Chapter Eighteen

It wasn't long before the two of them went to interviews almost every other day. Seeing as most of the recordings took place early in the morning, Yuri often slept over at Jessica's house for convience. Jessica refused for Yuri to sleep in her bedroom, though.

"What? Why?" Yuri widened her eyes at Jessica's command for her to sleep in another room. The older girl blushed, continuing to push Yuri out of her bedroom. Yuri stood her ground, raising an eyebrow. "What's wrong, Sica?"

Jessica stopped pushing her. She hid her face behind Yuri's back. "I don't want to wake you up."

Yuri tried to turn around to face Jessica but the blonde girl wouldn't let her look at her. Yuri decided to just stare at the door as she spoke. "I won't be bothered by it, you know? I have nightmares, too." The two of them went to a therapist every Thursday. The first time they went, Jessica wouldn't let go of Yuri's hand the entire time.

The shorter one pouted, not restricting Yuri's movement anymore. Yuri turned around. "If you really want me to, I'll stay in the other room." She said with a small smile. Jessica didn't reply, her eyes set on the floor. Yuri patted the girl's head. "I'll be next door if you need me." She said.

Jessica let out a sigh of relief once the door had closed and she was alone in her room. She couldn't be stuck in the same bed with Yuri, who knows what might happen?! Not just the nightmares, but Jessica knew she had a tendency to cuddle. Jessica couldn't cuddle Yuri, she just couldn't! Not with the girl in a happy relationship with Yujee. No way.

The interviews all had the same type of questions. What was their relationship like on the island? How did they get food? How did they build shelter? The usual. It wasn't until the two of them went on a particularly popular show that they had someone ask them about the other people on the island. Clearly the show had a way of getting information, as most people didn't know about the others.

"What was your first encounter with those hostile people?" The talkshow host asked, his eyes on Jessica seeing as she did most of the talking. But, Jessica Jung, the one who was used to the public eyes on her, froze up. Yuri took Jessica's hand from her lap and held it tightly under the table they were sat at. She spoke up with furrowed eyebrows as Jessica's face drained from color.

"It was scary." Yuri stated. "We..." Jessica tightened her grip on Yuri's hand. "It was at perfect timing that the helicopter had come at the time it had." She said, making it obvious that the topic should end there.

The host nodded. "I see. From what I've heard, those people do human sacrafices. Is that true?" 

Jessica closed her eyes, telling her mind to ward off the gory thoughts. Yuri cleared , which made Jessica look up at her. "It's true. We saw it, but I'd rather not go in depth with what we saw."

"I understand. I respect that." The host hummed. Jessica sighed. At least he had the decency to back off. "Well, let's move on from the saddening topics, shall we?" He stood. "We set up a game for you two, to test your chemistry."

"Ah, really?" Jessica seemed to snap out of her faze, her hand still holding onto Yuri's. The host laughed a little as he walked over to a different area of the stage, the cameras and audience's eyes following him. "Actually, not really. It's just a bunch of games, but it's entertaining!" He said enthusiatically.

"Come over here, we'll start with the first game."

Yuri stood first, leading Jessica over to where he was. The audienced let out a couple of 'oooh's and the host widened his eyes, pointing to their interlaced hands.

"Wow, were you two like that the whole time? Incredible. Maybe you two have more chemistry than I thought you did!" The audience laughed and Jessica blushed. Yuri loosened her grip on Jessica's hand and the two of them let go, both embarrassed. The host let out another laugh. "How precious. Now, one of you stand in front of the other." He reached and gently took Yuri's wrist, bringing her in front of Jessica.

Jessica blinked and widened her eyes, looking up at Yuri before over to the host. "This close?"

"Yep." The host then put his hand in between Yuri and Jessica's eyes. This interview was a lot more different than the other ones they had been to. Maybe this was why this show in particular was more popular than the rest. "Now, when I move my hand, we'll see which of you can last the longest without blinking."

"Ah, that's not fair!" Yuri complained. "My eyes get really dry quickly!" The audience let out laughs. The host grinned.

"Okay, how about the first to laugh?"

"Sica has a perfect poker face!" Yuri let out another whine. Jessica lightly kicked her shin. "Let me win, won't you?" She mumbled.

"Okay, okay. The first to blush, and that's final!" The host announced. Yuri smiled contently. "Ah, I know I'll win this one."

"Wait a moment, Jessica's already blushing." The host stated and the audience let out a ring of 'awww's. The blonde girl turned her head away and fanned her face. She composed herself before standing up straight. "Okay, I'm ready."

"3... 2... 1... go!" He moved his hand and Yuri stared down at Jessica's eyes. Yuri pressed her lips together as Jessica blinked up at her cutely.

"You can't do that." Yuri mumbled. 

"Do what?" Jessica tilted her head. Yuri urged herself to keep calm and not let her face heat up. She raised her hand and used her thumb and index finger to cup Jessica's chin, straightening her head. "Oh? You're not blushing." Jessica said. "I thought you would."

The host stood off to the side with an amused face. He turned to the audience. "They're both really stubborn." He whispered, althought everyone could hear him because he had a mic.

Yuri spoke to the host, keeping her eyes focused on Jessica. "Can we say things to each other?"

"Yeah, I'll allow it."

Yuri smiled. "Hey, Sica, have I ever mentioned how pretty you are?"

Jessica looked away immediately and blushed violently, punching Yuri on the shoulder. "Not fair!" 

The audienced applauded and the host laughed. "Yuri really wanted to win." He said after Jessica stopped hitting Yuri. The blonde girl stood next to Yuri with her head lowered, trying to calm her red face and beating heart. Yuri looked over to the shorter girl.

"It wasn't like what I was saying wasn't true."

Jessica smacked Yuri once more, causing the audience to erupt in laughter.

"I hate you so much." Jessica jumped onto the bed in the room Yuri had taken as her's whenever she'd stay over. She placed her hands over her face. "I don't think I ever blushed so much on national television." She mumbled.

"You're welcome." Yuri said with a giggle. "There are already news articles about us, you know?"

"We're pretty popular online." Jessica stated, sitting up and removing her hands from her face. "We have our own fanbase."

Yuri raised her eyebrow as she started to change into her pajamas. "Really? Why...?" She asked, slipping on a tanktop. Jessica looked away for privacy purposes, and heart race purposes, shrugging. "People get involved with anything that involes attractive people. It's called shipping."

The taller girl turned to look at Jessica. "Wh - you mean where people make two people into a couple?"

"Mmm." Jessica hummed. "YulSic."

Yuri just laughed and sat next to Jessica. "That sounds cute."

"But," Jessica laid down, staring up at the ceiling. "Don't you think we should tell people that we aren't dating outfront? So no rumors come out of this?"

"Rumors are just rumors, aren't they?" Yuri replied, laying next to Jessica. 

"Yeah but wouldn't Yujee get upset?"

Yuri pursed her lips. "Yujee's in the entertainment business herself. She knows better than to believe in that stuff."

"Still..." Jessica trailed off. "I wouldn't want to be the cause of any fights between you and her. It's not nice."

"She knows I'm not dating you, Sica." Yuri said with a sigh. "She trusts me."

"Okay... Speaking of Yujee, have you guys seen each other lately?" Jessica hated talking about Yujee, but she liked to see Yuri, so she could survive. Yuri shook her head with a pout, turning her eyes to the ceiling.

"None of us has had time for the other."

Jessica huffed in frustration. "I feel oddly guilty."

"You're not." Yuri bumped her hand into Jessica's. "You shouldn't feel guilty."

What had happened between them at the island was something the two of them had a silent pact about not talking about. Although it hurt the both of them not talking about it, they both just wanted to forget everything about the island.

"If you say so..." Jessica murmured. Yuri sat up. 

"It's getting late. You should go back to your room and rest up. We have a long day tomorrow. It's Thursday."

"Ugh." Jessica groaned. She pulled the covers over her head. "Let me sleep here." She said, not really thinking much about it.

"I don't mind. It was you who didn't want to sleep with me."

She widened her eyes. "Ah, that's right." She sat up. "Well, then - "

"But... why don't you want to?" Yuri asked with a hint of sadness in her voice. Jessica panicked.

"It's not that I don't want to!" She denied. "It's just..." Her voice got softer. "I just wouldn't feel comfortable."

Before Yuri could say anything, Jessica kept talking. "N- Not that I'm uncomfortable with you or anything I just..." How could she say this without indirectly confessing to Yuri? Oh, it. "You're dating Yujee." She said. Yuri blinked. "Yeah, I am."

Jessica jutted out her lower lip. "That's why." She avoided Yuri's eyes.

"What?" Gosh, does Jessica really have to spell it out for her? 

"You're really dense, Kwon Yuri." Jessica spoke under her breath. Yuri stared at Jessica's face, eyebrows furrowed before she realized what Jessica was trying to tell her. Jessica closed her eyes. "I really like you, Yuri." Her eyes widened. 

Jessica opened her eyes and sighed as she saw it dawn on Yuri's face. "Please don't make it awkward between us, I didn't... indirectly tell you thinking that you would come to me, or something." She said, trying to smile without seeming uncomfortable.

"I'll be going to my room now." She stood from the bed. "Sleep well, Yul." 

Yuri sat on her bed, her brain completely awake. The only reason she had decided to date Yujee was because she figured she and Jessica wouldn't ever become close again. But now Yuri really has feelings for Yujee... If Yuri had known that she and Jessica would be this close back then, then she wouldn't have even dated Yujee in the first place...

She her teeth.

"Dammit, Jessica Jung."