RACE YOU TO HER HEART;
Chapter 13: Who's Chasing Who? (III)

Nayeon can't get Dahyun out of her head.

It starts to become a real problem for her when she's trying to do her math homework... Or trying to memorize her science notes for an upcoming quiz... Nothing was going into her head except Dahyun. Dahyun. Dahyun. 

Kim Dahyun. 

Porcelain skin, sharp eyes, perfect smile. 

It was driving Nayeon crazy. Especially since she hadn't seen the girl for a whole week. She was starting to feel as though she was being deprived of some sort of drug. She wanted to text Dahyun. She wanted to go over to Dahyun's side of the neighborhood – maybe pretend to pass buy or something – just to look for her. 

Ah, but what if Dahyun was busy? 

What if Dahyun found her to be a bother? 

What if Dahyun doesn't want to see her? 

Nayeon groaned in frustration not doing anything in the end. What a great way it was to end this terrible week... with a torturous weekend. 

To make matters worse, Jihyo just had to tell her how Dahyun actually likes Nayeon.

Which made her even more confused. 

Should she believe Jihyo? Was what she said even credible? Dahyun did seem to be chatting with Jihyo often when she waited for Nayeon by the gates. Maybe she told Jihyo something...? 

That big-eyed girl even told Nayeon to "make it clear to Dahyun and stop giving her false hope". 

Nayeon scoffed to herself. False hope. Hah. If it was anyone getting false hope, it would be Nayeon. And now Jihyo was giving Nayeon even more false hope too, by telling her how Dahyun likes her. God knows if that's even true... If only Jihyo knew how Nayeon really felt about Dahyun. 

Stupid Park Jisoo. 

That's right. Jihyo hates Nayeon (apparently), she hates losing to Nayeon even more. This might be all just a ploy to get Nayeon distracted so she would not do well for her next test. Jihyo was always very competitive when it came to grades and rankings. 

That's right. That must be it. Nayeon shouldn't be so easily distracted. She should go back to studying. 

Get yourself together Im Nayeon. 

Ah, but how she hoped that Dahyun will be waiting for her again the next time school ends. 

-

Nayeon seemed to have gotten her wish when she saw Dahyun standing outside her school the following Monday evening. 

"Annyeong Dahyun-ah!" Nayeon greeted her from a far, a wide grin already plastered on her face. She jogged over to where Dahyun was; she had missed her so much. 

Hmm... But why did Dahyun seem to be in a daze again? 

"Hey, what are you doing," Nayeon asked while poking Dahyun on the cheek. Hehe, how Nayeon missed doing that. Dahyun's cheek was so soft. 

Dahyun stared at the older girl. "Stop staring into space like that silly," Nayeon laughed.
 

She's so cute when she's in a daze. Nayeon's hand automatically reached for hers, pulling Dahyun towards the busstop. 

...

When Dahyun continued to keep quiet, Nayeon started to worry. 

"Dahyun-ah?"

"Dahyun?"

"Kim Dahyun??"

"Oh my God why are you being like this? Is your anemia acting up? Dahyun-ah??"

She stopped walking, leaning in closer to wave a hand in front of Dahyun's face. 

The dazed girl finally blinked and Nayeon almost jumped in shock when Dahyun caught her wrist that was waving frantically in front of Dahyun's face. 

"I'm fine Nayeon unnie... L-let's go."

-

Nayeon kept glancing at Dahyun in worry during their entire bus ride home... Why was Dahyun behaving so oddly? Was she sick? 

"P-please stop staring at me," she heard Dahyun say eventually. "I already told you I'm fine, Nayeon unnie."

"Are you sure?" Nayeon didn't believe her. "You seem really... distracted today." She said while going to place the back of her hand on Dahyun's forehead. "Are you perhaps sick?"

"N-no," Dahyun said, going to gently peel Nayeon's hand away. Did she just stutter? "I'm fine, really."

Nayeon sighed. "Did something happen then?" She asked, concerned. Maybe the younger girl had a bad day at school or something? 

Nayeon watched as Dahyun pondered on for a moment. "Nayeon unnie..." She finally said, then pausing again. 

"Yes Dahyun-ah?" Nayeon asked giving Dahyun her fullest attention. 'What Dahyun was about to say next must be important,' Nayeon thought. Because... Did the younger girl just gave a deep depressing sigh? Or was Nayeon being too over sensitive?... What if... Dahyun was going to confess to Nayeon?? 

Oh my gosh, Nayeon inwardly panicked. I'm not ready! Wait wait! Eh no... don't wait... What's there to wait for? 

Yah Im Nayeon stop thinking so much she hasn't even said anything... 

"Nichkhyun sunbae-nim and Nayeon unnie..." Dahyun continued. And Nayeon inwardly sighed. 

'Oh wow... It's about Nic oppa again...' She thought, kinda disappointed. 

"Are you two officially dating now?" Dahyun asked, looking up at Nayeon. 

Nayeon subconsciously held her breath. She realised how Dahyun had been avoiding her gaze the entire time up till then. Nayeon didn't really want to answer that question though, she had wanted to quietly stare into Dahyun's dark brown eyes for that entire bus ride instead. Wow how did she even survive without seeing those eyes for an entire week... 

Oh but... Why did Dahyun look so burdened when she asked that question? 

"She obviously likes you, stupid," Nayeon hears Jihyo say in her mind. And she decided that she wanted to know – no she needed to know – if what Jihyo said was true. 

She dare not blatantly ask the younger girl though. What was she suppose to even say... "Dahyun-ah do you have a crush on me?" Isn't that kind of... random? Not to mention a little... shameless? To assume that someone else likes you like that. Hah. Im Nayeon who do you think you are? 

So instead Nayeon decided to ask, "Hmm... Dahyun-ah, what do you think of Nic oppa?"

Dahyun thought for a moment. "Nichkhyun sunbae-nim is..." she paused, "great." Dahyun said honestly. 

Nayeon looked at her curiously, "How so?"

"Well he's... handsome, he behaves like a gentleman... He sings and dances and is generally nice?" 

Oh God... This is it... Dahyun must have a crush on Nichkhyun. 

Nayeon wanted to cry. 

Nayeon wanted to jump off the bus... 

But Nayeon can't do any of that so she only nodded at Dahyun's answer, then she looked out of the bus window, sulking over how she will never be "handsome" and "a gentleman" like Nichkhyun. Heck... She'll never ever be a Nichkhyun anyway. 

"Do you think I should... date him then?" Nayeon asked, already bored of this topic. 

How annoying... She wished that Dahyun had never met Nichkhyun. 

Nayeon doesn't hear Dahyun say anything for awhile, and she began to feel anxious for some reason, before the younger girl let out a, "You should... date whoever you like, Nayeon unnie..."

"Oh yeah?" Nayeon breathed, head turning away from the window to look at Dahyun. Did Dahyun really meant what she said? Or was she only saying that because she was being nice? She studied Dahyun, meeting her eyes again... God, Nayeon loved looking into Dahyun's eyes... 

She saw that dazed look on Dahyun's face again, as the younger girl stared back at her and for a second thee Nayeon felt as though the world had stop moving– that the entire earth had perhaps stopped spinning. How was that even possible? 

Then Dahyun looked away, and, like magic, the world continued to spin. 

How strange. 

Only Dahyun had that effect on her. 

Nayeon chuckled softly after that, as she mumbled out her next words without giving it much thought. "Date whoever I like huh... maybe I should date you then." Then she looked away too. Inside she really wished Dahyun would be with her. 

Don't... Don't get use to that feeling Im Nayeon. Stop having this sort of thoughts. Dahyun peobably likes Nichkhyun... Not you. 

"Nic oppa is so popular though," Nayeon continued with a sigh. "I'm not sure if we would work out." She subtly and indirectly warned Dahyun. 

You'll probably get hurt if you like him Dahyun-ah. 

Dahyun thought for a moment. "But... If Nichkhyun sunbae-nim makes you happy then... why not?" 

Nayeon glanced at Dahyun, as though slightly taken aback by her simple answer. It was back to Nayeon's happiness... Dahyun always seemed to care about Nayeon's happiness. 

"Well what if he got bored of me?" Nayeon said. "There's so many other better girls around him anyway..."

"What?? Nayeon unnie... No one would ever get bored of you." Dahyun said. Nayeon could hear the sincerity in her voice. Somehow it made Nayeon nervously happy. "Besides, Nichkhyun sunbae-nim should be the one that's worried instead."

Nayeon laughed, "And why would he be?"

"Well, aren't you popular too?" Dahyun said with a playful grin. "You're the great vocalist Im Nayeon!"

Nayeon scoffed, "Pish... shut up, I'm not. Many people sing better than me. I bet people just notice me because of my bunny-like front teeth when I sing on stage... they probably find it weird." She wondered if Dahyun even found her teeth weird. 

"What? No they don't! You're seriously popular Nayeon unnie," Dahyun said. "Trust me, I know because I went to your show. You have fans! Plus, you're smart and nice too. Not to mention beautiful! And your teeth aren't weird at all, you're so cute when you smile with that bunny-like teeth of yours, do you know that?" And there Nayeon got her answer... Also, did Dahyun just call her beautiful?? A-and... Cute? Nayeon heart fluttered, she felt as though she was going to burst from embarrassment. 

"It makes you... you! And you're talented and you have a nice voice! Oh your voice is great!" Dahyun subconciously started rambling on. 

Nayeon couldn't help but feel a blush creep up her cheeks, hearing the person she likes compliment her like that. She was suddenly hopeful again. Dahyun had noticed all these things about her... Could Jihyo really be right? 

"In fact, you're great Nayeon unnie! Any guy would be lucky to have you," Dahyun finished. 

"You really think so?" Nayeon asked. Gosh, she hoped Dahyun doesn't notice the blush on her face. 
 

"Yes, Nayeon unnie. You're... wonderful." Dahyun nodded truthfully. 

That was all it took for Nayeon to look away. She was extremely embarrassed then... But she had to admit that she was also extremely happy. 

She wants to hug Dahyun there and then. She wanted to profess her love for the younger girl. "No Dahyun-ah you are the one who's wonderful. You're wonderful and lovely and so adorable!" Nayeon wanted to say, but she couldn't bring herself to... That would be too random too... wouldn't it? 

"Thank you Dahyun-ah..." Nayeon said instead as she looked out of the bus window, smiling to herself like a lovesick fool. "I guess... I don't have to worry about dating Nic oppa then..." she trailed off. That's right... There was nothing to worry about because the only person Nayeon wanted to date is Dahyun. 

Also, the chances of Dahyun liking her was definitely higher than that of Dahyun liking Nichkhyun... Right? 

Even if Dahyun did have a crush on Nichkhyun, so what? Nayeon would just have to work harder in making Dahyun hers. Maybe it was because of all those compliments Dahyun had given her... But somehow Nayeon was quite confident of being able to chase Dahyun. 

"I guess you don't," she heard Dahyun say. 

I won't let you slip away Dahyun-ah. 

-

Nayeon decided that she'd try to start by dropping hints on her feelings for Dahyun. 

But she can't do any of that when she doesn't even see Dahyun. 

She recalled Dahyun mentioning something about how track practice had increased and how Dahyun had more homework to do. So she doesn't question why Dahyun doesn't wait for her as often. 

Still, it absolutely saddened Nayeon when she'd always look forward to the end of the day only to not see her favourite person waiting for her by her school gates. 

It's been a while since she had last seen Dahyun and Nayeon was having a particularly tiring day– well to be honest, everyday was extra tiring without Dahyun around. Show choir practice was crap since both the vocal coach and dance coach seemed to be on their periods or something, yelling at everyone for every little mistake. 

"Off key. You are all off key! Sing it again from the top!"

"Yah! Your posture! You! You need to straighten your back more!"

Nayeon sat on the wooden floor of the music room, her back against the wall. She was exhausted... She can't wait to go home. Practice already ended but she can't leave yet. Unlike the rest of the members that had already left, she still has to help pack up the place. It couldn't be helped since Nichkhyun and her were entrusted the keys to the music room. 

"Come on Nayeon get up," Nichkhyun sighed, a hand reaching to pull Nayeon up. Nayeon shook her head, mortified. Does Nichkhyun want to practice more? "Wait wait!" Nayeon said with a hand raising up. "At least let me rest for a bit before we practice some more, Nic oppa."

"What?" Nichkhyun chuckled as he looked at Nayeon oddly, "Hey I know you're tired, so am I. So let's hurry up and lock up the place so we can go home."

Nayeon's immediately heaved a sigh of relief. No extra practice today? That's great! "Okay let's hurry up and pack up then." She said, jumping up from her spot. 

The moment Nayeon took a good look at her surroundings, she couldn't help but sigh again – this time in absolute defeat – as she let's her shoulders slump downwards into a slouch. The music room was a total mess of props and folders and sheet music... Why can't everyone do their part to keep the place clean and orderly?

After about 15 minutes of hasty packing and sweeping, Nayeon and Nichkhyun decided that they were both done for the day. "Hey isn't this Jihyo's?" Nichkhyun suddenly spoke. He opened a black music file and Nayeon peeked at it next to him. 

"Ah, yes it is," Nayeon said. "She must have forgotten it."

"Oh look there are her class notes slotted inside too," Nichkhyun said amused. "Seems like she just stuffs everything into the same folder."

"Hey stop looking through her things oppa," Nayeon scolded closing the file and taking it from Nichkhyun. "She's probably still in school, I'll go return it to her."

-

Nayeon jogged out of the school gate just in time to see Jihyo still there waiting for her ride home. 

"Park Jisoo!" she yelled from a far. 

She saw Jihyo quickly whip her head around upon hearing that. "Yah Im Nayeon, I told you never to call me that!"

Nayeon wanted to laugh– this reaction never gets old. Ah, but Jihyo and her attitude though. It made Nayeon roll her eyes at the other girl instead. Why did she bother to bring the file to Jihyo. "I'll call you whatever I want," she said. "Anyway you forgot your music file you muddle head..." She sighed while handing a black folder to the big-eyed girl. 

"Whatever," Jihyo muttered, snatching the file from Nayeon. 

Rude. As always. 

Just then Jihyo's ride arrived; a shiny black SUV pulling up in front of the school. Jihyo swiftly got into the car, and it sped of.

Nayeon sighed again, watching the smoke emitted by the SUV disperse into thin air. She sometimes wished she had someone to drive her home too. 

What a tiring day. 

Nayeon turned around to leave, only to notice Dahyun and Jackson sipping on their drinks while staring a her.

"Aigo!" She gasped in shock, a and flying to her chest. "Dahyun-ah, since when did you get here?"

She watch Dahyun laugh, while the boy next to her shook his head chuckling as well. They were both obviously amused at her being surprised and Nayeon sighed once again, feeling slightly embarrassed. 

The guy stood up before bidding his friend goodbye. "I'll get going then Dubu, since Nayeon noona is here," he said while placing an arm over Dahyun's shoulder to give her a one handed hug. 

Nayeon felt the urge to click her tongue at him for touching Dahyun, but she refrained herself. Jealousy was definitely something Nayeon knew of, but it wasn't something Nayeon would experience often... But seeing Dahyun with Jackson – seeing Dahyun close to any other guy in fact – Nayeon can't help but feel this gut wrenching sourness within her. 

Oh Dahyun the things you make me feel. 

"See you tomorrow, vice-captain Kim!" Jackson said playfully. 

Dahyun giggled and Nayeon's heart fluttered a little at that melodious sound. "Thanks for waiting with me captain Wang," she joked back as Jackson jogged away. 

The older girl inwardly cheered when Jackson left. Then she started to feel a small sense of shame... How childish it was of her to think this way. Why was she behaving like this? 

Nayeon hated that feeling. Of being jealous. Of not being able to control her thoughts and feelings. Of feeling like she was losing Dahyun... to someone else. She knew she shouldn't be like this... What right did she have to be like this? Dahyun wasn't even her girlfriend. 

She started to feel confused as she stood there, overwhelmed by those thoughts and feelings she was having. 

"Hi Nayeon unnie, do you have plans today?" The younger girl asked as she walked towards her, tossing her juice box into the bin near them. 

Hearing Dahyun's voice directed towards her made Nayeon even more confused. It further reminded her of how Nayeon had missed her so. How Nayeon desperately wanted Dahyun to be hers. 

"If you don't, do you want to go home together?"

Nayeon stared at Dahyun in silence. 

I'll go anywhere with you.

"Uh... Nayeon unnie?" She saw Dahyun turned around to look at her worriedly. 

It's definitely been awhile since they last saw each other. 

Nayeon suddenly felt exhausted. With school, with show chior, with endless thoughts on math and science and grades and the student council and Jihyo's attitude and Jackson's closeness with Dahyun... And with these feelings. And with life. It was as though a sudden wave of all of these strange feelings and thoughts and stress and tiredness had come together, washing over her. 

"Hey unnie, are you oka-" Dahyun was asking when Nayeon's hands found it's way around her waist. She was so tired. Why was highschool so tough?

Nayeon sighed as she held the younger girl close. She wanted to stay like that forever, breathing in Dahyun's scent as she felt her heart grew warm. She could feel the world around her stop spinning for awhile, and her cluttered stressed out mind emptying itself. 

Love is such an interesting feeling. 

"N-nayeon unni-" she heard Dahyun say. Nayeon loved when Dahyun said her name...  Even when she's stuttering. 

Cute. 

"Just...," Nayeon whispered, head resting on Dahyun's shoulder. "Just let me stay like this for a while... please."

And Nayeon felt her heart skip a beat, before it starts pounding quickly as she felt Dahyun's hands slowly creep up her back, hugging her back. 

"O-okay..." 

And just like that...
Nayeon was absolutely sure that she definitely, definitely, had to find a way to make Dahyun hers. 

A/N Hi y'all! Sorry for the wait, I've been busy. Oh wow I'm so late this time oh my gosh, I was suppose to update this like 3 days ago but I didn't have the time to edit it so it ended up just being drafted here and unpublished lol. But here's an update for you lovely readers:) (Yes finally right?) Hehehe, thank you for being patient with me! As always, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and do leave comments to let me know of your thoughts. Hoho I'm supper excited for the next chapter... I'll try to update it soon, hoho I hope it doesn't disappoint you ;) BTW, who do you think will confess first? Hehe, have a great week ahead everyone!

~strangemagnet