Waiting (2/3)

“Chaeyeon Unnie!”

“I’m coming!”

Sending a quick reply, Chaeyeon grabbed her phone and dashed towards the front door. She couldn’t wait to see Sakura again.

“Excited much?”

“Shut up!”

Even in the van, Chaeyeon didn’t sleep a wink. She was grinning from ear to ear the entire ride while looking at her phone. Everyone knew who she was texting.

Chaeyeon: Saku chan has a one-sided love for me.

Sakura: What???? Don’t lie! You are the one who has a one-sided love for me.

The pair had gotten to know each other better the entire night. Sakura knew more about the hardships all the trainees face during Produce 48 while Chaeyeon got to know more about Sakura and HKT48. Pushing aside the serious stuffs, the two were extremely playful with each other too.

Chaeyeon: You at playing Spiderman last night.

Sakura: You were watching me then? See? You are the one crushing on me.

Chaeyeon then choked on her saliva as she was the picture that Sakura sent to her.

Sakura: Do you know what this is?”

Chaeyeon: I know [laughing emoji] It’s a love umbrella

The Korean member thought Sakura couldn’t surprise her more until she received yet another picture.

Sakura: How do I look today?

Chaeyeon: Beautiful Gorgeous Pretty Angelic You look like Miyawaki Sakura.

Sakura: That’s…something new.

Chaeyeon: Of course you’re beautiful, but I think that isn’t enough. Anyone can call you beautiful. There are so many beautiful girls out there, but what makes you special is you yourself. I say that you look like Miyawaki Sakura because no one can replace your beauty. Even if you have messy hair, an ugly pair of glasses, you still look like Miyawaki Sakura.

It was silent. Sakura has read her message and Chaeyeon was beginning to think that she had said too much until the van stopped. She didn’t have the time to dwell on this.

She’ll see Miyawaki Sakura soon.

~~~

“Saku chan?”

Hastily wiping the tears that fell down her face, Sakura made sure she looked presentable and put on a big smile as usual.

“IZ*ONE members have arrived.”

“I’ll be there in five.”

When the door closed, Sakura allowed her smile to fall.

Being in the idol industry for so long, Sakura was used to being called ‘cute’, ‘beautiful’, and ‘y’. She always thought those adjectives were sufficient for her to know that she was fit to be an idol. She wasn’t dense. She knew she was pretty, but hearing it from Chaeyeon was different, especially since Chaeyeon didn’t use those adjectives.

Sakura was expecting a simple response from Chaeyeon when she had sent the picture. But Chaeyeon surprised her. No one has ever described her in such a beautiful manner. Although the sentences were abrupt and a little awkward, Sakura knew what Chaeyeon meant.

As she read the sentences again, she couldn’t help but place a hand over her heart.

It felt alive.

“You’re a special one, huh?”

~~~

It has been some time and Sakura has not walked into the room. Chaeyeon was about to ask the staff member when a slender figure walked through the open doors. She still had that confident look on her face, but her eyes looked different today.

Chaeyeon’s heart hurt at the eyebags under the Japanese girl’s eyes, but beyond that, there was a different look in her eyes. Something that Chaeyeon couldn’t put a finger onto.

When the two locked eyes, Chaeyeon felt as though that look disappeared in Sakura’s eyes, but perhaps she was only dreaming. Regardless, the Korean girl was engulfed into a tight hug before a mouth went dangerously near her ear.

“Thank you, Jjaeyeon.”

All her worries dissipated. She didn’t scare the Japanese girl away. That was all that mattered.

A cough interrupted the two.

“Saku chan!”

Despite meeting her senior yesterday, Nako couldn’t help but call out Sakura’s name in such an endearing manner which resulted in a warm smile to appear on Sakura’s face. Chaeyeon always thought that Nako was adorable, but ever since yesterday, Chaeyeon felt that Nako has a side of her that even the IZ*ONE members were not familiar with.

In Korea, everyone treated Nako like a baby, just like in HKT, but whenever Nako was with HKT, it was as though Nako would naturally speak and behave in an even more lovable manner. Everyone felt that Nako was naturally cute and the girl rarely ever did aegyo in Korea. IHowever, in Japan, with HKT, Nako would unknowingly speak or act in a manner that would cause everyone to swoon.

“Nako is still HKT’s baby.”

As if Sakura could read her mind, Chaeyeon’s eyes met Sakura’s, and the two laughed. Indeed, the both of them would forever love and care for Nako in ways that differed from the other members. Nako merely responded by punching Sakura on the arm lightly but she did not deny anything.

Perhaps she enjoys being babied in such a manner too.

~~~

They didn’t get to talk much after the filming. In fact, IZ*ONE had to rush to the airport for their flight back to Korea. With a heavy heart, Chaeyeon bid goodbye to the new Japanese friends that she has made, especially that particular one.

Chaeyeon watched as Nako hugged her HKT members goodbye. Even though there were no tears, the Korean member could see a tint of sadness in Nako’s eyes. As she turned to look at Sakura, she noticed that Sakura’s eyes were slightly watery, but the older girl still managed to force a smile.

“I’ll see you two soon.”

Sakura never liked goodbyes, so she’ll always end off with a sentence that meant that they will meet again.

“See you soon, Saku chan.”

Grabbing Nako’s hand, Chaeyeon led the Japanese girl to their van. It was then Sakura knew that she had nothing to worry about. Chaeyeon would take good care of Nako.

Sakura started counting down the days in which she would meet Nako and Chaeyeon again. Although their schedules weren’t fixed yet, Nako hinted at a possible appearance during HKT’s anniversary. She also mentioned that IZ*ONE had photoshoots around the same period as well.

Until then…Sakura can only wait.