-One week after, Monday-

“You two haven’t hung out with us in awhile so I’m really happy that you accepted my invitation.” Sana declared, all smiles.

Sana along with Dahyun, Momo, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu are currently spending their breaktime at their favorite café across JYP Academy.

“Yeah we’ve been really busy with preparations, meetings and stuff for you know, the party.” Chaeyoung said.

“I know right. My little Dubu here didn’t have much time for me either.” Sana let out an exaggerated sigh and pouted.

“Aww.. Don’t worry baby, after this week, I’m all yours.” Dahyun cooed while cradling Sana’s head and gently patting her cheek.

Momo rolled her eyes as her nose scrunched up in disgust, while Chaeyoung and Tzuyu subtly glanced at each other, embarrassed. Hearing their friend say such words just never failed to amaze them, in an odd way that is.

“Get a room.” Momo deadpanned.

Sana clicked her tongue and shot back, “Look who’s talking. Why are you even here? Where’s your babe?”

Momo shrugged, “I don’t know,” she nonchalantly said.

“Oh that’s new.”

“I also wanna spend time with our maknaes here y’know,” Momo added. She winked at Chaeyoung, who ducked her head as a blush slowly crept up her cheeks. Momo had been really friendly to her ever since they accidentally bumped into each other last week; Momo’s ice cream dropped on the floor so Chaeyoung treated her to an ice cream parlor that very same day as an apology.

“Eww stop hitting on her, Mo!” Sana scolded Momo, glaring. Her blunt remark totally shocked everyone in that table.

Dahyun covered as she almost spat out her drink when she snorted, Chaeyoung blushed even harder, while Tzuyu literally facepalmed at the non-stop banter of the two Japanese girls. It suddenly made her wonder how Mina managed to handle being around these two for years.

‘Mina,’ Tzuyu reprimanded herself for even thinking about her. Now, she’s feeling sulky. Great.

“YAH! I am not –“ Momo stopped her protest midway. She perked her head up, looking straight to the café’s entrance, “NAYEON!” she yelled while vigorously waving her hand up in the air, gaining everybody’s attention.

The girls in the table simultaneously looked to where Momo was looking. Indeed, Nayeon was there, who seemed like a bit surprised to see them in there as well. She waved back in return, then she turned around and reached out her hand to grab someone’s hand, who eventually emerged out of the door soon after.

“Mina.” Tzuyu mumbled under her breath. Chaeyoung heard this and she felt bad for her friend.

“Mina-yah!” Sana called out.

Tzuyu watched as Nayeon gently held Mina’s hand and led her to their table. Everything went by in slow-mo and she could feel her heart racing.

Oh right. MiNayeon had gotten back together.

As soon as the pair reached their table, Sana and Momo got up from their seat and engulfed Mina in a hug, and did a cheek-to-cheek with Nayeon.

“Mina, what are you doing here? I thought you’d be staying home? Are you feeling better now?” Sana bombarded Mina with questions, while Momo placed the back of her hand onto Mina’s forehead. Both girls seemed to be worried.

“You’re still a little hot.” Momo confirmed.

“You’re sick?” Tzuyu blurted out, subconsciously. She flinched after realizing what she just did. Now, all girls are staring at her. Spell A-W-K-W-A-R-D. So much for having a good time, she thought.

“I’m better now,” Mina simply answered, a small smile on her face, “Nayeon’s been taking care of me.”

Nayeon couldn’t help but smile upon hearing that.

Tzuyu, on the other hand, felt like someone plunged a knife in her chest. She nodded and forced a smile back.

“That’s good.” Momo said, walking back to her seat as well as Sana.

“Do you want to join us?” Sana, out of courtesy, asked. She hoped that they refuse though, not because she didn’t want to spend time with them, but because she was well aware of the uncomfortable situation they were in.

“Nah, we’re just gonna buy coffee and some pastries and then head out,” Mina replied, looking at Nayeon.

“Yeah umm Jihyo’s waiting for me. We have practice.” Nayeon added.

“Oh okay! Please say hi to Jihyo for me,” Sana said, flashing them her toothy smile.

“Will do.” Nayeon replied, then her and Mina left the group to buy what they came for.

The group remained in awkward peace until the pair left the café. Tzuyu glanced at them as they leave, while Chaeyoung and Sana empathetically looked at her.

Tzuyu and Chaeyoung reached the school’s garden and sat on a bench at one corner. After the unexpected event in the café, Tzuyu told Chaeyoung that she needed to talk to her. Tzuyu finally came to a decision to let her best friend know what was happening between her and Mina. Chaeyoung deserves to know everything.

They sat in silence for a couple of minutes just admiring and taking in the fresh scent of newly watered flowers around them.

“When I agreed to be Mina’s fake girlfriend, the only purpose that I had in my mind was for you to get close to her,” Tzuyu started, gazing up at the clear sky, “and I guess somehow, I managed to accomplish that. I was truly happy to see that kind of smile you have every time she was around. I was happy… but at the same time, I was scared because…” she paused and looked down at her clasped hands on her lap as she mustered up courage to continue revealing everything to her best friend, “…because I noticed that I also have that kind of smile whenever I’m with her. We’ve gotten so close that I started feeling things I have never experienced before and it made me so confused and terrified and…” Tzuyu paused once more, taking a deep breath in and exhaling sharply, “…pretending to be okay is the hardest part of it and I know that I’m not only lying to myself but also to you. I’m sorry, Chaeyoung.”

Tzuyu’s eyes remained fixated on her hands. She couldn’t dare herself to look up and meet Chaeyoung’s eyes because she was scared of what she might see, but then…

“It’s about time you tell me all this, Tzuyu.”

She heard Chaeyoung said softly, not even a hint of hate or hurt could be felt in her tone, rather it was encouraging and supportive in a way that made Tzuyu somehow felt at ease. She cocked her head up to finally meet Chaeyoung’s gentle doe eyes.

“Y-you know?” Tzuyu stammered.

“Uh-huh. I’m your best friend, Chewy, and I’m not blind. I know you more than anyone else in this school.” Chaeyoung looked at her with kindness in her eyes, placing her hand atop Tzuyu’s. “I’m just waiting for you to open up. I didn’t want to force you to talk about things you’re not yet even sure yourself.”

“S-since when d-did you know?” Tzuyu was surprised to learn that Chaeyoung, who she had been trying hard to protect, already knew about her true feelings. Was she that obvious?

Chaeyoung’s eyeballs rolled up as she tried to recall a certain memory, “Hmm I started suspecting that time when you were telling me about your meet up with Mina unnie and then you accidentally met Jihyo, Jeongyeon and Nayeon in the mall, and then you said and I quote “Nayeon unnie was literally flirting with Mina in front of everybody! I didn’t know she is that kind of girl. Tch what a flirt!”” Chaeyoung animatedly copied Tzuyu’s actions and facial expression while relaying the story.

Tzuyu blushed furiously in embarrassment. She did say those things about Nayeon, but only because she was mad at that time, or jealous perhaps?

“Am I really that obvious?”

“Maybe for me, yes, but also because I’m quite the observant type.” Chaeyoung proudly stated, laughing a little right after.

“Ugh this is so embarrassing,” Tzuyu fidgeted in her seat.

“I think it’s cute. I mean this is the first time I’ve seen you act like this because of someone.” Chaeyoung smiled so widely that showed her adorable deep dimple. “I have one question though, Tzuyu.”

“What is it?”

“Are you in love with her?”

Tzuyu wasn’t surprised by the question at all. She knew that at one point, they would have to directly talk about it. Still, it doesn’t change the fact that Tzuyu felt like she had betrayed her friend.

She looked straight into Chaeyoung’s eyes when she said, “I am…” then she looked back down, “I’m sorry, Chaeyoung. I’m really sorry.”

Chaeyoung softly hushed her as she held Tzuyu’s chin and lifted her face up, “Hey it’s okay. Don’t be. You should not be sorry for falling in love, Chewy. It’s not as if we can control how we feel or who we fall in love with.” 

“Besides, this is Mina unnie we are talking about. I did warn you that she is extremely likeable, didn’t I?” Chaeyoung joked in an attempt to lighten up the moment.

Tzuyu smiled. She was so grateful and relieved on the way Chaeyoung was reacting to their situation.

“But what happened? I know that she feels the same way for you,” Chaeyoung asked again, then, she gasped when a sudden realization dawned upon her, “A-am I the reason?”

Tzuyu reached over Chaeyoung’s head and gently fixed her hair.

“My mom used to tell me that family should always come first. You are not just my best friend, Chaeyoung, you are also my sister. A part of my family. I can’t do that to you.” Tzuyu explained. It is true, Tzuyu loves Chaeyoung just as much as she loves her own family. She may not be the showy type, but she would definitely do things just to make her little chingu happy, even if it cost her her own happiness.

Hearing that made Chaeyoung’s heart melt. She pulled Tzuyu in for a hug.

“Thank you, Chewy,” she mumbled against Tzuyu’s shoulder.

“It still doesn’t change the fact that I fell for her. I’m very sorry, Chaeyoungie.” Tzuyu answered.

Chaeyoung pulled back and held onto Tzuyu’s shoulders. She stared firmly into her eyes and said, “Stop saying sorry, okay? You are so selfless, Tzuyu. So who am I to be selfish to you? I know that you love me and I love you too, and I want you to be happy. Follow your heart, Tzuyu.”

“But… What about you?”

“Don’t worry about me. Besides, I’ve already accepted the fact that me and Mina unnie can’t be more than just friends because she actually sister-zoned me already.” Chaeyoung laughed lightheartedly after saying that last statement.

“She did?” Tzuyu’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“Yeah. It happened during that time when we had a movie marathon in my house. I had some private time with her in my room. We talked and my heart got broken,” Chaeyoung said with a shrug.

“Aww..”

“It’s fine. Being friends with her is already good enough, seriously.” Chaeyoung smiled reassuringly.

“But, it doesn’t matter now. I pushed her way too hard and now she is back with her first love. You’ve seen how close they are back in the café,” Tzuyu’s face fell, feeling a slight pinch in her chest.

“Yeah I know, but I also saw the way she looked at you.”

Tzuyu shot Chaeyoung a questioning look.

“Remember that day when I told you about MiNayeon’s love story?”

Tzuyu nodded.

“And how there were sparks in her eyes every time she looks at Nayeon?”

Tzuyu nodded again.

“Well, I’ve been seeing those sparks again every time she looks at you, Tzuyu. That’s how I know she feels the same way about you,” Chaeyoung revealed.

While Tzuyu felt a little bit happy knowing that piece of information, she couldn’t help but also feel sad knowing how much she had hurt the Japanese girl. Mina, crying and pleading to her, was still engraved in her mind.

She forced a smile, “I don’t know, Chaeyoung. I seriously don’t know where to go from here.”

“I wish I can help you figure it out. Just know that I’m always here for you, I’ll support you all the way. But promise me one thing, Chewy.”

“Hmm?”

“No more secrets,” Chaeyoung held out her little finger, “pinky swear on me.”

Tzuyu raised her pinky and twisted it with Chaeyoung’s, “I promise.”

-Friday, School Party-

It was 8:00 at night and everybody was headed towards the gymnasium where the party was going to be held. Most of the students were inside while the others are outside waiting for their friends.

“Hey, my little Dubu!” Sana called out who was with Mina and Momo .

“Hi!” Dahyun chirped as Sana gave her a quick peck on the lips.

3mix arrived a minute following J-Trinity.

“Looking good, ladies!” Jeongyeon praised loudly, making the other girls’ heads turn towards their direction.

(Imagine them wearing these outfits)

Nayeon made a beeline to Mina; Jeongyeon to Momo; Jihyo to SaiDa (poor Jihyo xD).

“You look so beautiful,” Mina whispered to Nayeon as she encircled an arm around the latter’s waist.

Hearing such compliment from Mina made Nayeon’s heart fluttered and her pride swell. She kissed Mina on the cheek, merely touching as not to leave a smudge thereto. “So are you,” she whispered back in a seductive low tone.

The group entered the venue, and like some kind of celebrities, all eyes were on them; gushing over at how gorgeous they all looked.

They were greeted by Chaeyoung, who was busy making sure that the party wouldn’t svck.

“Welcome unnies!” she shouted.

“So pretty, Chaeyoung!” Momo shouted back, making Chaeyoung blushed - thankful that the place was dim.

Mina leaned over Chaeyoung and shouted in that soft voice of hers, “Good job, Chaeng Chaeng. This party is lit.”

The blaring sound of music made it difficult for the girls to have a normal conversation so they decided to go their separate ways and do whatever, dispersing pair by pair amidst the crowd.

-10:00pm-

The party was as expected. Some were dancing, some weren’t. And some were eating most of the snacks, including Momo of course.

Tzuyu and Elkie were laughing and chatting at one corner.

“Hey Elkie, who decided on the flower decoration?”

“Oh it was Yerin who suggested to put these roses and peonies. Doyeon and Chaeyoung approved it.”

“Okay.”

“Why? You don’t like it?”

“No. Nothing, just curious. I’ll go get some more juice.”

Tzuyu walked away and went straight to where the juices / punch are, and boy, squeezing through the crowd of hyperactive students was such a challenge she nearly lost her balance and tripped at one point.

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