#usc player

It starts because it has to.

Not because they don’t want people to know—

but because they don’t want everything else to get loud too fast.

Too many cameras.

Too many opinions.

Too many questions.

So they don’t say it out loud.

They just become careful.

Sarah learns what it means to love someone quietly.

Hallway touches that last half a second too long.

Sitting closer than necessary when no one’s watching.

Passing looks across gym floors that say more than words ever could.

And you—

you get good at pretending it’s nothing.

Except JuJu notices.

Of course she does.

One night after a game, you’re leaning against the tunnel wall when JuJu stops in front of you.

“Are you serious right now?”

You blink.

“What?”

She gestures vaguely behind her.

“Her?”

Sarah, across the room, laughing.

You sigh.

“It’s not—”

“Don’t lie to me,” JuJu says, softer now.

And suddenly it feels like the secret is way too small to hide inside anymore.

Later, Sarah finds you outside.

Quiet.

You think she’s mad.

But she’s just tired.

“You okay?” she asks.

You shrug.

“I don’t know.”

That honesty hits her harder than anything else.

She steps closer.

“Do you want this to stop?”

You shake your head immediately.

“No.”

Sarah nods.

“Me neither.”

A pause.

Then:

“…we just have to be smarter.”

You laugh a little.

“Yeah.”

But neither of you moves away.

And that’s the problem.

It starts too loud.

Too fast.

Too sharp.

“I’m not doing this with you right now, Rian.”

“Oh so you just shut down and leave like always?”

Juju stops walking.

Slowly turns back.

“…what?”

Rian’s breathing is already uneven.

“I said what I said.”

Juju laughs once, but there’s no humor in it.

“You don’t even hear yourself right now.”

“Oh my GOD, Juju—”

“No, seriously,” Juju interrupts, voice colder now. “You always do this thing where you act like I don’t care just because I’m not reacting how you want me to.”

Rian’s eyes go glossy instantly.

“That’s not what I said.”

“It is what you meant.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Rian shakes her head.

“You don’t get it.”

Juju steps closer slightly.

“Then explain it.”

Rian tries—but her voice breaks halfway through.

“I just feel like I’m always—always the one chasing you emotionally and you don’t—”

Juju cuts her off again, frustrated now.

“I’m RIGHT HERE, Rian!”

Rian flinches.

That’s the moment everything goes wrong.

Because now it’s not just words.

It’s hurt.

Rian whispers:

“…you don’t even love me like that.”

Juju freezes.

Completely still.

“…what did you just say?”

Rian regrets it instantly.

But it’s too late.

Juju shakes her head slowly.

“No. Don’t do that.”

Rian’s voice cracks.

“I didn’t mean—”

Juju steps back like she got hit.

“You don’t get to say that.”

“I was upset, I didn’t mean it—”

Juju laughs bitterly.

“You always mean it when you’re upset.”

That lands.

Hard.

Rian goes silent.

Juju grabs her hoodie from the chair.

“I’m done talking.”

And walks out.

Door shuts.

Final.

Rian sits on her bed later staring at the wall.

Everything feels too quiet.

Too big.

Too wrong.

She tries to sleep.

Can’t.

Every time she closes her eyes—it replays.

“I don’t love you like that.”

Juju’s face.

The silence after.

Her chest tightens.

She turns over.

Breathing uneven now.

Then—

A nightmare.

Not even specific.

Just loss.

Distance.

Juju leaving and not coming back.

Rian jolts awake.

Gasps.

Her heart is pounding so hard it hurts.

“Juju—”

She grabs her phone immediately.

Calls.

Once.

No answer.

Again.

No answer.

Her hands start shaking.

“Please…”

Voicemail.

She can’t breathe properly now.

She gets up immediately.

Bare feet on cold floor.

And walks.

Down the hall.

To Juju’s room.

She hesitates at the door.

Then knocks.

Nothing.

So she opens it slowly.

Juju is in bed.

Back turned.

Still.

Rian whispers:

“…Juju.”

No response.

Rian’s voice breaks instantly.

“Please don’t hate me.”

That gets her.

Juju turns over slowly.

Sees her.

And everything in her face shifts.

“…Rian?”

Rian is already crying now.

“I had a nightmare and I— I tried calling you and you didn’t answer and I thought— I thought you left me for real—”

Juju sits up immediately.

All anger gone.

Gone.

“Hey. Hey—come here.”

Rian doesn’t even hesitate.

She climbs into bed.

Right into Juju’s arms.

Juju pulls her in instantly.

Tight.

Protective.

“I’ve got you,” she whispers.

Rian is shaking.

“I didn’t mean it,” she repeats. “I didn’t mean what I said earlier.”

Juju closes her eyes for a second.

“…I know.”

Rian looks up at her.

“You do?”

Juju nods slowly.

“I was hurt. That’s all.”

Rian sniffles.

“…I thought you were… gone.”

Juju softens completely.

“I’m right here.”

Rian clings tighter.

Juju strokes her hair slowly.

“You’re shaking,” she murmurs.

Rian whispers:

“I hate fighting with you.”

Juju exhales.

“…me too.”

Silence.

Then softer:

“I shouldn’t have walked away like that.”

Rian shakes her head quickly.

“No, I shouldn’t have said that thing—”

Juju gently cups her face.

“Hey.”

Rian stops.

Juju looks at her for a second.

Then:

“I don’t ever want you thinking I don’t love you.”

Rian’s eyes fill again.

Juju wipes her tears gently.

“Okay?”

Rian nods.

“…okay.”

A pause.

Then Juju leans in and kisses her forehead.

Soft.

Lingering.

Then another.

Rian closes her eyes instantly.

Juju whispers:

“You can always come to me. Even when we’re mad.”

Rian nods against her.

“…I didn’t want to be alone.”

Juju tightens her hold.

“You’re not.”

Rian finally relaxes fully into her chest.

Juju keeps holding her.

Rubbing slow circles into her back.

“No more leaving the room angry,” she murmurs.

Rian gives a tiny, tired laugh.

“…okay.”

Juju smiles slightly.

“And no more saying I don’t love you.”

Rian whispers:

“…never again.”

Juju kisses her hair one more time.

“Good.”

And they just stay like that.

No more shouting.

No more distance.

Just quiet breathing.

Rian doesn’t slam the door.

That’s the first sign something’s off.

Usually she comes in talking, laughing, saying something about practice or something one of the girls said or something stupid that happened in the locker room.

Today?

Nothing.

Just a soft click of the door closing behind her.

Juju looks up from the couch immediately.

“…hey.”

Rian stands there for a second too long.

Like she’s trying to decide if she has the energy to exist.

Then she just walks over.

No words.

No explanation.

And sits right next to Juju.

Close.

Too close to be casual.

Juju notices instantly.

Her expression softens.

“Bad day?”

Rian shrugs once.

Not even a real answer.

Just tired.

Juju shifts immediately, turning toward her fully.

“C’mere.”

Rian doesn’t even hesitate.

She just leans into her.

Forehead against Juju’s shoulder.

Arms loosely wrapping around her waist like muscle memory.

Juju instantly melts a little.

One hand goes to the back of Rian’s head.

Slow.

Gentle.

Rubbing softly like she’s trying to physically pull the stress out of her.

Rian lets out a shaky breath she’s been holding all day.

“…I don’t wanna talk about it,” she mumbles.

Juju nods immediately.

“Okay. You don’t have to.”

No questions.

No pressure.

Just her.

Rian shifts even closer like she’s trying to climb into her.

Juju smiles softly.

“You’re clingy today.”

Rian hums against her shoulder.

“…mmhm.”

Juju laughs quietly.

“Yeah, okay.”

She adjusts them both so Rian is fully leaning into her now, one arm around her shoulders, the other rubbing slow circles into her back.

Rian’s fingers grip the hem of Juju’s hoodie lightly.

Like she needs something real to hold onto.

Juju notices that too.

Of course she does.

“You ate?”

Rian shakes her head slightly.

Juju tsks softly.

“Of course you didn’t.”

Rian groans a little.

“I forgot.”

“You always forget.”

Rian doesn’t argue.

Because she doesn’t have the energy.

Juju leans back slightly, still holding her.

“Stay right here.”

Rian immediately tightens her grip.

“…don’t leave.”

Juju pauses for a second.

Then her expression softens even more.

“I’m literally just going to get you food.”

Rian hesitates.

“…okay.”

But she still doesn’t let go right away.

So Juju kisses the top of her head first.

Soft.

Quick.

Then:

“I’m coming right back. Promise.”

Rian finally nods.

Barely.

Juju gets up—but only after brushing her hand over Rian’s cheek one more time.

When she comes back ten minutes later with food and water, Rian is still in the same spot.

Exactly where she left her.

Juju sits down again and opens the container.

“Okay, eat.”

Rian leans into her again instead.

“I’m not hungry.”

Juju immediately raises an eyebrow.

“Liar.”

Rian sighs dramatically but doesn’t move.

Juju gently lifts a bite anyway.

“Open.”

Rian looks at her.

“…you’re really doing this right now?”

“Yes.”

A pause.

Then Rian finally opens her mouth.

Juju smiles like she won.

“There we go.”

Rian chews slowly, still half curled into her.

“…you’re annoying.”

Juju nods.

“I know.”

A beat.

Then softer:

“…thank you.”

Juju’s expression changes instantly at that.

She brushes Rian’s hair back gently.

“Always.”

Rian finally relaxes fully then.

Like her body just gives up on holding anything in anymore.

She leans her full weight into Juju’s side.

Juju doesn’t even flinch.

Just holds her tighter.

“You’re okay,” she murmurs.

Rian hums softly.

“…better now.”

Juju smiles against her hair.

“Yeah?”

Rian nods slightly.

“…you help.”

That makes Juju go quiet for a second.

Then she presses another kiss to her head.

“Good.”

And they stay like that.

No rushing.

No fixing everything.

Just Juju holding her together quietly—

Rian is talking.

A lot.

Not surprising.

She’s laying across JuJu’s bed scrolling through TikTok while explaining drama that JuJu stopped understanding like five minutes ago.

“And then she comments under the post acting confused like girl YOU started it—”

“Mhm.”

“You’re not listening to me.”

“I am.”

“You literally said ‘mhm’ three times.”

JuJu finally looks up from her phone.

“You’re pretty when you’re mad.”

Rian freezes immediately.

“…oh.”

JuJu smiles slightly.

There it is.

That little smug smile she gets when she knows exactly what she’s doing.

Rian points at her dramatically.

“See? This is why you’re dangerous.”

JuJu sets her phone down slowly.

“How?”

“You flirt out of nowhere.”

“You like it.”

“That is not the point.”

JuJu laughs quietly and shifts closer across the bed.

Rian watches her immediately.

Because JuJu’s naturally calm about everything.

Quiet confidence.

Low voice.

Always acting unbothered.

But with Rian?

She gets touchy.

Hands on her waist.

Pulling her closer randomly.

Tucking hair behind her ear while she’s talking.

Looking at her too long.

And the worst part?

She does it like it’s instinct.

Like she doesn’t even realize how much it affects Rian.

JuJu reaches over now and gently grabs Rian’s ankle, pulling her closer down the bed.

“Come here.”

Rian lets herself slide toward her dramatically.

“You’re needy tonight.”

JuJu shrugs.

“So?”

Rian tries not to smile.

Fails horribly.

JuJu settles back against the pillows while Rian ends up half laying against her chest.

And immediately—

JuJu’s arms wrap around her automatically.

Secure.

Warm.

Comfortable.

Rian sighs softly.

“There she is.”

JuJu looks down at her.

“What does that mean?”

“You get clingy when you’re tired.”

“I do not.”

Rian tilts her head up.

“You literally dragged me across the bed.”

JuJu kisses her forehead once.

“That proves nothing.”

Rian melts a little anyway.

JuJu starts playing with the hem of Rian’s hoodie absentmindedly while Rian keeps talking about random things.

Most people don’t notice this side of JuJu.

The softer side.

The side that likes holding someone close more than talking.

The side that always reaches for Rian first without thinking.

The side currently staring at Rian’s lips instead of listening.

Rian notices immediately.

“…why are you looking at me like that?”

JuJu answers honestly.

“Wanna kiss you.”

Direct.

Simple.

Very JuJu.

Rian laughs softly.

“Okay.”

JuJu’s hand slides gently to the back of her neck before she kisses her slowly.

Not rushed.

Not messy.

Just warm and patient and steady in that way JuJu always is.

Rian sighs quietly into it almost immediately.

Which makes JuJu smile against her lips.

“There it is,” JuJu murmurs.

“What?”

“That little sound you make.”

Rian immediately hides her face against JuJu’s shoulder.

“Oh my God shut up.”

JuJu’s laughing now.

Actually laughing.

And Rian can feel it under her cheek.

JuJu pulls her even closer afterward until they’re basically tangled together under the blankets.

Rian traces lazy shapes against JuJu’s hoodie.

“You’re comfy.”

“You say that every day.”

“Because you are every day.”

JuJu shakes her head softly but presses another kiss into Rian’s hair anyway.

A quiet settles over the room after that.

Comfortable.

Easy.

Rian’s eyes start getting heavy first.

JuJu notices instantly.

“You falling asleep?”

“No.”

Lie.

JuJu smiles a little to herself and adjusts the blanket higher around her shoulders.

Rian mumbles sleepily against her chest:

“Love you.”

And the thing about JuJu—

the real thing—

is that no matter how cool or calm she acts…

that sentence still gets her every single time.

Her grip around Rian tightens slightly.

Then she kisses the top of her head softly.

“Okay but THIS one—”

Rian holds up the cookie dramatically toward the camera.

“—looks insane.”

JuJu’s already reaching for it before she even finishes talking.

“Juju!”

“What?”

“You can’t eat it before the review.”

JuJu looks completely serious.

“I’m taste testing.”

“You’re cheating.”

“I’m helping.”

Rian laughs loudly while trying to keep the camera steady.

The video devolves immediately after that.

Which honestly is pretty normal for them.

Rian talking fast.

JuJu interrupting randomly.

Both of them laughing over each other.

Rian trying to rank cookies seriously while JuJu gives completely useless reviews like:

“This one tastes brown.”

“What does that MEAN?”

“I don’t know. It just does.”

Rian nearly drops the camera laughing.

By the end of it there’s frosting on the center console and half the cookies are destroyed because JuJu keeps taking “accidental” extra bites.

Now the camera’s off.

But neither of them has moved yet.

The parking lot’s mostly empty now.

Soft music low through the speakers.

Rian curled sideways slightly in the passenger seat wearing JuJu’s hoodie because she got “cold.”

Even though she stole it immediately when she got in the car.

JuJu notices her pulling the sleeves over her hands.

Again.

“You own clothes.”

Rian gasps.

“Wow.”

“You literally do.”

“You’re being mean to me in my hoodie.”

JuJu shakes her head trying not to smile.

“Our hoodie apparently.”

“Exactly.”

Rian settles deeper into the seat, still talking about the cookies like it’s life or death.

“No because I’m serious the churro one changed me emotionally.”

JuJu snorts softly.

“You say that every time.”

“Because every week Crumbl personally attacks me.”

That gets one of those real JuJu laughs.

Quiet.

Low.

The kind she does when she’s actually relaxed.

Rian immediately notices.

“There it is.”

JuJu glances over.

“What?”

“That laugh.”

JuJu already knows where this is going.

“No.”

“You only do that laugh when you’re comfortable.”

“That’s not true.”

“It literally is.”

JuJu looks away toward the windshield immediately.

Which basically confirms it.

Rian smiles a little to herself.

Because this is what JuJu’s actually like.

Not the interview version.

Not the media-trained version.

The real version is quieter.

Observant.

Acts unbothered while noticing literally everything.

And somehow says the sweetest things completely accidentally.

Like now.

“You should keep the hoodie,” JuJu says casually, still staring ahead.

Rian blinks.

“…really?”

JuJu shrugs like it’s nothing.

“You wear it more than I do anyway.”

That warmth hits Rian instantly.

Because JuJu always does this.

Never huge dramatic things.

Just little stuff.

Quiet stuff.

Giving her fries without asking.

Remembering tiny details.

Driving her everywhere without complaining.

Saving her favorite songs.

Offering hoodies like they mean nothing when they very obviously mean something.

Rian looks at her for a second too long.

JuJu notices immediately without looking.

“…why are you staring?”

“You’re soft.”

JuJu actually scoffs.

“No I’m not.”

“You literally are.”

“I’m actually very tough.”

Rian reaches over and pokes her cheek.

JuJu grabs her wrist immediately.

Fast reflexes.

But gentle.

Always gentle with her.

“There,” Rian says proudly. “That was soft too.”

JuJu shakes her head, finally smiling a little.

“You’re annoying.”

“Yet you keep hanging out with me.”

Silence for a second.

Then JuJu says quietly:

“Yeah.”

And something about the way she says it makes Rian’s chest ache a little.

Because JuJu doesn’t waste words.

So when she says things softly like that—

she means them.

Rain starts tapping lightly against the windshield.

Rian watches it for a second before leaning her head against the seat.

Sleepy now.

JuJu notices immediately.

“You tired?”

“Mhm.”

“You should go inside.”

Rian turns toward her slowly.

“You want me to leave?”

JuJu pauses.

Then finally looks over.

And there it is again—

that softer expression she gets around Rian and almost nobody else.

“…not really.”

Rian smiles immediately.

JuJu groans softly.

“Don’t make that face.”

“What face?”

“That one.”

“The one you like?”

JuJu mutters something under her breath.

Rian grins wider.

Then quietly reaches over and hooks her pinky around JuJu’s hand resting near the console.

Tiny.

Simple.

JuJu looks down at it for half a second.

Then turns her hand slightly so their fingers fit together better.

And neither of them says anything after that.

They just stay there—

music low.

Rain falling.

Cookie boxes forgotten in the backseat.

Rian wakes up too early.

Not because of alarms.

Not because of anything loud.

Just… because her chest feels weird.

Heavy in a way she can’t explain.

She stares at the ceiling for a few seconds.

Then slowly sits up.

Juju isn’t in bed yet.

Which makes it worse.

So Rian doesn’t even think about it.

She just gets up.

Bare feet on the floor.

And walks.

Down the hallway.

Quiet apartment.

Soft morning light coming through the windows.

Juju’s door is slightly cracked open.

Rian pushes it open gently.

Juju is still half asleep in bed.

Hair messy.

Blanket pulled up to her chest.

She blinks when she sees her.

“…Rian?”

Rian doesn’t answer.

She just walks straight over.

Climbs into bed.

And hugs her.

Full on.

Arms tight around Juju’s waist.

Face buried into her hoodie.

Juju freezes for half a second.

Then immediately softens.

“…hey,” she murmurs.

Rian doesn’t speak.

Just holds tighter.

Juju shifts slightly so she can wrap her arms around her properly.

One hand goes to the back of Rian’s head.

Slow strokes.

“It’s early,” Juju whispers.

Rian nods faintly against her.

Juju doesn’t ask questions.

Doesn’t push.

Just holds her.

Rian’s breathing starts to even out slowly.

Juju kisses her forehead.

“Bad morning?”

A small nod.

“Mm.”

Juju hums softly.

“Stay here then.”

Rian does.

And for a while, neither of them moves.

Just quiet.

Warm.

Safe.

Later.

Juju is sitting at her desk.

Laptop open.

Notes scattered.

Headphones in but not really playing anything anymore because she took them out ten minutes ago.

She’s supposed to be working.

But she keeps getting distracted.

Because Rian is on her bed.

Curled up under the blanket.

Asleep.

Completely knocked out.

One arm hanging off the side slightly.

Face relaxed in a way she only ever sees when Rian feels safe.

Juju pauses typing.

Just looks at her.

Quiet smile forming without her even realizing.

“…you’re ridiculous,” she whispers fondly.

Rian stirs slightly.

Doesn’t wake up.

Just turns her head into the pillow.

Juju goes back to her work.

But slower now.

Calmer.

Every few minutes she looks over again.

Still there.

Still asleep.

Still safe.

At one point she gets up quietly.

Walks over.

Pulls the blanket up over Rian’s shoulder a little more.

Rian doesn’t even move.

Just sighs softly in her sleep.

Juju smiles again.

“…good,” she murmurs.

She sits back down.

And continues working.

But now it doesn’t feel like work.

Not really.

Just life.

Soft.

Normal.

Rian on her bed.

Juju at her desk.

Rian is nervous before they even get there.

Like, visibly nervous.

“Your family is big-big,” she says as they pull up.

Juju laughs softly.

“Yeah. You’ll be fine.”

Rian does NOT look convinced.

The second they step out of the car, everything gets loud.

Cousins yelling.

Food everywhere.

People already running up to Juju like she’s been gone for years.

And then—

Juju reaches back and grabs Rian’s hand.

Instantly.

No hesitation.

Rian looks down at it like she forgot that was allowed.

Juju leans slightly closer.

“Stay with me.”

Rian nods immediately.

“…okay.”

And just like that, Juju guides her through everything.

Introduces her to everyone.

“This is Rian.”

“This is my girl.”

Very casual.

Very calm.

Rian nearly short-circuits.

But the cousins LOVE her.

Like instantly.

“Oh she’s cute.”

“She’s quiet, I like her.”

“She better not be shy the whole time, we got food!”

Rian slowly relaxes.

Because Juju never lets go of her hand.

Not once.

Hours later, they’re outside on the porch.

Sun going down.

Noise finally softer.

Just them.

Rian leans against the railing.

“You have a lot of cousins.”

Juju hums.

“You survived.”

“I survived because you were holding my hand the entire time.”

Juju smiles.

“Yeah.”

A pause.

Rian looks at her.

“…they like me.”

Juju tilts her head.

“Of course they do.”

Rian blinks.

“…you’re very confident.”

Juju steps closer.

“I just know what I like.”

That makes Rian go quiet.

Juju gently lifts her chin.

“C’mere.”

Rian doesn’t even question it.

Juju kisses her softly.

Once.

Then again.

Then just holds her face in her hands like she can’t stop.

Rian whispers:

“…you’re very affectionate right now.”

Juju nods.

“Yeah.”

Another kiss.

“I missed you for like five minutes earlier.”

Rian laughs softly.

“You are dramatic.”

Juju shrugs.

“Only about you.”

Rian visibly melts.

Juju presses her forehead against hers.

“Good day?”

Rian nods.

“…really good.”

Juju smiles.

“Good.”

Then kisses her again.

Slower this time.

Like she finally got her alone.

It starts normal.

Way too normal.

Juju is on live first, sitting on her bed with her phone propped up against a pillow, reading comments out loud while half-laughing at them.

Rian is off camera.

Which is already suspicious, because Rian is always somewhere nearby.

“Are you gonna show your room tour?” one comment reads.

Juju snorts.

“No. Y’all are nosy.”

Another comment:

“Where’s Rian?”

Juju doesn’t even hesitate.

“Outside.”

Rian immediately calls from the other room:

“I AM NOT OUTSIDE.”

Juju freezes.

Chat explodes instantly.

Juju slowly turns her head toward the doorway.

“…why are you yelling like that?”

Rian walks into frame casually, like nothing just happened.

“I wasn’t yelling.”

“You literally just exposed yourself.”

Rian shrugs and sits next to her.

“Whatever.”

Juju tries to continue the live like it didn’t happen.

Which is her first mistake.

Because Rian immediately leans her head on Juju’s shoulder.

Like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Juju stiffens slightly.

“…don’t do that on live.”

Rian doesn’t move.

“Why?”

“Because people are—”

Juju glances at the comments.

Already chaos.

“OH THEY’RE TOGETHER TOGETHER”

“WAIT WAIT WAIT”

“THAT’S NOT FRIEND BEHAVIOR”

Juju sighs.

“…ignore them.”

Rian hums.

Then wraps her arm loosely around Juju’s waist anyway.

Juju immediately looks at her again.

“Rian.”

“What?”

“You’re making it worse.”

Rian smiles innocently.

“I’m literally just sitting here.”

Juju tries to read comments again.

Fails.

Because one says:

“Do y’all date?”

Juju laughs nervously.

“No.”

Rian says at the exact same time:

“Yes.”

Silence.

Juju turns slowly.

“…what did you just say?”

Rian looks confused for half a second.

Then realizes.

Then freezes.

Chat goes from 10k viewers to 25k in like 2 seconds.

Rian sits up straight.

“I— I didn’t— I thought you—”

Juju just stares at her.

“…you thought I was gonna say yes too?”

Rian covers her face immediately.

“Oh my God.”

Juju starts laughing in disbelief.

“Rian.”

Rian is fully panicking now.

“I didn’t mean— I thought we were— I thought we were OFF LINE ENERGY—”

Juju grabs her wrist gently to stop her spiraling.

“Hey. Hey.”

Rian stops.

Looks at her.

Chat is losing their minds in the background.

Juju looks at her for a second.

Then just sighs.

“…yeah. We do.”

Rian freezes again.

“Wait.”

Juju glances at the phone.

Then back at her.

“…we do date, yes.”

Rian slowly drops her hands from her face.

“You just said that on live.”

Juju shrugs.

“You already did.”

Rian stares at her.

“…we are so cooked.”

Juju laughs.

“Probably.”

Chat is now fully screaming.

“OFFICIAL???”

“OH MY GOD”

“WE WON”

“JUJU JUST HARD LAUNCHED”

Rian hides her face in Juju’s shoulder again.

“Turn it off.”

Juju reaches over and ends the live.

Instant silence.

Just them now.

Rian slowly lifts her head.

“…that was your fault.”

Juju raises an eyebrow.

“My fault?”

“You let me talk.”

Juju laughs softly.

“You let YOU talk.”

Rian groans dramatically and flops back onto the bed.

“I can’t believe that just happened.”

Juju leans over her slightly.

“…you okay?”

Rian peeks at her.

“…yeah.”

Then after a pause:

“…are we in trouble?”

Juju thinks about it.

Then shrugs.

“Maybe.”

Rian sighs.

“…worth it?”

Juju doesn’t even hesitate.

“Yeah.”

Rian looks at her for a second.

Then smiles a little.

“…yeah. Worth it.”

Juju leans down and kisses her forehead softly.

“Relax. It’s fine.”

Rian closes her eyes.

“…you’re really calm about ruining our lives.”

Juju smiles.

“I didn’t ruin anything.”

She squeezes her hand gently.

“We just stopped hiding it.”

Rian squeezes back.

“…next time I’m not speaking on live.”

Juju laughs.

“That would help.”

And Rian immediately adds:

“…no promises.”

Juju shakes her head, still smiling.