It’s past 2 in the morning already but the always hungry Momo is wide awake by the sound of her grumbling stomach. Sure, they had their late supper an hour ago before they finally had their rest at the dorm but Momo can’t help her stomach that had digest all the food fastly.

 

Slowly, Momo crept out of her bed, carefully to not making any sound that may awake Jeongyeon who is tired because of the busy schedule. Despite making her way to the kitchen, Momo search for some food in the fridge, only to disappoint herself. There’s nothing that she could eat. Feeling frustrated, Momo decided to just drink some water.

 

Momo almost choke on the water when her eyes caught a glimpse of someone familiar sitting of the sofa with her back leaning on it. Momo thought she was the only one who was awake at that time but she has been mistaken then. Putting the glass in the sink, Momo walked towards the said girl.

 

She was about to call out the girl’s name but then she shrugged off her will when she heard a sniffling sound coming from the same direction. Momo frowned. Why would she cried at 2 in the morning?

 

“Minari?”

 

The said girl was startled by Momo’s voice and had her eyes wide opened to look at Momo who was standing not afar from her. Has she been watching me from the start? Mina didn’t have any idea. She quickly wiped off her tears as she saw the older girl was coming towards her direction.

 

“You’re not asleep yet?” Mina tried to sound like nothing happen but unfortunately Momo didn’t buy it. Momo made herself sit besides Mina that made the girl’s breath hitched at their closeness.

 

“I’m hungry and there’s no food in the fridge.” Momo explained, letting a small sigh in the end. Mina giggled at the thought of her unnie that always feel hungry all the time. Mina found that the older girl is adorable, despite the charismatic image she gives whenever she popping to the beats, dancing gracefully to any melody.

 

However, Momo was sure that Mina is crying just before she sit. The only thought that wander in her mind right now is why would the girl crying alone at this time. Did she hide something from her? Momo was strucked by the questions. And she needs an explaination.

 

Soon, the atmosphere became awkward and no voice coming out neither from Momo nor Mina. Momo was still in her though while Mina was keeping herself stay still at the fact that they’re sitting too close with just the two of them in the dark living room. The only source of light they have was from the lamp post outside the dorm, which beamed through the window. After a few minutes, Momo decided to break the silence.

 

“Minari,”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Are you okay?”

 

Mina was caught off guard by Momo’s sudden question. She did saw me. She fixed her gaze on her favourite ketchup plushie that she had been hug since ever, didn’t bother to answer Momo’s question. Her fingers were playing with the plushie’s cloth.

 

“Is that plushie more interesting than answering my question?” Momo said. She’s serious. Oh my God, Momo is being serious that even made Mina startled a bit. She didn’t expect Momo’s voice became so scary right now. She thought it would be okay if she didn’t answer it. She thought that Momo didn’t mind about it. But it’s all proven wrong by Momo’s glare at her. Mina gulped.

 

“I’m okay. R-Really.” Mina gathered all her courage only to give a short answer. Oh, she didn’t believe that she just stuttered in front of Momo. She just made her answer sound not confident.

 

“I didn’t buy it.” Oh, sh*t. Oh my, no cursing. Mina fidgetted her fingers, not knowing what to answer next. She is doom! Unconciously, a single tear drop which made Momo taken aback and even Mina herself.

 

“Y-Yah, I’m just asking. I don’t mean to make you cry!” Momo was panicked. Right, she didn’t mean to make the younger girl cry but she just made it! Oh no, Momo really didn’t know what to do. While Mina, she didn’t know too why she is crying. Just why did her tears come out at this time?!

 

Mina felt a sudden electric shock when she realised that Momo was pulling her into her embrace. An embrace that she had been longed for. An embrace that she always want to be in. An embrace where she could find her real self.

 

It’s not even before debut that Mina found herself felt differently towards the older girl. She remembered, during SIXTEEN, Momo had taken care of her really well. Momo had always been her pillar when she’s about to fall. Momo always be there when she felt down or want to give up. Thanks to her, she gained herself back and continue to fight in the survival show.

 

No one ever know. Not the fans, not her family, not the other trainees and people around her surrounding know what Mina almost had the thought to give up. But Momo being Momo, taking care of the girl has been one of her routine. She know all the thing that the girl hide. In the end, Mina decided to stay in the program, shrugging off what the people talk about her and go on. But she didn’t expect that night was the last time Momo in SIXTEEN.

 

She still remember, the last time Momo was on stage. She sweared she saw determination in Momo’s eyes, yet the God had planned something better for her. She also remembered how sorrow she was when she need to accept the fact that she is not going to debut with her. But fate sure was playing it’s role. The last episode of SIXTEEN, Momo was confirmed to be the ninth member of TWICE.

 

Mina was snapped back to the reality when she felt the warmth had left her body. Mina couldn’t help but to feel slightly disappointed. She wanted to be in Momo’s embrace.

 

“Are you okay now?” Momo asked, mostly in a calm tone, only to make Mina’s heart found it pace again. The sincerity in Momo’s tone had caught Mina’s heart. It’s now or never.

 

“Unnie, are you still hungry?”

 

Momo nodded. “Why?”

 

“Are you up for jokbal at this time?”

 

“You wanna go out?” Mina nodded. “Right now?”

 

“Yes. I have something to tell you too.”

 

“Arasso. Take your jacket.”

 

With that, the two Japanese went out of the dorm without so much word. The trip to the jokbal restaurant felt so long. Mina was fidgeting with her fingers and looking down all the time while Momo put her hands in the jacket pocket. The breeze suddenly felt so cold especially this time.

 

“By the way Minari,”

 

“Uh?”

 

“Is there any jokbal restaurant open at this time?” Momo asked upon looking at the pretty deserted street. There’s not much shop open ath the time. “I mean, look, it’s already 2.20 a.m.”

 

“I thought you won’t ask,” Mina smiled. “I know this place, they sell jokbal 24-hours. But the place is kinda far from the place we go usually. Are you okay with that?”

 

“As long as it jokbal, I’m okay.”

 

Mina chuckled upon hearing Momo’s answer. That’s when Momo’s lips started to curve upward, liking the fact that Mina had stop crying. Momo was happy that Mina is smiling. And she didn’t expect that the younger girl would asked her to eat jokbal at this time. Come on, who eat jokbal at this hours? Maybe they’re the first one.

 

Quite 10 minutes later, Mina stopped suddenly and that made Momo to stop too. “We’re here.” They entered the restaurant, sat at a table placed at the corner, giving them a slight privacy. Momo didn’t expect to see so much people at the restaurant and the thought quickly get off of her mind as they finished ordered jokbal for both of them. They knew that they shouldn’t eat so much at this hour, or they will wake up with bloated face in the morning. Wait, it’s morning already.

 

Time killed slowly, none of them bother to break the silence. Just then, Momo cleared which made Mina felt nervous all of sudden.

 

“Aren’t you gonna talk?”

 

Just as Mina found the courage to talk, the worker started to serve jokbal.

 

“Later.”

 

They ate happily, especially Momo. Yeah, since she hungry after all. Thanks that tomorrow’s schedule isn’t as pack as these past days. Momo didn’t really get a proper meal which made her frustrated. Thanks to Mina too, for asking her out for jokbal at the time. This girl really know where to find food.

 

30 minutes later, they finally got to clean all the plates. Momo’s stomach was about to burst. Mina felt tired too. They paid for the food and walked out.

 

“You wanna talk now?”

 

Momo sure didn’t stop budging Mina with that sort of question until Mina felt burdened by it. She didn’t plan to tell Momo why she was crying after all. Instead, she will tell Momo the real secret. On the way to their dorm, Mina saw a playground. She then dragged Momo towards the playground and they sat on each swing occupied for kids there.

 

“I’m ready to tell you now. But it’s not about why I’m crying. It’s just a silly reason.” Mina started.

 

“Then what?” Momo tilted her head towards Mina who just two feets away from her, looking at the girl’s action. Mina couldn’t help but to feel nervous again. Her feets were scratching the sand, making some noice. Momo was confused.

 

“Promise me you won’t freak out,”

 

“Eh?”

 

“And promise me that we will stay as good friend, or at least, as a co-member after hearing to what I’m about to tell you.” Mina said, fidgeting, nervous at the time.

 

“Actually unnie, I’ve hide a secret from you and now I think it’s the right time to tell you now. I, have been felt differently towards you for a long time. I understand if you couldn’t get it, but I didn’t understand it too. I became so possessive towards you.

 

“You always take care of me so well, and it makes me to take it as a wrong idea. I thought I like you as my unnie, but it’s actually…actually…it’s beyond that.” Mina bited her lips.

 

“I mean, look, I didn’t understand myself too. I…I…I couldn’t stand if you being so sweet with me then, I saw you did that with our members too. I felt unconciously angry at the time. I couldn’t help myself. I’m afraid it would be obvious.

 

“Uhm, I’m blabbering too much. Let’s make it short. I like you, unnie. As in, …that way.” Mina fixed her eyes on the ground, didn’t bother to make with Momo’s empty gaze. She thought that maybe the girl was freaked out by her confession. It’s sound crazy as it is, Mina thought.

 

“I understand that this is too sudden for you. It’s sound ridiculous, but it is real. I couldn’t hide forever. I didn’t ask you to feel the same, but at least, just please don’t leave me. Treat me as the usual.”

 

Momo stayed silence. Mina felt so afraid. Afraid of what Momo will react. She will understand if Momo would burst out anger at her. I mean, who wouldn’t freak out if someone close to you, like a sister, confess to you?

 

“Minari,”

 

Mina felt her tear was about to roll down her cheek, but she decided to hold it for now. Maybe, she would let it down once she sink herself under the blanket.

 

“Sorry for taking so much time to process what were you told me. But I think, I couldn’t keep my promise.”

 

Mina bited her lips again, holding the tears which just about to drop. Please, she didn’t want to look so weak in front of Momo. Mina kept her eyes closed. Just then, she heard a shuffling sound, maybe coming from Momo’s shoes that were moving on the ground. Then, she heard a rusty chain noise, probably from the swing. She also felt a tug on the swing chain, pulling her closer towards the latter. What with these weird noise?

 

When Mina just about to open her eyes, she felt a pair of lips on hers. The lips lingered for a while, adjusting their position. Mina opened her eyes, only to saw Momo’s face just as close to her. For sure, Momo was the one kissing her. Momo who had her eyes closed, started to move her lips on Mina.

 

Mina tried so hard to process what is happening right now. She couldn’t believe this. Momo is kissing her. Slowly, Mina closed her eyes and replied to Momo’s kiss. She liked the fact that their lips were touching. She didn’t expect this kind of reaction from Momo.

 

A minute later, both of them found that the need some air. Momo pulled from the kiss, forehead still leaning on each others. Mina opened her eyes and saw Momo was staring at her. A small smile escaped from both of their lips. Then, they giggled to each other.

 

“I told you I can’t keep my promise, right? What say you?” Momo smirked, as her body found it way to the swing again. Mina couldn’t help but to smile.

 

“I’m glad.”

 

“I love you.”

 

“Me too.”

 

The clock strucked to 3 in the morning and they thought that they had to go back to the dorm or the other member would wake up noticing that they’re gone. During the walk, Mina couldn’t help but to smile all the time. Momo noticed the unusual happy Mina and cannot help but to feel relieve too. Mina sure didn’t have any idea that the older girl already shared the mutual feeling towards her since ever.

 

The fact that they walked beside each other under the moonlight caught Mina off guard. Their hand kept brushing against each other, and it somehow sending shivers down to her spine. Mina felt like she was suffocated when she couldn’t even control her heart beat as she walked beside Momo that time.

 

What is their status now?

 

It can’t be that nothing happen to their relationship after the kiss and the confession they shared. Mina kept her eyes on the ground. Meanwhile, Momo was nervous as hell, much to her knowing. She too felt the shudder electricity as their skin slightly touched. She felt giddy like a 15 years-old girl who just fall in love.

 

It’s not like they never touch each other. They did, a lot, especially during TWICE promotion. But the fact that they are a thing now, made Momo felt nervous. As nervous as she is, she wanted to lead in the relationship. So, Momo gathered all the courage in her body and held Mina’s hand. A pink tinted on their cheeks.

 

Walking hand in hand towards their dorm was a new thing for them. A few minutes later, they finally arrived their dorm. It’s dark as always. They glad that the members didn’t realise that they had gone from the dorm, or later thay need to face the problem. They put their shoes on the rack, arranged it neatly as they wanted to keep it the same like before. Hands still holding each other, until they stood in front of their respective room. Just before Mina enter hers, she felt a tug on her hand.

 

“Momoring? Why?”

 

Momo didn’t answer but instead, she leaned towards nervous Mina and planted a kiss on her forehead.

 

“I really want to do that with you.” She said, grinning shyly. Mina giggled at the dork.

 

“We can always do that, Momoring.” Mina shyly smiled under Momo’s intense stare. “Let’s get to sleep now. We get early schedule tomorrow, right?”

 

“Ne. Sleep tight, Minari.” Momo replied as she let another smile escaped from her lips. Before she walk away, she managed to whisper in Mina’s ear, “I love you.”

 

“Me too.”