There were a multiple number of scenarios that could’ve gone to. There was the possibility that she would’ve pushed her away and ran out. There’s the chance that she could’ve stayed frozen and let Mina do the deed. It could’ve gone any other way and it would’ve been expected. What Mina didn’t calculate was Chaeyoung’s audacity. Frankly, she didn’t know she had it in her, seeing as how timid and red she got when the younger one realized the course of action the Japanese was about to take.

As the camera stayed focused on them, the crowd still shouting out their encouragements and Jeongyeon watching them with a pair of interested eyes, Chaeyoung closed her eyes shut. She parted their intertwined hands, cupped both Mina’s cheeks and pulled her face towards her own.

With her hands covering their lips from everyone’s view, Chaeyoung planted her lips slightly below Mina’s bottom lip, ultimately kissing her on the chin.

The crowd cheered louder and hearts exploded on the big screen. Chaeyoung gave a lengthy kiss before parting and covering her face in embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Mina was completely caught off guard. She sat there frozen, like she couldn’t believe Chaeyoung just entirely avoided the whole situation and at the same time giving in to the crowd. She was impressed at how fast the girl thought up of a way out of it,  but somehow, there was a pang of disappointment that left lingering on her chin.

As far as Jeongyeon knew, the couple’s lips connected. The older one was looking at the two directly, but she didn’t see what was happening in the big screen. There was a chance that she could tell the kiss was fake, but because she was seated right next to Chaeyoung, her view was obscured.

Somehow, the older one heaved a sigh of relief. It was like she’d been holding her doubts the moment she knew about their relationship, but maybe, just maybe, they did like each other after all.

Chaeyoung, however, was red from her actions, up to the top of her ears and the tips of her fingers. She looked away from Mina, unable to meet her in the eyes.

The Japanese had not flinched from her position. She was relieved that they somehow avoided the situation, but also, to her confusion, she was hoping for it to happen. Maybe it was because she didn’t really like lying, and now she had to pretend that they did touch lips.

She cleared and faced the field, the game continuing without a moment’s hesitation. Everybody else turned their attention back to what was happening in the stadium, but neither Mina or Chaeyoung could even try to focus.

This is why I like staying home on Sundays, Mina thought with a sigh.

~

Mina sat in her car, waiting. Chaeyoung had always been the first one to get to school and therefore, she would see her sitting on one of the benches facing the parking lot, reading. That morning, the younger one was nowhere to be found. Mina could only hope she wasn’t hiding from her after the event that happened the day before.

Minutes passed, and getting impatient with waiting, the Japanese hopped out of her car. At the same time, Jeongyeon’s car rolled through the parking lot and into the space next to Mina’s car.

Mina followed it with her eyes because in the passenger seat was her pretend girlfriend.

The two got out of the car. Jeongyeon paused upon seeing Mina, and then she turned to Chaeyoung, “Your girlfriend’s here. I’ll see ya later.” And with that, she left the couple alone.

“I didn’t know she drives you to school,” Mina commented.

“She usually doesn’t. I take the bus most days because she has a team meeting early mornings.”

“You know, I can pick you up too.”

The younger one shook her head, “You don’t have to. I don’t mind the bus.”

But despite her refusal, the next morning, Mina’s car was parked in front of the Yoo household, patiently waiting for the little cub to come out through the door.

When the younger one finally got out, she spotted Mina and sighed.

The moment the Japanese rolled down her window, Chaeyoung didn’t hesitate to scold her. “I told you, you didn’t have to come,” she said sternly.

“When have I ever listened to what you say? Tell me you didn’t expect me to come,” Mina said with a smirk.

Chaeyoung rolled her eyes, but ended up getting into the passenger seat.

“Oh, by the way, come over to my house after school.”

“Why…?” the younger one asked with suspicion.

“Don’t think nasty. I just want to hang out.”

Chaeyoung’s face immediately became flushed, “I wasn’t thinking anything bad!” She huffed and avoided looking at her by turning her head to the passenger window.

Mina gave a light chuckle. She couldn’t help but think how cute she was whenever she was teased. She drove them to school with a smile on her face.

But because of what she said, Chaeyoung found it hard to concentrate. She knew nothing would happen and that Mina didn’t have any hidden intentions, but still, going to the girl’s house was nerve wracking.

Time seemed to go by so slow and she found herself tapping her fingers on her lap out of anxiety. She didn’t know if she wanted school to end that day or not, and that confused her.

Sana leaned to the side and whispered, “Can I borrow a pen?”

And as if she had been waiting for it, Dahyun smiled, “Forgot it or lost it?”

“I’m not sure.”

Dahyun chuckled, then she pulled out the pen Sana returned to her last time and handed it to her. “At this point, just keep it.”

“But if I do, I’ll just end up losing it. I don’t want to rob you of a pen.”

The purple-haired girl couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re so weird,” she said, shaking her head.

“Is that a good thing?”

“In this case, yeah.” She smiled, “You’re interesting.” Then she turned her head back to the board and continued writing.

Sana looked at her, her words ringing in her head. It was such a trivial comment, something so small and simple, but she found herself smiling from ear to ear. Coming from someone else, it probably wouldn’t mean much. It might even sound like an insult. But hearing it from this girl brought her strange happiness.

She sat straight in her seat and wrote with glee.

~

A girl like Mina had enough money to bring a million dollar bag to school everyday and probably had enough power to snap her fingers and have a plate of lobsters for dinner. Of course a girl like that would live in a big house, enough to be called a princess’ mansion. Chaeyoung stood in front of the gate, staring up at it with slightly open.

They drove through a bigger gate in the front and into a path that opened up to damn near a whole forest. Within the depths of nature lay a 2-story house that could fit the whole school. It was massive.

Just how rich is this woman? Chaeyoung thought.

“Don’t drop your jaw now,” Mina joked.

“Yah,” Chaeyoung turned to her, still overwhelmed. “Who exactly are you?”

“Just your average teenager.”

“Average?! You call this average?!” she gestured around her. “I’m an average teenager. You’re a whole other species. Are you like the president’s daughter or something?”

“Something like that. Daughter of the president of ‘never being home’. Let’s go,” Mina gestured for her to follow and she made her way into the house.

Chaeyoung entered as if she was stepping on thin ice, like a newborn deer stepping into the world for the first time. She felt as if everywhere she touched, she was tainting it because everything sparkled. The house was just as spectacular as the outside. The room shined sparkling clean and furniture were placed that corresponded to each of the other pieces of furniture. In its entirety, the whole place was organized quite beautifully.

But what caught her eye the most were the paintings lined up along the walls of the hallway upon entering the house. Works of Van Gogh and Renoir added great taste to the already beautiful expanse of the place.

Chaeyoung magnetized to PIcasso’s work Le picador, a painting of a man on a horse. “Woah,” she muttered under her breath.

“Is it that amazing?” Mina asked as she stood next to her.

“Of course! That’s Picasso’s first artwork! I’ve never seen it in person before.” The younger one shuddered, amazed by it all. “Is your family into art?”

“Only my father. He spends a lot of his free time in auctions, trying to get certain paintings he likes. He spends more with them than with his own daughter.”

“This is amazing! Well, not the last part of what you just said. But these paintings are spectacular!”

Mina watched Chaeyoung stare into the painting. There was a sparkle in her eyes that she’d never seen her wear before. She thought then that there was more to this girl that she didn’t know about. So, she likes art… Mina made a mental note to herself.

“Ah, Mina-chan!”

Chaeyoung turned to see a short-haired woman of elegance aura emerged into the hallway. She resembled Mina.

“Oh, you brought a guest.” She walked towards Chaeyoung with a huge smile on her face and grabbed her hand to shake it. “I’m so glad Mina finally made a new friend. I’m her mother, but you can call me Sachiko.”

“Mom!” Mina said in Japanese. She shook her head and sighed, “This is Chaeyoung.”

“Make yourself at home, okay?” her mother said, shaking the shorter girl’s hand with enthusiasm. Then she turned to Mina, “Did you get my message? I told you Jeongyeon would be here. She’s in the living room. Why don’t you entertain her?”

Ahh, Unnie is here… So that’s why… Chaeyoung thought as she felt her spirits go down. Of course, the only reason she would invite her in her home was to put up an act in front of Jeongyeon, Chaeyoung thought. Their relati