After dance practice, Sally had everything set to go home... except that she forgot her math textbook in the classroom.  

Sally stepped inside the classroom and approached her desk, where she knew the book would be. With a grin already on her lips, she sat and observed the sleeping Sojin. A book laid underneath her arms, and her face was buried in them. It would be a crime to wake her up at least without admiring her peaceful features.  

A strand of her bangs was draped over her eyes, so Sally moved her hair away, but instead of retreating her hand, she kept caressing her hair as careful as she could. Sojin looked so cute and innocent that Sally couldn’t help but wonder how could anyone be afraid of her. She was sure no matter what happened in the past, Sojin didn’t deserve the treatment she received from people now. And as Sally approached without hesitating to barely kiss her cheek, she promised she wouldn’t leave her side. 

After a few seconds, Sojin moved with a low grunt and opened her eyes, frowning as she found Sally smiling at her. 

“Hey, sleeping beauty.” 

“You can do better than that, Xiening” Sojin scratched her eyes. 

“Ah, I see. Then hey, grumpy cat.” 

Sojin stared at her. “Yeah, I will stick with sleeping beauty.” 

“What are you still doing here?” 

“As you can see, I fell asleep while reading,” Sojin said, closing her book, not forgetting to mark the page. 

“You never stay in school to read.” 

“Well, I did today.” 

“Are you sure you didn’t stay because you wanted to see me or anything?” Sally smirked. 

Sojin irked her eyebrows and shook her head. “Each passing day, Lady Xiening gets cockier. Incredible.” 

“I’m not cocky, I’m saying things like they are.” 

There was a silence in which their eyes didn’t leave each other’s, until Sojin shrugged and leaned back on her chair. 

“Fine, you’re right. Happy?” 

“Yes, why wouldn’t I be happy that you want to see me?” 

Sojin pursued her lips but Sally knew she was trying not to smile. 

“Actually,” Sojin said, looking outside the window. “I was wondering if you want to go for a walk or something. It’s sunny today.” 

“You know what? I love how you try to make up excuses not to admit you want to be with me. And yes, I want to go for a walk.” 

Sojin opened just to close it again, until she stood up and grabbed Sally’s hand, pulling her up and dragging her with her arm around her neck, as she did whenever she wanted to teaser her. 

“Let’s just go then.” 

--- 

After the said walk - and ice cream, despite the increasingly cold weather - they walked back home, stopping in front of Sojin’s door. None of them spoke for a few moments, as if Sally was waiting for Sojin to say something herself. 

“I-It was fun,” she finally said, making Sally chuckle.  

“Is that all?” 

Sojin looked down and scratched her neck. 

“Uh, I mean, wanna come inside for a little?” 

Sally faked a gasp. “Oh my, Sojin is inviting me to her house, what to do?” 

“Shut up.” Sojin sighed and dragged the laughing Sally inside. 

“Are we alone?” Sally asked, following her into the living room and sitting on the couch. 

“Yes.” 

Seeing the corner of her lips raise, Sojin hit her arm. “Yah, Xiening.” 

“What? I didn’t say anything!” 

“But I saw that.” 

“That what?”  

“T-That... smile.” 

“Can’t I be happy to be with you?” Sally pouted. 

“Yes, but...” 

“You were the one inviting me here, you must have a reason.” 

“I do. I wanna show you something.” 

“Are you finally going to sing for me?!” Sally almost jumped on the couch. 

Sojin stared at her and clicked her tongue. “It was supposed to be a surprise, but since you ruined it, you have to dance for me too.” 

“Okay, you first.” 

“Fine,” Sojin sighed. “Close your eyes.” 

Sally did so without complaining and waited, tapping her hands on her legs. She heard Sojin standing up and sitting again after a few seconds, and she waited until she heard what undoubtedly was a guitar string. A smile crept on her lips and when she heard her voice, it was just like she expected – even prettier singing. She couldn’t help but slowly open her eyes and appreciate Sojin’s focused features, looking down at the guitar. 

Just like letters on the sand 
Where waves were 
I feel you'll disappear 
To a far off place 
I always miss you miss you 
 
All the words in my heart 
I can't show them all to you 
But, it's that I love you 
 
How can I be so lucky  
to have met you, who is a blessing 
If we're together now 
Ah how great it'd be 

Sojin finished with a deep breath, placing the guitar on the ground and turning to Sally, her already pinkish cheeks growing even redder. 

“I-I told you to close your eyes.” 

“But you didn’t tell me to keep them closed the entire time.” Sally smirked. “You also didn’t tell me you played the guitar.” 

“It’s recent.” 

“Recent... How recent?” 

“Hm... A c-couple months?” 

“You mean you learned to play it for me.” 

“O-Of course not.”  

Sally scooted closer and looked straight into Sojin’s eyes, even though she tried to look away, her gaze was too intense. 

“I know you did.” 

Sojin let out a sigh. “Stop doing that.” 

“Doing what?” 

“That thing. Saying things so straightforward and confidently I can’t even hide anything from you. It’s not fair.” 

“Well, I know you. And I like your reaction when you get your feelings laid out for you. It’s cute.” Sally giggled, earning a glare. “Also, you never really say what you’re feeling, so if I’m not the one saying it for you, I don’t think I’d ever get to know.” 

Sojin tensed her jaw and then looked away. 

“Yes, I learned because I wanted to play for you. I already wanted to learn, but since you asked me to sing for you someday, I wanted to learn how to play so when I did it, it could feel even more special. Did you like it?” 

“Very much.” 

“You don’t have anything else to say? And wipe that smirk of your face already!” Sojin squeezed her cheeks.  

“Do you really want compliments that much?” 

“I played and sang for you, I deserve at least a ‘good job, Sojin’.” 

“Alright, good job Sojin.” Sally patted her head. 

“Now you dance.”  

“Oh, I really want to, you know, but you’ll have to wait.” 

“What?” 

“I have a performance next Saturday, so, be patient.”  

“That was not part of the deal!”  

“I didn't agree to dance for you like, right now.”  

“Yah, Xiening, you... I demand a compensation for moral damage.” Sojin crossed her arms. 

“Okay, what do you want?” 

Sojin looked at her from the corner of her eyes. “I’m the one who suffered, and now I’m the one who has to think?” 

“A kiss is enough?”  

“A-A what?” 

Sally nodded and held her laugh after noticing Sojin gulping. “Okay.” 

Sojin stayed in place, without moving a muscle. Sally moved even closer, until their legs touched, and stared at her. Her expression became serious as she thought for a second. But she was already sure she wanted to cup Sojin’s cheek, move it slowly towards her and aim for her lips. She kissed her enough to feel the tenderness of her lips, and then moved away, looking into her eyes.  

“X-Xiening-” 

“You like me, don’t you, Sojin?” 

The silence made Sally’s stomach twist, because she also didn’t expect that question to leave . But then, Sojin nodded. 

“I do like you, Xiening, a lot. I was wondering if you did too b-but I’m n-not used to people being nice to me and sometimes I think you’re just being nice and--” 

“I do,” Sally interrupted. 

Sojin stopped and stared right into Sally’s soul, the blend of fear, confusion and eagerness evident in her eyes. 

“Then, c-can we do that... again?” Sojin’s hands moved to the back of her neck, as she looked down at her lips and her body turned towards her. 

“I’d love that.” Sally mumbled, closing her eyes. 

And with it, Sojin pulled her in for another kiss. Sally felt a jolt on her back when Sojin moved her lips against hers, and she couldn’t stop her arms from circling around her body.  

She didn’t know when it became like that when, and as always, she was just flirting with Sojin. But she was glad it turned out like this, because deep down, she had been dreaming about that moment for quite some time now.  

“Xiening,” Sojin said, pulling away, now cupping Sally’s cheeks like her face was made of porcelain. “Why do you like me? Are you really sure of what you’re saying?” 

Sally held her gaze.  

“You have something that that keeps drawing me to you. The way you always look at me, smile at me, and how you show me that you also feel something special, even if you don’t do it on purpose, I can feel it. Not to mention how cute and sweet and beautiful you are. And what you just sang was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. I could hear your voice all day.”  

Instead of answering, Sojin pecked her lips once more.  

“No one ever told me anything like that. I stopped thinking anyone would ever like me.” 

“And I keep thinking how can someone dislike you.” 

“Because of one video.” Sojin gave her a sad smile. 

“Sojin...” Sally grabbed her hands.  

“But it’s okay, because now there’s you. I don’t want or need anybody else, as long as I have you.” 

“Then I promise to live up to it and make sure you always feel like that.” 

--- 

Later on, after Sojin insisted she would take her home and ending up winning, Sally plopped on her bed. She couldn’t stop smiling, and it was all because of Sojin. She liked her more than she had even thought. Hearing her sing, feeling the softness of her lips... That day made the feelings she had grown for her blossom in a way she had never felt before. And Sojin made her so happy she couldn’t hold it all to herself, so she grabbed her phone and wrote on her group chat with Mina and Hyeyeon. 

[Sally] 
I know you guys still don’t like Sojin, but I need to share this with you guys or else my chest will explode sdiubgfsidga I like her so so so so much, she makes me so happy, I just wish everyone could see how awesome she truly is 🙁 

Sally hold her phone close to her heart and rolled on the bed, the moments of earlier playing in her head like a video on replay. Then, her phone rang. 

[Mina] 
What do you mean you like her so much? Sally, please be careful, she is not the person you think she is! 

Sally frowned and started typing furiously. 

[Sally] 
You guys should try spending some time with her too... I guarantee she has proven me enough that she is not what you guys say she is. And what I mean is I really like her, like, REALLY. I kissed her. 

[Mina] 
Are you out of your mind?!  

[Hyeyeon] 
Omg Sally, no! You need to stop it, you’re only going to get hurt. 
I’ll brb, sorry. 

Her eyes felt warmer. 

[Sally] 
Why are you guys being like that? I just wanted to share my happiness with you, can’t you be a bit more supportive? You don’t have to like her, but at least trust my judgment. 

[Mina] 
We’re trying to help you! We don’t want you to get hurt, because eventually that’s what going to happen! 

[Hyeyeon] 
I didn’t want to do this, but we care about you Sally. You need to see what you’re about to get yourself into! 

Feeling her heart throbbing in her ears, she scrolled down. She couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw Hyeyeon sent a video.  

She could understand what it was by the thumbnail. Sally kept her thumb ready, but did she want to watch it? Nothing would change, even if she watched it. No way it would change the way she saw her. At least, if she finally saw it, she would understand what happened and understand Sojin better. 

So, reluctantly, she tapped the screen on top of the play button. 

She took her hands to her opened mouth as she watched Sojin pushing a girl, making her stumble back, and right next she punched her face so hard the girl fell on her back. Sojin squatted next to her and grabbed on her collar to bring her close to her face, shouting something she couldn’t understand or listen, because the buzzing in her ears was so loud she was not sure the video had sound or not. Finally, Sojin let go of her and walked away as the video came to an end. 

[Sally] 
As I said before, it’s not because of one fight that someone is suddenly a bully. There is no more evidence of it. I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine. 

Sally wrote, while the tears ran down from her eyes. She understood her friends did that out of good intentions, but she just wanted to share her happiness with them, not have it tear down by that stupid video. 

---

A/N: If you're wondering what's the song Sojin sang, it's IU's 'Through the Night' 🖤