppy chases both Jisoo and Ari around. The puppy pants and barks as it is exciting chasing around its young owners, *bark, bark.*

Minutes pass and Jeongyeon is on the phone with Jihyo who is asking how everything is going. “Everything is going okay, I right here sitting and the girls are playing around with the puppy.”

From behind Jeongyeon hears Mina say, “Let’s see, let’s see.” Joeongyeon hears the video call notification and answers, seeing her two members on the other side of the screen. “Turn the camera around Jeongyeon” says Jihyo.

Jeongyeon flips the screen around and they both see their girls running around, laughing as the puppy chases them.

“Aww, they are having fun. Thank you again for coming with them. I wasn’t sure if he would have been okay with the three of them as well as the puppy” says Jihyo.

”I was the only one that was free so it just made sense” replied Jeongyeon.

“Anyway, thank you” replies Jihyo.

”Thank you Jeongyeon unnie” replies Mina in a soft voice.

Jeongyeon gives a soft smile until she hears from the background Momo’s voice who says, “Shes just mad because she hasn't gotten fucked in a long time.” Her face immediately turns completely red from embarrassment and tries to tell Momo off without being too loud.

Jihyo flips the camera to record Momo who is sitting on the couch and watching a movie. She sticks her tongue out, taunting Jeongyeon who can’t do anything at the moment.

“When I see you, watch.”

“Oh, you’re going to hit a pregnant woman? Ohh, I’m so scared, haha” sticking her tongue out again.

Jihyo switches the camera back and tries to calm Jeongyeon down as she walks towards another room. “You know how Momo likes to tease.”

”Yeah, but she’s too much” replies Jeongyeon.

“I’ll try to talk to her. Just have fun and keep an eye on him and the girls please.”

Jeongyeon and Jihyo say their goodbyes before hanging up. She watches the four of you play, calming herself down, even giving off a faint smile. She imagines what would happen if she had a child on her own and if they would be having fun.

She spaces off for a few minutes until the girls run back to get a drink of water. The puppy who is still energetic runs towards Jeongyeon and licks her leg, causing her to yell out of surprise, “Kya!” You can’t help but chuckle and say, “Cute” before hiding your expression.

the world tour was an absolute stamina killer. spanning over a year of non-stop city-hopping, stadium shows, and exhausting long-haul flights, it left nayeon completely running on empty.

normally, she depends heavily on her regular gym and pilates sessions to keep her endurance up, but the brutal touring schedule made it impossible to maintain a routine. without that physical conditioning, she felt her physical strength slipping away as the months dragged on, making even her favorite high-energy choreographies like 'dance the night away' leave her out of breath on stage.

mentally, it was just as grueling. nayeon is famously a perfectionist who prides herself on giving 100% to the crowd every single night, so when her dropping stamina started showing in her performances, it tore her up inside.

during the second leg, she was dealing with a bad fatigue and just wasn’t feeling well overall, which led to a lot of quiet pressure and guilt. she noticed the fan comments online about her looking low-energy or subdued backstage, and it broke her heart that she couldnt match the explosive energy of the stadiums.

she relied entirely on her years of professional training to mask the burnout and protect the group's reputation, but behind the scenes, her body was screaming for a break.

the very second she crossed the threshold of your apartment, that suffocating weight vanished.

there were no cameras, no rotating 360 degree stages, and no pressure to be the bright, flawless center of an idol group.

she kicked off her worn out sneakers, let her heavy bags clatter to the floor, and immediately buried her face into your neck as soon as she greeted you.

holding onto you felt like plugging back into a power source.

she let out a long, trembling sigh as months of built up exhaustion, cramped flights, and stage stress finally began to melt away in the safety of your arms.

you guide nayeon over to the couch, and she drops into the deep cushions with a long, heavy sigh of relief.

she looks so small without the flashy stage outfits and the bright stadium lights. instead of sitting across from her, you slide right next to her, pulling her body flush against yours.

you pull a giant, soft fleece blanket over both of your laps, tucking her in close.

"i missed you so much," she mumbles, her voice sounding raspy from weeks of singing and shouting over loud arenas. she buries her face into your chest, her shoulders finally dropping.

"i missed you more, nayeon," you whisper into her hair. "apart from the seoul finale shows, you’re officially done with the whole tour. you worked so hard. you’re finally home now."

you gently place your hand under her chin, tilting her face up so you can look at her. she looks so tired, but her eyes are full of love.

you lean down and start peppering her entire face with soft, sweet kisses. you press a long kiss to her forehead, then move down to the tip of her nose, then her left cheek, and then her right cheek.

nayeon lets out a tired, little giggle. her famous bunny smile finally peeks out, breaking through all the stress she carried from the tour. "stop, it tickles," she whines softly, but she doesnt pull away at all. she nudges her face closer to yours, asking for more.

"never," you smile, kissing the corners of her mouth, then pressing a soft, lingering kiss right onto her lips. "i have months of missed kisses to make up for."

"mm, then don’t stop," she mumbles, her eyes fluttering shut as she melts completely against you.

you keep going, planting soft kisses along her jawline and temple, while your arms wrap tightly around her waist to hold her secure. between kisses, you speak softly against her skin. "you did so well on stage. i saw the clips. im so proud of you, but i’m glad you’re back."

"it was so hard this time," she admits quietly, wrapping her arms around your neck to pull you even closer. "my stamina was low, and i felt so bad for the fans. i just wanted to come home to you."

"i know, baby. you don’t have to be a perfect idol here, you can just rest," you tell her, kissing her forehead one more time.

nayeon lets out one last, deep sigh, all the tension leaving her muscles. she hides her face back into the crook of your neck, soaking in your warmth.

with your arms wrapped securely around her and your lips occasionally pressing soft kisses into her hair, her breathing slows down into a calm, steady rhythm, and she falls into a deep, peaceful sleep.

you pull the blanket up a bit higher to cover both of your shoulders. after spending so many months apart, having her right here makes the empty apartment finally feel normal again. you wrap your arms a bit tighter around her, resting your chin on top of her head.

It just happened naturally. Mina isn’t the type of mother who meticulously plans her daughter’s future or expects brilliant achievements to show off in front of other parents. She had been on the other end of that type of expectation and always knew that wasn’t what she wanted for her daughter. Nor was it an option to do so. A few years ago, thinking that Dahyun could take piano lessons wasn’t realistic, at least not without Sana’s help. Now, everything is different. She’s no longer a young, single mother with no one but her busy friend to rely on, doing the impossible to work and care for her daughter.

She found a new family, married a wonderful woman, and together they’ve built a life and a home. She has financial stability and, for quite some time now, hasn’t been struggling trying to balance work and parenting.

And although the passing of time and maturity have shaped her vision of motherhood, it’s never been a priority to turn her daughter into a trophy to show off. Her only concern is to take care of Dahyun, protect her, and make her happy. And the piano makes her happy.

Since she was a baby, Mina had used a colorful keyboard to teach her numbers, colors, and animals. It accompanied her through her early years, followed by a toy keyboard that made sounds of many different instruments. Even then, Dahyun played around creating little melodies, pressing the keys that sounded best together. So giving her a more professional piano was simply the next natural step, just like enrolling her in lessons. At first, it would only be a couple of times a month, but soon she started going three times a week.

Dahyun is really good, and not just because her mothers, who are obviously biased, say so. Mina, with several years of ballet behind her, has enough musical knowledge to recognize talent, and from the very beginning she noticed that her daughter had something special. Her suspicions were confirmed shortly after, when the teacher decided to move her to a more advanced group.

This path is the one that leads Dahyun to become the youngest student to perform a solo during the academy’s summer recital.

“A little… yeah” Dahyun replies, distractedly watching her mom cook.

Mina laughs softly at hearing the conversation and seeing how her daughter can’t keep up the act for long, especially when it comes to Momo. No one understands it better than her. Momo has always had this calming presence that invites you to open up without asking, although many times she doesn’t know how to react to the information she receives.

It’s the first time she admits to being somewhat worried. Since receiving the news about the recital a few months ago, her mothers had noticed how, after coming home from piano lessons, she would sit in front of her keyboard and practice until it was time for dinne – or until she was told it was too late to keep making noise.

It had also become a routine to practice on days when she didn’t have lessons. On one occasion, Momo told her that she had found Dahyun placing the fish themed clock they gifted her in front of the keyboard to keep track of practice time.

But it wasn’t until this moment, a week before, that she said out loud that she was nervous. 

This was something new for both of them. Used to seeing Dahyun always playful, like a little ray of sunshine who brightened up everyone around her with her laughter and jokes, now they saw her as more reserved, more serious, and increasingly perfectionist when it came to school or music.

They didn’t feel it was a bad thing. But Mina noticed that sometimes, she could get overwhelmed. Not only because they weren’t used to seeing it in her, but because it forced them to face the reality that their daughter was growing up and with that she would start having new concerns and experiences. 

Being Dahyun the oldest of the girls meant that there were stages in which Mina and Momo had to navigate alone, without any examples to follow. But it was no longer like before, when Mina felt she was walking blindly in motherhood with Sana helping as much as the impossible schedules and distance allowed her. 

Now she has Momo by her side, not just as support but as a mother for their daughter, and also Nayeon and Jeongyeon with Chaeyoung, who accompany her as well, sharing experiences and feeling understood so many times. In the same way, they had all thrown themselves into being there for Jihyo and Sana ever since they made the decision to adopt. 

In fact, it was both of them who now advised Jihyo and Sana with Tzuyu, and even Momo was the one who most often gave them guidance, since she had experienced motherhood in a similar way: overnight, raising a girl who was already several years old.

“You’ve practiced a lot, sweetheart. I’m sure you’ll do really well” Mina chimes in.

“But sometimes I make mistakes, and I don’t want to make a mistake in front of everyone” she replies.

“That can happen” Momo says suddenly, surprising both of them as she sets the plates on the table.

Both look up at the same time, and Mina feels the urge to speak before Momo continues, but she holds back.

“You might make mistakes, and it’s okay” she continues now more softly, focusing more on her daughter than on the food. “You’re learning. If you already knew everything, you wouldn’t be taking lessons.”

Mina loves her wife, but at times like this, she wishes Momo would understand that sometimes you don't have to be so rational or so honest. She's right, of course she is. That's a possibility, and she knows it, but Dahyun is already worrying about it, that’s what she’s afraid of. So maybe all she needs is a little encouragement. 

From Dahyun's expression, it's clear that she hasn't managed to calm her down. And Momo seems to notice it too.

“What I mean is... it's your first time playing in front of so many people” she tries to explain. “Do you remember how many times we made cookies until they turned out like the ones from that bakery in Japan?”

Dahyun nods, still unsure.

“We tried about twelve recipes. Every time they didn’t turn out, we learned something new. More butter, less sugar, more chocolate… At first they weren’t perfect, but we learned with each attempt. And in the end, remember? They were even tastier than the originals.”

She pauses to start eating, leaving the two of them watching attentively, and then smiles tenderly.

“So if you miss a note, we do the same as with the cookies. We add the rest of the ingredients and keep going until the end, and we'll know that next time we have to pay more attention to that missing part” she concludes, reassuring Dahyun, but also Mina.

Now she seems calmer, but her mother can tell that she’s still a bit overwhelmed by what’s coming in a few days.

─────────

A month ago Dahyun handed them the invitations to her piano recital.

They had already heard her play during a visit to Mina and Momo’s house, but discovering that their niece was a little piano prodigy was a surprise. Of course they would be there for her first recital. Besides, after Mina had to explain the girl’s unusual family situation to her teacher to get enough invitations, they didn’t really have much choice.

Dahyun had asked them to bring Ryujin and Yuna, she adores them, and she wanted the whole family to be ther. However, since they were just a year and a few months old, taking them to a recital that promised to be long didn’t seem like the best idea. That night they would stay with the grandparents, who would bring them to the theater later so Dahyun could see them.

Although Jeongyeon’s parents never complain about spending time with their granddaughters, and they often offer to look after them so that Nayeon and Jeongyeon can have a break or a date night, this time convincing them wasn’t easy. They didn’t want to miss Dahyun’s recital either. Just like they do with Tzuyu, they treat her as another granddaughter. And for her, they are the closest thing she has to grandparents, whether because some live far away or because others were simply never there.

After Dahyun and Tzuyu’s birthdays, the recital had become the most anticipated date of the month. Jeongyeon had been getting the last details ready for a week, and that’s when they realized Chaeyoung didn’t have anything appropriate to wear.

Her closet was full of cartoon t-shirts, overalls, skirts and dresses, but nothing even a little bit formal. Not even the dress she wore to Momo and Mina’s wedding fitted her anymore. She’s small, and she doesn’t really look like it, but she’s grown a lot since then.

“Jeongie, we have to go shopping. Chaeyoung has nothing to wear to the recital.” Nayeon says, coming out of the girls’ room.

In the living room, Jeongyeon is playing with Yuna and Ryujin, stacking wooden blocks, while Chaeyoung shows up behind Nayeon with a slightly serious face, which brings a small smile to her momma. Her eldest daughter has been trying on clothes for a while, and even though fashion and choosing her outfits seems like something she likes – even giving her mothers advice sometimes – she doesn’t look very happy about having to go shopping now to keep trying on clothes.

“Doesn’t she have a dress she can wear?” Jeongyeon asks.

“The ones she has are very casual or for winter, I think we can find her something a bit more formal that she can wear more often. She’s growing a lot.”

When she hears those last words, Chaeyoung can’t help but smile proudly and crosses her arms with attitude.

“Mom is right, I’m very tall. This year I'm not the shortestin my class” she says, shrugging her shoulders with a smugness that makes her mothers laugh.

Just like Jeongyeon, Chaeyoung has the habit of acting tough when it comes to compliments or displays of affection. But the truth is that things like being told she’s grown, that her drawings are good or that her clothes are cool boost her ego easily. And she’s pretty transparent when that happens.

If that was the case, they would have to go shopping this weekend, since they were only a week away from the concert.

In a little over an hour, they’re all ready to leave.

Nayeon helped Chaeyoung with her shower and getting dressed, while Jeongyeon was in charge of packing the twins’ backpack with everything they needed. Sunscreen, a change of clothes for each of them, animal cookies and water. She also added a pack of cookies and an extra bottle for Chaeyoung, no matter how much she insisted she didn’t need cookies like her sisters.. Jeongyeon knows that snacks are a must to keep spirits up when it comes to going shopping with children anywhere that isn’t the toy shop. 

The twins, unaware of the clothes drama, celebrate the idea of going out for a walk with laughter and uncoordinated clapping while Jeongyeon settles them into the stroller.

“Are we all going?” Nayeon asks at the door, putting on her shoes and throwing 

“Of course. Some fresh air will be good for Ryujin and Yuna” Jeongyeon says. She never misses the chance to turn anything into a family outing, even if she later ends up complaining about being tired.

Chaeyoung shows up wearing a red cap backwards, a t-shirt with a printed strawberry, jeans and a small matching crossbody bag where she always carries a notebook and some crayons. She didn’t seem very excited at first, but having an excuse to wear her new t-shirt looked like a good incentive, even if the plan is to go shopping.

Nayeon smiles when she notices the cap Chaeyoung added to the outfit they picked out together a little while ago, then looks at Jeongyeon. They both love having such a creative daughter who enjoys trying out her own unique styles.

“You’ll see, we’ll find something that looks beautiful on you” Nayeon says, giving her a soft pat on the head as they walk out the door.

“And comfortable” Jeongyeon adds, raising an eyebrow.

Chaeyoung doesn’t answer. She just shrugs, then goes out holding onto the stroller with one hand and to Nayeon with the other.

When they get to the store, Nayeon takes them straight to the kids’ section where the dresses are. Just like Jeongyeon – and now their daughter– she has a taste for fashion. They like dressing well and being comfortable, with a more casual yet stylish taste. Although unlike the other two, Nayeon doesn’t mind sacrificing a bit of comfort for a good look.

With three daughters, Nayeon already knows that comfort always wins when it comes to children. She knows exactly what she’s looking for, and it doesn’t take her long to find it. In just a few minutes, she manages to get the right size of a simple but elegant dress that could work for a family day out or a more special occasion like the recital.

The dress is red, with short sleeves, perfect for this weather. It has a lovely lace collar and pockets, which is always a plus. With one of the pairs of shoes she already has at home, her strawberry socks and some ribbons, she’ll look adorable.. She might even be able to match her sisters, since their hair is now long enough for them to wear buns.

When she goes back to where Jeongyeon is, she looks pleased, probably because it didn’t take long, which means they’ll be able to do something more fun with the girls than just looking at dresses. And deep down Nayeon feels the same relief, shopping with kids is less fun and much more tiring.

“Chaeyoung, sweetheart, let’s go to the fitting room” she says, taking the little girl’s hand while she’s distracted looking at accessories.

She turns around to follow her mom, but then she sees what she’s holding and freezes on the spot.

“I don’t want to wear a dress, Mom” she says, confident but with a soft tone, like she’s afraid she might be saying something wrong.

Nayeon doesn’t mind the answer, but something in Chaeyoung’s tone, that mix of firmness and insecurity, tightens in her chest for a second. Not because her daughter doesn’t want the dress, but because she’s growing up, and she’s starting to know what she wants… and what she doesn’t.

“Oh, you don’t like it?” she asks. “You’ve got a similar one at home, but we can look for something you like more, okay?” Nayeon offers with a smile.

Chaeyoung nods and takes her hand again, this time so they can choose something together.

Once again, Nayeon heads toward the dresses, looking for something that fits her style better. Maybe the strip of lace at the hem of the skirt was too much. Even if it’s her favorite color, maybe something brighter or with a fun pattern would catch her eye more. 

That doesn’t seem to be the case. Seeing that Chaeyoung isn’t showing much interest, she starts thinking a skirt or something else might be a better option, but that doesn’t excite her either. Perhaps, she’s like her in that way. She likes to dress nicely and melts a little when Jeongyeon tells her she looks beautiful, but dressing up for formal events isn’t exactly her cup of tea. She’d rather have a cute outfit for a family day out at the park with the girls than for a movie premiere.

“It doesn’t have to be a dress if you don’t want one” she adds. “But maybe just something a little bit nicer, you know? Because it’s a recital, and it’s a really special day for Dahyun. She’s probably had to get something new too.”

Chaeyoung doesn’t give her answer. She just keeps sneaking glances at the clothes while her mom shows her options that don’t quite convince her. Jeongyeon, who up until now has seemed more focused on keeping Yuna from chasing every sparkly accessory in the store and making sure Ryujin doesn’t tip over the stroller, walks over to them, curious.

“Have you seen anything you like?” she asks Chaeyoung directly, without taking her eyes off the twins playing at their feet.

Even though most of her attention has been on the twins ever since they escaped from the stroller, she hadn’t taken her eyes off Chaeyoung, who’s been looking around the whole store, including the boys’ section.

Chaeyoung shrugs before looking up at her. 

“Yes. Before… when you were looking, Mom” she says, talking to Nayeon. “I was looking around and I saw something I want to wear.”

Jeongyeon picks Yuna up and watches her closely, now curious since she hasn’t mentioned it before.

“And what did you like?” she ask, encouraging her to continue.

Chaeyoung goes quiet for a moment. Then she points toward the back of the store.

“I saw a tie… like yours, Momma. And also some pants” she says, looking at Jeongyeon. Still a bit shy but with determination in her tone.

Nayeon opens her mouth to say something, but no words come out. She looks at Jeongyeon, who simply nods, like she completely understands what their daughter is saying, even the things she can’t quite put into words.

“Okay, let’s take a look then” Jeongyeon says, just like that, starting to push the stroller in that direction.

Nayeon stays where she is for a second, then smiles softly. She hadn’t expected that, but it doesn’t really surprise her either. Chaeyoung has always been sure of what she likes and what she doesn’t. And even though a part of her wanted to see her with little ribbons in her hair and some cute dress with embroidery or lace details, the idea of seeing her daughter dressed like a tiny version of Jeongyeon makes her even happier.

“Come on, Chaengie. I want to see that tie” she says happily, taking her hand.

As soon as she sees it, Nayeon recognizes it right away and a smile instantly appears on her face, one that she shares with Jeongyeon. The tie is navy blue with thin red diagonal lines and a subtle white border. Her daughter is right, it’s just like Jeongyeon’s. What she doesn’t know is that this was the first tie Jeongyeon ever owned, and that Nayeon gave it to her for the first birthday they spent together.

In that moment, Nayeon doesn’t just see how her daughter is growing up and making her own choices – even if those choices come in the shape of a tie or the way she wears her cap – she also sees little bits of herself and her wife in Chaeyoung. Realizing they might actually be doing things right fills her heart and makes her feel proud of Jeongyeon, who she can’t help but lean over to kiss.

“I love it. Now show us those pants.”

After that, it doesn’t take long for the three of them to put together an outfit with the tie, a pair of short tailored pants, and a slightly loose white shirt, just like the ones Jeongyeon has been wearing lately.

Chaeyoung starts trying on the clothes and, for the first time all afternoon, she looks at herself in the mirror without making a face of boredom or disappointment. This time she has a huge smile.

Then she takes the tie in both hands, and Jeongyeon crouches down to help her put it on. Even though Nayeon has learned how to tie it after all these years, this time she just watches, while Ryujin and Yuna look at them like they somehow know something special is happening.

─────────

The apartment smells like food. Today Momo managed to leave the restaurant early, leaving Sakura in charge of closing up. She got home a little while ago and, still wearing her uniform from the waist down, she’s in the kitchen serving the freshly cooked dinner.

“Dubu, dinner’s ready” Momo says, raising her voice a little so she can be heard over the piano.

There's no answer.

Not the first, or the second time Momo calls her.

In the living room, Mina is setting the table and glances at Momo with a slightly furrowed brow. She’s not annoyed, just confused. She knows she’s very lucky, and has always tried to teach her kid good manners. Dahyun has always been a very polite and well-behaved girl, so it’s rare to have to call her more than once, especially when it’s for dinner.

“Dahyunnie” Mina calls again. “Dinner is ready.”

But she still doesn’t come out or reply.

That’s when Mina notices she’s been playing the same part of the song over and over again for a while. So she signals to Momo to give her a moment and heads to Dahyun’s room.

When she carefully pokes her head into the room, she sees Dahyun sitting at her piano, playing the same notes very still,  her lips pressed together and her brow slightly furrowed. She looks frustrated, and the way she hits the keys, too hard and too stiff, gives her away.

“Sweetheart, take a break and let’s go eat” she says, placing a hand on her shoulder and kissing the top of her head.

“Not yet. I need to get this part right” she replies, eyes still fixed on the piano.

Mina stays quiet for a moment, then decides to sit down on the floor beside her. At first, Dahyun looks at her, not really understanding, until her mother signals for her to play again. She tries once more but hits the wrong key almost at the end.

She can see how focused her daughter is, but the tension is obvious, the kind she doesn’t really remember seeing before. Dahyun’s jaw is clenched and her little fists are closed in her lap.

“I can’t do it” she sighs, exhausted.

So Mina moves a little closer and gently takes her small hands in hers.

“It’s not working right now, probably because you’ve done it so many times in a row and that can confuse you a little” she says softly. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Mom and I have heard you practicing every day and we know you can play the whole song without making mistakes most of the time.”

Dahyun finally looks at her. She doesn’t cry, but her eyes look a bit bigger, as if she’s trying hard to hold back tears.

“I don’t want to make a mistake, Mommy. I’m scared. You, and Mom, Aunt Sana, Chaeyoung, Tzuyu and all the aunties are going to see me.”

Mina listens to her and her heart sinks a little when she sees how overwhelmed her daughter is. She already knew Dahyun was nervous and even stressed, but she didn’t imagine it was this bad. Now she feels guilty.

She isn’t sure if Momo or she herself might have said something during this time that put this pressure on Dahyun. Or if it’s her fault because of her bad habit of keeping everything inside, something she can already see in her daughter too. She usually doesn’t share her problems until they’re really big, until they reach a point where she can’t ignore or hide them anymore.

She wishes Dahyun would talk to her, but she’s afraid of that, for one reason or another, her daughter might feel like she can’t. But how is she going to teach her to share her problems if she herself doesn’t know how to do it?

Maybe this is the moment to be a little more vulnerable with her daughter. Now that her daughter is older, and now that she has proved to herself over these years that she’s more than capable as a mother, she can start being abit more honest about her bad days, while still being the person Dahyun looks to for guidance, safety, and comfort.

She might not find another chance like this, so she decides to bring down her walls and show her emotions.

“Dahyunnie… sweetheart… We’re all going to be there to see you because it’s an important moment and we want to be with you. I’ve heard how you’ve been improving and how good you sound all the time. But if it doesn’t turn out perfect, it’s okay. We’re all going to be proud of you no matter what happens. Do you know why?” she asks.

“Because you love me?” the kid replies.

Mina can’t help but laugh and nod.

“That too, but being on the stage is only the end. It’s just a few minutes. And those minutes have a lot of work behind them” she begins to explain. “Before you even get up on stage you’ve gone to lots of classes, you’ve practiced a lot at home, your teacher chose you to perform, and lastly, standing up there in front of so many people takes a lot of courage. And I know you have it.”

Dahyuns listens carefully and, as she does, her expression slowly relaxes. At the same time, she reaches for one of her mother’s hands. Their hands find each other, and Mina interlocks her fingers with her daughter’s. After a few seconds of silence, she gives her hand a small, affectionate squeeze. She looks at those two little hands holding hers, and no matter how much her daughter grows, they always seem small and warm to her, very different from her own, always cold, with long, thin fingers.

She tries to remember if her father’s hands were like that. She wonders if, among the features the two of them share and the gestures or expressions her daughter has picked up from Momo over the years, there’s still some trace of him, or of her mother. It’s not something she thinks about a lot, but every now and then she can’t help remembering him when she thinks back on her ballet years, the same way she thinks about her family, especially her mother.

Then she takes a deep breath without looking up from their hands.

“I’ve already told you I did ballet. I did it for many years, and I started when I was about your age.”

The kid nods, calmer now. She keeps her eyes on her mother, really focused on what she’s saying, eyes wide and listening to her story.

“I was a bit like you. I got really nervous, and whenever I had a performance or a recital, I practiced a lot. If I didn't get a step right, I’d repeat it over and over, I’d stay extra hours in the dance academy and then I’d keep practicing again at home. I did it so many times that I ended up mixing up the steps, and it was even worse. I got really frustrated, sometimes I wanted to cry… or I ended up with my feet covered in blisters” Mina continues, gently stroking the backs of her daughter’s hands with her thumbs.

“And why did you do it if it hurt you?” Dahyun asks, confused, like there’s something she’s missing. She’s always thought her mother liked ballet. She’s still too young to understand what her mother isn’t saying.   

Mina smiles, but there’s sadness in it.

“Because I wanted my mother to be happy. I saw her smile when I did the dance right, and I wanted her to be happy all the time. When I made a mistake she got upset… and I didn’t want that.”

She stops for a moment. She can feel Dahyun watching her in silence, and she’s sure her daughter understands what she actually means, because Dahyun is very smart. Even so, she tries to choose her words carefully and think about how deep the conversation should get, since she wants to teach her daughter that talking about our feelings is okay, without putting a weight on her shoulders that isn’t hers to carry.

“I started getting more and more nervous. I practiced even more, and then I was tired at school, tired when I went out with my friends… and then I didn’t like going to class anymore. I didn’t even like being on stage. Instead of enjoying the music or having fun, all I could think about were the steps, about whether someone would notice a mistake, about whether my mother would correct me afterwards. And that’s when I really started dancing badly.”

“And what happened, mommy? Did your mother get mad at you?” Dahyun asks, surprised and also a little worried.

Mina shakes her head. Maybe she’ll tell that part of the story when she’s older, but now it doesn’t feel like the right time.

“No, sweetie” she says, brushing her cheek softly with her hand. “Something happened and it helped me a lot.”

She pauses, remembering that day, and that’s when a real ans honest smile appears on her face.

“One day, one of my teachers found me alone in a practice room. I had a performance coming up, so I was practicing the same step over and over again because it just wouldn’t come out right… just like you’re doing now. She made me stop, and then she told me something really important” she says quietly, with a little smile, sparking her daughter’s curiosity. “A secret.”

Dahyun’s eyes open wide.

“What secret?” she asks.

“She told me that the only ones who really see the mistakes are us, because we’re the only ones who know every step we’re supposed to do… every key we’re supposed to play, and we’ve done it so many times that it’s all stored in our brains. But the audience doesn’t know the choreography and they don’t have the music sheet either. They’re just going to see a dance or listen to music. And if you make a tiny mistake, they won’t even notice.”

Dahyun opens her mouth, surprised by the revelation.

“When performing on stage, being perfect doesn’t matter. What matters is what we feel. It’s like mom’s cookies. Sometimes we don’t follow the recipe exactly and we put in more chocolate chips, but they’re still delicious, right? Well, with music it’s the same. If you’re too busy counting the steps or worrying about getting everything right, then you forget the most important part, which is having fun.”

She listens closely without even blinking.

“And my teacher was right. Because when I stopped worrying so much and started enjoying it… things got better. I didn’t always danced perfectly, but I always did it with a smile. I was happy, and it showed.”

Mina lowers her gaze to their intertwined hands.

“I don’t want that to happen to you, Dahyunnie. I don’t want you to stop enjoying playing the piano, because when I see you play, I see you happy, and I want the piano to make you happy, not sad. So I promise you that no matter what happens, we’ll all be there, and what will make us happiest is seeing you smile. That’s what matters most.”

Dahyun stays quiet. Then she snuggles a little closer to her mother and lets out a long sigh. She doesn’t say anything else, but Mina can feel her body relax,  the tension in her hands slowly fading away.

They both enjoy each other’s warmth without saying a word until Mina is the one who breaks the silence.

“Let’s go have dinner. I promise that if you let the piano rest, tomorrow you’ll play even better” the mother whispers, smiling into her hair. 

She nods. This time, she listens. And together, hand in hand, they leave the room and head to the table. 

There, in the kitchen, they find Momo reheating the food.

The older woman barely caught any of the conversation, since they had both been very quiet, even more than usual. But the bits she managed to make out made her feel incredibly proud of both. Other wife, for being able to share something she rarely talks about and barely even mentions with her, and of her daughter, for growing up so well. 

She hopes that next time, Dahyun won’t fall into those same old habits that Mina is slowly learning to get rid off and that she’s starting to pick up , and that she’ll learn to ask for help and talk about what worries her or makes her feel bad.

Momo watches them approach with their hands still intertwined, and when her daughter climbs onto her chair, she gently rubs her back without saying a word. There’s no need.

─────────

Sana comes back in from the balcony, still holding her phone. Her expression is much calmer than when she took the call and now she’s even smiling, like she usually does. When she walks into the living room, she turns the screen around to show Jihyo and Tzuyu Dahyun’s face on the screen, who greets them with an enthusiastic wave.

They hadn’t noticed it before, but the little girl’s face had also changed throughout the call, and now she’s wearing a smile that matches her cheerful energy.

“Good night, Tzuyu! See you tomorrow. Good night, Aunt Jihyo!” she says with a wide grin.

“Good night, Dahyunnie” the two of them answer at the same time from the couch.

She walks over with the phone and looks for Mina, who takes it and also says goodbye to everyone, not without first thanking Sana with a soft, relieved smile.. 

After exchanging a few more words with her friend and sending greetings to Momo, Sana is the one who hangs up and goes back to the couch. She settles against Jihyo, who starts gently stroking her hair  as soon as she has her in her arms. Meanwhile, on the other end of the couch, Tzuyu is playing with Kaya and Butter, the newest members of the family.

“Is everything okay with Dahyun?” Jihyo asks, half curious and half worried. 

“Yes” Sana replies after a few seconds. “It looks like she was overwhelmed about the recital. Mina talked to her, but you know how she is… she seems more and more reserved, just like her mother. It’s hard to get them to talk.”

Jihyo nods. She doesn’t need any more explanation, and she knows her wife doesn’t usually go into detail when she has conversations with Dahyun or with Mina either, since both of them are very private with their feelings. Sana is the exception.

For years, it was just the three of them. Sana was just as much a part of that small family as Momo is now. She had been there since the moment Dahyun was born, and ever since then they’ve always had a special connection. The little girl trusts her like she would her own mother, but with Sana it feels different.

And even though Mina and Sana have been living separate lives for a long time now and have built their own families, there are still days like this. Days when Sana gets an unexpected call or message because one of them needs her. They know that with her, they still have a safe place. Somewhere to come back to no matter what. A family.

Sometimes Sana picks Dahyun up, buys her a chocolate and waits for her to talk about what’s wrong or what’s been worrying her, as if she didn’t already know from Mina. Now that Dahyun has Momo and Sana has Tzuyu, it doesn’t happen as often anymore and has become something more occasional. Lately, a video call is enough so that the problems, if they don’t disappear, at least feel smaller.

Jihyo understands the bond between the three of them well, it’s not much different from the friendship she shares with Nayeon and Jeongyeon. The thing is, they’re all the type to keep things to themselves, so their way of working through issues usually involves a day at the jjimjilbang or trying some new random sport with Jeongyeon.

Luckily for her, when it comes to their kids, they tend to handle things well among themselves. As much as she spoils and adores her nieces, Jihyo mostly sticks to babysitting duties. It helps that Chaeyoung is the most open and expressive child she has ever met, which means the biggest challenge Jihyo faces – as Chae’s aunt, and now as Tzuyu’s mother – is answering all kinds of questions at any moment. Thankfully, that’s something she usually manages quite well, or at least she likes to think so. 

The one she has actually had to deal with lately is Momo. After several attempts, their conversations ended up turning into quiet, sometimes awkward gym sessions, so these emotional matters have been left to Sana and Nayeon. With Jeongyeon it’s more or less the same, except instead of the gym it happens around the kitchen.

Their daughter, adored by everyone for being the youngest right before the twins were born, has been in their lives for almost as long as the babies have. Tzuyu is still learning to trust her own mothers, so for now they’re the ones handling these kinds of things. That said, Jeongyeon has a complete soft spot for her. And even though their daughter pretends otherwise, it seems like she has a soft spot for her Aunt Jeongyeon too.

Another difficulty Tzuyu faces, besides trusting people, is doing two things at once. So as soon as she heard Dahyun’s name coming from her mama, she stopped petting the dogs to focus on what they were saying.

Since then, she hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her friend, because she doesn’t understand why Dahyun is so nervous since she seemed so happy about the recital.  Nevertheless, she wants to do something about it. 

The next day, while Jihyo is in the kitchen and Sana has just come out of the shower, they both hear hurried footsteps, drawers opening and closing, something falling to the floor followed by some groans and sighs. The two mothers exchange looks, and Sana is the one who speaks.

“What is she doing?” she asks, more to herself than to Jihyo.

Jihyo just shrugs, just as confused as her wife, since their daughter has been like this practically since Sana got into the shower. 

The two of them follow her with their eyes. They watch how she appears again, carrying sheets of paper, colored pencils and stickers. She’s so focused she doesn’t seem to notice they’re watching her. She goes back into her room, comes out again with more materials, and repeats the trip several times. She looks very busy.

“Are you looking for something, Tzuyu?” Jihyo finally asks. “Do you have homework to do?”

She nods at first, then shakes her head.

“It’s not homework” she replies very seriously, like she’s defending herself from a serious accusation.

“So what are you doing, sweetie?” Sana adds, pointing at the colors and the glitter she’s now holding in her hands. “Are you going to draw?”

Tzuyu is a very responsible and independent child, which is wonderful, but she has the habit of always doing things on her own. Even when something is difficult, she tries to find a way to solve it by herself before asking for help. It’s a hard habit to break, and her mothers know it. That’s why, whenever they can, they gently remind her that she doesn’t have to do everything alone, that they’re there for whatever she needs.

“I don’t know” Tzuyu admits, shrugging, confusing her mothers.

“What do you mean, Tzu?” Sana asks. “Then what do you need all those things?”

Tzuyu looks at the things in her hands and then at her mother, but it takes her a few seconds to answer.

“I want to make a surprise for Dahyun… so she can be happy again” she explains.

Jihyo smiles, touched by her daughter’s admission. “Because she’s nervous about the recital?” 

Tzuyu nods. “Yesterday mommy said so” she says, referring to what Sana had told her the night before, after the call. “I don’t want her to be sad.”

“Dahyun isn’t sad, sweetie, she’s just nervous. It’s normal to feel nervous because it’s an important day” Sana explains, not trying to discourage her, but to reassure her.

The idea was as good as it was adorable. Maybe what Dahyun needed, on top of hearing the adults around her give advice, was encouragement from her best friends. 

"Even so, it's really sweet that you want to do something to cheer her up. What did you have in mind?"

"I don't know. I just want to do something that makes her feel better. The other day she told me that every time she thinks about it she gets a stomachache and I don't want that to happen to her" Tzuyu finishes explaining.

Jihyo strokes her hair gently.

"You could make her a card or a letter. With a drawing and some nice words to encourage her before the performance, or to congratulate her after the performance."

"A card?" she asks. "Like the ones mama and I made for your birthday?"

"Exactly" Sana replies, nodding, touched by the connection her daughter has made.

For every one of Jihyo's birthdays, Sana has written her a card or a letter since the day they met. Over the last two years, Tzuyu has also started leaving her mark on that tradition. She makes the drawings that decorate the card herself and adds a few words with her mother's help, along with her signature. The concept, of course, wasn't new to her, but the many uses a card could have beyond her mothers' birthdays certainly was.

Tzuyu likes the idea, so they sit down together to work on it.

They start by choosing the color of the cardboard they'll use, a task that seems simple enough since Dahyun doesn't have a favorite color. She says she likes all colors, and ever since she learned at school that white light is the result of mixing all colors together, whenever someone asks she says white. It's not a bad choice, and it's certainly a clever answer, but for a card for a girl her age it might be a bit minimalist. After some thought, Tzuyu ends up choosing light blue and, using a white crayon, draws clouds all over it. Dahyun loves looking at the sky and finding shapes in the clouds.

To this sky-like background, Tzuyu adds some other drawings, stickers and glitter, leaving a space in the center for her message.

To: Dahyun 

Hwaiting unnie! 

You are going to do great and we will clap a lot.

From: Tzuyu 

The girl shows the final result to her mothers, who smile and give their approval. None of the three of them have a particular interest in art, beyond Sana's love for fashion and Jihyo's for music, but they're not bad at it either, and it seems their daughter takes after them in that. The truth is none of that matters, because this simple, pretty card, far from perfect as it may be, is a true work of art in her mothers' eyes. 

"It's perfect" says Jihyo.

"I love it" Sana adds with a smile. "Besides the card, we could get her some flowers, like I used to do with Mina when she did ballet."

"Ballet?" Jihyo asks, surprised.

"Flowers?" Tzuyu asks, confused.

Seeing them, Sana can't help but laugh. They have exactly the same expression with their eyes wide open, brows slightly furrowed and mouths half open. 

"Yes, Mina did ballet for many years, since she was very little. And once we became friends, I always brought her a bouquet when she had recitals. When we moved here together, I always made time to go watch her… once I almost lost my job!" she recalls, laughing nervously, while the other two listen closely. 

Sana knows it's not that wild a story, but it's something Mina never talks about, and by extension neither does she. No one would ever guess her friend had dedicated herself to it for over a decade. For Jihyo it was the first time she'd heard anything about it, while her daughter's surprise came from an entirely different reason, so she continued more calmly. 

"It’s a tradition, Tzuyu. People give flowers on special occasions. Especially to musicians, dancers, actors… when they have a performance, a premiere or a recital. It's a way of saying 'you did so well', of showing gratitude and also another way to tell someone you love them. That's why mama and I give each other flowers sometimes." 

Tzuyu stays quiet for a few seconds, lowering her gaze to the card she's still holding in her hands.

"Dahyun likes flowers…" she murmurs. "And Chaeyoung too. At the park they always look at them and sometimes they pick them" she explains to her mothers.

Then she lifts her head with a sudden idea. In that moment her eyes light up, just like Sana's do when she gets excited. Jihyo smiles seeing it.

"Can we also get her chocolate? It's her favorite thing. I think that will make her really, really happy" Tzuyu asks.

Sana and Jihyo look at each other, melting. Seeing that affection between their children, just like the one they share themselves, always gets to them.

"Of course" Jihyo replies. "Flowers, chocolate and a card. Dahyun is going to be so happy."

While they listen to their daughter excitedly plan which chocolate would be best, Sana feels a small warm knot in her chest. 

She remembers perfectly the last bouquet she handed Mina after one of her performances, not knowing it would be the last. The next time she brought flowers was a small bouquet she got from the hospital shop, while Mina was still in bed, exhausted and beautiful, with a newborn Dahyun in her arms.

Now it would be Dahyun who would receive flowers. Flowers from her mothers, her aunts and also from her best friends. Her own daughter would hand flowers to Mina's daughter, something she never imagined possible and that, somehow, is now part of their everyday life, their family.

─────────

The day of the recital comes sooner than expected and nerves are running high.  

Mina prepared everything the night before, but she keeps checking over and over that Dahyun has everything ready, from her water bottle to the last detail of her performance outfit. Once she's done she calms down, or at least manages to hide her worry better than her wife. Momo thinks only she can tell how nervous she is, when really it's pretty obvious. Mina hasn't missed the fact that she's been snacking all day. Not unusual for her, but it always gets worse when she's stressed or nervous, like today. 

However, in these past few weeks her daughter, though quiet and focused, has seemed to keep her calm. That talk with Mina clearly did something. 

Today is her day and she looks radiant. Her hair is tied back with a bow, following Mina's advice so it won't fall in her face while she plays, wearing the dress Momo picked out for her and the same shoes she wore to her mothers' wedding. After the recent growth spurt she's had, they're a bit tight. They'll probably need to get her new shoes for her next recital. 

When they arrive there are already a few families waiting at the entrance of the auditorium, and it's clear that, unlike Dahyun, many of the other kids are older. That makes her look smaller than she is, but it also makes her stand out. And maybe it's her mothers biased opinion, but she's also the cutest kid there. They can't help looking at her with pride.

Mina and Momo walk her to the auditorium door where students and teachers are meant to gather. The hallway leading up to it is full of families with that same mix of excitement and nerves, though there are a few who watch the others with a certain air of superiority, something completely baffling to Momo and that Mina, unfortunately, recognizes straight away.

That throws Momo off a little, but she quickly turns all her attention to a smiling Dahyun. Mina smooths out the folds of her dress while reminding her to stay calm and breathe before she starts. Momo takes care of fixing the bow before crouching down, eyes shining, more excited than the girl herself.

"We'll be there when you come out, good luck sweetheart!" she tells her.

Dahyun nods and gives them both a hug before heading in with some of her classmates.

Both mothers stand at the door for a few seconds watching her, until she disappears behind the stage. Then they take a deep breath, link their fingers, and head back to the auditorium entrance, where they're meeting the rest of the family.

The entrance slowly fills with excited voices, words of encouragement and hurried footsteps. The others don't take long to show up and a quick round of hellos begins, hugs for the little girls and everyone asking how Dahyun is doing, before catching up on the week, work, the kids and a bit of gossip, until it's time to go in and get to their seats. 

Jeongyeon sets Chaeyoung down in her seat and takes the bouquet the girl has been holding, which is almost bigger than herself. She carefully rests it on her own lap so it won't get in the way and, under her daughter's serious stare, she has no choice but to explain herself.

"This way you can see Dahyun better" she tells her. 

That seems to convince her and she nods right away. She settles into her seat and looks straight ahead, fixing her eyes on the piano on the stage. When she realizes there's nobody there yet, she starts looking around, taking in everything happening, with that curiosity that's always with her. 

On the other side, Jihyo does the same with the bouquet Tzuyu is carrying and hands it to Sana, careful not to get her trousers dirty. But the card stays in the little girl's hands, pressed against her chest as she smooths out the wrinkles in the paper.

"What's that?" Chaeyoung asks, pointing at the paper Tzuyu is holding so carefully.

"It's a card for Dahyun. Mama and mommy helped me" she answers, showing it to her.

"It's really pretty, Tzuyu" she says with a big smile.

Then she turns to her mothers and whispers something to them. Nayeon nods and pulls a sheet of paper from her bag. Chaeyoung looks back at Tzuyu and shows her the paper her mom gave her.

"I made her a drawing" she says, excited. "Look. This is Dahyun playing the piano. She has a bow. And here are you and me. And Kookeu, Boo, Bobby, Butter and Kaya. All clapping."

Tzuyu looks at it for a few seconds, like she's taking in every word, and ends up nodding, impressed.

"It's so pretty, Chaeyoung! She's going to love it, but dogs don't clap" she adds, laughing.

Chaeyoung looks even prouder hearing that and quickly joins in laughing at the thought of Kookeu clapping. Without noticing, their hands find each other and stay linked over the armrests, each holding their gift for Dahyun in their free hand.  

Mina and Momo watch them from their seats, smiling wide.

"Dahyun is going to love them…" Mina murmurs.

"So much" Momo adds, not taking her eyes off the girls.

Nayeon overhears the conversation and smiles too, happy to see how well they’re all growing up, surrounded by so much love. 

Between them they take up almost an entire row of seats. They're all there for one reason: Dahyun. Not just to hear the piece she's worked so hard to prepare, but to be there for her, support her and cheer for her, for her and her mothers too. 

Mina can't help getting emotional seeing herself surrounded by her friends, who feel like sisters to her, and by all their daughters, who she loves like her own nieces. All together, just like any other family there. 

It's one of those moments where she remembers how alone she used to feel at her ballet performances, even when her parents were there. But now she also gets to celebrate that her daughter is going to experience something very different. She'll be surrounded by wonderful people that shes lucky enough to call family. 

It’s when she feels Momo's hand wrap around hers that she comes back to the present. She's no longer that nervous little girl, waiting for approval but getting corrections and scolding instead. Now she's a woman with her wife by her side, waiting to watch her daughter perform so she can give her the biggest hug when it's over. Slowly, she comes back to this exact moment, in this auditorium. 

A little while later the lights begin to dim and only the light over the stage remains. In the center, the piano gleams under the spotlight. In front of it there’s a bench that, unlike the ones they’ve seen, has a small black step next to it, almost invisible, waiting for the younger children. 

As it gets darker, the whispers continue until a woman appears on stage. Many recognize her straight away as Kim Minnie, the piano teacher. She gives a brief introduction and announces the first performance. Some of the kids play the violin or other string instruments, others play the flute or the clarinet and a few play piano. Sometimes they're joined by a teacher playing an instrument or conducting the group. There are solo performances, duets, quartets and even small bands. Each one lasts just a few minutes, giving everyone their moment. 

The performances follow one after another, until it’s finally time for  the one they've all been waiting for. 

"And now, Myoui Dahyun on piano, the youngest student of the evening" the teacher announces.

When they hear the name, Mina feels her heart stop for a second, while Momo straightens up immediately. A few seats away, the little ones, who after a while had started fidgeting and getting distracted, go still and turn their eyes back to the stage.

Seconds later, Dahyun appears from the side of the stage. 

Her dress shimmers softly under the lights, and the bow in her hair sways with every step. She stops in front of the piano and gives a small bow, a little unsure, looking at the audience. With the stage lights she can barely make out the faces in the crowd, but she manages to spot her aunts, her friends and her mothers, and doesn't hesitate to give them a little wave with a small smile. The gesture gives away that it's her first performance, and it melts everyone watching. All eight of them wave back, and then she sits down. 

Her feet don't quite reach the floor, so they rest on the small step. She places her hands on the keys… and breathes.

Mina recognizes that instantly. It's the same thing she used to do before going on stage, and what she told Dahyun to do before she started.

Momo swallows. She smiles at the same time her eyes fill with tears.

Meanwhile, following Momo's instructions, Jihyo films it on the video camera she gave her a few minutes earlier, so she could enjoy her daughter's performance without worrying about anything else.  

The first notes of a soft melody start playing. Dahyun is focused, following the rhythm with small nods of her head, very serious at first, but little by little her expression relaxes and, while keeping the right posture, her shoulders stop being tense. Her small hands move across the keys with more confidence as the piece goes on. Much more than she had just a week ago. 

There's a small stumble on one note, almost impossible to catch. Her expression shifts for a second, but she doesn't stop.

Mina smiles to herself.

She understood.

She then feels a hold in her hand. Momo squeezes it gently, it seems she noticed too. When Mina looks at her, she sees tears already running down her cheeks. Momo wipes them away quickly, slightly embarrassed, but she can't hold them back. 

Mina squeezes her hand back. She doesn't say a word, instead she brings her hand to her lips and places a kiss on the back of it and another on the ring. 

Momo isn't the only one crying. Sana already has a tissue in her hand and Jeongyeon is blinking fast, in an attemp of holding her tears. Tzuyu keeps her eyes fixed on Dahyun, as if the piano doesn't exist, eyes wide open, afraid to miss anything. Chaeyoung, on the other hand, leans forward a little, mouth slightly open, completely amazed. Every now and then their still-linked hands squeeze together with excitement. 

The music goes on without any more stumbles beyond a small change in tempo here and there. And if there are any mistakes, they're probably only noticeable to the teacher. For everyone else, like in all the performances before, what they hear is the music of a little girl who has practiced a lot, but most importantly, who is enjoying the moment. 

And when the final note comes, she holds it for a few seconds before lifting her hands from the piano, just as a professional would. 

The applause breaks out suddenly and echoes throughout the auditorium. Loud, long, and warm.

Chaeyoung and Tzuyu join in a few seconds after everyone else, applauding happily, so caught up in watching their friend that they almost missed it. Jihyo smiles so wide her eyes shine as she keeps filming everyone's reactions, especially Momo's. Sana brings a hand to her chest, as she wipes her tears away without ruining her makeup. Nayeon and Jeongyeon share a quick look, proud, then turn their attention back to the stage. 

Momo stopped trying to hide it a while ago, clapping  while the tears fall freely. Mina keeps clapping too, but she can't take her eyes off her wife and then, her daughter.

Dahyun climbs down from the bench and looks to one side, following her teacher's instructions. She walks to the center of the stage, takes one last bow, says thank you and gives a thumbs up to her mother.

When she leaves the stage, the performances continue for about twenty more minutes, until the recital comes to an end. For the last time in the, Ms. Kim steps back on stage to congratulate the participants, thank all the parents, families and guests, and explain how the exit will be organized so the kids can reunite with their families, who are eager to celebrate with them. 

After the teacher’s intervention, the lights come back on.The murmur returns to the auditorium and parents start getting up to see their kids backstage, as they've been told. The rest of the audience makes their way to the exit. 

Mina and Momo are one of the first ones leaving to meet their daughter. The hallway is full of kids and teenagers still buzzing with nerves and excitement, some with their instruments still out of their cases, others looking around the place for their families. The youngest ones wait with their teachers. Dahyun is one of them, standing still until her teacher spots them and points in her mothers’s direction. 

The small girl runs off with her bow slightly crooked, her hair a little messy and  her cheeks flushed. 

Before they can say anything, Dahyun throws herself into their arms and the three of them hold on tight.

"You were incredible, sweetheart" Mina whispers into her hair before kissing her forehead.

"I'm so proud of you" Momo adds, her voice still a little shaky.

As she speaks, she hands her the bouquet they'd prepared for her. Dahyun takes it carefully, looking at the flowers with a mix of wonder and confusion, not quite sure what to do with them or why she's holding them. 

"After a great performance, artists get flowers" Mina explains warmly, unable to stop smiling.

Hearing that, the girl smiles so wide her eyes almost disappear, until she suddenly seems to remember something.

"Mommy, Mom! Ms. Kim wants to talk to both of you" she says quickly, gently pulling Mina's hand to lead them.

The teacher is waiting for them a few meters away, watching her students with a proud smile. When Mina and Momo approach, she bows to them and they both return the gesture.

“I wanted to tell you that Dahyun did really well tonight” she says calmly. “She’s still very young and just starting out, I know. But she has something special. What she did today isn’t easy at all.”

She pauses briefly before continuing. Momo and Mina listen closely, a little surprised, having thought they'd only been seeing her through the eyes of her mothers.

"I think you've been able to see that she's at the same level as some of her older classmates. If she keeps enjoying piano the way she does, and holds on to that eagerness to learn, I really think she could have a bright future. No rush. No pressure. But I'd like you to keep it in mind when the time comes."

Mina nods her head slightly in acknowledgement. .

"Thank you so much, Minnie. That means a lot to us."

"Of course" Momo adds, with pride she makes no effort to hide. "She's an artist just like her mother."

Mina blushes instantly and the teacher laughs softly. She congratulates Dahyun once again before saying goodbye.

"Say hi to Sana and Jihyo for me… and from Miyeon" she says before stepping away. 

When the teacher leaves, Dahyun takes her mommy’s hand and passes the bouquet to her mom, so they can hold hands as well. The three of them walk down the hallway together, talking about the performance and congratulating her over and over, going over how well she played and how hard she's been practicing. 

Making their way through the crowd of families, they reach the exit. Outside the air is a little warmer than inside, summer is already here, adding to the cheerful atmosphere around them, especially with the younger kids already buzzing about summer break. The air is full of laughter, conversations and photos.

They've barely stepped outside when they hear a familiar voice. 

"There they are" Sana calls out to the others, who are waiting outside. 

The girls can't wait for them to make their way to them and hurry over as fast as their bouquets allow, having taken them from their mothers' hands. Tzuyu walks with purpose, hugging her card against her chest, with Chaeyoung by her side. When they reach Dahyun they show her the flowers and give her their handmade gifts first. 

"This is for you" she says, a little nervous.

Dahyun takes the card and reads Tzuyu's words of encouragement out loud, written in small, neat handwriting with little drawings all around. Even though the performance is already over, the words bring a smile to her face and turn her cheeks red.

Chaeyoung waits patiently, listening to her friend read. You can definitely tell she's older because she reads so much better. Once she's done, she wastes no time handing her a slightly crumpled sheet of paper. 

"And I made you a drawing. Here you are playing the piano. And here we are. And the dogs too" she explains very seriously, though she laughs right after, making the other two laugh with her. 

Her mothers go over to say hello to Jeongyeon's parents, who have brought the twins asleep in the stroller, now being watched over by Nayeon and Jeongyeon, who aren't used to being without their girls except when they're at daycare. Both of them thank them for coming, and Jeongyeon's parents say they're sorry they couldn't watch the performance live, though Jeongyeon filmed it on her phone as they'd asked.

“She looked radiant.”

“A true performer.”

Then Tzuyu remembers something and looks at Sana, who hands her a small wrapped bag.

"And this is chocolate" she adds, looking straight at her. "Your favorite."

Dahyun looks at them one by one, unable to process it all just yet, and then hugs both girls at once. She holds on tight, not saying anything for a few seconds, until she murmurs a quiet "Thank you." 

After that, it’s finally Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Sana, and Jihyo’s turn to shower Dahyun with affection, words of love, and congratulations. The little girl laughs and savors the moment, loving the warmth from her aunties. 

Just then, Jeongyeon's parents join them as well. Her mother is holding a small, carefully wrapped package. 

"This is for you, Dahyun" she says with a warm smile. "It's a little gift from the twins."

The girl takes it with wide eyes and gives an awkward but sincere bow, the first thing that comes to mind. Inside she finds two hair ties with small teddy bears.

"Thank you, grandma and grandpa!" she replies excitedly, running to show them to her mothers.

Everyone talks and smiles as they make their way to the cars. The noise seems to wake Ryujin and Yuna, who open their eyes and sit up, looking around curiously and smiling, caught up in the joyful atmosphere.

The scene fills Momo's chest with warmth as she sees her daughter surrounded by such special people who love her so much. She watches Mina walk arm in arm with Sana, laughing, and quietly reaches for her camera to snap a few photos of a moment she wants to treasure forever. 

Sana and Mina talking, Jihyo with Yuna in her arms, Jeongyeon walking with the girls while carrying the bouquets, Nayeon in the middle of her in laws hand in hand with Ryujin, taking clumsy but fast steps,and of course, Dahyun with her hands full of cards and chocolate. 

She knows how much this means to her wife, and she's grateful to see her like this and to be part of the family Mina gave her when she came into her life. She didn't just give her a daughter, but also friends she thinks of as family and who treat her the same way. She knows she can count on them just as she would her sister or her parents back in Japan. She completed Mina's family, but this family gave her a reason to stay in Korea, a purpose and a life she never could have imagined. 

As if she could feel she was thinking about her, Mina turns around and they share a smile, and seeing the camera in her hands, she poses with Sana.

Sana leans in slightly toward Mina.

"Did you see Minnie? Miyeon told me you're her favorite parents, she says you're adorable" she says quietly, with a knowing smile.

Mina nods with a small smile, still a little overwhelmed by everything, but grateful.

"They're biased."

"Maybe, but there's one thing she's not wrong about, and that's that you make the most adorable family. I'm so proud of Dahyun, but I'm proud of you too, Minari" Sana concludes.

When she opens her eyes, Dahyun’s greeted with a small and intimate cinema. In the middle are two reclining lounge chairs, a tub of popcorn on each seat, and an old-timey film projector set-up behind them. Her mouth’s left agape in awe with what you were able to set up.

“Happy Birthday, Dubu.” you whisper the greeting as you wrap your arms around her waist. Her shocked expression turns into a beaming smile before she turns her head and gives you a quick peck on the lips.

“This is amazing. Thank you.” She whispers back as she lays her head on your chest.

“I got all your favorites. But, there’s one thing I’ve been meaning to show you first.” Dahyun gives you a puzzled look, but it’s wiped away as you guide her to her seat. She sinks into the plush leather with the bucket of popcorn sitting in her lap. You go to the projector and set-up the film reel. After pressing a few buttons, the projector slowly whirs to life. The reels start spinning and a light beams on to the screen. A countdown from 10 starts winding down on the projection, signalling you to take your seat beside Dahyun. She’s curious as to what you had in store, but when the scenes start rolling she could feel the tears start to build up.

The first scene was from one of your first dates. Maybe the fourth or fifth, if Dahyun could remember it properly. It was the two of you walking hand in hand along the Han River. The sky was painted orange, the sun sinking in the far off horizon. You were recording Dahyun, seeing her laugh as you told her corny joke after corny joke. Back in the present, Dahyun’s grip on your hand grows tighter as she rests her head on your shoulder.

The next scene that pops up is from when the two of you finally decided to move in together. Dozens of boxes were scattered in your, used to be, barren home. You and Dahyun were zipping around the empty living room, carrying boxes, unpacking plates, utensils, kitchenware, and other appliances. It ends with the two of you sitting on the floor, surrounded by empty boxes, tired from unpacking. She was leaning on you, just like how she was now, talking about future plans for the house while the two of you were eating take out. Your attention is momentarily taken from the screen when you feel her grip on your hand loosen, only for her to start hugging the rest of your arm.

With every memory that plays on the screen, Dahyun’s hold on you gets tighter as she tries to hold back the tears. Your first trip together. Every celebration of your anniversary for the past five years. The first time you met her parents and her meeting yours. The silent nights of laying in bed or on the couch while reading books or watching movies together. The lazy Sunday mornings of making breakfast for each other. Each treasured memory that flashes on the screen reminds the both of you of your shared journey, how far you’ve both come while being at each other’s sides.

As the scenes continue to roll, subtitles start flashing at the bottom of the screen.

“It’s only you.”

“It will always be you.”

“I dream of growing old with you.”

“I hope to be with you until the end.”

“You’re the only one my restless heart yearns for.”

Dahyun finally lets the tears fall as she reads the messages. At this point, she’s close to sobbing on your shoulder, making you wonder if you did too good of a job. 

As the scenes start to fade away, the final message burns on the film. An audible gasp escapes from Dahyun’s mouth, in between the sobs, as she feels your arm leave her embrace. When the message is fully clear on the screen, she turns to your direction. There she sees you. 

Out of the seat. 

On the floor on bended knee. 

A ring in hand to complement the message on the screen.

“Will you marry me?”

Your eyes are locked to hers. Both of you are on the verge of tears. She smiles through the sobs and joins you on the floor. In a moment that lasts a lifetime, she whispers the one syllable reply that makes you the happiest man alive.

“Yes.”

After the word leaves her mouth, the tears start streaming down your face. You pull her in for a hug, your lips meeting to seal the decision. Even if your lips separate, you hold her close and tight. Unwilling to let her go. Unwilling to let the moment pass. Eventually, it does. 

You both rise to your feet, still holding on to each other. You sit down, Dahyun still in your arms as she sits across your lap. Her head rests on your chest as she admires the engagement ring on her finger. When her eyes finally leave the diamond, she meets yours while looking up. She beams you a bright smile, eyes still glassy from the tears shed earlier. You can’t help yourself and kiss her again. When you pull away, she asks you:

“What’s next?”

Who knew a simple question could have a multitude of meanings. It could mean which movie the two of you were finally going to watch. It could mean something more with what’s next in your intertwined lives. A loaded question that could carry on for decades. For you, it didn’t matter. Whatever you may face, you’re sure about one thing. With Dahyun, you knew you would be able to surpass it. 

The room is still.

Chaeyoung is still close when you open your eyes, her forehead resting lightly against yours, breaths slow, even, shared in that small space between you.

Neither of you moves right away.

There’s a kind of quiet that comes after being that close—after soft laughter, after whispered things that barely made it past your lips, after kisses that didn’t feel rushed or careful.

Her thumb brushes once against your arm.

“…Hey,” she murmurs, voice low.

You hum in response, not quite ready to speak yet.

She leans in again—just once—pressing one last, lingering kiss against your lips.

Then she pulls back slightly, exhaling a soft breath like she’s letting the moment settle instead of ending it.

“I need air,” she mumbles.

You nod, even if she didn’t really ask.

She slips out of bed first.

You follow after a few seconds.

The window’s already cracked open, curtain shifting gently with the breeze. Chaeyoung settles into the seat, pulling her hoodie around her, fingers slipping into the pocket.

A pack of cigarettes.

Marlboro Blue.

She taps it lightly against her palm before sliding one out, resting it between her fingers like it’s something familiar, something she doesn’t have to think about.

You watch her for a second.

She glances at you, catching your gaze, lips curving just a little.

“Still okay with this?” she asks quietly.

You nod. “Yeah.”

The lighter flickers to life, flame briefly illuminating her face before she leans in, lighting the cigarette.

A slow inhale.

A softer exhale.

Smoke curls past her lips, drifting out the window like it knows where to go.

She doesn’t take another one right away.

Instead, she turns slightly toward you, holding it out.

Offering.

You moved closer without a word, settling beside her again, your shoulder brushing hers as you take it from her fingers.

You take a small drag then pass it back.

The rhythm builds naturally.

Her.

You.

Back again.

The cigarette glows faintly between your fingers before you pass it over. Chaeyoung watches it for a second when it returns to her.

“My dad used to smoke these,” she murmurs.

“I used to hate the smell when I was a kid.” Her lips curve faintly, almost amused.

“Funny how things change.”

You watch her carefully.

The way her fingers hold it.

The way she looks at it like it’s familiar, but not necessarily loved.

You take it when she offers again, but this time, you don’t bring it to your lips right away.

“…I still hate it,” you admit quietly.

She glances at you.

You shrug a little, shoulders brushing hers.

“My mom always complained about people who smoked,” you add, a small breath leaving you. “Said it sticks to everything. Clothes, walls… people.”

You finally take a small drag, like you’re proving you can, before handing it back.

Chaeyoung watches you for a second.

Then she quietly exhales through her nose.

Not quite a laugh this time. More like she’s trying not to make you feel bad about it.

“You’re still bad at it,” she says, softer.

“I told you I am,” you reply, wiping your lips slightly like the taste bothers you.

The cigarette comes back to her hand, but she doesn’t take a drag right away.

You glance at it again.

“Why Marlboro Blue?” you ask.

Chaeyoung blinks a little, like she didn’t expect that to be the next thing.

“Why not?”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one I’ve ever bought,” she says simply.

You hum, like that makes sense but also doesn’t really explain anything.

“My mom would’ve hated this.”

That makes her glance at you.

“She would’ve given us a whole lecture,” you add. “Like… not even just smoking. The smell. Everything.”

Chaeyoung looks at you for a second longer than before.

“You talk about your mom a lot,” she says.

“She’s loud.”

A faint nod from her.

“Is she strict?”

You shrug.

“She just notices everything.”

Chaeyoung looks out the window again, cigarette turning slowly between her fingers.

“She’d probably not like me.”

You shake your head immediately.

“No.”

Chaeyoung glances at you.

“She would at first,” you add after a second, quieter now. “Because she’s like that with everyone I care about.”

You shift slightly closer, shoulder pressing more firmly against hers.

“But she’d get over it.”

“Yeah?” she murmurs.

You nod.

“Because you’re… actually nice.”

That makes her let out a small breath through her nose, like she’s not sure what to do with that.

“You’re respectful. You listen when people talk. You’re not loud in a bad way. And you’re—” you pause a little, searching, “you’re gentle when it matters.”

The cigarette is still between her fingers, forgotten again.

“My mom likes people like that,” you finish softly. “She just needs time to notice it.”

“And she’d definitely like the way you talk to her.”

Chaeyoung doesn’t respond right away.

She just looks at you like she’s trying to figure out if you actually believe what you’re saying or if you’re just being nice.

“You’re biased,” she says finally.

“Obviously,” you reply.

That gets a small smile out of her.

She finally stubs the cigarette out without finishing it.

“You really think that?” she asks.

You nod once. “Yeah.”

“Your mom sounds terrifying,” she mutters.

“She is,” you say again, like it’s normal.

That finally makes her huff a quiet laugh.

“And she’d still like me?”

You don’t hesitate. “Yes.”

“Because I like you. And she trusts that more than anything else.”

That’s what makes her go still.

Then she moves.

Her hand comes up to your face, cupping your cheek like she’s done it before without thinking. Her thumb brushes once under your eye, then pauses there.

“You talk too much,” she says softly.

There’s no bite in it.

Just fondness wrapped in it.

You barely get a chance to react before she leans in.

This kiss isn’t teasing.

Her hand stays on your face while the other shifts behind your neck, pulling you closer like distance isn’t part of the plan anymore.

You melt into it without thinking, fingers catching on her hoodie, holding on like it’s automatic now.

There’s still a faint taste of smoke on her lips, but it’s fading into something softer. Something that’s just her.

The city outside keeps moving, but you stop noticing it.

She kisses you like she’s finishing a sentence she didn’t know she started earlier.

When she finally pulls back, it’s only a little.

Not enough to leave.

Her forehead rests against yours again, breath slower now.

“Sticks to everything,” she murmurs, almost to herself.

You let out a small laugh, breathless and quiet.

“Yeah.”

Her thumb traces your cheek once more.

Her gaze drops to your lips for half a second, like she’s thinking again, then she leans in without warning—just enough to catch you in another kiss.

When she pulls back, she doesn’t go far.

“Don’t tell your mom I smoke,” she adds quietly, like an afterthought.

You snort softly.

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“Good.”

Then she tilts her head slightly.

“Tell her I’m nice though.”

You raise a brow.

“She’d figure that out herself.”

Chaeyoung scoffs, but she’s smiling.

Sana knows your schedule like it’s her favorite song.

“Eleven, you’re in bed. Seven, you’re up.”

You used to roll your eyes every time she said it, but you followed it anyway. Not because you had to.

Because she cared.

Because it felt nice, being taken care of like that.

Sana’s sitting in a dressing room halfway across the world, legs tucked under her, quietly stealing gummies from a packet that definitely isn’t hers.

Someone’s curling her hair, another person lightly tapping blush onto her cheeks, the room full of chatter and movement and mirrors reflecting everything at once.

And still, her attention drifts to you.

Always to you.

She picks up her phone, smiling to herself as she types.

Sana: are you asleep already?

It’s habit.

A little knock on your door before she lets you rest.

Y/N: nope

Sana: it’s late

go to sleep, baby

Y/N: not sleepy

That’s… new.

The next day, she tries again.

Different city. Different room. Different set of hands fussing over her.

Same question.

Sana: are you asleep?

Same answer.

Y/N: no

By the third night, the pattern stops feeling cute.

Stops feeling like coincidence.

Starts feeling wrong.

Because you don’t do this.

You’re the one who nags her about sleep sometimes.

You’re the one who says “if you don’t sleep, you’ll get sick.”

You’re the one who always says goodnight first.

She doesn’t ask right away.

She counts the minutes between her messages and yours.

There are none.

You’re always there.

Like you never left your screen.

Like you never even tried to sleep.

On the fourth night, she stops pretending it’s normal.

Her fingers hover for a moment before she types.

Sana: baby

what time is it there right now

Y/N: 1:17

Sana inhales quietly.

You should’ve been asleep over two hours ago.

Sana: why are you awake?

Y/N: idk

That answer doesn’t annoy her.

It worries her.

Because “I don’t know” from you usually means “I don’t know how to say it.”

Sana: baby

you always sleep before 11

what’s going on?

She remembers.

Sana remembers everything about you that matters.

You curl a little deeper into your blanket, phone held close like it might anchor you.

Y/N: just can’t sleep lately

Sana: for how long?

Y/N: a while

Sana: how long is a while, baby

Y/N: since you left

That one lands.

Sana’s eyes soften immediately, something in her chest pulling tight.

She leans back slightly, ignoring the way someone calls her name in the background.

Everything else fades again.

Sana: is it because you miss me?

Your fingers hover.

You could lie.

Say no. Make it smaller. Easier.

But it’s late, and you’re tired, and your thoughts have been loud for too long.

Y/N: yeah

and i can’t stop thinking about stuff when it’s quiet

like everything at once

Missing her. Overthinking. No sleep.

All tangled together like earphones in a pocket.

Sana: can we call?

just for a bit

i’ll just stay with you while i get ready

you don’t have to talk if you’re tired

i just don’t want you to be alone right now

Y/N: okay baby

The call connects almost immediately.

Your screen fills with her—half-done makeup, hair rolled up, stylists moving around her like a quiet storm she’s somehow the center of.

“Hi, baby,” she says, voice low, like she’s careful not to overwhelm you.

“Hi,” you mumble, pulling your blanket closer.

She smiles softly.

Not the bright, camera-ready one.

The one that’s just for you.

“You look tired,” she murmurs.

You huff a small laugh. “I am.”

“Mhm,” she hums, like she expected that.

Her phone is propped up now, angled just right so she can keep you in view while someone works on her hair.

Every few seconds, her eyes flick back to the screen.

“Lie down properly,” she says gently.

“Don’t sit up for me.”

You obey without thinking, sinking deeper into your pillow.

“That’s better,” she murmurs.

For a while, she just talks softly between touches of lipstick, between hair adjustments.

Stories about her day. Complaints about how someone stole her snacks. A quiet “jeongyeon’s being annoying today” that makes you smile just a little.

She fills the silence so your thoughts don’t have to.

And every so often—

“You still with me?”

“Mhm.”

“Good.”

Your replies get slower.

Words blurring at the edges.

“Baby,” she says quietly, leaning a little closer to her phone. “you can sleep, okay?”

You shake your head slightly, eyes half-lidded. “Wanna stay…”

Her expression softens even more.

“I'm not going anywhere.” She promises. “Just close your eyes for me.”

You listen.

Because it’s her.

Sana doesn’t hang up.

Not even when staff start calling her for stage.

She waits until your breathing evens out.

Until your face relaxes in that way she hasn’t seen in days.

Weeks, maybe.

“Good night, baby.”

And ends the call.

The second they’re offstage, she’s moving.

Her bag is packed faster than usual. Conversations cut short with soft apologies.

“You’re leaving already?” Momo asks.

“Yes,” she replies, a small smile on her lips.

“I have to go home.”

Morning comes quietly.

No alarms. No thoughts clawing at you the second you wake up.

An arm draped over your waist.

Your brows knit slightly in your sleep, body shifting just a little and the arm tightens.

Like whoever it belongs to doesn’t want you going anywhere.

A soft press against your shoulder.

A kiss.

“…Sana?”

Your voice is rough with sleep, disbelief tangled in it.

“Good morning, baby.”

You turn so fast you almost tangle yourself in the blankets.

And there she is.

Hair messy, eyes soft, wearing your hoodie like she’s been there all night.

Your face lights up instantly.

“SANA?!”

She barely gets to react before you’re launching into her, arms wrapping tight around her like you’re trying to make sure she’s not about to disappear.

“Baby—” she laughs softly, catching you easily, arms coming around you just as tight.

“Easy, easy…”

But she’s smiling.

Big.

Because you’re smiling like that.

“You’re here,” you mumble, half-laughing, half-breathless, pressing your face into her neck.

“You’re actually here—”

“I’m here,” she murmurs, holding you closer, one hand sliding up into your hair.

You pull back just enough to look at her, like you still need visual confirmation.

“…You’re real, right?”

She snorts softly.

Then leans in and presses a kiss right to your cheek.

“Feel real?”

You grin immediately.

“Again.”

She doesn’t even question it.

Another kiss. Other cheek.

Then your forehead.

Then right at the corner of your lips, lingering just a second longer this time.

“Still questioning it?” she murmurs.

You shake your head quickly, laughing.

“No, no—keep going though.”

That earns you a soft, amused look.

“Greedy.”

But she indulges you anyway.

She missed you too.

Her hands cup your face, thumbs brushing over your cheeks as she leans in, pressing a series of soft kisses everywhere she can reach.

Your cheek. Your nose. Your jaw.

Each one gentle. Unhurried.

Like she’s making up for lost time piece by piece.

You melt into it instantly, hands gripping onto her hoodie.

“I missed you so much,” you mumble.

“I know,” she whispers back, pressing another kiss on your cheek.

“I missed you more.”

“Impossible.”

You snuggle closer without thinking, eyes starting to droop.

“Sleep again,” she murmurs, hand gently running through your hair.

You nod slightly against her.

No overthinking.

No empty space where she should be.