Much to Momo's dismay, Mina had attended school that day. Not many words were exchanged between them in the morning, but Momo had caught all the glances that Mina had given to her throughout the day. As soon as the school day ended however, Momo had asked Sana to accompany Mina back to her dorm to get proper rest because she had a shift that afternoon. Momo was relieved when halfway through her shift, she received a text from Sana alerting her that she had just left and Mina as sleeping soundly. 

There was still light by the time her shift ended, the sun was just starting to set. She was thankful for the longer days, but the rising temperature was starting to get on her back. Not to mention the boiling heat of working in a fast-food restaurant. 

However, as soon as she exited the restaurant, she was met with the late spring breeze and Momo suddenly remembers how much she enjoys this time of the year. Perhaps it was getting warm, but the present wasn't so bad. She enjoyed the wind, and she especially liked the flowers that bloomed during this time. They reminded her of her home back in Japan where she could always view the blossoming trees and flowers from her bedroom window.

As she was walking back to the school dorms, while concluding Spring was indeed her favourite season, Momo reminded herself that she needed to tell Mina that her parents will be arriving in a few short days. After she had come to terms that she was horrible at keeping track of time and her parents were arriving very shortly, Momo realised that she would be spending the next week or two with her parents in their old house. She would need to return, pack most if not all her stuff and tell Mina that she wasn't going to be in dorms for a while. 

Momo had been worried that Mina wouldn't take care of herself well enough, looking at her recent behaviour and for a second, she considered if maybe Mina to join her and her family. In the end, however, she decided it would be awkward and uncomfortable, especially since she hadn't even asked Mina out yet. 

That was another thing on her mind. Surely her parents won't be extremely happy about that and by the looks of it, neither were both her and Mina's friends. To be perfectly honest, Momo herself wasn't pleased with how long it has been. Yes, she had asked her out on a few dates and they both acted as if they were dating but in the end, neither had ever confirmed it and it was obviously making them both feel a little frustrated. 

As her footsteps approached the school gate, Momo made her decision. She'll tell Mina, and ask her to officially be her girlfriend. She'll organise a time within the next few days and ask Mina to meet up with her somewhere. While thinking about it made her tense, Momo knew that she couldn't back out. 

It was what she wanted and what she needed. 
______________________

Mina was walking down to the lockers after class. She chewed happily on the sweet bread bun that she had found in her bag. She had been surprised at first, and quite wary in case there was something wrong with it, but relaxed when she saw a post-it note with a scrawled note and a doodle of a tiny penguin alongside the plastic package. Immediately, Mina identified it as Momo's because she would recognise those penguins anywhere (not the mention the messy handwriting that has Mina going insane some days).

Momo must have known that she loved melon flavoured bread or else she took a really good guess. Mina was one of the few out of her friends who actually enjoyed the flavour as it reminded her of the pastries she could purchase in Japan and baking with her mum when she was younger. She liked the mellow sweetness and the fluffy texture of bread paired well with it. Obviously, she couldn't help but to give to Momo some brownie points for that. It was another kind and extremely thoughtful action that Mina could add to the list. 

She had apologised to Momo after that particular day where she returned home so late that she collapsed on the couch. She had woken herself up from a long nap to make a warm dinner for Momo since she knew she'd be tired and hungry after work. Though not much was said, they both got the point through and if the laughter exchanged at the table meant anything, they were both on good terms now. 

It also meant Nayeon didn't need to look terrified whenever chemistry rolled around. 

(Mina felt bad for that too. She brought in some homemade kimbap for her the following day.) 

Still, she did feel slightly down today. Momo was leaving that afternoon, not for long of course, but Mina had just gotten used to company. She didn't want to particularly admit it, but she knew she would feel lonely for a while. Maybe she'll ask to sleep over and Sana's sometime this week. It would be nice to relive some old memories and maybe Jihyo would be over too.

Lost in her own thoughts, she grabbed a new stack of textbooks before closing her locker. She was on her last bite, savouring the remnants of the snack when she saw Chaeyoung walking towards her. 

Mina smiled, trying to look as friendly as she could. 

"Hey," she said as Chaeyoung approached. 

"Hi."

There was an unusual pause. Mina wondered if all human interaction was this awkward. 

"So," she began. "Congrats on the results! I'm so proud of you guys."

At the carnival, Mina was ecstatic to watch their girl's team placed 2nd in the relay. Even if they missed out by just a few milliseconds, Mina was extremely proud. Their time was fast, their changes were smooth and the girls had worked hard. Up until now, Mina hadn't had the chance to congratulate anyone from the team since the actual day of the carnival. 

"Oh, thank you. All because of  you and Jungyeon's help though."

An awkward silence fell between the air around them again. Mina was starting to feel slightly uncomfortable. Chaeyoung was usually really bubbly, someone who could carry the conversation without Mina having to worry much about what to say but now, things felt strained for some reason. Chaeyoung was shifting around, her hands clasped around her back. It doesn't take a genius to tell that Chaeyoung was hiding something, but Mina didn't really want to press on.  All she wanted right now was to finish the conversation comfortably so it didn't leave a sour memory with her. 

She waited patiently, fiddling with the edges of her history textbook. She played with the tabs sticking out of it, distracting herself from the awkward atmosphere that had formed between them. 

Mina was wondering if she should maybe leave after what felt like minutes when Chaeyoung finally spoke up. Mina's ears perked up at the sound.

"Are you, um, busy tomorrow?" 

The question came as a surprise to Mina. She batted her eyelashes for a second as she tried to recall if she had any plans.

"I don't have much for most of the day. Why?" she asked, tilting her side to the side.

"Could you meet me up during lunch? Maybe um," Chaeyoung paused, looking around. "Besides the trees near the oval?"

Mina was more than curious now. If she hadn't found the suspicious and awfully unnatural behaviour from Chaeyoung weird, then her unusual request certainly has. 

"Sure," she replied hesitantly.  "But do I get to know what?"

"No, you'll find out tomorrow."

Mina could tell that Chaeyoung's reply was meant to sound more cheerful, but it came out much more uncomfortable. Mina did her best to lighten the mood, but it seemed like nothing could really help. 

"Well, I'll be on my way then. I'll see you there."

And with a meek smile, Mina walked off. Her books still in her arm, Mina couldn't help but wonder what that strange encounter had been about. In her short time of knowing Chaeyoung, the girl had always been the more upbeat and easy-going one of the two but just then, she felt like anything but that. 

Mina pursed her lips, hoping that it wasn't what she had just pieced together. She had slight suspicions, but she knew that she made it clear from the start that she had a soulmate. Was it too self-centred of her to just assume that? What if it was something completely different?

Mina's mouth had turned itself into a frown now. She nearly tripped over a protruding log hidden between the grass as she was still stuck in her own thoughts. The last thing she wanted to do was to lead Chaeyoung on when she really had no intention to. 

It hadn't always occurred to Mina, but after years and years of making friends and then having them suddenly confess to her, she started recognising the signs much quicker. She suspected the same from Chaeyoung at first but for a while, she had previously brushed the thought off. However, as she was walking to the benches where she knew her friends were, Mina was starting to find more and more evidence that she had been right. 

Mina sighed, suddenly feeling a lot more burdened than she had just a few minutes ago. It made her heart sink because something like this shouldn't have become so tedious and frustrating to her.

If only she could return back to when she was eating that delicious melon bread. 
________________________________________
Momo beamed widely. She hadn't realised how much she missed her old home until she took her first step into the living room. The lights hung over her heads in the same obnoxiously bright manner that Momo remembers she used to hate. Thin rays of sunlight still hit the marble kitchen counter through their curtains and the painted walls remained slightly scratched at the corners. 

She didn't appreciate the true value of this house until she moved to Japan, but now she realises exactly how inviting it looked. 

Lugging in another suitcase, her father entered behind her. He placed his hand on Momo's shoulder. 

"It is nice to be back, isn't it?" He asked. 

Momo nodded. Her father had always been her more soft-spoken and quiet parent. After all, they needed a bit of calm and order when Momo's mum was always around the place. Momo loved going on bushwalking adventures and shopping trips with her mum, but she enjoyed going out to quiet brunches and putting together large puzzles with her dad.

She couldn't help but to have missed her family in the short time she had spent back in Korea without them. Occasionally in classes or in bed, her mind would drift back to her family who was in Japan. Admittedly, they hadn't been on her mind as much as in the beginning than they were a few weeks after. Evidently, as Momo had not even realised they were meant to arrive much earlier than she ha