i think this one's gonna be a long chapter. anyway, here it is! i'm sorry it took so long, i had a competition and it kept me so busy. :((

 

[from: big ears 💩]
: thanks.

Nayeon glares at the mobile phone in her hand, staring at the reply she received the morning after she sent those texts. It’s been days since the message popped up on her phone, days since she last saw the tall brunette, days since they last bickered, and Nayeon thought it was odd.

 

It’s been accurately nine days since then - Nayeon didn’t know she actually kept count.

 

“So, how do you graph this?” Sana nudged the brunette with bunny teeth from her side with the pencil’s eraser pressed to her temple. Nayeon turns to look at her helpless friend, who she knew hated the subject with numbers more than she hated Jeongyeon’s teasing.

 

The cafe they were in was thankfully quiet, the two were studying for their exams which were coming up soon. The place only had a couple of customers which was unexpected for a Saturday afternoon, and everyone else seemed to be studying too along with a few others who were just enjoying their afternoon coffee and desserts.

 

“Here,” Nayeon takes the pencil from her and scoots her chair closer. Sana’s eyes followed Nayeon’s hands as she explained the process again, seeing as how the squirrel was having a really hard time figuring how to solve it on her own and didn’t understand a single thing.

 

Books and notebooks were flipped open left and right, but the sheets just came out as blank to her own eyes.

 

“Can you solve one problem? I think I might understand it better if you do,” Sana suggests with furrowed brows after Nayeon finishes her explanation, probably to get a better grasp at how it’s done.

 

The bunny nods and grabs an extra sheet of graphing paper, flipping over a few pages in their book to look for a problem to solve. Sana listened attentively, brows furrowed indicating that she was indeed focused.

 

Nayeon couldn’t help but take quick glances on her phone, for reasons she didn’t exactly know why. Was she expecting a text? But from who?

 

She couldn’t be possibly waiting for a certain tall brunette’s texts, right? She thought to herself.

 

She thinks it was absurd to even have thought about that. They barely text nor do they even call each other, but she was expecting to receive some even if they never exchanged texts before that. Shaking her head, she trains her eyes back onto the graphing paper laid in front of them. A few more minutes after and Sana understood, thanking Nayeon with a gleeful smile on her face before turning back to her paper to solve more problems.

 

“This one’s too easy,” she brags after closing her book shut and opening up another one to study on.

 

“If you actually just payed attention in class then maybe you would’ve thought so sooner.”

 

The other didn’t answer back and just gave her a playful shrug. An hour or two had passed and the two were still studying in the cozy cafe, accompanied with freshly ordered coffee and relaxing music the little cafe played. Quietly they read through their books and notes, only turning to the other to ask questions before going back to their own business.

 

“Nayeon-ah, can you quiz me real quick?”

 

“Sana, do you have the notes for this?”

 

“Hey, Nayeon, do you still have the copy of that powerpoint?”

 

“Sana, stop drinking my coffee.”

 

“But yours taste better!”

 

The two still had their head in their notes, both eager to get a good grade on their exams when the bell above the cafe door chimed; a new customer came in. It’s been an hour since anyone else came. Nayeon was about to look up out of curiosity to who it was or what did they look like when Sana nudged her again for help.

 

Still, she took occasional glances on her phone, in hopes for it to light up at some point. It became a routine, glancing at it minutes after she reads through a page.

 

Distracted; she was. And even though how badly Nayeon wanted to ace the exams, she jusy couldn’t help but turn her head to the gadget resting on top of her books. She lets out a deep sigh and finally grabs her phone, putting it inside her bag. It was starting to bother her too, to falsely hope over a stupid text.

 

Exams were more important than a text bubble from someone. She can bother herself with that after answering sheets of paper in a few days. She’s going to be a Senior the next year, she needed to work harder. Sana had sensed the slight frustration from the person beside her but shrugged it off and turned to her book, turning it to the next page with her head on her palm.

 

“I’ll have one mocha frappuccino please.”

 

That voice, Nayeon recognized who it was.

 

She sees the brunette with familiar cat-like eyes dressed in a simple white tee with black jeans along with white sneakers. Jennie had her books with her too, and Nayeon immediately raised her hand up when Jennie turned to look for a seat after paying for her drink.

 

“Jennie-ya!” Nayeon half-shouted, coming out almost as a whisper.

 

A gummy smile made its way across the brunette’s face, and she walks over to the table beside the glass pane.

 

“Hey,” Jennie smiled as Nayeon stood up from her seat hugged her in greeting, turning to Sana afterwards. “Hi, Sana.”

 

Sana returns the greeting and Jennie sits down on the seat across the both of them.

 

“It’s been a while,” Jennie starts, placing her books and drink on the table.

 

“Yeah,” Nayeon nods and gestures to her books. “Studying too?”

 

“Yup,” Jennie groans. “Jisoo-unnie’s being a kid at home and I can’t get any work done.”

 

Nayeon giggles, “And to think she’s the older one.”

 

“She’s younger by a few brain cells,” says Jennie nonchalantly while opening up her textbook. Sana lets out a chuckle and so does the person beside her.

 

Nayeon and Sana took a quick break and chatted with Jennie, taking the time to eat the dessert they ordered a few minutes ago. The three almost forgot that they were there to study after noticing how many minutes passed since they last turned to their books.

 

“Are you guys almost done?” asks Jennie.

 

“I have two more subjects to study then I’m all good,” Nayeon turns to Sana. “You?”

 

“Same.”

 

“Great, me too,” says Jennie. “We can get some work done together.”

 

“That’d be nice,” smiles Sana.

 

And so the three agreed to the idea and set their drinks and desserts aside to go back to studying. They each took turns on quizzing each other. They were in the same year level too, so their subjects and topics were the same. Thankfully, the thought of the phone that bothered her flew out of Nayeon’s head. With the help of Jennie, she was able to get herself to focus.

 

It was now Jennie’s turn to quiz the two.

 

“Okay,” the cat-eyed girl reads through Nayeon’s reviewer for the questions with furrowed brows. “What are the dwarf planets in the Kuiper Belt?”

 

“That one’s hard, Jennie-yah. Can we have another question please?” bargains Sana.

 

Jennie chuckles and shakes her head no, “Just answer the question, Sana.”

 

“But-“

 

“No buts.”

 

Sana pouts, before turning to Nayeon who was leaning her head on her palm, waiting for another question. She nudges the bunny in hopes of getting answers, “Hey-“

 

Nayeon shakes her head too, “No, Sana.”

 

She pouts again and admits defeat with a sigh escaping past her lips.

 

“I’ll have one mocha frappuccino.”

 

The barista in the corner of the cafe who stood behind the counter nodded, grabbing a cup and a marker. “For who?”

 

“For Tzuyu, please.”

 

“Tzuyu!” Jennie immediately raises her hand when the tall teen turned to look for a vacant seat. The tone of her voice caught everyone else’s attention, and she could only bow apologetically at those who gave her soft glares

 

However, the girl seated across Jennie froze.

 

Tzuyu?

 

The tall girl spots Jennie and gives her a small smile, walking towards them with her drink now in hand. “Hi, captain.”

 

Nayeon doesn’t look up even if the tall brunette was now standing literally beside her. Suddenly she was in a state of panic, yet she didn’t know exactly why. Was it because of the presence of the person who ridiculed her, or was it because the person she’s been expecting a text from was now right beside her?

 

She hears Sana greet her and so does Jennie.

 

“Tzuyu-ya!” Sana beams. “Take a seat.”

 

Nayeon hears the chair being pulled back as Tzuyu takes a seat beside the cat-eyed girl. She then pretends to scribble something on her paper, probably to pretend that she was busy and didn’t notice Tzuyu’s presence.

 

“Hi, Nayeon.”

 

She freezes again at the mention of her name, and carefully lifts her head up despite feeling the stares of the other two people.

 

“Hi, Tzuyu,” was all Nayeon could say when she met familiar brown eyes. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail, and she was dressed simply in a white shirt. For a moment, she was taken aback when a smile tugged at Tzuyu’s lips.

 

A sensation pulsed through Nayeon in which she couldn’t quite put a finger on when Tzuyu smiled at her. Her eyes may not be the sharpest, but she knew that wasn’t like the rest of her teasing smiles. It was different this time, finally a friendly one maybe?

 

“We have the same drink,” Jennie pointed out, her gummy smile radiating.

 

Tzuyu chuckled at the observation, “I guess we do.”

 

The two were now in their little bubble, with Sana jumping in the conversation. Nayeon, however, just remained quiet. There was this odd feeling bubbling inside Nayeon’s chest at the sight of the two’s over familiarity. Yes, she gets that they’re teammates, but she found it weird that they’re now this familiar even if they only knew each other for a few days.

 

After noticing how quickly the time passed by, Tzuyu offered to quiz them instead, saying that she already finished reviewing all of her subjects a few days ago. Jennie joins in and grabs an extra sheet of paper for the little test too.

 

And it happened again. Nayeon doesn’t steal glances on her phone anymore, but on the person who she’s been so bothered about. Occasionally between writing down the answers on her paper, Nayeon turns her head to the side ever so slowly to look at Tzuyu. The odds were never in her favour when she could only see Tzuyu meet her gaze every time she does. A small smile would spread on Tzuyu’s lips with an unbelievable warmth in her eyes, and Nayeon swore her cheeks burned every time time their gazes met.

 

Was it just her, or was Tzuyu oddly different today?

 

“Last question,” Tzuyu puts down the reviewer and leans back in her seat with her arms crossed. “What chemical is being released when you get attracted to someone?”

 

Nayeon’s ears perked up and Jennie raised a brow when she noticed that the question wasn’t in the reviewer.

 

“Tzuyu, that’s not even a part of the test,” points out Jennie.

 

“I know,” Tzuyu shrugs. “But it’s in our textbook, around the last few chapters.”

 

“Did you really read through the entire book?” Sana asks in disbelief, eyes possibly almost bulging out of their sockets in amazement.

 

Tzuyu nods her head as if it was nothing, “Yeah.”

 

Jennie and Sana groaned, not knowing the answer to the question. Well, neither did Nayeon.

 

“What’s this question for anyway?” Nayeon asks, the tip of her pen tapping against the table repeatedly; an action she does when she thinks hard.

 

A smirk formed on Tzuyu’s lips before giving the other a shrug, “I don’t know, why don’t you help me find out?”

 

Nayeon’s brows furrowed at the cryptic retort. It wasn’t even connected to Tzuyu’s previous question, how was she supposed to know?

 

Sana, who could only sigh at how slow Nayeon could pick up what the brunette meant, just shook her head.

 

“Okay, you two,” Sana clapped her hands together. “I get it, you’re girlfriends but flirting is unnecessary in a study session.”

 

“Sana, we’re not-“

 

“But she’s my girlfriend, what’s wrong with flirting with her?”

 

Nayeon almost choked on her own saliva and Tzuyu only laughed.

 

-

 

“I’m gonna head home now,” said Jennie as the four of them stepped out of the cafe, hours after studying. Tzuyu on the other hand just helped out and ended up tutoring the other three. “What about you guys?”

 

“We’re going to the convenience store real quick to buy some snacks, want to join us?” Nayeon offers and Sana nods, agreeing with the bunny.

 

“Sounds tempting but,” Jennie shakes her head, politely rejecting the offer. “It’s my turn to cook dinner at home today, can’t be late.”

 

“Okay,” Nayeon nods. “It’s been a while since I tasted your cooking, cook for us next time too!”

 

Jennie smiled at the display of enthusiasm her friend showed over her cooking, “I will.”

 

Sana turns to Tzuyu who was just standing there beside Jennie, staring at the two as they conversed.

 

“What about you, Tzuyu? Want to come with us too?”

 

Tzuyu lets out a chuckle when she noticed how fast Nayeon whipped her head towards Sana, nudging her from the side while looking at her with wide eyes as a warning. Tempting as it may sound to her, she needed to get home. 

 

Not now, Tzuyu thought.

 

“I have to go too,” Tzuyu smiles at the two apologetically. “Jihyo-unnie isn’t really feeling well and I’ll cook dinner in her place.”

 

“First we have the same drinks and now we’re both cooking dinner,” Jennie laughs.

 

Tzuyu chuckles and rubs her nape, “Coincidence, I guess.”

 

A little bit afterwards, Jennie bids the others good bye after seeing a text from Jisoo asking her where she was. She shares a hug with Nayeon and waves Sana good bye, knowing that Jennie might be busy and won’t have much time to hang out with her anymore since a league was coming up after the exams.

 

“Bye!” Jennie waves and walks the other way, wearing her earphones. Nayeon and Sana were about to go the other way too when surprisingly, Tzuyu jogged up to Jennie, halting the other two in their tracks.

 

“Jennie, wait,” Tzuyu taps on Jennie’s shoulder, the other turning around to see who it was. “I’ll walk you home.”

 

A raised brow from the cat-eyed girl was what Tzuyu received at the sudden offer. “I appreciate it, Tzuyu, but aren’t you supposed to walk Nayeon home instead?” Jennie asks while adjusting the books in her arms.

 

Tzuyu thought for a moment before giving Jennie a shrug, “She has Sana with her, and I can’t just let you go home on your own. It’s getting late anyway.”

 

Knowing she couldn’t win the argument with Tzuyu’s stubborness and since she doesn’t need to waste anymore time, Jennie looks over Tzuyu’s shoulder, shooting Nayeon a look as if asking if it was okay. Nayeon almost freezes when she realizes that Jennie and Tzuyu were now staring at her, somehow asking for her permission.

 

“Go ahead,” Nayeon nods almost too quickly, glancing at Tzuyu quickly before returning it to the cat-eyed girl with a small smile. “Tzuyu’s right, you need company on the way home.

 

But somehow Nayeon wanted to converse with the person who usually annoyed her. It's been days since they last talked and now that an opportunity had presented itself, she failed to grab it.

 

She wanted to ask the tall girl about her dog too. Yes, just the dog, Nayeon thought.

 

"Alright, I guess we'll go then," Jennie shrugs warily and waves the other two girls good bye again before turning to Tzuyu. "Let's go?"

 

Tzuyu gave a nod and walks beside Jennie with her hands buried deep in her pant's pockets. Just as they were about to turn the next block, Tzuyu immediately turns around as if forgetting something.

 

There still stood Nayeon and Sana, waiting for the other two to disappear before going their own way. A smirk found its way on Tzuyu's lips when her eyes met Nayeon's brown ones. She raises her hand up and calls out to the bunny-teethed girl, "Bye, girlfriend!"

 

The look of surprise was on Nayeon's face, her eyes widened and a tinge of pink immediately spread across her cheeks. The smirk only grew wider before Tzuyu turned back around and turned to the next block, quickly catching up to Jennie.

 

"Nayeon, are you okay-"

 

"Let's go, Sana."

 

-

 

“A game?”

 

“Yeah,” Jeongyeon beamed from across the table, almost finished with her lunch. “The season just began and our first game’s against our rival school.”

 

The exams were finally over a week ago, thankfully enough. Nayeon managed to get really good grad