"Okay, guys-" The ringing of a phone interrupted Jinyoung, but he just sighed and continued, "-before we wrap up, I wanted to remind you that the Halloween contest is coming up." He walked from one side of the room to his desk, moving papers around until he found the marker to write on the board. "Everyone has to prepare a routine of some sort for me to evaluate you, but it's up to you whether you participate or not."
Chaeyoung squealed in excitement, drumming with her fingers a melody while debating the many possibilities she had. On the one hand, she could work with some of her friends, which was always fun. But on the other hand, she could also ask Mina if she was interested in performing together. She looked to her right, where Mina was gracefully sitting, and imagined their hypothetical stage.
Although more than a month had passed since school started, she still hadn't seen Mina dance and curiosity was getting to her. Besides, they lived in the same house, meaning they would have more time to practice and improve their routine.
"Chae," a brunette with big eyes approached Chaeyoung, "do you wanna work together? Last year we did an amazing job." She leaned her elbows on the younger's desk, staring right into her eyes.
"Jihyo!" The younger exclaimed. "I haven't seen you in forever." And it was true, they hadn't talked since the party before school started, which, by the way, was held at Jihyo's house. Chaeyoung felt so embarrassed about her reckless actions that she avoided her completely instead of apologizing, but at some point, she had to acknowledge it to move on. "Sure! Sure!"
Chaeyoung had worked many times with Jihyo because the latter not only had an outstanding voice but was also a great leader. Last year they got 2nd place, but hopefully, they'll upgrade their show and win this year, it was their last opportunity.
"Great! So I was planning on asking Nayeon and Tzuyu as well, if that's okay with you?" She flashed the younger a quick smile before realizing Mina was witnessing their interaction in utter silence. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Jihyo." She took her hand out for a handshake, which the Japanese woman reciprocated immediately.
"Mina." She spoke quietly because Jihyo's cheerful personality was almost intimidating, it was an odd feeling.
"So I've heard." She replied, not in a mean way though. Just acknowledging the facts.
'What is that supposed to mean?' She nodded, not wanting to keep the conversation going.
Jihyo looked to her left, where Chaeyoung was. "Well, I'm going to ask the rest." She tapped the table twice before lapping on her feet. "I'll talk to you later. And it was nice meeting you, Mina." She smiled warmly and left.
Chaeyoung gave her an awkward thumbs-up and sighed in relief. "Why was that so uncomfortable?" She supported her neck on the back of her chair and stared at the cream-colored ceiling.
"Who is she?" Mina turned to her side and started playing with the hem of Chaeyoung's jacket. The younger had noticed that was a habit of hers whenever she felt uneasy.
"She's a friend, but also the owner of the house we went to for the party." She rubbed her eyes and turned to look into Mina's eyes. 'So pretty- What?'
"Oh." Was all Mina could think of. "I should apologize to her. You know, for the chaos I caused."
Chaeyoung stopped Mina by laying her forearm on her lap, pressing just enough to keep her from leaving the seat. "Of course not. I caused this and I'm going to fix it."
Although Mina really wanted to focus on what was leaving Chaeyoung's lips, all she could feel was the hand that was softly gripping her thigh. Was Chaeyoung aware of it? She hoped not. "Hmm." She nodded and grabbed the intruding arm, barely lifting it until it let go of her flesh. Mina's initial plan was just to stop it, but instead, she turned it around and drew amorphous figures on its palm.
They didn't speak for minutes. Chaeyoung just let Mina do whatever she wanted. The younger was calm yet so overwhelmed at the same time. Her senses were on the edge, feeling how the drawings were being almost engraved on her soul. If Chaeyoung had to use one word to explain what she was experiencing, it would be: silly.
Chaeyoung still wasn't sure if she was imagining everything. The way Mina's eyes sometimes glanced at her lips when they did their night routine together, or how she would say there was a lash on her cheek but would never get anything out, using the excuse that it fell to the floor (a trick Mina had actually learned from Sana).
But what she did know was that she liked it. They were really close friends, or at least that's what she told herself.
"Hey, lesbos." Chaeyoung heard the voice she knew too well. She withdrew her arm a little too fast and stared back at Tzuyu, her face beet red.
"Shut up!" she smiled at her friend and tried her best to hide the inevitable embarrassment. "What's up?"
Tzuyu shook her head and looked down at the two seated girls, "What is up?" She asked playfully and raised her eyebrows. "Nayeon told me we are working together. I just wanted to tell you that we have an idea and we thought we might run it by you."
"I'll be there in a second, let me grab my stuff." Chaeyoung stood up and put her black notebook inside her backpack, running to catch up with Tzuyu.
On another note, Mina had no idea what to do. Did she want to participate in the contest? Wouldn't it be too much for an exchange student?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Momo, who dragged Chaeyoung's chair and sat on it. She poked Mina's arm repeatedly until she got her out of the trancing state. "So, what are we doing?"
Mina stared back and tilted her head, "Huh?"
"We are signing up for the contest. It looks like we both have people to impress." Momo smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"And who would that be, Momo?" She didn't want to give her feelings for Chaeyoung away, especially when they were probably just a phase. She hoped they were.
"I don't know, Mina." She looked around to make sure no one could hear and continued, "We could do a duet, that would be fun."
"Why do you want to impress Dahyun though? From what you told me, she's a bitch."
"She just has some things..." Momo wasn't sure she could speak about Dahyun's confession to her friend, it was personal.
"What things?" She raised an eyebrow, determined to get an answer.
--- (last night) ---
They were laughing. So hard Dahyun's mom had even texted her a warning to keep quiet because they all had to get up early the following morning. But even though they tried their best to hush, it was impossible.
It had all started with Momo apologizing to Dahyun for making her uncomfortable when she walked in on her... having fun by herself. It had happened weeks ago but it still bugged her in the back of her mind, and she needed to fix it. Things were weird enough by themselves, there was no need to worsen it.
So Momo sat on the edge of Dahyun's bed while the younger was busy on her phone and started apologizing, saying how sorry she was and that she should learn to knock before entering; but Dahyun started laughing instead.
Dahyun didn't think it was funny at first, laughing was just an automatic response to make things less awkward, and it worked. "You should've- seen your face, it was priceless!"
Momo quickly joined her and their giggles only got louder as minutes passed. She leaned her forehead on the pillow Dahyun was laying on as well and tried to calm herself down.
Damn, were giggles contagious.
"Momo, shut the fuck up or my mom will kill us both." Dahyun spoke softly, she was feeling lighter.
Momo nodded, or at least that's what Dahyun assumed after feeling the pillow barely move up and down. And she did calm down. Immediately. All of a sudden even the air was too thick.
Dahyun tilted her head to the left and realized Momo was now staring at her, eyes filled with something she wished to identify. Her heart was thumping out of her chest, why did it have to be so goddamn easy to be with Momo? Why did she have to be so goddamn perfect? Just, why?
They were like magnets, and Dahyun was too tired to fight back the urge to kiss her. Just when their lips were about to kiss-
"No." Momo raised her upper body and sat once again in her original position, her back facing Dahyun. "You don't get to do that. You don't get to play with me like that."
It had taken everything in Momo to not surrender, but she had felt awfully sad the last month and Dahyun didn't have the right to bring it all back.
"I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?" Momo got on her feet and stared at the body in front of her. Under different circumstances, she would say Dahyun looked like the most stunning person in the whole world. But suddenly Dahyun wasn't stunning anymore. "You've been living in blissful ignorance for the past month, or at least I wanted to think you didn't remember. But maybe you're just a fucking pussy that can't admit what's going on." She knew she had to hush down, that she could ruin their friendship in a few moments and the following months would be hell for her.
"I can't- I just can't, okay?" Dahyun genuinely felt bad for Momo, she was holding her back. Maybe if she wasn't so afraid they could be together, or maybe Momo could be dating someone else. The last thought made her blood boil though, so it was clearly not a possibility.
Momo sat back, she wanted to understand. What was so wrong about her that she didn't deserve to be with Dahyun? "I promise I won't judge. Please. ust tell me what it is so I can move on or at least understand it."
Dahyun huffed, she had to get this out or she would explode. So she told Momo everything and didn't hold one detail back. It felt good to explain herself; that she wasn't a bitch, just fighting against internalized homophobia and a toxic family environment.
"I'm sorry, I know what I did was wrong." Dahyun ended her speech and silence only followed.
Momo stayed quiet the entire time, only nodding occasionally to show she was listening. She wanted to scream, curse at every God for making things so hard for them, but what was she supposed to do? Momo didn't want to be Dahyun's dirty secret, to have to act like they were just friends in front of the world. She despised the idea. If giving up the possibility of a relationship between them was the only option left, so be it.
She cupped Dahyun's cheek with her left hand and caressed the soft skin, "I'm really sorry you're going through that, I really am. I hope one day you get to be your true self because you deserve to be happy." She slanted down until she reached the younger's face, pressing a chaste kiss on her forehead before leaving the bed and slipping into her own. It was late anyway.
They both stayed awake for at least an hour. Dahyun teared up a little; it felt like having her heartbroken but they hadn't even gotten the chance to be together. Eventually sleep won against her, but Momo still kept thinking.
Had she done the right thing? Momo recalled every single word that came out of them and what she felt and came to the conclusion that she wasn't giving up without a fight.
If seducing Dahyun was the only way to go, Momo was doing it.
--- (present) ---
"So you're basically going to lure her to get her to come out and probably ruin her relationship with her parents?" Mina never liked to soften the blow, especially when it could harm other people. And even though they were talking about Dahyun - who she didn't particularly like right now - it just felt wrong.
"Of course not! So, are you dancing with me or not?" She stood up and signaled for Mina to do the same.
Maybe this would captivate Chaeyoung, why not give it a try? "Sure, we haven't done a duet in a while. What about Sana?"
"Said she wanted to try other things out, she hasn't been herself lately."
The pair joined the rest of the groups who were deciding what to do. Mina eyed Chaeyoung occasionally and caught her more than once staring, but just waved and smiled in response. It was cute.
---
Mina and Chaeyoung walked out satisfied with their last class and agreed to not tell the other much to make it a surprise for the competition. They were waiting for Sana and Tzuyu outside of school because that's what they did every Friday, but they were taking longer than usual.
"I am so going to win." Chaeyoung grinned smugly.
"Don't be so sure, me and Momo got a pretty cool thing planned." For once, she hoped she could keep her mouth shut. If she played her cards right, it could surprise Chaeyoung.
"Would you bet on it?" The younger didn't know why she said that, she wasn't even that sure her group would win. Chaeyoung just loved the way Mina's cheeks would paint a light pink whenever she said something unexpected; she just loved having the upper hand in general between the two.
"Actually, I would. What will I get when I win?" Mina straightened her back to make their height difference visible; those 4cm really made her more confident.
"The winner gets one wish that the other has to oblige. Deal?" Suddenly it didn't sound like a great idea. Mina wasn't a mean person, so the punishment wouldn't be too bad even if she lost. She hoped it wouldn't.
"Sounds good." She now had an even bigger reason to win, Momo better prepare for how hard they were going to practice.
Sana and Tzuyu walked out of the enormous building shortly after, they seemed happy.
"Girls, are you ready to go? We're tired." She screamed because of the distance and pointed between her and Mina with her index feeling.
"Tzu and I are gonna go by ourselves, we're going to get ice cream." Sana said the last part lower, which wouldn't have been weird if she wasn't a loud person most of the time.
Chaeyoung and Mina shared a look. They hadn't talked about this with the other, but both realized they knew half of the story; maybe they could piece the puzzle back together now.
"Oh, really?" Chaeyoung teased, mostly to get back at Tzuyu for what she had called Mina and her earlier. "We're gonna get going then, have fun on your date!" She intertwined her arm with Mina's and led the way.
"Do you think it's a date?" Mina asked the younger once they were at a safe distance.
"Of course it's a date, why would they be going by themselves?"
"I guess you're right." She shook her shoulders and put a larger space between her and Chaeyoung. 'We go out by ourselves sometimes and they're not dates.' She thought to herself, but it was too risky to say it out loud.
---
There was too much silence for their taste, weird considering they lived together and spoke about anything. But this time it was different because it signified more and they both felt like it had to go well; it would be so uncomfortable if it didn't.
"How's Dahyun?" Sana broke the silence once they sat in one of the booths.
"Oh," Tzuyu was expecting to talk about themselves, not their friends, "she's okay. Just dealing with some stuff like everyone else."
"Hmm... She's nice to me but Momo has been having a hard time, you know? With everything that has been going on." It was dangerous territory, she had to be careful with her words.
"Yeah, I know. She was such a bitch to Momo." She giggled, although she usually didn't like talking ill about her friend, it was true; even Dahyun knew it.
Sana giggled at the comment, 'If she's laughing I can do it too, right?'
They shared some laughs for a while and Tzuyu explained that Dahyun's issue had been there since she realized she wasn't straight, but she kept her fingers crossed that one day a girl will finally help her overcome it.
Sana only stared. She tried to listen and comprehend what Tzuyu was saying, but the younger was so pretty it was impossible not to feel fascinated.
Games were something Sana always liked. Not the heartbreaking and mean kind, the ones that would test how others reacted to her, and Tzuyu wouldn't be an exception. She closed the distance between the ice cream cone in her hand and her mouth, licking it briefly but making sure to leave a little on the corner of her lips.
"Do I have something on my face?" The Japanese woman asked with innocent eyes, wiping the already clean side and tilting her head slightly.
Tzuyu felt like she was in a movie, her hands were shaking and she was so embarrassed she was about to make sure this was her last date ever. "Yeah, it's right there." She pointed at the side of her own lips for Sana to mimic.
'She has no game whatsoever.' Sana smiled at her thought and cleaned the wrong side. Again. Just a little push and Tzuyu would fall for her trap. "Is it gone?"
"No." 'God, stop doing this to me. I am not your strongest soldier.' She took one napkin from the dispenser on the table and leaned her elbows on the table, standing up slightly to get closer to Sana. She wrapped it around her finger and cleaned the cream off, making sure to not breathe out and show how nervous she was. "There."
Sana stared right into Tzuyu's eyes, she was never afraid of showing her true intentions. She inspired and spoke softly, "Tzuyu."
The younger gasped, unable to move. "Yeah?"
'You can do this, Tzuyu. Please.' Small amounts blew out of her lips between each word, "You can kiss me if you want."
"Oh," Tzuyu was speechless. Never, not even in her wildest dreams, she thought Sana would not only let her kiss her but also suggest it. "Not right now."
'What?'
'What? Why would you even say that? I am so fucking stupid.'
---
"She didn't kiss you?!" Mina screamed inside her room, completely forgetting Chaeyoung was sleeping a few meters away from her. She still wasn't used to seeing the younger sleep in the afternoon, but she insisted on sleep being done when you're tired, and she was always tired after school.
"It was so uncomfortable. I really thought she liked me." Sana answered lowly over the phone. She was currently hiding in the bathroom to avoid confrontation.
"I'll ask Chaeyoung later, how does that sound?" Maybe that would help.
"Yeah, that will. I gotta go, the shower has been running for like 20 minutes."
"Okay. See you tomorrow, honey."
"Good luck with the little one." Sana teased before hanging up.
Mina hung up the phone and laid back in her bed wondering how to bring up the topic with Chaeyoung without sounding suspicious.
"What do you have to ask me?" Chaeyoung turned from her current position to face Mina with a smile on her face. She had caught Mina red-handed.
"How long have you been over-hearing?" Mina positioned one of her plushies on her face to hide her flustered cheeks.
"It's not considered over-hearing when I'm in my own room. Why didn't they kiss them? Also, who is your honey?"
Mina squeezed her eyes, why was Chaeyoung asking about the endearment? She calmed herself before getting her hopes up; it was better to be surprised than disappointed.
"First question, ask Tzuyu. The second one, Sana."
"Tzuyu didn't kiss her? I'm going to kill her, I swear." Chaeyoung sat with her legs crossed and took her phone from the bedside table.
"Wait." Mina copied the position the younger was in from the other side of the room. "Does Tzuyu like her? Because Sana really doesn't know what to do now."
"Yeah, it's just that she has a weird way of showing it and doesn't know how to deal with her feelings." Chaeyoung dropped the device between her legs and looked at Mina. "I don't really wanna meddle though, she'll do it when she's ready."
Mina smiled, "I understand. It's complicated." This would be a great time to ask what she wanted to know for ages. "Chaeyoung."
The younger walked from her bed to Mina's and sat next to her. Mina's bed was always so much warmer than her own, and it also had a very particulate fragrance: tangerine.
'Don't freak out, it's a normal question.' She shifted until her body was also facing Chaeyoung, "Do you like girls too?"
Chaeyoung opened her mouth, ready to answer, but closed it again. That was unexpected. A month ago, she would have said no without a doubt, but now she wasn't so sure. "Well, I've never been with one, so I wouldn't know, but I would date one if I liked her. I don't really know where that fits me."
Mina was so relieved, it wasn't a yes but also wasn't a no. She could work with that. "Okay, I was just curious because most of your friends do and we've never really talked about previous significant others and stuff." She fiddled with one of the blankets; suddenly it was hot.
"Yeah... Well, now you know." She didn't like where the conversation was going but at the same time, she had also been dying to ask Mina the same thing. The reason why was something she wasn't ready to acknowledge yet.