She rested her chin on her palm while she watched Wendy and Seulgi did their thing in the kitchen. Yeri and Joy were busy playing x-box in the living room, something Irene was not really interested in. Every bit of the world that interests Irene was all boxed into that klutzy bear. She was currently trying her hardest to help Olaf bake a cake.

It was a carrot cake to be exact.

The same thing she had on her birthday.

She sighed loud enough for that bear to notice her. Thankfully, her forced smile was able to appease Seulgi that she was fine, but not Wendy.

The other girl rolled her eyes as if she knew what was already in Irene’s mind.

Seulgi’s dense, no need to worry her about things that were not worth worrying about.

Wendy scoffed, unnoticed by Seulgi who was busy mixing the cake batter. Irene smiled for real this time as she watched the bear bite her lower lip. The younger girl was concentrating so much it was as if it was life or death if she got it wrong.

Suddenly, Irene notices that Wendy was mixing too.

Are they making two separate cakes?

“Hey, what cakes are you making?”

“I’m just making a carrot cake unnie. It’s just like last time.” Wendy replied not looking at her.

Seulgi on the other hand did not answer though. The younger girl was trying to stay away from Irene’s questioning gaze.

“What yours, Seulgi?” Irene finally asked, dreading to know the answer.

Seulgi was not one to share. But it was always a fear for Irene to know if she turned out to be liking someone other than her.

“Oh… It’s uh…”

“She’s making something for Krystal.” Wendy replied for Seulgi.

Irene tried not to look upset so she looked away towards the living room. She didn’t see Seulgi mouthing profanities at Wendy for saying the things she said.

Early on in their friendship Irene knew she didn’t really have a hold on the bear so she couldn’t really show her that faint jealous feeling in her chest. Krystal met Seulgi before she could, something she wished she had the luxury of. She sometimes thought of how good it would be to have two more years spent training with Seulgi. Then again, Irene knew it wouldn’t take that long for her to realize she liked the bear.

“Yah! Yeri don’t swat Joy’s head. Play nice!” She yelled, trying her hardest to hide what she was really feeling.

She forced out a smile when she turned her gaze back to Wendy and Seulgi, the latter with agape.

Irene looked at her questioningly, trying her best not to worry Seulgi. The bear merely turned around and continued with her task.

Just then, their house phone rang. Since everyone else was busy, Irene took the call.

“Yoboseyo?” She greeted only to hear silence at the end of the line.

“Yoboseyo?” She said again, this time a little louder.

“Irene-Unnie?” The other end said.

With the same heavy heart, Irene already knew who the call was for.

“Seulgi-ah… It’s Soojung-ah… Give her a moment Soojung-ssi… She’s currently in the kitchen.” She smiled as she gently placed the phone on the side table.

She could have just pretended to be klutzy and hanged up the phone. The idea seemed great at the moment. Then again, she wouldn’t want Jessica Jung to come over and ask if she had a problem with her baby sister. You really don’t want to mess with the Ice Princess while Master Sasa was out on tour. Not that Irene would have the confidence that the great Kwon Yuri could control Jessica Jung. After all, Yuri-Unnie was the submissive type when it came to her girlfriend.

Irene watched as Seulgi ran towards the phone then started to speak in a low, quiet voice that Irene could not hear. Irene wanted to know what they were talking about. She went back to her seat by the kitchen, her displeased heart hanging by her sleeve totally obvious for the others to see.

“Unnie… I won’t worry if I were you.”

“I’m not worried.” She replied rather forcefully.

She was not Seulgi’s… anything. She was JUST Seulgi’s friend.

“Unnie, do you want to know why she’s baking a cake for Krystal?”  Wendy offered but received nothing from Irene.

The older girl was too upset that Seulgi was still on the phone.

They could talk later. Why must they do it now in her presence? If she remembered correctly, the two dosaengs have been talking last night till the break of dawn. It was a reason why Joy slept with Yeri. She was sleepily complaining about how tired she was but could not stop her Unnie who was on the phone. Joy felt embarrassed because Seulgi didn’t really call her friends that much.

Still… Can’t they just hide it? That little yellow monster in her chest was threatening to cut loose.

“It’s because it’s Jessica-Unnie’s birthday. She was still on route from shooting so she asked Seulgi for help.”

Irene turned around with a blank face. Or rather, she tried to have a blank face. She wanted to grin but she would be too obvious. She didn’t really want Wendy to make use of her reactions as weapons to when Seulgi was not around.

The all knowing Olaf had been pestering her to just take it slow when it comes to Seulgi. But then again, she would give these subtle remarks that made Irene’s heart ache.

Things Seulgi had done with someone.

Things Seulgi had never done with Irene.

“Besides, didn’t you know she was dating Sulli?” Wendy smirked making Irene blush.

She felt reckless with her reactions that she openly made herself vulnerable to the great Olaf. It didn’t help that Seulgi already got back and somehow saw her flushed face. It was typical for the teddy bear to be immediately worried.

Something Irene found endearing.

“You look like your cheeks are burning up, Unnie. Are you alright?” Seulgi place her forehead against Irene’s their noses