Her eyes squinted lightly. The sound of her phone alarm wakes her up from a nice sleep. Momo tried to move her arm but immediately realised that it was under someone’s head. Someone so beautiful, that she loves dearly and willing to spend her time together with the rest of her life.

That someone is her lover for countless years now, named as Myoui Mina. The said girl still sleeping soundly, feeling comfortable using Momo’s arm as a pillow. Her body was covered with the same blanket she shared with Momo since the night before. Momo glanced at the clock on her phone screen. It’s still early.

Thus, Momo decided to just staring at the girl in her arm, admiring Mina’s perfect features with no harm. She was so pretty. Momo sometimes wonder, how fast the time went by and how both of them turns into a grown up teenage. Momo still remember, how small Mina was when the first time they meet, over a decade ago. That year, Momo was six and Mina was five.

Flashback.

     Mina and her family just moved from Japan to Korea, because of Mr. Myoui’s work priority. Coincidentally, they moved into a house next to the Hirai’s residence. Momo was playing with bubbles in her house front yard, when she heard loud noise of lorry engines and people instructing voice.

Momo called her parents, saying someone is entering the empty house next to them. Both Mr. Hirai and his wife walked out in excitement written on their faces, greeting the Myouis. From there, the relationship between family starts especially when both of family from the same country. While the older Hirai helping the Myoui, Momo was wandering around the car parked inside the Myoui’s residence garage.

That was, the first time Momo was Mina. She was sitting in a conner, seeming to be sulking. With bubbles in her hand, Momo approached the timid girl. Mina seemed not to notice Momo’s presence because she kept crying silently. Momo noticed the stain of tears on Mina’s chubby cheek and immediately felt bad.

Momo remembered that her parent said that crying is not good. Your eyes will hurt and become red. Since then, Momo dislikes crying and she seldom cry. So, when she first seeing Mina cry, she couldn’t help but to feel to cheer up the girl.

“Hey,” Momo called. Mina seemed to realise Momo’s presence by now, but she was afraid. Momo was a stranger after all. She timidly hid her small body behind the box laying there, avoiding Momo. Momo frowned.

“Hi, I’m Momo.” Momo stretched out her hand for Mina, but the younger girl didn’t react to it. She just solely keeping herself shut. Momo thought that this gonna be difficult. Then, she remembered the bubbles in her hand. Momo smiled and blew some bubbles in Mina’s direction.

Mina did saw the bubbles. She finally lifted up her head, eyes following the direction of the bubbles flying in the air. Momo knew that Mina was attracted to the bubbles so she blew more bubbles. Mina started to giggle while her finger now find it fun to poke the bubbles Momo blew for her.

Mina stopped and stared at the smiling Momo. “Do you like it?” Momo asked. Mina nodded small, still shy after showing her bubbly side in front of Momo. Momo found it cute when Mina was smiling. She had this unique gummy smile, that it showing whenever she smiles. Momo passed the bottle to Mina.

“Do you wanna try?” Momo asked, tempting to make Mina happy. Mina stopped crying a few minutes ago. Mina nodded but still feeling shy of Momo’s offer. “Don’t worry, it’s mine but you can have it. I will ask daddy to buy it again.”

Seeing Mina still doubting, Momo put the bottle inside Mina’s palm. “Try blowing it.” Mina stood up and opened the cap of the bubbles. Mina looked at Momo again and the latter nodded reassuringly.

Mina blew the bubbles but it was too weak. Momo chuckled and taught Mina how to blow it much stronger. Mina tried again and more bubbles produces in the air. Mina jumped excitedly at her successful blowing the bubbles and Momo found it adorable.

“What is your name?” Momo asked.

“Mina.”

And thus, it was the start of their friendship. Who knows when it will be something bigger in the future?

End of flashback.

Momo smiled reminiscing the first moment they shared together. It was fun and innocent. Throughout the day, Momo found out the reason of Mina’s crying. Turned out she was sad of leaving her friends in Japan and afraid that she would be alone in the new place. Momo remembered how she promised to be Mina’s friend.

Again, Momo stared at the sleeping face of Mina. Parts of her hair was covering her face. Momo brought her hand to remove strands of hair that covering Mina’s beautiful face. Her skin delicately placed on Mina’s cheek that loses it baby fat by years. Her jaw line getting sharper and her skin colour doesn’t change. It still as pale as the time they first met.Then, Momo remembered how both of them enrolled in the same elementary school.

Flashback.

Momo was a year senior than Mina so when Mina was in the first year, Momo in her second. Hearing Momo’s story from school, Mina couldn’t help but to feel excited on the first day at school. Her parent had already settled the document matters and Mina only need to be in her first class next.

However, Mina was a shy girl. She had trouble making friends. She was hoping that Momo was in the same class as her and keep her company but she knew it was impossible because Momo was taking her second year. As a result, Mina just sat on her place the entire day, not talking to anyone. This attracted one of her classmates’ attention.

Her name was Park Jihyo. The latter had a really big pair of eyes and Mina was fascinated by it. She greeted Mina with her loud voice, almost scaring Mina. Jihyo realised that Mina was uncomfortable and talked slowly, as if she can. At least, she tried.

Mina was starting to warm up with the latter and the two of them become friends in one day. When class ended, Mina excitedly went out of the class alongside the other students and her eyes immediately caught a sight of the person she wanted to see the most. Of course, it was Momo.

“Nee-chan!” Mina called excitedly and Momo replied with a gentle smile that Mina adores so much. She was waving her hand in Mina’s direction, calling for her. Mina walked towards Momo, not forget to drag Jihyo together with her.

“How was your first day?” Momo asked almost immediately. She noticed the person beside Mina and smiled.

“It was fun! Met Jihyo, my new friend!” Mina said excitedly. “Jihyo, this is Momo nee-chan.” Jihyo nodded and bowed her head politely.

“Hi, Momo nee-chan. I’m Jihyo.”

Momo shook her head. “Oh, you can call me Momo. It just Mina can’t call me by my name.”

“Okay, Momo.”

Three of them became friends, though Mina was much closer to Jihyo than Momo. Momo believed that Jihyo is a kind girl and she would take a good care of Mina in the class when she was not there. Momo would take her turn with Mina when they go to school together and when they go home.

“Nee-chan, let’s eat ice cream!”

It was a hot blazing day after school. Momo was obviously tired but Mina had so much energy left to jump around. Usually, it was the other way round. Without waiting for Momo’s respond, Mina dragged the older girl to the ice cream vendor.

“Wait, Mina!” They stopped in front of the vendor. Momo was searching for money in her pocket. “Palli, nee-chan!” Mina was jumping up and down excitedly while eyes watching at the various flavour of ice cream.

Unfortunately, Momo only had a few coins in her pocket. It didn’t even enough for a small cup of ice cream. Momo started to regret spending her money too much on lunch earlier. Now she got to disappoint Mina and probably made the younger girl upset. “Mina…”

Mina’s wide smile started to reduce little by little and turned flat. Momo hung her head low in disappointment. She just made Mina upset. However, she felt her hand being held by none other than Mina. She looked up and Mina was smiling.

“Gwenchana, nee-chan. Let’s eat it next time.” Mina said, trying to cheer up Momo. Since when Mina was this matured? They were still elementary student. Momo’s lips curved into a small smile. Little did they knew, the ice cream vendor had been watching their little moment and found it adorable and sweet. Momo and Mina was about to walk away when the vendor called them.

“Hey, kids.” He approached them with two cones of ice cream. One was vanilla and another was chocolate. “Eat this. It’s free.” He smiled.

Momo’s eyes widen at the man’s offer. “Really, ahjussi?” She asked excitedly. The old man nodded and smiled again. They were too adorable. “Thank you, ahjussi!” Both of them gladly received the little present, not forgetting to bow politely to the kind ice cream vendor. Momo held Mina’s hand.

“Let’s go home, Mina!”

“Ne, nee-chan!”

End of flashback.

Momo lightly chuckled at the memories. She remembered how Mina pranked her with shoving the ice cream on her face. Momo acted like she was sulking to tease Mina but the younger really thought that Momo was upset. She didn’t stop apologised on the way home. Lastly, Momo can’t hold Mina’s cuteness and gave in. Mina kissed Momo’s cheek, a gesture she did every time she was grateful to the older girl. Momo swear her heart was beating faster than usual. Her very first fluttering feeling for Mina was when she was eight.

Then, Momo reminiscence the moment when they entered high school. Again, they enrolled in the same school, Geumdo High. That was when they met circle of friends, consisted of nine girls included themselves.

Flashback.

“Yah Jeongyeon, where is Momo?” Nayeon asked as soon as the short-haired girl arrived, seeming to be alone. They happened to stick together every time because they were classmates and even seatmates since first year. They were the best of friend among them, excluded Mina, because she’s special. She’s something precious to Momo and all of their member knew it.

Jeongyeon sighed as she slumped herself on the seat beside Jihyo. They were at the school’s canteen, gathering before having their after school hang out. It was Friday and usually they would went somewhere together catching up and having fun. Yes, every week. They would went home to change clothes first before hang out because it was part of the school rules—not to hanging around wearing school uniforms.

“She said she is busy and couldn’t join us.” Jeongyeon said tiredly.

“Again?” Sana asked. “This is the third time! You know, we never ditch our hang out ever.” She commented. In the other hand, Nayeon was seemed to be in deep thinking. “What are you thinking Nayeon unnie?” Jihyo who noticed the older girl serious expression decided to ask.

“I think Momo is over-working herself again. We all know the dance competition is up next week. She must trying hard to perfect her steps.” Nayeon said. “I’m kinda worried of her. I hope she doesn’t stress herself out.” Nayeon sighed.

At the same time, Mina just ended her class and arrived at their table and happened to hear some part of Nayeon’s words.

“Who’s stressing herself out?” Mina asked with concerned while sitting beside Dahyun. “And where’s Momoring?”

“Mina unnie,” Chaeyoung called. Mina looked at the cub with curious. “Momo unnie is ditching us again.”

“We’re worried that she might over-working herself again.” Dahyun continued. Tzuyu just nodded. The seven of them watched how Mina’s face fell. Mina was worried of Momo too. After a while, Mina stood up and slung her bag over her shoulder. “I’m going to check on her. You guys should go hang out.”

“Sure. Do inform us about her, okay?” Jeongyeon replied. “Let’s go, guys.” After they left, Mina rushing herself to the next building specialised to Dance and Performance study. Momo must be in one of the practice room.

Mina remembered how depressed Momo can get if she was left alone. After last year’s lost to the other school representative in individual dance competition, Momo was pushing herself to practice harder. All teachers also pushed her to be the best and grab the trophy again. But Mina was worried about Momo’s condition the most.

A few steps more. Mina sprinted to the light up room. She knew Momo was in there. She reached the door know and pushed it open, only to see Momo was sweating from head to toe. Her shirt was drenched and Mina almost can feel the tense in the room. She closed the door behind her and waited for Momo to finish her session.

Almost ten minutes later, Momo seemed to slow down her step and dropped her body on the wooden floor with a thud. Mina was witnessing Momo collapsed before her.

“Momoring!” Mina rushed to the exhausted body on the floor with panic written on her face. “Are you okay?!”

Momo was not completely unconscious. She just too fatigue and finished her dance abruptly and Mina happened to witness it. She didn’t even realises when Mina was in the same room with her. The truth is, Mina had been watching since fifteen minutes ago.

“Mina…?” Momo smiled weakly. She tried to sit. “I’m fine…” She whispered, still panting to catch her lost breath.

“Wait.” Mina stood up and went to her bag, pulling out her water bottle and walked back towards Momo. “Drink this first.”

“Do you have soda?” Momo asked, eyes eyeing at the water bottle doubtly. Mina almost irritated at her question. In this situation, she still ask for soda?! She freaking need pure water!

“Momoring, what you need the most is pure water not soda. Drinking too much soda will make you sick.” Mina started. Momo sighed disappointedly. “But water didn’t have taste…”

“Momoring.” Mina called sternly.

“Fine… Fine…” Momo grabbed the bottle and drank the content. Mina smiled watching Momo drinking half of the water in the bottle. She took the bottle and put it aside. “You need a rest.”

“No, I can’t. The competition is near, I should—“

“Just this once, Momoring. Let loose a bit and have a rest. Practising nonstop doesn’t make you better. What if you fall sick before the competition?” Mina said worriedly. “Rest.”

Momo looked into Mina’s eyes. She was sincere and Momo couldn’t stand any longer. “Okay.”

Mina smiled almost immediately and pat her lap. “Here. Lay here.” Momo complied and made herself comfortable using Mina’s lap as her pillow. Mina caressed her hair while Momo closing her eyes, trying to get some rest.

“But Mina, don’t you suppose to join the others?” Momo asked.

“No, I can’t.”

“Why…?”

“Because you aren’t there.”

“But there are the others.” Momo replied.

“Nah, I’m just gonna be the eighth- wheeler there.”

“You have Jihyo.”

“Jihyo aren’t you. Now stop arguing and have some rest.”

Momo eyed Mina one last time before closing her eyes again. “Alright.”

She had to admit, she was happy with Mina’s answer. It felt like those cliché butterfly thingy in the stomach, flying up to her chest. Could it be that they share same feeling…?

End of Flashback.

Momo was snapped to the reality when she felt the girl in her arms moving. Mina stirred in her sleep and finally opened her eyes little by little. The first thing she saw was Momo’s smiling face. “Morning.”

“Hey, you’re up early.” Mina replied groggily. Sleepy still beaten up in her head. “Morning too.”

“Did you have a nice sleep?” Momo asked. Mina smiled while her eyes still closed, nodded to Momo’s question. She puckered her lips. “Can I get a morning kiss?”

Momo chuckled seeing Mina’s cute act in the morning despite how sleepy she was at the moment. Momo didn’t wait any more time and leaned closer to peck Mina’s lips.

“That was a peck. I said a kiss.” Mina said. Alright, there’s something wrong. Did Mina eat something weird yesterday? Momo don’t know.

“That was supposed to be my line.” Momo said chuckling. “Alright, come closer.” Mina snuggled closer to Momo while the latter wrapped her arms around Mina.

Momo leaned down so she could capture Mina’s lips with hers, dominating the kiss they shared. Momo being a gentle woman, she didn’t make it rough like what happened last night *cough*.

Knock knock.

Click!

“Mommy? Mama?” Both of them pulled out almost immediately at the small voice. Momo realised that she and Mina was still on bed and how messy the room was. She gave a meaning look into Mina’s eyes and jumped off the bed.

She gathered the clothes scattered on the floor and passed some of Mina’s. “Wait a minute, darling!” Momo shouted for the person outside the door and looked at Mina. “Wear that faster.”

Mina blushed and immediately wear the clothes. Momo cleaned up the room a little bit before decided to open the door. “Yume-chan!” She called cheerfully. That person in front of them was a little girl around four, still wearing her favourite Barbie pyjama and penguin plushie hanging in her tiny hand.

“What took you so long?” The little girl asked while hand rubbing her eyes. Momo bent down to pick up the latter. “Sorry, Mama just woke up.” She said. The little girl smiled after that.

Her name was Hirai Yume, Momo and Mina’s child. Last four years, Mina got pregnant with Momo’s child after a year of marriage. It was the work of science, of course. Yume had Mina’s features—Mina’s eyes and nose. Only her lips are like Momo’s. Though that, Yume behaved like Momo. She eats a lot but never gain weight. What a miracle.

“I want to hug Mommy!” Little Yume struggled in Momo’s arms, wanting to go for Mina. Mina was waiting on the bed with a wide smile. “Come here, Yume-chan!”

Momo walked with Yume in her arms, approaching the little girl other mother. Yume escaped Momo’s arms and landed herself inside Mina’s warm ones. “Mommy, kisheu please~!”

Mina chuckled seeing Yume puckered her lips cutely. When she did that, she looks the same as Momo. Very adorable. “Alright, sweetie!” Mina landed a peck on Yume’s cheek.

On the other hand, Momo was sulking. “Yume don’t want Mama’s kisheu? Mama is sad~” Momo pouted and crossed her hands, attempting to sulk. She just wanted to daughter.

“Mama too! Kisheu please~!” Momo turned around with wide smile plastered on her face. She leaned down and pecked Yume’s other cheek.

“Mama! Give Mommy kisheu too!” Mina was flustered when Yume suddenly said that. Her cheeks turned into crimson red while Momo chuckled at Yume’s cute demand.

“Okay!” Momo moved closer to hold Mina’s nape, pulling her head closer so it was easy to access Mina’s lips. Momo smirked and landed a long peck on Mina’s lips. Mina was now beet rood red.

“Mommy, can we go out and eat ice cream today?” Yume suddenly asked Mina. Mina smiled and nodded. “Of course.”

“Yeay!” Mina caught Yume in her arms and showered her with more kisses. Momo couldn’t help but to smile at the happiest moment. This is gonna be her favourite moment, having your loves one with you for your life. Momo would never ruin this ever.

I love you both.