“Im Nayeon!” 

You wince at Jeongyeon’s voice ringing through the walls of the apartment you currently share with her. Footsteps could be heard approaching and you instinctively close the closet door, hiding yourself from her angry form.

“Where are you?!” Jeongyeon was inside your room now and you keep your mouth shut not letting her know where you were currently hiding but a loud whine on your side betrays you and you try to cover the perpetrator’s mouth to stop the sound but it was too late as the closet door was unceremoniously opened and you cower before a scary Yoo Jeongyeon.

Being the idiot you were, you could only smile forcibly and did an awkward wave. “H-hi Jeongyeonie.”

“Nayeon, please tell me that there’s a good explanation for the mess in the kitchen and the living room and the whole apartment practically.”

You visibly gulp. “Uhm well you see.” You were cut off by a ball of fur jumping on your lap.

“Is-is that a dog? You brought home a dog?!?” 

“Well he’s more of a puppy-“ The dog cuts you off again and barks up at Jeongyeon like he was trying to protect you. You couldn’t help but coo and cuddle the puppy against your cheek. “Thanks for protecting me Kookeu.”

“Kookeu?! You already named him?!” Jeongyeon continues pestering with her loud voice to which Kookeu just barks and growls at her again but Jeongyeon just glares back at the poor puppy. Kookeu turns his head away and hides in your neck. 

You move Kookeu away from Jeongyeon. “Keep your voice down you’re scaring him!” You try your best pout at Jeongyeon and know she’s breaking when you notice the twitch in her eyebrow.

Jeongyeon sighs and drops her shoulders. “Fine! You can keep him. But make sure you’re going to clean the apartment up and train him.” You beam at her words and promise her that.

Jeongyeon ends up cleaning the apartment and grumbles while doing it but you smile when you see her pat Kookeu’s head when she thought no one was looking. “Such a softie Jeong.”

“Shut up!” You dodge the dirty towel she throws at you and just go on to continue preparing dinner.

--

“So are you going to tell me the real reason you got a dog?” Jeongyeon asks as you slide Kookeu’s bowl closer to him and urging him to eat.

“Kookeu, Jeong, his name is Kookeu.” 

Jeongyeon just rolls her eyes. “Fine, so why did you bring Kookeu home when we both know you’ve never taken care of an animal your entire life?”

You shrug nonchalance. “Well maybe I just thought it was time I took on the responsibility.” You stand back up and place your arms on your hips to stress your point.

“Right, so it’s not because of the cute Taiwanese girl at the animal shelter where Momo volunteers at?”

“Pssh I don’t know what you’re talking about.” You totally knew what she was talking about or rather who she was referring to.

Jeongyeon was suddenly on the phone and you start to panic when you realize who she was talking to. “Hey Momo could you please tell me how Nayeon got Kookeu?”

You just let out a loud groan because you were feeling so exposed now. 

It went a little like this…

-

So maybe you were a bit out of your comfort zone right now as you watched Momo slowly feed a tiny kitten with a milk bottle.

“Momo I only like playing with animals, I don’t know how to actually take care of them.”

“You’ll be fine, here take her.” Momo reaches the tiny kitten into your arms and you panic a bit because you never held something as fragile as this before. Your forte was kids not animals and you were taking primary education as your major because you loved kids so much. But this was an entirely different experience and you fumble with the bottle.

Your hand completely freezes when you hear a familiar sigh that was definitely not from Momo.

“Relax sunbaenim.” The new person who came in takes the milk bottle from your hand and feeds the kitten on your arms herself. You’re just standing there completely still and trying to keep the kitten from falling while staring at the one and only Chou Tzuyu.

“Here hold the bottle like this.” She holds your hand (oh my god she’s holding your hand) and lets you continue feeding the kitten while also fixing your other arm holding the kitten up.

“Tha-that makes it easier. Thank you Tzuyu.” You try not to stutter but it was impossible in front of your crush who was looking so drop dead gorgeous in a white coat with the animal shelter logo in front. She already looked so professional and like an actual veterinarian even though she was still practically a freshman. If only she didn’t look so pissed off at you right now. Probably because you were pretty incompetent with animals.

“You’re welcome sunbae.” She says in a professional tone and bows before leaving the room now occupied with only you and the kitten.

“There goes our moment.” You’re probably becoming crazy because you were talking to a kitten for goodness sake.

“You call that a moment?” Momo butts in your thoughts and oh right Momo was still in the room.

“I forgot you were still here.” You slap her with the honest truth to which Momo scoffs at.

“Excuse you. Who got you in here as a volunteer even though you were clueless with animals just so you could see your crush everyday huh?” She rebuts and okay she had a fair point.

“Okay fine yeah. I think she hates me though.” Your shoulders slump in disappointment. You had the biggest crush on Tzuyu ever since Momo introduced her to you but Tzuyu was always so cold whenever it came to you. You weren’t sure if she was mad or something.

Which brings you to your current situation. You wanted to at least get on her good side which was why you asked Momo to get you into the animal shelter even though you were clueless about animals. It wasn’t working that well because Tzuyu always needed to help you out even with the most basic things and honestly you’re just embarrassed by now.

That is until the senior veterinarian, Park Sooyoung, calls for everyone to have a meeting. You eye Tzuyu in the small group but she doesn’t even bat an eyelash at you and you just sigh again. Why was it so hard to get her attention? Was she so annoyed with you to the point that you couldn’t even talk to her outside of animals?

“Unnie he’s so cute!” You snap out of your daze and watch Tzuyu act so giddy about a tiny white puppy that Sooyoung was currently holding up. Wow this was a complete 360 degree turn with Tzuyu as she starts cooing the napping puppy. Needless to say this was a treat for you because where else would you be able to see this side of Tzuyu? The answer is nowhere, Tzuyu was only like this with animals and you couldn’t help but think about how amazing it would be if she acted that way towards humans too, specifically you.

“Nabongs? Earth to Nabongs?” Momo taps your shoulder and you realize everyone was looking at you right now, including Tzuyu. you dazed out again.

“I’m sorry I didn’t catch that.” You admit and watch Tzuyu roll her eyes. Another point for Nayeon in the list of failed humans for Tzuyu you guess.

Sooyoung doesn’t mind and just repeats her question. “It’s okay Nayeon-unnie. I was just wondering if you currently had a pet?”

“Oh uhm no actually I don’t. I live with my best friend in an apartment.”

“Does your landlord allow pets perhaps?”

You didn’t know where she was going with these questions but you answer them anyway. “Yeah pets are allowed in our apartment complex.”

Sooyoung then grins widely and honestly it was scaring you a little. “So here’s the thing unnie. This puppy was abandoned and needs a new home. I was wondering if you could take care of him? Don’t worry it’s just for a month and it’ll be up to you if you’d want to keep him for good.”

“Ohh, can’t he stay here in the shelter?”

“The shelter is pretty full right now and everyone else has pets to take care of too so it would be really great if you could help out.” It was Tzuyu who spoke this time and you’re probably really whipped for her because you didn’t even think twice before nodding and accepting the responsibility.

“Okay! I’ll do it! I’ll take care of him!” You smile brightly and just see Tzuyu smirk before Sooyoung hands you the puppy. 

You gently carry the puppy and wow he had pure white fur and had the cutest nose you actually wanted to boop. 

“Nayeon? Are you okay?” You look to see Momo looking at you worriedly.

“Momo look at him! His nose is so cute! And his fur looks so soft!” You giddily say. “Is this what new mothers feel when they carry their babies for the first time?” You even blurt out.

Tzuyu chuckles (holy she actually chuckled) at you and you start to feel flustered for being this excited. “I’m sorry, he’s going to be my first pet so I’m kind of feeling a mix of excitement and dread.”

“That’s normal. Thank you for doing this unnie, he really needs someone right now.” Tzuyu said it like she understood it by heart and you were so tempted to pry but you know you can’t.

“I promise to take good care of him. Although I admit I don’t know much about puppies.” You decided to be honest. “Or animals for that matter.”

“Tzuyu can help you with that.” Sooyoung happily announces. “Right, Tzuyu?”

Tzuyu actually groans and your heart sinks again. “Fine, I’ll help Nayeon-sunbaenim out.” Okay you weren’t expecting she’d actually agree.

“Are you sure?” You ask her with wide eyes to which she rolls her eyes at again. 

“Don’t make me take back my words sunbae.”

You shake your head violently. “I won’t! Thank you Tzuyu. So what should I know first?”

“First of all, this puppy here is a Pomeranian.” She scratches the puppy’s chin and he actually starts whining when Tzuyu takes her hand away. 

“Pomeranian, okay got it.” You diligently take note.

“Second, you’ll have to get him food. The shelter can provide you with it don’t worry. You can call me if you need anything else.”

You look up at her surprised. “A-anything?” 

“I mean anything related to taking care of dogs sunbae. Please focus.” Tzuyu dials her number into your phone and you mentally hit your head for actually thinking that Tzuyu meant something else. Ugh you were such an idiot.

“Here, take care sunbae.” Tzuyu then realized what she said and adds. “Of the puppy I mean! Take care of the puppy, yeah! B-bye!” She saunters off and you’re just frozen there.

You look down at the puppy and watch him look at you with the most sparkly eyes ever. “Did you hear that Kookeu (yeah you came up with his name just now)? She totally meant me right?” 

So maybe you did have a chance with Tzuyu after all. 

-

Jeongyeon’s obnoxious laughter fills the room and you just groan at her. “Oh my god she did what? She actually said that it felt like Kookeu was her son?” Jeongyeon was holding her stomach now still on the phone with Momo and okay you were starting to get pissed off.

“Stop laughing! It was true, it felt a lot like that okay?”

“Oh and who’s your partner huh? Tzuyu perhaps?” She teases and you couldn’t help the blush that spreads to your entire face and neck. 

“I-I didn’t say that!” You’re completely flustered now.

“Sure but she’s going to help you out with Kookeu anyway right? So it’s kind of like you two are going to be raising your first son.”

So maybe you were starting to daydream about you and Tzuyu taking care of Kookeu. Tzuyu laughing and playing with Kookeu. Okay stop, you slap your cheeks and look up to see Jeongyeon with a -eating grin.

“Wipe that damn grin off your face Yoo.”

“Whipped.” She smirks and you just groan but Kookeu decided to in and lets out an approving bark and Jeongyeon actually cheers and starts patting him.

“Who’s a good boy? You are!” Just moments ago these two were sworn enemies, now they looked like best friends as Kookeu started Jeongyeon’s hand.

“Traitors, all of you!” You’re pouting but deep down the image of Tzuyu being all cuddly with Kookeu was stuck in your head.

Whipped alright.

-

tbc

-

inspired by natzu's letters to each other where they practically talked about each other's dogs instead