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.

she has a dual personality and regardless of how well you know her by now, she still surprises you

she is the shyest person you have ever known, but she is also the most shameless. 

when you first met her she was timid and quiet, but as she felt comfortable around you and opened up more she started showing her more playful and funny side

it didn't take you long to discover that she has a quick mind when it comes to giving sharp, unexpected, sarcastic and incredibly funny responses

she does it with her friends and on occasion with annoying strangers, and eventually she dared to do it with you as well

she has the ability to read the room and people very well. just by looking at your face she knows when you are happy, when you need space or when you need a hug 

this quality allows her to easily fit into all kinds of situations

when tzuyu wants she can go unnoticed the same way she draws all the attention whenever she wants. of course she knows exactly what she has to do to get your attention in a room full of people 

she has a bit of a tsundere side. she isn’t the biggest fan of pda, places her hand over your mouth when you come up to kiss her, likes to tease you and whines when you are clingy. 

secretly, she enjoys the attention and loves when you baby her. 

she prefers subtle displays of affection but when you are alone she’s more affectionate

she plans the best dates. she always comes up with some way to make the dates unique

for example, on your first date she took you to a dog cafe instead of a regular cafe

museums, markets, outdoor painting, picnics, pottery classes or a spa day are the kind of dates she usually organizes for special occasions. 

tzuyu’s love language is gift giving. if she sees something that reminds her of you she will just buy it. she also likes giving you things that will remind you of her on your relationships

you already share a few matching bracelets, necklaces, keychains and phone cases

she also loves bringing things that she bakes on special days and when she’s staying over, she never comes empty handed

she has a strange habit of talking to you like her dogs. the first time she did it you almost choked and she almost died of embarrassment, now you are used to it and find it adorable

be careful because she has 8 overprotective unnies who would do anything for tzuyu which you quickly understood since she’s easy to love and awakens the protective instinct of anyone

luckily, getting the love of her dogs was much easier and only took a couple of walks, a few treats and some belly rubs

tzuyu loves visiting new places whether it be traveling to other countries, taking you to her home country or a short trip to the beach or a more rural area

when you two travel she tries as much local food as possible and convinces you to try them as well. then she replicates the dishes she liked at home. lately she has improved a lot and she cooks better and better

she cooks your comfort food when you’re feeling down

she never cries but she is very sensitive when it comes to certain issues that are very important to her, that's why you freaked out when after your first time she cried. it turns out that she realized how much she loves you

nsfw

she is shy and seems innocent, but she is also open to experimenting and wants to try new things

she enjoys vanilla sex as much as she enjoys kinky sex, it depends on the mode you are in.

tzuyu was not the most experienced person and that's why you wanted to go slow but she was dying to get intimate with you

the first time you went made up you had to stop her and tell her to slow down because it was rushed and sloppy, not because of her inexperience, in fact she's a very good kisser, but because of how eager she was

when you kiss her unexpectedly or make a suggestive comment she literally freezes, so it was a surprise for both of you to discover that she leans more to the dominant side

she's a soft and gentle dom, a side she's starting to explore more with you

she loves kissing your face and body when you do it, caressing you and giving you little nibbles

she loves praising you. she uses more petnames during sex than she does in front of people, that's why if you hear her call you ‘princess’ or ‘baby’ in public you can't help but blush

tzuyu is one of the most caring people you know and it's something she shows in bed too

you’re above her shyness and you comfortable and safe, so she’s getting more vocal about asking if you like what she is doing or asking you to guide her when she needs it

she enjoys giving as well as receiving, so she’s quite comfortable being both top and bottom. 

she’s not very loud. when she’s bottoming she moans but has the habit of trying to cover her mouth with her hand or her pillow, when she tops she breathes deeply and sometimes you can hear her groans even if she tries to contain herself

she’s a good at kissing and using her mouth, she really enjoys eating you out but she’d rather be on the receiving end

she likes much more fingering you or using a strap, something she had never used before

the first time she put on the strap on she came out of the bathroom completely red and couldn't look you in the face until after a while

now it is something she enjoys very much and has bought a few different dildos so you can have more options

as someone who likes to give gifts, from time to time she gets spicy gifts for both of you like lingerie or a toy she’s curious to try

her other favorite positions are scissoring, 69 and tribbing. it allows her to give and receive pleasure from a dominant position, guiding you with her words and leading you with her movements

something that drives her crazy is making you touch yourself in front of her and guiding you while you do it

for someone who sometimes avoids physical touch she can sometimes be very needy when she really wants to make you feel good and be inside you

she’s curious about bondage. she thinks you would look beautiful tied up unable to move, being at her mercy

she also thinks you would look great with a collar around your neck.

during your vacations she likes doing it in the hotel room, always in the spot with the best view. it doesn't matter if it's the bed, the bathroom or the balcony. she likes to enjoy the view

lately you have tried degradation, spanks and other ways of inflicting light pain. it was a surprise to her how turned on she got from seeing her hands marked on your ass

˚.°✿⋆.ೃworks in progress ࿔:✿°. ˚

masterpiece | sana x chaeyoung (request | fluff | smut) new look | jeongyeon x sana (fluff) zero to hundred | jeongyeon x jihyo (request | romantic comedy)

* titles might change

she is shy with a serious appearance and elegant, controlled mannerisms, all of which together can give an impression of her that is far from reality.

she is a quiet person, she demonstrates more through her actions than with her words. but if it’s something she’s passionate about you can hear her talk for long.

when she is ready and voices what she thinks or how she feels, she does it just as she is, calmly and elegantly. even when she demands something it doesn’t sound like it and you just feel the need to listen to her.

she's not oblivious to the effect she has on people and especially on you, she will demand your attention in subtle but effective ways. she knows what makes you weak.

your first impression of her is that she was sexy but cold and mysterious, it turns out she is the definition of “loser trapped in a hot girl's body”.

she's a nerd. she loves video games, knows the names of too many pokémon, watches superhero movies, recreates poses of anime characters and builds legos that she then puts in display cases. 

when you started going on dates you noticed she seemed too focused on something and you felt something was off. turns out she was a bit self conscious of her walking. 

time passed and soon enough she stopped hiding her penguin like walking around you.

her love language is gift giving, but also acts of service.

you do whatever she asks (or commands), but she is always there for whatever you need. whether it's to help you, to be by your side or to do it for you.

she isn’t a romantic person, although she does romantic things. expect to receive bouquets of your favorite flowers, stuffed animals, the snacks you like the most, something she has crocheted or made.

for your birthdays, anniversaries or valentine's day she won't post anything on social media or do anything that other people can see. you like to celebrate things privately.

mina's favorite dates are the ones that include going to a nice restaurant, a bakery shop, eating ice cream or trying new food. no matter what you do, food is a must. 

when you don't stay home with a nice wine, home-cooked meal or take out to watch a movie or play video games you enjoy quiet dates. 

you go to the movies, go to a museum, the aquarium, botanical garden or shopping so she can indulge in her hobbies.

when you go shopping together she stuns you when she tries on clothes and the next minute she's dragging you through the whole store to show you a minecraft tshirt. 

the gifts mina gives you are things you like and will use. if she gives you jewelry it's nice, but also something you can wear in your everyday activities. and another day she might give you an overpriced toaster in your favorite color. 

mina is the kind of person you have to take care of and make sure she eats on time and drinks water. if she has a new game or building a big lego set, you have to remind her to take breaks and go to bed. 

she is a homebody and sometimes you have to drag her out of her home but a promise to grab some food and a few kisses will do the trick.

when situations in her life, work or your relationship overwhelm her, her way of dealing with it is to walk away. 

she is learning to count on you and understand that she is not a bother, but it can be hard to break out of old habits.

mina is a private person. she won't say she loves you out loud or kiss you in public. instead she gives you affection in subtle ways to let you know she is there for you. 

she follows you with her eyes, feeds you, slides her hands between yours, places her hand on your thigh, or keeps her hand on your lower back while you talk. 

she sometimes gets overwhelmed in big crowds or when meeting new people, when this happens she clings onto you.

she is not jealous at all, she is very confident in herself and also in you. she knows she has you hooked.

in private she's all over you. she’s really affectionate and touchy once she lets herself go, sometimes she sits on your lap while she plays or will ask you to straddle her while she’s gaming on the computer.

nsfw

once again her calmness and quietness may give you the wrong impression of her. mina is not innocent at all, it didn't take you long to realize it.

sex with her is passionate, intimate and fun, but also dirty and rough. behind closed doors you get to see the less elegant, soft and collected version of mina. 

mina gives herself to you whether she is in control or not. and you have no choice but to give her everything she needs, no matter if she begs for it or demands it.

to put it in another way, mina bottoms most of the time.

she knows how hot she is and she knows she has you wrapped around her finger. she knows exactly what words to use and how to touch you to get exactly what she wants from you.

she's a tease. it doesn't matter if you're in public or private because she'll find the way.

her gestures, her touches or the way she looks at you may go unnoticed by others, but you know perfectly well the intentions behind them, however subtle they may be. 

when you’re at home she wears obscenely short clothes, she purposely raises her arms until her t-shirt slides up showing her abs or bends over to give you a perfect view of her ass. 

she enjoys teasing you but it’s even easier to tease her since she’s horny most of the time. a look, a few words and a suggestive gesture would have her blushing, looking avoiding your eyes and squeezing her thighs together.

you let her misbehave all she wants because it's not like you can punish her. she loves to be spanked, being edged or whatever you come up with.

she will use pet names rather than titles with you (unless you tell her). however, if you use them with her, especially the ones she has taught you in japanese, she becomes putty in your hands

mina is kinky, a freak, a pervert… you name it. she has so many kinks that you’re still finding out and she’s willing to try so many things. that includes bdsm dynamics

once you called her a pervert to tease her but it just turned her on. 

she’s both into praising and degradation, she can’t help it when she just loves getting any type of attention from you. 

she enjoys degradation, humiliation and sadism. for these she enjoys being the receiving end more but when she's in a certain mood she doesn't hesitate to inflict it. 

she also enjoys bondage, impact play, temperature/sensation play and wax play among others.

she likes to try new positions and take advantage of her flexibility but nothing compares to having you eating her out while she plays. 

she has a staring problem, she can't take her eyes off you, your chest or any exposed skin. you don't miss the opportunity to remind her “my eyes are higher up” just to see her reaction.

this does not only happen with you, but also with other people. that's why she doesn’t get jealous even though she's possessive. truly she also gets turned on by the idea of you catching her.

to be fair, years of doing ballet makes you notice other women too much and it's not even a sexual thing, unlike her oral fixation. 

you have no complaints when she puts her oral fixation to good use whether it's with your breasts, putting her between your legs or making her suck the strap.

you can expect anything from her. one day she's wearing a beautiful lingerie set to surprise you and the next day you pull her pants down and find some minecraft boxers

mina has a collection of sex toys that she loves you to use on her, most of them she also uses by herself. dildos, vibrators, whips, paddles, handcuffs, plugs, ropes...this does not only happen with you, but also with other people.

she orders them online but she made an exception of going to a specialized store to get you a leather collar with your name engraved in a silver tag.

mina is always quiet, so during sex it's not much different as long as she's in a more submissive and needy headspace. she'll let out the most adorable breathy moans and whimpers. but if she’s being dominant... she will talk you through it, guide you and bossing you around